Hot Mess History Podcast

This week, Sarah and Alora explore three remarkable stories from antiquity that challenge the way we think about love, identity, and history. They uncover the legendary Sacred Band of Thebes, an elite military unit made up of 150 pairs of male lovers, examine the centuries long debate surrounding Alexander the Great and his closest companion Hephaestion, and tell the heartbreaking story of the Roman emperor Hadrian and Antinous, whose death inspired one of the greatest public displays of grief in the ancient world. These stories may not fit neatly into modern labels, but they remind us that love, loss, and the people who shaped history have always been far more complex than we often imagine.Linktree: https://linktr.ee/hotmesshistorypodRedBubble: https://www.redbubble.com/people/HMHPod/shop?asc=uBuy Me A Coffee: buymeacoffee.com/hotmesshistorypodFollow us on social media:Instagram: @hotmesshistorypodTikTok: @hotmesshistorypodcastEmail us with future episode suggestions: hotmesshistorypod@gmail.comLinktree: https://linktr.ee/hotmesshistorypodIntro music by Fantasy Music Studio, remixed by Sarah“Ancient Wind” Music by Noru from Pixabay

In honor of Pride Month, we are celebrating Sappho of Lesbos, known as the "gay poet of the ancient world".Sappho wrote with deep passion about her love for women, and her work was adored in her own time. They even put her face on coins while she was alive. Though most of her poetry is lost, the fragments we have still pulse with timeless desire and longing.Join Sarah and Alora as they explore the poetry that gave us the words "sapphic" and "lesbian" and discover how a woman from a small Greek island one of the most beloved poets of the ancient world.Linktree: https://linktr.ee/hotmesshistorypodRedBubble: https://www.redbubble.com/people/HMHPod/shop?asc=uBuy Me A Coffee: buymeacoffee.com/hotmesshistorypodFollow us on social media:Instagram: @hotmesshistorypodTikTok: @hotmesshistorypodcastEmail us with future episode suggestions: hotmesshistorypod@gmail.comLinktree: https://linktr.ee/hotmesshistorypodIntro music by Fantasy Music Studio, remixed by Sarah"ANCIENT WALTZ" by Nikos Spiliotis, remixed by Sarah

For Pride Month, we're doing something a little different. Instead of diving deep into a single historical figure or event, Sarah and Alora are shining a spotlight on several lesser-known people from history who were likely gay, lesbian, bisexual, or otherwise part of what we'd now call the LGBTQ+ community.Spanning from the Stone Age to the 18th century, this episode explores the lives of poets, artists, writers, and everyday people whose stories managed to survive against the odds. Many have been dismissed by historians as "close friends", but their stories paint a far more interesting picture.Some of these tales are inspiring and some of them are heartbreaking...but all of them serve as a reminder that LGBTQ+ people have always existed. Join us as we celebrate Pride by uncovering the queer history that has been hiding in plain sight all along.History isn't nearly as straight as some people would like you to believe. 🌈📚🏳️‍🌈Linktree: https://linktr.ee/hotmesshistorypodRedBubble: https://www.redbubble.com/people/HMHPod/shop?asc=uBuy Me A Coffee: buymeacoffee.com/hotmesshistorypodFollow us on social media:Instagram: @hotmesshistorypodTikTok: @hotmesshistorypodcastEmail us with future episode suggestions: hotmesshistorypod@gmail.comLinktree: https://linktr.ee/hotmesshistorypodArticle from Making Queer History: "Khnumhotep and Niankhkhnum" by Harper-Hugo Darling: https://www.makingqueerhistory.com/articles/2016/12/20/khnumhotep-and-niankhkhnum-and-occams-razorIntro music by Fantasy Music Studio, remixed by Sarah“Forgotten Heroes” ,Music by Vladimir Visic from Pixabay“Shetland Dusk Echoes”, Iron Age Norse Chant by Tera Mangala Meditation Music"The Legend of Narmer" by WombatNoisesAudio"ANCIENT WALTZ" by Nikos Spiliotis

What do you get when you combine a disputed border, a potato patch, and one extremely unfortunate pig?Apparently, an international crisis.In this episode of the Hot Mess History Podcast, Alora drags Sarah into the delightfully ridiculous story of the Pig War of 1859, when the United States and Great Britain came alarmingly close to armed conflict over a pig who was just trying to eat a snack. What started as a farmer's bad day quickly escalated into military mobilization, diplomatic chaos, and a whole lot of men taking themselves very seriously over a situation that sounds completely made up.Join us for the political drama, territorial disputes, questionable decision making, and perhaps the only war in history where a pig is the sole casualty.Linktree: https://linktr.ee/hotmesshistorypodRedBubble: https://www.redbubble.com/people/HMHPod/shop?asc=uBuy Me A Coffee: buymeacoffee.com/hotmesshistorypodFollow us on social media:Instagram: @hotmesshistorypodTikTok: @hotmesshistorypodcastEmail us with future episode suggestions: hotmesshistorypod@gmail.comLinktree: https://linktr.ee/hotmesshistorypodIntro music by Fantasy Music Studio, remixed by Sarah"The Realization - Ambient Piano", Music by Ribhav Agrawal from Pixabay"Cartoon Funny Music" Music by BackgroundMusicForVideos from Pixabay

In the final episode of our Katherine Parr saga, Sarah begins with Katherine’s death and the aftermath that followed. We discuss what happened to Thomas Seymour after Katherine’s passing, the scandal and downfall that consumed him, and how quickly power shifted around the young Edward VI of England.We also dive into the disturbing history of Katherine Parr’s body after her burial at Sudeley Castle, including the repeated exhumations and the horrifying treatment of her remains centuries after her death. In this finale, we examine Katherine’s lasting legacy and how history continued to deny her peace long after she was gone.Linktree: https://linktr.ee/hotmesshistorypodRedBubble: https://www.redbubble.com/people/HMHPod/shop?asc=uBuy Me A Coffee: buymeacoffee.com/hotmesshistorypodFollow us on social media:Instagram: @hotmesshistorypodTikTok: @hotmesshistorypodcastEmail us with future episode suggestions: hotmesshistorypod@gmail.comLinktree: https://linktr.ee/hotmesshistorypodIntro music by Fantasy Music Studio, remixed by SarahMusic by Ribhav Agrawal from PixabayMusic by Vlad Bakutov from Pixabay"Forgotten Heroes": Music by Vladimir Visic from Pixabay

490 years after her execution, we present an extra special episode spanning all five parts of our Anne Boleyn saga. From her early days at court to her tragic end at the Tower, this episode brings together every chapter of her life into one complete story. Discover how Anne defied a kingdom, gave birth to the future Elizabeth I, and left behind a legacy that continues to fascinate the world nearly five centuries later. Sit back, relax, and reflect on the life and tragic death of Anne Boleyn on the anniversary (okay...1 day late) of her execution. Linktree: https://linktr.ee/hotmesshistorypodRedBubble: https://www.redbubble.com/people/HMHPod/shop?asc=uBuy Me A Coffee: buymeacoffee.com/hotmesshistorypodFollow us on social media:Instagram: @hotmesshistorypodTikTok: @hotmesshistorypodcastEmail us with future episode suggestions: hotmesshistorypod@gmail.comLinktree: https://linktr.ee/hotmesshistorypodIntro music by Fantasy Music Studio, remixed by SarahMusic by Ribhav Agrawal from Pixabay

In part four of our Katherine Parr episodes, we follow Katherine’s life after the death of Henry VIII as she finally reconnects with Thomas Seymour and steps into a new chapter of her life. But freedom from Henry does not mean freedom from chaos. We also discuss the growing tension surrounding the young Elizabeth I of England, the scandal brewing inside Katherine’s household, and the complicated final years of one of Tudor England’s most fascinating queens.Linktree: https://linktr.ee/hotmesshistorypodRedBubble: https://www.redbubble.com/people/HMHPod/shop?asc=uBuy Me A Coffee: buymeacoffee.com/hotmesshistorypodFollow us on social media:Instagram: @hotmesshistorypodTikTok: @hotmesshistorypodcastEmail us with future episode suggestions: hotmesshistorypod@gmail.comLinktree: https://linktr.ee/hotmesshistorypodIntro music by Fantasy Music Studio, remixed by SarahMusic by Ribhav Agrawal from PixabayMusic by Vlad Bakutov from PixabayMusic by Watermelon Beats from PixabayArtist: JR Tundra - Song: Brother Jack

In this episode, we follow Katherine Parr as she settles into her new role as queen while attempting to navigate the increasingly dangerous world of Henry VIII’s court. We discuss Katherine’s relationship with Henry’s children, her growing influence, her deep involvement in religious reform, and the impossible balancing act required to survive Tudor politics. As Henry’s health declines and tensions at court rise, Katherine finds herself walking a dangerous line between intellect and survival. From theological debates to very real threats against her safety, this episode explores how Katherine Parr became far more than just “the one who survived”.Linktree: https://linktr.ee/hotmesshistorypodRedBubble: https://www.redbubble.com/people/HMHPod/shop?asc=uBuy Me A Coffee: buymeacoffee.com/hotmesshistorypodFollow us on social media:Instagram: @hotmesshistorypodTikTok: @hotmesshistorypodcastEmail us with future episode suggestions: hotmesshistorypod@gmail.comLinktree: https://linktr.ee/hotmesshistorypodIntro music by Fantasy Music Studio, remixed by SarahMusic by Ribhav Agrawal from PixabayMusic by Vlad Bakutov from PixabayMusic by Watermelon Beats from PixabayArtist: JR Tundra - Song: Brother Jack