The Other Half: The History of Women Through the Ages
James Boulton
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 millennia, from female Pharoahs, warrior princesses and pirates, to the revolutionaries who sought to topple the male-dominated political systems of their day. From host of the popular 'Queens of England Podcast', The Other Half tells the forgotten and ignored stories of the most powerful and influential women in history. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Nov 29, 2025 • 53min
6.18 Christine Granville (1) The spy who skied in from the cold
In the coldest winter in living memory, a glamorous Polish countess trades high society for high-altitude espionage, skiing into occupied territory to become Britain's first female special agent of the Second World War.Support the show on PatreonFollow us on Facebook Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Nov 16, 2025 • 58min
6.17: The Nurse, the Doctor and the Governess
Finishing up our series of episodes on First World War female espionage, we look at 3 spies from Belgium, Germany and France: Marthe Cnockeart McKenna, Elsbeth Schragmuller and Louise de Bettignies.Support the show on PatreonFollow us on Facebook Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Oct 26, 2025 • 51min
6.16 Mata Hari (4) The death of two women
After weeks of relentless interrogation and Mata Hari faces a military tribunal and a trial for her life.Support the show on PatreonFollow us on Facebook Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Oct 5, 2025 • 52min
6.15 Mata Hari (3) Red or Black
Mata Hari makes a desperate gamble to set up a future for herself—only to discover her own handler, Captain Ladoux, has set the most devastating trap of all.Support the show on PatreonFollow us on Facebook Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Sep 7, 2025 • 55min
6.14 Mata Hari (2) Like a butterfly in the sun
Mata Hari captivates audiences with her exotic dance that fuses sensuality and spirituality. But as her fame rises, the shadows of her past and the looming spectre of World War I threaten to ensnare her in a perilous web of intrigue and betrayal.Support the show on PatreonFollow us on Facebook Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Aug 10, 2025 • 58min
6.13 Mata Hari (1) Born from ruin
The tragic origins of a legend: a privileged childhood followed by devastating bankruptcy, family betrayal, and a life of scandal - and that's before she even took up dancing.Support the show on PatreonFollow us on Facebook Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jul 27, 2025 • 1h 4min
6.12 Gabrielle Petit (2) The spy who laughed
Tapped on the shoulder on board a ship to England, Gabrielle Petit is thrust into the dangerous world of World War I espionage.Support the show on PatreonFollow us on Facebook Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jul 13, 2025 • 37min
6.11 Gabrielle Petit (1) Born to defy
From the orphanage to the streets of Brussels, Gabrielle Petit grew up with a healthy disdain for authority - perfect training for a budding spy.Support the show on PatreonFollow us on Facebook Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jun 29, 2025 • 1h 8min
6.10 Edith Cavell (3) The price of defiance
Facing a rigged trial and execution, Edith Cavell's defiance and iconic last words ignite global outrage, cementing her legacy as a true wartime hero.Support the show on PatreonFollow us on Facebook Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jun 8, 2025 • 45min
6.09 Edith Cavell (2) Under the Eagle's Shadow
As the German occupation tightens its grip, Edith Cavell risks everything to save Allied soldiers, transforming her clinic into a clandestine lifeline under the constant threat of betrayal and arrest.Support the show on PatreonFollow us on Facebook Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
