More Than A Muse

This week, Stauney talks about the Prima Ballerina, Maria Tallchief and how her pioneering spirit challenged the norms of the predominantly European art form and ushered in a new era for ballet in the United States. From her early training at the School of American Ballet to becoming the first American and Native American prima ballerina, Tallchief's career was marked by a relentless pursuit of ex...

Happy Halloween! To end our month of murder mysteries, this week Stauney and Sadie delve into the riveting realm of two iconic characters, Amy Dunne from Gillian Flynn's "Gone Girl" and Scarlett O'Hara from Margaret Mitchell's "Gone with the Wind," uncovering the eerie parallels in their psychopathic behavior, and the infamous stories they play the title role in. We discuss the differences and par...

For this month's bonus episode, Stauney and Sadie share their thoughts on the book "Savage Appetites: Four True Stories of Women, Crime, and Obsession" by Rachel Monroe. This book covers the question "Why are women so obsessed with true crime?" by diving into four real stories from four different time periods (nutshell dollhouses, the Manson family murders, Satanic panic, and Columbine) and their...

Alfred Hitchcock, renowned as the "Master of Suspense," directed a range of films with equally intricate leading ladies. In this episode, we dive deep into the horrifying connections between Hitchcock and his female stars, shedding light on the secrets that have intrigued audiences for decades. We'll discuss the compelling and saddening stories of Hitchcock's "ice cold blondes" like June Howard-Tr...

In our next installment of MTAM Murder Mystery Month, Sadie takes us into the enduring legacy of teenage all-American sleuth Nancy Drew! Although all the books were written under the pseudonym "Carolyn Keene," the real authors and creators were a cast of many people who helped make the icon she is today. We discuss her creation and Hardy Boy counterparts, the creator, editor, and authors including...

Welcome to More Than A Muse Murder Mystery Month!!! This week, to start our October series, Stauney covers the life of famous mystery author Agatha Christie. Although her life is highly documented, after becoming a celebrated author, she disappeared for 9 days starting one of the largest manhunts in history, and showed up with no memories shortly after. She also traveled immensely with details of...

Have you listened to every episode this year? Do you think you can correctly answer a question about every single person? For our *3rd Annual Trivia Episode* Stauney and Sadie go head to head to quiz each other on all of the people we've covered so far this year. We talk about the scandals, the highlights, and our favorites, and attempt to answer every question without getting too mixed up. We als...

If you're on TikTok, you've probably come across the trend going around of women asking the men in their lives how often they think about the Roman Empire and being absolutely floored by the frequent occurrences. So, this week, Stauney and Sadie are diving into women's role in the Roman Empire, especially regarding their rights and their artistic roles. We talk about the ancient women artists, how...

"Dazzling starlet, Bardot reincarnate." Olivia Rodrigo's latest album had us thinking.. what really is the story behind the infamous Bardot? In the world of cinema, few names have left as indelible a mark as Brigitte Bardot's. She was not just an actress; she was an icon—a name that conjures images of sensuality and allure. But Bardot's influence transcended the screen. She was the first woman coi...

In the art world, behind every iconic masterpiece lies a narrative waiting to be discovered. This week, Stauney and Sadie are diving into the faces behind the frames and talking about the world's most famous muses, or the faces in the world's most renowned paintings. From Leonardo's Mona Lisa and her mysterious smile to Degas' hidden history of ballerinas, we'll talk about each of the women who ar...

In the world of art history, only a few have made a big impact on how art is seen. Among famous artists, some special ones are often overlooked. This week, Stauney introduces us to Marisol Escobar who navigated artistic landscapes from Paris to New York and Los Angeles and existed in an insurmountable amount of artistic movements. As a child, an early tragedy left her mute for a decade, and as a w...

Women's sexuality and their purity seem to be a topic that follows us throughout time. In this episode, Stauney and Sadie explore how societal views on women's sexuality and purity are reflected in classic literature like 'The Scarlet Letter,' 'The Virgin Suicides,' and 'Lolita.' These novels serve as mirrors to the complexities of purity culture, where women's bodies and desires are closely scrut...

Often in music, the prominence is placed on the title stars, without much regard to the people behind the scenes that help make the magic happen. This week, Sadie sheds light on a hidden part of the music industry: backup vocalists. We delve into the extraordinary careers of Darlene Love, Merry Clayton, and the unsung backup vocalists who have famous harmonies featured on some of our favorite song...

Step aside wolves of wall street, this summer has been a tidal wave of economic girl power. Two big examples of this are Taylor Swift's "Eras Tour," expected to make an amazing 5 billion worldwide, and the Barbie movie, directed by Greta Gerwig, which has already made over a billion dollars in sales, the biggest profit of a movie by a solo female director ever. These successes, along with the upco...

In the dazzling annals of cinema's history, there exists a remarkable figure whose name remains too often obscured by the shadows of time. Today, Stauney brings to light the unparalleled contributions of Alice Guy-Blaché, the world's first (and for a while, the ONLY) female film director. Pioneering the art of storytelling through moving pictures, her innovative vision shaped cinema's landscape at...

This week, Sadie takes us into the enchanting world of Ursula Parrott, a mysterious and talented writer of the Jazz Age, whose famous novel "Ex-Wife" unveils the complexities of love, marriage, and society's shifting norms. Amidst the glitz and glamour of 1920s New York City, Parrott's presence among literary legends like F. Scott Fitzgerald left an indelible mark, but beneath the fame lies a hidd...

It's a Barbie world! This week, in our part two episode, we're diving headfirst into the enchanting world of the Barbie Cinematic Universe, especially those beloved animated movies from the 2000s. From heartwarming tales of friendship to thrilling musical escapades, these animated gems have left a lasting impression on audiences of all ages... especially us. And hold onto your seats because we're...

It's time for our most anticipated episode of the year! This week, Stauney and Sadie dive deep into the rich history of Barbie, tracing her origins from the visionary mind of Ruth Handler in 1959 to her present-day status as an iconic figure. Despite sparking controversies surrounding her portrayal of beauty, Barbie has undergone significant transformations, emerging as a symbol of progress and em...

In the realm of landscape architecture, one name stands out as a true pioneer and visionary. This week Stauney introduces us to Beatrix Farrand, known for breaking barriers and reshaping the field during a time when it was predominantly male-dominated, Farrand's remarkable contributions have left an indelible mark on the world of design. With her exceptional talent, unwavering dedication, and envi...

Amidst the chaos of war, one daring woman stood fearlessly behind the camera, capturing the untold stories and unyielding spirit of conflict—and then history completely erased her. This week, Stauney and Sadie are joined by Lorissa Rinehart, the author of "First to the Front: The Untold Story of Dickey Chapelle, Trailblazing Female War Correspondent" which will be released on JULY 11th. We discuss...

Imagine writing a book that was so obviously gay that the censorship committees couldn't even tell what it was. This week, Sadie brings us up to speed on Djuna Barnes, a fascinating and influential figure of the 20th-century modernist literature movement. Known for her provocative and experimental writing style, Barnes pushed boundaries through her life and writing with an unapologetic embrace of...

We're no strangers to talking about "the male and female gaze" but do we know what this means and represents for the art and media we consume? This week on the podcast, Stauney and Sadie are talking about the history of the male and female gaze. We discuss how it has existed in art, especially depicted in female nudes and depictions in modern media. We also discuss the difference between a female...

Before Bob Dylan, a young woman in Greenwich New York wrote songs, sang, and played her guitar, becoming the first record of a modern singer-songwriter. This week, Stauney introduces us to Connie Converse, a woman who escaped her strict Christian household to chase her dreams in New York City, only to be met with so much disappointment she would completely disappear never to be heard from again. Y...

We've gone from vibrant hues to neutral "clean girl" and why is that? This week, Sadie and Stauney dive into the world of color and how the modern world has used marketing, production, psychology, prejudice, and more to justify the diminishing details and 50 million shades of gray that are popular today. Sad beige nurseries, birds, and coral reefs losing color due to environmental impacts, Kim Kar...

This week, Sadie introduces us to Maria Callas, resilient and immensely gifted, who shattered barriers and redefined what it meant to be an opera star. Her turbulent journey, from a challenging childhood to unfair attacks by the press, vocal struggles, and a diverse range of talents, only served to fuel her determination and leave a permanent legacy. We discuss her childhood, her rise to fame, the...