Unhinged History

Episode 142 | He’s Built His Retirement Hut

This week, Angie explores the adventures of Pyotr Kozlov, a traveler from Russia/Soviet Union who explored large portions of Asia and was falsely reported to have found the tomb of Genghis Khan. Kozlov led several expeditions uncovering several royal burials and was surprisingly appreciated by the countries in which he worked.
This episode pairs well with:
Rear Admiral Robert Byrd Mary Kingsley
 

Episode 141 | I’m “Questionable Boundaries”

Join us as Theresa kicks off the spooky season by sharing the origins of her favorite book, Frankenstein. She takes us through all the scientific advancements leading to the creation of the favorite creature. From resuscitating drowning victims to using electricity to generate muscle spasms in corpses, science hinted that reanimating the dead was just around the corner. 
Theresa also shares some of the darker parts of Mary Shelley’s life that added additional color to the horror and grief in the book. 
This episode pairs well with: The Casquette Girls of New Orleans 14

Episode 140 | He *IS* the Shed

Join us this week as we tackle some sketchy history. Angie starts us with the story of (not quite a founding mother) Eliza Bowen Jumel. She’s born in a brothel, and eventually becomes the wealthiest woman in America. This fascinating woman ends up marrying Aaron Burr later in life and divorces him, using Alexander Hamilton Jr. as her lawyer.
 
Theresa takes us to Japan in the 1100s and regales us with the story of Saitō Musashibō Benkei. This legendary samurai grows up in a series of monasteries, goes rogue, and in his quest to win 1000 swords in battle, becomes the loyal retainer of Yoshitsune. While defending Yoshitsune, Benkei would defeat 300 swordsmen and die standing (and riddled with arrows).
This story pairs well with:Nell Gwyn - actress and court mistress
Miyamoto Musashi

Episode 139 | Coordinating Their Chaos

Theresa is back at it. This story has a little bit of everything you expect from one of her stories. WWII. Female spies. A missing leg. Join us as she shares the tale of Virginia Hall. This renowned spy has an incredible story, and there is so much to unpack.
 
This story pairs well with:
Odette Samson and Peter Churchill

Episode 138 | They’re Formal. Classy.

Angie continues with her love affair with SAS member Paddy Mayne. Join us as she takes us through his work during WWII. Paddy is quite the hero. While demurely accepting medals for his valor, our favorite Irishman is leading his troops miles behind enemy lines and making the lives of the Axis powers rough.
This story pairs well with:
Paddy Mane’s Intro to the SAS
 

Episode 137 | Another Missing Leg Story

Angie is riding her Paddy Mane trip for the second week. This week, she covered Paddy Mane's tumultuous start to military service and how he met the founders of the SAS. 
Theresa takes us in a wildly different direction as she circles back on a previous story. Before she'd covered William Riker, the cult-founder of Holy City in episode 132. Today she covers William Riker's lawyer, Melvin Belli. This man fired a cannon from the roof of his office and flew the Jolly Roger flag when he won cases. 
This episode pairs well with: 
Paddy Mane's Early Years
Melvin Belli's Cult-Founding Client

Episode 136 | Kill Squad in Your Back Pocket

History is strange and weird. Today's mash-up of stories proves it.
Theresa picks up where she left off last week. (Last week, she shared about that time North Korea sent 31 commandos into South Korea to take out their president.) This week, South Korea responds by forming its own squad, only spoiler alert: things go fantastically awry.
Angie collects her bearings before sharing the early years of her favorite SAS member, "Paddy" Blair Mane. Join us as she tells about him hunting South African springbok in formal wear and more.
 
These stories pair well with:
The Blue House Raid The SAS Raid You Never Heard Of

Episode 135 | A Renaissance Garden Gnome

History is jam-packed with stories you've never heard, and today's episode brings together two such tales. Angie starts with sharing Josef Mencik – the last knight, or the Knight of Strakonice. This Czech man of noble standing starts to enter the historical narrative by buying a castle, a suit of armour, and then stands up to a Nazi tank division.
Theresa takes the rest of the episode in a wildly different direction when she shares, The Blue House Incident, or that time North Korea snuck 31 commandos into Seoul and got them within 300 meters of the president's palace before the mission went sideways.
 
These stories pair nicely with:
The Wide Awakes
The SAS raid no one knew about