Hidden Heroines of History

Discover Margaret Mattson, a healer from the 17th century American colonies, whose life was nearly destroyed by a wrongful charge of witchcraft 10 years before the Salem witch trials.Host Gayvin Powers and actress and writer Gina Dodson dive into why Margaret's story sparks a personal chord as Gina bravely shares a harrowing experience of being charged with a crime she did not commit. Join us for a powerful exploration of justice and resilience. From Margaret’s colonial trial to Gina’s personal battle, this episode is a testament to the enduring strength required to reclaim one’s truth from the shadows of false accusation.

A teaser for an evocative episode about Margaret Mattson on Hidden Heroines of History. Journey back to the 17th century with Host Gayvin Powers and actress and writer Gina Dodson, to honor Margaret, a Swedish-Finnish healer whose life was nearly destroyed by a wrongful charge of witchcraft in the American colonies.The conversation strikes a personal chord as Gina bravely shares her own modern-day parallel: the harrowing experience of being charged with a crime she did not commit. Through our dialogue, we bridge three hundred years of history, revealing how society’s fear of the "other" continues to weaponize the law against women.Join us for a powerful exploration of justice and resilience on Tuesday, April 21. From Margaret’s colonial trial to Gina’s personal battle, this episode is a testament to the enduring strength required to reclaim one’s truth from the shadows of false accusation.

The perfect life was a gilded cage.In this week's episode of Hidden Heroines of History, host Gayvin Powers sits down with Meagan Church, the brilliant mind behind the unnerving book, The Mad Wife, an instant New York Times and USA Today Bestseller. Together, they peel back the linoleum floors of the 1950s to reveal a chilling reality: for many women, "sanity" was a performance, and "hysteria" was a weapon used to silence those who dared to want more.Church dives deep into the suffocating expectations of mid-century motherhood, where a woman’s worth was measured in S&H Green Stamps and the height of her gelatin salads. We explore the terrifying medical gaslighting of the era—where postpartum struggles and valid anxieties were cured with mind-numbing pills and labels of madness. It’s a raw, necessary conversation about the "mad wife" in the mirror and the strength it took to survive a world that refused to see her.

Listen to Meagan Church, award-winning author of The Mad Wife, talk about the traveling lobotomobile in the 1950s. Hear upcoming episode on the Hidden Heroines of History Podcast releases Tuesday, April 7 at 12 am.

Get ready for a fascinating deep dive into the mid-century living room! In this exclusive clip from the Hidden Heroines of History podcast, host Gayvin Powers chats with Meagan Church, author of The Mad Wife, to uncover the real stories behind the 1950s "perfect housewife."We’re swapping the aprons for some serious truth-telling as we tackle the wild myth of the "wandering womb" and how "hysteria" was used to keep women in their place. It’s an engaging, eye-opening look at how our history shaped the modern woman. Grab a tea and join the conversation!

Get ready to step into the gilded—and often blood-stained—halls of history’s most powerful dynasties. In this week’s episode of Hidden Heroines of History, host Gayvin Powers sits down with a master of historical intrigue, Sherry Jones, to deconstruct her popular book, Four Sisters: All Queens.While history books often focus on the crowns, Jones peels back the velvet curtain to reveal the raw, jagged edges of sibling rivalry on a royal scale. Imagine growing up in a world where your sister isn’t just your playmate—she’s your future political rival, and her marriage could mean your demise. We’re diving deep into the Provencal sisters, four women who climbed the ranks of 13th-century Europe to each wear a crown, but at what cost to their shared bloodline?Powers and Jones explore the psychological warfare, the desperate grab for parental favor, and the high-stakes jealousy that simmers when "family dinner" involves the fate of nations. Was it sisterly solidarity that saw them through, or a calculated race to the top? Watch the conversation that reveals the power and intrigue each queen brought to the throne.

What would you do if you had a second chance at love? Jane Austen explores regret, sacrifice, and true love in Persuasion, following Anne Elliot. Clare Draycott, author, joins me as we chat about Jane's most resilent character and how closely tied Jane is to Anne. Join our conversation today.

Quick clip from Jane Austen & Anne Elliot: Truth & Second Chances at Love and Life.

A father’s death was a lie. A daughter’s courage is the only thing that can bring him home.When Louisa discovers a hidden cache of letters, the truth shatters her world: the father she spent years mourning is alive, trapped behind the concrete and barbed wire of East Berlin. To get him back, she must step into a landscape of shadows, deciphering family codes and risking everything to outsmart the Stasi.On this episode of the Hidden Heroines of History Podcast, host Gayvin Powers sits down with author Katherine Reay to dive into the high-stakes world of The Berlin Letters. This gripping narrative finds its inspiration in the Venona Project set during the monumental historical shift of 1989 as the Berlin Wall crumbled.This is more than a Cold War thriller; it is a celebration of the strength of women. Gayvin and Katherine discuss this fascinating time in history, Katherine's behind-the-scenes stories, and the lengths a daughter will go to reclaim her family.Watch on YouTube or listen on Spotify to uncover the secrets hidden between the lines.

Join Gayvin Powers, writer, editor, and host of Hidden Heroines of History with Clare Draycott, writer, as they discuss literacy in the US and UK, it being a superpower, and a special interview with Caroline Knight, founder of the Jane Austen Literacy Foundation and Jane Austen's Niece.

Launching January 6, 2026: Our Premiere Month – Joan of ArcWe kick off our inaugural season on the 614th birthday of the Maid of Orleans. Join writer, editor, and host, Gayvin Powers and writer, editor, and historian Christine Guidy Law as we examine the legendary Joan of Arc. In our debut episode, we go beyond the stake and the sword to uncover Joan’s secretive influence in modern times and World War II.New episodes drop every other Tuesday (1st and 3rd).If you believe that the history you know is only half the story, subscribe now and meet the heroines you were never told about.

Celebrate Jane Austen's 250th Birthday with Caroline Knight, Jane Austen's Niece, and Gayvin Powers, host of the Hidden Heroines of History Podcast. Listen until the end when Caroline announces what's coming up for Jane's beloved Chawton House and the Austen/Knight Family legacy.

Enjoy a snippet of the upcoming EXCLUSIVE Jane Austen Interview with Jane Austen's Niece to commemorate Jane's 250th Birthday. Don't miss the special announcement!