Step aside, Gregorian chants—there’s a new nun in town. In this episode of For the Love of History, we uncover the wild, visionary life of Hildegard von Bingen, the 12th-century nun who defied expectations to become a composer, mystic, healer, and all-around medieval rock star.

You’ll hear how Hildegard went from being entombed in a convent as a child to dropping musical bangers that shook up church music, writing radical medical texts on women’s health (yes, she even touched on abortion in the 1100s!), and preaching across Europe well into her 60s.

From her dazzling visions to her groundbreaking music to her bold writings on medicine and women’s health, Hildegard wasn’t just holy—she was revolutionary. And she proves that sometimes the most unexpected women in history leave the loudest echoes.

✨ What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

Who was Hildegard von Bingen and why she still matters

How her visions transformed medieval mysticism

Why her music broke rules and made her one of the first recognized female composers in history

Her surprising work in medicine and women’s health

How Hildegard became a symbol of women in medieval history who refused to stay silent

If Hildegard could go on tour in her 60s, you can definitely hit that subscribe button! Don’t miss more stories of women in history who bent the rules, rewrote the script, and changed the world.

📚 Resources here! 📚

https://www.fortheloveofhistorypod.com/episodes

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Key words: Hildegard von Bingen, Hildegard von Bingen music, Hildegard von Bingen visions, medieval women in history, first female composer, Hildegard von Bingen medicine, history of women in medicine, women in church history.

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