The Exploress
Join us as we time travel through women's history, one era at a time. We'll explore the lived experiences and everyday lives of historical ladies, both famous and obscure, from a variety of different time periods, countries, and cultures. Let's go traveling.
Episodes
Empress Börte and Life for Women in the Mongol Empire
Genghis (or Chinggis) Khan is pretty famous for building the largest contiguous land empire the world has ever seen. But he couldn't have done it with his wife, Börte. She was his advisor in all things, bore him MANY children, and ran their expansive horde while he was away. Empress Börte was the Mongols's chief manager, organising seasonal migrations, dealing with herders, and holding meetings wi
Giving Cleopatra Voice with Natasha Solomons
In this episode of the Exploress Book Club, Natasha Solomons and I explore her new book I Am Cleopatra and the complexities of bringing Cleopatra's character to life on the page. Natasha discusses her inspiration for writing about Cleopatra, the challenges of researching a historical figure often viewed through a male-dominated lens, and the importance of portraying women's voices in history. We t
Empress Cleopatra of Ancient Egypt
In this series, we're time traveling back to past empires to meet some of the woman who ran them. This time, we're revisiting a ruling lady we've met before: the mighty Cleopatra of ancient Egypt's Ptolemaic Empire. This isn't just a re-release, though: I've re-recorded the three-part original series, giving it a 2026 glow-up, and smushed it into one big glitter bomb of goodness. Join me as we exp
Empress Theodora & Life for Women in the Byzantine Empire
In this series, we're time traveling back to past empires to meet some of the woman who helped run them. Let's link up with Empress Theodora, who's going to walk us through her Byzantine (aka Eastern Roman) Empire. We'll see her rise from a fairly humble, and sometimes scandalous, background as an actress and courtesan to become the most powerful woman in Constantinople. After she marries Justinia
Empress Taytu Betul & Life for Women in 19th-century Ethiopia
In this series, we're time traveling back to past empires to meet some of the woman who helped run them. Allow me to introduce you to Empress Taytu Betul, who wasn't afraid to storm battlefields, boss around her emperor husband, and tell certain colonial powers to go on home. Let's walk with Taytu on her extraordinary journey and find out what life was like for women during her reign. Ways to su
Women Who Ruled the World with Elizabeth Norton
Dr. Elizabeth Norton has returned! This time, she's taking us out of the Tudor period to take a more global look at queenship. Her new book 'When Women Ruled the World: 500 Years of Female Monarchy' explores the history of female monarchs across time and cultures. We dive into the challenges faced by women in power, the male relative problem, and some of the obstacles to their reigns. We'll meet B
The Voodoo Queen of New Orleans, Marie Laveau
There is a woman in the Old Quarter who can give you the world for a price. They say her followers gather deep in the bayou after dark. Some say she's got the governor in her pocket. Others say she eats babies, and that she learned her magic in the depths of the African jungle. They say her potions can heal you, and that her charms can kill you. How much of it is true? In this year's Halloween spe
Women's Medicine in the 19th Century (with a side of spice) with Adriana Herrera
Season 6, Episode 13. Welcome back to Exploress Book Club! Join me and Adriana Herrera, author of the historical romance novel A Tropical Rebel Gets the Duke, as we time travel back to the 1890s Paris. Adriana will tell us all about putting women of color back into historical romance, women's medicine and reproductive rights in the 19th century, and the pioneering lady doctors who defied conventio
Empress Nur Jahan & Life for Women in Mughal India
Season 6, Episode 12. In this series, we're time traveling with three different empresses, exploring their reigns, their worlds, and what it might have been like to be them. First up, we're going to spend some time in the Mughal Empire of India to learn about the adventurous and powerful empress Nur Jahan. From tiger hunting in the Bengali wildness to court life in the imperial harem, this ruling
Empress Trailer
EMPRESS. The word comes from Old French, but its roots stretch back to the Latin imperium. It means a command; it means authority, it means power over a realm. But what does it mean, to be a woman with power over so many? What does it look like when an empire allows a woman to rule? In this series, we will travel with three different empresses, exploring their reigns, their worlds, and what it mig
Heroines of the Harlem Renaissance with Victoria Christopher Murray
Season 6, Episode 11. Welcome back to Exploress Book Club! Join me in talking to Victoria Christopher Murray, author of the historical fiction novel Harlem Rhapsody, as she talks about the unsung heroine of the 1920s Harlem Renaissance, Jessie Redmon Faucet. In this conversation, Victoria dives into what life was like for Black women in 1920s Harlem. She'll tell us more about the women of the Harl
A Lady's Life in the Viking Age, Part 5: Shield Maidens and Sorceresses
Season 6, Episode 10. In this series, we're exploring what life was like for women in the Viking (Norse) Age. In this episode, we're exploring one of our favorite Viking archetypes - the shield maiden, or shield maid. Were there really axe-weilding, braid rocking warriors who went on raids alongside the men? We'll examine the Norse myth about the Valkyries, then dive into what archaeologists have
A Lady's Life in the Viking Age, Part 4: Weavers, Traders, Raiders, and Slaves
Season 6, Episode 9. In this series, we're exploring what life was like for women in the Viking (Norse) Age. In this episode, we're going to talk about one of a lady's most involved and important tasks: weaving. The Viking Age wouldn't have been possible without the sails and clothes Norse ladies made. We'll also talk about the work women did in the realm of trade, learn a bit about the dreaded Vi
Lesbian Fashion History with Eleanor Medhurst
Season 6, Episode 8. Happy Pride Month! Join me and Eleanor Medhurst to discuss her book 'Unsuitable: A History of Lesbian Fashion,' which explores the intersection of fashion, identity, and politics within lesbian communities throughout history. We'll talk about historical figures like the slightly messy Queen Christina of Denmark and the queer-coded songs of 1920s jazz singer Ma Rainey. We'll al
The Wild Times of Julie D'Aubigny
Season 6, Episode 7. If you were living in Paris in the late 1600s and happened to pick up a newspaper, you might have read about the latest exploits of a beautiful and talented opera singer. She was famed for her many on-stage talents. But it was her behavior off-stage that made her notorious. And she wasn't one to shrink away from drama. As this queer woman, known for crossdressing, illegal duel
Ladies Who Sleuth in Regency England with Alison Goodman
Season 6, Episode 6. Welcome to Exploress Book Club! Join me in talking to Alison Goodman, author of The Benevolent Society of Ill-Mannered Ladies, as she tells us what life was really like for the ladies in Regency England. Alison has done a LOT of research into this period, and she has a lot to tell us about the agency (or lack thereof) of women during this period and the societal expectations t
1,001 Nights with Al-Khayzuran
Season 6, Episode 5. One Thousand and One Nights – the famed collection of stories in which the vizier's daughter, Scheherazade, agrees to wed a paranoid king who marries a new bride each night only to kill her in the morning. To delay her execution, Scheherazade starts to tell the king a different story every evening, but makes sure to leave it unfinished at sunrise so he'll keep her alive for an
A Lady's Life in the Viking Age, Part 3: The Daily Grind
Season 6, Episode 4. In this series, we're exploring what life was like for women in the Viking (Norse) Age. In this episode, we're going to spend a day with your average Norse woman. We'll find out everything from what we're sleeping on, what sorts of chores we're doing, what we're wearing and eating, what our houses are like, where we're going to the bathroom, and so much more. Our experts for t
A Lady's Life in the Viking Age, Part 2: Relationships, Marriage, and Power
Season 6, Episode 3. In this series, we're exploring what life was like for women in the Viking (Norse) Age. In this episode, we're going to find out more about what the Vikings looked for in their ladies: what traits did the ideal Norse woman possess, according to the Sagas? We'll also explore courtship and marriage: Norse runic love notes, fathers as marriage brokers, and some amorous adventures
A Lady's Life in the Viking Age, Part 1: Finding the Norse
Season 6, Episode 2. In this series, we're exploring what life was like for women in the Viking (Norse) Age. Let's start by talking about our sources: how do we know what we know about the Vikings? We'll explore our written sources, runes, and archeological material, as well as the biases male writers and scholars have brought to the study of women in this age. We'll find out who the Norse where -
A Lady's Life in the Viking Age: The Goddess Freyja
Season 6, Episode 1. In this series, we're going to explore what life was like for women in the Viking (Norse) Age. But first, let's meet Freyja, a powerful Nordic goddess, who will introduce us to the Viking religious pantheon. We'll hear some of her more famous stories and learn about her links to magic, fertility, sexuality, war, and death. She's quite the lady! CW: this one's clean in terms of
Love and War in Ancient Rome with Jenny Williamson
Season 6, Episode 1 - It's Exploress Book Club time! Join me for this excellent chat with Jenny Williamson, one half of the podcast Ancient History Fangirl, about her debut steamy ancient Roman romantasy novel, Enemy of My Dreams. We'll discuss her inspiration, how much of the true ancient past made it into her fictional novel, some of the real ancient Roman imperial women who inspired her, and w
Re-Release: Spiritualists & Mediums of 19th-Century America
Season 5, Episode 15. Hey listener! I'm currently on maternity leave, but to get us in the Halloween spirit, I'm re-releasing my first ever Halloween special about the 19th-century mediums who used their connection to the dead to find fame and fortune. But this isn't just an old episode repeating: I've remastered and re-recorded it to give it a 2024 glow up. The Exploress will be taking a break in
Re-Release: The History of Witch Hunts in Scotland and England
Season 5, Episode 14. Down, down, the Witches' Road... I'm currently off on maternity leave, but to get you in the mood for the spooky season I'm re-releasing what must be my most popular Halloween special to date. Between 1450 and 1750, some 100,000 Europeans were tried for witchcraft, and some of the most intense periods of witchy panic took place in Scotland and England. Most, but not all, of t
Forty Elephants: The All-Female Crime Gang of 1920s London
Season 5, Episode 13. Hey listener! I'm currently off on maternity leave, but I've decided to pull some special bonus episodes out of the Patreon vault during September for all my listeners to enjoy. This one's going to take us back to our season on the 1920s to meet the group of sticky-fingered bandits who became England's most notorious thieves. This episode is coming to you with the support of
Lady Pirates and Queen Elizabeth I's Golden Age of Piracy
Season 5, Episode 12. Today we'll learn how Queen Elizabeth I strategically defeated the Invincible Spanish Armada by allowing famous pirates like Sir Francis Drake and Sir Thomas Cavendish to take over the Royal Navy and fight on her behalf as "privateers." We'll also learn what life was like on a pirate ship in the Elizabethan age, why women were historically not allowed to be pirates, and how s
Announcement!
...see you on the other side, my friends. Have you ever thought about becoming a patron? They get all episodes early and ad-free, voting rights on content, behind the scenes stuff, AND up to two exclusive bonus episodes a month. I'll be posting episodes there throughout my maternity leave, so if you want more Exploress in your life, head on over! You can now try out being a patron with a 7-day fre
The FYREBIRDS Audiobook
I'm thrilled to bring you this extra-long audio sample of the FYREBIRDS audiobook: the Prologue and Chapter 1, narrated by the amazing Saskia Maarleveld. If you like what you hear, the unabridged audiobook is out now wherever audiobooks are sold. You can request it to stream digitally from your local library; if they don't have it in their collection, you can ask them to buy a copy, usually via th
Writing Magical Women and the Belle Epoque with author Ryan Graudin
Season 5, Episode 11. Guess what? My second novel, FYREBIRDS, hits shelves TODAY. How exciting! I'm celebrating by inviting one of my favorite authors to join us. Ryan Graudin is the award-winning novel of many books for young adults and children; her debut adult fantasy, THE ENCHANTED LIES OF CELESTE ARTOIS, comes out today. This novel, set in Belle Epoque Paris just before the First World War, i
NIGHTBIRDS: Let's Talk Spoilers
It's FYREBIRDS month on The Exploress! To celebrate the release of my second novel, and the conclusion of the NIGHTBIRDS series, I'm sharing an episode of my other podcast, Pub Dates, where I've been taking listeners behind the scenes on this series' creation. In this episode, I'm going to answer reader's burning questions about NIGHTBIRDS. Warning: there will be spoilers in here, so save this one
FYREBIRDS and the Women of 1920s Prohibition, Revisited
Season 5, Episode 9. It's FYREBIRDS month on The Exploress! I'm celebrating the release of my second novel, and the conclusion of the NIGHTBIRDS series, by revisiting an old episode from our season on the 1920s: the one where we talk about the women who skirted the Prohibition law. Make sure you listen through to the new epilogue, where I talk about all the ways I used my research on the 1920s as
Crude, Rude, and Setting the Mood: An Interview with Therese O'Neill
Season 5, Episode 8. It's interview time! Let's spend some time with the delightful Therese Oneill, author of such nonfiction gems as Unmentionable: A Victorian Lady's Guide to Sex, Marriage and Manners and her latest book Unbecoming a Lady: The Forgotten Shrews and Sluts that Shaped America. This isn't your average collection of biographies. These ladies weren't pretty, graceful, or quiet, and so
The History of the Bikini
Season 5, Episode 7. Today we'll be tracing the history of women's bathing suits from the 1700s to the 1960s. We'll look at how swimwear fashion evolved from the drab bathing gowns and modest bloomer suits to the sporty one piece swimsuit and the scandalous bikini. We'll learn how some old-timey swimsuits could literally kill you, or possibly just get you arrested, how swimming became an acceptabl
A Lady's Life in Tokugawa Japan, 4: Off to Battle with Samurai Warrior Women
Season 5, Episode 6. In this four-part series, we're time traveling back to Tokugawa Japan (1603-1868) to find out what life was like there for the ladies. If you've been binging Shogun lately, then this one's for you! For show notes, including a list of sources and some cool images, go to The Exploress website (If you're dying for a full transcript, you'll find it over on my Patreon.) In June, I
A Lady's Life in Tokugawa Japan, Part 3: Fashion & Fun with the Glamorous Geisha
Season 5, Episode 5. In this four-part series, we're time traveling back to Tokugawa Japan (1603-1868) to find out what life was like there for the ladies. If you've been binging Shogun lately, then this one's for you! For show notes, including a list of sources and some cool images, go to The Exploress website (If you're dying for a full transcript, you'll find it over on my Patreon.) In June, I
A Lady's Life in Tokugawa Japan, Part 2: Home, Duty, Marriage, and Tea
Season 5, Episode 4. In this four-part series, we're time traveling back to Tokugawa Japan (1603-1868) to find out what life was like there for the ladies. If you've been binging Shogun lately, then this one's for you! For show notes, including a list of sources and some cool images, go to The Exploress website (If you're dying for a full transcript, you'll find it over on my Patreon.) In June, I
A Lady's Life in Tokugawa Japan, Part 1: Welcome to the Edo Era
Season 5, Episode 3. In this four-part series, we're time traveling back to Tokugawa Japan (1603-1868) to find out what life was like there for the ladies. If you've been binging Shogun lately, then this one's for you! For show notes, including a list of sources and some cool images, go to The Exploress website (If you're dying for a full transcript, you'll find it over on my Patreon.) In June, I
The Crusader Queens, Part 2
Season 5, Episode 2. Once upon a time, back in the Middle Ages, four sisters would come to shape the Crusader States called Outremer. One would rebel (several times) against their father; another would come to rule more or less in her own right. All would see a healthy heaping of conflict while living in a chaotic time and place. In Part 2, we'll rejoin our royal sisters as they weather scandal, t
The Crusader Queens, Part 1
Season 5, Episode 1. Once upon a time, back in the Middle Ages, four sisters would come to shape the Crusader States called Outremer. One would rebel (several times) against their father; another would come to rule more or less in her own right. All would see a healthy heaping of conflict while living in a chaotic time and place. In Part 1, we'll explore the many roles women played in the Crusades
Queens with Swords: Teuta, Amanirenas, and Mavia (Mawiyya)
There's something stirring about a warrior woman: one who refuses to bow down to the forces against her, no matter how vast they may be. And when they win out? Even better. Let's talk about three sword-wielding females who went up against the Romans, terrifying all who looked on: Teuta, Amanirenas, and Mavia (Mawiyya). Want more Exploress bonus episodes? I post them regularly over on Patreon. You'
The Black Female Entertainers of the 1920s
Season 4, Episode 16. In this last episode of Season 4, we're going to find out more about the Black female entertainers who lit up the stages of 1920s America: who they were, the (many) struggles they faced, and all the ways they absolutely slayed. We'll meet blues singers like Ma Rainey, Bessie Smith, Ethel Waters, and Mamie Smith, as well as dancers like Josephine Baker. (Content warning: brief
The Female Movie Stars of 1920s Hollywood
Season 4, Episode 15. Mary Pickford. Clara Bow. Gloria Swanson. Joan Crawford. Greta Garbo. Let's travel back in time to learn more about the legendary female movie stars behind the most popular silent films of the 1920s. We'll discuss the controlling Hollywood studio machine, glamorous movie palaces, obsessive fandoms, the Max Factor makeup brand, the dark side of celebrity and fame, the flapper
America's Fight for Women's Rights: Interview with Elizabeth Cobbs
Season 4, Episode 14. Join us for an interview with Professor Elizabeth Cobbs, the author of Fearless Women: Feminist Patriots from Abigail Adams to Beyonce. Her book gives us a panoramic view of the fight for women's rights in America, and today, she'll talk to us about the history of feminism, suffrage, and what rights women really had in the 1920s.
A Lady's Life in the 1920s, Part 4: A Friday Night
Season 4, Episode 13. Last time, we found out what stay-at-home wife life was like in the 1920s. Now we're going to go out on the town. Let's explore all the fun we were getting up to: dancing, nightclubs, amusement parks, swimming, and girls in automobiles. We'll even dive into the world on 1920s dating. You can now buy my ladycentric timelines, maps, and art prints at the Exploress shop. Also, d
The Lady Killers of 1920s Chicago
Season 4, Episode 12. Settle in for a tale of passion, jealousy, corruption, and the lady killers who entranced 1920s America. Grab your gun, your best fur coat, and a flask of bootleg gin. Let's go traveling. You can now buy my ladycentric timelines, maps, and art prints at the Exploress shop. Also, did you know I've got a novel out? NIGHTBIRDS is a 1920s-tinted fantasy about girls who will gift
Writing the Women of Pompeii: Elodie Harper Interview, Part 2
Remember back in 2021 when the amazing Elodie Harper told us all about the sex workers of ancient Rome, and also her novel The Wolf Den? She's back to talk to us about The Temple of Fortuna, the epic conclusion to her immersive trilogy about a woman just trying to survive in ancient Pompeii. Join us as we talk about courtesans, an ancient queen, female gladiators, and what it might have been like
Giulia Tofana, Italy's Poison Queen
I hope you enjoy this spooky minisode bonus from the dark days of 2020! Let's meet one of history's most prolific female poisoners. You can now buy my ladycentric timelines, maps, and art prints at the Exploress shop. Also, did you know: I've got a novel out! NIGHTBIRDS is a 1920s-tinted fantasy about girls who will gift their magic with a kiss...for a price. I think you might like it. You'll find
A Lady's Life in the 1920s, Part 3: A Thursday at Home
Season 4, Episode 11. Last time, we headed to the office as 1920s working women; now let's give the stay-at-home wife life a spin. Grab your brand new vaccuum and your fave home economics book: let's go traveling. You can now buy my ladycentric timelines, maps, and art prints at the Exploress shop. Also, did you know: I've got a novel out! NIGHTBIRDS is a 1920s-tinted fantasy about girls who will
A Lady's Life in the 1920s, Part 2: A Wednesday at Work
Season 4, Episode 10. It's time to grab our sensible heels and head to the office to find out about a woman's work in the 1920s. Let's find out about college life, then dive into some of our trials, triumphs, and tribulations in the workplace. Nothing's going to hold us down! Let's go traveling. You can now buy my ladycentric timelines, maps, and art prints at my Printable shop. Also: I've got a n
A Lady's Life in the 1920s, Part 1: A Summer Saturday
Season 4, Episode 9. Rise and shine! It's time to get up and start our day in the life of a 1920s American gal. Let's find out some things about life in the period, from what we're wearing on a casual Saturday to what we're eating for breakfast, where we're getting our food from, and (of course) how we're dealing with that time of the month. Pull up your stockings and turn up that radio. Let's go
Unsinkable: The Women Aboard the Titanic
In this bonus episode, let's revisit the tragic story the Titanic, but focus on the women aboard. Who were they? What was it like, to ride on this infamous luxury liner? What did they see and feel, that fateful night? As always, you'll find show notes for this episode, includng images and a list of my research sources, at my Exploress website. If you want to support the show, you can do so over o
Celebrating Women of Myth with Ancient History Fangirl
Season 4, Episode 8. Season 4 is taking an intermission for the moment; I hope to have us traveling back to the 1920s soon. Until then, I've got something fun for you: a chat with the wonderful Genn McMenemy and Jenny Williamson of Ancient History Fangirl about their new book, Women of Myth. It's a beautiful compendium of stories from all around the world about a diverse cast of heroines, goddesse
Writing Black Women Back into History: Interview with Krystal Marquis
Season 4, Episode 7. In this episode, we're jumping back to 1910s Chicago, which is the setting for my friend Krystal Marquis's New York Times and Indie bestselling novel The Davenports. This heartwarming historical romance introduces us to four young Black women navigating life at the turn of the century, falling in love, taking risks, and carving their own paths through the world. I loved talkin
The Women of the 1920s Who Defied Prohibition
Season 4, Episode 6. The 1920s was the decade of speakeasies, gin joints, illicit nightclubs, and cabarets. Today we'll meet the many women brewing their own moonshine, and doing serious jail time. We'll meet the bootleggers, smugglers, and rum runners like Gertrude Lythgoe, the queens of the speakeasies, like Texas Guinan and Belle Livingstone, and Pauline Morton Sabin, the woman who eventually h
The Women of the 1920s Who Supported Prohibition
Season 4, Episode 5. Women were a big reason why the prohibition of alcohol became a constitutional amendment in 1920s America. Today we'll learn about the history of the saloon and dry laws, the politics behind the Volstead Act and the 18th Amendment, and why women were at the forefront of the temperance movement. We'll meet Anna Gordon and Frances Willard, the Presidents of the Women's Christian
Writing 1920s-Inspired Historical Fiction with Lyssa Mia Smith
Season 4, Episode 5. Join me for a fun-filled interview with my friend and fellow debut author, Lyssa Mia Smith, whose novel, REVELLE, came out last month. Described as MOULIN ROUGE meets THE GREAT GATSBY, it's one the fantasy-romance fans amongst you don't want to miss. Much like my novel, NIGHTBIRDS, it takes a lot of inspiration from history, and I loved this chat about magic, courtesans, and a
The Exploress: NIGHTBIRDS Edition
I am thrilled to share a juicy snippet of the NIGHTBIRDS audiobook with you, listeners! Please enjoy the prologue and first chapter, brought to life by the incredibly talented Saskia Maarleveld. You can buy the full audiobook wherever they're sold. My novel, NIGHTBIRDS, comes out TODAY! It is a 1920s-tinted YA Fantasy about a world with a prohibition on magic, and a group of girls called Nightbird
The 1920s, But Make It Fiction with Amie Kaufman
Season 4, Episode 3. I'm thrilled to be in conversation with Amie Kaufman, fellow author, friend, and co-host of my other podcast, Pub Dates, about taking inspiration from history and weaving it into fantasical worlds. Her novel, The Isles of the Gods, and my own both take certain aspects of the 1920s and use them as springboards into fictional exploration, but we've used our sources in very diffe
The Flappers of the 1920s
Season 4, Episode 2. The flapper is the most iconic lady of the Roaring Twenties. We'll learn about her signature bobbed hairdo, what makeup she was rocking, and how Coco Chanel inspired the dresses she'd wear. We'll meet the two most notorious flappers of the age, Zelda Fitzgerald and Lois Long, and how they spent their time drinking, smoking, making out in cars and dancing to jazz in cabarets. W
Re-Release: The Women's Suffrage Movement & American Voting Rights (The 2023 Edition)
Season 4, Episode 1. Let's time travel back to the 1920s! But first, we're going to revisit a vintage Exploress episode that explores something momentous that happened in the year 1920, when American women finally won the right to vote. You can pre-order my novel, NIGHTBIRDS, wherever print, ebook, or audiobooks are sold! If you do, make sure to claim the exclusive Nightbirds pin by February 27th.
Being Queen with Elizabeth I
Season 3, Episode 28. Queen Elizabeth I ruled for 45 years as the Virgin Queen, Good Queen Bess, and Gloriana, and her reign is now referred to as the Golden Age, or the Elizabethan Age. Today we'll be hearing from Bess herself as she talks us through her top tips for a successful queenship. We'll learn about how she was able to reign as an unmarried woman, why she refused to marry at all, the man
Education in Tudor England with Queen Katherine Parr
Season 3, Episode 27. Survived. Join Henry VIII's sixth and final queen, Katherine Parr, as we explore what education looked like for women in Tudor England. We'll discover where girls studied, what subjects they learned, and how many of them could read and write. We'll also learn about the extraordinary life of Katherine Parr, and how she became the wife that survived by leveraging her education.
Sex in Tudor England with Queen Catherine Howard
Season 3, Episode 26. In this episode, Queen Catherine Howard is going to be our guide as we explore all things sex for Tudor women. We'll walk through the era's expectations and understanding of a woman's virtue, how a lady might keep from getting pregnant should she choose to risk her reputation, and what happens if a woman gets pregnant out of wedlock. It's bound to be steamy, and…let's be hone
Magic, Poison, and Sex in the French Court of King Louis XIV
Season 3, Episode 25. What connects a sorceress, a murderess, a mistress and a French king? Let's find out in this special Halloween bonus. For this episode's show notes, including a transcript and tons of images, go to The Exploress website. To support the show, become a patron. To find out more about Elizabeton Norton's fanstastic work, check out her website.
WWII Code Girls with Ellie Marney
Season 3, Episode 24. Murder, mystery, and WWII code girls: oh my! Join me as I chat with Ellie Marney, the New York Times bestselling author of the new YA historical novel The Killing Code. Atmospheric, compulsive, and deliciously dark, it's the perfect book to kick off the spooky season, and it'll introduce you to a slice of women's history you might not know that much about. Ellie joined me to
Courtship in Tudor England with Queen Anne of Cleves
Season 3, Episode 23. Like most royal women, Anne of Cleves - English king Henry VIII's fourth wife - didn't have much choice when it came to whom she married. It was considered her "duty" to honor the needs of her family and her kingdom over whatever her own might be. But what about everyone else - the non-royals? Did they get to pursue their hearts more freely? Let's take a walk with Anne of Cle
Tudor Ladies in Waiting: Interview with Sylvia Barbara Soberton
Season 3, Episode 22. Join me as I sit down with author Sylvia Barbara Soberton to talk about a Tudor queen's ladies-in-waiting: who they were, what they did, and what kind of impact they had on the women they served and the court at large. As always, there are lots of ways to support the Exploress: tell a friend about the show, leave a review wherever you listen, become a patron, or have a browse
Childbirth in Tudor England with Queen Jane Seymour
Season 3, Episode 21. English King Henry VIII's third wife, Jane Seymour, will take us on a journey through one of the most important jobs and greatest perils women faced in Tudor England: fertility and childbirth. We will explore getting pregnant, staying pregnant, and getting through the delivery ordeal in (we hope) one piece. For this episode's show notes, including a transcript and tons of ima
Was Shakespeare Really A Woman?
Season 3, Episode 20. Will the real William Shakespeare please stand up? The Shakespeare authorship debate started with a woman named Delia Bacon, and since then, thousands of anti-Stratfordians have become obsessed with using literary analysis and ciphers to search for hidden meanings within the Bard's plays, in a quest to prove that Shakepeare was merely a pen name. Names like Edward Vere, Chris
Reimagining Catherine of Aragon and Anne Boleyn for The King's Wife Musical: Interview with Jennifer Kranz
Season 3, Episode 19. I had the privilege of interviewing Jennifer Kranz, the producer of The King's Wife, a musical that reimagines the relationship between Catherine of Aragon and Anne Boleyn. Come behind the scenes with me on this still-developing musical, which gives us a heartfelt, feminist version of the story of two of Tudor England's most infamous queens, and find out what it takes to make
All Things Anne Boleyn: Interview with Natalie Grueninger
Season 3, Episode 18. I enjoyed my chat with our special guest from Fashion with Anne Boleyn so much that I've decided to publish it in full. Natalie gives us such an interesting glimpse into what life was like for Anne Boleyn at the Tudor court, and into her ultimate downfall. So let's dive in. Find out more about Natalie's work and her upcoming book at her website, or On The Tudor Trail. Make su
Fashion in Tudor England with Queen Anne Boleyn
Season 3, Episode 17. Let English king Henry VIII's most fabulously fashionable queen, Anne Boleyn, be your guide as we glide through the halls of the Tudor court exploring why fashion was so important in Tudor England, especially for female members of the royal family, and how women used dress to achieve some of their most important aims. We will cover Tudor headgear, jewelry, textiles, symbolism
Religion in Tudor England with Queen Catherine of Aragon, Part 2
Season 3, Episode 16. Religion lives at the heart of Catherine of Aragon's story, and at the center of Tudor life. Let's continue our journey with our queen as she finds herself faced with a divorce crisis and the English Reformation. How will it change things for women in England? And how will Catherine of Aragon use her moral authority to fight for what she knows to be true? For show notes, sug
Religion in Tudor England with Queen Catherine of Aragon, Part 1
Season 3, Episode 15. Religion lives at the heart of Catherine of Aragon's story, and at the center of Tudor life. Let's walk beside this regal queen and find out what role it played in her life and tumultuous times. These episodes aren't going to be straight birth-to-death biographies. Instead, the six wives of Henry VIII are going to be our guides as we dive into different aspects of womanhood
Introducing: Pub Dates
I'm excited to announce the new podcast I'm making with my friend Amie Kaufman. It'll take you behind the scenes on the making of our books, The Isles of the Gods and Nightbirds, which are both coming out in 2023. Think of it as your backstage pass to our characters, our worlds, and all the stories of their making. I can't wait to introduce you to my debut novel full of magic and intrigue, histori
The History of Mrs, Miss, and Ms
Season 3, Episode 14. Ever wondered about the origin stories of the titles Mrs., Miss, and Ms.? They're more than likely to surprise you. This bonus episode come courtesy of my patrons. Patrons not only really help me keep the show going, but they also get access to exclusives bonuses like this one, as well as Q&As, sneak peeks, interviews with guests, early access to episodes, cool contests, and
The Magnificent Lady Fu Hao
Season 3, Episode 13. For years, China's ancient Shang Dynasty was almost a myth, but its stories were lying in wait in the Yellow River plain, where it had been hiding for centuries. And at the heart of it all, an almost lost queen. Let's meet the Shang and their impressive warrior queen. This bonus episode come courtesy of my patrons. Patrons not only really help me keep the show going, but they
A Brief History of Sequins
Season 3, Episode 12. This month, I'm pulling three bonus episodes from the Patreon vault to share with everyone. Happy holidays! I LOVE me some sequins. It's hard to feel anything but celebratory when you're sparkling like a mirror ball. The shiny plastic disc you're picturing is a relatively new invention, but sequins have a surprisingly long and interesting history. This episode is brought to
Women and Witch Hunts in Scotland and England
Season 3, Episode 11. Between 1450 and 1750, some 100,000 Europeans were tried for witchcraft, and some of the most intense periods of witchy panic took place in Scotland and England. Most, but not all, of these so-called witches were women. During this special Halloween episode, we'll be tracing the history of witch hunts, and talking about why King James VI was so fanatical about killing witches
Re-Release: A History of Women & Poison
Season 3, Episode 10. This is one of my earliest Halloween-inspired bonus episodes, finessed and remastered, to get you warmed up for our Tudor-era Halloween special next week. It will take us from the ancient world into the Tudor and Victorian eras and beyond, exploring that age-old link between women and poison. It's a perfect companion to the spooky season! And it'll teach us some bizarre and f
