THE COUNTERFEIT COUNTESS Janina Mehlberg

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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 (brilliantly disguised as holy ointment) 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. Become a Patron for ad-free episodes and help us Make Women's History! ________________ Find out more about Aqua Tofana the opera (and watch the Act 1 Preview) HERE Connect with the Aqua Tofana team on Instagram @AquaTofanaOpera 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 Other 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

When Sigrid Schultz was offered a job as a reporter in Berlin, Germany in 1919, she had no idea how her life was about to change - or how her work would change the world. Returning guest Pamela Toler introduces us to this indomitable woman, who was one of the first to raise the alarm about the Nazis, one of the last to leave as WWII made reporting impossible, and the first woman in history to head an American News Bureau. Music in this episode provided by Andy Reiner, Peak Duo, Amanda Setlik Wilson, Jeff Cuno, Esther Abrami, Sir Cubworth, The New Hot 5, and Emmit Fenn. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Whenever Teresa Lim asked about a striking woman she saw in old family photos, she was told 'That's Aunt Fanny; she was unfortunate.' So naturally, Teresa Lim spent years excavating Aunt Fanny's life in 1920s Singapore. It's a story of three devoted sisters, ghost husbands, working-class Chinese feminists, and sworn spinsters. Turns out, Fanny was very fortunate indeed...until History arrived at her front door. _________________________ You can buy Teresa Lim's The Interpreter's Daughter and benefit a local indie bookshop HERE Music in this episode was by: The Butterfly Lovers Concerto for violin performed by Takako Nishizaki Doug Maxwell: Honky Tonkin'; Lao Tsu Erhu Gene Kardos' Orchestra: My Extraordinary Gal, 1932 Yao Lie: Rose Rose I Love You Kevin MacLeod: Medusa; March of the Mind; Despair and Triumph Jesse Gallagher: Thin Places Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices