Episode 4

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Published on:

7th Oct 2025

Bad Elizabeth - Queen Elizabeth I with Alice Loxton

Queen Elizabeth I is known as the steady, confident ruler who beat the Spanish Armada, supported the arts, and led to England's golden age. But her reign also had a darker side, including killing of Catholic priests, terrorizing Puritans, and speculation she might've been part of a plot to kill a lover's wife.

In this episode Gideon and Kathy look past the legend to the woman behind the crown - part hero, part manipulator, and part mystery.

Our guest is Alice Loxton, also known as History Alice, who joins us to tutor us on the Tudors, and help make sense of the Virgin Queen.

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Hosted by Gideon Evans & Kathy Egan-Taylor

Producer & Engineer: Will Becton / Executive Producer: Amber Becton

Recorded @ Jett Road Studios

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Jett Road Studios - Website - YouTube - Instagram - Substack

Bad Elizabeth - Instagram - YouTube - Substack

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SOURCES

The First Elizabeth by Carolly Erickson

https://a.co/d/5UAb5x4

Eighteen: A History of Britain in 18 Young Lives by Alice Loxton

https://a.co/d/2OipuVO

Elizabeth I: A Study in Insecurity by Helen Castor

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2018/apr/05/elizabeth-i-helen-castor-study-insecurity-penguin-monarchs

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About the Podcast

Bad Elizabeth
Bad Elizabeths throughout history
Jett Road Studios presents "Bad Elizabeth" a comedic true crime podcast hosted by friends and former “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart” office mates, Gideon Evans and Kathy Egan-Taylor. The premise is as simple as it sounds - each episode explores the story of an “Elizabeth” (or any derivation of that name) who is notorious; be they a murderer, a fraudster, or just a complete a-hole. These women span both past and present, in pop culture, and world history. Gideon & Kathy guide you through these sordid and outrageous tales breezily, as if you were a guest at a fun cocktail party.

Season 1 Elizabeths profiled include famed axe-wielder Lizzie Borden, imprisoned Theranos CEO Elizabeth Holmes, the ruthless Queen Elizabeth I, and the bloodthirsty Hungarian Countess, Elizabeth Bathory. Gideon and Kathy explore the misdeeds of the Elizabeths in question, and determine whether they deserve to be called "bad". Each episode also features a special guest, be it an expert, actor, author, or an actual living and breathing Elizabeth (a good one).

Evans and Egan-Taylor don’t harbor any resentment against Elizabeths - many of whom they hope to woo as listeners - however, there are a lot of them out there who are objectively shitty (we all know at least one). Consider yourself warned!

About your hosts

Gideon Evans

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Will Becton

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