That's History, Babe!

Епизоде

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  A Brief History of PLASTIC SURGERY 17.09.2026 1ч 31мин

  If beauty is pain, and pain is gain, then beauty is gain (thank you, transitive property). On this week’s ep, we go under the knife for a brief history of plastic surgery, exploring how changing or repairing appearances has been a tentpole of medical practice across the centuries. But how did these procedures develop? What is the social and psychological importance of appearance? And how does Kris Jenner get her face to look like that?? Tangents include Jared’s refusal to post on r/gayselfie, Abe getting hate comments from a guy named Bob Clude, and getting wisdom teeth removed while still awake.SOURCESRefashioning Race by Alka Vaid Menon (2023)Venus Unleashed: The Uncensored History of Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery, dir. Dr. Elliott Haimoff (2009) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XMeO3DHHF_wEdwin Smith Surgical Papers - https://www.jameslindlibrary.org/edwin-smith-surgical-papyrus-c-1550-bce/ Killer Looks: The Forgotten History of Prison Plastic Surgery by Zara Stone (2021)EURAPS at 20 years. A brief history of European Plastic Surgery from the Société Européenne de Chirurgie Structive to the European Association of Plastic Surgeons (EURAPS) by Riccardo F Mazzola and Moshe Kon (2009) - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19913471/THAT'S HISTORY, BABE! is hosted by Abe Merker and Jared Tetreau. This episode was produced by Jared Tetreau, Abe Merker, and Claudia Chiossone. Research Assistance by Madison Albertson. Music by Kinneret. Series Artwork by Sid Lugo. Intro Animations by Gemma Hill. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  The Assassination of President William McKinley 10.09.2026 1ч 36мин

  This week on the pod, discover a presidential assassination that history forgot! Join us as we discuss the life and death of William McKinley, one of several cornfed presidents from Ohio. We explore McKinley’s presidency, his personal life and beliefs, and how he met his end at the hands of a loner son of immigrants disillusioned with capitalism. Beneath the surface of the McKinley assassination, we dig deeper into the divisions of class, race, and ethnicity that ran through America at the turn of the twentieth century. Tangents include Jared post to r/gayselfie, Bunny and Deidre’s successful cat cohabitation, Stephen Sondheim's Assassins, and whether anyone deserves to die in Buffalo, NY.SOURCESWilliam McKinley and His America by H. Wayne Morgan (2003)“Robert Merry discusses his book President McKinley: Architect of the American Century”, Q+A, C-SPAN (2017) “Eric Rauchway discusses his book Murdering McKinley", Q+A, C-SPAN (2003)“Scott Miller discusses his book The President and the Assassin”, Q+A, C-SPAN (2011)Fine, S. (1955). Anarchism and the Assassination of McKinley. The American Historical Review, 60(4), 777–799. https://doi.org/10.2307/1844919 "An interview with the President's nurses". The Trained Nurse and Hospital Review. 27 (4): 222–223. October 1901.THAT'S HISTORY, BABE! is hosted by Abe Merker and Jared Tetreau. This episode was produced by Jared Tetreau, Abe Merker, and Claudia Chiossone. Research Assistance by Madison Albertson. Music by Kinneret. Series Artwork by Sid Lugo. Intro Animations by Gemma Hill. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Mother Jones: The Little Old Lady Who Fought a Coal Mine War 03.09.2026 1ч 28мин

  She may not have been a coal miner’s daughter, but Mary Harris Jones, aka “Mother Jones”, was a ‘coal miner’s angel’. Clamber into the coal cart with us as we learn how an old lady who loved swearing helped miners and their families battle it out in some of America’s bloodiest labor disputes. Hear how Mother Jones came back from not one, but two, life-altering tragedies to become a champion of the downtrodden, organizing and mobilizing working people into mass union movements. Tangents include Jared’s ruined birthday, the finale of Abe’s apartment-moving saga, and RUDE Parisians.SOURCES“The Mine Wars”, American Experience, PBS (2016)"Miner’s Day was born from tragedy, memorializing the dead and honoring the living", West Virginia Mine Wars Museum"Mother Jones: The Most Dangerous Woman in America by Elliott Gorn", Book TV, C-SPAN, August 1, 2001Feurer, R. (2026). Illinois Coal Miners Fight for Democracy. Journal of the Illinois State Historical Society, 119(1), 40–43. https://doi-org.i.ezproxy.nypl.org/10.5406/23283335.119.1.10Mari Boor Tonn (2011) “From the Eye to the Soul”: Industrial Labor's Mary Harris “Mother” Jones and the Rhetorics of Display, Rhetoric Society Quarterly, 41:3, 231-249, DOI: 10.1080/02773945.2011.575325THAT'S HISTORY, BABE! is hosted by Abe Merker and Jared Tetreau. This episode was produced by Jared Tetreau, Abe Merker, and Claudia Chiossone. Research Assistance by Madison Albertson. Music by Kinneret. Series Artwork by Sid Lugo. Intro Animations by Gemma Hill. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Lady Jane Grey vs. Princess Mary: TUDOR CAGE MATCH 27.08.2026 1ч 22мин

  DING DING DING. Choose your fighter!! Will it be: a fifteen year old noblewoman you’ve never heard of OR a thirty-five year old princess who loves Spain and the Pope! Nine Days. One crown. Who will win??? Come with us this week as we explore early modern England’s greatest royal SMACKDOWN, the battle for the throne duked out between Lady Jane Grey and Princess Mary Tudor. Learn how these two dauntless Tudor women faced each other in a fight for the throne, revealing the religious and social divisions that were waiting to tear England apart. Tangents Abe’s moving nightmare, the Massachusetts initiation ceremony, and the name of the thing that you put your head on before they chop it off.SOURCESLady Jane Grey The Nine Day Queen Tudor Betrayal, BBC docuseries"The 'Nine Days Queen' is one of England's most controversial monarchs - here's why", HistoryExtra"The most important document in Tudor history? How a forgotten text triggered a royal crisis" | HistoryExtra"The Myth of the 'Tragic Victim': Reclaiming Queen Jane" | HistoryHit"Ruins of Nine Days' Queen's home to reopen" | BBCDudley, J. (1759). Translation of a Letter written by Lady Jane Grey, to her Sister, the Evening, before she was beheaded in the Tower. Royal Magazine, 1, 24–25.Duran, J. (2023). Lady Jane Grey: A Tudor dissenter and her work. Feminist Theology, 31(2), 226–235. https://doi.org/10.1177/09667350221135058 THAT'S HISTORY, BABE! is hosted by Abe Merker and Jared Tetreau. This episode was produced by Jared Tetreau, Abe Merker, and Claudia Chiossone. Research Assistance by Madison Albertson. Music by Kinneret. Series Artwork by Sid Lugo. Intro Animations by Gemma Hill. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  The Great Molasses Flood of 1919 20.08.2026 1ч 16мин

  A tidal wave hits your house. You’re hurt. You’re scared. You’re covered in molasses. An unimaginable situation for most of us. But for the residents of Boston’s North End on January 15, 1919, it was all too real! This week, we get stuck in the sticky icky story of one of the most bizarre disasters in American urban history: the Great Molasses Flood of 1919. Come with us as we explore how corporate negligence and government corruption led to over two MILLION gallons of your grandma’s favorite sweetener spilling into the streets of an overcrowded immigrant neighborhood. Tangents include a trip to the DMV, sexploitation, proper care tips for knee scrapes, and eating Corn Pops like a cat!SOURCESMolasses: From the Slave Trade to the Great Flood - Wellesley COAWhy some people say they can still smell Boston's Great Molasses FloodThree Centuries of Molasses in Massachusetts Physics behind Boston’s deadly 1919 Molasses Flood. (2016). New Scientist, 232(3102), 15. https://doi-org.i.ezproxy.nypl.org/10.1016/S0262-4079(16)32216-3Puleo, S. (2001). Death by MOLASSES. American History, 35(6), 60.“MOLASSES TANK EXPLOSION INJURES 50 AND KILLS 11…” (1919, Jan 16). Boston Daily GlobeTHAT'S HISTORY, BABE! is hosted by Abe Merker and Jared Tetreau. This episode was produced by Jared Tetreau, Abe Merker, and Claudia Chiossone. Research Assistance by Madison Albertson. Music by Kinneret. Series Artwork by Sid Lugo. Intro Animations by Gemma Hill. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Televangelists: Jesus Wants Your Credit Card! 13.08.2026 1ч 30мин

  This week, we’re exploring the seedy world of televangelism, a religious media phenomenon that swept onto the airwaves in 20th century America. Primped-up preachers begging their factory worker followers for money they don’t have, in exchange of course for eternal salvation, is just one of the milder outrages in this episode rife with scandal, political intrigue, and bizarre personalities. But how did televangelism come to be? Who were (and are) the most prominent televangelists, and what agenda did (and do) their ministries serve? Tangents include the exhausting ordeal of a Leo’s birthday, the holes in Jared’s underwear, and throwing up at King’s Dominion.SOURCESFundie Fridays episode on Pat Robertson“Tammy and the Spiritual Stage” - Chicago Tribune, 1989“The scandals that brought down the Bakkers, once among US's most famous televangelists” by Lauren Effron, Andrew Paparella, and Jeca Taudte, ABC News, 2019“Prey TV: Televangelism and Interpellation” by Kevin Howley, Journal of Film and Video, 2001“Cultivation Theory: Research Starter” by Shari Parsons Miller, EBSCO, 2019“Of God and Greed: Bakker and Falwell trade charges in televangelism’s unholy row” by Richard N Ostling, TIME Magazine, 1987“Televangelism and the Mediated Charismatic Relationship” by David A. Diekema, Social Science Journal, 1991“Oral’s Progress”, TIME Magazine profile, 1972THAT'S HISTORY, BABE! is hosted by Abe Merker and Jared Tetreau. This episode was produced by Jared Tetreau, Abe Merker, and Claudia Chiossone. Research Assistance by Madison Albertson. Music by Kinneret. Series Artwork by Sid Lugo. Intro Animations by Gemma Hill. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  How Gay Was Ancient Greece? 31.07.2026 1ч 19мин

  This week, we take it back a few millennia to the time of Ancient Greece, exploring the super gay myths and legends used to explain and sanctify the sexual behaviors of the Greeks themselves. But how did Greek myths define sexuality? How different were Greek ideas of sexual identity from our own? What do we get wrong when we project our contemporary labels onto people in antiquity? And can a couple of buddies get oiled up and wrestle naked and still be just friends?? Tangents include CATS: The Jellicle Ball, why Leos are obsessed with their birthdays, and the possibility of moving Busch Gardens Williamsburg to Williamsburg, Brooklyn.SOURCES https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YYZCpJmHAqIClarke, W. M. (1978). Achilles and Patroclus in Love. Hermes, 106(3), 381–396. http://www.jstor.org/stable/4476069“Friday essay: the myth of the ancient Greek ‘gay utopia’” by Alastair Blanshard, The Conversation, December 14, 2017Halperin, D. M. (1986). One Hundred Years of Homosexuality [Review of Die Griechische Knabenliebe, by H. Patzer]. Diacritics, 16(2), 34–45. https://doi.org/10.2307/465069 A Problem in Greek Ethics” by John Addington SymondsLovers’ Legends: Gay Greek Myths by Andrew CalimachTHAT'S HISTORY, BABE! is hosted by Abe Merker and Jared Tetreau. This episode was produced by Jared Tetreau, Abe Merker, and Claudia Chiossone. Research Assistance by Madison Albertson. Music by Kinneret. Series Artwork by Sid Lugo. Intro Animations by Gemma Hill. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  When an Army of Peasants Nearly Overthrew England! 23.07.2026 1ч 14мин

  Could you and 60,000 of your closest friends beat your landlord in open warfare? If you’re an English peasant in the summer of 1381, then the answer is yes. This week, we explore one of the most seismic uprisings in the history of Medieval Europe, the Peasants’ Revolt! Learn how a ragtag group of farmers sacked London, killed a bunch of important people, and provided revolutionary inspiration for centuries to come. Tangents include the planetary status of Pluto, hot historian Dan Jones, Jared losing it all at poker, Abe’s new apartment (!!!), and Claudia’s long awaited return.SOURCESAnonimalle Chronicle “The Peasants Revolt” by Dan Jones, History Today, 2009 “Joint Action against ‘Bad’ Lordship: The Peasants’ Revolt in Essex and Norfolk” by Herbert Eiden, The Historical Association, 1998 The Chronicles of Froissart by Jean Froissart, 1373-1410 “John Gower, Squire of Kent, the Peasants’ Revolt, and the Visio Anglie” by Michael Bennett, The Chaucer Review, 2018 “Gower and the Peasants’ Revolt” by Ian Cornelius, Representations 131, 2015 THAT'S HISTORY, BABE! is hosted by Abe Merker and Jared Tetreau. This episode was produced by Jared Tetreau, Abe Merker, and Claudia Chiossone. Research Assistance by Madison Albertson. Music by Kinneret. Series Artwork by Sid Lugo. Intro Animations by Gemma Hill. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  The Treacherous Couple Who Sold Out America 16.07.2026 1ч 31мин

  In a delayed salute to America’s 250th, we take a look this week at the couple whose certified VILLAINY nearly ended the Revolution and the nation itself: Benedict and Peggy Arnold. Learn about Benedict’s early heroics, Peggy’s sassy bratty kind-of-iconic upbringing, the espionage and wheeling and dealing that led to Benedict’s betrayal of the American cause and defection to the British, and speculate why we’re sitting on the floor instead of on the couch directly behind us. Tangents include Tim Gunn, Fergie national anthem, the Maritime Aquarium in Norwalk, CT, and an absolutely insane photo of Jared’s butt.SOURCES"From hero to traitor: Benedict Arnold’s day of infamy", National Constitution Center, September 21, 2020 A LESSER TRAGEDY OF ARNOLD'S TREASON, Florie Hutson Heyward, New York Times, March 15, 1931 "Benedict Arnold", National Parks Service Robinson, J. (2012). Benedict Arnold: American Hero, American Villain. On Point, 18(1), 36–43. http://www.jstor.org/stable/26363381"Valiant Ambition: An Interview with Nathaniel Philbrick", George Washington's Mount Vernon Letter from Benedict Arnold to the Inhabitants of America (1780) "A Philadelphia Belle’s Fateful Marriage to a Traitor", Nancy Rubin Stuart, The Saturday Evening Post, February 13, 2024 "Margaret 'Peggy' Shippen Arnold", New-York Historical Society "The Spying Lady Shippen", History Design Lab, Oberlin College, Eliza Greenbaum Treacherous beauty : Peggy Shippen, the woman behind Benedict Arnold's plot to betray America by Mark Jacob and Stephen Chase (2012) The Colonial Mean Girl Who Almost Ended America Benedict Arnold and The Battle of Quebec | The American Revolution | PBS Benedict Arnold Turns Traitor and Defects to the British | The American Revolution | PBS Benedict Arnold's Raid on Richmond Benedict Arnold, Revolutionary Hero: An American Warrior Reconsidered. Interview: James Kirby Martin Nathaniel Philbrick, "Valiant Ambition" 14. Heroes and Villains THAT'S HISTORY, BABE! is hosted by Abe Merker and Jared Tetreau. This episode was produced by Jared Tetreau, Abe Merker, and Claudia Chiossone. Research Assistance by Madison Albertson. Music by Kinneret. Series Artwork by Sid Lugo. Intro Animations by Gemma Hill. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Is Colonial Williamsburg a tourist trap?? w/ Madison Albertson 09.07.2026 1ч 20мин

  This week on the pod, the brilliant buxom scholaress Madison Albertson returns to teach us a thing or two about “living history”, the school of thought behind such storied American museums as Colonial Williamsburg, Plimoth Patuxet, and many others. What do these places teach us about history that books alone don’t? Where did the idea for them come from? How do they shape how we remember our past? And will they hire Jared to sit in a chair and sew? Tangents include Sheetz vs. Wawa, boob shelves, losing your Game Boy in a hospital waiting room, and the best ways to mourn a totaled 2010 Prius.SOURCESGeorge Washington Birthplace National Monument Here, George Washington Was Born : Memory, Material Culture, and the Public History of a National Monument, University of Georgia Press, 2008Creating Colonial Williamsburg: The Restoration of Virginia's Eighteenth Century Capital by Anders Greenspan“To Live Like a Slave” by Curtia JamesTHAT'S HISTORY, BABE! is hosted by Abe Merker and Jared Tetreau. This episode was produced by Jared Tetreau, Abe Merker, and Claudia Chiossone. Research Assistance by Madison Albertson. Music by Kinneret. Series Artwork by Sid Lugo. Intro Animations by Gemma Hill. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  How Liza Minnelli Made Showbiz Herstory (Part Two) 02.07.2026 1ч 3мин

  In part two of our series on mother-daughter showbiz legends Judy Garland and Liza Minnelli, we explore how Liza overcame grief and addiction, emerged from her mother's shadow as a fully formed artist, and defended the rights of the LGBTQ community through a career that has spanned seven decades! Tangents include whether we’d have sex with a clone of ourselves, a vaccine for lesbianism, and the wonders of the Cape Cod Melody Tent.SOURCESLiza Minnelli Tells All In Exclusive PEOPLE Interview: 'If I Can Laugh, I Can Get Through Anything' - People Magazine, Liz McNeil, February 2026Be Kind Rewind - Best Actress 1973: Liza Minnelli wins for Cabaret Liza Minelli: ‘I’m Telling It All’ by Liz McNeil and Greg Gorman - People Magazine, March 2026“Place, space, and queer iconicity: Liza Minnelli in Cabaret (1972)” by Marie Josephine Bennett (2025)Liza: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story (2024), dir. Bruce David Klein“Liza’s New York” by Elisa Lipsky-Karasz, Harper’s Bazaar, March 2011THAT'S HISTORY, BABE! is hosted by Abe Merker and Jared Tetreau. This episode was produced by Jared Tetreau, Abe Merker, and Claudia Chiossone. Research Assistance by Madison Albertson. Music by Kinneret. Series Artwork by Sid Lugo. Intro Animations by Gemma Hill. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  How Judy Garland Became the Ultimate Gay Icon (Part One) 25.06.2026 1ч 19мин

  We’re not saying they’re bigger than Jesus, but we’re not not saying that either. In our first ever two-part series, Abe and Jared examine the lives of a mother-daughter duo whose names are synonymous with “gay icon”: showbiz legends Judy Garland and Liza Minnelli. In part one, Jared pulls us on a pepped up prance down the Yellow Brick Road to explore Judy’s impact on film and music as well as her personal struggles and comebacks, all with the goal of finally understanding why the queers (especially him) love her so much. Tangents include our first group of haters, The Greatest Showman being the worst movie ever, and Abe getting anxious at the Mermaid Parade.SOURCESJudy Garland on The Dick Cavett Show | The Dick Cavett ShowJudy Garland Beyond The Rainbow | 1997 A&E Biography Special Premiere FULL with Original Commercials Judy Garland COMPLETE 1967 InterviewJudy Garland - It's All For You - The Tonight Show - Johnny CarsonSlayyyter & Judy Garland - CRANK GOES THE TROLLEY The Chaos Behind The Wizard of Oz (and why it turned out ok anyway)Judy Garland at Carnegie Hall: The Greatest Night in Entertainment HistoryDecoder Ring podcast, "Friend of Dorothy: Why do gay people love Judy Garland so much?", Slate magazine, February 10, 2020 How Does a Pop Girl Earn "Gay Icon" Status? By Derek Deng, Byrdie, May 7, 2026 What Does It Take to Be a Gay Icon Today? by Steven Frank, September 25, 2007 Judy Garland: By Myself, American Masters PBS, 2004.THAT'S HISTORY, BABE! is hosted by Abe Merker and Jared Tetreau. This episode was produced by Jared Tetreau, Abe Merker, and Claudia Chiossone. Research Assistance by Madison Albertson. Music by Kinneret. Series Artwork by Sid Lugo. Intro Animations by Gemma Hill. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  The Club Kids: How a Group of Misfits Took Over NYC 18.06.2026 1ч 19мин

  Did a corrupted video file ruin an hour of footage from this episode? Yes. Would we ever let that stop us? No. In the 80s and 90s, a pack of queer party animals burst into NYC’s backrooms, bringing a haze of gritty glamour, fashion, drugs, and dance wherever they went. They were the Club Kids; RuPaul, Richie Rich, Amanda LePore, Waltpaper, just to name a few. Join us as we dive into the club kids’ scene, exploring who they were, why they were so sensational, what impacts they had on queer culture, and how their era came to a crushing, violent end. Tangents include making a baby gay cry, Mitchell Musso, pansexual king Wayne Brady, and being lifelong fans of the NBA champion New York Knicks.SOURCESParty Monster: The ShockumentaryMichael Alig & NYC Club Kids on Geraldo 1994 "Beyond the Glitz & Glamour" Michael Alig NYC Club Kids on Geraldo 1992 New York Club Kids on Phil Donahue talkshow 1993 (complete TV show) Club Kids fashion show Joan Rivers RuPaul Welcome Back Party RuPaul Explains The Difficulties of Go-Go Dancing in 1988 The 5 Ninth Avenue Project“Walt Cassidy Walks Us Through the Wild Glamorama of New York City’s Club Kids”, Interview magazine, Christopher Bollen, September 3, 2019Vivacious interview for Standard Hotels, January 25, 2019“Michael Musto on the Prevailing Influence of Club Kid Fashion”, The Fader, Marissa G. Muller, May 2, 2014"After Prison, No After-Hours", New York Times, Kevin Gray, May 14, 2014Michael Alig interview in Interview magazine, Christopher Bollen, April 19, 2010"Club Kids: An Aesthetic Emphasised by Outrageousness, Fabulousness, and Sex", February 15, 2022 "Club USA - Dazzling Photos From 1990s Glitziest NYC Club", Patch “What Michael Alig’s Club Kids Are Doing Now” by William Van Meter, New York magazine, May 20, 2014 THAT'S HISTORY, BABE! is hosted by Abe Merker and Jared Tetreau. This episode was produced by Jared Tetreau, Abe Merker, and Claudia Chiossone. Research Assistance by Madison Albertson. Music by Kinneret. Series Artwork by Sid Lugo. Intro Animations by Gemma Hill. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  The Mafia Pope and His Terrible Children: The Story of the Borgias 11.06.2026 1ч 16мин

  POV: you’re at the sickest rave of your life. Candles flickering. Incense burning. Gregorians chanting. The place: Vatican City. The year: 1492. The man behind it all: Pope Alexander VI aka Rodrigo Borgia. This week, we return to a place of pope as we tell the story of the most ruthless family in papal history. Hear about the depravity and delusion of the entire Borgia clan in an episode rife with sex and greed, two of Jared’s favorite things. And please PLEASE don’t ask why Abe is wearing sunglasses inside. It’s a private matter. Tangents include Kermit the Frog’s nephew Robin, the show Vikings, Pope Leo blind item, and “Lose Yourself” by Eminem.SOURCESThe Bad Popes by E.R. ChamberlinThe Prince by Niccolo MachiavelliHillgarth, J. N. (1996). The Image of Alexander VI and Cesare Borgia in the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Centuries. Journal of the Warburg and Courtauld Institutes, 59, 119–129. https://doi.org/10.2307/751400“The Borgias” In Our Time podcast, BBC Radio 4 https://open.spotify.com/episode/10PVoxVIv1iTSt56TNSqpC?si=TI7DR1a-TNOaoNPMWJ6QSANajemy, J. M. (2013). Machiavelli and Cesare Borgia: A Reconsideration of Chapter 7 of “The Prince.” The Review of Politics, 75(4), 539–556. http://www.jstor.org/stable/43670906Lucrezia Borgia: Poison, Power, and Papal Scandal | Full Documentary | BiographyPope Alexander VI: The Infamous "Borgia Pope"THAT'S HISTORY, BABE! is hosted by Abe Merker and Jared Tetreau. This episode was produced by Jared Tetreau, Abe Merker, and Claudia Chiossone. Research Assistance by Madison Albertson. Music by Kinneret. Series Artwork by Sid Lugo. Intro Animations by Gemma Hill. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  How Bernie Madoff Stole 65 Billion Dollars 04.06.2026 1ч 7мин

  “Fake it 'til you make it”, right? Well Bernie Madoff faked it so hard he was sentenced to 150 years in prison! Come with us on a journey through the worst financial crime in US history (that we know of), the Bernie Madoff Ponzi scheme, where one man with a crippling fear of failure scammed thousands of people out of a sickening amount of money (we’re talking tens of billions, girl.) Tangents include but are not limited to the concept of renting a home, crying over dog poop, Sam Levinson and his dad, and whether Abe will marry Claudia or Jared for a different passport.SOURCESA Case Study of a Con Man by Diana Henriques (2018)Bernie Madoff and the largest known Ponzi scheme in history | 60 Minutes The Madoff Affair (full documentary) | FRONTLINE PBS“Latest Batch Of Payouts To 25,000 Victims Of Madoff Ponzi Scheme Total Almost $160 Million” by James Farrell, Forbes 2023The Wizard of Lies (2017) dir. Barry LevinsonTHAT'S HISTORY, BABE! is hosted by Abe Merker and Jared Tetreau. This episode was produced by Jared Tetreau, Abe Merker, and Claudia Chiossone. Research Assistance by Madison Albertson. Music by Kinneret. Series Artwork by Sid Lugo. Intro Animations by Gemma Hill. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Unpacking The "Lost Cause" Myth w/ Madison Albertson 28.05.2026 1ч 29мин

  Ever wonder why your Republican uncle suddenly cares so much about monuments? In this episode, Jared, Abe, & special guest Madison Albertson (scholar, lesbian, and friend of the pod) explore the story of "the Lost Cause", a nationalist myth originating in the post civil-war South that paints the Confederate movement as moral, just, and TOTALLY NOT about slavery. Follow along as we dive into the myth's origins, its influence of American racial politics, and its lasting legacy in teenage vampire films across the decades. Tangents include the gayness of the Sherlock Holmes movie, the inner workings of lesbian intercourse, William Howard Taft, and the song "Memory" from Cats.SOURCESMythhistory and Other Essays by William H McNeillRace and Reunion: The Civil War in American Memory by David W BlightConfederates in The Attic by Tony HorwitzDixie’s Daughters: The United Daughters of The Confederacy and the Preservation of Confederate Culture by Karen L. CoxWhite Rage By Karen L CoxThe Birth of a Nation (1915) Dir. D.W. GriffithNot Even Past: The Stories We Keep Telling about the Civil War by Cody Marrs“Curse of a Nation” | History Colorado "Unnameable Objects, Unspeakable Crimes" by James Baldwin, 1965 https://www.battlefields.org/learn/articles/civil-war-casualtieshttps://virginiahistory.org/learn/how-did-civilians-sufferhttps://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/reconstruction-rebuilding-south-after-war/https://hqudc.org/about/diversity-in-defense-of-the-south/https://fairfieldfoundation.org/witness-to-change-the-rise-and-fall-of-monument-avenues-confederate-statues/https://youtu.be/dOkFXPblLpU?si=6N4UcqVkZpgAhodwTHAT'S HISTORY, BABE! is hosted by Abe Merker and Jared Tetreau. This episode was produced by Jared Tetreau, Abe Merker, and Claudia Chiossone. Research Assistance by Madison Albertson. Music by Kinneret. Series Artwork by Sid Lugo. Intro Animations by Gemma Hill. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Eugene O'Neill Channeled Sadness into Art (While Being a Bad Father) 21.05.2026 1ч 21мин

  It’s not enough to be a deadbeat dad if you want to be an artist. You also have to be obsessed with the sea. This week, we take center stage and explore the life of storied American playwright Eugene O’Neill. Digging into his methods, inspirations, artistry, horrible family life, and dismal performance as a husband and father, we discover the visionary voice of this brooding genius, and learn that sometimes it pays to be sad! Tangents include but are not limited to mpreg, the illustrious city of Toronto, Charlie Chaplin being gross, and Flight starring Denzel Washington.SOURCESEugene O'Neill - A Glory of Ghosts - Part IEugene O'Neill - A Glory of Ghosts - Part IIThe Hunted and the Haunted: Reflections on Eugene O'Neill with Dr. Gary VenaThe Gelbs on O'Neill - Charlie RoseTony Kushner on Eugene O'Neill - Library of AmericaChristopher Plummer as James Tyrone - Long Day's Journey into NightEugene O’Neill: A Documentary Film by Ric Burns, American Experience PBSO’Neill: Life With Monte Cristo by Barabra & Arthur GelbTHAT'S HISTORY, BABE! is hosted by Abe Merker and Jared Tetreau. This episode was produced by Jared Tetreau, Abe Merker, and Claudia Chiossone. Research Assistance by Madison Albertson. Music by Kinneret. Series Artwork by Sid Lugo. Intro Animations by Gemma Hill. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Bad Popes! 14.05.2026 1ч 29мин

  Remember: just because you sit on the throne of Saint Peter doesn’t mean you can’t have a pet elephant or turn your palace into a brothel. This week, Jared and Abe plumb the depths of medieval history to explore the lurid, lascivious reigns of the un-holy men who led the Catholic Church. Yes, we’re talking about some BAD POPES. Tangents include but are not limited to Polish face, the snail-like Lombards, Julian Fellowes, and the ethical implications of sleeping with your friend’s older brother.SOURCESThe Bad Popes by E.R. Chamberlin“On Pornocracy” by Stefan Mattessich“TV’s Young Pope Is Scandalous, But the Real Youngest Pope Has the 'Worst Reputation'” by Ashley Hoffman, TIME MagazinePope Leo X: The Most Extravagant Pope in HistoryThe 1527 Sack of RomeTHAT'S HISTORY, BABE! is hosted by Abe Merker and Jared Tetreau. This episode was produced by Jared Tetreau, Abe Merker, and Claudia Chiossone. Research Assistance by Madison Albertson. Music by Kinneret. Series Artwork by Sid Lugo. Intro Animations by Gemma Hill. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Carrie A. Nation: A Grandma Who Liked Smashing Bars with a Hatchet! 07.05.2026 1ч 23мин

  Sometimes when there’s a big problem no one wants to deal with, you gotta take matters into your own hands. Case in point: Carrie A. Nation; a devout woman, angry about alcohol, who started smashing up bars with a hatchet! In this episode, Abe and Jared dive deep into the life of Carrie Nation, aka Hatchet Granny, the fierce Temperance crusader and suffragist who’d had just about enough of this “alcohol” foolishness. Join us as we tell the story of this weapon-wielding diva, a tale that will make you ask “How pissed off do you have to be to set a barrel of whiskey on fire in the street?” Tangents include but are not limited to Beauregard Mercer IV esq., Lee Strasberg the first Methodist, and the feeling of the wind blowing through your bob.SOURCESProhibition: America on the Rocks (Lucasfilm, made by JAK Documentary, 2007)The Use and Need of the Life of Carrie A Nation by Carrie A Nation (1909)Carry A. Nation: The Famous and Original Bar Room Smasher.” Kansas State Historical Society. http://www.kshs.org/exhibits/carry/carry1.htmhttps://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/entries/carrie-amelia-moore-nation-2514/“Hatchet Nation” by Mark Lawrence Schrad for Slate (2021)Vessel of Wrath: The Life and Times of Carry Nation by Robert Lewis Taylor (1966)https://www.wctu.org/historyShe’s not a Christian! She’s tampering in dark-sided stuff! THAT'S HISTORY, BABE! is hosted by Abe Merker and Jared Tetreau. This episode was produced by Jared Tetreau, Abe Merker, and Claudia Chiossone. Research Assistance by Madison Albertson. Music by Kinneret. Series Artwork by Sid Lugo. Intro Animations by Gemma Hill. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Animal Celebrities: The Story of How a Dog Can Make More Money than You 23.04.2026 1ч 26мин

  Some people say dogs are man’s best friend, but we say there are dogs worthy of winning Best Actor at the Academy Awards. In this week’s episode, Jared and Abe grab their flea combs and diva into the hairy history of animal celebrities. From memes to movies and from the 1920s to the 2020s, we explore famous animals and what they tell us about ourselves. Tangents include but are not limited to The International Canine Semen Bank, projecting our fear of rejection onto baby zoo animals, and the ethics of giving your pet chimp wine and Xanax.SOURCESLife & Times Transcript of an interview with Alan Young, October 2007 Info on Air Bud and the bizarre stuff with his owner Beethoven and the St Bernard BeethovenKoko the Gorilla Crystal the Monkey in NY Mag What happened with Travis the Chimpanzee More Travis Crystal PopSugar interview“RIN TIN TIN” in Silent Stars (2000) by Jeanine Basinger“What’s new pussycat? A genealogy of animal celebrity.” by John Blewitt (2013)The saga of Lassie by Vernon Scott - Saturday Evening Post,10/3/1964Animal Celebrities by David C Giles (2013)THAT'S HISTORY, BABE! is hosted by Abe Merker and Jared Tetreau. This episode was produced by Jared Tetreau, Abe Merker, and Claudia Chiossone. Research Assistance by Madison Albertson. Music by Kinneret. Series Artwork by Sid Lugo. Intro Animations by Gemma Hill. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.