Hysterical History

Who are your ancestors? In this episode, Alexis teaches Hailey about Stephen Hopkins, her 10th great-grandfather, who came over on the Mayflower. Happy early Thanksgiving! Special thanks to Swing Whale for our music! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Ever had a headache so bad that you wanted to literally burn a hole in your skull? Or tie a dead mole to your head? In this week's episode, Hailey describes some ancient methods of curing headaches that seem insane, and probably don't work. Special thanks to Swing Whale for our music! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Slavery has never been a good thing, but in this spooky scary episode, mistreatment has been taken to the extreme. Join Hailey in learning from Alexis about Delphine Lalaurie, a woman who tortured her slaves enough and in such disturbing ways that it made her infamous. Special thanks to Swing whale for our music! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

What happens when 10 hikers go on an adventure in winter in Russia? Only one survives, of course! Join us this week as Hailey teaches Alexis about the dreaded mystery for spooky scary Halloween fortnight! Special thanks to Swing Whale for our music! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Most absolute rulers just kill people who are insubordinate. But what if they're in your family? And what does any of this have to do with Swedish monarchy? Tune in this week as Alexis teaches Hailey about Jean Baptiste Jules Bernadotte, a man who said no to all but the perfect opportunity. Special thanks to Swing Whale for our music! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Do you love potato chips? Mashed potatoes? French fries? Well, the French weren't always too keen on potatoes. Join Alexis in learning as Hailey teaches how French snobbery almost killed the French people and how the royal family tricked people into stealing potatoes. Special thanks to Swing Whale for our music! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Ever wished you could be a prince or princess of your own country? Well, one man made that a reality and started his own nation. This week, Alexis teaches Hailey about debatably the smallest nation in the world; Sealand! Special thanks to Swing Whale for our music! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Sometimes wars aren't fought by countries, but just by men who have strong feelings about BONES. This week, Hailey teaches Alexis about Marsh and Cope, two men, once friends, who started an epic war over dinosaur bones in America in the 19th century.Special thanks to Swing Whale for our intro music! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Disney is a magical place where people gather from all over the world and there's never a trash can more than a few steps from you. But the opening day of Disney was not so magical...or clean. Join Hailey in learning the horrors of opening day of Disney, as Alexis explains why workers called it 'Black Sunday'. Special thanks to Swing Whale for our music! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The Olympics are a spectacle and generally heavily organized now, but in 1904, that was not the case in Missouri. Join us this week as Hailey teaches Alexis about how marathon runners did drugs, took naps, and used cars during the race. Special thanks to Swing Whale for our music! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Jemmy Hirst was a farmer in Northern England, who had a penchant for inventing and training animals to do...less than conventional jobs for him. Join Hailey in learning about all his crazy animal training as Alexis teaches her about her new favorite historical Englishman, Jemmy Hirst. Special thanks to Swing Whale for our music. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Get ready to feel great about your poetry from middle school! Hailey teaches Alexis about the worst poet possibly ever, William McGonagall, and has the receipts to prove it. Special thanks from Swing Whale for our music! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Think face tattoos are hardcore? Well, in the 1800s, they were unheard of on white women...except for Olive Oatman. Join Hailey this week in learning about the crazy story of how Olive Oatman became the first white woman with a tattoo in the U.S. Special thanks to Swing Whale for our music! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Everyone knows about Rasputin, but not many people know there was a pre-Rasputin in Russia. Join Alexis in learning about him as Hailey tells her about a terrible charlatan who likely set Rasputin up perfectly to topple Russia. Special thanks to Swing Whale for our intro and outro music! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In this two part episode, Alexis reveals that Jackson's and Calhoun's, president and vice president, hate for each other began over a petty disagreement between cabinet wives and fun facts about Mount Rushmore, although we prefer the name President Mountain. Special thanks to Swing Whale for our music! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The Cold War was a long stream of paranoia for most people, but for those between Big Diomede and Little Diomede, it was sneaking across the border to preach and drink together, be it by swimming or bath tub boating. Join Alexis this week as Hailey teaches her how Alaskan history in the Cold War is kind of Russian history as well. Special thanks to Swing Whale for our music! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

You know how usually there is only one pope? Not in the 1400s! Join Hailey in learning as Alexis tells about a time when there was not one, not two, but three popes, all at once! Special thanks to Swing Whale for our music! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Alexis explains the strange, complex sport of cycling with Hailey, which includes Egyptian obelisks, dog crashes and a death by drowning! Special thanks to Swing Whale for our music! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This week, Hailey teaches Alexis about the brave domestic war Australians fought against...the dreaded emus. Who are totally dinosaurs, and also what are their legs doing? We just don't know. Learn about emu guerilla war tactics and samurai syndrome in this week's episode! Special thanks to Swing Whale for our music! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In this episode, Alexis teaches Hailey about Canada's best kept secret, the cult leader Brother XII! Who is Madame Zee? Why did people give up all their possessions to join him? Did he possess black magic? And are his mason jars of gold coins buried? Find out all this and more! Special thanks to Swing Whale for our music! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.