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Bishop John Fisher was one of the most respected minds of Tudor England. He was also one of the very few men who dared to say “no” to King Henry VIII. Rising quickly through a series of early successes, Fisher became Bishop of Rochester, where he openly opposed the king’s divorce from Catherine of Aragon and refused to take the Oath of Supremacy, which named the king as the Supreme Head of the Church of England. His defiance led to imprisonment in the Tower of London and beheading in 1535. Fisher’s story is one of moral courage and the high personal cost of standing firm in one’s beliefs. Support the show

Mary Hamilton was a young woman of Scottish descent who rose to prominence in the Russian court of Peter the Great. Serving as a lady-in-waiting to Empress Catherine I, Mary appeared to have a life worth envying. But behind the elegance of court life, she harbored dark and dangerous secrets. Set in early 18th-century Russia, this episode examines how power, gender, and fear shaped justice under Peter the Great. While Mary Hamilton’s choices carried deadly consequences, her public execution became one of the most shocking and haunting scandals of the Romanov era. Support the show

In this episode, we travel to the dusty streets of Bisbee, Arizona in 1883, where a robbery quickly spiraled into deadly violence. What was intended to be a targeted crime resulted in the deaths of innocent people and left the town shaken with shock and anger. At the center of it all was John Heath, the man who orchestrated the robbery while keeping his own hands free of blood. In the aftermath of what became known as the Bisbee Massacre, five men were put on trial for first degree murder. John Heath faced a separate trial for his role in planning the crime, and while he may have believed he escaped the worst punishment, his sentence set the stage for one of the most infamous acts of vigilante justice in the American West. Support the show

Introducing Madame de Brinvilliers: devoted lover, enthusiastic poisoner, and a woman who could hold a truly impressive grudge. Her clever murder spree horrified Paris and helped ignite France’s obsession with secret poisons, eventually leading to the Affair of the Poisons. Competent, methodical, and alarmingly confident, she nearly got away with it all. Unfortunately for Marie-Madeleine, her own incriminating self-confessions ultimately led to her downfall. What begins as a scandalous love affair ends at the scaffold. Support the show

Richard Woodville was the unlikely courtier who rose from modest origins to become Earl Rivers and father of the Queen of England. In the real-life Game of Thrones that was the Wars of the Roses, Woodville climbed from being the son of a chamberlain to the husband of a wealthy duchess. Their daughter, Elizabeth Woodville, rose higher still and married King Edward IV. But swift ascents create swift enemies, and the Woodville rise ignited resentment, rumors, and political backlash. In this episode, we unravel how Richard navigated the treacherous politics of York and Lancaster, how the Woodvilles became the family everyone loved to hate, and how ambition, marriage, and timing reshaped the fate of a dynasty. Support the show

For over 2,000 years, Cleopatra has remained one of the most recognizable queens in history. Yet despite her fascinating life, Cleopatra’s older sister is often reduced to a footnote. This episode turns our attention to Berenice IV, one of the most overlooked figures in the Ptolemaic Dynasty. When her father, Ptolemy XII, fled Egypt, Berenice suddenly found herself thrust onto the throne. But with the kingdom strained by political unrest and a dynasty unraveling, her reign was destined to be brief and turbulent. Join us as we uncover the story of a queen who fought to rule…and paid the ultimate price for it. Support the show

We are honored to welcome renowned historian, author, and television presenter Professor Suzannah Lipscomb for a very special interview. Known for her sharp insight into the lives of women throughout history, Suzannah joins us to discuss everything from the impact of the Tudor world to the spread of witchcraft accusations over the centuries. Suzannah uncovers what it really means to reclaim history from a modern feminist lens. Expect wit, warmth, and a few shocking truths as we celebrate the return of Beheaded for Season 7! Support the show

Our season finale concludes with the fate of the Pendle Witches. After months in prison, nine men and women accused of witchcraft following a series of strange events in their small town finally face trial in Lancaster, England. But what they didn’t anticipate was the arrival of a most unlikely witness, someone no one had foreseen, who holds all of their fates in her hands. Support the show

In 1612, the rural landscape of Lancashire became the backdrop for one of England’s most notable witch trials. This episode explores how village rivalries, deep-rooted superstitions, and a shifting political climate all played a role in the events leading up to the Pendle Witch Trials. King James I's personal fears about witchcraft and his book Daemonologie helped shape a legal system eager to pursue accusations of magic, malice and maleficium. In part one of our season finale, we set the stage for what would become one of the largest mass witch trials in English history. Support the show

One of the most controversial espionage cases in American history was the trial and execution of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg. Accused of passing atomic secrets to the Soviet Union during the height of the Cold War, the Rosenbergs became symbols of both patriotic betrayal and political scapegoating. Were they truly spies—or victims of a paranoid era? Listen to the evidence and decide for yourself!  Support the show

Princess Elisabeth of Hesse and by Rhine is a captivating yet often overlooked figure in European royal history. Born into an impressive lineage as the daughter of Grand Duke Louis IV of Hesse and by Rhine, granddaughter of Queen Victoria, and sister-in-law to the Romanov family, Elisabeth’s life was marked by both privilege and tragedy. Despite the personal challenges she faced, she became one of the most admired and sought-after socialites of early 20th-century Europe, celebrated for her charm and grace. However, her royal blood would eventually become her greatest threat as Russian Revolutionists were on a mission to end anyone connected to the Imperial Family. Support the show

Georg Honauer was a man of ambition and bold confidence, living during a time when alchemy was at the height of fascination. Seizing the opportunity, he sought to impress Friedrich I, Duke of Württemberg, with his grand claim: the ability to turn ordinary metal into gold. But in his overconfidence, Georg may have miscalculated the risks—leading to a dramatic and tragic downfall. In this episode, the punishment is as fitting as it is "iron"-ic, as we explore the dark consequences of a failed alchemical dream.  Support the show

Meet Catherine of Alexandria — the brilliant, fearless, and slightly rebellious saint who gave 4th-century philosophers a run for their money. From outwitting emperors to holding her own in a debate with the greatest minds of her time, Catherine wasn’t just a pretty face (though, she probably had one of those too). One of her biggest legacies was actually having a torture device named after her. Tune in to find out why!  Support the show

Though Robert Aske, a well connected English barrister, attempted to keep to himself and live a quiet life of work and faith, the rebels of northern England had other ideas. Aske went from merely speaking ill of King Henry VIII’s  religious reforms to captaining a full-on uprising, becoming the foremost leader of the Pilgrimage of Grace. Unfortunately for Aske, Henry VIII was not known for his patience or forgiveness. Tune in as we unravel the drama, the politics, and the tragic irony of a man who fought for faith and tradition... only to find himself on the wrong side of the executioner’s scaffold. Support the show

The Roman's never missed the opportunity for a classic metaphorical (and gruesome) death sentence. Manius Aquillius was a Roman politician and military commander in about 100 BC. During an era of epic battles and rebellions, he wasn't short on enemies. As a symbolic measure for his thirst for wealth, Aquillius faced one of the most unique and grotesque executions we've shared on this podcast: death by having molten gold poured down his throat. If you, like us, are curious how this would even work, then you're going to want to listen to this episode.  Support the show