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'.
101
Barbie Part 1: The Most Famous Doll in the World
This week, Stauney and Sadie dive deep into the rich history of Barbie, tracing her origins from the visionary mind of Ruth Handler in 1959 to her present-day status as an iconic figure.
69 min
102
Shattering the Greenhouse Ceiling: Beatrix Farrand
In the realm of landscape architecture, one name stands out as a true pioneer and visionary. This week Stauney introduces us to Beatrix Farrand, known for breaking barriers and reshaping the field during a time when it was predominantly male-dominated, Farrand's remarkable contributions have left an indelible mark on the world of design.
47 min
103
A Woman's Report of War: Dickey Chapelle & "Fir...
Amidst the chaos of war, one daring woman stood fearlessly behind the camera, capturing the untold stories and unyielding spirit of conflict—and then history completely erased her.
52 min
104
A Cult Classic Author of Lesbian Fiction: Djuna...
Imagine writing a book that was so obviously gay that the censorship committees couldn't even tell what it was. This week, Sadie brings us up to speed on Djuna Barnes, a fascinating and influential figure of the 20th-century modernist literature movement.
50 min
105
The Dual Lens: The Male vs Female Gaze
We're no strangers to talking about "the male and female gaze" but do we know what this means and represents for the art and media we consume?
64 min
106
The Disappearance of the First Singer-Songwrite...
Before Bob Dylan, a young woman in Greenwich New York wrote songs, sang, and played her guitar, becoming the first record of a modern singer-songwriter. This week, Stauney introduces us to Connie Converse,
51 min
107
A Sad Beige World: A Gradual Dissipation of Det...
43 min
108
Dramatic Diva or Misunderstood Prima Donna: Mar...
This week, Sadie introduces us to Maria Callas, resilient and immensely gifted, who shattered barriers and redefined what it meant to be an opera star.
68 min
109
The 'Not Like Other Girls' Impact: Misery Busin...
This week, we're taking it back to the 2000s and the internet phenomenon that swept through pop culture: the "not like other girls" trope.
48 min
110
The Savior of Samoan Siapo: Mary Jewett Pritchard
This week on the podcast, Stauney introduces us to Mary Jewett Pritchard. Pritchard was a Samoan textile designer and cultural advocate and was instrumental in the preservation and promotion of the traditional Samoan art of Siapo
42 min
111
Rivals of the Hollywood Rumor Mill: Louella Par...
The rivalry between Hedda Hopper and Louella Parsons is legendary in the world of Hollywood gossip.
59 min
112
The Women Who Gave the Disney Princesses a Voice
Disney's iconic princess movies have captured the hearts of audiences around the world, but behind the magic are the real women who inspired the characters and the actresses who gave them voices.
78 min
113
The Inventor of the Mini Skirt: Mary Quant
This week, Sadie tells us all about the inventor of the mini-skirt (and so much more!) popularized in the 1960s during the first "cool Britannica" era, also known as the 'swinging 60's' or the 'British invasion.'
42 min
114
The Spice Girls: Girl Power Generation
This week on the podcast, Stauney and Sadie are discussing one of the most famous girl groups of all time. In the mid-1990s, a group of five young women from England burst onto the music scene and took the world by storm.
59 min
115
From Poison to Praise: Edmonia Lewis
Stauney takes us through the life of Edmonia Lewis, the trailblazing biracial black and Native American sculptor whose neoclassical masterpieces captivated audiences during her lifetime.
54 min
116
Rita Moreno: Latina Legend of Golden Hollywood
Sadie is introducing us to Rita Moreno today, one of Hollywood's last living golden Hollywood stars and the only Latina star that was able to reach mainstream fame, although she dealt with the pitfalls of being severely typecast.
49 min
117
How The Oscars Have Failed Women (and the Bechd...
Today we are talking all about the world of cinema, and one of the oldest and biggest award ceremonies surrounding it all... The Academy Awards, nicknamed 'The Oscars' after the little statue they hand out as awards to talented directors, actors, designers, and more.
46 min
118
The Nanny's Secret Street Photography: Vivian M...
This week, Stauney dives into the mysterious story of Vivian Maier, a nanny who took tens of thousands of street photos throughout her life... and never showed anyone else a single picture.
58 min
119
Threads of Rebellion: How Fashion Shaped Feminism
Throughout history, fashion has been an integral part of the feminist movement. From Bloomers and Suffragette colors to Pussyhats, the way individuals have dressed has been a large declaration of their rebellion against society's standards for them.
50 min
120
A History of Black Women in Pop "Shine Bright"...
In February, we delved into "Shine Bright: A Very Personal History of Black Women in Pop" by Danyel Smith. It was such a beautiful read and really opened our eyes to the amazing contributions black women have made to pop music throughout history.
28 min
121
Valley Girl Vernacular, like The Way Women Talk
In this episode, we tackle the unfair discrimination against women's language patterns, such as up-talk, filler words, and vocal fry.
48 min
122
The Lost Symphony That Survived: Florence Price
This week, Sadie introduces us to Florence Price, an accomplished Black classical composer who persevered despite facing discrimination and limited opportunities in the early 20th century and became the first black woman to have a symphony performed by a major orchestra.
41 min
123
Out of a Chick Flick Famine & Into a Rom-Com Re...
This week we delve into the rich history of women's pictures and explore the evolution of romantic comedies or "chick flicks". From their glory days when they ruled the box office with huge celebrity names to the "dry spell" that they went through in recent years.
56 min
124
Former Slave turned White House Seamstress: Eli...
This week, Stauney introduces us to Elizabeth Hobbs Keckley. Born into slavery, Keckley dealt with the injustices of physical and sexual abuse, feeling the full brunt of the rampant racism in early U.S. History. However, Elizabeth would rise far above her birth to go on to buy her and her son's freedom, start a dressmaking business and employ 20 other women, and then spend four years as the personal modiste to Mary Todd Lincoln, the First Lady of the United States
70 min
125
The Early 'Stages' of Female Playwrights: The P...
This week, we're talking about the early origins of a community experimental theatre group called "The Provincetown Players" that produced some of America's best theatrical works and thrived in the Greenwich Village of New York City.
52 min