The History Chicks

Later known as "The Mother of Social Work", Jane Addams took a circuitous route to find her life's calling.

Georgia O'Keeffe is known as the mother of Modernism; she created a vast body of work, always finding a novel way to express what she wanted to say through her art.

Grainne Ui Mhaille (Grace O'Malley) was a terror of the open seas; living her life on her own terms during a turbulent time in her country. Her meeting with Queen Elizabeth in 1593 cemented her place in history.

Mary Pickford was so much more than an adorable head of hair. She was a hard-headed businesswoman who broke new ground in a brand new industry - the movies.

We take a look back at one of our most delightful subjects with a remastered classic episode.

The story of a Chinese concubine who rose to power from behind a curtain of yellow silk.

Louisa May Alcott fictionalized (and sanitized) her childhood reality in her novel Little Women; she left out life in a commune, starvation, 19th century action thriller stories, and becoming the family breadwinner at a young age.

Jackie's life was far from over after her husband's assassination; in some ways, it had only just begun.

Jackie Kennedy changed the cultural outlook of the United States during her brief role as First Lady.

We're celebrating our 100th full-length episode and our 7th year by taking a trip back to visit some women and moments that we will never forget.

Pocahontas did save lives... just not the way (or the one) that you've been taught.

Once upon a time, Santa was a bachelor. But over the years, the folklore included his wife, a beloved character of modern Christmas.

Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel not only reinvented women's clothing and accessories, she reinvented herself, too.

She was the first Queen to rule and the last monarch of the Kingdom of Hawaii, but Queen Lili'uokalani's story is the story of Hawaii.

She was a slave, a freewoman, a preacher, a speaker, an abolitionist and a women's rights advocate in the Civil War era United States. Like a lot of women's history, Sojourner's truth may have been edited in history, but we can help to set it right.

Hypatia was a mathematician, philosopher and astronomer who transcended gender barriers in the waning years of the Roman Empire.

Wallis Simpson's husband abdicated the throne to marry her, but how did her happily ever after work out?

Puppet? Manipulating social climber? Misunderstood? Deeply in love? However you see her, the fact remains that a king abdicated his throne, defied his family and lived in exile to marry twice divorced American socialite Wallis Simpson.

Annie Oakley was a top sharpshooter who gained worldwide fame during nearly two decades as a headliner with Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show.

Tightly Knotted to a Similar String (or:Love. You use that word but let me show you what it really means.)

An Inward Treasure Born--Anne and Marilla are both challenged to identify their roles as women and Anne does a brave job no man stepped up to do.

Episode 89:

We recap the episode of Anne with an "E" that best displays the scriptwriter's scope of imagination--book loyalists be warned.

The life of the woman behind the beloved classic Anne of Green Gables

We revisit a woman who persisted against great odds to become a hero of civil rights.

Reason for slight delay and some intel that could save a life

Is there a better time to revisit our favorite Victorian More-Than-Likely Murderess, Lizzie Borden, than right now? We think not.

We wrap up our short series of "women who ran for the US Presidency before Hillary Clinton" with Shirley Chisholm!

We wrap up our short series of "women who ran for the US Presidency before Hillary Clinton" with Shirley Chisholm!

We continue our series of female Presidential candidates with Belva Lockwood, the woman who many regard as the first “legitimate” female nominee for the office, with groundbreaking campaigns in 1884 and 1888.

Victoria Woodhull crafted a life for herself from pretty raw materials. She traveled from an abusive childhood to a very aristocratic end... and in the middle, was the first woman to run for the American Presidency. In 1872.

Agrippina the Younger lived a dramatic and dangerous life as the sister of an emperor, the wife and niece of another, and mother of a third in ancient Rome.

Mary Lincoln's friend, Elizabeth Keckly, was born a slave, eventually bought her freedom and built a very successful business (twice) all before she, too, realized her own White House dream.

Since the musical Hamilton opened on Broadway we've been getting a lot of requests to cover the Schuyler sisters, Angelica, Eliza and Peggy. (You sang that, right?)

In our last episode we talked about Mary's childhood, education and life as the wife of Abraham Lincoln. What happened during the White House years to tarnish her reputation so thoroughly?

Mary Todd Lincoln's life can't be defined by who she married and her husband's legacy--she was a lot more than simply a southern born wife of a president. Actually, she wasn't simple at all.

When Madam C.J. Walker solved one of her own problems, she also left behind a life as a laundress for one as a successful businesswoman, philanthropist and civil rights activists and she was able to take thousands of women with her.

What would you serve Dorothy Parker for dinner? What are your favorite things from pop culture? When will you cover the Schuyler Sisters? Listeners' burning questions, answered.

Zelda Fitzgerald - the original Manic Pixie Dream Girl, muse of F. Scott, has been remembered as a trophy, a fashion icon, a mental patient, an author, and an artist. This unique woman lived a complex life that defies simple labels.

We cannot get enough Beatrix Potter! Here is our coverage of the 2006 movie "Miss Potter," starring Renee Zellweger in the title role.

Though she's chiefly known for her charming illustrations, Beatrix Potter was more than an artist and author; she was a scientist, conservationist, and a philanthropist who used her talent to better the world. 

When we last left the Grand Duchess Catherine, she was feeling alone, unloved and unnecessary. She had just given birth and the child, Paul, heir to the Russian Empire, was ripped from her arms to be raised by Empress Elizabeth. Not cool, Elizabeth,...

Beckett talks with the author whose book inspired Downton Abbey

The listeners have spoken! Catherine the Great, Empress of Russia, was the winner in our Guaranteed Content Poll - and in this episode, part 1 of 2, we take our innocent German princess from obscurity onto the world stage. 

Once upon a time there was a busy, yet highly compassionate and generous bachelor. He became known the world over, but lacked something in his life: a wife. Mrs. Claus often takes a back seat to her more famous husband, Santa, but it's time her...

Lillian Gilbreth inspired us. After talking about her life and accomplishments, we thought it was high time to introduce you to four more problem-solving women whose inventions we use every day: Josephine Cochrane, Melitta Bentz, Mary Phelps Jacobs...

Lillian Gilbreth should be remembered for any of her life accomplishments: psychologist, industrial engineer, author, inventor, and pioneer in the field of industrial psychology. From her collection of degrees to her equal partnership marriage to her...

Mary Queen of Scots got off to a good start: she was wearing the crown early and upgraded it at a young age (under the watchful eye of many an interested party),  but once she started making decisions for herself? Ah, that's when her life took...

We asked and you delivered! For the first time in the five years that we have been doing this show we sat down with a couple of glasses of wine to deviate from our normal format and answer some of your questions.

When we left Dorothy Parker in Part One, her life was at at a crossroads. Personally and professionally, she had stalled. It was time for some new beginnings. Dorothy's life wasn't all angst at a keyboard and clinking cocktail glasses,

She gave us fabulous quotes like, "Men seldom make passes at girls who wear glasses" and "Brevity is the soul of lingerie," but Dorothy Parker's life wasn't all wit and snark. Behind those flip one liners there was a very complex woman who lead a full ...

In Part One we talked about Marie Antoinette's childhood, the speedy preparations for marriage and her early years in France. In this episode, the conclusion of our revisit, we get to the rest of her story as she travels from well-liked to queen to the...

Once upon a time there were two podcasters who began their women’s history show with an episode about Marie Antoinette. Four and a half years later they revisited her life simply because they felt there was more to say about this woman who has been lon.

Women who need to be remembered often have Lemon to Lemonade lives and Lydia Pinkham is no exception. The going got tough and she turned some herbs (and a wee bit of alcohol) into not only an empire but a leaping advance in women's health and education.

Susan's lost her voice for a couple of months! Here's an update on what we've got planned.

Once upon a time there was a busy, yet highly compassionate and generous bachelor. He became known the world over, but lacked something in his life: a wife. Mrs Claus often takes a back seat to her more famous husband, Santa,

Joan of Arc, Jeannette, Jean, The Maid, La Pucelle, Hero, Heretic, Visionary, Lunatic...that's a lot of names and titles for a teenage girl who is remembered for events from only a short period of her life.

Hattie McDaniel began as a stage performer. She had a second career as a famed blues singer in the artistic hubs of Kansas City and Chicago. And a third as a songwriter. And a fourth as a recording artist.

Once a season we obsess over a subject for our Fictional Episode and this time we let ourselves be carried away with Gone With The Wind. The epic book and movie is only part of the story of a free-spirited, rebellious,

The Wizard of Oz was released this week in 1939. In honor of its 75th anniversary, we give you this encore broadcast of our episode from last March which covers the story's creator, the book, and the creation of this iconic movie.

Agatha Christie once said that she wanted to be remembered as, "a good writer of detective and thriller stories." We say she needs to be remembered for a whole lot more: daughter, wife, mother, pharmacist, playwright and adventurer only begin the list.

We all know the story of Paul Revere, but here is the lesser-known story of one teenage girl whose similar act of bravery changed the course of American history.

Her name is now often a punchline to a joke with the words "nutty" or "crazy" peppered liberally throughout. But in the simplest terms Carry Nation was a woman who boldly worked for reforms which she felt would benefit all mankind.

Take a musical trip with us as we revisit some of our favorite songs from Seasons 3 and 4. For each episode we select a song or piece of music that brings our episode subject to mind. Maybe the lyrics reminded us of her, the beat fit her life,

Cleopatra is often remembered for her allure, but her life was a series of battles, from survival in a ruthless family, to earning respect and recognition from Rome, to the battle after her death to reclaim her reputation.

In this episode we cover Hatshepsut, the long-forgotten princess of Ancient Egypt who grew up to be a king.

To accompany our Queen Elizabeth episodes, a quick overview of daily life during the Elizabethan period - from the lowest to the most exalted.

Welcome to part two of our chat about Elizabeth I. When we left, our fair princess had overcome 25 years of uncertainty. And now that she had outwitted, outlasted and outplayed these people-Elizabeth was crowned Queen of England.

She was called many things: Princess, Bastard, Gloriana, Good Queen Bess, and the Virgin Queen. We add to our Tudor series this chat about the extraordinary life and reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

We have received our third Podcast Award Nomination in as many years! Voting starts now and the window is very short- November 1st-15th. Won't you please give us your support?

Put some flowers in your hair, drape yourself in bold fabrics and listen to a chat about the colorful and dramatic life and art of Frida Kahlo.

Amelia Earhart wasn’t the only American woman who soared into aviation history as she took her dreams to the sky. Bessie Coleman not only set aviation records of her own, but the story of her ascent above racial and gender barriers makes her a woman wo.

(rebroadcast) One a Lancaster, one a York, two women brought up on opposing sides of the Wars of the Roses were able to work together to help create the Tudor dynasty.

Born in Kansas, a little girl grew to become an aviatrix whose name is still known around the world over 75 years after her mysterious death. While so many focus on her disappearance, we spent our time spotlighting the life of Amelia Earhart,

This is the last installment of the Jane Austen Book Club, a companion to Episode #38. We cover her last two major novels, both of which were published posthumously

As a companion to Episode #38, we got together and discussed the six major novels of Jane Auten. This is the second in a series of three minicasts; in this one, we cover the novels Mansfield Park and Emma.

As a companion to Episode 38: Jane Austen, we got together and had ourselves a (mostly) proper book club meeting. Up for discussion - the first two published novels of Jane Austen: Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility.

A little birdie told us that a lot of you wanted an episode about the life and work of Jane Austen. That would be several little birdies who tweet, post on facebook, write emails and vote on our Guaranteed Content Poll.

The post Minicast: The Women of Oz appeared first on The History Chicks.

Once a season we step away from factual subjects and focus on a fictional one. This season we traveled to the land of Oz and took a look around.