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 History"Superfluous" Women and the Typewriter (ep. 15.5)
Over the 19th century, a larger middle-class and better educational opportunities meant that many women had the necessary skills to work in an office. But…
Her Half of HistoryThe Spindle, the Spinning Wheel, and the Spinning Jenny (ep. 15.4)
The four biggest natural fibers are wool, cotton, flax, and silk, but none of them naturally come long, continuous, or strong. To make any textile at all, the…
Her Half of HistoryThe Spindle, the Spinning Wheel, and the Spinning Jenny (ep. 15.4)
The four biggest natural fibers are wool, cotton, flax, and silk, but none of them naturally come long, continuous, or strong. To make any textile at all, the…
Her Half of HistoryDoctors, Washed Hands, and Death in Childbirth (ep. 15.3)
For centuries, one of the biggest causes of maternal death was puerperal fever or postpartum infection. Doctors proposed many theories and many remedies, but…
Her Half of HistoryDoctors, Washed Hands, and Death in Childbirth (ep. 15.3)
For centuries, one of the biggest causes of maternal death was puerperal fever or postpartum infection. Doctors proposed many theories and many remedies, but…
Her Half of HistoryThe Bicycle and “Free Untrammeled Womanhood” (ep. 15.2)
Susan B Anthony was in her seventies by the time the bicycle was widely available to women, but she admired it all the same and said “a girl never looks so…
Her Half of HistoryThe Bicycle and “Free Untrammeled Womanhood” (ep. 15.2)
Susan B Anthony was in her seventies by the time the bicycle was widely available to women, but she admired it all the same and said “a girl never looks so…
Her Half of HistoryAgriculture: Was It a Bad Idea? (ep. 15.1)
I'm starting this new series on Inventions that Changed Women's Lives at the very beginning—so early that it predates written history. In this episode, I dive…
Her Half of HistoryAgriculture: Was It a Bad Idea? (ep. 15.1)
I'm starting this new series on Inventions that Changed Women's Lives at the very beginning—so early that it predates written history. In this episode, I dive…
Her Half of HistoryJuly 3, 1776, John Adams to Abigail Adams (bonus episode)
The United States is gearing up for the Fourth of July, Independence Day. But in 1776, it was by no means certain that anyone would celebrate this day, or who…
Her Half of HistoryJuly 3, 1776, John Adams to Abigail Adams (bonus episode)
The United States is gearing up for the Fourth of July, Independence Day. But in 1776, it was by no means certain that anyone would celebrate this day, or who…
Her Half of HistoryThe Topic of Series 15 Will Be ...
The polls are closed! In this episode, I'm giving you the results of the Women Podcasters Awards and the topic of my next series to start later in the summer…
- Her Half of History
The Topic of Series 15 Will Be ...
The polls are closed! In this episode, I'm giving you the results of the Women Podcasters Awards and the topic of my next series to start later in the summer…
Her Half of HistoryCoretta Scott King, Wife of Martin Luther King, Jr (ep. 14.21)
In the United States, Martin Luther King, Jr., gets a holiday partly because he challenged Americans to live up to their own ideals and extend freedom and…
Her Half of HistoryCoretta Scott King, Wife of Martin Luther King, Jr (ep. 14.21)
In the United States, Martin Luther King, Jr., gets a holiday partly because he challenged Americans to live up to their own ideals and extend freedom and…
Her Half of HistoryJiang Qing, Wife of Chairman Mao (ep. 14.20)
Jiang Qing spent part of her life as an actress, part of it as an almost invisible housewife, part of it as a powerful leader in the Cultural Revolution, and…
Her Half of HistoryJiang Qing, Wife of Chairman Mao (ep. 14.20)
Jiang Qing spent part of her life as an actress, part of it as an almost invisible housewife, part of it as a powerful leader in the Cultural Revolution, and…
Her Half of HistoryZelda Fitzgerald, Wife of F. Scott Fitzgerald (ep. 14.19)
Zelda Fitzgerald basically defined the iconic image of a flapper from America's Jazz Age. She was immortalized in fiction by her husband, F. Scott Fitzgerald…
Her Half of HistoryZelda Fitzgerald, Wife of F. Scott Fitzgerald (ep. 14.19)
Zelda Fitzgerald basically defined the iconic image of a flapper from America's Jazz Age. She was immortalized in fiction by her husband, F. Scott Fitzgerald…
Her Half of HistoryFrances Perkins, Secretary of Labor for FDR (ep. 14.18)
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, Secretary of Labor for FDR (ep. 14.18)
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 HistoryMarion Mahony, Architect for Frank Lloyd Wright (ep. 14.17)
Frank Lloyd Wright is among the most famous architects of all time, but the drawings which made him famous weren't necessarily drawn by him. Marion Mahony had…
Her Half of HistoryMarion Mahony, Architect for Frank Lloyd Wright (ep. 14.17)
Frank Lloyd Wright is among the most famous architects of all time, but the drawings which made him famous weren't necessarily drawn by him. Marion Mahony had…
Her Half of HistoryMileva Marić, Einstein's First Wife (ep. 14.16)
Einstein met his first wife in college, where they were both studying math and physics. How much Mileva contributed to his groundbreaking papers is regularly…
Her Half of HistoryMileva Marić, Einstein's First Wife (ep. 14.16)
Einstein met his first wife in college, where they were both studying math and physics. How much Mileva contributed to his groundbreaking papers is regularly…
Her Half of HistoryKasturba Gandhi, Wife of Mahatma Gandhi (ep. 14.15)
Gandhi is among the most documented figures of the 20th century. Most of these sources reveal astonishingly little about his wife Kasturba. But he actually…
Her Half of HistoryKasturba Gandhi, Wife of Mahatma Gandhi (ep. 14.15)
Gandhi is among the most documented figures of the 20th century. Most of these sources reveal astonishingly little about his wife Kasturba. But he actually…
Her Half of HistoryClara Schumann, Wife of Robert Schumann (ep. 14.14)
Robert Schumann is a big name in classical music. However, in his own lifetime, Robert Schumann wasn't “the” Schumann. His wife was the famous one. Clara…
Her Half of HistoryClara Schumann, Wife of Robert Schumann (ep. 14.14)
Robert Schumann is a big name in classical music. However, in his own lifetime, Robert Schumann wasn't “the” Schumann. His wife was the famous one. Clara…
Her Half of HistoryKatharine Wright, Sister of Wilbur and Orville Wright (ep. 14.13)
The Wright brothers invented the world's first powered flying machine. Sure, they were geniuses, but even geniuses need a little help. Their sister Katharine…
Her Half of HistoryKatharine Wright, Sister of Wilbur and Orville Wright (ep. 14.13)
The Wright brothers invented the world's first powered flying machine. Sure, they were geniuses, but even geniuses need a little help. Their sister Katharine…
Her Half of HistoryAnd the winner is ... (plus announcements)
It's a bye-week for the podcast, but I am announcing the winner of the gift certificate giveaway for Women's History Month, 2025. Many thanks to everyone who…
Her Half of HistoryAnd the winner is ... (plus announcements)
It's a bye-week for the podcast, but I am announcing the winner of the gift certificate giveaway for Women's History Month, 2025. Many thanks to everyone who…
Her Half of HistoryJo van Gogh-Bonger, Vincent's Sister-in-Law (part 2) (ep. 14.12)
When her husband died, Jo was left with a small child, no job, not much money, and a lot of canvases that weren't worth very much. It was the effort of a…
Her Half of HistoryJo van Gogh-Bonger, Vincent's Sister-in-Law (part 2) (ep. 14.12)
When her husband died, Jo was left with a small child, no job, not much money, and a lot of canvases that weren't worth very much. It was the effort of a…
Her Half of HistoryJo van Gogh-Bonger, Vincent's Sister-in-Law (part 1) (ep. 14.11)
Vincent van Gogh is one of history's best known artists, but he wasn't during his own lifetime. His rise to fame came slowly through the efforts of the woman…
Her Half of HistoryJo van Gogh-Bonger, Vincent's Sister-in-Law (part 1) (ep. 14.11)
Vincent van Gogh is one of history's best known artists, but he wasn't during his own lifetime. His rise to fame came slowly through the efforts of the woman…
Her Half of HistoryBertha von Suttner, Friend of Alfred Nobel (ep. 14.10)
Alfred Nobel's original plans for his famous prize included physics, chemistry, medicine, and literature. But not peace. He thought the peace movement was…
Her Half of HistoryBertha von Suttner, Friend of Alfred Nobel (ep. 14.10)
Alfred Nobel's original plans for his famous prize included physics, chemistry, medicine, and literature. But not peace. He thought the peace movement was…
Her Half of HistoryWhy Women's History Still Matters
March has been Women's History Month for decades! But this year, some government agencies and corporations have thrown its existence into doubt. Today's…
Her Half of HistoryWhy Women's History Still Matters
March has been Women's History Month for decades! But this year, some government agencies and corporations have thrown its existence into doubt. Today's…
Her Half of HistoryNadezhda von Meck, Tchaikovsky's Best Friend (ep. 14.9)
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky wrote the music for the Nutcracker, the Romeo and Juliet Fantasy-Overture, Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, multiple symphonies, several…
Her Half of HistoryNadezhda von Meck, Tchaikovsky's Best Friend (ep. 14.9)
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky wrote the music for the Nutcracker, the Romeo and Juliet Fantasy-Overture, Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, multiple symphonies, several…
Her Half of HistoryNannerl Mozart, Sister of Wolfgang Amadeus (ep. 14.8)
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was the quintessential child prodigy. He performed for European royalty at the tender age of six. But he wasn’t the only child prodigy…
Her Half of HistoryNannerl Mozart, Sister of Wolfgang Amadeus (ep. 14.8)
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was the quintessential child prodigy. He performed for European royalty at the tender age of six. But he wasn’t the only child prodigy…
Her Half of HistoryDeborah Read, Wife of Benjamin Franklin (ep. 14.7)
Ben Franklin was the most famous American of his generation. He had a glittering career as a printer, a writer, a statesman, a diplomat, an inventor, a…
Her Half of HistoryDeborah Read, Wife of Benjamin Franklin (ep. 14.7)
Ben Franklin was the most famous American of his generation. He had a glittering career as a printer, a writer, a statesman, a diplomat, an inventor, a…
Her Half of HistoryJane, Anne, Catherine, and Catherine: The Last Four Wives of Henry VIII (ep. 14.6)
Henry VIII was married to his first wife for 23 years. It took him only 15 years to blow through the next five wives. I covered the first two wives in episode…
Her Half of HistoryJane, Anne, Catherine, and Catherine: The Last Four Wives of Henry VIII (ep. 14.6)
Henry VIII was married to his first wife for 23 years. It took him only 15 years to blow through the next five wives. I covered the first two wives in episode…
Her Half of HistoryCatherine and Anne: The First Two Wives of Henry VIII (ep. 14.5)
If Henry had stopped at two wives, my guess is that your average person wouldn't know any more about him than they do about Henrys #1-7. But he did have six…
Her Half of HistoryCatherine and Anne: The First Two Wives of Henry VIII (ep. 14.5)
If Henry had stopped at two wives, my guess is that your average person wouldn't know any more about him than they do about Henrys #1-7. But he did have six…
Her Half of HistoryIsabella I, Sponsor of Columbus (ep. 14.4)
Isabella was a force of natura before Columbus ever set foot in her court. As a teenager, she negotiated her own marriage contract, married behind her…
Her Half of HistoryIsabella I, Sponsor of Columbus (ep. 14.4)
Isabella was a force of natura before Columbus ever set foot in her court. As a teenager, she negotiated her own marriage contract, married behind her…
Her Half of HistoryThe Daughters of Genghis Khan (ep. 14.3)
Genghis Khan's daughters are shadowy figures: we don't know exactly how many there were or what all of their names were, but historians have pieced together…
Her Half of HistoryThe Daughters of Genghis Khan (ep. 14.3)
Genghis Khan's daughters are shadowy figures: we don't know exactly how many there were or what all of their names were, but historians have pieced together…
Her Half of HistoryOlympias, Mother of Alexander the Great (ep. 14.2)
Alexander the Great conquered much of the known-to-him world in lightning speed. But he probably couldn't have done it without the support of his mother…
Her Half of HistoryOlympias, Mother of Alexander the Great (ep. 14.2)
Alexander the Great conquered much of the known-to-him world in lightning speed. But he probably couldn't have done it without the support of his mother…
Her Half of HistoryHelena, Mother of Constantine the Great (ep. 14.1)
Constantine the Great had a long list of accomplishments, including making Europe Christian for centuries to come. But he didn't do it alone. He had a good…
Her Half of HistoryHelena, Mother of Constantine the Great (ep. 14.1)
Constantine the Great had a long list of accomplishments, including making Europe Christian for centuries to come. But he didn't do it alone. He had a good…
Her Half of HistoryMrs. Santa Claus
For a very long time, Santa was a single man. His wife occasionally peeped out of the historical record, but not often. Until a host of magazine writers in the…