La Llorona, the Weeping Woman

This year's Halloween episode is about La Llorona, the tale of a ghostly woman weeping for her children. It's told all over Latin America, and while it doesn't have a historical basis in fact (as far as we know), it still says a lot about history, from Aztecs to Spaniards to what it has meant to be a woman. Visit the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (herhalfofhistory.com) for sources, transcripts, and pictures. Vote for me in the Signal Awards! It's free, and I'd really appreciate it. Go to https://vote.signalaward.com/PublicVoting#/2026/shows/genre/history to vote. Sign up for the newsletter On This Day in Women's History, available on ⁠Patreon⁠ or ⁠Substack⁠. There are free options in both places. This show survives on the support of listeners like you. Support the show on my ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon page⁠⁠⁠⁠ (https://www.patreon.com/user?u=83998235) for ad-free episodes, bonus episodes, and polls. Or make a one-time donation on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Buy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Me a Coffee⁠⁠⁠. Your support helps me keep bring the stories of past women into the present. Join ⁠⁠⁠⁠Into History⁠⁠⁠⁠ for a community of ad-free history podcasts plus bonus content. Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠Evergreen Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠ to listen to more great shows. Follow me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠⁠ as Her Half of History. The feature image is CarlosGalvanMex, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. La Llorona (edited) by RaspberryTickle2 -- https://freesound.org/s/444613/ -- License: Attribution 3.0 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On September 24, 1942, Lise de Baissac parachuted into Nazi-occupied France. She was a spy, sent by Great Britain, to cause disruption behind enemy lines. I am currently on research break preparing Series 17: Women Together. This is a special bonus episode from the On This Day in Women's History newsletter. There are two ways to sign up for the newsletter: ⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (https://www.patreon.com/user?u=83998235) ⁠Substack ⁠(https://bit.ly/4wpOe5h) Either way, the story about the historical woman is free, along with news about the podcast, and a place to share your recommendations for historical books, movies, shows, etc. If you sign up as a subscriber, you're also helping me keep this show going, and I'll send you bonus content each week as a thank you. Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠Evergreen Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠ to listen to more great shows. Follow me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠⁠ as Her Half of History. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bonus episode from the newsletter On This Day in Women's History! On September 17, 1849, Harriet Tubman made her break for freedom. She ran away from her enslaver in Maryland, making for the Pennsylvania line and the free North. Though this attempt failed, she was learning the way and the skills. Within weeks, she would try again and succeed, and soon she would begin her quest to free her family as well. There are two ways to sign up for the newsletter: ⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (https://www.patreon.com/user?u=83998235) ⁠Substack ⁠(https://bit.ly/4wpOe5h) Either way, the story about the historical woman is free, along with news about the podcast, and a place to share your recommendations for historical books, movies, shows, etc. If you sign up as a subscriber, you're also helping me keep this show going, and I'll send you bonus content each week as a thank you. Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠Evergreen Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠ to listen to more great shows. Follow me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠⁠ as Her Half of History. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Series 16 on the First Woman has closed out and the vote on the topic of Series 17 is in. It will be ... Women Together. I’m currently researching episodes on Vestal Virgins, medieval nuns, female soldiers in Africa, the women’s march on Versailles, the 1848 Seneca Falls Convention, and many more. Basically, if it’s something women did together, I’m considering it. As per usual, I need a bit of time to prepare, but there will be the shorter On This Day episodes in the interim and the new series will start sometime in October. Visit the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (herhalfofhistory.com) for sources, transcripts, and pictures. Sign up for the newsletter On This Day in Women's History, available on ⁠Patreon⁠ or ⁠Substack⁠. There are free options in both places. This show survives on the support of listeners like you. Support the show on my ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon page⁠⁠⁠⁠ (https://www.patreon.com/user?u=83998235) for ad-free episodes, bonus episodes, and polls. Or make a one-time donation on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Buy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Me a Coffee⁠⁠⁠. Your support helps me keep bring the stories of past women into the present. Join ⁠⁠⁠⁠Into History⁠⁠⁠⁠ for a community of ad-free history podcasts plus bonus content. Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠Evergreen Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠ to listen to more great shows. Follow me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠⁠ as Her Half of History. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aretha Franklin was the Queen of Soul, and one of the most remarkable singers of the 20th century. At various points in her life she sang gospel, jazz, blues, R&B, pop, rock and roll, folk, Broadway, and even opera classics. She also managed to sustain her career for six decades. It's hard for anyone to compete with that. This episode contains very short clips of two of Aretha's songs. I believe these to be fair use because they are very short and this episode is for education. If that is not the case, the copyright holders may contact me and I will remove them. If you would like to hear the songs in full, my website has the official YouTube links. Also visit the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (herhalfofhistory.com) for sources, transcripts, and pictures. Sign up for the newsletter On This Day in Women's History, available on ⁠Patreon⁠ or ⁠Substack⁠. There are free options in both places. This show survives on the support of listeners like you. Support the show on my ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon page⁠⁠⁠⁠ (https://www.patreon.com/user?u=83998235) for ad-free episodes, bonus episodes, and polls. Or make a one-time donation on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Buy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Me a Coffee⁠⁠⁠. Your support helps me keep bring the stories of past women into the present. Join ⁠⁠⁠⁠Into History⁠⁠⁠⁠ for a community of ad-free history podcasts plus bonus content. Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠Evergreen Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠ to listen to more great shows. Follow me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠⁠ as Her Half of History. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The indigenous people of North America had many powerful women through the ages, but in many cases, we have lost their stories. One story we have not lost is that of Wilma Mankiller, who served as Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation from 1985 to 1995. No one was more surprised by that than the girl she once was. Times change and hers is a story of perseverance. It's voting time! Please let me know what you want to hear about in series 17. You can vote on the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (herhalfofhistory.com), which is also where you will find sources, transcripts, and pictures. Sign up for the newsletter On This Day in Women's History, available on ⁠Patreon⁠ or ⁠Substack⁠. There are free options in both places. This show survives on the support of listeners like you. Support the show on my ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon page⁠⁠⁠⁠ (https://www.patreon.com/user?u=83998235) for ad-free episodes, bonus episodes, and polls. Or make a one-time donation on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Buy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Me a Coffee⁠⁠⁠. Your support helps me keep bring the stories of past women into the present. Join ⁠⁠⁠⁠Into History⁠⁠⁠⁠ for a community of ad-free history podcasts plus bonus content. Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠Evergreen Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠ to listen to more great shows. Follow me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠⁠ as Her Half of History. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In 1975, Junko Tabei was part of an all-female, all-Japanese team climbing the world's highest mountain. It was touch and go there for a while, but she made: the first woman at the summit of Everest. It's voting time! Please let me know what you want to hear about in series 17. You can vote on the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (herhalfofhistory.com), which is also where you will find sources, transcripts, and pictures. Sign up for the newsletter On This Day in Women's History, available on ⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠Substack⁠⁠. There are free options in both places. This show survives on the support of listeners like you. Support the show on my ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon page⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (https://www.patreon.com/user?u=83998235) for ad-free episodes, bonus episodes, and polls. Or make a one-time donation on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Buy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Me a Coffee⁠⁠⁠⁠. Your support helps me keep bring the stories of past women into the present. Join ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Into History⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for a community of ad-free history podcasts plus bonus content. Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Evergreen Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to listen to more great shows. Follow me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ as Her Half of History. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bonus episode from the newsletter On This Day in Women's History! On August 12-13, 1967, Glacier National Park had a double tragedy: two 19-year-old girls were hiking in separate groups in separate parts of the park. Both were attacked by grizzly bears. For Julie and Michele, the results were deadly. But for other people and bears, the tragedy had more positive consequences. As a result of this night, wildlife management changed. Many familiar policies were instituted after this night to keep both humans and bears safe. There are two ways to sign up for the newsletter: ⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (https://www.patreon.com/user?u=83998235) ⁠Substack ⁠(https://bit.ly/4wpOe5h) Either way, the story about the historical woman is free, along with news about the podcast, and a place to share your recommendations for historical books, movies, shows, etc. If you sign up as a subscriber, you're also helping me keep this show going, and I'll send you bonus content each week as a thank you. Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠Evergreen Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠ to listen to more great shows. Follow me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠⁠ as Her Half of History. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the race for space, the Soviets won all of the opening rounds, including the race to put the first woman in orbit. Her name was Valentina Tereshkova, and while we are clear on her success out there, the exact details are a whole lot less clear. It is time to vote for the topic of Series 17! Please visit the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (herhalfofhistory.com) to vote, and also look at sources, transcripts, and pictures. Sign up for the newsletter On This Day in Women's History, available on ⁠Patreon⁠ or ⁠Substack⁠. There are free options in both places. This show survives on the support of listeners like you. Support the show on my ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon page⁠⁠⁠⁠ (https://www.patreon.com/user?u=83998235) for ad-free episodes, bonus episodes, and polls. Or make a one-time donation on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Buy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Me a Coffee⁠⁠⁠. Your support helps me keep bring the stories of past women into the present. Join ⁠⁠⁠⁠Into History⁠⁠⁠⁠ for a community of ad-free history podcasts plus bonus content. Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠Evergreen Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠ to listen to more great shows. Follow me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠⁠ as Her Half of History. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Many women have served as the head of government for their respected countries. But usually that's because they were part of a royal family, and they inherited the office. Getting elected to the top job is an entirely different matter. The first woman to do that was Sirimavo Bandaranaike of Sri Lanka. She won the elections for prime minister in 1960. Visit the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (herhalfofhistory.com) for sources, transcripts, and pictures. Sign up for the newsletter On This Day in Women's History, available on ⁠Patreon⁠ or ⁠Substack⁠. There are free options in both places. This show survives on the support of listeners like you. Support the show on my ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon page⁠⁠⁠⁠ (https://www.patreon.com/user?u=83998235) for ad-free episodes, bonus episodes, and polls. Or make a one-time donation on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Buy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Me a Coffee⁠⁠⁠. Your support helps me keep bring the stories of past women into the present. Join ⁠⁠⁠⁠Into History⁠⁠⁠⁠ for a community of ad-free history podcasts plus bonus content. Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠Evergreen Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠ to listen to more great shows. Follow me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠⁠ as Her Half of History. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices