Womanica

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Cultivators: Cubah Cornwallis Apr 03, 2025

Show notes

Cubah Cornwallis (c. 1700s) was a Jamaican nurse who lived from the mid to late 18th century until 1848. Cubah was likely born into slavery, but eventually gained her freedom and settled in Port Royal, opening a lodging house that doubled as an early hospital. She was known throughout the port city for her healing techniques that nursed many naval officers back to health. Her methods drew from Obeah tradition and practice. Cubah is considered one of the foremothers of modern nursing practice.
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This month, we’re talking about cultivators — women who nurtured, cross-pollinated, experimented, or went to great lengths to better understand and protect the natural world.

History classes can get a bad rap, and sometimes for good reason. When we were students, we couldn’t help wondering... where were all the ladies at? Why were so many incredible stories missing from the typical curriculum? Enter, Womanica. On this Wonder Media Network podcast we explore the lives of inspiring women in history you may not know about, but definitely should.

Every weekday, listeners explore the trials, tragedies, and triumphs of groundbreaking women throughout history who have dramatically shaped the world around us. In each 5 minute episode, we’ll dive into the story behind one woman listeners may or may not know–but definitely should. These diverse women from across space and time are grouped into easily accessible and engaging monthly themes like Educators, Villains, Indigenous Storytellers, Activists, and many more. Womanica is hosted by WMN co-founder and award-winning journalist Jenny Kaplan. The bite-sized episodes pack painstakingly researched content into fun, entertaining, and addictive daily adventures.

Womanica was created by Liz Kaplan and Jenny Kaplan, executive produced by Jenny Kaplan, and produced by Grace Lynch, Maddy Foley, Brittany Martinez, Edie Allard, Carmen Borca-Carrillo, Taylor Williamson, Sara Schleede, Paloma Moreno Jimenez, Luci Jones, Abbey Delk, Adrien Behn, Alyia Yates, Vanessa Handy, Melia Agudelo, and Joia Putnoi. Special thanks to Shira Atkins.

Original theme music composed by Brittany Martinez.

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Cultivators: Helen Gwynne-Vaughan Apr 02, 2025

Show notes

CommandantDameHelen Gwynne-Vaughan (1879-1967) was an acclaimed botanist who studied and published papers and textbooks on the reproduction of fungi. She also had a military career in both World Wars, and was appointed the first Chief Controller of the Auxiliary Territorial Service.

For Further Reading:

This month, we’re talking about cultivators — women who nurtured, cross-pollinated, experimented, or went to great lengths to better understand and protect the natural world.

Original theme music composed by Brittany Martinez.

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Cultivators: Maria Tereza Jorge Pàdua Apr 01, 2025

Show notes

Maria Tereza Jorge Pàdua (1943 - present) is a Brazilian ecologist, conservationist and biologist who is celebrated as the "Mother of Brazilian National Parks.” Maria has had a lifelong dedication to preserving the biodiversity of Brazil, and she has helped establish and manage dozens of national parks across the country. Her conservation efforts have been particularly impactful in the Amazon rainforest.

For Further Reading:

This month, we’re talking about cultivators — women who nurtured, cross-pollinated, experimented, or went to great lengths to better understand and protect the natural world.

Original theme music composed by Brittany Martinez.

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Architects: Plautilla Bricci Mar 31, 2025

Show notes

Plautilla Bricci (1616-1705) was an Italian artist and architect, regarded as one of the first female architects of modern Europe. She is best known for designing the Villa Benedetta in the 1660’s as well Chapel of St. Louis in the church of San Luigi dei Francesi in Rome, completed in 1677.

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This month, we’re talking about Architects. These women held fast to their visions for better futures, found potential in negative space, and built their creations from the ground up.

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Architects: Sarah Winchester Mar 28, 2025

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Sarah Winchester (1839-1922) was a wealthy widow who spent decades of her life building a never ending house, full of countless rooms, corridors, and stairwells. The Winchester Mystery House is now a historic landmark, and can be visited in San Jose, where it is located.

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This month, we’re talking about Architects. These women held fast to their visions for better futures, found potential in negative space, and built their creations from the ground up.

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Architects: Pravina Mehta Mar 27, 2025

Show notes

Pravina Mehta (c.1923-1992) was an Indian architect, planner and political activist, who participated in street protests against British colonial rule. Later, she studied architecture and helped conceptualize the New Bombay plan in 1964.

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This month, we’re talking about Architects. These women held fast to their visions for better futures, found potential in negative space, and built their creations from the ground up.

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Architects: Empress Suiko Mar 26, 2025

Show notes

Empress Suiko (554-628) was the first reigning empress of Japan in recorded history, known for ushering in an era of peace and stability. Under her reign, some of the oldest Buddhist temples in Japan were constructed.

For Further Reading:

This month, we’re talking about Architects. These women held fast to their visions for better futures, found potential in negative space, and built their creations from the ground up.

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See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Architects: Amaza Lee Meredith Mar 25, 2025

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Amaza Lee Meredith (1895-1984) was an American artist and architect. She is most famous for building Azurest South, which is registered on the National Register of Historic Places and National Historic, and Azurest North, a historically African American community.

For Further Reading:

This month, we’re talking about Architects. These women held fast to their visions for better futures, found potential in negative space, and built their creations from the ground up.

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See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Architects: Amina, Queen of Zazzau Mar 24, 2025

Show notes

Amina, Queen of Zazzau (c.1533-1610) was a Hausa leader in the city-state Zazzau (now city of Zaria in Kaduna State in Nigeria). To mark and protect her new lands, Amina had her cities surrounded by earthen walls. These walls became commonplace until the British conquest of Zazzau in 1904. Many of them survive today, known as “ganuwar Amina” (Amina's walls).

For Further Reading:

This month, we’re talking about Architects. These women held fast to their visions for better futures, found potential in negative space, and built their creations from the ground up.

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See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Architects: Toypurina Mar 21, 2025

Show notes

Toypurina (1760-1799) was a Tongva woman who lived in modern-day California during the period of Spanish colonial rule. She helped organize a rebellion against the San Gabriel mission. Despite the failure of this revolt, she remains an important figure in Indigenous history and is celebrated for her resistance against colonial injustice.

For Further Reading:

This month, we’re talking about Architects. These women held fast to their visions for better futures, found potential in negative space, and built their creations from the ground up.

Follow Wonder Media Network:

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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