Mostly Unsung: A Comedy History Podcast
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.
Mostly Unsung: A Comedy History Podcast
#65 A Second World War Escape Artist & A Teacher Turned Daredevil (Charles Upham & Annie Edson Taylor)
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Welcome back to Mostly Unsung the weekly comedy history podcast where Annie and Andrea uncover the forgotten people, overlooked heroes, and wonderfully eccentric characters that history somehow forgot to put on the syllabus.
If you love fascinating true stories, social history, daring adventures, and a good laugh along the way, you're in exactly the right place. Every week, we bring you two bite-sized biographies of remarkable people whose lives were far stranger than fiction.
First, Andrea introduces Charles Upham, the quiet New Zealander who became one of the most decorated soldiers of the Second World War. Renowned for his repeated attempts to escape captivity, Upham earned a reputation as a war hero while remaining stubbornly uninterested in fame.
Then Annie heads to Niagara Falls to meet the unforgettable Annie Edson Taylor. Facing financial uncertainty and looking for a way to secure her future, Annie came up with a crazy plan: climbing into a barrel and going over one of the world's most famous waterfalls. Becoming the first person to survive the feat, she achieved international fame overnight but as history often proves, becoming famous and becoming rich are not necessarily the same thing.
If you enjoy history podcasts, forgotten heroes, women's history, World War II history, adventure stories, unusual true stories, and fascinating historical biographies, Mostly Unsung is your new favourite weekly listen.
This week Andrea used these sources:
https://nzhistory.govt.nz/people/charles-upham
https://www.victoriacross.org.uk/bbupham.htm
https://teara.govt.nz/en/biographies/5u2/upham-charles-hazlitt
https://www.hurunui.govt.nz/community/about-the-district/history/charles-upham-vc-and-bar
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Upham
This week Annie used these sources:
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/01/obituaries/annie-edson-taylor-overlooked.html
https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/october-24/first-barrel-ride-down-niagara-falls
https://www.discoverniagara.org/annie-edson-taylor
Where you can find us:
https://www.instagram.com/mostlyunsung/
https://www.facebook.com/share/16J4vuMy1h/
https://www.tiktok.com/@mostlyunsung
mostlyunsungpodcast@gmail.com
See you next Wednesday!
