From corsets to grunge, fashion has always mirrored the times. We trace the past century of style and how culture shaped what we wear — then flip the deck to uncover the surprising history of tarot, from playing cards to a tool of self-discovery.

Find us on social media @renfarepod

If you want to read more on about this:

https://www.gq.com/story/how-recessions-drive-innovation-in-fashion

https://uspublisher.net/fashion-revolution-how-the-industrial-age-changed-style/

https://www.vogue.com/article/1940s-fashion-history-lesson

https://www.instyle.com/fashion/clothing/what-is-the-hemline-index-real

“All About History: History of Fashion”

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power_loom

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cotton_gin

https://fashion-era.com/fashion-history/fashion-eras

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/19th_century_in_fashion

https://qz.com/quartzy/1597688/a-brief-history-of-women-in-pants

https://dustyoldthing.com/little-below-the-knee-club/

https://www.britannica.com/topic/hippie

https://medium.com/@peytoncarlin/the-rise-of-the-oversize-how-oversized-clothes-represent-unfortunate-realities-efd489a14826

https://www.eternalgoddess.co.uk/posts/20th-century-fashion-a-timeline

In this episode of RenFare, we’re bridging two very different legacies — one rooted in science and bioethics, the other in symbolism and spiritual seeking.

First, we share the powerful story of Henrietta Lacks, a woman whose cells were taken without her consent in 1951. Her HeLa cells became the backbone of modern medical research — but her name was nearly erased. We unpack the scientific breakthroughs her cells made possible, the ethical violations of her case, and the long-overdue recognition her family received in 2023.

Then we turn to the history of tarot — from its origins as a 15th-century card game in Europe to its rise as a tool of mysticism, self-reflection, and resistance. Who used it, how did it evolve, and why are we still drawn to its imagery centuries later?

Sources:

https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/henrietta-lacks/upholding-the-highest-bioethical-standards

https://time.com/4746297/henrietta-lacks-movie-history-research-oprah/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HeLa

https://apnews.com/article/henrietta-lacks-hela-cells-thermo-fisher-scientific-bfba4a6c10396efa34c9b79a544f0729

https://www.statnews.com/2023/08/01/henrietta-lacks-family-settlement-hela-cells/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henrietta_Lacks

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tuskegee_Syphilis_Study#:~:text=The%20Public%20Health%20Service%20started,care%20and%20promised%20funeral%20expenses.

In this episode of RenFare, we’re talking Olympian gods and reality TV — two worlds filled with drama, ego, and larger-than-life personalities. Coincidence? Maybe not.

First, we take you up to Mount Olympus to meet the 12 Olympian gods — the chaotic group that ruled Greek mythology. From Aphrodite’s love triangles to Zeus’s power plays, we unpack who’s who, what they ruled over, and how these deities reflected the values and messiness of ancient life.

Then we shift to another pantheon of modern-day icons: reality TV stars. Why do we love watching other people’s drama? What draws us to the highs, lows, and over-the-top personalities of reality shows? We dive into the psychology behind why reality TV feels so satisfying — and how it taps into something timeless.

This episode has ancient myths and modern fixations, gods, confessionals, and a whole lot of spectacle.

Socials:

IG - @renfarepod

Sources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twelve_Olympians

https://www.britishmuseum.org/blog/gods-and-goddesses-greek-and-roman-pantheon

https://www.thecollector.com/greek-gods-and-godesses/

https://www.historyhit.com/ancient-greek-gods-and-goddesses-of-mount-olympus/

https://www.history.com/articles/greek-mythology

https://www.livescience.com/all-about-history-issue-117

https://econtent.hogrefe.com/doi/abs/10.1027/1864-1105/a000186

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/08838151003734995

https://studylib.net/doc/8023379/motivations-for-viewing-reality-television--a-uses-and-gr%E2%80%A6

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/228745630_Why_people_watch_reality_TV

https://sites.comminfo.rutgers.edu/kgreene/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/2024/05/JoBEM2010-1.pdf

https://scholar.nycu.edu.tw/en/publications/reality-tv-materialism-and-associated-consequences-an-exploration https://www.betterhelp.com/advice/inclusive-mental-health/the-power-of-diversity-in-reality-television-impact-on-culture-and-social-media/ https://www.researchgate.net/publication/324032504_From_Apprentice_to_President_The_Role_of_Parasocial_Connection_in_the_Election_of_Donald_Trump

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/370729772_Surviving_Racism_and_Sexism_What_Votes_in_the_Television_Program_Survivor_Reveal_About_Discrimination