5 Best Women’s History Podcasts

In honor of Women’s History Month I put together a list of what I think are the five best women’s history podcasts available today.

*While all of these podcasts are rated “Clean” on Apple Podcasts, many episodes cover topics that might be sensitive to some listeners. As always, be sure to preview episodes before you play them for a younger audience. 

5. Invisible Women

Invisible Women is an 8 episode podcast hosted by Diane E. Grieg that tells the story of 8 women who worked in espionage during World War II. Grieg collected the stories as part of her PhD research. Each episode starts with analyis through Grieg’s lens as a psychotherapist. If this is not your thing, don’t let it turn you off!  Skip ahead to hear the fascinating narratives of women whose courageous stories deserve to be heard. Listen to the podcast here or wherever you get your podcasts.

4. Remedial Herstory Podcast

Are you an educator looking to include more women’s history in your lessons? If so, this podcast is for you. The Remedial Herstory Project is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing educators access to women’s history resources and professional development. One of these resources is the Remedial Herstory Podcast. Episodes of season one explore the question “Why is women’s history excluded?” and season two explores “Women’s History in Themes”.

3. What’sHerName

The What’sHerName podcast is a storytelling podcast that explores the stories of “fascinating women you’ve never heard of (but should have)”. Hosts Katie Nelson and Olivia Meikle are both university educators. Katie Nelson teaches history at Weber State University and Olivia Meikle teaches Gender and Women’s Studies at Naropa University. Don’t miss the episode The Round the World Cyclist – Annie Londondary. You’ll love the surprising tale of an inventive woman who didn’t back down from a challenge.

2. Fierce: Stories of Women Who Changed the World

Fierce is a 9 episode series from iHeartRadio and Tribeca Studies that highlights stories of women who changed the world but were left out of the history books.  While I was familiar with most of the women highlighted in this series, like Madam CJ Walker and Grace Hopper, others I was unfamiliar with. If I could only recommend one episode, it would be Cheng I Sao: The Most Successful Pirate in History. Check it out.

1. The History Chicks

My all time favorite podcast women’s history podcast, The History Chicks, is hosted by Becket Graham and Susan Vollenweider. Each episode of The History Chicks tells the story of one woman in history. This podcast is number one on my list because it goes beyond basic facts and dives deep into each woman’s individual history and examines the subject with curiosity and compassion. Plus? I love Susan and Beckett’s dialogue. Every time I tune in I feel like I’m sitting down with a couple of old friends.

Honorable Mention: Ben Franklin’s World

Ben Franklin’s World covers all aspects of early American history so it can’t earn a spot on my list of 5 Best Women’s History Podcasts. However, the podcast does have several episodes that focus exclusively on women’s history. I’ve made a list of my favorite women’s history episodes below. Please be aware that some of the content in these episodes may be sensitive to some listeners. Always preview episodes before listening with children.

• Episode 094: Cassandra Good, Founding Frienships
• Episode 120: Marcia Zug, A History of Mail Order Brides in Early America
• Episode 145: Rosemarie Zegarri, Mercy Otis Warren and the American Revolution
• Episode 237: Nora Doyle, Motherhood in Early America
• Episode 269 BFW Team Favorites: One Colonial Woman’s World

What are your favorite women’s history podcasts? Connect with me on Instagram @historyfromroom213 and let me know what I missed!

Looking for more women’s history? Check out my article on women’s roles during WWII or my podcast episode about the All-American Girl’s Professional Baseball League.

Teachers – check out Lit By Learning for 6 essential questions to explore during Women’s History Month and The Problem Solving Teacher to learn more about Women’s History, Gender Stereotypes, and incorporating women’s history into your classroom.