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Welcome back to Speaking of Her. For this special episode, we sit down with the extraordinary Arctic explorer Ann Daniels — one of the world’s leading polar adventurers and a woman who has pushed the limits of human endurance in some of the harshest environments on Earth.

As we close out our very first season, this conversation feels especially fitting. Ann’s story is one of resilience, courage, and relentless determination — a powerful reminder of what we are capable of.

In this inspiring episode, we explore:

• Ann Daniels’ journey from an ordinary life to becoming a world-renowned Arctic explorer
• What it takes — mentally, physically, and emotionally — to survive and lead expeditions in extreme polar conditions
• The realities of fear, risk, and resilience when operating in some of the most unforgiving landscapes on the planet

As our Season 1 finale, we also want to take a moment to say thank you for listening — we hope you all had a wonderful Christmas, and we wish every one of you a very happy and adventurous New Year.

Keywords

Ann Daniels, Arctic explorer, women explorers, polar exploration, female adventurers, women in extreme environments, leadership in exploration, resilience stories, feminist history podcast, Speaking of Her podcast, women who break barriers, modern women pioneers, exploration and survival, women in STEM and exploration, inspirational women stories, real history podcast, contemporary women leaders, courage and resilience, women in male-dominated fields, adventure podcast, polar expeditions, women redefining exploration, global women’s stories

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Welcome back to Speaking of Her. For this week’s episode, Jess dives into the notorious and daring lives of Anne Bonney and Mary Read — two of the most famous female pirates to ever sail the Caribbean during the Golden Age of Piracy.

In a brutal, lawless world ruled almost entirely by men, Anne and Mary carved out lives of rebellion and freedom on the open seas, fighting fiercely in battle, and refusing to submit to the roles society demanded of them.

In this thrilling episode, we explore:

• How Anne Bonney fled a life of rigid expectations and scandal to embrace piracy — and what drew her to the notorious pirate “Calico Jack” Rackham
• Mary Read’s extraordinary early life, including being raised as a boy and how that deception shaped her survival and identity
• How Anne and Mary met aboard Rackham’s ship and became fearsome fighters known for their ferocity in combat
• The capture of their crew, the dramatic trial that shocked the colonial world, and the legal loophole that spared them from immediate execution
• The myths, mysteries, and unanswered questions surrounding their final fates — and why their legacy still fascinates us today

This episode peels back the legend to reveal two complex women who lived boldly, violently, and unapologetically on their own terms — and who continue to challenge how we think about gender, power, and rebellion in history.

Sources:

• Smithsonian Magazine
• Pirates: Totalus Rankium podcast episode 19
• Wicked Women podcast: Anne Bonney and Mary Read
• ChatGPT

Keywords

Anne Bonney, Mary Read, women pirates, female pirates history, Golden Age of Piracy, Caribbean piracy, pirate women warriors, women who defied gender norms, feminist history podcast, Speaking of Her podcast, notorious women in history, piracy myths and legends, women disguised as men history, eighteenth-century women pioneers, outlaw women history, rebellious women stories, maritime history through a feminist lens, forgotten women of history, women who broke the rules, real history podcast, untold women’s stories, women in combat history, pirate trials history, legendary women pirates, global women’s history, fearless women leaders

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Welcome back to Speaking of Her. In this week’s episode, we sit down with Lyndsay, who opens up about her journey to sobriety.

What begins as a reflection on life over decade ago unfolds into a deeply honest conversation about recognising unhealthy patterns, confronting difficult truths, and finding hope through support and community. With vulnerability and strength, she shares how choosing sobriety reshaped not only her daily life but her sense of self, her relationships, and her purpose.

In this heartfelt episode, we explore:

• The signs that alcohol had become a problem, and the turning point that led her to seek help
• Her first experiences with support groups — the nerves, the surprises, and the principles that continue to guide her
• The emotional landscape of early sobriety and how her relationship with herself has evolved
• The unexpected joys of a sober life, the role of community, and her encouragement for anyone struggling — especially as Christmas approaches

This episode is tender, honest, and full of hope. Whether sobriety is part of your own story or something affecting someone you love, her perspective offers insight, and the reminder that it’s never too late to choose a different path.

If you, or a family member is seeking support, we have included a couple of links below:

Al-Anon UK | For families & friends of alcoholics

Home - Alcoholics Anonymous Great Britain

Keywords

Sobriety journey, recovery, personal stories, Speaking of Her podcast, women supporting women, sobriety at Christmas, empowering women’s stories, lived experience recovery, hope and healing, real women real stories, transforming your life, sobriety support, recovery community, women’s wellness

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In this powerful and deeply moving episode, we continue our conversation with Jihyun Park, activist, survivor, and co-author of The Hard Road Out.

In Part 1, Jihyun shared her extraordinary story of growing up under the brutal regime of North Korea, she told us about her first daring escape, the heartbreaking challenges she faced, and she opened up about her years in China - years marked by both danger and resilience.

Join us now for Part 2 where Jihyun continues her story with extraordinary courage.

• She talks to us about being captured, imprisoned in China, and ultimately repatriated back to North Korea.
• She shares what she witnessed and experienced inside a North Korean prison camp.
• And how - against all odds - she managed a second escape.

This is a conversation about courage, endurance, and the unbreakable human spirit. Jihyun’s story is not only a testament to her strength, but also an urgent reminder of the realities faced by countless North Korean defectors today.

We have linked to The Hard Road Out below:

The Hard Road Out: One Woman’s Escape From North Korea : Park, Jihyun, Chai, Seh-lynn, Baldwin, Sarah: Amazon.co.uk: Books

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In this powerful and deeply moving episode, we sit down with Jihyun Park, activist, survivor, and co-author of The Hard Road Out. Jihyun shares her extraordinary story of growing up under the brutal regime of North Korea, offering a rare and intimate look into daily life inside the world’s most secretive country.

She takes us through her first daring escape, the heartbreaking challenges she faced, and the unimaginable risks she took in search of freedom. Jihyun also opens up about her years in China - years marked by both danger and resilience - as she fought to survive and ultimately reclaim control of her life.

This is a conversation about courage, endurance, and the unbreakable human spirit. Jihyun’s story is not only a testament to her strength, but also an urgent reminder of the realities faced by countless North Korean defectors today.

#survivor

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Welcome back to Speaking of Her. For this week’s episode, Lucy is telling the story of the incredible Flora Sandes — the only British woman to officially serve as a soldier on the front lines during WWI.

What began as a humanitarian mission quickly transformed into a life of rifles, marches, and battlefield danger as Flora fought alongside the Serbian Army, refusing every limit placed on her by gender or convention.

In this riveting episode, we explore:

• How a British-born woman began her journey as a volunteer nurse — and how this path led her to contract a near-fatal case of typhoid fever
• Her recovery against the odds, and how surviving that brush with death strengthened her resolve to keep serving — ultimately leading her to enlist as a combatant in the Serbian Army
• The brutal Balkan front and the battles where Flora proved herself a soldier among soldiers
• Her postwar life — decorated veteran, trailblazing author, and a woman who never stopped defying expectations

Trust us — Flora Sandes will leave you redefining what bravery looked like in a world at war.

Sources:

Stephen Liddell.co.uk
History-uk.com
ChatGPT
School history.co.uk
Eadt.co.uk

Keywords

Flora Sandes, WWI women soldiers, Serbian Army history, women in combat, First World War frontline, female war heroes, hidden women’s military history, feminist history podcast, Speaking of Her podcast, forgotten women warriors, trailblazing soldier, Balkan front WWI, women in uniform history, groundbreaking female veterans, untold women’s stories, real history podcast, twentieth-century women pioneers, military history through a feminist lens, extraordinary women in war, defying gender norms, combat history podcast, women who made history, overlooked war heroes, frontline bravery, global women’s history, courageous women leaders

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Before her name became synonymous with elegance, Coco Chanel was a girl who refused to be defined by her circumstances. Abandoned at an orphanage, she rose to reinvent not just her life, but the very way women dressed and lived. In this episode, we trace the story of Gabrielle ‘Coco’ Chanel - the woman who liberated fashion from the corset, built a global empire from sheer determination, and forever changed what it means to be iconic.

So go and grab yourself a glass of wine or a nice hot bevvy, and settle in for Jess’ story of Coco Chanel - the woman who changed fashion forever.

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Welcome back to Speaking of Her. For our Spooky Season Finale, Lucy leads us into one of the most haunting corners of women’s history — where industrial progress, poverty, and silence collided in the shadows of Victorian London.

We’re telling the story of the matchstick girls — the young women who worked long hours in match factories, dipping sticks into white phosphorus that slowly poisoned them from the inside out. What followed was a terrifying and agonizing condition called Phossy Jaw — where their bones literally glowed before they decayed.

In this eerie, unforgettable spooky season finale, we explore:

• The deadly factories where women and teenage girls labored under toxic conditions
• How white phosphorus ravaged the jaw, teeth, and face — and why factory owners ignored it
• The groundbreaking strike led by these women that changed labour history
• The lasting legacy of their courage in the fight for safe, dignified work

This Halloween, we’re not chasing legends or monsters.
We’re facing a very real horror: what happens when women’s pain is seen as the cost of doing business.

A glowing jaw. A silenced workforce.
And a revolt that caught fire.

Trust us — this is one story that will linger long after the episode ends.

Note: Our discussion of the factory owners refers to historical events and practices. The brand today is owned by a respected Swedish company and is not associated with those past issues.

We refer to the episode with Justine on this episode, go check it out! Surviving the Unthinkable - Justine Barwick's Story.

Follow us on Instagram to check out our Norway day trip highlight!

Keywords

Matchstick girls, Phossy Jaw, white phosphorus poisoning, factory strike, Victorian factory workers, spooky season finale, women’s labor rights, labor movement history, dark history podcast, women in history podcast, industrial revolution labor, workplace safety history, feminist true crime, haunting true story, real-life horror, historical medical mystery, exploited women workers, Victorian London history, occupational disease history, untold women’s stories, Speaking of Her podcast, Halloween special episode, chilling true story, horror meets history, feminist labor history, match factories, 19th century women workers, hidden history of women, eerie historical stories, spooky season podcast finale

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