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THE FREE AND INDEPENDENT WOMAN Sayyida al Hurra Apr 04, 2025

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Nobody knows her real name. But this "Uncontested Pirate Queen of the Western Mediterranean" certainly earned her title: the Sayyida al Hurra, the Free and Independent Woman. From child refugee fleeing the Spanish Inquisition, to ruling Governor of Tetouan, to the Sultana of Morocco - Sayyida was never one to follow the path society had laid out for her.

Author Laura Sook Duncome helps us uncover the mystery of the one and only actual Pirate Queen.

Music featured in this episode provided by Farya Faraji, Astron, The Tides, Doug Maxwell, The Mini Vandals, and Patrick Patrikios.

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THE ANCHORITE Julian of Norwich Mar 21, 2025

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She lived through the worst century in human history: the Black Death, famine, war, death and despair. So it was all the more surprising when Julian of Norwich rose from her deathbed saying she'd received a vision from God: All shall be well. How could that be true when the whole world seems to be falling apart?

Travel with us to 14th century England, to visit famed mystic Julian of Norwich. I know it sounds crazy, she says, but trust me: everything is love.

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Fancy a Julian of Norwich mug reminding you All Shall Be Well? What'sHerName SHOP is open! Or travel with us on upcoming TOURS.

Music for this episode featured St. Stanislav Girl's Choir singing compositions by Hildegard of Bingen; plus additional music by Doug Maxwell; Jesse Gallagher; and Jimena Contreras.

Simon Critchley's new book is Mysticism; or check out the Showings of Julian of Norwich

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THE IDEALIST Mary Ware Dennett Mar 08, 2025

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Mary Ware Dennett was one of the most important and influential activist for women's rights, contraception, free speech and sex education in early 20th century America. So why does her nemesis Margaret Sanger get all the attention?

Returning guest Stephanie Gorton helps Olivia unravel the mystery of this fascinating, forward-thinking woman.

Music featured in this episode provided by Asher Fulero, Kevin Macleod, The Mini Vandals, Late Night Feeler, Jeff Cuno, Cooper Cannell, Dan Bodan, and the American Quartet.

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THE RELUCTANT EMPRESS Sisi Feb 21, 2025

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She prevented war and death on an immense scale, in acts that could earn the Nobel Peace Prize today. But History enshrined Sisi, Empress of Austria, as a vain beauty queen. The smear campaign was personal, not political: it started with her own tyrannical mother-in-law. Can Sisi conquer her own self-doubt, and drag draconian Austria into the modern world?

Our guest is Nancy Goldstone, author of The Rebel Empresses: Elisabeth of Austria and Eugenie of France, Power and Glamor in the Struggle for Europe.

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Music in the episode includes works by Johann Strauss, Joseph Suk, Giuseppe Verdi, Bedrich Smetana, Johannes Brahms, Franz Schubert, Franz Liszt, and Kevin MacLeod.

Join us on our women's history tours! What'sHerName listeners make the best travel buddies.

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THE STRONGWOMAN Katie Sandwina Feb 08, 2025

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When world-famous strongman Eugen Sandow finally met his match, nobody expected it to be at the hands of an 18 year old girl. But whether it was bending metal bars, beating horses in a tug-of-war, or hefting her own husband over her head with one arm, German strongwoman Katie Sandwina would continue to shatter records (and Victorian gender norms) for another forty years. Guest Haley Shapley, author of Strong Like Her, introduces Olivia to this astonishing, unexpected heroine.

Your wish is our command! THE GREAT SANDWINA hoodies and tanks are HERE!

Voiceovers for this episode provided by Marion Lamm, Anica Bell, Mark Henderson, and Matthew Meikle.

Music featured in this episode provided by Jeremy Korpas, The United States Marine Band, Asher Fulero, Quincas Moreira, and Amanda Setlik Wilson.

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THE WITCH OF WELLFLEET Maria Hallett Jan 22, 2025

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A pirate ship jammed with treasure. The worst storm to ever hit Cape Cod. The mythical shipwreck-- 280 years later, found. Everything in this swashbuckling tale (full of impossible things that really did happen) occurred because of Maria Hallett. Did she turn witch, to curse her lover's ship, or to save it?

Join us on location at Real Pirates Museum in Salem, MA.

Music featured in this episode includes: Blow the Wind Southerly by Anne Norman; Blow Boys Blow and Goodbye Fare You Well from the Library of Congress; and compositions generously shared by Cooper Cannell, Brian Bolger, Patrick Patrikios, Wayne Jones, Jesse Gallagher, and Jimena Contreras.

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THE ADVENTURERS The Wilmot Sisters Jan 09, 2025

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How did two ordinary 18th century Anglo-Irish sisters end up gallivanting around the European continent, fraternizing with all the most radical and revolutionary minds of the Enlightenment, and becoming BFFs with a Russian Princess? Guest Dr. Alexis Wolf introduces Olivia to the astonishing lives of Katherine and Martha Wilmot.

Music for this episode provided by Amanda Setlik Wilson, Killarney, and Tatyana Kalmokova.

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CHRISTMAS IN MAINE Sarah Orne Jewett Dec 16, 2024

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Travel to snowy Victorian Maine in this year's Christmas Special, as Katie reads from the memoirs of Sarah Orne Jewett. An immensely famous and beloved novelist in her day, Sarah wrote wholesome tales of the country folk of Maine, where as a child she had accompanied her physician father on his rounds.

Find a massive collection of Sarah Orne Jewett's works collected by the Sarah Orne Jewett Text Project HERE.

Our What'sHerName SHOP is open! Every purchase supports our mission to get these women's stories out into the world. Thank you for your support!

Music in this episode includes: Fiddlesticks, from their album Cold Fusion; Wexford Carol by Rob Whalen on SoundCloud; Twin Musicom; Cooper Cannell; Kevin MacLeod; Esther Abrami; The Midshipmen Glee Club; Quincas Moreira; Asher Fulero.

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THE LEGEND Zainab Pasha Nov 03, 2024

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Zeynab Pasha was one of the most influential voices during several crises of 19th century Iranian history. From the Bread Crisis to the Tobacco Protests and the lead up to Iran's Constitutional Revolution, she led the way in taking back the power of the people. She was legendary, and then she disappeared - literally and figuratively.

Author Afarin Bellisario helps us rediscover the life of this incredible woman.

Music featured in this episode provided by Farya Faraji and selections from the Women's Worlds in Qajar Iran collection at Harvard University.

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THE APOTHECARY Giulia Tofana Oct 16, 2024

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If you knew the recipe for an undetectable poison, would you use it? What about giving it to women with abusive husbands? Giulia Tofana's legendary poison Aqua Tofana was famed and feared in 17th-century Rome. But just how many terrible husbands can drop dead, before the Pope gets suspicious?

In this year's Halloween Special, our guests are Gaia Aloisi and Ted Blackburn, the creators of Aqua Tofana, a new electronic opera about the life of Giulia Tofana.

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Travel with us in the footsteps of Giulia Tofana's poisoning ring! Our LOST WOMEN OF ITALY TOUR is open for registration!

Find out more about Aqua Tofana the opera (and watch the Act 1 Preview) HERE

The Black Widows of the Eternal City by Craig Monson is HERE from Indie booksellers

You may also enjoy reading Mike Dash's history of Aqua Tofana - a lively summary of the Magical Underworld of Rome, though lacking the primary sources of the trial

Music featured: Halloween Midnight by Roman Cano; Ghost Story and Ghost Processional by Kevin MacLeod

Episode cover image is from The Love Potion by Evelyn De Morgan, 1903

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