#37 An Unsinkable Heroine & A Viking Shield Maiden (Margaret Brown & Birka Grave 581) Artwork

Mostly Unsung

The weekly comedy history podcast that brings you bitesize biographies of the extraordinary, eccentric, outrageous and occasionally ordinary lives that until now have gone mostly unsung... mostly. Join your hosts Annie and Andrea as they bring you stories that your history teacher never taught you!

If you like stuffy lectures then you're not going to be a fan, sorry! But if you are looking to hang out with two old friends who love story telling, a good laugh and forgotten figures from history then welcome!

Covering everything from scientists to Grandmothers, survivors of wars to eccentric millionaires, all via ghost stories, anecdotes and terrible impressions of Hollywood legend Tim Curry. Come and hang out, have a giggle and join us every Friday.

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Mostly Unsung

#37 An Unsinkable Heroine & A Viking Shield Maiden (Margaret Brown & Birka Grave 581)

December 26, 2025 • Mostly Unsung • Season 1 • Episode 37

🎄 Happy Holidays from Mostly Unsung! 🎄
Welcome to a new episode of Mostly Unsung, the light-hearted history podcast uncovering the wild, overlooked, and often ridiculous stories that your history teacher never mentioned.

Each week, our we bring you two mini biographies packed with humour, curiosity, and surprising historical facts- from forgotten pioneers to misunderstood heroes.

This week’s unsung women of history:

Margaret “Molly” Brown
Andrea tells a classic rags-to-riches biography with a Titanic-sized twist. Margaret Brown began life working in a tobacco factory and ended up sailing the world in luxury - including aboard the RMS Titanic. After surviving the disaster, she became famous for helping other passengers. Barred from testifying at the official inquiries because she was a woman, Margaret took matters into her own hands and told her story directly to the press.

The Viking Warrior Woman of Birka (Grave Bj 581)
Annie introduces one of the most fascinating discoveries in Norse history. Buried with weapons, horses, and military honours, this warrior was confidently labelled male by Victorian archaeologists. Over a century later, DNA evidence revealed the truth: the warrior was a woman. What followed was an awkward, long-running debate over gender, archaeology, and who gets to be remembered as a warrior.

If you enjoy funny history podcasts, short historical biographies, women’s history, Viking archaeology, and stories that challenge traditional historical narratives, this episode is for you.

🎧 New episodes every week.

Andrea used these sources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Margaret_Brown

https://www.encyclopedia-titanica.org/titanic-survivor/molly-brown.html

https://www.cogreatwomen.org/project/margaret-molly-tobin-brown/

Annie used these sources:

https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/antiquity/article/viking-warrior-women-reassessing-birka-chamber-grave-bj581/7CC691F69FAE51DDE905D27E049FADCD

https://commons.princeton.edu/makingvikings/female-narratives/female-warriors-birka-grave-bj-581/

https://historycurator.com/viking-shield-maidens-historically-accurate/

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https://www.instagram.com/mostlyunsung/

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