Episodes

  • The Brontë Sisters: Wild Moors and Wuthering Words

    The Brontë Sisters: Wild Moors and Wuthering Words
    Nov 4 2024
    This week, as the last installment of our "Month of Macabre," Stauney and Sadie journey to the windswept moors of Yorkshire to uncover the haunting lives and works of the Brontë sisters—Charlotte, Emily, and Anne. Against the backdrop of a restrictive Victorian society, these sisters poured their passions and struggles into novels that challenged conventions and explored themes of love, resilience, and identity. We'll delve into how their unique family dynamics and the wild landscapes they called home shaped iconic works like Wuthering Heights and Jane Eyre. Join us as we celebrate the Brontës' enduring influence and explore why their stories continue to captivate readers today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr and 21 mins
  • Echoes from the Beyond: The Fox Sisters and Victorian Deathcraft

    Echoes from the Beyond: The Fox Sisters and Victorian Deathcraft
    Oct 21 2024
    This week, to continue our "Month of Macabre", Stauney and Sadie explore the Victorian era’s obsession with death and its intricate mourning traditions—hair art, death portraits, and mourning dolls—all shaped by high mortality rates. Amid this fascination with the afterlife, we discuss the phenomenon of the Fox Sisters claiming to communicate with spirits and therefore sparking the rise of spiritualism. Join us as we dive into how the sisters deceived society and discover how their story became intertwined with 19th-century death culture and the ongoing search for connection beyond the grave. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr and 8 mins
  • Twisted Lullabies: Nursery Rhymes' Hidden Histories

    Twisted Lullabies: Nursery Rhymes' Hidden Histories
    Oct 7 2024
    This week, Stauney and Sadie introduce the dark origins of nursery rhymes. While these seemingly innocent songs have become a staple of childhood, many were born from grim histories of plagues, political unrest, and even tragedy. From "Ring Around the Roses," believed to reference the Black Death, to "Humpty Dumpty," originally a cannon that fell during battle, and "Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary," thought to reflect religious persecution during Queen Mary I's reign, these rhymes hold hidden stories far darker than their playful tunes suggest. Join Stauney and Sadie as they delve into the twisted roots of these timeless verses, uncovering the unsettling truths behind the rhymes that shaped generations. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr and 5 mins
  • The Highest Paid Supermodel in the World: Suzy Parker

    The Highest Paid Supermodel in the World: Suzy Parker
    Oct 3 2024
    This week, Stauney introduces us to Suzy Parker. As one of the most iconic faces of 1950s fashion and, at one point, the highest-paid supermodel in the world, Suzy Parker redefined the standards of beauty and fame. Not only did she dominate magazine covers and advertising campaigns, but she also became the first model to transition into film and television successfully. Suzy's influence extended beyond fashion, inspiring The Beatles' song "Suzy Parker." Join Stauney and Sadie as they explore this trailblazing model's life, career, and enduring legacy, whose remarkable impact continues to shape the fashion world. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    33 mins
  • The Supermodel Who Inspired Holly Golightly: Dorian Leigh

    The Supermodel Who Inspired Holly Golightly: Dorian Leigh
    Sep 25 2024
    This week, Sadie introduces us to Dorian Leigh. Often hailed as one of the first true supermodels, Dorian Leigh not only defined an era of beauty and style but also inspired one of literature and film’s most iconic characters, Holly Golightly from Breakfast at Tiffany's. Beyond her captivating presence on magazine covers, Dorian's life was marked by tumultuous relationships and a pioneering spirit that helped shape the modern model agency industry. Join Stauney and Sadie as they explore the life, influence, and enduring legacy of this trailblazing model who forever changed the face of fashion. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    49 mins
  • Brushing Past the Boys’ Club: The Pre-Raphaelite Sisterhood

    Brushing Past the Boys’ Club: The Pre-Raphaelite Sisterhood
    Sep 17 2024
    This week, Stauney and Sadie dive into the uncredited women who played pivotal roles during one of the biggest boys' clubs in art history: the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood. We'll introduce you to trailblazers like Julia Margaret Cameron, Christina Rossetti, Evelyn De Morgan, Elizabeth Siddal, Marie Spartali Stillman, and Eleanor Fortescue-Brickdale, whose influence on the movement and beyond is undeniable. Though often overshadowed by their male counterparts, these women were the true powerhouses behind the Pre-Raphaelite vision, shaping the art world in ways the "bros" could never have done alone. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr and 8 mins
  • Elsa Schiaparelli: The Lost Luminary of Haute Couture

    Elsa Schiaparelli: The Lost Luminary of Haute Couture
    Sep 12 2024
    This week, Stauney introduces us to one of Coco Chanel’s fiercest rivals and a name experiencing a resurgence in the fashion world: Elsa Schiaparelli. Stauney and Sadie dive into Schiaparelli's strict and unconventional upbringing, her tumultuous marriage to a con artist, her journey as a single mother, and her deep connections with surrealist artists of her time. They also explore the rise and fall of her iconic fashion house and the lasting legacy she built—one that is being rediscovered and celebrated today. From surrealist collaborations to daring, imaginative designs, Schiaparelli's influence continues to shape modern couture unexpectedly. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    40 mins
  • Not Here to Make Friends: How Reality TV Shapes (and Warps) Society

    Not Here to Make Friends: How Reality TV Shapes (and Warps) Society
    Sep 2 2024
    This week, Sadie and Stauney dive into one of society's most debated pastimes: Reality Television. Whether you love or loathe it, there's no denying these shows' significant cultural footprint on our country. Reality TV has done it all—from sparking cultural trends to encouraging toxic behaviors—its influence on society is truly a double-edged sword, creating both connections and divisions. Join Stauney and Sadie as they explore the origins of reality TV, its peaks and pitfalls, and how it both reflects and shapes the world we live in today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    53 mins