Aren't we all a little bit Vashti? Let us ask that question as the Victorian feminists guide us through their favorite passages in the book of Esther. It's one of JV & SKs favorite Old Testament Books so far.

Today we are coming at you with the Book of Esther! Don’t let the senior center name fool you, this is another throne wars book in the bible and it is full of salaciousness, sin, and slaughter. We get to see a woman defying King’s orders and learn the story behind the feast of Purim. We’ll go over the brilliant Victorian feminist response, meet a new contributor to the Woman’s Bible, and as always - discuss how eerily relevant it all is to the American kingdom in 2025.

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Credits

Recorded at Troubadour Studios in Lansing, MI

Audio Engineer Corey DeRushia

Edited by Rie Daisies at Nighttime Girlfriend Studio

Music: ‘Shifting pt. 2 (instrumental)’ by Rie Daisies

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We're talking about Kings before No Kings Day - just in time. When all is said and done, we end up talking about the fascinating women in the chapter more than all the kings - because really, Kings are quite predictable. And ya never know what smart resourceful women will do.

Our brilliant victorian feminists shed a light on the nuances buried in the book of Kings. It's another dramatic book in the bible. It is full of, well, kings and all their wives and lovers and concubines and conniving deeds. We are certain George RR Martin was influenced by the succession battles and wifey dramas in the book of Kings. We've got the Queen of Sheba and Jezebel to discuss. Riddles and astrology. King egos. Bad ideas. And the classic parable of king Solomon threatening to cut a baby in half. That's the kind of thing people think makes a good leader? Wha? Let's discuss. Joins us as we venture into into some feminist history, random weirdness, and try out a new phrase we're using: "Self sacrifice is the casting couch of the bible".

More info on topics covered:

Matilda Jocelyn Gage

The Matilda Effect https://www.lostwomenofscience.org/news-events/the-matilda-effect-how-women-are-becoming-invisible-in-science

She has a whole center named after her.

Her book Women, Church, and State

Matilda Good Witch of The North

There’s an opera about Gage! https://vpa.syr.edu/matilda-joslyn-gage/

HISTORY OF THE WARFARE OF SCIENCE WITH THEOLOGY IN CHRISTENDOM
By Andrew Dickson White. https://www.gutenberg.org/files/505/505-h/505-h.htm

Queen of Sheba/Queen Makeda

Myths and legacy: https://www.cbc.ca/radio/ideas/legacy-of-queen-of-sheba-1.6836452

We're so interested in the riddles she asked Solomon https://amichailaulavie.substack.com/p/the-riddle-of-the-queen-who-loved

Cool art depicting Sheba asking Solomon some riddles: https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/465954

History of Balloons -

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Credits

Recorded at Troubadour Studios in Lansing, MI

Audio Engineer Corey DeRushia

Edited by Rie Daisies at Nighttime Girlfriend Studio

Music: ‘Shifting pt. 2 (instrumental)’ by Rie Daisies

Leave us a voice mail

Have some feedback? Praise? General thoughts? Know how to pronounce something? Are you a religious scholar? We'd love to hear from you. Leave a message right from your phone or computer by clicking here. Recordings may be used in future episodes.

Website

https://bitingalltheapples.buzzsprout.com

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If we could buy the exclusive film rights to just one book in the bible, it'd be Samuel. What? You'd say Genesis? Well that'd be a fun debate for a listener to start. But first, listen to this episode. We start by extending an invite to Pope Leo to come on the show as our first guest. Then we get into the Woman's Bible chapter on the book of Samuel and boy is it full of danger and dastardly deeds. The victorian feminists tell us how the whole thing is just more dudes breaking the laws they wrote while women sacrifice and suffer. We discuss our doubts that the people in the olden times really wanted a king and bond over the shock of learning that our childhood hero David peaked when he killed that giant. He went on to do all kinds of bad stuff. The victorian ladies point out more proof that the male translators knew nothing about women, childbirth, and a mothers ability to pack outwear for her children. We ponder the repeat appearance of polygamy and are ticked off Saul went to see a witch. We talk about the changes in the sass level of the second part of The Woman’s Bible and recommitt to our own levels. All of that and even more fun in this episode of your favorite multi-generational cultural critique/bookclub show.

More info on other topics mentioned in this episode:

History of the Conclave https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2025-05/the-conclave-from-the-middle-ages-to-our-days.html

Beverages in the bible. We know water and wine are the stars of the drink scene in the bible, but vinegar is a supporting character. https://ificouldteachthebible.com/2024/09/16/wine-beer-and-vinegar-in-the-bible/

Turns out mead has been around over 20,000 years https://www.batchmead.com/blogs/batch/mead-a-history

Bechdel test http://nofilmschool.com/bechdel-test

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Send us a text

Credits

Recorded at Troubadour Studios in Lansing, MI

Audio Engineer Corey DeRushia

Edited by Rie Daisies at Nighttime Girlfriend Studio

Music: ‘Shifting pt. 2 (instrumental)’ by Rie Daisies

Leave us a voice mail

Have some feedback? Praise? General thoughts? Know how to pronounce something? Are you a religious scholar? We'd love to hear from you. Leave a message right from your phone or computer by clicking here. Recordings may be used in future episodes.

Website

https://bitingalltheapples.buzzsprout.com

Find us on TikTok and YouTube