Notable People in History
By Lawrence Jean-Louis
What life choices led them to be so extraordinary… what can we learn from them?
Notable People in HistoryAug 05, 2023
Ep. 123 Oranyan: First Oba of the Oyo Empire, Second Prince of Ile-Ife
In this week's Notable People in History podcast, we’ll take a look at the life of Oranyan, the second prince of Ile-Ife, who made Oyo his new kingdom. According to Yoruba history, Oranyan founded Oyo around the year 1300 and one of his children, Eweka I, went on to become the first king of the Benin Empire.
Ep. 122 Queen Nzinga Mbandi: Ruler of the Ndongo and Matamba Kingdoms
In this week's Notable People in History podcast, we’ll take a look at the life of Nzinga Mbandi, who became queen of Ndongo in 1624. She is known for her diplomatic and military strategies in defending her kingdoms against the Portuguese, transforming them into successful commercial states.
Ep. 121 Shaka Zulu: King of Ancient Zulu Empire
In this week's Notable People in History podcast, we’ll take a look at the life of Shaka Zulu. Before the ascendancy of King Shaka, Zulu referred to only one clan that recognized "Zulu" as its founding ancestor. After Shaka's mission of conquest and consolidation, the Zulu Empire’s population reached an estimated 250,000 and his state emerged as the largest in the history of Southern Africa.
Ep. 120 Axumite Queen Makeda: The Queen of Sheba
In this week's Notable People in History podcast, we’ll take a look at the life of Makeda, Queen of Sheba who ruled the Axumite kingdom for more than 50 years. She traveled to Jerusalem to witness the fabled wisdom of King Solomon and bore him a son named Menelik, the first Imperial ruler of Ethiopia.
Ep. 119 Mansa Musa: 9th Ruler of Mali
In this week's Notable People in History podcast, we’ll take a look at the life of Mansa Musa, the ninth ruler of the Mali Empire and considered the richest man to have ever lived. During his reign, the empire of Mali doubled in size, making it second in size only to that of the Mongol Empire at the time, and trade tripled.
Ep. 118 Kandake Amani: Leading the Kushites Against the Romans
In this week's Notable People in History podcast, we’ll take a look at the life of Queen Amani. She’s remembered as having led her Kingdom’s army to fight back the Romans from 25 to 22 BC, halting their expansion into Kush. She captured three major Roman cities and brought back the bronze head of Augustus Caesar.
Ep. 117 Leo Africanus: Andalusian Explorer & Geographer
In this week's Notable People in History podcast, we’ll take a look at the life of Leo Africanus. Born Al Hassan Ibn Muhammad Al Wazzan, he is best known for hisb book, Cosmographia et geographia de affrica (Cosmography and geography of Africa).
Ep. 116 Hatshepsut: Foremost of Noblewomen
In this week's Notable People in History podcast, we’ll take a look at the life of Hatshepsut. Assuming the title King of Upper and Lower Egypt, she reigned Egypt as pharoah from 1478-1458 BCE, longer than any other woman of Egyptian dynasty.
Ep. 115 Muḥammad ibn Musa Al-Khwarizmi: Scientific Pioneer of the Islamic Golden Age
In this week's Notable People in History podcast, we’ll take a look at the life of Muḥammad ibn Musa Al-Khwarizmi. His book, Hisab al-jabr w’al-muqabala or The Compendious Book on Calculation by Completion and Balancing, is generally considered to be the first written on the subject of algebra.
Ep. 114 Queen Boudica: Celtic Queen of Iron Age Roman Britain
In this week's Notable People in History podcast, we’ll take a look at the life of Queen Boudica, a Celtic queen of the Iceni tribe in England who led a rebellion against Roman occupation around 60 A.D.
Ep. 113 Fibonacci: Ten Symbols {0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9}
In this week's Notable People in History podcast, we’ll take a look at the life of Fibonacci. Traveling around the Mediterranean coast, Fibonacci met with many merchants, learning about their systems for doing arithmetic.
Ep. 112 Wang Zhenyi: Astronomer, Mathematician, and Poet
In this week's Notable People in History podcast, we’ll take a look at the life of Wang Zhenyi. Despite societal norms which prohibited female education, she made accurate findings and observations as to the relationship between the lunar and solar eclipses.
Ep. 111 Pythagoras of Samos: From Earth to the Sphere of the Moon, One Tone
In this week's Notable People in History podcast, we’ll take a look at the life of Pythagoras. He’s credited with formulating the Pythagorean theorem, and the concept that music and harmony is present in the entire Universe.
Ep. 110 Hypatia of Alexandria: Mathematician, Astronomer, Philosopher
In this week's Notable People in History podcast, we’ll take a look at the life of Hypatia of Alexandria. She became the head of the Platonist school at Alexandria, lecturin on mathematics and philosophy. In 415 AD, she was attacked by a mob, and beaten to death with what are thought to be roofing tiles.
Ep. 109 Euclid of Alexandria: Mathematician & Author of Elements
In this week's Notable People in History podcast, we’ll take a look at the life of Euclid, the Greek mathematician, who lived and taught in Alexandria during the reign of Ptolemy I. He’s often referred to as the “Father of Geometry.”
Ep. 108 Nakano Takeko: The Last of the Onna-Bugeishas
In this week's Notable People in History podcast, we’ll take a look at the life of Nakano Takeko. Born into a family of the Aizu clan, Nakano Takeko was born in Edo. She led a warrior class of female samurais during the Battle of Aizu of 1868.
Ep. 107 Vitruvius: Roman Architect, Author and Engineer
In this week's Notable People in History podcast, we’ll take a look at the life of Vitruvius, the Roman architect, author and engineer. He is best known for his multi-volume treatise De Architectura ("On Architecture"), which is considered the first book on architectural theory and is the only one from antiquity to survive today.
Ep. 106 Golda Meir: Israel’s First Female Prime Minister
In this week's Notable People in History podcast, we’ll take a look at the life of Golda Meir, Israel's first female prime minister and the third female prime minister in the world.
Ep. 105 Galen of Pergamon: Physician, Author, Philosopher
In this week's Notable People in History podcast, we’ll take a look at the life of Greek physician, Galen. Universally known as Galen of Pergamon, he correctly pointed out that arteries were filled with blood, not air.
Ep. 104 Grace Hopper: Computer Pioneer and Naval Officer
In this week's Notable People in History podcast, we’ll take a look at the life of Grace Hopper. She popularized the idea of machine-independent programming languages, which led to the development of COBOL, one of the first modern programming languages.
Ep. 103 Hippocrates of Kos, the Asklepiad
In this week's Notable People in History podcast, we’ll take a look at the life of Hippocrates, the Greek physician often credited with developing the theory of the "four humors," or fluids, which include yellow bile, black bile, blood and phlegm.
Ep. 102 Mary Todd Lincoln: Rarely a Kind Word
In this week's Notable People in History podcast, we’ll take a look at the life of Mary Todd Lincoln, wife of the 16th President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln. Their relationship, based on mutual interest in politics, turned from friendship to courtship. On November 4, 1842, a plain gold wedding band was placed on Mary's finger with the inscription "Love Is Eternal."
Ep. 101 Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin: Gastronomic Writer, Lawyer, and Politician
In this week's Notable People in History podcast, we’ll take a look at the life of Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin, considered one of the most influential food writers of all time.
Ep. 100 Deborah Read: Wife of American Founding Father Benjamin Franklin
In this week's Notable People in History podcast, we’ll take a look at the life of Deborah Read, wife of American Founding Father Benjamin Franklin. It’s said that she received little formal education. Almost nothing else is known about her childhood.
Ep. 99 Plato: Philosopher, Mathematician, Slave, Founder
In this week's Notable People in History podcast, we’ll take a look at the life of Plato. He was convinced that the idea of justice, no matter how people’s opinions might change, does not change in itself.
Ep. 98 Sarah Livingston Jay: Wife of American Founding Father John Jay
In this week's Notable People in History podcast, we’ll take a look at the life of Sarah Livingston Jay, wife of American Founding Father John Jay. Considered one of the first socialites in the United States, she was exposed to American politics at an early age.
Ep. 97 Plutarch: Obtaining Knowledge through Suspension of Judgement
In this week's Notable People in History podcast, we’ll take a look at the life of Plutarch. Born in Boeotia, educated in Athens, and made a priest at Delphi, Plutarch wrote over 200 works, among them Parallel Lives and the Morals.
Ep. 96 Dolley Madison: Wife of American Founding Father James Madison
In this week's Notable People in History podcast, we’ll take a look at the life of Martha Jefferson, wife of James Madison. She is often credited with saving the portrait of George Washington when the British attacked the Capitol in 1814 when 4,000 British troops began landing in Maryland during the War of 1812.
Ep. 95 John Jay: Founding Father & First Chief Justice of the United States
In this week's Notable People in History podcast, we’ll take a look at the life of James Madison. He was the fourth American president, and the chief author of the Bill of Rights.
Ep. 94 Martha Jefferson: Wife of American Founding Father Thomas Jefferson
In this week's Notable People in History podcast, we’ll take a look at the life of Martha Jefferson, wife of the third President of the United States, Thomas Jefferson. During the Revolutionary War, she raised money and made clothing for the soldiers of the Continental Army in Virginia at the suggestion of Martha Washington.
Ep. 93 James Madison: First Amendment and Freedom of Speech
In this week's Notable People in History podcast, we’ll take a look at the life of James Madison. He was the fourth American president, and the chief author of the Bill of Rights.
Ep. 92 Martha Washington: Wife of American Founding Father George Washington
In this week's Notable People in History podcast, we’ll take a look at the life of Martha Washington, the first First Lady. As first lady, she initiated a weekly reception, held on Friday evenings hosting members of Congress, visiting dignitaries, and men and women from the local community.
Ep. 91 Thomas Jefferson: President, Secretary of State, Gardener & Scientist
In this week's Notable People in History podcast, we’ll take a look at the life of Thomas Jefferson. The principal author of the Declaration of Independence, and the third President of the United States, he also delivered the first inaugural address.
Ep. 90 Elizabeth Hamilton: Wife of American Founding Father Alexander Hamilton
In this week's Notable People in History podcast, we’ll take a look at the life of Elizabeth Hamilton, wife of Alexander Hamilton, American Founding Father and 1st U.S Secretary of the Treasury. She helped found New York's first private orphanage in 1806.
Ep. 89 George Washington: Farmer & First President of the United States
In this week's Notable People in History podcast, we’ll take a look at the life of American Founding Father, George Washington. He was the first American president, commander of the Continental Army, president of the Constitutional Convention, and a farmer.
Ep. 88 Abigail Adams: Remember the Ladies
In this week's Notable People in History podcast, we’ll take a look at the life of Abigail Adams, the first woman to serve as Second Lady of the United States and the second woman to serve as First Lady. She was also the mother of the sixth President, John Quincy Adams.
Ep. 87 Alexander Hamilton: Founding Father, First Secretary of Treasury
In this week's Notable People in History podcast, we’ll take a look at the life of Alexander Hamilton, American Founding Father and the 1st U.S Secretary of the Treasury.
Ep. 86 Zora Neale Hurston: A Genius of the South
In this week's Notable People in History podcast, we’ll take a look at the life of Zora Neal Hurston. During her lifetime, Zora Neale Hurston published four novels; Jonah's Gourd Vine (1934), Their Eyes Were Watching God (1937), Moses, Man of the Mountain (1939), Seraph on the Suwanee (1948) and more than 50 published short stories, plays, and essays.
Ep. 85 John Adams: America’s 2nd President & 1st Vice President
In this week's Notable People in History podcast, we’ll take a look at the life of American Founding Father and the 2nd President of the United States, John Adams. He served as the first Vice President under President George Washington.
Ep. 84 Marian Anderson: An Easter Sunday Performance at Lincoln Memorial
In this week's Notable People in History podcast, we’ll take a look at the life of Marian Anderson. Considered one of the best contraltos of the 20th century, Marian Anderson was still subject to the racial bias of the time. Denied the opportunity to perform in DAR Constitution Hall because of her race, she performed at the Lincoln Memorial to a crowd of 75,000 on Easter Sunday 1939 in Washington, D.C.
Ep. 83 Medgar Evers: World War II Veteran & Civil Rights Leader
In this week's Notable People in History podcast, we’ll take a look at the life of Medgar Evers, World War II veteran, civil rights leader, and NAACP's first field officer in Mississippi. He filed lawsuits and led initiatives to break down barriers of segregation, becoming a significant voice in fighting for civil rights and social justice before being assassinated at the age of 37.
Ep 82. Susan B. Anthony: Women Their Rights and Nothing Less
In this week's Notable People in History podcast, we’ll take a look at the life of Susan B. Anthony. Throughout the 1850s and 1860s, Susan B. Anthony honed her speaking and organizing skills, continuing her involvement with the temperance movement, fighting for equal wages, abolition of slavery and suffrage.
Ep 81. Malcolm X: A Tree Without Roots is Dead
In this week's Notable People in History podcast, we’ll take a look at the life of Malcolm X. Born Malcolm Little on May 19, 1925, he was a major voice for Black Nationalism in the 1960s.
Ep 80. Indira Gandhi: India’s First Woman Prime Minister
In this week's Notable People in History podcast, we’ll take a look at the life Indira Ghandi, India’s third prime minister and the first woman to lead the nation’s millions from 1966 to 1977 and from 1980 until her assassination in 1984.
Ep 79. Yuan Mei: Qing Dynasty Poet, Painter, Gastronome
In this week's Notable People in History podcast, we’ll take a look at the life of Yuan Mei. One of China’s most influential poets and painters, he was an advocate for women's education and helped publish their poetry at a time when it was suppressed.
Ep 78. Madeleine Albright: First Woman Secretary of State
In this week's Notable People in History podcast, we’ll take a look at the life of Madeleine Albright, the 64th U.S Secretary of State. The journey to her confirmation spanned two continents and 20 years of government service.
Ep 77. Nelson Mandela: First Black South African President
In this week's Notable People in History podcast, we’ll take a look at the life of Nelson Mandela, South African anti-apartheid activist and the country’s first black president.
Ep 76. Florence Kelley: Advocate for Working Women & Children
In this week's Notable People in History podcast, we’ll take a look at the life of Florence Kelley, the first woman factory inspector in the United States. She fought for government regulation to protect working women and children.
Ep 75. Bernard Baruch: Financier & Advisor to Presidents
In this week's Notable People in History podcast, we’ll take a look at the life of a successful Wall Street businessman and advisor to various US Presidents from Woodrow Wilson to Franklin Roosevelt.
Ep 74. Emily Dickinson: American Poet
In this week's Notable People in History podcast, we’ll take a look at the life of Emily Dickinson, regarded as one of the most important figures in American poetry. Some time after her death, her sister Lavinia found a locked box containing more than 1,700 short poems.