Wicked Women: The Podcast

It is a horror story stained with blood. A Hungarian noblewoman tortures and murders her female servants out of jealousy and sadistic need for violence. After the grisly deed, she bathes in the blood of her victims to gain eternal youth and beauty. Some claims put her kill count in the range of 600 young women to thousands, making her possibly the most prolific female serial killer in history. Lady Gaga has played her, Brahms Stoker used her as inspiration for Count Dracula, the Grimms Brothers based the Evil Queen in Snow White off of her, and countless books, movies, operas, and television shows have been dedicated to her sadistic ways. While this makes for an engaging and graphic horror story, the truth is far more elusive. In recent years, scholars and authors have begun to question the legitimacy of these legends surrounding Elizabeth Báthory, and attempt to find the real woman underneath. Featured Guest: Discussing Elizabeth Bathory with me today will be novelist Rebecca Johns, author of the book The Countess.

On an endlessly bright summer night in St. Petersburg in 1777, a glamorous three masted ship sailed into harbor. On board the yacht was a lone woman, responsible for scandalizing the British public and ready to make her name known at the court of Catherine the Great. This inconspicuous woman on the regal yacht had quickly become the anti-hero of a Georgian society desiring a headline other than the War of Independence an ocean away. As Elizabeth Chudleigh, Duchess of Kingston (or so she called herself) sailed into St. Petersburg, she had every intention of making a name for herself as she had in England. In an age that saw the beginning of modern concepts such as celebrity and news cycles, the Duchess became the perfect personification. A duchess, art connoisseur, manipulator, and bigamist, Elizabeth refused to accept the role life had prescribed to her, and preferred infamy to anonymity. Featured Guest: Historian Catherine Ostler, author of the book, The Duchess Countess: The Woman Who Scandalized Eighteenth-Century London.

On today’s episode I will be chatting Maria the creator of Herstorical Walking Tours, a theatrical walking tour company that focuses on the stories of women in and around London, England through a feminist lens. Tours include "Hex and the City", "Harlots, Strumpets, and Tarts, Oh My!", and "Goal Birds of London". Continue listening to learn more about the tours and the process of bringing villainized women to captivating and nuanced light. 

In the remnants of a burned out farmhouse were the bodies of three children in the arms of a woman. What made this a more grisly scene was the fact that the woman had no head. Headlines praised the woman for selflessly comforting her children in the last agonizing moments of life. However, the following days would reveal a far darker and violent story. Spread amongst the farm were the dismembered bodies of around 14 men, lured to the farm with promises of marriage. The woman went from being a tragic mother to a murderer. Reporters called her the Indiana Ogre, Black Widow, Mistress of the Castle of Death, and Hell’s Belle. The real woman, Belle Gunness, quickly filled the public's imagination. How did such an unassuming woman manage to kill so many men? And was the woman inside the charred remains of the farmhouse really Belle Gunness? Or was she somewhere out there planning her next attack? In the immediate aftermath of Belle’s death (or disappearance), her life and the spaces she occupied became a thing of morbid fascination, entertainment, and fear. Eventually, Belle became just one in a list of female serial killers who continue to intrigue the public today. What leads a woman to kill? And to kill so many? And what does our own fascination say about us?Featured Guest: Harold Schechter, a true crime historian who focuses extensively on serial killers and mass murders in history.

Perhaps best known as the long-standing Royal Mistress for King Louis XV of France, Madame de Pompadour has become synonymous with a debauched period of French history. Known for her astounding beauty, wit, and charm, much of Madame de Pompadour's legacy is wrapped up in her supposed frivolity and manipulation. But who was the woman behind that glittering mask? Prof. Jones discusses a woman who deserves far more credit for her brilliant politicking and unique relationship with a womanizing king. Featured Guest: Prof. Collin Jones, a scholar of cultural and social history in 18th century France.

Fashion History is an integral part of our understanding of the past. It provides a visual marker of societal changes over time. It is also an accessible avenue into the study of history. We all wake up in the morning and put on clothes. We have plans, thoughts, and intentions behind what we choose and what we scorn. This can be a thread that connects us to other people throughout thousands of years of history. In particular it also provides a unique look into women’s history. Many women throughout the past have used clothes and accessories as a representation of political opinions or loyalties, social status, self-expression, and a way to blaze an influential trail in fashion trends. In today’s special episode, I will be discussing the significance of fashion history in women’s history with Belle, the creator of Silhouettes: A Fashion History Podcast.