Let's Learn About...: Recent Episodes
Charlotte & Ellie
Let’s Learn About… is a fun, general knowledge podcast that teaches you things you probably didn't need to know, but you're glad you now know them!
Each episode, we’ll learn about a new topic and then share some resources if you want to learn more. Some of our favourite topics are history, mythology, film & TV, and space!
We're BACK, BABYYY! Let's Learn About... is returning at the end of May 2025, just with a few changes. I can't wait to crawl inside your ears again and teach you new things! 🧠
Send Us a Voice Note!
Want to feature at the start of an episode? Please send us a voicenote with a fun fact you've learned, or something you found particularly interesting from one of our previous episodes, and we'll include it in an episode!
Where to Find Us:
Head to our website, learnaboutpod.com, to read the full episode notes and see a list of links and resources used to research this episode. You can also follow us on Instagram and Twitter at @learnaboutpod.
Support us on Patreon:
Want to help support the show? For only £2/month you'll get early access to episodes, two exclusive bonus episodes every month, a handwritten postcard, and outtakes that don't make the final cut. Go to patreon.com/learnaboutpod to get started!
A huge thanks to our current patrons: Llinos, Bryony, Linde, Michael, Sarah, Steve, Megg, and Hazel!
We're always on a mission to show that LGBTQ+ love has existed long before any of us. In this episode, Charlotte covers a brief history of gay relationships in ancient literature, particularly in Ancient Greek and Roman mythology, and a little bit of 11th century Japanese literature too. Stay tuned in a couple of episodes time, when we jump forward a bit to classic literature.
References for This Episode: (See our website below for all links)
- Important Milestones in LGBTQ Publishing
- Gay literature - Wikipedia
- Homoerotic themes in Greek and Roman mythology - Wikipedia
Where to Find Us:
Head to our website, learnaboutpod.com, to read the full episode notes and see a list of links and resources used to research this episode. You can also follow us on Instagram and Twitter at @learnaboutpod.
Support us on Patreon:
Want to help support the show? For only £2/month you'll get early access to episodes, two exclusive bonus episodes every month, a handwritten postcard, and outtakes that don't make the final cut. Go to patreon.com/learnaboutpod to get started!
A huge thanks to our current patrons: Llinos, Bryony, Linde, Michael, Sarah, Steve, Dan, Megg, George, and Hazel!
Ellie shares 13 weird things that have washed ashore in different parts of the world, including an entire 10-foot tree in La Push, a German U-Boat in 1919 that turned out to be lethal, and hundreds of rubber ducks that are still likely to be floating out in the oceans today.
References for This Episode: (See our website below for all links)
- 20 Strange Things That Have Washed Ashore - The Fact Site
- 'Faceless seabeast' washes up on beach but no one knows what it really is
- Dinosaur head found in U.K., and experts say it's one of the most complete pliosaur skulls ever unearthed - CBS News
Where to Find Us:
Head to our website, learnaboutpod.com, to read the full episode notes and see a list of links and resources used to research this episode. You can also follow us on Instagram and Twitter at @learnaboutpod.
Support us on Patreon:
Want to help support the show? For only £2/month you'll get early access to episodes, two exclusive bonus episodes every month, a handwritten postcard, and outtakes that don't make the final cut. Go to patreon.com/learnaboutpod to get started!
A huge thanks to our current patrons: Llinos, Bryony, Linde, Michael, Sarah, Steve, Dan, Megg, George, and Hazel!
Charlotte talks about Bishop Castle, a huge stone building in Colorado built over the course of 60 years by one man, Jim Bishop. The family describe it as “a monumental statue in stone and iron that cries loud testament to the beauty and glory of not only having a dream, but sticking with your dream no matter what." Learn about the history of this amazing place – and you can even visit for free!
References for This Episode: (See our website below for all links)
- Ginny Di's tweet that inspired this episode
- Bishop Castle
- Bishop’s Castle – Rye, CO | Castle Landmark in Southern Colorado
- The Legacy Of Bishop Castle Has Only Been Singed By Fire | Colorado Public Radio
- The Colorado Man Who Single-Handedly Built A Castle Over 53 Years
Where to Find Us:
Head to our website, learnaboutpod.com, to read the full episode notes and see a list of links and resources used to research this episode. You can also follow us on Instagram and Twitter at @learnaboutpod.
Support us on Patreon:
Want to help support the show? For only £2/month you'll get early access to episodes, two exclusive bonus episodes every month, a handwritten postcard, and outtakes that don't make the final cut. Go to patreon.com/learnaboutpod to get started!
A huge thanks to our current patrons: Llinos, Bryony, Linde, Michael, Sarah, Steve, Dan, Megg, and George!
In this episode, Ellie talks about someone who fits perfectly in our 'awesome women of history' series: Grace O'Malley, the Pirate Queen of Ireland. Best summed up by Irish historian and novelist Anne Chambers, O'Malley was a fearless leader, by land and by sea, a political pragmatist and politician, a ruthless plunderer, a mercenary, a rebel, and above all, a woman who broke the mould and played a unique role in history.
References for This Episode: (See our website below for all links and resources used for this episode)
- Grace O' Malley - Anne Chambers
- Grace O' Malley - Royal Museums Greenwich
- The Pirate Queen Who Ruled The Irish Sea - Gráinne Ní Mháille
- Grace O’Malley: The Biography of Ireland’s Pirate Queen 1530–1603 by Anne Chambers
Where to Find Us:
Head to our website, learnaboutpod.com, to read the full episode notes and see a list of links and resources used to research this episode. You can also follow us on Instagram and Twitter at @learnaboutpod.
Support us on Patreon:
Want to help support the show? For only £2/month you'll get early access to episodes, two exclusive bonus episodes every month, a handwritten postcard, and outtakes that don't make the final cut. Go to patreon.com/learnaboutpod to get started!
A huge thanks to our current patrons: Llinos, Bryony, Linde, Michael, Sarah, Steve, Dan, Megg, George, and Hazel!
Throughout history, there have been so many different methods people have used to affect change in the world, from peaceful protests to revolutions that are anything but quiet. But one of the methods that has risen to prominence over the last century or so is “craftivism”: a word that combines craft and activism. Charlotte talks all about craftivism in today's episode, from the banners made by the Suffragettes to more modern campaigns for high street chains to pay their employees a living wage.
References for This Episode: (See our website below for all links)
- Craftivist Collective
- Craftivism: How Gentle Protest Is Helping The World One Stitch At A Time (Nest Creative Spaces)
- Knitting for Good! by Betsy Greer
- Hunger strikes and handkerchiefs (RCP Museum)
- How a gentle protest with hand-embroidered hankies helped bring higher wages for retail employees (TED)
Where to Find Us:
Head to our website, learnaboutpod.com, to read the full episode notes and see a list of links and resources used to research this episode. You can also follow us on Instagram and Twitter at @learnaboutpod.
Support us on Patreon:
Want to help support the show? For only £2/month you'll get early access to episodes, two exclusive bonus episodes every month, a handwritten postcard, and outtakes that don't make the final cut. Go to patreon.com/learnaboutpod to get started!
A huge thanks to our current patrons: Llinos, Bryony, Linde, Michael, Sarah, Steve, Dan, Megg, George, and Hazel!
We're very excited to be joined by Ben Ebbrell, otherwise known as Ebbers, from YouTube's Sorted Food! We talk all about how to be a better home cook, including essential kitchen equipment and cupboard staples, how to expand your culinary knowledge, how to be excited even about midweek cooking, and lots more. Ben also talks about his history of food, how he found his passion for it, and how Sorted Food came to be.
Where to Find Us:
Head to our website, learnaboutpod.com, to read the full episode notes and see a list of links and resources used to research this episode. You can also follow us on Instagram and Twitter at @learnaboutpod.
Support us on Patreon:
Want to help support the show? For only £2/month you'll get early access to episodes, two exclusive bonus episodes every month, a handwritten postcard, and outtakes that don't make the final cut. Go to patreon.com/learnaboutpod to get started!
A huge thanks to our current patrons: Llinos, Bryony, Linde, Michael, Sarah, Steve, Dan, Megg, and George!
On 25th December, lots of families across the UK will tuck into a Christmas dinner. Everyone has their favourite part that they just can't go without, whether it's the roast potatoes, Yorkshire puddings or our personal favourite – pigs in blankets! But what did Christmas dinner in Britain look like throughout the ages? And where did some of our traditional Christmas day eats begin? It started earlier than you might think...
Where to Find Us:
Head to our website, learnaboutpod.com, to read the full episode notes and see a list of links and resources used to research this episode. You can also follow us on Instagram and Twitter at @learnaboutpod.
Support us on Patreon:
Want to help support the show? For only £2/month you'll get early access to episodes, two exclusive bonus episodes every month, a handwritten postcard, and outtakes that don't make the final cut. Go to patreon.com/learnaboutpod to get started!
A huge thanks to our current patrons: Llinos, Bryony, Linde, Michael, Sarah, Steve, Dan, Megg, and George!
If you've seen the Disney adaptation of Pinocchio, you might think it's one of the darker, scarier films Disney have made. But did you know the original tale written by Carlo Collodi is even more terrifying? We're talking abuse, starvation, death... yeah, it's a fun ride (and written for children!!). In this episode, Charlotte tells the original dark tale of Pinocchio, some of the possible inspiration behind it in Collodi's real life, and some of the adaptations that have been made since, from dark to downright bizarre.
Where to Find Us:
Head to our website, learnaboutpod.com, to read the full episode notes and see a list of links and resources used to research this episode. You can also follow us on Instagram and Twitter at @learnaboutpod.
Support us on Patreon:
Want to help support the show? For only £2/month you'll get early access to episodes, two exclusive bonus episodes every month, a handwritten postcard, and outtakes that don't make the final cut. Go to patreon.com/learnaboutpod to get started!
A huge thanks to our current patrons: Llinos, Bryony, Linde, Michael, Sarah, Steve, Dan, Megg, and George!
We're so excited to be joined by Dr. Emily Garside to talk about her book, Gay Aliens and Queer Folk: How Russell T. Davies Changed TV. We nerd out about Russell T. Davies' entire writing career and how he changed the landscape of queer and working class characters on TV, and how Wales and the UK as a whole has been impacted by the phenomenon of Doctor Who. We also discuss the positive queer representation in other shows like Schitt's Creek.
Where to Find Us:
Head to our website, learnaboutpod.com, to read the full episode notes and see a list of links and resources used to research this episode. You can also follow us on Instagram and Twitter at @learnaboutpod.
Support us on Patreon:
Want to help support the show? For only £2/month you'll get early access to episodes, two exclusive bonus episodes every month, a handwritten postcard, and outtakes that don't make the final cut. Go to patreon.com/learnaboutpod to get started!
A huge thanks to our current patrons: Llinos, Bryony, Linde, Michael, Sarah, Steve, Dan, Megg, and George!
Halloween is widely celebrated around the world in many different ways, but have you ever considered how to make your celebrations inclusive and accessible to all? Accessibility is a huge thing today, and it’s really important not to make anyone feel left out of the celebration. In this episode, Charlotte shares some studies and ideas to make your spooky holiday more inclusive, so everyone can enjoy it!
Where to Find Us:
Head to our website, learnaboutpod.com, to read the full episode notes and see a list of links and resources used to research this episode. You can also follow us on Instagram and Twitter at @learnaboutpod.
Support us on Patreon:
Want to help support the show? For only £2/month you'll get early access to episodes, two exclusive bonus episodes every month, a handwritten postcard, and outtakes that don't make the final cut. Go to patreon.com/learnaboutpod to get started!
A huge thanks to our current patrons: Llinos, Bryony, Linde, Michael, Sarah, Steve, Dan, Megg, and George!
In 1923, Walt Disney founded his company with nothing but determination and a dream. In the century since its creation, it has taken over the world with theme parks, media of all kinds, merchandise, and more. In this episode, Ellie takes us through the entire 100-year history of the Walt Disney Company, from its humble beginnings to the multimedia giant it is today.
Where to Find Us:
Head to our website, learnaboutpod.com, to read the full episode notes and see a list of links and resources used to research this episode. You can also follow us on Instagram and Twitter at @learnaboutpod.
Support us on Patreon:
Want to help support the show? For only £2/month you'll get early access to episodes, two exclusive bonus episodes every month, a handwritten postcard, and outtakes that don't make the final cut. Go to patreon.com/learnaboutpod to get started!
A huge thanks to our current patrons: Llinos, Bryony, Linde, Michael, Sarah, Steve, Dan, Megg, and George!
Barbie was created in 1959 by Ruth Handler as an alternative to baby dolls, giving girls the opportunity to imagine their future selves not only as caregivers, but as anything they wanted to be. Over the last 60 years, Barbie has empowered girls to imagine themselves in aspirational roles from a princess to president — but there’s a lot more to the story. In this episode, we learn about the history of Barbie: her invention, the growth of the brand, and some of the controversies along the way.
Where to Find Us:
Head to our website, learnaboutpod.com, to read the full episode notes and see a list of links and resources used to research this episode. You can also follow us on Instagram and Twitter at @learnaboutpod.
Support us on Patreon:
Want to help support the show? For only £2/month you'll get early access to episodes, two exclusive bonus episodes every month, a handwritten postcard, and outtakes that don't make the final cut. Go to patreon.com/learnaboutpod to get started!
A huge thanks to our current patrons: Llinos, Bryony, Linde, Michael, Sarah, Steve, Dan, Megg, and George!
We're back after our hiatus, and it's time for another episode about animals and mythology! Did you know that Corgis, the most adorable butt-wiggling dogs in the world, are noble steeds for fairies in Welsh myths? In this episode, Ellie tells us a few different stories involving these pointy-eared cuties.
Where to Find Us:
Head to our website, learnaboutpod.com, to read the full episode notes and see a list of links and resources used to research this episode. You can also follow us on Instagram and Twitter at @learnaboutpod.
Support us on Patreon:
Want to help support the show? For only £2/month you'll get early access to episodes, two exclusive bonus episodes every month, a handwritten postcard, and outtakes that don't make the final cut. Go to patreon.com/learnaboutpod to get started!
A huge thanks to our current patrons: Llinos, Bryony, Linde, Michael, Sarah, Steve, Dan, Megg, and George!
We're just dropping in to say we're taking a short break and we'll be back very soon! In the meantime, head over to our Patreon where we'll be keeping you updated, and you'll be first to know about our plans to return!
Where to Find Us:
Head to our website, learnaboutpod.com, to read full episode notes and see a list of links and resources used to research every episode. You can also follow us on Instagram and Twitter at @learnaboutpod.
Support us on Patreon:
Want to help support the show? For only £2/month you'll get early access to episodes, two exclusive bonus episodes every month, a handwritten postcard, and outtakes that don't make the final cut. Go to patreon.com/learnaboutpod to get started!
A huge thanks to our current patrons: Llinos, Bryony, Linde, Michael, Sarah, Steve, Dan, Megg, and George!
Right now, trans rights are a minefield, and people just want to be able to live in a body they feel comfortable in without being persecuted. Some believe trans and gender non-conforming identities are a new fad, but history proves otherwise! In this episode, Charlotte talks about 7 people throughout history who prove that trans and non-binary identities have always existed, since the beginning of time.
Where to Find Us:
Head to our website, learnaboutpod.com, to read the full episode notes and see a list of links and resources used to research this episode. You can also follow us on Instagram and Twitter at @learnaboutpod.
Support us on Patreon:
Want to help support the show? For only £2/month you'll get early access to episodes, two exclusive bonus episodes every month, a handwritten postcard, and outtakes that don't make the final cut. Go to patreon.com/learnaboutpod to get started!
A huge thanks to our current patrons: Llinos, Bryony, Linde, Michael, Sarah, Steve, Dan, Megg, and George!
In our third special Pride episode, Ellie talks about the life of Harris Glenn Milstead - otherwise known as Divine, the iconic drag queen of the 20th century. Learn about Divine's film career with director John Waters, and their incredible influence that can be seen in both drag and film culture today.
Where to Find Us:
Head to our website, learnaboutpod.com, to read the full episode notes and see a list of links and resources used to research this episode. You can also follow us on Instagram and Twitter at @learnaboutpod.
Support us on Patreon:
Want to help support the show? For only £2/month you'll get early access to episodes, two exclusive bonus episodes every month, a handwritten postcard, and outtakes that don't make the final cut. Go to patreon.com/learnaboutpod to get started!
A huge thanks to our current patrons: Llinos, Bryony, Linde, Michael, Sarah, Steve, Dan, Megg, and George!
In the 1950s, the concept of medical gender transitioning became possible in the UK, and 2023 marks just over 70 years since the first known transition surgery was carried out in Britain.
One of the people whose story really should be heard more is Michael Dillon, a British trans pioneer. His story leading up to this milestone was long and complex, and Dillon's life is neglected by mainstream LGBTQIA+ history.
It's time for trans history to become more centralised in historical narratives of gender and sexuality. So here's Michael Dillon's story!
Where to Find Us:
Head to our website, learnaboutpod.com, to read the full episode notes and see a list of links and resources used to research this episode. You can also follow us on Instagram and Twitter at @learnaboutpod.
Support us on Patreon:
Want to help support the show? For only £2/month you'll get early access to episodes, two exclusive bonus episodes every month, a handwritten postcard, and outtakes that don't make the final cut. Go to patreon.com/learnaboutpod to get started!
A huge thanks to our current patrons: Llinos, Bryony, Linde, Michael, Sarah, Steve, Dan, Megg, and George!
It's June, which means it's Pride Month - and once again, we're here with a special series of Pride episodes! To kick us off, Charlotte talks about activism and allyship: how to be an activist (whether you're LGBTQ+ or not), why allies are so important, safeguarding and protecting LGBTQ+ students in educational settings, and how to stay safe while you practice your activism.
Where to Find Us:
Head to our website, learnaboutpod.com, to read the full episode notes and see a list of links and resources used to research this episode. You can also follow us on Instagram and Twitter at @learnaboutpod.
Support us on Patreon:
Want to help support the show? For only £2/month you'll get early access to episodes, two exclusive bonus episodes every month, a handwritten postcard, and outtakes that don't make the final cut. Go to patreon.com/learnaboutpod to get started!
A huge thanks to our current patrons: Llinos, Bryony, Linde, Michael, Sarah, Steve, Dan, Megg, and George!
We love learning about the planets in our solar system, and this is one of our favourites - except it's no longer classed as a planet, and we're not having that. Of course, we're talking about Pluto. In this episode, Ellie talks about this little former planet that is so full of wonderful mysteries and discoveries!
Where to Find Us:
Head to our website, learnaboutpod.com, to read the full episode notes and see a list of links and resources used to research this episode. You can also follow us on Instagram and Twitter at @learnaboutpod.
Support us on Patreon:
Want to help support the show? For only £2/month you'll get early access to episodes, two exclusive bonus episodes every month, a handwritten postcard, and outtakes that don't make the final cut. Go to patreon.com/learnaboutpod to get started!
A huge thanks to our current patrons: Llinos, Bryony, Linde, Michael, Sarah, Steve, Dan, Megg, and George!
Most people love chocolate in some form, but do you know where chocolate came from or its rich history that spans centuries? In this episode, Charlotte covers the history of chocolate, going right back to ancient times and up to the world-famous chocolatiers of the last couple of centuries. We also learn about ethical chocolate production, slave-free cocoa initiatives, and Fair Trade.
Where to Find Us:
Head to our website, learnaboutpod.com, to read the full episode notes and see a list of links and resources used to research this episode. You can also follow us on Instagram and Twitter at @learnaboutpod.
Support us on Patreon:
Want to help support the show? For only £2/month you'll get early access to episodes, two exclusive bonus episodes every month, a handwritten postcard, and outtakes that don't make the final cut. Go to patreon.com/learnaboutpod to get started!
A huge thanks to our current patrons: Llinos, Bryony, Linde, Michael, Sarah, Steve, Dan, Megg, and George!
If we were to say that today’s episode is about a beautiful woman/sea creature who was tricked to live a life ashore and be potentially cursed for the rest of their life, we'd forgive you for thinking we're talking about mermaids. But not quite! Ellie is turning to Scottish folklore to tell us a story about Selkies - mythological seal creatures who shed their skin on land to take on human form.
Where to Find Us:
Head to our website, learnaboutpod.com, to read the full episode notes and see a list of links and resources used to research this episode. You can also follow us on Instagram and Twitter at @learnaboutpod.
Support us on Patreon:
Want to help support the show? For only £2/month you'll get early access to episodes, two exclusive bonus episodes every month, a handwritten postcard, and outtakes that don't make the final cut. Go to patreon.com/learnaboutpod to get started!
A huge thanks to our current patrons: Llinos, Bryony, Linde, Michael, Sarah, Steve, Dan, Megg, and George!
Think you know much about your ancestors? How about way back before the human race existed as we know it? In this episode, Charlotte goes back a few million years to pre-human times and covers a brief history of our human lineage, from our most ancient ancestors, and discoveries of new related species that were made as recently as 2013.
Where to Find Us:
Head to our website, learnaboutpod.com, to read the full episode notes and see a list of links and resources used to research this episode. You can also follow us on Instagram and Twitter at @learnaboutpod.
Support us on Patreon:
Want to help support the show? For only £2/month you'll get early access to episodes, two exclusive bonus episodes every month, a handwritten postcard, and outtakes that don't make the final cut. Go to patreon.com/learnaboutpod to get started!
A huge thanks to our current patrons: Llinos, Bryony, Linde, Michael, Sarah, Steve, Dan, Megg, George, and Nermin!
English writer H. G. Wells was prolific in many genres, writing more than fifty novels and dozens of short stories, and has been called the ‘father of modern science fiction’. He was also considered to be a futurist, with his works imagining time travel, alien invasion, invisibility, and biological engineering before these subjects were common in the genre. So Ellie wanted to find out... how many of H. G. Wells' creations actually came true?
Where to Find Us:
Head to our website, learnaboutpod.com, to read the full episode notes and see a list of links and resources used to research this episode. You can also follow us on Instagram and Twitter at @learnaboutpod.
Support us on Patreon:
Want to help support the show? For only £2/month you'll get early access to episodes, two exclusive bonus episodes every month, a handwritten postcard, and outtakes that don't make the final cut. Go to patreon.com/learnaboutpod to get started!
A huge thanks to our current patrons: Llinos, Bryony, Linde, Michael, Sarah, Steve, Dan, Megg, and George!
We're joined by Lyndall Cave for a super long and informative guest episode! Have you ever wondered what actually goes into the clothes you wear or the things you use in everyday life, whether that's the materials themselves or the process it took to make them? This is what Lyndall covers in this episode, going right back to the fibres that fabrics are made of.
We also talk about ethical and sustainable fashion, what that really means, and some tips on how to make your own wardrobe a bit more envrionmentally-friendly.
Where to Find Us:
Head to our website, learnaboutpod.com, to read the full episode notes and see a list of links and resources used to research this episode. You can also follow us on Instagram and Twitter at @learnaboutpod.
Support us on Patreon:
Want to help support the show? For only £2/month you'll get early access to episodes, two exclusive bonus episodes every month, a handwritten postcard, and outtakes that don't make the final cut. Go to patreon.com/learnaboutpod to get started!
A huge thanks to our current patrons: Llinos, Bryony, Linde, Michael, Sarah, Steve, Dan, Megg, and George!
Happy St David's Day! In this episode, Welsh native Charlotte talks about how people all around Wales celebrate on 1st March every year, a bit about who St David was (way back in the year 520), and the origins of some common Welsh symbols or emblems: leeks, daffodils, and love spoons.
Where to Find Us:
Head to our website, learnaboutpod.com, to read the full episode notes and see a list of links and resources used to research this episode. You can also follow us on Instagram and Twitter at @learnaboutpod.
Support us on Patreon:
Want to help support the show? For only £2/month you'll get early access to episodes, two exclusive bonus episodes every month, a handwritten postcard, and outtakes that don't make the final cut. Go to patreon.com/learnaboutpod to get started!
A huge thanks to our current patrons: Llinos, Bryony, Linde, Michael, Sarah, Steve, Dan, Megg, and George!
We love a feel-good episode, and this is another one about amazing animals! Ellie tells the stories of 3 incredible cats who held high-ranking human jobs: Mayor Stubbs, the mayor of a small Alaskan town; Catmando, a political party leader; and Tama the Stationmaster, who gained notoriety as more than just the mascot of a Japanese railway station.
Where to Find Us:
Head to our website, learnaboutpod.com, to read the full episode notes and see a list of links and resources used to research this episode. You can also follow us on Instagram and Twitter at @learnaboutpod.
Support us on Patreon:
Want to help support the show? For only £2/month you'll get early access to episodes, two exclusive bonus episodes every month, a handwritten postcard, and outtakes that don't make the final cut. Go to patreon.com/learnaboutpod to get started!
A huge thanks to our current patrons: Llinos, Bryony, Linde, Michael, Sarah, Steve, Dan, Megg, and George!
Just a quick announcement to explain why we're changing our episode schedule to biweekly (every 2 weeks) instead of weekly!
Where to Find Us:
Head to our website, learnaboutpod.com, to read the full episode notes and see a list of links and resources used to research this episode. You can also follow us on Instagram and Twitter at @learnaboutpod.
Support us on Patreon:
Want to help support the show? For only £2/month you'll get early access to episodes, two exclusive bonus episodes every month, a handwritten postcard, and outtakes that don't make the final cut. Go to patreon.com/learnaboutpod to get started!
A huge thanks to our current patrons: Llinos, Bryony, Linde, Michael, Sarah, Steve, Dan, Megg, and George!
February is LGBT+ History Month in the UK, and in this episode, you'll learn all about it! Find out how this annual awareness month started, why it's so important, and some of the ways you could celebrate it yourself, whether you're an LGBTQ+ person or a wonderful ally. ---
Where to Find Us:
Head to our website, learnaboutpod.com, to read the full episode notes and see a list of links and resources used to research this episode. You can also follow us on Instagram and Twitter at @learnaboutpod.
Support us on Patreon:
Want to help support the show? For only £2/month you'll get early access to episodes, two exclusive bonus episodes every month, a handwritten postcard, and outtakes that don't make the final cut. Go to patreon.com/learnaboutpod to get started!
A huge thanks to our current patrons: Llinos, Bryony, Linde, Michael, Sarah, Steve, Dan, Megg, and George!
Saint Brigid of Kildare, or Brigid of Ireland, is the patroness saint of Ireland, and one of its three national or patron saints along with St Patrick and St Columba. There is debate over whether Brigid was a real person or not, or whether she is a Christianisation of the Celtic goddess of the same name. But whatever the truth, this woman did some great things, and we're learning about her in this episode!
Where to Find Us:
Head to our website, learnaboutpod.com, to read the full episode notes and see a list of links and resources used to research this episode. You can also follow us on Instagram and Twitter at @learnaboutpod.
Support us on Patreon:
Want to help support the show? For only £2/month you'll get early access to episodes, two exclusive bonus episodes every month, a handwritten postcard, and outtakes that don't make the final cut. Go to patreon.com/learnaboutpod to get started!
A huge thanks to our current patrons: Llinos, Bryony, Linde, Michael, Sarah, Steve, Dan, Megg, and George!
We're starting off the new year with an inspirational story of another awesome woman of history, and this is one of Charlotte's new favourites! She talks about Betty Robinson, an Olympic track athlete who competed in the 1920s and '30s, who had an absolute rollercoaster of a life.
From winning her first gold medal at just 16 years old to almost dying in a plane accident and then rising from the ashes again to win another gold medal -- Betty's story is one everyone should hear.
Where to Find Us:
Head to our website, learnaboutpod.com, to read the full episode notes and see a list of links and resources used to research this episode. You can also follow us on Instagram and Twitter at @learnaboutpod.
Support us on Patreon:
Want to help support the show? For only £2/month you'll get early access to episodes, two exclusive bonus episodes every month, a handwritten postcard, and outtakes that don't make the final cut. Go to patreon.com/learnaboutpod to get started!
A huge thanks to our current patrons: Llinos, Bryony, Linde, Michael, Sarah, Steve, Dan, Megg, George, and Nermin!
Happy New Year, one and all! In our first episode of 2023, Ellie takes us on a whistle-stop tour of the world and tells us a bit about how different countries might celebrate the new year, from huge feasts and blowout street parties to cleaning, saying hello to ancestors' spirits, and throwing things out of windows.
Where to Find Us:
Head to our website, learnaboutpod.com, to read the full episode notes and see a list of links and resources used to research this episode. You can also follow us on Instagram and Twitter at @learnaboutpod.
Support us on Patreon:
Want to help support the show? For only £2/month you'll get early access to episodes, two exclusive bonus episodes every month, a handwritten postcard, and outtakes that don't make the final cut. Go to patreon.com/learnaboutpod to get started!
A huge thanks to our current patrons: Llinos, Bryony, Linde, Michael, Sarah, Steve, Dan, Megg, George, and Nermin!
There are certain periods of history that shape traditions for the rest of time, and for Christmas in Britain, the Tudor period was one of these times. Some of our favourite traditions of the Christmas season date back to Tudor times, including singing carols, giving gifts, eating turkey, and kissing under the mistletoe. In this episode, Charlotte transports us back to the 16th century and talks about some of the ways they celebrated the festive season.
Where to Find Us:
Head to our website, learnaboutpod.com, to read the full episode notes and see a list of links and resources used to research this episode. You can also follow us on Instagram and Twitter at @learnaboutpod.
Support us on Patreon:
Want to help support the show? For only £2/month you'll get early access to episodes, two exclusive bonus episodes every month, a handwritten postcard, and outtakes that don't make the final cut. Go to patreon.com/learnaboutpod to get started!
A huge thanks to our current patrons: Llinos, Luke, Bryony, Linde, Michael, Sarah, Steve, Dan, Megg, George, and Nermin!
Returning guest Linde joins us to tell us about the festive Dutch legend of Sinterklaas: who he is and how he's based on Saint Nicholas (similar to Santa Claus), how Sinterklaas is celebrated, and how this year, it has all been a bit chaotic.
Where to Find Us:
Head to our website, learnaboutpod.com, to read the full episode notes and see a list of links and resources used to research this episode. You can also follow us on Instagram and Twitter at @learnaboutpod.
Support us on Patreon:
Want to help support the show? For only £2/month you'll get early access to episodes, two exclusive bonus episodes every month, a handwritten postcard, and outtakes that don't make the final cut. Go to patreon.com/learnaboutpod to get started!
A huge thanks to our current patrons: Llinos, Bryony, Linde, Michael, Sarah, Steve, Dan, Megg, George, and Nermin!
It's our first Christmas episode of 2022, and we're going all the way to Sweden (not literally) for this one! Ellie tells us about the Yule Goat, a Scandinavian and Northern European Yule and Christmas symbol whose origins go back to ancient Pagan festivals. Learn about the history and legend of the Yule Goat, how people in Scandinavia honour him, and the GIANT Yule Goat statue that sits in Castle Square (Gävle, Sweden) every year.
Where to Find Us:
Head to our website, learnaboutpod.com, to read the full episode notes and see a list of links and resources used to research this episode. You can also follow us on Instagram and Twitter at @learnaboutpod.
Support us on Patreon:
Want to help support the show? For only £2/month you'll get early access to episodes, two exclusive bonus episodes every month, a handwritten postcard, and outtakes that don't make the final cut. Go to patreon.com/learnaboutpod to get started!
A huge thanks to our current patrons: Llinos, Bryony, Linde, Michael, Sarah, Steve, Dan, Megg, George, and Nermin!
Charlotte was very recently in a local production of The Huncback of Notre Dame (the Off-Broadway musical adaptation), so in honour of that, she shares a comparison between the Disney movie and the original Victor Hugo novel. It's about to get dark! (Content warnings: mentions of rape/assault, death, suicide.)
Where to Find Us:
Head to our website, learnaboutpod.com, to read the full episode notes and see a list of links and resources used to research this episode. You can also follow us on Instagram and Twitter at @learnaboutpod.
Support us on Patreon:
Want to help support the show? For only £2/month you'll get early access to episodes, two exclusive bonus episodes every month, a handwritten postcard, and outtakes that don't make the final cut. Go to patreon.com/learnaboutpod to get started!
A huge thanks to our current patrons: Llinos, Luke, Bryony, Linde, Michael, Sarah, Steve, Dan, Megg, and George!
After chatting to Omar Najam a little while ago, today we have our second Dimension 20 guest – but this time, it's someone from behind the camera rather than in front of it! Rick Perry, D20's Production Designer and Creative Producer, joins us to discuss his career and his role in the creative side of the College Humor actual-play D&D series, including the whole process of creating maps, minis and more, and his favourite pieces he's created. He also shares tips and advice on how to add create elements to your own home games without spending a fortune, and how to break into the production design industry.
Where to Find Us:
Head to our website, learnaboutpod.com, to read the full episode notes and see a list of links and resources used to research this episode. You can also follow us on Instagram and Twitter at @learnaboutpod.
Support us on Patreon:
Want to help support the show? For only £2/month you'll get early access to episodes, two exclusive bonus episodes every month, a handwritten postcard, and outtakes that don't make the final cut. Go to patreon.com/learnaboutpod to get started!
A huge thanks to our current patrons: Llinos, Luke, Bryony, Linde, Michael, Sarah, Steve, Dan, Megg, and George!
We're joined by Ellie's cousin Lydia, a classically trained musician. She tells us all about how classical music and folklore combine in the Lemminkainen suite by Finnish composer Jean Sibelius, widely regarded as Finland's greatest composer, and whose music is often credited with having helped Finland develop a national identity during its struggle for independence from Russia. We also chat about fascinating instruments throughout history, why you shouldn't look down on the recorder, elitism in classical music, and the barriers people face today in regards to music education.
Where to Find Us:
Head to our website, learnaboutpod.com, to read the full episode notes and see a list of links and resources used to research this episode. You can also follow us on Instagram and Twitter at @learnaboutpod.
Support us on Patreon:
Want to help support the show? For only £2/month you'll get early access to episodes, two exclusive bonus episodes every month, a handwritten postcard, and outtakes that don't make the final cut. Go to patreon.com/learnaboutpod to get started!
A huge thanks to our current patrons: Llinos, Luke, Bryony, Linde, Michael, Sarah, Steve, Dan, Megg, and George!
There have been many famous sibling rivalries throughout history. But have you ever heard of the one that went on to form two of the most recognisable sporting goods brands in the world? A vicious family feud that not only pitted two brothers against one another, but also divided the inhabitants of their hometown into warring factions that lasted for 60 years... this is the story of Adi and Rudi Dassler.
Where to Find Us:
Head to our website, learnaboutpod.com, to read the full episode notes and see a list of links and resources used to research this episode. You can also follow us on Instagram and Twitter at @learnaboutpod.
Support us on Patreon:
Want to help support the show? For only £2/month you'll get early access to episodes, two exclusive bonus episodes every month, a handwritten postcard, and outtakes that don't make the final cut. Go to patreon.com/learnaboutpod to get started!
A huge thanks to our current patrons: Llinos, Luke, Bryony, Linde, Michael, Sarah, Steve, Dan, Megg, and George!
Want to know where some of the strange phrases and idioms we have in English originated? We've got another etymology episode today! Charlotte covers the origins of 14 strange English idioms, including bob's your uncle, wild goose chase, caught red handed, walking on eggshells, and more.
Where to Find Us:
Head to our website, learnaboutpod.com, to read the full episode notes and see a list of links and resources used to research this episode. You can also follow us on Instagram and Twitter at @learnaboutpod.
Support us on Patreon:
Want to help support the show? For only £2/month you'll get early access to episodes, two exclusive bonus episodes every month, a handwritten postcard, and outtakes that don't make the final cut. Go to patreon.com/learnaboutpod to get started!
A huge thanks to our current patrons: Llinos, Luke, Bryony, Linde, Michael, Sarah, Steve, Dan, Megg, and George!
Happy Halloween! We're fusing Halloween and D&D in this episode. If you’re planning on running a horror-themed Dungeons & Dragons one-shot or campaign for your adventuring party and you’re not sure where to start, then this might help!
To round off the Spooky season, Ellie has curated a list of some of the scariest monsters you could include in your Dungeons & Dragons games that are guaranteed to give your players the heebie-jeebies.
Where to Find Us:
Head to our website, learnaboutpod.com, to read the full episode notes and see a list of links and resources used to research this episode. You can also follow us on Instagram and Twitter at @learnaboutpod.
Support us on Patreon:
Want to help support the show? For only £2/month you'll get early access to episodes, two exclusive bonus episodes every month, a handwritten postcard, and outtakes that don't make the final cut. Go to patreon.com/learnaboutpod to get started!
A huge thanks to our current patrons: Llinos, Luke, Bryony, Linde, Michael, Sarah, Steve, Dan, Megg, and George!
Happy Halloween! We're fusing Halloween and D&D in this episode. If you’re planning on running a horror-themed Dungeons & Dragons one-shot or campaign for your adventuring party and you’re not sure where to start, then this might help!
To round off the Spooky season, Ellie has curated a list of some of the scariest monsters you could include in your Dungeons & Dragons games that are guaranteed to give your players the heebie-jeebies.
Where to Find Us:
Head to our website, learnaboutpod.com, to read the full episode notes and see a list of links and resources used to research this episode. You can also follow us on Instagram and Twitter at @learnaboutpod.
Support us on Patreon:
Want to help support the show? For only £2/month you'll get early access to episodes, two exclusive bonus episodes every month, a handwritten postcard, and outtakes that don't make the final cut. Go to patreon.com/learnaboutpod to get started!
A huge thanks to our current patrons: Llinos, Luke, Bryony, Linde, Michael, Sarah, Steve, Dan, Megg, and George!
Need some last-minute inspiration for a Halloween costume this year? Then this might be the episode for you! Ever since the late 19th century, Americans have been dressing up to celebrate Halloween. The costumes people choose to wear are always changing, influenced by popular culture and current events.
In this episode, Ellie takes us on a journey through pop culture history since the 1950s, and how the media has influenced the most popular Halloween costumes each year.
Where to Find Us:
Head to our website, learnaboutpod.com, to read the full episode notes and see a list of links and resources used to research this episode. You can also follow us on Instagram and Twitter at @learnaboutpod.
Support us on Patreon:
Want to help support the show? For only £2/month you'll get early access to episodes, two exclusive bonus episodes every month, a handwritten postcard, and outtakes that don't make the final cut. Go to patreon.com/learnaboutpod to get started!
A huge thanks to our current patrons: Llinos, Luke, Bryony, Linde, Michael, Sarah, Steve, Dan, Megg, and George!
Need some last-minute inspiration for a Halloween costume this year? Then this might be the episode for you! Ever since the late 19th century, Americans have been dressing up to celebrate Halloween. The costumes people choose to wear are always changing, influenced by popular culture and current events.
In this episode, Ellie takes us on a journey through pop culture history since the 1950s, and how the media has influenced the most popular Halloween costumes each year.
Where to Find Us:
Head to our website, learnaboutpod.com, to read the full episode notes and see a list of links and resources used to research this episode. You can also follow us on Instagram and Twitter at @learnaboutpod.
Support us on Patreon:
Want to help support the show? For only £2/month you'll get early access to episodes, two exclusive bonus episodes every month, a handwritten postcard, and outtakes that don't make the final cut. Go to patreon.com/learnaboutpod to get started!
A huge thanks to our current patrons: Llinos, Luke, Bryony, Linde, Michael, Sarah, Steve, Dan, Megg, and George!
In pop culture, Transylvania is commonly associated with vampires because of the influence of Bram Stoker's 1897 novel Dracula. And apparently, a big part of Transylvanian culture is the collection of spooky legends, myths and haunting creatures that haunt the country.
So, in this episode, Charlottes shares a few of the legends, myths, and creatures that may or may not haunt the Romanian region of Transylvania.
Where to Find Us:
Head to our website, learnaboutpod.com, to read the full episode notes and see a list of links and resources used to research this episode. You can also follow us on Instagram and Twitter at @learnaboutpod.
Support us on Patreon:
Want to help support the show? For only £2/month you'll get early access to episodes, two exclusive bonus episodes every month, a handwritten postcard, and outtakes that don't make the final cut. Go to patreon.com/learnaboutpod to get started!
A huge thanks to our current patrons: Llinos, Luke, Bryony, Linde, Michael, Sarah, Steve, Dan, Megg, and George!
In this gigantic bonus episode, we're joined again by the lovely Omar Najam to talk about the whole season of A Court of Fey and Flowers; a new D&D series called DesiQuest starring an entirely South Asian cast; the ethics of our decisions in both D&D and in real life; 13 Days 13 Shorts; Halloween; the Muppets; and why we love the Dimension 20 community so much. Phew!
Go to our website to find a full list of timestamps for this episode.
Where to Find Us:
Head to our website, learnaboutpod.com, to read the full episode notes and see a list of links and resources used to research this episode. You can also follow us on Instagram and Twitter at @learnaboutpod.
Support us on Patreon:
Want to help support the show? For only £2/month you'll get early access to episodes, two exclusive bonus episodes every month, a handwritten postcard, and outtakes that don't make the final cut. Go to patreon.com/learnaboutpod to get started!
A huge thanks to our current patrons: Llinos, Luke, Bryony, Linde, Michael, Sarah, Steve, Dan, Megg, and George!
In 2020, we did an episode all about the infamous Salem Witch Trials, but did you know that witch trials were just as prolific in the UK, too? In the first episode of this year's Spooky Month series, Ellie talks about the bloody history of witch trials in England and Scotland.
Where to Find Us:
Head to our website, learnaboutpod.com, to read the full episode notes and see a list of links and resources used to research this episode. You can also follow us on Instagram and Twitter at @learnaboutpod.
Support us on Patreon:
Want to help support the show? For only £2/month you'll get early access to episodes, two exclusive bonus episodes every month, a handwritten postcard, and outtakes that don't make the final cut. Go to patreon.com/learnaboutpod to get started!
A huge thanks to our current patrons: Llinos, Luke, Bryony, Linde, Michael, Sarah, Steve, Dan, Megg, and George!
This is Let's Learn About D&D, our Dungeons & Dragons spin-off series by beginners, for beginners! In this episode, we share with you some helpful tips and tricks for getting inside the head of your D&D character and getting better at roleplaying. It can feel daunting or scary to start with, but these tips should show you that it doesn't have to be!
Where to Find Us:
Head to our website, learnaboutpod.com, to read the full episode notes and see a list of links and resources used to research this episode. You can also follow us on Instagram and Twitter at @learnaboutpod.
Support us on Patreon:
Want to help support the show? For only £2/month you'll get early access to episodes, two exclusive bonus episodes every month, a handwritten postcard, and outtakes that don't make the final cut. Go to patreon.com/learnaboutpod to get started!
A huge thanks to our current patrons: Llinos, Luke, Bryony, Linde, Michael, Sarah, Steve, Dan, Megg, and George!
In a random but fun (and kind of wholesome) episode, Charlotte talks about three animals that have broken records for their incredibly old age: Jonathan the tortoise (currently around 190 years old), Wisdom the albatross (currently at least 70 years old), and Ming the clam (who was sadly killed by researchers at the grand old age of 507).
Where to Find Us:
Head to our website, learnaboutpod.com, to read the full episode notes and see a list of links and resources used to research this episode. You can also follow us on Instagram and Twitter at @learnaboutpod.
Support us on Patreon:
Want to help support the show? For only £2/month you'll get early access to episodes, two exclusive bonus episodes every month, a handwritten postcard, and outtakes that don't make the final cut. Go to patreon.com/learnaboutpod to get started!
A huge thanks to our current patrons: Llinos, Luke, Bryony, Linde, Michael, Sarah, Steve, Dan, Megg, and George!
When you try to name the father of motion pictures, you might think of Thomas Edison, or maybe the Lumiere Brothers. But how many of you would name Louis Le Prince? This episode is about him, his inventions, and how the course of film history could have been completely different if he hadn't boarded a train and disappeared off the face of the earth, never to be seen again...
There's one question that still remains unsolved today. What really happened to Louis Le Prince, the forgotten father of motion picture?
Where to Find Us:
Head to our website, learnaboutpod.com, to read the full episode notes and see a list of links and resources used to research this episode. You can also follow us on Instagram and Twitter at @learnaboutpod.
Support us on Patreon:
Want to help support the show? For only £2/month you'll get early access to episodes, two exclusive bonus episodes every month, a handwritten postcard, and outtakes that don't make the final cut. Go to patreon.com/learnaboutpod to get started!
A huge thanks to our current patrons: Llinos, Luke, Bryony, Linde, Michael, Sarah, Steve, Dan, Megg, and George!
In this episode, Charlotte explores when fan fiction actually began, its origins, and how it became such a cultural phenomenon that it is today, with millions of pieces of work published online for every conceivable fandom. Fandom and fan fiction fiction may seem like a relatively new phenomenon, but we were very surprised to learn that its origins go back as far as the 18th century!
Where to Find Us:
Head to our website, learnaboutpod.com, to read the full episode notes and see a list of links and resources used to research this episode. You can also follow us on Instagram and Twitter at @learnaboutpod.
Support us on Patreon:
Want to help support the show? For only £2/month you'll get early access to episodes, two exclusive bonus episodes every month, a handwritten postcard, and outtakes that don't make the final cut. Go to patreon.com/learnaboutpod to get started!
A huge thanks to our current patrons: Llinos, Luke, Bryony, Linde, Michael, Sarah, Steve, Dan, Megg, and George!
We're so excited to be joined by Omar Najam: a writer, director, and currently playing Andhera in Dimension 20's A Court of Fey and Flowers. In this episode, Omar talks about his experience playing D&D with Dimension 20, how improv has helped him become a better player, and his favourite moments from the series.
We also discuss asexuality and the growing representation in media, the great community of people coming together over this still quite misunderstood identity, and Omar's experience of playing an ace character as an ace person himself.
Where to Find Us:
Head to our website, learnaboutpod.com, to read the full episode notes and see a list of links and resources used to research this episode. You can also follow us on Instagram and Twitter at @learnaboutpod.
Support us on Patreon:
Want to help support the show? For only £2/month you'll get early access to episodes, two exclusive bonus episodes every month, a handwritten postcard, and outtakes that don't make the final cut. Go to patreon.com/learnaboutpod to get started!
A huge thanks to our current patrons: Llinos, Luke, Bryony, Linde, Michael, Sarah, and Steve!
Every language has its own idioms -- phrases that when taken literally don't make a lot of sense, but everyone knows what they mean when used in the right context. In this episode, Ellie takes us through the origins of 11 common, everyday English idioms, and where their literal meanings came from.
Where to Find Us:
Head to our website, learnaboutpod.com, to read the full episode notes and see a list of links and resources used to research this episode. You can also follow us on Instagram and Twitter at @learnaboutpod.
Support us on Patreon:
Want to help support the show? For only £2/month you'll get early access to episodes, two exclusive bonus episodes every month, a handwritten postcard, and outtakes that don't make the final cut. Go to patreon.com/learnaboutpod to get started!
A huge thanks to our current patrons: Llinos, Luke, Bryony, Linde, Michael, Sarah, and Steve!
Since history began, humans have made astonishing discoveries or invented things that have changed the world. But unfortunately, these important discoveries and inventions are not always credited to the right people.
In this episode, Charlotte takes a deep-dive into 5 scientific and cultural discoveries and inventions that have been incorrectly attributed to the wrong person, including the theory of evolution, the discovery of dinosaurs, and the invention of the board game Monopoly.
Where to Find Us:
Head to our website, learnaboutpod.com, to read the full episode notes and see a list of links and resources used to research this episode. You can also follow us on Instagram and Twitter at @learnaboutpod.
Support us on Patreon:
Want to help support the show? For only £2/month you'll get early access to episodes, two exclusive bonus episodes every month, a handwritten postcard, and outtakes that don't make the final cut. Go to patreon.com/learnaboutpod to get started!
A huge thanks to our current patrons: Llinos, Luke, Bryony, Linde, Michael, Sarah, and Steve!
We're back with more dark tales and folklore... but is this one really just a folk tale, or did it really happen? Most of us have probably heard of the tale of the Pied Piper of Hamelin, either through the famous poem by Robert Browning or the version of the story written by Michael Morpurgo. But in this episode, Ellie tells the story written by our favourite gritty writing duo – the Brothers Grimm.
Where to Find Us:
Head to our website, learnaboutpod.com, to read the full episode notes and see a list of links and resources used to research this episode. You can also follow us on Instagram and Twitter at @learnaboutpod.
Support us on Patreon:
Want to help support the show? For only £2/month you'll get early access to episodes, two exclusive bonus episodes every month, a handwritten postcard, and outtakes that don't make the final cut. Go to patreon.com/learnaboutpod to get started!
A huge thanks to our current patrons: Llinos, Luke, Bryony, Linde, Michael, Sarah, and Steve!
Stranger Things has taken the world by storm with its fourth season, and one of the reasons we love it so much is because of the influence D&D has on the show. But how much are the Stranger Things monsters actually inspired by their D&D counterparts? How similar, or wildly different, are they?
In this episode, Charlotte compares the Stranger Things vs D&D versions of the Demogorgon, Mind Flayer, and the terrifying Vecna.
Where to Find Us:
Head to our website, learnaboutpod.com, to read the full episode notes and see a list of links and resources used to research this episode. You can also follow us on Instagram and Twitter at @learnaboutpod.
Support us on Patreon:
Want to help support the show? For only £2/month you'll get early access to episodes, two exclusive bonus episodes every month, a handwritten postcard, and outtakes that don't make the final cut. Go to patreon.com/learnaboutpod to get started!
A huge thanks to our current patrons: Llinos, Luke, Bryony, Linde, Michael, Sarah, and Steve!
Last year, we talked about our tips living alone for the first time, but a lot has changed since then - Charlotte moved to another part of the country, and Ellie bought her first property! In this episode, we share some of our tips, speaking from experience, to make renting and first-time buying as stress-free as possible.
Where to Find Us:
Head to our website, learnaboutpod.com, to read the full episode notes and see a list of links and resources used to research this episode. You can also follow us on Instagram and Twitter at @learnaboutpod.
Support us on Patreon:
Want to help support the show? For only £2/month you'll get early access to episodes, two exclusive bonus episodes every month, a handwritten postcard, and outtakes that don't make the final cut. Go to patreon.com/learnaboutpod to get started!
A huge thanks to our current patrons: Llinos, Luke, Bryony, Linde, Michael, Sarah, and Steve!
Last year, we talked about our tips living alone for the first time, but a lot has changed since then - Charlotte moved to another part of the country, and Ellie bought her first property! In this episode, we share some of our tips, speaking from experience, to make renting and first-time buying as stress-free as possible.
Where to Find Us:
Head to our website, learnaboutpod.com, to read the full episode notes and see a list of links and resources used to research this episode. You can also follow us on Instagram and Twitter at @learnaboutpod.
Support us on Patreon:
Want to help support the show? For only £2/month you'll get early access to episodes, two exclusive bonus episodes every month, a handwritten postcard, and outtakes that don't make the final cut. Go to patreon.com/learnaboutpod to get started!
A huge thanks to our current patrons: Llinos, Luke, Bryony, Linde, Michael, Sarah, and Steve!
We've got another rather large episode for you today! We're joined again by our friend Charly to discuss LGBTQ+ representation in some of our favourite TV shows that have come out this year: Heartstopper, Our Flag Means Death, and we also touch upon Stranger Things.
We talk about why we love the shows so much, how the queer representation is done so well (or not so well), and generally just fangirl about our favourite shows for a bit!
Where to Find Us:
Head to our website, learnaboutpod.com, to read the full episode notes and see a list of links and resources used to research this episode. You can also follow us on Instagram and Twitter at @learnaboutpod.
Support us on Patreon:
Want to help support the show? For only £2/month you'll get early access to episodes, two exclusive bonus episodes every month, a handwritten postcard, and outtakes that don't make the final cut. Go to patreon.com/learnaboutpod to get started!
A huge thanks to our current patrons: Llinos, Luke, Bryony, Linde, Michael, Sarah, and Steve!
This is part 2 of this episode - please listen to the previous episode to hear part 1!
In this episode, we continue talking about D&D classes! Whether it's a sneaky rogue, a fist-swinging barbarian, or a charming bard, we tell you everything you need to know about the classes of D&D, including the stats, the details, and some inspiration to create a character for each of them.
Where to Find Us:
Head to our website, learnaboutpod.com, to read the full episode notes and see a list of links and resources used to research this episode. You can also follow us on Instagram and Twitter at @learnaboutpod.
Support us on Patreon:
Want to help support the show? For only £2/month you'll get early access to episodes, two exclusive bonus episodes every month, a handwritten postcard, and outtakes that don't make the final cut. Go to patreon.com/learnaboutpod to get started!
A huge thanks to our current patrons: Llinos, Luke, Bryony, Linde, Michael, Sarah, and Steve!
We're returning to the world of Dungeons and Dragons for another episode in our series for beginners, by beginners! This time, we're talking about classes! Whether it's a sneaky rogue, a fist-swinging barbarian, or a charming bard, we tell you everything you need to know about the classes of D&D, including the stats, the details, and some inspiration to create a character for each of them.
Note: We ended up talking for SO long that we're splitting the episode into two - come back on Saturday 2nd July for part 2!
Where to Find Us:
Head to our website, learnaboutpod.com, to read the full episode notes and see a list of links and resources used to research this episode. You can also follow us on Instagram and Twitter at @learnaboutpod.
Support us on Patreon:
Want to help support the show? For only £2/month you'll get early access to episodes, two exclusive bonus episodes every month, a handwritten postcard, and outtakes that don't make the final cut. Go to patreon.com/learnaboutpod to get started!
A huge thanks to our current patrons: Llinos, Luke, Bryony, Linde, Michael, Sarah, Steve, and Dan!
In our final episode of Pride Month, Ellie talks about homosexuality (and bisexuality) in the animal kingdom, from gay swans mating for life to actual male dolphin orgies. (Yes, really.) It proves once and for all that homosexuality is not just a human thing, and it's everywhere in nature!
(Warning for explicit chats about animals having sex. I mean, it's basically what this episode is all about.)
Where to Find Us:
Head to our website, learnaboutpod.com, to read the full episode notes and see a list of links and resources used to research this episode. You can also follow us on Instagram and Twitter at @learnaboutpod.
Support us on Patreon:
Want to help support the show? For only £2/month you'll get early access to episodes, two exclusive bonus episodes every month, a handwritten postcard, and outtakes that don't make the final cut. Go to patreon.com/learnaboutpod to get started!
A huge thanks to our current patrons: Llinos, Luke, Bryony, Linde, Michael, Sarah, Steve, and Dan!
As trans and non-binary identities—and the alternative pronouns that come along with them—are becoming more common, some people are still hung up over the fact that language is changing, despite the fact these changes have been happening over the last few hundred years.
In this episode, we cover the history of gender-neutral pronouns, what pronouns are and why we should respect them, and some frequently asked questions you might have about using them.
Where to Find Us:
Head to our website, learnaboutpod.com, to read the full episode notes and see a list of links and resources used to research this episode. You can also follow us on Instagram and Twitter at @learnaboutpod.
Support us on Patreon:
Want to help support the show? For only £2/month you'll get early access to episodes, two exclusive bonus episodes every month, a handwritten postcard, and outtakes that don't make the final cut. Go to patreon.com/learnaboutpod to get started!
A huge thanks to our current patrons: Llinos, Luke, Bryony, Linde, Michael, Sarah, Steve, and Dan!
Flowers always hold meaning, and while most people know the red rose is a symbol of romance and the four-leaf clover is for good luck, there are a whole array of floral symbols that reference LGBTQ+ identities!
In this episode, Ellie takes us through some of the biggest botanic symbols adopted by the LGBTQ+ community, including violets, pansies and lavender.
We also talk a bit about our own identities and what the word 'queer' means to us personally.
Where to Find Us:
Head to our website, learnaboutpod.com, to read the full episode notes and see a list of links and resources used to research this episode. You can also follow us on Instagram and Twitter at @learnaboutpod.
Support us on Patreon:
Want to help support the show? For only £2/month you'll get early access to episodes, two exclusive bonus episodes every month, a handwritten postcard, and outtakes that don't make the final cut. Go to patreon.com/learnaboutpod to get started!
A huge thanks to our current patrons: Llinos, Luke, Bryony, Linde, Michael, Sarah, and Steve!
It's officially Pride Month! In the first special Pride Month episode of 2022, Charlotte dives into one of her favourite things: queer YA literature. When was the first LGBTQ+ young adult book published, and how have they grown since?
Content warnings: bullying, bigotry, suicide, homophobia
Where to Find Us:
Head to our website, learnaboutpod.com, to read the full episode notes and see a list of links and resources used to research this episode. You can also follow us on Instagram and Twitter at @learnaboutpod.
Support us on Patreon:
Want to help support the show? For only £2/month you'll get early access to episodes, two exclusive bonus episodes every month, a handwritten postcard, and outtakes that don't make the final cut. Go to patreon.com/learnaboutpod to get started!
A huge thanks to our current patrons: Llinos, Luke, Bryony, Linde, Michael, Sarah, and Steve!
Fans of the HBO Max show Our Flag Means Deathwill appreciate this episode! Ellie talks about the life of one of the most famous pirates in history: Edward Teach, more commonly known as Blackbeard.
It's safe to say, he fit one heck of a life of piracy in just two short years!
Where to Find Us:
Head to our website, learnaboutpod.com, to read the full episode notes and see a list of links and resources used to research this episode. You can also follow us on Instagram and Twitter at @learnaboutpod.
Support us on Patreon:
Want to help support the show? For only £2/month you'll get early access to episodes, two exclusive bonus episodes every month, a handwritten postcard, and outtakes that don't make the final cut. Go to patreon.com/learnaboutpod to get started!
A huge thanks to our current patrons: Llinos, Luke, Bryony, Linde, Michael, Sarah, Steve, and Dan!
Get ready for a bucket full of physics, because it's time to talk about time travel and Einstein's theory of relativity! Is it possible, or will it be possible in our future, for us to time travel? What's the science behind it? Find out the answers in this episode.
Where to Find Us:
Head to our website, learnaboutpod.com, to read the full episode notes and see a list of links and resources used to research this episode. You can also follow us on Instagram and Twitter at @learnaboutpod.
Support us on Patreon:
Want to help support the show? For only £2/month you'll get early access to episodes, two exclusive bonus episodes every month, a handwritten postcard, and outtakes that don't make the final cut. Go to patreon.com/learnaboutpod to get started!
A huge thanks to our current patrons: Llinos, Luke, Bryony, Linde, Michael, Sarah, and Steve!
This is another episode in our D&D series, where we teach you things about Dungeons & Dragons for beginners, by beginners! In this one, we talk about races that you can play, from noble elves and rugged dwarves to huge half-orcs and humble humans. ---
Where to Find Us:
Head to our website, learnaboutpod.com, to read the full episode notes and see a list of links and resources used to research this episode. You can also follow us on Instagram and Twitter at @learnaboutpod.
Support us on Patreon:
Want to help support the show? For only £2/month you'll get early access to episodes, two exclusive bonus episodes every month, a handwritten postcard, and outtakes that don't make the final cut. Go to patreon.com/learnaboutpod to get started!
A huge thanks to our current patrons: Llinos, Luke, Bryony, Linde, Michael, Sarah, and Steve!
In this episode, we're so excited to be joined by Liv Albert, host of Let's Talk About Myths, Baby! and author of two books! We managed to cram so many topics into one hour, including:
- How we need to look at Greek mythology, especially translations of the original texts, through a critical lens
- The ethical issues surrounding colonialism in (mostly British) museum collections
- How the accuracy of Disney's Hercules is actually quite good
You can find Liv at mythsbaby.com, and @mythsbaby on social media.
Where to Find Us:
Head to our website, learnaboutpod.com, to read the full episode notes and see a list of links and resources used to research this episode. You can also follow us on Instagram and Twitter at @learnaboutpod.
Support us on Patreon:
Want to help support the show? For only £2/month you'll get early access to episodes, two exclusive bonus episodes every month, a handwritten postcard, and outtakes that don't make the final cut. Go to patreon.com/learnaboutpod to get started!
A huge thanks to our current patrons: Llinos, Luke, Bryony, Linde, Michael, Sarah, and Steve!
Have you heard of Gouverneur Morris? We hadn't either - but he was actually one of the Founding Fathers of the United States, and he had a surprisingly odd and eventful life! Ellie tells his story, including some of the ways he was instrumental in the development of the US Constitution and of the US in general, as we know it today.
Where to Find Us:
Head to our website, learnaboutpod.com, to read the full episode notes and see a list of links and resources used to research this episode. You can also follow us on Instagram and Twitter at @learnaboutpod.
Support us on Patreon:
Want to help support the show? For only £2/month you'll get early access to episodes, two exclusive bonus episodes every month, a handwritten postcard, and outtakes that don't make the final cut. Go to patreon.com/learnaboutpod to get started!
A huge thanks to our current patrons: Llinos, Luke, Bryony, Linde, Michael, Sarah, Steve, and Dan!
Charlotte explains into the etymology—a.k.a. the interesting language origins—of 11 random words: avocado, cappuccino, disaster, handicap, salary, nightmare, sandwich, quarantine, groggy, clue, and shambles.
Where to Find Us:
Head to our website, learnaboutpod.com, to read the full episode notes and see a list of links and resources used to research this episode. You can also follow us on Instagram and Twitter at @learnaboutpod.
Support us on Patreon:
Want to help support the show? For only £2/month you'll get early access to episodes, two exclusive bonus episodes every month, a handwritten postcard, and outtakes that don't make the final cut. Go to patreon.com/learnaboutpod to get started!
A huge thanks to our current patrons: Llinos, Luke, Bryony, Linde, Michael, Sarah, and Steve!
We're so excited about this episode, because it's our first LLA D&D episode where we're interviewing a guest all about their D&D experiences!
We chat to Rosiee Thor, a YA sci-fi/fantasy author, all about the time she used D&D as a way to explore her own non-binary identity, and how it was the most rewarding experience for her.
We also chat about what it's like to be a full-time author alongside playing D&D as a hobby, and Rosiee shares her tips for first-time players.
Where to Find Us:
Head to our website, learnaboutpod.com, to read the full episode notes and see a list of links and resources used to research this episode. You can also follow us on Instagram and Twitter at @learnaboutpod.
Support us on Patreon:
Want to help support the show? For only £2/month you'll get early access to episodes, two exclusive bonus episodes every month, a handwritten postcard, and outtakes that don't make the final cut. Go to patreon.com/learnaboutpod to get started!
A huge thanks to our current patrons: Llinos, Luke, Bryony, Linde, Michael, Sarah, and Steve!
Previous LLA guest Linde joins us again for another guest episode! This time, she's telling us all about the pharaohs of the first dynasty of Ancient Egypt, starting with Narmer way back in the year 3159 BC. ---
Where to Find Us:
Head to our website, learnaboutpod.com, to read the full episode notes and see a list of links and resources used to research this episode. You can also follow us on Instagram and Twitter at @learnaboutpod.
Support us on Patreon:
Want to help support the show? For only £2/month you'll get early access to episodes, two exclusive bonus episodes every month, a handwritten postcard, and outtakes that don't make the final cut. Go to patreon.com/learnaboutpod to get started!
A huge thanks to our current patrons: Llinos, Luke, Bryony, Linde, Michael, Sarah, and Steve!
Because of the dangers faced by sailors and fishermen, there are countless superstitions around safety and luck on the sea. While most no longer apply, we do wonder if some of them still linger in the back of some sailors’ minds...
In this episode, Ellie takes us through some signs of good luck, bad luck, and even omens of death for sailors and pirates.
Where to Find Us:
Head to our website, learnaboutpod.com, to read the full episode notes and see a list of links and resources used to research this episode. You can also follow us on Instagram and Twitter at @learnaboutpod.
Support us on Patreon:
Want to help support the show? For only £2/month you'll get early access to episodes, two exclusive bonus episodes every month, a handwritten postcard, and outtakes that don't make the final cut. Go to patreon.com/learnaboutpod to get started!
A huge thanks to our current patrons: Llinos, Luke, Bryony, Linde, Michael, Sarah, and Steve!
This episode of Let’s Learn About D&D is all about characters and how to create them! We share our own characters that we’re currently playing and how our character creation processes differed. We then share some helpful tips on creating your own well-rounded characters.
Where to Find Us:
Head to our website, learnaboutpod.com, to read the full episode notes and see a list of links and resources used to research this episode. You can also follow us on Instagram and Twitter at @learnaboutpod.
Support us on Patreon:
Want to help support the show? For only £2/month you'll get early access to episodes, two exclusive bonus episodes every month, a handwritten postcard, and outtakes that don't make the final cut. Go to patreon.com/learnaboutpod to get started!
A huge thanks to our current patrons: Llinos, Luke, Bryony, Linde, Michael, Sarah, and Steve!
March 8th is International Women's Day, so in this episode, Charlotte covers the history of IWD, outlines some of the stats that show how far away we still are from global gender equality, and shares the story of 4 inspirational women who paved the way to the rights we have today (even if there is still a long way to go!). ---
Where to Find Us:
Head to our website, learnaboutpod.com, to read the full episode notes and see a list of links and resources used to research this episode. You can also follow us on Instagram and Twitter at @learnaboutpod.
Support us on Patreon:
Want to help support the show? For only £2/month you'll get early access to episodes, two exclusive bonus episodes every month, a handwritten postcard, and outtakes that don't make the final cut. Go to patreon.com/learnaboutpod to get started!
A huge thanks to our current patrons: Llinos, Luke, Bryony, Linde, Michael, Sarah, and Steve!
What is more British than the National Trust? And whilst we celebrate pride month during July on this podcast, in the UK it’s actually celebrated in February. So why not celebrate them both in one episode?!
Ellie talks about 7 National Trust properties that were once owned and loved by prominent LGBTQ+ figures throughout history, including Vita Sackville-West and Virginia Woolf.
Where to Find Us:
Head to our website, learnaboutpod.com, to read the full episode notes and see a list of links and resources used to research this episode. You can also follow us on Instagram and Twitter at @learnaboutpod.
Support us on Patreon:
Want to help support the show? For only £2/month you'll get early access to episodes, two exclusive bonus episodes every month, a handwritten postcard, and outtakes that don't make the final cut. Go to patreon.com/learnaboutpod to get started!
A huge thanks to our current patrons: Llinos, Luke, Bryony, Linde, Michael, Sarah, and Steve!
In a couple of weeks (March 1st), the people of Wales will celebrate St David's Day, so it's finally time for some more Welsh mythology on this podcast! Charlotte tells the legend of the red dragon and how the tale has differed over the centuries, and also covers the history of why the Welsh flag has a red dragon on it. ---
Where to Find Us:
Head to our website, learnaboutpod.com, to read the full episode notes and see a list of links and resources. You can also follow us on Instagram and Twitter at @learnaboutpod.
Support us on Patreon:
Want to help support the show? For only £2/month you'll get early access to episodes, two exclusive bonus episodes every month, a handwritten postcard, and outtakes that don't make the final cut. Go to patreon.com/learnaboutpod to get started!
A huge thanks to our current patrons: Llinos, Luke, Bryony, Linde, Michael, and Sarah!
On 6th February this year, Queen Elizabeth II will become the first British Monarch to celebrate a Platinum Jubilee, marking 70 years on the throne.
In this episode, Ellie talks about how the UK will be celebrating this summer, and some other monarchs from around the world that have reigned just a little bit longer!
Where to Find Us:
Head to our website, learnaboutpod.com, to read the full episode notes and see a list of links and resources! You can also follow us on Instagram and Twitter at @learnaboutpod.
Support us on Patreon:
Want to help support the show? For only £2/month you'll get early access to episodes, two exclusive bonus episodes every month, a handwritten postcard, and outtakes that don't make the final cut. Go to patreon.com/learnaboutpod to get started!
A huge thanks to our current patrons: Llinos, Luke, Bryony, Linde, Michael, and Sarah!
We're so excited to launch our new series, Let's Learn About D&D! We'll be sharing all sorts of tips and discussions about D&D for beginners, by beginners. In this first episode, we cover:
- What D&D is, how to play, and how we started playing it ourselves
- How we learned to play by watching things like Dimension 20 and Critical Roll
- How playing on a virtual tabletop like Roll20 is perfect for beginners
- ...and more!
Next time, we'll be talking about character creation, character sheets, and roleplaying tips.
Where to Find Us:
Head to our website, learnaboutpod.com, to read the full episode notes, see a list of links and resources, and watch the uncut video version of this episode! You can also follow us on Instagram and Twitter at @learnaboutpod.
Support us on Patreon:
Want to help support the show? For only £2/month you'll get early access to episodes, two exclusive bonus episodes every month, a handwritten postcard, and outtakes that don't make the final cut. Go to patreon.com/learnaboutpod to get started!
A huge thanks to our current patrons: Llinos, Luke, Bryony, Linde, Michael, and Sarah!
Eep, we're so excited to announce that we're starting a new monthly series on this podcast all about the tabletop roleplaying game D&D! We'll be bringing you all sorts of tips and discussions for beginners, by beginners.
In this short announcement episode, we talk about the series, why we're doing it, and what it'll involve. Look out for our first episode of Let's Learn About D&D on 31st January!
Where to Find Us:
Head to our website, learnaboutpod.com, to read the full episode notes, see a list of links and resources, and watch the uncut video version of this episode! You can also follow us on Instagram and Twitter at @learnaboutpod.
Support us on Patreon:
Want to help support the show? For only £2/month you'll get early access to episodes, two exclusive bonus episodes every month, a handwritten postcard, and outtakes that don't make the final cut. Go to patreon.com/learnaboutpod to get started!
A huge thanks to our current patrons: Llinos, Luke, Bryony, Linde, Michael, and Sarah!
We love awesome women of history on this podcast, so in this episode, we're covering not just one, but six!
This is the in-depth story of Henry VIII and his six wives: Katherine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn, Jane Seymour, Anne of Cleves, Katherine Howard, and Katherine Parr, and how their marriages to Henry changed Britain forever.
Where to Find Us:
Head to our website, learnaboutpod.com, to read the full episode notes, see a list of links and resources, and watch the uncut video version of this episode! You can also follow us on Instagram and Twitter at @learnaboutpod.
Support us on Patreon:
Want to help support the show? For only £2/month you'll get early access to episodes, two exclusive bonus episodes every month, a handwritten postcard, and outtakes that don't make the final cut. Go to patreon.com/learnaboutpod to get started!
A huge thanks to our current patrons: Llinos, Luke, Bryony, Linde, Michael, and Sarah!
Ellie ventures into Norse mythology for this episode: she tells the story called The Lay of Thrym, otherwise known as Thor's Wedding Day. How far will Thor go when his precious hammer goes missing? It might somehow end up with him in a wedding dress...
Where to Find Us:
Head to our website, learnaboutpod.com, to read the full episode notes, see a list of links and resources, and watch the uncut video version of this episode! You can also follow us on Instagram and Twitter at @learnaboutpod.
Support us on Patreon:
Want to help support the show? For only £2/month you'll get early access to episodes, two exclusive bonus episodes every month, a handwritten postcard, and outtakes that don't make the final cut. Go to patreon.com/learnaboutpod to get started!
A huge thanks to our current patrons: Llinos, Luke, Bryony, Linde, Michael, and Sarah!
It's exactly halfway between Charlotte and Ellie's birthdays at the time of this episode going live, so to celebrate that, Charlotte talks about the history of celebrating birthdays in the first place, and shares some fun birthday traditions from around the world.
Where to Find Us:
Head to our website, learnaboutpod.com, to read the full episode notes, see a list of links and resources, and watch the uncut video version of this episode! You can also follow us on Instagram and Twitter at @learnaboutpod.
Support us on Patreon:
Want to help support the show? For only £2/month you'll get early access to episodes, two exclusive bonus episodes every month, a handwritten postcard, and outtakes that don't make the final cut. Go to patreon.com/learnaboutpod to get started!
A huge thanks to our current patrons: Llinos, Luke, Bryony, Linde, Michael, and Sarah!
We've done it!! We've reached 100 episodes of our podcast and we're so excited about it. To celebrate, we thought we'd share 100 fun facts - there are 80 from us, and 20 that were sent to us from friends and listeners! Thank you so much to everyone who has supported the podcast so far - it means the whole world.
If you want to support us by joining our small community and get fun bonus stuff in return (including the full uncut video recording for this episode), you can find us on Patreon here.
Where to Find Us:
Head to our website, learnaboutpod.com, to read the full episode notes, see a list of links and resources, and watch the uncut video version of this episode! You can also follow us on Instagram and Twitter at @learnaboutpod.
Support us on Patreon:
Want to help support the show? For only £2/month you'll get early access to episodes, two exclusive bonus episodes every month, a handwritten postcard, and outtakes that don't make the final cut. Go to patreon.com/learnaboutpod to get started!
A huge thanks to our current patrons: Llinos, Luke, Bryony, Linde, Michael, and Sarah!
In our final episode of 2021, Ellie goes into the true stories behind the musical Chicago, which began as a 1926 play written by Maurine Dallas Watkins inspired by two real-life murder cases.
Where to Find Us:
Head to our website, learnaboutpod.com, to read the full episode notes, see a list of links and resources, and watch the uncut video version of this episode! You can also follow us on Instagram and Twitter at @learnaboutpod.
Support us on Patreon:
Want to help support the show? For only £2/month you'll get early access to episodes, two exclusive bonus episodes every month, a handwritten postcard, and outtakes that don't make the final cut. Go to patreon.com/learnaboutpod to get started!
A huge thanks to our current patrons: Llinos, Luke, Bryony, Linde, Michael, and Sarah!
Charlotte talks about the evolution of Santa Claus, from St Nicholas himself way back in the 4th century, to the modern, red-cloaked, white-bearded man we know today. (In true LLA fashion, even this holly jolly episode contains stories of imprisonment, grave robbing, and strange mysteries...)
Where to Find Us:
Head to our website, learnaboutpod.com, to read the full episode notes, see a list of links and resources, and watch the uncut video version of this episode! You can also follow us on Instagram and Twitter at @learnaboutpod.
Support us on Patreon:
Want to help support the show? For only £2/month you'll get early access to episodes, two exclusive bonus episodes every month, a handwritten postcard, and outtakes that don't make the final cut. Go to patreon.com/learnaboutpod to get started!
A huge thanks to our current patrons: Llinos, Luke, Bryony, Linde, Michael, and Sarah!
This episode takes you on a Santa-style trip around Europe, including France, Germany, Italy and Spain, as we learn about various European festive traditions!
Where to Find Us:
Head to our website, learnaboutpod.com, to read the full episode notes, see a list of links and resources, and watch the uncut video version of this episode! You can also follow us on Instagram and Twitter at @learnaboutpod.
Support us on Patreon:
Want to help support the show? For only £2/month you'll get early access to episodes, two exclusive bonus episodes every month, a handwritten postcard, and outtakes that don't make the final cut. Go to patreon.com/learnaboutpod to get started!
A huge thanks to our current patrons: Llinos, Luke, Bryony, Linde, Michael, and Sarah!
We're joined by Llinos, one of our previous guests and one of our Patreon supporters, for our first Christmas episode of the year!
This one is slightly darker than some of the ones we've done in the past - Llinos tells us about the mysterious disappearance of Glenn Miller, an American trombonist, composer, and bandleader who went missing at sea in December 1944. But what really happened to Glenn Miller? Some people still aren't convinced we know the truth...
Where to Find Us:
Head to our website, learnaboutpod.com, to read the full episode notes, see a list of links and resources, and watch the uncut video version of this episode! You can also follow us on Instagram and Twitter at @learnaboutpod.
Support us on Patreon:
Want to help support the show? For only £2/month you'll get early access to episodes, two exclusive bonus episodes every month, a handwritten postcard, and outtakes that don't make the final cut. Go to patreon.com/learnaboutpod to get started!
A huge thanks to our current patrons: Llinos, Luke, Bryony, Linde, Michael, and Sarah!
Charlotte goes further back in time than we've ever gone before... we're going prehistoric! Learn about dinosaurs, what the Earth was like before it had separate continents, and about the K-T mass extinction event that wiped out the dinosaurs and 85% of other life on Earth.
Want to watch this episode in video form? You can find the full, uncut video version of this episode on our website, learnaboutpod.com!
Where to Find Us:
Head to our website, learnaboutpod.com, to read the full episode notes, see a list of links and resources, and watch the uncut video version of this episode! You can also follow us on Instagram and Twitter at @learnaboutpod.
Support us on Patreon:
Want to help support the show? For only £2/month you'll get early access to episodes, two exclusive bonus episodes every month, a handwritten postcard, and outtakes that don't make the final cut. Go to patreon.com/learnaboutpod to get started!
A huge thanks to our current patrons: Llinos, Luke, Bryony, Linde, Michael, and Sarah!
Long-time listeners might remember the episode we did about Anne Bonny, Pirate Queen of the Caribbean. In this episode, Ellie talks about another female pirate: Sadie "the Goat" Farrell, an American criminal, gang leader and river pirate.
Want to watch this episode in video form? For the first time, you can find the full, uncut video version of this episode on our website, learnaboutpod.com! (Spoilers: the video for this one includes cute (and mischievous) cats, so head to our website to watch it right now!)
Where to Find Us:
Head to our website, learnaboutpod.com, to read the full episode notes, see a list of links and resources, and watch the uncut video version of this episode! You can also follow us on Instagram and Twitter at @learnaboutpod.
Support us on Patreon:
Want to help support the show? For only £2/month you'll get early access to episodes, two exclusive bonus episodes every month, a handwritten postcard, and outtakes that don't make the final cut. Go to patreon.com/learnaboutpod to get started!
A huge thanks to our current patrons: Llinos, Luke, Bryony, Linde, and Michael!
The Bermuda Triangle is known as the place where several ships and planes have disappeared under inexplicable circumstances, and it’s still one of the most well-known mysteries out there. People theorise about it being extraterrestial, a scientific anomaly, or even the location of the Lost City of Atlantis.
But is the mystery of the Bermuda Triangle really related to the supernatural, or is it easily explained away by science? Let's learn about it!
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 Instagram and Twitter at @learnaboutpod.
Support us on Patreon:
Want to help support the show? For £2/month you'll get early episodes, a chance to vote on which topics we cover next, and extra bonus bits that don't make the final episodes. Go to patreon.com/learnaboutpod to get started!
A huge thanks to our current patrons: Llinos, Luke, Bryony, Linde, and Michael!
Ellie tells the original Grimm tale of Snow White and Rose Red, which is considerably lighter than any other Grimm story we've told on this podcast so far! This one contains a warm and friendly bear, and a very ungrateful dwarf.
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 Instagram and Twitter at @learnaboutpod.
Support us on Patreon:
Want to help support the show? For £2/month you'll get early episodes, a chance to vote on which topics we cover next, and extra bonus bits that don't make the final episodes. Go to patreon.com/learnaboutpod to get started!
A huge thanks to our current patrons: Llinos, Luke, Bryony, Linde, and Michael!
During Pride Month we did an episode all about queer icons and their stories, but how about the people who aren't a household name... but really should be? Charlotte tells the story of 6 queer people from the last couple of centuries who have done some incredible things for the emancipation of LGBTQ+ people, and we really should learn about them!
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 Instagram and Twitter at @learnaboutpod.
Support us on Patreon:
Want to help support the show? For £2/month you'll get early episodes, a chance to vote on which topics we cover next, and extra bonus bits that don't make the final episodes. Go to patreon.com/learnaboutpod to get started!
A huge thanks to our current patrons: Llinos, Luke, Bryony, Linde, and Michael!
A tool of the devil, a harmless family game—or a fascinating glimpse into the non-conscious mind? In our final episode of Spooky Month 2021, Ellie talks about the curious history of the Ouija Board, from a favourite for all the family to the fearful, spirit-enticing game it is 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 follow us on Instagram and Twitter at @learnaboutpod.
Support us on Patreon:
Want to help support the show? For £2/month you'll get early episodes, a chance to vote on which topics we cover next, and extra bonus bits that don't make the final episodes. Go to patreon.com/learnaboutpod to get started!
A huge thanks to our current patrons: Llinos, Luke, Bryony, and Linde!
A lot of things can make you think instantly of Halloween. Ghosts, bats, pumpkins, and black cats show up in seasonal décor everywhere. But where did these symbols come from? Find out in this Spooky Month episode!
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 Instagram and Twitter at @learnaboutpod.
Support us on Patreon:
Want to help support the show? For £2/month you'll get early episodes, a chance to vote on which topics we cover next, and extra bonus bits that don't make the final episodes. Go to patreon.com/learnaboutpod to get started!
A huge thanks to our current patrons: Llinos, Luke, Bryony, and Linde!
He's tall and thin with unnaturally long, tentacle-like arms. His face is white and featureless, but may appear differently to anyone who sees it. He wears a dark suit and tie. Yes, that's right... we're talking about Slender Man!
In this Spooky Month episode, Ellie discusses the origins of Slender Man, the birth of the online urban legend, and the power of internet 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 also follow us on Instagram and Twitter at @learnaboutpod.
Support us on Patreon:
Want to help support the show? For £2/month you'll get early episodes, a chance to vote on which topics we cover next, and extra bonus bits that don't make the final episodes. Go to patreon.com/learnaboutpod to get started!
A huge thanks to our current patrons: Llinos, Luke, Bryony, and Linde!
Charlotte kicks off Spooky Month 2021 with a classic Halloween topic: haunted houses! Learn about 3 creepy houses with some horrifying true crime stories behind them: the Villisca Axe Murder House in Iowa, the Skirrid Inn in Abergavenny, and the infamous H. H. Holmes Murder Hotel in Chicago.
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 Instagram and Twitter at @learnaboutpod.
Support us on Patreon:
Want to help support the show? For £2/month you'll get early episodes, a chance to vote on which topics we cover next, and extra bonus bits that don't make the final episodes. Go to patreon.com/learnaboutpod to get started!
A huge thanks to our current patrons: Llinos, Luke and Bryony!
We're joined by the lovely Pippa Stacey, a chronically ill writer, communications consultant, and blogger. She's here to talk to us all about being a chronically ill/disabled university student, including her tips for getting the most out of your experience and not being scared to ask for what you need. We also chat about what it means to redefine success as a chronically ill or disabled person.
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 Instagram and Twitter at @learnaboutpod.
Support us on Patreon:
Want to help support the show? For £2/month you'll get early episodes, a chance to vote on which topics we cover next, and extra bonus bits that don't make the final episodes. Go to patreon.com/learnaboutpod to get started!
A huge thanks to our current patrons: Llinos, Luke and Bryony!
Ellie talks about the science and psychology behind déjà vu – that phenomenon when you feel like you've lived through the present situation before. (This episode topic was suggested to us by Llinos, a previous guest and one of our lovely patrons!)
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 Instagram and Twitter at @learnaboutpod.
Support us on Patreon:
Want to help support the show? For £2/month you'll get early episodes, a chance to vote on which topics we cover next, and extra bonus bits that don't make the final episodes. Go to patreon.com/learnaboutpod to get started!
A huge thanks to our current patrons: Llinos, Luke and Bryony!
There are billions of stars in the universe, but what are they made of and how are they all unique? What actually are black holes and how do they work? And what will happen to the Earth when the Sun dies? Learn all of this and more in this episode!
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 Instagram and Twitter at @learnaboutpod.
Support us on Patreon:
Want to help support the show? For £2/month you'll get early episodes, a chance to vote on which topics we cover next, and extra bonus bits that don't make the final episodes. Go to patreon.com/learnaboutpod to get started!
A huge thanks to our current patrons: Llinos, Luke and Bryony!
Swear words are commonly used today in everyday language, but where did they originate? Were they always "bad" words? Ellie covers some of the most popular swear words that exist in the English language and goes back through history to find out where they came from!
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 Instagram and Twitter at @learnaboutpod.
Support us on Patreon:
Want to help support the show? For £2/month you'll get early episodes, a chance to vote on which topics we cover next, and extra bonus bits that don't make the final episodes. Go to patreon.com/learnaboutpod to get started!
A huge thanks to our current patrons: Llinos, Luke and Bryony!
We're flying back to space in this episode: Charlotte talks about galaxies, including the one we live in, the Milky Way. How and when did galaxies form? What do they look like? What the heck actually is dark matter? And why can't we feel the Earth move?! Learn about all of this and more!
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 Instagram and Twitter at @learnaboutpod.
Support us on Patreon:
Want to help support the show? For £2/month you'll get early episodes, a chance to vote on which topics we cover next, and extra bonus bits that don't make the final episodes. Go to patreon.com/learnaboutpod to get started!
A huge thanks to our current patrons: Llinos, Luke and Bryony!
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 even brought a PowerPoint presentation) and photos of the Yōkai.
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 Instagram and Twitter at @learnaboutpod.
Support us on Patreon:
Want to help support the show? For £2/month you'll get early episodes, a chance to vote on which topics we cover next, and extra bonus bits that don't make the final episodes. Go to patreon.com/learnaboutpod to get started!
A huge thanks to our current patrons: Llinos, Luke and Bryony!
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.
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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 Instagram and Twitter at @learnaboutpod.
Support us on Patreon:
Want to help support the show? For £2/month you'll get early episodes, a chance to vote on which topics we cover next, and extra bonus bits that don't make the final episodes. Go to patreon.com/learnaboutpod to get started!
A huge thanks to our current patrons: Llinos, Luke and Bryony!
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 episode, including where you can learn more about these topics, at learnaboutpod.com. You can also follow us on Instagram and Twitter at @learnaboutpod.
Support us on Patreon:
Want to help support the show? For £2/month you'll get early episodes, a chance to vote on which topics we cover next, and extra bonus bits that don't make the final episodes. Go to patreon.com/learnaboutpod to get started!
A huge thanks to our current patrons: Llinos, Luke and Bryony!
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 since it started being broadcast on TV in the 1960s.
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 Instagram and Twitter at @learnaboutpod.
Support us on Patreon:
Want to help support the show? For £2/month you'll get early episodes, a chance to vote on which topics we cover next, and extra bonus bits that don't make the final episodes. Go to patreon.com/learnaboutpod to get started!
A huge thanks to our current patrons: Llinos, Luke and Bryony!
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 social media or on our website!
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 Instagram and Twitter at @learnaboutpod.
Support us on Patreon:
Want to help support the show? For £2/month you'll get early episodes, a chance to vote on which topics we cover next, and extra bonus bits that don't make the final episodes. Go to patreon.com/learnaboutpod to get started!
A huge thanks to our current patrons: Llinos, Luke and Bryony!
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, at learnaboutpod.com. You can also follow us on Instagram and Twitter at @learnaboutpod.
Support us on Patreon:
Want to help support the show? For £2/month you'll get early episodes, a chance to vote on which topics we cover next, and extra bonus bits that don't make the final episodes. Go to patreon.com/learnaboutpod to get started!
A huge thanks to our current patrons: Llinos, Luke and Bryony!
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, including where you can learn more about these topics, at learnaboutpod.com. You can also follow us on Instagram and Twitter at @learnaboutpod.
Support us on Patreon:
Want to help support the show? For £2/month you'll get early episodes, a chance to vote on which topics we cover next, and extra bonus bits that don't make the final episodes. Go to patreon.com/learnaboutpod to get started!
A huge thanks to our current patrons: Llinos, Luke and Bryony!
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 episode, including where you can learn more about these topics, at learnaboutpod.com. You can also follow us on Instagram and Twitter at @learnaboutpod.
Support us on Patreon:
Want to help support the show? For £2/month you'll get early episodes, a chance to vote on which topics we cover next, and extra bonus bits that don't make the final episodes. Go to patreon.com/learnaboutpod to get started!
A huge thanks to our current patrons: Llinos, Luke, Daniel, and Bryony!
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 more about these topics, at learnaboutpod.com. You can also follow us on Instagram and Twitter at @learnaboutpod.
Support us on Patreon:
Want to help support the show? For £2/month you'll get early episodes, a chance to vote on which topics we cover next, and extra bonus bits that don't make the final episodes. Go to patreon.com/learnaboutpod to get started!
A huge thanks to our current patrons: Llinos, Luke, Daniel, and Bryony!
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 learnaboutpod.com. You can also follow us on Instagram and Twitter at @learnaboutpod.
Support us on Patreon:
Want to help support the show? For £2/month you'll get early episodes, a chance to vote on which topics we cover next, and extra bonus bits that don't make the final episodes. Go to patreon.com/learnaboutpod to get started!
A huge thanks to our current patrons: Llinos, Luke, Daniel, and Bryony!
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 also follow us on Instagram and Twitter at @learnaboutpod.
Support us on Patreon:
Want to help support the show? For £2/month you'll get early episodes, a chance to vote on which topics we cover next, and extra bonus bits that don't make the final episodes. Go to patreon.com/learnaboutpod to get started!
A huge thanks to our current patrons: Llinos, Luke, Daniel, and Bryony!
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 follow us on Instagram and Twitter at @learnaboutpod.
Support us on Patreon:
Want to help support the show? For £2/month you'll get early episodes, a chance to vote on which topics we cover next, and extra bonus bits that don't make the final episodes. Go to patreon.com/learnaboutpod to get started!
A huge thanks to our current patrons: Llinos, Luke, Daniel, and Bryony!
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.
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 Instagram and Twitter at @learnaboutpod.
Support us on Patreon:
Want to help support the show? For £2/month you'll get early episodes, a chance to vote on which topics we cover next, and extra bonus bits that don't make the final episodes. Go to patreon.com/learnaboutpod to get started!
A huge thanks to our current patrons: Llinos, Luke, Daniel, and Bryony!
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 fix a sleep deficit, the benefits of a good morning and evening routine, and why you shouldn't use screens before bed.
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 Instagram and Twitter at @learnaboutpod.
Support us on Patreon:
Want to help support the show? For £2/month you'll get early episodes, a chance to vote on which topics we cover next, and extra bonus bits that don't make the final episodes. Go to patreon.com/learnaboutpod to get started!
A huge thanks to our current patrons: Llinos, Luke, Daniel, and Bryony!
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're least expecting it...
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 Instagram and Twitter at @learnaboutpod.
Support us on Patreon:
Want to help support the show? For £2/month you'll get early episodes, a chance to vote on which topics we cover next, and extra bonus bits that don't make the final episodes. Go to patreon.com/learnaboutpod to get started!
A huge thanks to our current patrons: Llinos, Luke, Daniel, and Bryony!
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, including us Googling some inappropriately-translated tattoos? Head to Patreon!
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 Instagram and Twitter at @learnaboutpod.
Support us on Patreon:
Want to help support the show? For £2/month you'll get early episodes, a chance to vote on which topics we cover next, and extra bonus bits that don't make the final episodes. Go to patreon.com/learnaboutpod to get started!
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.
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 Instagram and Twitter at @learnaboutpod.
Support us on Patreon:
Want to help support the show? For £2/month you'll get early episodes, a chance to vote on which topics we cover next, and extra bonus bits that don't make the final episodes. Go to patreon.com/learnaboutpod to get started!
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 husband was incapacitated after a stroke.
What happens when someone who has absolutely no interest in politics and government becomes the First Lady? And did her love for her husband cloud her judgement a little when it came to making important decisions?
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 Instagram and Twitter at @learnaboutpod.
Support us on Patreon:
Want to help support the show? For £2/month you'll get early episodes, a chance to vote on which topics we cover next, and extra bonus bits that don't make the final episodes. Go to patreon.com/learnaboutpod to get started!
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 also follow us on Instagram and Twitter at @learnaboutpod.
Support us on Patreon:
Want to help support the show? For £2/month you'll get early episodes, a chance to vote on which topics we cover next, and extra bonus bits that don't make the final episodes. Go to patreon.com/learnaboutpod to get started!
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 about these topics, at learnaboutpod.com. You can also follow us on Instagram and Twitter at @learnaboutpod.
Support us on Patreon:
Want to help support the show? For £2/month you'll get early episodes, a chance to vote on which topics we cover next, and extra bonus bits that don't make the final episodes. Go to patreon.com/learnaboutpod to get started!
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 Instagram and Twitter at @learnaboutpod.
Support us on Patreon:
Want to help support the show? For £2/month you'll get early episodes, a chance to vote on which topics we cover next, and extra bonus bits that don't make the final episodes. Go to patreon.com/learnaboutpod to get started!
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:
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 Instagram and Twitter at @learnaboutpod.
Support us on Patreon:
Want to help support the show? For £2/month you'll get early episodes, a chance to vote on which topics we cover next, and extra bonus bits that don't make the final episodes. Go to patreon.com/learnaboutpod to get started!
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 follow us on Instagram and Twitter at @learnaboutpod.
Support us on Patreon:
Want to help support the show? For £2/month you'll get early episodes, a chance to vote on which topics we cover next, and extra bonus bits that don't make the final episodes. Go to patreon.com/learnaboutpod to get started!
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 this episode.)
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 Instagram and Twitter at @learnaboutpod.
Support us on Patreon:
Want to help support the show? For £2/month you'll get early episodes, a chance to vote on which topics we cover next, and extra bonus bits that don't make the final episodes. Go to patreon.com/learnaboutpod to get started!
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 for this episode, including where you can learn more about these topics, at learnaboutpod.com. You can also follow us on Instagram and Twitter at @learnaboutpod.
Support us on Patreon:
Want to help support the show? For £2/month you'll get early episodes, a chance to vote on which topics we cover next, and extra bonus bits that don't make the final episodes. Go to patreon.com/learnaboutpod to get started!
We're branching out in our mythology series, this time with Egypt! Learn about various Egyptian mythological deities, and how the mythology states the world and Egypt itself was created.
Listener Fact of the Week:
Thank you to Sophie Newing for sending in this episode's listener fact of the week (which has never been a thing before, but we're starting it now)! Email us at learnaboutpod@gmail.com if you want to feature as our next listener fact of the week!
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 Instagram and Twitter at @learnaboutpod.
Support us on Patreon:
Want to help support the show? For £2/month you'll get early episodes, a chance to vote on which topics we cover next, and extra bonus bits that don't make the final episodes. Go to patreon.com/learnaboutpod to get started!
We're joined by Charlotte's friend Luke, who currently volunteers for his local food bank in Redcar.
He gives us a brief explanation of the ways people throughout history have helped the hungry, and the austerity policies that have come into place in more modern times. We then chat about food banks: how they work, how we can all do our bit to help, and why you shouldn't be ashamed to use one.
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 Instagram and Twitter at @learnaboutpod.
Support us on Patreon: patreon.com/learnaboutpod
Charlotte talks about some of the most famous pets belonging to past US presidents, including Warren G. Harding's dog Laddie Boy, Roosevelt's dog Fala, the rivalry between Socks the cat and Buddy the dog belonging to the Clintons, and the hilarious letter George H. W. Bush sent to all White House staff regarding his fat dog Ranger.
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 Instagram and Twitter at @learnaboutpod.
Support us on Patreon: patreon.com/learnaboutpod
We're now on Patreon and we're very excited about it! For just £2/month you'll get early episodes, bonus content, the chance to vote on which episodes we record next, shout outs in podcast episodes, and more.
Support us by going to patreon.com/learnaboutpod!
Ellie talks about the medicinal purposes that alcohol has had throughout history all over the world, from the Ancient Egyptians to more recent times. Whether you're partial to a cocktail, a G&T, or a pint of beer is more your thing, find out how they were once used to treat ailments from animal bites to "women's dispositions".
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 Instagram and Twitter at @learnaboutpod.
Support us on Patreon: patreon.com/learnaboutpod
Did you know Agatha Christie went missing for almost two weeks in 1926? Considering she was such a prolific mystery writer, her 11-day disappearance in 1926 was one of the biggest mysteries of the time, with some details still unexplained today. Charlotte tells the full story of her disappearance in this episode.
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 Instagram and Twitter at @learnaboutpod.
Support us on Patreon: patreon.com/learnaboutpod
Happy New Year! Ellie tells us about a new year tradition, but not our own western one: she focuses on Lunar New Year (you might also know it as Chinese New Year) and the legend behind the annual celebration.
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 Instagram and Twitter at @learnaboutpod.
Support us on Patreon: patreon.com/learnaboutpod
It's the 50th episode of the podcast and we're celebrating by doing what a couple of nerds love best: testing our knowledge! How many episodes have you listened to? Join in and test your own knowledge of our episodes so far with this special quiz episode.
When you've finished the quiz, share your answers with us on social media so we can see how you did!
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 Instagram and Twitter at @learnaboutpod.
Support us on Patreon: patreon.com/learnaboutpod
Charlotte discusses a brief history of festive music, from traditional verses, carols that originated in the 1800s, and the pop hits of the 1980s and beyond that we know and love today.
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 Instagram and Twitter at @learnaboutpod.
Support us on Patreon: patreon.com/learnaboutpod
Ellie tells us about the Yule Lads, which are a part of Icelandic folklore. With names like Pot Licker, Stubby, Window Peeper and Sausage Swiper, how could we not be intrigued to learn about their mischievous antics?!
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 Instagram and Twitter at @learnaboutpod.
Support us on Patreon: patreon.com/learnaboutpod
Kicking off the festive season, Charlotte talks about some unusual events and unexplained mysteries that have happened around Christmas, from UFO sightings to the WW1 Christmas truce.
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 Instagram and Twitter at @learnaboutpod.
Support us on Patreon: patreon.com/learnaboutpod
We're joined by another guest in this episode! Charly gives us a brief rundown of Japanese history, and then tells us about Yaeko Yamamoto, a Japanese daughter of a samurai who was skilled in gunnery and was an all-round incredible woman for reasons you'll discover in this episode.
Not only was she a warrior woman, a nurse for the Japanese Red Cross, and a master at tea ceremonies and flower arranging, but she was also the recipient of multiple Orders of Merit and founded several schools. If you love badass women of history, this is the episode for you!
Find the full notes for this episode, including where you can learn more about this topic, at learnaboutpod.com. You can also follow us on Instagram and Twitter at @learnaboutpod.
Support us on Patreon: patreon.com/learnaboutpod
We learn about Julie d'Aubigny: a French, cross-dressing, bisexual duelist and opera singer from the 17th century.
She once kissed a lady at a grand ball, beat three noblemen (in one go) in a duel for her affection, and quietly returned to the ball -- and that's just one of the many incredible things that happened in her life.
She is quite possibly one of our favourite people we'll ever learn about on this show!
Find the full notes for this episode, including where you can learn more about this topic, at learnaboutpod.com. You can also follow us on Instagram and Twitter at @learnaboutpod.
Support us on Patreon: patreon.com/learnaboutpod
If you're a writer, whether that's as a job or for fun, you might know November as National Novel Writing Month! Ellie shares some facts about NaNoWriMo, and then we discuss some of our best writing tips to help get you through the month.
Find the full notes for this episode, including where you can learn more about this topic, at learnaboutpod.com. You can also follow us on Instagram and Twitter at @learnaboutpod.
Support us on Patreon: patreon.com/learnaboutpod
If you've seen Hamilton, you know about the duel that ended Hamilton's life at the expense of Aaron Burr's reputation. But what happened to Burr after he shot Hamilton? How did he spend the rest of his life?
In this episode, Charlotte covers Aaron Burr's entire life, from birth to death, including ambitions to invade a country, start a new empire, and his several illegitimate children.
Find the full notes for this episode, including where you can learn more about this topic, at learnaboutpod.com. You can also follow us on Instagram and Twitter at @learnaboutpod.
Support us on Patreon: patreon.com/learnaboutpod
Do you actually know what happened on the 5th November to spark a national UK celebration for the rest of time? Find out about Guy Fawkes and the gunpowder plot, and what really went down in the Houses of Parliament in 1605.
Find the full notes for this episode, including where you can learn more about this topic, at learnaboutpod.com. You can also follow us on Instagram and Twitter at @learnaboutpod.
Support us on Patreon: patreon.com/learnaboutpod
Llinos joins us again for our final episode of Spooky Month! She tells us about four well-known figures throughout history whose corpses continued to have a "life" after death, from being embalmed for decades to being transported from country to country.
People discussed:
- Eva Perón
- Vladimir Lenin
- Albert Einstein
- Oliver Cromwell
Find the full notes for this episode, including where you can learn more about this topic, at learnaboutpod.com. You can also follow us on Instagram and Twitter at @learnaboutpod.
Support us on Patreon: patreon.com/learnaboutpod
It's our podcast's first birthday! In honour of this, Ellie discusses horror movie anniversaries - some of the films that are also celebrating big birthdays this year - and some of the creepy true crime and paranormal things that happened on their sets.
Find the full notes for this episode, including where you can learn more about this topic, at learnaboutpod.com. You can also follow us on Instagram and Twitter at @learnaboutpod.
Support us on Patreon: patreon.com/learnaboutpod
In the third episode of Spooky Month, Charlotte talks about the most famous witch hunt in history: the Salem Witch Trials. Learn about what happened that fateful year in Salem, Massachusetts, as well as some of the ways witches would be put on trial.
Find the full notes for this episode, including where you can learn more about this topic, at learnaboutpod.com. You can also follow us on Instagram and Twitter at @learnaboutpod.
Support us on Patreon: patreon.com/learnaboutpod
For our second Spooky Month episode, we're joined by Charlotte's good friend Bethan, who tells us all about a selection of cursed films: films that are known as being cursed because of multiple mysteries and strange deaths that are linked to them.
Bethan discusses:
- The Omen
- The Exorcist
- The Poltergeist franchise
- Rebel Without a Cause
- Atuk
Find the full notes for this episode, including where you can learn more about this topic, at learnaboutpod.com. You can also follow us on Instagram and Twitter at @learnaboutpod.
Support us on Patreon: patreon.com/learnaboutpod
In this episode, we're kicking off Spooky Month! And we can't kick off the season of pumpkin spice and Hocus Pocus without talking about the festival that surrounds it all – Halloween. Ellie teaches us about the origins of Halloween and why we celebrate it the way we do.
Find the full show notes for this episode at learnaboutpod.com.
Music attribution: Nightmare Machine by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4133-nightmare-machine
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Support us on Patreon: patreon.com/learnaboutpod
Charlotte dives into the story of Hansel and Gretel — but more so, the true story that inspired the tale (and many other dark fairy tales that were written all over the world).
In this episode, you have a treat in store: I do a reading of the full story of Hansel and Gretel by the Brothers Grimm, and to make it more atmospheric, we've got sound effects! Grab a drink, maybe some popcorn, sit back, and enjoy!
Find the full show notes at learnaboutpod.com.
Support us on Patreon: patreon.com/learnaboutpod
Would you smear lead or arsenic on your face, ingest radiation, or sit under an X-ray machine for 20 hours all in the name of beauty? That's what people throughout history did!
Ellie talks about some of history's most deadly makeup trends, from the horrifying origin of false eyelashes to the cages women wore on their heads to stop vermin being attracted to their lard-filled hair.
Find the full notes for this episode at learnaboutpod.com. And if you're listening on Apple Podcasts, please leave us a review!
Support us on Patreon: patreon.com/learnaboutpod
We're joined by our first ever guest, and we're diving into a subject we haven't covered on the podcast before: true crime! Llinos joins us to talk about Lizzie Borden, an American woman who was accused of brutally murdering her father and stepmother. However, she was declared not guilty, and the case was never officially solved.
Thanks so much to Llinos for joining us - if you want to be a guest and teach us something, get in touch on our website!
You can find the full notes for this episode at learnaboutpod.com.
Support us on Patreon: patreon.com/learnaboutpod
While we might think of Loki as a major villain of Norse mythology, it is actually Loki’s children that are some of the most terrifying and interesting creatures in the Viking stories. In this episode, we learn about them!
Let us know if you want us to cover more Norse mythology by getting in touch with us on our website, or we're @learnaboutpod on Twitter and Instagram.
Find the full show notes for this episode at learnaboutpod.com.
Support us on Patreon: patreon.com/learnaboutpod
How did things we see every day come to be? Charlotte discusses the origin stories of some common inventions we use a lot today, including t-shirts, general anaesthetic, chewing gum, and the Slinky.
Find the full notes and list of resources for this episode at learnaboutpod.com.
Support us on Patreon: patreon.com/learnaboutpod
This episode focuses on weird time travel stories that potentially "prove" a glitch in the Matrix. Whether you're a cynic (like Charlotte) or a believer (like Ellie), listen to this episode and let us know what you think!
Find the full notes and resources for this episode at learnaboutpod.com.
Support us on Patreon: patreon.com/learnaboutpod
Hamilton has taken the world by storm over the past few years, and as we love to focus on powerful women in this podcast, we learn about the Schuyler sisters and what their lives were actually like historically, compared to their portrayal in the show.
Learn more about this episode at learnaboutpod.com.
Support us on Patreon: patreon.com/learnaboutpod
In another interesting war story (listen to episode #3 for an incredible story about the Great Emu War of Australia, 1932), we learn about Corporal Wojtek, a bear—yes, a bear—who served alongside the Polish army in World War II.
Learn more about this episode at learnaboutpod.com.
Support us on Patreon: patreon.com/learnaboutpod
Charlotte's here to talk about 2 things she loves: musical theatre, and inspirational women. Learn about the real-life event that inspired by international hit musical Come From Away, and the incredible life of pilot Beverly Bass, whose plane was diverted to Gander in Newfoundland, Canada in the wake of 9/11.
Find the full notes for this episode at learnaboutpod.com.
Support us on Patreon: patreon.com/learnaboutpod
Ellie, who spent a year travelling in Australia, New Zealand and Los Angeles, shares some tips and advice for those who are considering doing it too. Whether it's a year-long excursion or a short city break, listen to this episode for tips on reducing costs, organising your trip, making the most of your time while you're away, and more.
Find the full notes & more for this episode at learnaboutpod.com.
Support us on Patreon: patreon.com/learnaboutpod
What is multi-level marketing? Charlotte discusses MLMs, how they follow such a toxic and immoral business model that only 1% of people make a living from, and some examples including Arbonne, Team Beachbody, and LuLaRoe.
Find the full notes for this episode at learnaboutpod.com.
Support us on Patreon: patreon.com/learnaboutpod
In another episode about an amazing woman in history, Ellie talks about Nellie Bly: an American 19th century feminist who transformed the face of investigative journalism by infiltrating a New York asylum in order to get her dream job as a journalist.
Find the full notes for this episode at learnaboutpod.com.
Support us on Patreon: patreon.com/learnaboutpod
Charlotte gets her space nerd on again in this episode: she talks about Titan, the second-largest moon in the solar system, belonging to her favourite planet Saturn. Why is this the best moon? Because in 6 billion years, we might be able to live on it!
Find the notes for this episode and all the others at learnaboutpod.com.
Support us on Patreon: patreon.com/learnaboutpod
Diversity and inclusion is always an important topic, but it's especially relevant right now. This month has been huge for the Black Lives Matter movement, and it's also Pride month! In this episode, Ellie showcases 5 diverse characters in the Marvel comics, including a queer Latinx woman, a kickass Muslim teenager, and a proud LGBTQ+ couple.
Note: We're both big allies of the Black Lives Matter movement. We record these episodes far in advance, and it just so happens that this episode seems especially important to share right now. Here's how you can help support the BLM movement: blacklivesmatters.carrd.co
You can find the notes for this episode and all the others at our website, learnaboutpod.com.
Support us on Patreon: patreon.com/learnaboutpod
Charlotte compares the events of the Titanic in real life to the famous film adaptation by James Cameron. She also talks about some slightly strange films inspired by the Titanic (including animated talking animals), and the incredible story of Violet Jessop, a Titanic steward who became known as Miss Unsinkable.
Find the full notes for this episode at learnaboutpod.com.
Support us on Patreon: patreon.com/learnaboutpod
Have you listened to our episode about the original dark tale of Rapunzel? In this episode, we follow up on this episode by talking about the original tale of Cinderella. It's definitely a heck of a lot darker than the Disney version!
Find the notes for this episode and all the others at learnaboutpod.com.
Support us on Patreon: patreon.com/learnaboutpod
Join us for a special extended episode as we reach our first milestone of 20 episodes! Get to know us, how this show came to be, and learn some tips on how to start your own podcast.
Timestamps:
- 3:24 - Discussing Disney films
- 12:23 - Tips for working from home
- 16:27 - Animal Crossing
- 20:04 - Would you rather...?
- 38:08 - Answering questions from listeners + tips on how to start a podcast
- 1:02:28 - Podcasts we're listening to at the moment
- 1:10:41 - Fun facts submitted by listeners
Find the full show notes for this episode at learnaboutpod.com.
Support us on Patreon: patreon.com/learnaboutpod
In this episode (that is a bit late because Charlotte sucks at uploading them on time), Ellie talks about Easter traditions all around the world, including Spain, Germany, Australia, Italy, and more!
Find the full show notes for this episode and more at learnaboutpod.com.
Support us on Patreon: patreon.com/learnaboutpod
Charlotte talks about all sorts and weird and wonderful laws that still exist today around the world. Most of them are so archaic and old that they surely can't still be policed, but technically, they are still in effect today!
There are a ton of links and resources for this episode, so if you want to learn more, head to our website, learnaboutpod.com.
Support us on Patreon: patreon.com/learnaboutpod
We're going back to Greek Mythology in this episode! Ellie teaches us about Persephone, who was abducted by Hades and became the queen of the underworld. Her story also caused her to be known as the goddess of the spring season.
Find the notes for this episode and join our mailing list for updates at learnaboutpod.com.
Support us on Patreon: patreon.com/learnaboutpod
Film nerds, this is for you! Charlotte and Ellie discuss the Academy Awards and (the lack of) diversity in film - not just in film awards, but in the film industry as a whole. We talk about declining Oscars viewing figures over the years, the dramatic Moonlight/La La Land mixup of 2017, Parasite, Taika Waititi, and more.
You can find all of the notes for this episode and all the others at learnaboutpod.com.
Support us on Patreon: patreon.com/learnaboutpod
We're flying back to space in this episode all about the Aquarius constellation! Ellie talks about its origins, related mythology, when you can see the constellation in the sky, and other fun facts.
Find the full notes and list of resources at learnaboutpod.com.
Support us on Patreon: patreon.com/learnaboutpod
This episode is a follow-up to episode 4, the story of Annie Edson Taylor, so we recommend listening to that first!
In this episode, Charlotte talks about Bobby Leach, the second person to traverse the Niagara Falls in a barrel, and who died a surprisingly sad and mundane death after living a life of reckless adventure.
Find the full notes for this episode at learnaboutpod.com.
Support us on Patreon: patreon.com/learnaboutpod
(Note: Apologies for some crackling in the audio of this episode.)
It's Pancake Day (or Shrove Tuesday, as it should be correctly named) soon, so we learn all about why Pancake Day exists, some of the centuries-old traditions that still happen today, and the interesting and unique celebrations that happen in other countries all over the world.
Find the full show notes for this episode at learnaboutpod.com.
Support us on Patreon: patreon.com/learnaboutpod
(Note: Apologies for some crackling in the audio of this episode.)
Today, Charlotte talks about mythology that's a little closer to home: the Mabinogion, a famous collection of Celtic folklore that dates back to the 12th-13th Century. The stories are set in the world of giants and enchantments where royal families are at war, people transform into animals, and wizards craft a woman from flowers.
Read the full notes for this episode here.
Support us on Patreon: patreon.com/learnaboutpod
Ellie tells the story of another amazing woman from history: Anne Bonny, pirate queen of the Caribbean, who refused to live the patriarchal life set out for her by her father, and instead, sailed the seas as a badass pirate in disguise.
Find the full notes for this episode at learnaboutpod.com.
Support us on Patreon: patreon.com/learnaboutpod
We dive into a dark and grim (and Grimm) tale today: the original story of Rapunzel. We all know the famous story of the girl locked in the tower by her adoptive mother, and most of us have seen Disney's musical version - but today, Charlotte tells us the original story by Brothers Grimm.
Find the full notes for this episode at learnaboutpod.com.
Support us on Patreon: patreon.com/learnaboutpod
Ellie teaches us about some strange births of Greek Gods: from sibling couples, Zeus birthing a fully-grown adult from his forehead, and another from inside his shin, we've got some weird and wonderful stories for you in this episode!
Find the full notes for this episode and sign up for our mailing list at learnaboutpod.com.
Support us on Patreon: patreon.com/learnaboutpod
In the first episode of 2020 (and the decade!) Charlotte goes over some stats about New Year's resolutions, and shares 8 tips on how to make your goals more exciting, more attainable, and easier to achieve.
See the full show notes at learnaboutpod.com.
Support us on Patreon: patreon.com/learnaboutpod