Dirty Sexy History

Latest Episodes:

Episode 33: Gunpowder Toothpaste. 10 Surprising Victorian Beauty Trends Mar 17, 2022

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From hot pink and fetish gear to fake eyelashes, tattoos, and nipple piercings, this week we’re talking about some surprisingly “modern” fashion and beauty trends of the 19th century. What did the Victorians wear apart from all that black? We can’t wait to tell you

Episode 32: “The Poor Whores’ Petition” and the Shrove Tuesday Riots of 1668 Feb 23, 2022

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Shrove Tuesday—Mardi Gras—is now celebrated with pancakes and parades, but in 17th century London, it was another story altogether. For years, local apprentices used the holiday as an excuse to attack sex workers and vandalize brothels. The damage in 1668 was so severe that London’s sex workers petitioned the king’s mistress to help. This week on DSH, we talk about (and attempt to read) The Poor Whores’ Petition of 1668.

Episode 31: Lola Montez Part Two. When Lola Met Ludwig Feb 16, 2022

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In this episode, we cover the tumultuous year Lola spent in Bavaria which resulted in the abdication of Ludwig I. There’s political intrigue, hints of the occult, and some spectacularly dodgy poetry. Check out our Instagram for the photos we mention @dirtysexyhistory

Episode 30: The Life, Death, and Afterlife of Claude Duval Jan 19, 2022

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On the anniversary of Claude Duval’s death, Jess talks about the gallows at Tyburn, then covers the life and high-profile hanging of this legendary highwayman. As a bonus, we host special guest Matt Robinson of the paranormal podcast Ghoul Britannia to talk about a historic hotel in England that Claude allegedly haunts

Episode 29: The Legend of Lola Montez (Part 1) Jan 14, 2022

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In this week’s episode, Jess covers the life of infamous dancer and courtesan Lola Montez from her tumultuous childhood in India to her earliest doomed love affairs with Franz Liszt, Alexandre Dumas, and Alexandre Henri Dujarier. Montez was said to be Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s inspiration for femme fatale Irene Adler, but her real life was far more interesting

Episode 28: Historical Themes in Heavy Metal Jan 05, 2022

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Jess talks to Dr. Charlotte Naylor Davis and Dr. Jeremy Swist about historical themes in Heavy Metal ahead of their online conference, Heavy Metal and Global Premodernity (February 24th - 26th). We touch on race, feminism, inclusivity, and some of the exciting ways modern readers misinterpret classical texts. This week is a little History, a little Media Studies, and a whole lotta Metal. Spotify playlist for this episode: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2jRPfXhpYMqJOh3DL4F9NT?si=077358ac640c40c6 Heavy Metal and Global Premodernity: Conference Info and Registration: https://www.brandeis.edu/classics/heavy-metal-and-global-premodernity/ Dr. Charlotte Naylor Davis: https://www.patreon.com/MetalBiblicalScholar Dr. Jeremy Swist: https://heavymetalclassicist.home.blog/ Conference poster art by Lauren Gornik: https://www.instagram.com/gornikillustration

Episode 27: Ariadne Unraveled Dec 22, 2021

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This week on Dirty Sexy History, Jess talks to Zenobia Neil, author of Ariadne Unraveled. We speculate of the truth behind the myth of the Minotaur and talk sexual fluidity, body positivity, and contraception in the ancient world.

Episode 26: The Chevalier de Saint-Georges Nov 25, 2021

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This week on Dirty Sexy History, we look at the extraordinary life of Joseph Boulogne, the Chevalier de Saint-Georges. As a composer, he tutored Marie Antoinette and was so talented that Mozart despised him. An abolitionist and accomplished swordsman, he also led the Legion Saint-Georges, the first all-Black regiment in Europe.

Episode 25: “Female Husbands.” LGBTQ+ Unions in England through the Georgian Era Nov 17, 2021

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We’ve already established that transgender people have always existed, but gay marriage is new—right? Not so much. This week, we have a brief overview of different kinds of same-sex or gender-nonconforming marriages and other unions in England prior to 1800, with a closer look at some fascinating figures from Jen Manion’s brilliant book, Female Husbands.

Episode 24: Cocaine, Coca-Cola, and the Contraceptive that Wasn’t Nov 10, 2021

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In this week’s episode of Dirty Sexy History, Jess talks about the history of cocaine from its uses in medicine to the development of Coca-Cola, and how these were used in sex, pregnancy prevention, and childbirth into the 20th century. Don’t try this at home.

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