Princess Mononoke Explained: Yokai, Shinto Spirits, and Japanese History
What do Studio Ghibli’s Princess Mononoke and Japanese yokai have in common? A whole lot of wild spirits, messy gods, and deeper cultural roots than you might think.
In this episode of For the Love of History, we dive into the myth and magic behind Hayao Miyazaki’s masterpiece. From the terrifying boar demons to the haunting kodama, Princess Mononoke isn’t just fantasy—it’s drawing on centuries of Japanese yokai folklore, Shinto beliefs, and the eternal clash between nature and industry.
We’ll explore:
🌟 How yokai and kami inspired Ghibli’s most iconic creatures.
🌟 Why the Forest Spirit feels straight out of Shinto myth.
🌟 Lady Eboshi, San, and the complicated women of Mononoke.
🌟 The historical context of Japan’s Muromachi period and its spiritual anxieties.
🌟 What Princess Mononoke teaches us about living with (and fighting against) nature.
✨ Whether you’re a die-hard Ghibli fan, a yokai nerd, or just love history told through animation, this episode will change the way you watch Princess Mononoke.
🌟 Calm History 🌟
Try the new podcast, Calm History: www.calmhistory.com
♥️ Want to support FTLH?! Check out Patreon! ♥️
Patreon
Instagram
Website
TikTok
Merch Store
YouTube
Keywords: Studio Ghibli, Princess Mononoke, yokai folklore, Japanese mythology, Shinto spirits, Ghibli history, women in Ghibli, Lady Eboshi, San Princess Mononoke, history podcast
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
--------
42:21
--------
42:21
Badass Hippo Goddesses of Ancient Egypt: Ammit & Taweret
What happens when a troll on the internet calls you a “bleached hippo”? You make it your brand.
After my first viral video came with its fair share of hate comments, one insult changed everything—it sparked my love affair with hippos. Today, that pettiness has come full circle as we dive into the myth, magic, and chaos of the Egyptian hippo goddesses Ammit and Taweret.
In this episode of For the Love of History:
How one hate comment turned into a hippo tattoo and this episode.
The truth about Ammit, the so-called “devourer of hearts” who wasn’t evil but essential to cosmic balance.
The power of Taweret, the pregnant hippo goddess who protected mothers and babies through amulets, wands, and prayers.
The dangers of hippos in everyday Egypt (yes, they really were deadly).
Why Marvel’s Moon Knight got these fierce goddesses all wrong.
The emotional reality of life, death, and survival for women in ancient Egypt.
🌟 Calm History 🌟
Try the new podcast, Calm History: www.calmhistory.com
✨ Don’t forget: rate, review, and share the podcast so more history nerds can join the hippo cult—ahem club.
www.fortheloveofhistorypod.com
Patreon
Instagram
Website
TikTok
Merch Store
YouTube
Keywords: Egyptian mythology, Ammit goddess, Taweret goddess, hippo goddesses, Egyptian underworld, women in ancient Egypt, history of childbirth, history podcast
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
--------
38:51
--------
38:51
She Wasn’t Crazy—She Was Colonized | The Story of Queen Ranavalona
Was Queen Ranavalona I really the “Mad Queen of Madagascar”… or just a brilliant ruler smeared by colonial propaganda?
In this episode of For the Love of History, we dive headfirst into one of the most misunderstood figures in African history—and it gets spicy. Queen Ranavalona has long been labeled a tyrant, a murderer, even a monster. But when you follow the paper trail (and by paper, we mean wildly biased missionary records), it becomes clear that the real madness was colonialism.
You’ll hear about:
The actual history behind her so-called reign of terror
How Eurocentric historians rewrote her legacy with a misogynist, colonialist pen
Her fight to protect Malagasy sovereignty during the height of European imperialism
And why context is everything when judging historical figures (especially women)
So grab a bevvy, hop in the time machine, and prepare to rethink everything you thought you knew about Queen Ranavalona I.
👑 Was she ruthless? Sure. But was she wrong? That’s up for you to decide.
Patreon
Instagram
Website
TikTok
Merch Store
YouTube
Key Moments
00:00 – Intro: Rewriting the Story of Queen Ranavalona I
03:30 – Colonial Myths vs. Historical Truth
10:00 – How Ranavalona Took Power (and Why It Matters)
16:00 – Her Own Words: The Queen’s Letter to Europe
22:00 – The Fight for Sovereignty and Cultural Survival
29:00 – What Happened After She Died
33:00 – Final Thoughts: She Wasn’t Mad—She Was Misrepresented
📚 Find Resources Here 📚
www.fortheloveofhistorypod.com
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
--------
39:28
--------
39:28
When Food Was Fatal: The Great Molasses Flood of 1919
Ever been killed by coffee? Poisoned by pepper? Drowned by molasses?!
Welcome to the most unappetizing episode of the century.
In this delightfully unhinged episode of For the Love of History, we're diving into the sticky, deadly, and downright absurd world of food disasters in the early 1900s. From lead-laced milk to spice-rack murder, we explore how everyday foods became instruments of death — all thanks to lack of regulation, industrial negligence, and profit-hungry robber barons.
🎙️ You’ll learn about:
The horrific ingredients hiding in 1900s food (hello, formaldehyde coffee!)
Why the Great Molasses Flood of 1919 turned Boston’s North End into a syrupy war zone
How molasses killed 21 people and the industrial greed behind it
The real reason the FDA even exists (spoiler: it wasn’t to help you)
And yes, the Dublin Whiskey Fire of 1875, aka flaming boot whiskey that killed 13 drunk dudes
This episode is part true crime, part food safety horror story, and 100% historically bonkers. If you love weird history, food disasters, and a sarcastic trip through the past — this one’s for you.
Patreon
Instagram
Website
TikTok
Merch Store
YouTube
📌 Chapters
00:00 Welcome to chaos
01:00 How food killed in the 1900s
07:00 The Great American Stomach Ache
16:00 The Great Molasses Flood of 1919
24:00 Corporate greed & brown paint
26:00 The Dublin Whiskey Fire
29:00 Final thoughts & big takeaways
🧭 Keywords
Great Molasses Flood 1919, food disasters 1900s, Boston molassacre, industrial accidents history, molasses tank explosion, historical food safety, dangerous food history, robber barons, Dublin Whiskey Fire, history of the FDA
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
--------
33:54
--------
33:54
History’s Baddest Goddesses: Feminine Rage in Hindu Mythology
Ever felt so angry you could summon a lion-riding goddess with eight arms? Same. In this fiery episode of For the Love of History, we’re diving headfirst into the blistering mythologies of Durga and Kali—the Hindu goddesses of war, protection, destruction, and yes… unapologetic feminine rage.
TK unpacks why these powerful deities shatter the Western ideal of the “demure mother goddess,” and instead offer us a vision of womanhood that embraces chaos, power, and divine vengeance. From Ashura-slaying sagas to blood-soaked epiphanies, this is the episode to tap into your inner rage monster—for righteous reasons, of course.
Along the way, we also chat about the origins of goddess worship, comic books that decolonize history, and the question we all need to ask ourselves: What would Kali do?
📚 Resources Mentioned
Open Source Comic: Durga
Article on Amar Chitra Katha’s Cultural Impact
Join our free-tier Patreon for chats, bonus content, and ad-free episodes!
🎧 Call to Action
If you loved unleashing your metaphorical fire today, don’t forget to:
Subscribe to For the Love of History
Rate & Review us on Spotify or Apple Podcasts
Join us on Patreon for more goddess energy, sleepy history episodes, and behind-the-scenes goodies!
🔥 Let your rage be righteous. Let your history be herstory.
Patreon
Instagram
Website
TikTok
Merch Store
YouTube
🧠 Keywords:
Durga goddess, Kali mythology, feminine rage, Hindu goddesses, destruction in mythology, Shaktism, goddess worship, women in mythology
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sobre For the Love of History - world history, women’s history, weird history
I'm TK, your guide to the past as we uncover the people, events, and little-known facts hidden in the shadows of your old history textbooks. From empress baddies like Hatshepsut and Wu Zetianto, activist profiles, Egyptian and Japanese gods and goddesses, and the history of the toothbrush, tattoos, Pompeii peepees, and everything in between, you can find it all here. No event is too small and no topic too big, because this is For The Love of History. ----------------------- For over 100 archived episodes and bonus content you can head over to Patreon!
Ouça For the Love of History - world history, women’s history, weird history, The Joe Rogan Experience e muitos outros podcasts de todo o mundo com o aplicativo o radio.net
Brasil