logo
episode-header-image
Oct 2023
4m 38s

Goddesses: Benzaiten

Wonder Media Network and iHeartPodcasts
About this episode

Benzaiten is a Japanese goddess who brings good things to those who pray to her — love, good fortune, and healthy, beautiful children. She’s one the Seven Lucky Gods, deities whose origins lie in Hindu and Buddhist religious traditions. 

Further Reading:

This month, we're talking about Goddesses: mythical figures who have shaped culture, history, and imagination around the world.

History classes can get a bad rap, and sometimes for good reason. When we were students, we couldn’t help wondering... where were all the ladies at? Why were so many incredible stories missing from the typical curriculum? Enter, Womanica. On this Wonder Media Network podcast we explore the lives of inspiring women in history you may not know about, but definitely should.

Every weekday, listeners explore the trials, tragedies, and triumphs of groundbreaking women throughout history who have dramatically shaped the world around us. In each 5 minute episode, we’ll dive into the story behind one woman listeners may or may not know–but definitely should. These diverse women from across space and time are grouped into easily accessible and engaging monthly themes like Educators, Villains, Indigenous Storytellers, Activists, and many more.  Womanica is hosted by WMN co-founder and award-winning journalist Jenny Kaplan. The bite-sized episodes pack painstakingly researched content into fun, entertaining, and addictive daily adventures. 

Womanica was created by Liz Kaplan and Jenny Kaplan, executive produced by Jenny Kaplan, and produced by Grace Lynch, Maddy Foley, Brittany Martinez, Edie Allard, Lindsey Kratochwill, Adesuwa Agbonile, Carmen Borca-Carrillo, Taylor Williamson, Sara Schleede, Paloma Moreno Jimenez, and Abbey Delk. Special thanks to Shira Atkins. 

Original theme music composed by Miles Moran.

Follow Wonder Media Network:

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Up next
Yesterday
Pink Collar Workers: Lydia Delectorskaya
Lydia Delectorskaya (1910-1998) became the final muse for the celebrated French modernist painter Henri Matisse. This month, we’re bringing back some of our favorite Womanica episodes you might have missed! We’ll be talking about Pink Collar Workers: women who revolutionized jobs ... Show More
6m 21s
Aug 28
Pink Collar Workers: Mary Eliza Mahoney
Mary Eliza Mahoney (1845-1926) was the first African American to complete a professional training program and work as a nurse in the United States. This month, we’re bringing back some of our favorite Womanica episodes you might have missed! We’ll be talking about Pink Collar Wor ... Show More
5m 33s
Aug 27
Pink Collar Workers: Buffalo Bird Woman
Buffalo Bird Woman (c. 1839-1932), also known as Maxidiwiac, was a Hidatsa woman whose recollections on traditional Hidatsa culture, customs, and especially agricultural knowledge, were written down and preserved through interviews at the turn of the 20th century. For Further Rea ... Show More
7m 9s
Recommended Episodes
Nov 2021
Mythology of Aphrodite
Goddess of sex workers, Our Lady of the Castration Foam, the walking embodiment of orgasm herself—Aphrodite was one of the most powerful goddesses in the Olympian pantheon. And as a free, unattached woman with lots of sexual agency, she directly threatened the patriarchy. In this ... Show More
1h 19m
May 2024
Jeanne d’Arc, au nom de Dieu (1/3)
Partez à la rencontre d'une femme de légende : Jeanne d'Arc. De son incroyable destin, on croit tout connaître : son arrivée devant le roi Charles VII à Chinon pour le convaincre de libérer Orléans, sa capture par les Anglais, et sa mort tragique. Mais le destin de Jeanne a aussi ... Show More
29m 40s
Aug 2022
ALL IN ONE PLACE: The Cult of Aphrodite, Mythology of Aphrodite, Transgender Aphrodite
We're on hiatus until September 22. Until then, enjoy this long, binge-able episode on all things Aphrodite. Some of you may be here because you saw our presentation on Transgender Aphrodite at Intelligent Speech. If so, welcome! We thought we'd put together our first long file a ... Show More
3h 9m
Jun 2024
Sorcellerie et féminisme [Best-of]
La sorcellerie a toujours été un sujet de fascination. Dans cet épisode du podcast “Mystères & Inexpliqués”, remontez aux origines de la chasse aux sorcières. En France, en Allemagne ou encore Espagne, explorez les récits terrifiants des pratiques de magie noire et des accusation ... Show More
55m 40s
Jun 2024
The Queen of Sheba (Radio Edit)
Greg Jenner is joined by Dr Jillian Stinchcomb and comedian Sadia Azmat to learn all about the legendary Queen of Sheba. From her first appearance in the Hebrew Bible, the Queen of Sheba has fascinated Jewish, Muslim and Christian writers. But do we know anything about her as a h ... Show More
28m 14s
May 2024
Jeanne d’Arc, au nom de Dieu (3/3)
Rouen, Noël 1430. Jeanne arrive au château de la ville pour y être jugée par l’évêque de Beauvais. Un procès particulier, puisqu’il porte sur la prétendue hérésie des visions de la jeune femme. "Secrets d'Histoire" est un podcast d'Initial Studio, adapté de l'émission de télévisi ... Show More
29m 55s
Mar 2024
The Power of Girls (Mattie Kahn)
“I think historically we have always seen that intergenerational partnership is the way that movements grow and expand and the way people feel resilient about what they're trying to accomplish. The first defeat as a young person, when you feel your morals are on the line, your se ... Show More
56m 29s
Dec 2023
The Amish: Origins and Society
Simple living, plain dress and pacifism. This is not a lifestyle typical of the United States. So how did the Amish come to be in America? Where did this religion come from? And how has their society changed with modernisation? In this episode, Don and Dr Joseph Donnermeyer journ ... Show More
39m 7s
Oct 2021
Season of the Witch: The Witch’s Mark
It’s a strange blemish that can take many forms, but always says the same thing: this woman has been touched by the Devil. When Sadie gets a mark of her own, she’s thrust into a world of witchcraft and power. Season of the Witch is a special storytelling series across Parcast Net ... Show More
51m 55s
Oct 2023
The ‘Stunt Work’ That Launched Women Into Investigative Journalism
Women including Ida B. Wells and Nellie Bly were on the front edge of investigative journalism in the 1800s. But even with these historical trailblazers, why were women excluded from reporting hard news until recent history?  Producer Jordan Pettiford sits down with author, journ ... Show More
29m 45s