The History Chicks : A Women's History Podcast

Laura Ingalls Wilder's books inspired us as children with a fascination for history. And her story has been with us since the beginning of the podcast, all of those years ago. She has deserved a second look from us for a long time! In part two of our series, we leave the Laura we are all familiar with from her pioneer stories and head off into a grittier chapter in her life. Tragedy seemed to stalk Laura and Almanzo relentlessly, until at last they found a home in the Ozarks near Mansfield, Missouri. We'll tell you about Laura's writing career BEFORE the one she's famous for, and the struggles that brought her to the precipice of glory. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Once upon a time, back in 2011, we shared the story of Laura Ingalls Wilder, beloved author of the Little House series and chronicler of life on the US prairie in the late 1800s. Now, 15 years later, we thought it was time to revisit her with our 2026 eyes (and the mountain of information about her that has been revealed since.) Laura wrote her books based on her life, but how much weight is "based on" carrying? Find out in this episode as we tell her story over the same time span that would later be the setting of her books. She lived a very long life; we'll share the rest of her years in Part Two. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Boudica (formerly known as Boadicea ) was a first‑century Celtic queen of the Iceni tribe in what’s now eastern England. After the Roman Empire seized her late husband’s kingdom and brutalized her family, she rallied a massive coalition of tribes and led one of the most famous uprisings in Roman Britain. Her forces burned several Roman towns, including Londinium, and for a brief moment in history she shook the empire’s confidence. Boudicca’s fame endures as a symbol of resistance, leadership, and fierce defiance against oppression. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

To celebrate International Women's Day on March 8th, and Women's History Month during all of March, we have a short message for you all. We couldn't possibly narrow down one or even 31 women to honor this month, so we'll keep honoring as many as we can, 12 months a year, just like we have been for the last 15 years. xo Susan and Beckett Find a woman to celebrate from our extensive catalog of podcasts on our website, thehistorychicks.com, or however you get your podcasts. Share this mini-episode with a friend, or, if you are so inspired, take a gander at our merch shop, and help support our work. Thank you! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dovey Johnson Roundtree grew up in the Jim Crow era South and carried her grandmother’s philosophy of "find a way or make one” as her armor into every challenge she faced. She became one of the first Black women in the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps during World War II, then earned her law degree at Howard and built dual careers as a civil‑rights attorney and as a minister in the AME church. In 1955, she helped win a landmark bus‑desegregation case before the Interstate Commerce Commission, which was a quiet but powerful blow to the concept of “separate but equal.” She spent decades fighting for justice in Washington, D.C., and lived to 104, leaving behind a legacy of unshakable purpose and inspiration for future generations. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Odetta was one of the defining voices of American folk music. Though she had been trained in classical music, she was drawn to spirituals, work songs, traditional ballads, and blues. These songs told the stories of true life - of struggle and of those that overcame oppression. Odetta used her theater training and deep resonant voice to bring these messages to life. Her work inspired later artists like Bob Dylan and Joan Baez, served as a soundtrack for the social reforms of the 1960s, and led to her honorary title as "The Voice of the Civil Rights Movement." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Grandma Moses spent most of her life living on family farms in upstate New York, raising a large family and running a household. She was known in her neighborhood for her award-winning preserves and pickles... not her embroidered artwork! It wasn’t until her late seventies, when arthritis made needlework too painful, that she rediscovered her childhood love of painting and created the style that would make her famous. Her nostalgic scenes of rural life caught the eye of collectors, then museums, then the world, turning her into an international art sensation in her eighties and nineties. Grandma Moses kept painting until just before her death at 101, leaving behind a body of work that reshaped how Americans think about creativity, aging, and the history of our country. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ona Judge defied one of the most revered historical figures in America in order to escape the institution of slavery. Though she spent the rest of her life as a fugitive, she managed to direct her own existence on her own terms; answering to no one, free at last. This episode was recorded just before our 2023 Washington D.C. Field Trip where we were able to visit Mount Vernon and pay our respects at the African American Burial Ground and Memorial. For more information on that, visit Mount Vernon's website and our shownotes for this episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mother Jones lived one of the most dramatic second acts in American history. Though her early life was shaped by poverty, immigration, and repeated personal tragedies, she reinvented herself in middle age as a warrior for justice. She was a fearless labor organizer - an electrifying speaker who rallied coal miners, steelworkers, railroad shopmen, and exploited children to stand up for their rights. She once earned the label “The Most Dangerous Woman in America” for standing firm against powerful corporate and government pressures. Her work can still be felt in the labor protections, organizing strategies, and economic justice movements around the world. Mother Jones proved that one single, relentless voice... armed with purpose, strategic fury, and above all stamina - could shake the foundations of society. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Martha Gellhorn was one of the most influential war correspondents of the 20th century. Over the course of a 60-year career, she reported from nearly every major global conflict - the Spanish Civil War, World War II, Vietnam, and more. in her work, she focused a compassionate eye on the lives of ordinary people caught up in turmoil beyond their control, and this made her coverage uniquely powerful. Her personal bravery and determination made her into a legend. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As a tie-in to our coverage of Betsy Ambler and Ken Burn's American Revolution documentarty we decided to revisit Martha. Some called her The Mother of the Country, some curtseyed and called her Lady Washington, but no one could doubt that she was uniquely capable to shoulder the responsibilities and rigors of both war and diplomacy. Martha Washington's philosophy of "duty over inclination" became the template for future First Ladies in the newly-formed United States of America. This episode sponsored by: Hungryroot: Use code CHICKS at Hungryroot.com for 40% off your first box and a free item for life. Honeylove:Use code HISTORYCHICKS at Honeylove.com/HistoryChicks for 20% off your order. BLISSY: Use code HISTORYCHICKS at Blissy.com/HistoryChicks for 30% off and a 60-nights risk-free. Quince: Go to Quince.com/CHICKS for free shipping and 365-day returns. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Once upon a time, an eleven-year-old girl named Sarah Rector struck it rich with a discovery that was perfectly timed for the rise of the automobile and the expansion of American manufacturing. After hitting the jackpot, she had to escape the minefields of greed, racism, politics, and public opinion in order to build a satisfying life for herself at last. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Viva l'Italia! We took 50 listeners on an epic journey filled with history, architecture, camaraderie and SO MUCH delicious food! From the ancient layers of Rome through the castles and hilltop villages of Tuscany, the art and influence of the Medici in Florence, to the romance of Venice, this trip was unforgettable! The travelers join us, in their own voices, to tell you all about our adventures. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The American Revolution changed the way the world worked; the principles of governance in the new country laid the foundation for movements all over the world. On November 16th, Ken Burns and his team premiere their 6-part documentary series on PBS called, as you might have guessed, "The American Revolution" We had the opportunity to sit down with co-director Sarah Botstein to talk about the inspiration and impact of this conflict. This is the interview that we previously posted at the end of our Betsy Ambler episode, and we thought it was important to post it again as a standalone bonus episode, for easier access. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Life during the Revolutionary War was more than military strategy; there were plenty of battles to be fought at home. Betsy Ambler was a young teenager during the turbulent years, and through her records and letters, we can see the conflict though a perspective that has been little examined. We also interview Sarah Botstein, the co-director (with Ken Burns) of the new documentary The American Revolution, premiering on PBS on November 16th, 2026. This series brings forward voices that have been under-represented - as well as those figures that we think we already know- giving us a more complete picture of American life during the birth of our nation. Our subject Betsy Ambler is voiced by Maya Hawke during this six-part series. Registration is now open for our June 3-7, 2026 Field Trip to Chicago! Visit Like Minds Travel for more information and to register! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In 1860, Elizabeth Packard was committed to a mental institution by her husband - for YEARS - for the crime of speaking her mind . This practice was completely legal at the time, and she had no mechanism by which to free herself from confinement - despite the fact that she was completely sane. Her three-year ordeal would turn her into a powerful activist on behalf of rights for both the mentally ill and for married women, who at this time had few legal protections against those that would oppress them. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We're going back to our 2013 coverage of this iconic artist who turned her pain, passion, fear, and unique outlook on life into remarkable and memorable art. Her bold subject and color choices (as well as her bold life choices) defied convention and sent her to the heights of international acclaim. Our 2026 Field Trip to London sold out in record time, but you can get your name on the waitlist at Like Minds Travel. Thanks to our sponsors: Audible: Listen to the new Pride and Prejudice at audible.com/janeausten Wayfair: Every style, every home. Wayfair.com Honeylove: Comfortable and innovative bras and shapewear, 20%off at honeylove.com/historychicks Blissy: Silk pillowcases for improved hair and skin, 30%off at blissy.com/historychicks Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Catherine de Medici lived in a century defined by the the contributions of remarkable women, and she distinguished herself as one of the most remarkable of them all. No longer an apprentice in the art of intrigue, she was sharp and strategic and brave in ways that defied cultural expectations Whatever her reputation became, her capacity for calculated action was matched by her courage in the face of adversity, all focused on one goal; to be the custodian of her family's legacy on the throne of France - against all opponents. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As the last legitimate heir to a powerful family, Catherine de Medici was married at only 14 into one of the most powerful royal houses in Europe. The two halves of her story are VASTLY different, and here in Part 1, we are going to tell you about how she had no resources but INNER resources - and the character that developed from the circumstances in which she was placed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's field trip time again! We took 50 listeners with us to the cradle of our country - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Over the course of a long weekend, we absorbed the sites and stories we'd learned about in school, and learned about those figures whose vital contributions have faded over time. Through our exposure to the artifacts, places and people at the heart of our country's founding, we began to comprehend that the freedoms we enjoy today were the result of hard-won battles and sacrifices from those who have gone before us; a torch we must pass to those who follow. You'll also hear stories of ghosts, museums, ice cream, gallivanting, and that most hallowed of indulgences; the Philly Cheese Steak. Thanks to all of the travelers who made this field trip a success, and we hope to see every listener on the bus someday. We call the back seat! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices