The story of Pocahontas is one of America's most famous tales. But what if the story you know—a simple romance between a Native American princess and an English adventurer—is almost entirely wrong? What if the real story is far more complex, tragic, and fascinating?

Join me on a journey to 17th-century Virginia, before the United States existed. In this episode of Hoodie History, we're uncovering the true story of Pocahontas and the Powhatan Confederacy. This isn't the Disney fairytale; this is the story of a powerful, sophisticated society of 15,000 people confronting the arrival of 104 English colonists at Jamestown, and the young woman caught between them.

We'll explore the intricate Powhatan world, their system of governance, and their relationship with the land. We'll unravel the truth behind Pocahontas's famous encounter with Captain John Smith—was it a rescue, or a political ceremony the English completely misunderstood? We'll follow her story from a valued diplomat and bridge between cultures to a prisoner of the Jamestown colony, forced to assimilate into an alien world.

This is a story of a fatal collision between two worlds, driven by profoundly different views on land, religion, and power. It's a story of survival, tragedy, and the devastating consequences that laid the groundwork for the next 400 years of American history.