More Than A Muse

Welcome to MORE THAN A MUSE, a weekly podcast where we explore the lives of women artists, musicians, writers, sculptors, and more. Join Stauney (a graphic designer) and Sadie (a singer-songwriter) EVERY MONDAY as we reframe art history and pop culture with feminism, empowering women to be educated, unapologetically angry, and champion those whom history has forgotten. Through in-depth historical discussions and pop culture chats, we spotlight unsung heroines, all while challenging the status quo. It's time to remember every woman artist as 'More Than A Muse'.

Arts
History
51
The Gay Pop Femininomenon: Chappell Roan, Peach...
This week, Sadie and Stauney dive into the resurgence of gay pop and highlight the stars who are bringing it back into the mainstream.
48 min
52
Opera's Notorious Duelist: Julie d'Aubigny
This week, Stauney introduces us to the infamous and iconic Julie d'Aubigny. Also known as Mademoiselle Maupin, she was a remarkable figure in 17th-century France, celebrated for her exceptional talent as an opera singer and her prowess as a duelist.
37 min
53
Behind 'The Beatles' Part Two: Jane Asher, Lind...
This week, Stauney and Sadie explore the second half of the women behind The Beatles. In part two of this episode, we delve into the focus on the women who supported The Beatles, often at great personal cost.
67 min
54
Behind 'The Beatles' Part One: Yoko Ono, Pattie...
This week, Stauney and Sadie explore the iconic muses behind the most famous band of all time: The Beatles. In part one of this episode, we delve into the band's early days and eventual breakup, touch on the global phenomenon of Beatlemania, and then focus on the women who supported The Beatles, often at great personal cost.
93 min
55
The World's Best Selling Woman Artist: Yayoi Ku...
This week, Sadie introduces us to the best selling living woman artist in the world, Yayoi Kusama. With 90+ years of life focused on her artistic exploration inspired by a troubled childhood and hallucinations, she has built an empire beyond any explanation.
45 min
56
Puzzling Patriarchy: How Crosswords Overlook Wo...
This week, join Stauney and Sadie as they discuss the intricate history and inherent biases of the daily crossword puzzle.
43 min
57
Exotic Dancer turned 'Double' Agent: Mata Hari
This week, Stauney delves into the story of Mata Hari, a Dutch woman who rose to fame as a captivating exotic dancer and later became a prominent courtesan in France, only to be coerced into espionage during World War I.
57 min
58
Sylvia Plath: The Original Tortured Poet
This week, Stauney explores the life and legacy of Sylvia Plath, a poet renowned not only for her poignant works that emerged around the time of her untimely death but also for her profound struggles with depression.
65 min
59
The Members of The Tortured Poets Department: C...
This week, Stauney and Sadie are indulging, and celebrating the release of a new favorite album. We HAD to do a recap on the latest Taylor Swift release and talk about how much we love it, as well as taking some time to appreciate some of the members of the Tortured Poets Department mentioned in her anthology.
58 min
60
Songwriting for the Stars with Laura Veltz
This week Stauney and Sadie are honored to have Laura Veltz join us! Veltz is a four-time Grammy-nominated songwriter, known for her work with some of our generation's most notable artists, including Kelly Clarkson, Lady A, Maren Morris, Demi Lovato, Idina Menzel, and Dan & Shay.
54 min
61
Give Me Back My Girlhood: The Path from Girls t...
It's our LAST episode of March Madness and to celebrate, Stauney and Sadie and diving deep into a topic they're passionate about: Girlhood. It's a "coming of rage" story as we discuss the myth behind "girls mature faster," talking about the language we use with girls vs boys, periods and boobs, skincare and makeup, the "Sephora teens" from this year, dress codes, anti-aging, plastic surgery, menopause, virginity, divorce, finding joy in childhood interests, fitting into "life stages" and all the other incredible, messed-up, unfair and strange things that change us from women into girls.
80 min
62
Unraveling 'The Yellow Wallpaper' The story of ...
This week, Stauney and Sadie talk about the popular short story by Charlotte Perkins Gillman, "The Yellow Wallpaper" about a woman's descent into madness after her husband locks her in the home's nursery to "cure her" of a nervous breakdown.
38 min
63
Pages to Playlists: Feminine Rage in Literature...
Sadie walks us through the important literature and musical works that show the simmering of feminine rage throughout history in various ways.
68 min
64
The Sound of Feminine Rage with 'The New Nine' ...
This week, Stauney and Sadie are joined by Emily Treadgold of 'The New Nine' to talk about the evolution of rage within women's music and the state of it today.
24 min
65
Brushstrokes to Blockbusters: Feminine Rage in ...
Stauney and Sadie continue our March Madness by giving an overview of works of art and movies that help encapsulate the themes and ideas behind feminine rage.
74 min
66
The Art of Feminine Rage with 'Less Than Half' ...
This week, Stauney and Sadie are joined by Hall Rockefeller of 'Less Than Half' to talk about the evolution of rage within women's art and the state of it today.
34 min
67
Disposable Daughters: From the Magdalene Laundr...
We explore the enforced labor within the Magdalene Laundries, the coercion of women into prostitution as "Comfort Women," and the widespread issues of femicide, gender-based violence, and homicide that persist in contemporary society.
52 min
68
Her Body, Their Laboratory: Henrietta Lacks, Ro...
This week kicks off Women's History Month and March Madness with the harrowing stories of how women's bodies have been historically used against their consent to further medical progress, merely experiment, discipline and punish, or to monetarily profit.
63 min
69
Decades of Women's Diaries "Secret Voices" with...
In this episode, we are delighted to have Sarah Gristwood as a guest to discuss her most recent book release "Secret Voices: A Year of Women's Diaries." This book is a collection of extracts from women’s diaries, looking back over four centuries to discover how women’s experience has changed over the years and how it hasn’t.
42 min
70
From 'Fast Car' to Country's First Black Winner...
This week, Sadie introduces us to the talented artist Tracy Chapman, who most recently performed with Luke Combs at the Grammy Awards Show. Tracy Chapman, known for her powerful songs and unique voice, has recently gained attention again thanks to Luke Combs' award-winning cover of her hit "Fast Car."
53 min
71
Stories & Shows of Shondaland: Bridgerton, Grey...
This week Stauney and Sadie are diving deep into one of television's greatest empires, Shondaland, run by the great storyteller Shonda Rhimes. We discuss Rhime's childhood, her history with ABC, and her revolutionary deal with Netflix.
64 min
72
America's First Black Poet: Phillis Wheatley Pe...
This week, Stauney and Sadie discuss the complicated story of Phillis Wheatley Peters, the first African-American to publish poetry. After a complicated history of being sold into slavery and purchased by a family who separated her from the other slaves and gave her an elaborate education including Latin, Peters would go on to write beautiful poetry.
54 min
73
Legendary Ladies of Rock: Janis Joplin, Joan Je...
This week, we're rounding out Women in Rock month by diving into the rockin' world of Janis Joplin, Joan Jett, Patti Smith, and Pat Benatar and their incredible journeys to stardom.
83 min
74
The Bassist Behind 10k Hit Songs: Carol Kaye
This week, we continue our series of women in rock. Sadie introduces us to Carole Kaye, a trailblazing female bassist whose remarkable talent shaped the sound of American popular music in the 1960s and 70s.
37 min
75
Women in Rock Shaping Feminism "She's a Badass"...
This week, we had the absolute pleasure of talking to Katherine Yeske Taylor about her new book "She's a Badass: Women in Rock Shaping Feminism" which is coming out tomorrow!
57 min