HERstory: Southeast Asia

About HERstory: Southeast Asia

Welcome to HERstory, the history of Southeast Asia, told from her perspective. We’ll discover historical figures, matriarchal societies, and contemporary female icons — and maybe learn about ourselves along the way. Season 1 focuses on the Southeast Asian age of commerce up to the colonial period.

Publisher

Agas Ramirez

Category

education

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

20 Jan 2020

Latest episode

24 Jan 2026

Latest episodes

51 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   24 Jan 2026

   33 | Lakshmi Sahgal and Rani of the Jhansi Regiment

   In this episode, we tell the story of the Rani of the Jhansi Regiment, the first all-female combat unit in modern Indian history, formed in Singapore during World War II and led by Dr Lakshmi Sahgal, known as Captain Lakshmi. Most of its members were teenage Tamil girls from plantation communities in Malaya and Burma, many with little formal education, who left estate life to train as soldiers in the Indian National Army. We trace how they were recruited, trained, deployed to the Burma front, and forced into retreat as the war turned against Japan and the INA. Although the regiment never fought a major battle, its legacy reshaped ideas about women’s roles in anti-colonial struggle and military service. Drawing on historical research and oral histories, this episode explores how nationalism, class, gender, and war collided in Southeast Asia, and how ordinary young women briefly became part of a global conflict and a revolutionary movement. Hosted by Agas Ramirez.Full script and bonus episodes available on Patreon. All links available here. (https://linktr.ee/herstoryseapod) Audio Clips WildFilmsIndia - Laxmi Sehgal of the INA on The Forgotten Army Expedition (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JswVzolVMmU) Doordarshan National - Speech of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jq2om8xzY_Y) Interkast - शुभ सुख चैन की/Subh Sukh Chain Ki - With Auspicious Happiness | Anthem of Free India (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WRgrmM_NBUo&list=RDWRgrmM_NBUo&start_radio=1) YouTube Free Audio Clips Theme Music - Goddess of War - Unicorn Heads Journey Home - Chris Haugen

2. 

   15 Aug 2025

   32 | The Secret Life of Joey Guerrero Leaumax

   Josefina “Joey” Veluya Guerrero—later Joey Guerrero Leaumax—was one of the most daring and effective spies in the Pacific War. Armed not with weapons, but with a disease long treated as a curse, this Filipina turned stigma into strategy, saving hundreds, possibly thousands, of lives. Thank you to Feedspot for naming HERstory Southeast Asia (https://linktr.ee/herstoryseapod) among the Top 4 Asian History Podcasts, (https://podcast.feedspot.com/asian_history_podcasts/?feedid=5346679&_src=f2_featured_email) alongside History of Southeast Asia, Echoes of War, and Brown History Podcast. If you’re joining the Akdang Pinoy Readathon (https://www.instagram.com/thefilipinoshelf/), check out At Last She Stood by Erin Entrada Kelly—a nonfiction read for ages 8–12 about Joey Guerrero’s extraordinary story. Special thanks to our patrons (https://www.patreon.com/c/herstoryseapod): Nur’ain, Shereen, Geraineon, Xiaomei by Milish, Jennifer, Christina, Raymond, Matt, Ashley, Chanda, Yati, and Christopher. 🎧 Bonus episodes, full scripts, and references on Patreon (https://www.patreon.com/c/herstoryseapod).📲 Follow us on Facebook, Threads, and Instagram @herstoryseapod. Music: The National WWII Museum. Wainwright Surrenders the Philippines - Radio Broadcast. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZ0K88yg7pY) irateradio. World War II Pacific Radio Broadcasts. (https://youtu.be/F_aSCHAWeak?t=37) Hello 6am - Mylar Melodies Goddess of War - Unicorn Heads TRAVELATOR - Density & Time MEMORIAL DAY by Alex Productions

3. 

   8 Mar 2025

   31 | Women, War, and Resistance: Southeast Asia in WWII

   New season, new stories — this time, we’re diving into the herstory of Southeast Asia in World War 2. Their resistance and resilience helped shape independence movements, political landscapes, and ongoing fights for justice. Celebrate International Women's Day by centering their stories and pushing to #AccelerateAction for gender equality. Special thanks to @PinkTrashProject for their powerful song Babae, featured in this episode! Check out their links below: BABAE (Solo Version) by Pink Trash Project (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Ip_b4yS_a4) ⁠Spotify⁠ (https://open.spotify.com/artist/4YmeeA5wy3hUMdN2bA1pVf) Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/pinktrashproject/) Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/pinktrashproj/?hl=en) YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/c/PinkTrashProject) TikTok (https://www.tiktok.com/@pinktrashproject_) As always, thank you to our patrons: Christopher, Shereen, Geraineon, Xiaomei by Milish, Jennifer, Christina, Raymond, Matt, Ashley, Chanda, and Yati. Check out the Patreon (https://www.patreon.com/c/herstoryseapod) and follow the show here (https://linktr.ee/herstoryseapod). Audio Clips: Theme Music - Goddess of War - Unicorn Heads Lord Of The Dawn - Jesse Gallagher Al Jazeera English. Former Filipino comfort women demand apology from Japanese emperor (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y3V7hxlzZvs)

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

10 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 29 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

37

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

51

Contact HERstory: Southeast Asia

Guest appearances

Does not typically book guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.