The Other Half: The History of Women Through the Ages

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Women make up half of the world's population, and yet history books often consign them to the sidelines. They are dismissed as merely the wives of powerful men; babymakers and nothing more. Yet women have been the driving force behind history for millenni

James Boulton


    • Feb 12, 2023 LATEST EPISODE
    • infrequent NEW EPISODES
    • 37m AVG DURATION
    • 122 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from The Other Half: The History of Women Through the Ages

    5.01 Rulers' Mistresses: History's Other Women

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 12, 2023 14:38


    In the fifth season of the Other Half Podcast, we are looking at Rulers' Mistresses: a cross-cultural story of extra-marital love and lust, bringing ten women, who so often existed in the shadows, into the light.Support the show on PatreonFollow us on Facebook and Twitter Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    4.26 Pascalina Lehnert (2) The powerful virgin

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 30, 2022 34:10


    Pascalina helps propel Pius XII to the papacy, becoming his right-hand woman and the most powerful woman in Vatican history. Support the show on PatreonFollow us on Facebook and Twitter Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    4.25 Pascalina Lehnert (1) Dealing with devils

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 16, 2022 33:29


    Pascalina would come a long way from her family farm in Bavaria, becoming the right-hand woman to a man who would become Pope just as Europe slipped towards war.Support the show on PatreonFollow us on Facebook and Twitter Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    4.24 Christina of Sweden (4) The uninvited pest

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 2, 2022 40:05


    Scandal was never far from Christina but she is about to get embroiled in her most serious one to date.Pontifacts: Women and Female Power in the Vatican with The Other Half PodcastSupport the show on PatreonFollow us on Facebook and Twitter Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    SUPPLEMENTAL: Elizabeth to Elizabeth, British Royal Funerals since 1603

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 18, 2022 32:37


    On Monday 19 September, Queen Elizabeth II will be laid to rest in Windsor after a state funeral at Westminster Abbey. Royal funerals have gone back hundreds of years, with the first one in the Anglican tradition occurring in 1603. What did those funerals look like, and how will they compare to the one we will watch tomorrow?Support the show on PatreonFollow us on Facebook and Twitter Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    4.23 Christina of Sweden (3) Queen of the Flying Squadron

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 11, 2022 28:31


    Christina arrives in Rome and makes her mark on a very different court from the one in her homeland.Support the show on PatreonFollow us on Facebook and Twitter Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    4.22 Christina of Sweden (2) The road to Rome

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 28, 2022 22:47


    One of the greatest conscious uncouplings in European royal history as Queen Christina does two unthinkable acts: give up both her throne and her faith.Support the show on PatreonFollow us on Facebook and Twitter Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    4.21 Christina of Sweden (1) Athena of the North

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 14, 2022 38:38


    Christina, Queen of Sweden, is arguably the most fascinating female monarch in Early Modern history. One of learning and science, independence and free thinking. She is Scandinavia's Elizabeth I in many ways, but their legacy is very different.Support the show on PatreonFollow us on Facebook and Twitter Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    4.20 Olimpia Maidalchini (2) Innocent's dominatrix

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 24, 2022 40:52


    Corruption, family drama, betrayal. The pontificate of Innocent X would certainly not be a dull one with Olimpia Maidalchini at the helm.Support the show on PatreonFollow us on Facebook and Twitter Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    4.19 Olimpia Maidalchini (1) Electing a female pope

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 10, 2022 34:30


    Olimpia was very different to her Renaissance forebears, but whose partnership with her brother-in-law would see her become the true power behind the throne of St Peter. Support the show on PatreonFollow us on Facebook and Twitter Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    4.18 Felice della Rovere (2) The Temporal Mother of Bracciano

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 26, 2022 40:39


    You might expect Felice della Rovere's place in history to more or less end with the death of her father - but in fact, she was just getting started.Support the show on PatreonFollow us on Facebook and Twitter Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    4.17 Felice della Rovere (1) Aboard the matrimonial carousel

    Play Episode Listen Later May 29, 2022 39:56


    Fortune played very little role in Felice's impact on history - few women achieved more in the Italian Renaissance than she. Support the show on PatreonFollow us on Facebook and Twitter Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    4.16 Lucrezia Borgia (3) A pearl in this world

    Play Episode Listen Later May 16, 2022 38:20


    Lucrezia emerges from her self-imposed isolation, starts a family and meets the next great love of her life - and I don't mean her husband.Support the show on PatreonFollow us on Facebook and Twitter Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    4.15 Lucrezia Borgia (2) Chestnuts and mares

    Play Episode Listen Later May 1, 2022 38:35


    Lucrezia is pulled out of mourning to get married for the third, and final, time - but not before getting embroiled in scandal.Support the show on PatreonFollow us on Facebook and Twitter Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    4.14 Lucrezia Borgia (1) The loose end

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 17, 2022 43:13


    History has many great femme fatales - but the very byword for femme fatale, the archetype for centuries, is Lucrezia Borgia.Support the show on PatreonFollow us on Facebook and Twitter Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    4.13 Caterina Sforza (3) A daughter of iniquity

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 27, 2022 48:36


    Caterina takes on her most powerful yet - the BorgiasSupport the Red Cross Ukraine AppealSupport the show on PatreonFollow us on Facebook and Twitter Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    4.12 Caterina Sforza (2) The Tigress of Forli

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 13, 2022 39:33


    With her husband indisposed after an illness and treasury empty, Caterina would need to work hard to prove herself once more as the regent of Imola and Forli.Support the Red Cross Ukraine AppealSupport the show on PatreonFollow us on Facebook and Twitter Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    4.11 Caterina Sforza (1) Veni, vidi, da Vinci

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 27, 2022 39:24


    Caterina Sforza was married young to a scheming relative of the Pope. She would find quickly that to survive, she would need to take matters into her own hands.Support the show on PatreonFollow us on Facebook and Twitter Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    4.10 Catherine of Siena (2) Setting the world on fire

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 13, 2022 36:48


    Catherine's fame and influence grow, leading her to the papal court itself in Avignon and the heat of the ruptures that would lead to the Great Schism.Support the show on PatreonFollow us on Facebook and Twitter Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    4.09 Catherine of Siena (1) Speaking truth to power

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 30, 2022 40:47


    Introducing the writer, church doctor and eventual saint, Catherine of Siena. Support the show on PatreonFollow us on Facebook and Twitter Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    CHAT: Hallie Rubenold on the victims of Jack the Ripper

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 2, 2022 37:47


    I speak to historian and author Hallie Rubenhold about the victims of Jack the Ripper, why they have been forgotten and the importance of social history.Buy The Five The Untold Lives of the Women Killed by Jack the RipperListen to Bad Women Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    4.08 Joanna of Naples (4) The new Jezebal

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 19, 2021 41:37


    Now nearly 40, Joanna had given up hope of producing a natural heir, meaning that now she had to solve a bit of a conundrum - who should succeed her as ruler of Naples?Support the show on PatreonFollow us on Facebook and Twitter Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    4.07 Joanna of Naples (3) Return of the Queen

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 5, 2021 40:41


    Joanna sits in triumph back in her capital city, but her kingdom still faced three terrible foes: invaders, plague and internal foes.Support the show on PatreonFollow us on Facebook and Twitter Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    4.06 Joanna of Naples (2) On trial for her life

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 21, 2021 36:45


    Following the grisly murder of her husband, Joanna ends up facing war from within and without her kingdom, all of which would end up with her on trial for her life in Avignon.Support the show on PatreonFollow us on Facebook and Twitter Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    4.05 Joanna of Naples (1) Two houses both alike in dignity

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 7, 2021 46:55


    We travel to fourteenth-century Naples to hear about one of the most powerful female rulers of the whole medieval period. Joanna of Naples is one of very few queens regnant in the Middle Ages - her reign was action-packed. Support the show on PatreonFollow us on Facebook and Twitter Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    4.04 Marozia: Ruling the Pornocracy

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 23, 2021 35:45


    Call it the Dark Century, Rule of the Harlots, or, as I have, the Pornocracy, the tenth century was a nadir in papal history, with powerful nobles calling the shots. And at the centre of it all its matriarch: MaroziaSupport the show on PatreonFollow us on Facebook and Twitter Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    4.03 Pope Joan: What is myth can never die

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 10, 2021 32:41


    The legend of Pope Joan is quite possibly the most intriguing and enduring of Vatican myths. But how could the Papacy allow a story this astonishing, this embarrassing, to survive for centuries?Support the show on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    4.02 Pontifact's Bry Jensen on the Papacy

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 26, 2021 43:51


    The Papacy, which is going to be a hugely important factor in this series, is a two-thousand-year institution - where do you start? Well, talking to the host best papal podcast around seems like a good start. Today I talk to Bry Jensen, one half of the Pontifacts podcast, about what the Papacy is, and how it has affected European history.Support the show on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    4.01 Popesses: Female power and the papacy

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 12, 2021 13:01


    Introducing the topic for the fourth season of The Other Half Podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    CHAT: Ellen Alpsten on The Tsarina's Daughter

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 11, 2021 37:37


    In what feels to me a lifetime ago, but was actually only about 12 months, I spoke to Ellen Alspten on the podcast about her book 'Tsarina.Since then - and I can only assume because of it - the book has gone on to be tremendously successful. It has been shortlisted for the Author's Club's Best First Novel award, got a starred review from Booklist and has sold so well that it already has a sequel - 'The Tsarina's Daughter'.I spoke to Ellen earlier this week about it. Enjoy!Buy 'The Tsarina's Daughter' by Ellen Alpsten Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    3.21 The Samurai, the Wrestler and the Slave

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 4, 2021 53:55


    To finish off the third season of The Other Half, we cover three final women: Tomoe Gozen, Khutulun and Escrava Anastacia Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    3.20 Rani of Jhansi (2) Written in blood that cannot be erased

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 20, 2021 49:43


    As rebellion sweeps India, Rani Lakshmibai fights for her nation's independence and becomes its most famous heroine.Support the show on PatreonDownload the Lyceum app and join the conversation Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Chat: Clare Miles, the Hisdoryan

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 6, 2021 37:49


    Today I speak to one of my favourite history bloggers. Claire is history blogger that lives in the darkest depths of rural Mid Wales (her words). Her great belief is that it's okay to live in the past and her blog is all about the latest history books to read and the latest period dramas to watch. You can also find the latest historical travel inspiration for when you have a spare day or two and want to travel back in time!The Hisdoryan blogHisdoryan on TwitterHisdoryan on InstagramHisdoryan on Facebook Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    3.19 Rani Laksmibai of Jhansi: I will not give up my Jhansi

    Play Episode Listen Later May 23, 2021 30:15


    Rani Laksmibai is one of the great heroines of modern India - a warrior queen who fought against British rule of her country Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    CHAT: Elodie Harper on 'The Wolf Den'

    Play Episode Listen Later May 9, 2021 35:44


    Elodie Harper is a reporter and presenter at ITV News Anglia. She's worked as a journalist for the past decade, including for Channel 4 News, ITN and BBC Radio with a focus on crime reporting in Norfolk, where her first two novels are set. The Wolf Den takes her in a new direction and to a new time period in the lupanar of Ancient Pompeii.Buy Elodie's book from Blackwells or, if you're not from the US or Canada, from your local bookstore. You can also get it from Amazon, but I reckon Jeff Bezos has enough money. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    3.18 Emilia Plater: Poland is not yet lost

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 25, 2021 47:39


    After her country was stolen from her, a young countess from Lithuania took up arms to get it back.Support the show on PatreonDownload the Lyceum app and join the conversation Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    3.17 Sacagawea (3): A tool of divine direction

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 11, 2021 50:29


    Sacagawea completes her journey to the Pacific and back again - making electoral history along the way - as well as looking at how she has been remembered by generations of Americans.Support the show on PatreonDownload the Lyceum app and join the conversation Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    3.16 Sacagawea (2) Journey to the past

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 28, 2021 29:06


    Sacagawea saves the Corps twice and runs into her family.Support the show on PatreonDownload the Lyceum app and join the conversation Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    3.15 Sacagawea (1) Go west young woman

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 14, 2021 33:35


    For me, there is only one woman in US history that truly fits the folk heroine bill, the one with more rivers, mountains and memorials in her honour than any other woman in American history - Sacagawea.Support the show on PatreonDownload the Lyceum app and join the conversation Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    3.14 Njinga (3) Angolan Gloriana

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 28, 2021 41:07


    Njinga finally achieves ultimate victory and finally rules the nation whose throne she had assumed so many years before. But could she manage to safely pass the kingdom off to her chosen successor.Support the show on PatreonDownload the Lyceum app and join the conversation Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    3.13 Njinga (2) Life on the Run

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 14, 2021 35:12


    Njinga's brother dying put her in pole position to become Ndongo's first queen, but the route to power for women is rarely obstacle-free.Support the show on PatreonDownload the Lyceum app and join the conversation Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    3.12 Njinga (1): Rise of an African Queen

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 31, 2021 32:31


    We travel to the lands that make up modern Angola into the era of European colonialism and expansion, slavery and subjugation to tell the story of one of Africa's greatest queens.Support the show on PatreonDownload the Lyceum app and join the conversation Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    3.11 Joan of Arc (4) Ever Shining, Ever Glorious

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 17, 2021 52:48


    After Joan's death, France triumphed in the Hundred Years War, and which led to Joan's rebirth as a true heroine of France and of liberty all over the world.Joan of Arc at the PantheonSupport the show on PatreonDownload the Lyceum app and join the conversation Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    3.10 Joan of Arc (3) Out of fear of the fire

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 20, 2020 45:29


    Joan of Arc goes through months of penetrating and humiliating interrogation and trial as her captors seek to break her will and achieve moral as well as military victoryThe full court record of Joan's trialSupport the show on PatreonDownload the Lyceum app and join the conversation Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    3.09 Joan of Arc (2) God's Will is Done

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 6, 2020 46:12


    After winning the faith of the Dauphin, Joan travels to her date with destiny at the besieged city of Orléans.Watch my guest episode on Tudor queens with Heather Teysco of the Renaissance English History PodcastSupport the show on PatreonDownload the Lyceum app and join the conversation Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    3.08 Joan of Arc (1) The Maid of Orléans

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 22, 2020 41:22


    Joan of Arc or Jeanne la Pucelle is the prototypical folk heroine - she is the gold standard on which they are all judged. Today we see how a teenage peasant girl persuaded a prince to let her lead his armies against the old enemy.Support the show on PatreonDownload the Lyceum app and join the conversation Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    3.07 Tamar of Georgia (2) The Lioness of the Caucasus

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 8, 2020 37:41


    With her position at home secure, it was time for Tamar to make her mark on history, both on the battlefield and in building her cultural legacyListen to Mily Balakirev's Tamara, played by the Montreal Symphony OrchestraSupport the show on PatreonDownload the Lyceum app and join the conversation Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    3.06 Tamar of Georgia (1) King of Kings, Queen of Queens

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 18, 2020 28:54


    In twelfth century Georgia, a woman comes to the throne. Her people had never had a queen before, and the nation was surrounded by enemies. Tamar would have her work cut out to survive.Support the show on PatreonDownload the Lyceum app and join the conversation Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    3.05 Hua Mulan: As useful as a son

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 4, 2020 46:55


    China has a cultural history rich in myth and legend - and none has shone quite so brightly both within and outside China than Mulan.Support the show on PatreonDownload the Lyceum app and join the conversation Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    3.04 Trung Truc: Here come the drums

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 13, 2020 42:53


    Across the Red River Delta came the pounding of drums. The clans of Ancient Vietnam were being called to war - and the clamour came from two sisters, the eldest of which would fight a great empire in the cause of Vietnamese freedom.Support the show on PatreonDownload the Lyceum app and join the conversation Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    3.03 Boudica (2) A woman of many faces

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 30, 2020 42:24


    Boudica, after seeing her kingdom annexed and her daughters violated fights her final battle against the Romans. She may have lost it, but her enduring legacy has seen her attain the rank of folk heroinehood in England.Support the show on PatreonDownload the Lyceum app and join the conversationHenry Purcell's 'To Arms, To Arms' Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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