Episodes
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Unruly Interviews: Dr. Charley Binkow on The Great Uprising of 1381
Hello everyone, Welcome to another unruly interview! This week, I’m chatting with Dr. Charley Binkow to discuss the Great Uprising of 1381 and the new movie out about it, appropriately called The Uprising. We get into why the rebellion began, whether or not it was a success, and how English...
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#70 - Eve Adams
This week, historian and author Valorie Castellanos Clark is covering the tale of Eve Adams, a 1920s businesswoman, author, and political radical whose book Lesbian Love got her deported to Europe. If you liked this story, check out my book, Unruly Figures: Twenty Tales of Rebels, Rulebreakers,...
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#57 - Gráinne Ní Mháille
This week, historian and author Valorie Castellanos Clark is covering the tale of Gráinne Ní Mháille--better known today as Grace O'Malley, the Pirate Queen of Ireland. If you liked this story, check out my book, Unruly Figures: Twenty Tales of Rebels, Rulebreakers, and Revolutionaries. Episode…
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Unruly Interviews: Adam Morgan on Margaret C. Anderson
Hello everyone, Welcome to another unruly interview! This week I’ve sat down with Adam Morgan to discuss his forthcoming biography of Margaret C. Anderson, editor of The Little Review and first publisher of James Joyce’s Ulysses in the US, which earned her a day in court under the Comstock Act…
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#54 - Juana Azurduy de Padilla
This week, historian and author Valorie Castellanos Clark is covering the tale of Juana Azurduy de Padilla, a revolutionary fighter from 19th-century Bolivia. If you liked this story, check out my book, Unruly Figures: Twenty Tales of Rebels, Rulebreakers, and Revoluationaries You've (Probably)...
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Unruly Interviews: Janet Lewis Saidi on Jane Austen's Subversive Writing
Hello friends, Last week I covered Jane Austen—I hope you had as much fun with that as I did! This week, I’ve got author Janet Lewis Saidi on to talk about her new book, Jane Austen: The Original Romance Novelist. If you’ve been on Substack a while, I hope you’ve run across Janet’s work on The...
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#53: Jane Austen
This week, historian and author Valorie Castellanos Clark is covering the tale of Jane Austen, the original romance author and secretly subversive writer who challenged the norms of her day. If you liked this story, check out my book, Unruly Figures: Twenty Tales of Rebels, Rulebreakers, and...
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Bonus Episode 18: 11 Historical Moments That Sound Like Horror Movies
Hey friends, Welcome to another season of Unruly Figures! Thank you to all the listeners who have been with me for a while now, and thank you to everyone who is just joining us! Because of some scheduling wonkiness, I am starting the new season with a bonus episode, so I’m going to make it free…
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#52 - Zhang Jue
This week, historian and author Valorie Castellanos Clark is covering the tale of Zhang Jue, the leader of the Yellow Turban Rebellion in China in 184 CE. If you liked this story, check out Unruly Figures: Twenty Tales of Rebels, Rulebreakers, and Revolutionaries You’ve (Probably) Never Heard...
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#51 - Freddie Oversteegen
This week, historian and author Valorie Castellanos Clark is covering the tale of Freddie Oversteegen, a Dutch Resistance fighter who seduced and killed Nazis during World War II. If you liked this story, check out Unruly Figures: Twenty Tales of Rebels, Rulebreakers, and Revolutionaries You’ve...
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Unruly Interviews: Alex Lyras
On this week's episode of Unruly Figures, host Valorie Castellanos Clark is joined by Alex Lyras, the award-winning director of Aristotle/Alexander. They talk about the play, the craft of writing historical fiction, and why this meeting of the minds from 2,000 years ago is still relevant today....
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A Short Announcement
As you all have heard above, I lost my recording space suddenly (and with no warning, I might add). My home is not really equipped to record in at the moment (echoey, nearby construction), so I have been hunting for an affordable new spot all around Los Angeles. If you know of a good spot with...
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#50 - Edythe Eyde
This week, historian and author Valorie Castellanos Clark is covering Edythe Eyde, creator of the first lesbian magazine in the US. Eyde is better known by her penname Lisa Ben. If you liked this story, check out Unruly Figures: Twenty Tales of Rebels, Rulebreakers, and Revolutionaries You’ve...
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#49 - Njinga of Ndongo and Matamba
This week, historian and author Valorie Castellanos Clark is covering the incredible warrior queen Njinga of Ndongo and Matamba, a woman who resisted Portuguese colonization of her homeland for decades. If you liked this story, check out Unruly Figures: Twenty Tales of Rebels, Rulebreakers, and...
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#48 - Harriet Bell Hayden
This week, historian and author Valorie Castellanos Clark is covering Harriet Bell Hayden, one of the heroes of Boston's abolitionist movement. If you liked this story, check out Unruly Figures: Twenty Tales of Rebels, Rulebreakers, and Revolutionaries You’ve (Probably) Never Heard Of. This is a...
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#47: Lillian Frances Smith
In this week's episode of Unruly Figures, historian and host Valorie Castellanos Clark covers the story of Lillian Frances Smith, a sharpshooter, trick rider, and formidable woman who outshot Annie Oakley in the Wild West. If you like this episode, check out Valorie's book Unruly Figures: Twenty...
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#46: Rani Lakshmi Bai
Welcome to season four of Unruly Figures! In this episode, historian and host Valorie Castellanos Clark tells the tale of Rani Lakshmi Bai, the queen of Jansi who rebelled against British colonial rule. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access…
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#45: Dr. Margaret "Mom" Chung
In this week's episode, historian and host Valorie Castellanos Clark is covering Dr. Margaret "Mom" Chung, the first American-born Chinese woman to become a medical doctor. Want more info about Dr. Margaret Chung? Check out Doctor Mom Chung of the Fair-Haired B******s: The Life of a Wartime...
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Unruly Interviews: Being Unruly in Texas in the Early 2000s
I’m really excited to share this bonus episode with you all today. Usually it’s me interviewing someone else, but last week interviewed me for her Substack and now I have the recording up for anyone interested! We had a great conversation about how this podcast gets made, how it was turned into a...
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Bonus Episode: Recording of Valorie & Elizabeth Held in Conversation
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit unrulyfigures.substack.com A few weeks ago I had a delightful conversation with Elizabeth Held from What To Read If... all about my new book, Unruly Figures. Today I’ve got a (lightly edited) recording of that event to share! Enjoy!
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#44: Mary Carleton
This week, historian and host Valorie Castellanos Clark is covering Saint Valentine, the ancient Roman rebel and martyr who has given his name to our modern romantic holiday. Order your copy of the Unruly Figures book now! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other...
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Bonus Episode: Amelio Robles Ávila
An excerpt from the upcoming book, Unruly Figures: Twenty Tales of Rebels, Rulebreakers, and Revolutionaries! Preorder your copy on Amazon. Preorder your copy on Bookshop.Preorder your copy everywhere else. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get…
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#43: Kheir-ed-Din (Barbarossa)
This week, historian and host Valorie Castellanos Clark is covering Kheir-ed-Din, better known in Anglophone countries as Barbarossa. He was a Corsair, or pirate, in the Mediterranean in the 15th and 16th century--his tale is full of excitement on the high seas. Pre-order the Unruly Figures...
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Bonus Episode: The Soldadera to Adelita Pipeline
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit unrulyfigures.substack.com In this bonus episode, historian and author Valorie Castellanos Clark looks at the erasure of the stories of women fighting in the Mexican Revolution.
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#42: Saint Valentine
This week, historian and host Valorie Castellanos Clark is covering Saint Valentine, the ancient Roman rebel and martyr who has given his name to our modern romantic holiday. Pre-order the Unruly Figures book now! Out March 5, 2024. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this...
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#41: Owain Glyndŵr
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit unrulyfigures.substack.com/subscribe
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Unruly Interviews: Kara Cooney
Dr. Kara Cooney and host Valorie Castellanos Clark talk about the possibility that Hatshepsut was manipulated by someone else to take the throne, why her book is a little scandalous to other Egyptologists, and weigh the reasons why Hatshepsut is forgotten while Cleopatra and Nefertiti are not. It...
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#40: Noor Inayat Khan
This week, historian and host Valorie Castellanos Clark is covering Noor Inayat Khan, a princess, a children's story author, and an uncover agent for the British during WWII. Pre-order the Unruly Figures book now! Out March 5, 2024. As always, you can get ad-free versions of the episode…
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#39: Alfred Carlton Gilbert
This week, historian and host Valorie Castellanos Clark is covering Alfred Carlton Gilbert, the man who saved Christmas. Pre-order the Unruly Figures book now! Out March 5, 2024. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes,...
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#38: Lepa Svetozara Radić
This week, historian and host Valorie Castellanos Clark is covering Lepa Svetozara Radić, an icon of Nazi resistance and teenaged hero in the Balkans. Pre-order the Unruly Figures book now! Out March 5, 2024. Take advantage of the Unruly Figures Black Friday deal: Become a paying subscriber…
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Unruly Interviews: Annette Laing
Welcome to another bonus episode of Unruly Figures! This week I am sitting down with of to chat about her life as a renegade ex-professor, how historical fiction can still be useful for teaching history, and what the role of The Historian is in modern society. We have a lot of laughs and I hope…
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#37: Petra Herrera
This week, historian and host Valorie Castellanos Clark is covering Petra Herrera, the oft-forgotten cross-dress, bridge-destroying hero of the Mexican Revolution. She was wildly successful but never received any credit. Pre-order the Unruly Figures book now! Out March 5, 2024. This is a public...
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#36: Rasputin
This week, historian and host Valorie Castellanos Clark is covering the mad monk Rasputin, who is credited with singlehandedly destroying the Russian monarchy by sleeping with the Russian queen. But did he though? We explore the legend and truth of Rasputin in this juicy episode. This is a public...
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Unruly Interviews: Mike Sowden
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit unrulyfigures.substack.com/subscribe
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#35 - Hatshepsut
Hey everyone, I am so excited to bring you this week’s episode on Hatshepsut, an incredibly audacious, ambitious, and ultimately talented woman from Ancient Egypt. She stepped into the role of king, despite the fact that it broke every rule of royal womanhood, and created such a successful reign...
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Bonus Episode: Who Were the Shield Maidens?
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit unrulyfigures.substack.com For today’s bonus episode, I am digging into the long and controversial history of female Vikings. Did they really exist? Are they just male fantasy? And why is the alt-right so into this trope? All that and...
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#34 - Princess Alfhild
This week, historian and host Valorie Clark is covering the legendary pirate Princess Alfhild, who ran away from her betrothed to become a pirate with a gang of girls who also wanted to escape marriage. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access…
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#33 - Yasuke
This week, historian and host Valorie Clark is covering the incredible life of Yasuke, the first known Black samurai in Japan. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit unrulyfigures.substack.com/subscribe
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#32 - Blanche Ames Ames
Welcome to season 3 of Unruly Figures! We have a couple of exciting changes to the show: -New backing music! Huge thanks to Danny Wolf of Wolf and Love for creating this! -The Unruly Figures shop is now open! This week, historian and host Valorie Clark is covering the incredible--and…
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Bonus Episode: What Happened to the Sphinx's Nose?
Hey everyone, The story behind this bonus episode is the wildest ride because it all started with one of my History in the News round-ups. On the 20th I wrote something about the mystery of how the Sphinx’s nose disappeared, which I then talked about on Instagram, which then went viral, garnering...
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Bonus Episode: The Slinking Sisterhood with Deadly Eyes
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit unrulyfigures.substack.com Hi everyone, I’m back this week with another bonus episode: the history of the vamp! No, not vampires, but the archetype, the fashion statement, the original femme fatale. I talked about them very briefly...
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Episode 31: Mekatilili wa Menza
This week, historian and host Valorie Clark is covering the rebellious life of Mekatilili wa Menza, a key figure in the grassroots fight against British colonization in Kenya. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit...
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Bonus Episode: Balloonomania! 🎈
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit unrulyfigures.substack.com Hey everyone, Hope everyone is having a good week! I am working on next week’s episode, but I wanted to bring you a quick bonus episode about the ballooning crazy of the 18th and 19th centuries. Sarah…
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Episode 30 - Sarah Bernhardt
This week, historian and host Valorie Clark is covering the amazing life of Sarah Bernhardt, the incredible French actress of the nineteenth century. She was not only an impressive stage actress, she was also a great sculptor and a pioneer of modern celebrity. Want to hear Bernhardt's ethereal…
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Unruly Interviews: Debby Applegate
Hey folks, I’m really excited to share this interview with Debby Applegate, the author of Madam, the Polly Adler biography. If you liked the story of Polly Adler, you’re going to love this interview. We talk about Applegate’s work as a historian, what’s next for her, and the challenge of writing...
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Episode 29: Sylvia Rivera
Hi everyone, I’m so excited to bring you the story of Sylvia Rivera, an incredible queer icon if there ever was one. Rivera was at the Stonewall Uprising (maybe) and she began one of the first-ever US organizations dedicated to advocating for trans rights. Her story is a bit sad, but it gives us...
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Episode 28: Alan Turing
This week, historian and host Valorie Clark is covering the amazing life of Alan Turing, who you might remember as the computer genius that Benedict Cumberbatch played in The Imitation Game. In this episode, Valorie dives deep into the inspiration behind Turing's biggest breakthroughs in…
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Episode 27: Hans Christian Andersen
This week, historian and host Valorie Clark is covering the amazing life of Hans Christian Andersen, who you might remember as the author behind "The Little Mermaid." Though Ariel and The Ugly Duckling are probably two of Andersen's most famous characters, he was an incredibly prolific writer who...
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Episode 26: Polly Adler
This week, historian and host Valorie Clark is covering the amazing tale of the Polly Adler, remembered as New York's greatest madam. She immigrated to the US from Russia, destined for a life of poverty and struggle, but rose above it to dizzying heights of money and glamour--and crime. This is a...
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Unruly Interviews: Neal Bascomb
Historian and host Valorie Clark sits down to talk with Neal Bascomb! Bascomb is the author of Faster, which tells the story of Lucy Schell, René Dreyfus, and how they beat the Nazi Silver Arrows in the Pau Grand Prix. If you liked the Unruly Figures episode on Lucy Schell, you’ll love this...
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Inspiration, education, and coaching for customer-obsessed leaders. Read by executives and leaders at Microsoft, Frontier Communications, Humana, Genesys, JPMC and many more.
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