There lived a certain man in Russia long ago. He was big and strong, in his eyes a flaming glow. Most people look at him with terror and with fear. But to Moscow chicks he was such a lovely dear. He could preach the Bible like a preacher, full of ecstasy and fire. But he also was the kind of teacher women would desire.

OK – that doesn’t have a ton to do with the actual Rasputin, but man it’s a fun 1978 Euro disco hit single by the Germany-based pop band Boney M. That’s where we start week 2 of our exploration of Rasputin. And while his eyes might not have actually been aflame, his supernatural reputation continues to precede him. Was he really a mystic healer? Did he actually eat enough cyanide to kill a small town without the slightest effect? How many bullets can you put into a “mad monk” before he goes down? We stay in Russia this week as we explore the death and legacy of everyone’s favorite miscreant – Ra-Ra-Rasputin. Plus, Conspiracy Bot admits a penchant for crocheting (we don’t know), Brent spends a little too much time researching…lil Rasputin (again, no idea), and John drops a Bonya and Kuzmich reference (we give up). All of that and more on the podcast that doesn’t always get its hosts back, but when we do – we aren’t sure they were better than the replacements - Hysteria 51.



Special thanks to this week’s research sources:

Research Assistant - Raymond Walden IV



Books

Rasputin: Faith, Power, and the Twilight of the Romanovs | Douglas Smith

Rasputin: A Short Life | Frances Welch

The Big Black Book of Government Conspiracies | Andrè RavenSkül Venås



Videos

Simple History - https://youtu.be/JXdbseRz0lc

Cloud Biography - https://youtu.be/ev5dNfRncFo

Rasputin - https://imdb.to/2SAJ5qL

Ra Ra Rasputin - https://youtu.be/aiSdTQ9DW9g



Websites

Grigori Rasputin - https://bit.ly/2SDuB9w

Pierre Gilliard - https://bit.ly/30t3akP

LA Times - https://lat.ms/2MTHOaP

International Encyclopedia of WWI - https://bit.ly/2Q4kIQu

Tsar - https://bit.ly/2F9kfWR

History - https://bit.ly/2ZDJ46P

Khodynka Tragedy - https://bit.ly/2MF29An

Alpha History - https://bit.ly/39mq3dv

Tsar Nicholas II - https://bit.ly/2EZPdAZ

Ra Ra Rasputin lyrics - https://bit.ly/2toua97

TIME - https://bit.ly/367Mykz

The Awl - https://bit.ly/37o7u7b

Websters Dictionary - https://bit.ly/2ZzgALp

Alexander Palace - https://bit.ly/363FSmP

Local Life - https://bit.ly/2MFAH5C

Khioniya Guseva - https://bit.ly/3aMhMAw

Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/Hysteria51)