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We're joined again by Charly (our guest in episode #46), who tells us all about Yōkai in Japanese folklore. Yōkai are supernatural identities who range from cute and fairly harmless, to mischievous and downright terrifying. You might also recognise some of them from modern culture, including Pokemon and Animal Crossing! Make sure you check out the notes on our website to see Charly's notes (she ev...

The anonymous poem Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is considered one of the masterpieces of Middle English literature. In this episode, Ellie talks a bit about the history of the manuscript, and then tells the full story of this famous Arthurian legend. --- Where to Find Us:  Find the full notes for this episode, including where you can learn more about these topics, at  learnaboutpod.com . You ca...

Today, we're joined by a special guest! Linde joins us to talk about Aletta Jacobs, a pioneer of women's suffrage in the Netherlands. Not only was she the first woman to officially to attend a Dutch university, but she also founded the world's first birth control clinic and was a leader in both the Dutch and international women's movements. --- Where to Find Us:  Find the full notes for this episo...

As of recording, the Tokyo 2020 Olympics are underway (albeit a year late because of the pandemic). So in this episode, we learn about the history of the Olympics, going right back to their inception in ancient Greece, and some interesting fun facts about the Games. We also cover sexism and racism in Olympic history, the most chaotic Games ever in 1904, and the commercialisation of the Olympics si...

Are you about to take the leap and move out on your own for the first time? Or maybe you just want some tips on how to make your life a bit easier? In this episode, we share some of our top tips on living alone for the first time, including batch cooking, setting yourself a cleaning rota (and sticking to it), finding cheap but great furniture, and more. Feel free to share your tips with us on soci...

In another deep dive through history (and in the most academic and philosophical episode yet), Charlotte focuses on the history of magic: the different types, people's perception of magic over the years, how it compares to science and religion, and the history of magic as performance. --- Where to Find Us:  Find the full notes for this episode, including where you can learn more about these topics...

We've done a few 'Dark Disney' episodes on our podcast, where we tell the original dark tale of stories made popular by the more flowery and magical Disney version. This time, Ellie tells the original Grimm tale of Snow White - which, unlike other dark tales, is very similar to the Disney version (apart from a couple of grim details)! --- Where to Find Us:  Find the full notes for this episode, in...

A few weeks ago, Charlotte talked about the science of sleep, including the different sleep stages and why sleep is so important for our memory, mental health, and more. In this episode, the sleep discussion continues: this second part is about dreaming. Why do we dream, how does it differ in each of the sleep stages, and what do our dreams mean? --- Where to Find Us:  Find the full notes for this...

It's the final episode of our Pride Month series and we turn to the thing we both have a degree in: film! Ellie goes back more than 100 years to run through the history of LGBTQ+ representation in film, from the first time the word "gay" was said on screen to the progress Hollywood is still making today. --- Where to Find Us:  Find the full notes for this episode, including where you can learn mor...

In the third episode of our Pride Month series, Charlotte talks about some of the prominent LGBTQ+ figures throughout history, including the figureheads of the Stonewall riots, some queer icons, and some very famous people throughout history that you might not know were queer. --- Where to Find Us:  Find the full notes for this episode, including where you can learn more about these topics, at  le...

In our second special episode of Pride Month, Ellie continues her Fun with Flags series by talking about some of the Pride flags that represent different areas of the LGBTQ+ community, from gay, lesbian and bisexual to trans, non-binary and asexual. --- Where to Find Us:  Find the full notes for this episode, including where you can learn more about these topics, at  learnaboutpod.com . You can al...

In the first episode of our special Pride Month series, learn about the history of the Pride movement in the US and the UK, including the Stonewall Riots, a timeline of important events and milestones, and the corporate influence of Pride today. --- Where to Find Us:  Find the full notes for this episode, including where you can learn more about these topics, at  learnaboutpod.com . You can also f...

If you've ever seen the episode of The Big Bang Theory where Sheldon and Amy start their video podcast called Fun with Flags, then you'll know where we got the inspiration for this episode! Vexillology is the the study of the history, symbolism, etiquette, design, manufacture, and other aspects of flags. In this episode, Ellie takes us through some of the most unique flags the world has to offer....

Sleep accounts for one-quarter to one-third of the human lifespan, but why do we sleep? This is a question that has baffled scientists for centuries - but no one is really sure. In this episode, Charlotte explores why we sleep, what happens when we don't sleep, the different sleep stages, and more. We then take a look at some advice for people who want to know how to sleep better, including how to...

Our listeners love our Greek mythology episodes, so we've got another one for you today! Ellie talks about the story of Perseus, the son of Zeus and Danaë, the daughter of Acrisius of Argos. He became the slayer of the Gorgon Medusa and the rescuer of Andromeda from a sea monster. Perseus' story shows how prophecies can seem like they won't come true, but they can come back around to bite when you...

In this episode, Charlotte talks about the history of tattoos and how they have differed in different cultures throughout history. Did you know there is evidence that tattoos existed over 5,000 years ago? Learn about where tattooing originated, how practices have evolved, and also how societal attitudes towards tattoos have changed over the years. Want to listen to some outtakes from this episode,...

In this extra long episode, Ellie takes us through the entire evolution of how vampires are portrayed in film & TV over the last 100 years. It all begins with original German classic Nosferatu in 1922, and concludes with more recent pop culture hits like Twilight and True Blood. And of course, we also discuss our personal favourite, Taika Waititi and Jemaine Clement's What We Do In the Shadows . W...

We've done a lot of episodes about awesome women of history and Edith Wilson is no exception, but she's also slightly more controversial because of the some of the decisions she made. Charlotte talks about Edith Wilson, the wife of Woodrow Wilson who served as the president of the United States from 1913 to 1921. She was the first First Lady to effectively become the acting president while her hus...

Have you ever thought something that you believed to be true, but it actually never was?! This could be a case of the Mandela Effect, which is what Ellie discusses in this episode. Learn what the Mandela Effect is, and some examples in modern pop culture. Where to Find Us:  Find the full notes for this episode, including where you can learn more about these topics, at learnaboutpod.com . You can a...

Very recently, in February 2021, NASA sent its most innovative rover yet to explore Mars. In this episode, Charlotte shares some facts about the planet itself, and then talks in-depth about NASA's exploration of Mars, including past and present missions -- and in particular, the new Perseverance rover. Where to Find Us:  Find the full notes for this episode, including where you can learn more abou...

Ellie talks about Julius Caesar and his death on the Ides of March, which is actually March 15th - the day this episode goes live! Learn about the legacy of Julius Caesar and the events that lead to the establishment of the Roman Empire. Where to Find Us:  Find the full notes for this episode, including where you can learn more about these topics, at learnaboutpod.com . You can also follow us on ...

Charlotte talks about this incredibly culturally significant event that usually happens in March: Crufts dog show. Learn about the history of its founder Charles Cruft, how the dog show works, a little kind-of-related tidbit about the 1800s French exhibitions that displayed the most innovative Victorian technology and artistry, and listen to us have a lovely chat about dogs! Where to Find Us:  Fin...

We're going back to Dark Disney today: Ellie talks about the original dark Hans Christian Andersen tale of The Little Mermaid. The moral of this story: don't pin all your hopes on a bloke when you're 15, or you'll spend the rest of time in purgatory. Where to Find Us:  Find the full notes for this episode, including where you can learn more about these topics, at learnaboutpod.com . You can also f...

Charlotte's friend Sophie joins us this week to talk about one of her favourite things to learn about: weird weather phenomena. From crazy lightning storms and dust devils to snow doughnuts and raining animals, this planet has such a range of incredible and unexplainable weather phenomena! (Go to the full show notes at learnaboutpod.com to find a folder full of images that we reference throughout...

Charlotte combines two of her favourite things - awesome women and science - and talks about some incredible women of STEM throughout history: Ada Lovelace (1815—1852), Marie Stopes (1880—1958), and Wang Zhenyi (1768—1797). These women made huge advancements in various scientific fields, from computer programming and astronomy to women's reproductive health. Where to Find Us:  Find the full notes...