Unhinged History

This romp through history starts with Theresa returning to the 1980's in Brooklyn. She tells the tale of the Lo Life Crew. This group of men united through passion and started boosting Ralph Lauren's Polo merch. From there they unknowingly changed the course of fashion. Angie balances out the episode by taking us back to the Wild West and telling us the story of Stagecoach Mary. Mary Fields  (c. 1...

This was an incredible round-up of stories, as we celebrate Black History Month. Angie starts us off with a bang telling the story of Bass Reeves (July 1838 – January 12, 1910) the Black marshall who started his life as a slave. Theresa ponders the severity of travel warnings from the US State Department, as she shares the pyramids of Sudan.  This episode pairs well with:  Stagecoach Mary Fields  ...

Look, you're going to have some big feelings about this episode. This week, Theresa covers Henrietta Lacks and the medical racism that exists. While we have greatly benefited from Lacks' medical contributions, there are a lot of issues with the medical ethics around the HeLa cell line.  This episode pairs well with:  Black Doctor – Rebecca Lee Crumpler  

Some mashups are so bizarrely incredible that you don't know you need until you get them. We hope you're sitting down. This week Angie shares the story of the dark purple menace, Libby Holman. This singer, activist, and actor is on a whole other level. Theresa follows her up sharing the story of Phyllis Latour Doyle. Latour Doyle was a female spy in Nazi-occupied France and used knitting in her sp...

What a year of podcasts it's been. Angie shares the history of the guillotine because, of course, she does. Then Theresa shares the most unhinged Christmas party that ever happened. She tells the tale of the Egg Nog Riots, that time when the Westpoint Academy went off the rails when they overindulged in the holiday drink.  This episode pairs well with:  General Lafayette   The Boston Tea Party

Whew. What a couple of stories we've gathered for you. Angie shares the delightfully unhinged tale of Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher. This dude (1742-1819) has zero chill and is why Wellington won the Battle of Waterloo. Theresa must have known what Angie was bringing and matched the unhingedness with her telling of Erasmus of Lueg. This 15th-century knight survived a year-long siege in Predjama Ca...

Come hang out with us. Theresa starts off by telling us the folklore of Julia Brown, the Voodoo Queen ...sorta. She does a deeper dive giving you her origin story. Angie torments Theresa by telling the tale of Alexander the Great's death and how he was buried alive.  This episode pairs well with:  Voodoo Queen – Marie Laveaux   Pirate Queen – Artemisia I of Halicarnassus  

Come with us to 1066 as Angie starts off by sharing the Battle of Hastings. Don't get too comfortable learning about this battle, because Angie uses it just to share about the Bayeux Tapestry. It is 230 feet long and is believed to have been embroidered by Queen Matilda and six of her women in waiting. The Bayeux Tapestry visually tells the story of the battle.  This episode pairs well with:  Voyn...

Venture back with us to WWII and learn more about the enigmatic Colin Gubbins, the Director of the SOE. Under the guise of Professor Sandwich, Gubbins got the Enigma Machine into British hands. He also headed up Churchill's Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare. This is the WWII story you need to hear.  This episode pairs well with:  Phyllis Latour Doyle – WWII Spy Aline Griffith – WWII Spy   Nancy Wa...

This time-sensitive episode reflects fondly on two notable smuggling events. Theresa covers the Boston Tea Party that took place on December 16, 1773. Angie shares the Great Maple Syrup Heist, which while it took place over months, the investigation occurred from December 18-20, 2012.   This episode pairs well with:  The Great Molasses Flood   The Culper Spy Wing   Penelope Barker's Tea Party  

Join us for a delightful smattering of stories. Angie starts us off by telling us about the Great Balloon Escape. During this story, two families, Strelzyk and Wetzel, smuggle themselves from East Germany over the Berlin Wall on September 16, 1978. Theresa shares the lighthearted tale of Clara, the 18th-century rhinoceros who became a European sensation. This episode pairs well with:  That time Da...

Brace yourselves. Theresa is coming with spoilers for the movie Killers of the Flower Moon as she covers the horrific murders of the Osage Indians during the Reign of Terror, which took place from 1921-1926. Angie fills her role as the palette cleanser and brightens the mood by regaling us with both the history of mustaches and the waiter's strike of 1907 –– where waiters wanted the right to a day...

Whatever you're expecting from this episode, you aren't ready. Theresa shares the story of Francis Pegahmagabow, an indigenous Canadian veteran from WWI. He was the deadliest sniper, the most decorated First Nations veteran, and a staunch defender of his people's rights.  This episode pairs well with:  The Harlem Hellfighters  

We know you're like us. You woke up looking for a story about barmaids, banjo players, the 1814 Beer Flood, and zebras. So Angie shares the story of Lady Meux, the Victoria socialite who really lives a crazy life.  This episode pairs well with:  Nell Gwyn – actress and court mistress  

If you're looking for a story that has everything, click that play button. A pointless battle, pirates, dysentery, and an absinthe bar. Theresa covers the Battle of New Orleans from 1814. You know, it was part of the War of 1812... yeah... it's a doozy.  This episode pairs well with:  The Casquette Girls of New Orleans  

Theresa just can't contain her excitement as she regales us with the pirates from Baratarian Bay. Jean and Pierre Lafitte led colorful lives in the early 1800's in the New Orleans area. Angie shares the story of the only emperor of the United States, Joshua Abraham Norton, ( c. 1818 – January 8, 1880) who lived ruled from San Francisco. This man created his own currency, wrote edicts, and was belo...

Whew. We hope you're fully hydrated for this episode. Theresa starts off with the tale of Arthur the Ghost who haunts the B-29 at Castle Air Museum in Atwater, CA. Angie follows her up with a true crime / supernatural mashup when she recounts the story of Bridget Cleary who is known as "the last witch burned in Ireland" in 1895. This episode pairs well with: The Haunted Queen Mary   Helen Duncan –...

Join us this week as Theresa shares a bit of history and myth around Portland, Oregon's Shanghai Tunnels. She covers everything from Nina the ghost to the Chinese building and uses them to escape drug raids.  This episode pairs well with:  The NW Butter Crimes  

It's time for some comfy leggings and spooky stories. Join us this week as Angie shares the history behind Lady Mary Howard (1596-1671) and her carriage of bones. This episode pairs well with:  Bridget Cleary who is known as "the last witch burned in Ireland"  

Come for the history story of Theresa sharing what she learned about Japanese saber saint Miyamoto Musashi (1584-1645). He's yet another fighter of history with a remarkable number of duels under his belt -- over 60 duels that he's undefeated in.  This episode pairs well with:  Yasuke – the first Black samurai

Whew. Grab yourself a tasty beverage of choice and nestle in for Angie sharing how Pepsi once had the sixth-largest navy in the world. Then get your refill before Theresa recounts the War of the Stray Dog. In 1925, Greece and Bulgaria had a conflict with a surprising start. This episode pairs well with:  The Crazy Little Country Called Liechtenstein   The Pig War   The Honey War  

No, you aren't suffering a mental breakdown listening to this. Theresa shares how Helen Duncan was the last woman sentenced under the British Witchcraft Act of 1735 ...in 1944. Angie "brightens" the mood by sharing her top 3 favorite mistakes in space.  This episode pairs well with:  The last witch in Ireland   Angie's Favorite Curses   NASA Astronaut Sally Ride  

Strap your helmets on as Angie starts us off with a tale from the Van Buren sisters. In 1916, these women crossed the country on motorcycles within 60 days making themselves the first women to accomplish such a feat. Theresa refuses to be outdone and talks about the Great New England Vampire Panic. She touches on Mercy Brown, the Jewett City Vampires, and more.  This episode pairs well with:  Alic...

Whew. I hope you poured yourself a drink... Theresa starts off by sharing the creator of wifi, and the reason we have nice things like GPS and Bluetooth technology, Hollywood starlet, and Hedy Lamarr. Angie then shares the history of bourbon.  This episode pairs well with:  Tycho Brahe   Cassius Clay

Why does the 1800s get all the greats?! Pop in your earbuds and check out Angie's retelling of The Great Locomotive Chase of 1862. It starts with stealing a train and ends with the United States giving the first Medal of Honor to the participants.  This episode pairs well with:  Bass Reeves