Bitterly lonely and abandoned by her family, Anna Ivanovna grew to hate love. And when she became the unlikely Empress of Russia she used her power to build an ice palace that was both a spectacle and a torture chamber.
Apr 14
The Mad Baron in Mongolia (Part 1)
In 1921, a Russian officer named Roman von Ungern-Sternberg invaded Mongolia, ostensibly with the goal to liberate it from Chinese forces. But he had his own ulterior motives, and a pattern of cruelty that was only beginning. Support Noble Blood:— Bonus episodes, stickers, and sc ... Show More
28m 53s
Apr 11
This Is Not a Drill: Hawaii's Text Message Debacle [from Very Special Episodes]
On a quiet morning in Hawaii in 2018, cell phones lit up with a text message that felt impossible. A ballistic missile was inbound, and this was not a drill. For 38 minutes, hundreds of thousands of people believed they were living their final moments. For Very Special Episodes, ... Show More
54m 18s
Apr 7
The Queen Mother Who Refused to Die
Against the odds, Idia's son, Esigie, became the leader—Oba—of the Edo people. And against even greater odds, Idia survived to help him rule.Support Noble Blood:—PRE-ORDER 'THE ARCANE ARTS'— Bonus episodes, stickers, and scripts on Patreon— Order Dana's book, 'Anatomy: A Love Sto ... Show More
34m 13s
Nov 2021
Russia’s Real-life Ice Queen, Part 1: The Tsar is a Jerk
<p>“Despite being born into royalty, Anna Ioannovna didn’t have the easiest life. Her uncle publicly ridiculed her marriage, and the cruelty she experienced growing up may have had lasting emotional damage, leading her to eventually build an actual ice palace.”</p><p> </p> Learn ... Show More
25m 41s
Nov 2021
Russia’s Real-life Ice Queen, Part 2: Weird, Brutal Flexes
<p>As rulers go, Anna of Russia was considered pretty bad news. In the second part of this two-part series, the guys explore how Anna (aka Anna the Terrible)'s traumatic life experience may have contributed to her later, profoundly cruel punishments -- things like forcing a disgr ... Show More
32m 47s
Jan 2023
The Princess of the Kremlin
In the midst of the Cold War, Joseph Stalin's only daughter, Svetlana Alliluyeva, decides to flee Mother Russia to start a new life in America. But with the KGB on her tail, how on earth is she going to get out? Playwright Dan Kitrosser unravels her story. See omnystudio.com/list ... Show More
38m 43s
Nov 2011
Sisi: The Empress of Austria and Her Cult of Beauty
<p>Empress Elisabeth of Austria, better known as Sisi, is often considered the public's "favorite" member of the Habsburgs. She only reluctantly carried out her duties, but her murder created an outcry across Europe -- and the story doesn't end there.</p><p> </p> Learn more about ... Show More
30m 4s
Sep 2019
Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz
She was the Spanish empire’s most widely published poet of her time, and her work has survived until today, but not her own thoughts about much of her life. Consequently, her life, and her very complex poetry, has been really subject to interpretation. Learn more about your ad-ch ... Show More
39m 31s
Nov 2015
Sophia Duleep Singh, Part 1: Princess In Exile
<p>A princess of the Sikh empire, Sophia Duleep Singh grew up in Great Britain, and was Queen Victoria's god daughter. But her childhood was not exactly a charmed one, and her family, caught between two worlds, experienced great upheaval and tragedy.</p><p> </p> Learn more about ... Show More
24m 45s