Category: Ancient

THE MYSTERY The Ivory Lady

When a history-making Copper Age burial was unearthed in southern Spain in 2008, the world was stunned by the incredibly beautiful – and utterly unprecedented – artifacts found in the tomb of the so-called ‘Ivory Man.’ But fifteen years later, the archaeology world would be rocked by an even more astonishing discovery – that 5,000-year-old Ivory Man was actually an Ivory Lady! Archaeologist Marta Cintas Peña helps us dig into this remarkable ‘prehistorical mystery.’ Marta …

Ancient / Archaeology / Europe / Government / Politics / Prehistory / Religion / Spain

THE SHAMAN QUEEN Himiko

In the 3rd century, a mysterious queen ruled the Kingdom of Yamatai (modern-day Japan) with a wise and steady hand. Her reign lasted almost 70 years – but what can we really know about her, when her people never wrote anything down? Anthropologist Laura Miller introduces Olivia to this elusive ancient queen.   Read more about Queen Himiko’s continuing “rebirth” as a powerful cultural icon in Laura Miller’s fascinating articles “Searching for Charisma: Queen Himiko” …

3rd century / Ancient / Archaeology / Asia / First woman to... / Government / Indigenous Peoples / Japan / Politics / Rulers

THE DOER Fulvia

The Roman Republic is collapsing and everything hangs in the balance. It’s a political game of kill-or-be-killed, and Fulvia did not come to play. You’ve heard of Julius Caesar, Mark Antony, and Cleopatra. But have you heard of Fulvia, who was at the eye of that infamous ancient Roman storm? Our guest Daisy Dunn⁠ is an award-winning classicist and author of ⁠The Missing Thread, A Women’s History of the Ancient World⁠. Travel with us to …

Ancient / Europe / Government / Italy / Politics

THE CLAIRVOYANT QUEEN Seondeok

Queen Seondeok of Silla was revered for her wisdom, her compassion, and most importantly – her ability to use nature’s signs to foretell the future! And with some truly audacious international diplomacy (and a resolute refusal to bend to patriarchal bullying) she would lay the foundations for the unification of The Three Kingdoms – now known as Korea. Karen Wang Diggs, author of The Book of Awesome Asian Women, helps us uncover the life of this …

7th century / Ancient / Archaeology / Asia / First woman to... / Government / Korea / Politics / Religion / Rulers

BONUS EPISODE: 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 from the new book by Katie and Olivia. The packed …

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THE WOMAN KING Hatshepsut

Hatshepsut is probably the most successful female pharaoh Egypt ever had – so why doesn’t anyone know how to say her name? Discover the 18th Dynasty’s most fascinating, enigmatic ‘woman king’ with returning guest Egyptologist Kara Cooney. Dr. Kathlyn (Kara) Cooney is a professor of Egyptian Art and Architecture at UCLA. In her latest book, The Good Kings, she turns to five ancient Egyptian pharaohs – Khufu, Senwosret III, Akenhaten, Ramses II, and Taharqa – …

Africa / Ancient / Archaeology / Egypt / Government / Politics / Religion

THE DISCOVERY Naia

In a deep dark underwater cave, Mexican divers found a mountain of prehistoric animal bones… and one human skeleton. It was Naia – the oldest skeleton ever discovered in the Americas. What can her bones tell us about our human origins? And more than that, what do they tell us about what it means to be human? Come with us on location to Dos Palmas cenote in Mexico, as Katie interviews returning guest Gabo Cemé. …

Ancient / Archaeology / First woman to... / Indigenous Peoples / Mexico / North America / on-location / Science / Travel

THE ROADBUILDER K’awiil

1400 years ago, traveling through the Maya rainforest was terrifying and deadly (think snakes, jaguars, and crocodiles). Now, new LiDAR scans have revealed a network of elevated ancient roads so sophisticated, some folks give aliens the credit. But the truth is much more interesting! K’awiil, visionary ruler of Coba, one of the great cities of the Maya Golden Age, built the first roads in the Americas. But did she do it to conquer her neighbors, …

7th century / Ancient / Archaeology / First woman to... / Government / Indigenous Peoples / Inventors / Mexico / North America / on-location / Politics / Travel

THE SPIRIT Xtabay: 2020 Halloween Special

Once upon a time in the Mayan Yucatan, a kind, beautiful lady was murdered and left at the base of a tree. But that was just the beginning! Join Katie on-location in Valladolid, Mexico, as her guest Jesus Cetzal recounts the age-old story of Xtabay, who has been exacting her revenge in the Yucatan for centuries. Late at night, she lures drunken men to her ceiba tree, then drags them down into the Underworld! Our …

Ancient / Ghosts / Halloween Specials / Indigenous Peoples / Mexico / North America / on-location

THE LAST QUEEN OF JUDEA Shelamzion

It’s often assumed that women are scarce in the Hebrew Bible because they simply weren’t allowed to be major players back then. But the life of Shelamzion (aka Salome Alexandra) proves that wrong. She ruled ancient Judea in a period of extreme ideological polarization (um, hello). She stood up to her brutal husband to protect her people; then she stood up to her people to protect her enemies. Her reign was a Golden Age in …

Ancient / Israel / Military / Politics / Religion