The History Chicks : A Women's History Podcast

Victoria Woodhull crafted a life for herself from pretty raw materials. She traveled from an abusive childhood to a very aristocratic end...  and in the middle, was the first woman to run for the American Presidency. In 1872.  She was a woman ahead of her time. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The second half of Marie's life was spent without Pierre but focused on a mission to apply science to help all humanity even while non-science drama swirled about her. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A lot of people only know Marie Curie as a woman who won a Nobel prize (or two...spoilers) but that's just a small part of the life of this physicist, wife and mother. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Agrippina the Younger lived a dramatic and dangerous life as the sister of an emperor, the wife and niece of another, and mother of a third in ancient Rome. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When we were researching Mary Lincoln we both admired her friend, Elizabeth Keckly, so much that we knew that had to talk about her. She was born a slave, eventually bought her freedom and built a very successful business (twice) all before she, too, realized her own White House dream. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Since the musical Hamilton opened on Broadway, we've been getting a lot of requests to cover the Schuyler sisters, Angelica, Eliza and Peggy. (You sang that, right?) But we couldn't make it work because there wasn't enough material available to us to fill a whole show in the way we would want to...so we met someone who could:.Author Amanda Vaill. Amanda has written several award winning biographie...

In our last episode we talked about Mary's childhood, education and life as the wife of Abraham Lincoln. She was described as, "amiable, accomplished, gracious and a sparkling talker," by members of the Republican Party before she got to Washington...so what happened afterward that left her without this glowing impression? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mary Todd Lincoln's life can't be defined by who she married and her husband's legacy--she was a lot more than simply a southern born wife of a president. Actually, she wasn't simple at all. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When Madam C.J. Walker solved one of her own personal problems, she also created an opportunity to leave behind a life as a laundress for one as a successful businesswoman, philanthropist and civil rights activists and she was able to take thousands of women with her. Alaia Williams from the 18 to 49 Podcast graciously fills in as guest co-host with Beckett to talk about the life of this trailblaz...

What would you serve Dorothy Parker for dinner? What are your favorite things from pop culture? When will you cover the Schuyler Sisters? Listeners' burning questions, answered. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Zelda Fitzgerald - the original Manic Pixie Dream Girl, muse of F. Scott, has been remembered as a trophy, a fashion icon, a mental patient, an author, and an artist. This unique woman lived a complex life that defies simple labels. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We cannot get enough Beatrix Potter! Here is our coverage of the 2006 movie "Miss Potter," starring Renee Zellweger in the title role.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Though she's chiefly known for her charming illustrations, Beatrix Potter was more than an artist and author; she was a scientist, conservationist, and a philanthropist who used her talent to better the world.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When we last left the Grand Duchess Catherine, she was feeling alone, unloved and unnecessary. She had just given birth and the child, Paul, heir to the Russian Empire, was ripped from her arms to be raised by Empress Elizabeth. Not cool, Elizabeth, not cool at all.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Life. It's funny, you know? Like the time both of us were sick for so long that we couldn't record Catherine the Great Part 2 for this week's show but, instead, have this conversation between Beckett and Carol Wallace? Funny in a "well, that's a little different" way. In 2010 one of us- Beckett- wanted to hear a podcast like her favorite book of all time, To Marry an English Lord, by Gail MacColl...

The listeners have spoken! Catherine the Great, Empress of Russia, was the winner in our Guaranteed Content Poll - and in this episode, we take our innocent German princess from obscurity onto the world stage.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Once upon a time there was a busy, yet highly compassionate and generous bachelor. He became known the world over, but lacked something in his life: a wife. Mrs. Claus often takes a back seat to her more famous husband, Santa, but it's time her history was told. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lillian Gilbreth inspired us. After talking about her life and accomplishments, we thought it was high time to introduce you to four more problem-solving women whose inventions we use every day: Josephine Cochrane, Melitta Bentz, Mary Phelps Jacobs and Hedy Lamarr. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lillian Gilbreth should be remembered for any of her life accomplishments: psychologist, industrial engineer, author, inventor, and pioneer in the field of industrial psychology. From her collection of degrees to her equal partnership marriage to her work with Presidents and to the trailblazing example she set for us modern mothers...she should be remembered for a lot more than simply, "the mother...

Mary Queen of Scots got off to a good start: she was wearing the crown early and upgraded it at a young age (under the watchful eye of many an interested party),  but once she started making decisions for herself? Ah, that's when her life took dramatic twists and turns that ultimately took the crown off her head. Actually, those decisions got her whole head taken off, but let's start at the beginn...

Heeeeere’s your seven word summary: We asked, you responded and we answer. For the first time in the five years that we have been doing this show we sat down with a couple of glasses of wine to deviate from our normal format and answer some of your questions.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When we left Dorothy Parker in Part One she was hanging on tenuously at best. Her marriage to Eddie Parker was over, her relationship with George MacArthur was over and the fall-out somewhat stabilized and her suicide attempt was unsuccessful. How will this end? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

She gave us fabulous quotes like, “Men seldom make passes at girls who wear glasses” and “Brevity is the soul of lingerie,” but Dorothy Parker’s life wasn’t all wit and snark. Behind those flip one liners there was a very complex woman who lead a full life far beyond the banter of the Algonquin Round table. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In Part One we talked about Marie Antoinette’s childhood, the speedy preparations for marriage and her early years in France. In this episode, the conclusion of our revisit, we get to the rest of her story as she travels from well-liked to queen to the (dramatic pause) guillotine.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Once upon a time there were two podcasters who began their women’s history show with an episode about Marie Antoinette. Four and a half years later they revisited her life simply because they felt there was more to say about this woman who has been long misquoted and misunderstood. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices