About This Episode
What is this episode about?
The episode "Grigori Rasputin" from Below the Surface covers the life and death of Grigori Rasputin, a Russian mystic and faith healer who became closely tied to the imperial family of Nicholas II, the last Emperor of Russia. Through that relationship, Rasputin gained considerable influence in the final years of the Russian Empire, rising to a level of fame comparable to a modern-day celebrity or rock star.
As his public image shifted and more people came to view him in a negative light, opposition to Rasputin hardened. The episode traces how that hostility built toward drastic action by those determined to remove him from the picture entirely.
Hosts and release
Olivia McKenzie hosts the show, which is produced by Mike Morford of AbJack Entertainment, with research and writing by Abagail Belcastro. This is episode 11 of Below the Surface, running 25 minutes, released in May 2026. The series examines strange and unusual true crime cases that share one connecting thread: a link to water, and this installment places Rasputin's story within that framework.
