For the Love of History - world history, women’s history, weird history

• Periods and Contraception in the 18th Century with Mina Moriarty

  Grab your smelling salts, delicious doughnuts, because we’re diving into the scandalous, bizarre, and often horrifying world of 18th-century reproductive health! This week, I’m joined by the brilliant Mina Moriarty—historian, writer, and content creator extraordinaire—to talk about contraception and menstruation in the 1700s. Spoiler alert: it involves lemon rinds, animal intestines, and a whole lot of societal shame. What’s Inside This Episode? 🩸 The shocking (and slightly terrifying) ways people managed their periods in the 18th century 🩸 DIY contraceptives—sponges, vinegar, and, uh, the pull-out method 🩸 Why 18th-century condoms came with ribbons (adorable but deeply impractical) 🩸 The wild myths people believed about menstruation (Pliny the Elder, we’re looking at you) 🩸 How cunning women and herbal remedies gave women some control over their bodies Why You’ll Love It: If you’ve ever wondered how historical women handled their reproductive health without access to modern medicine—or just want to hear about some truly unhinged ancient medical practices—this episode is for you! It’s fun, it’s fascinating, and it’ll make you extra grateful for your modern menstrual products. Links & Housekeeping 🎤 Follow Mina Moriarty on Instagram @HistoryHo101 for more historical chaos 📚 You can snag your copy of Mina's book Who the Hell is Olympe de Gouges here! 📱 Want to support For the Love of History? Rate, review, and share this episode with your fellow history buffs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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• Empress Baddie | The Pirate Queen Teuta

  Ahoy, history besties! Ready to set sail into the chaotic and badass world of piracy? But forget the bearded, rum-guzzling captains of the 1600s—this week, we're diving into the legend of an ancient pirate queen who gave Rome the middle finger and (allegedly) cursed an entire city. Meet Teuta of Illyria, the woman who turned the Adriatic Sea into her personal treasure chest and left a legacy fierce enough to still haunt the waves. What’s Inside This Episode? ⚓ A queen who ruled with a cutlass and a crown ⚓ How piracy went from a side hustle to Illyria’s top industry ⚓ Rome’s terrible attempt at diplomacy (Spoiler: it ends with an assassination) ⚓ Betrayals, sieges, and one epic curse that lasted centuries ⚓ Why Teuta’s legacy still slaps over 2,000 years later Why You’ll Love It: If you love history with a side of sass, drama, and high-seas adventure, this episode is for you. Plus, we’re getting back to our Empress Baddie roots with a woman who did not come to play—unless it was a game of ‘How Many Roman Ships Can I Plunder Before Lunch?’ 💬 Leave a rating and review to keep the history algorithm gods happy. Next week, we’re talking medieval menstruation with a special guest—because historical periods deserve some airtime too! Until then, grab your eye patch, drink some water (or a historically accurate pirate beverage), and remember: when history forgets the men but remembers you, you’ve already won. Yo ho ho and a final ‘Arrr!’ Want to experience history with me in real life? Join the History BFF Trip this August and explore Osaka, Kyoto, and Nara while we celebrate history, culture, and maybe even some birthday karaoke chaos. Spots are filling up—grab yours before they’re gone! https://trovatrip.com/trip/asia/japan/japan-with-tehya-nakamura-aug-2025 🤩App Info🤩 📚 Resources 📚 ______________________________________ Want more For the Love of History? Patreon Instagram Website TikTok Spotify Merch Store Book Club Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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• Musok | The Legacy and History of Korean Shamanism a Religion of Resistance

  When the world told them to sit down, they danced. When their voices were silenced, they sang. When religion and government tried to erase them, they thrived in the shadows. Welcome to the story of mudang (무당), the women who shaped and preserved Korean shamanism (or Musok 무속) against all odds. This episode dives into their centuries-long defiance and the magic, rebellion, and resilience that kept their traditions alive. ✨ How Korean shamanism became a lifeline for women cast out by Confucian society 🔥 The intense, years-long process of becoming a mudang—spoiler: you don’t choose the spirits, the spirits choose you 💃 The theatrical rituals where women channeled gods, ancestors, and spirits through dance and song 🔮 How shamanism was an underground act of resistance, giving women power in a world that denied them autonomy 🎭 The women of Jeju Island who used humor to make the gods laugh—and force them to bring blessings Despite centuries of persecution, Korean folk religion is still alive. Today, mudang practice in secret and in broad daylight, performing rituals for everyone from K-pop idols to business moguls. Because if history has taught us anything, it’s this: when women are pushed to the margins, they don’t disappear—they fight, they adapt, and they rise. Want to experience history with me in real life? Join the History BFF Trip this August and explore Osaka, Kyoto, and Nara while we celebrate history, culture, and maybe even some birthday karaoke chaos. Spots are filling up—grab yours before they’re gone! https://trovatrip.com/trip/asia/japan/japan-with-tehya-nakamura-aug-2025 Until next time, drink your water (yes, now), and remember: the gods may be immortal, but so is defiance. 🎙️✨ 🤩App Info🤩 📚 Resources 📚 ______________________________________ Want more For the Love of History? Patreon Instagram Website TikTok Spotify Merch Store Book Club Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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• Kinky History | a chat with Author and Sex Historian Esmé Louise James

  Buckle up, history besties—this episode is not safe for work (unless you’ve got headphones and a rebellious streak). We’re diving deep into the history of sex with none other than Esmé Louise James, the brilliant mind behind Kinky History! In this delightfully scandalous conversation, we uncover: 🔥 How Esmé went from studying religious history to becoming a sex historian 🔥 The wild story of how the history of the dildo launched her career 🔥 The medieval obsession with…well, rimming and witchcraft (yep, you read that right) 🔥 How history’s censorship laws gave birth to tentacle hentai 🔥 The long-standing and surprisingly biological reasons behind the world's foot fetish But beyond the laughs, this episode is also about representation in history. Esmé’s book isn’t just a collection of spicy facts—it’s a love letter to anyone who’s ever felt like their identity wasn’t reflected in the history books. Because let’s be real: there is nothing new under the sun. Want to keep the kinky history party going? Support Esmé by grabbing a copy of Kinky History in print, digital, or audiobook (trust us, you’ll want to hear her narrate that passage). And while you’re at it, subscribe to For the Love of History for more weird, wonderful, and eyebrow-raising stories from the past. Now go forth, spread the historical filth, and stay curious! 🎙️🔥 Where to Find Esmé Website: www.esmeljames.com Instagram: @emse.louise TikTok: dr.esme.louise Podcast 🍆SexTistics 2🍆 TrovaTrip Alert! Oh hey, history buffs! Want to nerd out with me in person? Join me on a dreamy trip to Japan (hello matcha, temples, and Kyoto sunsets!) from August 24–30, 2025. Spots are limited, and early birds get a discount—don’t sleep on it! https://trovatrip.com/trip/asia/japan/japan-with-tehya-nakamura-aug-2025 🤩App Info🤩 ______________________________________ Want more For the Love of History? Patreon Instagram Website TikTok Spotify Merch Store Book Club Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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• Ancient Booty Calls and WTF Aphrodisiacs | weird history of love and dating

  Happy Valentine’s Day, history besties! Whether you’re blissfully in love, dodging dating apps like a pro, or just here for the weird history (respect ✊), this episode is for you. We’re diving deep into history’s strangest, grossest, and most WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT aphrodisiacs and ancient booty calls. Spoiler: some people really went to extreme lengths to set the mood. 💘 What’s on the Love Potion Menu? 🪲 Spanish Fly: The original "love potion" (also, uh, poison). 📞 YOU UP?: The 5 am booty call of Heian Japan 💍 What Came Before Dating: a brief history of what came before tinder 🐦 Bird Spit Soup: Because nothing says romance like eating a swiftlet’s spit. 🔥 The Worst One Yet: I won’t spoil it, but trust me—your flabbers will be GASTED. 💋 Why Listen? If you’ve ever side-eyed modern dating, this episode will make you grateful that the worst we have to deal with is ghosting and bad pickup lines. At least no one's force-feeding you... well, you’ll see. 🎧 Tune in now for a wild ride through history’s freakiest aphrodisiacs and courting practices! And if you love the show, spread the love by supporting the show on Patreon—where history is always juicy, weird, and never boring. 👉 Listen now and cringe with me! TrovaTrip Alert! Oh hey, history buffs! Want to nerd out with me in person? Join me on a dreamy trip to Japan (hello matcha, temples, and Kyoto sunsets!) from August 24–30, 2025. Spots are limited, and early birds get a discount—don’t sleep on it! https://trovatrip.com/trip/asia/japan/japan-with-tehya-nakamura-aug-2025 🤩App Info🤩 ______________________________________ Want more For the Love of History? Patreon Instagram Website TikTok Spotify Merch Store Book Club Keywords: Weirdest aphrodisiacs in history Unusual historical aphrodisiacs Bizarre love potions through time Strange aphrodisiacs used in history Historical aphrodisiacs Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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