Hot History

Romanovs Part 3: The Heir Sep 17, 2026 00:57:52 It's any Romanov Tsar's worst nightmare: 10 years on the throne, four daughters, a phantom pregnancy and no heir. NOW we're in the thick of it, guys, looking at the first half of Nicholas and Alexandra's reign, and the dynastic crisis that would plague them AND the Russian people. We're also going to introduce some other key players today, including one Vladimir Lenin!Make sure

Romanovs Part 2: The Family Sep 14, 2026 00:53:57 Alright guys, we are picking things up with Alexander III, father of Nicholas II, grandfather of Alexei, and one of the most brutish imperial family members in Romanov history.In this second episode, we're going from the reign and death of Alexander III to the marriage of Tsar Nicholas II & Alix of Hesse, whose union would lead Russia into the 10th century AND down a long and winding road

Romanovs Part 1: The Rise Sep 10, 2026 01:03:26 Strap in for the next 6 episodes, divas, because we are FINALLY unpacking the rise and fall of the last imperial family of Russia: The Romanovs.In this first episode, we're exploring how the Romanov family came into power, from the early Viking days to Ivan the Terrible and one Anastasia Romanova, we're going to look at the big emperors/empresses who shaped russian history, ending with the

Salem Part 2: The Witch Trials Sep 7, 2026 01:07:20 We're back, and we're ready today to chat about the drama, deceit and devilry involved in the Salem Witch Trials!From Abigail and Betty's affliction to the role of race and gender, the anatomy of hysteria, death by crushing and the accusation of a four-year-old baby who was chained up in prison, we're dissecting the anatomy of hysteria piece by piece. Plus, because this is Hot Hist

Salem Part 1: The Origins of Witchcraft Sep 3, 2026 01:02:35 Double, double toil and trouble; fire burn and cauldron bubble, my divas, because today we are unpacking the History of Witchcraft! From the ancient world right up to the events in Salem, we are unpacking the origins of the term witch, the difference between magic and miracles, the role of religion and the Church, and even taking a trip through space-time to the University of Melbourne to see a ve

Njinga Mbande: The Woman King Aug 27, 2026 01:02:06 Hi divas! Strap in today because we are chatting about the Angolan warrior queen who fought off both the patriarchy and slavers through her wildly sharp wit AND wildly sharp weaponry. THIS is the story of Njinga Mbande, and I can't wait to share it with you!For more on Njinga, I recommend you watch the African Queens series on Netflix!Shout out to our incredible researcher Charlotte Wilkes for

The Galloway Hoard Aug 20, 2026 00:39:42 On today's show, we are chatting about three of my favourite things: Scotland, Vikings & Treasure! From the origins of Vikings in the British Isles to the discovery of the Galloway Hoard, which we were lucky enough to go and see first-hand, we're travelling through time today to look at the mix of cultures and religion which dominated Viking-era Scotland! Thank you so much to the Austr

Anna Pavlova: The Romanov Ballerina Aug 13, 2026 00:53:50 Divas strap in, because we are going back to Imperial Russia with our deep dive on Anna Pavlova: the most famous ballerina in history!From the cold, damp streets of St Petersburg where she struggled with sickness and poverty, to the glittering stages of the world, Anna Pavlova became both the darling of Romanov High Society and the Russian Imperial Ballet Academy, going on to redefine what the ter

Clara Bow: Part 2 - Taylor Swift's muse Aug 9, 2026 00:40:10 Welcome back for Part 2 of our Clara Bow series where we unpack how this young girl from Brooklyn became the muse of Taylor Swift, Stevie Nicks and Margot Robbie!Looking at her relationship with the press, struggles with mental health, financial situation and final years, we're going to unpack Clara's impact on both culture and history. Because as it turns out, Hollywood and indeed society haven't

Clara Bow: Part 1 - The original 'it' girl Aug 6, 2026 00:56:25 You've been asking for her, so here we go. Today we're deep diving into the highs and lows of the original 'it' girl, Clara Bow. From her early years in Brooklyn tenements to the fame and fortune contest that changed her life, we're tracking just how the big-eyed Brooklyn beauty made it to the top of the box office AND the pinnacle of cultural influence. Then come back on Monday for part 2 where w

The Fabergé Eggs: Part 1 Jul 30, 2026 00:46:29 Hello divas! This week we're diving into one of my biggest Roman Empires... the Fabergé Eggs!From a tiny jewellery workshop in St Petersburg to the glittering halls of the Romanovs, this episode follows Peter Carl Fabergé's rise to become Imperial Jeweller and the creator of the most famous Easter gifts in history. We’ll also chat Tsars, Tsarinas, impeccable craftsmanship and of course, the very f

The Fabergé Eggs: Part 2 Jul 30, 2026 00:44:26 Two episodes in one day divas! Welcome back for part two of our Fabergé Eggs deep dive! We continue to deep dive some of the Romanovs' most extraordinary Easter gifts, uncovering the stories hidden inside each masterpiece and following the collection through revolution, exile and mystery. We'll also chat about where the eggs are today, why some are still missing, and how these tiny treasur

The Admiral: Artemisia I Jul 23, 2026 00:34:47 Here we are at the end of our Ancient Greek series and today we're ditching the dudes and talking about the Greek Queen dubbed 'more man than men'. I can't wait for you all to meet Artemisia of Caria, one of my favourite women in antiquity!As promised, ⁠the Hot History Substack⁠ is also now live! If you'd like to support us there, you'd be very welcome!Shout out to our incr

THE ODYSSEY: WTF is it? Jul 16, 2026 01:02:05 Divas its Odyssey day! I am so thrilled to bring this episode to you all as Christopher Nolan's film hits cinemas. We're covering as much as possible in summary form (there are 12,100 lines of this poem after all), from a tidbit on Homer to the end of the Trojan War and the King's return to Ithaca! As promised, the Hot History Substack is also now live! If you'd like to support us

THE ODYSSEY: The Trojan War Jul 9, 2026 01:05:15 Hello you! Let's kick off our deep dive into the works of Homer by looking at the most contentious conflict in history - The Trojan War! Was Is it real? Is it allegory? Is there evidence? And who TF is Helen? Fear not my divas for the daunting task of diagnosis, for we are going to unpack it all right now!Shout out to our incredible researcher Grace McCamish for pulling this together, and if y

THE ODYSSEY: The Greek Gods Jul 2, 2026 00:59:22 Divas, strap in because this episode is what I like to call .. brain rot for intellectuals! It is full of castrations, cannibalism, incest, birthing from the head and thigh and even a spontaneous combustion, which means we can either be talking about Game of Thrones OR the Greek Gods! And in this case, it is the latter! From the primordial deities to the Olympians we're tracking the origins of

Anne Boleyn: Fact vs Fiction Jun 25, 2026 01:45:26 Hi Divas! You've been asking for many MANY moons for this ep so here we go. Today we're deep diving into the life and lies of Anne Boleyn! Second wife of Henry VIII, mother of Elizabeth I and known throughout time as 'the great whore,' Anne's story is full of reformist ideas, bold declarations of love, the pressure of an heir and ultimately, tragedy, as she looses her life unde

What Navy will Lord Corlys lead? 🐉 Jun 22, 2026 00:06:06 Hi Guys! Today I'm joined by the wonderful Steve Toussaint aka Lord Corlys Velaryon in House of the Dragon! From Daenerys to Princess Diana, I want to know if the Sea Snake himself will bend the knee or fend off thee to these couple of leaders! Listen now and make sure to watch House of the Dragon Season 3 on HBO Max.

We hit 1 million downloads! Jun 18, 2026 00:54:35 Hello you!This week is a little different because we've just hit ONE MILLION downloads since February (!!) and I wanted to take a moment to celebrate with you all.So, instead of Anne Boleyn (don't worry, she's coming next week), I thought we'd do a Q&A episode! I asked you to send through your questions so we could get to know each other a little better, and you absolutely deli

Enid Lindeman: Lady Killmore Jun 11, 2026 00:37:51 Hello you! You've been asking for some Aussie history so here we are! I am so excited to chat with you about Enid Lindeman, the Sydney wine heiress who inherited 3 fortunes from 4 husbands, all of whom died! She became an ambulance driver in WW1 and resistance hero in WW2, was one of the first people to step foot in King Tut's tomb, and had more lovers than I’ve had hot dinners. She also d

CURSED: The Hope Diamond Jun 4, 2026 00:41:42 Hello you! Apologies in advance for the croaky tone of this week's episode, but sickness aside I am so excited to chat with you about the Hope Diamond. Renowned for its beauty, string of unfortunate events and possible curse, this stone has seen its fair share of action from French kings to Gilded Age heiresses! But what do you think, is it cursed or simply a matter of coincidence? Let me know

Evelyn Romadka: The Vampire Queen May 28, 2026 00:40:00 Hello you! Happy Friday!Today we're talking about Evelyn Romadka, the Wisconsin housewife whose obsession with crime novels and dual personality disorder post a botched medical procedure led her to form her own all female criminal network! If you love crime AND history, then this is a story you don't want to miss!If you also want more Hot History you can follow along on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠In

The most expensive party in history May 21, 2026 00:59:41 Hello Divas! Today we're back looking at the most expensive party in history, both in the literal dollar bills sense AND the fact this single event led a dynasty to lose everything. This is the 1971 Iranian celebration for 2,500 years of Persian rule, and if you think your wedding or even a Great Gatsby level event is worthy of the name 'party', then think again! From new highways to p

HOT TAKE: Should we destroy history? (Part 2) May 17, 2026 00:47:28 Hi guys! Today we're back with part 2 of our HOT TAKE episode on whether we have the right to destroy history.In this episode we're going to look at our last 2 historical sources: Exhibits, including Hitlers Entartete Kunst & the President's House Exhibition, as well as Art/Sculpture, ranging from Mao's cultural reforms to the Bamiyan Buddhas AND the most written about example,

HOT TAKE: Should we destroy history? (Part 1) May 14, 2026 00:56:09 Hi guys! Today we're back with a HOT TAKE episode to unpack the big question we've been asking the last couple of weeks: Do we have a right to destroy history?In this first part of the series we're going to look at 2 kinds of historical sources: Buildings, including the Berghof & Winter Palace, and Documents, including Mein Kampf & Queen Victoria's diaries! Make sure to hea

ATLANTIS: Fact or Fiction? May 7, 2026 00:53:40 Hello Divas! Today we're back to unpack the myth, the legend and the facts about the Lost City of Atlantis! According to the Greek philosopher Plato, Atlantis was said to have been blessed by Poseidon, god of the sea, becoming home to his demi god offspring, who turned the 'fertile plain' into the greatest civilisation that ever lived. With expertise in metallurgy, craftsmanship, comme

Kiki Preston: The Girl with the Silver Syringe Apr 30, 2026 00:35:39 Hello Divas! Today we're back with the story of Kiki Preston, the gilded age nepo baby whose life spanned from the streets of Paris to the plains of Africa and the sidewalks of New York City to the drawing room at Buckingham Palace, with her infamous moniker surmising a life that was steeped in equal parts drama, deceit, dukes and drugs! But what does this nickname do to her historical legacy?

The Gilded Age mansion that sank with Titanic Apr 23, 2026 00:54:41 Hello you! Today we're chatting about Lynnewood Hall, the 110 room gilded age mansion with double the footprint of the White House! Built for the Widener family, it was meant to be a haven for art and culture, but its hopes sank to the depths with the RMS Titanic when both the Widener heirs died on board. Sold to the church for a seminary, the homes contents full of french art, italian mantles

Ching Shih: The Pirate Queen Apr 16, 2026 00:40:08 Happy Friday! Today we are talking about the most successful pirate in history, and I don’t mean Jack Sparrow or Blackbeard - I’m talking about Ching Shih, the former sex worker turned pirate queen who controlled the South China Sea to such an extent the Qing dynasty paid her to retire! As an Asian woman she defies all the pirate stereotypes toted by historians and western sources alike, and had o

Rasputin: Dynasty ending BDE Apr 9, 2026 01:12:54 You guys have been asking for him, so today we are spending a full hour (and a bit) on Ra Ra Rasputin! From a Siberian village to the centre of imperial Russia, how did the ‘mad monk’ bring the 300 year old house of Romanov crumbling down? We cover it all from horse whispering to sex sects, pesky rumours to miraculous events and of course, assassinations and 12 inch penises! If you're wanting

The 1903 Romanov Ball Apr 2, 2026 00:33:17 Hello you! Today we are chatting about the 1903 Romanov Ball aka, the last great royal ball in Europe! Thrown in celebration of 290 years of Romanov rule, the entire Russian court was sent back to the 17th century, dripped in gold and gems, posing for photos with their friends and most of all, blissfully ignoring the rumbling discontent outside the palace gates! Listen now to find out all the deet

REVIEW: Love Story Mar 30, 2026 00:38:50 The finale of Ryan Murphy's cult historical fiction 'Love Story' was divisive and jam packed from the explosive scenes between Caroline & Ann Bessette to that plane scene! In this episode, we unpack the finale plus my thoughts on the series as a whole, while looking at the ethics of fictionalised historical dramas like 'Love Story' to try and answer the question on everyone's lips: how long af

JFK Jr & CBK Mar 26, 2026 00:56:14 Hello and welcome back to Hot History! I am so thrilled to FINALLY be covering the real history behind JFK Jr and Carolyn Bessette Kennedy in the wake of Love Story's final episode. From their careers, dealings with the media, inner circles and tragic passing, we're getting to know each of these 90's icons outside the silver screen.Make sure to tune in on Monday for my full review of Love Story to

The (real) Peaky Blinders Mar 19, 2026 00:40:27 Alrightttt … this episode of Hot History is by order of the Peaky Fooking Blinders! Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man is on Netflix tonight, so we’re covering exactly who the real Peaky Blinders were! We start by looking at the Industrial Revolutions impact on Birmingham and the origins of the Victorian street gangs, before covering some of the real figures and events in the TV series. From Billy K

Where’d the money go? Mar 12, 2026 01:00:38 Hello guys! Today we're talking about what exactly happened to the 'stuff' of queens, emperors, dictators and criminals after it all comes crushing down!From Marie Antoinette's jewels to the Romanov family's Faberge Eggs and the Kaiser's palaces and art post exile, we look at what happened to the collections of these royal dynasty's when it all comes crashing down! PLUS we're looking at Hitlers pe

The Diamond Necklace Affair Mar 5, 2026 00:51:11 Hi guys! Today we're locking in for a chat on the diamond necklace affair, the event which according to Napoleon Bonaparte is the event "the Queen's death must be dated from". It's a tale of blackmarket dealers, forged signatures, parading prostitutes, and it ended with Marie Antoinette being blamed for it all!We cover how Marie developed her reputation as 'Madame Deficit,' the scheme behind the d

The knights who guard the crown of thorns! Feb 26, 2026 00:56:30 Hello you, welcome back to Hot History! Today's ep looks at the secret Parisian order of monastic knights who guard what some believe to be Jesus's crown of thorns!We will look at:1. Origin of this order2. Origin of this crown from Jerusalem to Paris3. Role of the order today & the Notre Dame fire4. Authenticating the crownPLUS we look at the difference between normal archaeological artifacts

Moors & Manuscripts: The Brontë sisters Feb 12, 2026 01:24:42 Hello you, welcome back to Hot History! I’m so excited to chat about the Brontë sisters today and my god we’re DEEPING it! From their education, family dynamic, life on the moors, time in Brussels, publications and untimely deaths, we’re looking at each sister and their works in total. PLUS to my greatest shock and surprise, the fact that Haworth is also home to the iconic op shop in Wild Child!!

We're BACK Baby! Feb 5, 2026 01:01:12 Hello you! Welcome back to the new and improved Hot History Podcast! I am so excited for all things hot AND all things history in 2026!Today I'm giving you some of my top recommendations across TV, Film, Books, Podcasts, Substacks, Creators and YouTube so you can start Feb filled to the brim with content. Plus, of course, if you're wanting more Hot History content you can follow along on I

(the not so) Wonderful Wizard of Oz Sep 5, 2025 00:46:52 Today I'm joined by Cass of Hollywoodland Photos to deep dive into the life of Judy Garland. Child prodigy, star of the Wizard of Oz and victim to the Hollywood studio system, her life is a mish mash of terrific highs and terrifying lows which ultimately took her life.

King Tut's Tomb Aug 22, 2025 00:27:46 Okay team we're splitting this episode between the Ancient Egyptian New Kingdom and Cairo in the 1920s as we look at the life of King Tut and the man who discovered his famous tomb - Mr Howard Carter!

Alva Vanderbilt Aug 12, 2025 00:25:37 The golden girl of the gilded age, we are talking about the IRL inspo for Bertha Russell - Mrs Alva Vanderbilt. She was a southern heiress turned new money social climber who rose to the top, married her ex husbands BFF and shocked all when she emerged as one of America's leading suffragette's. This one is truly scandalous!

Maria Theresa Jul 25, 2025 00:21:13 The big mommy of Europe, we're talking about the one and only female Habsburg ruler, Maria Theresa. Mother of Marie Antoinette, fighter for compulsory education, patron of the arts and all around master of statescraft there is a reason she goes down in history as one of the 18th centuries biggest baddies!

The Von Trapp Family Jul 11, 2025 00:22:33 The real family behind the Sound of Music, we're digging into the history behind the 1965 blockbuster film on location in Salzburg Austria!

The Terracotta Warriors Jun 26, 2025 00:12:51 Okay guys today we are scratching the surface (no pun intended) on the terracotta warriors, the massive subterranean army built to protect the first emperor of China - Qin Shi Huang! Discovered in 1974 by Chinese farmers while digging a well, this is the story of how one of history's greatest archaeological discoveries was made AND how it changed the game forever!

Marilyn Monroe Jun 19, 2025 00:39:45 A story that spans 36 years, from orphanage to the silver screen and perhaps even the White House... Today, we cover the woman, the legend, the pop culture phoenix: Miss Marilyn Monroe, aka Norma Jeane Mortenson.Warning:This episode of Hot History contains themes which some viewers may find distressing, including but not limited to eating disorders, mental illness and sexual assault. Please take c

The Concorde Jun 13, 2025 00:19:57 Symbol of luxury, speed and ... disaster! This week, we break down the world's first supersonic passenger aircraft, which played host to everyone from Phil Collins to Princess Diana.

Louis 14th Jun 6, 2025 00:27:37 Is Louis 14th the ultimate Narc? How much did it cost to build the complex at Versailles? And how many heirs should be called Louis before it's banned? We unpack the 'sun king's' life from childhood to it's gangrenous end!

Joan of Arc May 30, 2025 00:19:13 Today, May 30th, marks 594 years since Joan of Arc was burned at the stake at only 19 years old. But who was she? Heretic? Warrior? Martyr? Victim? We break it all down in today's episode!

Mata Hari - The Femme Fatale Aug 23, 2024 00:27:02 Hello Hello! Today we are looking at the very first femme fatale - Margaretha Zelle aka Mata Hari. Mother, turned Exotic dancer, turned businesswoman, turned Spy, who is Mata Hari and how did she meet her grisly end? Tune in and find out!

Grey Gardens Aug 16, 2024 00:32:55 What's romantic about an American stockbroker?!?!? We deep dive into the lives of Jackie Kennedy's reclusive Aunt and cousin, 'Big' & 'Little' Edie. Former socialites and heiresses, this is a riches-to-rags story set against the backdrop of their crumbling mansion on the coast of East Hamptons, 'Grey Gardens'.

The Romanovs Aug 2, 2024 00:41:24 We are BACK for Season 2 of the Hot History Podcast, so strap in because it's big! Today we break down the lives and lies of Russia's last Imperial Family - the Romanovs. With enough twists & turns to be a George R.R Martin sell-out, this is a story of deception, mystics, riches, genetic diseases and pretenders all wrapped up in an estimated $55 Billion package!

Marie Antoinette Feb 27, 2024 00:24:19 Today we get down and dirty with French Queen Marie Antoinette who is famous for her love of shoes, massive hair and letting her people eat cake. But was she really as frivolous as history remembers, or is she too a victim of historical fallacy? We will find out!

Alexander The (kinda) Great Feb 16, 2024 00:22:47 Today we are getting down and dirty with the original G.O.A.T, Alexander. Unpacking his rise to power, the expansion of his empire, his relationship with his male lover and more we answer the question of who Alexander was and whether he was, in fact, great.

You're (Ivan the) Terrible Jan 25, 2024 00:23:45 It's that time again! We get down and dirty with the man who puts the terror in terrible! We look at everything from his 8 wives, fits of rage, and the rise of the Romanov family, plus course his mentions in pop culture.

I Missi Sisi Jan 12, 2024 00:18:53 Today we are getting down and dirty with the OG Hot Girl and leader of the 19th century's 'tight lacer' crew - Empress Sisi. Covering her marriage to Emperor Franz Joseph, obsessive beauty routine, Odyssey of travels, and more, we look for the real Sisi amidst the fogs of mystery surrounding her.

BONUS: Ho Ho Hot History Dec 22, 2023 00:16:04 Get in the festive spirit with some of my favourite Historical Christmas traditions from Austria to Japan! Have a blessed and happy Holiday season xx

Divorced, Beheaded & Died Dec 15, 2023 00:27:50 Today we get down & dirty with King Henry the 8th and his six sorry wives! Covering everything from the start to the end of the Tudor dynasty, we will unearth one of the most dynamic periods in English history while getting all the tea on the infamous king and his assortment of unfortunate Queens!

Prinny Di Forever Nov 24, 2023 00:21:25 Today we deep dive into the life of Diana Spencer, Princess of Wales. Looking at her relationship with Charles, the wider royal family, her motherhood, charitable works, and of course her tragic death we see the long-lasting legacy of one of the UK's most mourned public figures. TW: this episode references eating disorders and self-harm which some listeners may find disturbing.

JFK - The Hot President Nov 17, 2023 00:23:41 Today we deep dive into the life and death of the 35th President of the USA, John F Kennedy. So famous that he is remembered by 3 letters, JFK has as many myths, legends, and conspiracies as Area 51, and we look at them all including his efforts in WW2, family life, civil rights work, and even his supposed affair with Marilyn Monroe.

Napoleon aka Bony Nov 10, 2023 00:22:39 Let's get down and dirty with Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte and his toxic relationship with his one true love, Josephine. Looking at his rise and fall, we debunk some myths, look at his problematic love language AND representations in pop culture.

Cleopatra - History's GF Oct 27, 2023 00:23:43 Welcome back to Hot History! Today we're jumping into the life and legend of Cleopatra VII, the last pharaoh of Egypt. Covering topics from her famous love affairs, education, death and references in pop cultre, we're discerning the myth from the facts!

Caesar, like the Salad Oct 20, 2023 00:22:49 Hey Hot History Club, today we're deep diving into the epic rise and fall of Roman General turned Dictator, Julius Caesar. We're covering it all, including connecting the dots to find out what Caesar has to do with salads, pirates, Brits & Bob Dylan!

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