Elisabeth of Austria part 1
Elisabeth of Austria: Unraveling the Life of a Bavarian Princess Turned Empress In part 1 of a 2 part series, we meet Sisi aka, Elisabeth of Austria. Born a free-spirited Bavarian princess who loved horseback riding, poetry, and avoiding responsibility, Elisabeth never expected to become Empress of one of the largest and most rigid empires in Europe. But at just 15 years old, she caught the eye of Emperor Franz Joseph, married into the ultra-strict Habsburg court, and immediately found herself trapped in a gilded cage — complete with a controlling mother-in-law from hell, Archduchess Sophie. In this episode, we cover Elisabeth’s unconventional upbringing, her whirlwind marriage, the brutal realities of court life in Vienna, and the early cracks that would shape her tragic legacy. Expect Princess Diana vibes, imperial drama, and a reminder that being “beautiful” has never been enough for women in history. Cocktail: strawberries soaked in vodka with rose water and club soda 🍓🌹 Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction from The Exploress aka Kate Armstrong 01:27 Meet Elisabeth aka Sisi: A Bavarian Princess 02:54 Elisabeth's Early Life and Family Background 21:12 The Austrian Court and Marriage Prospects 26:56 Franz Joseph's Proposal and Engagement 37:20 Crash Course in Empress Training 38:47 Marriage and Royal Wedding 40:26 Life as a Young Empress 42:06 Motherhood and Court Struggles 52:33 Travel and Political Influence 59:24 Tragedy Strikes 01:03:15 Grief and Recovery 01:11:43 Health Decline and Escape 01:15:22 Catch you in part 2! ------------------------------------------------------------ Queens podcast is part of Airwave Media podcast network. Please contact advertising@airwavemedia.com if you would like to advertise on our podcast. Want more Queens? Head to our Patreon and follow us on Instagram! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz
Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz was a 17th-century Mexican nun, poet, playwright, composer, and all-around intellectual menace to the patriarchy. In this episode of Queens Podcast, we trace Sor Juana’s rise from hacienda library goblin to celebrated court intellectual and how she used wit, logic, and theology to argue that women deserved education because women are people. Radical stuff. Paired with a twist on the Paloma cocktail, we explore her poems like You Foolish Men and essays such as Respuesta a Sor Filotea, works that helped shape modern feminist thought centuries before feminism had a name. Sor Juana did not just challenge misogyny. She out-argued it, and history is still taking notes. Time stamps: 00:00 Introduction and Content Warning 00:36 Meet the Hosts: Katy & Nathan 01:36 Introducing Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz 02:56 Patreon Shoutouts and Mocktail Recipe 05:31 Sor Juana's Early Life and Education 14:43 Juana's Move to Mexico City 16:45 Life with the viceroy's court 18:28 Juana's Intellectual Challenge 20:55 Becoming a nun 24:59 Juana's Writing Career Begins 26:08 A Close Relationship with Maria Louisa 30:23 You Foolish Men: A Poem of Hypocrisy 37:57 Juana's Feminist Manifesto 43:59 Juana's Downfall and Final Years 47:00 Legacy of a Feminist Icon Sources: Dr. Peyton Cristina Del Toro's YouTube Stuff You Missed in History Class Biography.com Poets.org Queens podcast is part of Airwave Media podcast network. Please get in touch with advertising@airwavemedia.com if you would like to advertise on our podcast. Want more Queens? Head to our Patreon, and follow us on Instagram! Never miss a Queens Podcast happening! Sign up for our newsletter: https://eepurl.com/gZ-nYf Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mary Shelley
Today we’re diving into the wildly dramatic life of Mary Shelley, the mother of science fiction and the ultimate OG Goth Girl. From radical feminist and revolutionary parents, to graveyard hookups, to the stormy summer that gave us Frankenstein, Mary’s life was just as haunting as her work. In this episode, we unpack how Mary Shelley’s grief, genius, and chaotic social circle shaped one of the most influential novels of all time and how she remained quietly radical long after the world tried to tame her. In this episode, we cover: Mary Shelley’s radical upbringing and goth childhood Percy Shelley, Lord Byron, and the messiest friend group imaginable The true origins of Frankenstein Grief, motherhood, and loss Mary Shelley’s underrated radical legacy Time stamps: 00:00 Introduction and New Year Greetings 03:26 Mary Shelley's Early Life and Family 04:37 Mary Wollstonecraft & William Godwin: Radical Parents 16:53 Teenage Years in Scotland (Emotional Glow-Up) 19:43 Percy Shelley has entered the chat 24:09 The Graveyard Scene & Running Away 31:53 Return to England and Family Rejection 36:58 The Birth of Frankenstein 47:26 Loss, Grief & Moving to Italy 54:14 Mary Shelley's Later Life and Legacy Queens podcast is part of Airwave Media podcast network. Please get in touch with advertising@airwavemedia.com if you would like to advertise on our podcast. Want more Queens? Head to our Patreon, check out our merch store, and follow us on Instagram! Never miss a Queens Podcast happening! Sign up for our newsletter: https://eepurl.com/gZ-nYf Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
History's Mysteries: St. Bartholomew's Day massacre
In this episode of History’s Mysteries, we’re diving into one of the bloodiest and most debated events in early modern Europe: the St. Bartholomew’s Day Massacre. Thousands of French Protestants were brutally murdered in August 1572, after what was supposed to be a royal wedding that symbolized peace. Historians have argued for centuries about who was responsible — and today, we’re asking the big question: Did Catherine de Medici order it? This episode blends historical analysis, feminist storytelling, and intuitive tarot reading to look at Catherine de Medici not as a caricature, but as a complex political operator navigating power, survival, and legacy in a brutal era. If you'd like to find more Tandy you can find her on instagramIf you want to try Unicorn Wellness for 30 days head here: https://www.unicornwellnessstudio.com/30-day-guest-access Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction and Special Guest Announcement 00:47 History's Mysteries Series Overview 01:36 Meet Tandy: The Wellness Witch 03:38 The Saint Bartholomew's Day Massacre 10:40 Catherine de' Medici's Role in the Massacre 11:44 Tarot Reading: Did Catherine Call for the Murder? 15:35 Card 1: The Seven of Cups 17:33 Strategic Planning and Power Dynamics 23:38 Card 2: Four of Wands 24:47 The Gloves Are Off: A Violent Message 26:21 Catherine de Medici's Disconnect and Strategy 38:03 Card 3: The Hierophant Card Queens podcast is part of Airwave Media podcast network. Please get in touch with advertising@airwavemedia.com if you would like to advertise on our podcast. Want more Queens? Head to our Patreon, check out our merch store, and follow us on Instagram! Never miss a Queens Podcast happening! Sign up for our newsletter: https://eepurl.com/gZ-nYf Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Queens Kiki December 20
Welcome back to another Queens Kiki for December 20, 2025. This week we’re talking tragic losses, Vanity Fair doing what it does best, horror films finally getting their flowers at the Golden Globes, and the pop culture chaos keeping us afloat. We break down Rob Reiner’s legacy, dissect the now-infamous Vanity Fair Trump cabinet photo spread, argue (passionately) about whether Michael B. Jordan deserved two nominations, and spiral joyfully through what we’re watching, reading, and loving right now. Pop culture, chaos, and coping — just another Kiki. Timestamps: 00:00 Welcome to the Kiki Queens Podcast! 00:24 Reflecting on 2025: A Year to Forget 00:45 Tarot Reading: Setting the Tone 02:48 Heartbreaking News: The Reiner Family Tragedy 04:28 Celebrating Rob Reiner's Legacy 09:00 Vanity Fair's Trump Cabinet Spread 11:19 Analyzing the Photography: Intentional or Rushed? 21:22 What we're watching/reading 27:54 Golden Globes Horror Nominations 33:12 Bowen Yang please be my friend 34:24 Byeeee Queens podcast is part of Airwave Media podcast network. Please get in touch with advertising@airwavemedia.com if you would like to advertise on our podcast. Want more Queens? Head to our Patreon, check out our merch store, and follow us on Instagram! Never miss a Queens Podcast happening! Sign up for our newsletter: https://eepurl.com/gZ-nYf Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices