Best American Duchess Podcasts (2024)

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Introducing American Prankster: Wavy Gravy's Life Story 5:55

1h ago5:55

5:55

We are excited to share a show we're loving with you! American Prankster: Wavy Gravy's Life Story pairs the legendary entertainer and activist with our friend, podcaster Rainbow Valentine, following the incredible ride of a life that Wavy Gravy has been on through decades of American counterculture. Enjoy this sample, and subscribe wherever you lis…

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#66. Director Adam Nelson & Writer Chris Watt Discuss THE MIRE 39:35

4h ago39:35

39:35

Directed by Adam Nelson and written by Chris Watt, The Mire is a well-honed dramatic thriller which grabs your attention and draws you into its tense plot. Essentially a one-location, three-hander, the low-budget film knows exactly what to do with its limited resources and it keeps you hooked until its surprising finale. Returning guest Adam Nelson…

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74. Empress Wu Zetian, China's Only Female Monarch 36:06

2h ago36:06

36:06

In its many thousands of years of history, China has had only one official ruling monarch who was a woman. Sure, there were powerful Empress Consorts who pulled the strings of weak Emperor husbands, but Empress Wu Zetian ambitiously, and ruthlessly, upended convention to claim the throne in her own name. Born to a prosperous and well-connected fami…

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73. Grand Duchess Olga Alexandrovna of Russia, The Luckiest Romanov 1:14:37

13d ago1:14:37

1:14:37

As the Romanov era closed, some family members were more fortunate than others. Grand Duchess Olga Alexandrovna, youngest daughter of Tsar Alexander III and baby sister of the doomed Tsar Nicholas II, may be the most fortunate of the Romanov clan, escaping the country and living out a happy life in Denmark and Canada. Born into a large, loving, roy…

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#65. It's Hammer Time With DOCTOR JEKYLL Director Joe Stephenson 21:27

8h ago21:27

21:27

Director Joe Stephenson joins this episode of the Movies In Focus podcast to discuss his latest film, Doctor Jekyll. This film marks a significant moment for Hammer Studios, being their first horror release since the company's acquisition by the aptly named John Gore. Starring, Eddie Izzard and Scott Chambers, the film offers a fresh take on Robert…

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A Love for Grandmillennial Style: A conversation with the creator of Charm Lane, Alexa Archibald 48:08

14d ago48:08

48:08

Grand Millennial Style has always been part of our essence and like all design and style messaging, its’ unique characteristics pull from past influences and re-introduce themselves with a current POV. You can see examples of this style illustrated in bold patterns, heirloom furniture and tableware, raffia and needlepoint. It is not a sense of clut…

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#64. Director Neil Marshall & Star Charlotte Kirk Discuss DUCHESS 28:41

4d ago28:41

28:41

Dog Soldiers, The Descent and Doomsday filmmaker Neil Marshall joins the Movies In Focuspodcast to talk about his new gangster film, Duchess alongside its star, co-writer and producer Charlotte Kirk. The pair previously collaborated on the action-horror The Lair and the mediaeval thriller, The Reckoning. With Duchess, Marshall delivers a fast-paced…

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72. Ming Dynasty Emperors Hongwu, Yongle, and Zhengde 43:47

5d ago43:47

43:47

Most Americans have at least a basic sense of key elements of European history, but that's not necessarily true when it comes to places like China. And that's true for us, too. Today we take our first dive into China's extremely long history - 4,000 years by some accounts! - to meet three notably trashy emperors of the Ming Dynasty, which ruled Chi…

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71. Irene of Athens, First Empress of Rome 45:27

12d ago45:27

45:27

Powerful women have always had to play the game a little differently than their male counterparts, but the story of Irene of Athens, who played politics with enough dexterity to become Empress of the Byzantine Empire for about 20 years in the 8th century, is extraordinarily complicated. The daughter of a prominent Greek family, she was brought to C…

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70. Meet the Bonapartes: Joseph Bonaparte, King of Naples, Spain, and New Jersey 32:27

19d ago32:27

32:27

To round out our Meet the Bonapartes series, we turn to Napoleon's eldest - and apparently coolest - brother, Joseph. Affable, charming, and comfortable in his own skin, he was a contrast to most of his siblings, including Napoleon. His easygoing nature made him popular even with political opponents, and Joseph was an important player in Napoleon's…

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#63. At The Flicks Podcast's Jeff & Graham On Kevin Costner's HORIZON: AN AMERICAN SAGA 1:05:31

26d ago1:05:31

1:05:31

On this episode, Jeff Downes and Graham O'Dwyer from the brilliant At The Flicks podcast discuss Kevin Costner's western epic, Horizon: An American Saga. We'll be putting our collective expertise to work as we explore Costner's latest directorial effort, examining its place within the western genre and its potential impact on cinema. So let's saddl…

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69. Meet the Bonapartes: Elisa Bonaparte, Grand Duchess of Tuscany 35:57

26d ago35:57

35:57

Napoleon's eldest sister shared many of his more imperious personal qualities, but would prove to be surprisingly gifted at governance after her brother named her Princess of the Italian principalities of Piombino and Lucca. More territories would be added to the holdings she governed, eventually including the Grand Duchy of Tuscany, with Florence …

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#62. Star Rachel Nichols & Director Alejandro Brugués Talk THE INHERITANCE 30:43

29d ago30:43

30:43

Director Alejandro Brugués goes for old-fashioned chills and offers up some slow-burn horror with his excellent new horror, The Inheritance. It can be difficult to have sympathy for characters who have immense wealth and privilege – especially when you’re not supposed to like them. However, The Inheritance gets the balance just right – and along wi…

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#61. Writers Joe Russo & Chris LaMont On THE INHERITANCE 16:45

1M ago16:45

16:45

Written by Joe Russo and Chris LaMont, The Inheritance delivers old-fashioned chills and offers up some slow-burn horror. The quick pitch is to call the Alejandro Brugués directed film a well-balanced mix of Knives Out and The House On Haunted Hill by way of The Haunting Of Hill House and Succession. There’s a sophistication and understanding of th…

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#60. Star Gilles Marini & Director Shane Dax Taylor Talk MURDER COMPANY 37:16

1M ago37:16

37:16

Shane Dax Taylor’s Murder Company is an old-fashioned World War II men on a mission movie. On Demand now in the U.S., the film stars William Moseley, Pooch Hall, Gilles Marini, Joe Anderson and Kelsey Grammer. The plot follows a group of US soldiers as they attempt to smuggle a member of the French resistance behind enemy lines so that he can assas…

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68. Meet the Bonapartes: Lucien Bonaparte, Head and Shoulders Above the Rest 36:26

1M ago36:26

36:26

It never hurts to have a hype man, and Napoleon's younger brother Lucien just happened to be a talented writer and orator. One could even say he was his brother's propagandist and co-conspirator in a ballot stuffing operation that led to Napoleon's initial domination of the government of France. But Lucien, who was also the tallest of the Bonaparte…

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#59. Jake Allyn Talks About His Modern Day Western RIDE 21:41

1M ago21:41

21:41

Writer/director Jake Allyn's film Ride is now available On Demand in the US. It’s a wonderful modern day western that sees Allyn star alongside C. Thomas Howell, Annabeth Gish & Forrie J. Smith. It's a beautifully shot & exceptionally well acted film that has dramatic highs alongside some strong tension. Jake Allyn joins the Movies In Focus podcast…

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#58. Isy Santini On Alexander Payne's ELECTION 32:34

1M ago32:34

32:34

Alexander Payne’s 1999 release Election was a film which took the filmmaker’s career to the next level. A biting satire, it features a great Matthew Broderick as a teacher with a grudge battling Reese Witherspoon‘s overly enthusiastic student, Tracy Flick. As part of a special look back at some of the films released in 1999 - a year many believe to…

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67. Meet the Bonapartes: Louis Bonaparte and Hortense de Beauharnais 57:23

1M ago57:23

57:23

Napoleon's meddling in his siblings' lives was the source of considerable angst for several of them. Napoleon had high expectations for his younger brother Louis, but Louis chafed at his brother's authority. Still, he ultimately agreed to marry Napoleon's step-daughter with Josephine, Hortense de Beauharnais, a marriage that would become notable mo…

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The New American Classics: Get to know Dunes and Duchess with co-founder Stacy Kunstel 35:21

1M ago35:21

35:21

Distinct design, playful touches, and versatile functionality are just a few expressions that describe the New Milford, Connecticut brand Dunes and Duchess. Dunes and Duchess are purveyors of beautiful artistic furniture and lighting for your home. They are known for their stunning high gloss lacquer and signature turned wood spindles. Candelabras,…

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66. Meet the Bonapartes: Caroline Bonaparte Murat, Queen of Naples 47:38

2M ago47:38

47:38

If Pauline was Napoleon's most loyal sister, Caroline was undoubtedly his most scheming. As a child, she took orders from her big brother, but as he rose from celebrated military commander to Emperor, she made sure he never forgot to improve her fortunes, as well. After she married one of Napoleon's military advisors - a match he was only persuaded…

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65. Meet the Bonapartes: Pauline Bonaparte 47:35

2M ago47:35

47:35

It's probably no surprise that in a family with as much internal intrigue as the Bonapartes had, Napoleon had a favorite among his three sisters. Pauline Bonaparte was eleven years younger than her brother, but was similarly ambitious and was generally happy to take part in his plans for himself and her. A natural beauty with a flirtatious, if slig…

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64. Meet the Bonapartes: Jerome Bonaparte and Betsy Patterson Bonaparte 54:01

3M ago54:01

54:01

Napoleon's youngest brother Jerome was an endless headache for him. Lacking ambition but loving luxury, he fled a stint in the French navy (after nearly sparking a war with England) for America to wait out his brother's wrath. It was in Baltimore that he met the woman who would become his first wife, socialite Elizabeth Patterson. Marrying her agai…

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63. Meet the Bonapartes: Napoleon and Marie Louise of Austria 56:31

2M ago56:31

56:31

When it came time for Napoleon to find a successor to Josephine as his wife, pickings were slimmer than you might expect. Russia's Alexander I wouldn't entertain the idea of a marriage between the French emperor and Alex's youngest sister, Anna Pavlovna. Austria, which had spent years battling - and losing to - France, became the unlikely solution …

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#57. Drew Maxwell Weiss Talks About His Giallo Inspired Arrow Short ANATOMY MAESTRO 24:56

2M ago24:56

24:56

Arrow Shorts is a showcase for great short-form film-making. From the scary to the bizarre, Arrow highlights the amazing work being created by filmmakers in a shorter-length medium. Film-maker Drew Maxwell Weiss joins this episode of the podcast to talk about his Giallo inspired short Anatomy Maestro. With nods to the bloody thrillers of the late ‘…

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#56. Alex Baro-Cayetano On His Small & Perfectly Formed Arrow Short KEITH 22:34

2M ago22:34

22:34

Arrow Shorts is a showcase for great short-form film-making. From the scary to the bizarre, Arrow highlights the amazing work being created by filmmakers in a shorter-length medium. Film-maker Alex Baro-Cayetano joins this episode of the podcast to talk about his small, but perfectly formed short, Keith. In the film, a little girl meets someone cal…

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62. Meet The Bonapartes | Napoleon and Josephine 1:01:45

3M ago1:01:45

1:01:45

Part of the joy of history is how resonant it often is. Imagine an ambitious if dysfunctional family with some minor claim to nobility in some far off backwater rising to power - to the highest office in the land - on the strength of a charismatic son known as much for his professional acumen as his arrogant, sometimes outrageous behavior. Welcome …

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From Ina Garten's Kitchen to Yours! A conversation with Cassandra Schultz, Owner of Cassandra's Kitchen 36:23

3M ago36:23

36:23

So many of us have fallen in love with Ina Garten. Whether it be her recipes or all that she embodies, she has made her way into our hearts. Well, if you don't know already, there's another very special person who is helping us bring a touch of Ina in our home. In this episode, Anne is joined by Cassandra Schultz, owner of Cassandra's Kitchen. Grow…

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#55. Kristanna Loken & James Cullen Bressack On Making DARKNESS OF MAN With Jean Claude Van Damme 34:21

3M ago34:21

34:21

Darkness Of Man is a new action noir starring Jean Claude Van Damme as a former Interpol agent haunted by the actions of his past. Visually striking, Darkness Of Man sees Van Damme give a nuanced turn - and it’s once again an indicator that the action icon can deliver good performances alongside bullets and flying kicks. James Cullen Bressack, the …

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61. Leopold II of Belgium, the Congo Free State, and Villa Leopolda 1:08:44

3M ago1:08:44

1:08:44

Long a vassal state to its much larger neighbors, Belgium only became independent in 1830, at which time it decided that what it really needed was a (constitutional) monarchy! Its first king, Leopold I, earned the gig by virtue of being born a Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld prince who had cultivated his relationships with Europe's royal houses during a disti…

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#54. Ryan Irving On His Slasher Pastiche Arrow Short BARK 23:32

3M ago23:32

23:32

Arrow Shorts is a showcase for great short-form film-making. From the scary to the bizarre, Arrow highlights the amazing work being created by film-makers in a shorter-length medium. Film-maker Ryan Iriving joins this episode of the podcast to talk about Bark, a witty, original and well-composed slasher pastiche which crams a lot into its short run…

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#53. Izzy Lee On The Gonzo 'Sesame Street On Acid' Arrow Short MEAT FRIEND 25:36

3M ago25:36

25:36

Arrow Shorts is a showcase for great short-form film-making. From the scary to the bizarre, Arrow highlights the amazing work being created by filmmakers in a shorter-length medium. Film-maker Izzy Lee joins this episode of the podcast to talk about her incredibly fresh and original short film Meat Friend. Meat Friend was nominated for a 2023 Fango…

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60. King Umberto II and Queen Marie-Jose of Italy and the Fall of the House of Savoy 43:25

3M ago43:25

43:25

One of the outcomes of the 20th century's two world wars was the widespread abolition of monarchies across Europe. Some of these events were brutal, as in Russia, but others, like Italy, happened bloodlessly and through the popular will. After a long reign that saw the Kingdom of Italy enthralled by Benito Mussolini's fascist dictatorship, World Wa…

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#52: Jeff Fisher On Erotic Thrillers & Bringing Adele Parks' THE IMAGE OF YOU To The Screen 21:44

3M ago21:44

21:44

The Image Of You is the screen adaptation of Adele Parks’ novel of the same name. Directed by Jeff Fisher and adapted by screenwriter Chris Sivertson, the film stars Sasha Pieterse, Parker Young, Néstor Carbonell and Mira Sorvino. It’s something of an outlier - a modern take on the erotic thriller - one with particular nods to masters of the genre …

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Current Travel Trends, Tips and Love for Experiences with Inspirato President, David Kelley 45:30

3M ago45:30

45:30

Experiences are an important component in shaping who we are. Travel being one of them, not only can be an adventure, it can be necessary for the soul. It refuels you, expands your perspective and creates memories that last a lifetime. For this episode, I am honored to host fellow travel enthusiast and a professional hospitality expert David Kaller…

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#51. Best-Selling Author Adele Parks Talks Writing & THE IMAGE OF YOU 26:15

4M ago26:15

26:15

Adele Parks MBE has sold over 5 million plus copies and has been translated into over 30 different languages. Her 19th novel, The Image Of You has now been adapted for the screen by director Jeff Fisher and screenwriter Chris Sivertson. Starring Sasha Pieterse, Parker Young, Néstor Carbonell and Mira Sorvino, the film is a modern take on the erotic…

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59. Queen Ranavalona I, The Mad Queen of Madagascar 45:47

4M ago45:47

45:47

If you worried that royal houses had gotten a little too genteel by the 19th century, the story of Ranavalona I of Madagascar will disabuse you of that pretty quickly. Seizing the throne in 1828 after the death of her husband, King Radama - despite not being the rightful heir to it - she immediately launched a campaign of murder against her politic…

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#50. Writer/Director Francis Galluppi On The Brilliant THE LAST STOP IN YUMA COUNTY 13:34

4M ago13:34

13:34

Sometimes a movie will come along and subvert expectations - and Francis Galluppi’s brilliant feature film debut, The Last Stop In Yuma County is one of the movies. The set-up is that a travelling salesman is caught up with a pair of bank robbers in a remote diner - we’ve all seen that type of thriller a dozen times before but Galluppi takes things…

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58. Elizabeth and Leicester, Part Two 53:50

4M ago53:50

53:50

When she assumed the throne in 1558, she made it clear to the members of her court that they shouldn't plan to have their wives or female companions around the place. She intended to be singular as she consolidated power, but perhaps she had another motive as well; by banishing the wives, Robert Dudley, newly appointed Master of the Horse to Her Ma…

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#49. Stefon Bristol On Directing Sci-Fi Thriller BREATHE & Its A-List Cast 11:52

4M ago11:52

11:52

As its title suggests, Stefon Bristol’s Breathe is a claustrophobic and tense film that will leave you gasping for air. A prescient science fiction piece, Breathe is set in the near future where the earth has a depleted oxygen supply. A small family eke out an existence, but when strangers arrive at their doorstep paranoia seeps into their lives. A…

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57. Elizabeth and Leicester, Part One 54:30

4M ago54:30

54:30

While Queen Elizabeth I of England famously never married, her close relationship with Robert Dudley began when the two were small children together in the court of Henry VIII. Elizabeth was a princess who was downgraded to a lady after her mother, Anne Boleyn's, death. Robert was the grandson of an advisor to King Henry VII who was executed for tr…

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Enhancing your Culinary Experience with Formaggio Kitchen - A conversation with owner, Julia Hallman 42:46

4M ago42:46

42:46

If you love to entertain or delight yourself with unique culinary delights - this is a must listen! We are lucky to host Julia Hallman, owner of Formaggio Kitchen in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Formaggio Kitchen is a gourmet food shop providing the finest artisan cheeses and specialty foods available domestically and abroad. Featured in Wine Enthusia…

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#48. Author Danny Stewart On The Underappreciated Kurt Russell Movie SOLDIER 40:35

4M ago40:35

40:35

Unfairly dismissed in 1998, Paul W.S. Anderson’s Soldier underperformed when it was released, grossing a paltry $14.5 million at the U.S. on a then substantial $60 million budget. In the UK the Kurt Russell starrer became the most expensive film to go straight to DVD/Video. Danny Stewart's book Soldier: From Script to Screen takes a serious deep di…

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56. The William Shakespeare Mystery (Trashy Divorces Crossover) 1:33:26

4M ago1:33:26

1:33:26

It's a big week for Tortured Poets, so we decided to take a long look at history's most famous one: William Shakespeare himself. Alicia explores the mystery around the true identity of the author of some of the world's most famous pieces of literature. Was it really the actor from Stratford-upon-Avon penning Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, A Midsummer Ni…

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55. The Tortured Tudor Poet: The Love Letters of Henry VIII to Anne Boleyn 1:10:43

4M ago1:10:43

1:10:43

As Taylor Swift launches her latest era with The Tortured Poets Department, Alicia dives into her favorite era: Tudor England. We explore the 17 surviving love letters that King Henry VIII penned during his courtship and early relationship with Anne Boleyn in the latter half of the 1520s, particularly noting that for quite a long time, it seems lik…

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#47. Cult Auteur Larry Fessenden Talks BLACKOUT & Werewolves 36:00

5M ago36:00

36:00

It’s usually hyperbole to say that someone does it all, but in the case of Larry Fessenden, it just so happens to be true. An award-winning actor, producer, writer, director and editor - Fessenden is a genre filmmaker with a real skill in delivering works that entertain but also have a fair amount of nuance and sophistication. Fessenden’s latest fi…

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54. Elisabeth of Wied, First Queen of Romania, and Literature's Carmen Sylva 43:11

5M ago43:11

43:11

However much 'protocol' may attempt to intervene, the truth is that eccentricity is a trait that even royals have. This is certainly the case for Elisabeth of Wied, a German princess who became Romania's first queen, wife of Romania's King Carol I. Politics in Europe were extra complex in the latter half of the 19th century. In Russia, Tsar Alexand…

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Get to know Salt Hotels with Co-Founder & CEO, David Bowd 48:42

5M ago48:42

48:42

This episode is perfect for not only travel enthusiasts but those that adore boutique hotels and a sense of feeling connected. I am honored to host David Bowd, cofounder and CEO of Salt Hotels. David is a lifelong hotelier. With over 30 years in the industry, he shares his story from his first hotel role in England to the coveted experience of work…

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53. King Pedro I of Portugal and Inês de Castro 38:53

5M ago38:53

38:53

The fourteenth century was full of challenges to marital bliss, especially for nobles. Travel was complicated, especially during times of war, but royal houses still needed to cement alliances through marriage - often among woefully young princes and princesses who, again, were separated by vast distances and perhaps had never met. So it was for Po…

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52. Caroline of Brunswick, featuring Sam from I'm Horrified! 57:40

5M ago57:40

57:40

We touched on England's King George IV in our episode about Queen Victoria's Trashy Hanoverian Uncles (episode 17), but there's so much more to the story of his misspent youth and his cataclysmic marriage to Princess Caroline of Brunswick. To help out, we asked our friend Sam from the podcast I'm Horrified!, who recently delivered this banger of a …

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