Mostly Unsung

Mostly Unsung
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The weekly comedy history podcast that brings you bitesize biographies of the extraordinary, eccentric, outrageous and occasionally ordinary lives that until now have gone mostly unsung... mostly. Join your hosts Annie and Andrea as they bring you stories that your history teacher never taught you! If you like stuffy lectures then you're not going to be a fan, sorry! But if you are looking to hang out with two old friends who love story telling, a good laugh and forgotten figures from history then welcome! Covering everything from scientists to Grandmothers, survivors of wars to eccentric millionaires, all via ghost stories, anecdotes and terrible impressions of Hollywood legend Tim Curry. Come and hang out, have a giggle and join us every Friday.

  1. 6D AGO

    #36 Queen of the Desert & The Founder of the Night Witches (Gertrude Bell & Marina Raskova)

    Mostly Unsung – Gertrude Bell & Marina Raskova: Forgotten Women Who Changed the World Welcome back to Mostly Unsung, the weekly comedy history podcast where two women share the stories of forgotten figures from history, with laughs along the way. In this episode, Annie introduces the extraordinary Gertrude Bell, a British archaeologist, mountaineer, traveller, photographer and diplomat who played a crucial role in shaping the modern Middle East. A contemporary of T.E. Lawrence, Bell advised governments, challenged empire-building, and argued that nations should govern themselves, ideas that were far too radical for the men running the British Empire at the time. Why has one of the most influential women in early 20th-century history been largely forgotten? Then Andrea takes us to World War II and the Soviet Union, where aviator Marina Raskova fought bureaucracy and misogyny to create the world’s first all-female air force regiments. Her pilots, later known as the Night Witches (Nacht Hexen), flew dangerous bombing missions under cover of darkness, terrifying Nazi forces and becoming legends of wartime aviation. This is a story of bravery, adaptation, and women refusing to be sidelined during WWII. Plus, all the usual nonsense — including Andrea laughing so hard she cries, Annie’s worst night in the theatre, and a very serious debate about who had the coolest fashion in the 1980s (it was Annie. Definitely Annie). If you enjoy funny history podcasts, women’s history, or stories about unsung heroes, this one’s for you. Andrea used these sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marina_Raskova https://www.thisdayinaviation.com/tag/marina-mikailovna-raskova/ https://www.russianlife.com/the-russia-file/soviet-terror-of-the-skies-marina-raskova-and-the-night-witches/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Night_Witches Annie used these sources: https://gertrudebell.ncl.ac.uk/ https://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofBritain/Gertrude-Bell/ https://www.britannica.com/biography/Gertrude-Bell Where you can find us: https://www.instagram.com/mostlyunsung/ https://www.facebook.com/share/16J4vuMy1h/ https://bsky.app/profile/mostlyunsung.bsky.social mostlyunsungpodcast@gmail.com See you next Friday!

    45 min

  2. DEC 12

    #35 A Knight Who Ruled With An Iron Fist & A Man Who Loved Books (Göhtz Von Berlichingen & Sir Thomas Phillipps)

    This week on Mostly Unsung, your favourite comedy history podcast, we’re back with two brand new tales about the weird, wonderful, and wildly overlooked people your school history lessons definitely skipped. If you love funny history stories, unsung historical figures, and the kind of trivia that makes you shout “WAIT...WHAT?”, you’re in the right place. First up, Andrea dives into the world of European knights, but not the shiny, maiden rescuing, honour obsessed ones you’re picturing. No, this knight of the Holy Roman Empire preferred feuds to fairy tales. He loved a fight, thrived on legal disputes, picked battles like hobbies, and still somehow found time to write the occasional poem. Truly a medieval multitasker. Then Annie brings us the tale of a man whose life mission was collecting everything. Well… books and manuscripts, specifically. Enough to build a legendary library that scholars travelled across continents to see. But what happens to a priceless collection when the collector dies? Cue  a chaotic family feud, a will that’s basically a historical booby trap, and decades of drama at the auction house. Andrea used these sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G%C3%B6tz_von_Berlichingen https://www.burg-hornberg.de/geschichtswelt/goetz-von-berlichingen/ https://www.zeilenabstand.net/auf-den-spuren-von-goetz-von-berlichingen/ Annie used these sources: https://ies.sas.ac.uk/news-events/blogs/sir-thomas-phillipps-1792-1872-manuscript-collector-his-legacy https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Phillipps Where you can find us: https://www.instagram.com/mostlyunsung/ https://www.facebook.com/share/16J4vuMy1h/ https://bsky.app/profile/mostlyunsung.bsky.social mostlyunsungpodcast@gmail.com See you next Friday!

    45 min

  3. DEC 5

    #34 A Woman Who Knew Her Worth & A Farmer Who Got Left Behind (Mary Girling & Hannah Hauxwell)

    Welcome back to Mostly Unsung, your weekly history podcast! Looking for a light hearted commute listen or interested in the history they don't teach in schools? You're in the right place! Join best friends Annie and Andrea as they delve into the people in history that until now have been Mostly Unsung....mostly! This week come along with Annie as she joins a new religious movement in Victorian Britain. The 'Jumpers' may not be around today, but in their day a small but dedicated following headed out to the New Forest to start a new society. A society focused solely on one woman. Be ready for prophecies, stigmata and a lot of...jumping! Then Andrea is in Yorkshire... AGAIN. On a lonely wind-swept hillside, one woman is struggling to keep her tiny farm alive. With no electricity, no running water, no money coming in, you'd be forgiven for thinking we were two hundred years ago, but this was in the mid seventies! Life was pretty bleak, until a word of her life spread all the way to a TV company. Andrea used these sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hannah_Hauxwell https://www.yorkshire.com/inspiration/features/hannah-hauxwell/?srsltid=AfmBOorwJm56OUpVLM1StIacv8gDAQNoYeZMYjEwzGz0QHKt4gSlN4mu https://www.countryfile.com/people/historical-figures/wild-people-dales-farmer-hannah-hauxwell http://www.fordefables.co.uk/a-day-with-hannah-hauxwell.html Annie used these sources: https://www.bbc.co.uk/hampshire/content/articles/2005/03/22/newforestshakers_feature.shtml https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Girling Where you can find us: https://www.instagram.com/mostlyunsung/ https://www.facebook.com/share/16J4vuMy1h/ https://bsky.app/profile/mostlyunsung.bsky.social mostlyunsungpodcast@gmail.com See you next Friday!

    44 min

  4. NOV 28

    #33 Fighting the Australian Government & An Archaeologist Rescuing The Past (Bessie Flower & Maud Cunnington)

    Welcome back to Mostly Unsung, your new weekly history podcast that resurrects those long forgotten heroes and villains from the vaults of the past! Join Annie and Andrea, two old friends, as they bring to light the people your history teacher never told you about. Be prepared for mayhem, nonsense, a lot of barely suppressed anger and a debate about whether the 90s really were that awful. This week, for the first time, Andrea is in Australia where a young aboriginal woman is enjoying well deserved recognition as both gifted teacher and a talented musician. Until she gets caught up in a whirlwind of religion, misogyny, a cheating husband and some real top class racists who happen to run the country. The only thing she has left is learn how to fight the system they have built. Then Annie is in Wiltshire in the UK, it's Victorian Britain and  archaeology is all the rage. A husband and wife team up to rescue the land around a world recognised land mark. Ensuring that the developers won't be able to bulldoze some of the most important discoveries of the century.  Andrea used these sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bessie_Flower https://www.historicalbany.com.au/bessy-flower-menang https://www.noongarculture.org.au/bessy-flower/ https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-04-15/menang-woman-bessy-flowers-life-story-reclaimed-by-her-family/102214652 Annie used these sources: https://arnosvale.org.uk/edith-maud-cunnington/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maud_Cunnington https://trowelblazers.com/2016/04/14/maud-cunnington/ Where you can find us: https://www.instagram.com/mostlyunsung/ https://www.facebook.com/share/16J4vuMy1h/ https://bsky.app/profile/mostlyunsung.bsky.social mostlyunsungpodcast@gmail.com See you next Friday!

    44 min

  5. NOV 21

    #32 A Volcanologist Who Lost His Life & A Story for Remembrance Sunday

    Discover the Remarkable Stories History Forgot.  New Episode Out Now! Welcome back to Mostly Unsung, the light-hearted weekly history podcast that shines a spotlight on the extraordinary people and moments your school textbooks left out. Join us every Friday for two captivating mini-biographies that bring the past to life in fresh, surprising and entertaining ways. This week’s episode takes you on an unforgettable journey:  A Volcano Scientist Racing Against Time Annie transports us to the USA, where a brilliant young volcanologist is redefining the science of eruption prediction. As he works tirelessly to protect communities and guide emergency services, his research leads to one of the most dramatic natural-disaster warnings in American history. But when Mount St. Helens erupts with unimaginable force, we uncover the human story behind a tragedy no one could outrun.  Britain’s First Black Pilot & the Birth of the RAF Andrea marks Armistice Day with a remarkable, and long overdue, tribute. Dive into the inspiring life of Britain’s first Black military pilot, a man whose courage, skill and determination helped shape aviation history before the Royal Air Force even officially existed. Discover the hidden origins of the RAF and the forgotten heroes who paved the way. If you love gripping true stories, overlooked heroes, and history told with warmth and humour, this is the perfect episode to jump in. New episodes every Friday. Follow Mostly Unsung on Spotify and Apple Podcasts so you never miss a story. Andrea used these sources:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Robinson_Clarke https://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/research/online-exhibitions/pilots-of-the-caribbean/heroes-and-sheroes/pioneer-sergeant-william-robinson-clarke/ https://collections.rafmuseum.org.uk/story/robbie-clarke-britains-first-black-pilot/ Annie used these sources: https://www.usgs.gov/observatories/cascades-volcano-observatory/legacy-david-johnston https://eos.org/features/honoring-volcanologist-david-johnston-as-a-hero-and-a-human Where you can find us: https://www.instagram.com/mostlyunsung/ https://www.facebook.com/share/16J4vuMy1h/ https://bsky.app/profile/mostlyunsung.bsky.social mostlyunsungpodcast@gmail.com See you next Friday!

    41 min

  6. NOV 14

    #31 A Linguist With An Attitude Problem & The Cavalry Maiden

    🎧 Welcome back to Mostly Unsung — the comedy history podcast that digs up the funniest, weirdest, and most jaw-dropping stories you definitely didn’t hear in school! Every Friday, Annie and Andrea shine a light on the forgotten heroes, hopeless villains, eccentric geniuses, and absolute jerks who shaped history (usually by accident). 💂‍♂️ This week, Andrea introduces the ultimate historical jerk. He’s rich, well-educated, speaks half a dozen languages, and calls himself an Army man (sort of). A picture-perfect Victorian gentleman — if you overlook the monkeys, the ridiculous disguises, the massive cultural insensitivity, and, yes, the scandalous Victorian smut that’s now worth a fortune. ⚔️ Meanwhile, Annie heads to Napoleonic Russia, where the fight against Napoleon needs a hero — and one dashing young cavalry officer answers the call. Brave, bold, and beloved by the troops… except for one tiny detail that might surprise you. But hey, if Tsar Alexander I isn’t complaining, who are we to judge? 🤣 Expect outrageous true tales, historical nonsense, and a side of chaos as Mostly Unsung unearths the brilliant, the bizarre, and the downright bonkers characters who make history hilarious. 🎙️ Subscribe now for your weekly dose of comedy, curiosity, and characters too strange to stay forgotten. Andrea used these sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Francis_Burton https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2020/may/03/richard-francis-burton-explorer-mecca-horn-africa-nile-victorian https://www.britannica.com/biography/Richard-Burton-British-scholar-and-explorer Annie used these sources: https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/biography/nadezhda-andreevna-durova https://www.encyclopedia.com/women/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/durova-nadezhda-1783-1866 Where you can find us: https://www.instagram.com/mostlyunsung/ https://www.facebook.com/share/16J4vuMy1h/ https://bsky.app/profile/mostlyunsung.bsky.social mostlyunsungpodcast@gmail.com See you next Friday!

    44 min

  7. NOV 7

    #30 A Woman Fighting To Plant Forests & The Last War Chief Of His Tribe

    🎙️ Welcome back to Mostly Unsung — the comedy history podcast that uncovers the extraordinary stories your teachers definitely skipped! Every week, Annie and Andrea dig up the weird, wonderful, and wildly underrated people who shaped the world in surprising ways. 🌍 This week’s episode travels from Kenya to Montana — two incredible stories of courage, creativity, and change: 🇰🇪 Annie heads to Africa, where a brilliant young woman from the foothills of Mount Kenya grows up to change the fate of her homeland. From studying in the U.S. to replanting and rewilding Kenya’s forests, she takes on climate devastation with unstoppable determination and a little bit of dirt under her fingernails. 🪶 Andrea journeys to Montana to meet a young man of the Crow Tribe — born into a family of warriors and storytellers. Called to serve in World War II, he fights wearing sacred body paint and an eagle feather beneath his helmet. Returning home “without a scratch,” he earns a new title and dedicates his life to preserving and sharing his people’s history with the world. 🔥 Expect laughs, gasps, and a few “wait, how did I not know this?!” moments as Mostly Unsung brings you the bold, the brave, and the beautifully bizarre from history’s sidelines. 🎧 Listen now for comedy, chaos, and forgotten legends who deserve the spotlight. Andrea used these sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Medicine_Crow https://www.pbs.org/kenburns/the-war/joseph-medicine-crow https://www.nps.gov/bica/learn/historyculture/joseph-medicine-crow.htm https://www.military.com/army-birthday/badass-of-the-week-joe-medicine-crow.html Annie used these sources: https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/peace/2004/maathai/biographical/ https://wangarimaathai.org/wangaris-story/ https://www.britannica.com/biography/Wangari-Maathai Where you can find us: https://www.instagram.com/mostlyunsung/ https://www.facebook.com/share/16J4vuMy1h/ https://bsky.app/profile/mostlyunsung.bsky.social mostlyunsungpodcast@gmail.com See you next Friday!

    43 min
  8. #29 A Spooky Halloween Special!! A Clown Dynasty & A Witch's Prophecy

    OCT 31

    #29 A Spooky Halloween Special!! A Clown Dynasty & A Witch's Prophecy

    It's spooky season listeners! Every week we bring you two Unsung (Mostly) names from history, those stories you were never taught in school. Let's skip off on a historical journey together and learn something new; have a giggle and get the torches out ready to up light our faces for a Halloween special! This week Andrea is diving into entertainment history with a dynasty of everyone's favourite performers that aren't at all terrifying...CLOWNS! A story of whimsy, the big top, spooky dream visitation and eventually true crime. Then Annie is in Yorkshire once more, where one young lady has found herself shunned and mocked. Was it magical powers that gained her revenge on her mean neighbours? It could be hard living in the woods as a lone woman who works as a herbalist, especially if powerful men start banging on the door threatening fires and stakes. But fear not...a peaceful ending awaits! Plus the usual nonsense, ghost stories, wearing all black and whether or not Annie's house has a ghost. Andrea used these sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emmett_Kelly https://www.factinate.com/people/facts-emmett-kelly-original-tramp-clown https://theskeletonkeychronicles.com/2019/12/09/sad-clown-the-tragic-legacy-of-weary-willy/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emmett_Kelly_Jr. https://thesilentfilms.wordpress.com/2012/03/14/weary-willie-and-the-three-kellys/ https://aadl.org/aa_news_19800820-minister_killing_admitted Annie used these sources: https://www.mothershipton.co.uk/the-story/ https://www.historic-uk.com/CultureUK/Mother-Shipton-Prophesies/ Where you can find us: https://www.instagram.com/mostlyunsung/ https://www.facebook.com/share/16J4vuMy1h/ https://bsky.app/profile/mostlyunsung.bsky.social mostlyunsungpodcast@gmail.com See you next Friday!

    43 min
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About

The weekly comedy history podcast that brings you bitesize biographies of the extraordinary, eccentric, outrageous and occasionally ordinary lives that until now have gone mostly unsung... mostly. Join your hosts Annie and Andrea as they bring you stories that your history teacher never taught you! If you like stuffy lectures then you're not going to be a fan, sorry! But if you are looking to hang out with two old friends who love story telling, a good laugh and forgotten figures from history then welcome! Covering everything from scientists to Grandmothers, survivors of wars to eccentric millionaires, all via ghost stories, anecdotes and terrible impressions of Hollywood legend Tim Curry. Come and hang out, have a giggle and join us every Friday.

Information

  • Creator
    Mostly Unsung
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    33
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Mostly Unsung
  • Show Website
    Mostly Unsung