132 episodes

What’sHerName puts the women back into world history. Hosts (and sisters!) Olivia Meikle and Dr. Katie Nelson are professors by day, podcasters by night. Weaving interviews with experts into vivid, nuanced biographies, What'sHerName tells the stories of fascinating women you’ve never heard of (but should have). Fascinating and funny, thought-provoking and insightful. New episodes biweekly Wednesdays.

What'sHerName Dr. Katie Nelson and Olivia Meikle

    • History
    • 4.8 • 413 Ratings

What’sHerName puts the women back into world history. Hosts (and sisters!) Olivia Meikle and Dr. Katie Nelson are professors by day, podcasters by night. Weaving interviews with experts into vivid, nuanced biographies, What'sHerName tells the stories of fascinating women you’ve never heard of (but should have). Fascinating and funny, thought-provoking and insightful. New episodes biweekly Wednesdays.

    THE VOYAGER Hannah Masury Howe

    THE VOYAGER Hannah Masury Howe

    In 1867, a ship bound for California with 400 Chinese passengers signaled distress as it drifted in the Pacific Ocean. The ship's captain was a woman, and her mutinous crew had refused to sail the ship even though they were running out of water. How did Captain Hannah Masury Howe come to be in such a predicament, and how could she possibly save herself and the ship?
    Our guest is NYT bestselling author Katherine Howe, in this real-life high seas adventure.
    Music featured in this episode by provided by: Violeta del Carmen Parra Sandoval, Jeff Cuno, Elphnt, Emmit Fenn, Jesse Gallagher, Chris Haugen, Kevin MacLeod and Doug Maxwell.
    Want to help us “make history”? Become a Patron or Donate here!
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    • 51 min
    THE SOLID CITIZEN Frances Perkins

    THE SOLID CITIZEN Frances Perkins

    Frances Perkins, first female cabinet secretary in US history, was the mind (and the will) behind nearly every landmark policy of the Roosevelt administration's New Deal - so why doesn't anyone know her name? Bestselling author Stephanie Dray introduces us to this remarkable woman whose vision and relentless hard work would touch the life of every American for nearly a century.
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    • 59 min
    THE EQUESTRIAN Anna Sewell

    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 preaching: she changed the world by listening.
    You can find Celia Brayfield's new book, Writing Black Beauty, in our bookshop and support local indie sellers.
    Excerpts from Black Beauty were read by Cori Samuel and the whole book is free to download at Librivox.org.
    Music for this episode was composed and performed by: The Mini Vandals, Asher Fulero, Aakash Gandhi, Kevin MacLeod, Josef Suk, and Esther Abrami.
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    • 1 hr
    THE GUNG-HO ORIGINAL Helen Foster Snow

    THE GUNG-HO ORIGINAL Helen Foster Snow

    In 1931, a young American aspiring writer set off for what she thought would be a one-year adventure in China. Hoping to gain life experience so she could eventually write the Great American Novel - she would instead become famous as the "Voice of China" to the west, and improve the lives of millions of people in the process. Olivia talks with Helen Foster Snow's great-nephew Adam Foster and her friend and translator Professor An Wei in this unexpected and inspiring episode.
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    • 1 hr
    CHRISTMAS IN SWEDEN Selma Lagerlöf

    CHRISTMAS IN SWEDEN Selma Lagerlöf

    Selma Lagerlöf poetically recorded old Norse fairytales and profoundly influenced Swedish identity. Her work was so brilliant, she was the first woman to win the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1909. In old age, she turned her poetic pen to her own life, recalling winters in the 1860s at her beloved Varmland farmhouse, Mårbaka.
    For our annual Christmas Special, we bring her poignant memoirs to life, accompanied by an audio feast of traditional Swedish music. God Jul!

    Music featured in this episode was generously shared by Blås, Balg & Tagel, Haga Vokalensemble, MrsBean 1987, Kevin MacLeod, Aaron Kenny, DJ Williams, The Westerlies, and Wayne Jones.
    You can find a digital copy of Mårbaka and all Selma Lagerlöf's books at Gutenberg Project.
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    • 1 hr
    THE WILD CHILD Alice Roosevelt

    THE WILD CHILD Alice Roosevelt

    When Alice Roosevelt's dad became President of the United States, her family became the center of attention for the entire country (and the world) - and that was just how she liked it. Whether smoking on the White House roof, racing her bright red motorcar through the streets of Washington DC, or wearing her snake Emily Spinach as jewelry while attending Congressional Balls - Alice scandalized her parents and delighted the nation. But that was just the beginning.
    Olivia interviews Shelley Fraser Mickle, author of the new book White House Wild Child: How Alice Roosevelt Broke All the Rules and Won the Heart of America.
    Music for this episode provided by Amanda Setlik Wilson, Aaron Kenny, The New Hot 5, Peak Duo, Victor Dance Orchestra, Esther Abrami, The Melody Weavers and the US Marine Corps Band.
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    • 1 hr 2 min

Customer Reviews

4.8 out of 5
413 Ratings

413 Ratings

Me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!😝😜 ,

Beautifully researched, written, and presented

I found this podcast a few years ago while looking for stories about powerful women. Katie and Olivia have a way of telling stories about women I would’ve never known existed.

As women so often we only hear mens stories, as theirs were the only ones deemed worthy to be remembered historically. Getting to learn about powerful and influential women through such a fantastically researched and presented story telling is amazing!! I always feel so connected to the women who came before me.

Thank you Katie and Olivia!

Akela263 ,

Fantastic and informative

Keep up the great work and don’t listen to the snowflakes….

Sheebaelaine ,

Learning so much!

This is just the girl power podcast the world needed. I’ve learned so much about so many amazing women in just a few weeks (newbie). Anytime I come across a historical woman I want to learn about I always check to see if WHN has an episode on her. 10/10 would recommend! Also fun to listen while playing civilization 👀

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