That's History, Babe!

A tidal wave hits your house. You’re hurt. You’re scared. You’re covered in molasses. An unimaginable situation for most of us. But for the residents of Boston’s North End on January 15, 1919, it was all too real! This week, we get stuck in the sticky icky story of one of the most bizarre disasters in American urban history: the Great Molasses Flood of 1919. Come with us as we explore how corporate negligence and government corruption led to over two MILLION gallons of your grandma’s favorite sweetener spilling into the streets of an overcrowded immigrant neighborhood. Tangents include a trip to the DMV, sexploitation, proper care tips for knee scrapes, and eating Corn Pops like a cat!SOURCESMolasses: From the Slave Trade to the Great Flood - Wellesley COAWhy some people say they can still smell Boston's Great Molasses FloodThree Centuries of Molasses in Massachusetts Physics behind Boston’s deadly 1919 Molasses Flood. (2016). New Scientist, 232(3102), 15. https://doi-org.i.ezproxy.nypl.org/10.1016/S0262-4079(16)32216-3Puleo, S. (2001). Death by MOLASSES. American History, 35(6), 60.“MOLASSES TANK EXPLOSION INJURES 50 AND KILLS 11…” (1919, Jan 16). Boston Daily Globe

This week, we’re exploring the seedy world of televangelism, a religious media phenomenon that swept onto the airwaves in 20th century America. Primped-up preachers begging their factory worker followers for money they don’t have, in exchange of course for eternal salvation, is just one of the milder outrages in this episode rife with scandal, political intrigue, and bizarre personalities. But how did televangelism come to be? Who were (and are) the most prominent televangelists, and what agenda did (and do) their ministries serve? Tangents include the exhausting ordeal of a Leo’s birthday, the holes in Jared’s underwear, and throwing up at King’s Dominion.SOURCESFundie Fridays episode on Pat Robertson“Tammy and the Spiritual Stage” - Chicago Tribune, 1989“The scandals that brought down the Bakkers, once among US's most famous televangelists” by Lauren Effron, Andrew Paparella, and Jeca Taudte, ABC News, 2019“Prey TV: Televangelism and Interpellation” by Kevin Howley, Journal of Film and Video, 2001“Cultivation Theory: Research Starter” by Shari Parsons Miller, EBSCO, 2019“Of God and Greed: Bakker and Falwell trade charges in televangelism’s unholy row” by Richard N Ostling, TIME Magazine, 1987“Televangelism and the Mediated Charismatic Relationship” by David A. Diekema, Social Science Journal, 1991“Oral’s Progress”, TIME Magazine profile, 1972

This week, we take it back a few millennia to the time of Ancient Greece, exploring the super gay myths and legends used to explain and sanctify the sexual behaviors of the Greeks themselves. But how did Greek myths define sexuality? How different were Greek ideas of sexual identity from our own? What do we get wrong when we project our contemporary labels onto people in antiquity? And can a couple of buddies get oiled up and wrestle naked and still be just friends?? Tangents include CATS: The Jellicle Ball, why Leos are obsessed with their birthdays, and the possibility of moving Busch Gardens Williamsburg to Williamsburg, Brooklyn.SOURCES https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YYZCpJmHAqIClarke, W. M. (1978). Achilles and Patroclus in Love. Hermes, 106(3), 381–396. http://www.jstor.org/stable/4476069“Friday essay: the myth of the ancient Greek ‘gay utopia’” by Alastair Blanshard, The Conversation, December 14, 2017Halperin, D. M. (1986). One Hundred Years of Homosexuality [Review of Die Griechische Knabenliebe, by H. Patzer]. Diacritics, 16(2), 34–45. https://doi.org/10.2307/465069 A Problem in Greek Ethics” by John Addington SymondsLovers’ Legends: Gay Greek Myths by Andrew Calimach

Could you and 60,000 of your closest friends beat your landlord in open warfare? If you’re an English peasant in the summer of 1381, then the answer is yes. This week, we explore one of the most seismic uprisings in the history of Medieval Europe, the Peasants’ Revolt! Learn how a ragtag group of farmers sacked London, killed a bunch of important people, and provided revolutionary inspiration for centuries to come. Tangents include the planetary status of Pluto, hot historian Dan Jones, Jared losing it all at poker, Abe’s new apartment (!!!), and Claudia’s long awaited return.SOURCESAnonimalle Chronicle “The Peasants Revolt” by Dan Jones, History Today, 2009 “Joint Action against ‘Bad’ Lordship: The Peasants’ Revolt in Essex and Norfolk” by Herbert Eiden, The Historical Association, 1998 The Chronicles of Froissart by Jean Froissart, 1373-1410 “John Gower, Squire of Kent, the Peasants’ Revolt, and the Visio Anglie” by Michael Bennett, The Chaucer Review, 2018 “Gower and the Peasants’ Revolt” by Ian Cornelius, Representations 131, 2015

In a delayed salute to America’s 250th, we take a look this week at the couple whose certified VILLAINY nearly ended the Revolution and the nation itself: Benedict and Peggy Arnold. Learn about Benedict’s early heroics, Peggy’s sassy bratty kind-of-iconic upbringing, the espionage and wheeling and dealing that led to Benedict’s betrayal of the American cause and defection to the British, and speculate why we’re sitting on the floor instead of on the couch directly behind us. Tangents include Tim Gunn, Fergie national anthem, the Maritime Aquarium in Norwalk, CT, and an absolutely insane photo of Jared’s butt.SOURCES"From hero to traitor: Benedict Arnold’s day of infamy", National Constitution Center, September 21, 2020 A LESSER TRAGEDY OF ARNOLD'S TREASON, Florie Hutson Heyward, New York Times, March 15, 1931 "Benedict Arnold", National Parks Service Robinson, J. (2012). Benedict Arnold: American Hero, American Villain. On Point, 18(1), 36–43. http://www.jstor.org/stable/26363381"Valiant Ambition: An Interview with Nathaniel Philbrick", George Washington's Mount Vernon Letter from Benedict Arnold to the Inhabitants of America (1780) "A Philadelphia Belle’s Fateful Marriage to a Traitor", Nancy Rubin Stuart, The Saturday Evening Post, February 13, 2024 "Margaret 'Peggy' Shippen Arnold", New-York Historical Society "The Spying Lady Shippen", History Design Lab, Oberlin College, Eliza Greenbaum Treacherous beauty : Peggy Shippen, the woman behind Benedict Arnold's plot to betray America by Mark Jacob and Stephen Chase (2012) The Colonial Mean Girl Who Almost Ended America Benedict Arnold and The Battle of Quebec | The American Revolution | PBS Benedict Arnold Turns Traitor and Defects to the British | The American Revolution | PBS Benedict Arnold's Raid on Richmond Benedict Arnold, Revolutionary Hero: An American Warrior Reconsidered. Interview: James Kirby Martin Nathaniel Philbrick, "Valiant Ambition" 14. Heroes and Villains

In part two of our series on mother-daughter showbiz legends Judy Garland and Liza Minnelli, we explore how Liza overcame grief and addiction, emerged from her mother's shadow as a fully formed artist, and defended the rights of the LGBTQ community through a career that has spanned seven decades! Tangents include whether we’d have sex with a clone of ourselves, a vaccine for lesbianism, and the wonders of the Cape Cod Melody Tent.SOURCESLiza Minnelli Tells All In Exclusive PEOPLE Interview: 'If I Can Laugh, I Can Get Through Anything' - People Magazine, Liz McNeil, February 2026Be Kind Rewind - Best Actress 1973: Liza Minnelli wins for Cabaret Liza Minelli: ‘I’m Telling It All’ by Liz McNeil and Greg Gorman - People Magazine, March 2026“Place, space, and queer iconicity: Liza Minnelli in Cabaret (1972)” by Marie Josephine Bennett (2025)Liza: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story (2024), dir. Bruce David Klein“Liza’s New York” by Elisa Lipsky-Karasz, Harper’s Bazaar, March 2011

We’re not saying they’re bigger than Jesus, but we’re not not saying that either. In our first ever two-part series, Abe and Jared examine the lives of a mother-daughter duo whose names are synonymous with “gay icon”: showbiz legends Judy Garland and Liza Minnelli. In part one, Jared pulls us on a pepped up prance down the Yellow Brick Road to explore Judy’s impact on film and music as well as her personal struggles and comebacks, all with the goal of finally understanding why the queers (especially him) love her so much. Tangents include our first group of haters, The Greatest Showman being the worst movie ever, and Abe getting anxious at the Mermaid Parade.SOURCESJudy Garland on The Dick Cavett Show | The Dick Cavett ShowJudy Garland Beyond The Rainbow | 1997 A&E Biography Special Premiere FULL with Original Commercials Judy Garland COMPLETE 1967 InterviewJudy Garland - It's All For You - The Tonight Show - Johnny CarsonSlayyyter & Judy Garland - CRANK GOES THE TROLLEY The Chaos Behind The Wizard of Oz (and why it turned out ok anyway)Judy Garland at Carnegie Hall: The Greatest Night in Entertainment HistoryDecoder Ring podcast, "Friend of Dorothy: Why do gay people love Judy Garland so much?", Slate magazine, February 10, 2020 How Does a Pop Girl Earn "Gay Icon" Status? By Derek Deng, Byrdie, May 7, 2026 What Does It Take to Be a Gay Icon Today? by Steven Frank, September 25, 2007 Judy Garland: By Myself, American Masters PBS, 2004.

Did a corrupted video file ruin an hour of footage from this episode? Yes. Would we ever let that stop us? No. In the 80s and 90s, a pack of queer party animals burst into NYC’s backrooms, bringing a haze of gritty glamour, fashion, drugs, and dance wherever they went. They were the Club Kids; RuPaul, Richie Rich, Amanda LePore, Waltpaper, just to name a few. Join us as we dive into the club kids’ scene, exploring who they were, why they were so sensational, what impacts they had on queer culture, and how their era came to a crushing, violent end. Tangents include making a baby gay cry, Mitchell Musso, pansexual king Wayne Brady, and being lifelong fans of the NBA champion New York Knicks.SOURCESParty Monster: The ShockumentaryMichael Alig & NYC Club Kids on Geraldo 1994 "Beyond the Glitz & Glamour" Michael Alig NYC Club Kids on Geraldo 1992 New York Club Kids on Phil Donahue talkshow 1993 (complete TV show) Club Kids fashion show Joan Rivers RuPaul Welcome Back Party RuPaul Explains The Difficulties of Go-Go Dancing in 1988 The 5 Ninth Avenue Project“Walt Cassidy Walks Us Through the Wild Glamorama of New York City’s Club Kids”, Interview magazine, Christopher Bollen, September 3, 2019Vivacious interview for Standard Hotels, January 25, 2019“Michael Musto on the Prevailing Influence of Club Kid Fashion”, The Fader, Marissa G. Muller, May 2, 2014"After Prison, No After-Hours", New York Times, Kevin Gray, May 14, 2014Michael Alig interview in Interview magazine, Christopher Bollen, April 19, 2010"Club Kids: An Aesthetic Emphasised by Outrageousness, Fabulousness, and Sex", February 15, 2022 "Club USA - Dazzling Photos From 1990s Glitziest NYC Club", Patch “What Michael Alig’s Club Kids Are Doing Now” by William Van Meter, New York magazine, May 20, 2014