The Wyf Who

Halloween Special 2020: The Blood Countess!

In our Halloween Special we talk about the 16th century woman who is in the Guinness Book of Records as having the record for being the most prolific murderer in human history... a gruesome tale set in Transylvania.  Was Elizabeth Bathory the original FEMALE Dracula??  Or was it all just a politically-motivated smear campaign?  You decide...

Episode 15 - A Native American Duet

This week we learn about two Native American women: badass gender-bending "Sitting in the Water Grizzly" Kaúxuma Núpika, followed by the real life story behind the famous (in the US, at least!) Sacajawea / Sacagawea.

Episode 14 - Around the World in 80 days (72 in fact!): Nellie Bly

Nellie Bly: the world-famous female investigative journalist who in 1889 set off to become the FIRST PERSON to travel round the world in 80 days (in just 72 days in fact) - alone and with only a handful of items she could carry.  Adventurer, writer, even an inventor - this woman is a real inspiration to all young adventurers!

Episode 13 - The wyf who... led a Greek naval rebellion: Laskarina Bouboulina

Laskarina Bouboulina is this week's heroine: a Greek wyf born in 1771 who led a revolt on the high seas against the Ottoman Empire - and with a shocking twist too.  This week's episode includes official pronunciation from our friend and Greek ambassador Vicky (thank you Vicky!)

Episode 12 - Jeanne Baret: the wyf who... was the first woman to circumnavigate the globe

Did you spot this recent Google Doodle? We'd just recorded our episode before it appeared to celebrate her 280th birthday! Introducing the indefatigable Jeanne Baret: expert botanist and the first woman to circumnavigate the globe and WHAT a life story...

Episode 11 - Swordwomanship, escapades & opera: Julie D'Aubigny

The wyf who... was a real life Arya Stark?  Julie D'Aubigny kicked a lot of male butt in her lifetime and found herself on the wrong side of the law several times in her various adventures in duelling, love affairs and the opera.  She truly was a passionate, fiesty wyf and we loved learning about her!

Episode 10 - The Bold Pharoah Queen of Ancient Egypt: Hatshepsut

Was she power crazed or just a strong leader??  Join us as we learn about the obsessively prolific Hatshepsut, the Kim Kardashian of Ancient Egypt who ruled the social media of her day!  Including a number of Game of Thrones style intrigues, we investigate the bizarrely tight knit dynasty in the world's most powerful civilization during the Egyptian empire's peak. 

Episode 09 - Heroines for China: Glayds Aylward & Pearl Buck

Two women, a Nobel prize and a Hollywood movie... this episode we celebrate two amazing women who fought for Chinese people suffering in the floods, famines and wars of 1930s China at a time when the western world wasn't doing enough to help.  Their top-tier humanitarian contributions gave a voice to the Chinese people and their sufferings.

Episode 08 - Founding Mother of Feminism: Mary Wollstonecraft

This week we explore the life of the wyf who... was a "founding mother of feminism" as well as the mother of famous author Mary Shelley - but did you know her life story took some incredible twists and turns, including  a treasure hunt to Scandinavia and multiple suicide attempts?  In this episode, we explore the surprising life story of Mary Wollstonecraft.

Episode 07 - Josephine Baker and her incredible life story

Josephine Baker is a Black icon celebrated on 20th May every year on Josephine Baker Day, created during her lifetime.  Her life story is astonishing: she became famous as the woman who danced semi-naked in a banana skirt, but fought for Black rights so hard she toppled segregation in music venues and was honoured as the only woman asked to give a speech at the iconic 1963 civil rights march on Washington.  We love picturing her sitting on the podium next to MLK in her French air force uniform.  A true heroine <3

Episode 06 - The wyf who... was pivotal in creating the BBC but was then written out of history?

This episode we explore the pioneering woman who played a pivotal role in creating the BBC we know today: the BBC's first ever Director of Talks, Hilda Matheson.  But why does she seem to have been forgotten, even by the BBC themselves?  Join us to find out more.

Episode 05 - Warrior Tornadoes of Justice!

In this action-packed episode, we're lucky enough to hear about a hat trick of wyves from Ancient times, including a medical heroine, an ancient Empress and our favourite - the Warrior Tornadoes of Justice!

SPECIAL EPISODE - The wyf who... discovered & named coronavirus: Dr June Almeida

A Coronavirus Special in which we celebrate the life story of Dr June Almeida: the woman who was the first person to identify a new virus under her microscope and call it "coronavirus".  Join us in learning about this Scottish heroine, a scientist from Glasgow who was almost forgotten by the public until now.

Episode 04 - The wyf who... was "Queen of the Desert" and formed modern day Iraq

Known as "Gertrude of Arabia", "Queen of the Desert", it's been said that Lawrence of Arabia should have been known as "the female Gertrude Bell"!  We explore Gertrude's amazing life story and how she ultimately brought modern day Iraq into existence following the world war.

Episode 03 - The wyf who... took revenge through art

This eminent artist was a contemporary of our episode 1 heroine and they may even have met... join us as we learn about Artemesia Gentileschi, the Italian artist who took the power back through her art.

Episode 02 - The wyf who... paved the way for modern computing

We delve into the life of Ada Lovelace, the maths genius who achieved so much there's now an annual Ada Lovelace Day to celebrate women in maths and technology.

Episode 01 - The Wyf Who... wrote the first sci-fi story (extended episode)

In this extended introductory episode, Caroline and Louise explore of the life of Margaret Cavendish: writer, philosopher, scientist and trailblazer of the 1600s.