Category: England

THE ENTOMOLOGIST Evelyn Cheesman

Over the course of her 87 years of life, self-taught British entomologist Evelyn Cheesman went on eight solo insect-collecting expeditions across the South Pacific, collected almost 100,000 specimens, identified dozens (possibly hundreds!) of previously unknown species, and used her specialized knowledge of Oceania to save countless lives during WWII. Meet the indomitable genius who persevered against unimaginable odds to build herself the life she wanted – no matter what stood in her way. Our guest …

20th century / Colombia / England / Europe / Oceania / Papua New Guinea / Science / South America / Tahiti / Travel / Vanuatu

THE VOICE OF EXPERIENCE Catherine Jemmat

After a lifetime of betrayal and abuse as an 18th century sex worker, Catherine Jemmat broke the ultimate social taboo: she wrote the truth about her life. Her “scandalous memoir” helped change the way readers thought about women’s lives, and her second book introduced a radical new idea into English society – that the true ‘perpetrator’ driving women into lives of so-called sin and degradation was, in fact, society itself. Returning guest Miranda Garno Rossa …

18th century / Activists / England / Europe / Sex workers / Writers

THE BIRD OF ILL OMEN Catherine Crowe: 2025 Halloween Special

Catherine Crowe was a wildly acclaimed Victorian novelist, playwright, social critic and …ghost hunter? Her novels were as popular as Charles Dickens’ and Ralph Waldo Emerson, Harriet Martineau, and George Eliot were her ardent fans. And her pioneering catalog of ghosts and the supernatural, The Night Side of Nature, was one of the first and most influential works to be adopted by the up-and-coming Spiritualist movement. So how did this incredibly talented, incredibly famous woman …

19th century / England / Europe / First woman to... / Ghosts / Halloween Specials / Philosophy / Religion / Scotland / Special Episodes / True Crime / Writers

THE ANCHORITE Julian of Norwich

She lived through the worst century in human history: the Black Death, famine, war, death and despair. So it was all the more surprising when Julian of Norwich rose from her deathbed saying she’d received a vision from God: All shall be well. How could that be true when the whole world seems to be falling apart? Travel with us to 14th century England, to visit famed mystic Julian of Norwich. I know it sounds …

14th century / 15th century / England / Europe / Philosophy / Religion / Writers

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 EQUESTRIAN Anna Sewell

“This was one woman with a very little life, who made the most enormous difference.” Celia Brayfield shares with Katie the story of Anna Sewell who, on her death bed, wrote a story and changed the world.  Black Beauty was no mere “horse book.” It catapulted the cause of animal rights and became one of the bestselling books of all time. But Anna Sewell – a quiet, humble Quaker – didn’t change the world by …

19th century / Activists / England / Europe / Religion / Writers

THE QUEEN OF HAITI Marie-Louise Christophe

Say you join a revolution in the name of liberty and equality – then someone hands you a crown. Could you do more good with that power? Or will everything fall apart? Come with us to Haiti and across Europe in the twisty-turny tale of the Queen of Haiti, Marie-Louise Christophe. Katie’s guest is Vanessa Riley, author of Queen of Exiles.   To learn more about the sound recordings by anthropologist Alan Lomax, check out …

19th century / Black history / England / Europe / Government / Haiti / North America / Politics / Religion / Revolution / Travel / War

THE PIRATE QUEEN OF CONNACHT Grace O’Malley

Her story was long consigned to legend and fantasy. An Irish pirate queen who commanded a fleet of ships from Spain to Scotland… in the 1500s?! Not likely. But in the 1990s, historian Anne Chambers found a trove of documents in a dusty old chest at Westport House, and the tales of Grace O’Malley were proven to be marvelously, fantastically, true. Join Katie on location at Westport House in Ireland for a swashbuckling tale like …

16th century / England / Europe / Ireland / on-location / Pirates / Travel

A COUNTRY HOUSE CHRISTMAS Phyllis Sandeman: 2022 Christmas Special

The darkest time of year inspires us all to reflect on the meaning and power of Home. Experience Christmas in a grand country house through the eyes of an Edwardian child in this charming reading of Phyllis Elinor Sandeman’s memoir, A Country House Christmas. Performed by returning favorite guest Jay Stelling. For a “virtual visit” to Sandeman’s home, explore this fun collection of artifacts from Lyme Park at the National Trust.   Jay Stelling is …

20th century / Artists / Christmas Specials / England / Europe / Food / Special Episodes / Writers

THE NURSE Mary Seacole

What would it look like to live a life without fear? Mary Seacole’s story may hold the answer! She spent her life rushing from one catastrophe to the next, doing anything she could to ease human suffering without a single thought for her own safety. From disease-infested Panamanian goldmines to the horrific battlefield hospitals of Crimea, Mary spent her life being “relentlessly useful” …but how on earth did she do it? Olivia interviews historian Helen …

19th century / Black history / Central America / England / Europe / Food / Jamaica / Medicine / Military / North America / Panama / Russia / Travel / Ukraine / War