126. Beautiful Forever: The Trials of Madame Rachel

Nov 25, 2025
40 mins

Episode Description

Victorian London, where beauty came at a price and secrets could cost a fortune. Behind the doors of an exclusive salon, promises of eternal youth lured the wealthy and the curious alike. Charm, deception, and scandal unfold in this story of ambition, cunning, and survival.

About Us

Macabrium is a podcast exploring dark history, crime, lore, & legend, and is part of the Southern Gothic Media Podcast Network. The show is hosted by actors Megan Alda and Derek Stephen Brown, with writing and research by Chloe Kibbe.


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Content Warning

Some episodes may contain content that some listeners find disturbing or potentially triggering/ Please take care while listening.


Source Material & Further Reading

The extraordinary life of Madame Rachel by Cornell University Press

Madame Rachel: The Con Artist Who Sold the Fountain of Youth to London’s Gentlewomen by Kat Devitt

Madame Rachel: A Victorian Era Con Artist by Geri Walton

Beautiful For Ever: The True Story of Madame Rachel of Bond Street by Helen Rappaport 

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