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When real life stories have been kept secret for over 60 years, it’s difficult to coax them into existence. This episode introduces eight such stories and the challenges involved in uncovering them — from the male gatekeepers I had to traverse to inviting the women to share their stories, most of whom had not previously done so. We begin with Edie’s story, a young woman who worked for Service Zero, a large resistance cell in Belgium. Episode Details Service ZeroPodcast Episode # 01 Runs: 48:50 Credits Host and Writer: Diane GreigEdie: Patti AllanCasting Director: Eileen BarrettProducer: Robert OuimetSound engineer: Scott Whittaker Show Notes Invisible Women is a podcast about eight women who worked in espionage during World War 2They were six different countriesWhat they had in common was the opportunity to step outside societal norms while at the same time working in the shadowsThe podcast is about cultural shadow. Its also about projections, and societal expectationsDidn’t plan to search out women in espionageIntrigued by image of agents being flown in behind enemy lines by the light of the full moonThe challenge in finding these women and the men gate keepersAll were living ordinary lives until war struck and then they were thrust into this unusual workIntroduction to EdieEdie’s storyIn 1939 was 16 and living at home in Ghent, BelgiumMay 1940 was on a family vacation in Ardennes when Belgium was invadedHarrowing trip back to Ghent, now occupied by German soldiersIntroduced to resistance work by her brother – a cell called Service ZeroReported on rail , troop movement, airfields and construction to British IntelligenceTyped up and couriered reports to wireless operatorsThe every day risks and dangers of inspections at train stations and on the roadAvoiding going to a forced labour campFamily has been through this kind of things before, mother was a role modelResistance work ended in 1943 when her brother is arrestedHer final assignment – to warn the head of Service Zero that someone has exposed the groupFather is arrestedAfter liberation, reunited with her father and later her brother Links and Resources Canadians in Belgium WW 2German Occupation of Belgium WW 2Overview of Belgium Resistance WW 2 including Service ZeroUntold Stories of Belgium’s Female Resistance WW 1Belgium Resistance with photos WW 2Hidden Children of the Holocaust: Belgian Nuns and Their Daring Rescue of Young Jews from the Nazis (review) Resistance movie (2003)Belgian resistance during World War (library talk)Psychology-related LinksOwning Your Own ShadowMeeting the ShadowMap of the Soul and BTS LyricsRomancing the Shadow All Episodes in this Series Episode 1: Service Zero Promo Sign up for the Invisible Women Email Newsletter We’ll send you updates regarding the series and other information direct to your inbox. We promise: no spam. SIGN UP

Based on her years of research and in-person interviews, Diane Greig hosts this podcast about eight women who worked in espionage during World War 2. The women worked undercover in dangerous territory between 1939-1946, in countries such as France, Poland, India, Holland, Belgium and Czechoslovakia. Most were young, in their teens and early twenties. These women were from different cultures and backgrounds, and worked for military and non-military cells. Two were from France, and the other six were Russian, Irish, Polish, Belgian, Dutch and American born. What they had in common was the opportunity to step outside societal norms, while at the same time working in the shadows. While their contributions were incredibly important, they’ve been hidden. Invisible women is an opportunity to hear their stories, to explore their roles in society and discover what we can learn from these stories, that is relevant today. The series is called Invisible Women because the roles of these women spies were invisible to the enemy. This podcast is a thought-provoking series about cultural shadow and contemporary issues — what is endarkened in our culture and therefore, invisible and unavailable to us in our daily lives. It’s also about projection — what we project onto others because of individual shadow and societal expectations. And, it’s about the unperceived lenses that we grow up with — invisible lenses — that affect our potential, creativity and empowerment. How do these invisible lenses affect your relationships? How may you become more aware and re-imagine, revision and deepen your life? These are a few of the topics covered in upcoming episodes. Episode Details Introducing Invisible WomenPodcast Episode #00 (promo)Runs: 0:56 Show Notes This is a promo for up-coming episodes.Diane Grieg introduces herself and the series. Links and Resources More about Diane GreigArmy Museum (Paris, France)Camp X (Ontario, Canada) *SOE training campCamp Z (Fraser Island, Australia) *SOE training campCanadian War Museum (Ottawa, Ontario)Imperial War Museum (London, UK)International Spy Museum (Washington, USA)Military Museums (Alberta, Canada) Vietnamese Women’s Museum (Hanoi, Vietnam) *large section dedicated to women and war All Episodes in this Series Episode 1: Service Zero Promo Sign up for the Invisible Women Email Newsletter We’ll send you updates regarding the series and other information direct to your inbox. We promise: no spam. SIGN UP