logo
episode-header-image
Sep 2023
41m 38s

1955: The Weather Girls

Slate Podcasts
About this episode

In the early days of television, women struggled to find their place. In 1955, they got it: forecasting the weather, on stations all across the country. But as these “weather girls” transformed the airwaves, a group of powerful men hatched a plan—one that had the potential to push women weathercasters off the air forever.


Josh Levin is One Year’s editorial director. One Year’s senior producer is Evan Chung.


This episode was produced by Kelly Jones and Evan Chung, with additional production by Sophie Summergrad. 


It was edited by Joel Meyer and Derek John, Slate’s executive producer of narrative podcasts. 


Merritt Jacob is our senior technical director.


Join Slate Plus to get the first three episodes of One Year: 1955 right away—and a bonus 1955 story at the end of the season. Slate Plus members also get to listen to all Slate podcasts without any ads. Sign up now to support One Year.


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

Up next
Sep 2023
1955: Siberia, USA
When Alaskans wanted their own mental-health facility, a rumor took hold all over America. This week, Evan Chung traces the origins of that far-right conspiracy theory: that the government was building a concentration camp where Americans would get imprisoned for their political ... Show More
51m 43s
Sep 2023
1955: The Cutter Incident
Jonas Salk’s polio vaccine transformed America and the world in ways that seemed unimaginable. But in 1955, there was a moment when everything was in doubt. This week, Josh Levin talks with Dr. Paul Offit about the medical mystery that threatened to derail one of history’s most i ... Show More
32m 32s
Oct 2023
1955: The Hiroshima Maidens
Ten years after the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, 25 women who’d been disfigured by the blast came to the United States. Those Japanese survivors would go to the White House and end up on a bizarre proto reality TV show. They’d also put their lives in the hands of American doctors ... Show More
50m 59s
Recommended Episodes
May 2024
Gays Against Briggs | 2. Defend Our Children
In 1977, John Briggs was a small-time state senator with big dreams. But Briggs’ plan to ban gay and lesbian teachers from California schools changed the arc of his life and career. Suddenly, he was a right-wing hero, and a villain of the gay rights movement. And his message seem ... Show More
48m 16s
Aug 2022
An Enemy Such As This: Live in Gallup
<p>Red Nation comrade Melanie Yazzie hosts this live event exploring the life and legacy of Larry Casuse, featuring Ursula C. Carillo, Erika Casuse, author David Correia, and a musical performance by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/jj.otero.art/">JJ Otero</a>.</p> <p><br /> Rea ... Show More
1h 21m
Mar 2023
Part One: Stonewall: The Criminal Queers Who Birthed a Movement
Margaret talks with Shereen Younes about the early fight for LGBT rights and how it was a literal fight, fought on every front.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. 
59m 16s
Jan 2022
Presenting 'Throughline': Nikole Hannah-Jones and the war over history
In this special episode from our friends at Throughline, co-hosts Rund Abdelfatah and Ramtin Arablouei explore the war over history with Nikole Hannah-Jones, an investigative journalist at The New York Times and the creator of the 1619 Project. They discuss how the 1619 Project b ... Show More
48m 56s
May 2024
Gays Against Briggs | 1. A Hotbed of Homosexuality
In the 1970s, San Francisco became a welcoming home for tens of thousands of new gay residents—and a modern-day Sodom for the American right. With a moral panic sweeping across the United States, a Florida orange juice spokeswoman inspired an ambitious California politician to la ... Show More
45m 44s
Nov 2023
One Year: 1990 | 2. Mandrake the Magician
A middle-aged single dad in Chicago was outraged by all the cigarette billboards popping up in Black communities. In 1990, he picked up a paint roller and became an anti-tobacco vigilante. And he did it all under a secret identity.This episode was written by Josh Levin, One Year’ ... Show More
46m 46s
Jun 2019
What Do We Have in Common?
For the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall uprising, we talk about what actually happened and where we go from here. — Marc Stein is a historian at San Francisco State University. — Karla Jay is an author, activist, and Professor Emeritus at Pace University. — Raquel Willis is the ... Show More
28m 34s