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Episode 5

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Published on:

29th Oct 2025

Blood, Beauty & the Vampire Myth: Our Eternal Obsession with Youth

Welcome, my ghoulish fiends!

Join me as I sink my teeth into the dark allure of vampires and the eternal obsession with youth.

From Countess Elizabeth Bathory's infamous legend to Roman and early modern rituals of blood and renewal, I explore how the vampire became the ultimate beauty icon and how our own thirst for ageless perfection mirrors their seductive, deadly world.

*Listener Discretion is Strongly Advised*

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Sources & References:

Groom, Nick. The Vampire: A New History (Oxford University Press, 2018)

Auerbach, Nina. Our Vampires, Ourselves (University of Chicago Press, 1995)

Sugg, Richard. Mummies, Cannibals and Vampires (Routledge, 2011)

Wilde, Oscar. The Picture of Dorian Gray (1890)

Polidori, John. The Vampyre (1819)

Le Fanu, Sheridan. Carmilla (1872)

Stoker, Bram. Dracula (1897)

Historical references: Pliny the Elder, Juvenal, Marsilio Ficino, and accounts from the Bathory trial (1609–1610)

Day, Doris. Commentary on PRP “vampire facial” (2015–2019)

Regalado, Antonio. “Young Blood Transfusions: Silicon Valley’s Obsession with Youth.” MIT Technology Review (2019)

Lepore, Jill. “The Cult of Youth in Modern Science.” The New Yorker (2019)

GlobalData (2027 projection for anti-aging skincare market)

JAMA Facial Plastic Surgery (2018–2020) studies on “Snapchat dysmorphia”

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Apple Podcast:

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Spotify Podcast:

https://open.spotify.com/show/37MLxC8eRob1D0ZcgcCorA

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About the Podcast

Beauty Unlocked the podcast
Buckle up and get ready as I delve into a variety of topics regarding physical beauty.

We'll take a look at our society's obsession with physical beauty and the consequences these impossible beauty standards have had on us.
Let's face it; this fascination regarding physical beauty and body image isn't a recent phenomenon; it has been around for centuries, crossing borders, and has affected men and women alike.
The realization of this podcast has come about by my own experiences having to deal with society's perverse notion of physical "perfection" and researching an array of topics that have intrigued me over the years.
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About your host

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Carissa Vikis

Hey there!
I'm Carissa, host, content creator, and producer of the indie podcast Beauty Unlocked.
Growing up, I was frequently compared and criticized for my looks and weight. This started the vicious cycle of being self-critical and loathing my body. I knew I wasn't the only one suffering from society's ridiculous notion of what "we should look like." I started digging deeper and researching various topics, and the rest is h(er)story!
Beauty Unlocked The Podcast aims to educate and bring awareness of our society's obsession with physical beauty and the emotional consequences these impossible beauty standards have. Beauty Unlocked's social media platform showcases not only my work but that of other artists, illustrators, and fellow podcasters that I admire and that share a similar message of inspiration, empowerment, positivity, and raising awareness on a variety of social issues.