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 rode war elephants and weilded political authority like nobody's business.

We're lucky to have a Mughal expert with us for the journey: Ruby Lal, the author of Empress: The Astonishing Reign of Nur Jahan and, more recently, Tiger Slayer. Find out more about her work at her website.

Some of the music you just enjoyed comes courtesy of Keith Zizza, Rahul Popawala, Arnito, Feslyan Studios. Thanks to the following for their vocal stylings: Sayed Raza.

Ways to support The Exploress:

• Become a patron and enjoy exclusive bonus episodes, including the full episode with Ruby Lal and more
• Grab a book by one of our guests, or read the current Exploress Book Club pick, at the Exploress Bookshop
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• Check out Kate's novels, NIGHTBIRDS and its sequel FYREBIRDS