What'sHerName

It was a dark and stormy night, many centuries ago. In a cave on the edge of a haunted wood, a monstrous baby was born, and instead of crying, she cackled! No one would have expected the baby to thrive, but she grew to become Mother Shipton, England’s most famous witch. Hear the amazing story of the deformed, friendless child who took on the most powerful men in the kingdom, and won! Travel with us to Mother Shipton’s Cave (and a pool that turns things to stone!) with guest Jay Skelling for our Halloween Special.

Her story might be one of ambition and regicide, or one of a woman manipulated by an evil puppetmaster. Or it might be both! Travel with us back in time three thousand years, where our guest, Egyptologist Kara Cooney, introduces us to that most enigmatic (and overlooked) New Kingdom pharaoh, Tawosret.

How Jiu was never supposed to go to America. But in an incredible twist of fate during China’s Civil War in 1928, she set sail for San Francisco, never to return to her family again. Only 18 years old and traveling under a false identity, How Jiu had to pass a gueling test before she was allowed to enter the United States. Hear the surprising story of the Chinese immigration experience, recorded on location at Angel Island’s historic Immigration Station in the San Francisco Bay.

Over 2000 years of history, China had exactly one female emperor. Wu Zhao (also known as Wu Zetian) rose from fifth-ranked concubine (a glorified maid) to supreme ruler, effectively governing China for over fifty years. Her reign was one of the most peaceful and productive periods of the Tang Dynasty, so why does history remember her as a bloodthirsty, sexually depraved tyrant? Learn about this enigmatic, fascinating woman with our guest, Wu Zhao biographer and Professor of Chinese History, N. Harry Rothschild.

The first flag of the Greek Revolution was raised by Laskarina Bouboulina on the mast of her ship, The Agamemnon, in 1821. Commanding a fleet of ships from her island of Spetses, she blockaded the greatest strongholds of the Ottoman Empire in the name of liberty. She personally led her troops into battle, wielding a sword and ferocious will. Bouboulina’s story is legendary in Greece, on par with George Washington’s in America. Our guest is Vassiliki Opsimouli.

Margaret Verble "found" Cherokee America Rogers in a cemetery while visiting her grandfather's grave. This incredible name sparked a journey into her own family history, the neglected stories of the Civil War in Indian Territory, and her newest novel, Cherokee America. Discover the remarkable woman behind this "jaw-dropping" name and the under-told and misunderstood history of the Cherokee Nation in the nineteenth century. Our guest is Margaret Verble, Pulitzer-Nominated novelist and enrolled citizen of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma.

Ancient kings and rulers from across the world traveled to the remote mountain town Delphi, Greece, to visit a nameless elderly peasant woman. They made the trek because she alone could see the future, and channeled the voice of god. Her words made world leaders change the course of their lives, but no one ever documented who she really was. Travel with us on location to Delphi, Greece, to reenact an ancient visit to Pythia, the oracle of Delphi. Our guest is Dimitrios Georgaras, who has been "listening to the harmony" at Delphi for forty years.

Sabina Spielrein “invented” child psychology, was one of the first female psychoanalysts, and innovated some of the most famous concepts now attributed to Jung and Freud. So why don’t we know her name? Learn how an accident of translation erased this powerhouse from our bookshelves and our classrooms -- and why it’s more than time to bring her back! Our guest is Dr. Angela Sells, author of *Sabina Spielrein: The Woman and the Myth.*

In 1996, a graduate student working in a library in England discovered the manuscript of a novel and 120 poems by completely unknown 17th century woman writer. Hester Pulter had been hiding in plain sight for four centuries. Now a dedicated team of scholars is sharing her work with the world. Hear the story of this astonishing discovery, and the astonishing woman behind the words.Our guest is Dr. Samantha Snively of the Pulter Project.

The story of America’s transcontinental railroad is a masculine saga. But today we present the story of Union Pacific’s most unlikely employee: a 12-year-old Mormon girl. Mary Peterson Ipsen was a railroad cook. An immigrant from Denmark, she had walked across the plains to Utah territory as a child, and grew up in an extremely godly community isolated from the rest of the world. But when her father died and she had to find work, she rejoined the world in, of all places, the most hellish of “Hell-on-Wheels” towns: Jack Casement’s Union Pacific crew. To commemorate the Sesquicentennial of Golden Spike, experience America’s transcontinental railroad through a 12-year-old’s eyes, featuring archival recordings of railroad songs, train whistles, newspapers and more.

Malintzin has been one of Mexico’s greatest villains for 500 years. A native of Veracruz, she translated for Hernan Cortes, the conquistador who destroyed the Aztec Empire. But she did more than translate: she birthed his children, helped him win battles, and saved his life again and again as they trekked from the Maya coast to the heart of the empire. Through it all, she alone spoke for Cortes, and also for everyone he met. Exploring the incredible life of this powerful woman who facilitated the conquest of Mexico with Dr. Jeffrey Richey, we ask ourselves whether anyone has a choice in how their path unfolds, and what is at the core of our identity.

In Nazi Germany, resistance was not just forbidden, it was deadly. But in 1942, a group of young college students went from enthusiastic supporters of the Third Reich to some of its most vocal opponents, publishing thousands of leaflets calling Hitler a criminal, and attempting to start a student revolt. Though their dream of a revolution never became reality, their courageous stance in the face of evil has become legendary in Germany, and their story continues to inspire and influence generations of young people around the world.Our guest Kip Wilson's wonderful new YA novel White Rose tells the story in verse, through the eyes of 21-year-old Sophie Scholl, executed for treason by the Nazi goverment in 1943. White Rose will be released on April 2, 2019.

In 3rd century Palmyra (modern-day Syria), the bold and brilliant queen Zenobia defied the Roman Empire and launched a wildly successful campaign of expansion, eventually ruling Arabia, Egypt, and parts of Asia Minor. But at her final defeat in 272, her story fragments into several curious and contradictory versions of "the end."With guest Pamela Toler, author of the new book Women Warriors, we take on this history "Choose Your Own Adventure" style--examining the sources that bring her story to life, and choosing which ending we believe is the best one.

Do we live in the best of all possible worlds? Émilie du Châtelet thought so, and set out to prove it with empirical evidence three hundred years ago. Raised at the lavish court of Louis XIV, she stood out like a sore thumb: while the women around her were glamorous, graceful and illiterate, she was clunky, fierce, and bookish. The story of her world-changing contribution to science is as delightful as it is surprising: part frilly courtier, part mad-scientist, she fed her voracious appetite for books by sword-fighting and card-counting at Versailles. In this episode, visit the country chateau where she and her lover, Voltaire, became famous for living their best life.Recorded on location at Chateau Cirey in Cirey-sur-Blaise, France.Émilie du Châtelet voiced by Emily Wadley.

Carolyn Cassady was an artist, costume designer, writer, and critical influence on the members of the Beat Generation. Her marriage to Neal Cassady and her friendships with Jack Kerouac and other prominent members of the Beats have long overshadowed her own life and accomplishments, but with the recent publication of new manuscripts discovered after her death that is finally beginning to change. An astonishingly talented and prolific creative force, Carolyn Cassady's legacy of determination, strength, and uniquely creative work is finally being recognized as she emerges from the shadow of "the guys." Our guests are Cathy Cassady, eldest daughter of Carolyn and Neal Cassady and editor of Carolyn's posthumously-published book Travel Tips for the Timid, and Josette Lorig, PhD candidate at the University of Colorado Boulder.