
Vulgar History: Revolution
History Podcasts
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.
Location:
Canada
Genres:
History Podcasts
Description:
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.
Twitter:
@vulgarhistory
Language:
English
Website:
http://vulgarhistory.com/
Episodes
How One Woman Survived the French Revolution (By Getting Out Of Town)
7/15/2025
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. — 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
Duration:01:31:06
French Revolution: The Messy Bitches Who Brought Down the Monarchy
7/9/2025
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! — 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
Duration:01:40:22
The Sex Lives of Regency England
7/2/2025
Did people in the 18th century know about contraception? How did young women learn the facts of life before their wedding nights? How accurate is Bridgerton? What do we know about queer people from this era? We answer all these questions and more in a chat with romance novelist Alexandra Vasti! Learn more about Alexandra's books: alexandravasti.com/books Preorder Alexandra's upcoming sapphic romance novel Ladies in Hating (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
Duration:01:27:25
Canadian History: Who Was Laura Secord?
7/1/2025
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! — 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
Duration:00:48:08
Connecting the French Revolution and the Haitian Revolution
6/26/2025
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
Duration:01:15:07
Haitian Revolution: The Complex Legacy of Jean-Jacques Dessalines
6/25/2025
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
Duration:01:20:07
Trans History: The Teenage Roman Emperor
6/20/2025
Last year, we dropped this bonus episode talking with Kit Heyam about the horny teen trans Roman Emperor Elagabalus. It fits so well in this month's Pride specials, the time felt right for a rerelease! After all, the French Revolution crowd were obsessed with ancient Rome and this story is a good reminder that the Romans were just as chaotic as anyone else in any other era. Plus, we're now in a post-Gladiator II world and the way Elagabalus fits into that narrative may just surprise you. Kit's book: Before We Were Trans: A New History of Gender — 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
Duration:01:30:04
Sex Scandals of an American Founding Father
6/17/2025
Gouvernour Morris is a lesser-known American Founding Father (that was his name btw, not his job title). He was so full of BDE that he headed over to France in the midst of the Revolution to a) be the Ambassador and b) fuck. We're joined by historian Cassandra Good to discuss Gouvernour's sex scandal-filled life. Learn more about Gouvernour and other founding fathers sexy shenanigans in Cassandra's new course Early American Sex Scandals. — 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
Duration:01:15:41
Trans History: From Ancient Times to the Present Day
6/13/2025
Diversity in human sex and gender is not a modern phenomenon. People have been living beyond the binary since the earliest recorded human civilizations, and authors Alex L. Combs and Andrew Eakett are here to celebrate all these transcestors in their new graphic novel Trans History: From Ancient Times to Present Day. Alex and Andrew join us for this celebration of trans history (the concept) and Trans History (their book) just in time for Pride Month! Buy a copy of Trans History: From Ancient Times to Present Day (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
Duration:00:58:45
Women and Genderqueer People Who Ruled Over Africa
6/11/2025
From warriors to tyrants and everything in between, the lives and reigns of Africa’s female and genderqueer rulers have long been shrouded in mystery, misunderstanding and misogyny. We're joined today by Paula Akpan to discuss several of these people, including Njinga of Ndongo and Ranavalona I of Madagascar. Paula's new book, When We Ruled: The Rise and Fall of Twelve African Queens and Warriors, is now available! Click here to buy a copy (affiliate link) — Preorder info for Ann's upcoming book, Rebel of the Regency! — Sign up for the Vulgar History mailing list! — 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
Duration:01:00:48
Trans History: The Lieutenant Nun
6/6/2025
Antonio de Erauso* was a trans man from Spain who went to South America in the 17th century, looking for adventure. The story of his life is full of murder, narrow escapes, and llamas. Author Gabriela Cabezón Cámara joins us to discuss her novel, We Are Green and Trembling, which examines the saga of Antonio de Erauso. * We previously discussed Antonio on this podcast under his birth name, Catalina de Erauso. Buy a copy of We Are Green and Trembling from Bookshop (affiliate link) — Preorder info for my book, Rebel of the Regency! — Sign up for the Vulgar History mailing list! — 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
Duration:00:53:08
Giving Credit To History's Disregarded Women
6/4/2025
Women's accomplishments across history are often dismissed as exceptions. But why are most scientists, reporters, sports stars, politicians, and businesspeople all men? Allison Tyra joins us to discuss the 600 women she's re-inserting into the historical narrative with her book Uncredited: Women's Overlooked, Misattributed and Stolen Work. Get a copy of Allison's book (affiliate link) Learn more about Allison's Infinite Women project Listen to Allison's Infinite Women podcast — Preorder info for my book, Rebel of the Regency! — Sign up for the Vulgar History mailing list! — 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
Duration:01:27:13
Canadian History: Thanadelthur, the Peacemaker
6/3/2025
Because of wildfires affecting northern Saskatchewan and Manitoba, I'm re-releasing this episode about a woman who lived in these areas: Thanadelthur. She was a Dene woman who had a profound impact on the Dene people in Northern Saskatchewan and Manitoba during the eighteenth-century fur trade. Much of Thanadelthur’s story is shared through oral storytelling among the Dene community. Our guest for this episode is Rosalie Tsannie-Burseth, a member of the Hatchet Lake Dënesųłiné First Nation in Treaty 10 territory. — Donate to the Central Urban Métis Federation Inc (CUMFI) in Saskatoon Donate to the United Way Saskatoon Donate to World Central Kitchen — References: The Legend of Thanadelthur: Elders’ Oral History and Hudson’s Bay Company Journals by Rosalie Tsannie-Burset Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Duration:01:23:40
Movie Discussion: Dangerous Liaisons (1988)
5/28/2025
Dangerous Liaisons (1988) is a movie based on a play based on Pierre Choderlos de Laclos's novel from 1782. What does this have to do with the French Revolution? Lots, including that Marie Antoinette herself owned a copy of this novel. I'm joined by Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times movie reviewer and co-host of Unspooled to talk about this movie and also the pros and cons of how movies are the way many people learn about history. Learn more about Amy's podcast, Unspooled! — Preorder info for my book, Rebel of the Regency! — Sign up for the Vulgar History mailing list! — 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
Duration:01:16:14
French Revolution: Radicals, part 6: The Secret Female Journalist
5/21/2025
Manon Roland was a super-smart bookworm who amazed those around her from an early age with her intelligence (and strong opinions). When the French Revolution kicked off, she sent letters from Lyons to Paris to keep people updated on the latest news. She also got on the wrong side of Robespierre, which didn't go well. — Preorder info for my book, Rebel of the Regency! — Sign up for the Vulgar History mailing list! — 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
Duration:02:09:33
French Revolution: Radicals (part five): The Triple Agent
5/14/2025
Etta Palm d'Aelders was a Dutch woman so sexy that she got hired as a spy for three different countries (simultaneously). One of these countries was France, which is how she wound up in Paris during the French Revolution. — Sign up for the Vulgar History mailing list! — 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
Duration:01:00:54
Movie Discussion: Conclave (2024)
5/9/2025
To celebrate Pope Leo XIV, I pulled this out of the Patreon vault so everybody can enjoy our spoiler-filled discussion. Last year when the movie Conclave came out, Allison and I both went bananas. Little did we know, it would later be nominated for numerous Academy Awards, or that there would be an IRL conclave, or that the new Pope would be from Chicago WHERE ALLISON LIVES??? — Sign up for the Vulgar History mailing list! — 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
Duration:01:44:34
Charlotte Corday (with Gavin Whitehead)
5/7/2025
Charlotte Corday is a notorious figure from the French Revolution, best known for assassinating Jean-Paul Marat. Who was she, why did she do this, what art was inspired by her act, was she the Luigi of her time, and must we stan?? Special guest Gavin Whitehead from The Art of Crime podcast joins us to talk about the ribbons of it all. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Duration:02:11:35
Claire Lacombe and Pauline Léon
4/30/2025
Let’s go girls! Claire Lacombe and Pauline Léon came from different backgrounds: Claire was an actress from the countryside, and Pauline grew up in Paris the daughter of chocolatiers. But what they had in common was a passion for the French Revolution, women's rights, and attacking anyone who disagreed with them. And they were also Historically Very Good Friends if you know what I mean, and I'm sure you do. Plus: special guest stars The Market Ladies!! — References: Wikipedia (Claire) Wikipedia (Pauline) https://womenineuropeanhistory.wordpress.com/2017/01/31/pauline-leon/ Theophile Leclerc: an anti-Jacobin terrorist by Morris Slavin Liberty: the life and times of six women in revolutionary France by Lucy Moore https://www.geriwalton.com/reine-audu-heroine-heroine-of-the-french-revolution/— — Sign up for the Vulgar History mailing list! — 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
Duration:01:35:20
Anne-Josèphe Théroigne de Méricourt (with Claire Mead)
4/23/2025
Anne-Josèphe Théroigne de Méricourt was one of the most notorious people in the French Revolution. She arrived in Paris ready for revolution, used her theatrical experience to design unforgettable outfits, and did her best to fight for women's rights (with a sword by her side). We're joined by Claire Mead to talk about the gender shenanigans of Théroigne's saga, and why she deserved much better. Keep up with Claire's work about queer women and swords at clairemead.com — Sign up for the Vulgar History mailing list! — 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
Duration:02:16:27