TRANcestor: The Roman Emperor Elagabalus

Join host, RJ Quirk (they/them) and Holly Heberlein (she/her), as they travel back nearly two millennia to honor one of the earliest recorded transgender women in history: Elagabalus, the Roman empress who ascended to power as a teenager and defied the gender norms of her time.

Together, we unpack the imperial archives, historical biases, and the transphobia that has colored how she’s remembered. Was Elagabalus a scandalous eccentric — or a misunderstood trans woman whose legacy has been distorted through a cis-het lens? Join us as we reclaim her story and reflect on what it means to honor TRANcestors whose lives echo through history in defiance, desire, and transformation.

🌟 Support & Stay Connected 🌟 If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review the podcast—it really helps more people find it! You can also follow and support the show on: 📌 Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/TransEmbodyPod 📌 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/transembodypod/ 📌 Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/transembodypod.bsky.social

Your support helps keep this podcast going and growing! 🎨 Shout-out to the Artist 🎨 A huge thank you to Anse Dunn (he/they) for the stunning artwork that brings this podcast to life. Their work beautifully captures the essence of trans embodiment. You can find more of their work at https://www.instagram.com/done_dunne/

Citation Sluts ⬇️ Cassius Dio Book 79:30 Cassius Dio Book 80 Historia Augusta - Life of Elagabalus Herodian’s Roman History, Book 5

Find out more at https://trans-embodiment-podcast.pinecast.co