Who really built the global economy? Traditional history books tell a story dominated by men—inventors, industrialists, and financiers. But what if this narrative is missing half the picture?

In this eye-opening episode, host Nick is joined by Dr. Victoria Bateman of Gresham College to discuss her hugely ambitious new book, Economica: A Global History of Women, Wealth and Power. Dr. Bateman challenges the very foundations of economic history, arguing that our understanding of wealth creation is fundamentally flawed because it has systematically ignored the contributions of women.

This conversation travels from the Stone Age to the present day, shattering one of history’s biggest myths: that women were simply housewives until the 20th century.

In this episode, you will discover:

• The Unseen Engine: How unpaid care work, performed overwhelmingly by women, underpins the entire global economy—equivalent in value to the US, Chinese, and EU economies combined.
• Beyond the Stereotypes: The surprising history of women in traditionally “masculine” jobs, from brewers in medieval London to pyramid builders in ancient Egypt.