Home New

Episode 159: Empress Sisi of Austria, Part One

Sisi as a newlywed circa 1855

Empress Sisi’s story often reads like a fairytale…usually because a lot of the coverage of her life is fiction. The basics do parallel those tales: a vivacious, beautiful young woman is chosen from all the lands as the love of the Austrian emperor. As a beloved Empress, she adds fresh energy to Viennese court while riding horses, maintaining her youthful energy, being a fashion icon, and raising a family. But the reality behind that lovely facade is a little darker, a little sadder, and did not end in a “happily ever after.” read more…

Episode 158: Marie Curie Double Episode Revisit

Marie, the real one, 1903

With the release of Amazon Prime’s new movie, Radioactive, we thought a revisit to Marie Curie’s real life was in order. Since Prime put her story into one movie, we thought it was fitting to combine both parts of our 2016 coverage into one episode. Think of it as an audiobook with several chapter breaks. For shownotes, recommendations, and links to the things we talked about in this double-episode, visit the original MARIE CURIE PART TWO (or PART ONE if you want to read her story from the beginning.)

Intermission song: Made of Stars, Xavier and Ophelia; End song: Marie Curie, The Crypts used with permission from MusicAlley

Break music: Awakening, Keri Newdingate, used with permission from iLicenseMusic

Episode 157: Lady Bird Johnson

*Lady Bird’s official White House portrait by Elizabeth Shoumatoff* Library of Congress

While researching Zephyr Wright, we both learned quite a bit about her employer, Lady Bird Johnson. Since we knew a lot about her (and our libraries were still closed) we thought we would share the story of this intelligent woman who had her own interests and accomplishments outside the work she did with her husband, President Lyndon B. Johnson.

Episode 156: The Statue of Liberty, Revisited

courtesy, Ahundt via Pixabay

Time Travel With The History Chicks

For photos, recommendations, and links to things we talked about today, click on over to our original STATUE OF LIBERTY SHOWNOTES.

We would like to say thanks to the sponsors of this episode! Did you know that when you support the companies that support us, YOU become a sponsor, too? Thank you!

Episode 155: Aunt Jemima

*Nancy Green was the first of several women who played the role to sell pancake mix*

In 1889, Aunt Jemima crossed from the footlights to the grocery store, where she’s been a fixture for 131 years. On the eve of her departure, we give you the dark history of this American icon – and the stories of a few women who made her come alive.