Best Rex Factor Podcasts (2024)

1
S3.62 Prince Albert: Biography 1:02:04

1h ago1:02:04

1:02:04

In the first of two episodes, we do a full episode just looking at the life and consortship of Prince Albert, husband to Queen Victoria, with a full review episode to come next time. One of the most famous names in British royal history, Albert has perhaps been overshadowed by the extensive memorialisation undertaken by Victoria after his death, so…

1
Episode #86 - Napoleon III 1:04:37

4d ago1:04:37

1:04:37

How big of a dickhead was Napoleon III, anyway?By History Is Sexy

1
53 - Francis I (Part 1) 1:06:21

5d ago1:06:21

1:06:21

The long-awaited Renaissance king has finally arrived! This episode we go through the big moments his life from birth to death, from his famous meeting with Henry VIII at the Field of Cloth of Gold to his disastrous imprisonment in Spain. Next episode, we will be examining Francis's reign and legacy in further detail, and determining whether or not…

1
Feed Swap: History Daily 41:11

2d ago41:11

41:11

We are off for Easter for a couple of weeks before getting back to Prince Albert, so this week we're doing a feed swap with the History Daily Podcast, which releases c. 15 minute episodes every weekday covering an event in history. We are showcasing two of their episodes which should hopefully be of interest to Rex Factor Listeners: the jousting in…

1
52.5 - Louise of Savoy 1:20:03

14d ago1:20:03

1:20:03

From unwanted daughter to first lady of France, this episode we chart the gradual rise of Louise of Savoy - the mother, mentor and "great regent" of King Francis I. We'll see how she measures up to other French rulers of her time, and see whether she gets to sit in the VIP Box with our other impressive matriarchs. ⚜️ Visit our Wordpress for episode…

1
Episode #85 - What Did The Romans Eat? 1:00:11

20d ago1:00:11

1:00:11

Dormice? Sow's Uterus? What on earth did the Romans eat? Join Emma and Janina for a culinary odyssey through the world of Roman Food.By History Is Sexy

1
52 - Louis XII (Part 2) 1:23:27

29d ago1:23:27

1:23:27

Now that we've done his life, let's pass judgement on Louis XII, AKA the Porcupine! Does he deserve a place among the great kings of French history, or is he just another snack for the guillotine? ⚜️ Visit our Wordpress for episode images, score summaries, contact details and more! Make sure you leave us a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or where…

1
Linda Porter: Mistresses of Charles II 1:18:26

28d ago1:18:26

1:18:26

We speak to the historian Dr Linda Porter about some of the most notable mistresses of Charles II (Lucy Walter, Barbara Villiers, Frances Stuart, Nell Gwynn, Hortense Mancini), discussing why we know so much about them, what they tell us about Charles and how this affected his wife and queen, Catherine of Braganza. Sign up for bonus content (includ…

1
52 - Louis XII (Part 1) 1:06:04

1M ago1:06:04

1:06:04

After a life spent in second place to his royal cousins, how will the Duke of Orléans fare with his new promotion to King of France? Stay tuned for Part 2, where we discuss Louis's legacy and rate him, with special appearances from porcupines, vipers and bees (oh my!). ⚜️ Visit our Wordpress for episode images, score summaries, contact details and …

1
S3.61 Adelaide of Saxe-Meiningen 1:04:31

1M ago1:04:31

1:04:31

Adelaide is probably one of the least famous of Britain's consorts, wife of William IV. A very different character to her predecessor, Queen Caroline, Adelaide was quiet and kind but faced the challenge of an eccentric and uncouth husband in William and a febrile political atmosphere with agitation for reform. Will slow and steady win the race? Lea…

1
51.5 - Anne of Brittany (Part 2) 1:12:48

2M ago1:12:48

1:12:48

In Part 2, we learn of Anne's second marriage and her ultimate fate! Does she deserve the score she got? Were the unicorn tapestries inspired by her? Was she the Taylor Swift of her time? Flock to our social media and let us know! Visit our Wordpress for episode images, score summaries, contact details and more! Make sure you leave us a review on A…

1
51.5 - Anne of Brittany (Part 1) 1:01:45

2M ago1:01:45

1:01:45

This episode, we take a brief detour from the Valois boys to visit gorgeous Brittany and give our latest queen, Anne, her own episode, as she was also a fierce ruler in her own right, and fought for her independence from a very young age. In Part 1, we learn about Anne's early life, her dangerous liaisons with the Austrian Hapsburgs, and her compli…

1
S3.60 Caroline of Brunswick 1:10:31

2M ago1:10:31

1:10:31

If Ali still had his scandal bell, this episode might break it! It's Caroline of Brunswick this week, consort to George IV despite his spending their entire marriage trying to prevent that eventuality. A poorly matched couple, Caroline lived life according to her own rules, creating scandal in England and then in European exile before returning for…

1
Episode #84 - Badass Saints 1:04:22

2M ago1:04:22

1:04:22

Who are some of the most badass saints? What were their lives like? What's a "desert father"? Find out all of this and more!By History Is Sexy

1
33.2 Black Elk 1:41:01

2M ago1:41:01

1:41:01

Teenage Black Elk has lived a full life by the time he witnessed Little Big Horn and became a healer but there is so much left. We discuss Sioux religious cerimonies, Wounded Knee and a somewhat decisive book Black Elk dictates in the 1930s. Sources The Sacred Pipe by Joseph Epes Brown Black Elk Speaks by John G Neidhart Black Elk by Joe Jackson Ni…

1
51 - Charles VIII (Part 2) 1:12:24

2M ago1:12:24

1:12:24

As we reach the shocking end of Charles the Affable, we'll see how he measures up to his fellow kings of France. ⚜️ Visit our Wordpress for episode images, score summaries, contact details and more! Make sure you leave us a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen. You can also support the show on Patreon! Join the official Angry Mo…

1
S3.59 Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz 1:03:44

2M ago1:03:44

1:03:44

This week we review Queen Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, the wife and consort of King George III. We look at how she came to be queen at all, what was her role as consort and how her life was turned up side down by the Regency Crisis of 1788-89 when George III suffered a total collapse in his mental health. We will see whether her reaction to t…

1
Episode #83 - The Borgias 1:15:04

2M ago1:15:04

1:15:04

The most devious, murderous cut-throat family of renaissance Italy.. or misunderstood victims of slanderous propaganda? Emma and Janina take a look at one of Italy's most infamous families, their rise, and fall.By History Is Sexy

1
51 - Charles VIII (Part 1) 49:51

3M ago49:51

49:51

Charles VIII's exciting and storied reign takes us on an adventure (i.e. invasion) of Italy at the height of the Renaissance and all the soap-opera-worthy drama of the Medici, Sforza and Borgia families. In Part 1, we learn what led him to this fateful expedition, and how he did with his great ambition to conquer the Kingdom of Naples. Apologies fo…

1
Regency of Madness - Results & Quiz! 27:41

3M ago27:41

27:41

It's time for us to close up a loose end and finally announce the winner of the Regency of Madness mini-tournament. And to help refresh our memories, Ben has also trapped Eliza in a quiz! So put on your thinking chapeaux, and get ready for some Valois trivia. SPOILERS (obviously) for everything that happened in our Regency of Madness miniseries. We…

1
S3.58 Caroline of Ansbach 1:06:27

3M ago1:06:27

1:06:27

It's the first Hanoverian consort proper this week with Caroline of Ansbach, queen consort to George II. She's not so famous now, but Caroline was a highly influential consort, loved and respected by her husband and enjoying great influence through an alliance with Robert Walpole (the country's first Prime Minister). However, she also had to manage…

1
Episode #82 - What Makes The Dark Ages "Dark"? 55:36

3M ago55:36

55:36

... and were they really so dark?Listener survey link: https://forms.gle/78wMyX42uQvpHf1Y8Show notes: https://historyissexy.com/show-notes/episode-82-what-makes-the-dark-ages-darkBy History Is Sexy

1
50.5 - Anne of France 1:27:12

3M ago1:27:12

1:27:12

Also called Anne de Beaujeu or Madame la Grande, this princess inherited all the best traits of her father the Universal Spider. Like him she was cunning and ruthless, yet she also had an eye for art and literature, updating the court for the new Renaissance era. Sadly for France, as a woman she would never become queen, but she did rule the realm …

1
33.1 Black Elk 53:59

3M ago53:59

53:59

Youve heard the vision but do you know the context? Black Elk lives through the most turbulent era in the Midwest with famous first cousin Crazy Horse and lives to see Harry Truman become President. Sources The Sacred Pipe by Joseph Epes Brown Black Elk Speaks by John G Neidhart Black Elk by Joe Jackson Nicholas Black Elk: Medicine Man, Missionary,…

1
Bonus! Black Elk’s Vision 37:43

3M ago37:43

37:43

In the first of 3 episodes we treat you all with the soothing sound of Matt reading the vision that would guide Black Elk throughout his life. to read alone click here!By Matt and Eric

1
S3.57 Sophia Dorothea of Celle 1:07:24

3M ago1:07:24

1:07:24

Sophia Dorothea of Celle was the wife of King George I but she was not, technically, a consort. We'll explain why this was the case, taking in dynastic politics, an unhappy marriage, a passionate romance, high drama and a new heroic character mostly invented by Ali. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices…

1
50 - Louis XI (Part 2) 1:07:02

4M ago1:07:02

1:07:02

Louis XI, the Universal Spider, is perhaps the ultimate antihero. We've rooted for him every step of the way as he takes down his enemies and returns France to its former glory. But how will this translate in his scores? Will he beat Charles VII, the father he loathed? And will he be deemed worthy to escape the guillotine? ⚜️ Visit our Wordpress fo…

1
50 - Louis XI (Part 1) 1:01:42

4M ago1:01:42

1:01:42

France may be out of the Hundred Years' War, but it's not out of the woods, and none knows this better than the suspicious, cynical and sinister character that is Louis XI. After an early life spent bickering with his father and fellow princes, Louis comes to the throne with a vengeance. But will his ambitions get the better of him? Next episode, t…

1
Royals at War: We Have Ways Fest 2022 (Live) 1:07:36

4M ago1:07:36

1:07:36

A little bonus to finish 2023, we've dipped into the archives and pulled out this recording of a live show we did at the We Have Ways of Making You Talk Festival in July 2022. We Have Ways of Making You Talk is a Second World War podcast, so we were talking about the royals during the war, specifically focusing on the former king (Edward VIII) and …

1
Introducing Battle Royale: French Mistresses 11:22

4M ago11:22

11:22

We hope you are all enjoying the festive season! We have a very special Christmas present for you all this year, and it's the gift of the scandal, skullduggery and saucy shenanigans that are in store as we commence our much-anticipated spinoff series ranking all the official mistresses of France from Agnès Sorel to Madame du Barry. Thank you to Rob…

1
Episode #81 - History is Rexy! Anne Boleyn (feat. Rex Factor) 1:02:11

4M ago1:02:11

1:02:11

Graham and Ali from Rex Factor are here and we're talking about England's most consequential Queen Consorts, and all the skulduggery she got up to!⚠ Listener survey! ⚠We want to get to know our wonderful audience (that's you) a little better, and find out how we can improve our podcast to be the best that it can be. To help us figure this stuff out…

1
49 - Charles VII 1:24:35

4M ago1:24:35

1:24:35

He may be "Charles the Victorious", for finally ending the Hundred Years' War, but this king has a somewhat mixed reputation among historians. This episode, we learn what happened after Joan of Arc and the Regents of Madness, and how France recovered from a century of devastation. ⚜️ Visit our Wordpress for episode images, score summaries, contact …

1
Messages and Previews 6 1:14:22

4M ago1:14:22

1:14:22

Before we get started on the Hanoverian consorts, we read through various listener correspondence as well as sharing previews of our bonus content, including our new special episode on Edgar the Ætheling. You can sign up to join the Privy Council and gain access to all our bonus content here: https://www.patreon.com/rexfactor And you can purchase t…

1
48.5 - Joan of Arc (Part 2) 50:00

5M ago50:00

50:00

It's all downhill from here.🔥 ⚜️ Recommended reading from this episode: Helen Castor, Joan of Arc: A History Larissa Juliet Taylor, The Virgin Warrior: The Life and Death of Joan of Arc Nancy Goldstone, The Maid and the Queen: The Secret History of Joan of Arc ⚜️ Visit our Wordpress for episode images, score summaries, contact details and more! Mak…

1
Male Consorts (Dr Ellie Woodacre) 1:08:44

5M ago1:08:44

1:08:44

We speak to Dr Ellie Woodacre again, this time about male consorts. Our last mini series had two male consorts (Philip II and Prince George of Denmark) as well as covering the time period of Elizabeth I (with no consort) and William and Mary. We speak to Ellie about where England's experience fits in with other European countries - did England come…

1
Episode #80 - What's The Deal With Empress Elisabeth? 1:18:55

5M ago1:18:55

1:18:55

Willkommen in Österreich! Emma is joined by History Is Sexy producer and Austria Correspondent Oliver to have a look at a story that's captured Austrian hearts for a hundred years, the life of Empress Elisabeth.⚠ Listener survey! ⚠We want to get to know our wonderful audience (that's you) a little better, and find out how we can improve our podcast…

1
48.5 - Joan of Arc (Part 1) 56:31

5M ago56:31

56:31

The Maid of Orléans is well-known for having taken the intricate chessboard of the Hundred Years' War, tipped it upside down, kicked it across a field and scored a game-changing goal for the Blues after decades of decline. In the first of her well-earned 2-parter, we follow Joan of Arc's rise to prominence from peasant to saviour, and conclude at t…

1
48 - Charles VI 1:12:10

5M ago1:12:10

1:12:10

It's now time to review the life and deeds of the "mad king" himself, Charles VI. In this episode, we talk about what the king was like before his mental illness took over, and what the darkest period of the Hundred Years' War was like from his tragic perspective. ⚜️ Music used in this episode: "Virtutes Instrumenti", "Lagoa v2" Kevin MacLeod (inco…

1
Emma Southon: A History of the Roman Empire in 21 Women 1:19:34

5M ago1:19:34

1:19:34

We speak to Dr Emma Southon for the second time on the podcast, this time discussing her new book A History of the Roman Empire in 21 Women (or A Rome of One's Own in the US), a fascinating look at women from Roman history that (mostly) people don't tend to have heard of, but who give us a fascinating alternative look at the history of Ancient Rome…

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