Shows / Her Half of History
Her Half of History
Women's history doesn't have be boring or depressing. I tell the stories of extraordinary women in history, including queens, slaves, spies, scientists, artists, wives, mothers, and more. But most women didn't leave us enough material for a biography, so I also tell you what it was like to be an ordinary woman, including what they wore, how they did housework, how they worked, and how they played.
In short, what were the women doing all that time while men were writing the standard history…
Episodes
Her Half of HistoryThe Long Day: When Iceland’s Women Went on Strike (ep. 17.3)
In 1975, Icelandic women went on strike from everything including housework, and they made their point. Visit the website (herhalfofhistory.com) for…
Her Half of HistoryRoman Women and No Taxation without Representation (ep. 17.2) (rebroadcast)
In 42 BCE, the Roman government was in the midst of Civil War and one faction tried to fund it by taxing its women. Roman women banded together and said, nope…
Her Half of HistoryVestal Virgins: Sacred Women of Rome (ep. 17.1)
The Vestal Virgins were right at the heart of Rome's self-image. The mother of Romulus and Remus was a Vestal, and throughout Romes thousand-year history, the…
- Her Half of History
On This Day in 1871: Great Fire of Chicago Begins in Mrs. O'Leary's Barn
On October 8, 1871, a fire broke out in Kate O'Leary's barn. It quickly got out of hand and became the Great Fire of Chicago. Vote for me in the Signal Awards!…
Her Half of HistoryOn This Day in 1871: Great Fire of Chicago Begins in Mrs. O'Leary's Barn
On October 8, 1871, a fire broke out in Kate O'Leary's barn. It quickly got out of hand and became the Great Fire of Chicago. Vote for me in the Signal Awards!…
Her Half of HistoryLa Llorona, the Weeping Woman
This year's Halloween episode is about La Llorona, the tale of a ghostly woman weeping for her children. It's told all over Latin America, and while it doesn't…
Her Half of HistoryLa Llorona, the Weeping Woman
This year's Halloween episode is about La Llorona, the tale of a ghostly woman weeping for her children. It's told all over Latin America, and while it doesn't…
- Her Half of History
On This Day in 1942: Lise de Baissac Begins Her Spy Mission
On September 24, 1942, Lise de Baissac parachuted into Nazi-occupied France. She was a spy, sent by Great Britain, to cause disruption behind enemy lines. I am…
- Her Half of History
On This Day in 1942: Lise de Baissac Begins Her Spy Mission
On September 24, 1942, Lise de Baissac parachuted into Nazi-occupied France. She was a spy, sent by Great Britain, to cause disruption behind enemy lines. I am…
Her Half of HistoryOn This Day in 1849: Harriet Tubman Runs Away
Bonus episode from the newsletter On This Day in Women's History! On September 17, 1849, Harriet Tubman made her break for freedom. She ran away from her…
- Her Half of History
On This Day in 1849: Harriet Tubman Runs Away
Bonus episode from the newsletter On This Day in Women's History! On September 17, 1849, Harriet Tubman made her break for freedom. She ran away from her…
- Her Half of History
The Topic of Series 17 Will Be ...
Series 16 on the First Woman has closed out and the vote on the topic of Series 17 is in. It will be ... Women Together. I’m currently researching episodes on…
- Her Half of History
The Topic of Series 17 Will Be ...
Series 16 on the First Woman has closed out and the vote on the topic of Series 17 is in. It will be ... Women Together. I’m currently researching episodes on…
Her Half of HistoryAretha Franklin, First Woman in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame (ep. 16.24)
Aretha Franklin was the Queen of Soul, and one of the most remarkable singers of the 20th century. At various points in her life she sang gospel, jazz, blues…
Her Half of HistoryAretha Franklin, First Woman in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame (ep. 16.24)
Aretha Franklin was the Queen of Soul, and one of the most remarkable singers of the 20th century. At various points in her life she sang gospel, jazz, blues…
Her Half of HistoryWilma Mankiller, First Woman Chief of the Cherokee Nation (ep. 16.23)
The indigenous people of North America had many powerful women through the ages, but in many cases, we have lost their stories. One story we have not lost is…
Her Half of HistoryWilma Mankiller, First Woman Chief of the Cherokee Nation (ep. 16.23)
The indigenous people of North America had many powerful women through the ages, but in many cases, we have lost their stories. One story we have not lost is…
Her Half of HistoryJunko Tabei, First Woman to Climb Everest (ep. 16.22)
In 1975, Junko Tabei was part of an all-female, all-Japanese team climbing the world's highest mountain. It was touch and go there for a while, but she made…
Her Half of HistoryJunko Tabei, First Woman to Climb Everest (ep. 16.22)
In 1975, Junko Tabei was part of an all-female, all-Japanese team climbing the world's highest mountain. It was touch and go there for a while, but she made…
- Her Half of History
On This Day in 1967: Two Women, Two Grizzlies, and Changes in Wildlife Policies
Bonus episode from the newsletter On This Day in Women's History! On August 12-13, 1967, Glacier National Park had a double tragedy: two 19-year-old girls were…
- Her Half of History
On This Day in 1967: Two Women, Two Grizzlies, and Changes in Wildlife Policies
Bonus episode from the newsletter On This Day in Women's History! On August 12-13, 1967, Glacier National Park had a double tragedy: two 19-year-old girls were…
Her Half of HistoryValentina Tereshkova, First Woman in Space (ep. 16.21)
In the race for space, the Soviets won all of the opening rounds, including the race to put the first woman in orbit. Her name was Valentina Tereshkova, and…
Her Half of HistoryValentina Tereshkova, First Woman in Space (ep. 16.21)
In the race for space, the Soviets won all of the opening rounds, including the race to put the first woman in orbit. Her name was Valentina Tereshkova, and…
Her Half of HistorySirimavo Bandaranaike, First Woman Elected as Head of Government (ep. 16.20)
Many women have served as the head of government for their respected countries. But usually that's because they were part of a royal family, and they inherited…
Her Half of HistorySirimavo Bandaranaike, First Woman Elected as Head of Government (ep. 16.20)
Many women have served as the head of government for their respected countries. But usually that's because they were part of a royal family, and they inherited…
Her Half of HistoryRegina Jonas, First Woman Rabbi (ep. 16.19)
Most of the world's great religions have reserved most of the authority for men. This was certainly true of Judaism, but in the early 20th century, Regina…
Her Half of HistoryRegina Jonas, First Woman Rabbi (ep. 16.19)
Most of the world's great religions have reserved most of the authority for men. This was certainly true of Judaism, but in the early 20th century, Regina…
- Her Half of History
On This Day in 1918: The Romanovs Awake for the Last Time
Bonus episode from the newsletter On This Day in Women's History! In the evening of July 16, 1918, the Romanov family went to bed as usual in Ipatiev House…
- Her Half of History
On This Day in 1918: The Romanovs Awake for the Last Time
Bonus episode from the newsletter On This Day in Women's History! In the evening of July 16, 1918, the Romanov family went to bed as usual in Ipatiev House…
Her Half of HistoryAmelia Earhart, First Woman to Fly Over Oceans (ep. 16.18)
Amelia Earhart was famous as the first woman to fly across the Atlantic (first as a passenger, second as a pilot). She was also the first person to fly from…
Her Half of HistoryAmelia Earhart, First Woman to Fly Over Oceans (ep. 16.18)
Amelia Earhart was famous as the first woman to fly across the Atlantic (first as a passenger, second as a pilot). She was also the first person to fly from…
Her Half of HistoryAmerica the Beautiful and Katharine Lee Bates
The words of "America the Beautiful" were written by Katharine Lee Bates after a trip from Massachusetts to Colorado and up to the top of Pike's Peak. This is…
Her Half of HistoryAmerica the Beautiful and Katharine Lee Bates
The words of "America the Beautiful" were written by Katharine Lee Bates after a trip from Massachusetts to Colorado and up to the top of Pike's Peak. This is…
Her Half of HistoryFrances Perkins, First Woman in the US Cabinet (ep. 16.17)
Traditional histories give President Franklin Delano Roosevelt a lot of credit for guiding the United States out of the Great Depression. But his best move may…
Her Half of HistoryFrances Perkins, First Woman in the US Cabinet (ep. 16.17)
Traditional histories give President Franklin Delano Roosevelt a lot of credit for guiding the United States out of the Great Depression. But his best move may…
Her Half of HistoryNancy Astor, First Woman in Parliament (ep. 16.16)
The first woman to serve in UK's Parliament was a surprise to everyone, and most of all herself. Nancy Astor was born American, and of course she was a woman…
Her Half of HistoryNancy Astor, First Woman in Parliament (ep. 16.16)
The first woman to serve in UK's Parliament was a surprise to everyone, and most of all herself. Nancy Astor was born American, and of course she was a woman…
Her Half of HistoryOn This Day in 1509: Catherine of Aragon Marries Henry VIII
Bonus episode from the newsletter On This Day in Women's History! On June 11, 1509, Catherine of Aragon married Henry VIII. It was her second marriage and his…
Her Half of HistoryOn This Day in 1509: Catherine of Aragon Marries Henry VIII
Bonus episode from the newsletter On This Day in Women's History! On June 11, 1509, Catherine of Aragon married Henry VIII. It was her second marriage and his…
Her Half of HistoryJeannette Rankin, First Woman in Congress (ep. 16.15)
The House of Representatives had its first woman voting before women were even allowed to vote on a national scale. Jeannette Rankin was elected by the state…
Her Half of HistoryJeannette Rankin, First Woman in Congress (ep. 16.15)
The House of Representatives had its first woman voting before women were even allowed to vote on a national scale. Jeannette Rankin was elected by the state…
Her Half of HistoryOlympic Champions: The First Women (ep. 16.14)
The ancient Olympics didn't allow women to compete, or even watch. However, there are a few ancillary ways that women participated: as horse owners and in the…
Her Half of HistoryOlympic Champions: The First Women (ep. 16.14)
The ancient Olympics didn't allow women to compete, or even watch. However, there are a few ancillary ways that women participated: as horse owners and in the…
Her Half of HistoryMarie Curie, First Woman to Win a Nobel Prize (ep. 16.13)
Marie Curie was the first woman to win a Nobel Prize, the first person to win two Nobel Prizes, and the first person to win Nobels in two separate disciplines…
Her Half of HistoryMarie Curie, First Woman to Win a Nobel Prize (ep. 16.13)
Marie Curie was the first woman to win a Nobel Prize, the first person to win two Nobel Prizes, and the first person to win Nobels in two separate disciplines…
Her Half of HistoryOn This Day in 1643: Anne of Austria Takes France
Introducing the brand new newsletter On This Day in Women's History! Every Monday I'll be writing about what a historical woman did on that day in history…
Her Half of HistoryOn This Day in 1643: Anne of Austria Takes France
Introducing the brand new newsletter On This Day in Women's History! Every Monday I'll be writing about what a historical woman did on that day in history…
Her Half of HistoryMadam CJ Walker, First Female Self-Made Millionaire (ep. 16.12)
Plenty of women have been rich. Most of them inherited their wealth. Plenty of women have earned money, even in antiquity, but without leaving us detailed…
Her Half of HistoryMadam CJ Walker, First Female Self-Made Millionaire (ep. 16.12)
Plenty of women have been rich. Most of them inherited their wealth. Plenty of women have earned money, even in antiquity, but without leaving us detailed…
Her Half of HistoryAda Lovelace, First Computer Programmer (ep. 16.11)
Ada Lovelace wrote the world's first computer program before computers existed. Her friend, Charles Babbage, was inventing an Analytical Thinking Machine, even…
Her Half of HistoryAda Lovelace, First Computer Programmer (ep. 16.11)
Ada Lovelace wrote the world's first computer program before computers existed. Her friend, Charles Babbage, was inventing an Analytical Thinking Machine, even…
Her Half of HistoryCaroline Herschel, First Female Professional Scientist (ep. 16.10)
Caroline Herschel and her brother William are sometimes called the discoverers of the universe. In the 18th century, they observed and catalogued the heavens…
Her Half of HistoryCaroline Herschel, First Female Professional Scientist (ep. 16.10)
Caroline Herschel and her brother William are sometimes called the discoverers of the universe. In the 18th century, they observed and catalogued the heavens…
Her Half of HistoryJeanne Baret, First Woman to Circumnavigate the Globe (ep. 16.9)
Jeanne Baret circumnavigated the globe by disguising herself as a man and working as a servant on a French scientific mission. Along the way, she collected and…
Her Half of HistoryJeanne Baret, First Woman to Circumnavigate the Globe (ep. 16.9)
Jeanne Baret circumnavigated the globe by disguising herself as a man and working as a servant on a French scientific mission. Along the way, she collected and…
Her Half of HistoryAnne Marshall and Margaret Hughes, First Women on the English Stage (ep. 16.8)
Shakespeare wrote every word of his plays with the firm expectation that the female parts would be acted by men or boys. No female was allowed to act in a…
Her Half of HistoryAnne Marshall and Margaret Hughes, First Women on the English Stage (ep. 16.8)
Shakespeare wrote every word of his plays with the firm expectation that the female parts would be acted by men or boys. No female was allowed to act in a…
Her Half of HistoryRemember the Ladies Says Abigail Adams
Abigail Adams was the wife of American founding father John Adams. In 1776, she asked him to "remember the ladies" in the new code of laws for a new country…
Her Half of HistoryRemember the Ladies Says Abigail Adams
Abigail Adams was the wife of American founding father John Adams. In 1776, she asked him to "remember the ladies" in the new code of laws for a new country…
Her Half of HistoryElena Cornaro Piscopia, First Woman with a University Degree (ep. 16.7)
The earliest universities only admitted men. Occasionally a woman was allowed to attend, but not to graduate. The first woman to buck that trend was Elena…