Fierce Females of History

Winter solstice is less than a month away, and what better way to celebrate our mid-season break than with a tale of a witch: one of the earliest symbols of feminism. Today, hear the story of Sydney artist, counterculturist and occultist Rosaleen Norton. Norton defied the norms of 1950s Australia to create revolutionary art and push others to expand their views of the world. In this episode, you’ll learn about Norton’s unusual upbringing, how she used trances and sex magic to commune with higher beings and astral project, the meaning behind her distinctive artworks, and how she came to be known as the witch of Kings Cross. Enjoy.***Just a warning, some episodes discuss sensitive or explicit content. Younger Fierce Females are advised!***Follow us:Instagram: @fiercefemalespodcastFacebook: Fierce Females of HistoryGet in touch:Want to discuss history, wine, the Hulk’s penis or geese?Drop us a line here: fiercefemalesofhistory@gmail.comTheme music: Get Lo - LynneMusichttps://www.neosounds.com/songs/15504

Who remembers cross country at school? Who wishes they could forget?Running is painful, sweaty and long, but it can also reap some serious benefits. Our girl Turia Pitt is one of those people who probably thrived during that 3km fun run, and continues to push the limits of physical endurance to this day. In this episode you’ll hear about Turia’s childhood and how it fostered her love for physical challenges, her love story with husband Michael, the fire that changed the course of her life and her incredible work today. So lace up your runners and tune in.***Just a warning, some episodes discuss sensitive or explicit content. Younger Fierce Females are advised!***Follow us:Instagram: @fiercefemalespodcastFacebook: Fierce Females of HistoryGet in touch:Want to discuss history, wine, the Hulk’s penis or geese?Drop us a line here: fiercefemalesofhistory@gmail.comTheme music: Get Lo - LynneMusichttps://www.neosounds.com/songs/15504Here is where Erin got her info:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XvAd0CfO5f4https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turia_Pitthttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kZLW47FtRt0https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GiTRlVSHO6ghttps://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-37604251https://www.perthnow.com.au/news/wa/kimberley-burns-victim-turia-pitt-settles-big-payout-ng-c19106774beff9448c1e758247f15754

In Hollywood, if you’re a woman older than 55, you’re practically invisible.It’s a symptom of a broader societal problem, but in 1985, a show debuted starring three women, all over the age of 60. The Golden Girls became a roaring success and helped redefine the role of older women in Hollywood. While Bea Arthur’s career hit new heights with the series, her love of storytelling and theatre began much earlier. In this episode you’ll learn about Bea’s fight for success, how she discovered her trademark sense of humour and how her legacy lives on today. Listen in.***Just a warning, some episodes discuss sensitive or explicit content. Younger Fierce Females are advised!***Follow us:Instagram: @fiercefemalespodcastFacebook: Fierce Females of HistoryGet in touch:Want to discuss history, wine, the Hulk’s penis or geese?Drop us a line here: fiercefemalesofhistory@gmail.comTheme music: Get Lo - LynneMusichttps://www.neosounds.com/songs/15504

Ever scared you’re the less hot sibling? We don’t have that problem, but we can sympathise because even though we’re stunning specimens, we do still have hearts. However, Anastasia Romanov, Russian princess, did. Poor dear was described as “less ethereal” than her sisters. But that didn’t stop her from going on to become one of the most famous conspiracies of all time. It’s the question that has haunted the world for more than one hundred years: did Princess Anastasia survive the Russian Revolution? In this episode, find out about Anastasia’s upbringing, why (the fictional) Dimitri is the sexiest animated character ever, and about the mysterious Anna Anderson who may or may have not been the princess herself. Until then, dasvidaniya. P.S. Brief content warning on this one, the Romanov family did not have a pretty end.***Just a warning, some episodes discuss sensitive or explicit content. Younger Fierce Females are advised!***Follow us:Instagram: @fiercefemalespodcastFacebook: Fierce Females of HistoryGet in touch:Want to discuss history, wine, the Hulk’s penis or geese?Drop us a line here: fiercefemalesofhistory@gmail.comTheme music: Get Lo - LynneMusichttps://www.neosounds.com/songs/15504

Elizabeth Báthory: Countess DraculaYeah, you read that correctly. This week's Fierce Female (or should we say, FEROCIOUS Female) liked to get her hands dirty... with human blood.This week we tell the story of the Blood Countess herself, Elizabeth Báthory of Hungary. A powerful woman with a sadistic streak.Our Liz Báthory has been named the most prolific female murderer in history, and let's just say her killings make living with the Lannister's seem like a walk in the park.So come back in time with us to the 1500's to hear the horrifying true story of this sadistic, female killer.WARNING: make sure you've had your lunch first!*******************Just a warning, some episodes discuss sensitive or explicit content. Younger Fierce Females are advised!** Follow us:Fierce Females of History is on Instagram: @fiercefemalespodcastGet in touch:Want to discuss history, wine, the Hulk’s penis or geese?Drop us a line here: fiercefemalesofhistory@gmail.comTheme music: Get Lo - LynneMusichttps://www.neosounds.com/songs/15504Want more info? Here's where Erin got the deets: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3N3TSPZoY1ohttps://www.historytoday.com/.../death-countess-elizabeth...https://hekint.org/.../epilepsy-from-the-early.../https://www.biography.com/crime-figure/elizabeth-bathoryhttps://www.researchgate.net/.../40786508_Epilepsy_during...

Florence Violet McKenzie: Radio revolutionary Sometimes in life you’re going to encounter some people who are just clowns. And not just clowns, but dumb clowns.Often, ladies, these will be men, as our girl Florence Violet McKenzie would tell you. She navigated an industry that was -at the time - nearly defined by these gentlemen’s breathtaking stupidity and ended up transforming it into the radio and electrical engineering sector it is today. In this episode you’ll hear about how Violet took on a male-dominated industry and made it her own, how she supported the war effort in a major way, taught an entire generation of aviators to radio and kept a sunny disposition even while facing some pretty classic misogyny. And you’ll hear about Talissa’s deep-seated hatred for hiking. Tune in. Let the sparks fly.Follow us:Fierce Females of History is on Instagram: @fiercefemalespodcastGet in touch:Want to discuss history, wine, the Hulk’s penis or geese?Drop us a line here: fiercefemalesofhistory@gmail.comTheme music: Get Lo - LynneMusichttps://www.neosounds.com/songs/15504

What do you get if you combine Jay Gatsby, Amelia Earhart, Sancho Panza, Indiana Jones, Lady Godiva and (maybe) a dash of Hugh Hefner?Someone starting to resemble the whirlwind of a human being that was Pancho Barnes. In this episode, we hear all about the legendary flyer who beat Earhart’s speed record, launched a pilot’s union, burnt through multiple inheritances and just generally had a good-ass time. You’ll hear about Pancho’s terrifying start in flying, where she picked up her name and how she built what sounds like one of the coolest places ever: the Happy Bottom Riding Club. We’re ready for take off. Strap in, babies.Follow us:Fierce Females of History is on Instagram: @fiercefemalespodcastGet in touch:Want to discuss history, wine, the Hulk’s penis or geese?Drop us a line here: fiercefemalesofhistory@gmail.comTheme music: Get Lo - LynneMusichttps://www.neosounds.com/songs/15504

Helen Reddy: Hear me roarFair warning on this one, you may have Helen Reddy’s hit song ‘I Am Woman’ stuck in your head for days after listening. Although in terms of songs to have stuck in your head, you could do worse.In this episode, you’ll hear about Helen’s troubled rise to fame, her journey as a single mum, her time in parks and recreation (oh yeah) and the life that led her to write one of the defining feminist anthem. Ohhh yes, we are women, hear us roar.Follow us:Fierce Females of History is on Instagram: @fiercefemalespodcastGet in touch:Want to discuss history, wine, the Hulk’s penis or geese?Drop us a line here: fiercefemalesofhistory@gmail.comTheme music: Get Lo - LynneMusichttps://www.neosounds.com/songs/15504Here's where Erin found the goods: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=38TbjQtxlWwhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3eLCi6-lQCw https://7news.com.au/entertainment/singer-helen-reddy-hitmaker-and-feminist-c-1353455 https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/a-gritty-account-life-as-193110 https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/i-am-woman-helen-reddy-tribute-1068681/ https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/a-gritty-account-life-as-193110https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rptW7zOPX2E

Who’s been watching Bridgerton? We’ve been obsessed, mainly with the Duke of Hastings.So we like handsome men, sue us.Anyway, we’re not here to talk about Regé-Jean Page - although there’s probably a whole episode in that. No, we’re here to talk about Princess Sophia Duleep Singh - the incomparable of her social seasons.But so, so, so much more. Princess Sophia Duleep Singh was a socialite, suffragette and a perennial thorn in the tax man’s side.Yeah girl, don’t pay those taxes.In this episode, you’ll hear about how Sophia navigated her way through the English social scene to obtain her goals, fought to preserve her culture, trained championship dogs (yep) and campaigned for women’s rights.She’s the coolest. Listen now.