Unruly Figures
Valorie Castellanos Clark
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.
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.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Jun 23, 2026 • 36min
#70 - Eve Adams
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.
Dec 9, 2025 • 45min
#57 - Gráinne Ní Mháille
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.
Oct 28, 2025 • 20min
#54 - Juana Azurduy de Padilla
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.
Oct 14, 2025 • 29min
#53 - Jane Austen
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.
Oct 7, 2025 • 40min
Bonus Episode: 11 Historical Moments Scary Enough To Be Horror Movies
Launching the new season of Unruly Figures--it's a frightfest in here!
Oct 3, 2025 • 4min
#GRWM for Season 5 of Unruly Figures
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.
May 6, 2025 • 13min
#52 - Zhang Jue
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.
Apr 22, 2025 • 24min
#51 - Freddie Oversteegen
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.
Apr 15, 2025 • 30min
Unruly Interviews: Alex Lyras
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.
Mar 25, 2025 • 33sec
A Short Announcement
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!
