Tea & Vulgarity

In the last installment of Goldman's "Love and Marriage," we read her case for what real love means.

Emma Goldman makes the case that love is not free, especially in marriage in 1914.

Emma Goldman's 1914 essay really hits home with Lady L's soapbox on weddings.

Third part of Emma Goldman's 1914 "Marriage and Love."

Part two of Emma Goldman's 1914 piece, "Marriage and Love."

From "Marriage and Love" by Emma Goldman. " If however, woman's premium is a husband, she pays for it with her name, her privacy, her self-respect, her very life..."

When I recorded this, I didn't realize the new subleaser was still home...oops.

3 not-so-hot priests

Bella in her kid boots! Myles O'Toole makes me an omelette

Bella experiences DP -- double priests, dubious penises. Someone fetch this lady her salts.

Butt, Father!!

What can Bella take down her gullet???

Myles O'Toole can't find the origin of Hotty Boom Body

Bella and the priestly orgy

A very ugly priest turns Bella on. This one is preposterously descriptive!!

More priests!

More hot priest action

Another teensy bit of tittilation

Another 2 minutes dedicated to the revels of Bella, Hot Priest, and our sentient -and literate - flea.

A teensy weensy sip of Flea's story for your afternoon pick-me-up.

Why would someone associate a flea with sex? Well, both fleas, and fleas on people, were a fairly common part of Victorian life. This is a short footnotes episode to give some context.

The Flea witnesses Father Ambrose (Count Frolo, Mister Tumnus, & the Hot Priest rolled into one) helping Bella...um...atone...for her sins. Bella ascends to the Heavens. Lady Axewound joins again to spill some flea tea. Featuring Jillian Leff. 

Lady Taintbury returns with Lady Letitia to read the 1887 erotic novel The Autobiography of a Flea. In this first chapter, we learn of this "most exalted" flea (whom we envision as PT Flea) and his "host," the lovely Bella.  Somehow, A Bug's Life, Fleabag, and Veggie Tales all find their way into this world. Featuring Molly Wagner

The Countess of Clitterdown arrives to revel in song! This episode focuses on naughty chansons, both Victorian and earlier. (The Countess is, in fact, a professional cellist by trade.) Lady Letitcia toots her pennywhistle for us. 

Body Politic member, sex-therapist-in-training, and astrology buff Lida Rubanava discusses the connection between the planets and our relationships.  Book featured: The Astrology of Love &Sex: A Modern Compatibility Guide, by Annabelle Gat Check out: wearebodypolitic.com

In the late 1700s, an enterprising fellow put together a list of the sex workers of Covent Garden. This book, known as Harris' List, is the inspiration behind the television series "Harlots." Miss Carmilla Godeminche is a bastion of knowledge about this book and does some lovely reading of excerpts. Carmilla is also the name of a lady vampire whose tale pre-dates Dracula.  Featuring Ashleigh Becker 

Thank Venus we brought in Lady Shagsworth. She does a MARVELOUS American accent -- who knew? Today we get philosophical with some Dr Johnson, discuss the origins of "gamahuche," read "The Origin of Copulation," tell a bit of gossip about American women, and revel in how Lady Pokingham seduces a servant.  Featuring Raven Pierson

Jillian Leff (aka Lady Axewound) has read some INTERESTING literature, and Talley discovered something shocking about one of the more prolific women poets. Listen as we but scratch the surface of lesbian writers, familial outlooks on sex, and how [upperclass] Victorian society viewed queerness. 

For, indeed, why ever not? Some of Lady Letitcia's favorite excerpts, read in intimate manner... ASMR: Autonomous sensory meridian response. Meaning certain sounds make your body get all tingly. 

The salacious Sir Cocksworth Pennythrift joins to sing a ravishing rendition of God Save the Queen, revel in the provocative prose of La Rose D'Amour, and correct Lady L's pronunciation of "indefatigable."  Featuring Jack Wallace.

This episode is the first of several dedicated to women loving women. The selections are naughty but also frequently sweet. We also include some non-Anglo works.  Did you know the woman who wrote "In the Bleak Midwinter" also wrote a homoerotic nursery rhyme? BY MY TROTH, SHE DID. With Lady Axe-wound, aka Jillian Leff 

Lady Axewound makes her teatime debut! Along with Lady Letitcia, she indulges in: "Arithmetician: a Fact," an ode to an opera dancer, a couple dirty acrostics, more Lady Pokingham (a derriere affair), and a warning to ladies about violet powder. Unbutton your bustiers!  Featuring Jillian Leff

Molly Wagner joins Talley again for more thoughtful footnote talk. Queen Victoria was a racy lady. Have we "cleaned up" our interpretation of the nude in Western art? Seattle thrives all thanks to a Madame. 

Sins of the flesh? My dear child! The Venerable Reverend Myakovsky graces Lady LeTITcia's parlour and incandescently illuminates the dogmas of toys, anal sex, cigars, STIs, and the best time of life to ascertain one's predilections. He also enjoys lifting his voice in dulcet tones to the heavens.  Featuring Matthew Duncan

The tireless Lady Taintbury is back to nosh crumpets and spill the tea with Lady Letitcia. Our friends recite poetry and read more about Lothair, who's gamahuching before he becomes a man of the cloth. Lady T fills us in on her own sordid past. Lady L hopes Dave's Killer Bread won't sue her.  Featuring Molly Wagner!

THE PEARL wasn't the only publication the Victorians salivated over. Molly Wagner (aka Lady Taintbury) joins Talley in the first of our "educational real-talk" episodes to discuss the other...um...literature published during this period. 

Lady PlumPudding (from the penal colony) attends tea with Lady Letitcia to read a letter, muse on syphilis (let's bring it back!), and dissect a ballad about the Contagious Diseases Act.  Featuring Amy Nasseri of Orgasm Lab

Lady Blossombosom reluctantly joins Lady LeTITcia to sing a bawdy song to the tune of an old hymn. Featuring Ian Katee Gale. All music under a Creative Commons License.

Lady Taintbury, an old schoolfellow of Lady LeTITcia's, puts her wit to work reading about Mister Pego, moss, beavers, and other names for our genitalia.  Featuring Molly Wagner All music under a Creative Commons License. 

Welcome to Tea & Vulgarity! Grab your smelling salts, and be ready to meet Ladies Letitcia and Blossombosom as they read tittilating tales from Victorian England.  Music: Musicians from the Ravinia Festival Stean's Intstitute; Benjamin Moser; BNTT