THE COUNTERFEIT COUNTESS Janina Mehlberg

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

Throughout the 1920s, three sisters dominated the Australian film scene. The phenomenal filmmaking team of Isabel, Phyllis, and Paulette McDonagh reigned supreme as the undisputed Queens of Silent Cinema... until the talkies arrived to turn everything upside down. Award-winning author Mandy Sayer tells Olivia all about Those Dashing McDonagh Sisters, whose lives were every bit as dramatic (and as complicated) as any Hollywood film. Music featured in this episode provided by Amanda Setlik Wilson, Aaron Kenny, and E's Jammy Jams. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Aleksandra Samusenko commanded a unit of Soviet tanks through some of the most brutal battles in human history. The Soviet Union never told her story. But an American paratrooper who'd escaped a Nazi POW camp never forgot her. In the final months of World War II, he joined her unit, and together they made the final push to Berlin. Guest Hayley Noble shares the story of THE TANK COMMANDER Aleksandra Samusenko. Haley Noble's website on Soviet Women in Combat is HERE, with social media links HERE. Soviet WWII Music used in this episode can be found HERE. The Russian State History page on Samusenko (with lots of photos and documents) is HERE. Additional music was composed by Exra Lipp, Amulets, Jimena Contreras, Wayne Jones, Esther Abrami, and Quincas Moreira. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices