August 14, 2014 in Modern Worthies Hamida Gulistani Got Your Back | This American Life This episode of This American Life covers Hamida Gulistani, an amazing woman who advocates for womens’ rights in Afghanistan, despite persistent death threats. Her story is incredible – definitely worth a listen.
Noor Inayat Khan (1914-1944) The Spy Princess Pacifist Indian princess who gave up everything of herself to hold the line in occupied Paris during World War 2.
Julie d’Aubigny (1670-1707) Princess of the Opera Sword-slinging, opera-singing bisexual rock star of the 17th century - who burnt down a convent to romance a nun and had to be pardoned by the king of France TWICE.
Shajar al-Durr (1220s?-1257) King-ransoming Sultan Muslim sultan who took the throne, defeated Louis IX in battle, ransomed him back to France for 30% of their GDP --- and did it all in secret.
Osh-Tisch (1854-1929) Princess of Two Spirits The last Crow nation baté (Two Spirit mystic) in history, she earned her name -- which means "Finds Them and Kills Them" -- by tirelessly fighting to preserve her way of life.
Penta The Handless Princess When her brother of this fairytale princess decided to marry her, she warded him off by cutting off her own hands. Then she gave birth to a dog. It got weirder after that.
Mai Bhago (late 1600s - mid 1700s) Savior of the Sikhs This Sikh warrior saint led 40 deserters back into battle and in so doing, possibly saved her entire religion from extinction.
Mariya Oktyabrskaya (1905-1944) The Tank-Driving Widow When her husband was killed in WW2, she sold all their belongings, bought a tank, named it Fighting Girlfriend, and started killing Nazis.
Pasiphaë Mother of the Minotaur This mythical queen gave birth to the minotaur and cursed her unfaithful husband with the world's weirdest magic STD -- but was her whole story just a smear campaign?
Beloved Ghost of the Chokecherry Tree The ghost of a tragically-murdered young child come back to haunt her mother in post-slavery America.