Category: United States

THE BOSTON BRAHMIN Ethel Gibson Allen

Come with us to peak Gilded Age America! We’ll watch a charmingly unconventional love story unfold, cure yellow fever, stare at some incredible wallpaper, and explore fascinating reasons why women should NOT vote. Katie takes us on location to Ethel Gibson Allen’s Boston mansion, now the Gibson House Museum. Learn more about Ethel Gibson Allen and the Gibson House museum here. Find resources about the anti-suffrage movement in the US at the Library of Congress …

19th century / 20th century / North America / on-location / Politics / Travel / United States

THE WESTERN WOMAN Rattlesnake Kate Slaughterback

The day “Rattlesnake Kate” Slaughterback (armed only with a rifle, 4 bullets, and a “No Hunting” sign) successfully battled her way through hundreds of rattlesnakes to save herself and her son, a legend was born. But that’s just the beginning of her story… Olivia is on location at the Greeley History Museum with Grammy-nominated musician and composer Neyla Pekarek (formerly of The Lumineers), whose musical Rattlesnake Kate premiered in 2022 at the Denver Center for …

20th century / North America / on-location / Theater / United States

THE PUNA HELE Mary Kawena Puku’i

“I have only one favor to ask of people: to take care of their stories.” When Mary Kawena Puku’i was born, her grandmother named her the Puna Hele, the one who would carry their Hawaiian tradition and culture into the future. Not an easy task, since she was born in 1895 – the year Hawaii was overthrown and annexed by the United States! But she rose to the task, working tirelessly her entire life to …

20th century / Activists / Composers / Dancers / Educators / First woman to... / Indigenous Peoples / Musicians / Oceania / on-location / United States

THE SUN QUEEN Maria Telkes

Her pioneering work on solar heat and solar energy would change science forever – but it was her passionate dedication to humanity that made her a true visionary. Meet the remarkable Maria Telkes, subject of the amazing American Experience documentary The Sun Queen with Olivia’s guests, Writer/Producer Gene Tempest and Director Amanda Pollack. You can watch The Sun Queen from The American Experience here, or you can find the trailer here. You can read more …

20th century / Europe / Inventors / North America / Science / United States

THE USELESS HOUSEWIFE SCIENTIST Beverly Paigen

When the mothers of Love Canal learned that their neighborhood was built on a chemical dump, they launched into the fight of their lives – first to find the truth, then to escape their own homes. But without biologist Beverly Paigen willingly putting her career on the line, it never would have happened. Discover this inspiring – and infuriating – story with returning guest Keith O’Brien, New York Times bestselling author of author of Paradise …

20th century / Activists / North America / Politics / Science / Transcripts / United States

THE INAUGURAL BALLER Lusia Harris

When Lusia Harris convinced her parents to let her try out for High School basketball, she never could’ve anticipated she’d end up scoring the first basket in Olympic Women’s Basketball history. Facing unprecedented hurdles at every step of her career, she broke records, made history, and changed women’s sports forever – and that’s just the beginning! Olivia interviews Andrew Maraniss, author of Inaugural Ballers: The True Story of the First Us Women’s Olympic Basketball Team. …

20th century / Athletes / Black history / Educators / First woman to... / North America / Sports / Transcripts / United States

THE QUEEN OF THE WEST Dale Evans

She always wanted to make it to Broadway. Instead she became Hollywood’s most iconic cowgirl, roping and riding (and most importantly – singing!) her way into the hearts of millions of fans. So when your life is one giant triumph – but not the triumph you aimed for – what do you do? Olivia interviews Theresa Kaminski, author of the wonderful new biography Queen of the West: The Life and Times of Dale Evans.   …

20th century / Composers / Musicians / North America / Performers / United States

THE ONE WHO STAYED Caty Taylor

What really matters in life? Family, love, kindness, freedom…? And if you had to pick just one, which would it be? Caty Taylor, enslaved at Montpelier Plantation, had to choose. Her brother was sold, her sister joined the largest escape attempt in American history… but Caty stayed. They all took different paths but – miracle of miracles – found a happy ending. Learn more about Caty and many of the plantation’s other enslaved residents at …

19th century / Black history / North America / on-location / United States

THE TEACHER Lois Meek Stolz

When Lois Meek Stolz became a teacher, “children as small silent robots”-style education ruled the day. But her innovative vision, empathy for her students, and bold refusal to “do what had always been done” helped change American education forever – but that was only the beginning! Meet the “model teacher” who became one of the most influential Child Development experts in a century… and then was completely forgotten. Olivia interviews Elizabeth More, Historian and Director …

20th century / Educators / North America / United States

THE GLEANER Judith Sargent Murray

  In 1790, Judith Sargent Murray became the first American to publicly argue that men and women were equal. Hailing from seafaring Gloucester Massachusetts, she educated herself, weathered some of life’s cruelest storms, and published hundreds of bold, brave essays. She expected to rock the boat, steering her new American nation toward equality. And America went…meh. Why? Join Katie on location at Sargent House Museum in Gloucester. Judith Sargent Murray’s Unitarian Universalist Catechism is available …

18th century / 19th century / First woman to... / North America / on-location / Philosophy / Politics / Religion / Travel / United States / War / Writers