What happens when a princess fights for political change?

In this episode of Heroine City, Lynsey Shaw is joined by historian, teacher and writer Shalina Patel to explore the extraordinary life of Sophia Duleep Singh.

Born into Indian royalty and raised in Britain, Sophia became one of the most prominent suffragettes of the early twentieth century. From selling The Suffragette newspaper outside Hampton Court Palace to campaigning alongside Emmeline Pankhurst and refusing to pay taxes under the slogan "No taxation without representation," Sophia used her status to challenge injustice and fight for women's rights.

Together, Lynsey and Shalina discuss Sophia's remarkable journey, the complexities of identity, empire and belonging.

Join us for a fascinating conversation about courage, activism and one woman who refused to stay silent.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What happens when women are born too close to the throne?

In this episode of Heroine City, Lynsey Shaw is joined by historian and bestselling author Leanda de Lisle to uncover the lives of the Grey women - Lady Jane Grey, Katherine Grey, Mary Grey, and their mother, Frances Brandon.

Often reduced to a single tragic headline, Jane’s story is only the beginning. Together, the Grey sisters’ lives reveal a far more complex and deeply human story of ambition, love, constraint, and survival in the high-stakes world of the Tudor court.

From Jane’s short and reluctant reign to Katherine’s secret marriage and imprisonment, and Mary’s often overlooked resilience, this episode explores what it meant to be a woman with royal blood in a world that offered power, but at a devastating cost.

Drawing on Leanda’s groundbreaking research, we move beyond myth to meet the real women behind the history - and ask why their stories still matter today.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Heroine City, host Lynsey Shaw is joined by Ace Armande to uncover the extraordinary life of Julie d’Aubigny, better known as Mademoiselle Maupin.

A dazzling opera singer and fearless duellist, Julie defied every rule of her time, living openly as a bisexual woman, scandalising Paris with her romances, and wielding a sword as skilfully as she held an audience in song.

Together, they explore how myth and history collide, and why Julie's legend still captivates today.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.