Womanica
Thinking back to our history classes growing up, we had one question: Where the ladies at? Enter, Womanica. In just 5 minutes a day, learn about different incredible women from throughout history. On Wonder Media Network’s award-winning podcast, we’re telling the stories of women you may or may not know — but definitely should.
Episodes
Baroness Masham (1935-2023) was a paralympic athlete who competed in three Paralympic games, and won two gold medals. She founded the Spinal Injuries Association and served for 53 years as an independent member of the House of Lords. She was praised for her advocacy and volunteer work with disability rights.
For Further Reading:
Miki Gorman (1936-2015) was a barrier-breaking long distance runner. Born and raised in occupied China and Japan, she became the only woman to have won both the Boston Marathon and the New York City Marathon twice.
For Further Reading:
Debi Thomas (1967-present) is an American figure skater who became the first Black athlete to win a medal in any sport at the Winter Olympics in 1988. She wasn’t content with just being a world class skater, she also became a doctor, earning degrees from Stanford University and Northwestern University. Now in her fifties, she recently returned to skating.
For Further Reading:
Pan Duo (1939-2014) was the first Chinese woman to summit Mount Everest and the second woman overall to summit the mountain after Junko Tabei in 1975.
For Further Reading:
Ruth Aarons (1918-1980) was an American teenage table tennis champion. She was known for her wins at the World Championships and for her performances at night clubs and in theaters. After retiring from table tennis, she went on to manage big stars, like David Cassidy.
For Further Reading:
Cynisca (c. 440 BCE) was the first woman to ever win an event at the Olympic Games. By exploiting a loophole in the rule that only men could participate in the games, she paved the way for the woman Olympians of today.
For Further Reading:
Tori Bowie (1990-2023) was a track and field athlete with three Olympic medals. In 2017, she became the fastest woman in the world – but her career was cut short after dying from complications from pregnancy at 32 years old.
For Further Reading:
Olga Korbut (1955-present) is a former Soviet gymnast who gained international fame for her performances in the early 1970s. Known for her extraordinary agility and charismatic presence, she captured the world's attention at the 1972 Munich Olympics, where she did innovative routines, featuring moves like the "Korbut Flip." She revolutionized gymnastics by making the sport more dynamic and artistic.
For Further Reading:
Sheryl Swoopes (1971-present) is a retired American basketball player. She was the first player to be signed by the WNBA in 1997. She went on to become a four-time WNBA champion and a three-time Olympic gold medalist.
For Further Reading:
T...
Maria-Teresa de Filippis (1926-2016) was an Italian race car driver. She was an official driver for Maserati and the first woman in Formula One. During her career, she qualified for five Grand Prix races, including three championships. Since her time on the track, only five women have attempted to qualify for world championship grand prix races.
For Further Reading:
Ibtihaj Muhammad and Janee’ Kassanavoid both envisioned a path to the top, and then climbed their way there – in fields where no one who looked like them had ever made it that far. Ibtihaj, a world class fencer, made history as the first woman to wear a hijab while competing on the world stage. And Janee’ Kassanavoid, hammer throw darling, became the first Indigenous woman to medal at the World Athletics Track and Field Championshi...
In recent years, Dawn Staley and A'ja Wilson have become household names. From their achievements on the court to their influential roles off it, we delve into how these women have shaped the landscape of women's basketball and supported each other along the way. In this episode, we hear how they’ve overcome adversity and proven the naysayers wrong to leave their mark on the sport.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information...
Wyomia Tyus (1945 - present) is an Olympic athlete who became the first person to win gold in back to back Olympic games. During the 1968 Olympic games, she joined the Olympic Project for Human Rights and protested against global racial inequality along with other Black athletes.
For Further Reading:
Hélène de Pourtalès (1868-1945) was an American-born Swiss sailor who competed in the 1900 Summer Olympics in Paris representing Switzerland. She was one of the first 22 women to participate in the Olympics, and one of the first to win an Olympic gold medal.
For Further Reading:
Mary Peters (1939-present) is a former athlete from Northern Ireland who won a gold medal for the pentathlon at the 1972 Olympics in Munich. This marked the bloodiest year of The Troubles. Peters went on to champion other athletes from Northern Ireland.
For Further Readings:
Lisa Lane (1933-2024) was an American chess player and 1959 U. S. Women’s Chess Champion. She was also the first chess player to appear on the cover of Sports Illustrated magazine.
For Further Reading:
Cathy Freeman (1974-present) is an Australian Aboriginal runner. She won the gold medal for the 400 meter race at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games, at a tense time in reconciliation between the Australian government and Aboriginal people.
For Further Reading:
Sunny Choi was climbing the corporate ladder when she heard that breaking would be an event at the world’s biggest stage in sports. After years of upholding society’s standards of what a successful life looks like, Sunny is going for the gold. Tune in to hear how breaking encouraged her to break the mold and be a more liberated version of herself.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Tatyana McFadden has 20 Paralympic medals in wheelchair racing. She’s won four New York City Marathons. When she’s racing downhill, her arms push her to speeds of 40 miles an hour. This episode, tune in to learn how Tatyana went from an orphanage in Russia to one of the most decorated athletes in the world.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Kathleen Stanford Grant (1921-2010) was a professional dancer turned Pilates pioneer. After a serious knee injury, she trained with founder Joseph Pilates to recover and discovered a lifelong love of the exercise program. Kathy became one of only two people he ever certified directly to teach Pilates and helped bolster its popularity in the late 20th century.
For Further Reading:
Popular Podcasts
The Podium: An NBC Olympic and Paralympic podcast. Join us for insider coverage during the intense competition at the 2024 Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games. In the run-up to the Opening Ceremony, we’ll bring you deep into the stories and events that have you know and those you'll be hard-pressed to forget.
In The Village will take you into the most exclusive areas of the 2024 Paris Olympic Games to explore the daily life of athletes, complete with all the funny, mundane and unexpected things you learn off the field of play. Join Elizabeth Beisel as she sits down with Olympians each day in Paris.
Listen to the latest news from the 2024 Olympics.
The 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris are here and have everyone talking. iHeartPodcasts is buzzing with content in honor of the 33rd Olympic Games and you can follow Paris Summer Games to stay up to date on all things Olympics. We’re bringing you episodes from a variety of iHeartPodcast shows to help you keep up with the action. Follow Paris Summer Games so you don’t miss any coverage of the 2024 Olympic Games, and if you like what you hear, be sure to follow each Podcast in the feed for more great content from iHeartPodcasts.
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations.