logo
episode-header-image
Apr 2023
40m 39s

The First Lady of World War II with Shan...

SHARON MCMAHON
About this episode

Today on the show, Shannon McKenna Schmidt joins Sharon to talk about the trifecta of listener-favorite subjects: an American First Lady, World War II, and a secret adventure. Shannon’s new book, The First Lady of World War II: Eleanor Roosevelt's Daring Journey to the Frontlines and Back, chronicles Eleanor Roosevelt’s journey to the Pacific theater during wartime. The five week trip took her through the South Pacific, and began as a secret when she hitched a ride on a transport airplane next to sacks of mail. Tune in to hear what happened when she touched down in Australia.


Hosted by: Sharon McMahon

Guest: Shannon McKenna Schmidt


Executive Producer: Heather Jackson

Audio Producer: Jenny Snyder

Researcher: Valerie Hoback


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Up next
Oct 6
The Scandalous Second Marriage of Rachel Jackson
Despite being one of Sharon’s least-favorite Presidents, she explores the lifelong, and at times scandalous, love and devotion between President Andrew Jackson and his wife, Rachel. It's a story of a First Lady who never got the opportunity to step foot inside the White House, bu ... Show More
27m 52s
Sep 29
The Diplomatic Prowess of Louisa Adams
Stepping into the White House at the close of the Founding Fathers’ era, London-born Louisa Adams became the nation’s first foreign-born First Lady. In an age of prosperity shadowed by growing political strife, she turned personal tragedy into resilience, mastering the art of inf ... Show More
34m 50s
Sep 25
Presenting: The C-Word
With every episode, Lena Dunham and Alissa Bennett take you on a historical deep dive into the life of a woman society dismissed by calling her mad, sad, or just plain bad: Lindsay Lohan, Judy Garland, Winona Ryder, Mariah Carey, Lil Kim and many more. Join them for a rich, hilar ... Show More
2m 41s
Recommended Episodes
Jul 2024
First Ladies | Eleanor Roosevelt | 3
In 1905, Eleanor Roosevelt married her distant cousin Franklin, beginning a remarkable and complicated union. During her husband’s years as President, from 1933 to 1945, Eleanor became the longest-serving First Lady and she transformed the role, becoming the first presidential sp ... Show More
42m 31s
Jan 2025
President FDR & the New Deal
In 1932, amidst the Great Depression, Franklin D. Roosevelt was elected the 32nd President of the United States. He was more than a leader; he was a beacon of hope, steering the nation through its darkest days... and the newly-elected president had a plan. In this episode, Don is ... Show More
39m 53s
Dec 2024
Lexington & Concord: The First Battles of the Revolutionary War
The shot heard ‘round the world'; the start of the American Revolution. An event that would have profound consequences for world history, especially western democracy. Who’d have thought that something of such magnitude would begin in a small settlement with as many cows as peopl ... Show More
42m 55s
Sep 15
The First Lady Who Tamed the Bull Moose
September 14, 1901. Midnight in the Adirondacks. A pounding knock at the door jolts Theodore and Edith Roosevelt awake. William McKinley is dead. Hours later, Theodore will be sworn in as the youngest president in U.S. history. But Edith barely flinches—her diary that day notes h ... Show More
41m 7s
Sep 2024
America’s First Televised Presidential Debate
September 26, 1960. In Chicago, candidates Richard M. Nixon and John F. Kennedy square off in the first-ever televised presidential debate. Support the show! Join Into History for ad-free listening and more. History Daily is a co-production of Airship and Noiser.Go to HistoryDail ... Show More
16m 36s
Dec 2024
Remembering Jimmy Carter: Life & Legacy
In this special episode, Don Wildman is joined by experts Jonathan Alter and Jefferson Cowie to delve into the remarkable life of the 39th president of the United States, Jimmy Carter, who has died at the age of 100. Carter, who served in office from 1977 to 1981, is the longest- ... Show More
1h 3m
Apr 2025
Devastating Toll of Fame on Aaron and Nick Carter's Family | How Gayle Prepared for Space Flight | Aisha Bowe and Amanda Nguyen Describe Voyage into Space
El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele says he won't return a Maryland man who was mistakenly deported to its maximum security prison. Kilmar Abrego Garcia was one of the more than 200 men the Trump administration flew to the notorious CECOT prison even though an immigration judge ... Show More
53m 33s
Sep 2
The founding of USAID
On 3 November 1961, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) was founded, bringing all existing aid work under one single agency. A key proponent of it was Barbara Ward, a pioneering British economist and journalist who had the ear of presidents and prime mi ... Show More
10m 39s
Jan 2025
President Herbert Hoover: Did He Cause the Great Depression?
President Herbert Hoover is synonymous with failure. As the Great Depression hit, shanty town across America were nicknamed 'Hoovervilles' in honour of the man held responsible for their birth. But there's more to him than this. Today Don restores depth and nuance to Hoover's tra ... Show More
42m 6s
Nov 2023
JFK: The Most Popular President?
Who was JFK? How popular was he in his lifetime? And how did his untimely death impact the world's memory of him? In this first of two episodes to mark 60 years since President John F Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, we are exploring his personality and popularity. Don is join ... Show More
46m 58s