Womanica

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Latest Episodes:

Scream Queens: Carmilla Oct 31, 2024

Show notes

Carmilla (1872) is a vampire novella written by Irish author Sheridan Le Fanu. It tells the story of a lesbian romance between Carmilla, a 150 year old vampire, and Laura, a 19-year-old girl living with her widowed father in a castle in Austria. Through the concept of vampirism, Sheridan uses the character of Carmilla to explore queer relationships and female sexual expression in a time of strict patriarchy.

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October is the perfect time to delve into all things spooky. So this month, we're talking about the women who give us goosebumps. Some are real-life creators of spine-chilling works of fiction. Others are the subjects of frightening folklore. Either way, these Scream Queens are sure to give you a scare.

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 Brittany Martinez.

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Scream Queens: Milicent Patrick Oct 30, 2024

Show notes

Milicent Patrick (c.1915-1998) was an actress and special effects artist who created the iconic “Gill-man” from the classic film Creature of the Black Lagoon. Though her credits on many movies were lost due to being blacklisted, her effect on Universal Studios’ monster lineup is indelible.

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Original theme music composed by Brittany Martinez.

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Scream Queens: Yuki-onna Oct 29, 2024

Show notes

Yuki-onna is an ancient Japanese yokai, a category of ghosts, spirits, and monsters derived from folklore. The first account of the mysterious woman was written centuries ago, during Japan’s Muromachi period. The legend is popular in the north of Japan and in other places with harsh winters and heavy snowfalls, and it likely appeared in response to missing locals during storms.

For Further Reading:

A Heart as Cold as Ice?

Ancient Tales and Folk-Lore of Japan

Yuki Onna: Shining a spotlight on a Japanese folklore legend

Original theme music composed by Brittany Martinez.

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Scream Queens: Ida Lupino Oct 28, 2024

Show notes

Ida Lupino (1918-1995) was a British-American actress, producer, writer, and director. She acted in over 50 movies, wrote and directed several of her own films, and directed many popular TV shows. She was only the second woman to be admitted to the Directors Guild of America and explored taboo topics through her work.

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Original theme music composed by Brittany Martinez.

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Bonus: Judy Smith Oct 26, 2024

Show notes

Judy A. Smith (1958 - present) is an American crisis manager, lawyer, author and television producer. Her work in crisis management over the years has earned the title of “professional fixer” and is seen as the inspiration for the ABC television series “Scandal.”

This bonus episode is brought to you by the CBS Original ELSBETH.

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Scream Queens: Isobel Gowdie Oct 25, 2024

Show notes

Isobel Gowdie (fl. 1662) was a Scottish woman who confessed to witchcraft during a period historians now call “The Great Scottish Witch Hunt of 1661-1662.” She told elaborate, extensive, and often subversive, stories about being a witch.

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Original theme music composed by Brittany Martinez.

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Scream Queens: Enriqueta Martí Oct 24, 2024

Show notes

Enriqueta Martí (c. 1868-1913) was a Spanish woman infamously known as the "Vampire of Barcelona" due to her alleged involvement in child abduction, exploitation, and murder in the early 20th century. According to legend, she led a double life, posing as a healer and beggar while secretly preying on vulnerable children, using them for black magic rituals, and possibly selling their remains. Her arrest in 1912 shocked the nation and sparked widespread public outrage.

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Original theme music composed by Brittany Martinez.

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Scream Queens: Emily Gerard Oct 23, 2024

Show notes

Emily Gerard (1849-1905) was a Scottish writer whose collection of Transylvanian folklore served as direct inspiration for Bram Stoker as he was penning his famous and beloved novel Dracula.

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