{"href":"https://api.simplecast.com/oembed?url=https%3A%2F%2Fgrim.simplecast.com%2Fepisodes%2Frasputin-mad-monk-6s4qXZRo","width":444,"version":"1.0","type":"rich","title":"Rasputin I: Mad Monk","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_url":"https://image.simplecastcdn.com/images/f0c3c71f-873f-4cd1-a663-dff6a7ec7134/5e6e0499-f0fa-4497-8748-a793be388e38/free-image-resizer-cropper-5-copy.jpg","thumbnail_height":300,"provider_url":"https://simplecast.com","provider_name":"Simplecast","html":"<iframe src=\"https://player.simplecast.com/a59ef456-6004-4f15-afea-000002f77f5e\" height=\"200\" width=\"100%\" title=\"Rasputin I: Mad Monk\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"></iframe>","height":200,"description":"Part 1 of 5. BDSM Church of the Sacred Whip.\nThe name Rasputin stirs often images of a dark evil wizard; a gothic monk in black with powers of necromancy and the devil. Or more often; a mystic—stabbed, shot, beat, poisoned, and drowned—who could not be killed. \nThe wandering holy man captivated the last tsars of Russia. Led a sex-cult of sorts. Woman adored him. Most hated him. Journalists, assassins, and the secret police followed him, everywhere, he went.\nThis is the comprehensive 5-part story of the illiterate stinky peasant who defied every odd to become one of the most powerful, revered, ultra-sexy, and hated figures in late imperial Russia. Of the socio-political backdrop of World War One, the Russian Revolution, and myths and truths of the complexities of the period. And of the man: Grigory Rasputin, and his enduring mark on the Romanov Dynasty; on Russia; and on history. Historians Britnee Smith, Ted Sisco, and Joe Wojie are joined by Historians Cassie Coxon (Penn State University) and Morgan Haller (Villanova University).\nSupport the show on patreon.com/grimphilly\nLive event information at grimphilly.com\n"}