The Poorly-Researched History Podcast

Andrew tells Sophia about Joan of Arc, the farm girl who turned the tides of the Hundred Years War for the French, and later became a Saint. Send us your questions! From now on, we're going to be answering listener questions at the start of episodes. Email us at [email protected] Tweet us at @prhpod Our music is by Richard Ciavarelli

Sophia tells Andrew about Commedia dell'arte in the second special theater episode! And they discover the true origin of the art form: a grade school project. Send us your questions! From now on, we're going to be answering listener questions at the start of episodes. Email us at [email protected] Tweet us at @prhpod Our music is by Richard Ciavarelli

Andrew tells Sophia about Pythagoras, the Greek philosopher/mathematician/astronomer/cult leader. Pythagoras, aside from allegedly inventing his famous theorem, was a really weird guy with a lot of strange ideas. Also, he ran what was effectively a cult. Send us your questions! From now on, we're going to be answering listener questions at the start of episodes. Email us at [email protected] Tweet us at @prhpod Our music is by Richard Ciavarelli

Sophia tells Andrew about the Great Emu War in Australia, a military/pest control operation to protect the wheat fields of farmers after the first World War. Then, we hear a brief snippet of the conversation that led to the escalation of this conflict. Send us your questions! From now on, we're going to be answering listener questions at the start of episodes. Email us at [email protected] Tweet us at @prhpod Our music is by Richard Ciavarelli

Andrew tells Sophia about Harald Hardrada, considered by many to be the last Viking King, and by some to be the last Viking. Harald is a lame name, though, apparently, so we only call him Hardrada. Send us your questions! From now on, we're going to be answering listener questions at the start of episodes. Email us at [email protected] Tweet us at @prhpod Our music is by Richard Ciavarelli

(...of Bologna. That part didn't fit in the title) Sophia tells Andrew about Saint Catherine of Bologna, the nun whose mummified body is still on display at the church of Chiesa della Santa in Bologna, Italy. Also, Andrew learns he may have some trouble if he wants to become a saint. Image of Saint Catherine of Bologna: https://goo.gl/images/SBtro4 Email us at [email protected] Tweet us at @prhpod Our music is by Richard Ciavarelli

Andrew tells Sophia about the Chinese Zhou Dynasty, the second, or perhaps third, dynasty. This dynasty was the birthplace of many aspects of Chinese culture, including most of the dominant schools of thought, religion, and the idea of dynasties themselves. Also, King Wu may have made up an entire imaginary dynasty. Just maybe. Email us at [email protected] Tweet us at @prhpod Our music is by Richard Ciavarelli

Sophia tells Andrew about the Licensing Act of 1737, which censored what was said about the British government through theater. They also discuss Sir Robert Walpole, the first British Prime Minister, and his fantastic invention for swimming right inside your own home. The Festival of the Golden Rump cartoon: https://goo.gl/images/sab2K1 Email us at [email protected] Tweet us at @prhpod Our music is by Richard Ciavarelli

Andrew tells Sophia about Fort Douaumont, the largest French fort on the Western Front during World War I, and the strange series of events that led to its capture by the Germans, and later recapture by the French. Pro tip: Use a coffee maker next time. Email us at [email protected] Tweet us at @prhpod Our music is by Richard Ciavarelli

Sophia tells Andrew about King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain, the Catholic Monarchs. Also, Tomás de Torquemada, and the Spanish Inquisition. We discover the best method of dealing with problems, and hear a rare tape from the time. "It wasn't that bad" article: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2004/jun/16/artsandhumanities.internationaleducationnews Email us at [email protected] Tweet us at @prhpod Our music is by Richard Ciavarelli

Andrew tells Sophia about Pyrrhus of Epirus, the wars of the Diadochi, and other shenanigans following the death of Alexander the Great. Email us at [email protected] Tweet us at @prhpod Music by Richard Ciavarelli

Sophia tells Andrew about King Louis XIV, the self-dubbed Sun King. We also accidentally call him Louis XVI a lot of times. Images referenced: Baby Sun King: http://bit.ly/2FJm3EE VERY SUN King: http://bit.ly/2IqZOVN Jupiter Sun King: http://bit.ly/2FW13xQ Email us at [email protected] Tweet us at @prhpod Music by Richard Ciavarelli