

Vulgar History: Revolution
Vulgar History | Realm
A feminist women's history comedy podcast. We look at history through a feminist lens, focusing on the women often removed from the narrative. This season, we're looking at the Revolutions of the 18th century: the American Revolution, the Haitian Revolution, and the French Revolution.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Aug 6, 2025 • 1h 32min
The Vice President's Black Wife
You may not have heard of America's ninth Vice President, Richard Mentor Johnson (he served one term under Martin Van Buren). And you almost certainly have not heard of his enslaved Black wife, Julia Chinn. Until now!!
Everything we know about Julia is thanks to the decade of research Amrita Chakrabarti Myers dedicated to piecing her story together. Amrita joins us this week to discuss Julia's story and what it means to the broader understanding of slavery in American history.
Buy a copy of Amrita's book The Vice President's Black Wife: The Untold Life of Julia Chinn (affiliate link)
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Donate to PCRF (US)
Donate to IDRF (Canada)
Donate to MAP (UK)
Donate to World Central Kitchen (worldwide)
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Preorder info for Ann's upcoming book, Rebel of the Regency!
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Get 15% off all the gorgeous jewellery and accessories at common.era.com/vulgar or go to commonera.com and use code VULGAR at checkout
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Get Vulgar History merch at vulgarhistory.com/store (best for US shipping) and vulgarhistory.redbubble.com (better for international shipping)
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Support Vulgar History on Patreon
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Vulgar History is an affiliate of Bookshop.org, which means that a small percentage of any books you click through and purchase will come back to Vulgar History as a commission. Use this link to shop there and support Vulgar History. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 30, 2025 • 1h 26min
Fulvia: The Woman Who Broke All the Rules in Ancient Rome
Now that we've learned about expectations for Ancient Roman women, time to learn about a woman who broke all the rules!
You may not have heard of Fulvia, but you've heard of her third husband (pre-Cleopatra Marc Anthony!). And get ready to enjoy the downfall of her number one hater, Cicero (the John Knox of his time).
We're joined by returning guest Jane Draycott (who was previously on to discuss Cleopatra's daughter, Cleopatra Selene), author of a new biography of our new icon Fulvia!
Buy Jane's book Fulvia: The Woman Who Broke All The Rules in Ancient Rome (affiliate link)
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Support NWIRP (the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project)
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Preorder info for Ann's upcoming book, Rebel of the Regency!
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Get 15% off all the gorgeous jewellery and accessories at common.era.com/vulgar or go to commonera.com and use code VULGAR at checkout
—
Get Vulgar History merch at vulgarhistory.com/store (best for US shipping) and vulgarhistory.redbubble.com (better for international shipping)
—
Support Vulgar History on Patreon
—
Vulgar History is an affiliate of Bookshop.org, which means that a small percentage of any books you click through and purchase will come back to Vulgar History as a commission. Use this link to shop there and support Vulgar History.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 25, 2025 • 1h 38min
Livia Drusilla, Ancient Rome's (Allegedly) Murderous Empress
Our friend Gina Berry is back for part two of our Ancient Rome discussion! Last time, we discussed women's roles in the era. Now, it's time to learn how Empress Livia worked within those confines to live a legendary life.
Did she really murder as many people as I, Claudius (and other portrayals) made it seem? We investigate!
Support CHIRLA to help immigrants and refugees in the US
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Preorder info for Ann's upcoming book, Rebel of the Regency!
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RSVP for the Vulgar History in-person meet-up in Toronto!
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Get 15% off all the gorgeous jewellery and accessories at common.era.com/vulgar or go to commonera.com and use code VULGAR at checkout
—
Get Vulgar History merch at vulgarhistory.com/store (best for US shipping) and vulgarhistory.redbubble.com (better for international shipping)
—
Support Vulgar History on Patreon
—
Vulgar History is an affiliate of Bookshop.org, which means that a small percentage of any books you click through and purchase will come back to Vulgar History as a commission. Use this link to shop there and support Vulgar History.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 23, 2025 • 1h 14min
What Was The Roman Empire Like For Women?
The Roman Empire inspired the (male) leaders of the American, French, and Haitian Revolutions. But what was that era like for women?
Classical history enthusiast (and Vulgar History all-star returning guest) Gina Berry is here to talk all things Roman Empire.
The video we mention about female gladiators.
Donate to support Al Otro Lado
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Preorder info for Ann's upcoming book, Rebel of the Regency!
—
RSVP for the Vulgar History in-person meet-up in Toronto!
—
Get 15% off all the gorgeous jewellery and accessories at common.era.com/vulgar or go to commonera.com and use code VULGAR at checkout
—
Get Vulgar History merch at vulgarhistory.com/store (best for US shipping) and vulgarhistory.redbubble.com (better for international shipping)
—
Support Vulgar History on Patreon
—
Vulgar History is an affiliate of Bookshop.org, which means that a small percentage of any books you click through and purchase will come back to Vulgar History as a commission. Use this link to shop there and support Vulgar History. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 15, 2025 • 1h 28min
How One Woman Survived the French Revolution (By Getting Out Of Town)
Germaine de Staël was a wealthy woman in Paris during the French Revolution. But unlike so many others, she made it through alive! Because she was smart enough to leave town and not return until it was safe! Which means we get to finally talk about what happened in France post-1794.
Special guest Allison Epstein joins us, because Napoleon Bonaparte comes up, and if Napoleon has no haters that because both Germaine and Allison are dead.
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Preorder info for Ann's upcoming book, Rebel of the Regency!
—
RSVP for the Vulgar History in-person meet-up in Toronto!
—
Get 15% off all the gorgeous jewellery and accessories at common.era.com/vulgar or go to commonera.com and use code VULGAR at checkout
—
Get Vulgar History merch at vulgarhistory.com/store (best for US shipping) and vulgarhistory.redbubble.com (better for international shipping)
—
Support Vulgar History on Patreon
—
Vulgar History is an affiliate of Bookshop.org, which means that a small percentage of any books you click through and purchase will come back to Vulgar History as a commission. Use this link to shop there and support Vulgar History. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 9, 2025 • 1h 37min
French Revolution: The Messy Bitches Who Brought Down the Monarchy
We've reached a point in our French Revolution discussion where we can no longer tell the story through the lives of women, because women were excluded from leadership roles. So instead, special guest Allison Epstein joins us to explain who were the men who led the French Revolution (badly).
Time to learn about the Spice Boys: Danton, Marat, Saint-Just, Robespierre, and Desmoulins!
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Preorder info for Ann's upcoming book, Rebel of the Regency!
—
RSVP for the Vulgar History in-person meet-up in Toronto!
—
Get 15% off all the gorgeous jewellery and accessories at common.era.com/vulgar or go to commonera.com and use code VULGAR at checkout
—
Get Vulgar History merch at vulgarhistory.com/store (best for US shipping) and vulgarhistory.redbubble.com (better for international shipping)
—
Support Vulgar History on Patreon
—
Vulgar History is an affiliate of Bookshop.org, which means that a small percentage of any books you click through and purchase will come back to Vulgar History as a commission. Use this link to shop there and support Vulgar History.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 2, 2025 • 1h 24min
The Sex Lives of Regency England
Join Alexandra Vasti, an author of Regency romance and literature educator, as she dives into the tantalizing world of Regency England's sexuality. Discover how young women learned about sex before marriage and the surprising knowledge surrounding contraception. Vasti discusses the real stories behind LGBTQ+ figures like Ann Lister and critiques the accuracy of the popular show Bridgerton in its depiction of these historical themes. Prepare for an engaging exploration of sex education, societal norms, and the enduring myths of virginity!

Jul 1, 2025 • 45min
Canadian History: Who Was Laura Secord?
Laura Secord was a 19th-century Canadian woman known mostly for a) the chocolate store named after her now and b) her iconic Canadian Heritage Minute, recounting her heroic walk.
We break down her real story (and what's the connection to the chocolate company?) in this Canada Day Special! Featuring the debut of the Celine Dion Canadian History Scoring Scale!
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Preorder info for Ann's upcoming book, Rebel of the Regency!
—
RSVP for the Vulgar History in-person meet-up in Toronto!
—
Get 15% off all the gorgeous jewellery and accessories at common.era.com/vulgar or go to commonera.com and use code VULGAR at checkout
—
Get Vulgar History merch at vulgarhistory.com/store (best for US shipping) and vulgarhistory.redbubble.com (better for international shipping)
—
Support Vulgar History on Patreon
—
Vulgar History is an affiliate of Bookshop.org, which means that a small percentage of any books you click through and purchase will come back to Vulgar History as a commission. Use this link to shop there and support Vulgar History.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 26, 2025 • 1h 18min
Connecting the French Revolution and the Haitian Revolution
The American and French Revolutions inspired people in Haiti to rise up. Yet the Haitian Revolution is not always included in discussions of the revolutionary 18th century.
Here to untangle this knot of connections is author Zoe Sivak, whose novel Mademoiselle Revolution is about a woman navigating her way through this revolutionary era.
Buy Zoe's book Mademoiselle Revolution from Bookshop (affiliate link)
—
Preorder info for Ann's upcoming book, Rebel of the Regency!
—
RSVP for the Vulgar History in-person meet-up in Toronto!
—
Get 15% off all the gorgeous jewellery and accessories at common.era.com/vulgar or go to commonera.com and use code VULGAR at checkout
—
Get Vulgar History merch at vulgarhistory.com/store (best for US shipping) and vulgarhistory.redbubble.com (better for international shipping)
—
Support Vulgar History on Patreon
—
Vulgar History is an affiliate of Bookshop.org, which means that a small percentage of any books you click through and purchase will come back to Vulgar History as a commission. Use this link to shop there and support Vulgar History.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 25, 2025 • 1h 17min
Haitian Revolution: The Complex Legacy of Jean-Jacques Dessalines
Jean-Jacques Dessalines was one of the major figures in the Haitian Revolution. He was vilified and demonized during his life and afterwards. Julia Gaffield has written a new biography reckoning with his complex legacy, and she joins us this week to explain his importance to history.
Buy a copy of I Have Avenged America: Jean-Jacques Dessalines and Haiti's Fight for Freedom by Julia Gaffield (affiliate link)
—
Preorder info for Ann's upcoming book, Rebel of the Regency!
—
RSVP for the Vulgar History in-person meet-up in Toronto!
—
Get 15% off all the gorgeous jewellery and accessories at common.era.com/vulgar or go to commonera.com and use code VULGAR at checkout
—
Get Vulgar History merch at vulgarhistory.com/store (best for US shipping) and vulgarhistory.redbubble.com (better for international shipping)
—
Support Vulgar History on Patreon
—
Vulgar History is an affiliate of Bookshop.org, which means that a small percentage of any books you click through and purchase will come back to Vulgar History as a commission. Use this link to shop there and support Vulgar History.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices