Hawaii’s Surfing Medicine Women: The Goddesses Who Healed with Waves
What if surfing wasn’t just a sport—but a sacred form of healing, power, and rebellion led by women? 🏄♀️✨
In this archive episode of For the Love of History, we’re diving into the ancient Hawaiian origins of surfing, uncovering how it began not as a beach pastime but as a deeply spiritual practice rooted in Polynesian tradition. From volcano goddess Pele, the world’s first surfer, to Princess Kelea of Maui, who surfed her way to freedom, we explore the legendary surfing medicine women of Hawaii—women who used the waves as both therapy and resistance.
Discover how:
Surfing (nalu) was a religious ritual in pre-contact Hawaii 🌊
Women, not men, were the first to master and teach surfing 🩵
Surfing was used to heal sickness, heartbreak, and even death
Colonialism tried to erase these women’s stories—and how their legacy still lives on
Join us as we ride the waves of mythology, medicine, and feminist power through the history of Hawaiian surf culture. This episode is part myth, part history, and 100% proof that women have always ruled the waves. 🌴
🌺 Hawaii Peoples Fund 🌺
hawaiipeoplesfund.org
Historians of traditional Hawaiʻi
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The Creepy and Ridiculously Long History of Halloween Costumes | From Samhin to Spirit Halloween
Happy Spooky Season, dear one! This week, in our Season 11 Finale, we are exploring a question that has been on my mind for quite some time. What is the history of Halloween costumes?! 🎃 👻 When October 1st hits, my FYP gets flooded with creepy vintage photographs of Halloween’s gone by. They are honestly nightmare fuel, and every time I see one, I wonder, "Why are they so gosh darn creepy?!" That question led me down a path of 2,000 years of costume history, and against my better judgment, some Victorian Halloween History.
In this episode, we'll explore:
👻 The history of Halloween costumes
🫀 The origin of Halloween
🎃 Why vintage Halloween costumes are so creepy
🧟 The evolution of the Halloween costume
💀 How seriously the Victorians took Halloween
So what are you waiting for?! Let's get our spooky on and learn all about Halloween history, and maybe you can get some Halloween historical costume inspiration
💙💛History BFF Census💙💛
✨ If you enjoyed this episode and want to watch how I made the Victorian witch costume, you can head over to Patreon to watch the full creation vlog!
patreon.com/fortheloveofhistorypodcast
🎃 If you want to support the podcast in other ways, check out the links below!
Patreon
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#halloweenhistory #halloween #costumehistory #historyofhalloween #victoriancostumes #halloweencostumes
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The History of Breast Cancer: From Ancient Curses to Modern Hope
In this powerful episode of For the Love of History, we travel through time to uncover the history of breast cancer — from ancient Egyptian surgery manuals and Hippocrates’ wild “humor” theories to the modern breakthroughs that save lives today.
Host TK shares the deeply personal story of her best friend’s diagnosis and remission, explores how breast cancer appeared in Renaissance art, and highlights women who changed how we see the disease — from Audre Lorde’s The Cancer Journals to trailblazing researchers like Dr. Jane Wright.
With humor, empathy, and the occasional swear, this episode reminds us that while the past was often brutal, the present is full of hope — and the future even brighter.
✨ You’ll learn:
How the ancient Egyptians documented breast cancer 3,000 years ago.
Why Renaissance paintings might be hiding medical secrets.
How Audre Lorde fought stigma and redefined survivorship.
The amazing modern advancements changing breast cancer treatment today.
💗 Support breast cancer research: All proceeds from Bad Bitches Cry merch go to MetaViva and metastatic breast cancer nonprofits.
metavivor.org
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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50:00
The History of Breast Cancer: From Ancient Curses to Modern Hope
In this powerful episode of For the Love of History, we travel through time to uncover the history of breast cancer — from ancient Egyptian surgery manuals and Hippocrates’ wild “humor” theories to the modern breakthroughs that save lives today.
Host TK shares the deeply personal story of her best friend’s diagnosis and remission, explores how breast cancer appeared in Renaissance art, and highlights women who changed how we see the disease — from Audre Lorde’s The Cancer Journals to trailblazing researchers like Dr. Jane Wright.
With humor, empathy, and the occasional swear, this episode reminds us that while the past was often brutal, the present is full of hope — and the future even brighter.
✨ You’ll learn:
How the ancient Egyptians documented breast cancer 3,000 years ago.
Why Renaissance paintings might be hiding medical secrets.
How Audre Lorde fought stigma and redefined survivorship.
The amazing modern advancements changing breast cancer treatment today.
💗 Support breast cancer research: All proceeds from Bad Bitches Cry merch go to MetaViva and metastatic breast cancer nonprofits.
metavivor.org
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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The Purr-fect History of Cats: From Neolithic Pests to Maneki Neko and Egypt
Ever wonder how cats went from desert hunters to divine house gods? In this episode of For the Love of History, host TK digs her claws into the fascinating history of cats — from their mysterious beginnings in the Fertile Crescent to their worship in ancient Egypt and beyond.
Meet Bastet, the Egyptian goddess of cats who went from lioness warrior to goddess of home, music, and pleasure. Sail down the Nile to the ancient city of Bubastis, where people once threw wild festivals in her honor (think: ancient Coachella with more fur and fewer rules).
Then, follow the whiskers east to Japan to meet Maneki Neko, the lucky cat statue that isn’t Chinese at all, but a beloved Japanese symbol of prosperity with a legend that began during the Edo period.
You’ll also meet Crimean Tom, a war hero tabby who saved lives during the Crimean War, and Tomiu, the first-named cat in recorded history — a fur baby so loved that she received her own limestone sarcophagus.
Whether you’re a lifelong cat devotee or just tolerate your feline overlord’s 3 a.m. zoomies, this episode will convince you that cats have always been — quite literally — divine.
You’ll Learn:
When and where cats were first domesticated (hint: not Egypt!)
Why Bastet ruled ancient Egypt as both warrior and nurturer
The real history behind Japan’s beckoning Maneki Neko
The heroic and heartwarming tales of real-life historical cats
As Carl Van Vechten wrote in The Tiger in the House, “I do not wonder that some people love cats. I am only surprised that all people do not love cats.”
After this episode, you might just agree.
🐾 Love what you heard?
Rate and review For the Love of History on your favorite platform — it helps more history nerds (and cat parents) find the show.
💌 Support the “Bad Bitches Cry” fundraiser or join Patreon for exclusive content like the Thai Cat Poem Collection bonus episode
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À propos de 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!
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