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Dirty Sexy History

Dirty Sexy History

By Jessica Cale

Going beyond the sanitized and idealized to the dirty reality of human history with Jessica Cale. There's more to history than what you learned in high school, and we're going to skip to the good stuff together.
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Episode 3.21. Dancing With Myself: The History and Science of Masturbation

Dirty Sexy HistoryMar 13, 2024

00:00
46:51
Episode 3.21. Dancing With Myself: The History and Science of Masturbation

Episode 3.21. Dancing With Myself: The History and Science of Masturbation

Following on from Episode 3.19 on sex toys with Hallie Lieberman, this week we talk to clinical psychologist Dr Eric Sprankle about the history and science of masturbation. We talk about the not-so-sexy origins of graham crackers and Kellogg’s Corn Flakes, bizarre conspiracy theories about porn, semen retention myths, and the Founding Father who thought math would keep you from touching yourself. Does masturbating fight fascism? The answer might surprise you! Eric’s new book is DIY: The Wonderfully Weird History and Science of Masturbation.
Mar 13, 202446:51
Episode 3.20. “Fallen Women” in Victorian Poetry

Episode 3.20. “Fallen Women” in Victorian Poetry

Literary nerds rejoice! This week, we have another history/literature episode, looking at sex work in Victorian poetry with Emily Calleja. We’re talking about how sex workers were portrayed, what that can tell us about women’s real-life frustrations, and how it impacted the suffrage movement.
Feb 28, 202434:59
Episode 3.19. Adult Toys

Episode 3.19. Adult Toys

Sex toys have existed for 28,000 years, so why is there still such a stigma around them? This week we’re talking about the history of sex toys from the ancient world to the present, the evolution and cultural significance of the vibrator in the 19th and 20th centuries, Masters and Johnson’s revolutionary research, the ups and downs of the adult entertainment industry, anti-obscenity laws, and censorship. Our guest is Dr Hallie Lieberman, author of Buzz: A Stimulating History of the Sex Toy
Feb 14, 202455:49
Episode 3.18. Mythbusting Corsets

Episode 3.18. Mythbusting Corsets

You’ve heard it all before—corsets are dangerous, uncomfortable, a tool of the patriarchy meant to oppress women! But are they? Were they ever? This week on DSH, we talk to biological anthropologist about corsets—how they really affect the body, why women wore them, and the surprising reason men wanted to do away with them at the turn of the 20th century. Rebecca’s new book is The Bad Corset, a translation and critique of Ludovic O’Followell’s influential 1905 anti-corset treatise, Le Corset.
Jan 31, 202401:00:24
Episode 3.17. Men’s Sexual Health in Early Modern England

Episode 3.17. Men’s Sexual Health in Early Modern England

In seventeenth-century England, seeing a doctor was a big deal. Before the NHS, people paid doctors, quacks, and even astrological medical practitioners out of pocket for cures that could be dangerous and downright unpleasant. Some people turned to household recipe books to treat themselves at home, but for many serious ailments, this just wasn’t possible. This week, we talk to Dr Jennifer Evans about men’s sexual health in the seventeenth-century—everything from kidney stones and infertility to syphilis and genital gangrene. Plus, just in time for Valentine’s Day, an introduction to early modern aphrodisiacs. Sparrow, anyone?
Jan 17, 202454:05
Episode 3.16. Renaissance Beauty: Cosmetics, Poison, and Plastic Surgery

Episode 3.16. Renaissance Beauty: Cosmetics, Poison, and Plastic Surgery

For women in Renaissance Italy, beauty was everything: it could be a vocation, a way to get ahead, entertainment, or even a weapon. Women of all classes used cosmetics, and many were employed as beauticians, apothecaries, and beauty writers. This week, Jess talks to Professor Jill Burke about Renaissance beauty standards, cosmetics, hair dye, plastic surgery, and how hundreds of women escaped abusive marriages with Aqua Tofana
Jan 03, 202401:01:01
Episode 3.15. The Oneida Community: Progressive Utopia or Polyamorous Cult?

Episode 3.15. The Oneida Community: Progressive Utopia or Polyamorous Cult?

Between 1848 and 1879, the Oneida Community tried to build heaven in Upstate New York through the principles of communism, free love, and contraception. Under the guidance of charismatic preacher John Humphrey Noyes, the community practiced “complex marriage,” meaning everyone was allowed to sleep with everyone else. But there was a dark side to this seemingly progressive paradise—Noyes was a narcissist who exercised extreme control over the lives of his followers, experimenting with eugenics in his quest for immortality. In this special double episode, Jess covers Noyes’s early life and theology, the structure and sexual practices of the community, and its experiments in birth control and “stirpiculture.” You’ll never look at a spoon the same way again.
Dec 13, 202347:12
Episode 3.14. Fairies, Entities, Ghosts, and Gods: Rebel Folklore with Icy Sedgwick
Nov 23, 202301:06:44
Episode 3.13. Black Sam Bellamy and the Golden Age of Piracy

Episode 3.13. Black Sam Bellamy and the Golden Age of Piracy

He might not be the most famous pirate, but Black Sam Bellamy may have been the most successful: when his ship wrecked in 1717, it took Sam with it, along with an astonishing 4.1 tonnes of gold and treasure. Forbes estimated that at his death, the "Prince of Pirates" was worth more than $120 million. And he did it all for love. This week on the podcast, we talk to Dr Jamie Goodall about Bellamy's doomed romance with the "Witch of Wellfleet," Maria Hallett, his unusual battle tactics, and how the Whydah was found again in the 1980s. Jamie also offers tips for finding pirates in your own family tree--chances are, you may have one or two.
Nov 08, 202353:17
Episode 3.12. Big Cult-Leader Energy. The Legacy of Madame Blavatsky

Episode 3.12. Big Cult-Leader Energy. The Legacy of Madame Blavatsky

Madame Blavatsky is no longer a household name, but her ideas changed the course of history. A central figure in Victorian Spiritualism, she is credited with starting the New Age movement. She influenced everyone from Aldous Huxley and H.P. Lovecraft to Aleister Crowley and David Bowie. Even Dungeons & Dragons borrows from Blavatsky. Although her “miracles” were debunked in her lifetime, her ideas were far from harmless—her theories about race heavily influenced the Nazis and may have led to the Holocaust. This week, Jess talks to author and horror expert Sian Ingham about the difficult legacy of Madame Blavatsky. Sian’s books include The Age of Miracles: Essays on the Collapse of History, and the Bram Stoker Award-nominated We Don’t Go Back: A Watcher’s Guide to Folk Horror.
Oct 27, 202354:37
Episode 3.11. Fight Like Hell: Women and the American Labor Movement

Episode 3.11. Fight Like Hell: Women and the American Labor Movement

Strikes have been in the news more and more lately, but what is a Labor Union and why should we care? Unions have gotten us many of the rights we take for granted today: the eight-hour workday, safer working conditions, better wages, and benefits. Women have played a huge part in this, from teenage girls in the first picket lines, to Mother Jones and Lucy Parsons, to the Uprising of the 20,000 and beyond. This week, we’re talking to journalist and organizer Kim Kelly about the American Labor Movement and what history can teach us about how to change the world today.
Oct 13, 202355:51
Episode 3.10. Snuff, Smelling Salts, and Sulfur: Scent in 18th Century Fiction

Episode 3.10. Snuff, Smelling Salts, and Sulfur: Scent in 18th Century Fiction

What did the 18th Century smell like? You probably think of horses and chamber pots, but do you think of tobacco? How about sulfur? This week, we talk to Dr Emily Friedman about common scents in fiction from the Long 18th Century, mentioned by authors like Frances Burney and Jane Austen. We’re talking snuff, smelling salts, taking the waters at Bath, bathing before showers, Queen Charlotte’s bad habits, Marie Antoinette’s perfume, and more! Dr Friedman’s book is Reading Smell in Eighteenth-Century Fiction. Check out our Instagram for discount codes @dirtysexyhistory
Sep 28, 202301:08:02
Episode 3.9. Inside the Chicken Ranch, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas

Episode 3.9. Inside the Chicken Ranch, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas

“The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas” was a hit musical on Broadway, later made into a movie starring Dolly Parton and Burt Reynolds. But what about the Chicken Ranch, the real brothel the story was based on? This week, we talk to Jayme Lynn Blaschke about the history of sex work in Texas, the first brothels in La Grange, poultry as payment, and Miss Edna, the last madam of the Chicken Ranch. Jayme is the author of “Inside the Chicken Ranch: The Definitive Account of the Best Little Whorehouse.”
Sep 13, 202357:27
Episode 3.8. The American Plan

Episode 3.8. The American Plan

While WWI was fought overseas, there was another war closer to home—a war on women known as “The American Plan.” Under the American Plan, tens of thousands of women were detained and injected with toxic chemicals based on their perceived ability to spread venereal disease, all in the name of protecting our soldiers. This week, our guest is comedian and sex-worker rights advocate Kaytlin Bailey, host of the Oldest Profession Podcast. We are talking about the history of sex work in America, the Mann Act, the Comstock Act, and the lasting legacy of the American Plan, which can still be felt today.
Sep 01, 202335:55
Episode 3.7. Psychotropic Drugs in Nineteenth Century France

Episode 3.7. Psychotropic Drugs in Nineteenth Century France

Nineteenth century France was a “nation on drugs”: psychotropic drugs were widely used and easily accessible for everything from everyday pain and mental issues to surgeries and brothel visits. This week, we talk to Dr Sara Black about the rise of Opium, Morphine, Cocaine, Ether, Chloroform, and Hashish—how they were researched and normalized until they were used by most of the country. We’re talking medical history, obstetrics, aphrodisiacs, psychiatric care, recreational use, philosophy and more. Dr Black’s new book is Drugging France: Mind-Altering Medicine in the Long Nineteenth Century.
Aug 16, 202350:01
Episode 3.6. Naming Gotham: The People Behind NYC’s Place Names

Episode 3.6. Naming Gotham: The People Behind NYC’s Place Names

The history of New York City isn’t only found in its museums—it’s in the names you find all over the city. This week, we talk to Rebecca Bratspies, author of Naming Gotham, about some of the remarkable people who leant their names to New York’s infrastructure: Anne Hutchinson, Adriaen van der Donck, Casimir Pulaski, Tadeusz Kościuszko, William Cullen Bryant, John Jacob Astor, and more. [minor correction: Rebecca mentions Mrs. Astor’s “top 200,” but meant to say “400”]
Aug 03, 202346:57
Episode 3.5. George Remus: The Bootleg King and the Women Who Brought Him Down

Episode 3.5. George Remus: The Bootleg King and the Women Who Brought Him Down

George Remus was an infamous bootlegger in Jazz Age America, so wealthy and ostentatious that he is thought to be the real-life inspiration for Jay Gatsby. This week, we talk to Abbott Kahler about his bootlegging business, toxic marriage, legendary parties, and the bad-ass woman who wouldn’t rest until he was behind bars. Abbott’s book is The Ghosts of Eden Park: The Bootleg King, the Women Who Pursued Him, and the Murder that Shocked Jazz Age America
Jul 19, 202344:57
Episode 3.4. When Whales Attack

Episode 3.4. When Whales Attack

Whales have been in the news all week, but it’s not the first time they’ve attacked ships. This week, Jess talks about the 19th century whaling industry, historical whale attacks, and the tragic sinking of the Essex in 1820. We cover the real-life inspiration for Moby Dick, an enormous white whale who sunk twenty ships off the coast of Chile. There’s even a bonus segment on whale products in Civil War era makeup courtesy of Godey’s Lady’s Book, 1863.
Jun 22, 202325:19
Episode 3.3. Marriage, Dependence, and Divorce in Revolutionary America

Episode 3.3. Marriage, Dependence, and Divorce in Revolutionary America

Many historical love stories take you up until the wedding with the presumed happily-ever-after, but what happens next? What if things go wrong? This week, our guest is Dr. Jacqueline Beatty, author of In Dependence: Women and the Patriarchal State in Revolutionary America. We cover 18th century marriage, divorce, financial dependence, women's networks, and how women played into society's perception of them as weak to get what they wanted.
Jun 07, 202350:60
Episode 3.2. The HMS Black Joke and the Battle Against the Slave Trade

Episode 3.2. The HMS Black Joke and the Battle Against the Slave Trade

Between 1827 and 1832, one ship—the Black Joke—captured thirteen slave ships and freed an incredible 3,000 people. The true story of the Black Joke is about so much more than one ship; today we also talk about diversity among sailors, gay relationships in the British navy, Britain’s complicated relationship with the slave trade, and how slavery was finally abolished. Our guest is historian and Jeopardy champion AE Rooks, author of the Mountbatten Maritime Media Awards’ Best Book of 2022, The Black Joke: The True Story of One Ship’s Battle Against the Slave Trade.
May 24, 202301:23:23
Episode 3.1. A Haunted History of Invisible Women
May 10, 202301:17:34
Episode 2.20. Myth America with Dr Kevin Kruse and Dr Julian Zelizer

Episode 2.20. Myth America with Dr Kevin Kruse and Dr Julian Zelizer

America is experiencing a crisis of “bad history,” with fake history being used to justify regressive policy decisions while real history is being removed from schools and libraries. Why is it happening, and what are the dangers of fake history? For the Season 2 finale, our guests are Princeton history professors Dr Kevin Kruse and Dr Julian Zelizer, editors of New York Times Bestseller Myth America: Historians Take on the Biggest Legends and Lies About Our Past. This episode covers everything from the Civil Rights Movement to current protests, from the “Lost Cause” and Reagan to gun control and Trump’s indictment. It’s a big episode that covers a lot of ground, attempting to answer, “Is history inherently political?” We’ll be back with Season 3 on May 10th.
Apr 26, 202351:07
Episode 2.19. Sex and Social Protest in 18th Century Pornography

Episode 2.19. Sex and Social Protest in 18th Century Pornography

Eighteenth-century pornography was surprisingly progressive, challenging gender roles and the very definition of sex. This week, we talk to Dr Kathleen Lubey about that, plus dildos, gender fluidity, LGBTQ+ content, female empowerment, and the link to modern Romance novels. Dr. Lubey’s new book is What Pornography Knows: Sex and Social Protest Since the Eighteenth Century.
Apr 12, 202358:18
Doris Fish and the Rise of Drag

Doris Fish and the Rise of Drag

This week, we talk to Craig Seligman about the history of drag in the US and Australia and look at the extraordinary life of artist, filmmaker, and drag icon Doris Fish. We’re talking drag shows, drugs, glitter, Vegas in Space, and how San Francisco battled the AIDS epidemic of the 1980s. Craig’s new book is Who Does That Bitch Think She Is? Doris Fish and the Rise of Drag.
Mar 29, 202353:55
Episode 2.17. Pink Triangle Legacies: From Imprisonment to Gay Liberation

Episode 2.17. Pink Triangle Legacies: From Imprisonment to Gay Liberation

At least 385 anti-LGBTQ bills have been introduced so far in 2023, targeting everything from books to gender-affirming care and even marriage equality. It all sounds a bit familiar, and that’s what we’re talking about this week. Today we talk to Dr Jake Newsome, author of Pink Triangle Legacies: Coming Out in the Shadow of the Holocaust about anti-LGBTQ legislation in Germany from the 19th century until the 1970s, Nazi policies and how the public enabled them, and how the pink triangle went from a symbol of imprisonment to one of gay liberation.
Mar 15, 202358:50
Episode 2.16. Pamela Colman Smith and the Golden Dawn

Episode 2.16. Pamela Colman Smith and the Golden Dawn

The art of the Rider-Waite tarot deck is iconic, but not everyone knows the artist behind it, Pamela Colman Smith. This week, we talk to actress, tarot reader, and historical fiction author Susan Wands about Pamela’s life, her art, and her involvement with the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn. Susan’s new book is Magician and Fool, a historical novel about Pamela Colman Smith
Mar 01, 202342:60
Episode 2.15. Queer Suffragists with Dr. Wendy Rouse

Episode 2.15. Queer Suffragists with Dr. Wendy Rouse

You know about the Women’s Suffrage Movement, but what you might not realize is how many of early suffragists were queer. This week, we talk dress reform, free love, jiu-jitsu, and queer love stories with Dr Wendy Rouse, author of Public Faces, Secret Lives: A Queer History of the Women’s Suffrage Movement
Feb 15, 202348:22
Episode 2.14. Monstrous Women with Dr Nicole Dittmer
Feb 02, 202351:04
Episode 2.13: Founding F*ck Buddies with Dr. Cassandra Good

Episode 2.13: Founding F*ck Buddies with Dr. Cassandra Good

We think of “friends with benefits” as a modern phenomenon, but it really isn’t. This week, we talk to historian Dr Cassandra Good about 18th century friendships between men and women, answering the important questions: Who sent the first “tit pic”? How did Benedict Arnold win over Peggy Shippen? And crucially, what was really going on between Alexander Hamilton and his sister-in-law?
Jan 18, 202348:45
Episode 2.12. Radium Cosmetics with Lucy Jane Santos

Episode 2.12. Radium Cosmetics with Lucy Jane Santos

Christmas shopping is hard, so this week, we’re taking the advice of 1930s holiday beauty ads and looking into radium! Our guest is Lucy Jane Santos, author of Half Lives: The Unlikely History of Radium and an expert in toxic beauty history. We’re talking about radioactive skincare, X-Rays in beauty salons, radium condoms, snorting radium, and other *very* bad ideas. As always—do NOT try this at home!
Dec 21, 202257:22
Episode 2.11. The Gender Outlaws of 19th Century France

Episode 2.11. The Gender Outlaws of 19th Century France

This week, we talk to Dr Anne Linton, author of the groundbreaking new book Unmaking Sex. The book focuses on intersex and gender-nonconformity in 19th century French life and literature, and we also discuss marriage laws, medical erotica, popular fiction, and permits for pants!
Dec 07, 202248:05
Episode 2.10. Misinformation Nation: 18th Century Fake News with Dr Jordan Taylor

Episode 2.10. Misinformation Nation: 18th Century Fake News with Dr Jordan Taylor

Fake news a modern problem, right? Not exactly. In fact, the US was founded on it. In this very special Thanksgiving episode, we talk to Dr Jordan Taylor about 18th century newspapers, the Revolutionary War, and how misinformation started everything.
Nov 24, 202246:12
Episode 2.9. Illegitimate Birth in the 18th Century with Dr Kate Gibson

Episode 2.9. Illegitimate Birth in the 18th Century with Dr Kate Gibson

Illegitimate children come up a lot in historical fiction, but how common was illegitimate birth, and what was life really like for these people? This week, we talk to Dr Kate Gibson about her new book: Illegitimacy, Family, and Stigma in England, 1660-1834.
Nov 11, 202241:57
Episode 2.8. Women’s Mental Institutions of the 19th Century

Episode 2.8. Women’s Mental Institutions of the 19th Century

You’ve heard Victorian women could get committed to mental institutions for reading books and thinking too much, but why did it happen, and what were these places really like? This week, Jess explains how being female was enough to get you labeled insane, looking at some horrific treatments used, as well as the experiences of Elizabeth Packard and Nellie Bly, two badass women who fought back.
Oct 26, 202238:56
Episode 2.7. The Invention of Gender with Dr. Sandra Eder

Episode 2.7. The Invention of Gender with Dr. Sandra Eder

Gender has been a hot-button issue for years, but the very concept only goes back to the 1950s. In this episode, we talk to Berkeley history professor Dr Sandra Eder about how the idea of gender developed from the treatment of children born with intersex traits in the first half of the 20th century.
Oct 12, 202253:26
Episode 2.6. The Gilded Edge with Dr Catherine Prendergast

Episode 2.6. The Gilded Edge with Dr Catherine Prendergast

At the beginning of the 20th century, Carmel-by-the-Sea was an idyllic artists’ colony in Northern California. At the center of the excitement was “King of the Bohemians” George Sterling and his wife, Carrie. But all was not as sunny as it seemed. When George’s secret lover, poet Nora May French, came to Carmel, it set the three on a collision course that would end in suicide by cyanide—three of them. But what really happened? This week, we talk to Dr Catherine Prendergast about her new book, The Gilded Edge: Two Audacious Women and the Cyanide Love Triangle that Shook America
Sep 28, 202201:05:03
Episode 2.5. The Women’s House of Detention

Episode 2.5. The Women’s House of Detention

This week, we talk to historian and curator Hugh Ryan about the Women’s House of Detention, a prison in the heart of New York City’s Greenwich Village where countless women and trans men were incarcerated for all kinds of heinous crimes, like…smoking and wearing pants? It wasn’t too long ago that a woman on her own could be arrested for prostitution without proof and jailed for her perceived ability to spread sexually transmitted infections. This wasn’t the dark ages; the Women’s House of Detention was open until the 1970s. This is the story of a prison built on structural racism, homophobia, and misogyny, and how those incarcerated fought back.
Aug 04, 202250:28
Episode 2.4. Before We Were Trans: Gender Nonconformity in History with Dr Kit Heyam

Episode 2.4. Before We Were Trans: Gender Nonconformity in History with Dr Kit Heyam

We constantly hear that trans and gender-nonconforming identities are a strictly modern concept. But are they? In this episode, we talk to historian Dr Kit Heyam about gender nonconformity in world history and how definitions and experiences of gender vary between time periods and cultures. Dr Heyam is the author of Before We Were Trans: A New History of Gender, which is out now
Jul 20, 202238:03
Episode 2.3. The Real Stede Bonnet with Jeremy Moss

Episode 2.3. The Real Stede Bonnet with Jeremy Moss

Everyone loves Our Flag Means Death, but who was the real Stede Bonnet, and what exactly was going on between him and Blackbeard? On this week’s show, we talk to Stede’s biographer Jeremy Moss about this, plus libraries on ships, walking the plank, and what makes a good pirate flag
Jul 06, 202244:27
Episode 2.2: Secrets and Scandals of Regency Britain with Violet Fenn

Episode 2.2: Secrets and Scandals of Regency Britain with Violet Fenn

Violet Fenn returns to the podcast to talk about Lady Hamilton, Harriet Wilson, portable chamber pots, and the dateability of Regency dukes
Jun 22, 202240:01
The Facemaker with Dr. Lindsey Fitzharris

The Facemaker with Dr. Lindsey Fitzharris

In this great interview with Dr. Lindsey Fitzharris, we discuss pioneering plastic surgeon Dr. Harold Gillies, his brave patients, and the multitalented medical heroes who made his work possible. You’ll never look at WWI quite the same way again.
Jun 08, 202236:22
Episode 33: Gunpowder Toothpaste. 10 Surprising Victorian Beauty Trends

Episode 33: Gunpowder Toothpaste. 10 Surprising Victorian Beauty Trends

From hot pink and fetish gear to fake eyelashes, tattoos, and nipple piercings, this week we’re talking about some surprisingly “modern” fashion and beauty trends of the 19th century. What did the Victorians wear apart from all that black? We can’t wait to tell you
Mar 17, 202227:28
Episode 32: “The Poor Whores’ Petition” and the Shrove Tuesday Riots of 1668

Episode 32: “The Poor Whores’ Petition” and the Shrove Tuesday Riots of 1668

Shrove Tuesday—Mardi Gras—is now celebrated with pancakes and parades, but in 17th century London, it was another story altogether. For years, local apprentices used the holiday as an excuse to attack sex workers and vandalize brothels. The damage in 1668 was so severe that London’s sex workers petitioned the king’s mistress to help. This week on DSH, we talk about (and attempt to read) The Poor Whores’ Petition of 1668.
Feb 23, 202218:52
Episode 31: Lola Montez Part Two. When Lola Met Ludwig

Episode 31: Lola Montez Part Two. When Lola Met Ludwig

In this episode, we cover the tumultuous year Lola spent in Bavaria which resulted in the abdication of Ludwig I. There’s political intrigue, hints of the occult, and some spectacularly dodgy poetry. Check out our Instagram for the photos we mention @dirtysexyhistory
Feb 16, 202236:05
Episode 30: The Life, Death, and Afterlife of Claude Duval

Episode 30: The Life, Death, and Afterlife of Claude Duval

On the anniversary of Claude Duval’s death, Jess talks about the gallows at Tyburn, then covers the life and high-profile hanging of this legendary highwayman. As a bonus, we host special guest Matt Robinson of the paranormal podcast Ghoul Britannia to talk about a historic hotel in England that Claude allegedly haunts
Jan 19, 202239:17
Episode 29: The Legend of Lola Montez (Part 1)

Episode 29: The Legend of Lola Montez (Part 1)

In this week’s episode, Jess covers the life of infamous dancer and courtesan Lola Montez from her tumultuous childhood in India to her earliest doomed love affairs with Franz Liszt, Alexandre Dumas, and Alexandre Henri Dujarier. Montez was said to be Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s inspiration for femme fatale Irene Adler, but her real life was far more interesting
Jan 14, 202234:39
Episode 28: Historical Themes in Heavy Metal
Jan 05, 202201:28:09
Episode 27: Ariadne Unraveled

Episode 27: Ariadne Unraveled

This week on Dirty Sexy History, Jess talks to Zenobia Neil, author of Ariadne Unraveled. We speculate of the truth behind the myth of the Minotaur and talk sexual fluidity, body positivity, and contraception in the ancient world.
Dec 22, 202159:26
Episode 26: The Chevalier de Saint-Georges

Episode 26: The Chevalier de Saint-Georges

This week on Dirty Sexy History, we look at the extraordinary life of Joseph Boulogne, the Chevalier de Saint-Georges. As a composer, he tutored Marie Antoinette and was so talented that Mozart despised him. An abolitionist and accomplished swordsman, he also led the Legion Saint-Georges, the first all-Black regiment in Europe.
Nov 25, 202117:23
Episode 25: “Female Husbands.” LGBTQ+ Unions in England through the Georgian Era

Episode 25: “Female Husbands.” LGBTQ+ Unions in England through the Georgian Era

We’ve already established that transgender people have always existed, but gay marriage is new—right? Not so much. This week, we have a brief overview of different kinds of same-sex or gender-nonconforming marriages and other unions in England prior to 1800, with a closer look at some fascinating figures from Jen Manion’s brilliant book, Female Husbands.
Nov 17, 202124:41