64 episodes
Difficult Damsels Rachel & Kat
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- History
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4.0 • 26 Ratings
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Difficult Damsels is an amateur podcast, brought to you by two ridiculous humans, that explores the difficult damsels throughout history who said “f💋ck this” and broke out of their preordained roles as meek and obedient to be their most authentic selves. Your hosts Rachel and Kat delve into what it means to be a difficult damsel and just how these women changed history only to be labeled witch, mad, crazy because they dared to rise against societal and patriarchal norms and change their world! Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/difficultdamsels/support
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63. Hypatia ~ Martyr of Philosophy
Hypatia was renowned in her own lifetime as a great teacher and a wise counselor in the ancient Egyptian city of Alexandria. She was a prominent thinker, devoting herself to learning and teaching, leading the life of a respected academic at Alexandria's university. Ancient sources routinely depict Hypatia as a woman who was widely known for her generosity, love of learning, and expertise in teaching the subjects of Neoplatonism, mathematics, science, and philosophy.
Little is known of her life, but her dramatic death at the hands of Christian fanatics culminating from the escalating political feud between Alexandria’s religious faction and the governing body is well-documented. Her tragic and brutal murder sent shockwaves throughout the empire for centuries and many scholars cite her death as the end of the classical world.
Disclaimer: Hypatia was more intellectual damsel than difficult, and her story may have one of the most gruesome and tragic endings we have ever covered on our podcast. While we do not go into any sort of graphic detail, it is still very hard to hear. Listener discretion is advised.
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62. Brunhild of Austrasia Part 3
Brunhild reigned as a Queen, Queen Mother and Queen Regent for a son, two grandsons and a great grandson for forty years. She attained a level of power in Medieval Frankia that few people—male or female—would ever achieve after her.
In our epic conclusion of Brunhild’s story, we come to the end of the bloody rivalry between Brunhild and Fredegund. But that wasn’t the end of Brunhild yet! She had two unruly, and dare we say, petulant grandsons to deal with. But, as with many of the women in our epic tales, Brunhild’s downfall would come about simply because of the menfolk who considered her womanhood a threat.
The men who followed in Brunhild’s wake tried their damndest to erase her from the history books and nearly succeeded. But we refuse to let her legacy be forgotten. This story has been absolutely insane right from the start. And it remains as such right up to the bitter, brutal end.
(Spoiler alert: it’s not a happy ending!)
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61. Brunhild of Austrasia Part 2
While most Medieval Queens were generally expected to step aside for their young sons and disappear into obscurity within convent walls, Brunhild would prove to be the exception to the rule. Even after her son came of age to rule on his own, Brunhild still held an iron grip over the throne of Austrasia—much to the chagrin of the men around her.
In this episode, Brunhild faces off against threats both within and outside of her kingdom even as her rivalry with Fredegund escalates and assassins are the name of the game. Despite efforts made by her brother-in-law to undermine her relationship with her son and several failed assassination attempts against herself and her family, Brunhild proves to be a woman of iron will. And she’s not going anywhere anytime soon.
Rachel and Kat play a round of would you rather and Anya screams like the banshee she was born to be.
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60. Brunhild of Austrasia Part 1
You’ve heard the story from the murderess, Fredegund’s side. Now it’s time to here the cunning of a woman raised to be queen from birth. When Brunhild’s sister was murdered in the Kingdom of Neustria, it sparked one of the bloodiest rivalries to ever plague Europe.
The early years of Brunhild were filled with tragedy, with the deaths of two husbands, scheming in convents, fighting the patriarchy—late 6th century style—and maybe incest for the purposes of rebellion. From victory to tragedy, Brunhild was expected to fade into obscurity (twice over) as the widowed wife of the fallen king of Austrasia. But Brunhild was determined to get her revenge—and her weregild—from the king and queen responsible for so much tragedy, all while keeping the future of her kingdom and her children safe.
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59. Queen Fredegund of Neustria Part 2
When we last left off, Fredegund’s husband had just been murdered and she’s fled to Paris with an unnamed baby at her breast and an uncertain fate ahead of her. But this is Fredegund, and she’s not about to let that stop her from clawing, poisoning, stabbing, and climbing her way back to the top.
In this episode, the rivalry between Fredegund and Brunhild escalates and we also learn what happens when you challenge Fredegund. Hint: it involves dramatic assassination in the middle of a church, snapping treasure chests and very awkward dinner parties. Just when you think this story can’t get any crazier . . . it does! Over and over and over again.
Seriously. Don’t mess with Fredegund. Not if you value your neck or your life.
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58. Queen Fredegund of Neustria Part 1
It’s a choose your own adventure episode and Kat chose murder!
Queen Fredegund is quite possibly one of the most ruthless, vicious and downright villainous queens you have never heard of!
From kitchen slave to concubine to queen, Fredegund’s rise to power earned her the enmity of another powerful queen in Frankia and stoke a rivalry that eventually devastated Western Europe for 40 years. In one of the most unhinged stories we have ever told on this podcast, we follow Fredegund as she gives birth in the midst of a siege, strategically assassinates her brother-in-law, plots to overthrow two stepsons and unrepentantly bullies, poisons and/or tortures anyone unfortunate enough to look upon her wrong.
And that’s all just in part 1!
Difficult Damsel’s third cohost, Anya, is also in top form this episode; insisting on making her presence known. Fredegund would be proud!
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Customer Reviews
urghhh
i really liked rachel and find her research to be thorough, but kat's constant interjections with thoughtless and unfunny commentary makes for a hard listen. at least make more relevant and entertaining jokes if you're going to make them at all, it just comes across as anxious and juvenile.
Grade School Level Podcast
The research is mediocre and read like a script, with Kat’s constant F bombs and inarticulate interjections, it become a tedious endeavor. That’s a shame because the subject matter is interesting and could be delivered in a more colorful and engaging manner. It is presented more like a grade school book report, read before a heckling classroom of imbeciles (Kat). Save yourself and read the Wikipedia page instead. Maybe they improve with time and experience, but I don’t have that kind of time to invest.
Amazing!
I really love the banter, and it’s really helpful that they provide excellent references. I especially love the historical context that helps understand what other events were happening in the time period. Keep up the great podcast!