Welcome to episode 86! We are celebrating our three year anniversary of the show with a topic that kicked it all off for us: a kickass female pirate. In this episode we meet al-Sayyida al-Hurra, a queen of her city-state of Tétouan in present-day Morocco. Due to a lack of formal navy against the might of the Portuguese and Spanish fleets, she creat…

We’re throwing our heads back, flailing our arms and running off for a summer break, but there’s still time for Kim and Alice to discuss the classic ‘Chariots of Fire’. We have Olympic trivia, separate the fact from fiction and discuss all manner of dongs. Sound Engineer: Keith Nagle Editor: Keith Nagle Producer: Helen Hamilton Sources Documentary:…

It's episode 85! We are rounding out our celebration of Pride month by going back to the 19th century, four years after the end of the American Civil War, to attend the earliest drag balls in Harlem, New York. Over time, these balls turned into the house ballroom culture and the dance competitions that birthed voguing. After the break, KT takes us …

Period dramas are for dudes too! And this week we have Tan and Keon from the awesome Pastmaster podcast to help us navigate the dudiest dudefest around: Gladiator. We’re thinking about the Roman Empire an exactly normal amount and discussing tickle-snake surprises, extremely extra Emperors and historically-accurate product endorsement. Sound Engine…

It's episode 84 and we have history! And horses! And non-binary 18th century preachers! We. Have. Everything.Kt, our resident Horse Girl and Horsetorian, takes us on a tour through history to meet some of its most famous equine figures--from Alexander the Great's Bucephalus to Roy Rogers' Trigger.Next, Laurel travels through history to Revolutionar…

In this week’s special Fainting Couch episode, Kim and Alice are smooching their undergardeners and celebrating queer representation in TV and cinema. We’re looking at the history, the controversy and depiction of LGBTQ+ people on screen, and demanding more queer joy please! Sound Engineer: Keith Nagle Editor: Helen Hamilton / Keith Nagle Producer:…

In episode 83, KT wraps up her two part series on fantasy authors and friends with J.R.R. Tolkien, author of The Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings series. (In our previous episode, she covered C.S. Lewis) From his service in World War One to his time teaching at Oxford and Cambridge to his amazing world building of Middle Earth, KT takes us through …

It’s Pride season, and Kim and Alice are celebrating by discussing the queeriest 2020 Mexican drama, ‘Dance of the 41’. There’s cigar innuendo, bathtub math and honeymoon-related fainting, as well as the real history of the LGBTQ+ community in 1900s Mexico. Sound Engineer: Keith Nagle Editor: Keith Nagle Producer: Helen Hamilton Sources Article: Br…

Welcome into the wardrobe for episode 82! At the back you'll find the Smoke Circle where we have snacks, history and...gin. Laurel first takes you to 18th century London when the greater access to spirits made gin a hot commodity and everyone a hot mess...or worse. After the break, KT shares the life and creative mind of Clive Staples Lewis, better…

This week we’re having our hearts broken by a bad case of British butler-itis, as Kim and Alice sob through The Remains of the Day. We’re learning about the politics of the aristocracy, strict servant etiquette and why you shouldn’t learn the facts of life from Anthony Hopkins. Sound Engineer: Keith Nagle Editor: Helen Hamilton / Keith Nagle Produc…

Welcome to episode 81! In this episode, Laurel covers the story of the RMS Titanic's sinking and how it remained undiscovered on the ocean floor for the next 73 years until a top secret Cold War mission led to its (almost accidental) discovery in 1985. After we get back on dry land, KT brings us a long awaited topic near and dear to her heart: meta…

Move over Elizabeth and Victoria, there’s a new Queen in town. This week Kim and Alice tackle ‘The Favourite’, the darkly comic / just plain dark Queen Anne biopic. Why aren’t more period dramas set in the Stuart period? Who won the duck race? And where can we hire a naked Tory for our next party? Sound Engineer: Keith Nagle Editor: Helen Hamilton …

Welcome to season three! We are thrilled to be back with you and thrilled to be back with one of our favorite guests, Dr. Darren R. Reid, history professor at Coventry University in Coventry, England. We previously had Dr. Reid on in episodes 52 and 53 (linked below if you want to hear!) to talk to us about Indigenous representation in popular movi…

You better get to shirtless sword practice because these elephants only respect hot people! This week Kim and Alice are covering Indian epic, Jodhaa Akbar. It’s a historical romance with all the jewellery and political intrigue you can handle, along with Kim’s favourite kind of montage… a montage of LOVE. Sound Engineer: Keith Nagle Editor: Helen H…

Ain’t no party like a cloud moon party; this week Kim and Alice are discussing the gorgeous Japanese animation, The Tale of the Princess Kaguya. We reveal our preferred method of baby-making (it’s Bamboo-based), discuss some fierce Heian period fashion and congratulate Mt Fuji on sticking to her New Year’s resolutions. Sound Engineer: Keith Nagle E…

We’re jumping on our 1850s waterbed with excitement, as this week Kim and Alice are joined by Laurel from Hightailing Through History to discuss the BBC miniseries, North & South. The industrial North is in her strike era and the men are blaming women for their feelings again, but exactly how many red flags will we ignore if someone’s hot? Check ou…

It's our season 2 finale so hop in your wicker basket and get ready for some wild intergalactic travel we have guest Justin McHenry in the Smoke Circle to talk about a fake place that has some very real history--Lemuria! Justin has written the book "Lemuria: A True Story of a Fake Place" which takes the reader from its real origins in 19th century …

This week Kim and Alice cover their first African-set period drama - the historical action-adventure, ‘The Woman King’. We discuss the real Agojie tribe, the sheer joy of watching some badass women kick some butts and pledge our undying allegiance to Izogie. Sound Recordist: Keith Nagle Editor: Keith Nagle Producer: Helen Hamilton…

Welcome to season 2, episode 7! We're celebrating Black history in the Smoke Circle! First up, Laurel takes us back to roaring 20s Paris to meet Josephine Baker, the Jazz Age star, who was not only a singing and dancing star in the early 20th century, but also was a spy for the French Resistance during WWII and spent her later years as an activist …

There are rigid thrombi all round this week, as Kim and Alice discuss the massively unsubtle 2011 movie, Hysteria. We’re talking about the true history of the invention of the vibrator (spoiler: this isn’t it), the ongoing misdiagnosis of women’s health issues and keeping musk oil far away from our intimate areas. Sound Engineer: Keith Nagle Editor…

We're celebrating all different kinds of love in the Smoke Circle for Valentine's Day! First up, Laurel travels through time recounting iconic stories of love and friendship suggested by listeners--from John Adams and Thomas Jefferson to Gertrude Stein and Alice B. Toklas. Next, Kt travels through the life and family tree of Norman king William I--…

It’s chicken-blood time girls! While Kim’s off witching it up in another country, Alice is joined by Kirstyn and Ben from There’s Not Always a Twist. In this episode, they’re turning their attention to The Crucible; the witch-trial thriller based on Arthur Miller’s play. We’re talking about hysteria, how the play links to McCarthyism and comparing …

Welcome to part two of the history of American comics with comic book historian and writer, Kevin Garcia. Kevin joins the Smoke Circle to discuss American comic's great (roughly) 150 year history and how intertwined they are with the history of America itself. Through comic books, readers can see reflections of American policies, commonly held beli…

Welcome to a great two part series with comic book historian and writer, Kevin Garcia. Kevin joins the Smoke Circle to discuss American comic's great (roughly) 150 year history and how intertwined they are with the history of America itself. Through comic books, readers can see reflections of American policies, commonly held beliefs, attitudes abou…

Knock, knock, it’s definitely not Salieri. This week Kim and Alice are taking a look at Pitch Perfect for the Classical era: Amadeus. Why did the film clean up at the Oscars that year? Where does the line between historical truth and allegory begin? And was Mozart the bad-boy version of Hans Zimmer or a divinely talented little nerd? Sound Engineer…

We’re back lounging on the fainting couch and discussing Disney’s contribution to the period drama world. Choose your fighter: Encanto, the well-researched and sensitive celebration of culture, or Mulan, a film with a dragon named after an American take-away dish. Sound Engineer: Keith Nagle Editor: Keith Nagle / Helen Hamilton Producer: Helen Hami…

Welcome to season 2, episode 3 and the last episode of 2023! To finish it out, Kt takes us through the lives of Viking Age women and what their days might have been like. She also connects this history and time period to the song "Savage Daughter" by Karen Kahan/Wyndreth Berginsdottir, which has been popular on social media platforms. After that, L…

Whew! Is it hot in here or are you a clergyman from Gloucester? This week Kim and Alice are barely keeping it together over the 2007 adaptation of Jane Austen’s novel: Northanger Abbey. There’s geeking out over the history of gothic literature and some sincere appreciation for wrist ruffs. What happens in Baaaaath, stays in Baaaaath, people! Sound …

Welcome to episode two of season two! In this episode we get to realize our dream of being Bill and Ted: plucking a historical figure out of time and sitting down with them to talk history and hear one of their most juicy (and most excellent!) stories! We are joined in the Smoke Circle by Bryan Austin, first person historical interpreter of Benjami…

You already know it’s the best Christmas Carol adaptation, but we’re here with the facts to back it up. This week Kim and Alice cover The Muppet Christmas Carol; objectively Dickens’ favourite version of his classic Victorian novel (probably). We learn about the real political and social forces behind the story, how the film triumphed despite a ser…

We are back with episode one of season two! We're excited to be back in the Smoke Circle with you! Kt hits it hard right off the bat with the history of one of her most favorite things in the world--CHEESE. After that, Laurel takes us to Sweden to meet King Christina of Sweden!*~*~*~*Mentioned In the Stories:Pictures of Christina of Sweden⁠⁠Images …

Who's seen a ghost? Who would kill a pheasant in self-defence? Plus smooch/marry/kill: the historical diseases edition. Get to know Kim and Alice in our lightning mini-episode.

This week we’re re-visiting Alice’s youthful bat phase as we cover the animated classic, Anastasia. Russian history is a bummer, but this film is super fun; there’s flirting on a boat, unhinged accent choices and we all find out that sorcerers don’t react well to being fired. Sound Engineer: Keith Nagle Editor: Keith Nagle / Helen Hamilton Producer…

In this episode, Kim and Alice are discussing one of the least historically accurate, but most tear-inducing blockbusters: The Imitation Game. We’re discussing dentures, Kim’s love of montages and the real story of Alan Turing - a beautiful human being who sucked at crossword puzzles. This episode is brought to you by all-beef meatballs. Sound Engi…

Kim and Alice interrupt their hamster funerals to bring you Bram Stoker’s Dracula, the campy 90s classic with award-winning rat costumes. We’re redefining ugly crying, discussing the frankly unreasonable number of nipples and Kim sounds off about Vlad the Impaler: the original Asian mum. Sound Engineer: Keith Nagle Editor: Helen Hamilton / Keith Na…

Let's get spooky! In our final episode of a very long season one, we cover a long-running mystery called the Tunguska Event. Over 100 years ago, the Earth experienced the largest impact of a cosmic body in modern human history...but no impact was found... Next, Kt takes us on a field trip through England to visit castles with eerie history--complet…

It’s Historical Horror Month at Fetch the Smelling Salts HQ and this week we’re covering the first series of Joseon-era Korean zombie drama - Kingdom. Get ready our little blood ravioli as we eat the rich and explore some hat-based hierarchies. Sound Engineer: Keith Nagle Editor: Helen Hamilton / Keith Nagle Producer: Helen Hamilton…

**Content Warning: Hightailing Through History is for mature audiences and this particular episode includes content that is...a little more mature and "dirty" than our usual "mature content." Viewer and listener discretion is advised** Welcome to the conclusion of our history of sex series! For part two, Laurel snags her best friend, Kelly, to join…

Indian history: it’s full of stuff! And in the case of Padmaavat, it’s full of incredible dance numbers, situationships and history’s hottest battle. Kim and Alice try to sort the historical fact from the fiction, pay tribute to a bisexual icon and provide you with the world’s worst fire-starting advice. Sound Engineer: Keith Nagle Editor: Keith Na…

Welcome to Episode 69! In this two part series, we are diving into the deep topic of sex and its history! In part one, we take it from 385 million years ago up through the Middle Ages discussing the attitudes and practices around sex found in different cultures and eras. In addition, our community on social media voted for further getting into bed …

Do you enjoy eating tiny spoonfuls of jam in the kitchen of a stately home? Are you unnerved by pheasants being murdered on a frankly alarming scale? Then allow us to introduce you to the under-appreciated, classic, murder-mystery; Gosford Park. Kim and Alice discuss the intricacies of 1930s upstairs / downstairs relationships and the layers of sto…

Welcome to Episode 68! We are joined by returning guest Aaron Odom, host of Euripides Eumenides: a Theater History Pod! We have such a great time in the Smoke Circle together (as we always do!) talking about the tangled web of royal family members during the course of WWI--and tangled it is! Next, the sisters tag team a brief history of the jester …

Welcome, gentle listener, to The Fainting Couch. In this special episode, we take a break from covering a specific drama, and instead elegantly repose whilst we discuss a more general period drama talking point. In this episode, Kim and Alice take it back to basics and ask ‘What is a period drama?’’ Sound Engineer: Keith Nagle Editor: Keith Nagle P…

Welcome to episode 67! We cover the ancient and the recent in this one! First up, Laurel takes the Smoke Circle back to the Roman Empire's Crisis of the Third Century. Rome was a revolving door of emperors and constant uprisings and civil wars. During this period of time, one regent queen rose up and broke away from Rome, creating her own empire in…

Is it a mop? Is it a broom? No, it’s Weightman in the corner of your room. This week Kim and Alice are continuing to share their love of all things Bronte with the historical fan service movie, Emily. Stop giving letters to your drunk brother and join us as we talk about historical maladies, the truly remarkable Bronte family and basic Branwell tat…

Welcome to episode 66 and boy howdy do we have some interesting history for you! Kt kicks things off with a trip to Mesoamerica to learn about the elite eagle and jaguar warriors of the Mexica (also known as the Aztecs). Armed with fierce weaponry, like the Macuahuitl--a club studded with razor sharp obsidian stone--the warriors were rewarded not o…

It's an exciting one this week as Kim and Alice cover the drama, the passion, and of course, the harpsichord solos of Wuthering Heights. It might not be our ideal (all sheep) version but it’s a classic for a reason, and that reason is: ruining your relationship expectations for at least a decade. Sound Engineer: Keith Nagle Editor: Helen Hamilton P…

Welcome to episode 65! During our time in the Smoke Circle today we'll be visiting West Africa to learn more about the Agojie who were the all women army of the Kingdom of Dahomey. This fierce group of fighters were featured in the film The Woman King. T'Challa's royal guard in Black Panther, the Dora Milaje, were also loosely based on these women.…

What up sportsball fans? This week Kim and Alice are covering alternative WW2 flick, A League of Their Own. We’re off to Chicagoland to learn about wool costumes, real on-set injuries and do some light dunking on Tom Hanks. Sound Engineer: Keith Nagle Editor: Keith Nagle Producer: Helen Hamilton

Welcome to episode 64, our first ever video episode! Kt kicks things off with investigating the dark and often gruesome history behind children's nursery rhymes. Next, Laurel goes through the wild inside job of the NASA moon rock heist in 2002. *~*~*~*~*~* Mentioned in the Stories: Episode 2: The Great Feather Heist *~*~*~*~*~* The Socials! Instagr…