Sex, Slaves & Pickled Children: The Wild Origins of Christmas

Jesus is the reason for the season...right? Eh, not really. I'll break down the Roman festivals, Pagan rituals, and Victorian branding that turned sex-drenched slave parties, serial killers and a vengeful saint into the Christmas we know today—from Christmas trees to Santa Claus.Plus, why exactly Jesus' message made such an impression on the blood-loving Romans!Thank you for listening to the first season of Crowned & Cancelled! If you need some holiday help, join me in our exclusive community for high value women looking for support and sisterhood, The Shallontourage! Try us free for a week you'll know if it's for you ;) Special thank you to our researcher for this episode, Barbara, who you can find at https://docenshistoria.com/ definitely look her up if you're heading to Rome! And another major thank you to our editor/producer/composer, drop her a line at [email protected] if you need anything audio/video production!

Step into Tudor England at its bloodiest and most unhinged, where monarchs changed religions on a whim and the price of disagreeing with the crown was burning alive—just ask the Oxford Martrys.In this episode, we unravel the real story behind Mary I—“Bloody Mary”—and the Oxford Martyrs whose deaths became political theater. But to understand why Protestants and Catholics were so violently at odds, we go back even further: the Medici, Martin Luther, a warrior pope and a rant that changed the world. This is a story of fire, faith, and rebellion, so you love messy history, morally gray heroes, and the way centuries-old scandals still shape modern identity and politics, this episode is your new obsession. 🥂And if you want more deep dives, feminine power lessons, and weekly transformation, join The Shallontourage—my global girl gang for confidence, strategy, and seduction. Your new era starts here. 🔥

Forget the Hallmark version — the first Thanksgiving wasn’t cute, cozy, or even particularly grateful.In this episode, we break down the real story behind the 1621 feast: the Pilgrims who knew nothing and learned even less, the Jamestown colonists who literally ate each other, and the kidnapped survivor — Squanto, who held an entire colony together. Enjoy this tale of useless assholes, entitlement and why empathy can be a deadly mistake. Pull up a chair — it’s about to get historically unhinged.Need support during the holiday chaos? Join The Shallontourage with my Black Friday 2-week free trial and get the sisterhood, sanity, and strategy!https://theshallontourage.substack.com/blackfriday

In this week's episode, we dive into how a Corsican outsider rose to dominate not just France after the French Revolution, but an entire continent—all while dealing with a hellish mother, scheming brother, and cheating, black-toothed woman he could never let go of. This episode unpacks Napoleon Bonparte's volatile reign, his toxic dynamic with the Bonaparte clan, and the way Joséphine refined him...and ruined him. And most of all, how the same ego that built an empire led him straight into catastrophe.✨ Want more deep-dives, history hot takes, and exclusive advice? Join The Shallontourage & see my upcoming trips to Europe at www.shallonlester.com

In Part 2 of our French Revolution trilogy, Robespierre’s flower-crown cult implodes and a petty, brilliant general named Napoleon steps in with pure Trump energy—loud, polarizing, unstoppable.It’s chaos, charisma, and control issues baked into one croissant-flaky empire.This episode of Crowned & Cancelled dives into the psychology of power, propaganda, and why the people who scream for freedom always end up crawling back to Daddy...Connect with me in my exclusive community, The Shallontourage and join a crew of high value new besties in my 2026 trips to the Amalfi Coast and Greek Islands!

In part one of Crowned & Cancelled's new 3-part series on the French Revolution, I'll explore's Marie Antoinette’s (fake!) cake comment, Robespierre’s flower crown, and how a country’s cry for fresh croissants turned into a full-blown national breakdown. Expect guillotines, gossip, and the psychology behind revolutions that eat their own!Next week: Robespierre faces the music and a little Corsican artillery officer has some tall ideas for the future of France...Join me in Italy and Greece in 2026!

Ever wonder why guys neg hot women? Because when there's nothing left to build, you destroy. In this episode of the Crowned & Cancelled history podcast, I dive into Oxford University's Bullingdon Club for some true dark academia—tales of aristocrats and heirs who used their privilege to move fast and break things. A lot of things. Want more tales from Oxford? Check out my free Substack, Eat Prey Love!

Before Rome was an empire, it had a mother — then it erased her. The story of Romulus and Remus isn’t about brotherhood or destiny; it’s about branding, survival, and how the woman who gave Rome life was turned into a monster. In this new history podcast from Shallon Lester, she unpacks how image is power — and why losing control of your narrative can destroy you...Let's go to Italy! History comes alive on my 5-star European getaways custom crafted for luxury and sisterhood with alpha females from around the world! Check out my new Rome & Amalfi trip for 2026 🇮🇹 🍋

Before influencer mansions or Instagram clout, there was Louis XIV’s palace, Versailles — the world’s first Hype House. And spoiler: it reeked.In this episode, Shallon Lester unpacks how The Sun King used glamour, gossip, and pure spectacle to keep France’s elite under his control — all while forgetting one tiny detail: plumbing!Versailles was a feast for the eyes...and a nightmare for the nose.But behind the wigs and perfume lies the real lesson: when you’re busy performing someone else’s idea of greatness, you end up choking on the stench of imitation.Trendsetters build empires. Followers just clean up the mess.Let's go to Italy! History comes alive on my 5-star European getaways custom crafted for luxury and sisterhood with alpha females from around the world! ⁠Check out my new Rome & Amalfi trip for 2026 ⁠ 🇮🇹 🍋

Crowned & Cancelled — formerly Girl on Top — is for anyone who hated history class but lives for drama.Each week, host Shallon Lester brings her signature sass and unapologetic advice to Marie Antoinette’s downfall, Oxford’s dark halls, the scandals of ancient Rome and so much more.It’s tabloid gossip meets dark academia — where every story is true, every downfall is relatable, and every shattered empire becomes a strategy for confidence, ambition, and survival.Smart. Savage. Addictive.Welcome to Crowned & Cancelled.