Unruly Figures

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**Unruly Figures**

This is about the rebels.

This is about the ne’er-do-wells.

This is about the mutineers, the agitators, the subversives.

Unruly Figures is a celebration of history’s biggest rule-breakers.

Twice a month, I’m going to dive into the life and times of the greatest rebels the world has known. I will talk about their lives, the society they lived in, the decisions they made, and how their refusal to play by the rules changed the world.

Join me as I nerd out and get inspired by history’s favorite risk-takers.

Latest Episodes:

Bonus Episode: What Happened to the Sphinx's Nose? Aug 31, 2023

Show notes

To get more bonus content like this one, become a paying subscriber on Substack! unrulyfigures.substack.com

#31 - Mekatilili wa Menza Aug 01, 2023

Show notes

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 podcast is sponsored by Audible. Get a free trial of Audible, including one free audiobook! Go to audibletrial.com/unruly to learn more.

As always, you can get ad-free versions of the episode, and much much more on the Unruly Figures Substack: http://unrulyfigures.substack.com There, you can find transcripts of each episode, photos of each episode's subject, and behind-the-scenes goodies. So come join us!

Cover art of Mekatilili from Google Arts & Culture.

#30 - Sarah Bernhardt Jul 20, 2023

Show notes

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 and incredible voice?

Bernhardt reciting Racine in 1902: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gKa7JleYqm8&ab_channel=theatrotv
Bernhardt reciting La Samaritaine: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vE4Y8fWYIJo&ab_channel=robertfells

This podcast is sponsored by Audible. Get a free trial of Audible, including one free audiobook! Go to audibletrial.com/unruly to learn more.

#29 - Sylvia Rivera Jun 20, 2023

Show notes

This week, historian and host Valorie Clark is covering the amazing life of Sylvia Rivera, an icon of queer history. She was at Stonewall (maybe), started the first activist group working for trans rights, and more.

This podcast is sponsored by Audible. Get a free trial of Audible, including one free audiobook! Go to audibletrial.com/unruly to learn more.

As always, you can get ad-free versions of the episode, and much much more on the Unruly Figures Substack: http://unrulyfigures.substack.com That's always where you can find transcripts of each episode, photos of each episode's subject, and behind-the-scenes goodies. So come join us!

#28 - Alan Turing Jun 07, 2023

Show notes

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 computing technology, the questions that occupied him after WWII, and the conspiracy theories which surround his death.

This podcast is sponsored by Audible. Get a free trial of Audible, including one free audiobook! Go to audibletrial.com/unruly to learn more.

#27 - Hans Christian Andersen May 26, 2023

Show notes

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 wrote hundreds of stories during his life. In this episode, Valorie tackles the myths he built around his childhood, his dark experience in school, and the intense debates around his sexuality.

Link to Anderson's early poem "The Dying Child" - https://www.poemhunter.com/poem/the-dying-child-2/

#26 - Polly Adler May 12, 2023

Show notes

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.

#25 - Lucy Schell Mar 29, 2023

Show notes

This week, historian and host Valorie Clark is covering the amazing tale of the 1930s race car driver and Grand Prix team owner, Lucy Schell. She was the first ever female Grand Prix team manager, and in the 1938 season, she fielded a revolutionary car driven by a talented Jewish driver to beat the Nazis. Listen to learn more about their under-dog win.

Bonus: Answering Your AMA Questions! Mar 11, 2023

Show notes

Today, host & historian Valorie Clark is finally getting around to answering your questions from the first ever Unruly Figures AMA! If you want to ask questions in the next AMA (or listen to the full version of this bonus episode) you can do that on the Unruly Figures Substack.

#24 - Catherine de Medici, Part 3 Feb 08, 2023

Show notes

This week, historian and host Valorie Clark is covering the third and final part of the story of Catherine de Medici, the famous Florentine Queen of France who would go on to be remembered as the Serpent Queen. Is her historical reputation fair or not? Listen to find out.

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