The Obscure

Daniel Darkens and Nina Bickerton
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  • History
  • Biweekly

A history podcast about strange stories, forgotten figures, and the obscure corners of the past. History remembers the famous — but what about everyone else? The Obscure is a relaxed and often funny podcast that shines a light on historical figures whose contributions were vital, fascinating, or quietly revolutionary, yet largely unrecognised. Hosted by Daniel Darkens, Nina Bickerton and Minna Hayman, it’s a podcast for curious minds who enjoy learning, laughing, and looking at history sideways.  

Episodes

  1. 5d ago

    Halloween Special: Obscure Tales of Mysterious Deaths and Disappearances

    Halloween Special – Obscure Tales of Mysterious Deaths and Disappearances Pioneering balloonists, a flying tailor, a mathematical genius, a pioneering chemist, an apparently unkillable Irishman and a vanished French expedition. History has a remarkable collection of extraordinary characters, and some met particularly extraordinary ends. In this Halloween Special of The Obscure, we explore some of history's strangest deaths, misadventures and unexplained disappearances. From the dangerous early days of ballooning to the streets of 1930s New York, these are true stories of ambition, ingenuity, bad luck and, occasionally, spectacularly poor judgement. Discover the tragic fates of aviation pioneers Jean-Pierre Blanchard, Sophie Blanchard, Jean-François Pilâtre de Rozier and George Burcher Gale; the ill-fated parachute experiment of Franz Reichelt, the Flying Tailor; and the extraordinary life and fatal duel of Évariste Galois, the brilliant French mathematician. We also meet Carl Wilhelm Scheele, the Swedish chemist whose discoveries helped transform modern chemistry, investigate the bizarre story of Michael Malloy and New York's infamous Murder Trust, and follow the mysterious disappearance of French explorer Jean-François de Galaup, comte de La Pérouse, and his expedition in the Pacific. Some of these mysteries have been solved. Others still leave questions unanswered. All of them deserve to be remembered. About The Obscure The Obscure explores the remarkable, eccentric and often forgotten people and events that have shaped our world. From extraordinary inventors and daring explorers to historical mysteries and spectacular failures, we uncover the stories that deserve to be better known. If you enjoy unusual history, forgotten historical figures, strange true stories and the occasional historical absurdity, please subscribe to The Obscure for more. Send a message about this episode

  2. Oct 17

    The Fossil Hunters and The Monsters Beneath Our Feet

    Mary Anning, Gideon Mantell and William Buckland didn’t just collect fossils — they uncovered an ancient world that rewrote the history of life on Earth.    From the storm‑lashed cliffs of Lyme Regis to the strange Victorian monsters of Crystal Palace, this episode explores how a handful of determined fossil hunters revealed creatures so extraordinary that they changed science forever. Mary Anning battled poverty, prejudice, and a scientific establishment that refused to admit women, yet her discoveries shaped palaeontology itself. Gideon Mantell struggled with ridicule and being plagiarised, William Buckland scrambled through caves in full academic dress, reconstructed prehistoric ecosystems from gnawed bones, and helped bring deep time into public imagination. Along the way, we meet ichthyosaurs, plesiosaurs, ammonites with opinions, and the glorious (and gloriously wrong) Crystal Palace reconstructions that tried to make sense of a world no human had ever seen. If you enjoy eccentric history, early science, Victorian oddities, and creatures lurking just beneath the surface, this one’s for you. Send a message about this episode

  3. Oct 3

    The Most Disastrous Observation in History: Guillaume Le Gentil’s Long Wait

    Guillaume Le Gentil and the Most Disastrous Observation in History Guillaume Le Gentil should have been remembered as one of the great astronomical observers of the 18th century. Instead, history handed him a cosmic slapstick routine: eleven years of travel, two transits of Venus, and not a single usable observation. Storms, war, illness, shipwrecks, bureaucracy, monsoon clouds — if something could go wrong, it went wrong directly at him. In this episode, we follow Le Gentil’s extraordinary, exasperating journey across oceans and empires as he tries — twice — to witness one of the rarest celestial events in the scientific calendar. His story takes us to the decks of storm‑battered ships, from Manila to Malacca, and finally to Pondicherry, where the universe delivered its final, unforgettable insult: a sky full of cloud at the exact moment he needed the sun. Along the way, we explore why the transits of Venus mattered so much, how astronomers used them to measure the scale of the solar system, and why Le Gentil’s misfortunes became legendary among his contemporaries. It’s a tale of persistence, heartbreak, and the kind of cosmic timing that would make even the most patient scientist question their life choices. And because this is The Obscure, the 18th‑century drama is occasionally interrupted by a modern‑day cameo: Noki, Minna’s black cat, who gatecrashes the recording, contributing absolutely nothing to the history of astronomy but significantly improving the ambience. (If you’re wondering why a Finn would name a black cat “Noki,” think soot. It’s perfect.) If you’ve ever felt the universe was conspiring against you, Guillaume Le Gentil is here to reassure you: it could have been much, much worse. Send a message about this episode

  4. Sep 19

    The Curious Case of Mary Toft — Britain’s Strangest Medical Scandal

    In 1726, a young woman from Godalming convinced England’s leading physicians — including the King’s own surgeon — that she was giving birth to rabbits. The Mary Toft scandal became one of the most bizarre medical episodes in British history, exposing ambition, gullibility, and the strange world of early‑18th‑century medicine. In this episode of The Obscure, Daniel and Minna unravel how the hoax worked, why so many experts fell for it, and what it reveals about the era’s obsession with monsters, miracles, and medical spectacle. Send a message about this episode

  5. Sep 5

    The Unkillable Soldier - Sir Adrian Carton de Wiart

    Adrian Carton de Wiart lived a life so extreme it feels fictional — a one‑eyed, one‑handed, bullet‑ridden British officer who fought in the Boer War, WWI, and WWII, survived a plane crash, escaped a POW camp, negotiated in China, and still insisted he’d “enjoyed every minute of it.” In this episode of The Obscure, Daniel and Minna explore the unbelievable true story of a man who seemed physically incapable of dying. In this episode: His early life and the making of a war legendOutrageous Boer War escapadesThe WWI injuries that would have ended anyone else’s careerHis escape attempt from an Italian POW campHis surreal diplomatic years in ChinaWhy Happy Odyssey remains one of the wildest autobiographies ever writtenIf you enjoy eccentric history, improbable survival stories, and characters who feel too outrageous to be real, this one is unmissable. Send a message about this episode

  6. Aug 29

    Trailer - The Obscure

    A quick introduction to The Obscure - a history podcast about strange stories and forgotten figures. Send a message about this episode

  7. Aug 22

    The Gold‑Nosed Astronomer Who Measured the Heavens and Died of Politeness

    Daniel Darkens is accompanied for another episode of The Obscure by Minna Hayman in which we explore the extraordinary and eccentric history of Tycho Brahe — a forgotten scientific pioneer whose naked‑eye astronomical observations transformed our understanding of the cosmos.  Join us as we take you through the life and achievements of Tycho Brahe. Tycho was the last of the great naked eye astronomers shuffling off this mortal coil just eight years before the introduction of the astronomical telescope. He was a wildly eccentric man, with a gold prosthetic nose (gained after a duel resulting from an argument over who was the best mathematician), a pet moose and a dwarf prophet that sat under his dining table mumbling pronouncements. He is also the only person that we know of that died of politeness. All of these should be overshadowed by his remarkable astronomical observations and records which paved the way for the modern understanding of the night sky and the motions of astronomical objects. Enjoy this story of the life of Tycho and leave any comments relating to your thoughts on this remarkable man. Join us for future episodes as each new episode will pluck another interesting character out of the obscure and take them into the limelight. If you like our content, you know what to do – like, subscribe, hype, comment and whatever else shows your appreciation of the show. Literary sources: The Martyrs of Science, Sir David Brewster, 1841 Rebels And Reformers (Biographies for young People), Arthur and Dorothea Ponsonby, 1919 Great Astronomers, Sir Robert Ball, 1895   Pronunciation sound file: Wikipedia user Malene Thyssen, 21 January 2006   Images attributions (in order shown in the video): Knutstorp Castle By User Jorchr on sv.wikipedia - Bilden tagen av mig själv (Jorchr) 17 september 2005., CC BY-SA 3.0, Celestial Globe: Bez Barier via Pexel Augsburg Great Quadrant: Public Domain, Aerial view of island of Hven: By Bjørn Christian Tørrissen - Own work by uploader, CC BY-SA 4.0, View of Uraniborg: By Tycho Brahe - Blaeu's Atlas Major, Public Domain, View of layout of Stiernberg: By Tycho Brahe - Tycho Brahe's observatory on Ven: Johan Blaeu, Atlas Major, Amsterdam, 1662-DET KONGELIGE BIBLIOTEK, Public Domain, Brahe using a large quadrant: By Unknown author - Engraving from the book: Tycho Brahe (1598), Astronomiae instauratae mechanica, Wandsbeck. Downloaded from the online exhibition at the Royal Library; stitching by Axel Boldt, Public Domain, Tycho Brahe instrument Armillary 14: Public Domain, Armillary Sphere: By Ktf5vd - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, Tycho’s illustration of 1577 comet: Public Domain, Tychonic model of the universe: By User:Fastfission - Own work, Public Domain,   Send a message about this episode

    The Gold‑Nosed Astronomer Who Measured the Heavens and Died of Politeness

  8. Aug 8

    Kidnapped, Sold Into Slavery, Escaped - The Astonishing Life of Indian Peter Williamson

    Welcome to the latest episode of The Obscure with Daniel and Minna, where we explore the strange and often disputed history of Indian Peter Williamson - a forgotten Scottish figure whose dramatic tale of kidnapping, slavery, escape and reinvention may be part truth and part fiction. Peter has long been accused of exaggerating parts of his life and inventing others completely, but the story is so compelling it deserves to be told regardless. Our sources for this episode were Indian Peter's own published works, which are referred to throughout the podcast, and are no longer in print. Let us know what you think - how much of Indian Peter's American adventures do you believe? If you enjoy the episode, stick around. We release a new story every two weeks. Send a message about this episode

    Kidnapped, Sold Into Slavery, Escaped - The Astonishing Life of Indian Peter Williamson

  9. Jul 25

    The Calculating Boy Who Built Britain's Railways - the Little-Known Story of George Parker Bidder

    In this episode of The Obscure, we uncover the remarkable history of George Parker Bidder — a forgotten Victorian engineer and former child prodigy whose influence on railways, docks, harbours, and early telegraphy helped shape the modern world. Daniel Darkens is accompanied for another episode of The Obscure by Minna Hayman. Join us as we take you through the life and achievements of The Calculating Boy - George Parker Bidder. George's story has two distinct aspects to it. Firstly as a child prodigy in the field of arithmetic, with an uncanny ability to perform mental calculation with no formal education and not even an ability to read or write. Secondly as a hugely important but largely forgotten engineer, with a crucial role in the development of British (and European and Asian) railways, docks, harbours and playing a significant part in the very early development of the use of the electric telegraph. How he is so little known is a mystery, and we would not have discovered him had it not been for the erection of a statue commemorating him and his achievements in his home town of Moretonhampstead in Devon. Thankfully, as well as the information plaque near his statue, there is also a comprehensive biography by his great-great-grandson, which was our principal source of information for this episode: GEORGE PARKER BIDDER The Calculating Boy by E. F. Clark (published 1983)   Join us for future episodes as each new episode will pluck another interesting character out of the obscure and take them into the limelight. If you like our content, you know what to do – like, subscribe, hype, comment and whatever else shows your appreciation of the show. Send a message about this episode

    The Calculating Boy Who Built Britain's Railways - the Little-Known Story of George Parker Bidder

  10. Jul 11

    Britain's Most Eccentric Aristocrat - The Wild Life of Mad Jack Mytton

    In this episode of The Obscure, we dive into the eccentric and often unbelievable history of Mad Jack Mytton — a forgotten 19th‑century figure whose wild antics and chaotic life have become legendary in British folklore. Join Daniel Darkens and, while Nina takes a short break, a very special guest Minna Hayman in the latest episode of The Obscure. Using the biography written by his friend Nimrod, fascinating details of this remarkable character come to light. This ultimately tragic tale includes anecdotes from throughout his life - his chequered education, his sporting interests, his enjoyment of the occasional tipple (he was rumoured to drink up to six bottles of port a day) and his fondness for a practical joke are all covered. Send a message about this episode

    Britain's Most Eccentric Aristocrat - The Wild Life of Mad Jack Mytton

  11. Jun 27

    Scotland's Greatest Scientist? John Scott Haldane, The Man Who Risked His Life to Understand Poison Gas

    In this episode of The Obscure, we explore the remarkable and often overlooked history of John Scott Haldane — a forgotten pioneer whose groundbreaking work in safety, welfare, and human physiology shaped everything from coal mining to mountaineering and deep‑sea diving. Join Daniel Darkens and Nina Bickerton for another episode of The Obscure as they take you through the life and achievements of this great Scottish scientist. Each future episode will pluck another interesting character out of the obscure and take them into the limelight. JS Haldane's is a story of remarkable achievement in the area of safety and welfare, from coal miners to mountaineers, from deep sea divers to soldiers in the first world war trenches. We relied heavily on the excellent biography: Suffer and Survive by Martin Goodman (published 2007) Send a message about this episode

    Scotland's Greatest Scientist? John Scott Haldane, The Man Who Risked His Life to Understand Poison Gas

  12. Jun 12

    The Man Who Flew to Everest to Climb it Alone - the Remarkable Story of Maurice Wilson

    In this episode of The Obscure, we explore the extraordinary and little‑known history of Maurice Wilson — a forgotten figure whose attempt to climb Mount Everest alone remains one of the strangest stories of the early 20th century. Join Daniel Darkens and Nina Bickerton as they take you through Maurice Wilson's story in this first ever episode of The Obscure podcast. Every episode will pluck another interesting character out of the obscure and into the limelight. Maurice's is a tragic tale, but includes incredible bravery and ambition. Most of the information for the episode is taken from his two biographies: I'll Climb Mount Everest Alone by Dennis Roberts (published 1957) The Moth and the Mountatin by Ed Caesar (published 2020) both are highly recommended for an even deeper dive. Send a message about this episode

    The Man Who Flew to Everest to Climb it Alone - the Remarkable Story of Maurice Wilson
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About

A history podcast about strange stories, forgotten figures, and the obscure corners of the past. History remembers the famous — but what about everyone else? The Obscure is a relaxed and often funny podcast that shines a light on historical figures whose contributions were vital, fascinating, or quietly revolutionary, yet largely unrecognised. Hosted by Daniel Darkens, Nina Bickerton and Minna Hayman, it’s a podcast for curious minds who enjoy learning, laughing, and looking at history sideways.  

Information

  • Creator
    Daniel Darkens and Nina Bickerton
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    12
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Obscure Podcast
  • Show Website
    The Obscure