Unhinged History

Latest Episodes:

Episode 107 | A Token Aristocrat Feb 06, 2025

Show notes

Journey with us on a fantastic romp through history. Theresa shares the story of Enheduanna, the first named author. She lived in approximately 2300 BC, in ancient Sumaria, and wrote hymns for 42 temples and three epic poems.

Angie regales us with the tale of Jeffrey Hudson. As a member of the court of Queen Henrietta Maria, the wife of Charles I of England, he lived quite the life. This man was raised as a gentleman, fought a duel, and was kidnapped by pirates.
Angie failed to tell Theresa that Jeffrey Hudson was only 18 or 19 inches high and more often known as the "queen's dwarf."
This episode pairs well with:
Angie's favorite court mistress – Nell Gwyn

Episode 106 | Victoria's Grandbabies Were Clones Jan 30, 2025

Show notes

Strange things happened this week. Both Angie and Theresa cover a very specific time in Russian History. Angie starts with the story of Maria Bochkareva, who created and led the Russian Women’s Battalion of Death during WWI.

Then Theresa harkens back to the Otsu Incident. In May 1891, Russian Crown Prince Nicholas Alexandrovich visited Otsu, Japan, when he was attacked by the Samurai Sanzo Tsuda. This would sour his affinity for Japan and lead to the Russo-Japanese War and the infamous Russian Second Pacific Squadron from Episode 69.
This episode pairs well with:
The Nightwitches of WWII
Infamous Russian Second Pacific Squadron

Episode 105 | This is Why HOAs Exist Jan 23, 2025

Show notes

Ever wonder about extremely niche aviation stories? No worries, we got you. This week Theresa shares the tale of Franz Reichelt, the "Flying Tailor." This man dreams of creating a parachute and believes his invention would work if he could only jump from a higher surface, so he tests his prototype from the Eiffel Tower. He leaves a six-inch crater as his legacy.

Angie surprises Theresa by telling her about The Flying Nightingales, the nurses during WWII who flew injured troops across the channel. Their bravery saved many troops.
This episode pairs well with:
WWII –George “Skeeter” Vaughan and the Moccasin Rangers
Founder of the American Red Cross – Clara Barton

Episode 104 | Weaponized Incompetence That I’m Okay With Jan 16, 2025

Show notes

Join us this week as Angie shares the unhinged story of Doug Hegdahl. This POW during the Vietnam War single-handedly saved the lives of over 250 men by memorizing their names and info to the tune of "Old McDonald Had a Farm."
This episode pairs well with:
Jesse Owens and Carl Luz Long – WWII
Tootsie Rolls at the Chosin Reservoir

Episode 103 | Proof Fashion Will Get You Anywhere Jan 09, 2025

Show notes

This week, Theresa takes us on a jaunt through history to share about the Wide Awakes, the Republican political movement that elected Lincoln president during the fateful 1860 election.

Started by Eddie Yergason, who made a cloak to wear to prevent his clothes from getting messed up by the torch he'd carry during a rally that Cassius Clay was speaking at, he galvanizes the party.

We might have just uncovered Theresa's new Roman Empire, as she touches on so many previous episodes.
This episode pairs well with:
General Harriet Tubman
Cassius Marcellus Clay
Robert Smalls

Episode 102 | Mentally Into Tim Curry Jan 02, 2025

Show notes

Cuddle up with a warm beverage and get ready. Theresa kicks things off by sharing the Hatpin Panic, where women at the beginning of the 1900s were using hatpins in self-defense against assault on public transit. It sparks global outrage – against the hatpins, not the assault.

Once you have ordered your new hairpins made of forged steel, Angie tells the story of Lucy Hay, the countess of Carlisle. You likely remember her as Milady de Winter in The Three Musketeers.
This episode pairs well with:
"Madame Mustache" Eleanor Dumont
Nell Gwyn
Julie d'Aubigny

Episode 101 | I’m Not Going to Admit Anything Dec 26, 2024

Show notes

This week, Angie and Theresa did deep cuts of history and brought you little-known stories of some mighty women. Angie kicks things off with Yaa Asantewaa. She was the Queen Mother of Ejisu in the Ashanti empire. If you're looking for a strong African queen, we got you.

Not wanting to be outdone, Theresa shares the story of Hajjah Ghazala bint Ammar, an Amazigh Chaoui woman who stood up to the French in the Algerian War, as told through the photographs of Marc Garanger.
This episode pairs well with:
Candaces – Sundanese Warrior Queens
Sundiata Keita, a.k.a. The Lion Prince
Prince Dejatch Alemayehu

Episode 100 | Because I Was Bored, Sir Dec 19, 2024

Show notes

Welcome to the 100th episode. We promise to be just as unhinged as ever.

Today Theresa starts us off with the story of Harriet Tubman. Come for the part about the Underground Railroad. Stay for the part where she's awarded the rank of general post-humorously.

Angie brings us back to WWII by sharing the crazy life of Jack Churchill – the legend of the man who: carried a sword into battle, played bagpipes, and had the last confirmed kill in battle with a bow and arrow.
This episode pairs well with:
Abolitionist – Cassius Marcellus Clay
Black Union Fighter – Robert Smalls
WWII Creator of the SOE – Colin Gubbins

Episode 99 | This Sounds Credible Already Dec 12, 2024

Show notes

Get ready to discover your new favorite Chinese Queen Consort and General, Fu Hoa. This absolute legend enjoyed battle axes and oracle bones. Listen to Angie share her life around 1200 BC.

Theresa carries the girl boss vibes by sharing the story of Alice "Diamond Annie" and the Forty Elephants. This girl gang was known for two things:

Shoplifting
Throwing great parties

Listen to their methods, crimes, and lives. You won't be disappointed.
This episode pairs well with:
The Real Story of Mulan
The Start of the Han Dynasty
Jewel Thief – Doris Payne
The Jewel Heist Featuring Arthur Vicars

Episode 98 | Come on, Brain! BRAIN! Dec 05, 2024

Show notes

Whatever you thought we'd cover this week, you're wrong. Theresa starts us off with the disappearance of Agatha Christi. Christi vanishes for 11 days. Was it amnesia? A fugue state? Angie deals with this troubling story by lobbing her own into the mix. She tells us about George “Skeeter” Vaughan and the Moccasin Rangers. Skeeter is credited with the longest knife throw in wartime, taking out a Nazi soldier at 87 feet. He goes on to live quite the life.
This episode pairs well with:
WWII Creator of the SOE – Colin Gubbins
WWI Indigenous Fighter – Francis Pegahmagabow

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