Best Megan Moore & Elizabeth Black Podcasts (2024)

1
Pugachev the Great 1:00:10

16d ago1:00:10

1:00:10

Our story begins with Tsar Peter III of Russia being overthrown by his own wife, the infamous Catherine the Great, only to be declared deceased soon after for vague medical reasons. Years later, Yemelyan Pugachev, a peasant who claimed to be the late Peter III, emerges. Pugachev's Rebellion, also known as the Cossack Rebellion, gained support from …

1
Arsenic and Black Widows 52:22

1M ago52:22

52:22

Life in 1800’s Liverpool, England was rough. It was a port city with a high population of hard-working immigrants all trying to make ends meet. However, some were more desperate than others to ensure their living was made. Catherine and Margaret Flannagn, two Irish sisters who owned a boarding house, found themselves in the middle of a dark network…

1
The Rope Drop Flop 51:47

2M ago51:47

51:47

The Tudor Dynasty was notorious for creating religious tension across England as they swayed between Protestantism and Catholicism, depending on who wore the crown. With Elizabeth I on the throne, Catholics were forced to practice their beliefs in hiding. Margaret Ward was empathetic towards the Catholic priests being imprisoned and went so far as …

1
Tomb Raiders: Treasure or Torture 1:05:31

3M ago1:05:31

1:05:31

It can be said that the ancient Egyptians were quite materialistic. The pyramids housed more than just the mummies and dust of pharaohs and queens, but also the lifetime of riches of the nobility to ensure they could bring them with them to the afterlife. In modern-day currency, these tombs were filled to the brim with hundreds of millions of dolla…

1
The Breaking Wheel on the Bayou 54:29

3M ago54:29

54:29

In the early 1700's, Jean Baptiste Baudreau II had a unique mixed heritage that enabled him to forge connections with both the French colonists of the American south and the Native American tribes. He was a rebel without a cause.... no really, we aren't quite sure what his cause was.... but he was found untrustworthy amongst the white colonists bec…

1
Dying on a Prayer 56:37

4M ago56:37

56:37

While King Henry VIII wasn't particularly known for being afraid of witches, he was certainly paranoid about assassination... even if it was only through a prophetic attempt. Mabel Brigge claimed she was a devout Catholic who used fasting as a method to pray for those in need, whether it meant finding lost money or potentially praying for the death…

1
Captain Jack & His Bonny Lass 1:08:05

4M ago1:08:05

1:08:05

Jack Rackham, known as Calico Jack, was a true pirate of the Caribbean. With his Jolly Roger hoisted high and his bonny lass by his side, Jack and his crew sailed the seas during the Golden Age of Piracy. Jack stood apart from other pirates, though, as he had not one, but two notorious female pirates on his ship: Anne Bonny and Mary Read. Like most…

1
The Nightclub Murderess 1:12:04

5M ago1:12:04

1:12:04

Ruth Ellis, a young and alluring nightclub manager in 1950s England, came from a rough background. She was introduced early on in life to the consenquences of untrustworthy men, alcohol, and the unsavory underworld of London's nightlife. Things only got worst when she found herself in a jelous rage aiming a revolver directly at her lover. At the yo…

1
Peter and the Wolf 1:04:52

5M ago1:04:52

1:04:52

We've all heard of people being accused of witchcraft, sorcery, and engaging in the dark arts. However, have you ever come across a case where someone was found guilty of being a werewolf? During the 1500s in Germany, a man named Peter Stumpp (given the nickname due to his left hand being a stump) was accused of being the perpetrator behind a serie…

1
The Heartless Spy 57:32

6M ago57:32

57:32

For any poor soul standing in front of a judge awaiting their sentence, the last thing they want to hear is that they would be hanged, drawn, and quartered. This heinous act was reserved for traitors or those who have committed an extreme crime, such being a spy during war. Our dear friend Francois Henry de la Motte, a French spy from the 1780s, wa…

1
Perkin the Pretender 1:06:19

6M ago1:06:19

1:06:19

Beheaded is back with our 5th season, and we are starting off with the well-known story of the Princes in the Tower. This is the legacy of the two innocent boys who went mysteriously missing while staying at the Tower of London. For centuries, people have assumed their uncle, King Richard III, had them both murdered. But the story does not end ther…

1
Special Episode: Interview with Dr. Leah Redmond Chang 58:23

8M ago58:23

58:23

In this very special episode, we have the opportunity to speak with author and former professor Dr. Leah Redmond Chang to discuss her latest book, Young Queens: Three Renaissance Women and the Price of Power. This narrative history looks at the intertwined lives of Catherine de’ Medici (the Queen of France from 1547 to 1559), Elisabeth de Valois (Q…

1
Thomas Cromwell: From Statesman to Scaffold (Part II) 58:34

10M ago58:34

58:34

Thomas Cromwell quickly and unapologetically became one of King Henry VIII's closest advisors. As he continued to give the King whatever he asked for, Cromwell was rewarded with titles and wealth, making him one of the most powerful men in the Tudor court. Very rarely, though, do we see someone rise to power so quickly without a quick downfall. Ine…

1
Thomas Cromwell: From Statesman to Scaffold (Part I) 47:45

11M ago47:45

47:45

In part one of our season finale, we tell the story of one of King Henry VIII's closest confidants: Thomas Cromwell. Cromwell is known for many things in history, primarily being a noble statesman in the court of King Henry VIII. He was self-made, coming from a low background and rising all the way up to Chief Minister of the King's Privy Council. …

1
Special Episode: Interview with Dr. Owen Emmerson 59:48

11M ago59:48

59:48

In this special episode, Dr. Owen Emmerson joins us to talk about his amazing career as a cultural historian and assistant curator of Hever Castle (Anne Boleyn's childhood home). As a Boleyn and Tudor history expert, you may recognize him from shows such as Netflix's Blood, Sex & Royalty, BBC's Who Do You Think You Are and The Boleyns: A Scandalous…

1
Not Like a Regular Executioner, But a Cool Executioner 49:57

12M ago49:57

49:57

While Prague was not known for mass, bloody executions, there was at least one known as the Old Town Square Execution in 1621 that made the history books. This was the result of the Bohemian Revolt where 27 of the revolt leaders were found guilty and made an example of with an unusually brutal and public execution. Even more fascinating, the execut…

1
The Witch and the Sow 51:03

1y ago51:03

51:03

While we've heard of the Salem Witch Trials, we tend to forget that the Puritans adopted their fear of witches from back home in England. King James I brought panic and terror to England when he became obsessed with witch hunting. He even wrote a book called "Daemonologie" which worked as a manual on how to identify, prosecute, and execute witches.…

1
Evil Begets Evil 58:40

1y ago58:40

58:40

Nat Turner's Slave Rebellion was the deadliest revolt in American history. Born into slavery in southern America, Nat was a prophet who believed God was sending him messages to raise a rebellion. After hundreds of years of oppression, he was finally able to raise a small "army" to fight against the white slave owners. Despite hundreds of people los…

1
End of the Bloodline 57:49

1y ago57:49

57:49

The Távora Affair was one of Portugals' bloodiest scandals that resulted in the extinction of an entire noble bloodline. What started with wanting to do away with a powerful political family ended with massive arrests, torture and execution. To this day, historians still debate on the validity of the claims. One thing is certain: the Portuguese kne…

1
Bad Boy Buccaneer Turned Beheaded Botanist 59:07

1y ago59:07

59:07

The story of Sir Walter Raleigh is is wild as this episode title. Yes, we are very good at alliteration. Sir Walter was one of Queen Elizabeth I's favorite courtiers. And how could he not be!? He was a soldier, explorer, poet, politician and an experienced gardener amongst other things. After fighting battles in foreign lands, he was granted a char…

1
Special Edition: Interview with Megan Clawson 48:26

1y ago48:26

48:26

Did you know that it's possible to live inside the Tower of London!? If not, you are in for a treat. Megan Clawson is an author and daughter of a Yeomen Warder currently residing in the Tower of London, and we can guarantee she has some stories! In this very special episode, Megan shares with us what it's like to live inside one of England's oldest…

1
Pick Your Poison 58:46

1y ago58:46

58:46

La Voisin was a woman of many trades: fortune teller, midwife, and, of course, one of France's top-selling poison makers. Not only did she assist anyone who needed to do away with someone (for a great profit, of course), she was also more than eager to orchestrate black, satanic masses to ensure their every wish came true. It was only a matter of t…

1
Yer a Wizard, George 1:00:43

1+ y ago1:00:43

1:00:43

While now of days you might be excited to find out you're a wizard, that was not the case in 1692. The Salem Witch Trials resulted in 19 people hanged, 1 person pressed to death, and 2 dogs being shot. In this episode, we revisit this gruesome time in America's history (mostly to follow up on the 2 dogs), but also to tell the story of George Burrou…

1
Family of Traitors 1:02:52

1+ y ago1:02:52

1:02:52

Edward Stafford, 3rd Duke of Buckingham, was well acquainted with the politics of Tudor court. His father and grandfather were both noblemen who served several different kings on the English throne, from King Henry V to Richard III. Edward Stafford learned at a young age the price one can pay if their allegiance to the king is questioned. With a st…

1
Horsepower Hack 51:34

1+ y ago51:34

51:34

Regicide has always been addressed with the most severe punishments. However, in 18th century France, it didn't matter if it was a successful assassination or a failed attempt, as the culprit could still receive the worst of ends. In 1757, Robert-François Damiens' crimes against King Louis XV resulted in hours of public torture and execution, and i…

1
The Beastial Life of the Blood Countess 54:02

1+ y ago54:02

54:02

Mirror, mirror on the wall.... who is the bloodiest countess of them all? Why, no other than Elizabeth Bathory. She was a rich and beautiful noblewoman in mid-16th century Hungary. While she dripped in jewels and velvet, she also was known to soak herself in the blood of young local girls to preserve her youth and beauty. Bathory can be easily cons…

1
Special Edition: Interview with James Peacock from The Queen Anne Boleyn Society 41:07

1+ y ago41:07

41:07

We have a special guest! In this unique episode, we have the pleasure of chatting with the one and only James Peacock. James is the manager and founder of one of the most successful social media communities for all things regarding Anne Boleyn: The Queen Anne Boleyn Society. Not only does he run all of these platforms, but he is also a Palace Host …

1
Wanted Over the Wireless 55:46

1+ y ago55:46

55:46

The notorious case of Dr. Crippen is that of transatlantic proportions. He was a homeopathic American doctor in the early 20th century who moved to London with his lovely (yet unfaithful) wife, Cora. Affairs can go both ways, however… after Cora goes mysteriously missing, Dr. Crippen and his own lover are on the run. Their story makes history as Lo…

1
Let Them Eat (more) Cake... Again... 1:03:47

1+ y ago1:03:47

1:03:47

We are back with season 4! And what better way to kick off a new season than by re-doing our first episode? Queen Marie Antoinette is easily one of the most famous beheadings in history, so we need to do her justice and get her story right. This time with better audio quality and better education, we start with Marie’s early childhood and discuss h…

1
And Her: Lady Jane Grey, the Nine Days' Queen (Part II) 58:07

2y ago58:07

58:07

Our season 3 finale comes to a close with recounting the final days of Lady Jane Grey and her fellow supporters. In part one of this episode, we discussed Jane's rise to power: Edward VI quickly added a very important annotation to the succession document changing "Lady Jane's male heirs" to "Lady Jane and her male heirs", making her the next queen…

1
And Her: Lady Jane Grey, the Nine Days' Queen (Part I) 54:19

2y ago54:19

54:19

You may think you know all of the kings and queens of the Tudor Dynasty. We know King Henry VIII had 3 children, all of whom made their way to the throne at one point or another. But we tend to forget about another queen who reigned for a mere 9 days between King Edward VI and Queen Mary I. She was a young teenage girl by the name of Jane Grey. Lat…

1
The Cutting Edge Chemist 54:26

2y ago54:26

54:26

Few may recognize his name, however, we owe much of our modern chemistry to Antoine Lavoisier, a chemist who revolutionized science in the 18th century. While he was revolutionizing chemistry, though, the French people were revolutionizing their country. The Reign of Terror lasted for one year during the French Revolution (1793-1794) and resulted i…

1
Torture Gone Askew 49:53

2y ago49:53

49:53

During the final years of King Henry VIII's reign, Catholics were in charge and Protestantism was illegal. Despite this danger, Anne Askew very proudly and publicly shared her Protestant beliefs around London. Up until her imprisonment at the Tower of London, torturing women on the rack was also illegal. Anne refused to reveal the names of her fell…

1
Keeping Up With the Medici's 56:05

2y ago56:05

56:05

Florence, Italy during the Renaissance was an era of lavish art, scientific discoveries, and powerful families. The wealth and popularity of the Medici family was not to be questioned. They owned one of Italy's largest banks and if you needed a favor, you needed the Medici's approval. The Pazzi family had plans of their own, though, and decided the…

1
"The Most Wretched of All" 51:40

2y ago51:40

51:40

Tudor monarchs are notorious for executing their lovers, and it didn’t stop with King Henry VIII. In full Tudor fashion, Queen Elizabeth I dappled in romance with the young Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex (despite being 34 years his senior). While Elizabeth was enamored with his energy, spirit, and good looks, the rest of the court rolled their …

1
Livin' La Vida Voodoo 1:01:37

2y ago1:01:37

1:01:37

Voodoo (also known as Vodou or Vundun) is an ancient practice that has gone back over 6,000 years with origins from West Africa. While perhaps a very misunderstood religion, people of all cultures have been fascinated and intrigued by its mysterious virtues. Despite Catholicism being claimed as the primary religion of Haiti in the 1860's, without a…

1
The Three Reigns of Queen Brunhilda 50:05

2+ y ago50:05

50:05

Brunhilda of Austrasia was Queen Consort of the Merovingian age from 575 - 613 AD. She was a fierce and brave leader of the Frankish dynasty, despite having to rule through her sons and grandsons. Her story, though not widely popular, is a tale of confusing names and violence, making it sound like something out of a fable. It includes assassination…

1
The Unlucky Knight of Friday the 13th 48:01

2+ y ago48:01

48:01

The myths and legends of the Knights Templar goes back almost a century. At their peak of power, these glorious and brave heroes escorted pilgrims through the Holy Land while also protecting their territories in the Crusades. They were rich and above any law, making them the ultimate celebrity of 13th century Europe. King Phillip IV got caught up i…

1
Lions and Tigers and Bears... Oh Sh*t! 1:05:42

2+ y ago1:05:42

1:05:42

Let's start with saying the ancient Romans loved a good halftime show. Very similar to modern day sporting events, it involved large stadium seating, great concessions, a boisterous crowd of thousands of people, and solid entertainment. Rather than watching a ball get tossed around, though, their form of entertainment was watching people get torn t…

1
The Nazi's Painted the White Rose Red 50:18

2+ y ago50:18

50:18

Sophie and Hans Scholl were brother and sister who shared more than blood, but a passionate hatred towards the Nazi's during their rise to power. As two young Germans who went from Hitler's Youth Program to attending the University of Munich, it was extremely illegal and beyond dangerous to speak out against the Nazi's. With a small group of their …

1
Devil at the Murder Castle 1:04:05

2+ y ago1:04:05

1:04:05

H.H Holmes is one of America's oldest serial killers who met his fate with an excruciating hanging. While he confessed to 27 murders, historians believe there could have been as many as 200 victims. Evidence suggests the majority of his crimes took place in his own Chicago based building conveniently blocks away from the World's Fair. The building …

1
Burnt to a Cosmic Crisp 51:29

2+ y ago51:29

51:29

Giordano Bruno was an Italian philosopher born too early for his time. Despite starting his early career as a monk, he quickly traded out his priesthood attire for some travel breeches and started teaching his progressive beliefs about the infinite universe across Europe. His views about religion and philosophy were groundbreaking, yet controversia…

1
Oh, and Parliament, You’re Fired 56:49

2+ y ago56:49

56:49

Charles I was the first and only king of England to be found guilty of high treason and executed for his crimes. This outcome was especially a shock to poor old Chuck, as he was convinced that there was no higher power than him besides God himself. However, England wasn't so happy about his constant desire to "dissolve" Parliament and use his own s…

1
Interview with Rebecca Larson: A Special Edition Episode on Thomas Seymour 1:02:19

3y ago1:02:19

1:02:19

SPECIAL EDITION! Rebecca Larson, owner of the website and podcast Tudors Dynasty, shares her expertise on the very notable Thomas Seymour. Rebecca sheds light on some of the most controversial rumors about Thomas Seymour, who was uncle to King Edward VI and the younger brother of Sir Edward Seymour, 1st Duke of Somerset. As an author and well-known…

1
"The Time Will Come - I, Anne Boleyn" (Part 2) 1:18:56

3y ago1:18:56

1:18:56

The time has finally come. On May 19, 1536, Queen Anne Boleyn was guided to a scaffold at the Tower of London and was the first queen in history to be publicly executed. Just two days before, her brother and 4 other men were also beheaded for adultery and treason. Anne's final words at the scaffold were "If any person will meddle of my cause, I req…

1
"The Time Will Come - I, Anne Boleyn" (Part I) 1:06:50

3y ago1:06:50

1:06:50

"The time will come - I, Anne Boleyn". These are the words Anne Boleyn wrote in her Book of Hours, and the phrase could not be more fitting. History has become obsessed with the mysterious and foreboding figure of Anne Boleyn, King Henry VIII's second wife. Her passionate love for the king of England forever changed history and the shape of Europe,…

1
Remember, Remember the 5th of November! 52:34

3y ago52:34

52:34

Guy Fawkes may just be the baddest English Catholic around. His story has been re-told throughout history as the 'guy' who was caught red-handed and ready to plow up Parliament in the year 1605. While there were at least 13 conspirators involved in the "Gunpowder Plot", Guy is one of the most memorable and seen as the main instigator behind the fai…

1
You Got Burked 1:03:51

3y ago1:03:51

1:03:51

In the early 1800s, the progression of medical discovery was thriving. However, doctors were running short on cadavers, which were necessary to dissect and research in order to further develop their scientific breakthroughs. If it weren’t for some of the more seedier characters of the time, the ‘spare parts' would have been harder to come by. Willi…

1
The Tale of Half-Hangit Maggie 57:14

3y ago57:14

57:14

Maggie Dickson is a Scottish legend known not just for her trial and execution... but for what came after! This gal truly earned the nickname "Half-Hangit Maggie" after the unexpected turn of events at her public hanging. Megan and Elizabeth share the story of this resilient young woman who now has a pub named after her in Old Town Edinburgh. Suppo…

1
The Defender of Mother Russia 51:32

3y ago51:32

51:32

Zoya Kosmodemyanskaya may have a complicated name, but, nonetheless, upheld the Soviet spirit in the midst of World War II. At the tender age of 18 years old, she joined the 'sabotage school' to help ward off the invading Nazis. Her relentlessness and courage inspired Stalin himself to use her as the face of nationalist propaganda to help encourage…

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Megan Moore & Elizabeth Black Podcasts

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