Women of HERstory: A Podcast

Women's Voices Now Film Festival is currently running through March 31st- get your tickets now to catch the incredible works that have been created! In this interview, Heidi shares what she hopes people take away from viewing the films involved, why she's passionate about women's movements, and so much more. If you need to put a little spring in your step today, give this episode a listen! You will no doubt be looking a the world just a little differently.

Mardi-Ellen's life's work is something that is no doubt going to have you thinking about how you interact with the world around you. MEND Universe is best understood through the words of the visionary creator herself, but fear not! It is not a complicated as you may think. To quote one of the perfect summations, "Never underestimate a young talent with a simple song." Strap in HERstorians! There's a reason this exciting one is a bonus! Make sure you visit the website below to access all of the mentioned resources and information.

We are not exempt from mistakes, and while we record we have more than our fair share of outtakes. Hopefully this episode brings you some joy today. Make sure you come back this Friday for a bonus interview episode! Throughout March we will be releasing various content on our social media platforms, as well as maybe a short episode or two! We'll see you soon for Season 4!

Thank you, HERstorians, for your continued support!

Liz Johnson is a Paralympic Swimming Champion and a champion for the rights and opportunities of the disabled community. When she left her athletic career behind and began pursuing a career, she found that the considerations for the disabled community were working against them, not for them. She co-founded The Ability People to help bridge gaps and advocate for disabled people in the workforce. From sparse public transportation to a lack of elevators, it's no wonder why the unemployment rate within the community is so high. Liz is working to show everyone that the way someone is different than you should not be their defining factor in your eyes, but it also does no one any good to ignore those differences. Go to a place of discomfort to be able to grow.

Not only was Sylvia an incredibly talented performer herself, playing guitar on Ike & Tina tracks as well as her own smash hits like "Love is Strange" and "Pillow Talk", Sylvia was known for her ear for hit tracks. The mind behind some of hip hop's most iconic, recognizable, and influential songs, she was an executive at Sugar Hill Records. "Rapper's Delight" and "The Message" changed the game forever, and it makes you wonder... where would hip hop be without her? Rapper's Delight is responsible for crossing genre lines and introducing the world to the music that was happening on the streets in Harlem.

Lynn Dougherty is a self described "recovering documentary filmmaker" who is exploring her passion for art. Her new traveling gallery, Unnamed Road Gallery, is putting up it's second show in Los Angeles, California in mid-February. The gallery features artists that have had a different path in the art world- the LGBTQ+ community, BIPOC, rural, underrepresented, and even self taught. In this interview, Lynn shares with us the inspiration the gallery, doubting herself, and so much more!

Rita Levi-Montalicini co-discovered the Nerve Growth Factor (NGF). This discovery led to advancements in the way we approach neurological diseases like Alzheimer's and Dementia. Her discoveries were nothing short of awe inspiring, especially considering she was at one point relegated to performing her experiments in a makeshift lab in her bedroom when Mussolini passed laws barring academic and professional careers to non-Aryan Italian citizens- after all, Rita was Jewish in Fascist Italy. 

Christine Preisig made a choice to leave her established career when after some introspection she found that what she needed to be happy, healthy, and successful pointed her in another direction. Now an emerging videographer, Christine is finding her voice and hopes to continue exploring the creative field. In this interview she shares how she found her confidence, working on numerous projects at once, and so much more!

Canada's first woman to achieve the title of Professor, Carrie Derick, was a dedicated and passionate teacher from the age of 15. Carrie worked continuously to use the knowledge she acquired to better the lives of people around the world. From fighting for birth control rights, raising funds for Serbians fleeing the Austro-German army, or passionately educating her students at McGill University (despite the disrespect she routinely received, Carrie exhibited nothing short of sheer determination to continue growing within herself and sharing her bright light.

Hele Erwin's newest release, Sour Milk in Sheep's Wool, explores her own family history, the suffrage movement, and the reproductive justice movement. Throughout this interview, Helen shares insight on the inspiration behind the book, times when she doubted herself, women supporting women, and so much more!

Ava DuVernay didn't set out to be a filmmaker, but she always was a film lover. Initially going in to Journalism and then opening her own PR firm that provided PR and marketing for the cinematic and lifestyle industries, she picked up a camera in her 30s, used her own money, and made her first short film. And the rest, as they say, is history. She is one of the heavy weights, now with her company Array, producing films from underrepresented communities in the industry. One of Ava's most notable films she directed would be Selma, a film that helped her to make history at the Oscars. Focused on exploring the lives and struggles of Black Americans throughout history, Ava's works are though provoking, inspirational, tough, and eye opening.

Tameka Peoples is the founder of Seed2Shirt, a black owned apparel company focusing on community. "It's more than a shirt, it's a movement." In this interview, she shares with us how Seed2Shirt came to be, learning a new sector, and so much more. Seed2Shirt uses all black owned business, from seed to shirt.

Wangari Maathai dedicated her life to improving the world in as many ways as possible. With founding the Green Belt Movement, she wanted to empower the people to examine their situations and take the necessary actions to change them. Wangari believed that through environmental activism we can promote peace by working together to preserve the resources we have around us. Her work garnered international recognition while also putting her in the direct firing line of regimes who wanted her to sit down and be quiet like a "proper woman" should.

Lucy Griffiths spent many years as a jet setting reporter. She found herself in various corners of the world and strived to truly make a difference with the platform she had. As the years went on, and after the birth of her child, Lucy decided it was time for a change. Pivoting can be scary, but she can tell you first hand it is worth it. She created an online course on how to be more comfortable on camera, and then wrote a book on how to make an online course! Enter: Make Money While You Sleep, a new book by Lucy Griffiths.

In this interview, Lucy shares some of her favorite memories, how she had the confidence to shift career paths, the best advice she's ever received, and so much more!

Chief Bass if the first senior female enlisted member of any US military branch, and the first Asian-American to hold a senior enlisted position in the Air Force! Her decades of service, education, and leadership training cemented the fact that it is no mistake she's in the position she is in. This episode is a little different, as we found ourselves chatting about social media etiquette, anti-bullying, and when to keep things to yourself.

Miss South Florida Fair, Juliette Valle, is a passionate organ donation advocate and performer. In this interview, Juliette shares with us how we can unlearn some common misconceptions surrounding being an organ donor and why it's important. She tells us how her family has shaped her life, what she loves about pageants, and details around her Christmas album!

Artemisia was one of the most famous and sought after Baroque artists in the 1600s when she was actively taking submissions. A victim of a traumatic sexual assault as a teenager, a lot of her narrative has been wrapped up in it. Depicting her as a wronged woman exacting her revenge through her artwork- there is so much more to her and the legacy she has left behind than something that happened to her. 

Have you been trying to be more conscious about what goes into your body? Michelle Fox is here to save the day! In this interview, she shares with us ways to use food as medicine, and not poison! Reworking our mindset around food is essential, from where we buy our food, to how much we consume, there are little steps you can take to make yourself healthier! Michellee also makes it a point to say that you're keeping any type of plant alive, be it a little basil plant in your window, or 1,500 acres of land, you're a farmer, and you're making a difference!

"You worry too much about what you put in to your mouth, and not enough about what comes out of it."

Leah Chase was a facilitator of important conversations, but you'd never know her true impact on the progress of America if you asked her. Her restaurant, Dookie Chase, was the spot to be in New Orleans, Louisiana when segregation was terrorizing the nation. The restaurant became as place for black and white people to have conversations about Civil Rights without having to worry about violence. Her art collection is thought to be one of the best collections of African American art in New Orleans, and her gumbo the best in the world!

Do you need a little extra dose of inspiration today? This is the episode for you. Dr. Shanna van Ness is an executive, business, and life coach who believes in lifting others as you climb. In this interview, Dr. Shanna shares with us how she founded her practice, things she's learned from her clients, and so much more!

Iris von Roten wrote "Women in the Playpen", a scathing analytical assessment of the Swiss woman's experience in the 1950s. That was just the problem, the Swiss were not used to the biting, witty delivery- especially from a woman. She faced intense backlash and ridicule for the rest of her life for the work, which is now a staple in the feminist literary canon!

Carolyn Gage has authored over 70 musicals, plays, and books. In this interview, she shares when two major themes in her life, autism and feminism, took flight. Carolyn candidly tells us about surviving trauma, being diagnosed with autism late in life, and how she hopes to change perspectives with her work. She is dedicated to reclaiming the stories of women, specifically lesbians, in history!

Barbara Jordan was the first African American to hold a seat in the Texas State Senate since 1883 when she was elected to her position in 1966. Throughout her political career, she rose to the US House of Representatives, holding a position on the House Judiciary Committee. Not without controversial opinions (i.e. her stance on immigration), her over all body of work showcases what politicians should strive to accomplish in their careers.

Linda Kuo is the Director and Co-Founder of Dancers Unlimited, a dance company based in Honolulu and NYC. In this interview, she shares with us why it's important to have the difficult conversations, how and why she uses dance as her form of activism, and so much more. Linda wants to bring the world together through dance, and she's well on her way!

Graciela had a unconventional path to Notre Dame, one that included serving on a National Advisory Committee not only before Notre Dame, but without having officially completed high school. Her absolute dedication to serving the poor and underprivileged in her community was at the forefront of why she was appointed to the positions that she was. From the Mexican-American Movement to the Women's Movement, Graciela made sure her voice, and the voices of others, were heard!

After an unexpected traumatic loss, Laura See decided it was time to pursue her passion... shoes! Using tools she learned in every job experience along the way, Laura set out to create Laura See London, a relatable luxury shoe brand that isn't even a little bit intimidating! In this interview, she shares some of the most valuable lessons she's learned, the message she wants to share with brand, and so much more!

From the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic in January of 2020, Jeong Eun-Kyeong set a global example on how to navigate the unknown waters. Her many years of expertise led to her being promoted to the position of Commissioner of the newly formed Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency. She was even named in TIME Magazine's 100 Most Influential People of 2020!

Susan Pascal Johansson is a fine jewelry designer and the creator of Galaxy Bijoux. In this interview, she shares with us where she gets her inspiration from, how she found herself designing jewelry, why it's important to lead by example, and so much more! She is full of passion and takes great care to make sure her work showcases exactly that.

Born into a legendary show biz family in 1918, Ida could have easily followed the usual path and not made waves. Instead, she frequently turned down "Bette Davis hand-me-down roles" and played "hard-luck dames" like no one else could. Eventually, Ida set her sights on producing, directing, and writing, wanting to have a say in what stories were being told, with a mission to tell gripping socioeconomic tales that dealt with sexism, race, and assault. Known for her acting credits, she should also be lauded for her contributions to American Cinema.

Antoinette (Toni) Fernandez is a multi-award winning filmmaker. From writing to composing, and everything in between, Toni shares with us her creative passion. She tells us how she got into filmmaking, why she found herself questioning the process, and so much more1 Her upcoming projects run the gambit from animation to horror! Tune in for laughs and inspiration!

Twitter: @FilmmakerToni
Instagram: @toni_filmmaker_fernandez

Jurga Ivanauskaite was an influential Lithuanian author, even controversial at times, who never backed down from the stories she wanted to tell. From novels and essay collections, to children's books and plays, the rebellious author carefully shared her spectacular voice with the world!

Demi Michelle's album, Dear Diary, is exactly what it sounds like; a diary in song form. In this interview, Demi shares with us how she made the transition into songwriting, why she wants to share her experiences through song, and more! She expresses why it's important to allow yourself to have the full spectrum of emotions in order to have the full human experience!

Lillian Wald founded the Henry Street Settlement in New York City's Lower East Side in the early 1900s, among other institutions and governmental bodies. After seeing the turmoil that the immigrant communities were facing on a daily basis, Lillian dedicated her life to helped the underserved tenement communities... and that's just the beginning!

**A note to the listeners: There was a thunderstorm rearing its' ugly head during the recording of this interview, we apologize for any background audio from the storm!

Caitlin Durning is the founder of Meraki Media Management, among many other things. In this interview she shares with us how to manage our time on social media in order to utilize it rather than let it be a time suck! She also shares how she got in to investing, and why it is important for young people to find things they're interesting in to invest in!

Jennifer King was promoted to the role of assistant running backs coach for Washington on January 26, 2021! Throughout her life, football has been a passion, even playing professionally in the Women's Football Association for a number of successful years. When Coach Ron Rivera opened the door for Coach King, she pushed her way through, and she has already shown why she deserves this position as much as anyone else. Her promotion makes her the first Black female assistant coach in the NFL!

Maria Diane Ventura is an international, multi-award winning film maker. Her most recent film, "Your Color" has a number of incredible accolades attached to it. In this interview, Maria shares with us how she made the transition from music video production to film, and why she shares the stories that she does. 

"Your Color" is available of Amazon, and Amazon Prime as of July 15th of this year!

Jane C. Wright helped to revolutionize the way we think about chemotherapy. She spent her life researching what was a new approach to cancer treatment, even pioneering non-surgical ways to distribute chemotherapeutic agents to previously unreachable tumors in patients. Born into a family of proven greatness, she did not disappoint in the legacy she left behind.

"A loss is a lesson."

Maggie Ntim is not only the CEO and founder of Trinity 3 Agency, but she is the United States' first Black female soccer agent. In this interview, Maggie shares with us her passion for sports, always wanting to be a business owner, and why she journals as much as she does. Maggie always knew she wanted to utilize all of the skills she has fostered throughout her life to ensure she would be able to pursue her dreams.

Marthe Gosteli is considered the primary architect for the Swiss women's right to vote. As the last country in the European Union that granted women the right to vote, Gosteli made it her primary objective to ensure that the contributions of the women of the movement wouldn't go without precognition and preservation. Her effects resulted in the creation of the Gosteli Foundation, an archive housing everything from pamphlets to diaries.

*We apologize for the delay in the release of Bree's episode, we experienced some technical difficulties. Thank you for your patience and understanding!*

Bree Chapin is a New York based visual artist and co-curator at Sour Mouse NYC. In this interview, Bree shares with us how she found herself in art curation, why Sour Mouse is an epic and inviting multi use space that's welcome to all walks of life, finding her voice in art, and so much more! Make sure you find her on social media so you can keep up with her artwork and the goings on at Sour Mouse!

Today's HERstory lesson is one with many messages. The first being that translators can erase a living breathing individual because they don't fit their narrative or on the flip side, over inflate the credits associated with an individual. Trota of Salerno is widely regarded as the first gynecologist, but there is mystery into who she was, and what the life of women in Salerno, Italy was like during the 10th-13th centuries. Her legacy has been conflated with a medical text, and my goodness does it get a bit confusing! Hopefully this mini break down of the circumstances surrounding the time of her life can bring a little bit of clarity to the whole story so we can champion and celebrate such an incredible medical pioneer.

To switch things up here at HERstory HQ, we decided to sprinkle in a few episodes throughout the season that are about women that are still making an impact on our society! For our first, we decided to hit the ice and talk about the legendary Bonnie Blair, a 5x Olympic gold medalist in speed skating! Bonnie has said that success means always doing your absolute best, and we couldn't agree more. After her incredible and recurring success as an Olympian, Bonnie has now found herself being a motivational speaker and humanitarian!

Karen Liebenguth is a UK based mindfulness coach with a specialty in coaching in nature. In this interview, Karen tells us about how she came up with the idea of taking traditionally inside coaching sessions outside, why she feels so connected with nature, and so much more!

Miriam Makeba led a life unlike any other. She was an outspoken woman who refused to let anyone else dull her shine. During her life, she experienced the onset of the apartheid, ending up the first Black musician to leave South Africa because of it. With celebrity big wigs as friends, Miriam used her new found fame as a platform to spread the word on the horrors of what was really going on in South Africa.

Jeannette Ceja is a bilingual TV host and travel journalist. Always having felt a sense of exploration and the desire to be a global citizen, she has continuously made her own opportunities when others couldn't see her vision. In this interview, Jeannette shares with us some of her favorite moments in her career so far, dealing with rejection, how she came to find herself in the travel industry, and so much more!