Samhain

Ummmm yes hello, it's the continuation of Spooky Season 2026! This week, we honor that it is also Spooky Lake Month, in a nod to TikTok user (at)geodesaurus. We're learning all about Roopkund Lake, also known as Skeleton Lake, a spot in the middle of the Himalayas that just happens to be full of bones. Whose bones are they? Why are they there? Let's get into this spooky mystery!

Happy Spooky Season to one and all! Let's learn about the harvest festival that started it all, the celebration that gave us our spooky traditions: Samhain! We apologize for any terrible pronunciations, lost trains of thought, and theological rants that may or may not be included in this episode.

Do you know the origin story of the game Monopoly? No, not that one, the real one! This week, we learn about the woman who created the game we now know as Monopoly, the message she intended to send, and how she never saw a penny for its wild success.

Born to nobility, married to nobility, she ruled her domains and swiftly defeated her enemies. AND she was an accomplished alchemist who single-handedly created the foundations for historical pharmacology? Let's learn about Caterina Sforza!

A Holy Roman Empress, though that wasn't technically her title. A Queen of England who never actually got to be queen. It's complicated. Let's learn about Empress Matilda!

You may recognize her story as the inspiration for one of your favorite characters from The Gilded Age. She was a socialite-turned-aristocrat, thanks to her mother's meddling. She built a hospital in France. She's the endlessly fascinating Consuelo Vanderbilt Balsan.

You know we love an author, and this week, we're talking about one of our favorites: Louisa May Alcott. She grew up around famous writers, defied gender norms, and gave us one of the most influential stories of our childhoods.

CONTENT WARNING: This episode contains mentions of suicide. It's another historical mystery! She was a socialite with ambitions to become a writer, and she vanished from the busy streets of New York City. No one ever saw her again. What happened to Dorothy Arnold?

Pride 2026 continues! This week, we learn all about activist Kiyoshi Kuromiya, who was born into an internment camp, marched alongside Dr. King, traveled the world writing books, and tried to make a building levitate. Join us as we dive into his fascinating and accomplished life!

Happy Pride Month 2026! As always, we're bringing you Pride-themed episodes in June. We kick things off with a look at the life of one of Anna's favorite children's authors: a gay man, an artist, and a brilliant creative mind, who taught us to love and live with our sadness. Let's learn about Maurice Sendak.