Every hidden story deserves a voice—and Aly Riley is here to tell it. In this episode, we talk about the overlooked world of female espionage in the American Revolution. Aly, historian and author of She Spies, shares how women shaped the Revolutionary cause through intelligence networks, the enduring mystery of Agent 355, and the challenges of reconstructing lives history tried to forget.

From her beginnings as a graduate student to her path as a published author, Aly’s work highlights the persistence it takes to uncover untold stories and restore women to the historical record.

Aly Riley is an American historian and author who earned her master’s degree in history from Monmouth University in 2021. Her debut novella She Spies was released in September 2023 to critical acclaim, and her second, Spirits and Secrets, is set for release in Fall 2025.

Connect with Aly: LinkedIn | Instagram | She Spies

Books mentioned: Invisible Ink: Spycraft of the American Revolution by John A. Nagy | 1776 by David McCullough

Connect with Holley: Buy Me A Coffee | Website | LinkedIn | Bluesky | Instagram | Medium | Substack