

History Is Sexy
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
Mentioned books

May 24, 2018 • 1h 30min
Episode #9 - Quick Questions
Emma and Janina answer a whole bunch of questions - like how bad did aristocratic inbreeding really get? Who had the sexiest facial hair of the American Civil War? And what's the weirdest shit people have pulled to appear attractive?
Links!
Sexy beards https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/who-had-best-civil-war-facial-hair-180951965/
http://americancivilwarbeards.tumblr.com/
Roman bread: http://www.britishmuseum.org/whats_on/exhibitions/pompeii_and_herculaneum/pompeii_live/live_event/bread_recipe.aspx
Early communion: The Didache https://www.crossroadsinitiative.com/media/articles/didacheontheeucharistteachingofthetwelveapostles/
Justin Martyr (paragraphs 65-66) http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/0126.htm

May 10, 2018 • 58min
Episode #8 - Did Women Really Dress as Men to Join the Army?
Join Emma and Janina as they attempt to unravel one of history's tricky questions: "Are the stories you hear of women dressing up to be soldiers true, and if so how did they get away with it?"
Sources:
Catherine Baker: https://twitter.com/richmondbridge/status/983619848973553664?s=09
Mark Stoyle. 2018.‘Give mee a Souldier's Coat’: Female Cross‐Dressing during the English Civil War. History 103 (354) pp. 5-26.
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/1468-229X.12542
Catherine Baker. 2018. Montrous Regiment. History Today. https://www.historytoday.com/catherine-baker/monstrous-regiment
Cheryl Morgan. 2018. How Not To Erase Trans History. http://www.historymatters.group.shef.ac.uk/erase-trans-history/
Julie Wheelwright. 1990. Amazons and Military Maids: Women Who Dressed as Men in Pursuit of Life, Liberty and Happiness
DeAnne Blanton, Lauren Cook Wike. 2002. They Fought Like Demons: Women Soldiers in the American Civil War
Fraser Easton. 2003, Gender's Two Bodies: Women Warriors, Female Husbands and Plebeian Life. Past and Present 108, pp. 131-174. http://www.jstor.org/stable/3600742
Jing Yin, 2011. Popular Culture and Public Imaginary: Disney vs. Chinese Stories of Mulan. Javnost - The Public: Journal of the European Institute for Communication and Culture 18 (10), pp. 53-74.
Peter Boag. 2011.Re-Dressing America’s Frontier Past.
Lila Guadêncio, nd. The Pillars of Mimicry: Performativity and 'Realness' in Hua Mulan
http://www.academia.edu/24696528/The_Pillars_of_Mimicry_Performativity_and_Realness_in_Hua_Mulan

Apr 25, 2018 • 1h 25min
Episode #7 - When In Rome, What Did The Romans Do?
This week our question is: "When In Rome, What Did The Romans Do?"
Join Emma and Janina as they take a closer look into the daily lives of Roman citizens, both at work and play.
Featuring:
Sad lions! 🦁
Seneca complaining about everything! 👴
Would you want to be buried with your colleagues? ☠️
Roman comedy! 🎤
Checking out your friends equipment in the bath! 🛀

Apr 11, 2018 • 1h 4min
Episode #6 - History's Horrible Women
Murderesses! Bloodbaths! Wicked rulers! Cruel sadists!
In this week's episode, Emma and Janina examine the horrible stories of some the nastiest and most bloodthirsty women in history.
CONTENT WARNING: This episode features graphic descriptions of torture and murder that some listeners might find upsetting.

Mar 28, 2018 • 1h 10min
Episode #5 - What's Your Favourite Historical Fallacy?
Support us on Patreon! www.patreon.com/historyissexy
Join Emma and Janina as they discuss their favourite/most maddening historical myths and misconceptions.
Featuring!
* Flat Earth!
* Caligula and his horse!
* New Zealand settlement myths!
* Napoleon!
* Armour!
* Vikings!

Mar 15, 2018 • 1h 6min
Episode #4: What's The Deal With Antipopes?
Support us on Patreon! www.patreon.com/historyissexy
This week, Emma and Janina have a go at unravelling one of the more tricky questions submitted by listeners: What's the deal with antipopes?
"Habemus Papam/We Have A Pope": http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1456472/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1

Mar 1, 2018 • 1h 2min
Episode #3: Did Anyone Marry For Love Before 1987?
Support us on Patreon! www.patreon.com/historyissexy
"Before Scott and Charlene tied the knot, did anyone marry for love?"
Join Emma & Janina as they attempt to unravel the history of love marriages.
This episode's book recommendation:
Hild - Nicola Griffiths
Other Books:
Marriage, A History: How Love Conquered Marriage - Stephanie Coontz
I Don’t: A Contrarian History of Marriage - Susan Squire
Public Vows: A History of Marriage and the Nation - Nancy F. Cott
Sex, Marriage and and Family in World Religions - Don S. Browning
Marriage, Sex and Death: The Family and the Fall of the Roman West - Emma Southon
Eucheria of Marsailles, Sixth Century Satirical Poem.

Feb 15, 2018 • 1h
Episode #2: What Was World War One All About?
Dive into the complexities of World War One, from the often overlooked prelude to the chaotic battles. Discover how propaganda shaped public perception and demonized opponents, particularly Germany. Unearth the cultural echoes of the war through characters like Hercule Poirot and reflect on how these narratives influence contemporary conflicts. With a playful twist, the hosts explore the absurdities of historical narratives and engage with listener questions about love and marriage in the context of history. It's a thought-provoking romp through the past!

Feb 1, 2018 • 58min
Episode #1: What Have The Romans Ever Done For Us?
Support us on Patreon! www.patreon.com/historyissexyJoin Dr Emma Southon and Janina Matthewson as they examine the impact of Roman conquest, both on the conquered peoples and how we view Rome in the modern world.
The tintinnabulum:
https://goo.gl/rixVdN
Monty Python:
https://goo.gl/8ouUh3
Animated map of growth of the Roman Empire
https://goo.gl/2vvRDV
Pliny
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Pliny-the-Elder