RenFare

Unlock the myth behind the stars in this dive into astrology and ancient mythology. In this episode, we explore the stories behind the zodiac. How did gods, monsters, and heroic quests shape into the constellations, and why those legends still influence the way we think about astrology today. Socials: Visit us on IG @renfarepod We are on TikTok @renfarepodcast Check us out on YouTube @renfarepod

Ever wondered why a rabbit's foot is considered lucky? Here's the surprising history behind it! 🐇✨ Tag someone who needs to hear this! The origins of lucky symbols are often shrouded in mystery. For instance, the rabbit's foot has been linked to various cultures and folklore, but the truth is, we don’t really know why it’s deemed lucky! Some theories trace back to ancient Celtic trib...

Horseshoes. Hamsa hands. Lucky bamboo. What do they all have in common? Humans have been reaching for them for thousands of years, hoping to tip the cosmic scales. This week we take a world tour of good luck — the charms, the plants, and a few wild facts you won't see coming. Spoiler: the scarab beetle is a dung roller and chimney sweeps are still getting hired to kiss brides. Buckle up. Arts, cul...

At five years old, Françoise Gilot decided she would become a painter. She spent the next 96 years proving it. This week on RenFare, we're diving into the remarkable life and legacy of one of the 20th century's most fascinating artists — a woman whose colorful, mythology-rich canvases spanned eight decades, whose work earned France's highest honor for the arts, and who, even in her final years, ne...

Gods, giants, and the ghost of a civilization. Part 2 of our Ancient Egypt series covers the pharaohs who defined a dynasty — including a queen erased from history, a boy king buried in gold, and the ruler who negotiated the world's first peace treaty. Then we get into the big question: how were the pyramids actually built? And we close by asking what 3,000 years of one of the world's greatest civ...

Ever wondered what daily life was like in ancient Egypt? 🌍 Let’s step back in time and explore the real stories! Life in ancient Egypt was about more than just pyramids and pharaohs. It revolved around the Nile's life-giving waters, shaping agriculture, trade, and even social structures. Next we'll dive into the history of hysteria. What does a wandering uterus and Freud have in common? We'll go...

Explore the fascinating world of pirates, separating fact from fiction during the Golden Age of Piracy. Discover their democratic structures, myths, and realities. Then find out the origins of astrology as we travel around the world linking the different astrological and astronomical theories. Socials: Visit us on IG @renfarepod We are on TikTok @renfarepodcast Check us out on YouTube @renfarepod...

Did you know eugenics was a popular movement in the U.S.? 🤔 Let's dive into its dark history and implications! The U.S. became a leader in implementing eugenics policies in the early 20th century, with major institutions promoting them. Notably, David Starr Jordan, a prominent biologist and Stanford's first president, was a key advocate. Then we explore floriography, the coded language of flowers...

This week we first talk about Louisa May Alcott - her life, history, and most famous work, Little Women! Then we explore the fascinating history and symbolism of Easter and Ostara, uncovering their roots in ancient mythology, linguistic connections, and modern celebrations. Discover how these holidays intertwine with themes of fertility, rebirth, and cultural traditions across the world. Socials:...

In Episode 18 of RenFare, Jaimie and Kelly pair two subjects that have more in common than you'd expect: the woman who invented science fiction, Mary Shelley, and the all-too-human impulse to believe that someone, somewhere, is pulling the strings, conspiracy theories. Mary Shelley. Born in 1797 to two of the most radical thinkers of her era, she wrote Frankenstein at 18 during a stormy summer...

Wuthering Heights & the Chinese Zodiac: Emily Brontë's Dark Obsessions and the Year of the Fire Horse In Episode 17 of RenFare, Jaimie and Kelly get dark and a little cosmic — pairing Emily Brontë's gothic masterpiece, Wuthering Heights, with the ancient symbolism of the Chinese Zodiac, timed to the Lunar New Year and the arrival of the Year of the Fire Horse. Jaimie explores the short...

In Episode 16 of RenFare, Jaimie and Kelly get delightfully dark — first exploring the history of poisoning as a weapon, a tool of resistance, and an unexpected driver of forensic science, then rounding out their three-part Appalachian series with the region's best Appalachian folklore featuring cryptids, hauntings, and superstitions. First, Jaimie breaks down the history of poisons and the wo...

In Episode 15 of RenFare, Jaimie and Kelly pair two subjects connected by deep roots, rich oral tradition, and histories that most people only half know. Jaimie traces the history story of tea, the world's second most consumed beverage — from origin in 2737 BCE China through modern day. She covers all five true tea types (black, green, white, oolong, and pu-erh), the herbal infusions that aren...

In this episode, we explore the historical context of the Irish Potato Famine and its impact on Irish identity, followed by a discussion on the cultural and social dynamics of Appalachia. They delve into the complexities of poverty, discrimination, and resilience in both regions, highlighting the importance of understanding these histories to appreciate the present. Socials: Visit us on IG @renfar...

Christmas is a blend of hundreds of traditions shaped by culture, religion, climate, and history. In this episode, we travel around the world to explore how different countries celebrate Christmas, from Germany’s festive markets and Krampus folklore to Italy’s La Befana, Japan’s KFC Christmas dinners, Mexico’s Las Posadas, and summer holidays in Australia and Brazil. Along the way, we uncover how...

Why do weddings look the way they do — and what happens when you experience them through a completely different sensory lens? In this episode, we explore the surprising origins behind today’s most common wedding traditions, from white dresses to rings to bouquet tosses, and how these customs evolved across cultures and centuries. Then, we shift into the vivid world of synesthesia — the neurologica...

From BuzzFeed quizzes to ancient goddesses — this episode dives into why we’re obsessed with discovering ‘who we really are.’ We break down today’s most popular personality tests before exploring a belief in feminine deities who may hae shaped humanity’s earliest ideas of identity, power, and purpose. Social Media: IG - @renfarepod Sources: Jung, C.G. Psychological Types (1921) Briggs Myers, I. &a...

Join us for a crash course in the world’s biggest political ideologies — who runs what, and why it matters - along with the untold stories of the women behind major scientific, artistic, and literary breakthroughs, overshadowed by the men who took the credit. Follow us on social @renfarepod! ~ If you enjoyed this episode rate and review the show and drop us a comment on what you want to hear next...

Halloween Special! This eerie episode unearths the chilling story of Carl Tanzler’s morbid obsession and dives into the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain — where the veil between worlds grows thin and old spirits still linger. Social Media IG - @renfarepod Sources https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carl_Tanzler https://birdinflight.com/en/world/20200416-carl-tanzler.html https://the-line-up.com/carl-t...

This week, we dive into the free-spirited world of the Bohemian movement with Kelly. From 19th-century Parisian cafés to modern creative counterculture, we explore how rebellion, art, and idealism shaped a lifestyle that still inspires dreamers and outsiders today. Social Media IG - @renfarepod Sources: Gombrich, E.H. The Story of Art Honour, Hugh & Fleming, John. A World History of Art https:...

From cave walls to curved lines, this episode traces how art evolved — from the foundations of Western art to the flowing beauty of Art Nouveau. We explore the movements, meanings, and mindset that shaped how we see and talk about art today.

From slippery slopes to straw men, logical fallacies shape how we argue — and often how we’re misled. In this episode, we break down the most common fallacies you’ll spot in everyday life, then turn to the timeless feminine archetypes found in myth, psychology, and culture. From the mother to the muse, the maiden to the rebel, we explore how these patterns influence the way women are seen — and ho...

From corsets to grunge, fashion has always mirrored the times. We trace the past century of style and how culture shaped what we wear — then flip the deck to uncover the surprising history of tarot, from playing cards to a tool of self-discovery. Find us on social media @renfarepod If you want to read more on about this: https://www.gq.com/story/how-recessions-drive-innovation-in-fashion https://u...

In this episode of RenFare, we’re bridging two very different legacies — one rooted in science and bioethics, the other in symbolism and spiritual seeking. First, we share the powerful story of Henrietta Lacks, a woman whose cells were taken without her consent in 1951. Her HeLa cells became the backbone of modern medical research — but her name was nearly erased. We unpack the scientific breakthr...

In this episode of RenFare, we’re talking Olympian gods and reality TV — two worlds filled with drama, ego, and larger-than-life personalities. Coincidence? Maybe not. First, we take you up to Mount Olympus to meet the 12 Olympian gods — the chaotic group that ruled Greek mythology. From Aphrodite’s love triangles to Zeus’s power plays, we unpack who’s who, what they ruled over, and how these deit...