Goldie Griffith lived at least a dozen different lives. From preteen boxer in a sketchy snake-oil show, to bronco-riding superstar of the world-famous Buffalo Bill Wild West, to accidental bigamist and bartender - Goldie dived headlong into every new endeavor with her trademark fearless enthusiasm.

And she never shot a husband who didn't deserve it.

Olivia is on location in Nederland, Colorado with Kay Turnbaugh, author of The Last of the Wild West Cowgirls.

Music featured in this episode includes "I Ain't No Angel" by The Strangebyrds, "You Win Again" by The Earth Stringband, "Cripple Creek" by Half Pelican, "Spirit Riders" and "Bone Dry" by Telecasted, "Western Spaghetti" and "Fractal of Light" by Chris Haugen, "Broken Promise" by Jimena Contreras, "Empty Bottle, Empty Bed" by the Mini Vandals, and "A Ghost Town" by Quincas Moreira

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It's 1857. A clipper ship is headed into a monster storm at Cape Horn- the most dangerous waters on earth. The captain is in a coma; the first mate is locked up in the brig. Who can lead the ship through the jaws of death?

Mary Ann Patten, a pregnant 19-year-old from the Boston slums, that's who!

Katie brings us a love story and incredible adventure- and all of it really happened.

Our guest is bestselling biographer (and sailor!) ⁠ Tilar Mazzeo,⁠ author of ⁠The Sea Captain's Wife⁠.

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What'sHerName TOURS are open for registration - come join us!

Music in this episode: "Monumental Journey" by Jesse Gallagher; "Drunken Sailor" by Cooper Cannell; "Rolling Hills" by Sir Cubworth; "American Frontiers" by Aaron Kenny; "Golden Cage," "Frightmare," "Midnight Trace," and "Devil's Organ" by Jimena Contreras; "Fall of the Solar King" by Twin Musicom; "Sea of Doom" by Doug Maxwell; "Tributary" by Lish Grooves; with clips from Sea Songs Medley 1913 at the Library of Congress.

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When 18-year-old Clare fled her family to become the world's first Franciscan nun, she committed to a lifetime of poverty, austerity, and caring for the poor. But when a powerful man tried to rewrite all the rules, Clare was faced with an impossible choice - defy the Pope or deny her own conscience. Then when Princess-turned-Abbess Agnes of Bohemia learned of Clare's struggle, she too joined the fray - two nuns against the patriarchy in the fight of their lives.

Olivia interviews Kathleen Brady, award-winning author of Francis and Clare: The Struggles of the Saints of Assisi.

Music featured in this episode generously provided by Elthin, Schola Gregoriana Pragensis, Anonymous III, and Farya Faraji & World Musicians.

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Savannah Georgia is famous for its stunning historic architecture and unmatched Southern vibe. Basically all of it was saved from the wrecking ball by seven women, who saw the bulldozer and decided to Do Something About It.

To mark America250, a lovely story of a group of women who decided history was important. Together, they saved one of America's prettiest cities, and helped pioneer Historic Preservation in the process.

Join us on location at the Davenport House Museum in Savannah, to unveil America's first monument to preservationists.

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What'sHerName TOURS are open for registration!

Watch the Savannah Seven monument unveiling event HERE.

Music in this episode:

"Star Spangled Banner" and "America the Beautiful" by the US Marine Band; "Georgia on My Mind" by Hoagie Carmichael; "Weekend Croquet" by Christian Larssen (License code: H3HTM4DLOIZQW3VJ); "Length of Light" by Amulets; "Hard Hearted Hannah the Vamp of Savannah" by Paul Whiteman Orchestra; "Cest La Vie" by All Good Folks (License code: 0HEHHMLLRPM1ERFV).

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Louise-Élisabeth Vigée Le Brun could paint anyone so they looked full of character, and vibrantly alive. So Europe's aristocrats clamored for her brush. But when the French Revolution toppled thrones and chopped off heads, she had to run for her life.

For 12 years across Europe, she chased her lost Eden. Can you ever get back to the Good Old Days?

Our guest is ⁠Judith Lissauer Cromwell⁠, author of ⁠Louise-Élisabeth Vigée Le Brun, Portrait of an Artist 1755-1842⁠.

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Music in this episode generously shared by:

Haydn Symphony 85 (famed as Marie Antoinette's favorite!) recorded by ⁠Ars Lyrica Houston⁠; J.S. Bach C Major Prelude and Brandenburg Concerto recorded by Kevin MacLeod; No. 8 Requiem by Esther Abrami; Apolcalyptic Echoes, Devil's Organ, and Frightmare by Jimena Contreras; Solo Cello Passion by Doug Maxwell; Alpine Bierhalle by Aaron Kenny; Length of Light by Amulets; Elegy by Wayne Jones; Catherine the Great's Russian Anthem; and Run Until Your Wings Grow by Late Night Feeler. Guillotine soundscape by Jorgemaca.

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[audio updated 6/02] Marooned on a frigid island in 1641, a young French woman single-handedly fought off polar bears, starvation, and loneliness, buried her lover, her maidservant, and her newborn child, and spent almost two full years completely alone -- except, of course, for the 100,000 demons whose screams were her nightly companions. That she lived through it all is a miracle - and a mystery: How did Marguerite de La Rocque survive the infamous "Isle of Demons" - and how much of this enigmatic tale can we ever actually know?

Olivia interviews Allegra Goodman, author of the award-winning historical novel Isola.

Music featured in this episode provided by Emily A. Sprague, Brian Bolger, pATCHES, Sir Cubworth, Track Tribe, and the Tudor Consort.

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Over the course of her 87 years, self-taught British entomologist Evelyn Cheesman went on eight solo insect-collecting expeditions across the South Pacific, collected almost 100,000 specimens, identified dozens (possibly hundreds!) of previously unknown species, and used her specialized knowledge of Oceania to save countless lives during WWII.

Meet the indomitable genius who persevered against unimaginable odds to build herself the life she wanted - no matter what stood in her way.

Our guest is Sarah Lonsdale, author of the book Wildly Different.

Music for this episode provided by: Emily Sprague, Jesse Gallagher, The Tides, Quincas Moreira, Kevin MacLeod, Brian Bolger, Asher Fulero, Myuu, Aaron Kenny, Geographer, and Nexus.

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For 61 years, Ou Shee Eng's tiny apartment in Seattle's Chinatown was the heart of a community of women. Possessing the rare ability to read and write Chinese, Ou Shee was the reader and scribe of everyone's letters. What was happening in China while this circle of women lived quietly in America, and why did they never speak of it?

Join Katie on location at the Wing-Luke Museum in Seattle, with guest Elana Eng Lim to contemplate belonging, kindness, and taking family secrets to the grave.

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Join us on our next women's history adventure! TOURS OPEN NOW

Read Elana Lim's poignant essay My Grandmother's Hand HERE.

Music in this episode: "Lau Tzu Erhu" by Doug Maxwell; The Butterfly Lovers Violin Concerto; "Under the Moon" by Annette Hanshaw; "Spirit of Fire" and "The Sleeping Prophet" by Jesse Gallagher; "Popularity March" by Victor Band 1923 at the Library of Congress; "Long Road Ahead" by Kevin MacLeod; "Please" by Wayne Jones." FDR's Pearl Harbor speech in the public domain.

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After a lifetime of betrayal and abuse as an 18th century sex worker, Catherine Jemmat broke the ultimate social taboo: she wrote the truth about her life. Her "scandalous memoir" helped change the way English society thought about women's lives, and her second book introduced a radical new idea - that the true 'perpetrator' driving women into lives of so-called sin and degradation was, in fact, society itself.

Returning guest Miranda Garno Rossa of Marginalia Rare Books is back to introduce Olivia to this courageous, unexpected heroine.

Music featured in this episode provided by Amanda Setlik Wilson, The Herschel Ensemble, Kevin MacLeod, and Pablo Casals

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Juliette Gordon Low was a classic Southern Belle when she married her handsome prince. But she learned the hard way that "happily ever after" is a harmful fantasy.

We can do better for girls, she said: and we must.

Rallying all the women around her, she founded Girl Scouts of America, empowering girls to build strength and character, and blaze new trails. Her global impact today is immeasurable.

Join us on location at the Juliette Gordon Low Birthplace Museum in Savannah, Georgia for this inspiring story of how women change the world.

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GET INVOLVED!

• Check out the World Association of Girl Scouts & Girl Guides and Girl Scouts of America.
• Buy cookies from your local girl scouts!
• Get the delightful 1913 Girl Scout Handbook ⁠HERE⁠, or read a free digital copy ⁠HERE⁠.
• Join us on our next adventure! ⁠⁠What'sHerName TOURS⁠⁠.

This episode was recorded by Marc Nelson on location at the Juliette Gordon Low Birthplace Museum in Savannah, Georgia. Special thanks to Shannon Browning-Mullis, Kate Walker, and Kristin Mikels, and to the participants of our 2025 What'sHerName Savannah Tour who joined in the fun!

Music featured in this episode: Serenade Op. 6 by Josef Suk, Monumental Journey by Jesse Gallagher, William Tell Overture b Rossini, Blue Danube Waltz and Vienna Blood Waltz by Strauss, Serenade by Schubert, Remembering Her by Esther Abrami, songs from 1956 Sing Together, Songs Girl Scouts Sing, and Annie Laurie by the 1924 National Quartet at the Library of Congress. Civil War sounds effects by Richard E Moore.

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In 1819 an itinerant Methodist preacher set off across a brand-new nation to spread the gospel to its people. Over the decades of her unique ministry, Jarena Lee would witness both incredible progress and maddening injustice - and publish the first spiritual autobiography ever written by an African American woman. But what message was her book actually meant to send?

Discover the incredible life of this forgotten spiritual powerhouse with our guests, Lisa Gring-Pemble and Martha Watson, authors of the fascinating new book Your Daughters Will Prophesy.

Music featured in this episode by: Marian Anderson, Alfred Hamilton, Ed Jones, The Tuskegee Institute Singers, The Georgia Singers and The Heavenly Gate Quartet.

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