Womanica

Ann "Goody" Glover (unknown-1688) was hanged for suspected witchcraft in Boston. In honor of the spookiest month, we’re revisiting our favorite Womanica episodes featuring villains, troublemakers, magic, and mystery all October. Join host Jenny Kaplan — with a few special introductions — as she takes you back in time, highlighting women like Sadie the Goat, Marie Laveau, Patricia Krenwinkel and mo...

Amelia Dyer (1837-1896) committed horrific crimes that brought to light a dark underworld, and changed the way British society viewed childcare. Her crimes underscored the need for adoption reform and child protection.  In honor of the spookiest month, we’re revisiting our favorite Womanica episodes featuring villains, troublemakers, magic, and mystery all October. Join host Jenny Kaplan — with a...

Charlotte Corday (1768-1793) was the assassin of French revolutionary Jean-Paul Marat. In honor of the spookiest month, we’re revisiting our favorite Womanica episodes featuring villains, troublemakers, magic, and mystery all October. Join host Jenny Kaplan — with a few special introductions — as she takes you back in time, highlighting women like Sadie the Goat, Marie Laveau, Patricia Krenwinkel...

Stephanie St. Clair (1897-1969) was known as The Numbers Queen of Harlem. A prominent racketeer and entrepreneur, she spent her life crafting her own mythology. In honor of the spookiest month, we’re revisiting our favorite Womanica episodes featuring villains, troublemakers, magic, and mystery all October. Join host Jenny Kaplan — with a few special introductions — as she takes you back in time,...

Lizzie Borden (1860-1927) was a famous suspected axe murderer. In honor of the spookiest month, we’re revisiting our favorite Womanica episodes featuring villains, troublemakers, magic, and mystery all October. Join host Jenny Kaplan — with a few special introductions — as she takes you back in time, highlighting women like Sadie the Goat, Marie Laveau, Patricia Krenwinkel and more who were ruthle...

Helena Blavatsky (1831-1891) was a Russian spiritualist, author, and co-founder of the Theosophical Society. In honor of the spookiest month, we’re revisiting our favorite Womanica episodes featuring villains, troublemakers, magic, and mystery all October. Join host Jenny Kaplan — with a few special introductions — as she takes you back in time, highlighting women like Sadie the Goat, Marie Laveau...

Elizabeth Bathory (1560 - 1614) was a countess accused of murdering hundreds of women. In honor of the spookiest month, we’re revisiting our favorite Womanica episodes featuring villains, troublemakers, magic, and mystery all October. Join host Jenny Kaplan — with a few special introductions — as she takes you back in time, highlighting women like Sadie the Goat, Marie Laveau, Patricia Krenwinkel...

Sada Abe (1905-1971) was a Japanese murderer convicted of killing her lover. Her case became a national sensation in Japan, where it took on mythic associations and captured the minds of a country in the ramp up to World War II. Her story has since been adapted and interpreted by filmmakers, artists, novelists, and philosophers as emblematic of a woman trying to follow her own desires in a society...

Introducing Wonder Media Network's latest audio documentary, Teaching Texas. In 1961, Norma and Mel Gabler were a quiet couple living in Longview, Texas. One day, they noticed some factual errors in one of their sons’ textbooks. What began as a small complaint morphed into a multi-decade crusade to shape what children of Texas ​​— and therefore the country — read in their textbooks. In an election...

Florence Finch (1915-2016) risked her own safety to bring aid to  American forces imprisoned by the Japanese during World War II. This month, we’re highlighting Women of Resistance. Whether fighting tyranny, oppression, sexism, racism, reproductive control, or any number of other ills, these women created paths for change. History classes can get a bad rap, and sometimes for good reason. When we w...

Yaa Asantewaa (1840-1921) has been called Ghana’s Warrior Queen. A farmer, politician and military leader, she led her people in battle against British colonial forces. This month, we’re highlighting Women of Resistance. Whether fighting tyranny, oppression, sexism, racism, reproductive control, or any number of other ills, these women created paths for change. History classes can get a bad rap, a...

Mercy Otis Warren (1728-1814) used her writing to help fuel a revolution. As a playwright, poet and satirist, her work inspired early American Patriots, and set the stage for the ratification of the Bill of Rights.  This month, we’re highlighting Women of Resistance. Whether fighting tyranny, oppression, sexism, racism, reproductive control, or any number of other ills, these women created paths f...

Ani Pachen (1933-2002) was a celebrated warrior nun who led the Tibetan resistance against the Chinese. Even though she was imprisoned for 21 years, her determination to fight for her country never faltered. This month, we’re highlighting Women of Resistance. Whether fighting tyranny, oppression, sexism, racism, reproductive control, or any number of other ills, these women created paths for chang...

Mary Wollstonecraft (1759-1797) was one of the earliest and most influential figures in the modern fight for women’s rights. Her writings became the groundwork for many feminists in the Western world for centuries after her death. This month, we’re highlighting Women of Resistance. Whether fighting tyranny, oppression, sexism, racism, reproductive control, or any number of other ills, these women...

The overturning of Roe v. Wade was one of the most sensational events of the year, though not for the better. In the season 9 premiere, A’shanti sits down with Oriaku Njoku, the new executive director for the National Network for Abortion Funds to talk about what’s next following the fall of this landmark decision. They delve into the reasons abortion is healthcare, the importance of Black women’s...

The Mirabal sisters (c. 1924-1960) were the resister sisters of the Dominican Republic. Their fearless activism shed light on gender violence in their country – and helped bring down a dictator. This month, we’re highlighting Women of Resistance. Whether fighting tyranny, oppression, sexism, racism, reproductive control, or any number of other ills, these women created paths for change. History cl...

Sarah Weddington (1945-2021) argued Roe V. Wade in front of the Supreme Court. Her dedication to reproductive justice led to one of the most influential court decisions in American history. This month, we’re highlighting Women of Resistance. Whether fighting tyranny, oppression, sexism, racism, reproductive control, or any number of other ills, these women created paths for change. History classes...

Henrietta Wood (c. 1818-1912) won the largest verdict ever awarded for slavery reparations in the United States. This month, we’re highlighting Women of Resistance. Whether fighting tyranny, oppression, sexism, racism, reproductive control, or any number of other ills, these women created paths for change. History classes can get a bad rap, and sometimes for good reason. When we were students, we...

Emily Davison (1872-1913) was an English suffragette. She was militant – and at times reckless – when fighting for the cause. Though her civil disobedience got her arrested, she was never deterred. This month, we’re highlighting Women of Resistance. Whether fighting tyranny, oppression, sexism, racism, reproductive control, or any number of other ills, these women created paths for change. History...

Irena Sendler (1910-2008) smuggled more than 2,500 Jewish children out of the Warsaw Ghetto during Nazi rule. This month, we’re highlighting Women of Resistance. Whether fighting tyranny, oppression, sexism, racism, reproductive control, or any number of other ills, these women created paths for change. History classes can get a bad rap, and sometimes for good reason. When we were students, we cou...

Qiu Jin (1875-1907) is sometimes called “China’s Joan of Arc.” This feminist poet and warrior defied tradition to become a martyr for the revolution that transformed China into a republic. This month, we’re highlighting Women of Resistance. Whether fighting tyranny, oppression, sexism, racism, reproductive control, or any number of other ills, these women created paths for change. History classes...

Sarah Moore Grimké (1792-1873) is widely considered to be the mother of the American women’s suffrage movement. At a time when women were not welcome in the public sphere, her work left an imprint on American society that is still felt today. This month, we’re highlighting Women of Resistance. Whether fighting tyranny, oppression, sexism, racism, reproductive control, or any number of other ills,...

Marthe McKenna (1892-c. 1966) was, by day, a Belgian combat nurse during World War I, caring for German soldiers. By night, she was an Allied spy. This month, we’re highlighting Women of Resistance. Whether fighting tyranny, oppression, sexism, racism, reproductive control, or any number of other ills, these women created paths for change. History classes can get a bad rap, and sometimes for good...

Dolores Ibárruri (1895-1989) was a fiery leftist activist during the Spanish Civil War, and best known by her battle name, “La Pasionaria.” This month, we’re highlighting Women of Resistance. Whether fighting tyranny, oppression, sexism, racism, reproductive control, or any number of other ills, these women created paths for change. History classes can get a bad rap, and sometimes for good reason....

Gisele Halimi (1927-2020) made arguments in court that paved the way for abortion rights in France. She also represented revolutionaries fighting against oppression and colonialism. This month, we’re highlighting Women of Resistance. Whether fighting tyranny, oppression, sexism, racism, reproductive control, or any number of other ills, these women created paths for change. History classes can get...