Belle Starr: A Bad Rap for the Bandit Queen

The reality of the Bavarian Illuminati is much less dramatic than conspiracy theories would indicate. It wasn’t a mystical organization, but a protest organization formed by a rather conceited man who was frustrated with the Catholic church. Research: Britannica Editors. "illumin ...  Show more

A lot of European accounts of Sayyida al-Hurra’s life characterize her as a pirate, but that really isn't accurate. She was a a leader of a city-state and a queen of a sultanate. Research: Ali, Adam. “The Pirate Queen of the Mediterranean: The Story of Al-Sayyida al-Hurra.” Medie ...  Show more

"Belle Starr" and "Calamity Jane" aren't even their given names! We separate fact from fabrication in our coverage of these famous women of the Wild West. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices 

Among the bearded ladies of the Sideshow, Julia Pastrana’s story is the longest: it spans her short life and long death, revealing the lengths some will go to make a buck. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for priv ...  Show more

In Arizona Territory, Peart Hart’s adventures escalated and intensified. She robbed a stagecoach, tried to outrun the law, escaped from jail, and ended up in the notorious Yuma Prison. Her exploits made headlines across the country, but her fame was fleeting in the waning days of ...  Show more

Calamity Jane is group with the legends of the Wild West. Who was she really? A tough woman who made her way in a tough world from the age of 12.