The Homance Chronicles

Naomi Feil was the pioneer behind Validation Therapy for dementia care. Born in 1932, Naomi dedicated her career to improving communication with older adults experiencing dementia, challenging tradit…

Mary Ellen Pleasant was an entrepreneur, abolitionist, and one of the most powerful women of the 19th century. From her early years navigating the Underground Railroad to amassing a fortune in San Fr…

Clarice Cliff was a pioneering British ceramicist who defied expectations and left an indelible mark on the Art Deco movement. Born into a working-class family in 1899, Clarice’s artistic talent and …

Marie Van Brittan Brown was the visionary inventor behind the first home security system. A Black woman living in Queens, New York, during the 1960s, Marie was determined to protect her home and comm…

Rosa Parks' quiet act of defiance on a Montgomery bus ignited the Civil Rights Movement. But there’s more to her story than that historic moment in 1955. We explore her early life, the years of activ…

Madam C.J. Walker was the first self-made female millionaire in America. Born to formerly enslaved parents, Walker transformed her life through determination, innovation, and an entrepreneurial spiri…

Octavia E. Butler was a groundbreaking science fiction writer who defied genre conventions and societal expectations to become one of the most influential voices in speculative fiction. From her earl…

In this episode, we dive into the controversial and haunting story of Shirley Mason, better known as Sybil, the woman whose case brought dissociative identity disorder (DID) into the public spotlight…

As teenagers in Nazi-occupied Netherlands, sisters, Freddie and Truus Oversteegen, along with thier friend, Hannie Schaft, joined the Dutch resistance and risked everything to fight for freedom. With…

Dr. Alexa Canady shattered barriers by becoming the first African American female neurosurgeon in the United States. From her early years in Lansing, Michigan, (that's right - she's a hometown hoe), …

Florine Mark revolutionized the weight-loss industry and inspired countless individuals to live healthier, happier lives. As the former owner and president of Weight Watchers Group, Florine built a b…

Brenda Lee, the pint-sized powerhouse, has a voice that defined generations. From her humble beginnings in Georgia to becoming a global icon, Brenda’s journey is one of resilience, talent, and timele…

Rita Moreno is an absolute living legend who is celebrating her 93rd birthday and about eight decades in Hollywood. She came to New York with her mom from Puerto Rico when she was five years old. She…

Alice H. Parker was an African American inventor whose ingenuity forever changed how we keep our homes warm. 

Born in 1895, Parker defied societal norms of her time to secure a college education and …

Gertrude "Trudy" Ederlethe made history by becoming the first female swimmer to cross the English Channel in 1926. Nicknamed "Queen of the Waves," Trudy didn’t just break records; she smashed stereot…

Elizabeth "Dolly" Shepherd was a pioneering parachutist and daredevil in the early 20th century. From her humble beginnings as a teenager with dreams bigger than the Edwardian era allowed, to her bre…

Rosalind Franklin was a brilliant yet underappreciated scientist whose work was instrumental in one of the greatest scientific breakthroughs of the 20th century - the discovery of the DNA double heli…

Step into the shadowy world of Maila Nurmi, better known as Vampira, the iconic horror hostess who took 1950s Hollywood by storm. In this episode, we unravel the life and legacy of the woman behind t…

Cassandra Peterson, better known as Elvira: Mistress of the Dark, came from humble beginnings in small-town Kansas to the reigning queen of Halloween. Cassandra's story is one of resilience, reinvent…

CONTENT WARNING: This episode contains discussion of violence, death, and abuse of children. This is the haunting story of Enriqueta Martí, a figure whose crimes shook early 20th century Barcelona to…