Womanica

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Latest Episodes:

Wordsmiths: Masako Togawa Jun 28, 2024

Show notes

Masako Togawa (1931-2016) was a crime novelist, singer, and club owner. She created a chanson salon called the Blue Room, which catered to LGBTQIA+ artists and music enthusiasts during a time of legal discrimination, violence, and prejudice against queer people in Japan.

For Further Reading:

“Memories of Masako Togawa”
The Master Key by Masako Togawa
The Lady Killer by Masako Togawa

This Pride Month, we’re talking about wordsmiths. Women who used language to create community, give a voice to change, and inspire future generations to do the same.

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, and Adrien Behn. Special thanks to Shira Atkins. Original theme music composed by Miles Moran.

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Wordsmiths: Maria Irene Fornés Jun 27, 2024

Show notes

Maria Irene Fornés (1930-2018) was one of the leading figures in the Off-Broadway movement in New York, often called the one of the “greatest and least acknowledged” playwrights of her generation. As a talented playwright and director, she wrote over 50 works for the stage. As a teacher, she created space for other members of the theater community to experiment with the form.

For Further Reading:

This Pride Month, we’re talking about wordsmiths. Women who used language to create community, give a voice to change, and inspire future generations to do the same.

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Wordsmiths: Katherine Lee Bates Jun 26, 2024

Show notes

Katharine Lee Bates (1859-1929) was a poet, professor, and social reformer. She authored the poem “America the Beautiful,” which was adapted into a song and adopted as an American anthem. Katharine was also at the forefront of the settlement house movement alongside her life companion and fellow professor, Katherine Coman.

For Further Reading:

This Pride Month, we’re talking about wordsmiths. Women who used language to create community, give a voice to change, and inspire future generations to do the same.

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Wordsmiths: Edythe Eyde Jun 25, 2024

Show notes

Edythe Eyde (1921-2015) was an author, songwriter, and activist. In 1947, she published the first-ever lesbian publication in North America – at a time when doing so was illegal. While she published primarily under pseudonyms, Edythe Eyde has been recognized in recent years as a pioneer in the LGBTQ+ movement for her activism and wide-ranging cultural contributions.

For Further Reading:

This Pride Month, we’re talking about wordsmiths. Women who used language to create community, give a voice to change, and inspire future generations to do the same.

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See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wordsmiths: Etel Adnan Jun 24, 2024

Show notes

Etel Adnan (1925-2021) was a poet, novelist and painter, once named “arguably the most celebrated and accomplished Arab American author writing today.” Later in life, she received widespread acclaim for her paintings.

For Further Reading:

This Pride Month, we’re talking about wordsmiths. Women who used language to create community, give a voice to change, and inspire future generations to do the same.

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Wordsmiths: Marguerite Duras Jun 21, 2024

Show notes

Marguerite Duras (1914-1996) was a pioneer of autofiction and one of the most widely-read French writers in the postwar era. She specialized in blurring the lines between autobiography and imagination, mining her myriad of hardships for narrative gold. Her novel “The Lover” reflected her experiences growing up in French Indochina and became an international bestseller.

For Further Reading:

This Pride Month, we’re talking about wordsmiths. Women who used language to create community, give a voice to change, and inspire future generations to do the same.

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See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wordsmiths: Suniti Namjoshi Jun 20, 2024

Show notes

Suniti Namjoshi (1941-present) is a poet, fabulist and mythologist born in India. Her short, playful fables and myths challenge sexism, racism and homophobia. She’s written over thirty books, including ten novels, ten books of poetry, and fourteen children’s books.

For Further Reading:

This Pride Month, we’re talking about wordsmiths. Women who used language to create community, give a voice to change, and inspire future generations to do the same.

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See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wordsmiths: Paula Gunn Allen Jun 19, 2024

Show notes

Paula Gunn Allen (1939-2008) was an American poet, literary critic, activist, professor, and novelist. With works that often explored Indigeneity and feminism, she helped establish a Native American literary presence in the United States.

For Further Reading:

This Pride Month, we’re talking about wordsmiths. Women who used language to create community, give a voice to change, and inspire future generations to do the same.

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See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wordsmiths: Mae V. Cowdery Jun 18, 2024

Show notes

Mae V. Cowdery (1909 - 1953) was a poet in the Harlem Renaissance literary movement. Her brief, but successful career as a writer started when she was just a teenager. She was mentored by some of the brightest stars of the Harlem Renaissance but has been largely overlooked.

For Further Reading:

This Pride Month, we’re talking about wordsmiths. Women who used language to create community, give a voice to change, and inspire future generations to do the same.

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See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wordsmiths: Wu Zao Jun 17, 2024

Show notes

Wu Zao (1799-c.1862) was a poet who wrote homoerotic poems and plays. Despite being married to a wealthy man, she longed for romantic relationships with women and turned those feelings into poetry. During her lifetime, her lyrics were sung throughout China.

For Further Reading:

This Pride Month, we’re talking about wordsmiths. Women who used language to create community, give a voice to change, and inspire future generations to do the same.

Follow Wonder Media Network:

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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