Womanica

Cheryl Dunye (1966-present) was the first Black lesbian to direct a feature film. The movie, called The Watermelon Woman, established her as a leading voice in the New Queer Cinema movement of the 1990’s. Special thanks to our exclusive Pride Month sponsor, Mercedes-Benz! Mercedes-Benz continues to support and stand with the LGBTQIA+ community. Listen all month long as we celebrate women whose aut...

Nancy Cárdenas (1934-1994) was an actor, poet, and writer. She was also the first queer person to come out on live television in Mexico. Special thanks to our exclusive Pride Month sponsor, Mercedes-Benz! Mercedes-Benz continues to support and stand with the LGBTQIA+ community. Listen all month long as we celebrate women whose authentic expression in their lives and bodies of work have expanded th...

Suzanne Jeanne Baulé (Frede) (1914-1976) created a space for others to dance, perform, and be free. She was an androgynous queen of nightlife during one of the most liberated and frightening times in French history. Special thanks to our exclusive Pride Month sponsor, Mercedes-Benz! Mercedes-Benz continues to support and stand with the LGBTQIA+ community. Listen all month long as we celebrate wome...

Maude Adams (1872-1953) was America’s most popular and highest paid actress of her day. Beyond her skills onstage, she also helped invent technology to improve stage lighting and develop color film photography. Special thanks to our exclusive Pride Month sponsor, Mercedes-Benz! Mercedes-Benz continues to support and stand with the LGBTQIA+ community. Listen all month long as we celebrate women who...

Maria Agnesi (1718-1799) did groundbreaking work in the field of mathematics, creating a two-volume textbook that helped to shape math education. Later, she gave up her academic success to serve the poor and live in poverty. History classes can get a bad rap, and sometimes for good reason. When we were students, we couldn’t help wondering... where were all the ladies at? Why were so many incredibl...

Samantha Smith (1972-1985) was known as the girl who broke through the Iron Curtain. Her enthusiasm for letter writing made her unofficially America’s youngest ambassador, or “the pint-sized peacemaker.” History classes can get a bad rap, and sometimes for good reason. When we were students, we couldn’t help wondering... where were all the ladies at? Why were so many incredible stories missing fro...

Sophie Scholl (1921-1943) went from being a member of Hitler Youth to becoming one of the most prominent members of the youth resistance movement against the Nazi regime. While she is not well known outside of Germany, her story is a symbol of the bravery of the resistance fighters. History classes can get a bad rap, and sometimes for good reason. When we were students, we couldn’t help wondering....

Anna Elizabeth Dickinson (1842-1932) was, for a time, one of the most famous women in the U.S. A skilled orator, she delivered speeches across the country, passionately advocating for women’s rights and the abolition of slavery–earning her the name America’s Joan of Arc. History classes can get a bad rap, and sometimes for good reason. When we were students, we couldn’t help wondering... where wer...

Tamar the Great of Georgia (1160-1213) was tasked with leading a kingdom at just 18 years old. By the end of her rule, she had solidified her position as one of the greatest medieval monarchs of Georgia. History classes can get a bad rap, and sometimes for good reason. When we were students, we couldn’t help wondering... where were all the ladies at? Why were so many incredible stories missing fro...

Elizabeth Taylor (1932-2011) was one of the most revered actresses of the 20th century. With a career spanning 70 years, she served as an icon for generations of moviegoers.   History classes can get a bad rap, and sometimes for good reason. When we were students, we couldn’t help wondering... where were all the ladies at? Why were so many incredible stories missing from the typical curriculum? En...

Higuchi Ichiyō (1872-1896) defied the odds to become one of the most prominent writers of her time. Through her stories of life during Japan’s Meiji era, she found beauty in everyday challenges. History classes can get a bad rap, and sometimes for good reason. When we were students, we couldn’t help wondering... where were all the ladies at? Why were so many incredible stories missing from the typ...

Phillis Wheatley (c.1753-1784) was the first African-American woman to publish a book of poetry. History classes can get a bad rap, and sometimes for good reason. When we were students, we couldn’t help wondering... where were all the ladies at? Why were so many incredible stories missing from the typical curriculum? Enter, Womanica. On this Wonder Media Network podcast we explore the lives of ins...

Suzanne Lenglen (1899-1938) was the first tennis diva of the 20th century. She was known for her show-stopping fashion, celebrated for her impressive tennis skills, and infamous for her larger-than-life behavior on and off the court. History classes can get a bad rap, and sometimes for good reason. When we were students, we couldn’t help wondering... where were all the ladies at? Why were so many...

Martha Argerich (1941-present) is considered perhaps the greatest living pianist. She embodies rebellion both on and off stage. History classes can get a bad rap, and sometimes for good reason. When we were students, we couldn’t help wondering... where were all the ladies at? Why were so many incredible stories missing from the typical curriculum? Enter, Womanica. On this Wonder Media Network podc...

Hannie Schaft (1920-1945) was an iconic fighter for the Dutch resistance during World War II. Known as the notorious “girl with the red hair,” she spied on the Nazis and executed Dutch collaborators. History classes can get a bad rap, and sometimes for good reason. When we were students, we couldn’t help wondering... where were all the ladies at? Why were so many incredible stories missing from th...

Hazel Scott (1920-1981) was a musical genius who advocated for equal rights in the entertainment industry. She dazzled audiences with her jazz renditions of the likes of Chopin and Bach while bucking racial stereotypes and constraints to become one of the first Black women to host her own television show. History classes can get a bad rap, and sometimes for good reason. When we were students, we c...

Clara Lemlich (1886-1982) organized and empowered women from the working class to housewives, becoming the voice that incited the famous Uprising of the Twenty Thousand in 1909. History classes can get a bad rap, and sometimes for good reason. When we were students, we couldn’t help wondering... where were all the ladies at? Why were so many incredible stories missing from the typical curriculum?...

Anne Frank (1929-1945) was a woman whose diary revealed the atrocities of World War II. History classes can get a bad rap, and sometimes for good reason. When we were students, we couldn’t help wondering... where were all the ladies at? Why were so many incredible stories missing from the typical curriculum? Enter, Womanica. On this Wonder Media Network podcast we explore the lives of inspiring wo...

Dimi Mint Abba (1958-2011) was the diva of the desert. Widely considered Mauritania’s most famous musician, her soaring vocals have proven the soundtrack for generations of North Africans. History classes can get a bad rap, and sometimes for good reason. When we were students, we couldn’t help wondering... where were all the ladies at? Why were so many incredible stories missing from the typical c...

Maryam Mirzakhani (1977-2017) was an optimist and an innovator, contributing new points of view and new teachings to the fields of dynamics and geometry. She is the only woman to have won the coveted Fields Medal. History classes can get a bad rap, and sometimes for good reason. When we were students, we couldn’t help wondering... where were all the ladies at? Why were so many incredible stories m...

Mary, Queen of Scots (1542-1587) became a queen at a mere six days old, when monarchs were mostly men. She led a complicated life in the public eye and navigated the drama of being royalty until her untimely death. History classes can get a bad rap, and sometimes for good reason. When we were students, we couldn’t help wondering... where were all the ladies at? Why were so many incredible stories...

Shirley Bassey (1937-present) is a vocal powerhouse from the United Kingdom responsible for three James Bond theme songs. Known for her sultry voice, sparkling gowns, and commanding presence, this singer is recognized as one of the greatest pop singers of the 20th century. History classes can get a bad rap, and sometimes for good reason. When we were students, we couldn’t help wondering... where w...

Judy Garland (1922-1969) achieved international stardom with signature songs like “Somewhere Over the Rainbow,” but her plucky innocence hid a much darker inner life. History classes can get a bad rap, and sometimes for good reason. When we were students, we couldn’t help wondering... where were all the ladies at? Why were so many incredible stories missing from the typical curriculum? Enter, Woma...

Katherine Dunham (1909-2006) was a pioneering, multi-talented woman, who brought a unique celebration of Black culture to the public eye. She blended disciplines to create never before seen performances, and even toured the world to show it off.  History classes can get a bad rap, and sometimes for good reason. When we were students, we couldn’t help wondering... where were all the ladies at? Why...

Mary Shelley (1797-1851) wrote a spooky story that has stood the test of time. A character from her book is still an iconic Halloween costume. At only eighteen years of age, this Womanican began writing her most famous work: “Frankenstein.” History classes can get a bad rap, and sometimes for good reason. When we were students, we couldn’t help wondering... where were all the ladies at? Why were s...