History Is Sexy
by History Is Sexy
History is Sexy is a podcast presented by historian Dr Emma Southon and writer Janina Matthewson answering listener questions about history. What did the Romans do for us? Where did marrying for love come from? What was world war one all about? Produced and edited by Oliver Kealey. Theme music by Ketsa.
Episodes
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Episode 138 - What's the Deal with the Avignon Papacy?
How many popes is too many popes? Who decides who is the One True Pope? How do you even get more than one pope? Can a pope be TOO French?? All these questions answered as we explore that the time the pope moved to France and the Great Western Schism. Support the podcast at...
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Episode 137: What's the Deal with Magna Carta?
Why doesn't it have a definite article for a start? Where did it come from? What's it all about? Why are people so weird about it? Can you really use it to avoid paying council tax and abiding by covid restrictions? Is Bad King John accidentally responsible for a good thing or is he still awful?...
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Episode 137: What's the Deal with Saint Paul?
Saint Paul, born Saul. A Zealot, a persecutor, a fanatic, a sail maker, a convert and the man responsible for what Christianity became in the first century CE. What exactly is his deal? Let's talk. Support the podcast at www.patreon.com/historyissexy Merch and show notes at www.historyissexy.com
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Episode 136: A Conversation with Lost Roman Heroes
Something a bit different this week as Emma is travelling. We sat down with Matthew and Matteo, the father and son doing their best to rate and rank every Roman hero. We talked Marcus Camillus, why we can't trust Trajan and how to define the Romans. Lost Roman Heroes can be found at...
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Episode 135: What's the Deal with Switzerland?
Switzerland! Peaceful, neutral, full of clocks and cheese , or is it? How did Switzerland come to be? Why does it get to be neutral? How did they get so rich? Why did it take until 1990 for women to be allowed to vote? Let's find out! Support the podcast at patreon.com/historyissexy Show notes,...
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Episode 134: What's The Deal with Marcus Camillus
Who the hell is Marcus Camillus? Featuring Rome's version of the Trojan War, Rome's greatest humiliation, a truly scandalous number of white horses and one of the coolest lines any Roman ever delivered.
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Episode 133 - What's the Deal with Maximilian I of Mexico (Part 2)
Max and Carlota go to Mexico and it goes...well it goes. Everyone has a horrible time but Max keeps his Habsburg honour, which is apparently the important thing. Enjoy the first episode Janina and Emma have ever recorded in the same room! Support the podcast at www.patreon.com/historyissexy Ask a...
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Episode 132: What's the Deal with Maximilian I of Mexico? Part One
Remember that time when France invaded Mexico and tried to install a Hapsburg emperor? No? Let's learn all about it, including Maximilian's no thoughts approach to government and why on EARTH anyone would think this was a good idea! A Correction: A criollo is not a "mixed race" person in the...
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Episode 131 - What's the Deal with Romance Languages?
A Janina special! Why do French and Italian sound different? How do Romance languages develop? How do languages live and die? Support the podcast at www.patreon.com/historyissexy Merch etc at www.historyissexy.com
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Episode 130: Short Answer Questions
Does Oliver approve of any archers on film? Why does Emma called Caligula Gaius? What's Janina's favourite myth? So many questions, so many answers.
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Episode 129: What's the Deal with Roman Triumphs?
Big red faces sweating in the sun. No it's not a group of English men in Benidorm, it's Roman generals dressed as gods being paraded through the streets! What the hell is a triumph anyway? Let's find out together. Support the podcast at www.patreon.com/historyissexy Show Notes etc at...
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Episode 128 - What's the Deal with Ranavalona I and the Kingdom of Madagascar?
Queen Ranavalona I of Madagascar aka the Female Caligula aka the Mad Queen of Madagascar. Was she really as mad, bad and dangerous to know as the British Empire would have us believe? Featuring a "very apparently mathematically challenged" economic historian and a deep dive into pre-Christian...
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An announcment from Emma
A small announcement and plea for support! https://www.emmasouthon.com/events2026
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Episode 127: What's the Deal with Ancient Stoicism?
Stocism. Sto-Bros. In this episode we look at the ancient philosophical school of Stoicism. A surprisingly complex and strange cosmology is expounded, Emma gives up on Logic and Janina wonders if thought experiments are any use at all. Support the Podcast at www.patreon.com/historyissexy Show…
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Episode 126: What's the Deal with the Spartans?
In which we learn that the Spartans were so horrible that even other ancient Greeks were freaked out by them, and recieved absolutly no benefit from it. Support the Podcast at www.patreon.com/historyissexy Source Notes at...
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Episode 125: What's the Deal with the Tynwald?
The long and unexpectedly revolutionary history of the Tynwald, the parliament of the Isle of Man. Allegedly the oldest continuous parliament in history, it celebrated its 1000 year anniversary in 1976. Support the podcast at www.patreon.com/historyissexy Show notes and sources at...
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Episode 124: The Medici Part 3
In which Emma loses total patience with this terrible family and retroactively decides that the name mispronunciation was actually an act of rebellion against them. Support the podcast at patreon.com/historyissexy Show notes, info and merch at www.historyissexy.com
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Episode 123: The Medici Part 2
Support History is Sexy at https://www.patreon.com/c/historyissexy Show Notes etc at https://historyissexy.com/show-notes/episode-122-124-the-medici Emma continues to mispronounce Medici and the Medici continue to be a shower of terrible people. Join us as we meet Piero the Unfortunate and a…
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Episode #122 - The Medici (Part 1)
One of history's most famous families, the Medici, ruled the city of Florence for years, but who were they?
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Episode #121 - Aoife MacMurrough
Episode #121 - Aoife MacMurrough by History Is Sexy
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Episode #120 - The Merovingians
Frank time, let's talk about the people who give France its name.
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Episode #119 - Imhotep
www.patreon.com/historyissexy
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Episode #118 - Charles II
Episode #118 - Charles II by History Is Sexy
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Episode #117 - Beer and Bread
Episode #117 - Beer and Bread by History Is Sexy
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Episode #116 - The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World
Quick, no googling, how many of the seven wonders can you name off the top of your head?
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Episode #115 - Eleanor of Aquitaine
You may know her from the 1968 film "The Lion In Winter" but who was the real Eleanor of Aquitaine?
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Episode #114 - Pope Joan
Lady Pope! What's the legend of Pope Joan?
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Episode #113 - Arctic Exploration
Episode #113 - Arctic Exploration by History Is Sexy
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Episode #112 - The History of Duels
En Garde!
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Episode #111 - The Year of the Four Emperors (Part 3)
If you thought we forgot to upload this one, you would be correct, but here it is!
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Episode #110 - The Year Of The Four Emperors (pt 2)
Time for ranking! Emma lays out her categories and we rank the Four Emperors!
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Episode #109 - The Year of the Four Emperors
Four emperors, Jeremy, four? That's insane. historyissexy.com patreon.com/historyissexy
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Episode #108 - Why Is Shakespeare "The Bard"?
William Shakespeare is often lauded as the greatest writer in the English language, but where did this reputation come from? How was it formed? Why is he referred to as "The Bard"? Was he just a front for a different writer? Join Janina and Emma as they unravel this knotty thicket.
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Episode #107 - Carthage
Carthage, known primarily as one of early Rome's foremost nemeses, but what's the real story behind this North African city-state?
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Episode #104 - History's Greatest Conmen
You may have noticed Episode 104 was missing from our feed, here it is! Sorry for the delay! <3 Emma, Janina, & Oliver
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Episode #106 - The History of KPop
A topic that definitely isn't going to animate the internet, this one, Oliver does his level best to give us a history of KPop, where it started from, what influenced it, and the idol system that keeps it running.
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Episode #105 - Tumblr History with HR Owen
Tumblr, the online home of a certain ind of millennial, has a complicated relationship with history, mainly that relationship involves making up bonkers stuff and passing it off as real. Tumblr expert HR Owen joins Emma to discuss some of the nuttiest examples of Tumblr History.
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Preview - Bonus Episode #2: Ask Us Anything!
This is a preview of our second bonus episode, available exclusively on Patreon, to hear the full episode, join us at Patreon.com/HistoryisSexy
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Episode #103 - Manifest Destiny
Episode #103 - Manifest Destiny by History Is Sexy
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Episode #102 - The History of Sex Work
Episode #102 - The History of Sex Work by History Is Sexy
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Episode #101 - WTDW The Marquis de Sade?
He's widely known as one of history's biggest freaks, but what was actually the deal with the Marquis de Sade?
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Episode #100 - Patron Questions
All three of us take to the mic for this 100th episode celebration, answering questions supplied by the members of our patreon! www.historyissexy.com www.patreon.com/historyissexy
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Episode #99: Quick Roman Questions
A bunch of questions about Rome and Romans that don't fit into an episode of their own www.patreon.com/historyissexy www.historyissexy.com
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Bonus Episode #1 Preview - Glad2ator and Megalopolis
A taster of our first ever bonus episode, a film review show about two roman-inspired films. Full episode only available on Patreon: www.patreon.com/historyissexy
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Episode #98 - Who Were The Druids?
The Druids, mysterious figures in pre-Roman British history, but who were they really??
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Episode #97 - The Shroud of Turin & Veils of Veronica
Miraculous holy faces! Where do they come from? What is their history? Join Emma and Janina as they take a trip through the bizarre world of face-based relics!
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Episode 96 - Was Mansa Musa The Richest Person Ever?
He's the legendary emperor of Mali, famed for his epic journey to Mecca, but was he really the richest person in history?
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The History of Yugoslavia - Part 4
Tito is dead, what happens now? www.patreon.com/historyissexy
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The History of Yugoslavia - Part 3
It's Tito Time
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The History of Yugoslavia - Part 2
This time on History is Sexy, Emma and Janina continue their deep dive into the tumultuous history of the Balkans.
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About this show
History is Sexy is a podcast presented by historian Dr Emma Southon and writer Janina Matthewson answering listener questions about history. What did the Romans do for us? Where did marrying for love come from? What was world war one all about? Produced and edited by Oliver Kealey. Theme music by Ketsa.
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