Queens Kiki December 5, 2025

We’re back with Part 2 of our deep dive into Helena Blavatsky—the controversial, chaotic, and endlessly woo woo founder of modern occultism. In this episode, we follow Madame Blavatsky’s journey to America, where she teams up with Henry Steele Olcott and steps fully into her era as a spiritualism celebrity. From the founding of Theosophy to her many scandals, disputed “miracles,” and the wild amount of cultural appropriation baked into her work, we’re unpacking the messy, fascinating legacy that shaped New Age spirituality, occult history, and the modern mystic movement. If you’ve ever wondered how one woman became the blueprint for so much 19th-century spiritualism—for better and worse—this episode has you covered. Time stamps 00:00 Intro 01:26 Helena's Lost Decade and Move to America 02:37 The Rise of Spiritualism 06:23 Helena's Struggles and New Beginnings 10:14 Meeting the Eddie Brothers 14:02 Partnership with Henry Steele Olcott 17:26 Founding the Theosophical Society 22:47 The Success of 'Isis Unveiled' 26:03 Helena's Celebrity Era 26:27 Move to India and Cultural Appropriation 29:51 Blavatsky's Popularity and Controversy in India 32:51 Health Issues and Betrayal 40:50 The Secret Doctrine and Blavatsky's Theories 45:40 Final Years and Legacy Queens podcast is part of Airwave Media podcast network. Please get in touch with [email protected] if you would like to advertise on our podcast. Want more Queens? Head to our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, check out our⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ merch store⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Never miss a Queens Podcast happening! Sign up for our newsletter: https://eepurl.com/gZ-nYf Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Surprise, y'all! It's a kiki on the main feed! Katy and Nathan are stuck at home for the holidays, so obviously we’re talking shit into microphones. In this series you can expect tarot pulls, feminist history side quests, pop culture rants, internet drama (looking at you, rage bait), and whatever else is living rent-free in our brains this week. Grab a drink, grab your headphones, and come kiki with us while we gossip about the past, present, and extremely cursed timeline we’re living in. 00:00 Introduction and Holiday Plans 02:35 Thanksgiving Recap and Family Stories 03:47 One Card Tarot pull 06:14 Word of the year Rage Bait 12:11 Spotify Wrapped and Listener Stats 17:44 Wicked Fatigue and Movie Reviews 25:58 The Running Man and why are movies so long 28:39 Diddy Documentary Review 30:49 Sabrina Carpenter vs The White House 35:55 Stranger Things and Aging Cast 40:10 Frankenstein and Woke Criticism 43:18 Conclusion and Upcoming Episodes Queens podcast is part of Airwave Media podcast network. Please get in touch with [email protected] if you would like to advertise on our podcast. Want more Queens? Head to our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, check out our⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ merch store⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Never miss a Queens Podcast happening! Sign up for our newsletter: https://eepurl.com/gZ-nYf Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we dive into the chaotic, controversial, and extremely entertaining life of Helena Blavatsky — the 19th-century mystic, world traveler, occult celebrity, and eventual co-founder of the Theosophical Society. But before she became the founder (grifter?) of a major spiritual movement, she was just a kooky little girl born into the Russian aristocracy with a flair for folklore, drama, and telling everyone she could talk to ghosts. Whether you know her as a spiritual icon, a fraud, or the original chaos witch of the Victorian era, this episode explores the myths, scandals, astral projections, and truly unhinged adventures that shaped the occult revival, Victorian spiritualism, esoteric philosophy, and the early New Age movement. If you’re into messy historical women, occult weirdness, or “Ma’am, what are you doing?” energy… welcome home. Time stamps: 00:00 Introduction & chat 02:51 Introducing Helena Blavatsky 03:52 Mocktail Recipe: Black Magic Mocktail 05:55 Helena's Early Life and Family Background 28:34 Formative Years in Tiflis 30:36 Discovering Esoteric Knowledge 35:10 Helena's Paranormal Experiences 38:24 The Runaway Bride 49:14 Helena's Lost Decade 55:42 Introduction to Spiritualism Sources: Jules Evans, “Madame Blavatsky and the Perils of Mass Occultism” ⁠https://julesevans.medium.com/madame-blavatsky-and-the-perils-of-mass-occultism-333fcd765c43⁠ JSTOR Daily — “Spiritualism, Science, and the Mysterious Madame Blavatsky” ⁠https://daily.jstor.org/spiritualism-science-and-the-mysterious-madame-blavatsky/⁠ CBC Radio: Ideas — Madame Blavatsky episode ⁠https://www.cbc.ca/radio/ideas/madame-blavatsky-a-seeker-of-truth-and-a-fraud-1.6478885⁠ Pro Theosophy Documentary ⁠https://youtu.be/WWEpVd2AaBo?si=7wPZ6MmmYE9ooSee⁠ Blavatsky & Theosophy Video Explainer ⁠https://youtu.be/WAVimQTTlgs?si=G1puAIJQwpDyApAu⁠ Queens podcast is part of Airwave Media podcast network. Please get in touch with [email protected] if you would like to advertise on our podcast. Want more Queens? Head to our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, check out our⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ merch store⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Never miss a Queens Podcast happening! Sign up for our newsletter: https://eepurl.com/gZ-nYf Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome back, Queens. Today, we're heading to Brazil to get into the life of the iconic fashion designer turned political activist, Zuzu Angel. In the middle of Brazil’s 1960s–70s military dictatorship, Zuzu turned her runway into a rebellion. Her bright, tropical designs celebrated the culture her government was trying to silence, and when her son was “disappeared” for opposing the regime, she used fashion itself as protest. If you love your fashion with a side of badass activism, then this story is for you. Time stamps: 00:00 Introduction and Content Warning 00:59 Katy's Trip to Rio and Brazilian Women in History 02:29 Introducing Suzu Angel: From Fashion to Activism 03:33 Brazilian Cocktails and Listener shoutouts 06:58 Early Life of Zuzu Angel 12:26 Zuzu's Family and Early Career 16:07 Rise to Fame: Zuzu's Fashion Journey 24:36 Political Climate in Brazil 30:54 The Rise of Student Dissidence 37:47 Zuzu's Artistic Resistance 45:57 The Tragic Fate of Stuart 55:16 Zuzu's Legacy and Final Thoughts Sources: Traditional Bahian dress: https://www.alamy.com/bahiana-woman-in-traditional-dress-salvador-bahia-brazil-image1929717.html Carea Embroidery: https://vettycreations.com.au/white-threads/2013/05/22/south-american-whitework/ Letter from Alex https://americasouthandnorth.wordpress.com/2013/04/21/get-to-know-a-brazilian-zuzu-angel/ https://thestylestorian.com/2016/08/16/zuzu-angel-the-rebel-of-brazilian-fashion/ Queens podcast is part of Airwave Media podcast network. Please get in touch with [email protected] if you would like to advertise on our podcast. Want more Queens? Head to our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, check out our⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ merch store⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Never miss a Queens Podcast happening! Sign up for our newsletter: https://eepurl.com/gZ-nYf Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Here it is, the finale to the wild life of Margaret Pole, Countess of Salisbury and last great Plantagenet. What a rollercoaster it's been. We jump back into Henry VIII’s chaos: Catherine of Aragon cast aside, Anne Boleyn crowned (and gone), Thomas Cromwell on the rise, and our fiercely Catholic Margaret trying to keep her head We follow Reginald Pole’s “turbo treason” across Europe and watch as the Exeter Conspiracy brings down Margaret and her family. From skipped coronations and pointed petitions to house arrest and the Tower, we unpack how a 60-something noblewoman became the poster child for Tudor paranoia, and why her 1541 execution by bill of attainder stunned Europe. Time stamps: 00:00 Introduction 01:39 Recap of Margaret Pole's Life 02:48 Margaret Pole's Political Struggles 11:10 Reginald Pole's Defiance 22:28 Margaret Pole's Family Dynamics 26:03 Reginald Pole and the Exeter Conspiracy 28:18 Jeff's Arrest and Interrogation 30:22 Margaret's Incriminating Evidence 33:05 Speculations and Interrogations 40:28 Margaret's Imprisonment and Execution 46:18 Margaret's Legacy Sources: https://rebeccastarrbrown.com/2018/01/13/the-last-plantagenet-margaret-pole-countess-of-salisbury/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mi7lMHlQty0  https://tudortimes.co.uk/people/margaret-plantagenet-life-story/the-wrath-of-a-prince-1538-1541  https://open.spotify.com/episode/5LUAzFiDpEbj0QiP92Ac33 Queens podcast is part of Airwave Media podcast network. Please get in touch with [email protected] if you would like to advertise on our podcast. Want more Queens? Head to our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, check out our⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ merch store⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Spooky season is upon us witches and in this Patreon fave we are taking y'all to one of England's oldest (and most haunted?) castles: Warwick Castle. There we'll meet some of their most famous ghosts, talk Victorian era seances and maybe even meet a shapeshifter or two. Tune into this one for: Wars of the Roses ghosts, Aleister Crowley séances, the ghost of Sir Fulke Greville, gray ladies, real life dungeons and so much more. Pair it with our haunted Hampton Court palace episode if you're really in the mood for a fright. Time stamps: 00:00 Introduction to Queen's Podcast 00:45 Warwick Castle: A Haunted History 02:02 Warwick Castle Through the Ages 05:22 Modern-Day Warwick Castle 08:43 The Ghost of Sir Fulke Greville 17:04 The Legend of the Black Dog 20:29 The Gray Lady of Warwick Castle 23:16 Countess of Warwick and the Supernatural 29:50 Daisy and Alistair Crowley's Seance 34:13 Hauntings in the Dungeon Queens podcast is part of Airwave Media podcast network. Please get in touch with [email protected] if you would like to advertise on our podcast. Want more Queens? Head to our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, check out our⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ merch store⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lady Catherine Gordon: Wife of Perkin Warbeck| Tudor & Wars of the Roses History In this special rerun from Katy’s Corner (originally released to Patreon in 2022), Katy dives into the fascinating, often overlooked life of Lady Katherine Gordon, wife of the infamous pretender Perkin Warbeck — aka the guy who pretended to be Richard Duke of York (of the Princes in the Tower fame). This episode is a perfect little snack for fans of Tudor history, Wars of the Roses drama, and under-told stories of women in history. Time stamps: 00:00 Introduction to Queen's Podcast 00:57 Lady Elizabeth Gordon: The Mysterious Wife of Perkin Warbeck 01:24 Catherine's Scottish Roots and Family Dynamics 05:41 Marriage to Perkin Warbeck 08:04 Life at the Scottish Court and Perkin's Ambitions 16:36 Capture and Life in England 24:32 Catherine's Later Years and Legacy Sources:  https://tudorsdynasty.com/king-henry-vii-and-the-mystery-of-lady-catherine-gordon/  https://thehistoryofengland.co.uk/resource/catherine-gordon-and-perkin-warbeck/ https://thehistoryjar.com/tag/perkin-warbecks-son/ Queens podcast is part of Airwave Media podcast network. Please get in touch with [email protected] if you would like to advertise on our podcast. Want more Queens? Head to our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, check out our⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ merch store⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Margaret Pole Part II: Countess of Salisbury, Catherine of Aragon’s Bestie & Mary Tudor’s Mentor In this episode, we track Margaret from a broke widow and Catherine of Aragon’s confidante to a savvy court operator who’s made a Countess in her own right. But, this is the Tudor era so something wild is always lurking right around the corner. We're talking messy divorce scandals, treasonous dukes and just a whole lot of drama. Listen for: Wars of the Roses fallout, early King Henry VIII of England vibes (pre–axe era), Queen Mary Tudor’s childhood, sweating sickness, and how one woman’s patronage and grit shaped a future queen. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction and Patreon Shoutouts 01:10 Recap of Margaret Pole's Early Life 02:08 Margaret's Marriage and Family Dynamics 06:52 Margaret's Role in Catherine of Aragon's Life 09:31 Sweating Sickness and Personal Losses 12:28 Margaret's Financial Hardships 20:53 Young Henry VIII and Margaret's New Role 22:15 Henry VIII's Generosity and Margaret's Return to Court 25:30 Margaret's Rise in Wealth and Influence 28:01 Margaret's Role in Princess Mary's Life 31:34 The Buckingham Scandal and Its Impact 37:37 Margaret's Loyalty to Catherine of Aragon 42:37 Henry VIII's Divorce and Its Fallout Some resources: ⁠Rebecca Star Brown: The Last Plantagenet⁠ ⁠Trashy Royals ⁠The Tudor Chest Podcast⁠ Queens podcast is part of Airwave Media podcast network. Please get in touch with [email protected] if you would like to advertise on our podcast. Want more Queens? Head to our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, check out our⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ merch store⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Margaret Pole, Pt. 1: The Last Plantagenet Standing Birthright, backstabbing, barrels of wine, missing princes, and a marriage meant to keep her head attached. All in the early life of Margaret Pole. Join us as we meet a woman who survived the Wars of the Roses only to be thrust into the Tudor Court. You can expect A LOT of drama and omg just so many Edwards. This episode only brings Maggie into her 20's and she lived a very long life (especially for the times), so this will certainly be a multi-part series! See y'all for part 2. Content notes Mentions of execution, imprisonment, child mortality, and political violence. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction and Catching Up 02:12 Introducing Margaret Pole and the Wars of the Roses 04:29 Margaret's Early Life and Family Drama 08:56 The Downfall of Margaret's Parents 25:58 Living with Uncle Richard III 27:43 Margaret's Uncertain Future 30:57 Life Under the Tudors 42:45 The Perkin Warbeck Affair 50:14 Tragic Endings and New Beginnings Some resources: Rebecca Star Brown: The Last Plantagenet HerStory Podcast The Tudor Chest Podcast Queens podcast is part of Airwave Media podcast network. Please get in touch with [email protected] if you would like to advertise on our podcast. Want more Queens? Head to our ⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠, check out our⁠⁠⁠⁠ merch store⁠⁠⁠⁠, and follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We kick off a brand-new season of Queens Podcast with the one and only Janis Joplin—Port Arthur’s wild child who became a 1960s rock legend. From awkward high-school years in segregated Texas to discovering the blues, to fronting Big Brother & the Holding Company, bringing down the house at Monterey Pop, and flying into Woodstock by helicopter, Katy and Nathan trace the meteoric rise—and heartbreaking fall—of a woman who refused to shrink herself. Expect Texas gossip, bisexual chaos, and the usual Queens Podcast charm Time stamps: 00:00 Welcome to Queen's Podcast 03:02 Introducing Janis Joplin 08:47 High School Struggles 13:57 College and Early Music Career 17:07 San Francisco and the Hippie Movement 24:27 Return to Texas and Attempt to Get Clean 25:53 Big Brother and the Holding Company 29:27 Peggy: The Villain or Friend? 33:00 Monterey Pop Festival and Rising Fame 38:23 Woodstock 42:20 The Downward Spiral 45:07 A Glimmer of Hope in Brazil 47:38 Final Days and Legacy Sources: Birth chart: https://astro-charts.com/persons/chart/janis-joplin/  https://www.theguardian.com/music/2015/nov/22/janis-joplin-teenage-traumas-little-girl-blue  https://sharpscript.net/usecases/rockstar-files/dead/joplin/  She dares to be different: https://www.michaelcorcoran.net/she-dares-to-be-different-janis-at-ut-1962/  Monterey fest: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X1zFnyEe3nE Queens podcast is part of Airwave Media podcast network. Please get in touch with [email protected] if you would like to advertise on our podcast. Want more Queens? Head to our ⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠, check out our⁠⁠⁠ merch store⁠⁠⁠, and follow us on ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices