Sweetbitter | the Untold History of Pirates

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 with marginalized identities.

In our second season, we bring you a high-seas adventure full of surprises as we uncover the history of women and queer pirates. Gay love and even marriage were more common in the 17th-century world of pirates than we might expect, and history is full of cross-dressing, swashbuckling pirates who broke gender norms and created their own queer culture. Even Johnny Depp, in the Pirates of the Caribbean series, intentionally played Captain Jack Sparrow as a gay man. We explore the stories behind these radical rebels and discuss why these stories have been erased for hundreds of years.

Season 1 delves into the truth and controversy surrounding Sappho; her life, the Isle of Lesbos and her relevance today.

Produced in partnership with 3SM.