More Than A Muse

This week, Stauney and Sadie explore the second half of the women behind The Beatles. In part two of this episode, we delve into the focus on the women who supported The Beatles, often at great personal cost, and great criticism. We discuss Paul McCartney's first significant girlfriend, Jane Asher, an accomplished actress, and their broken engagement, and his first wife Linda Eastman, a photograph...

This week, Stauney and Sadie explore the iconic muses behind the most famous band of all time: The Beatles. In part one of this episode, we delve into the band's early days and eventual breakup, touch on the global phenomenon of Beatlemania, and then focus on the women who supported The Beatles, often at great personal cost. We discuss John Lennon's first wife, art student Cynthia Powell, their tu...

This week, Sadie introduces us to the best selling living woman artist in the world, Yayoi Kusama. With 90+ years of life focused on her artistic exploration inspired by a troubled childhood and hallucinations, she has built an empire beyond any explanation. Sadie and Stauney discuss her troubling beginnings, her artistic ideas being stolen by some of the most famous names of the 60's, and her eve...

This week, join Stauney and Sadie as they discuss the intricate history and inherent biases of the daily crossword puzzle. A staple of American leisure since the 1920s, the crossword has evolved significantly, reflecting shifts in societal norms and what's considered 'common knowledge.' Despite its enduring popularity, the puzzle often overlooks the experiences and contributions of women and minor...

This week, Stauney delves into the story of Mata Hari, a Dutch woman who rose to fame as a captivating exotic dancer and later became a prominent courtesan in France, only to be coerced into espionage during World War I. Stauney and Sadie discuss her tumultuous life, her romantic struggles, her remarkable career, and the tragic misrepresentation that ultimately led to her execution by firing squad...

This week, Stauney explores the life and legacy of Sylvia Plath, a poet renowned not only for her poignant works that emerged around the time of her untimely death but also for her profound struggles with depression. Inspired by a TikTok that highlighted similarities between the imagery in Taylor Swift's latest album and Plath's poetry, Stauney and Sadie delve into Plath's artistic genius, her bat...

This week, Stauney and Sadie are indulging, and celebrating the release of a new favorite album. We HAD to do a recap on the latest Taylor Swift release and talk about how much we love it, as well as taking some time to appreciate some of the members of the Tortured Poets Department mentioned in her anthology. We discuss the criticism and different aspects of being an artist in the public eye that...

This week Stauney and Sadie are honored to have Laura Veltz join us! Veltz is a four-time Grammy-nominated songwriter, known for her work with some of our generation's most notable artists, including Kelly Clarkson, Lady A, Maren Morris, Demi Lovato, Idina Menzel, and Dan & Shay. We discuss how she found her way into songwriting behind the scenes, the struggles of the industry, the sexism of t...

It's our LAST episode of March Madness and to celebrate, Stauney and Sadie and diving deep into a topic they're passionate about: Girlhood. It's a "coming of rage" story as we discuss the myth behind "girls mature faster," talking about the language we use with girls vs boys, periods and boobs, skincare and makeup, the "Sephora teens" from this year, dress codes, anti-aging, plastic surgery, menop...

This week, Stauney and Sadie talk about the popular short story by Charlotte Perkins Gillman, "The Yellow Wallpaper" about a woman's descent into madness after her husband locks her in the home's nursery to "cure her" of a nervous breakdown. We start by briefly discussing the Hulu special "I Was a Child Bride: The Untold Story" and discuss the plight of young women in the United States. We then ta...

Sadie walks us through the important literature and musical works that show the simmering of feminine rage throughout history in various ways. Stauney and Sadie discuss Sylvia Plath, Margaret Atwood, Dolly Parton, The Chicks, and many many many more! Join us as we learn about the different mediums of artwork celebrating women and their rage throughout the ages and continuing today. See Privacy Pol...

This week, Stauney and Sadie are joined by Emily Treadgold of 'The New Nine' to talk about the evolution of rage within women's music and the state of it today. Emily shared some of the songs and artists that stand out to her the most about feminine rage and also shared her thoughts on the music industry today, and her personal feelings about feminine rage. Who most exemplifies feminine rage in mu...

Stauney and Sadie continue our March Madness by giving an overview of works of art and movies that help encapsulate the themes and ideas behind feminine rage. They discuss works of art as early as the Baroque period and then move forwards with artists like Elisabetta Sirani, Marina Abramovic, and Ana Mendieta. Then they dive into the modern media scene that shares feminine rage statements like Pro...

This week, Stauney and Sadie are joined by Hall Rockefeller of 'Less Than Half' to talk about the evolution of rage within women's art and the state of it today. Hall shared some of the pieces and people that stand out to her the most about feminine rage, and also shares her thoughts on the art market today, and her personal feelings about feminine rage. Are we allowing women to be angry in their...

Building on our conversation from earlier this week, Sadie and Stauney delve into the historical treatment of young women, often mere children, across different eras and contexts. We explore the enforced labor within the Magdalene Laundries, the coercion of women into prostitution as "Comfort Women," and the widespread issues of femicide, gender-based violence, and homicide that persist in contemp...

This week kicks off Women's History Month and March Madness with the harrowing stories of how women's bodies have been historically used against their consent to further medical progress, merely experiment, discipline and punish, or to monetarily profit. Stauney and Sadie tell the maddening stories of Rosemary Kennedy, Ann Cooper Hewitt, Henrietta Lacks, and many other unnamed women who were affec...

In this episode, we are delighted to have Sarah Gristwood as a guest to discuss her most recent book release "Secret Voices: A Year of Women's Diaries." This book is a collection of extracts from women’s diaries, looking back over four centuries to discover how women’s experience has changed over the years and how it hasn’t. Stauney, Sadie, and Sarah discuss the variety of entries, the process of...

This week, Sadie introduces us to the talented artist Tracy Chapman, who most recently performed at the Grammy Awards Show. Tracy Chapman, known for her powerful songs and unique voice, has recently gained attention again thanks to Luke Combs' award-winning cover of her hit "Fast Car." In this episode, Stauney and Sadie discuss how Chapman mixed her music with activism, touching on topics like soc...

This week Stauney and Sadie are diving deep into one of television's greatest empires, Shondaland, run by the great storyteller Shonda Rhimes. We discuss Rhime's childhood, her history with ABC, and her revolutionary deal with Netflix. We then spend some time on each of her long-lasting shows and their impact on the future of television, including Grey's Anatomy, Scandal, How to Get Away with Murd...

This week, Stauney and Sadie discuss the complicated story of Phillis Wheatley Peters, the first African-American to publish poetry. After a complicated history of being sold into slavery and purchased by a family who separated her from the other slaves and gave her an elaborate education including Latin, Peters would go on to write beautiful poetry. She was put on trial to prove herself as the au...

This week, we're rounding out Women in Rock month by diving into the rockin' world of Janis Joplin, Joan Jett, Patti Smith, and Pat Benatar and their incredible journeys to stardom. We're talking about the unique paths each of these legendary ladies took in a music scene dominated by men and their rise to legends of rock. From Janis's powerhouse performances to Joan's no-nonsense attitude, Patti's...

This week, we continue our series of women in rock. Sadie introduces us to Carole Kaye, a trailblazing female bassist whose remarkable talent shaped the sound of American popular music in the 1960s and 70s. Despite her significant contributions to over 10,000 songs, Kaye remains relatively under-recognized and unsung. As a key member of a group of elite Los Angeles session musicians, she worked wi...

This week, we had the absolute pleasure of talking to Katherine Yeske Taylor about her new book "She's a Badass: Women in Rock Shaping Feminism" which is coming out tomorrow! Throughout the 20 chapters, she interviewed fundamental women in rock like Suzi Quatro, Ann Wilson (Heart), Exene Cervenka (X), Gina Schock (the Go-Go's), Lydia Lunch, Suzanne Vega, Cherie Currie (The Runaways), Joan Osborne,...

This month, we turn our spotlight to Women in Rock, featuring Stauney's introduction to Stevie Nicks, the renowned lead singer of Fleetwood Mac, following a captivating concert in December. Stauney, alongside Sadie, delves into Stevie's musical journey, starting with her early collaboration with Lindsay Buckingham, their ascent to fame with Fleetwood Mac, and the band's rollercoaster of breakups a...

This week, Stauney and Sadie wrap up their favorite art from the past year, including books, movies, TV shows, artworks, music, and their favorite episodes! This year was an incredible year of many episodes and wonderful works of art by incredible women and this was the chance to touch on all of them and shout out the best of the best. Enjoy the recommendations and thoughts, and have a happy new y...