Episodes

  • Episode 29: Ep29: Who Was Pauli Murray? A Conversation with Writer and Photographer Malika Ali Harding.
    Jun 28 2021
    It’s pride month! In this episode, writer and photographer Malika Ali Harding tells us about Pauli Murray.  Pauli Murray was a civil rights activist, women’s rights activist, lawyer, author, poet, and is amongst the first generation of female Episcopal priests.  She’s done so many amazing things… but why isn’t she more well known??  We talk about how Pauli sometimes just missed the moment or wasn’t put on display to help promote a cause.  Pauli Murray struggled with her sexual and gender identity describing herself as having an “inverted sex instinct”. She had several deep relationships with women. A number of scholars have retroactively classified her as transgender.  You can read Malika’s article about Pauli Murray on Puttylike: https://puttylike.com/pauli-murray-a-kick-down-barriers-kinda-life/ #podcast #paulimurray #history #sheshistory #malikaaliharding #pride #pridemonth #activist #womensrights #civilrights #NOW #transgender #blackhistory #blackwoman #womenshistory #LGBTQIA #puttylike #lawyer #poet #storyrebels #storytelling #poet #church #femalepriest #RBG #supremecourt  
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    43 mins
  • Episode 28: Ep28: Who Was Jeane Kirkpatrick and Why is Democracy So Fragile? A Chat with Historian Bianca Rowlett.
    Jun 6 2021
    Bianca Rowlett tells us about Jeane Kirkpatrick, the first woman to serve as US Ambassador to the United Nations under Reagan’s administration. Jeane Kirkpatrick was a very controversial figure and is known for the Kirkpatrick Doctrine that justified supporting authoritarian right wing regimes and dictatorships as long they were anticommunist. She started as a democrat and then became a neoconservative. The effects of this approach to foreign policy had a major impact on Central America. We talk about how Jeane Kirkpatrick believed there should be more women in politics, her emphasis on gradual change, and how fragile democracy is. You can read Bianca’s essay and other great essays in the book “Suffrage at 100: Women in American Politics since 1920”.
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    32 mins
  • Episode 27: Ep27: Part 2 of "Women vs Hollywood” with Author Helen O’Hara
    May 23 2021
    In this episode, I continue my conversation with author, film critic, and journalist Helen O’Hara about her new book Women vs. Hollywood: The Fall and Rise of Women in Film. We talk about the nuts and bolts of the movie making industry. Why some aspects turn people into products. How telling more diverse stories is not only morally good but also economically advantageous. We talk about how movies reflect and can also shape our world. How audiences vote on what kind of movies get made with their wallets. And how more people in the industry need to have the courage of their convictions.
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    26 mins
  • Episode 26: Ep26: "Women vs Hollywood” Part 1. A Chat with Author Helen O’Hara About Women in Hollywood History.
    Mar 13 2021
    It's Women’s History Month and awards season so let’s talk about women in Hollywood. In this episode, author, film critic, and journalist Helen O’Hara tells us about her new book Women vs. Hollywood: The Fall and Rise of Women in Film. We talk about women in leadership roles when filmmaking was first invented but were later written out of Hollywood history. We talk about Alice Guy-Blache who was the first female film director, Lois Weber who was one of the first female American filmmakers, Mary Pickford who became a Hollywood studio owner with United Artists, Pearl White who was an early female action star, Nell Shipman who made adventure films in the 1910s, and more. Helen’s book is available now digitally. The printed edition will be out in the US in November.
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    33 mins
  • Episode 25: Ep25: Who Are the Women That Shaped Hip-Hop? Clover Hope tells us about her new book The Motherlode.
    Feb 24 2021
    In this episode, historian and writer Clover Hope tells us about her new book, The Motherlode, a comprehensive history of women rappers. Clover tells us about the role of women in the birth of hip-hop. We talk about the first female rapper, MC Sha-Rock and other women who were crucial to building the genre. Clover tells us about her process of researching these stories. We talk about the music industry for women in hip-hop and what women rap about that men wouldn’t. We talk about how bold this music is and some of the reactions to women rapping about sexuality and empowerment and what the word feminism means in the rap world. We also talk about the drought of women in hip-hip in the 2000s, the impact of the internet on the industry, how social media has helped some artists break out, and what the future looks like. The Motherlode features really great illustrations by Rachelle Baker. It makes an awesome coffee table book and is available now. For more info go to: http://www.cloverhope.com
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    41 mins
  • Episode 24: Ep24: Who was Georgia Ann Hill Robinson, L.A.’s First Black Policewoman? A conversation with historian Hadley Meares.
    Feb 12 2021
    It’s February and Black History month! In this episode, historian and writer Hadley Meares tells us the story of Georgia Ann Hill Robinson, the first black woman hired to the LAPD in 1919. Her story is very topical to what’s going on today and the conversation about the role of police officers and the use of social agencies to help address community problems. Every weekday of Black History month, Hadley profiles fascinating Black Angelenos in history for Los Angeles Magazine. Hadley also tells the amazing story of Biddy Mason who came to Los Angeles as a slave in the mid 1800s, was freed, and then became a real estate mogul. It’s the ultimate rags to riches American story!
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    46 mins
  • Episode 23: Ep23: Who was Irma Rangel? A conversation with historian Dr. Tiffany González.
    Jan 25 2021
    In this episode, historian and writer Dr. Tiffany González tells us the story of Irma Rangel, the first Mexican American woman elected to the Texas House of Representatives in 1976. We talk about Irma Rangel’s path to politics, how she started as a teacher, and then decided to become a lawyer. She saw a lack of representation for Mexican American citizens in politics and the concerns in the community which needed to be addressed. We talk about how she was encouraged, the opposition she faced, and what she accomplished over her 20 years in public office.
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    50 mins
  • Episode 22: Ep22: Turning A True Story Into A Play. A Conversation with Actress and Writer Mary Jane Wells About Her Play “Heroine”.
    Dec 22 2020
    In this episode, actress and writer Mary Jane Wells tells us about how she adapted the true story of a female soldier in the US army into a one woman play called “Heroine”. We talk about how to tell the story of someone’s traumatic experience without being exploitive or causing more distress. We talk about artistic license and when a story takes on a life of it’s own. We also talk about the importance of sharing real stories because it shines a light on problems that need to be addressed and allows other survivors to know they are not alone. This is how change can happen. The play debuted at The Kennedy Center in Washington DC in Feb of 2020. The audiobook just released. You can find it at: heroinetheplay.com
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    43 mins