For the Love of History - world history, women’s history, weird history cover art

For the Love of History - world history, women’s history, weird history

For the Love of History - world history, women’s history, weird history

By: Tehya N.
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About this listen

 I'm TK, your guide to the past as we uncover the people, events, and little-known facts hidden in the shadows of your old history textbooks. From empress baddies like Hatshepsut and Wu Zetianto, activist profiles, Egyptian and Japanese gods and goddesses, and the history of the toothbrush, tattoos, Pompeii peepees, and everything in between, you can find it all here. No event is too small and no topic too big, because this is For The Love of History. ----------------------- For over 100 archived episodes and bonus content you can head over to Patreon!Copyright 2024 Tehya N. World
Episodes
  • Who Was Sappho? The Queer Greek Poet Who Changed History

    Who Was Sappho? The Queer Greek Poet Who Changed History
    Jun 20 2025
    💌 Episode Summary Before Instagram poets and moody notebook scribbles, there was Sappho—the original lyric poet who set hearts (and historians) on fire. This week, we dive into the life, love, and legend-level drama of the Greek icon whose poems gave us longing, lyricism, and one of the best ancient bisexual panics in literary history. From inventing an entire genre of poetry to possibly being married to “a literal penis from the Island of Man” (thanks, trolls), Sappho’s legacy is powerful, poetic, and fiercely queer. Queer Creators and Historians to Follow lgbt_history taipeiqueen lesbianherstoryarchives onlinekyne ⏱️ What You’ll Hear Who was Sappho, really? What we know (and what’s been suspiciously erased) Lyric poetry 101 – How Sappho changed the entire game The gay panic of ancient scholars – Plato, Homer, and yes, Victorian dudes Her poetry of longing – Erotic, powerful, and absolutely not “just friendly” The fight for her legacy – From haters to historians to modern LGBTQIA+ orgs Why representation in history matters – Especially for young queer kids 📚 Quick Facts Born ~630 BCE on the island of Lesbos Credited with creating lyric poetry (think: personal, emotional, performed with a lyre) Wrote an Ode to Aphrodite—the only surviving full poem Widely believed to have been queer, though this was hotly denied for centuries Inspired organizations like Sappho for Equality, which still operates today 💥 Fun & Furious Details Scholars once claimed she was just a “schoolmistress” who trained wives. Others made up a fake husband named “Dick from Man Island” (yes, really). Her contemporaries called her the Poetess, the female Homer. Plato called her the Tenth Muse, despite hating poetry. Modern scholars finally started accepting her queerness in the 20th century. 🎙️ From Your Host, TK This episode is a love letter to the messy, powerful, poetic legacy of Sappho. She wasn’t just a woman who wrote poetry—she was a revolutionary voice who broke the mold, made people feel things, and still inspires generations today. Also, her poems? SPICY. 😳🌿 🚀 Want More? Subscribe to For the Love of History for weekly feminist deep dives Share this episode with your sapphic bestie or literary crush Support on Patreon for bonus episodes, early access, and sleepy history Merch? Toga? Blanket burrito? We gotchu. Instagram⁠ ⁠Website⁠ ⁠TikTok⁠ ⁠Merch Store⁠ ⁠YouTube⁠ ⁠Patreon⁠⁠ Whether you’re a poet, a history nerd, or someone who’s just a sucker for ancient queer drama, Sappho’s story is one you don’t want to miss. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    27 mins
  • The Unlikely Spies | Author Interview with Mathew Goodman

    The Unlikely Spies | Author Interview with Mathew Goodman
    Jun 14 2025
    Ever heard of a spy duo in their 60s walking three Cocker Spaniels around Nazi-occupied Paris by day and running a secret escape line by night? No? Then buckle in. In this episode, TK interviews bestselling author Matthew Goodman about his riveting new book, *Paris Undercover*—a deep-dive into the true story of two real-life badass women who defied fascism during World War II. We talk about the historical detective work that uncovered the truth behind a bestselling memoir, the women erased from standard war narratives, and how even “elderly” ladies can outmaneuver the Gestapo. This isn’t your average WWII tale—it’s got espionage, pseudonyms, betrayal, friendship, and... waffles? 🕵️‍♀️The Hidden Heroines – Meet Etta and Kate, two women "of a certain age" who created an escape route across France to rescue Allied soldiers—without any training or backup. 📖 **Memoir vs. Reality** – Matthew uncovers that the popular wartime memoir *Paris Underground* wasn’t entirely factual—and wasn’t written by the woman who supposedly penned it. 🔍 Research as Spycraft– From sealed military archives in France to ghostwriters with ghostwriters, Matthew shares how pandemic-era sleuthing led to unexpected twists in the story. 📚 Narrative Nonfiction Gold – With a background in fiction and a passion for history, Matthew shows how using storytelling techniques can bring history to life *without* sacrificing accuracy. 🧠 Modern Parallels – We also explore how themes of resistance, misinformation, and female agency remain powerful and painfully relevant today. --- 💙💛Why You’ll Love This Episode: If you love juicy historical mysteries, stories of women who defy expectations, or just want to know how an Upper East Side widow ends up sneaking British pilots past Nazis, this episode is for you. --- 🎧 Listen if you’re into: - Hidden Figures of WWII - Feminist history - Narrative nonfiction and storytelling - Rewriting the historical record - Dogs. Obviously. 👋 Support the Show (and your inner nerd): 💬 Comment & subscribe if you're watching on YouTube! ⭐ Leave a rating or review on your favorite podcast app 📬 Share this episode with a history-loving bestie 💌 Join the Patreon crew for early access, bonus content & sleepy history episodes 🛍 Grab some podcast merch—because espionage looks better in a hoodie --- 🌐 Learn More About Matthew Goodman: 📚 [MatthewGoodmanBooks.com] (https://matthewgoodmanbooks.com/) – Browse his books, drop him an email, or snoop around his research journey. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    46 mins
  • The Dressmakers of London | Fashion, Rationing, and Sisterhood in WWII with Julia Kelly

    The Dressmakers of London | Fashion, Rationing, and Sisterhood in WWII with Julia Kelly
    Jun 6 2025
    Welcome, delicious donuts! 🍩 In this episode of For the Love of History, we’re unraveling the fascinating story behind The Dressmakers of London with award-winning author and Emmy-nominated journalist Julia Kelly. It's part historical deep-dive, part emotional sister saga, and 100% packed with nerdy joy — just how we like it. 🧵 What You’ll Learn: 💙How women navigated fashion rationing in WWII (spoiler: red lipstick was patriotic). 💙What it really meant to be conscripted as a woman in 1941. 💙The role of letters — the OG DMs — in wartime relationships. 💙Why class, fashion, femininity, and grief are intricately stitched together in this story. 💙Julia’s personal connection to sewing, vintage fashion, and the inspiration behind her characters. 💙An almost plotline in Egypt that got cut for historical accuracy! 📚 About the Book: The Dressmakers of London tells the story of two estranged sisters forced to run their late mother’s dress shop amid the chaos of WWII. With rationing, conscription, and buried trauma in the mix, this book weaves together personal loss, reconciliation, and the politics of fashion under fire. ✂️ Favorite Moments: 00:02:15 – Julia’s pivot from romance to historical fiction 00:04:20 – The dress shop inheritance and conscription twist 00:06:00 – Writing emotionally grounded history 00:12:30 – How fashion rationing reshaped femininity 00:20:00 – When fashion becomes politics: the Utility Clothing Order 00:25:00 – Stationery obsessions and letter-writing as wartime lifelines 00:34:00 – Why Egypt had to go, and Norfolk got the spotlight 🧵 Links & Where to Find Julia Kelly: 📚 Book: The Dressmakers of London 🌐 Website: juliakellywrites.com 📬 Newsletter: juliakellywrites.substack.com 📸 Instagram & TikTok: @JuliaKellyWrites ✉️ Your Turn! How would YOU spend your 66 clothing ration coupons in WWII? Dresses? Socks? Underwear? Sound off in the comments with your fave historical clothing facts or tell us when you last wrote a letter by hand! 🎙️ Like what you hear? Be sure to: 👍 Like this video 💬 Comment below (we respond!) 🔔 Subscribe for more world, women’s, and weird history 📝 Rate and review the pod — it’s the free 99 way to support indie history nerds everywhere! Instagram Website TikTok Merch Store YouTube Patreon⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    50 mins
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Listening to “For the Love of History” feels like catching up with a dear friend who has the best stories to share. TK brings history to life with such warmth and enthusiasm that you can’t help but keep listening. Each episode is a delightful journey, whether we’re chatting about formidable empresses or uncovering the quirky origins of everyday items. It’s like having a personal guide who makes the past feel relatable and fascinating. If you’re looking for a podcast that feels less like a lecture and more like a captivating conversation with your history-loving BFF, this is the one. 

Feels like catching up with a dear friend who has the best stories to share!

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