Ancient History Fangirl Podcast By Jenny Williamson and Genn McMenemy cover art

Ancient History Fangirl

Ancient History Fangirl

By: Jenny Williamson and Genn McMenemy
Listen for free

About this listen

 An ancient history podcast run by two Millennial women. Misbehaving emperors, poison assassins, mythological mayhem; it’s like if Hardcore History met up with My Favorite Murder in the ancient world, with a heavy helping of booze and laughter.All rights reserved Social Sciences World
Episodes
  • RE-RELEASE: Buzzballs and Buboes: The Plague of Justinian (a Drunk Deep Dive)

    RE-RELEASE: Buzzballs and Buboes: The Plague of Justinian (a Drunk Deep Dive)
    Jun 26 2025
    Help keep our podcast going by contributing to our Patreon! ⁠ This is an episode about a plague that killed up to 100 million people by the time it was done—as many as 60% of its victims. It’s the first documented occurrence of a pandemic that we have, and it’s the first documented outbreak of the deadlyYersinia pestis. No, we're not talking about the Black Death of Medieval Europe. We're talking about the Plague of Justinian. The Plague of Justinian was just one part of the fallout of the global volcanic eruption of 536 AD. Three eyewitness accounts have survived--and, in the grand tradition of this podcast, we decided to read them to you whilst Yule-level drunk. Buckle up. It is a wild, plague-tastic ride. Sponsors and Advertising This podcast is a member of Airwave Media podcast network. Want to advertise on our show? Please direct advertising inquiries to advertising@airwavemedia.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
    Show more Show less
    1 hr and 47 mins
  • How an Empire Ends: Life of Amalasuintha

    How an Empire Ends: Life of Amalasuintha
    Jun 19 2025
    ⁠Help keep our podcast going by contributing to our Patreon! In our last episode, we told you all about the rise of Theodoric the Great and the founding of the Ostrogothic Kingdom in Italy. Now, we’re going to tell you all about the women in his family—and the effect they had on his kingdom. Theodoric had a wife, a sister, and three daughters—all of whom played an important role in his empire-building. His wife was the daughter of another powerful Germanic tribe—the Franks—and he married off his sister and two eldest daughters to form strategic alliances. But three times he married off his kin, and three times it blew up in his face. Amalasuintha was Theodoric’s youngest daughter—and when he died, she was the last woman standing. For a few years, the Ostrogothic Kingdom had a Queen—but these were turbulent times. Join us as we explore the rule of Amalasuintha and the lives of Theodoric’s other tough-as-nails female kin. Sponsors and Advertising This podcast is a member of Airwave Media podcast network. Want to advertise on our show? Please direct advertising inquiries to advertising@airwavemedia.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
    Show more Show less
    1 hr and 11 mins
  • RE-RELEASE: 536 AD: A Volcanic Murder Mystery

    RE-RELEASE: 536 AD: A Volcanic Murder Mystery
    Jun 12 2025
    Help keep our podcast going by contributing to our Patreon! ⁠ What was the worst year to be alive? Some researchers have a very specific answer to this question: 536 AD. This is a year when the global temperature dropped, and it was winter all year round—for multiple years. The sun disappeared for 18 months as the world was covered in a veil of sulfuric dust. Crops failed. People starved, and fell to eating each other and warring over scarce resources. From China to Mexico, thriving civilizations collapsed. And the culprit? A volcano. Or maybe multiple volcanoes. But which ones are still a mystery. This is a historical mass murder, and it’s still unsolved. Sponsors and Advertising This podcast is a member of Airwave Media podcast network. Want to advertise on our show? Please direct advertising inquiries to advertising@airwavemedia.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
    Show more Show less
    1 hr and 34 mins
All stars
Most relevant  
I am so glad this podcast was suggested to me. With everything going on in the world its so nice to just sit back and enjoy some ancient history told by these hilarious ladies.

I love this pod cast

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.