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★★★★★

4.6

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12 reviews

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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.

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Check latest episodes from Unruly Figures podcast

#70 - Eve Adams

2026/06/23

This week, historian and author Valorie Castellanos Clark is covering the tale of Eve Adams, a 1920s businesswoman, author, and political radical whose book Lesbian Love got her deported to Europe. If you liked this story, check out my book, Unruly Figures: Twenty Tales of Rebels, Rulebreakers, and Revolutionaries You've (Probably) Never Heard Of.

#57 - Gráinne Ní Mháille

2025/12/09

This week, historian and author Valorie Castellanos Clark is covering the tale of Gráinne Ní Mháille--better known today as Grace O'Malley, the Pirate Queen of Ireland. If you liked this story, check out my book, Unruly Figures: Twenty Tales of Rebels, Rulebreakers, and Revolutionaries. Episode art by Christine Griffin.

#54 - Juana Azurduy de Padilla

2025/10/28

This week, historian and author Valorie Castellanos Clark is covering the tale of Juana Azurduy de Padilla, a revolutionary fighter from 19th-century Bolivia. If you liked this story, check out my book, Unruly Figures: Twenty Tales of Rebels, Rulebreakers, and Revoluationaries You've (Probably) Never Heard Of.

#53 - Jane Austen

2025/10/14

This week, historian and author Valorie Castellanos Clark is covering the tale of Jane Austen, the original romance author and secretly subversive writer who challenged the norms of her day. If you liked this story, check out my book, Unruly Figures: Twenty Tales of Rebels, Rulebreakers, and Revolutionaries You've (Probably) Never Heard Of.

Bonus Episode: 11 Historical Moments Scary Enough To Be Horror Movies

2025/10/07

Launching the new season of Unruly Figures--it's a frightfest in here!

#GRWM for Season 5 of Unruly Figures

2025/10/03

Are we ready for the next season of Unruly Figures? Get ready with me—very literally—for season 5! Some of the women I will be covering this season include Jane Austen, Assata Shakur (RIP), Maria Tallchief, Empress Dowager Ling, and Julie d’Aubigny. It’s going to be a really great season, and I’m so excited to dig in. First episode drops Tuesday.

#52 - Zhang Jue

2025/05/06

This week, historian and author Valorie Castellanos Clark is covering the tale of Zhang Jue, the leader of the Yellow Turban Rebellion in China in 184 CE. If you liked this story, check out⁠ Unruly Figures: Twenty Tales of Rebels, Rulebreakers, and Revolutionaries You’ve (Probably) Never Heard Of⁠.

#51 - Freddie Oversteegen

2025/04/22

This week, historian and author Valorie Castellanos Clark is covering the tale of Freddie Oversteegen, a Dutch Resistance fighter who seduced and killed Nazis during World War II. If you liked this story, check out Unruly Figures: Twenty Tales of Rebels, Rulebreakers, and Revolutionaries You’ve (Probably) Never Heard Of.

Unruly Interviews: Alex Lyras

2025/04/15

On this week's episode of Unruly Figures, host Valorie Castellanos Clark is joined by Alex Lyras, the award-winning director of Aristotle/Alexander. They talk about the play, the craft of writing historical fiction, and why this meeting of the minds from 2,000 years ago is still relevant today.

A Short Announcement

2025/03/25

As you all have heard above, I lost my recording space suddenly (and with no warning, I might add). My home is not really equipped to record in at the moment (echoey, nearby construction), so I have been hunting for an affordable new spot all around Los Angeles. I hope to be back to recording our regularly scheduled episodes soon! Right now it’s looking like I’ll be outfitting a home recording studio, which might take a bit of time. But I am working on it—I’m not ready to give up this project yet!

#50 - Edythe Eyde

2025/03/11

This week, historian and author Valorie Castellanos Clark is covering Edythe Eyde, creator of the first lesbian magazine in the US. Eyde is better known by her penname Lisa Ben. If you liked this story, check outUnruly Figures: Twenty Tales of Rebels, Rulebreakers, and Revolutionaries You’ve (Probably) Never Heard Of.

#49 - Njinga of Ndongo and Matamba

2025/02/26

This week, historian and author Valorie Castellanos Clark is covering the incredible warrior queen Njinga of Ndongo and Matamba, a woman who resisted Portuguese colonization of her homeland for decades. If you liked this story, check out⁠Unruly Figures: Twenty Tales of Rebels, Rulebreakers, and Revolutionaries You’ve (Probably) Never Heard Of⁠.

#48 - Harriet Bell Hayden

2025/02/11

This week, historian and author Valorie Castellanos Clark is covering Harriet Bell Hayden, one of the heroes of Boston's abolitionist movement. If you liked this story, check outUnruly Figures: Twenty Tales of Rebels, Rulebreakers, and Revolutionaries You’ve (Probably) Never Heard Of.

#47 - Lillian Frances Smith

2024/09/24

In this week's episode of Unruly Figures, historian and host Valorie Castellanos Clark covers the story of Lillian Frances Smith, a sharpshooter, trick rider, and formidable woman who outshot Annie Oakley in the Wild West. If you like this episode, check out Valorie's bookUnruly Figures: Twenty Tales of Rebels, Rulebreakers, and Revolutionaries!

#46 - Rani Lakshmi Bai

2024/09/10

Welcome to season four of Unruly Figures! In this episode, historian and host Valorie Castellanos Clark tells the tale of Rani Lakshmi Bai, the queen of Jansi who rebelled against British colonial rule.

Podcast reviews

Read Unruly Figures podcast reviews

4.6 out of 5

12 reviews

★★★★★

astro-girl 2023/05/13

Fabulous interesting people!

Love the great insights shared in this podcast! Well researched and Valerie does a great job of putting the story in context of what was happening in ...

★★★★★

Jan M Flynn 2023/01/15

Fascinating!!

The kind of podcast that will have you sitting in your car listening long after you’ve arrived at your destination. So well researched and engaging — ...

★★★★☆

Formerly Smart 2022/01/19

August Landmesser

I have listened to this one podcast by Unruly Figures, and I totally loved it. The podcaster does her research and gives many snippets of information ...

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