Hysterical History

A monster attacked two hundred people in the south of France in only a few years. Was it a werewolf? An escaped lion or hyena? Shia LaBeouf? In this episode, Hailey tells the spooky story of the Beast of Gevaudan. Special thanks to Swing Whale for our music! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Did you know that when you eat a pineapple, it tries to eat you back? Or that at one point, people rented pineapples to seem rich? In this episode, Alexis teaches Hailey some of the history of pineapples in Europe and in the United States. Special thanks to Swing Whale for our music See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Happy month of scares, listeners! This week, Hailey teaches Alexis about the terrifying tale, but maybe slightly less terrifying than you think, of Elizabeth Bathory. Special thanks to Swing Whale for our music! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Slavery is a terrible, not funny subject. However, some of the ways people escaped slavery were ingenious and downright wacky. Tune in this week, as Alexis teaches Hailey about 5 different slave escape stories, each crazier than the last. Special thanks to Swing Whale for our music! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

All cities have personalities in their design, the way they run, and the people who built them and live in them today. In this episode, Hailey teaches Alexis how Seattle got its quirky start, with poop explosions and the madame who ran the place. Special thanks to Swing Whale for our music! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The second part of the War of the Roses episode! Get ready for even more bad decisions, battles, crown swapping, and mayhem! Special thanks to Swing Whale for our music! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Do you like history? Do you like Game of Thrones? Then you're gonna love to hear the historical war Game of Thrones is based on! Tune in this week and next week, in a special two-part episode, as Alexis teaches Hailey about the War of the Roses (also we know other people say wars, but too bad). Sings the Game of Thrones theme to War of Roses Special thanks to Swing Whale for our music! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

People going to trial for murder is as old as time itself. But...animals going to trial for crimes? A more common and recent occurrence than you think. Tune in this week as Hailey teaches Alexis about animals who have gone to trial against people...who don't always lose. Special thanks to Swing Whale for our music! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Olympic events come and go every time a new country gets ahold of them. But usually those events are all generally recognized as sports. This week, Alexis teaches Hailey about events that happened at the 1900 Olympics in Paris, a now unrecognized Olympics by the IOC that almost canceled the Olympics for good. Special thanks to Swing Whale for our music! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

When women kill, they often use poison, but Locusta made poisoning an art. Join us this week as Hailey teaches Alexis about the ancient assassin who killed Roman emperors and transformed history. Special thanks to Swing Whale for our music! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

We've talked about a war fought over a bucket, but have you heard of a war fought over a pastry shop? In this episode, Alexis teaches Hailey how a Mexican revolution leads to a French blockade of Mexico's ports and how General Santa Anna's leg ended up in a museum in Illinois. Also Alexis accidentally says France touches Mexico and that they owned Mexico. In both incidences, she meant Spain. Podcasting is hard, but she cringed while editing it and had to write this note. Special thanks to Swing Whale for our music! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

What does it take for a country to go to war with another? Usually, a border disagreement, or continual frustration between the two nations. But sometimes, all it takes is a stolen bucket. This week, Hailey teaches Alexis about thousands of people dying...over a bucket. Special thanks to Swing Whale for our music! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Have you ever wanted to fly in a hot air balloon? Well, hopefully your ride will go better than Vincenzo Lunardi's and has less animals onboard. Join us this week as Alexis teaches Hailey about an Italian hot air balloon pilot in England known as the Daredevil of Aeronautics. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Have you ever suffered from the Mandela Effect, where you forgot if he died in jail, or is it's Berenstein or Berenstain Bears? Or have you forgotten an entire president of the United States? This week, Hailey teaches Alexis about the life of Chester Alan Arthur...who she isn't sure is even a real president. Special thanks to Swing Whale for our music, and to all you listeners who stuck out our hiatus with us! We love you! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

China has a history of being interested in art and writing and...penises? In this episode, Alexis teaches Hailey an ancient and modern story about eunuchs and the difference between having family jewels or losing them. Special thanks to Swing Whale for our music! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Fairies aren't real...are they? In this episode, Hailey teaches Alexis about the Cottingley Fairies, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and also they talk about the Great British Bake Off a lot. Sorry for the sound quality at the beginning. We were on the wrong mic, but I promise, it's only for a few minutes. Special thanks to Swing Whale for our music! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Most of the time in war, soldiers are there to take the enemy out as a team. But Guy Gabaldon is a Marine on a personal nightly mission to save the enemy in Saipan. Tune in this week as Alexis teaches Hailey about a guy who was willing to put his life on the line to save the enemy from death. Warning: talk of mass suicide and a racial slur is mentioned in historical context. If those topics are difficult for you, you might want to skip this episode Special thanks to Swing Whale for our music! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

What do regicide, bogs and Nicholas Cage all have in common? The answer might be nipple sucking! Tune in this week, as Hailey teaches Alexis all about a possibly real ancient practice and the arduous journey a historian can take to get to the truth. Special thanks to Swing Whale for our music and Dannie for the review on iTunes! Thanks Dannie! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Brand deals are everywhere now, but you know who got the first one ever? An elephant named Jumbo! He went from the African bush to being a sensation at the London Zoo, and even part of P.T. Barnum's Greatest Show On Earth! Join Hailey in learning from Alexis all about Jumbo, his rise to fame, his untimely and suspicious demise, and the aftermath. Special thanks to Swing Whale for our music! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Is Jack the Ripper Canadian? This week, Hailey teaches Alexis about a terrible Canadian man who loves poison and murder and moved to London at a convenient time...also he has the WORST NAME EVER. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.