The Homance Chronicles

In this episode, we explore the dramatic and tragic life of Susan Cabot, born Harriet Pearl Shapiro in 1927. From a childhood marked by loss and foster care in the Bronx to her rise as a Hollywood actress in Westerns and cult B-movies like Sorority Girl and The Wasp Woman , Susan's story is one of ambition, resilience, and hidden struggles. Behind the screen, she navigated secret relationships—inc...

Everyone knows the story of Bonnie and Clyde—but few know the woman who was there beside them: Blanche Barrow. Married to Buck Barrow, Clyde's older brother, Blanche found herself swept into the Barrow Gang's whirlwind of crime, chaos, and tragedy during the Great Depression. In this episode, we explore Blanche's journey from a preacher's daughter to a reluctant fugitive, tracing how love and loya...

Before she was the world's most famous primatologist, Jane Goodall was a curious young girl who dreamed of living among animals in Africa. In this episode, we follow her extraordinary journey—from a childhood fascination with nature in wartime England to the groundbreaking discoveries she made in Tanzania's Gombe Stream National Park. Learn how Jane's patience and empathy shattered scientific norm...

Before Marilyn Monroe or Cindy Crawford, there was Audrey Munson — the original American muse. In the early 1900s, her face and figure inspired hundreds of statues across New York City and beyond. She was celebrated as "Miss Manhattan," immortalized in marble and bronze, and became the first woman to appear fully nude in an American film. But behind the fame was a haunting story of exploitation, s...

Dominique Crenn is the first woman in the United States to earn three Michelin stars. Raised in France and later moving to the U.S. to pursue her culinary ambitions, Dominique built a career defined by creativity, persistence, and leadership in an industry long dominated by men.  We'll cover her early influences, her rise in the restaurant world, and the challenges she faced along the way—includin...

Sarah Gammon Bickford was the first Black woman in the United States to own a public utility. Born into slavery in Tennessee in 1852, Sarah's early life was marked by hardship, resilience, and a determination to carve out her own destiny. After emancipation, she moved west to Virginia City, Montana—where she reinvented herself in a place few African American women dared to go. Sarah's story is one...

Kathryn Bigelow is a trailblazing filmmaker who shattered glass ceilings in Hollywood. From her early days as a painter and experimental filmmaker to becoming the first woman to win an Academy Award for Best Director, Kathryn's journey is one of ambition, creativity, and resilience. We explore her groundbreaking films, including The Hurt Locker and Zero Dark Thirty , and her dramatic connection to...

Before Marilyn, before Madonna, before the femme fatales of noir, there was Theda Bara —the original "Vamp" of the silver screen. In this episode, we explore the life of the woman who seduced audiences in the silent film era, becoming one of cinema's first true icons. From her carefully crafted mystique and exotic public persona to her trailblazing roles that challenged early 20th-century norms of...

Eleanor of Aquitaine was no ordinary queen—she was one of the most powerful and influential women of the Middle Ages. Born into immense wealth and power, she became Duchess of Aquitaine in her own right, then twice a queen—first of France and later of England. Her life reads like a medieval epic: she led armies on crusade, was a patron of the arts who helped shape the courtly love tradition, and m...

Behind the towering legacy of Victor Hugo lies a lesser-known, haunting tale—that of his youngest daughter, Adèle. Born into privilege and brilliance, Adèle possessed a vivid mind, a gift for writing, and an independent spirit. Yet her life took a tragic turn, marked by obsessive love, defiance of societal norms, and an unrelenting battle with mental illness. In this episode, we explore Adèle Hugo...

Before she was America's most beloved sex therapist, Dr. Ruth Westheimer survived the Holocaust, trained as a sniper, and earned her doctorate in education. In this episode, we dive into the fascinating and unexpected journey of Dr. Ruth—from a childhood shattered by war to her rise as a cultural icon who changed the conversation around sex, pleasure, and relationships. With her unmistakable voice...

Madame de La Fayette was one of the first women in history to publish a bestselling novel and forever change French literature. Born into nobility in 1634, Marie-Madeleine Pioche de La Vergne defied expectations of women in her era by wielding a sharp intellect and a quiet yet powerful pen. Her groundbreaking novel  La Princesse de Clèves , published anonymously in 1678, is considered the first mo...

She was the voice of a generation—America's sweetheart with a heartbreaking soprano that defined the late '50s and early '60s. In this episode, we dive into the extraordinary life of Connie Francis, the first female pop star to top the Billboard charts, whose emotional ballads and bilingual charm broke barriers across the globe. From her meteoric rise with "Who's Sorry Now" to the deep personal tr...

She was known around the world for her extreme plastic surgeries and headline-grabbing persona—but Lolo Ferrari was far more complex than the tabloid caricature she became. Born Eve Valois, she rose from a troubled childhood in France to international fame as an adult performer, singer, and TV personality. Behind the exaggerated image and surreal stardom, however, was a woman struggling with deep...

MacKenzie Scott is best known as the ex-wife of Jeff Bezos—but that's only a fraction of her story. In this episode, we explore the life of a woman who helped build Amazon, pursued her passion as a novelist, and is now transforming philanthropy through one of the most radical giving sprees in modern history. From working with Toni Morrison to anonymously donating billions to overlooked organizatio...

Ruth Ellis was a nightclub hostess, mother, and the last woman to be executed in the United Kingdom. From her difficult childhood to the turbulent relationships that shaped her future, we explore the events leading up to the 1955 murder of her lover David Blakely and the sensational trial that followed. But Ruth's story is more than a crime; it's a powerful lens into post-war Britain, gender roles...

Before Stonewall, before Pride parades, before the word "queer" was reclaimed—there was Ruth Ellis. Born in 1899, Ruth lived boldly and authentically as an out Black lesbian for over a century. Ruth Ellis was a trailblazer who ran her own printing business, built a safe haven for LGBTQ+ youth in Detroit, and became a living legend in her 90s. We also dive into how her legacy continues today throug...

Gladys Bentley was a Harlem Renaissance trailblazer, unapologetic performer, and one of the first public figures to challenge gender norms in 20th-century America. With her signature tuxedo, top hat, and booming voice, Bentley captivated crowds at speakeasies and underground clubs, belting blues lyrics that were as bold as her presence. But behind the spotlight was a woman navigating the complex i...

We're switching things up this episode. Instead of our usual stories about women in history, we're pausing to bring awareness to Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria (aka chronic hives). Nicole is opening up about her deeply personal ongoing health journey that's basically become her personality over the last 10 months.  Hives can be triggered by a wide range of issues, which makes them an incredibly fru...

Long before women had a seat at the table in medicine, Dr. Zaruhi Kavaljian carved out a space of her own. She was the first Armenian women to become a physician—an educator, trailblazer, and advocate for women's health and empowerment. From earning her medical degree at a time when few women even attended university, to shaping the future of public health and mentoring generations of students, Dr...

Ava Gardner lived a dazzling yet complicated life. She was a timeless beauty, a fierce spirit, and one of Hollywood's most unforgettable icons. From her humble beginnings in rural North Carolina to becoming an MGM starlet and international sensation, Ava's journey was anything but ordinary. We explore her rise to fame, the roles that defined her, and her tempestuous relationships with legends like...

We step into the shadowy corridors of 17th-century Paris to uncover the life and legacy of Catherine Monvoisin—better known as La Voisin. Fortune-teller, midwife, poisoner, and alleged sorceress, La Voisin rose from modest beginnings to become a central figure in the notorious Affair of the Poisons—a scandal that shook the court of King Louis XIV to its core. We explore her double life: by day, a...

we dive into the chilling and mysterious history of Aqua Tofana —a deadly poison that quietly haunted 17th-century Italy. Said to be undetectable, tasteless, and odorless, this lethal concoction was reportedly created by Giulia Tofana and distributed to women desperate to escape abusive marriages in a time when divorce was not an option. We explore the woman behind the formula, the whispered netwo...

Sally Ride catapulted from telescope‑toting kid in Encino to NASA trailblazer, winning collegiate tennis titles, earning dual Stanford degrees, and acing a Stanford Ph. D. before joining the first astronaut class to admit women. On June 18, 1983 she rode  Challenger into orbit, silencing skeptics, mastering the shuttle's robotic arm, and becoming America's first—and youngest—woman in space.  She c...

Deborah Sampson defied 18th-century gender norms by disguising herself as a man to fight in the American Revolutionary War. Born into poverty and bound by the limitations of her time, Deborah's courage and resilience propelled her into a life of espionage, injury, and honor on the battlefield. We explore her motivations, the double life she led as "Robert Shurtliff," and the challenges she faced b...