EUROPHILE

Coucou everyone! This week's subject is probably Cat's favorite topic EVER, so hear her gush about Josephine Baker: entertainer, Allied spy, and civil rights activist. Then hear Kate tell us the history of the pod's favorite sweet - the croissant. We love France! Don't forget to follow us on Instagram :) Josephine Baker sources: The Life and Sad Ending of Josephine Baker Joesphine Bakere Wiki "Coc...

Coucou everyone! A British excavation team decided to disturb the eternal resting place of one of Egypt's pharaohs - some people who were present experienced untimely deaths - is there a curse? Kate tells Cat all about the Pharaoh's curse. Cat then tells Kate all about the medicinal origins of the Gin and Tonic - cheers to your health!  Don't forget to follow us on Instagram :) King Tut sourc...

Coucou everyone! Come to Germany as Cat shares all about everyone's favorite decade - the 20s! Art, music, literature, sex, cabaret, architecture, film...you name it and it was poppin'! Then Kate makes our mouths water as she shares the history of Haribo gummies. Ja dahling! Don't forget to follow us on Instagram :) Golden 20s sources: Golden 20s Anita Berber New Objectivity 1920s Berlin Weimer cu...

Coucou everyone! Sometimes one needs a good soak and a trip to Hungary is the perfect place to relax! Bathing culture has been important to Hungary since the Ancient Romans and Hungary is fortunate enough to have a lot of thermal *water wealth.* Then Cat tells Kate all about the love affair between the forgotten Prince William of Gloucester & Hungarian model Zsuzsi Starkloff . STEAMY!  Do...

Coucou everyone! Please meet the voice and face of an angel...Maria Callas! Cat tells Kate about her career and personal life, one of which soared while the other tragically floundered. Then, Kate tells us how to cast the Evil Eye, and what to do if one was cast on you. We recommend hexing one on bad parkers. Don't forget to follow us on Instagram :) Maria Callas sources: Callas: A Documentary Mar...

Coucou everyone! James Bond. A perfectly boring name - according to Ian Fleming - for one of the most interesting literary/film characters in the 20th century! Kate tells Cat all about Ian Fleming, how James Bond came to be, James Bond themes, our favorite Bonds and our favorite Bond girls! Cat then goes loooooow brow with some juicy 'football' gossip. Grab your popcorn because this shit is juicy!...

Coucou everyone! Cat truly believes that if you don't like ABBA there is something seriously wrong with you...ABBA is a vibe!!! She tells Kate all about how the band got together, and how it all fell apart. Then, Kate tells Cat about the lovely Swedish bi-daily coffee break called "fika" - we all needs more breaks in life! Don't forget to follow us on Instagram :) ABBA sources: ABBA Mini-Documenta...

Coucou everyone! We've been seeing those pictures of Lady Gaga galavanting around Italy as Patrizia Reggiani and Kate thought we must dive in to the true crime story of the Murder of Maurizio Gucci! Cat then tells Kate all about a fabulous casa in Capri - grab the limoncello!  Don't forget to follow us on Instagram :) Gucci sources: Daily Beast  Gucci wiki Maurizio Gucci wiki Harper's Ba...

Coucou everyone! This week Cat takes Kate to Germany and tells her about the creepy, non-Disney versions of fairy tales, and about the two brothers who took great care in making sure these tales would never be forgotten. Then, Kate makes us thirsty by telling the history of the biergarten. Prost! Don't forget to follow us on Instagram :) The Brothers Grimm sources: The dark and disturbing original...

Coucou everyone! Join us for the true story of a real Romeo and Juliet of Russia & Turkey, Kurt Seyt and Shura! This story has everything you could ever want - war, politics, centuries old grifts, religion, murder, star-crossed lovers, love, lust, and betrayal. Come join us for the true story of their love!  Don't forget to follow us on Instagram :) Kurt Seyt and Shura Sources: Kurt Seyit...

Coucou everyone! Come with us to Vienna, Austria as Catherine tells Kate all about the sexy, shy, commando-loving Gustav Klimt, his partner and fashion designer Emilie Louise Flöge, and the story of how five of his paintings found their way back to their original owners (FYI this part made the girls cry). Then, Kate enchants Catherine with the history of the waltz - swoon! Don't forget to follow u...

Coucou everyone! Our special guest Jennifer Cutrona comes on the pod to take us to Spain this week! She gives us the history of how Muslims, Christians, and Jews in Spain had influenced this very special building, El Transito Synagogue in Toledo. Jennifer is a consummate professional and is super knowledgable about architecture - just don't tell her all ancient ruins look alike.... Vámonos! ...

Coucou everyone! This is our first episode that doesn't touch the continent of Europe but that doesn't make it any less important to European and World History!  Today, we travel to present day Angola to discuss the relationship between Queen Nzinga and the Portuguese. A warrior, anti-imperialist, feminist, and possible (unconfirmed) Scorpio - Queen Nzinga had a tumultuous life full of twists...

Coucou everyone! Honestly, where to begin with Mary? Loving caretaker? Yes. Entrepreneurial spirit? Yes. World traveler? Yes. Zero fucks-giver? YES. Hear Cat tell all about this amazing woman! Then listen to Kate dish on desperate British noblemen and the American women who saved them aka Million Dollar Princesses. You're welcome! Don't forget to follow us on Instagram :) Mary Seacole Sources: Mar...

Coucou everyone! "But she's so tiny....." - Every tourist talking about Mona Lisa.  This week, we go to Paris to talk all about the history of the Louvre! From a fortress to the palace/art museum we see today today, the Louvre had quite the glow up. Kate tells Catherine all about the museum's rich, lonnnnnng history. Then Catherine tells the tale of French Freedom fighter, Lucie Aubrac's amaz...

Coucou everyone! Let's talk about sex, babyyyy! This week, Catherine tells Kate all about sex, relationships, and beauty standards in Ancient Greece. While very freeing in some ways, there were also plenty of rules and caveats - especially when it came to women and the age of consent (are we surprised??). Then Kate tells Cat and the Isle of Lesbos and the infamous Poetess - Sappho. That's hot. Don...

Coucou everyone! OLÉ! This week Kate discusses the tumultuous and complicated relationship between Spain, fascism, tourism and Flamenco. Started by the Roma people in Spain, Flamenco has not had the easiest road of being recognized as a true Spanish art form. Then get your overripe tomatoes ready, as Catherine tells Kate all about the festival of the throwing of tomatoes, La Tomatina. Can you get...

Coucou everyone! Come with us to the Emerald Isle of Ireland as Catherine tells Kate about a pirate queen who kicked her husband out of the house, chatted in Latin with Queen Elizabeth I, pillaged towns and ships, and fended off privateers while out at sea less than an hour after giving birth. Then Kate tells Cat about an Irish tradition called keening - a powerful cry sung at funerals and protest...

Coucou everyone and happy 2021! We are thrilled to introduce our first guest - our favorite French friend Emile Bertherat! We caught up with Emile on how France handled 2020, and he taught us about renowned French novelist Romain Gary who lived an incredibly colorful life (to say the least!). Here's to a new year and to many more episodes with Emile! Don't forget to follow us on Instagram :) Romai...

Coucou everyone! Called an incestuous murderesse, Lucrezia Borgia has been the center of many infamous stories and rumors swirling around the Borgia family. Kate tells Catherine all about if the rumors are true. Then Catherine regales Kate of the history of the Aperitivo in Italy - swoon!  Don't forget to follow us on Instagram :) Lucrezia Sources: Long Reads Lucrezia Borgia wiki Mini topic s...

Coucou everyone! WARNING: this episode discusses themes of murder and death Come with us to blustery, beautiful Scotland! Catherine tells Kate about the heavenly isle of Iona and the mysterious circumstances surrounding a young occultist's death in the early 20th century. Then, Kate regales Catherine about the Massacre of Glencoe, and why the Campbell clan is forever cursed because of their dastar...

Coucou everyone & na zdorovie! We're cheer-sing to your health this episode with Russian Vodka! Kate tells Catherine all about the history of the importance of vodka to Russia and even how it had a hand in deciding Russia's official religion. Catherine then tells Kate the story about how the Matryoshka nesting dolls came to be! Da darling!  Don't forget to follow us on Instagram :) Vodka...

Coucou everyone! Sign us up for dishing the sordid details of a steamy affair. Throw in a King, Queen and a revolutionary doctor? Yum. Cat tells Kate all about Queen Caroline Mathilde of Denmark and her lover Johann. Kate then informs Cat about the creepy, non-Disney version of The Little Mermaid. How morbid! Don't forget to follow us on Instagram :) Queen Caroline Mathilde Sources: Rebecca Starr...

Coucou everyone! Kate tells Cat all about the 'King of Kink', Helmut Newton and his rise to becoming a provocateur photographer of the ages! Cat then tells Kate about the roaring queer nightclub scene of Berlin pre-Nazi Germany.  Don't forget to follow us on Instagram :) Helmut Newton Sources: American Suburb X The Art Story Helmut Newton Wiki Mini topic sources: LGBT Culture in Berlin wiki "...

Coucou everyone! WARNING: this episode discusses themes of murder and abuse Signore e signori...join us as we venture to Sicily and discuss Cosa Nostra aka "Our Thing" aka the Mafia. Then Kate informs Cat about the wild Sicilian flag and reminds us all about the story of Medusa. Don't forget to follow us on Instagram :) Cosa Nostra Sources: Sicilian Mafia Mini topic sources: Medusa Recommendations...