What'sHerName - TopPodcast.com

Latest Episodes:

THE MYSTERY The Ivory Lady Oct 01, 2025

Show notes

When a history-making Copper Age burial was unearthed in southern Spain in 2008, the world was stunned by the incredibly beautiful - and utterly unprecedented - artifacts found in the tomb of the so-called 'Ivory Man.' But fifteen years later, the archaeology world would be rocked by an even more astonishing discovery - that 5,000-year-old Ivory Man was actually an Ivory Lady! Archaeologist Marta Cintas Peña helps Olivia dig into this remarkable 'prehistorical mystery.'

Music featured in this episode provided by: Doug Maxwell, Emmet Fenn, I Think I Can Help You, Chris Haugen and the Mini Vandals

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THE FOLKLORISTA Violeta Parra Sep 15, 2025

Show notes

Violeta Parra needs no introduction in Latin America: not only did she record the greatest album in Chilean history, she also collected two thousand folk songs, danced in the Poor Circus, sang in the streets, and --incredibly-- exhibited at the Louvre. Over the years she also broke ...*checks notes*... 48 guitars over people's heads.

Discover the larger than life story of Violeta Parra with our guest Ericka Verba, author of Thanks to Life, A Biography of Violeta Parra.

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Travel with us! What'sHerName TOURS are open for registration. Or check out the What'sHerName SHOP! Every bit helps us make more episodes.

Music featured in this episode:

Violeta Parra recorded by Alan Lomax in 1953 in the Lomax Digital Archive; Puerto Montt is Trembling, and Gracias a la Vida by Violeta Parra; Las Hermanas Parra recored for RCA Victor in 1952; Corazon Maldito and El Guilatun by Desborde; Pink Flamenco by Doug Maxwell; Sus Remedios by Casa Rosa; Cha Cha Chango by Quincas Moreira; Despair and Triumph by Kevin MacLeod; Spirit of Fire by Jesse Gallagher.

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THE WITNESS Leonora Sansay Aug 21, 2025

Show notes

Leonora Sansay lived through the last chaotic years of the Haitian Revolution - but the book she wrote about it would tell an entirely unexpected story.

Join returning guest Dr. Maria Windell as we explore the fascinatingly "messy-complicated" life of novelist Leonora Sansay - and uncover a fascinating link with "almost-Founding Father" (and 21st century Broadway icon) ...Vice President Aaron Burr?

Music featured in this episode provided by The Global Jukebox, the US Marine Band, Aaron Kenny, and Kevin MacLeod.

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THE TUGBOAT PIONEER Thea Foss Aug 04, 2025

Show notes

135 years ago, Norwegian immigrant Thea Foss lived in a ramshackle driftwood houseboat on the coast of Tacoma Washington. Kind, capable, and hard-working, she was an anchor for hundreds more immigrants during America's Gilded Age. Thea built the largest maritime company west of the Mississippi- but more than that, she was the heart of the community. (Plus there's a boat parade, a catastrophic fire, and a truly delightful cow.)

Join Katie on location in Tacoma Washington as we explore the question of how to build community.

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Fancy a Thea Foss MUG featuring her inspiring motto ALWAYS READY? The What'sHerName SHOP is open!

Join us for our next adventure on a What'sHerName TOUR!

If you're local to Tacoma, check out all the cool stuff Jennifer Trahan and Parks Tacoma are doing!

Music featured in this episode: Lift Up by the Mini Vandals; Density & Time by Travelator; The Royal Vagabond by Jockers Dance Orchestra; Meditation Impromptu 1 by Kevin MacLeod; traditional Norwegian songs in the National Jukebox Collection at the Library of Congress. Sound effects were kindly shared by Kevin Luce and Klankbeeld.

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THE SHAMAN QUEEN Himiko Jul 21, 2025

Show notes

In the 3rd century, a mysterious queen ruled the Kingdom of Yamatai (modern-day Japan) with a wise and steady hand. Her reign lasted almost 70 years - but what can we really know about her, when her people never wrote anything down? Anthropologist Laura Miller introduces Olivia to this elusive ancient queen.

Read more about Queen Himiko's continuing "rebirth" as a powerful cultural icon in Laura Miller's fascinating articles "Searching for Charisma: Queen Himiko" and "Rebranding Himiko: The Shaman Queen of Ancient History."

Music featured in this episode provided by Sotetsu Tanabe, Shigeo Fujino, Yasuda Shinpu, Gordon Inoue, and Nexus.

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THE PEACE WEAVER Eva Palmer Sikelianos Jul 07, 2025

Show notes

What if we could reopen a primordial spiritual portal, and summon peace on earth? For Eva Palmer Sikelianos in 1920s Greece, world peace wasn't a lofty dream-- it was an achievable goal. The key, Eva believed, was ancient Greek art, returned to Delphi. She had a bold plan, and if she could pull it off, she just might save the world.

Join Katie on location at the Benaki Museum in Athens, with Maria Dimitriadou, Historical Archives Curator.

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Check out our upcoming TOURS and maybe you'll sit in on the next recording!

To read more about Eva, check out A Life in Ruins by Artemis Leontis.

Music featured in this episode includes: Ischia, To Loom is to Love, and Lace Tablecloths by The Mini Vandals; Tomorrow Never Comes, Sad French Accordion, Accordion Dirge, and Rainy Night Accordion by Dana Boule; The Anunaki Return and The Sleeping Prophet by Jesse Gallagher; Alone by Emmit Fenn; Byzantine Chant by RTB45 at free sound.org; Lockers Dance Orchestra, Wedding March, and Melody in F from the Library of Congress National Jukebox.

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THE VAGABOND PRINCESS Gulbadan Begum Jun 23, 2025

Show notes

At the dawn of the Mughal Empire, a bold and brilliant Princess outlived three Emperors, and managed to create an adventurous, wildly unexpected life for herself during one of the most tumultuous eras in history. And luckily for the rest of us - she wrote it all down!

Award-winning historian Dr. Ruby Lal returns to the podcast to introduce us to the Vagabond Princess, Gulbadan Begum.

Music for this episode provided by Farya Faraji, Doug Maxwell, E's Jammy Jams, and Aashish Khan, Pranesh Khan, and Shiraz Ali Khan.

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THE DOER Fulvia Jun 02, 2025

Show notes

The Roman Republic is collapsing and everything hangs in the balance. It's a political game of kill-or-be-killed, and Fulvia did not come to play.

You've heard of Julius Caesar, Mark Antony, and Cleopatra. But have you heard of Fulvia, who was in the eye of that infamous ancient Roman storm?

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Travel with us to ITALY, to walk in Fulvia's footsteps! Our new LOST WOMEN OF ITALY Tour is open for registration!

Daisy Dunn is an award-winning classicist and author of The Missing Thread, A Women's History of the Ancient World.

Music featured in this episode:

Michael Levy "Cogitatio," "Sacred Flame of Vesta," "Amatores"

Jesse Gallagher: "The Anunnaki Return," "Spirit of Fire"

Jimena Contreras: "Cosmic Nightmares"

I Think I Can Help You: "Crab Nebula"

M Murray: "Viking Medieval Theme"

Plus sound effects from YleArkisto and LilMati

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THE CLAIRVOYANT QUEEN Seondeok May 19, 2025

Show notes

Queen Seondeok of Silla was revered for her wisdom, her compassion, and most importantly - her ability to use nature's signs to foretell the future! And with some truly audacious international diplomacy (and a resolute refusal to bend to patriarchal bullying) she would lay the foundations for the unification of The Three Kingdoms - now known as Korea. Karen Wang Diggs, author of The Book of Awesome Asian Women, helps us uncover the life of this elusive and fascinating queen.

Huge thanks to the Korean Performing Arts Institute of Chicago for providing some of the music featured in this episode.

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THE SAUSAGE MAKER Johanna O'Brien May 05, 2025

Show notes

150 years ago, Irish farmer Johanna O'Brien created a secret recipe for black pudding. Today, her sausage is beloved by Michelin-star chefs across the world (and the recipe is still secret!).

Join Katie on location with Rory Copplestone at Clonakilty Blackpudding in Cork, to hear about a penniless girl who survived the Great Famine, built a thriving farm, and in her sunset years, created one of Ireland's iconic flavors.

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Travel with us: What'sHerName TOURS are open now!

Music for this episode is from Andy Reiner and Jon Sousa's Canyon Sunrise; Halfpelican; The Parting Glass by Audionautix; Kevin MacLeod; Jesse Gallagher.

Here is the charming vintage documentary on Irish farming life.

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