Hot Mess History Podcast

Step into one of history's most infamous true crime stories as we explore the dark and unsettling world of H. H. Holmes, the man often called America's first serial killer. At the center of the legend is the infamous Murder Castle, a strange building in Chicago that has inspired countless stories of hidden rooms, secret passages, and murder.But how much of the tale is fact, and how much is myth?In this episode, we examine Holmes's life, his scams, his victims, and the sensational headlines that transformed him into one of history's most notorious true crime figures. From fraud schemes and suspicious deaths to lurid newspaper stories, we unravel the facts behind the man who became a monster in the public imagination.Was the Murder Castle truly a labyrinth of death, or has more than a century of rumors, exaggerations, and legend blurred the line between history and myth? Join us as we separate fact from fiction and explore the case that continues to fascinate true crime fans more than a century later.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 PixabaySound Effect by freesound_community from Pixabay

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

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

In this episode, Sarah dives into the Pilgrimage of Grace and the very real danger it posed to Katherine Parr. As rebellion spreads through the north, Katherine finds herself caught in the chaos, an experience that would shape her political awareness and survival instincts for the rest of her life. We also follow Katherine through the death of her second husband, John Neville (Lord Latimer), her relationship with Thomas Seymour, and the moment everything changes when Henry VIII sets his sights on her. Katherine's chance at true love with Thomas Seymour vanishes at the drop of a royal summons...and Katherine is pulled into the most dangerous position in England.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 Pixabay

In this episode, Sarah takes us into the early life of Katherine Parr before she ever became the sixth wife of Henry VIII. We explore her upbringing in a well connected Tudor family, the humanist education that shaped her into one of the most intellectually formidable women at court, and why that education mattered so much for women in the early modern period.We also follow Katherine through her first marriage to Edward Burgh, her second marriage to Sir John Neville, and the growing religious and political tensions under Henry VIII that would eventually erupt into the Pilgrimage of Grace. Before Katherine was queen, she was already learning how dangerous survival in Tudor England could be.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

In this episode, Alora takes us into one of history’s darkest true crime cases as she tells the chilling story of Andrei Chikatilo, the man known as the Butcher of Rostov. We follow the investigation, the police failures that allowed him to keep killing, and the fear that spread across the Soviet Union as authorities struggled to stop him. It is a disturbing look at one of the most infamous serial killers in modern history, proving that truth can be far more terrifying than fiction. Don't miss this special True Crime edition of the Hot Mess History Podcast!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