Making Myth Podcast

Love what you hear? Send us fan mail! America's most forgotten First Lady was Harriet Lane. The niece of President James Buchanan, she joined him on a diplomatic mission to the Court of St. James where she met Queen Victoria. Her charm, grace, and sensibility made her popular in both England and America alike.  In March 1857, Harriet moved into the Executive Mansion of the United States along...

Love what you hear? Send us fan mail! On a cold February day in 1807, Charity Bryant and Sylvia Drake met for the first time. In era where women were expected to marry men and become mothers, they would spend the next 44 years building a life together in rural Vermont until Charity's death in 1851.  As teaching opportunities for women expanded after the American Revolution, Charity and Sylvia...

Love what you hear? Send us fan mail! When the Nazis forcibly moved the Jewish population of Vilna, Lithuania to the ghetto, Vitka Kempner was ready. Born in Poland and always interested in education, Vitka fled her home town at 19 years old. In Vilna, she met two people who would accompany her through all the hard years ahead. Abba Kovner and Ruzka Korczack were more than just her partisans in ar...

Love what you hear? Send us fan mail! Forcibly removed to the Jerome War Relocation Center following the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Yuri Kochiyama was deeply involved in her community. During high school she volunteered and taught skills, all while seeing America through "American Eyes." She was Nisei, the first generation born to Japanese immigrants, and had citizenship while her parents...

Love what you hear? Send us fan mail! On February 7, 1969, Diane Crump became the first woman jockey to ride in a professional, pari-mutuel race in the United States at 20. This achievement built on a life long love of horses and years of hard work training racehorses. On May 2, 1970, Diane was the first woman to ride in the Kentucky Derby. Over her racing career, Diane broke open the field of rac...

Love what you hear? Send us fan mail! In the 16th century, Ulster, now known was Northern Ireland, was at the precipice of change. Gaelic power networks connected western Scotland and its isles to Ulster through the exchange of mercenaries and regional power. Politically powerful women such as Lady Agnes Campbell and her daughter, Finola MacDonnell, embodied the prowess of their families by bringi...

Love what you hear? Send us fan mail!                                                                   Sources On April 24, 1916, Irish republicans revolted against British rule with Constance Markievicz at the heart of the action. Born to an aristocratic family, Constance put bold ideals into motion through journalism, activism, and politics. These beliefs drove her to be an active part of sever...

Love what you hear? Send us fan mail! Ever wondered why Katherine of Aragon has a portrait with a monkey? Do you want to know how we select episodes? Curious about how astrology is done for each episode? Do you want to know where we'd time travel to given the chance? This episode is for you!! In our first Q&A, we answer burning listener questions, cover our research process, detail how we...

Love what you hear? Send us fan mail! Known more by legend than fact, Marie Laveau has been immortalized for her Louisiana Voodoo practices. Born in New Orleans as the first free woman of color in her family, she's remembered for much more than her religious practices. By the end of her life, Marie was known as the Voodoo Queen of New Orleans and had practiced it for at least 60 years.  Marie...

Love what you hear? Send us fan mail! Born on April 15, 1894, Bessie Smith fell in love with music at a young age. Inspired by her brother Clarence, she started off performing on 9th Street in Chattanooga, Tennessee. By 14, she was performing at Atlanta's 81 Theatre, where she met the legendary Ma Rainey.  In 1923, Bessie recorded "Down Hearted Blues." In less than 6 months, it sold...

Love what you hear? Send us fan mail! For over 1,100 years, the Pythia at the Oracle of Delphi influenced politics, wars, and laws in the Ancient Greek world. Open to questions only nine days a year, the Pythia gave guidance to people from all across Greece, Asia Minor, and beyond.  Between 535 to 615 of the oracles have survived, and over half are said to be historically correct. Pericles, Xenoph...

Love what you hear? Send us fan mail! Long before the annulment of their marriage, Katherine of Aragon's status as queen was actively buried by Henry VIII. Her strategy of patience against his attempts to belittle her won out; she did not bend. Katherine remained close to her friends, focused on needlework, and poured herself into her daughter Mary's education in the remaining years of h...

Love what you hear? Send us fan mail! Before Katherine of Aragon became Henry VIII's first queen, she was Catalina of Aragon, daughter of Isabella of Castile and Ferdinand of Aragon. Raised in culturally diverse medieval Spain, she embodied sovereignty and wisdom in all she did. Her move to England in 1501 and marriage to Arthur Tudor set into motion the events that would make her one of Engl...

Love what you hear? Send us fan mail! It's here! Our first Listener's Choice Episode, just in time for the holidays! Mongolian Princess Khutulun amassed 10,000 horses from wrestling matches in the Mongol Empire. A great great granddaughter of Genghis Khan, she was known for her ferocity and shrewd decisions on the battlefield. She accompanied her father in warfare, gaining the attention...

Love what you hear? Send us fan mail! Onna-bugeisha Tomoe Gozen is as legendary as she is mysterious. Fighting in the Genpei War from 1180 to 1185 CE, she was known for her deadly precision in battle and beauty. While Tomoe disappeared from history shortly after the end of the war, she lives on in myth and the arts.  Come along as we cover Japan's first female samurai through history and astr...

Love what you hear? Send us fan mail! Dikh He Na Bister means "Look and don't forget" in Romani.  Born into a Romani family in Austria, Ceija Stojka was one of the 1.17 million Roma living in Europe circa 1939. At only 10 years old she, her mother, and siblings were deported to Auschwitz Birkenau. A survivor of not only Auschwitz, but Ravensbrück and Bergen-Belsen, Ceija was liberat...

Love what you hear? Send us fan mail! IT'S ALIVE!!! Born to a radical philosopher and early feminist, Mary Shelley has been immortalized through her 1818 work Frankenstein.  Not only did she invent the genre of science fiction, but she also explored themes of human rights, being unsheltered in the world, and social isolation. Truly embodying 'peak goth', she kept her late husband Pe...

Love what you hear? Send us fan mail! Society's rules? Who needs them! A queen of reinvention, Lola Montez was a woman ahead of her time. Captivating audiences with her famous Spider Dance, Lola earned admirers, enemies, and more than a few scandals as she conquered Europe, America, and Australia. In her short life, she became a Countess, convinced a king to abdicate, and rubbed elbows with E...

Love what you hear? Send us fan mail! On April 12, 1861 the Civil War began. The US Sanitary Commission knew volunteer nurses would be needed for aiding the Union wounded and dead. 27 year old Georgeanna Woolsey was trained as a nurse and wrote extensively on her experiences caring for soldiers during the bloodiest war in American history. Come along with us as we use Georgeanna's writing as...

Love what you hear? Send us fan mail! On July 9, 1553, 16 year old Lady Jane Grey learned she would become Queen after King Edward VI named her as his successor. Lady Jane, known as the 'Nine Day Queen', was later abandoned by her Privy Council as they flocked to Mary I's side. She was held in the Tower of London until her execution at 17 years old on February 12, 1554.  Come along...

Love what you hear? Send us fan mail! In 60/61 CE, Boudica and the Iceni people revolted against the Romans in eastern Britain. In her wave of retribution, three cities were razed to the ground, including modern day London. Today she is immortalized as a symbol of warrior's victory in art, literature, and collective memory.  Come along with us as we explore the legendary queen who reacted wit...

Love what you hear? Send us fan mail! On November 4, 1846, the infamous Donner Party was snowed in at the base of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. The first group of rescuers would not arrive until February 18, 1847. An unfortunate 35, including Tamsen Donner, would never cross the mountains. Now 179 years later some of the most heartbreaking questions remain unanswered.  Come along with us as we expl...

Love what you hear? Send us fan mail! On May 12, 1846, the most infamous group to travel the California Trail departed from Independence, Missouri. They would be immortalized by bad luck that left them stranded in the Sierra Nevada Mountains over the winter. Many people know the party resorted to cannibalism to survive, but their humanity is often forgotten.  Come along with us as we cover the lif...