Uneasy Lies the Crown
Uneasy Lies the Crown
Riley Bannon
Two sisters combine their expertise in history and neuroscience to examine famous royals from historical and biological perspectives. They hope to understand how mental and neurological illness shaped some of the world’s most important leaders, and the course of history in turn.
Mercury in Retrograde: Ivan the Terrible
Kings have killed throughout history for the chance at an heir, but Ivan the Terrible took another route; he killed his own son, forever changing the trajectory of Russia. We explore whether his behavior can be traced back to a mysterious childhood illness and his favorite skincare products. Plus: Riley shares some exciting personal news. Fall is a state of mind. What is your Roman Empire? If you are a German speaker with $10 to spare, hit us up. Taylor and Travis are a sign of the end times. How did Stefanie really get mono?
Oct 30, 2023
54 min
Livin' on a Prayer: Maria of Portugal
How do you solve a problem like Maria of Portugal (a series of losses, a mental decline, an escape to the New World)? With modern science of the neurobiology of religion and obsessive compulsive disorder. Plus: An exciting announcement (get ready to see a lot more of us)! Does Riley look like Jenna Lyons? Riley thinks the Barbie movie was actually pro-man and Stefanie thought the costumes were pretty!!! Why do you guys love incest so much?
Aug 10, 2023
1 hr 14 min
Heir Jordan: Talal bin Abdullah
Hundreds of years of politics and family tension preceded Talal bin Abdullah’s ascent to the Jordanian throne in 1951. After only a year, he was forced to abdicate. Was it because he was sick or were there ulterior motives at play? Our search for answers takes us from post-Word War Britain to 1950s Switzerland to the modern coronavirus pandemic. Plus: Prince Harry is a Maxinista. Is Camilla here for the right reasons? Riley's review of the song Stefanie's high school boyfriend wrote about her. Why was Matt Lauer ALWAYS at Easter Island?
May 1, 2023
1 hr 5 min
Tangled: Prince Henrik of Denmark
This month, we chat about the strained marriage between Denmark's Queen Margrethe II and Prince Henrik and how the royal family tried to blame it on a dementia diagnosis. Then Riley teaches us about the neurobiology of Alzheimer's disease and gives us the scoop on the newest FDA-approved drug and a recent scandal in the Alzheimer's research world. Plus: Stefanie talks about Spare while Riley vehemently shakes her head. Uneasy lie the follicles on Prince Harry's crown. Why did Disney disrespect John Rolfe so hard? Google thinks Chris Hemsworth is a royal. We take you to Tau Town.
Jan 27, 2023
1 hr 9 min
Charlotte's Web: Carlota of Mexico
How did a European aristocrat end up on the throne in Mexico and why did the reign end with the Pope spoon feeding her in the Vatican? And most importantly, why have you never heard the incredible story of Carlota of Mexico? Plus: Revisiting the soup discourse. Our thoughts on "Harry & Meghan". Riley gives us a taste of Les Mis. Leave inbreeding in 2022.
Dec 31, 2022
1 hr 3 min
The X Files: Katherine and Nerissa Bowes-Lyon
As far as anyone knew, Queen Elizabeth's cousins Katherine and Nerissa Bowes-Lyon were dead. So when a tabloid reported that they were very much alive and institutionalized, it launched a mystery of what the royal family was hiding and why. This month, we try to dig up answers. Plus: It's soup season. The latest NFL concussion protocol controversy. What's your favorite kind of soup? Stefanie's royal encounter in Europe. EVEN MORE SOUP STUFF!
Nov 1, 2022
53 min
God Save the Queen: Elizabeth II
Queen Elizabeth led the monarchy and the nation through 70 years of unprecedented change. Her reign was not without controversy, but she never neglected her role as sovereign up to the very day she died. In this emergency ULTC episode, we remember her life and legacy, especially how she modernized the monarchy and embraced modern medicine (and how Riley almost met her in 2007).
Sep 9, 2022
43 min
The King's Speech: George VI
We join forces with Vanessa Grass of Neuroscience Theater to talk about the science behind the Oscar-winning film "The King's Speech". We discuss King George's reign, Colin Firth's performance, what you probably don't know about the neurobiology of stuttering and why a king with a speech impediment was so groundbreaking. Plus: It's time for Prince William to get on TikTok. Are left handers serial killers? We do not need an "Avatar" sequel. Our first f bomb.
Aug 30, 2022
58 min
Lover Boy: Henry VIII
How did Henry's lifelong quest for love alter the course of history and what did a brain injury have to do with it?  Plus: Riley forgot she got married. You can put anything on Broadway. Carolyn Keene is not a real person. Stefanie finds out Riley broke her Christmas ornament.
Jul 15, 2022
1 hr 35 min
Diagnosis of Independence: George III
The theory that King George III's madness led to the American Revolution is tempting, but unsupported by history. This month, we are cleaning up George's reputation with a little help from modern science and Lin Manuel Miranda.  Plus: Encanto is a good movie. Victoria Justice and Ariana Grande have a contentious relationship. Is Zac Efron's face okay?
Apr 30, 2022
1 hr 11 min
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