Category: Special Episodes

THE ANCESTORS Mother’s Day Special

What’sHerName presents our very first Mother’s Day Special! Come “meet the ancestors” as six What’sHerName listeners introduce some truly remarkable women from their own family history! From Ukraine to Japan, Uzbekistan to Mexico, we’re traveling around the world, and through 275 years, to discover these amazing ancestors in this special double episode. Our guests are What’sHerName listeners Irit Namatinya, Susan Stone, Lisa Williamson, Adrienne, Sachiko Burton, and Michelle Thorley. Rosalia and her daughter Sophia survived …

18th century / 19th century / 20th century / 21st century / Artists / Asia / China / Dancers / Europe / Indigenous Peoples / Iran / Israel / Japan / Mexico / Military / North America / Religion / Russia / Scotland / Special Episodes / Syria / Travel / Ukraine / United States / Uzbekistan / War

WHITE HOUSE HOLIDAY Mary Donelson Wilcox: 2019 Christmas Special

Late in life, Mary Donelson Wilcox recalled a magical childhood Christmas she spent at the White House with her elderly uncle, President Andrew Jackson. Her captivating memoirs paint a picture of a surprisingly global White House, with servants from around the world, and a surprisingly warm and playful President Jackson. Mary offers us a rare glimpse at Christmas in the early 19th century–when stockings, Santa Claus, and focusing the holiday on children were all delightfully …

19th century / Christmas Specials / Government / North America / Politics / Special Episodes / United States

THE WITCH Mother Shipton

It was a dark and stormy night, many centuries ago. In a cave on the edge of a haunted wood, a monstrous baby was born, and instead of crying, she cackled! No one would have expected the baby to thrive, but she grew to become Mother Shipton, England’s most famous witch. Hear the amazing story of the deformed, friendless child who took on the most powerful men in the kingdom, and won! Travel with us …

15th century / 16th century / England / Europe / Halloween Specials / Religion / Special Episodes / Transcripts / Witches

THE CHRISTMAS SPECIAL 2018 Ursula Bloom

Ursula Bloom wrote over 560 books, earning her a place in the Guinness Book of World Records as the world’s most prolific female writer. Born in 1892, Ursula spent her early years in Shropshire, England, the daughter of a clergyman. Her memories of childhood Christmases at the turn of the 20th century were published many decades ago in a local periodical, Warwickshire and Worcestershire Life. What’sHerName is pleased to revive Ursula Bloom’s charming memoirs of …

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

WITCHES & MEDIUMS & GHOSTS, OH MY! 2018 Halloween Special

The Pendle Witches – Pearl DeVere – Bess Houdini – Lily Cove Our very first Halloween Special brings back four of our most popular guests with four new stories of hauntings, mysterious deaths, witch hunts, and seances, to bring you many spooky returns of the season! The Pendle Witches: In 1612, ten people were hanged as witches in Lancashire, England, sentenced to death because of the testimony of a 9 year old girl. The eight …

17th century / 19th century / 20th century / Athletes / England / Europe / Ghosts / Halloween Specials / Madams / North America / Performers / Religion / Special Episodes / Theater / United States / Witches