Herstory

Everybody has to make a living, and sometimes, that living is illegal. These gutsy women survived on grit and punishable goods. Amy covers Marm Mandelbaum, a criminal "fencer" to many of the street gangs and criminals of New York's underworld. Shelby talks about Gertrude Lythgoe, one of the most prominent female rum-runners, or bootleggers, in the 1920s.

What makes a bad wife? We weren't sure, so you get two very different ladies in this episode. Shelby discusses Belle Gunness, a Norwegian-American serial killer. Amy tells us about Margaret Campbell, Duchess of Argyll, a Scottish heiress, socialite, and aristocrat. 

Repost alert!!! Life got the best of us this week, so enjoy this repost from 2024. (Also, this was supposed to come out last week, but due to a technical issue, it did not.) Today, Shelby and Amy tackle the world of handiwork. First, they share a household handy task in which they are proficient. (Amy's is quite impressive.) Next, Amy covers the Ladies Bridge, the Waterloo Bridge, built mostly by women during WWII. Shelby talks about Lillian Baumbach, the first woman to acquire a Master Plumber's license in 1951.

They get a bad rap, but let's admit it - Party Girls can be a lot of fun. Shelby discusses mean girl/fun girl and prominent French socialite, Daisy Fellowes. Amy tells us about American dancer, jazz singer, vaudevillian, and saloon-keeper, Ada "Bricktop" Smith. Grab your favorite spirit, and party with us!

Repost Alert!!! Life is life-ing with your hosts, so we had to do a repost. Everyone is fine; there just aren't enough hours in the day. We hope to be back on schedule next week. Until then, enjoy this repost about our favorite kind of ladies: Troubelmakers. Shelby discusses the crossdressing, pipe-smoking, thief, Mary Frith. Amy tells us about the cool AF socialite, Alice Roosevelt Longworth.

Welcome to another Party of One. In this episode, Shelby explains Divorce Ranches. Mainly in Nevada, these guest ranches were where women would stay for several weeks or months in order to establish residency and qualify for a quick divorce under Nevada law. It's a fascinating loophole that helped women to escape their miserable marriages in the 1920s-1950s.

Today, we discuss animals born female but with some interesting traits not usually associated with the ladies. Amy covers anglerfish (scary), Meerkats (kinda mean), and dolphins (adorable). Shelby discusses hyenas (this one is interesting), jacanas (that's a bird), and seahorses (so majestic). If you're an animal lover, this one is for you!

They aren't necessarily heated, but this week, we're covering rivalries. Shelby discusses the contention between designers Coco Chanel and Elsa Schiaparelli. Amy educates us on the media-orchestrated feud bewteen opera singers Maria Callas and Renata Tebaldi.

Due to the serious nature of recent episodes, we wanted to cover women who have won a bit at life, but guess what? Even those stories are challenging. Nonetheless, Amy discusses Jane Richards, Mary Elizabeth Bowser, or other names. (She had many aliases) a Union spy during the Civil War. Shelby talks about Ada Blackjack, an Iñupiaq woman who accompanied an Arctic expedition to the uninhabited Wrangel Island, and eventually lived alone there for eight months after the other expedition members died. 

She works hard for the money, but is it worth it? For this week's episode, we tackle jobs that can (and do) kill our herstorical ladies. Amy discusses Grace Fryer, an American dial painter and Radium Girl, who sued U.S. Radium after suffering radium poisoning while employed painting watch faces. Shelby talks about Audrey Mestre,  a French world-record-setting freediver.

Relationships are complicated, and extramarital affairs are a tale as old as time. Welcome to our episode on The Other Woman. Amy talks about Alice Keppel, an aristocrat and British society hostess, who was a long-time mistress of King Edward VII. Shelby discusses Nan Britton, a mistress of Warren G. Harding, the 29th President of the United States. 

Welcome to the unsolved mysteries segment of Herstory. Today, we tackle stories about women who disappeared, never to be seen again. Was it of their own volition? Did something nefarious happen? We don't know! Amy discusses Dorothy Arnold, an American socialite and heiress who disappeared under mysterious circumstances in New York City. Shelby talks about Barbara Newhall Follett, an American child prodigy novelist who, you guessed it, disappeared.

When women inconvenience society, they're called crazy. Today, we look at some ladies who were actually institutionalized for speaking their minds. First, Amy tells us about the Irish writer Rosina Bulwer Lytton, who forgot to divorce her husband before bad-mouthing him. Shelby discusses Elizabeth Packard, who dared to think differently from her husband and eventually became an advocate for the rights of women and people perceived as insane. 

In this special Making Herstory segment, Shelby sits down with Nicki Krawczyk and Kate Sitarz, the women behind Filthy Rich Writer, to talk about building a career and a business in copywriting. With over 25 years of combined experience, Nicki and Kate pull back the curtain on what copywriting actually is, how they each got their start, and what it really looks like to freelance in this industry. We get into: How Nicki built Filthy Rich Writer from the ground up Kate's journey into copywriting and how she became an essential part of the business What copywriting is  The realities of freelance life  Book recommendations and resources  If you've ever wondered how people make money writing, or you're craving a more flexible, creative career path, this episode gives you a real, behind-the-scenes look. Learn More Want to learn more about copywriting? 👉 Sign up for their free training to learn more: https://filthyrichwriter.c About Filthy Rich Writer Founded by Nicki Krawczyk, Filthy Rich Writer is an online training platform designed to help people become professional copywriters through its signature program, the Comprehensive Copywriting Academy (CCA), teaching students how to land clients and build a sustainable career.

For this repost, we're celebrating Women's History Month and the best women in the world - LIBRARIANS! This episode was originally Ep 34 on March 1, 2020. *** Welcome to Women's History Month! It was a happy accident that we recorded our Librarians episode on National Stay in Bed and Read Day. Amy is sick, so be patient with her while she delivers the story of the Pack Horse Library Project. Shelby discusses our current Librarian of Congress, Carla Hayden.

They say it's a dish best served cold, and who doesn't love a tale of REVENGE? Shelby talks about the Olga of Kiev, a woman who tortured a tribe of people for killing her husband, and then later was granted sainthood. Amy discusses Giulia Tofana, a 17th-century Italian woman who became notorious for creating Aqua Tofana, a slow-acting, colorless, and odorless poison used by hundreds of women to murder their abusive or unwanted husbands.  

Sorry for last week's unexpected no-show. We had some major technical difficulties, but this is the episode that was supposed to air. To celebrate the 2026 Winter Olympics, we look at the women of Italy. Amy covers Veronica Franco, an Italian poet and courtesan in 16th-century Venice. Shelby discusses Beatrice Cenci, an Italian noblewoman imprisoned and executed for killing her father. (Spoiler - He deserved it.) 

These poor women were just trying to do good things, but bullies told them to "Get Outta Here!" We're covering women who were exhiled. Amy discusses Ranavalona III, the last sovereign of the Kingdom of Madagascar. (We have an episode about her grandmother in our Meanies episode.) Shelby talks about Clara Campoamor, the Spanish politician, lawyer, and writer, considered by some the mother of the Spanish feminist movement. 

They say, if you build it, they will come, and these ladies did just that! Shelby talks about Fatima al-Fihri, the Arab woman who is credited with founding the al-Qarawiyyin Mosque, and eventually a university, in Fez, Morocco. Amy tells us about Sophia Hayden, an American architect and first female graduate of the four-year program in architecture at Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Every woman in the history of the world has been accused of something that she didn't do, but these women served time for doing nothing wrong at all. Shelby talks about Katharina Kepler, an herbalist who was accused of witchcraft in 1615 and again in 1620. Amy discusses Florence Maybrick, an American woman convicted in the United Kingdom of murdering her husband.

Grab a sweater, because today we're covering Ice Queens. Shelby covers Empress of Russia, Anna Ioannovna, aka Anna of Russia. Amy informs us of Empress Dowager Cixi, who had de facto but periodical control of the Chinese government in the late Qing dynasty. That's right. Two Empresses!

Life has been life-ing for your hosts, so here's an episode to assure you we're alive and working through it. 

Repost and Vacation Alert We'll see you with a new Herstory on Jan 8th. Happy Holidays! Welcome to Women of the North Pole! Amy covers Ann Bancroft, the first woman to reach the North Pole. Shelby talks about the first all-women relay expedition to the North Pole. We're getting super niche here, people. Intro Song: What I Do by Kristy Krüger © ℗Just Like Freddy Music ASCAP Instagram: herstorythepodcast

In this Party of One, Shelby discusses one of her loves - solo travel. She was inspired by a YouTuber, Noraly Schoenmaker, who goes by the handle Itchy Boots. (Check her out!) Shelby then discusses the feminist origin story behind LA's Hotel Figueroa.

Amy is out, so you get one-on-one time with Shelby as she discusses how public spaces are not built for women's bodies and needs. 

Herstorians - It's a blast from the past! Please enjoy this episode from 2019 (Ep 21) on Native Americans. Gobble, gobble Herstorians. It's our Thanksgiving episode, and we're dedicating it to lady Native Americans. Shelby discusses Dr Susan LaFlesche. That's right. She's a doctor. Amy tells us about civil rights activist Elizabeth Wanamaker Peratrovich. She strings words together beautifully. Grab a piece of pie, and take a listen.

this episode comes out on Shelby's birthday, so we're covering women named Shelby! Shelby (your co-host) discusses Shelby Knox, a teenage activist from Texas who challenged abstinence-only education and became a national voice for comprehensive sex education and women's rights. Amy tells us about Shelby Ivey Christie, an American fashion and costume historian who specializes in the contributions of Black designers. 

This week, we do a compilation of women who beat men at something. We cover six extraordinary ladies who were some of the greatest at their craft. Shelby discusses Jackie Mitchell (baseball pitcher), Masako Katsura (billiards player), and Rena "Rusty" Kanokogi (judo expert). Amy discusses Lise Meitner (nuclear physicist), Marian Anderson (opera singer), and Gertrude Ederle (competitive swimmer). 

It's our third installment of our Spooky Season episodes, and today, we cover Mythical Monsters and Dark Goddesses. Shelby gives a thorough explanation of Siguanaba, a shapeshifting spirit from Central American folklore. Amy covers Tlazoltéotl, an Aztec goddess of vice, filth, purification, and childbirth. 

As we continue through the spooky season, we take a "stab" at Vampires. Amy educates us on the Casket Girls, women brought from France to the French colonies of Louisiana to marry. But there's a spooky twist. Shelby discusses Countess Dolingen de Gratz, a literary character in one of Bram Stoker's short stories, "Dracula's Guest."

It's spooky season, so we're kicking it off with women who were either legitimately possessed or claimed to be. What do we know? We've never been possessed, so we don't judge. Amy covers Clara Germana Cele, a South African Christian girl, who was said to be possessed by a demon. Shelby recounts the story of Anna Elisabeth "Anneliese" Michel, a German woman who underwent 67 Catholic exorcism rites during the year before her death.

It's our 200th episode, and what's better than dedicating it to the late and great Jane Goodall? Amy and Shelby put their heads and research together to give you a thorough account of this amazing woman's life. 

Herstorians - First, an apology. For whatever reason, our recording equipment decided to act up again, and the sound on this episode is not our best. You can hear us, but we sound far away. Regardless, please enjoy this episode on Colombia. Shelby covers Policarpa Salavarrieta Rios, aka La Pola. She was a 19th-century seamstress who spied for the Revolutionary Forces during Colombia's fight for independence from Spain. Amy educates us on Débora Arango, a Colombian artist marred by scandal, just because she was ahead of her time.    

It's officially fall. The days are getting shorter, everything tastes like pumpkin, and discount stores have their Halloween decor out for consumption. We decided to take a different route and discuss Mabon, a Pagan and Wiccan festival celebrating the Autumn Equinox, a time of balance between day and night, harvest, gratitude, and preparation for winter. Grab a warm drink, and take a listen 

Shelby talks about the documentary The Herricanes, which covers a women's full-tackle football team from the 1970s. 

There are so many buildings named after people whom we have no idea ever existed, and that's why we're focusing this week's episode on women who have a building named after them. Amy tells us about Juana Briones, a Californio ranchera, medical practitioner, and merchant, often remembered as the "Founding Mother of San Francisco." Shelby discusses Mary Stone McLendon (aka Ataloa), a concert vocalist, teacher, humanitarian, and American Indian culture preservationist.

We did not realize we had already covered professors before we recorded, so welcome to Professors II! It's a Herstroy first. Amy educates us on Maria Mitchell, an American astronomer, librarian, naturalist, and educator. Shelby discusses American feminist legal scholar, activist, and author, Catharine A. MacKinnon.

On this Party of One, Shelby discusses her thoughts on "bro code" and questions if monogamy is the natural state for women. It's a brief episode, but such an interesting topic to discuss.

Welcome to another Party of One. Amy tells us about some fascinating accessories made for women. Some you may be familiar with. Others may be news to you. Enjoy!

Today, we're celebrating the smarty pants - lady geniuses! Shelby covers American geneticist, Nettie Stevens. Amy tells us about U.S. Navy officer and a pioneer in computer programming, Grace Hopper. 

We love a lady who can keep a secret and fight the bad guys, all at the same time. Today, we talk about women involved in espionage. Shelby covers Virginia Hall, an American who worked with the United Kingdom's clandestine Special Operations Executive (SOE) and the American Office of Strategic Services (OSS) in France during World War II. She did all of her spying with a prosthetic leg. Amy tells us about Christine Granville, a Polish agent of the British Special Operations Executive during the Second World War, who also happened to be a beauty queen. 

Today, we tackle some awful and wonderful things that were made especially for women. There are some highs and lows, so buckle up.

On this week's Party of One, Amy takes on a little tour of the Herstory of high heels. From Kings to Ladies of the 80s, heels have been around forever. 

Yeehaw! Time to honor those women who felt at home on the range. Amy educates us about Sally Skull, one of the first settlers in Stephen F. Austin's colony in the early 1820s. Shelby tells us about trick rider, sharpshooter, and rodeo queen, Fannie Sperry Steele. For 20% off of Magic Mind, use our code: https://www.magicmind.com/HSMM20

This episode is gold, if we do say so ourselves, and that's why it's so apropos to cover lady alchemists. Amy tells us about the scandalous Anna Maria Zieglerin, an "alchemist" and a con artist. Shelby gives the juicy details about Italian Renaissance alchemist and writer Isabella Cortese.

This week, Amy makes her Part of One debut. She takes us on a journey of pants, trousers, pantaloons, and bloomers, and how they've been tied (and not) to women throughout history. Rebellion, shame, and fashion!

Here's to the ladies who can't stop saying "I do." That's right, serial wives - the gals who love the institution of marriage. Amy covers American debutante, socialite, heiress, and philanthropist Barbara Hutton. Shelby talks about American comic actress and singer Martha Raye. 

Even if you're not a believer, you'll enjoy this supernatural episode on Mystics and Psychics. Amy gives us the scoop on Margery Kempe, an English Catholic mystic who believed she was married to Jesus. It is believed that she wrote the first autobiography in the English language. Pretty cool! Shelby gives the 411 on Mother Shipton, an English soothsayer and prophetess. 

We're covering the Fabulous Fifties with 50s icons! Amy tells us about Japanese actress, Machiko Kyo. Shelby discusses American actress, singer, recording artist, and transgender activist, Christine Jorgensen.