
Unruly Figures
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.
Latest episodes

Mar 26, 2024 • 25min
#44 - Mary Carleton
This week, historian and host Valorie Castellanos Clark is covering Saint Valentine, the ancient Roman rebel and martyr who has given his name to our modern romantic holiday.
Order your copy of the Unruly Figures book now!
This podcast is sponsored by Audible. Get a free trial of Audible, including one free audiobook, by visiting audibletrial.com/unruly.
As always, you can get ad-free versions of the episode, and much much more on the Unruly Figures Substack: http://unrulyfigures.substack.com There, you can find transcripts of each episode, photos of each episode's subject, and behind-the-scenes goodies. So come join us!

Mar 1, 2024 • 7min
Amelio Robles Ávila
The book based on this popular podcast is almost out! Just in time for the book's release, historian and author Valorie Castellanos Clark has recorded an excerpt of a chapter. Amelio Robles Ávila is not covered in any other episode of the podcast, so to learn how his story ends, pick up a copy of Unruly Figures: Twenty Tales of Rebels, Rulebreakers, and Revolutionaries in bookstores starting March 5, 2024.

Feb 28, 2024 • 37min
#43 - Kheir-ed-Din (Barbarossa)
This week, historian and host Valorie Castellanos Clark is covering Kheir-ed-Din, better known in Anglophone countries as Barbarossa. He was a Corsair, or pirate, in the Mediterranean in the 15th and 16th century--his tale is full of excitement on the high seas.
Pre-order the Unruly Figures book now! Out March 5, 2024.
This podcast is sponsored by Ritual. Try Ritual or expand your subscription, go to ritual.com/unruly to learn more.
As always, you can get ad-free versions of the episode, and much much more on the Unruly Figures Substack: http://unrulyfigures.substack.com There, you can find transcripts of each episode, photos of each episode's subject, and behind-the-scenes goodies. So come join us!

Feb 13, 2024 • 16min
#42 - Saint Valentine
This week, historian and host Valorie Castellanos Clark is covering Saint Valentine, the ancient Roman rebel and martyr who has given his name to our modern romantic holiday.
Pre-order the Unruly Figures book now! Out March 5, 2024.
This podcast is sponsored by Audible. Get a free trial of Audible, including one free audiobook, by visiting audibletrial.com/unruly.
As always, you can get ad-free versions of the episode, and much much more on the Unruly Figures Substack: http://unrulyfigures.substack.com There, you can find transcripts of each episode, photos of each episode's subject, and behind-the-scenes goodies. So come join us!

Jan 30, 2024 • 37min
#41 - Owain Glyndŵr
This week, historian and host Valorie Castellanos Clark is covering Owain Glyndŵr, the last Welshman to hold the title Prince of Wales.
Pre-order the Unruly Figures book now! Out March 5, 2024.
This podcast is sponsored by Ritual. Try Ritual or expand your subscription, go to ritual.com/unruly to learn more.
As always, you can get ad-free versions of the episode, and much much more on the Unruly Figures Substack: http://unrulyfigures.substack.com There, you can find transcripts of each episode, photos of each episode's subject, and behind-the-scenes goodies. So come join us!

Jan 3, 2024 • 1h 17min
#40 - Noor Inayat Khan
This week, historian and host Valorie Castellanos Clark is covering Noor Inayat Khan, a princess, a children's story author, and an uncover agent for the British during WWII.
Pre-order the Unruly Figures book now! Out March 5, 2024.
This podcast is sponsored by Audible. Get a free trial of Audible, including one free audiobook, by visiting audibletrial.com/unruly.
As always, you can get ad-free versions of the episode, and much much more on the Unruly Figures Substack: http://unrulyfigures.substack.com There, you can find transcripts of each episode, photos of each episode's subject, and behind-the-scenes goodies. So come join us!

Dec 20, 2023 • 38min
#39 - Alfred Carlton Gilbert
This week, historian and host Valorie Castellanos Clark is covering Alfred Carlton Gilbert, the man who saved Christmas.
Pre-order the Unruly Figures book now! Out March 5, 2024.
This podcast is sponsored by Ritual. Try Ritual or expand your subscription, go to ritual.com/unruly to learn more.
As always, you can get ad-free versions of the episode, and much much more on the Unruly Figures Substack: http://unrulyfigures.substack.com There, you can find transcripts of each episode, photos of each episode's subject, and behind-the-scenes goodies. So come join us!

Dec 5, 2023 • 13min
#38 - Lepa Svetozara Radić
This week, historian and host Valorie Castellanos Clark is covering Lepa Svetozara Radić, an icon of Nazi resistance and teenaged hero in the Balkans.
Pre-order the Unruly Figures book now! Out March 5, 2024.
This podcast is sponsored by Audible. Get a free trial of Audible, including one free audiobook, by visiting audibletrial.com/unruly.
As always, you can get ad-free versions of the episode, and much much more on the Unruly Figures Substack: http://unrulyfigures.substack.com There, you can find transcripts of each episode, photos of each episode's subject, and behind-the-scenes goodies. So come join us!

Nov 21, 2023 • 18min
#37 - Petra Herrera
This week, historian and host Valorie Castellanos Clark is covering Petra Herrera, the oft-forgotten cross-dress, bridge-destroying hero of the Mexican Revolution. She was wildly successful but never received any credit.
Pre-order the Unruly Figures book now! Out March 5, 2024.
This podcast is sponsored by Ritual. Try Ritual or expand your subscription, go to ritual.com/unruly to learn more.
As always, you can get ad-free versions of the episode, and much much more on the Unruly Figures Substack: http://unrulyfigures.substack.com There, you can find transcripts of each episode, photos of each episode's subject, and behind-the-scenes goodies. So come join us!

Nov 20, 2023 • 1h 2min
#35 - Hatshepsut
This week, historian and host Valorie Castellanos Clark is covering the Egyptian pharaoh Hatshepsut, the woman who peacefully took power for herself in ancient Egypt. She broke every rule of how royal women were supposed to behave and we still remember her for her incredible success almost 4,000 years later.
This podcast is sponsored by Ritual. Try Ritual or expand your subscription, go to ritual.com/unruly to learn more.
As always, you can get ad-free versions of the episode, and much much more on the Unruly Figures Substack: http://unrulyfigures.substack.com There, you can find transcripts of each episode, photos of each episode's subject, and behind-the-scenes goodies. So come join us!