In the 3rd century, a mysterious queen ruled the Kingdom of Yamatai (modern-day Japan) with a wise and steady hand. Her reign lasted almost 70 years - but what can we really know about her, when her people never wrote anything down? Anthropologist Laura Miller introduces Olivia to this elusive ancient queen.

Read more about Queen Himiko's continuing "rebirth" as a powerful cultural icon in Laura Miller's fascinating articles "Searching for Charisma: Queen Himiko" and "Rebranding Himiko: The Shaman Queen of Ancient History."

Music featured in this episode provided by Sotetsu Tanabe, Shigeo Fujino, Yasuda Shinpu, Gordon Inoue, and Nexus.

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What if we could reopen a primordial spiritual portal, and summon peace on earth? For Eva Palmer Sikelianos in 1920s Greece, world peace wasn't a lofty dream-- it was an achievable goal. The key, Eva believed, was ancient Greek art, returned to Delphi. She had a bold plan, and if she could pull it off, she just might save the world.

Join Katie on location at the Benaki Museum in Athens, with Maria Dimitriadou, Historical Archives Curator.

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Fancy an EVA SIKELIANOS MUG reminding you of her poignant motto?

Check out our upcoming TOURS and maybe you'll sit in on the next recording!

To read more about Eva, check out A Life in Ruins by Artemis Leontis.

Music featured in this episode includes: Ischia, To Loom is to Love, and Lace Tablecloths by The Mini Vandals; Tomorrow Never Comes, Sad French Accordion, Accordion Dirge, and Rainy Night Accordion by Dana Boule; The Anunaki Return and The Sleeping Prophet by Jesse Gallagher; Alone by Emmit Fenn; Byzantine Chant by RTB45 at free sound.org; Lockers Dance Orchestra, Wedding March, and Melody in F from the Library of Congress National Jukebox.

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At the dawn of the Mughal Empire, a bold and brilliant Princess outlived three Emperors, and managed to create an adventurous, wildly unexpected life for herself during one of the most tumultuous eras in history. And luckily for the rest of us - she wrote it all down!

Award-winning historian Dr. Ruby Lal returns to the podcast to introduce us to the Vagabond Princess, Gulbadan Begum.

Music for this episode provided by Farya Faraji, Doug Maxwell, E's Jammy Jams, and Aashish Khan, Pranesh Khan, and Shiraz Ali Khan.

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The Roman Republic is collapsing and everything hangs in the balance. It's a political game of kill-or-be-killed, and Fulvia did not come to play.

You've heard of Julius Caesar, Mark Antony, and Cleopatra. But have you heard of Fulvia, who was in the eye of that infamous ancient Roman storm?

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Travel with us to ITALY, to walk in Fulvia's footsteps! Our new LOST WOMEN OF ITALY Tour is open for registration!

Daisy Dunn is an award-winning classicist and author of The Missing Thread, A Women's History of the Ancient World.

Music featured in this episode:

Michael Levy "Cogitatio," "Sacred Flame of Vesta," "Amatores"

Jesse Gallagher: "The Anunnaki Return," "Spirit of Fire"

Jimena Contreras: "Cosmic Nightmares"

I Think I Can Help You: "Crab Nebula"

M Murray: "Viking Medieval Theme"

Plus sound effects from YleArkisto and LilMati

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Queen Seondeok of Silla was revered for her wisdom, her compassion, and most importantly - her ability to use nature's signs to foretell the future! And with some truly audacious international diplomacy (and a resolute refusal to bend to patriarchal bullying) she would lay the foundations for the unification of The Three Kingdoms - now known as Korea. Karen Wang Diggs, author of The Book of Awesome Asian Women, helps us uncover the life of this elusive and fascinating queen.

Huge thanks to the Korean Performing Arts Institute of Chicago for providing some of the music featured in this episode.

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150 years ago, Irish farmer Johanna O'Brien created a secret recipe for black pudding. Today, her sausage is beloved by Michelin-star chefs across the world (and the recipe is still secret!).

Join Katie on location with Rory Copplestone at Clonakilty Blackpudding in Cork, to hear about a penniless girl who survived the Great Famine, built a thriving farm, and in her sunset years, created one of Ireland's iconic flavors.

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Travel with us: What'sHerName TOURS are open now!

Music for this episode is from Andy Reiner and Jon Sousa's Canyon Sunrise; Halfpelican; The Parting Glass by Audionautix; Kevin MacLeod; Jesse Gallagher.

Here is the charming vintage documentary on Irish farming life.

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Nobody knows her real name. But this "Uncontested Pirate Queen of the Western Mediterranean" certainly earned her title: the Sayyida al Hurra, the Free and Independent Woman. From child refugee fleeing the Spanish Inquisition, to ruling Governor of Tetouan, to the Sultana of Morocco - Sayyida was never one to follow the path society had laid out for her.

Author Laura Sook Duncome helps us uncover the mystery of the one and only actual Pirate Queen.

Music featured in this episode provided by Farya Faraji, Astron, The Tides, Doug Maxwell, The Mini Vandals, and Patrick Patrikios.

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She lived through the worst century in human history: the Black Death, famine, war, death and despair. So it was all the more surprising when Julian of Norwich rose from her deathbed saying she'd received a vision from God: All shall be well. How could that be true when the whole world seems to be falling apart?

Travel with us to 14th century England, to visit famed mystic Julian of Norwich. I know it sounds crazy, she says, but trust me: everything is love.

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Fancy a Julian of Norwich mug reminding you All Shall Be Well? What'sHerName SHOP is open! Or travel with us on upcoming TOURS.

Music for this episode featured St. Stanislav Girl's Choir singing compositions by Hildegard of Bingen; plus additional music by Doug Maxwell; Jesse Gallagher; and Jimena Contreras.

Simon Critchley's new book is Mysticism; or check out the Showings of Julian of Norwich

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Mary Ware Dennett was one of the most important and influential activist for women's rights, contraception, free speech and sex education in early 20th century America. So why does her nemesis Margaret Sanger get all the attention?

Returning guest Stephanie Gorton helps Olivia unravel the mystery of this fascinating, forward-thinking woman.

Music featured in this episode provided by Asher Fulero, Kevin Macleod, The Mini Vandals, Late Night Feeler, Jeff Cuno, Cooper Cannell, Dan Bodan, and the American Quartet.

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She prevented war and death on an immense scale, in acts that could earn the Nobel Peace Prize today. But History enshrined Sisi, Empress of Austria, as a vain beauty queen. The smear campaign was personal, not political: it started with her own tyrannical mother-in-law. Can Sisi conquer her own self-doubt, and drag draconian Austria into the modern world?

Our guest is Nancy Goldstone, author of The Rebel Empresses: Elisabeth of Austria and Eugenie of France, Power and Glamor in the Struggle for Europe.

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Music in the episode includes works by Johann Strauss, Joseph Suk, Giuseppe Verdi, Bedrich Smetana, Johannes Brahms, Franz Schubert, Franz Liszt, and Kevin MacLeod.

Join us on our women's history tours! What'sHerName listeners make the best travel buddies.

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