Women in History

Osad

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  Marie-José of Italy: The Queen Who Opposed Fascism 25.09.2026 26min

  Hey! I'd love to hear your thoughts, send me a voice note.Marie-José of Italy lived through some of the most turbulent decades in European history. Born a Belgian princess, she married Prince Umberto of Savoy and found herself at the heart of the Italian monarchy during the rise of Benito Mussolini and the Fascist dictatorship.Marie-José developed relationships with anti-Fascist politicians and intellectuals and, during the Second World War, attempted to encourage opposition to Mussolini. But how significant was her political role? Was she truly an anti-Fascist working from within the royal establishment, or has her reputation been shaped by later attempts to rehabilitate the Italian monarchy?
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  Djamila Bouhired: A Story of Algerian Resistance 21.09.2026 25min

  Hey! I'd love to hear your thoughts, send me a voice note.Djamila Bouhired was just 22 when she was sentenced to death by a French military court. A member of the Algerian independence movement, she became involved in the underground struggle against French colonial rule and was arrested, tortured and sentenced to the guillotine during the brutal Battle of Algiers.However, Djamila's story is about much more than her famous trial. In this episode, we explore the history of Algerian resistance to French colonial rule, the difficult choices made by the FLN, the role of women in the independence struggle, and how Djamila became an international symbol of resistance. Her story raises controversial questions about resistance, political violence, and colonialism.
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  Valentina Tereshkova: The First Woman in Space 17.09.2026 29min

  Hey! I'd love to hear your thoughts, send me a voice note.In 1963, Valentina Tereshkova became the first woman to travel into space, orbiting the Earth 48 times in a tiny Soviet spacecraft. But her journey to the stars began far from the world of rockets and cosmonauts. Born into a working-class family and employed in a textile factory, Tereshkova discovered parachuting almost by chance—and it changed the course of her life.In this episode, we explore her extraordinary rise from factory worker to international celebrity, the intense competition to become the first woman in space, and the reality of spending nearly three days alone in orbit. We also look at the complicated role she played as a symbol of Soviet achievement, her international work promoting women's rights and peace, and the political career that followed.Valentina Tereshkova's story is more than a tale about being first. It's a story about ambition, politics, gender, propaganda and what happens when an ordinary person finds herself at the centre of extraordinary events.
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  Grace O’Malley: Ireland’s Pirate Queen 15.09.2026 27min

  Hey! I'd love to hear your thoughts, send me a voice note.Grace O’Malley has gone down in history as Ireland’s legendary “Pirate Queen”, a woman who commanded ships, fought rival families, challenged English authority, and eventually came face-to-face with Queen Elizabeth I. But how much of the legend is actually true?In this episode of Women in History, we explore the remarkable life of Grace O’Malley, from her childhood in a powerful seafaring Gaelic family to her rise as a political and maritime leader. We look at her marriages, the death of her first husband, her conflicts with the English governor Richard Bingham, the imprisonment and killing of members of her family, and her extraordinary decision to travel to England to plead her case directly to Elizabeth I. Was Grace really a pirate? A rebel? A political leader? Or something more complicated?
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  Lilian Ngoyi: Standing Up to Apartheid 11.09.2026 41min

  Hey! I'd love to hear your thoughts, send me a voice note.Lilian Ngoyi was one of the most important women in South Africa’s struggle against apartheid, yet her story is still not widely known outside the country. A garment worker, mother, trade unionist and gifted political organizer, Ngoyi rose to become a leading figure in the African National Congress and helped organize the historic 1956 Women’s March, when around 20,000 women gathered outside South Africa’s government buildings to protest the pass laws. But her activism came at a tremendous personal cost. Arrested for treason and later subjected to years of banning orders and surveillance, Ngoyi spent the final years of her life largely silenced by the government she had challenged. This is the story of the woman who helped thousands find their political voice.
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  Irena Sendler: Saved Children at Great Personal Risk During WWII 07.09.2026 29min

  Hey! I'd love to hear your thoughts, send me a voice note.During the Nazi occupation of Poland, social worker Irena Sendler became part of an underground network helping Jews survive the Holocaust. Working inside and around the Warsaw Ghetto, she helped smuggle Jewish children to safety, arrange hiding places and preserve records of their real identities. When the Gestapo arrested and tortured her, she was sentenced to death, but her colleagues managed to secure her release. In this episode, we explore Irena’s extraordinary wartime work, the difficult choices faced by parents and rescuers, the children who survived, and the remarkable story of how this largely forgotten woman became internationally recognized decades later.
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  Manuela Saenz: Beyond Bolivar's Shadow 04.09.2026 29min

  Hey! I'd love to hear your thoughts, send me a voice note.Manuela Sáenz is often remembered as Simón Bolívar’s passionate lover and as the woman who saved his life during an assassination attempt. However, there is far more to her story. A committed supporter of South American independence, Manuela became a politically influential figure in Bolívar’s inner circle, challenging the expectations placed on women in the revolutionary world of the nineteenth century. This episode explores her courage, political involvement, unconventional life, and the complicated legacy of a woman whose story deserves to be told.
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  Lakshmi Sahgal: The Forgotten Women of India's Independence 31.08.2026 27min

  Hey! I'd love to hear your thoughts, send me a voice note.Lakshmi Sahgal was a doctor who left behind a successful medical career to fight for India's independence in the 1940s. As "Captain Lakshmi," she commanded the Rani of Jhansi Regiment, an all-female unit of the Indian National Army during World War II. However, her story is more complicated than a simple tale of heroism. Her alliance with Subhas Chandra Bose and Imperial Japan raises questions about nationalism, war, and moral compromise. In this episode, we explore Lakshmi's remarkable journey from physician to revolutionary, and the woman who dedicated her life to serving others.
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  Fu Hao: An Ancient Tomb That Changed History 27.08.2026 25min

  Hey! I'd love to hear your thoughts, send me a voice note.More than 3,000 years ago, Fu Hao commanded armies, advised a king, led sacred religious ceremonies, and became one of the most powerful women of China's Bronze Age. Yet her story remained buried for millennia until archaeologists uncovered her astonishingly intact tomb in 1976, rewriting what historians thought they knew about women in the ancient world.In this episode of Women in History, we explore the life of this remarkable Shang Dynasty queen, the extraordinary artifacts found in her tomb, and how archaeology brought one of history's earliest recorded female military commanders back into the spotlight.If you enjoy stories of forgotten women, ancient civilizations, and groundbreaking archaeological discoveries, this is an episode you won't want to miss.
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  Princess Alice of Battenberg: Beyond the Crown - A Life of Compassion and Courage 24.08.2026 31min

  Hey! I'd love to hear your thoughts, send me a voice note.Princess Alice of Battenberg is often remembered as Prince Philip's mother and the remarkable nun portrayed in Netflix's The Crown. However, her real story is even more amazing. Born into European royalty, Alice endured exile, personal tragedy, and years of institutionalization before risking her own life to shelter a Jewish family during the Nazi occupation of Greece. In this episode, we explore the incredible true story behind The Crown, separating fact from fiction and discovering a woman whose life was defined kindness, service, and extraordinary courage.
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  Hatshepsut: The Pharaoh Erased From History 20.08.2026 27min

  Hey! I'd love to hear your thoughts, send me a voice note.She wasn't supposed to become Pharaoh, but she did. In this episode of Women in History, discover the extraordinary story of Hatshepsut, the woman who ruled ancient Egypt as Pharaoh over 3,500 years ago. Explore her rise to power, her magnificent temple at Deir el-Bahri, her famous trading expedition to the Land of Punt, and the mystery of why later rulers tried to erase her from history. Was she a ruthless usurper or one of Egypt's greatest leaders? Join us as we uncover the remarkable life and enduring legacy of one of history's most fascinating women.
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  Hazel Ying Lee: The Pilot History Almost Forgot 17.08.2026 25min

  Hey! I'd love to hear your thoughts, send me a voice note.Before women were accepted in military aviation, Hazel Ying Lee was breaking barriers in the skies. As the first known Chinese-American woman to earn a pilot's license, she overcame racism, sexism, and repeated rejection to become one of the elite Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) during World War II. Trusted to transport some of America's fastest fighter aircraft, Hazel played an important role in the war effort, however, her extraordinary story remained largely forgotten for decades.
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  Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti: The Woman Who Challenged King and Empire 13.08.2026 41min

  Hey! I'd love to hear your thoughts, send me a voice note.Discover this amazing story of Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, the fearless Nigerian educator, women's rights pioneer, and anti-colonial activist who led a successful nonviolent protest movement. Funmilayo organized thousands of market women to challenge British colonial rule and eventually, she helped force a powerful king to abdicate. In this episode of Women in History, we explore Funmilayo’s amazing story, from her education in England to her fight for women's rights and justice. She had such a lasting influence on Nigeria, including on her famous son, musician Fela Kuti. This is a story that deserves to be told.
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  Ida B. Wells: The Fearless Voice Against Lynching 10.08.2026 46min

  Hey! I'd love to hear your thoughts, send me a voice note.In this episode of Women in History, discover the remarkable true story of the investigative journalist who risked everything to expose the truth about lynching in the United States. From her birth during the Civil War and her fight to keep her family together after being orphaned, to the destruction of her newspaper, her international anti-lynching campaign, and her role in the early civil rights movement, Ida B. Wells never stopped challenging injustice. Join us as we explore the life, courage, and lasting legacy of the woman who helped change journalism and the fight for racial equality forever.
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  Virginia Hall: The Untold Story of the Gestapo's Most Wanted Spy 07.08.2026 46min

  Hey! I'd love to hear your thoughts, send me a voice note.Rejected by the U.S. State Department after losing part of her leg in a hunting accident, Virginia Hall refused to let adversity define her. Instead, she became one of the most courageous and effective Allied spies of the Second World War. Operating behind enemy lines in occupied France, she built resistance networks, rescued downed Allied airmen, coordinated acts of sabotage, and repeatedly outwitted the Gestapo, who considered her one of their most dangerous enemies. In this episode of Women in History, discover the remarkable true story of the American woman with the wooden leg whose bravery and determination helped change the course of the war. This is an incredible story that deserves to be told.
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  Marie Antoinette – What She Was Really Like 03.08.2026 55min

  Hey! I'd love to hear your thoughts, send me a voice note.Step beyond the myths and discover the real Marie Antoinette. Often remembered as the extravagant queen who supposedly said, "Let them eat cake," her true story is far more complex. In this episode, we explore her life from Austrian princess to Queen of France, the pressures of Versailles, the scandals and propaganda that shaped her reputation, and her courage during the French Revolution. Join us as we separate fact from fiction and uncover the woman behind one of history's most enduring stories.
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  Lozen: The Apache Warrior Who Fought For Her People 02.08.2026 33min

  Hey! I'd love to hear your thoughts, send me a voice note.Discover the incredible story of Lozen, the legendary Apache warrior, scout, and spiritual leader who fought alongside Victorio and Geronimo during the final years of Apache resistance. Learn how she became one of the most respected women in Native American history through her courage, military skill, and leadership. Join us as we uncover the life and legacy of a remarkable woman whose story deserves to be remembered.
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  Bertha von Suttner: The Woman Who Tried to Stop WWI 31.07.2026 15min

  Hey! I'd love to hear your thoughts, send me a voice note.Long before the First World War devastated Europe, one woman dedicated her life to preventing it. In this episode of Women in History, we explore the remarkable story of Bertha von Suttner, an Austrian novelist, pioneering peace activist, and the first woman to receive the Nobel Peace Prize. Discover how her bestselling book, her friendship with Alfred Nobel, and her tireless campaign for diplomacy made her one of the most influential voices for peace in the modern era and and why her extraordinary legacy deserves to be remembered.