History Fix

Shea LaFountaine
History Fix
Latest episode

176 episodes

  • History Fix

    Ep. 160 Franz Ferdinand: How One Man's Death Sparked a Fire That Ignited Into World War I

    05/24/2026 | 34 mins.
    This week we're delving into the assassination of the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, Archduke Franz Ferdinand, on June 28, 1914. This death was especially significant because it's often cited as the catalyst that started World War I. But that's never really made sense to me. Why would the death of this one man compel over 100 countries to involve themselves in the most horrific war the world had ever known, the Great War? Let's fix that. 
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    Sources: 
    History.com "The Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand"
    Norwich University "Six Causes of World War I"
    The National WWI Museum and Memorial "June 28, 1914"

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  • History Fix

    Mini Fix #32 Preview: Sweating Sickness

    05/17/2026 | 2 mins.
    Listen to this full mini fix episode on Patreon! 
    I have to talk about sweating sickness. For some reason it has always completely fascinated me. What was this mysterious and highly deadly illness that plagued mostly just the upper class in England during the Tudor dynasty? Why such a specific and unlikely target victim? Why did it go away just as suddenly as it appeared? Join me to examine the evidence and the theories and let me know in the comments... what do you think sweating sickness was?
    Sources:
    https://pharmaceutical-journal.com/article/opinion/just-what-was-english-sweating-sickness
    https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3917436/ 
    https://www.healthdisgroup.us/articles/GJIDCR-11-163.php 
    https://www.britannica.com/science/sweating-sickness
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  • History Fix

    Ep. 159 Absinthe: How Bad Science and a Greedy Wine Industry Transformed the "Green Fairy" Into the "Green Demon"

    05/10/2026 | 35 mins.
    Absinthe, a pale green drink consisting of mostly alcohol and small amounts of wormwood oil, has only recently been legalized in much of the western world after a nearly century long ban. Everyone knows the myths about absinthe - that it causes hallucinations, that it'll make you go crazy. They banned it for a reason after all right? It's powerful, dangerous stuff which, in many ways, makes it all the more alluring to the masses. But what if I told you that thujone, the psychoactive chemical found in wormwood, doesn't cause hallucinations at all? That the degeneration and "poisoning of the population" blamed entirely on absinthe at the turn of the 20th century was much likely to have been caused by the near 70% alcohol it contained? So why was absinthe really banned? Who turned the "green fairy" into the "green demon?" Let's fix that. 
    Support the show! 
    Join the Patreon (patreon.com/historyfixpodcast)
    Buy some merch
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    Venmo @Shea-LaFountaine
    Sources: 
    Distillations Magazine "The Devil in a Little Green Bottle: A History of Absinthe"
    Healthline "Does Absinthe Really Make You Hallucinate?"
    Alandia "Absinthe History: From invention to ban and re-legalization"
    Food52 "The Folklore-Filled History of Absinthe"
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  • History Fix

    Mini Fix #31 Preview: The Mysterious Death of Amy Dudley

    05/03/2026 | 1 mins.
    For this mini fix, I asked you guys on Instagram to choose between 3 Queen Elizabeth I related topics and the majority of you picked the mysterious death of Amy Dudley! The results were:
    What the heck was sweating sickness - 24%
    The mysterious death of Amy Dudley - 44%
    The execution of Sir Walter Raleigh 32%
    Make sure you follow me on Instagram (@historyfixpodcast) to cast your vote next time I do something like this! 
    This not so mini fix was so dang interesting it stretched past the 30 minute mark, making it my longest mini fix ever. To listen to the full thing, you can subscribe to the Patreon for $5 a month or just pay $3 to listen to this one episode. Totally worth it! 
    Support the show! 
    Join the Patreon (patreon.com/historyfixpodcast)
    Buy some merch
    Buy Me a Coffee
    Venmo @Shea-LaFountaine
    Sources: 
    UK National Archives “Coroner’s Report”
    History Hit “Amy Dudley: Accident, Suicide, or Murder?”
    Wikipedia “Amy Robsart”
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  • History Fix

    Ep 158 Elizabeth I: How a Disappointing Girl Became the Quintessential Queen

    04/26/2026 | 44 mins.
    This week is all about a lady I've danced around for far too long: Queen Elizabeth I. Born an utter disappointment to literally everyone and declared illegitimate after her mother’s execution, disinherited as a toddler, the future throne snatched out from under her, Elizabeth would go on to shatter all possible expectations and would end her 44 year reign as one of the most beloved and successful queens, nay monarchs, the world has ever known. How? Let’s fix that. 
    Support the show! 
    Join the Patreon (patreon.com/historyfixpodcast)
    Buy some merch
    Buy Me a Coffee
    Venmo @Shea-LaFountaine
    Sources:
    Historic Royal Palaces "Elizabeth I, the last Tudor"
    BBC "Elizabeth I: Troubled child to beloved queen"
    Royal Museums Greenwich "Queen Eliabeth I facts and myths"
    royal.uk "Elizabeth I"
    UK National Archives "The Golden Speech"
    History Extra "Did Thomas Seymour sexually abuse the teenage Princess Elizabeth?"
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About History Fix
In each episode of History Fix, I discuss lesser known stories from history that you won't be able to stop thinking about. Need your history fix? You've come to the right place.Support the show at buymeacoffee.com/historyfix or Venmo @Shea-LaFountaine. Your donations make it possible for me to continue creating great episodes. Plus, I'll love you forever! Find more at historyfixpodcast.com
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