The Reluctant Historian

Welcome back folks to Season Two of The Reluctant Historian!

On our first Wicked Wednesday episode, Liz shares the horrible true history of the world’s first recorded serial killer, Elizabeth Bathory.…

This week, on the last regularly scheduled episode for 2021, Liz shares the history of Christmas, looking at how it came to be celebrated on December 25 and it’s pagan roots.  Then, she delves into e…

This week, Liz and Dakota talk about an interesting mythical being from Austria: Krampus. Listen as Liz shares the history of where Krampus came from, some things he’s known for, and how people aroun…

This week Liz and Dakota look at what happened when two individuals were forgotten on an island in the middle of Lake Superior.  Left to their own devices for ten months in the dead of winter, would …

This week, Liz and Dakota talk about the scientifically proven worst year to be alive.   Any guesses?  Well this episode will tell you the truth! Featuring Ray Romano, they discuss Climate Change, sn…

This week, Liz makes Dakota listen to her talk about China's first Emperor, Qin Shi Huangdi. Recounting his feats, as well as his tyrannical nature, Liz talks about mercury poisoning, burying people …

In this week's episode, Liz and Dakota talk about some real spooky stuff: the Windigo.  A monster from Algonquian history, the Windigo was too scary for Liz to research on her own.  Take a listen to …

This week for spooky szn, Liz and Dakota look at a number of mysterious best attacks that occurred in the French region of Gevaudan in 1764.  With reports of over 100 gruesome maulings and deaths, wh…

This week, Liz and Dakota continue to look at the effects of the witchcraft craze, with the case study of the Salem Witch Trials.  Starting with what made Salem ripe for a witch hysteria outbreak to …

It’s spooky season, witches!  This week, Liz and Dakota look at the history of European Witches, starting with where they came from, to why the Church was obsessed with them, to the identification of…

This week, in honour of The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation in Canada, Liz and Dakota take a look into the history of residential schools. 

If you or someone you know is in crisis and needs …

This week, Liz and Dakota tackle the history of the Black Death.  Looking first at how it spread across Europe, they examine the disease, cures, and responses to the turmoil that existed in medieval …

On this week’s very special episode, Liz tells Dakota a story of World War II trickery and deception.  Retelling the Allied invasion of Sardinia, no wait, was it Sicily?  We’re not sure, but Liz expl…

This week, Liz predicts the end of times, and explains to Dakota what that looks like in terms of the Christian Bible and the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse as talked about in the Book of Revelation…

On this week's very special episode of The Reluctant Historian, Liz retells the Shakespearean tragedy, Macbeth.  If you've ever wondered just what this whole story is all about, in real English and a…

This week, Liz and Dakota look at an interesting epidemic from history, you know, the one where the people of Strasbourg just couldn’t stop dancing?  Never heard of it?  Well stay tuned to hear all a…

On this week’s episode, Liz and Dakota take a look back at a unique, and maybe controversial, cure for Tuberculosis.  In the course of doing so, they discuss old timey beliefs and superstitions and h…

This week, Liz and Dakota take a look back at one of the worst medical disasters in history, the prescribing of the drug thalidomide to pregnant mothers, and the effects this had on the babies they d…