We have long been obsessed with tales of swash-buckeling pirates and their many sea-fairing adventures. And there is a special fascination with the rare and domineering women who have donned the role of ‘pirate.’ But what if I told you female pirates were not nearly as rare a phenomenon as we have been led to believe?

In this episode I share the stories of five great pirate women, from the Bronze Age all the way to the dawn of the 20th century. As well as exploring (and dismantling) the notions that have long separated a woman at sea from being considered ‘a real pirate.’