Mostly Unsung: A Comedy History Podcast

#57 A Teacher Who Outwitted the Nazis & A Woman Full of Hot Air (Anna Essinger & Sophie Blanchard)

Welcome back to Mostly Unsung the weekly comedy history podcast hosted by women, where Annie and Andrea bring you two bite-sized biographies of the forgotten people, overlooked pioneers, and extraordinary lives history didn’t quite know what to do with. If you enjoy funny history podcasts, women in history, social history, and remarkable true stories, you’re in exactly the right place. This week Andrea tells the inspiring story of Anna Essinger, a head mistress who made a life-changing decision in the face of rising danger in Nazi Germany. Determined to protect her students, she relocated her entire school to England, helping dozens of children escape persecution in the years leading up to the Second World War.  Then Annie introduces the dazzling and daring Sophie Blanchard, one of the world’s first female balloonists and a true star of early aviation history. Performing breathtaking aerial displays across France, and for celebrities like Napoleon Bonaparte and LOUIS XVIII, Sophie became famous for her fearless flights… and a flair for drama that occasionally got a little too close to danger.  Expect wartime heroism, aviation spectacle, women’s history, and plenty of surprising moments as we dive into two lives that prove history is anything but dull. If you love history podcasts, forgotten women in history, World War II stories, early aviation, and inspiring true stories, Mostly Unsung is your new favourite weekly listen. For this episode Andrea used these sources: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-schoolteacher-who-spirited-her-students-away-from-the-nazis-180980393/ [https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-schoolteacher-who-spirited-her-students-away-from-the-nazis-180980393/] https://45aid.org/carers/anna-essinger/ [https://45aid.org/carers/anna-essinger/] https://www.theguardian.com/education/2003/jul/18/schools.uk1 [https://www.theguardian.com/education/2003/jul/18/schools.uk1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anna_Essinger [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anna_Essinger] Where you can find us: https://www.instagram.com/mostlyunsung/ [https://www.instagram.com/mostlyunsung/] https://www.facebook.com/share/16J4vuMy1h/ [https://www.facebook.com/share/16J4vuMy1h/] https://www.tiktok.com/@mostlyunsung [https://www.tiktok.com/@mostlyunsung] mostlyunsungpodcast@gmail.com See you next Wednesday!

#56 A Woman Who Decided To Live In The Open & A Tudor Rock Star (Natalie Clifford Barney & Thomas Weelkes)

Welcome back to Mostly Unsung the weekly comedy history podcast hosted by two women, where Annie and Andrea each bring you a bite-sized biography of the forgotten people, overlooked icons, and gloriously chaotic characters history didn’t quite know what to do with. If you love funny history podcasts, women in history, LGBTQ+ history, and musical drama from the past, you’re in exactly the right place. This week, we’re travelling from the glittering salons of Paris to the slightly less glamorous but equally dramatic world of Tudor England. First, Annie introduces the fabulous and fearless Natalie Clifford Barney, an American writer and host of one of the most influential literary salons in early 20th-century Paris. A proud and unapologetic figure in queer history, Barney created a space where artists, writers, and thinkers could gather, share ideas, and occasionally cause a bit of scandal. It’s a story of literary history, LGBTQ+ history, and living life entirely on your own terms. Then Andrea brings us the wonderfully messy life of Thomas Weelkes, a talented Tudor composer known for his beautiful church music… and his slightly less saintly behaviour.  Drunken antics, run-ins with authority, and a career that proves genius and chaos often go hand in hand. It’s a brilliant glimpse into music history, Tudor England, and the realities behind the choir stalls. Expect Parisian glamour, Tudor mischief, queer history, and plenty of laughs as we uncover two lives that were anything but ordinary. If you enjoy history podcasts, forgotten women in history, LGBTQ+ stories, British history, and dramatic true stories, Mostly Unsung is your new favourite weekly listen. For this episode Andrea used these sources: https://www.britannica.com/biography/Thomas-Weelkes [https://www.britannica.com/biography/Thomas-Weelkes] https://www.thegenealogist.co.uk/featuredarticles/2025/the-unruly-genius-of-an-english-renaissance-composer-8855/ [https://www.thegenealogist.co.uk/featuredarticles/2025/the-unruly-genius-of-an-english-renaissance-composer-8855/] https://classiccat.net/weelkes_t/biography.php [https://classiccat.net/weelkes_t/biography.php] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Weelkes [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Weelkes] For this episode Annie used these sources: https://guides.loc.gov/feminism-french-women-history/famous/natalie-clifford-barney [https://guides.loc.gov/feminism-french-women-history/famous/natalie-clifford-barney] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natalie_Clifford_Barney [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natalie_Clifford_Barney] Where you can find us: https://www.instagram.com/mostlyunsung/ [https://www.instagram.com/mostlyunsung/] https://www.facebook.com/share/16J4vuMy1h/ [https://www.facebook.com/share/16J4vuMy1h/] https://www.tiktok.com/@mostlyunsung [https://www.tiktok.com/@mostlyunsung] mostlyunsungpodcast@gmail.com See you next Wednesday!

#55 A Book Written In Eyeliner & Britain's Greatest Actor! (Nawal El Saadawi & Robert "Romeo" Coates)

Welcome back to Mostly Unsung the weekly comedy history podcast hosted by women, where Annie and Andrea bring you two bite-sized biographies of the forgotten people, overlooked icons, and wonderfully odd characters history didn’t quite know what to do with. If you love funny history podcasts, women in history, literary history, and true stories that make you laugh and think, you’re in exactly the right place. This week, we’re diving into two unforgettable figures from the worlds of literature, feminism, and sheer confidence. First, Andrea introduces Nawal El Saadawi, the groundbreaking Egyptian writer, doctor, and feminist who spent her life challenging injustice. Through her work in women’s rights, medicine, and literature, she tackled issues like gender inequality, social oppression, and freedom of expression often at great personal risk. It’s a powerful story of feminism, activism, and one woman refusing to be silenced. Then Annie brings us the truly baffling tale of Robert Coates, better known as “Romeo” Coates, a man often described as one of the worst actors in British history… who somehow became wildly popular anyway. His dramatic readings, love of diamonds, and absolute belief in his own genius made him a theatrical sensation. It’s a hilarious and slightly chaotic look at confidence, creativity, and how not all success makes sense. Expect feminism, literature, social history, and plenty of laughs as we explore two lives that prove history is as strange as it is inspiring. If you enjoy history podcasts, forgotten women in history, literary history, feminist history, and unusual true stories, Mostly Unsung is your new favourite weekly listen. For this episode Andrea used these sources: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-55048245 [https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-55048245] https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/mar/22/nawal-el-saadawi-obituary [https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/mar/22/nawal-el-saadawi-obituary] https://africasacountry.com/2021/04/the-many-lives-of-nawal-el-saadawi [https://africasacountry.com/2021/04/the-many-lives-of-nawal-el-saadawi] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nawal_El_Saadawi [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nawal_El_Saadawi] For this episode Annie used these sources: https://www.folger.edu/blogs/collation/robert-romeo-coates/ [https://www.folger.edu/blogs/collation/robert-romeo-coates/] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Coates_(actor) [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Coates_(actor)] Where you can find us: https://www.instagram.com/mostlyunsung/ [https://www.instagram.com/mostlyunsung/] https://www.facebook.com/share/16J4vuMy1h/ [https://www.facebook.com/share/16J4vuMy1h/] https://www.tiktok.com/@mostlyunsung [https://www.tiktok.com/@mostlyunsung] mostlyunsungpodcast@gmail.com See you next Wednesday!

#54 The Queen of the PE Teachers & A Chef On The Run (Martina Bergman Osterberg & Hercules Posey)

Welcome back to Mostly Unsung the weekly comedy history podcast hosted by women, where Annie and Andrea bring you two bite-sized biographies of the forgotten people, overlooked pioneers, and surprising true stories history didn’t quite hang onto. If you enjoy funny history podcasts, women in history, social history, and fascinating stories from the past, you’re in exactly the right place. This week, we’re uncovering two brilliant and very different lives: First, Annie introduces Martina Bergman-Österberg, a trailblazer in women’s physical education and fitness. At a time when women were expected to sit still and look delicate she helped train generations of PE teachers and played a key role in the development of modern physical education and women’s sport. (And yes, she also had a hand in popularising the gym kit, groooan I guess you’re welcome.) Then Andrea brings us the story of Hercules Posey, an enslaved man who became one of the most skilled chefs in early American history. Cooking for George Washington, Hercules was known for his talent, style, and commanding presence in the kitchen until Washington's 65th birthday, when Hercules decided it was time to take a chance on freedom. Expect women’s history, food history, social change, and plenty of surprising moments as we dive into two lives that shaped culture in ways you might not expect. If you love history podcasts, forgotten women in history, African American history, fitness history, and true stories that are equal parts inspiring and eye-opening, Mostly Unsung is your new favourite listen. For this episode Andrea used these sources: https://www.mountvernon.org/library/digitalhistory/digital-encyclopedia/article/hercules [https://www.mountvernon.org/library/digitalhistory/digital-encyclopedia/article/hercules] https://www.bbc.co.uk/travel/article/20220201-hercules-posey-george-washingtons-unsung-enslaved-chef [https://www.bbc.co.uk/travel/article/20220201-hercules-posey-george-washingtons-unsung-enslaved-chef] https://encyclopediavirginia.org/entries/hercules-b-ca-1754/ [https://encyclopediavirginia.org/entries/hercules-b-ca-1754/] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hercules_Posey [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hercules_Posey] For this episode Annie used these sources: https://www.ournetballhistory.org.uk/content/topics/history-of-netball/martina-bergman-osterberg [https://www.ournetballhistory.org.uk/content/topics/history-of-netball/martina-bergman-osterberg] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martina_Bergman_%C3%96sterberg [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martina_Bergman_%C3%96sterberg] Where you can find us: https://www.instagram.com/mostlyunsung/ [https://www.instagram.com/mostlyunsung/] https://www.facebook.com/share/16J4vuMy1h/ [https://www.facebook.com/share/16J4vuMy1h/] https://www.tiktok.com/@mostlyunsung [https://www.tiktok.com/@mostlyunsung] mostlyunsungpodcast@gmail.com See you next Wednesday!

#53 A Samurai Willing To Sacrifice Themselves & A Woman Who Petitioned For Divorce ( Nakano Takeko & Caroline Norton)

It's that time of the week again! Mostly Unsung, the weekly comedy history podcast is back with two more bite size biographies, historical stories lost in the mist of time, forgotten heroes and long lost villains. This is the very last of our re-records of our earliest episodes so enjoy the new and improved sound! If you love funny history podcasts, women in history, global history, and stories packed with drama, resilience, and a bit of outrage, you’re in exactly the right place. This week, we’re travelling from feudal Japan to Victorian Britain, with two women who refused to stay quiet. First, Andrea introduces the incredible story of Nakano Takeko, a real-life female samurai warrior who fought during the Boshin War in 19th-century Japan. Trained in martial arts and leading a unit of women. It’s a gripping story of samurai history, Japanese history, and women in combat. Then Annie takes us to Victorian England with the scandalous and ultimately world-changing life of Caroline Norton. After a disastrous marriage and a very public legal battle, Norton found herself with no rights to her children or her own earnings. Instead of accepting it, she fought back and helped to change British law around marriage, custody, and women’s rights. It’s a powerful story of social reform, legal history, and one woman taking on the system. Expect samurai battles, Victorian scandal, legal drama, and plenty of sharp observations as we dive into two lives that made a lasting impact, even if they’re not always remembered. If you enjoy history podcasts, forgotten women in history, Japanese history, British history, and true stories of courage and change, Mostly Unsung is your new weekly listen. For Language Lessons with our friend Kenia: https://languageswithkenia.wixsite.com/my-site-1?fbclid=IwY2xjawRE3jtleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETBhNTZ2aGVzd2o1bUxBREhwc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHmHGbJc8UvHC7G3fGJMAiW2rU3Y5M4UcugjyEDx3oflAD9MQ5NTR17eJ53gh_aem_Eja0JtdZ_S1ytGmtW-wm1A [https://languageswithkenia.wixsite.com/my-site-1?fbclid=IwY2xjawRE3jtleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETBhNTZ2aGVzd2o1bUxBREhwc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHmHGbJc8UvHC7G3fGJMAiW2rU3Y5M4UcugjyEDx3oflAD9MQ5NTR17eJ53gh_aem_Eja0JtdZ_S1ytGmtW-wm1A] Where you can find us: https://www.instagram.com/mostlyunsung/ [https://www.instagram.com/mostlyunsung/] https://www.facebook.com/share/16J4vuMy1h/ [https://www.facebook.com/share/16J4vuMy1h/] https://www.tiktok.com/@mostlyunsung [https://www.tiktok.com/@mostlyunsung] mostlyunsungpodcast@gmail.com See you next Wednesday!