Category: 20th century

THE ENTOMOLOGIST Evelyn Cheesman

Over the course of her 87 years, self-taught British entomologist Evelyn Cheesman went on eight solo insect-collecting expeditions across the South Pacific, collected nearly 100,000 specimens, identified dozens (possibly hundreds!) of previously unknown species, and used her specialized knowledge of Oceania to save countless lives during WWII. Meet the indomitable genius who persevered against unimaginable odds to build herself the life she wanted – no matter what stood in her way. Our guest is Sarah …

20th century / Colombia / England / Europe / Oceania / Papua New Guinea / Science / South America / Tahiti / Travel / Vanuatu

THE MATRIARCH OF CHINATOWN Ou Shee Eng

For 61 years, Ou Shee Eng’s tiny apartment in Seattle’s Chinatown was the heart a community of women. Possessing the rare ability to read and write Chinese, Ou Shee was the reader and scribe of everyone’s letters. What was happening in China while this circle of women lived quietly in America, and why did they never speak of it? Join Katie on location at the ⁠Wing-Luke Museum⁠ in Seattle, with guest ⁠Elana Eng Lim⁠ to …

20th century / Asia / China / North America / on-location / United States

THE GIRL SCOUT Juliette Gordon Low

Juliette Gordon Low was a classic Southern Belle when she married her handsome prince. But she learned the hard way that “happily ever after” is a harmful fantasy. We can do better for girls, she said: and we must. Rallying all the women around her, she founded Girl Scouts of America, empowering girls to build strength and character, and blaze new trails. Her global impact today is immeasurable. Join us on location at the ⁠Juliette …

20th century / Activists / Artists / Educators / First woman to... / North America / on-location / United States

THE SCANDALOUS WOMAN Uno Chiyo

Uno Chiyo rose to fame in 20th century Japan as a writer, designer, domestic goddess, and fashion icon – mostly by marketing herself as just a scandalous woman. But this “Bad Girl of Good Housekeeping” was so much more than just a writer of sexy stories. Guest Rebecca Copeland helps Olivia uncover the secrets of this enigmatic, fascinating woman. All photos courtesy of Rebecca Copeland unless otherwise indicated Rebecca Copeland is a professor of Japanese …

20th century / Artists / Asia / Japan / Writers

A WINTER OF CONTENT Laura Lee Davidson

To snowy Ontario, Canada for our 2026 Christmas Special! Living out the dream of countless exhausted women, Laura Lee Davidson retreated to an island in the middle of a lake, and lived there alone through a long Canadian winter. But she wasn’t really alone. Wild creatures became her friends, and she was constantly the recipient of neighborly kindness from folks on the mainland. Laura Lee’s 1922 book about her winter on the island is now …

20th century / Canada / Christmas Specials / North America / Travel / United States / Writers

THE BLACK NATIONALIST Queen Mother Audley Moore

Queen Mother Audley Moore was one of the most respected, most influential, longest-lasting influences on the US Black Nationalist movement, the Pan-African movement, the movement for Reparations, and the Black American organizing community in general across almost the entire 20th century. So why have most of us never even heard her name? Returning guest Ashley Farmer introduces Olivia to the incredible, unexpected force that was Queen Mother Audley Moore. Dr. Ashley Farmer is an internationally …

20th century / Africa / Black history / First woman to... / Ghana / Government / North America / Philosophy / Politics / South Africa / Tanzania / Travel / United States

THE EXECUTIVE Katharine Gibbs

In 1917, Katharine Gibbs rebounded from personal tragedy in an unusual way: she decided to train a subversive, feminist army. Nearly broke and with only a high school education, Gibbs trained women as executive secretaries, building a famous school in just a few years. “Gibbs Girls” were so intelligent, competent, and polite, that no one could justify the dusty old notions that women belonged at home. The American workplace was changed forever. Our guest is …

20th century / Educators / First woman to... / North America / United States

THE FOLKLORISTA Violeta Parra

Violeta Parra needs no introduction in Latin America: not only did she record the greatest album in Chilean history, she also collected two thousand folk songs, danced in the Poor Circus, sang in the streets, and –incredibly– exhibited at the Louvre. Over the years she also broke …*checks notes*… 48 guitars over people’s heads. Discover the larger than life story of Violeta Parra with our guest ⁠Ericka Verba⁠, author of ⁠Thanks to Life, A Biography …

20th century / Chile / Composers / Dancers / First woman to... / France / Musicians / Performers

THE TUGBOAT PIONEER Thea Foss

135 years ago, Norwegian immigrant Thea Foss lived in a ramshackle driftwood houseboat on the coast of Tacoma Washington. Kind, capable, and hard-working, she was an anchor for hundreds more immigrants during America’s Gilded Age. Thea built the largest maritime company west of the Mississippi- but more than that, she was the heart of the community. (Plus there’s a boat parade, a catastrophic fire, and a truly delightful cow.) Join Katie on location in Tacoma, …

20th century / Europe / North America / Norway / on-location / Travel / United States

THE PEACE WEAVER Eva Palmer Sikelianos

What if we could reopen a primordial spiritual portal, and summon peace on earth? For Eva Palmer Sikelianos in 1920s Greece, world peace wasn’t a lofty dream — it was an achievable goal. The key, Eva believed, was ancient Greek art, returned to Delphi. She had a bold plan, and if she could pull it off, she just might save the world. Join Katie on location at the Benaki Museum in Athens, with Maria Dimitriadou, …

20th century / Activists / Archaeology / Artists / Dancers / Europe / Greece / LGBTQ+ / North America / on-location / Performers / Philosophy / Theater / Travel / United States