Noble Blood

Noble Blood

Author Dana Schwartz explores the stories of some of history’s most fascinating royals: the tyrants and the tragic, the murderers and the murdered, and everyone in between. Because when you’re wearing a crown, mistakes often mean blood.

Episodes

April 29, 2025 19 mins

Eleanor of Aquitaine's younger sister Petronilla was attractive and wealthy, but she remained unmarried until she was 19 and met the charming Ralph of Vermandois. There was one big problem with the match though, and it would have bloody consequences.

Support Noble Blood:

Bonus episodes, stickers, and scripts on Patreon
Noble Blood merch
— Order Dana's book, 'Anatomy: A Love Story' and its sequel 'Immorta...

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Velvalee Dickinson ran a doll shop on Madison Avenue that catered to wealthy collectors. But in one of the strangest espionage cases of World War II, Dickinson's clients had no idea she was using correspondence about doll orders to transmit coded U.S. military intelligence to the Japanese.

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On the Very Special Episodes podcast, Dana Schwartz tells one incredible story each week. Follow her down a different rabbit hole every W...

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April 22, 2025 31 mins

King Sejong the Great is considered, well, the greatest king in Korean history. And his greatest contribution of all might have been twenty-four letters.

Support Noble Blood:

Bonus episodes, stickers, and scripts on Patreon
Noble Blood merch
— Order Dana's book, 'Anatomy: A Love Story' and its sequel 'Immortality: A Love Story'

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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April 15, 2025 32 mins

The 6th-century feud between Brunhild and Fredegund would last the rest of their lives, defining their kingdoms for generations as the women went from queens to rival regents.

Support Noble Blood:

Bonus episodes, stickers, and scripts on Patreon
Noble Blood merch
— Order Dana's book, 'Anatomy: A Love Story' and its sequel 'Immortality: A Love Story'

 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informati...

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April 8, 2025 30 mins

Queen Brunhild married Sigeburt I of Austrasia. Her sister married Sigebert's brother. At least, they were married, until Brunhild's sister died under mysterious circumstances and he re-married three days later. His new queen, Fredegund, would have a bitter rivalry with Brunhild that would change the fate of both of their nations.

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Bonus episodes, stickers, and scripts on Patreon
Noble Blood m...

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April 1, 2025 19 mins

Cyrus the Great of Persia wanted to conquer the Massengetae people and, through cunning, he killed the son of their warrior-queen, Tomyris. It was a bad move.

Support Noble Blood:

Bonus episodes, stickers, and scripts on Patreon
Noble Blood merch
— Order Dana's book, 'Anatomy: A Love Story' and its sequel 'Immortality: A Love Story'

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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March 25, 2025 28 mins

Agnes Sorel was the first official mistress in France, the lover of King Charles VII. But with her official position came a target on her back. Her influence meant that she would make enemies, and even the love of a king can't protect you from everything.

Support Noble Blood:

Bonus episodes, stickers, and scripts on Patreon
Noble Blood merch
— Order Dana's book, 'Anatomy: A Love Story' and its sequel 'Im...

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March 18, 2025 25 mins

In 1858, a Jewish child was taken from his family. They said that because the boy had been secretly baptized, he was now a ward of the Papal States. And his new adoptive father would be none other than Pope Pius IX. 

Support Noble Blood:

Bonus episodes, stickers, and scripts on Patreon
Noble Blood merch
— Order Dana's book, 'Anatomy: A Love Story' and its sequel 'Immortality: A Love Story'

See omnyst...

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March 11, 2025 24 mins

Most women in 17th century France were faced with a choice: marriage, or a convent. Ninon de l'Enclos chose her own path.

Support Noble Blood:

Bonus episodes, stickers, and scripts on Patreon
Noble Blood merch
— Order Dana's book, 'Anatomy: A Love Story' and its sequel 'Immortality: A Love Story'

 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Tsar Dmitri I was murdered by assassins, but he wouledn't be the last to use the name of Ivan the Terrible's son claiming to be the rightful ruler of Russia.

Support Noble Blood:

Bonus episodes, stickers, and scripts on Patreon
Noble Blood merch
— Order Dana's book, 'Anatomy: A Love Story' and its sequel 'Immortality: A Love Story'

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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In 1605, Dmitri — the son of Ivan the Terrible — became the Tsar of Russia. Less than a year leader, he was brutally deposed. But one question remained: was he actually even the real Dmitri? 

Support Noble Blood:

Bonus episodes, stickers, and scripts on Patreon
Noble Blood merch
— Order Dana's book, 'Anatomy: A Love Story' and its sequel 'Immortality: A Love Story'

See omnystudio.com/list...

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February 18, 2025 24 mins

From leg-of-mutton sleeves to fur overcoats, the costumes in Robert Eggers's Nosferatu are extraordinarily detailed and, thanks to the research of Oscar-nominated costume designer Linda Muir, incredibly historically accurate. Dana speaks with Muir about her work, and the process of creating costumes for German gentleman, wealthy ladies, and a 300-year-old decomposing corpse.

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Bonus episodes, stickers, an...

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February 11, 2025 22 mins

Prince Wilhelm of Prussia had fallen in love with Elisa von Radzwill, and wanted to marry her. Unfortunately, even though she was a princess, her rank was low enough that the marriage would actually be illegal. Still, the two clung to the hope they would end up together, fighting royals and bureacrats for years to try to make it happen.

Support Noble Blood:
Bonus episodes, stickers, and scripts on Patreon
Nobl...

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February 4, 2025 32 mins

Most people know of the famous "Lawrence of Arabia" thanks to the iconic imagery of the Oscar-winning film. But far fewer people know of the real man behind the myth, who fought for Britain and for the Arab Revolt during World War I and became a folk hero in the process.

Support Noble Blood:
Bonus episodes, stickers, and scripts on Patreon
Noble Blood merch
— Order Dana's book, 'Anatomy: A Love Story'...

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January 28, 2025 43 mins

Henrietta Howard was saddled with an abusive embarrassment of a husband and no money. She took matters into her own hands, ingratiating herself with the court of the Princess and Princess of Wales.

Support Noble Blood:

 — Bonus episodes, stickers, and scripts on Patreon

— Noble Blood merch

— Order Dana's book, 'Anatomy: A Love Story' and its sequel 'Immortality: A Love Story'

 

See omnystudio.com/lis...

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January 21, 2025 34 mins

Catherine Parr was the sixth and final wife of King Henry VIII.

Support Noble Blood:

Bonus episodes, stickers, and scripts on Patreon

— Noble Blood merch

— Order Dana's book, 'Anatomy: A Love Story' and its sequel 'Immortality: A Love Story'

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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January 14, 2025 32 mins

Katherine Howard was the fifth wife of King Henry VIII.

Support Noble Blood:

Bonus episodes, stickers, and scripts on Patreon 

Noble Blood merch

— Order Dana's book, 'Anatomy: A Love Story' and its sequel 'Immortality: A Love Story'

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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January 7, 2025 32 mins

Anne of Cleves was the fourth wife of King Henry VIII.

Support Noble Blood:

Bonus episodes, stickers, and scripts on Patreon

— Noble Blood merch

— Order Dana's book, 'Anatomy: A Love Story' and its sequel 'Immortality: A Love Story'

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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December 31, 2024 25 mins

Jane Seymour was the third wife of King Henry VIII.

Support Noble Blood:

Bonus episodes, stickers, and scripts on Patreon

— Noble Blood merch

— Order Dana's book, 'Anatomy: A Love Story' and its sequel 'Immortality: A Love Story'

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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December 24, 2024 25 mins

Anne Boleyn was the second wife of King Henry VIII.

Support Noble Blood:

Bonus episodes, stickers, and scripts on Patreon

— Noble Blood merch

— Order Dana's book, 'Anatomy: A Love Story' and its sequel 'Immortality: A Love Story'

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Dana Schwartz

Dana Schwartz

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