More Than A Muse
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© 2024 More Than A Muse
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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'.
208 Episodes
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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.
We discuss John Lennon's first wife, art student Cynthia Powell, their tumultuous secret relationship, as well as his later, controversial love, multimedia artist Yoko Ono, who is often blamed for the band's split. Next, we look at George Harrison's relationship with model and photographer Pattie Boyd, celebrated as one of rock and roll's greatest muses, followed by his marriage to poet and producer Olivia Arias, who literally saved George's life during a home invasion.
These incredibly talented and accomplished women deserve their time in the spotlight, showcasing their significant contributions to the success of the famous London band. Tune in next week as we continue with the women behind Paul and Ringo!
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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. Sadie and Stauney discuss her troubling beginnings, her artistic ideas being stolen by some of the most famous names of the 60's, and her eventual triumph in the age of social media as her vast "worlds" of mirrors, dots, and color send the viewers into a different world. She is the perfect example of how determination and variety can lead you to success.
TW: Mentions of abuse, mental health issues including depression and suicide attempts, and Trypophobia.
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This week, join Stauney and Sadie as they discuss the intricate history and inherent biases of the daily crossword puzzle. A staple of American leisure since the 1920s, the crossword has evolved significantly, reflecting shifts in societal norms and what's considered 'common knowledge.' Despite its enduring popularity, the puzzle often overlooks the experiences and contributions of women and minorities. Our hosts delve into the crossword's implementation, its strategic roles during wartime conflicts, its technological transformation in the 1990s, and its current standing in the digital age. Tune in to explore how this beloved pastime has both shaped and been shaped by the changing dynamics of our society.
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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. Stauney and Sadie discuss her tumultuous life, her romantic struggles, her remarkable career, and the tragic misrepresentation that ultimately led to her execution by firing squad, unfairly scapegoated for France's wartime setbacks. With her tale often misunderstood, it's a poignant opportunity to celebrate a woman of resilience and dignity amidst profound adversity.
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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. Inspired by a TikTok that highlighted similarities between the imagery in Taylor Swift's latest album and Plath's poetry, Stauney and Sadie delve into Plath's artistic genius, her battles with mental health, her complex personal relationships, and the enduring impact of her literary contributions.
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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. We discuss the criticism and different aspects of being an artist in the public eye that would influence your creativity and work. Then we take some time to talk about the Patti Smith and Stevie Nicks references, as well as explain the history of Clara Bow, the mythology of Cassandra and Diana of Ephesus, and the women from the podcast that we think would be members of the TPD.
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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. We discuss how she found her way into songwriting behind the scenes, the struggles of the industry, the sexism of the country music charts, what it's like to write with/for singers, how it feels to have a song hit the charts, and the mentorship she hopes to pass on to young songwriters with her podcast, Songwriter Soup. We ADORED having Laura Veltz on and hope all of you will find the same inspiration, joy, and kinship with her.
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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. We talk about the challenges of being forced to grow up too soon and then told our whole lives that we need to "look younger." We also get personal talking about our own experiences growing up, coming into our own, discovering who we are, and reclaiming the parts of us we lost along the way. Losing your girlhood is a violent, angry experience.
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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. We start by briefly discussing the Hulu special "I Was a Child Bride: The Untold Story" and discuss the plight of young women in the United States. We then talk about the author of the story, her personal reasons behind writing the narrative, the effect it had on the public, and how we felt about the story itself.
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Sadie walks us through the important literature and musical works that show the simmering of feminine rage throughout history in various ways. Stauney and Sadie discuss Sylvia Plath, Margaret Atwood, Dolly Parton, The Chicks, and many many many more! Join us as we learn about the different mediums of artwork celebrating women and their rage throughout the ages and continuing today.
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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. Emily shared some of the songs and artists that stand out to her the most about feminine rage and also shared her thoughts on the music industry today, and her personal feelings about feminine rage. Who most exemplifies feminine rage in music to you? Do you feel it's getting more or less popular as time goes on?
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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. They discuss works of art as early as the Baroque period and then move forwards with artists like Elisabetta Sirani, Marina Abramovic, and Ana Mendieta. Then they dive into the modern media scene that shares feminine rage statements like Promising Young Woman, Black Swan, The Wilds, and Ready or Not. They cover how deep the vein of feminine rage goes from the past until today.
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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. Hall shared some of the pieces and people that stand out to her the most about feminine rage, and also shares her thoughts on the art market today, and her personal feelings about feminine rage. Are we allowing women to be angry in their art? Or are we only trying to give voices to the more marketable emotions?
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Building on our conversation from earlier this week, Sadie and Stauney delve into the historical treatment of young women, often mere children, across different eras and contexts. 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. Our discussion extends to the connections between these historical abuses and present-day challenges, examining the ways societal perceptions of women have influenced our culture. We confront the reality that our world, burdened by shame over its historical errors, struggles to amend the ongoing injustices.
TW: abuse, rape, sexual assault, murder, homicide, death (no heavy details, but may still be triggering to some listeners. Take care of yourselves!)
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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. Stauney and Sadie tell the maddening stories of Rosemary Kennedy, Ann Cooper Hewitt, Henrietta Lacks, and many other unnamed women who were affected by this misogyny in the early days of human history and how that has rippled down to today. Stay tuned for another episode this week, and check out our March Madness collection at morethanamusepodcast.com/store
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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. Stauney, Sadie, and Sarah discuss the variety of entries, the process of women writing in diaries and how they were preserved, the importance of daily records, how it's changing in the digital age, and what Sarah hopes people will take away from her latest release.
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This week, Sadie introduces us to the talented artist Tracy Chapman, who most recently performed 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." In this episode, Stauney and Sadie discuss how Chapman mixed her music with activism, touching on topics like social change while keeping her personal life private. The recognition of "Fast Car" by the CMA highlights how Chapman's work continues to appeal to new generations and remains relevant today, and even secured her the spot as the first Black artist to ever win the Song of the Year at the CMA's. We talk about her successful career, rise to fame, activism, and recent resurgence on the Billboard Hot 100.
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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. We then spend some time on each of her long-lasting shows and their impact on the future of television, including Grey's Anatomy, Scandal, How to Get Away with Murder, Inventing Anna, Queen Charlotte, and Bridgerton. Shondaland has changed the way women's stories are told on television, allowed more complex stories to take place, and also made diversity a top priority so that the screen finally mirrors the world around us.
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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. She was put on trial to prove herself as the author, used as a parlor trick, and eventually was able to publish her poetry in London before being granted freedom. Her story is as horrific as her words are beautiful, but her art paved the way for further generations to understand the capabilities of a race of people who would be fundamental in the foundation of the new world.
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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. We're talking about the unique paths each of these legendary ladies took in a music scene dominated by men and their rise to legends of rock. From Janis's powerhouse performances to Joan's no-nonsense attitude, Patti's poetic punk vibes, and Pat's voice that broke all the rules – it's a rollercoaster ride of ups and downs. These women didn't just make music; they made history, influencing countless musicians and music fans around the globe. Get ready to be inspired by their stories of grit, guts, and rocking out against the odds!
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Love this! Grateful that you both are acknowledging the amazing women who haven't gotten the chance to shine as much as they should have been able to. ❤️