Right Answers Mostly - Claire Donald & Tess Bellomo

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The Making of Marilyn Monroe Aug 17, 2026

Show notes

Welcome to our second episode of our Marilyn Monroe Month!

Norma Jeane is gone... Marilyn Monroe is about to be born.

This week, we follow Marilyn's extraordinary transformation from a lonely aircraft factory worker into one of the most photographed women in America. After being discovered on a wartime assembly line, she throws herself into modeling, bleaches her hair, signs with the Blue Book Modeling Agency, and quickly realizes that beauty alone isn't enough. Hollywood is a game, and she's determined to learn how to play it.

We dive into the complicated, often exploitative relationships that shaped her early career, from powerful studio executives and photographers to the acting coaches and mentors who recognized her undeniable star power. Along the way, Marilyn navigates ambition, reinvents herself from Norma Jeane Dougherty into Marilyn Monroe, lands her first studio contracts, and begins chasing the movie career she believes she's destined for.

We end with the now-infamous nude calendar photos, a $50 modeling job she never imagined would follow her forever. The images that could have destroyed her career instead became one of the most pivotal turning points in Hollywood history.

Created and produced by Tess Bellomo & Claire Donald

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Sources: Marilyn Monroe: The Biography by Donald Spoto

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Norma Jeane And The Women Who Raised Her Aug 10, 2026

Show notes

WELCOME TO MARILYN MONTH! All month long, we're doing deep dives into Marilyn Monroe's life because she deserves so much more than just one episode.

To kick things off, we're taking it all the way back to the beginning: Norma Jeane's childhood. In this episode, we cover everything from her toddler years through high school, ending on quite the cliffhanger for next week's episode.

We dive into the foster parents who raised her, the women who abandoned her, protected her, and shaped her, and how those early relationships influenced the woman she would become. We also talk about the changes she began experiencing around eighth grade, her first crush, and the moments that marked the beginning of her transformation into Marilyn Monroe.

Created and produced by Tess Bellomo and Claire Donald

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TW: This episode contains multiple mentions of SA

Sources: Marilyn Monroe, The Biography by Donald Soto

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Trojan War: Before Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey Aug 03, 2026

Show notes

Release in honor of The Odyssey: This week we re-visit one of history’s juiciest conflicts: The Trojan War. It all starts with a beauty contest judged by a lil shepherd, and spirals into a decade-long war fought over the world’s most shtunning woman. We're talking forbidden love, bro betrayals, hunky men and intense battles. Turns out the gods have a lot of drama.

Created and produced by Tess Bellomo and Claire Donald

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(SNEAK PEEK) Jackie Robinson Was So Much More Than Baseball Jul 27, 2026

Show notes

Jackie Robinson didn't just change baseball, he changed America.

This week, we're rounding out American Icons month with the incredible story of the man who broke Major League Baseball's color barrier and the impossible pressure that came with it. We talk about how Branch Rickey chose Jackie to integrate the sport, why he was expected to endure racism without fighting back, and how Rachel Robinson became one of the most important partners in his legacy. This is the story of an athlete, activist, husband, and leader who changed far more than the game of baseball.

Created and produced by Claire Donald and Tess Bellomo

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Sources: Jackie Robinson documentary , Wikipedia

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How Madonna Changed Pop Music Forever Jul 20, 2026

Show notes

Long before pop stars built entire careers around reinvention, Madonna was changing the rules in real time. In this episode, we trace her journey from a broke dancer arriving in New York City with a lot of religious trauma and just a few dollars to becoming the best selling female recording artist of all time.

Along the way, we unpack the controversies that made headlines, the reinventions that reshaped pop culture, her groundbreaking advocacy during the AIDS crisis, and the ambition that inspired generations of artists, from Britney Spears to Taylor Swift.

Love her or hate her, modern pop stardom wouldn't exist without Madonna.

Created and produced by Tess Bellomo & Claire Donald

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Link to Truth or Dare documentary

Listen to Tess's best of Madonna playlist here

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American Girl Dolls were BRAT Jul 13, 2026

Show notes

RE-RELEASE: Join us in this MUCH requested nostalgic episode as we delve into the enchanting world of American Girl Dolls, exploring their rich history and the cultural impact they've had since their inception in 1986 by founder Pleasant Howard . We’ll trace the journey from the original dolls—each representing a different era in American history (THEY ARE RAMMIES)—to the diverse characters that reflect contemporary society.

Discover how these beloved dolls not only sparked a passion for history in young girls but also fostered conversations about identity, diversity, and empowerment.

ALSO SURPRISE: Enjoy two 90s quizzes to take at home!

Created and produced by Claire Donald & Tess Bellomo

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Sally Ride: America's First Woman in Space Jul 06, 2026

Show notes

In honor of America's 250th birthday and American Icons month (in a cool, liberal way), we're celebrating the trailblazers who helped shape the country, and few reached greater heights than Sally Ride. This week, we're telling the story of the physicist who became the first American woman in space, broke through one of the world's most exclusive boys' clubs, and inspired generations of girls to dream bigger.

But behind the headlines was a woman who fiercely guarded her private life. For nearly three decades, Sally shared her life with her partner, Tam O'Shaughnessy, a relationship the public didn't learn about until after Sally's death. We explore why she chose privacy, what it meant to be a gay woman navigating fame in the 1980s and '90s, and how her legacy extends far beyond her historic spaceflight.

From NASA missions and media scrutiny to quiet courage and lasting impact, this is the story of an American icon whose influence is still reaching for the stars.

Created and produced by Tess Bellomo & Claire Donald

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(SNEAK PEEK) RuPaul: The Queen of Drag Jun 29, 2026

Show notes

Everybody knows RuPaul. But the story of how he became RuPaul? It's even better than you think.

This week, we're following his journey from a kid in San Diego to discovering drag in Atlanta, creating his unforgettable glamazon persona in New York, overcoming addiction, and building the empire that is RuPaul's Drag Race.

We also unpack the lessons that have defined his life: identity, resilience, chosen family, and the radical act of believing in yourself before the world does. Whether you're a Drag Race superfan or simply curious about the man behind the icon, this episode is a celebration of one of the most influential cultural figures of our time.

Sources: The House of Hidden Meanings, NPR, Vanity Fair, Vulture, A&E Biography, Wikipedia

Created and produced by Claire Donald and Tess Bellomo

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Harvey Milk And The Politics Of Hope Jun 22, 2026

Show notes

We're BACK! This Pride Month, we're diving into the extraordinary life and legacy of Harvey Milk, the camera shop owner turned activist who became one of the first openly gay elected officials in the United States.

Long before rainbow logos and corporate Pride campaigns, Harvey Milk was fighting for visibility, representation, and equality at a time when being openly gay could cost you your job, your family, and your safety. From his childhood on Long Island to becoming the unofficial "Mayor of Castro Street" in San Francisco, Milk transformed personal authenticity into political power, encouraging LGBTQ+ people everywhere to step into the light and be seen.

In this episode, we explore Milk's rise to political office, his role in defeating California's anti-gay Briggs Initiative, his famous call for people to come out, and the tragic assassinations of both Milk and Mayor George Moscone.

We also unpack the "Twinkie Defense," the White Night Riots, and why Harvey Milk's message that "hope will never be silent"continues to resonate today.

Thank you to our guest, Chris DeRosa, for joining us! Check him out here and make sure to listen to our episode of Fixing Famous People

Created and produced by Tess Bellomo & Claire Donald

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Sources include: History.com, Wikipedia, Milk (The Movie) The Times Of Harvey Milk Documentary (1984)

If you are an LGBTQIA+ listener and are struggling, please know that you are not alone and support is available.

The Trevor Project provides free, confidential crisis support for LGBTQ+ young people 24/7:

Call: 1-866-488-7386
Text: START to 678-678
Chat online: thetrevorproject.org/get-help

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is available for anyone experiencing emotional distress or a mental health crisis:

Call or Text: 988

LGBT National Help Center offers confidential peer support and local resources:

National Hotline: 1-888-843-4564
Youth Talkline: 1-800-246-7743
Visit: lgbthotline.org

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How André Leon Talley Changed Fashion Forever Jun 15, 2026

Show notes

RE-RELEASE FOR PRIDE: This week's episode is on a fashion industry icon and trailblazer, André Leon Talley. From his early years growing up in the Jim Crow-era South to his rise to prominence as a fashion journalist and Vogue's first African-American male creative director. Join us as we dish on everything from his infamous caftans and his time at Vogue magazine to his juicy stories of Anna Wintour and Karl Lagerfeld...we spill it all.

TRIGGER WARNING: This episode contains discussion of sexual assault and eating disorders

Created and produced by Claire Donald and Tess Bellomo

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