Episodes

  • Nancy Astor, First Woman in Parliament (ep. 16.16)

    Nancy Astor, First Woman in Parliament (ep. 16.16)
    Jun 18 2026
    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. But when her husband couldn't stand for election after all, the Conservative party needed a quick substitute. Who better than his wife? And she stayed for years. Visit the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (herhalfofhistory.com) for sources, transcripts, and pictures. Sign up for the newsletter On This Day in Women's History, available on ⁠Patreon⁠ or ⁠Substack⁠. There are free options in both places. This show survives on the support of listeners like you. Support the show on my ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon page⁠⁠⁠⁠ (https://www.patreon.com/user?u=83998235) for ad-free episodes, bonus episodes, and polls. Or make a one-time donation on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Buy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Me a Coffee⁠⁠⁠. Your support helps me keep bring the stories of past women into the present. Join ⁠⁠⁠⁠Into History⁠⁠⁠⁠ for a community of ad-free history podcasts plus bonus content. Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠Evergreen Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠ to listen to more great shows. Follow me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠⁠ as Her Half of History. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    28 mins
  • On This Day in 1509: Catherine of Aragon Marries Henry VIII

    On This Day in 1509: Catherine of Aragon Marries Henry VIII
    Jun 11 2026
    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 first. No one guessed how many weddings he had in his future... There are two ways to sign up for the newsletter: ⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (https://www.patreon.com/user?u=83998235) ⁠Substack ⁠(https://bit.ly/4wpOe5h) Either way, the story about the historical woman is free, along with news about the podcast, and a place to share your recommendations for historical books, movies, shows, etc. If you sign up as a subscriber, you're also helping me keep this show going, and I'll send you bonus content each week as a thank you. Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠Evergreen Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠ to listen to more great shows. Follow me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠⁠ as Her Half of History. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    7 mins
  • Jeannette Rankin, First Woman in Congress (ep. 16.15)

    Jeannette Rankin, First Woman in Congress (ep. 16.15)
    Jun 4 2026
    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 of Montana in 1916 and again in 1940. She was also firm in her pacifist convictions: she was one of 40 Representatives to vote no on entering World War I and she was absolutely alone in voting no on entering World War II. Visit the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (herhalfofhistory.com) for sources, transcripts, and pictures. Sign up for the newsletter On This Day in Women's History, available on ⁠Patreon⁠ or ⁠Substack⁠. There are free options in both places. This show survives on the support of listeners like you. Support the show on my ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon page⁠⁠⁠⁠ (https://www.patreon.com/user?u=83998235) for ad-free episodes, bonus episodes, and polls. Or make a one-time donation on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Buy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Me a Coffee⁠⁠⁠. Your support helps me keep bring the stories of past women into the present. Join ⁠⁠⁠⁠Into History⁠⁠⁠⁠ for a community of ad-free history podcasts plus bonus content. Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠Evergreen Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠ to listen to more great shows. Follow me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠⁠ as Her Half of History. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    26 mins
  • Olympic Champions: The First Women (ep. 16.14)

    Olympic Champions: The First Women (ep. 16.14)
    May 28 2026
    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 Heraean games. The modern Olympics made a half-hearted attempt to ban women too, but we snuck in as early as the year 1900. Helen de Pourtales, Charlotte Cooper, and Margaret Abbott were athletes who won that year. It has only grown since then. Visit the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (herhalfofhistory.com) for sources, transcripts, and pictures. Sign up for the newsletter On This Day in Women's History, available on ⁠Patreon⁠ or ⁠Substack⁠. There are free options in both places. This show survives on the support of listeners like you. Support the show on my ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon page⁠⁠⁠⁠ (https://www.patreon.com/user?u=83998235) for ad-free episodes, bonus episodes, and polls. Or make a one-time donation on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Buy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Me a Coffee⁠⁠⁠. Your support helps me keep bring the stories of past women into the present. Join ⁠⁠⁠⁠Into History⁠⁠⁠⁠ for a community of ad-free history podcasts plus bonus content. Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠Evergreen Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠ to listen to more great shows. Follow me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠⁠ as Her Half of History. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    18 mins
  • Marie Curie, First Woman to Win a Nobel Prize (ep. 16.13)

    Marie Curie, First Woman to Win a Nobel Prize (ep. 16.13)
    May 21 2026
    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. She continues to inspire women in science even today. Visit the ⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠ (herhalfofhistory.com) for sources, transcripts, and pictures. Sign up for the newsletter On This Day in Women's History, available on Patreon or Substack. There are free options in both places. This show survives on the support of listeners like you. Support the show on my ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon page⁠⁠⁠ (https://www.patreon.com/user?u=83998235) for ad-free episodes, bonus episodes, and polls. Or make a one-time donation on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Buy⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Me a Coffee⁠⁠. Your support helps me keep bring the stories of past women into the present. Join ⁠⁠⁠Into History⁠⁠⁠ for a community of ad-free history podcasts plus bonus content. Visit ⁠⁠⁠Evergreen Podcasts⁠⁠⁠ to listen to more great shows. Follow me on ⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠ as Her Half of History. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    27 mins
  • On This Day in 1643: Anne of Austria Takes France

    On This Day in 1643: Anne of Austria Takes France
    May 14 2026
    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, such as: On May 14, 1643, Anne of Austria took control of France after her husband's death, even though his will forbade exactly that. Listen to find out how. There are two ways to sign up for the newsletter: Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠ (https://www.patreon.com/user?u=83998235) Substack (https://bit.ly/4wpOe5h) Either way, the story about the historical woman is free, along with news about the podcast, and a place to share your recommendations for historical books, movies, shows, etc. If you sign up as a subscriber, you're also helping me keep this show going, and I'll send you bonus content each week as a thank you. Visit the ⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠ (herhalfofhistory.com) for sources, transcripts, and pictures. This show survives on the support of listeners like you. Support the show on my ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon page⁠⁠⁠ (https://www.patreon.com/user?u=83998235) for ad-free episodes, bonus episodes, and polls. Or make a one-time donation on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Buy⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Me a Coffee⁠⁠. Your support helps me keep bring the stories of past women into the present. Join ⁠⁠⁠Into History⁠⁠⁠ for a community of ad-free history podcasts plus bonus content. Visit ⁠⁠⁠Evergreen Podcasts⁠⁠⁠ to listen to more great shows. Follow me on ⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠ as Her Half of History. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    5 mins
  • Madam CJ Walker, First Female Self-Made Millionaire (ep. 16.12)

    Madam CJ Walker, First Female Self-Made Millionaire (ep. 16.12)
    May 7 2026
    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 records about how much. Madam CJ Walker is different. She made a lot of money, we know exactly how much, and she didn’t inherit any of it. Visit the ⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠ (herhalfofhistory.com) for sources, transcripts, and pictures. This show survives on the support of listeners like you. Support the show on my ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon page⁠⁠⁠ (https://www.patreon.com/user?u=83998235) for ad-free episodes, bonus episodes, and polls. Or make a one-time donation on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Buy⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Me a Coffee⁠⁠. Your support helps me keep bring the stories of past women into the present. Join ⁠⁠⁠Into History⁠⁠⁠ for a community of ad-free history podcasts plus bonus content. Visit ⁠⁠⁠Evergreen Podcasts⁠⁠⁠ to listen to more great shows. Follow me on ⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠ as Her Half of History. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    27 mins
  • Ada Lovelace, First Computer Programmer (ep. 16.11)

    Ada Lovelace, First Computer Programmer (ep. 16.11)
    Apr 30 2026
    Ada Lovelace wrote the world's first computer program before computers existed. Her friend, Charles Babbage, was inventing an Analytical Thinking Machine, even if he all he had at the moment was a small demo model. Ada thought through what such a machine could do for humanity. Her ideas were grand and far-reaching, and in one case, extremely detailed: she published a paper on exactly how to use such a machine to calculate Bernoulli numbers. But few would recognize her work as groundbreaking until a century later when a real thinking machine (i.e., a computer) needed to be programmed in exactly that way. Visit the ⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠ (herhalfofhistory.com) for sources, transcripts, and pictures. This show survives on the support of listeners like you. Support the show on my ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon page⁠⁠⁠ (https://www.patreon.com/user?u=83998235) for ad-free episodes, bonus episodes, and polls. Or make a one-time donation on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Buy⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Me a Coffee⁠⁠. Your support helps me keep bring the stories of past women into the present. Join ⁠⁠⁠Into History⁠⁠⁠ for a community of ad-free history podcasts plus bonus content. Visit ⁠⁠⁠Evergreen Podcasts⁠⁠⁠ to listen to more great shows. Follow me on ⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠ as Her Half of History. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    26 mins