#49 A Woman Cursed With An Infamous Surname & An Englishwoman in America (Maria Rasputin & Isabella Bird)

Welcome back to Mostly Unsung the weekly comedy history podcast hosted by women, bringing you two bite-sized biographies of the forgotten people, overlooked lives, and surprising stories history didn’t quite hang onto.If you enjoy funny history podcasts, women’s history, Victorian travel, and fascinating true stories, you’re in exactly the right place.This week we are revisiting two earlier stories from our very first episode! Now no longer available due to the very dodgy sound recording.....we’re travelling from Imperial Russia to the far corners of the globe with two extraordinary women who lived lives that sound almost too dramatic to be true.First, Andrea introduces us to Maria Rasputin, daughter of the infamous Grigori Rasputin, yes, that Rasputin. After her father’s shocking murder during the final days of the Russian Empire, Maria’s life takes a series of unexpected turns. From aristocratic circles to exile, from cabaret to the shipyards of the Second World War. Her story is a fascinating glimpse into Russian history, revolution, and survival in a rapidly changing world.Then Annie brings us the incredible story of Isabella Bird, one of the most famous yet often overlooked Victorian explorers and travel writers. At a time when women were expected to stay firmly at home, Isabella set off alone across North America, Asia, and beyond, documenting her journeys in bestselling books. Fearless, curious, and determined to see the world on her own terms, she became a true pioneer of women’s travel writing and exploration history despite a physical disability.Expect adventure, reinvention, royal scandal, and a few laughs along the way as we dive into two lives that prove history is far stranger (and more entertaining) than fiction.If you love history podcasts, forgotten women in history, Russian history, Victorian exploration, and real-life stories of resilience and adventure, Mostly Unsung is your new favourite listen.Andrea used the following sources:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maria_Rasputinhttps://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/the-many-lives-of-maria-rasputin-daughter-of-the-mad-monkhttps://allthatsinteresting.com/maria-rasputinAnnie used the following sources:https://www.victorianweb.org/history/explorers/bird.htmlhttps://www.rsgs.org/blog/isabella-bird-bishophttps://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/nov/23/isabella-bird-explorer-history-heroine-tv-ruby-waxhttps://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-york-north-yorkshire-63735816Where you can find us:https://www.instagram.com/mostlyunsung/https://www.facebook.com/share/16J4vuMy1h/https://www.tiktok.com/@[email protected] you next Wednesday!