Explore every episode of the podcast The Exploress

Hey listener! I'm currently on maternity leave, but to get us in the Halloween spirit, I'm re-releasing my first ever Halloween special about the 19th-century mediums who used their connection to the dead to find fame and fortune. But this isn’t just an old episode repeating: I’ve remastered and re-recorded it to give it a 2024 glow up.

The Exploress will be taking a break in November and December, but I’ll still be dropping new bonus episodes over on my Patreon during that time. So if you like the show and would like more of it, become a patron: they get 1 to 2 exclusive bonus episodes a month, and much more. 

Down, down, the Witches' Road... I'm currently off on maternity leave, but to get you in the mood for the spooky season I'm re-releasing what must be my most popular Halloween special to date.

Between 1450 and 1750, some 100,000 Europeans were tried for witchcraft, and some of the most intense periods of witchy panic took place in Scotland and England. Most, but not all, of these so-called witches were women. During this special Halloween episode, we’ll be tracing the history of witchcraft, and talking about why King James VI was so fanatical about killing witches. We’ll learn about the Malleus Maleficarum (or the veritable Guide to Witch Hunting), and discover how to “spot” a witch. We’ll learn what types of women were in danger of being accused, why people thought women were especially susceptible to the Devil’s wily charms, and how the Church played a massive role in witch hunting. We’ll also discuss what happened when a supposed witch was caught – what torture techniques were used to extract confessions, what witch trials looked like, and what punishments awaited a guilty verdict. And we’ll try to answer the most important question of all… why were so many accused witches women, and why were these women viewed as such a threat to society that they had to be hunted down and killed?

Missing The Exploress? Patrons of the show get all episodes early and ad-free, voting rights on content, behind the scenes stuff, AND exclusive bonus episodes every month. I'll be posting new ones all through my maternity leave, so now's the time to hop on board! You can even try out being a patron with a 7-day free trial, so why not? Go to my website to find out more, or simply go to my Patreon page.

PS: My second novel, FYREBIRDS, is out now! If you'd like a recap of NIGHTBIRDS before the sequel arrives, go and listen to my four-part recap series over on Pub Dates.

Hey listener! I'm currently off on maternity leave, but I've decided to pull some special bonus episodes out of the Patreon vault during September for all my listeners to enjoy. This one's going to take us back to our season on the 1920s to meet the group of sticky-fingered bandits who became England's most notorious thieves. 

This episode is coming to you with the support of my fabulous patrons. Have you ever thought about becoming one? Patrons get all episodes early and ad-free, voting rights on content, behind the scenes stuff, AND up to two exclusive bonus episodes a month, like this one. I'll be posting new bonus episodes all through my maternity leave, so now's the time to hope on board! You can even try out being a patron with a 7-day free trial. Go to my website to find out more, or simply go to my Patreon page.

My second novel, FYREBIRDS, just came out, and it would mean a huge amount if you’d pick up a copy. If you'd like a recap of NIGHTBIRDS before the sequel arrives, go and listen to my four-part recap series over on Pub Dates.

Today we’ll learn how Queen Elizabeth I strategically defeated the Invincible Spanish Armada by allowing famous pirates like Sir Francis Drake and Sir Thomas Cavendish to take over the Royal Navy and fight on her behalf as “privateers.” We’ll also learn what life was like on a pirate ship in the Elizabethan age, why women were historically not allowed to be pirates, and how some women became pirates anyway. We’ll meet Anne Bonny and Mary Read, the cross dressing swashbucklers of the Bahamas, and we’ll meet Grace O’Malley, the Irish Pirate Queen who defended her land against Queen Elizabeth’s navy.

My second novel, FYREBIRDS, just came out, and it would mean a huge amount if you’d pick up a copy. If you'd like a recap of NIGHTBIRDS before the sequel arrives, go and listen to my four-part recap series over on Pub Dates.

This episodes is coming to you with the support of my fabulous patrons. Have you ever thought about becoming one? Patrons get all episodes early and ad-free, voting rights on content, behind the scenes stuff, AND up to two exclusive bonus episodes a month, like this one. You can now try out being a patron with a 7-day free trial! Go to my website to find out more.

...see you on the other side, my friends.

Have you ever thought about becoming a patron? They get all episodes early and ad-free, voting rights on content, behind the scenes stuff, AND up to two exclusive bonus episodes a month. I'll be posting episodes there throughout my maternity leave, so if you want more Exploress in your life, head on over! You can now try out being a patron with a 7-day free trial! Go to my website to find out more.

My second novel, FYREBIRDS, just came out, and it would mean a huge amount if you’d pick up a copy. If you'd like a recap of NIGHTBIRDS before the sequel arrives, go and listen to my four-part recap series over on Pub Dates.

I'm thrilled to bring you this extra-long audio sample of the FYREBIRDS audiobook: the Prologue and Chapter 1, narrated by the amazing Saskia Maarleveld. If you like what you hear, the unabridged audiobook is out now wherever audiobooks are sold. You can request it to stream digitally from your local library; if they don't have it in their collection, you can ask them to buy a copy, usually via their website.

Guess what? My second novel, FYREBIRDS, hits shelves TODAY. How exciting! I’m celebrating by inviting one of my favorite authors to join us. Ryan Graudin is the award-winning novel of many books for young adults and children; her debut adult fantasy, THE ENCHANTED LIES OF CELESTE ARTOIS, comes out today. This novel, set in Belle Epoque Paris just before the First World War, is absolutely FULL of my favorite things: history, strong women, and magic. Join us as we talk about her enchanting novel, how she used history as a springboard for writing it, and what she discovered along the way. 

Remember, if you pick up a copy of FYREBIRDS this week (by September 4, 2024), I’ll send you some very special prizes, including a signed bookplate and some NIGHTBIRDS-inspired art. You can claim them right here, or go to my author website to find out more. If you'd like a recap of NIGHTBIRDS before the sequel arrives, go and listen to my four-part recap series over on Pub Dates.

Thanks for listening! You can now buy THE ENCHANTED LIES OF CELESTE ARTOIS wherever good books are sold. Enjoyed this episode? Make sure to check out my other podcast, PUB DATES, where Amie Kaufman and I take readers behind the scenes on the publication process and our novels. And don’t forget, if you want more Exploress in your life, I'm publishing two fresh bonus episodes a month over on my Patreon. You can now try out being a patron with a 7-day free trial! Go to my website to find out more.

It’s FYREBIRDS month on The Exploress! To celebrate the release of my second novel, and the conclusion of the NIGHTBIRDS series, I’m sharing an episode of my other podcast, Pub Dates, where I’ve been taking listeners behind the scenes on this series’ creation. In this episode, I’m going to answer reader’s burning questions about NIGHTBIRDS. Warning: there will be spoilers in here, so save this one for later if you haven’t read the book yet.

My second novel, FYREBIRDS, is hitting shelves on August 27th, and it would mean a huge amount if you’d pick up a copy. If you do, I’ll send you some very special prizes, including a signed bookplate and some NIGHTBIRDS-inspired art. You can claim them right here, or go to my author website to find out more. If you'd like a recap of NIGHTBIRDS before the sequel arrives, go and listen to my four-part recap series over on Pub Dates.

Did you like this episode? Hop on over to PUB DATES, where bestselling author Amie Kaufman and I have been taking readers behind the scenes on the publication of our novels. If you like those old-school DVD extras and "making of" videos, this one's for you.

This show wouldn’t be possible without the support of all my patrons. Have you ever thought about becoming one? Patrons get all episodes early and ad-free, voting rights on content, behind the scenes stuff, AND up to two exclusive bonus episodes a month. You can now try out being a patron with a 7-day free trial! Go to my website to find out more.

It’s FYREBIRDS month on The Exploress! I’m celebrating the release of my second novel, and the conclusion of the NIGHTBIRDS series, by revisiting an old episode from our season on the 1920s: the one where we talk about the women who skirted the Prohibition law. Make sure you listen through to the new epilogue, where I talk about all the ways I used my research on the 1920s as inspiration when I was building the world of my novel. 

FYREBIRDS is hitting shelves on August 27th, and it would mean a huge amount if you’d pick up a copy. If you do so by September 4th, I’ll send you some very special prizes, including a signed bookplate and some NIGHTBIRDS-inspired art. To find out more, go to my author website. Also: are you reading NIGHTBIRDS for the first time, or want to refresh yourself before FYREBIRDS comes out? Make sure you check out my other podcast, PUB DATES, where I’ve just posted a four-week readalong series.

It's interview time! Let's spend some time with the delightful Therese Oneill, author of such nonfiction gems as Unmentionable: A Victorian Lady’s Guide to Sex, Marriage and Manners and her latest book Unbecoming a Lady: The Forgotten Shrews and Sluts that Shaped America. This isn't your average collection of biographies. These ladies weren’t pretty, graceful, or quiet, and so history didn’t know what to do with them. Join us as Therese introduces us to a few delightful dames.

Thanks for listening! You can now buy Unbecoming a Lady wherever good books are sold, and you can find out more about Therese at her website. If you want more Exploress in your life, I'm publishing two fresh bonus episodes a month over on my Patreon. You can now try out being a patron with a 7-day free trial! Go to my website to find out more.

My second novel is coming! If you pick up a copy of FYREBIRDS by September 4, 2024, I’ll send you some very special prizes, including a signed bookplate and some NIGHTBIRDS-inspired art. You can claim them right here, or go to my author website to find out more. If you'd like a recap of NIGHTBIRDS before the sequel arrives, go and listen to my four-part recap series over on Pub Dates.

Today we’ll be tracing the history of women’s bathing suits from the 1700s to the 1960s. We’ll look at how swimwear fashion evolved from the drab bathing gowns and modest bloomer suits to the sporty one piece swimsuit and the scandalous bikini. We’ll learn how some old-timey swimsuits could literally kill you, or possibly just get you arrested, how swimming became an acceptably “feminine” fitness option for girls, and how Annette Kellerman, the famed competitive swimmer, aquatic entertainer, and millionaire movie star mermaid, made swimming sexy.

I have a book coming out in August! FYREBIRDS, the sequel and conclusion to NIGHTBIRDS, is hitting shelves on August 27th, and I would love it if you'd pick up a copy. To find out all about it, go to my author website. If you're looking for a recap of NIGHTBIRDS before FYREBIRDS comes out, or are keen to read along with me for the very first time, go and listen to my four-part readalong over on my other podcast, Pub Dates.

Ways to support The Exploress:

• Buy Kate's novel, NIGHTBIRDS. You can also pre-order the sequel,  FYREBIRDS
• Become a patron and enjoy exclusive bonus episodes, including one about Tomoe Gozen, an infamous Japanese warrior, and a bonus about Japanese goddess Amaterasu.
• Buy some merch and art available at the Exploress shop

In this four-part series, we're time traveling back to Tokugawa Japan (1603-1868) to find out what life was like there for the ladies. If you've been binging Shogun lately, then this one's for you! For show notes, including a list of sources and some cool images, go to The Exploress website (If you're dying for a full transcript, you'll find it over on my Patreon.) 

In June, I'm doing a NIGHTBIRDS readalong on my other podcast, Pub Dates. Whether you're looking for a recap before FYREBIRDS comes out or are keen to read along with me for the very first time, it's going to be a lot of fun! 

Ways to support The Exploress:

• Buy Kate's novel, NIGHTBIRDS. You can also pre-order the sequel,  FYREBIRDS, out Aug. 27.
• Become a patron and enjoy exclusive bonus episodes, including one about Tomoe Gozen, an infamous Japanese warrior, and a bonus about Japanese goddess Amaterasu.
• Buy some merch and art available at the Exploress shop

In this four-part series, we're time traveling back to Tokugawa Japan (1603-1868) to find out what life was like there for the ladies. If you've been binging Shogun lately, then this one's for you! For show notes, including a list of sources and some cool images, go to The Exploress website (If you're dying for a full transcript, you'll find it over on my Patreon.) 

In June, I'm doing a NIGHTBIRDS readalong on my other podcast, Pub Dates. Whether you're looking for a recap before FYREBIRDS comes out or are keen to read along with me for the very first time, it's going to be a lot of fun! And listeners have a chance to win a prize.

Ways to support The Exploress:

• Buy Kate's novel, NIGHTBIRDS, which is already out in hardback, and coming out in paperback on June 4, 2024. You can also pre-order the sequel,  FYREBIRDS, out Aug. 27.
• Become a patron and enjoy exclusive bonus episodes, including one about Tomoe Gozen, an infamous Japanese warrior, and an upcoming bonus about Japanese goddess Amaterasu.
• Buy some merch and art available at the Exploress shop

In this four-part series, we're time traveling back to Tokugawa Japan (1603-1868) to find out what life was like there for the ladies. If you've been binging Shogun lately, then this one's for you!

For show notes, including a list of sources and some cool images, go to The Exploress website (If you're dying for a full transcript, you'll find it over on my Patreon.) 

In June, I'm doing a NIGHTBIRDS readalong on my other podcast, Pub Dates. Whether you're looking for a recap before FYREBIRDS comes out or are keen to read along with me for the very first time, it's going to be a lot of fun! And listeners have a chance to win a prize.

Ways to support The Exploress:

• Buy Kate's novel, NIGHTBIRDS, which is already out in hardback, and coming out in paperback on June 4, 2024. You can also pre-order the sequel,  FYREBIRDS, out Aug. 27.
• Become a patron and enjoy exclusive bonus episodes, including one about Tomoe Gozen, an infamous Japanese warrior, and an upcoming bonus about Japanese goddess Amaterasu.
• Buy some merch and art available at the Exploress shop

In this four-part series, we're time traveling back to Tokugawa Japan (1603-1868) to find out what life was like there for the ladies. If you've been binging Shogun lately, then this one's for you!

For show notes, including a list of sources and some cool images, go to The Exploress website (If you're dying for a full transcript, you'll find it over on my Patreon.) 

In June, I'm doing a NIGHTBIRDS readalong on my other podcast, Pub Dates. Whether you're looking for a recap before FYREBIRDS comes out or are keen to read along with me for the very first time, it's going to be a lot of fun! And listeners have a chance to win a prize.

Ways to support The Exploress:

• Buy Kate's novel, NIGHTBIRDS, which is already out in hardback, and coming out in paperback on June 4, 2024. You can also pre-order the sequel,  FYREBIRDS, out Aug. 27.
• Become a patron and enjoy exclusive bonus episodes, including one about Tomoe Gozen, an infamous Japanese warrior, and an upcoming bonus about Japanese goddess Amaterasu.
• Buy some merch and art available at the Exploress shop

Once upon a time, back in the Middle Ages, four sisters would come to shape the Crusader States called Outremer. One would rebel (several times) against their father; another would come to rule more or less in her own right. All would see a healthy heaping of conflict while living in a chaotic time and place. In Part 2, we'll rejoin our royal sisters as they weather scandal, trial by combat, suspicious deaths, and rebellious sons. 

For show notes for this episode, go to The Exploress website. (If you're dying for a full transcript of the episode, you'll find it over on my Patreon.) To learn about Katherine Pangonis and her book, Queens of Jeruasalem, check out her website.

Ways to support The Exploress:

• Buy Kate's novel, NIGHTBIRDS, and pre-order its sequel, FYREBIRDS, out Aug. 27, 2024
• Become a patron and enjoy exclusive bonus episodes, including one about the daughters and granddaughters of the stars of this episode
• Check out the merch and art at the Exploress shop

Once upon a time, back in the Middle Ages, four sisters would come to shape the Crusader States called Outremer. One would rebel (several times) against their father; another would come to rule more or less in her own right. All would see a healthy heaping of conflict while living in a chaotic time and place. In Part 1, we'll explore the many roles women played in the Crusades, and we will meet our leading ladies - Alice, Yvette, Hodierna, and Melisende - the daughters of the second Crusader King of Jerusalem. 

For show notes for this episode, go to The Exploress website. (If you're dying for a full transcript of the episode, you'll find it over on my Patreon.) To learn about Katherine Pangonis and her book, Queens of Jeruasalem, check out her website.

Ways to support The Exploress:

• Buy Kate's novel, NIGHTBIRDS, and pre-order its sequel, FYREBIRDS, out Aug. 27, 2024
• Become a patron and enjoy exclusive bonus episodes (and more!)
• Check out the merch and art at the Exploress shop

There’s something stirring about a warrior woman: one who refuses to bow down to the forces against her, no matter how vast they may be. And when they win out? Even better. Let’s talk about three sword-wielding females who went up against the Romans, terrifying all who looked on: Teuta, Amanirenas, and Mavia (Mawiyya).

Want more Exploress bonus episodes? I post them regularly over on Patreon. You'll find show notes for this episode at my Exploress website. You can now buy my ladycentric timelines, maps, and art prints at the Exploress shop. 

In this last episode of Season 4, we're going to find out more about the Black female entertainers who lit up the stages of 1920s America: who they were, the (many) struggles they faced, and all the ways they absolutely slayed. We'll meet blues singers like Ma Rainey, Bessie Smith, Ethel Waters, and Mamie Smith, as well as dancers like Josephine Baker. (Content warning: brief discussion of lynching).

Want more Exploress while the main feed takes a brief hiatus? I'll be regularly posting bonus episodes over on Patreon. You'll find show notes for this episode at my Exploress website. You can now buy my ladycentric timelines, maps, and art prints at the Exploress shop. 

Also, did you know: I’ve got a novel out! NIGHTBIRDS is a 1920s-tinted fantasy about girls who will gift their magic with a kiss...for a price. I think you might just like it. And the sequel's coming out later this year, so there's never been a better time to dive in.

Mary Pickford. Clara Bow. Gloria Swanson. Joan Crawford. Greta Garbo. Let’s travel back in time to learn more about the legendary female movie stars behind the most popular silent films of the 1920s. We’ll discuss the controlling Hollywood studio machine, glamorous movie palaces, obsessive fandoms, the Max Factor makeup brand, the dark side of celebrity and fame, the flapper and the vamp archetypes, and of course, the rise of the It Girl.

You can buy my ladycentric timelines, maps, and art prints at the Exploress shop. Also, did you know: I’ve got a novel out! NIGHTBIRDS is a 1920s-tinted fantasy about girls who will gift their magic with a kiss...for a price. I think you might just like it.

You'll find show notes for this episode at my Exploress website. If you want to support the show, you can do so over on Patreon.

Last time, we found out what stay-at-home wife life was like in the 1920s. Now we're going to go out on the town. Let's explore all the fun we were getting up to: dancing, nightclubs, amusement parks, swimming, and girls in automobiles. We'll even dive into the world on 1920s dating.

You can now buy my ladycentric timelines, maps, and art prints at the Exploress shop. Also, did you know: I’ve got a novel out! NIGHTBIRDS is a 1920s-tinted fantasy about girls who will gift their magic with a kiss...for a price. I think you might be into it.

You'll find show notes for this episode at my Exploress website. If you want to support the show, you can do so over on Patreon.

Settle in for a tale of passion, jealousy, corruption, and the lady killers who entranced 1920s America. Grab your gun, your best fur coat, and a flask of bootleg gin. Let’s go traveling.

You can now buy my ladycentric timelines, maps, and art prints at the Exploress shop. Also, did you know I’ve got a novel out? NIGHTBIRDS is a 1920s-tinted fantasy about girls who will gift their magic with a kiss...for a price. I think you might like it.

You'll find show notes for this episode at my Exploress website. If you want to support the show, you can do so over on Patreon.

Remember back in 2021 when the amazing Elodie Harper told us all about the sex workers of ancient Rome, and also her novel The Wolf Den? She's back to talk to us about The Temple of Fortuna, the epic conclusion to her immersive trilogy about a woman just trying to survive in ancient Pompeii. Join us as we talk about courtesans, an ancient queen, female gladiators, and what it might have been like to survive the eruption of Vesuvius. Warning: we WILL be spoiling some aspects of the first two books in the series, so make sure you've read them before you listen.

The Temple of Fortuna is out now! Go forth and grab yourself a copy.

You can now buy my ladycentric timelines, maps, and art prints at the Exploress shop. You'll find show notes for this episode at my Exploress website. If you want to support the show, you can do so over on Patreon.

I hope you enjoy this spooky minisode bonus from the dark days of 2020! Let's meet one of history's most prolific female poisoners.

You can now buy my ladycentric timelines, maps, and art prints at the Exploress shop. Also, did you know: I’ve got a novel out! NIGHTBIRDS is a 1920s-tinted fantasy about girls who will gift their magic with a kiss...for a price. I think you might like it.

You'll find show notes for this episode at my Exploress website. If you want to support the show, you can do so over on Patreon.

Last time, we headed to the office as 1920s working women; now let's give the stay-at-home wife life a spin. Grab your brand new vaccuum and your fave home economics book: let's go traveling.

You can now buy my ladycentric timelines, maps, and art prints at the Exploress shop. Also, did you know: I’ve got a novel out! NIGHTBIRDS is a 1920s-tinted fantasy about girls who will gift their magic with a kiss...for a price. I think you might like it.

You'll find show notes for this episode at my Exploress website. If you want to support the show, you can do so over on Patreon.

It's time to grab our sensible heels and head to the office to find out about a woman's work in the 1920s. Let's find out about college life, then dive into some of our trials, triumphs, and tribulations in the workplace. Nothing's going to hold us down! Let’s go traveling.

You can now buy my ladycentric timelines, maps, and art prints at my Printable shop. Also: I’ve got a novel out! NIGHTBIRDS is a 1920s-tinted fantasy about girls who will gift their magic with a kiss...for a price. I think you might like it.

You'll find show notes for this episode at my Exploress website. If you want to support the show, you can do so over on Patreon.

Rise and shine! It’s time to get up and start our day in the life of a 1920s American gal. Let’s find out some things about life in the period, from what we’re wearing on a casual Saturday to what we’re eating for breakfast, where we’re getting our food from, and (of course) how we’re dealing with that time of the month. Pull up your stockings and turn up that radio. Let’s go traveling.

I’ve finally got Exploress merch back up and running! You can now buy my ladycentric timelines, maps, and art prints at my Printable shop. Second: I’ve got a novel out! NIGHTBIRDS is a 1920s-tinted fantasy about girls who will gift their magic with a kiss: for a price. Buying merch or my book are both GREAT ways to support me, but also, I’m just glad you’re here.

You'll find show notes for this episode, includng images and a list of my sources, at my Exploress website. If you want to support the show, you can do so over on Patreon.

Let's revisit the tragic story the Titanic, but focus on the women aboard. Who were they? What was it like, to ride on this infamous luxury liner? What did they see and feel, that fateful night? 

As always, you'll find show notes for this episode, includng images and a list of my research sources, at my Exploress website. If you want to support the show, you can do so over on Patreon.

Season 4 is taking an intermission for the moment; I hope to have us traveling back to the 1920s soon. Until then, I’ve got something fun for you: a chat with the wonderful Genn McMenemy and Jenny Williamson of Ancient History Fangirl about their new book, Women of Myth. It’s a beautiful compendium of stories from all around the world about a diverse cast of heroines, goddesses, and monsters, all told with Genn and Jenny’s signature humour, empathy, and wit. So grab a drink, settle in, and let’s dive into the stories of some women from mythology.

In this episode, we’re jumping back to 1910s Chicago, which is the setting for my friend Krystal Marquis’s New York Times and Indie bestselling novel The Davenports. This heartwarming historical romance introduces us to four young Black women navigating life at the turn of the century, falling in love, taking risks, and carving their own paths through the world. I loved talking to Krystal about her research and inspirations.

The 1920s was the decade of speakeasies, gin joints, illicit nightclubs, and cabarets. Today we’ll meet the many women brewing their own moonshine, and doing serious jail time. We’ll meet the bootleggers, smugglers, and rum runners like Gertrude Lythgoe, the queens of the speakeasies, like Texas Guinan and Belle Livingstone, and Pauline Morton Sabin, the woman who eventually helped repeal Prohibition. We’ll learn about what cocktails were popular, what a 1920s cabaret looked like, and how outlawing alcohol inadvertently gave American women the chance to finally drink, dance, and date in public, which led to a decade of greater sexual freedom and female independence. 

My novel, NIGHTBIRDS, is out now wherever good books (or audiobooks) are sold! You can learn more about it at my author website. It is a 1920s-tinted YA Fantasy about a world with a Prohibition on magic instead of alcohol, and a group of girls called Nightbirds who will gift you their rare magic with a kiss - for a price. It’s full of flapper-inspired dresses, magical cocktails, illicit speakeasies, nods to women’s history, and of course, a group of girls punching the patriarchy and getting into all sorts of mischief. Find out more about it on my other podcast, Pub Dates, which takes readers behind the scenes on the road to it publication, and at my author website.

As always, you'll find show notes for this episode, includng images and a list of my research sources, at my Exploress website. If you want to support the show, you can do so over on Patreon.

Women were a big reason why the prohibition of alcohol became a constitutional amendment in 1920s America. Today we’ll learn about the history of the saloon and dry laws, the politics behind the Volstead Act and the 18th Amendment, and why women were at the forefront of the temperance movement. We’ll meet Anna Gordon and Frances Willard, the Presidents of the Women’s Christian Temperance Union; Carrie Nation, who campaigned for Prohibition by smashing up saloons with her hatchet; and we’ll meet the women who enforced the law – Assistant US Attorney General Mabel Walker Willebrandt, and bureau agents like Daisy Simpson.

My novel, NIGHTBIRDS, is available now wherever good books (or audiobooks) are sold! You can find out more about it at my author website. It is a 1920s-tinted YA Fantasy about a world with a Prohibition on magic instead of alcohol, and a group of girls called Nightbirds who will gift you their rare magic with a kiss - for a price. It’s full of flapper-inspired dresses, magical cocktails, illicit speakeasies, nods to women’s history, and of course, a group of girls punching the patriarchy and getting into all sorts of mischief. Find out more about it on my other podcast, Pub Dates, which takes readers behind the scenes on the road to it publication, and at my author website.

As always, you'll find show notes for this episode, includng images and a list of my research sources, at my Exploress website. If you want to support the show, you can do so over on Patreon.

Join me for a fun-filled interview with my friend and fellow debut author, Lyssa Mia Smith, whose novel, REVELLE, came out last month. Described as MOULIN ROUGE meets THE GREAT GATSBY, it’s one the fantasy-romance fans amongst you don’t want to miss. Much like my novel, NIGHTBIRDS, it takes a lot of inspiration from history, and I loved this chat about magic, courtesans, and all the ways we used elements of Prohibition and the 1920s to craft our fantastical stories. 

NIGHTBIRDS and REVELLE are both available now, wherever good books (or audiobooks) are sold! You can find out more about Lyssa at her website and more about NIGHTBIRDS at my author website.

I am thrilled to share a juicy snippet of the NIGHTBIRDS audiobook with you, listeners! Please enjoy the prologue and first chapter, brought to life by the incredibly talented Saskia Maarleveld. You can buy the full audiobook wherever they're sold.

My novel, NIGHTBIRDS, comes out TODAY! It is a 1920s-tinted YA Fantasy about a world with a prohibition on magic, and a group of girls called Nightbirds who will gift you their rare magic with a kiss - for a price. It’s full of flapper-inspired dresses, magical cocktails, illicit speakeasies, nods to women’s history, and of course, a group of girls punching the patriarchy. Find out more about the book on my other podcast, Pub Dates, which takes readers behind the scenes on the road to it publication, and at my author website. I can't wait to share this story with you.

I'm thrilled to be in conversation with Amie Kaufman, fellow author, friend, and co-host of my other podcast, Pub Dates, about taking inspiration from history and weaving it into fantasical worlds. Her novel, The Isles of the Gods, and my own both take certain aspects of the 1920s and use them as springboards into fictional exploration, but we've used our sources in very different ways. This is such a fun conversation about writing and our love of history; if you've ever wanted a more up-close-and-personal catchup with The Exploress, this one's for you.

If you want to find out more about Amie or her novel (which is SO GOOD), check out her website. My novel, NIGHTBIRDS, comes out TOMORROW! It is a 1920s-tinted YA Fantasy about a world with a prohibition on magic, and a group of girls called Nightbirds who will gift you their rare magic with a kiss - for a price. Find out more at my author website. 

Find out more about both books on our other podcast, Pub Dates, which takes readers behind the scenes on the road to their publication.

The flapper is the most iconic lady of the Roaring Twenties. We’ll learn about her signature bobbed hairdo, what makeup she was rocking, and how Coco Chanel inspired the dresses she’d wear. We’ll meet the two most notorious flappers of the age, Zelda Fitzgerald and Lois Long, and how they spent their time drinking, smoking, making out in cars and dancing to jazz in cabarets. We'll talk about how the public perception of the flapper was scandalous, and rebellious – she was immoral and immodest, and some people hated her for it. But she was also fun, beautiful, and daring… the ultimate symbol of sexual liberation and women’s independence. And other people loved her for it, too.

My novel, NIGHTBIRDS, comes out extremely soon! It is a 1920s-tinted YA Fantasy about a world with a Prohibition on magic instead of alcohol, and a group of girls called Nightbirds who will gift you their rare magic with a kiss - for a price. It’s full of flapper-inspired dresses, magical cocktails, illicit speakeasies, nods to women’s history, and of course, a group of girls punching the patriarchy and getting into all sorts of mischief. It comes out February 28, 2023. Find out more about NIGHTBIRDS on my other podcast, Pub Dates, which takes readers behind the scenes on the road to it publication, and at my author website. I can't wait to share it with you.

Let's time travel back to the 1920s! But first, we're going to revisit a vintage Exploress episode that explores something momentous that happened in the year 1920, when American women finally won the right to vote.

You can pre-order my novel, NIGHTBIRDS, wherever print, ebook, or audiobooks are sold! If you do, make sure to claim the exclusive Nightbirds pin by February 27th. If you order from One More Page Books, you'll get your copy signed and personalized AND get some special character cards as well. To find out more about it, have a listen to my other podcast, Pub Dates, where NYT best-selling author Amie Kaufman and I take you behind the scenes on our books' paths to publication.

Come see me on tour in the USA and Australia in February and March! You'll find the full schedule on my author website.

Queen Elizabeth I ruled for 45 years as the Virgin Queen, Good Queen Bess, and Gloriana, and her reign is now referred to as the Golden Age, or the Elizabethan Age. Today we’ll be hearing from Bess herself as she talks us through her top tips for a successful queenship. We’ll learn about how she was able to reign as an unmarried woman, why she refused to marry at all, the many marriage proposals she rebuffed, her long time love for Robert Dudley, and how she created a cult of virginity to calm fears about succession. We’ll also learn how important beauty and fashion were to her, how she leveraged portraiture to create her public image as a goddess, her fear of aging, how she dealt with gossip and slander, and why her gift for languages, rhetoric, and public speaking made her such a formidable politician.

Survived. Join Henry VIII’s sixth and final queen, Katherine Parr, as we explore what education looked like for women in Tudor England. We’ll discover where girls studied, what subjects they learned, and how many of them could read and write. We’ll also learn about the extraordinary life of Katherine Parr, and how she became the wife that survived by leveraging her education. She became the first Queen of England to publish her own book, educated her step-daughter (the future Queen Elizabeth I), promoted religious reform, made reading the most popular pastime for upper class Tudor women, and successfully navigated the dangerous political waters of Henry’s court. Let’s go traveling. 

For this episode's show notes, including a transcript and tons of images, go to The Exploress website. To support the show, become a patron. To find out more about Elizabeth Norton's fanstastic work, check out her website. The music featured in this episode comes courtesy of John Sayles.

In this episode, Queen Catherine Howard is going to be our guide as we explore all things sex for Tudor women. We’ll walk through the era’s expectations and understanding of a woman’s virtue, how a lady might keep from getting pregnant should she choose to risk her reputation, and what happens if a woman gets pregnant out of wedlock. It’s bound to be steamy, and…let’s be honest…possibly dire.

For this episode's show notes, including a transcript and tons of images, go to The Exploress website. To support the show, become a patron. To find out more about Elizabeth Norton's fanstastic work, check out her website.

What connects a sorceress, a murderess, a mistress and a French king? Let's find out in this special Halloween bonus.

For this episode's show notes, including a transcript and tons of images, go to The Exploress website. To support the show, become a patron. To find out more about Elizabeton Norton's fanstastic work, check out her website.

Murder, mystery, and WWII code girls: oh my! Join me as I chat with Ellie Marney, the New York Times bestselling author of the new YA historical novel The Killing Code. Atmospheric, compulsive, and deliciously dark, it’s the perfect book to kick off the spooky season, and it’ll introduce you to a slice of women’s history you might not know that much about. Ellie joined me to talk about the real-life female codebreakers who inspired her novel, as well as life for women in wartime D.C. in the 1940s. 

To find out more about Ellie and The Killing Code, visit her website. For this episode's show notes, including a transcript and some fun links, go to The Exploress website. To support the show, become a patron. 

Like most royal women, Anne of Cleves - English king Henry VIII's fourth wife - didn’t have much choice when it came to whom she married. It was considered her “duty” to honor the needs of her family and her kingdom over whatever her own might be. But what about everyone else - the non-royals? Did they get to pursue their hearts more freely? Let’s take a walk with Anne of Cleves, who’ll show us more about what love, courtship, and marriage looked like for women in Tudor England. 

For this episode's show notes, including a transcript and tons of images, go to The Exploress website. To support the show and get more Tudor bonus content, become a patron. To find out more about Elizabeth Norton's fanstastic work, check out her website.

Join me as I sit down with author Sylvia Barbara Soberton to talk about a Tudor queen's ladies-in-waiting: who they were, what they did, and what kind of impact they had on the women they served and the court at large.

As always, there are lots of ways to support the Exploress: tell a friend about the show, leave a review wherever you listen, become a patron, or have a browse over on my website. For more on Sylvia’s book and her other work, check out her website.

English King Henry VIII's third wife, Jane Seymour, will take us on a journey through one of the most important jobs and greatest perils women faced in Tudor England: fertility and childbirth. We will explore getting pregnant, staying pregnant, and getting through the delivery ordeal in (we hope) one piece.

For this episode's show notes, including a transcript and tons of images, go to The Exploress website. To support the show, and get bonus Tudor content, become a patron. To find out more about Elizabeth Norton's fanstastic work, check out her website.

Will the real William Shakespeare please stand up? The Shakespeare authorship debate started with a woman named Delia Bacon, and since then, thousands of anti-Stratfordians have become obsessed with using literary analysis and ciphers to search for hidden meanings within the Bard's plays, in a quest to prove that Shakepeare was merely a pen name. Names like Edward Vere, Christopher Marlowe, and Sir Francis Bacon have all been floated around as possible candidates for the real genius behind the quill, but one name is particularly intriguing – Amelia Bassano Lanyer. So, why are people so unwilling to accept that Shakespeare was … well … Shakespeare? Today we’ll dig through the historical evidence behind the debate, learn about the life of Amelia, England’s first professional female poet, and discuss whether or not she was the “Dark Lady” featured in Shakepeare’s sonnets. 

Thanks to my lovely supporters over on Patreon for bringing us this special bonus episode. If you want to help support the show, consider becoming a patron. 

I had the privilege of interviewing Jennifer Kranz, the producer of The King's Wife, a musical that reimagines the relationship between Catherine of Aragon and Anne Boleyn. Come behind the scenes with me on this still-developing musical, which gives us a heartfelt, feminist version of the story of two of Tudor England's most infamous queens, and find out what it takes to make a show about women in history. Make sure you listen through to the end to hear one of show's beautiful songs, "I Know You."

To find out more about The King's Wife, check out their Instagram account or add "I Know You" on Spotify. To hear more about Catherine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn, or about the lives of Tudor women more generally, go and binge the rest of The Exploress Season 3. To support the show and get access to exclusive bonus content, check out my Patreon.

I enjoyed my chat with our special guest from Fashion with Anne Boleyn so much that I've decided to publish it in full. Natalie gives us such an interesting glimpse into what life was like for Anne Boleyn at the Tudor court, and into her ultimate downfall. So let's dive in.

Find out more about Natalie's work and her upcoming book at her website, or On The Tudor Trail. Make sure to listen to Talking Tudors, too! You can find show notes, images and transcripts for all my episodes on Tudor times at The Exploress website.

Let English king Henry VIII's most fabulously fashionable queen, Anne Boleyn, be your guide as we glide through the halls of the Tudor court exploring why fashion was so important in Tudor England, especially for female members of the royal family, and how women used dress to achieve some of their most important aims. We will cover Tudor headgear, jewelry, textiles, symbolism, and more.

For this episode's show notes, including a transcript and tons of images, go to The Exploress website. To support the show, become a patron.