Join host, Dawn Brodey, and a LIVE audience to hear this most-titillating chapter from The Golden Age of Piracy, the tale of Mary Read and Anne Bonny. Born in very different circumstances and on opposite sides of the Atlantic, their worlds would collide and eventually combine in the most swash-buckingly way. 

Hear pirate trivia with comedian, Becca Melkonian.

Test your knowledge against comedian, Meryl Klemow.

Get to know my classmate, and future history professor, Stacey Hovhannisyan. 

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✅ Follow HILF on TikTok! 

🎟️ HILF Public School - the live, interactive version of HILF: First Thursdays at Flappers Comedy Club - Burbank, CA

🤑 HILF is now on Patreon!

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LILF's (Link's I'd Like to F*ck) 

• See Dawn on THE HISTORY CHANNEL - Histories Greatest Mysteries (multiple seasons)
• See Dawn on THE HISTORY CHANNEL - Crazy Rich Ancients
• Check out HILF MERCH now available on Redbubble! Stickers, t-shirts, bags and more!
• Buy Me a Coffee

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WANNA TALK? 

Find us on Instagram or email us [email protected]

Theme song: Composed and performed by Kat Perkins

Podcast art: Designed by Joe Dressel 

Join Dawn and a LIVE audience to hear what John Wayne Gacy and a plane crash have to do with her birthday. You'll also get to know the fabulous Sam Hale, Horror Nerd, and learn all about her grandpa... and his bulge.

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✅ Follow HILF on TikTok! 

🎥. See Sam's one-hour special!

🎙️ Come see Dawn in Horror Nerd at The Hollywood Improv, April 17th, 2026

🎟️ HILF Public School - the live, interactive version of HILF: First Thursdays at Flappers Comedy Club - Burbank, CA

🤑 HILF is now on Patreon!

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LILF's (Link's I'd Like to F*ck) 

• See Dawn on THE HISTORY CHANNEL - Histories Greatest Mysteries (multiple seasons)
• See Dawn on THE HISTORY CHANNEL - Crazy Rich Ancients
• Check out HILF MERCH now available on Redbubble! Stickers, t-shirts, bags and more!
• Buy Me a Coffee

---

WANNA TALK? 

Find us on Instagram or email us [email protected]

Theme song: Composed and performed by Kat Perkins

Podcast art: Designed by Joe Dressel 

Dawn found herself tits-deep in pirate history and fell so far down the rabbit hole, she called on her friend - and frequent leading man - Patrick Day to fall with her!  Hear the swashbuckling story of a man who helped write some of the 18th century's most toe-curling and horrifying chapters. 

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🎥 - Watch Florescent Beast - "What is the cost of being creative?"

🎥 - Watch Cruel Hearts - "Find what you love, let it kill you..."

🎟️ Get tickets to HILF Public School - the live, interactive version of HILF: First Thursdays at Flappers Comedy Club - Burbank, CA

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SILF's (Source's I'd Like to F*ck) 

• A General History of the Robberies and Murders of the Most Notorious Pirates by Captain Charles Johnson (Whoever he is...)
• A Cruising Voyage Around the World by Captain Woodes Rogers. (I screamed... will you?)
• Villains of All Nations by Marcus Rediker (THE greatest place to dive into pirate history at large.)

LILF's (Link's I'd Like to F*ck) 

• See Dawn on THE HISTORY CHANNEL - Histories Greatest Mysteries (multiple seasons)
• See Dawn on THE HISTORY CHANNEL - Crazy Rich Ancients
• Check out HILF MERCH now available on Redbubble! Stickers, t-shirts, bags and more!
• HILF is now on Patreon!
• Buy Me a Coffee
• Find your next favorite podcast on BIG COMEDY NETWORK.

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HILF original music by Kat Perkins @katperkinsmusic

HILF original artwork by @thejoedressel

Climb in bed with one of the first-ever sex symbols, Mae West! She was born in the 1800’s and lived long (and well) enough to star on broadway, lead the silver screen, and even release a ROCK ALBUM before she died! Guest is historian and playwright, John Heimbuch, who wrote the hit play Mae West and the Trial of Sex. 

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🎟️ Get tickets to HILF Public School - the live, interactive version of HILF: First Thursdays at Flappers Comedy Club - Burbank, CA

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SILF's (Source's I'd Like to F*ck) 

• YOUTUBE - Watch a bit of Mae West in action!
• ARTICLE - Read a bit more about her life and times (American Heritage) 

LILF's (Link's I'd Like to F*ck) 

• See Dawn on THE HISTORY CHANNEL - Histories Greatest Mysteries (multiple seasons)
• See Dawn on THE HISTORY CHANNEL - Crazy Rich Ancients
• Check out HILF MERCH now available on Redbubble! Stickers, t-shirts, bags and more!
• HILF is now on Patreon!
• Buy Me a Coffee
• Find your next favorite podcast on BIG COMEDY NETWORK.

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HILF original music by Kat Perkins @katperkinsmusic

HILF original artwork by @thejoedressel

Re-join Dawn and her guest, 76 year-old Zari Faripour, an elegant, intelligent, one-time refugee from the Iranian Revolution. Dawn delivers a utility outline of the major events and people involved in the 1970's revolution, while Zari colors it with her unique perspective and amazing life experiences.

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🎟️ Get tickets to HILF Public School - the live, interactive version of HILF: First Thursdays at Flappers Comedy Club - Burbank, CA

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SILF's (Source's I'd Like to F*ck) 

• BOOK -  Iran Awakening by Shirin Ebadi
• ESSAY - Structural Causes of the Iranian Revolution by Ervand Abrahamian.
• YOUTUBE - The Crash Course folks kill this stuff... 
• For your current news, start with Reuters. 

LILF's (Link's I'd Like to F*ck) 

• See Dawn on THE HISTORY CHANNEL - Histories Greatest Mysteries (multiple seasons)
• See Dawn on THE HISTORY CHANNEL - Crazy Rich Ancients
• Check out HILF MERCH now available on Redbubble! Stickers, t-shirts, bags and more!
• HILF is now on Patreon!
• Buy Me a Coffee
• Find your next favorite podcast on BIG COMEDY NETWORK.

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HILF original music by Kat Perkins @katperkinsmusic

HILF original artwork by @thejoedressel

Before there was Adam and Eve, there was Adam and Lilith! Hear the hot gossip straight from the Garden of Eden, and some of the best stories of this pre-biblical bad-ass. 

Dawn is joined by two Minneapolis besties who thought when they booked their tickets to LA from Minneapolis in January, they'd be escaping ice... In fact, they found they were taking a mere break from fighting I.C.E. Fall in love with Rhiannon and Shanan, artists from the Twin Cities and the best coven you never knew you needed to join. 

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✅ Keep up with Rhiannon on Instagram

✅ Keep up with Shanan on Instagram

✅ See the next SONGversation in Minneapolis!

🎟️ Get tickets to HILF Public School - the live, interactive version of HILF: First Thursdays at Flappers Comedy Club - Burbank, CA

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SILF's (Source's I'd Like to F*ck) 

• BOOK - Lilith The First Eve by Siegmund Hurwitz
• More about the Alphabet of Ben Sera (Alphabet of Sirach)
• Lilith in the Ancient Texts from Gettysburg College

LILF's (Link's I'd Like to F*ck) 

• See Dawn on THE HISTORY CHANNEL - Histories Greatest Mysteries (multiple seasons)
• See Dawn on THE HISTORY CHANNEL - Crazy Rich Ancients
• Check out HILF MERCH now available on Redbubble! Stickers, t-shirts, bags and more!
• HILF is now on Patreon!
• Buy Me a Coffee
• Find your next favorite podcast on BIG COMEDY NETWORK.

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HILF original music by Kat Perkins @katperkinsmusic

HILF original artwork by @thejoedressel

Dawn's Guest, Dave Reinitz is a stand-up comedian and stain-glass artist whose personal connection to this slice of History brings it alive for all of us. Hear about how his mother, Janet Braun-Reinitz, joined with the Freedom Riders in 1961 and endured and enlightened one of the darkest chapters of American History. 

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Dawn's Sources   

• Book - The Freedom Riders by Raymond Arsenault
• Podcast - Stuff you Missed in History Class (2011)  (3-part series)
• Interview - Watch Janet's interview with The Library of Congress (2001)
• Summary of events from The Bill of Rights Institute
• Excellent sources here from The Civil Rights Trail
• Janet Braun-Reinitz's Artwork
• Dave's stain-glass page on Etsy - Boomdiggitty Glass

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• See Dawn on THE HISTORY CHANNEL!
• Crazy Rich Ancients
• Histories Greatest Mysteries (mulitple seasons)
• HILF is now on Patreon! 

---

WANNA TALK? 

Find us on Instagram or email us [email protected]

Theme song: Composed and performed by Kat Perkins. Artwork by @thejoedressel

The 'Father of Philosophy' and the teacher of Plato, Socrates was arguably the most important intellectual in human history. He was also a war veteran, a bad dad, and never wrote anything himself. So why did Athens kill him; and why do you and I still talk about him?  Buckle up for a hell of a HILF along with guest, comedian Nat Baimel.  

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✅ Keep up with Nat Baimel on Instagram

🎟️ Get tickets to HILF Public School - the live, interactive version of HILF: First Thursdays at Flappers Comedy Club - Burbank, CA

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SILF's (Source's I'd Like to F*ck) 

• BOOK - The Shadows of Socrates by Matt Gatton
• READ - Plato The Apology of Socrates. 
• PODCAST - History Unplugged with Matt Gatton (April 2024) [Link to episode on Spotify] 
• ARTICLE - Read more about Socrates the "War Hero" - Article by Donald Robertson. 
• WATCH - Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure 

LILF's (Link's I'd Like to F*ck) 

• See Dawn on THE HISTORY CHANNEL - Histories Greatest Mysteries (multiple seasons)
• See Dawn on THE HISTORY CHANNEL - Crazy Rich Ancients
• Check out HILF MERCH now available on Redbubble! Stickers, t-shirts, bags and more!
• HILF is now on Patreon!
• Buy Me a Coffee
• Find your next favorite podcast on BIG COMEDY NETWORK.

---

HILF original music by Kat Perkins @katperkinsmusic

HILF original artwork by @thejoedressel

Get into the ring with Spartacus! An enslaved gladiator turned rebel general who led the largest, most destructive assault against the Roman Empire EVER. Dawn is joined by comedian, JB Ball, who also happens to be the biggest Spartacus nerd of all time, as they trade facts and laugh... a lot!

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✅ Keep up with JB Ball on Instagram 

🎟️ Get tickets to HILF Public School - the live, interactive version of HILF: First Thursdays at Flappers Comedy Club - Burbank, CA

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SILF's (Source's I'd Like to F*ck) 

• BOOK - The Spartacus War by Barry Strauss (2009)
• PODCAST - Dan Snow's History Hit: 11/14/24 "Gladiators: The Real Spartacus"
• ARTICLE - Read more from Barry Strauss about Spartacus's mysterious 'woman'. 
• WATCH - Spartacus Series (Originally STARZ, now on Netflix)

LILF's (Link's I'd Like to F*ck) 

• See Dawn on THE HISTORY CHANNEL - Histories Greatest Mysteries (multiple seasons)
• See Dawn on THE HISTORY CHANNEL - Crazy Rich Ancients
• Check out HILF MERCH now available on Redbubble! Stickers, t-shirts, bags and more!
• HILF is now on Patreon!
• Buy Me a Coffee
• Find your next favorite podcast on BIG COMEDY NETWORK.

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HILF original music by Kat Perkins @katperkinsmusic

HILF original artwork by @thejoedressel

Join Dawn and a LIVE audience to get the true story you probably heard first in Jaws. It's the USS Indianapolis a doomed ship from World War 2 which endured one of the worst shark attacks in human history. On the anniversary of both the release of the movie and the sinking of the real-life ship, you'll learn along with guest, Mark Decarlo, TV. host, VO actor, and hell of a trivia player. 

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JOIN US AT THE NEXT SHOW!

🎟️ HILF Public School - the live, interactive version of HILF: First Thursdays at Flappers Comedy Club - Burbank, CA

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LILF's (Link's I'd Like to F*ck) 

• See Dawn on THE HISTORY CHANNEL - Histories Greatest Mysteries (multiple seasons)
• See Dawn on THE HISTORY CHANNEL - Crazy Rich Ancients
• Check out HILF MERCH now available on Redbubble! Stickers, t-shirts, bags and more!
• HILF is now on Patreon!
• Buy Me a Coffee
• Find your next favorite podcast on BIG COMEDY NETWORK.

---

WANNA TALK? 

Find us on Instagram or email us [email protected]

Theme song: Composed and performed by Kat Perkins

Podcast art: Designed by Joe Dressel 

2026 is going to be a big year for HILF!  Find out what annals Dawn will be exploring next, and what it means for you!

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🎟️ Get tickets to HILF Public School - the live, interactive version of HILF: First Thursdays at Flappers Comedy Club - Burbank, CA

---

LILF's (Link's I'd Like to F*ck) 

• See Dawn on THE HISTORY CHANNEL - Histories Greatest Mysteries (multiple seasons)
• See Dawn on THE HISTORY CHANNEL - Crazy Rich Ancients
• Check out HILF MERCH now available on Redbubble! Stickers, t-shirts, bags and more!
• HILF is now on Patreon!
• Buy Me a Coffee
• Find your next favorite podcast on BIG COMEDY NETWORK.