@footnotinghistory.bsky.social
The podcast where historians pluck lesser-known stories from the past and serve them to you one episode at a time. New episodes every other Saturday. Est. 2013.
It's time for the episode people tell us they look forward to the most every year...
25.10.2025 19:56 — 👍 2 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0
History for Halloween XII. Image: Black skeleton holding a scythe sitting on a clock on yellowed paper.
A dozen years of History for Halloween!? You bet! Our newest installment of creepy historical tales for the spookiest time of the year is out now:
www.footnotinghistory.com/home/history...
YouTube version: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zcys...
Ren Faire History: From Folk Music to Fried Food. Lucy. Image: Photograph of Lucy in Ren Faire clothing, smelling a flower
Out now! Lucy explores the roots of Renaissance Faires in the US, and how communes, folk music, particolored tights, and a reimagined past turn out to be more closely linked than you might imagine.
www.footnotinghistory.com/home/ren-fai...
YouTube version: www.youtube.com/watch?v=6LCG...
If you like musical theatre, Christine made a guest appearance on Thank You, Five to chat about The Scarlet Pimpernel:
11.10.2025 00:55 — 👍 5 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0
Ren Faire History: From Folk Music to Fried Food. Lucy. Image: Photograph of Lucy in Ren Faire clothing, smelling a flower
Out now! Lucy explores the roots of Renaissance Faires in the US, and how communes, folk music, particolored tights, and a reimagined past turn out to be more closely linked than you might imagine.
www.footnotinghistory.com/home/ren-fai...
YouTube version: www.youtube.com/watch?v=6LCG...
If you like musical theatre, Christine made a guest appearance on Thank You, Five to chat about The Scarlet Pimpernel:
11.10.2025 00:55 — 👍 5 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0
The Pendle Witches. Kristin. Image: Black and white drawing of two presumed witches being glared at by onlookers.
New! In 1612, nine-year-old Jennet Devize accused her mother in court of witchcraft. Her testimony led to the conviction of 11 people, 10 of whom were sent to the gallows. Find out about this infamous event now:
www.footnotinghistory.com/home/the-pen...
YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=lBS_...
Oh thank you so much!
27.09.2025 00:48 — 👍 2 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
Playing War: The development and early use of Kriegsspiel. Samantha. Image: Photograph of the game of Kriegsspiel set up for play
New Episode! In the 19th century, George Leopold von Reisswitz and Georg Heinrich Rudolf Johann von Reisswitz brought strategic gaming to a whole new level with profound results. Learn more:
www.footnotinghistory.com/home/playing...
YouTube: youtube.com/watch?v=fjMQeQg9p2Y&feature=youtu.be
Playing War: The development and early use of Kriegsspiel. Samantha. Image: Photograph of the game of Kriegsspiel set up for play
New Episode! In the 19th century, George Leopold von Reisswitz and Georg Heinrich Rudolf Johann von Reisswitz brought strategic gaming to a whole new level with profound results. Learn more:
www.footnotinghistory.com/home/playing...
YouTube: youtube.com/watch?v=fjMQeQg9p2Y&feature=youtu.be
Our YouTube channel has crossed the threshold of 3000 subscribers! We are very late to the YouTube game (we were around nearly a decade before we started posting there) so seeing it grow is extra delightful. Thanks, all!
YouTube.com/FootnotingHistory
Flyer containing a photograph of a microphone and headphones on a pale yellow background between two dark brown banners. The text on the flyer reads: Want to join Footnoting History? Become a host. We are looking to add a host (or two!) to our rotation of historians. If you have an MA (or higher) in history and are interested in podcasting, please consider applying. For more information, please visit: footnotinghistory.com/apply
We are looking for one (or two!) folks to join our team of rotating historian hosts. If you have an MA (or higher!) in history and an interest in becoming one of us, please check out FootnotingHistory.com/Apply for details and how to contact us with questions. We'd love to hear from you!
08.09.2025 12:52 — 👍 5 🔁 3 💬 0 📌 0
A Brief History of Napoleon Bonaparte's Sisters. Christine. Image: The top of three portraits, showing Elisa, Caroline, and Pauline Bonaparte from the chest up
Napoleon wasn't the only Bonaparte who lived a fascinating life. This episode tells the stories of his three sisters, looking at their personalities, rise to prominence, and how they handled their brother's fall.
www.footnotinghistory.com/home/a-brief...
YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zbou...
It's me! I get to talk about some of my favorite historical ladies in this one.
30.08.2025 19:21 — 👍 3 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0
A Brief History of Napoleon Bonaparte's Sisters. Christine. Image: The top of three portraits, showing Elisa, Caroline, and Pauline Bonaparte from the chest up
Napoleon wasn't the only Bonaparte who lived a fascinating life. This episode tells the stories of his three sisters, looking at their personalities, rise to prominence, and how they handled their brother's fall.
www.footnotinghistory.com/home/a-brief...
YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zbou...
In which I completely redo a topic I first covered a lifetime (10+ years) ago, when I was a brand new podcaster, to make it something older, wiser, more experienced me likes.
18.08.2025 06:05 — 👍 2 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0
New episode! In the 13th century, Simon de Montfort led a rebellion against his brother-in-law, King Henry III of England. Today, we're giving an updated look at his fascinating story:
www.footnotinghistory.com/home/simon-d...
YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=qw1s...
Black lounge shorts with Footnote Everything written on the left leg in white
Cream lounge shorts with Because the best stories are in the footnotes written on the left leg in black and green.
Military green lounge shorts with the circular Footnoting History est. 2013 logo on the left leg
Heather grey lounge shorts with the Footnoting History name and quill on the left leg in black and green
Fun news! We just learned our shop now carries lounge shorts. Who doesn't enjoy a new way to show your history love?
www.teepublic.com/stores/footn...
New episode! In the 13th century, Simon de Montfort led a rebellion against his brother-in-law, King Henry III of England. Today, we're giving an updated look at his fascinating story:
www.footnotinghistory.com/home/simon-d...
YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=qw1s...
Black lounge shorts with Footnote Everything written on the left leg in white
Cream lounge shorts with Because the best stories are in the footnotes written on the left leg in black and green.
Military green lounge shorts with the circular Footnoting History est. 2013 logo on the left leg
Heather grey lounge shorts with the Footnoting History name and quill on the left leg in black and green
Fun news! We just learned our shop now carries lounge shorts. Who doesn't enjoy a new way to show your history love?
www.teepublic.com/stores/footn...
New episode alert! Have you ever wondered why women's clothing is less likely to have pockets than men's? Here, Samantha dives into the history of the pocket in search of that very answer.
www.footnotinghistory.com/home/pockets...
YouTube version: www.youtube.com/watch?v=WmvO...
New episode for all next weekend!
But, if you're a patron, you get a new minisode today, so definitely check it out. Theme: 🎃
White text on a dark brown background, next to a collage of six overlapping images from 2025 Footnoting History episodes, including Tales from the Tower of London II and William and Caroline Herschel: Astronomer Siblings. Text: Updated. Teach with Footnoting History. All episodes that aired in the first half of 2025 have been added to our searchable database. We have also created downloadable resources for classroom discussion questions and understanding primary sources. Visit: FootnotingHistory.com/Teach
We may be on hiatus, but we are still working behind the scenes! Check out our updated Teach page, which features new downloadable PDFs on classroom discussion questions and understanding primary sources, as well as our searchable episode spreadsheet:
FootnotingHistory.com/Teach
A book resting on a cushion opened at a page showing illustration of an experiment on two ligated arms to show that blood in the veins flows towards the heart rather than away from it.
This is our 1st edition of William Harvey’s groundbreaking ‘Exercitatio Anatomica De Motu Cordis…’, published in 1628, which is often cited as the most important book in the history of medicine. Harvey was the first to recognize the full circulation of the blood in the human body #NationalBloodWeek
12.06.2025 10:43 — 👍 56 🔁 11 💬 0 📌 1Whoever bought merch...thank you!
Also...the sale is still going on!
Whoever bought merch...thank you!
Also...the sale is still going on!
A grid of four images with the text New Merch + Big Sale. It shows four designs on different pieces. The top left design says Henry VII did it in white and red text on a black hoodie for $32. The top right design says The Georgian Star next to the astronomical symbol for Uranus. It is shown with white text on a royal blue sticker for $2.50. The bottom left design says Footnote Everything. It is shown with white text on a black background on a t-shirt for $15. The bottom right design says historian in light green with a microphone for the first i. It is shown on a tote with a black background for $14.
We have new merch designs (including The Georgian Star, based on our most recent episode and seen below) and our entire shop is on sale! They are some of the best prices we have, especially for t-shirts, so check it out:
www.teepublic.com/stores/footn...
Wow. Phenomenal!
13.06.2025 04:35 — 👍 3 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0My newest episode is here. It's about astronomy!
17.05.2025 19:17 — 👍 3 🔁 3 💬 0 📌 0
New! Here, we cover the fascinating lives of sibling astronomers William and Caroline Herschel...plus what William thought we should call the planet he discovered (spoiler alert: Uranus wasn't his choice):
www.footnotinghistory.com/home/william...
YouTube version: www.youtube.com/watch?v=tkan...
