logo
episode-header-image
Aug 2023
5m 11s

Folk Heroes: Grace O’Malley

Wonder Media Network and iHeartPodcasts
About this episode

Grace O’Malley (c. 1530-1603) is known as the iconic, pirate queen of Ireland. She is remembered through folklore as a skilled ship captain, a notorious rebel against the English monarchy, and a fierce pirate. 

Further Reading

This month, we're talking about Folk Heroes. People whose lives and stories took on mythic proportions.

History classes can get a bad rap, and sometimes for good reason. When we were students, we couldn’t help wondering... where were all the ladies at? Why were so many incredible stories missing from the typical curriculum? Enter, Womanica. On this Wonder Media Network podcast we explore the lives of inspiring women in history you may not know about, but definitely should.

Every weekday, listeners explore the trials, tragedies, and triumphs of groundbreaking women throughout history who have dramatically shaped the world around us. In each 5 minute episode, we’ll dive into the story behind one woman listeners may or may not know–but definitely should. These diverse women from across space and time are grouped into easily accessible and engaging monthly themes like Educators, Villains, Indigenous Storytellers, Activists, and many more.  Womanica is hosted by WMN co-founder and award-winning journalist Jenny Kaplan. The bite-sized episodes pack painstakingly researched content into fun, entertaining, and addictive daily adventures. 

Womanica was created by Liz Kaplan and Jenny Kaplan, executive produced by Jenny Kaplan, and produced by Grace Lynch, Maddy Foley, Brittany Martinez, Edie Allard, Lindsey Kratochwill, Adesuwa Agbonile, Carmen Borca-Carrillo, Taylor Williamson, Sara Schleede, and Abbey Delk. Special thanks to Shira Atkins. 

Original theme music composed by Miles Moran.

Follow Wonder Media Network:

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Up next
Today
Maritime Madams: Lagertha
Lagertha was a Viking shield-maiden who is said to have ruled in the 9th century AD in what is now Norway She was the first wife of Ragnar Lothbrok, King of the Vikings and a skilled warrior and sea commander. In one such instance, Ragnar sent to Norway for support in a battle he ... Show More
4m 10s
Yesterday
Maritime Madams: Lehua Kamalu
Lehua Kamalu (c. 1980-present) was the first woman in modern history to captain and navigate a voyaging canoe using the traditional Polynesian practice of wayfinding. Without maps or GPS, she navigated the Pacific Ocean using cues from the currents, the winds and the stars. For F ... Show More
6m 33s
Jul 8
Maritime Madams: Radhika Menon
Radhika Menon is the first female captain in the Indian Merchant Navy. In 2016, she became the first woman to receive the IMO Award for Exceptional Bravery at Sea following a successful rescue mission that saved the lives of seven fishermen. For Further Reading: BBC, Indian woman ... Show More
3m 51s
Recommended Episodes
Jan 2024
23. Jane and Ann Boyd - Secret Baby
Lucy Worsley travels back in time to revisit the unthinkable crimes of 19th century murderesses from the UK, Australia and North America.In this episode Lucy is joined by the Right Honourable Dame Siobhan Keegan, the Lady Chief Justice of Northern Ireland, who was one of the firs ... Show More
29m 18s
May 2024
The Real Carrie Jade: Trailer
Long before anyone ever heard of this story, 3yrs ago, in 2021, a 32-year-old English woman approached us with a heartbreaking story. She was dying from a terminal illness. But she thought she might have a lifeline through lifesaving brain surgery, and she'd like us to record her ... Show More
3m 47s
Mar 2024
Charlie Lawson - Coronation Street Legend's Incredible WW2 Connection
Charlie Lawson, famous for playing Jim McDonald in Coronation Street shares with Al Murray and James Holland his family's history in the Second World War. Charlie's uncle, who fought with the Royal Irish Fusiliers, was incredibly close with Australian Lawrie Franklyn-Vaile. Durin ... Show More
45m 28s
Mar 2024
The Power of Girls (Mattie Kahn)
“I think historically we have always seen that intergenerational partnership is the way that movements grow and expand and the way people feel resilient about what they're trying to accomplish. The first defeat as a young person, when you feel your morals are on the line, your se ... Show More
56m 29s
Jun 2024
The Real Carrie Jade: 01 - I'm Carrie Jade Williams!
A new multi-part true crime series from RTÉ Documentary On One. To get free early access to next episodes (one week in advance of here) please subscribe to 'The Real Carrie Jade' podcast feed from wherever you get your podcasts. Episodes released each Friday. EP1: When we first w ... Show More
29m 33s
May 2024
Unmasking the Shadows: Cerise Castle on Deputy Gangs and Justice
Join us on the latest episode of the Strangest Fruit Podcast as one of the most important journalists of our generation, Cerise Castle, sits down with Didontae Farmer. Produced by Heardstudio @heardstudio Cerise Castle is a Los Angeles-based journalist specializing in arts & cult ... Show More
1h 16m
Feb 2024
Prisoners Of War
Over 150,000 British and Commonwealth troops were imprisoned by the Germans or Japanese during the Second World War. What were their lives like, what diseases did they suffer, and how good were their musicals? Al Murray and James Holland delve into the National Archives to find o ... Show More
46m 52s
Feb 2024
The Pledge: Who Really Wrote the Pledge of Allegiance?
In today's Episode, Dana, Zaron and Jason tackle a 130-year-old mystery. Although American schoolchildren still recite The Pledge every morning in nearly every classroom, we still aren't sure who actually wrote it. And all these years later, the long-accepted story is showing som ... Show More
46m 18s
Feb 2024
Enemy Aliens
As the Nazis waged war on Europe, Britain had to take extreme measures to protect its shores. German and Italian nationals were imprisoned across the UK, including a small community of women on the Isle Of Man. Al Murray and James Holland return to the National Archives, to disco ... Show More
33m 30s
May 2024
Kelly Rowland, Cate Blanchett And A Film Festival Uproar
Ahh Cannes Film Festival, where wearing flats was once the ultimate scandal, has become a hotbed of celebrity headlines. We're talking not one, not two, but THREE red carpet security incidents. Plus an eyebrow raising Cate Blanchett press panel that’s left us wondering… are we mi ... Show More
17m 24s