THE MONGOL KHATUN Genghis Khan's Daughters
27 September 2023 - 1 hour 3 minsWithout the daughters of Genghis Khan, there would have been no Mongol Empire. Four women ruled over North, South, East, and West, in what would become the largest land empire in the history of the world. It's a story you've never heard, because the sisters were literally cut out of the Mongol records. Join us with eminent Mongol scholar Jack Weatherford, who went searching for the missing story... and found it.
Illustrations by Brooke Smart.
Want to help us “make history”? Become a Patron or Donate here!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
THE FILMMAKERS The McDonagh Sisters
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
59 mins
5 September Finished
THE TANK COMMANDER Aleksandra Samusenko
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
54 mins
21 August Finished
THE FIRST LADY Pat Nixon
For decades, her remarkable achievements as United States First Lady have been overshadowed by her husband's big mistakes. Returning guest Heath Hardage Lee is back to help change that! Olivia introduces us to the remarkable and unfairly forgotten Pat Nixon. Music in this episode provided by The Westerlies, Aaron Kenny, Josh Lippi and the Overtimers, The Mini Vandals, Cooper Cannell, Doug Maxwell, Quincas Moereira, and the US Marine Corps Band. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
54 mins
9 August Finished
THE IRISH JOAN OF ARC Maud Gonne
She was one of the key figures of Irish Independence, known in her lifetime as The Irish Joan of Arc. But somehow, history only remembers her as the woman who wouldn't marry WB Yeats. More recently, a BBC headline called her "Ireland's heroine who had sex in her baby's tomb." Both those things are true, but... her real story is even more bonkers - and of course, so much more amazing. Join us with guest Orna Ross to put Maud Gonne back in her rightful place, among the founders of modern Ireland. Join the Kickstarter Campaign for a special edition of A Life Before benefitting the movement to memorialize Maud Gonne in Dublin! Music in this episode was generously shared by Andy Reiner and Jon Sousa from their album Canyon Sunrise. Plus music from E's Jammy Jams, Jesse Gallagher, Doug Maxwell, Wayne Jones, Kevin MacLeod, and Audionautix. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
53 mins
24 July Finished
THE INDOMITABLE SPIRIT Artemisia Gentileschi
Artemisia Gentileschi was one of the most famed and respected painters in 17th century Europe, but after she died, her story - and many of her works - were lost, and over the years, Artemisia has become better known for what was done to her than for what she did. Award-winning artist Lindsay Huss helps us try to change that. (Content warning: discussions of physical and sexual violence) Music for this episode provided by Marc Nelson, Advent Chamber Orchestra, Catrin Finch, John Harrison, and the Wichita State University Chamber Players Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
53 mins
13 July Finished
BONUS: A Night of Celebration Live
What'sHerName goes live! To launch our new book, What's Her Name, A History of the World in 80 Lost Women, former episode guests convene in London from all over the world for a Night of Celebration! In rapid-fire succession, brilliant 3-minute performances of poetry, song, story and dance take us chronologically through the history of the world. The magic is punctuated throughout with short readings by Katie and Olivia from the new book. The packed house at the Vagina Museum, with the most enthusiastic audience, made for a heartwarming night we'll never forget! Guest Performers in order of appearance: Introduction and reading by GABBY NEMETH, Senior Editor at Michael O’Mara Books Musician and composer SAM HENDERSON (our little brother!) performing the world's oldest written song, the Seikolos Epitaph Chemist and poet KIRK STAPLEY, reading his poem "Naia" SISTER RITA MINEHAN, Brigidine Sister and founding member of the Solas Bhríde Centre, reading St. Brigid's Lake of Beer Prayer GABO CEMÉ, founder of Eco Maya Travel and Wild Animal Sanctuary, telling the story of Zazil-Ha Westminster Abbey's AARON PATERSON, reading the 17th century petitions and receipts of Elizabeth Gregory, Head Carpenter of the Abbey Award-winning Pakistani singer-songwriter and Bollywood music director ZEB BANGASH performing Roshe, a love poem by 16th century Persian mystic Habba Khatun Professor WALEED ZIAD of the Department of Religious Studies at the University of North Carolina, telling the story of 19th century Sufi mystic Dadi Mithan IAN MORTIMER, bestselling author of more than twenty books on the history of England, reflects on the life of Harriot Mellon Composer JESSICA WADLEY performing her original song "Mount Florence" about Yosemite adventurer Florence Hutchings Dancer and choreographer JANET COLLARD performing her interpretation of 1920s cabaret dancer Valeska Gert's infamous "prostitute dance," Canaille. KIP WILSON reading from her novel-in-verse One Last Shot, about Spanish Civil War photojournalist Gerda Taro NIKKI DRUCE, host of the Macabre London podcast, recreates the final seance of Helen Duncan, Britain's last convicted witch Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter NEYLA PEKAREK, formerly of The Lumineers, performs "I Want Everything" from her 2022 musical Rattlesnake Kate SOPHIE POLDERMANS, author of Seducing and Killing Nazis, telling the story of Truus and Freddie Oversteegen and Hannie Schaft Composer and musician Erica Glenn, Director of Choral Activities at BYU - Hawaii, performing an Art Song by Ukranian composer Stefania Turkevych Historian PAM TOLER tells the story of anti-fascist war correspondent Sigrid Schultz, from her forthcoming book The Dragon from Chicago Art Historian MONICA WALKER, Events Manager at the Old Operating Theater Museum, performs a bellydance in honor of Samia Gamal of Egypt Artist, designer, and illustrator ELLA KASPEROWICZ, illustrator of our second book A Stinky History of Toilets, whose whimsical illustrations brighten the future of the world Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
1 hour 35 mins
26 June Finished