More Than A Muse

The Women Behind Elvis: Priscilla, Ann-Margaret, Big Mama Thorton and More

14 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

You've probably heard of the recent Elvis biopic that came out this year, but do you know more about the man behind the screen... or even more so, th...

The Youngest Director of Harper's Bazaar: Bea Feitler

05 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Stauney is talking about one of her personal inspirations, Bea Feitler, a groundbreaking graphic designer from the sixties and seventies wh...

Female Friendships & Favorites: 100 Episodes

29 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

We made it to 100 Episodes!! We get to be all reflective and reminisce on our favorite people, topics, and more that we covered that have inspired and...

The Four Great Ladies of Impressionism: Marie Bracquemond, Berthe Morisot, Mary Cassatt, and Eva Gonzalès

23 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This week, we're spending our time in 18th and 19th century Paris with four great ladies and fundamental artists of Impressionism: Marie Bracquemond,...

Country Comedy's Priceless Hat: Minnie Pearl

15 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Sadie introduces us to a Nashville country icon, Minnie Pearl. A significant character of comedic history, Pearl was a fixture at the Gran...

The History & Exploitation of The Hula Girl

08 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

You may think you know what Hula is, but you might want to rethink your concept of it. From its origins as a spiritual practice for Hawaiian culture, ...

Frank Lloyd Wright's Lifelong Nemesis: Marion Mahony Griffin

01 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Stauney brings us up to speed on Marion Mahony Griffin, one of the first female licensed architects in the whole world, and a major pionee...

The Ceramicist Who Inspired a "Titanic" Character: Beatrice Wood

25 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Stauney talks about Beatrice Wood, otherwise known as the "Mama of Dada" due to her influential role in the early Dada art movement in New...

Britain's Only Female Pop Artist: Pauline Boty

18 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Sadie presents a remarkable journey through the vibrant world of British pop art with the pioneering Pauline Boty, the sole female artist a...

I'm so angry I made some art: overview of feminist art

11 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This week, we are giving an overview of the movement of feminist art and its power for modern protest. We discuss what feminist art is, the beginning...

Are Women Responsible for the Success of TV? Irna Phillips, Gertrude Berg, Betty White and Hazel Scott

01 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

It's our monthly bonus episode and this month, we're talking about the book "When Women Invented Television: The Untold Story of the Female Powerhouse...

Was Shakespeare a Woman?

27 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This week, we're talking about a MAJOR history conspiracy theory surrounding the gender of the most famous playwright of all time. Although it's a ma...

Kate Bush: Running Up the Charts

20 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Sadie is diving into the creator of a 1985 song that unexpectedly hit the top 5 of the charts this summer 37 years after its release. That'...

The Creation & Design of Dasie's Drama

13 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This week, we get a chance to dive into a personal project. Sadie, aka Dasie, has been working on her debut EP for the past year and after its release...

Sister Rosetta Tharpe: The Godmother of Rock & Roll

06 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Stauney introduces Sister Rosetta Tharpe. Long ignored by the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and most of contemporary rock culture, Tharpe was o...

A Director with a Record-Breaking Film: Lina Wertmüller

30 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Sadie is bringing us to speed on the famed Italian director Lina Wertmüller. Wertmüller is known for many things, with careers as a pupp...

Beyoncé Part Two: From 4 to The Lion King

23 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

It's part two, and once again we're breaking down the iconic and groundbreaking life of Beyoncé, a woman with so many accomplishments, record-breaki...

Beyoncé Part One: From the Beginning to Sasha Fierce

16 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Back for another Living Legends episode, we're breaking down the iconic and groundbreaking life of Beyoncé, a woman with so many accomplishments, re...

Anna May Wong: Typecasting in Tinseltown

09 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Stauney introduces us to the first Asian-American movie star, the first Asian woman to appear in technicolor, earn a Hollywood walk of fame...

250 Years of 100 Women in Fashion

06 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

It's our monthly bonus episode and this month, we've read the book "The Women Who Revolutionized Fashion: 250 Years." This may be a short episode, but...

The Women Who 'Fashioned' The MET Gala

02 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

It's the first Monday in May, which means tonight in New York City, the most exclusive and fashionable party of the year is taking place. But why does...

Working 9 to 5: The Movement, Music, & Movie

25 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Today we're talking about a beloved top-grossing comedy film: "9 to 5" which was released in the 1980s. Starring Jane Fonda, Dolly Parton, and Lily To...

Emily Dickinson: Forbidden Love and Fireproof Poetry

18 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Emily Dickinson is a name many of us know, but very few of us can tell you much about it. This week Sadie brings us up to speed on a legendary America...

Muse News: 2022 Grammy Recap

11 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

We get to talk all about the Grammys today!! We give a little bit of everything from fashion and performances, Taylor Swift's absence, to our thoughts...

Capturing the First Portraits of the American Indian: Gertrude Käsebier

05 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Today Stauney talks about Gertrude Käsebier, one of the first women in the United States to become an accomplished commercial photographer, and the f...

A Historical Tarot Deck of Women "Messages From Her" with Rachael McKee

30 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

We're so excited to have Rachael McKee on the podcast as she introduces her Kickstarter project "Messages from Her," a 44-card deck and historical gui...

A Brief History of Western Feminism

28 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to More than a Muse University! Today the topic is broad but we love a challenge, so we're giving a brief overview of 3,000 years of western ...

Marni Nixon: A Golden-Age Ghost Singer

21 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Today Sadie steps us back into the Hollywood Golden Age to discuss their worst-kept secret, the ghost singer Marni Nixon! Known most famously for bein...

Feminine Rage: Women and Anger

15 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Stauney and Sadie are covering everything about the most uncomfortable emotion for women to talk about - anger. We discuss the different wa...

Ukraine's Folk Art Maven: Maria Prymanchenko

07 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This last week, a museum in Ukraine was set ablaze by Russian invaders. That museum carried over two dozen pieces by one of the most celebrated Ukrain...

"Women Can't Paint" by Helen Gørrill

03 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

It's our monthly bonus episode and this month, we're about the book "Women Can't Paint: Gender, the Glass Ceiling and Values in Contemporary Art" by H...

The Art of the Olympics

28 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The Olympics may have ended, but it's still a chance to reflect back on how music and art are involved in these biennial games in a huge way. We discu...

Breaking Color Barriers: Miss Alma Thomas

21 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This week on the podcast, Sadie is introducing us to a legendary and beloved artist, Alma Thomas. Although Thomas was truly an artist of every kind t...

Misogyny & Marriage: A Second Glance

14 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This week on the podcast, we're revisiting one of our most popular episodes from last year and touching on what happens when art and marriage mix. (...

The Most Famous Unknown Voice of the 90's: Martha Wash

07 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This week on the podcast, Stauney introduces us to Martha Wash, an incredible vocalist known for her duo The Weather Girls with their hit single "It'...

Men We Hate in Art & Music: Picasso, Dr. Luke, Salvador Dali, Ryan Adams & Paul Gauguin

31 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This week on the podcast, Sadie and Stauney dive into the deep and sordid world of male musicians and artists who achieved fame despite being horrible...

Written by a Woman: Friends, Gilmore Girls, & New Girl

24 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Today on the Podcast, Stauney, and Sadie discuss three major television shows: Friends, Gilmore Girls, and New Girl, all created, written (and even mo...

Romantic Composer with 460+ Works: Fanny Mendelssohn

17 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Today on the Podcast, Sadie introduces us to Fanny Mendelssohn, an 18th-century composer, and pianist. Although Fanny is often overshadowed by her br...

Betty White: A Century of Laughter

10 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Today on the Podcast, Stauney and Sadie talk about Betty White and her century-long career and legacy of laughter. Although Betty White has frequently...

Painter of Kings and Queens: Sofonisba Anguilsola

04 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Today on the Podcast, Stauney introduces us to Sofonisba Anguilsola, one of the earliest recorded female artists we know of. At the height of the Ital...

A Musical Theater Professional with Amanda Frisby Johnson

02 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this month's bonus episode, we got to chat with Amanda Frisby Johnson, a professional actress, and singer about her career, what musical theatre pr...

The Inventor of the Chocolate Chip Cookie: Ruth Wakefield

27 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Sadie introduces us to Ruth Wakefield, the inventor of the famous chocolate chip cookie! Wakefield inventor her classic cookie while experi...

Legendary Women of Christmas: Santa Lucia to Mrs. Claus

20 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Move over, Santa Claus! Discover the enchanting world of Christmas-leading ladies from across the globe in this festive episode. Join Stauney and Sadi...

The Madonna & Magdalene: Depictions of Women in Christian Art

13 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Stauney and Sadie dive deep into the discussion behind the iconography of Mary, the Mother of Jesus Christ, and Mary Magdalene, the f...

Karen Carpenter: At the End of a Song

06 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Stauney brings us the extraordinary story of Karen Carpenter, renowned as one of the most exceptional contralto vocalists in history. While...

SHE HAW! Women in Country Music

22 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

LET'S GO GIRLS. This week Stauney and Sadie are talking about all things country music and how women have a hard time in that entire genre. They discu...

The French Songbird of La Vie en Rose: Edith Piaf

15 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This week Sadie introduces us to the famed Paris singer, Edith Piaf. Most well-known for her famous song "La Vie En Rose," she was a stunning Paris so...

Her Royal Majesty, The Muse: The Changing Portraits of Female Political Powerhouses

08 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This week, we are talking all about literal queens. We are discussing six prominent female political leaders and the role they have played in pop cul...

Arctic Life to Artistic Icon: Kenojuak Ashevak

01 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Stauney introduces us to the Inuit artist, Kenojuak Ashevak. Although there is little information on her life, it wasn't without struggles....

Female Horror Film Tropes from "The Science of Women in Horror" by Meg Hafdahl & Kelly Florence

29 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

It's time for another bonus book episode! This month we read "The Science of Women in Horror" by Meg Hafdahl & Kelly Florence, the co-hosts of the Hor...

The Cultural Impact of the Twilight Series

25 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This week we dive into one of the most hated and most controversial, and yet also some of the top best-selling and most lucrative series of books and ...

Ghostwriting with a Ghost: Patience Worth & Pearl Lenore Curran

18 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This week Stauney introduces us to an strange pairing, a woman and the ghost she claimed was using her to write poetry and novels. Before this incid...

Happy Birthday Pop Quiz: We're One Year Old!

11 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

We're One!!! We are officially ONE YEAR OLD as of tomorrow and to celebrate we did a whole episode quizzing each other and ourselves on all of our pas...

Shirley Jackson: A Haunted Horror Author

04 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This week Sadie introduces us to an author with a class of works perfect for October. Shirley Jackson is well known for her work of fiction "The Haun...

"Women Artists: The Linda Nochlin Reader" with Hall Rockefeller from Less Than Half

01 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

It's time for another bonus book episode! This month we read "Women Artists: The Linda Nochlin Reader" by Linda Nochlin, Edited by Maura Reily. To hel...

The Political Power of Dance

27 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This week we got to dive into a very underrepresented area of the arts and its influence on political protest. Throughout history, dance has been use...

Shocking Showgirl & French Spy: Josephine Baker

20 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Today on the Podcast, Stauney introduces us to Josephine Baker. Often referred to as "The Black Venus" or "The Black Pearl" she was a Paris showgirl w...

Is it Unbearable to be a Female Pop Star?

13 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This week, we're doing a full pop culture (specifically pop music) episode, diving right into a Guardian article "Billie, Lorde, Lizzo: has being a fe...

Punk Music Just Went Pop with GRRRL MUSIC

10 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

For this month's bonus book episode, we briefly go over the book expounding on the Riot Grrrl movement, "Girls to the Front" by Sara Marcus, and the i...

Louis Armstrong's Greatest Mentor: Lil Hardin Armstrong

06 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This week we're talking about the jazz instrumentalist, Lillian Hardin Armstrong. Often referred to as the "First Lady of Jazz," she was mostly known ...

When Mental Health is Weaponized Against Women

30 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

TW: We are discussing mental health, mental disorders, unfair medical practices that basically qualify as torture, and other topics that are more adul...

From Sculpture Studio to Asylum: Camille Claudel

23 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This week we're talking all about the sculptor Camille Claudel. Most famously known for her love affair with her mentor Auguste Rodin, she is frequent...

"To the Girl Who Wants to Compose"

16 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In November 1918 Amy Beach (aka Mrs. H. H. A. Beach) wrote an article for Etude magazine titled "To the Girl Who Wants to Compose." In this episode,...

Reshaping American Concert Halls: Amy Beach

09 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This week Sadie introduces us to Amy Beach, the American music Composer. First widely known for her piano performance, and then later her compositions...

Female Artists of the Olympics: Bonnie Cashin, Deborah Sussman, LeAnn Rimes & The Chicks

07 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Surprise!!! In honor of the Olympics we’ve been spotlighting some of female artists behind the Olympics on our Instagram This week. We figured since...

The Woman Artists that Married Famous Men "More Than A Muse" by Katie McCabe

04 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

For our July book, we read "More Than a Muse: Creative Partnerships that Sold Talented Women Short" by Katie McCabe. In this episode, we discuss the b...

The Riot Grrrl Revolution: Rise of the She-Punk

26 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, we talk about The Riot Grrrl Movement, which was the culmination of feminist punk rock music in the nineties. We dive into the reaso...

The Stephen's Sisters: Virginia Woolf & Vanessa Bell

19 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

TW: We discuss sexual abuse and mental health including suicide in this episode. In this episode, we dive into the lives of the two famous sisters of ...

Romance Novels Aren't "Trashy"

12 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Romance Novels are continuously referred to as "trashy" books and are probably the most controversial genre in literature. But why is that? Although t...

The Dance of Lights & Laws: Loïe Fuller

05 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this Episode, Sadie introduces us to the little-known Loie Fuller (also known as Louie Fuller or Loïe Fuller), a pioneer for modern dance, theatri...

The Power of Fangirls with Emily from The New Nine

30 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

For our June book, we read "Fangirls: Scenes from Modern Music Culture" by Hannah Ewens. In this episode, we are joined by Emily from The New Nine, to...

The Dichotomy of Hollywood Starlets: Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn, Grace Kelly, & Doris Day

28 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

We've all heard of the Starlets from the Hollywood Golden Age and they've reached a level of icon that is completely unheard of and unmatched even tod...

Fusion of Fashion and Fabric: Sonia Delaunay

21 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Stauney shines a light on the immensely underappreciated Sonia Delaunay. Her story isn't just captivating due to her engaging personal life...

Weaving Women: History of Textile Design

14 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Stauney and Sadie dive into the history of textile design and designers from the medieval ages (and earlier) up to the famous Bauhaus...

Julie Andrews: Practically Perfect in Every Way

07 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this week's episode, Stauney delves into the life and achievements of Julie Andrews. From her Broadway beginnings to iconic roles in Mary Poppins a...

Yes, a whole episode for Sour

31 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

We couldn't help ourselves. Here's a whole episode dedicated to our thoughts on Olivia Rodrigio's debut album "Sour." We talk through each song, our f...

Jane Austen: The Greatest Romance Author of All Time

24 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, we discuss the popular and classic romance author, Jane Austen. We dive into the mysterious history of the woman herself, the publish...

The ______ Girl: Female Tropes in Television and Film

17 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, we're talking all about the common tropes of women in television and movies. From the cool girl to the manic pixie dream girl, we t...

The First Country to Pop Crossover: Patsy Cline

10 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Sadie spotlights the incredible country/pop artist Patsy Cline. Despite her tragic early death in a plane crash, Cline's enduring legacy ha...

Where Does Artistic Inspiration Come From?

03 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Stauney walks through her project on Artistic Inspiration and the different theories and facets throughout history that contribute to...

Culinary Cooking on Tiktok with Chef Kelsey

26 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Stauney and Sadie are joined by the TikTok sensation, Chef Kelsey! Not only is Kelsey an extremely talented Chef with various degrees...

Nadia and Lili Boulanger: Sister Composers

19 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, we're talking about Nadia and Lili Boulanger, two sisters from 19th Century France who made their mark on the history of music compos...

Following Your Dreams to Nashville with Brina Kay

12 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, we are joined by Brina Kay, a Nashville-based singer and Songwriter. We discuss how she got into songwriting, her impromptu move to N...

Decades-Sealed Vault of Abstract Art: Hilma Af Klint

05 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Stauney talks all about Hilma Af Klint, a Swedish painter whose abstract paintings, a collection of 2000 works, were kept hidden (per her r...

Britney Spears: The Pop Princess

29 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, we discuss Britney Spears, the pop princess icon who has been in the news recently due to the Hulu Documentary discussing her conserv...

The History of Sexism at The Grammy's

22 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Stauney and Sadie talk about the Grammy's! We cover the top awards received, a brief history of this major award show, some of their contro...

Espionage, Erotica, & Enlightenment: Aphra Behn

15 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Sadie talks about Aphra Behn, a fascinating and underrated female playwright and poet from England in the 1600s. As one of the first...

Fulfilling Our Childhood Dreams

08 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Happy International Women's Day! With every episode dedicated to celebrating women in the arts, we couldn't be happier to continue doing what we do. I...

Guerrilla Girls: The Secret Feminist Art Society

01 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, we talk about the Guerrilla Girls, the anonymous group of women known for their protest art devoted to fighting racism and sexism in...

The Iconic Power Couples of the Arts

22 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, we highlight some of the ideal couples from different periods throughout all of the arts. We talk about the tumultuous, but the stil...

Shaping the Wild Sound & Society of Harlem: Nora Holt

15 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Sadie introduces a gem of the Harlem Renaissance, Nora Holt! Holt was an American singer, composer, and music critic, who was born in...

Margaret Keane: Big Eyes & Big Lies

12 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Slight Trigger: We do discuss a very unhappy and an emotionally abusive marriage. In this BONUS episode, we expand on Margaret Keane's insane story of...

A Bad Mix of Misogyny & Marriage

08 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, we talk about some of the art/historic couples that were not very lucky when it came to sexism within their marriage. We start off wi...

Gail Anderson: Graphic Designer, Writer & Educator

01 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, we discuss Gail Anderson, a graphic designer, writer, and educator. Gail Anderson is by far one of the most notable black graphic de...

Tamara de Lempicka: The Lady in the Green Bugatti

25 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, we discuss Tamara de Lempicka, the main artist of the art deco movement whose self-portrait in a green Bugatti was famously on the co...

Women Music Producers with Becky Willard

18 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In the episode, Sadie and Stauney are joined by Becky Willard, owner, and producer of Vox Fox Productions! Becky shares how she started producing musi...

History of the Nine Muses: Goddesses of the Arts, Music, Poetry and Sciences

11 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Stauney and Sadie dive into the history of the word 'muse,' the nine muses of Greek Mythology, and how the idea of a muse has changed...

Magic Mushrooms & Bunny Tales: Beatrix Potter

04 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Although well known for her beloved tale and illustrations of "Peter Rabbit," Beatrix Potter had a long life of different interests that led her to he...

Santa Baby to Civil Rights: Eartha Kitt

28 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Sadie and Stauney delve into the life of Eartha Kitt, renowned for her original rendition of "Santa Baby" and hailed as "the most exc...

Taylor Swift Part Two: From Reputation to Evermore

21 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

It's time for Part 2 of our Taylor Swift Episode!! We talk all about the last few eras of Taylor starting with Reputation and the 2016 dark period, Lo...