BitchStory

Martin Luther King Jrs children are all impressive in their own right. In this episode we are discussing the accomplishments of his two daughters, who we hope wouldn’t mind if we honor them with the title “badass bitches”. And below are our main sources for this ep. Toward the end of this episode you’ll hear me trippin over myself about the “Q” source. I didn’t pay enough attention when I was preparing and in the moment I was afraid I’d grabbed some stupid Qanon source. Good news- the Q is for queer, not qanon. Whew!! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yolanda_King https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernice_King https://www.essence.com/news/money-career/bernice-king-gracefully-thwarted-co-opting-mlk/ https://www.projectq.us/bernice-kings-big-lie-not-a-homophobe/# --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/bitchstory/support

I like to think that Phyllis would be down with reclaiming the word “bitch”, and would embrace calling herself one. I don’t know that for sure, but what I do know is that she was one of the original queens of comedy, with her wild outfits, crazy wigs, self deprecating humor, and lame husband jokes. We hope you laugh during every episode of Bitchstory, because laughter is good medicine! --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/bitchstory/support

Merry Bitchmas (a yet unrecognized celebration that celebrates all the things and all the religions and non religions and a day when women and parents get to rest!) In this ep we cover a lot of shit- from the origins of Christianity to why Christmas is in December, even though there’s plenty of scientific theory that Jesus was born in the spring, to the goddesses of Winter Solstice and the origins of our favorite holiday traditions. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/bitchstory/support

And now for something completely different!  We cover a lot of serious stuff here, and whenever women are overlooked, let alone repressed/oppressed, it is serious.  But some of the women we cover are badasses because they ushered in a new era and they probably didn't even know it.  We know our audience loves the funny ladies and the lighter content, because the stats show it.  So for your naked education, we are pleased to present Dita Von Teese.   Dita is, we would argue, solely responsible for the huge resurgence in Burlesque in the US since around 2000.   Nothing too deep here, just a hot, half naked badass lady in a giant champagne glass.   Burlesque originated in the mid 1800's, and has undergone the usual evolutions with society.  Body appreciation and a "love it or leave it" attitude has been coursing through feminist communities for a decade or more, gaining major prominence on Instagram.  The Burlesque art form has been a lover of all body shapes for quite awhile.  Dita herself is the definition of the perfect woman by traditional standards, but she is a badass because she's inspired so many people to embrace their sexiness regardless -  "I've always loved the idea of not being what people expect me to be. Anyone who thinks that being young and beautiful is more important than having something to say is wrong. I make a point to never, ever point out my physical flaws… this is advice I give to women as often as I can."  “You can be the ripest, juiciest peach in the world, and there's still going to be somebody who hates peaches.” ― Dita Von Teese So we hope this episode helps you to embrace your unique peach. (All the puns intended).  https://superstarsbio.com/bios/dita-von-teese/ --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/bitchstory/support

After binging several seasons of Phillipa Gregory's historical dramas, I started to feel some kinda way about my family tree.  I am a descendent of Margaret Beaufort, who was mother of King Henry VII (grandmother of King Henry VIII who we all remember!).  She dedicated her life to protecting her son's claim to the throne, and didn't let anything get in her way. Yet in some historical accounts, she is villainized and painted as a terrible, murderous women. Some depict her as a religious zealot.  Others, however, depict her in more human terms.  And after I found a couple of the latter accounts, I felt a sense of pride in my family tree again.   Even though Phillipa Gregory's books and TV Series have stoked a fire in me to understand my ancestry, her historical "fiction" takes some pretty glaring liberties with actual history and Beaufort is one of the victims of this.  Much of what I was feeling bad about was just false!  She was just a woman with ambition and dedication, so obviously...a bitch.  We present to you, one of history's early, amazing, badass, dedicated Bitches - Margaret Beaufort! https://www.philippagregory.com/characters/margaret-beaufort https://www.royalhistorygeeks.com/5-of-the-ways-the-spanish-princess-distorted-margaret-beaufort/ https://tudortimes.co.uk/guest-articles/lady-margaret-beaufort-hero-or-villain#:~:text=Margaret%20Beaufort%20is%20the,s%20path%20to%20the%20throne. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/bitchstory/support

In honor of Breast Cancer awareness month (October), and the many (way too many) friends we have currently fighting breast cancer, we wanted to do an episode about the doctors and women and medical people who've helped humanity make major strides in various areas of healthcare.   I'm really terrible at posting **TRIGGER WARNINGS**  but I'm trying to be better - women's history is brimming over with traumas.   In this episode we do discuss: miscarriage, along with breast cancer (really just the discovery of a gene that made major progress in the field), transgender health care, gender affirming health care, and clitoral restoration (its a brief mention about a doctor who helps victims of genital mutilation).  There is also a discussion of a badass doctor who did fucking miraculous life saving abortions in  Auschwitz! At the end of the episode we give information for the suicide hotline. And we are always talking about abortion rights.  Plus there's the word bitch, which still triggers a lot of people and that's what we are trying to change.   Both of us feel passionately about women's issues and healing both collective and personal traumas, and we don't feel like that can happen by never talking about things and keeping our collective fear and shame in the dark. So open the windows with us and let's CELEBRATE SOME BADASS WOMEN DOCTORS!  PLEASE VOTE IN ALL ELECTIONS OFFERED IN YOUR AREA! https://anchor.fm/bitchstory/support

If you are curious exactly what’s happening in Iran and why, this is the episode for you. This is a women’s rights cautionary tale, and let’s hope it’s not foreshadowing.  The women protesting in Iran face imprisonment and death. We must pay attention. We’ve also eliminated the current events at the top of the show, so if that bored you, you’re in luck! These links are a timeline and photographs of life before and after the Iranian revolution. You might be shocked to learn how modern and progressive Iran was before it became a theocracy…  https://www.businessinsider.com/iran-before-the-revolution-in-photos-2015-4 https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-47032829.amp  --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/bitchstory/support

So, disclaimer: neither of us are Hispanic/Latina.  We aren't claiming to be experts, and we are open to conversations to educate us.   This podcast aims to bring the unsung heroes onto the stage. Our stage is still small, so please share this podcast with friends who would enjoy it.  We would love your topic suggestions, or for you to let us know if we missed an important name or detail.   This episode lists a whole bunch of Latina badasses who need to be known!  We are busy bitches, just like you guys. Sometimes, even though we do research for each episode, we are struck with a question or thought while we are recording. We're just keepin it real and organic.  During this episode we were trying to think of a celebratory term to say at the end of each woman's segment...like CHEERS!  Lisa suggested Chingona, and it couldn't be more perfect:  "Throughout Latin America and in many Latinx communities in the United States, the word chingona has always had negative connotations attached to it. The word has historically been used to describe women who are “too aggressive,” while the masculine version of the word “chingon” is used as a way to compliment men. In recent years, Latinas like Duarte have made efforts to reclaim the word and used it as a way to empower themselves, similarly to how the LGBTQI community has taken back the word “queer.”  Y'ALL! that is exactly what we are trying to do with "Bitch"!  Chingona is the perfect word!  https://medium.com/@CoachellaUninc/chingona-definition-reclaiming-what-it-means-to-be-a-fearless-latina-ce904efa4be2 and, an apology:  And, as far as why Hispanic Heritage Month is 9/15-10/15  - census.gov says:  “About National Hispanic Heritage Month It was enacted into law on August 17, 1988, on the approval of Public Law 100-402. “The day of September 15 is significant because it is the anniversary of independence for Latin American countries Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua." Speculating during the show, we incorrectly associated it with Dia De Los Muertos, which isn't until November 1-2. We really should have done better with this fact. Forgive us, and happy independence.  (We wish Puerto Rico could celebrate this way) My brain (Kelly's) is struggling a little because of long covid, and meds to deal with the other health issue fuckery. So I fuck up my words and struggle to recall things, a lot. Sorry. Be gentle with me, I'm Perimenopausal too.   --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/bitchstory/support

We wanted to cover Lucille Ball, but we felt obligated to give mention to a bunch of other amazing female comedians who have broken barriers in the comedy world.  Comedy is a near and dear concept to us. Kelly calls it "group therapy for society" because it can force us to look at things from a different perspective and to address difficult topics with humor.  Female comedians have faced a difficult time, as women have in almost all segments of society, because the patriarchy doesn't want to hear from us, let alone laugh at our jokes!  Many of the women mentioned in this episode deserve their own episode and we are going to give it to them!  But for today, its Lucy. We love Lucy! Lucille Ball was responsible for Star Trek becoming the show we know it as today, as she overrode the Desilu Productions board and approved the expensive production of the pilot. NBC initially rejected the show, but then later ordered a 2nd pilot starring William Shatner as Krik and Lucy financed it.  As it turns out, we recorded this episode on "Star Trek Day", which was a total coincidence.   Links: Hillary's tweets about her emails (suck it, Trump) https://twitter.com/HillaryClinton/status/1567164268172173315 Brittney Griner https://www.thenation.com/article/society/brittney-griner-penal-colony-russia/ British PM cabinet fuckery https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/07/world/europe/uk-liz-truss-cabinet.html Comedians https://collider.com/galleries/rare-facts-about-lucille-ball/ PS I'm so sorry Carol Burnette...I love you!  --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/bitchstory/support

If you are hoping for an episode about musicals, move along. You and Lisa can vibe about musicals on your own time. In this episode we are talking about classical composers. We've only ever heard about Beethoven, Bach, Mozart and the rest of the classical music boys.  It never even occurred to us that women had been composers because what we do know is that women were not really allowed to do jack shit.  Come to find out, not only were there a lot of very talented female composers going back to even the 11th century, but some of them were so good, that the men around them took credit for their work! Are you shocked? Neither were we!  I say this with much bias, but this episode is a pretty good mini education about women in the history of classical music.  (Sorry I butchered all the names!) Here's our main sources:  https://www.classicfm.com/discover-music/latest/great-women-composers/?fbclid=IwAR3E9kXRVFujbsxguUS4Ntv3YusGPMEhjhXbIMAH4czGi-lhg8z3n8Qa0uI https://utahsymphony.org/explore/2020/03/10-trailblazing-female-composers-you-need-to-know/ And here's a PLAYLIST!  https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4qUnaheqZvTVpgejSU3IMA?si=1a88a0f02c504165 --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/bitchstory/support