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

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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.

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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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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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Who doesn't love a sturdy woman? We imagine they were beloved before the book of Ruth made them holy, but boy did that bible chapter seal the deal. Greatest PR campaign for the selfless busy lady archetype, rivaled only by, maybe, the Marlboro Man. Join us for this lively episode where we discuss what the victorian feminists discussed about the book of Ruth. Double discussion! Ruth is one of only two books in the whole bible titled with a woman's name (the other one is Esther). You'll see how as long as you're willing to give up your beliefs and entire life, you too can work on a rich guy's farm.

More info on other topics discussed in this episode:

Robert Lewis Stevenson

Fanny Stevenson
https://stevensonmuseum.org/robert-louis-stevenson/the-life/family/fanny-stevenson/
A Marriage That Changed Literary History
Fanny Stevenson forced her husband, Robert Louis Stevenson, to live a bigger life than he had known.
https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2024/09/fanny-robert-louis-stevenson-wife-camille-peri-book/679161/
How Fanny and Robert Louis Stevenson Defied Victorian Relationship Conventions
https://lithub.com/how-fanny-and-robert-louis-stevenson-defied-victorian-relationship-conventions/

Religion and Walt Whitman
https://whitmanarchive.org/item/encyclopedia_entry628
Walt Whitman on God, America and Life.
https://www.patheos.com/blogs/wakeupcall/2017/02/walt-whitman-god-america-life/

Friendships in the Bible! Turns out there's a good amount of em.
https://www.learnreligions.com/examples-of-friendship-in-the-bible-712377

Prince of Wales - Edward
https://www.rct.uk/collection/people/king-edward-vii-king-of-the-united-kingdom-1841-1910

Difference between Victorian and Edwardian fashion https://www.wardrobeshop.com/blogs/vintage-style-fashion/difference-between-victorian-and-edwardian-fashion

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