Unhinged History

Episode 120 | Lemme Keep the Cook

Dude. Brace yourself. Angie found a whopper of a story. Buckle up for her telling of Yoshiko Kawashima, a member of the Qing dynasty who was a gender-fluid spy for the Japanese in the early 1900s. Whatever you're expecting, this ain't it.  
 
This episode pairs well with:
Aline Griffith

Episode 119 | Going on Vibes Alone

Woowwee. This week is a crazy mashup of stories.
 
First off, Angie shares a Japanese festival called Nakizumo, where sumo wrestlers attempt to make babies cry, on purpose.
 
Theresa overcomes her feelings about this to share the story of Richard Sakakida, a nisei (a first-generation Japanese American) sent to spy on the Japanese in Manilla before the US's entrance to WWII. She shares his capture, torture, and survival. It's a lot.
 
These stories pair well with:
The Spaghetti Hoax
The Time the Japanese bombed Oregon during WWII

Episode 118 | Thanks for Translating Past Theresa

Join your favorite unhinged historians as they bring you some crazy stories. Today Theresa shares the tale of Molly Williams, the first female firefighter, who was also the first Black woman firefighter. Oh, and she did it at the age of 71.
 
Not to be outdone, Angie regales us with Lilian Wyles, the first female inspector of Scotland Yard. This barrier-breaking woman paved the way for women in the police force in the UK, and you need to hear her story.
 
These stories pair well with:
Stagecoach Mary
"Mrs. Sherlock Holmes" / Grace Quakenbos

Episode 117 | Suckers for Resistance Stories

At Unhinged History, we are nothing if not consistent. To prove that, Angie shares a solid resistance story from WWII. In this unbelievable tale, Major Cary Elwes, not that Cary Elwes, along with fellow SAS sneak behind enemy lines, steal a train, and rescue POWs.
Theresa presses all the buttons triggering outrage as she shares the Mexican Repatriation Act, that time the United States deported up to 1.8 million people, with up to 60% of them being citizens.
 
This episode pairs well with:The man who created the SOEThe Great Locomotive Chase of the Civil War "Mad" Jack ChurchillThe Black Village That Thrived in Central Park

Episode 116 | The Tea of the Time

No matter what you expected, you never guessed this week's stories.
 
Theresa kicks things off with the tale of Hazel Scott, the Black musician who seamlessly blended classical and jazz. She was the first Black woman to have her show on national TV in the 1950s.
 
Angie refuses to be chill with her choice of stories when she shares the story of Rahmah ibn Jabir al-Jalhami, the Persian pirate prince. This man starts his life on land selling horses before a 20-year career in piracy.
 
This episode pairs well with:
Sister Rosetta Tharpe
Artemisia I of Halicarnassus

Episode 115 | I’m So Glad You Didn’t Ask

In celebration of April Fool's Day, Angie and Theresa are at it again.
 
Angie starts off with the tale of the Cardiff Giant. George Hull and his cousin William Newell create this elaborate hoax to convince people that they found a giant petrified man – then the showman Barnum gets involved.
 
Theresa then shares the story of the Fox sisters. These renowned mediums ushered in the Spiritualist Movement. But were the frauds?
 
This episode pairs well with other hoaxes of history:
Spaghetti Hoax
The Time Traveler

Episode 114 | More Impressive Than a 1300s Prenup

Aww, the sweet feeling of predictability. Theresa starts us off with, the particularly unhinged story of Jeanne de Clisson, the Lion of Brittany. This female French pirate was an absolute menace for 13 years as she pillaged her countrymen in a revenge plot.
 
Angie, is well, the sweet amazing soul she is, week after week, as she shares the story of Mary Kingsley. This Victorian adventurer makes a name for herself trekking through Africa and hanging out with cannibals.
 
This story pairs well with:
Catalina de Erauso, the lieutenant nun
Nellie Bly
Alice Lee Roosevelt Longworth

Episode 113 | Everyone Loves Us, But Vermont

Angie kicks us off with Tarenorerer. This aboriginal woman comes from Tasmania. After being a slave for a brief period, our girl escapes from slavery and shows the colonizers how much of a pain this rebel leader can be.
Theresa picks up from here and regales us with the story of French sculptress – Camille Claudel. This woman comes of age during the late 1800s and makes a name for herself while having a tumultuous relationship with renowned artist, Rodin – who is also married. This trainwreck is bigger and worse than you think it will go.
This episode pairs well with:
General Harriet Tubman The Queen of the Paris Lesbians – Natalie Clifford Barney