The Homance Chronicles

Liz Sheridan, the actress best known for her memorable roles as Jerry Seinfeld's mother on Seinfeld and the lovable neighbor Mrs. Ochmonek on ALF . But long before she became a familiar face on television, Sheridan was a talented dancer and performer pursuing her dreams on the stages of New York City. We'll trace her journey from her early years growing up in New York, through her career in theate...

Alice Paul was one of the most influential leaders of the women's suffrage movement. From her Quaker upbringing in New Jersey to her education in England, where she learned militant protest tactics, Alice Paul dedicated her life to securing equal rights for women. We'll follow her journey as she organized historic marches, endured arrests and force-feeding while imprisoned, and played a pivotal ro...

Emily Warren Roebling helped build one of America's most iconic landmarks while quietly redefining what women were capable of in the 19th century.  Long before women were recognized in engineering or leadership roles, Emily stepped into a world dominated by men after her husband, Washington Roebling, became severely ill during construction of the Brooklyn Bridge. With no formal engineering educati...

Cherie DeVaux is the trailblazing horse trainer who made history as the first woman to win the Kentucky Derby as a trainer. From her childhood roots and passion for horses to breaking into the male-dominated world of thoroughbred racing, Cherie's journey is one of resilience, grit, and determination. We explore the pivotal moments that shaped her path, including her early years in harness racing,...

Cora Reynolds Anderson was a quiet trailblazer whose legacy reshaped Michigan's political landscape, even if her name isn't widely known today. Born in 1882 in Baraga County, she was of Ojibwe descent and grew up deeply connected to her community and culture at a time when Native voices were largely excluded from public life. That didn't stop her from stepping into history. In 1924, Cora became th...

In 1948, a quiet 11-year-old girl from New Jersey made a small mistake that would change her life forever. What followed was not just a crime—it was a prolonged nightmare that exposed the vulnerabilities of children in plain sight. We uncover the haunting story of Sally Horner, a young girl abducted by a man posing as a figure of authority, who manipulated fear and trust to keep her captive for ne...

Pearl de Vere was more than the most famous madam in Cripple Creek, Colorado —she was a woman who built power, mystery, and independence in a world that offered women very little of it. We step into the glittering, gritty world of the late 1800s American West to uncover the life of Pearl de Vere, the enigmatic owner of the luxurious Old Homestead House. Known for her beauty, intelligence, and stri...

Victoria MacKenzie-Childs was the visionary behind the iconic MacKenzie-Childs brand. From her early creative pursuits to co-founding a company known for its bold patterns, hand-painted ceramics, and unmistakable aesthetic, Victoria's journey was anything but conventional. Alongside her husband, Richard MacKenzie-Childs , she built a design empire rooted in artistry and storytelling—one that would...

Lucy Hobbs Taylor broke barriers in dentistry and paved the way for generations of women in healthcare.  In the mid-1800s, women were largely shut out of professional careers—but Lucy Hobbs Taylor refused to accept that reality. Born in Constable, New York in 1833, Lucy began her career as a teacher before becoming determined to study dentistry. When dental schools repeatedly denied her admission...

Step into the colorful, creative world behind one of the most iconic children's brands of the 1980s in this vibrant episode exploring the lives of G.G. Santiago and Muriel Fahrion . Before there was a global franchise, there was an idea—sparked by imagination, persistence, and a desire to bring more light into the world. G.G. Santiago dreamed up a little girl who would make the world brighter, a c...

In this empowering episode, we spotlight the Black women who have reshaped the narrative of winter sport and etched their names into Olympic history. From trailblazers in figure skating to champions on the ice track, their stories span decades of perseverance, excellence, and barrier-breaking achievement. We start with Debi Thomas , who in 1988 became the first Black American woman to win a medal...

Born Chloe Ardelia Wofford in Lorain, Ohio, Toni Morrison rose from a working-class Midwestern childhood to become one of the most influential literary voices of the 20th century. From her early days studying at Howard and Cornell to her trailblazing career as an editor at Random House—where she championed African American writers—Toni's path was as powerful as the stories she told. We dive into t...

Henrietta Lacks is the woman behind one of the most important medical breakthroughs in modern history. In 1951, a young Black mother of five sought treatment for cervical cancer at Johns Hopkins Hospital. Without her knowledge or consent, doctors took samples of her cancer cells. Those cells—later known as HeLa cells—became the first human cells to survive and reproduce indefinitely in a lab. They...

Opal Lee is the grandmother of Juneteenth and a living symbol of perseverance, justice, and hope. Born in 1926 in Marshall, Texas, Opal Lee's childhood was shaped by both love and trauma. At just 12 years old, she watched a white mob burn her family's home to the ground on Juneteenth—a moment that would mark her life, but never define her limits. Instead of turning away from the pain, Opal turned...

Alice Ball was a chemical prodigy, the first woman and first Black person to earn a master's degree from the University of Hawaiʻi, and the mind behind what became known as the "Ball Method." Despite her groundbreaking discovery, credit was taken by others after her untimely death, and her contribution was erased from textbooks for decades. In the early 20th century, leprosy (Hansen's disease) car...

Doris Day was more than Hollywood's sunny sweetheart. She was a survivor, a savvy businesswoman, and a trailblazer who quietly redefined what strength could look like in mid-century America. In this episode, we explore the remarkable life of Doris Day, from her early dreams of becoming a professional dancer to her rise as one of the most bankable stars in film history. We unpack how a devastating...

Victoria Woodhull was the first woman to run for President of the United States, a Wall Street powerhouse, a fearless suffragist, and one of the most controversial voices of the 19th century. Born into poverty and raised in a turbulent family, Victoria defied every societal expectation placed on women, transforming herself into a financial broker, newspaper publisher, and outspoken advocate for wo...

Jane Seymour is an actress whose talent and resilience have made her a lasting icon. From her breakout role as a Bond girl in  Live and Let Die to her Emmy-winning performance on Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman , Jane has captivated audiences for decades. Beyond her career, she's lived a life full of highs and lows—she's been married four times, is the devoted mother of six children, and has survived a...

Anna Coleman Ladd was an artist whose work changed lives in the aftermath of World War I. Best known as a sculptor and painter, Anna used her talent in an unexpected and deeply human way: creating facial prosthetics for soldiers who had been severely disfigured in combat. We'll explore her early life and artistic training, what led her to Paris during the war, and how she founded the Studio for Po...

Mary T. Klinker was a dedicated Air Force flight nurse whose courage and compassion left an indelible mark on history. From her early years in Lafayette, Indiana, to her training at St. Elizabeth's School of Nursing, Mary's path was defined by service, heart, and an unwavering commitment to caring for others. We follow her journey into the U.S. Air Force, where she became a skilled flight nurse an...

Brigitte Helm was the enigmatic star who became immortal through her iconic role as Maria and the Machine-Man in  Metropolis . From being discovered as a teenager to becoming one of the Weimar era's most recognizable faces, Helm's career rose quickly—and burned just as fast. We trace her journey from overnight stardom to her complicated relationship with fame, the pressures of the film industry, a...

⚠️ Trigger Warning: This episode discusses suicide and assisted suicide. If these topics are upsetting or activating for you, please take care while listening. You may choose to skip this episode or reach out to someone you trust or a mental health resource for support. Alice and Ellen Kessler were identical twin sisters whose synchronized dance moves, glamour, and charisma made them stars across...

Before disposable diapers became a household staple, one determined mother set out to solve a messy, universal problem—and ended up changing the lives of parents everywhere. In this episode, we explore the life and ingenuity of Marion Donovan , the inventor, designer, and entrepreneur whose creativity reshaped childcare. From her early years tinkering with tools in her father's factory, to the mom...

Caroline Norton was a poet, social reformer, and one of the most influential women you've never heard of. Born into privilege but trapped in an abusive marriage, Caroline used her voice and her pen to challenge a legal system that rendered married women powerless. Her fight was personal, painful, and revolutionary. After being cut off from her own income, barred from seeing her children, and publi...

Marie Laveau ruled 19th-century New Orleans with a power that transcended race, religion, and reputation. Was she a healer or a hustler? A mystic or a master manipulator? In this episode, we unravel the legend of the Voodoo Queen who turned whispers into influence and left a legacy that still haunts the French Quarter today. Follow us on IG:  @homance_chronicles Connect with us:  linktr.ee/homance...