Did you know that in 1793, the must-have fashion accessory for ladies in London was a pregnancy bump?

Dr Isabel Davis of the Natural History Museum joins Amy to look as this unusual trend and explore why women wanted to appear pregnant, how they styled their bumps, and what all this meant regarding women's bodily autonomy.

Thousands of books have been written about the rich and elite of the Roman Empire, but what about everyone else?

Dr Karen Eva Carr, Associate Professor (Emerita) in the Department of History at Portland State University, joins Amy to discuss the life of Tapontos, an enslaved woman living in Roman Egypt.

What would life have been like for Tapontos? Why are the contributions of working women to the economy continuously overlooked? What happens if your enslaver wants fresh bread at 3am?

Rahel Szalit was a talented illustrator and artist whose work has been almost entirely lost. Being a Jewish woman living in Europe in the first half of the Twentieth Century meant that she faced significant adversity. However, today's guest, Dr Kerry Wallach from Gettysburg College, is fighting to make sure that she isn't forgotten.

Like Agent Zo, she was born in Poland when it was part of the Russian Empire, and like Rose Valland, she was living in Paris when the Nazi's invaded, but Rahel Szalit's story is her own.

Twenty years after America abolished slavery, Lucy was born black and trans in Jim Crow-era Kentucky. She grew up to be a chef and a socialite, hosting the best parties in Oxnard, California. Alongside her successful catering business, she owned speakeasies and brothels. She may not always have been on the right side of the law, but she was definitely a kickass woman.

Learn about her rise to the top of society, her trials, and heartbreak as host Amy Cotterill is joined by drag historian Elizabeth the Thirsty.

Forget Bond. Forget Bourne. Today's episode focuses on real-life spy, Rose Valland. Amy is joined by Michelle Young, author of "The Art Spy" to discuss how Rose used her position at the Jeu de Paume Museum in Paris to keep tabs on Nazi art thieves, and her post-war quest to bring stolen paintings back to France.

This week, Amy is joined by journalist Michele C Hollow to discuss the life of 19th Century fossil hunter, Mary Anning. Learn about the dangers of the Lyme Regis cliffs, her beloved dog Trey, and what happened when lightening struck.

This week we're celebrating the legacy of the Chainmakers of Cradley Heath, who put down their tools in protest at the exploitative practices of the UK manufacturers. Amy is joined by Jenny and Gigi Ermoyenous, and Lucy Atherton from the Friends of the Women Chainmakers to explore what led to the strike, who the key figures were, and why this small town in the Black Country became the focus of a national campaign.

More information about the Women Chainmakers, and the upcoming festival, is available on www.kickasswomenofhistory.com

The British town of Bedford may seem like an unlikely spot for the Garden of Eden, but members of the Panacea Society really believed it was.

This week, Amy is joined by Zara Matthews, Director of the Panacea Museum, to discuss the life of Mabel Barltrop aka Octavia. How did an Anglican vicar's widow go on to found a matriarchal religious sect based on the prophecies of Joanna Southcott? What was the truth of her "cure for all ills"? And what did she tell her followers if they ate their toast too loudly?

Evil seductress taking advantage of the king, or a young widow in an impossible situation?

Guest Gemma Hollman talks with Amy about Alice Perrers, mistress of Edward III. Often depicted by historians as manipulative and cruel, is there any actual evidence of this? Or has she been misrepresented for centuries?

For the 80th Anniversary of VE Day, Amy is joined by historian Clare Mulley to discuss Elżbieta Zawacka, better known as Agent Zo, who served as a spy and resistance fighter for Poland during WW2. They discuss Elżbieta's childhood in an area which was then part of the Prussian Empire, Poland's brief freedom, and how she risked her life throughout the German occupation... and beyond!

"Agent Zo" by Clare Mulley has been shortlisted for theWomen's Prize for Nonfiction 2025.