Sweetbitter | the Untold History of Pirates

Leesa Charlotte, Ellie Brigida & Alyse Knorr

An investigative history podcast with a focus on queer & women’s history. Each season, we explore a different corner of history, using literary works or historical figures as a starting point to discuss a broader story of erasure of people...

  • 47 minutes 2 seconds
    Bible: Psalm 139:14

    Psalm 139:14 – “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”


    In our third episode, we discuss queerer ways to read the Bible, focusing on a passage that reminds us we are “fearfully and wonderfully made.” How can queer folks find healing and liberation through new perspectives on scriptural texts? Thank you to our guests this week, Reverend Florentino Cordova, Reverend M Jade Kaiser, Tim Schaefer, Reverend Jakob Hero-Shaw, Pastor Dawn, Reverend Altagracia Perez-Bullard, and Reverend Jeanelle N. Ablola.


    As always, you can find us on Bluesky and Instagram at @sweetbitterpod. You can support us on Patreon at patreon.com/sweetbitter.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    3 April 2025, 9:00 am
  • 44 minutes 5 seconds
    Bible: Matthew 8:5-13
    When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help. ‘Lord,’ he said, ‘my servant lies at home paralyzed, suffering terribly.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Shall I come and heal him?’ The centurion replied, ‘Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.’ When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, ‘Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith. I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. But the subjects of the kingdom will be thrown outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ Then Jesus said to the centurion, ‘Go! Let it be done just as you believed it would.” And his servant was healed at that moment.


    In our second episode, we discuss the story of the Roman centurion, and explore the queer history of Medieval Christianity. Thank you to our guest this week, Roland Betancourt.


    As always, you can find us on Bluesky and Instagram at @sweetbitterpod. You can support us on Patreon at patreon.com/sweetbitter.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    22 March 2025, 3:08 pm
  • 38 minutes 20 seconds
    Bible: Leviticus 18:22

    Leviticus 18:22


    Do not have sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman; that is detestable.


    In our first episode, we discuss the Clobber Passages and misconceptions about the Bible. Where did they come from? Why are they wrong, and how have they hurt queer folks?


    Thank you to our guests this week, Reverend Florentino Cordova, Ruby Almeida, Reverend Jakob Hero-Shaw, Pastor Dawn, Reverend Altagracia Perez-Bullard, and Reverend Jeanelle N. Ablola. Our song this week is Amazing Grace, performed by Ellie & Leesa.


    As always, you can find us on Bluesky and Instagram at @sweetbitterpod. You can support us on Patreon at patreon.com/sweetbitter.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    6 March 2025, 10:01 am
  • 39 minutes 26 seconds
    Bible: 1 Thessalonians 5:21

    1 Thessalonians 5:21


    But test them all; hold on to what is good


    Welcome to season 3! Join us for a quick introduction to Christianity and the Bible.


    Thank you to our guests this week, Brian Murphy, Father Shannon Kearns, Rev. Jakob Hero-Shaw, Rev. Naomi Washington-Leapheart, Rev. Florentino Cordova and Pastor Dawn Bennett. 


    As always, you can find us on Bluesky and Instagram at @sweetbitterpod. You can support us on Patreon at patreon.com/sweetbitter.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    6 March 2025, 5:00 am
  • 53 seconds
    Season 3 Trailer
    Welcome to the long awaited third season of Sweetbitter! This season, we deep-dive into the history of the Bible from a queer women’s perspective, unsettling assumptions about the text and religious tradition. With interviews from LGBTQIA+ clergy and scholars, we break down, re-frame, and re-imagine Bible passages to reveal untold stories of queer resilience, love, and liberation. From the gay monks of the Middle Ages to the trans pastors breaking norms in the Church today, demonstrating the women, queer people and social justice that have always been at the heart of the Christian faith.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    19 February 2025, 9:35 pm
  • 48 minutes 53 seconds
    Season 2 Finale with Vico Ortiz

    Wrapping up season 2 of the podcast, we're joined by Vico Ortiz from HBOMax's Our Flag Means Death, with a cameo from Rebecca Simon!

    As always, you can find us on Twitter and Instagram @sweetbitterpod.You can support us on Patreon at patreon.com/sweetbitter -- where we are releasing bonus content covering OFMD 🏴‍☠️

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    21 July 2022, 10:00 am
  • 42 minutes 21 seconds
    Bonus: Be More Pirate

    We spoke to Alex Barker about the Be More Pirate movement.

    As always, you can find us on Twitter and Instagram @sweetbitterpod.You can support us on Patreon at patreon.com/sweetbitter.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    23 June 2022, 1:00 pm
  • 20 minutes 40 seconds
    Bonus: OFMD Episode 1 (Patreon/Subscriber Content)

    Post-season, the Sweetbitter team will be covering Our Flag Means Death (HBOMax) for our Apple subscriber and Patreon supporters but we wanted to share the first one with all of you!

    We hope you can join us next week for a Q&A with Vico Ortiz. You can buy tickets here.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    26 May 2022, 1:00 pm
  • 1 hour 8 minutes
    Pirates: Queer Pirates in Pop Culture

    This week is our episode on pirates in popular culture.

    Thank you to our guest this week: Rebecca Simon, Antonio Sanna, Jamie Goodall, Clint Jones and Natasha Sutton Williams. Our pirate shanty this week is written and performed & produced by Joshua Nelson.

    As always, you can find us on Twitter and Instagram @sweetbitterpod.You can support us on Patreon at patreon.com/sweetbitter.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    28 April 2022, 8:55 pm
  • 46 minutes 58 seconds
    Pirates: Philip van Buskirk

    This week is our episode on the sex journals of Philip van Buskirk.

    Thank you to our guest this week, Matthew Knip. Our pirate shanty this week is written and performed by Alyse and performed & produced by Joshua Nelson.

    As always, you can find us on Twitter and Instagram @sweetbitterpod.You can support us on Patreon at patreon.com/sweetbitter.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    7 April 2022, 4:17 pm
  • 36 minutes 12 seconds
    Pirates: Rum

    This week is our episode on the history of Rum and pirates. 

    Thank you to our guests this week, Antonio Sanna & Kelvin Uffre. Our pirate shanty this week is written and produced by Joshua Nelson.

    As always, you can find us on Twitter and Instagram @sweetbitterpod.You can support us on Patreon at patreon.com/sweetbitter.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    24 March 2022, 10:00 am
  • More Episodes? Get the App