In the series finale of HerStance, host Sandra Koelle reflects on a journey that began in her 60s as a "labor of love." After 32 episodes excavating the stories of history’s most influential women—from Caroline Herschel to Audre Lorde—we explore what it means to take a stand for your own inner peace. Discover the "32 Key Truths" learned along the way, the power of the "pivot," and why it is never too late to start something new.

In this HerStance episode, we honor Mahāpajāpatī Gotamī, the first Bhikkhunī and the woman who opened the Buddhist path to women. Through a feminist lens, we explore her persistence, spiritual authority, and lasting legacy—challenging patriarchal narratives in Buddhist history and re-centering women’s wisdom, resistance, and liberation on the path. We also trace this living lineage forward to Bhikkhunī Dhammanandā (pictured) and her temple today, where the Bhikkhunī ordination continues as an act of spiritual practice and feminist courage. (photo credit By Gakuro - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=7484191)