Hintertales: Stories from the Margins of History Wed, 04 Mar 2026 15:22:53 -0500 https://www.racheldunstanmuller.com en-us © 2026 Hintertales: Stories from the Margins of History yes 6a37ba8c-315a-5086-acb6-b5d6182d68a8 Rachel Dunstan Muller episodic false Buzzsprout (https://www.buzzsprout.com) Storytelling, history, true stories, Klondike, WWII, Courage Rachel Dunstan Muller https://storage.buzzsprout.com/lx3uht18t0tiyynhdv2ela5ign0u?.jpg Hintertales: Stories from the Margins of History https://www.racheldunstanmuller.com Matthew Henson: To the Top of the World! Matthew Henson: To the Top of the World! Matthew Henson was just 12 years old when he walked from Washington D.C. to Baltimore, and into a position as a cabin boy on a merchant ship. But his greatest trek would come three decades later and take him to the very top of the world. Some scholars even believe he was the first man to reach the North Pole.

]]> Matthew Henson was just 12 years old when he walked from Washington D.C. to Baltimore, and into a position as a cabin boy on a merchant ship. But his greatest trek would come three decades later and take him to the very top of the world. Some scholars even believe he was the first man to reach the North Pole.

]]> https://www.racheldunstanmuller.com Rachel Dunstan Muller Buzzsprout-9888640 Fri, 14 Jan 2022 14:00:00 -0800 2012 History, Matthew Henson, Black Explorers, Robert Peary, North Pole, Polar Explorers 2 6 full false Christmas in Sarajevo Christmas in Sarajevo On December 23 of the first year of the Siege of Sarajevo, an American war correspondent arranged a ride in an armoured Land Rover, bribed his way through a Serbian checkpoint, and entered the besieged city. He was caught off guard by what he found.

]]> On December 23 of the first year of the Siege of Sarajevo, an American war correspondent arranged a ride in an armoured Land Rover, bribed his way through a Serbian checkpoint, and entered the besieged city. He was caught off guard by what he found.

]]> https://www.racheldunstanmuller.com Rachel Dunstan Muller Buzzsprout-9737482 Thu, 16 Dec 2021 18:00:00 -0800 1031 Peter Maas, Christmas, Sarajevo, Miracles, War, Siege 2 5 full false Safe Return Doubtful: The Shackleton Expedition Safe Return Doubtful: The Shackleton Expedition More than 5,000 men - and a few brave women - applied to be part of Ernest Shackleton's Antarctic expedition in 1914. The 27 men chosen to accompany him on the Endurance would experience the adventure of a lifetime - and one of the greatest survival stories of all time.

]]> More than 5,000 men - and a few brave women - applied to be part of Ernest Shackleton's Antarctic expedition in 1914. The 27 men chosen to accompany him on the Endurance would experience the adventure of a lifetime - and one of the greatest survival stories of all time.

]]> https://www.racheldunstanmuller.com Rachel Dunstan Muller Buzzsprout-9737427 Thu, 16 Dec 2021 17:00:00 -0800 1417 Ernest Shackleton, Endurance, South Georgia, Elephant Island, Survival, Antarctic Adventure 2 4 full false Cougar Annie Cougar Annie Ada Annie Rae-Arthur was a force to be reckoned with. Nothing could stand in the way of her dream for a garden on the west coast of Vancouver Island - not the dense rainforest, not the four husbands she outlived, and certainly not the cougars that threatened her goats and hens.

This Hintertale was written and performed by Margaret Murphy.

]]> Ada Annie Rae-Arthur was a force to be reckoned with. Nothing could stand in the way of her dream for a garden on the west coast of Vancouver Island - not the dense rainforest, not the four husbands she outlived, and certainly not the cougars that threatened her goats and hens.

This Hintertale was written and performed by Margaret Murphy.

]]> https://www.racheldunstanmuller.com Margaret Murphy Buzzsprout-9528399 Thu, 11 Nov 2021 00:00:00 -0800 1996 Cougar Annie, Ada Annie Rae-Arthur, Margaret Murphy, Vancouver Island, Hesquiat Harbour 2 3 full false The Prisoner Who Climbed a Mountain The Prisoner Who Climbed a Mountain Felice Benuzzi caught his first glimpse of Mount Kenya from behind barbed wire at Camp 354, a British POW Camp near Nanyuki, Kenya.  It was love at first sight. Over the course of eight months, Benuzzi convinced two other Italian POW’s to join him in preparing for the adventure of a lifetime: to escape from prison camp with the sole purpose of climbing the second highest peak in Africa.

]]> Felice Benuzzi caught his first glimpse of Mount Kenya from behind barbed wire at Camp 354, a British POW Camp near Nanyuki, Kenya.  It was love at first sight. Over the course of eight months, Benuzzi convinced two other Italian POW’s to join him in preparing for the adventure of a lifetime: to escape from prison camp with the sole purpose of climbing the second highest peak in Africa.

]]> https://www.racheldunstanmuller.com Rachel Dunstan Muller Buzzsprout-9372174 Thu, 14 Oct 2021 20:00:00 -0700 1888 Felice Benuzzi, No Picnic on Mount Kenya, Mount Kenya, Mountaineering, POW's, WWII 2 2 full false Bessie Coleman: Queen of the Skies Bessie Coleman: Queen of the Skies The daughter of illiterate sharecroppers, Bessie Coleman dreamed of a life above the clouds. Her ambition led her to an aviation school in France, where she became the first black woman in the world to earn an international pilot's license. Her courage and determination remain a testament to anyone faced with seemingly impassable obstacles.

]]> The daughter of illiterate sharecroppers, Bessie Coleman dreamed of a life above the clouds. Her ambition led her to an aviation school in France, where she became the first black woman in the world to earn an international pilot's license. Her courage and determination remain a testament to anyone faced with seemingly impassable obstacles.

]]> https://www.racheldunstanmuller.com Rachel Dunstan Muller Buzzsprout-9208651 Fri, 17 Sep 2021 00:00:00 -0700 1847 Bessie Coleman, Black, Woman, Pilot, Aviator, First, African American 2 1 full false Blessed are the Peacemakers: The Story of Gordon Wilson Blessed are the Peacemakers: The Story of Gordon Wilson Gordon Wilson had every right to hate the terrorists who killed his youngest daughter at a Remembrance Day ceremony in Northern Ireland. Instead he prayed for them and campaigned tirelessly for peace.

]]> Gordon Wilson had every right to hate the terrorists who killed his youngest daughter at a Remembrance Day ceremony in Northern Ireland. Instead he prayed for them and campaigned tirelessly for peace.

]]> https://www.racheldunstanmuller.com Rachel Dunstan Muller Buzzsprout-8602556 Thu, 27 May 2021 19:00:00 -0700 1665 Northern Ireland, Gordon Wilson, Marie Wilson, Enniskillen, Bomb, IRA, Peace 1 12 full false Anne Sullivan Part 2: Companions for Life Anne Sullivan Part 2: Companions for Life The child of illiterate immigrant parents and a resident of the Tewksbury Almshouse, at age 14 Anne Sullivan couldn't even read or write her own name. By the time she died, she was one of the most respected teachers in the world.

]]> The child of illiterate immigrant parents and a resident of the Tewksbury Almshouse, at age 14 Anne Sullivan couldn't even read or write her own name. By the time she died, she was one of the most respected teachers in the world.

]]> https://www.racheldunstanmuller.com Rachel Dunstan Muller Buzzsprout-8508540 Thu, 13 May 2021 12:00:00 -0700 1571 Anne Sullivan Macy, Anne Sullivan, Helen Keller, Teacher, Perkins Institution for the Blind, Blind, Deaf 1 11 full false Anne Sullivan: Life Before Helen Anne Sullivan: Life Before Helen Without the devotion and sacrifice of Anne Sullivan, there would be no Helen Keller as the world knew her. But though Anne chose to live in the shadow of her famous student, her own life story was as extraordinary as Helen's - at least that's what Helen herself believed.

]]> Without the devotion and sacrifice of Anne Sullivan, there would be no Helen Keller as the world knew her. But though Anne chose to live in the shadow of her famous student, her own life story was as extraordinary as Helen's - at least that's what Helen herself believed.

]]> http://www.racheldunstanmuller.com Rachel Dunstan Muller Buzzsprout-8423892 Thu, 29 Apr 2021 12:00:00 -0700 1533 Anne Sullivan Macy, Anne Sullivan, Helen Keller, Teacher, Tewksbury, Perkins Institution for the Blind, Blind, Deaf 1 10 full false The Curious Case of Sarah Emma Edmonds The Curious Case of Sarah Emma Edmonds Historians estimate that hundreds of women secretly enlisted on both sides of the American Civil War - most remaining undiscovered until they were wounded, captured, or killed. 
This Canadian woman had her own reasons for joining the Union Army.

]]> Historians estimate that hundreds of women secretly enlisted on both sides of the American Civil War - most remaining undiscovered until they were wounded, captured, or killed. 
This Canadian woman had her own reasons for joining the Union Army.

]]> http://www.racheldunstanmuller.com Rachel Dunstan Muller Buzzsprout-8341603 Thu, 15 Apr 2021 12:00:00 -0700 1366 Stories, History, Civil War, Women Soldiers, Sarah Emma Edmonds, Union Army 1 9 full false Beauty for Ashes: The Musicians of Sarajevo Beauty for Ashes: The Musicians of Sarajevo During a season of violence and terror in Sarajevo, a handful of brave musicians responded to brutality with beauty, risking their lives to feed the spirits of their fellow citizens. 

]]> During a season of violence and terror in Sarajevo, a handful of brave musicians responded to brutality with beauty, risking their lives to feed the spirits of their fellow citizens. 

]]> http://www.racheldunstanmuller.com Rachel Dunstan Muller Buzzsprout-8249614 Wed, 31 Mar 2021 13:00:00 -0700 1246 Sarajevo, Siege, Cellist of Sarajevo, Breadline Massacre, Dijana Ihas, Vedran Smailovic, Sarajevo String Quartet 1 8 full false 118 Days 118 Days Maurice and Maralyn Bailey were an ordinary couple with a big dream: to sail from their home in England to a new life in New Zealand.  Everything was going smoothly - until disaster struck 6 days out of Panama.

]]> Maurice and Maralyn Bailey were an ordinary couple with a big dream: to sail from their home in England to a new life in New Zealand.  Everything was going smoothly - until disaster struck 6 days out of Panama.

]]> http://www.racheldunstanmuller.com Rachel Dunstan Muller Buzzsprout-8171984 Fri, 19 Mar 2021 07:00:00 -0700 1556 Maurice Bailey, Maralyn Bailey, 117 Days Adrift, Shipwrecked, Castaways, Survival at Sea, Ocean Survival, Whale attack 1 7 full false Trouble on Triple Island Trouble on Triple Island It would be difficult to imagine a bleaker place than Triple Island: three jagged rocks jutting up from the sea, 26 miles from Prince Rupert off the north coast of British Columbia. And yet that's where Tom Moran accepted a post as lightkeeper in October 1929 - along with his wife Sophie and their 2 month-old son.  Conditions in the claustrophobic lightstation were challenging at the best of times, but when disaster struck, things really went sideways. 

This episode is dedicated to the brave lightkeepers around the world who risk their lives to keep others safe.

]]> It would be difficult to imagine a bleaker place than Triple Island: three jagged rocks jutting up from the sea, 26 miles from Prince Rupert off the north coast of British Columbia. And yet that's where Tom Moran accepted a post as lightkeeper in October 1929 - along with his wife Sophie and their 2 month-old son.  Conditions in the claustrophobic lightstation were challenging at the best of times, but when disaster struck, things really went sideways. 

This episode is dedicated to the brave lightkeepers around the world who risk their lives to keep others safe.

]]> http://www.racheldunstanmuller.com Rachel Dunstan Muller Buzzsprout-8061146 Thu, 04 Mar 2021 12:00:00 -0800 1367 Lighthouse, Lightstation, Lightkeepers, Triple Island, British Columbia, Tom Moran, Sophie Moran, Prince Rupert 1 6 full false He Was the Ears; She Was the Eyes He Was the Ears; She Was the Eyes Robert and Lillian Booth had a special relationship - one that inspired an entire community.  Robert was blind as the result of a childhood injury, and Lillian had impaired hearing as the result of whooping cough, but as a team they were able to keep the pianos of central Vancouver Island in tune for almost half a century. Their legacy lives on, thanks to the efforts  of their proud daughter.

]]> Robert and Lillian Booth had a special relationship - one that inspired an entire community.  Robert was blind as the result of a childhood injury, and Lillian had impaired hearing as the result of whooping cough, but as a team they were able to keep the pianos of central Vancouver Island in tune for almost half a century. Their legacy lives on, thanks to the efforts  of their proud daughter.

]]> http://www.racheldunstanmuller.com Rachel Dunstan Muller Buzzsprout-7632766 Sun, 14 Feb 2021 12:00:00 -0800 791 Robert Booth, Lillian Booth, Thelma Bradbury, Port Theatre, Nanaimo, Piano Fund, Blind, Deaf, Love Story 1 5 full false Dr. Fear Dr. Fear On paper Dr. Howard Liebgold had an exceptionally successful life, but secretly he struggled with fears that nearly cost him everything. He was on the brink of suicide, when a "chance" story on the 10 o'clock news gave him reason to hope there might be another way.

I first discovered Dr. Liebgold's dramatic story in his book "Freedom from Fear: Overcoming Anxiety, Phobias and Panic. Dr. Liebgold is credited with directly helping more than 10,000 people overcome their own crippling phobias. While I never met Dr. Liebgold in person, I count myself in that number.  

]]> On paper Dr. Howard Liebgold had an exceptionally successful life, but secretly he struggled with fears that nearly cost him everything. He was on the brink of suicide, when a "chance" story on the 10 o'clock news gave him reason to hope there might be another way.

I first discovered Dr. Liebgold's dramatic story in his book "Freedom from Fear: Overcoming Anxiety, Phobias and Panic. Dr. Liebgold is credited with directly helping more than 10,000 people overcome their own crippling phobias. While I never met Dr. Liebgold in person, I count myself in that number.  

]]> http://www.racheldunstanmuller.com Rachel Dunstan Muller Buzzsprout-7519546 Thu, 04 Feb 2021 12:00:00 -0800 1408 Phobias, Dr. Howard Liebgold, Dr. Fear, Phobease, Storytelling, Agoraphobia, Claustrophobia, Dr. Liebgold, Freedom from Fear 1 4 full false Belinda Mulrooney: Klondike Queen Belinda Mulrooney: Klondike Queen 23 year-old Belinda Mulrooney arrived in the Klondike with just 25 cents to her name. She threw her quarter into the Yukon River - it wouldn't buy anything in Dawson - and vowed to start clean. Within a month she was building her first hotel. 

]]> 23 year-old Belinda Mulrooney arrived in the Klondike with just 25 cents to her name. She threw her quarter into the Yukon River - it wouldn't buy anything in Dawson - and vowed to start clean. Within a month she was building her first hotel. 

]]> Rachel Dunstan Muller Buzzsprout-7354951 Thu, 21 Jan 2021 12:00:00 -0800 1507 Belinda Mulrooney, Klondike, Dawson City, Irish Immigrant, 19th century entrepreneur, Grand Forks Hotel 1 3 full false Anna DeGraf: A Klondike Quest Anna DeGraf: A Klondike Quest Anna was 53, a widow recovering from multiple tragedies, when her 23 year-old son went missing in 1892. Not even a badly broken leg could stop her from packing her sewing machine and heading north when she learned that he might be in Alaska. The adventures that followed would have brought many men to their knees, but Anna was an unstoppable force. 

]]> Anna was 53, a widow recovering from multiple tragedies, when her 23 year-old son went missing in 1892. Not even a badly broken leg could stop her from packing her sewing machine and heading north when she learned that he might be in Alaska. The adventures that followed would have brought many men to their knees, but Anna was an unstoppable force. 

]]> Rachel Dunstan Muller Buzzsprout-7179982 Thu, 07 Jan 2021 10:00:00 -0800 1526 1 2 full false P.O.W. Violin P.O.W. Violin American B-24 bomber pilot Lieutenant Clair Cline was shot down over occupied Holland in February 1944.  Half a year into his internment,  he found himself struggling with despair, praying for something constructive to do. But the answer that came to him seemed preposterous. Make a violin? Cline didn't have the skills, the materials, or the tools. He was an inmate of a prison camp!

I first encountered a passing reference to this story in "The Violin Maker:  Finding a Centuries-Old Tradition in a Brooklyn Workshop" by John Marchese. I  found a few more details in various places on the internet, and then hit pay dirt with a first hand account from Cline himself in a Guidepost Magazine article from January 1997, titled "The Prison Camp Violin."

Special thanks to Betania Hernandez who provided the violin recording of "Silent Night."
Show music by Zapsplat.com. 

]]> American B-24 bomber pilot Lieutenant Clair Cline was shot down over occupied Holland in February 1944.  Half a year into his internment,  he found himself struggling with despair, praying for something constructive to do. But the answer that came to him seemed preposterous. Make a violin? Cline didn't have the skills, the materials, or the tools. He was an inmate of a prison camp!

I first encountered a passing reference to this story in "The Violin Maker:  Finding a Centuries-Old Tradition in a Brooklyn Workshop" by John Marchese. I  found a few more details in various places on the internet, and then hit pay dirt with a first hand account from Cline himself in a Guidepost Magazine article from January 1997, titled "The Prison Camp Violin."

Special thanks to Betania Hernandez who provided the violin recording of "Silent Night."
Show music by Zapsplat.com. 

]]> http://www.racheldunstanmuller.com Rachel Dunstan Muller Buzzsprout-6830392 Sun, 13 Dec 2020 17:00:00 -0800 833 Violin, WWII, POW, Stalag Luft I, Christmas, Silent Night, Clair Cline 1 1 full false