Episodes

  • THE APOTHECARY Giulia Tofana

    THE APOTHECARY Giulia Tofana
    Oct 16 2024
    If you knew the recipe for an undetectable poison, would you use it? What about giving it to women with abusive husbands? Giulia Tofana's legendary poison Aqua Tofana (brilliantly disguised as holy ointment) was famed and feared in 17th-century Rome. But just how many terrible husbands can drop dead, before the Pope gets suspicious? In this year's Halloween Special, our guests are Gaia Aloisi and Ted Blackburn, the creators of Aqua Tofana, a new electronic opera about the life of Giulia Tofana. Become a Patron for ad-free episodes and help us Make Women's History! ________________ Find out more about Aqua Tofana the opera (and watch the Act 1 Preview) HERE Connect with the Aqua Tofana team on Instagram @AquaTofanaOpera The Black Widows of the Eternal City by Craig Monson is HERE from Indie booksellers You may also enjoy reading Mike Dash's history of Aqua Tofana - a lively summary of the Magical Underworld of Rome, though lacking the primary sources of the trial Other music featured: Halloween Midnight by Roman Cano; Ghost Story and Ghost Processional by Kevin MacLeod Episode cover image is from The Love Potion by Evelyn De Morgan, 1903 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    55 mins
  • THE DRAGON FROM CHICAGO Sigrid Schultz

    THE DRAGON FROM CHICAGO Sigrid Schultz
    Oct 5 2024
    When Sigrid Schultz was offered a job as a reporter in Berlin, Germany in 1919, she had no idea how her life was about to change - or how her work would change the world. Returning guest Pamela Toler introduces us to this indomitable woman, who was one of the first to raise the alarm about the Nazis, one of the last to leave as WWII made reporting impossible, and the first woman in history to head an American News Bureau. Music in this episode provided by Andy Reiner, Peak Duo, Amanda Setlik Wilson, Jeff Cuno, Esther Abrami, Sir Cubworth, The New Hot 5, and Emmit Fenn. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    57 mins
  • THE SWORN SPINSTER Fanny Law

    THE SWORN SPINSTER Fanny Law
    Sep 18 2024
    Whenever Teresa Lim asked about a striking woman she saw in old family photos, she was told 'That's Aunt Fanny; she was unfortunate.' So naturally, Teresa Lim spent years excavating Aunt Fanny's life in 1920s Singapore. It's a story of three devoted sisters, ghost husbands, working-class Chinese feminists, and sworn spinsters. Turns out, Fanny was very fortunate indeed...until History arrived at her front door. _________________________ You can buy Teresa Lim's The Interpreter's Daughter and benefit a local indie bookshop HERE Music in this episode was by: The Butterfly Lovers Concerto for violin performed by Takako Nishizaki Doug Maxwell: Honky Tonkin'; Lao Tsu Erhu Gene Kardos' Orchestra: My Extraordinary Gal, 1932 Yao Lie: Rose Rose I Love You Kevin MacLeod: Medusa; March of the Mind; Despair and Triumph Jesse Gallagher: Thin Places Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    55 mins
  • THE FILMMAKERS The McDonagh Sisters

    THE FILMMAKERS The McDonagh Sisters
    Sep 5 2024
    Throughout the 1920s, three sisters dominated the Australian film scene. The phenomenal filmmaking team of Isabel, Phyllis, and Paulette McDonagh reigned supreme as the undisputed Queens of Silent Cinema... until the talkies arrived to turn everything upside down. Award-winning author Mandy Sayer tells Olivia all about Those Dashing McDonagh Sisters, whose lives were every bit as dramatic (and as complicated) as any Hollywood film. Music featured in this episode provided by Amanda Setlik Wilson, Aaron Kenny, and E's Jammy Jams. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    1 hr
  • THE TANK COMMANDER Aleksandra Samusenko

    THE TANK COMMANDER Aleksandra Samusenko
    Aug 21 2024
    Aleksandra Samusenko commanded a unit of Soviet tanks through some of the most brutal battles in human history. The Soviet Union never told her story. But an American paratrooper who'd escaped a Nazi POW camp never forgot her. In the final months of World War II, he joined her unit, and together they made the final push to Berlin. Guest Hayley Noble shares the story of THE TANK COMMANDER Aleksandra Samusenko. Haley Noble's website on Soviet Women in Combat is HERE, with social media links HERE. Soviet WWII Music used in this episode can be found HERE. The Russian State History page on Samusenko (with lots of photos and documents) is HERE. Additional music was composed by Exra Lipp, Amulets, Jimena Contreras, Wayne Jones, Esther Abrami, and Quincas Moreira. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    55 mins
  • THE FIRST LADY Pat Nixon

    THE FIRST LADY Pat Nixon
    Aug 9 2024
    For decades, her remarkable achievements as United States First Lady have been overshadowed by her husband's big mistakes. Returning guest Heath Hardage Lee is back to help change that! Olivia introduces us to the remarkable and unfairly forgotten Pat Nixon. Music in this episode provided by The Westerlies, Aaron Kenny, Josh Lippi and the Overtimers, The Mini Vandals, Cooper Cannell, Doug Maxwell, Quincas Moereira, and the US Marine Corps Band. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    54 mins
  • THE IRISH JOAN OF ARC Maud Gonne

    THE IRISH JOAN OF ARC Maud Gonne
    Jul 24 2024
    She was one of the key figures of Irish Independence, known in her lifetime as The Irish Joan of Arc. But somehow, history only remembers her as the woman who wouldn't marry WB Yeats. More recently, a BBC headline called her "Ireland's heroine who had sex in her baby's tomb." Both those things are true, but... her real story is even more bonkers - and of course, so much more amazing. Join us with guest Orna Ross to put Maud Gonne back in her rightful place, among the founders of modern Ireland. Join the Kickstarter Campaign for a special edition of A Life Before benefitting the movement to memorialize Maud Gonne in Dublin! Music in this episode was generously shared by Andy Reiner and Jon Sousa from their album Canyon Sunrise. Plus music from E's Jammy Jams, Jesse Gallagher, Doug Maxwell, Wayne Jones, Kevin MacLeod, and Audionautix. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    53 mins
  • THE INDOMITABLE SPIRIT Artemisia Gentileschi

    THE INDOMITABLE SPIRIT Artemisia Gentileschi
    Jul 13 2024
    Artemisia Gentileschi was one of the most famed and respected painters in 17th century Europe, but after she died, her story - and many of her works - were lost, and over the years, Artemisia has become better known for what was done to her than for what she did. Award-winning artist Lindsay Huss helps us try to change that. (Content warning: discussions of physical and sexual violence) Music for this episode provided by Marc Nelson, Advent Chamber Orchestra, Catrin Finch, John Harrison, and the Wichita State University Chamber Players Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    54 mins