Womanica

Copyright: 2024 iHeartMedia, Inc. © Any use of this intellectual property for text and data mining or computational analysis including as training material for artificial intelligence systems is strictly prohibited without express written consent from iHeartMedia

Latest Episodes:

Women of Controversy: Giulia Tofana Nov 14, 2024

Show notes

Giulia Tofana (c. 1620) was a 17th century Italian apothecary with a dark secret. Unhappily married women visited her shop in Rome to purchase her specially formulated, slow-acting poison. When their husbands mysteriously died of “sudden illnesses,” authorities struggled to trace the true cause of death—poison—back to Giulia.

For Further Reading:

This month we're talking about women who found themselves at the center of controversy -- whether deserved or not.

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, Lindsey Kratochwill, Adesuwa Agbonile, Carmen Borca-Carrillo, Taylor Williamson, Sara Schleede, Paloma Moreno Jimenez, Luci Jones, Abbey Delk, Hannah Bottum, Lauren Willams, Adrien Behn, Alyia Yates, and Vanessa Handy. Special thanks to Shira Atkins. Original theme music composed by Miles Moran.

Follow Wonder Media Network:

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Women of Controversy: Freydris Eriksdotter Nov 13, 2024

Show notes

Freydis Eriksdotter was a Viking explorer and sister to Leif Erikson. She is mentioned in the two quasi-historical, Nordic texts: The Saga of the Greenlanders and Eirik the Red’s Saga. In both texts, Freydis set sail and explored the new land.

For Further Reading:

This month we're talking about women who found themselves at the center of controversy -- whether deserved or not.

Follow Wonder Media Network:

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Women of Controversy: Ethel Rosenberg Nov 12, 2024

Show notes

Ethel Rosenberg (1915-1953) was an American citizen executed for alleged Soviet espionage during the Cold War. She and her husband, Julius, were convicted of couriering top-secret information about American technology, including nuclear weapon designs, to the Soviets. Their case was hotly debated and the source of intense controversy. Many believed that they were innocent victims of Cold War paranoia. Recently, decoded information was released pointing to Ethel’s innocence.

For Further Reading:

This month we're talking about women who found themselves at the center of controversy -- whether deserved or not.

Follow Wonder Media Network:

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Women of Controversy: Dorothy Dandridge Nov 11, 2024

Show notes

Dorothy Dandridge (1922-1965) was an actress best known for the films Carmen Jones, Island in the Sun, and Bright Road. She was the first Black woman to be nominated for the Best Actress Academy Award. Her autobiography, Everything and Nothing: The Dorothy Dandridge Tragedy, is a testimonial to the psychological and physical abuse she endured trying to break the barriers of her time as a Black actress in the entertainment industry.

For Further Reading:

This month we're talking about women who found themselves at the center of controversy -- whether deserved or not.

Follow Wonder Media Network:

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Women of Controversy: Catherine de’ Medici Nov 08, 2024

Show notes

Catherine de’ Medici (1519-1589) ruled France for decades, whether through her husband or her sons. Her attempts to create peace during the French wars of religion were futile– and, ultimately, undercut by her own reputation as the “Serpent Queen” and the possible conspirator behind the St. Bartholomew’s Day Massacre.

For Further Reading:

Catherine de’ Medici: Renaissance Queen of France by Leonie Frieda

This month we're talking about women who found themselves at the center of controversy -- whether deserved or not.

Follow Wonder Media Network:

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Women of Controversy: Cass Elliot Nov 07, 2024

Show notes

Cass Elliot (1941-1974) was a Grammy award winning singer and, most notably, a member of the group the Mamas & the Papas. She was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for her work with the band and was a progressive advocate in the music industry. Her legacy was marred after a rumor spread that her cause of death was choking on a ham sandwich.

For Further Reading:

This month we're talking about women who found themselves at the center of controversy -- whether deserved or not.

Follow Wonder Media Network:

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Women of Controversy: Bettie Page Nov 06, 2024

Show notes

Bettie Page (1923-2008) was an early and iconic pin-up model. Working primarily with underground photographers and later featured in the earliest editions of Playboy magazine, Bettie, with her trademark bangs, became a sensation. After government anti-obscenity investigations, she largely retired from the public eye and became a devout Christian. Years later, she gained cult status in pop culture, and her photos remain in circulation today.

For Further Reading:

This month we're talking about women who found themselves at the center of controversy -- whether deserved or not.

Follow Wonder Media Network:

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Women of Controversy: Beatrice Sparks Nov 05, 2024

Show notes

Beatrice Sparks (1917-2012) was an American writer known for “Go Ask Alice,” “Jay’s Journal,” and “It Happened to Nancy.” The books were positioned as cautionary tales of “real” teens, but were almost entirely fictional. Her books stoked fears about drug use and the “Satanic Panic” of the 1980s.

For Further Reading:

This month we're talking about women who found themselves at the center of controversy -- whether deserved or not.

Follow Wonder Media Network:

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Women of Controversy: Madame Restell Nov 04, 2024

Show notes

Ann Trow Lohman, known as Madame Restell (1812-1878), was a 19th-century abortionist and birth control provider in New York City. She gained notoriety for her practice, which included abortions and selling contraceptives. Despite numerous legal battles and public outcry, she continued her work for decades.

For Further Reading:

This month we're talking about women who found themselves at the center of controversy -- whether deserved or not.

Follow Wonder Media Network:

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Women of Controversy: Anaïs Nin Nov 01, 2024

Show notes

Anaïs Nin (1903-1977) was a French-American writer best known for her diaries, which span several decades and offer a intimate insight into her personal life, relationships, and artistic community. In the seven installments of her diaries and her works of fiction, she explores sexuality, femininity, and psychoanalysis.

For Further Reading:

This month we're talking about women who found themselves at the center of controversy -- whether deserved or not.

Follow Wonder Media Network:

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected