Wicked Women: The Podcast

The year was 1850. Manhattan was thriving, beginning to urbanize and expand in new ways. In lower Manhattan, a woman named Fredericka Mandelbaum moved into the neighborhood of Kleindeutchland (later known as the Lower East Side) to start a new life. Few could have guessed that out of the teeming streets of Little Germany, one of the most infamous underworld figures of the era would be born out of an unassuming Jewish housewife named Mrs. Mandelbaum. 

For 25 years, Mrs. Mandelbaum controlled a multi-million dollar criminal enterprise. She has been mainly lost to history…until now. 

Continue listening as I discuss this fascinating and much-overlooked woman with Margalit Fox, author of The Talented Mrs. Mandelbaum: The Rise and Fall of an American Organized Crime Boss. 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bugsy Siegel, Al Capone, Machine Gun Kelly, Clyde Barrow…these are just a few of the most recognizable American gangsters, men who robbed, killed, racketeered, and launched themselves into legend. But what of the women who stood by these men’s sides and at times exceeded the men’s criminal abilities? 

In today’s episode, I will highlight several powerful women from the underworld: Kathryn Kelly, Bonnie Parker, Stephanie St. Clair, Virginia Hill, Geri Rosenthal, and Liz Renay. Joining me for a conversation is Lissa Rodgers, the author of the recent book "Shameless: Women of the Underworld" who will share insights about these remarkable women and more.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Just in time for Halloween, an episode dedicated to discussing the lives and legacy of Britain’s female murderers.

Women throughout history have been seen as the weaker sex both physically and emotionally. While women have been blamed for the fall of men since Eve in the Garden of Eden, their crimes usually centered around sexuality. When women murder, this breaks all the expectations of what women are capable of. Rage, violence, cunning, and vengeance are traits often prescribed to men. In the new world of women’s history, these women complicate the narrative by providing anything but a role model for future generations. But they still provide an essential part of human history. Continue listening as I am joined by Erin Fetterly, author of the recently published book Women Who Kill, as we discuss some of Britain’s most notorious female murderers. 

Intro music: Wicked Women Theme by Kieren Peatling and A Singular Perversion - Darkness by Kevin MacLeod

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Margaret Tudor was the eldest daughter of King Henry VII and Queen Elizabeth of York and the elder sister of King Henry VIII. Margaret witnessed some of the most significant moments in her father’s later and her brother’s early reigns. A story filled with political intrigue, personal tragedy, and drama, Margaret has been largely left on the sidelines in later interpretations of Tudor history. Seen as insignificant at best and whiney and manipulative at worst, historian Linda Porter’s latest book, The Thistle and the Rose: The Extraordinary Life of Margaret Tudor looks to remedy that legacy and bring to light the truly remarkable life of Margaret Tudor. Keep listening to learn more. 

Featured guest: Historian and author Dr. Linda Porter 

Intro Music: Renaissance by Audionautix is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jezebel has been a term used to demean, sexualize, and demonize women for millenia. But before it became a byword for “wicked women”, Jezebel was a queen of Israel who dared to worship different gods. She has been both erased, lost in a tide of scandal and rumor, and immortalized. In the end, perhaps becoming infamous was vindication for her villainization. 

In today's episode, I will be discussing the life and legacy of one of history's most influential “wicked women”, Jezebel. Joining me to discuss her triumphant novel Jezebel and the infamy of the woman behind the name is author Megan Barnard.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For anyone growing up in a Christian church, the name Mary Magdalene would be familiar. The first person recorded in the four Gospels to see Jesus after the resurrection, her true role as an apostle has been mainly lost over time, replaced by a persistent image of her as a penitent prostitute and sinner. 

In today’s episode, I will be in discussion with playwright Sylvia Milo, the mind behind the new play Magdalene: I am the Utterance of my Name. 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Perhaps some of the most recognizable American photos of the early 20th century. A young woman poses in front of a car with a cigar between her teeth and a gun on her hip. In another she points a rifle at the chest of a man who stares back at her without fear. Bonnie and Clyde made headlines in ways few couples have before or will again. There have been films, tv series, books, Broadway musicals, and even psychology terms based off of their story. But as is too often the case with media celebrities today, the real people behind the famous photos, hollywood films and power ballads are far more elusive. In addition, because of Clyde Barrow and Bonnie Parker’s fame as a couple, it can be difficult to see or imagine the individuals involved in the 21 month crime spree. Bonnie herself has been called a criminal, attention seeker, murderer, romantic, and a modern Robin Hood. Today she is far more of an American legend than a real flesh and blood woman. 

Special Guest: Jenni Walsh, author of novels Becoming Bonnie and Side by Side that provide a raw look into the life of Bonnie and Clyde told in the voice of the woman who experienced it all. 

Poem by Bonnie Parker read by Sallie Bieterman

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It is a horror story stained with blood. A Hungarian noblewoman tortures and murders her female servants out of jealousy and sadistic need for violence. After the grisly deed, she bathes in the blood of her victims to gain eternal youth and beauty. Some claims put her kill count in the range of 600 young women to thousands, making her possibly the most prolific female serial killer in history. Lady Gaga has played her, Brahms Stoker used her as inspiration for Count Dracula, the Grimms Brothers based the Evil Queen in Snow White off of her, and countless books, movies, operas, and television shows have been dedicated to her sadistic ways. While this makes for an engaging and graphic horror story, the truth is far more elusive. In recent years, scholars and authors have begun to question the legitimacy of these legends surrounding Elizabeth Báthory, and attempt to find the real woman underneath.

Featured Guest: Discussing Elizabeth Bathory with me today will be novelist Rebecca Johns, author of the book The Countess.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On an endlessly bright summer night in St. Petersburg in 1777, a glamorous three masted ship sailed into harbor. On board the yacht was a lone woman, responsible for scandalizing the British public and ready to make her name known at the court of Catherine the Great. This inconspicuous woman on the regal yacht had quickly become the anti-hero of a Georgian society desiring a headline other than the War of Independence an ocean away. As Elizabeth Chudleigh, Duchess of Kingston (or so she called herself) sailed into St. Petersburg, she had every intention of making a name for herself as she had in England. In an age that saw the beginning of modern concepts such as celebrity and news cycles, the Duchess became the perfect personification. A duchess, art connoisseur, manipulator, and bigamist, Elizabeth refused to accept the role life had prescribed to her, and preferred infamy to anonymity. 

Featured Guest: Historian Catherine Ostler, author of the book, The Duchess Countess: The Woman Who Scandalized Eighteenth-Century London.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On today’s episode I will be chatting Maria the creator of Herstorical Walking Tours, a theatrical walking tour company that focuses on the stories of women in and around London, England through a feminist lens. Tours include "Hex and the City", "Harlots, Strumpets, and Tarts, Oh My!", and "Goal Birds of London". Continue listening to learn more about the tours and the process of bringing villainized women to captivating and nuanced light. 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the remnants of a burned out farmhouse were the bodies of three children in the arms of a woman. What made this a more grisly scene was the fact that the woman had no head. Headlines praised the woman for selflessly comforting her children in the last agonizing moments of life. However, the following days would reveal a far darker and violent story. Spread amongst the farm were the dismembered bodies of around 14 men, lured to the farm with promises of marriage. The woman went from being a tragic mother to a murderer. Reporters called her the Indiana Ogre, Black Widow, Mistress of the Castle of Death, and Hell’s Belle. The real woman, Belle Gunness, quickly filled the public's imagination. How did such an unassuming woman manage to kill so many men? And was the woman inside the charred remains of the farmhouse really Belle Gunness? Or was she somewhere out there planning her next attack? In the immediate aftermath of Belle’s death (or disappearance), her life and the spaces she occupied became a thing of morbid fascination, entertainment, and fear. Eventually, Belle became just one in a list of female serial killers who continue to intrigue the public today. What leads a woman to kill? And to kill so many? And what does our own fascination say about us?

Featured Guest: Harold Schechter, a true crime historian who focuses extensively on serial killers and mass murders in history.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Perhaps best known as the long-standing Royal Mistress for King Louis XV of France, Madame de Pompadour has become synonymous with a debauched period of French history. Known for her astounding beauty, wit, and charm, much of Madame de Pompadour's legacy is wrapped up in her supposed frivolity and manipulation. But who was the woman behind that glittering mask? Prof. Jones discusses a woman who deserves far more credit for her brilliant politicking and unique relationship with a womanizing king.

Featured Guest: Prof. Collin Jones, a scholar of cultural and social history in 18th century France.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fashion History is an integral part of our understanding of the past. It provides a visual marker of societal changes over time. It is also an accessible avenue into the study of history. We all wake up in the morning and put on clothes. We have plans, thoughts, and intentions behind what we choose and what we scorn. This can be a thread that connects us to other people throughout thousands of years of history. In particular it also provides a unique look into women’s history. Many women throughout the past have used clothes and accessories as a representation of political opinions or loyalties, social status, self-expression, and a way to blaze an influential trail in fashion trends. 

In today’s special episode, I will be discussing the significance of fashion history in women’s history with Belle, the creator of Silhouettes: A Fashion History Podcast.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“I marvel that Aspasia, who is only a woman, should be able to compose such a speech; she must be a rare one.” –Menexenus by Plato 

The ancient Greeks loom large in history. Responsible for architectural wonders, cultural institutions, and historic figures However, there is one woman who loomed large on the Greek political and philosophical stage who has been relegated to the shadows of history, Aspasia. A highly educated woman who married the powerful politician, Pericles, became a mentor and teacher to Socrates, and faced ridicule from society and her husband’s political opponents. She was compared to Helen of Troy and blamed for everything from famine, to war, to her husband’s political decisions. After her death, her legacy forked between an uppity concubine and a gifted scholar but in recent generations she has been all but forgotten. 

Featured Guest: Prof. Yvonne Korshak, a historian with a focus on ancient Greece and author of the novel Pericles and Aspasia

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When people think about wicked women, Anne Boleyn is usually one of the first names to come to mind. It seems that every generation has its own version of Anne: Slutty Anne, Religious reformer Anne, Innocent Anne, Manipulative Anne, Sexy Anne, Evil Anne, Educated Anne, Feminist Anne, the list goes on. Thousands of people flock annually to locations Anne once walked (Hampton Court, Hever Castle, The Tower of London) and documentaries, films, and tv series come out regularly devoted to her story. Henry VIII may have tried to eradicate Anne’s memory after her downfall but that only seemed to fan the flames of public fascination with this historical “other woman”. While Henry dreamed of possessing her in the flesh, subsequent generations have become determined to possess her memory. 

Featured Guests: Natalie Grueninger, the creator of the podcast Talking Tudors, and a lifelong Anne Boleyn fan and Adrienne Dillard, a historian who focuses on overlooked women’s stories and the author of The Raven’s Widow, focusing on Jane Boleyn, Lady Rochford. 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Behind every powerful King has stood a Queen. And some women have filled the role of both King and Queen in their own right. Some quiet, others fiery, some powerful, others left powerless, some revered, others forgotten. What creates the legacy of one Queen but erases another? Listen to this episode as I discuss that question and more with the brilliant historian Dr. Valerie Schutte.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Polly Adler was one of the most well-known Madams in NYC during the 1920s; a ruckus era of speakeasies, brothels, the mob, and sexual expression. Polly rose from a shtetl in the Russian Pale of Settlement to become “The Queen Madam”. Not only was she known to supply girls to wealthy men, but her nightclubs that dotted the city were a favorite haunt for some of the most famous names of 1920s New York. Polly Adler’s profession was not a new one by the 1920s. Brothels, which provide the services of sex workers, have been woven within the fabric of civilization since its inception. The first record of the trade was temple-brothels operating in the region of Canaan in 2400 BCE. For many cities throughout history, an area is dedicated to the sex trade, often known as the Red Light District. It was considered a necessary, albeit shameful, element of any urban society. Polly and her profession are glorified or villainized depending on what you read. She can be depicted as a brilliant businesswoman and an open-minded feminist or as a high-end pimp and a woman betraying her own sex by seducing some of its most vulnerable into the sex trade. In the end, the true Polly Adler might be somewhere in between.

Guest Speaker: Debby Applegate, a historian and the author of Madam: The Biography of Polly Adler Icon of the Jazz Age.

Voice of Polly: Sally Bieterman

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.