History

Old Gossip with Rebecca Siegel

Join your best friend Rebecca for a session of piping hot old gossip.

Latest Episodes:

Adolf Hitler Had a Fake Girlfriend Oct 01, 2026

Show notes

Eva Braun + Adolf Hitler = a MESS.

In this, our final episode of the season, we’ll talk about the weird relationship-situationship that existed between these knuckleheads, WWII, nazi stuff, and fashion, and we’ll get into what was real and what was pretend.

Triggers: Self harm, suicide, holocaust, antisemitism, murder

Cover image: my sister

Intro song: My daughter

Image credit Wikimedia

Selected Bibliography

Books:

Downfall, by Volker Ulrich

Eva Braun by Heike B. Görtemaker

Nazi Wives, by James Wyllie

Podcast

The People’s Profiles: Eva Braun, the Fuhrer’s Wife

Special Treat! History Daily Episode Sep 26, 2026

Show notes

It's a history mashup!! Friends, I adore this podcast and I think you will too. Listen, subscribe, share!

https://www.historydaily.com

Adolf Hitler Was Bad at Kissing Sep 24, 2026

Show notes

Let’s talk about the big dog and his weird love life! This episode is highly disgusting, and I am kind of sorry about that. But it’s funny, too. We’ll get into WWII, nazis, love, dating, and the very complicated tale of Geli Raubal, Hitler’s half niece and one true love.

MAJOR trigger warnings today: Suicide, incest, holocaust, antisemitism, SA, murder, gun violence

Cover art: my sister

Intro song: my daughter

Images: Getty, Alamy, Wikimedia

Selected Bibliography

Books:

Ascent, Volker Ulrich

Hitler and Geli, by Ronald Hayman

Hitler’s Suicide Women, by Andrew van Ginkel.

Fun Podcast:

Unsolved Murders: True Crime Stories, episodes 232 and 233

https://open.spotify.com/episode/0vH4kcVmomFOv9Unr5hQxw?_authfailed=1

Remember, besties. There is always a way out. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255 or dial 988 for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline

Theodor Morell Hawked Vitamins Sep 17, 2026

Show notes

Let’s talk about Theodor Morell, Adolf Hitler’s most favorite doctor, and maybe also his drug dealer?? This episode is chock full of bathroom humor, WWII history, Nazi drama, and some very poor choices.

Trigger warnings: Addiction, antisemitism, Holocaust

Selected Bibliography

· Blitzed, by Norman Ohler

· Downfall, by Volker Ullrich

· Secret Diaries of Hitler’s Doctor, by David Irving

· Until the Final Hour, Traudl Junge

Intro song: my daughter

Cover art: my sister

Images: Getty Ullstein Bild Dtl, Alamy JEYFWK

August Eigruber Liked Hitler's Mustache Sep 10, 2026

Show notes

Let’s talk about WWII, Nazi art theft, concentration camp murders, and the second ugliest mustache you’ve ever seen. August Eigruber’s story takes us to Mauthausen, Paris, and deep into the Altaussee Salt Mines.

Trigger warnings: Antisemitism, Holocaust, Murder

Selected Bibliography

Books

Eight Days in May, by Volker Ullrich

Hitler (Ascent and Downfall), by Volker Ullrich

Monuments Men, by Bret Witter and Robert M. Edsel

Online Resource

Stanford University’s Virtual Tribunal: International Criminal Tribunal Records (1945-Present): https://exhibits.stanford.edu/virtual-tribunals/catalog/jw764yb5101

Documentary

The Rape of Europa, by Richard Berge

Intro song: my daughter

Cover art: my sister

Traudl Junge Didn't Ask Questions Sep 03, 2026

Show notes

Traudl Junge was not just Hitler’s secretary, she was also a fountain of piping hot tea. This is a toughie. You’ll see why. We get into WWII, marriage, real estate, trains, bedspreads, and a LOT of bunker talk.

Selected Bibliography:
Books

· Ascent, by Volker Ulrich

· Letters to Hitler, by Heinrik Eberle

· Until the Final Hour, Traudl Junge

· Voices from the Bunker, by Pierre Galante, Gertrude Junge and Eugene Silianoff

Movies

· Blind Spot: Hitler’s Secretary, by André Heller

· Downfall

Intro song: my daughter

Cover art: my sister

Images: public domain, Alamy

Wernher von Braun Married his Cousin Aug 27, 2026

Show notes

From German rocket scientist to war criminal to NASA golden boy to Disney star! Let’s talk about Wernher von Braun, the Space Race, Operation Paperclip, WWI, WWII, the Treaty of Versailles, and so much more.
Trigger warnings: antisemitism, holocaust, murder, incest

Intro song: My daughter

Cover art: My sister

Selected Bibliography

Books

Into that Silent Sea, by Francis French and Colin Burgess

Sputnik and the Soviet Space Challenge, by Asif A. Siddiqi

Wernher von Braun, by Christopher Lampton

The Rocket and the Reich and Von Braun: Dreamer of Space, Engineer of War, Michael J. Neufeld

Film

Man in Space, 1955 Disney

Images: Getty

Leni Riefenstahl Fake Cried to Get Her Way Aug 20, 2026

Show notes

Leni Riefenstahl was a dancer, an actor, a filmmaker, and a real jerk! And also a liar! Let’s get into it in a probably too-long chat about WWII, propaganda, film, Hollywood, Hitler, and plenty of other Nazi stuff.

Trigger warnings: Holocaust, murder, antisemitism, SA, racism

Selected Bibliography

Books:

Artists Under Hitler, by Jonathan Petropoulos

Hitler’s People, by Richard J. Evans

Hitler’s Women, by Guido Knopp

Documentaries:
Riefenstahl, Andres Veiel

Time of Darkness and Stillness, Nina Gladitz

The Wonderful, Horrible Life of Leni Riefenstahl, by Ray Müller

Rudolf Höss Had a Bad Haircut Aug 13, 2026

Show notes

Let’s chat about WWII, concentration camps, and a very sketchy real estate choice. Rudolf Höss didn’t just run Auschwitz. He lived right next to it! This episode, of course, covers a million topics and tangents. Sorry. Thanks/blame to Eduardo!

Trigger warnings: Sexual assault, holocaust, antisemitism, murder

Cover art: My sister

Intro song: My daughter

Selected bibliography

Hitler: Downfall, by Volker Ullrich

“Postwar Testimony of Rudolf Höss,” United States Holocaust Museum.https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/artifact/postwar-testimony-of-rudolf-hoss

Hanns and Rudolf: The True Story of the German Jew Who Tracked Down and Caught the Kommandant of Auschwitz, by Thomas Harding

The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich: A History of Nazi Germany, by William L. Shirer

Image Credits: Getty, Planet Schule

Heinrich Himmler Built a Themed Convention Center Aug 06, 2026

Show notes

Besties!! I’m jetlagged, full of jamon, and ready to CHAT. Let’s talk about Heinrich Himmler, Reinhard Heydrich, Adolf Hitler, WWII, the SS, and so much more. We’re going to get into the weeds on 900 topics, but I swear, it’s going to be fun.

Trigger warnings: Suicide, Holocaust, Antisemitism, Kidnapping, Murder

Cover art: My sister

Intro song: My daughter

Selected Bibliography

Himmler, by Willi Frischauer

Hitler (Ascent and Downfall), by Volker Ullrich

Hitler’s People, by Richard J. Evans

Nazi Wives, by James Wyllie

The Private Heinrich Himler, by Katrina Himmler

Image Credits: Getty, Wikipedia