The Homance Chronicles

Alice Ball was a chemical prodigy, the first woman and first Black person to earn a master's degree from the University of Hawaiʻi, and the mind behind what became known as the "Ball Method." Despite her groundbreaking discovery, credit was taken by others after her untimely death, and her contribution was erased from textbooks for decades. In the early 20th century, leprosy (Hansen's disease) carried not only devastating physical effects but also deep social stigma, forced isolation, and exile. While others had failed to find an effective treatment, a brilliant young chemist named Alice Ball succeeded—developing the first viable therapy that dramatically improved patients' lives. Follow us on IG: @homance_chronicles Connect with us: linktr.ee/homance Send us a Hoe of History request: homancepodcast@gmail.com

Doris Day was more than Hollywood's sunny sweetheart. She was a survivor, a savvy businesswoman, and a trailblazer who quietly redefined what strength could look like in mid-century America. In this episode, we explore the remarkable life of Doris Day, from her early dreams of becoming a professional dancer to her rise as one of the most bankable stars in film history. We unpack how a devastating car accident altered her path, how her wholesome on-screen persona often masked personal hardship and financial betrayal, and how she ultimately reclaimed her voice and autonomy. We also dive into her later years, when Doris stepped away from the spotlight to become a fierce advocate for animal welfare, building a legacy rooted in compassion rather than fame. Follow us on IG: @homance_chronicles Connect with us: linktr.ee/homance Send us a Hoe of History request: homancepodcast@gmail.com

Victoria Woodhull was the first woman to run for President of the United States, a Wall Street powerhouse, a fearless suffragist, and one of the most controversial voices of the 19th century. Born into poverty and raised in a turbulent family, Victoria defied every societal expectation placed on women, transforming herself into a financial broker, newspaper publisher, and outspoken advocate for women's rights. Follow us on IG: @homance_chronicles Connect with us: linktr.ee/homance Send us a Hoe of History request: homancepodcast@gmail.com

Jane Seymour is an actress whose talent and resilience have made her a lasting icon. From her breakout role as a Bond girl in Live and Let Die to her Emmy-winning performance on Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman, Jane has captivated audiences for decades. Beyond her career, she's lived a life full of highs and lows—she's been married four times, is the devoted mother of six children, and has survived a near-death experience that reshaped her outlook on life. But there's more to her story than fame, discover her journey from a modest upbringing in England to international stardom, her philanthropic endeavors, and the personal trials and triumphs that have shaped the woman behind the spotlight. Follow us on IG: @homance_chronicles Connect with us: linktr.ee/homance Send us a Hoe of History request: homancepodcast@gmail.com

Anna Coleman Ladd was an artist whose work changed lives in the aftermath of World War I. Best known as a sculptor and painter, Anna used her talent in an unexpected and deeply human way: creating facial prosthetics for soldiers who had been severely disfigured in combat. We'll explore her early life and artistic training, what led her to Paris during the war, and how she founded the Studio for Portrait Masks, where she crafted delicate copper masks that restored not just faces, but dignity and confidence to wounded veterans. At a time when reconstructive surgery was still in its infancy, Anna's work sat at the intersection of art, medicine, and compassion. Follow us on IG: @homance_chronicles Connect with us: linktr.ee/homance Send us a Hoe of History request: homancepodcast@gmail.com

Mary T. Klinker was a dedicated Air Force flight nurse whose courage and compassion left an indelible mark on history. From her early years in Lafayette, Indiana, to her training at St. Elizabeth's School of Nursing, Mary's path was defined by service, heart, and an unwavering commitment to caring for others. We follow her journey into the U.S. Air Force, where she became a skilled flight nurse and eventually joined the elite Air Force Reserve's Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron. Mary's career put her at the center of some of the most critical humanitarian missions of the Vietnam War era—including the one that would cement her legacy forever: Operation Babylift. Follow us on IG: @homance_chronicles Connect with us: linktr.ee/homance Send us a Hoe of History request: homancepodcast@gmail.com

Brigitte Helm was the enigmatic star who became immortal through her iconic role as Maria and the Machine-Man in Metropolis. From being discovered as a teenager to becoming one of the Weimar era's most recognizable faces, Helm's career rose quickly—and burned just as fast. We trace her journey from overnight stardom to her complicated relationship with fame, the pressures of the film industry, and her bold decision to walk away from it all at just 30 years old. We also dive into the personal battles she faced, the turbulent political climate that shaped her choices, and how her legacy continues to inspire filmmakers and actresses nearly a century later. Follow us on IG: @homance_chronicles Connect with us: linktr.ee/homance Send us a Hoe of History request: homancepodcast@gmail.com

⚠️ Trigger Warning: This episode discusses suicide and assisted suicide. If these topics are upsetting or activating for you, please take care while listening. You may choose to skip this episode or reach out to someone you trust or a mental health resource for support. Alice and Ellen Kessler were identical twin sisters whose synchronized dance moves, glamour, and charisma made them stars across Europe and beyond. Born in 1936, the twins trained in ballet in East Germany. In 1952, their family fled to West Germany, and soon the sisters began dazzling audiences with their talent.  They rose to international fame in the 1950s and 60s: performing on cabaret stages, television variety shows, and even sharing the screen with legendary names like Frank Sinatra and Fred Astaire. Their elegant presence earned them the nickname "the legs of the nation." In November 2025, at the age of 89, Alice and Ellen made the deeply personal decision to end their lives together by joint assisted suicide in their home near Munich — a choice they had discussed and planned for over a long period. Follow us on IG: @homance_chronicles Connect with us: linktr.ee/homance Send us a Hoe of History request: homancepodcast@gmail.com

Before disposable diapers became a household staple, one determined mother set out to solve a messy, universal problem—and ended up changing the lives of parents everywhere. In this episode, we explore the life and ingenuity of Marion Donovan, the inventor, designer, and entrepreneur whose creativity reshaped childcare. From her early years tinkering with tools in her father's factory, to the moment she fashioned her first waterproof diaper cover out of a shower curtain, Marion's story is one of persistence, frustration-fueled innovation, and visionary thinking. We trace her journey from initial rejection by manufacturers to the eventual success of her "Boater," the precursor to the modern disposable diaper, and uncover the many other inventions she created along the way. Follow us on IG: @homance_chronicles Connect with us: linktr.ee/homance Send us a Hoe of History request: homancepodcast@gmail.com

Caroline Norton was a poet, social reformer, and one of the most influential women you've never heard of. Born into privilege but trapped in an abusive marriage, Caroline used her voice and her pen to challenge a legal system that rendered married women powerless. Her fight was personal, painful, and revolutionary. After being cut off from her own income, barred from seeing her children, and publicly scandalized by her husband, Caroline ignited a movement that led to major reforms in British law, including the Custody of Infants Act (1839), the Matrimonial Causes Act (1857), and the Married Women's Property Act (1870). Follow us on IG: @homance_chronicles Connect with us: linktr.ee/homance Send us a Hoe of History request: homancepodcast@gmail.com

Marie Laveau ruled 19th-century New Orleans with a power that transcended race, religion, and reputation. Was she a healer or a hustler? A mystic or a master manipulator? In this episode, we unravel the legend of the Voodoo Queen who turned whispers into influence and left a legacy that still haunts the French Quarter today. Follow us on IG: @homance_chronicles Connect with us: linktr.ee/homance Send us a Hoe of History request: homancepodcast@gmail.com

In this episode, we explore the dramatic and tragic life of Susan Cabot, born Harriet Pearl Shapiro in 1927. From a childhood marked by loss and foster care in the Bronx to her rise as a Hollywood actress in Westerns and cult B-movies like Sorority Girl and The Wasp Woman, Susan's story is one of ambition, resilience, and hidden struggles. Behind the screen, she navigated secret relationships—including an alleged long-term affair with King Hussein of Jordan—motherhood, and battles with mental health. Tragically, in 1986, her only son, struggling with drug addiction, fatally stabbed her during a violent altercation at her Los Angeles home, ending her life at 58. Follow us on IG: @homance_chronicles Connect with us: linktr.ee/homance Send us a Hoe of History request: homancepodcast@gmail.com

Everyone knows the story of Bonnie and Clyde—but few know the woman who was there beside them: Blanche Barrow. Married to Buck Barrow, Clyde's older brother, Blanche found herself swept into the Barrow Gang's whirlwind of crime, chaos, and tragedy during the Great Depression. In this episode, we explore Blanche's journey from a preacher's daughter to a reluctant fugitive, tracing how love and loyalty pulled her into one of America's most infamous crime sprees. Discover how her time with Bonnie and Clyde shaped her fate—and how she fought to reclaim her life after the guns went silent. Follow us on IG: @homance_chronicles Connect with us: linktr.ee/homance Send us a Hoe of History request: homancepodcast@gmail.com

Before she was the world's most famous primatologist, Jane Goodall was a curious young girl who dreamed of living among animals in Africa. In this episode, we follow her extraordinary journey—from a childhood fascination with nature in wartime England to the groundbreaking discoveries she made in Tanzania's Gombe Stream National Park. Learn how Jane's patience and empathy shattered scientific norms when she observed chimpanzees using tools, proving humanity's deep connection to the animal world. We'll explore her lifelong mission to protect wildlife, her transition from researcher to global advocate, and the legacy she continues to build through the Jane Goodall Institute and her Roots & Shoots program. Follow us on IG: @homance_chronicles Connect with us: linktr.ee/homance Send us a Hoe of History request: homancepodcast@gmail.com

Before Marilyn Monroe or Cindy Crawford, there was Audrey Munson — the original American muse. In the early 1900s, her face and figure inspired hundreds of statues across New York City and beyond. She was celebrated as "Miss Manhattan," immortalized in marble and bronze, and became the first woman to appear fully nude in an American film. But behind the fame was a haunting story of exploitation, scandal, and tragedy. In this episode, we uncover how the woman who embodied beauty and art became forgotten by history — living her final decades in an asylum, her legacy hidden in plain sight on city streets. Follow us on IG: @homance_chronicles Connect with us: linktr.ee/homance Send us a Hoe of History request: homancepodcast@gmail.com

Dominique Crenn is the first woman in the United States to earn three Michelin stars. Raised in France and later moving to the U.S. to pursue her culinary ambitions, Dominique built a career defined by creativity, persistence, and leadership in an industry long dominated by men.  We'll cover her early influences, her rise in the restaurant world, and the challenges she faced along the way—including her public battle with breast cancer. We'll also highlight her commitment to sustainability and her role as an advocate for diversity and equity in the culinary field. You'll even get a little education on how the Michelin stars work and other esteemed awards in the culinary world.  Follow us on IG: @homance_chronicles Connect with us: linktr.ee/homance Send us a Hoe of History request: homancepodcast@gmail.com

Sarah Gammon Bickford was the first Black woman in the United States to own a public utility. Born into slavery in Tennessee in 1852, Sarah's early life was marked by hardship, resilience, and a determination to carve out her own destiny. After emancipation, she moved west to Virginia City, Montana—where she reinvented herself in a place few African American women dared to go. Sarah's story is one of reinvention and quiet revolution. From running a boarding house and candy store to taking ownership of Virginia City's water company, she became a respected entrepreneur in a male-dominated frontier town. Along the way, she raised a family, overcame personal losses, and turned the hot springs and waterworks into symbols of both survival and success. Follow us on IG: @homance_chronicles Connect with us: linktr.ee/homance Send us a Hoe of History request: homancepodcast@gmail.com

Kathryn Bigelow is a trailblazing filmmaker who shattered glass ceilings in Hollywood. From her early days as a painter and experimental filmmaker to becoming the first woman to win an Academy Award for Best Director, Kathryn's journey is one of ambition, creativity, and resilience. We explore her groundbreaking films, including The Hurt Locker and Zero Dark Thirty, and her dramatic connection to James Cameron.  Follow us on IG: @homance_chronicles Connect with us: linktr.ee/homance Send us a Hoe of History request: homancepodcast@gmail.com  

Before Marilyn, before Madonna, before the femme fatales of noir, there was Theda Bara—the original "Vamp" of the silver screen. In this episode, we explore the life of the woman who seduced audiences in the silent film era, becoming one of cinema's first true icons. From her carefully crafted mystique and exotic public persona to her trailblazing roles that challenged early 20th-century norms of femininity and sexuality, Theda Bara's influence on Hollywood was as bold as it was fleeting. Though most of her films have been lost to time, her impact on culture and stardom lives on. We'll uncover how a young woman from Cincinnati reinvented herself into a legendary figure of desire, scandal, and power—and why her story is still worth remembering today. Follow us on IG: @homance_chronicles Connect with us: linktr.ee/homance Send us a Hoe of History request: homancepodcast@gmail.com

Eleanor of Aquitaine was no ordinary queen—she was one of the most powerful and influential women of the Middle Ages. Born into immense wealth and power, she became Duchess of Aquitaine in her own right, then twice a queen—first of France and later of England. Her life reads like a medieval epic: she led armies on crusade, was a patron of the arts who helped shape the courtly love tradition, and maneuvered through dangerous political rivalries that defined Europe for centuries. In this episode, we dive into Eleanor's extraordinary journey—from her bold spirit as a young duchess to her role as a mother of kings, including Richard the Lionheart and John. We'll explore her political genius, her resilience through imprisonment, and her lasting legacy as a trailblazer who challenged the limits placed on women in her time. Follow us on IG: @homance_chronicles Connect with us: linktr.ee/homance Send us a Hoe of History request: homancepodcast@gmail.com