Kickass Women of History

The Angel Makers of Nagyrév - possibly the most extraordinary murder ring of the 20th Century. Amy is joined by journalist Patti McCraken to dive into this complex and morally-grey tale of death in an isolated and impoverished Hungarian village. Who was Aunie Suzy? What power did she have over the residents of Nagyrév? Was she a hero or the head of a conspiracy to murder possibly hundreds of men?...

Did you know that all modern gynaecology practice is based on the experiments of one doctor, J. Marion Sims, in the 1840s? His patients... enslaved women who could not consent. This week, Amy is joined by Katja Holtz from the Vagina Museum to try and unpack these women's stories. Who were they? How much do we know about these women who were denied a voice, both in their medical care and in the...

Hope Bourne, the self-sufficient artist and writer, lived "off-grid" on Exmoor, long before the phrase was even coined. This week Amy is joined by journalist and writer Sara Hudston to explore Bourne's fiercely independent life. Together, they delve into Bourne’s profound connection to the land, her strikingly candid diaries, and her unconventional choices that defied the expectation...

In this episode, Amy explores the life and legacy of Kathleen Carpenter, a pioneering ecologist often hailed as one of the founding figures of freshwater biology. Joined by special guests Dr Catherine Duigan and Dr Daniel Mills from Aberystwyth University, Amy learns about Carpenter’s ground-breaking research across the UK and USA, her passion for river ecosystems, and the barriers she faced as a...

Sydney Owenson's best known novel, "The Wild Irish Girl". kicked off a merchandising revolution in the 1800s. Dr Devoney Looser from Arizona State University, tells Amy about Owenson's childhood as the daughter of a comic actor, her rise to literary fame, her married life as Lady Morgan, and her legacy as a proto-feminist. Lord Byron, Percy Shelley, and Jane Austen all wrote abou...

Step right up for an unforgettable ride into the high-flying, death-defying world of Tiny Kline. This week, Amy is joined by guest historian Jennifer Cronk from Circus World in Wisconsin to uncover the incredible story of this fearless trailblazer. From her childhood in Hungary to becoming one of the most electrifying women in showbiz, learn how Tiny's "Iron Jaw" stunts had the world...

"Her name was Lola, she was a showgirl..." Wherever Eliza Gilbert went, scandal followed. Best known under her stage name of "Lola Montez", she danced for miners in Australia, bull-whipped a journalist in the street, and once poured soup over a dinner guest of Franz Liszt. This week, Amy is joined by Irish historian Sharon Slater, to explore the life of a woman who brought the...

In this episode, Amy delves into the glittering world of Gilded Age portraiture with a spotlight on the remarkable miniaturist Amalia Kussner. Joining us is historian Kathleen Langone, whose new biography The Miniature Painter Revealed uncovers long-lost details of Kussner’s life and work—drawing from not only meticulous research, but also a personal family connection to the artist herself. Togeth...

Did you know that in 1793, the must-have fashion accessory for ladies in London was a pregnancy bump? Dr Isabel Davis of the Natural History Museum joins Amy to look as this unusual trend and explore why women wanted to appear pregnant, how they styled their bumps, and what all this meant regarding women's bodily autonomy.

Thousands of books have been written about the rich and elite of the Roman Empire, but what about everyone else? Dr Karen Eva Carr, Associate Professor (Emerita) in the Department of History at Portland State University, joins Amy to discuss the life of Tapontos, an enslaved woman living in Roman Egypt. What would life have been like for Tapontos? Why are the contributions of working women to the...

Rahel Szalit was a talented illustrator and artist whose work has been almost entirely lost. Being a Jewish woman living in Europe in the first half of the Twentieth Century meant that she faced significant adversity. However, today's guest, Dr Kerry Wallach from Gettysburg College, is fighting to make sure that she isn't forgotten. Like Agent Zo, she was born in Poland when it was part of...

Twenty years after America abolished slavery, Lucy was born black and trans in Jim Crow-era Kentucky. She grew up to be a chef and a socialite, hosting the best parties in Oxnard, California. Alongside her successful catering business, she owned speakeasies and brothels. She may not always have been on the right side of the law, but she was definitely a kickass woman. Learn about her rise to the t...

Forget Bond. Forget Bourne. Today's episode focuses on real-life spy, Rose Valland. Amy is joined by Michelle Young, author of "The Art Spy" to discuss how Rose used her position at the Jeu de Paume Museum in Paris to keep tabs on Nazi art thieves, and her post-war quest to bring stolen paintings back to France.

This week, Amy is joined by journalist Michele C Hollow to discuss the life of 19th Century fossil hunter, Mary Anning. Learn about the dangers of the Lyme Regis cliffs, her beloved dog Trey, and what happened when lightening struck.

This week we're celebrating the legacy of the Chainmakers of Cradley Heath, who put down their tools in protest at the exploitative practices of the UK manufacturers. Amy is joined by Jenny and Gigi Ermoyenous, and Lucy Atherton from the Friends of the Women Chainmakers to explore what led to the strike, who the key figures were, and why this small town in the Black Country became the focus of...

The British town of Bedford may seem like an unlikely spot for the Garden of Eden, but members of the Panacea Society really believed it was. This week, Amy is joined by Zara Matthews, Director of the Panacea Museum, to discuss the life of Mabel Barltrop aka Octavia. How did an Anglican vicar's widow go on to found a matriarchal religious sect based on the prophecies of Joanna Southcott? What...

Evil seductress taking advantage of the king, or a young widow in an impossible situation? Guest Gemma Hollman talks with Amy about Alice Perrers, mistress of Edward III. Often depicted by historians as manipulative and cruel, is there any actual evidence of this? Or has she been misrepresented for centuries?

For the 80th Anniversary of VE Day, Amy is joined by historian Clare Mulley to discuss Elżbieta Zawacka, better known as Agent Zo, who served as a spy and resistance fighter for Poland during WW2. They discuss Elżbieta's childhood in an area which was then part of the Prussian Empire, Poland's brief freedom, and how she risked her life throughout the German occupation... and beyond! "...

Caroline Norton, born into the famous Sheridan theatrical family, was a respected poet and society hostess. Falsely accused of having an affair with British Prime Minister, Lord Melbourne, Caroline's marriage crumbled. This week, Dr Katherine Hobbs talks us through Caroline's fight for access to her children, her earnings, and her freedom.

Natalia Kobrynska was a 19th Century writer and feminist, who advocated for women's access to education and literature as a path to equality. To discuss her life, Amy is joined by Dasha Nepochatova, founder of Creative Women Publishing - a feminist publishing house which is continuing to publish in Ukraine through the current invasion. Dasha is currently studying for her doctorate at the Unive...

This week, Amy is joined by Els Flour from the Archive and Research Centre for Women's History (AVG Carhif) in Brussels to discuss the work of the 1970s women's collective, La Maison des Femmes. What challenges did they face in supporting the women of Belgium? And how did they overcome them? More information about the Research Centre can be found here: https://avg-carhif.be/en/accueil-engl...

This week's episode is full of blood, bones and brains. Amy and Emma talk with Cat Irving, Human Remains Conservator for Surgeons' Hall in Edinburgh, about the life of 18th Century anatomist and artist, Anna Morandi Manzolini.

In 1968, archaeologists in Finland excavated an unusual grave. The individual had been buried approximately 1000 years ago, with a selection of jewellery, a sickle, and two swords. Who were they? Amy chats with Owen Hurcum from the University of York about gender identity in the past and the evolving field of trans-archaeology.

Forget Xena. Dr Ashley E Remer, Founder and "Head Girl" of the Girl Museum joins Amy and Emma to share the stories of two very different girls who led armies and changed the world: Lady Trieu, from 3rd Century Vietnam Caterina Sforza from 15th Century Italy They lived very different lives, but with many parallels. Tune in and learn more.

This week, Amy and Emma learn about Avodotya Panaeva, a 19th Century Russian writer and editor who challenged established ideas of women's roles in the home and workplace. Learn about her extraordinary life and why her works haven't received the international acclaim of her male contemporaries. With Dr Margarita Vaysman, of the University of Oxford, and Fiona Bell, PhD student at Yale Univ...