June 12, 1928. The great Blues singer Ma Rainey steps up to the microphone at a studio in Chicago. She’s there to record a scandalous song called “Prove It On Me Blues.” It’s her answer to the rumor that she’d once attended a party with a bunch of other half-clothed women – a party that got busted by the cops. It’s a rumor she doesn’t deny. The song is just ... Show More
Yesterday
Stalin Is Dead! | Сталин мертв!
March 5, 1953. The Premier of the Soviet Union, Joseph Stalin, is on his deathbed, and he’s turning blue. At the end of his life, Stalin is surrounded by his closest advisors, but these comrades aren’t hoping for his quick recovery. For days, they’ve been sneaking away from their ... Show More
36m 52s
Apr 2024
Disappearing Acts: Marsha "Mudd" Ferber
Marsha “Mudd” Ferber (1941-unknown) was a hippie, a back-to-the-lander, a revolutionary, and an outlaw. She was also the owner of The Underground Railroad, an alternative music haven in Morgantown, West Virginia that hosted the likes of The Red Hot Chili Peppers and The Grateful ... Show More
5m 49s
Sep 2023
Trendsetters: Donna Summer
Donna Summer (1948 - 2012) was a musician who provided the soundtrack for America’s disco era. Her breathy voice and sensual music gave her the title of the queen of disco, but Donna wasn’t a one-genre diva – she cranked out hits in rock, R&B, hip hop, and gospel over the span of ... Show More
4m 46s
Apr 2023
Mischief Makers: Hwang Jini
Hwang Jini (c. 1700 - c. 1750) wrote poetry that made her famous among her contemporaries– and resonated for centuries afterwards. This month, we’re talking about Mischief Makers: oddballs, chameleons, and nonconformists. Queens of quick wit. History classes can get a bad rap, an ... Show More
5m 59s
Mar 2024
Women of Sound: Daphne Oram
Daphne Oram (1925-2003) was one of Britain’s first electronic musicians. She co-founded the BBC Radiophonic Workshop, a leading sound effects unit known for experimental work in sound, and developed her own “drawn-sound” technique known as Oramics, which involved drawing on film ... Show More
6m 43s
May 2022
Prodigies: Dimi Mint Abba
Dimi Mint Abba (1958-2011) was the diva of the desert. Widely considered Mauritania’s most famous musician, her soaring vocals have proven the soundtrack for generations of North Africans.History classes can get a bad rap, and sometimes for good reason. When we were students, we ... Show More
5m 13s