HerStance

"If you can’t do great things, you can do small things in a great way." After a year of storytelling and connection, we reach the final chapter of the HerStance podcast. In this episode, we shift from the global stage to the internal one. Join us for a personal reflection on taming a "sizzling nervous system," finding compassion in a chaotic world, and the 32 lessons gathered from a year of podcas...

The master’s tools will never dismantle the master’s house." These famous words by Audre Lorde continue to challenge how we approach activism and identity today. In this episode, host Sandra Koelle explores the legacy of the "Black, lesbian, mother, warrior, poet" who redefined intersectionality.   In this episode: Discover Lorde’s journey from Harlem to becoming the New York State Poet Laure...

In this HerStance episode, we honor Mahāpajāpatī Gotamī , the first Bhikkhunī and the woman who opened the Buddhist path to women. Through a feminist lens, we explore her persistence, spiritual authority, and lasting legacy—challenging patriarchal narratives in Buddhist history and re-centering women’s wisdom, resistance, and liberation on the path.

In the modern world, the winter solstice is often buried under neon lights, "shop till you drop" commercialism, and patriarchal narratives that distance us from the season’s primal power. But what happens when we strip away the tinsel and look into the dark? In this episode, we "peel the cosmic onion" to reclaim the Divine Feminine hidden within our winter traditions. From the ancient Anglo-Saxon...

Have you been keeping up with the headlines coming out of the Department of Education this week? Major fields like nursing, architecture, accounting, and education are risking reduced student loan access under the new "One Big Beautiful Bill." Critics argue this isn't just bureaucratic accounting—it's an attempt to limit advanced thinkers and future policymakers, disproportionately affecting women...

In this episode of HerStance, we pull back the curtain on the true architect of the New Deal: Frances Perkins , the woman who wasn't just the first female Cabinet Secretary but the driving force behind the most significant social reforms in American history. We explore her journey from a strict, conservative upbringing to a radical social reformer, tracing the moment her conscience was awakened—sp...

The Nobel Prize honors monumenta l achieveme nt, a recognition that inspires us to uphold the ideals of knowledge, compassion, and courage. But for countless women, that recognition has been slow to arrive, even as their work fundamentally shaped our understanding of the world.  This episode div es deep int o the lives and work of women who have fundamentally shaped our world and our understa...

Today, we're diving into the dramatic, controversial, and deeply moving story of María Eva Duarte de Perón—better known simply as Evita. Her ascent from rural poverty to become the most powerful woman in Argentine history is one of Latin America's most compelling tales. She forever changed her nation's political landscape, but was she a proto-feminist icon or an iron fist cloaked in glamour? Stay...

Sanger’s revolutionary work fundamentally changed the world for millions, giving women bodily autonomy . But her legacy is undeniably complicated. In her pursuit of a revolutionary public health concept, she embraced and supported the American eugenics movement , aligning herself with the deeply flawed rhetoric of her era. We are here not to apologize for the messiness of history, but to unpack it...

Welcome to Conversations with a Catalyst , a new series on the show! In these special episodes, we'll shift the format a bit to highlight incredible contemporary women who are not only reflecting on the legacies of our foremothers but also building a more equitable future for the generations to come. For our very first Conversations with a Catalyst episode, we're joined by Dotty Delafield , a reti...

From an aspiring playwright to the first woman to host her own variety show, Carol Burnett has been a trailblazer, a comedic genius, and a feminist icon. At 91 years old, she's still breaking ground as the oldest woman to be nominated for a comedy acting Emmy in 2024. A seven-time Emmy winner already, Burnett has been entertaining audiences since the 1960s with her blend of physical comedy, musica...

When you think of Billie Jean King, the mind often goes straight to 1973. The "Battle of the Sexes." The media spectacle. The iconic image of her holding a racket, a triumphant grin on her face, having just defeated Bobby Riggs, the self-proclaimed chauvinist pig. But to understand the true impact of that moment, you have to look at what she was fighting for, long before she stepped onto that cour...

Some names are forever cemented in history for their infamy. But what about the brilliant women whose names should be celebrated, yet have been deliberately silenced? On this episode of HerStance, we confront a phenomenon with a name: The Matilda Effect . We'll uncover who Matilda was and explore the shocking practice of erasing women's contributions—not just an oversight, but a deliberate act to...

How does a woman rise from the depths of poverty and orphanhood to become America's first female self-made millionaire, and what can her journey teach us about creating lasting change? In this episode of HerStance, we dive into the incredible life and profound legacy of Madam C.J. Walker . Born Sarah Breedlove in the challenging era of post-Civil War Louisiana, Madam Walker was a testament to unpa...

You know the image: the "Lady with the Lamp," a beacon of compassion on the battlefields. But what if we told you Florence Nightingale, the foundational philosopher of modern nursing, was far more than just a quiet caregiver? Welcome to HerStance , the podcast that dives deep into the lives of history's most impactful women. In this episode, we're pulling back the curtain on Florence Nightingale,...

Last month, May 2025, the feminist movement lost a titan. We said goodbye to a 'second wave' pioneer whose relentless writing, fearless protesting, and groundbreaking national conversations fundamentally reshaped our understanding of sex, marital reproductive rights, workplace harassment, and domestic violence. These are sensitive topics, and we urge you to listen with care. Today on HerStance, we...

Frequency hopping spread spectrum (FHSS) – a mouthful, we know! But this cutting-edge wireless technology, where signals rapidly "hop" between different frequencies, is probably in your pocket right now. It's the secret sauce behind your Wi-Fi, GPS, and Bluetooth, and a vital tool for military security. Pretty cool, right? But as usual, here on HerStance, we're about to unveil a little-known yet i...

We'll trace O'Connor's steady, often subtle, path to incremental social change and Ginsburg's more expansive vision of the Constitution as a dynamic, living document of American inclusivity.  Discover how these "sisters in law," though diverging in their approach, were united in their pursuit of justice for women.  Join us as we uncover their inspiring legacies and encourage you to read...

Forget what you think you know about Champagne! This episode of HerStance uncorks a hidden truth, challenging the long-held belief about who really invented the crucial riddling process of the Méthode Champenoise. Join us as we journey from the vineyards of Reims, France, to the inspiring story of Barbe-Nicole Clicquot Ponsardin, the "Grande Dame of Champagne." Discover how this visionary woman no...

Dr. Montessori's revolutionary educational method was born from her work with marginalized children in Rome's slums, where she created child-sized environments that put learning directly in children's hands. What began as an experiment with "practically feral" children blossomed into a global movement that continues to shape education across continents today. We trace her fascinating path from Ita...

Today, on HerStance, we're diving deep into the life of a woman who didn't just break barriers, she obliterated them. We'll trace her journey from slavery to the forefront of the women's rights movement, and examine how her fight for intersectionality fuels the fire of today's feminism.  HerStance delves into the lives of extraordinary women who shaped our world, revealing their vital contrib...

HerStance isn't just about history. It's about drawing powerful parallels to the social issues we face now. We explore their challenges, their triumphs, and most importantly, their stance. And each episode culminates in a 'HerStance Challenge' – a practical step you can take to create change in your own community. Join us every two weeks as we reclaim these narratives and build a legacy of true eq...