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Our favorite podcasts by women, chapter one: history lessons


Credit: Deviant Art

History has traditionally told by the old, the straight, the white, the men.

For those of us who want to hear about the other side of history, but do not have the time or inclination to go back to school, there are some amazing podcasts out there for some snapshots of women in history, by women.

 

"The History Chicks" is one of the oldest women-focused history podcasts out there. Susan and Beckett take the time to research their subjects thoroughly, offering listeners a long reading list of books, music, and video with each episode. Their subjects have included well-known historical figures like Anne Boleyn and Jane Austen, but they also draw attention to the oft-forgotten, including artist Artemisia Gentileschi and aviator Bessie Coleman. Longtime friends, their banter is like a cozy cup of tea, but this podcast is fascinating enough to get you through a long commute or workout.

 

Hilarious Australian ladies Lauren and Alicia love history, and have the degrees to boot. These two discuss women from all backgrounds across history, from still-living revolutionary Tarana Burke to historical figure Takeko Nakano, and even legendary, possibly-fictional figures like Juleidah. True to the title, Deviant Women introduces listeners biweekly to badass women and non-men who defied expectations, did their own thing, and owned it.

 

For fans of Stuff You Missed in History Class, this spinoff by podcasting veterans Tracy V. Wilson and Holly Frey offers you a daily dose of history in bite-sized chunks you can absorb quickly while making a pot of pasta or getting ready in the morning. It is just like what it sounds: every day, they let you know something fascinating, crazy, or unbelievable that happened #onthisday back in the archives of history. For those without the time (or attention span) for the typical, hour and a half podcast, this is the perfect way to support women podcasters on your schedule.

 

Celine Aenlle-Rocha is a writer and publishing professional from Miami and Los Angeles, currently residing in the Harlem neighborhood of New York City. She has degrees in English, Spanish and creative writing from Kenyon College, and is currently pursuing an MFA in Fiction Writing at Columbia University. Follow her on Instagram.

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