History For Weirdos

In 1859, the United States & Great Britain were on the brink of war. This conflict arose after an American farmer, Lyman Cutlar, shot a pig belonging to an employee of the Hudson's Bay Company, a British-owned business, which was grazing on his property. This event escalated into a full-blown military standoff between American and British forces, with both sides sending troops to the islands. Crazily enough, this insane incident was ended all thanks to the efforts of...the Kaiser of the German Empire? Listen now to hear the full story!

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Judith Love Cohen was an American aerospace engineer, ballet dancer, author, publisher, and mother to computer scientist Neil Siegel and to a reasonably well-known actor – Jack Black. Her work was crucial to bringing home the Apollo 13 astronauts when disaster struck.

In addition to being a big deal in the field of aeronautics, she was also a professionally trained ballet dancer! An all-around genius, her work has been instrumental in furthering the cause of humanity. Listen now to hear the full story!

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Hedy Lamarr was an Austrian-American Hollywood Actress from the Golden Age of cinema, yet was a technological pioneer. She began her acting career in her native Austria before emigrating to the United States in the 1930s. She appeared in numerous films throughout the 1930s and 1940s, including the controversial film "Ecstasy". Lamarr was also known for her beauty, and was voted the "most beautiful woman in films" by the Hollywood Film Industry Guild in 1940.

In addition to her acting career, Lamarr was also an inventor. During World War II, she and composer George Antheil developed a secret communication system to help the Allies fight the Nazis. Their invention, a frequency-hopping system, used a piano roll to randomly change the radio frequencies of torpedoes, making them harder to detect and jam. The technology was ahead of its time and was not used during the war, but it forms the basis of modern wireless communication technologies such as Bluetooth and WiFi. In 2014, Lamarr and Antheil were posthumously inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame. 

But that's not all, tune in now to hear the full story of the amazing, Hedy Lamarr.

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Leland & Jane Stanford created a legacy of higher learning and of patronizing the arts...funded through illicit activity.

When Jane Stanford died everyone believed she died of natural causes, but about 100 years later the truth finally came out: Jane Stanford was murdered.

But who did it? Why did they do it? Listen to Steff share the details and decide for yourself! 

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Our "Weirdo" spotlight this week is on a woman who did something that most of her male contemporaries would never dream of doing!

During the first century AD, the Celtic "Warrior Queen" Boudica dared to rebel against one of the mightiest empires the world had ever seen: the Roman Empire. Fueled by vengeance, her campaigns would leave a mark on not only Roman history in Britannia, but on the entirety of English & British history as well.

Listen now to hear all about her courageous defiance.

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The "femme fatale" trope gets cranked up a notch in this week's episode. Our subject, Olga of Kiev, was a Kievan Rus' leader during the 10th century who made her enemies pay the ultimate price. Born of Viking (Varangian) blood, she would not only strike fear into her opponents...but would eventually become a saint? Listen now to hear her stranger than fiction life story.

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On the day of April 14, 1561, strange phenomenon took place over the skies of Nuremberg, Germany that have puzzled onlookers, astronomers and historians for centuries. But the stranger thing was this event was not isolated. Did unidentified flying objects (UFOs) visit the city or were these non-supernatural astrophysical phenomena? You be the judge.

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The infamous, ill-fated English colony of Roanoke has gone down into historical lore. Before even Jamestown, the English attempted to create its first permanent colony in the Americas. But it was not meant to be. Your hosts take a deep dive into the history of the colony, the disappearance of the colonists and even possibly what fate awaited them. Tune in now to hear the full story!

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This week, Stephanie dives into the story of Ona Judge, an enslaved woman who was "owned" by none other than the 1st President of the United States, George Washington. She escapes from the household of the most powerful man in the country to gain her freedom. But her journey would be far from easy. Listen now to hear the full story!

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This week's episode explores a controversial English leader who brilliantly commanded armies during the Hundred Years War in the Middle Ages. Celebrated in England yet hated in France...sometimes a hero, other times a villain. Listen now to hear which it was!

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Happy Halloween to our Weirdo family!

While you have probably heard of the Salem Witch Trials, this sort of 17th century "justice" wasn't confined to the English colonies. In this week's episode, Stephanie discusses the history of the Pendle Witch Trials of 1612 in England. Listen now to hear the full story!

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On December 7th, 1941 the Japanese Imperial Fleet shocked the United States (and the world) with a devastating, surprise attack on the US Navy Base at Pearl Harbor. Just a couple of months later, an attack on Los Angeles, CA was imminent...or was it? Listen now to hear the strange circumstances surrounding the event that would be known as, "The Battle of Los Angeles".

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As a part of the History for Weirdos "Spooky" October series, this week Stephanie covers the Villisca axe murders that occurred in 1912 as well as the potentially paranormal activity that has taken place there since.  Listen now...if you dare. ;)

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This week's special spooky episode is all about the Italian island of Poveglia. From plagues to mad scientists, this haunted island has a history you will not want to miss!

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In this week's episode Steff shares the mysterious and tragic deaths that occurred in Greystone Mansion in 1929. How did the son of oil tycoon Edward Doheny end up deceased in this spectacular home alongside his friend Hugh Plunkett? 

Listen to this week's episode to find out!

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The only successful coup d'état in American history is bloody and a general stain on our country's past. Tune in this week to hear how local politics in Wilmington, North Carolina shaped our history and created issues we are still experiencing to this day!

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Welcome back to another episode of History for Weirdos! This week, Stephanie discusses the Nottingham Cheese Riot of 1766, it's stranger than fiction and you won't want to miss out!

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This week's episode is a doozy! Andrew takes us all the way back to the first great Persian nation in the 6th century BC under Cyrus the Great: the Achaemenid Empire. He dies and his sons take over but what happens next? Something truly stranger than fiction... maybe? Tune in now to hear how this story unfolds.

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This week, Stephanie shares the legendary tale of a rebel princess! Listen now to hear how princess Erendira of the Purepecha nation (in present day Michoacán, Mexico) went against the odds to fight off the Spanish Invasion. 

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Have you ever heard of horse diving? Well...neither had we! But this week Andrew covers the history of horse diving along with the "Babe Ruth" of the sport, Sonora Webster. Listen now and share your thoughts with us over on Instagram!

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Robert Lees was a Victorian-era spiritualist with connections to Prince Albert and Jack-the-Ripper. Listen now to here this paranormal tale!

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Andrew tells us the story of Tiberius & Gaius Gracchus who were some of the original champions of the common person. It's possible you have never heard of them, but their actions shaped the course of western civilization. Tune in now to find out how!

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Stephanie tells us the tragic tale of one of the most incredible artists of all time, Caravaggio. His paintings early on caught the eyes of many wealthy patrons and set him up to be one of the most sought after painters... but his off-the-canvas shenanigans caught the eyes of authorities as well. Tune in to hear all about he instantly became a legend!

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The moment we've all been waiting for! We answer all of the amazing and weird questions that you guys submitted over the past few weeks and boy oh boy did we have a blast. Thank you so much Weirdo fam 🤙

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In this week's episode, Andrew spins the tale of a woman who dared defy Roman authority in the 3rd century AD. She amassed a massive amount of power and prestige, making her one of the most powerful women in the history of Rome. Listen now to hear the story of Zenobia!

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A little late but we're back with another episode! This week Stephanie tells the tale of two children who mysteriously appeared in the village of Woolpit England in the 12th century. The pair appeared seemingly out of nowhere with green skin, speaking an unknown language, and dressed in non-typical clothing. Intrigued? Listen now to find out more! 

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Thank you so much to all of you for being patient with us as we recovered from COVID!

This week, Stephanie regales us about the often overlooked "5th Beatle", Brian Epstein, and how he helped transform a local band with some minor notoriety into a worldwide sensation. Tune in to hear this incredible story and to find out more about what went on behind the scenes in The Beatles' climb to stardom.

The Beatles performing "I Want to Hold Your Hand" on the Ed Sullivan Show (2/9/1964): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jenWdylTtzs&ab_channel=TheBeatlesVEVO

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In this week's episode Andrew discussed the origins and widespread influence of mysterious historical figure Zarathustra aka Zoroaster the founder of Zoroastrianism. You won't want to miss out on this unique history lesson!

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In this week's episode Stephanie shares the story of the (almost) forgotten World War II spy Phyllis Latour Doyle. Listen now to hear how she used knitting needles to help liberate France from Nazi occupation!

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This is a weird one folks. Andrew tells the story of how a small farm in Kentucky got an unexpected hail...of meat. Yes, really. Tune in to hear this because it doesn't get stranger than this.

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Stephanie dives deep into the infamous murder case of Lizzie Borden who was accused of "taking an axe" to her father and stepmother. However facts don't really line up and not everything is so clear cut. Did she indeed do it? Listen now to decide!

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This week, Andrew goes into detail regarding the history of Puff the magic Dragon / reefers / Big Smoke / whatever else you would like to call it (we are avoiding the actual term as to not get flagged). The history goes back, WAY back so strap in and listen as we talk about the most influential weeds in human history.

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In this week's episode, Stephanie regales us with the story of a woman who scorned the traditional women's swimwear at the time and brought forth something new. So revolutionary was her invention, the one-piece bathing suit, that it brought forth quite the scandal! Listen to the full episode to find out more.

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This week, Andrew goes into detail on an ancient battle that helped change the course of human history. Tune in to find out more on this seemingly-apocalyptic battle!

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This week, Andrew goes into the life of the legendary surfer, Duke Kahanamoku. But there is much more to the story than just catching some tasty waves. Tune in to find out more!

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In this week's episode of History for Weirdos, Stephanie shares the story of 1920s icon Josephine Baker. From performances, to civil rights protests, and life in a chateau, Baker was the best kind of weirdo. Listen now to learn more!

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On this week of the History for Weirdos podcast, we cover the Great Molasses Flood which took place in Boston in 1919. This historical event quickly became folklore, but Andrew shares all the bizarre facts about what actual happened when molasses flooded a neighborhood in Boston. This story is strange, shocking, and...sticky! 

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Welcome to our very first special episode! After going over some housekeeping, Stephanie regales the listeners with the history of the haunted Georgian Hotel in Santa Monica, CA. Be sure to listen to until the very end to hear about our own *potential* haunting experience. 

Leave us a comment on Instagram or send us an email to share your own ghost stories!

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In this week's episode, Andrew discusses and highlights the amazing life & legacy of actor/director/diplomat Sidney Poitier. From humble beginnings to Hollywood icon, he led a life that is shrouded in glory. Tune in to learn all about it!

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In episode 34 of History for Weirdos, Stephanie shares the strange and tragic stories of iconic author Mary Shelley.

Listen and learn on how the author of Frankenstein was truly a goth queen! 

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This week's episode covers the life and disappearance of American author Ambrose Bierce. It has it all folks: war, poetry, corruption, and possibly aliens?! Listen now to get the scoop! 

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In this week's weird history episode, Stephanie discusses the lore surrounding a famous English witch and prophetess known as "Mother Shipton." 

Tune in to hear of her witchy origin story and prophetic proclamations...

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In this week's episode we dive into the story of Zheng Yi Sao, the most prolific pirate you've never heard of. This pirate empress from the early 19th century is a weirdo you will not want to miss!

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Happy Holidays Weirdos! In our special 30th episode, Stephanie shares the pagan roots of many beloved Christmas traditions. Tune into to hear how ancient Romans, Celtics, Norse, Aztecs (and more) influenced the history of Christmas!

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We're back weirdos! In this week's episode Andrew tells the tale of wonderful weirdo Maud Wagner the first recorded female tattoo artist in the United States. Tune in now to learn more about Maud and her badass tattoo tale. 

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In this week's episode Stephanie unravels fact from fiction while discussing the story of Elizabeth Bathory AKA the Blood Countess. Was this powerful Hungarian noble woman a mass murderer? Listen now to find out!

P.S. The pronunciation of names in this episode is very off in part due to language barrier and in part due to Steff's dyslexia :) We hope you enjoy regardless!

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Mentioned in this episode:

Beautiful Writers Podcast: 

https://www.beautifulwriterspodcast.com/

Elizabeth Bathory book "The Progeny:"

https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Progeny/Tosca-Lee/Descendants-of-the-House-of-Bathory/9781501125942

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In this week's episode, Andrew schools us on the Sacred Band of Thebes; an ancient Greek elite military team made up entirely of gay male lovers.

You don't want to miss this awesome episode where we learn about their conquests and badass legacy!

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Articles mentioned in this episode:

History For Weirdos on Ranked on Feedspot:

https://blog.feedspot.com/human_history_podcasts/

Smithsonian Magazine Interview on the true history of Thanksgiving:

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/thanksgiving-myth-and-what-we-should-be-teaching-kids-180973655/

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In this week's episode, Stephanie shares the story of 11-year old murderer Mary Bell. Stephanie and Andrew explore the extreme case of Mary's traumatic upbringing, her victims and her life after prison. 

Trigger Warning for this episode: murder, abuse, & violence towards children.

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