The Biographers

Wu Zhao Part 2: How to Train Your Concubine

In part two of our series on Wu Zhao, we take a look at the earliest days of her arrival into the royal harem of the Emperor, and what curriculum needed to be studied as a concubine. Zhao's time in the harem would first last ten years, but after the Emperor she served passed away, she would be shuttled off to live the life of a solitary monk in a monastery. Thanks to some careful planning (as well as a bit of luck), Zhao would find herself back in the royal palace, and mother to three children. But her sights were now fixed on becoming Empress, and in order to fulfill her dreams, drastic steps needed to be taken. But just how far was she willing to go? Tune in to part two of Wu Zhao to find out! (Ep. 078)

Wu Zhao Part 1: A Great and Terrible Honor

It's time for a brand new series, and this time we're headed further back in time than we ever have before: the 7th century! For series 14 of The Biographers, we're covering Wu Zhao -- the only woman to ever reign as the Emperor of China. At just 13 years old, Wu Zhao was recruited into the Emperor's harem of concubines, and despite being born in a time and place where women were viewed as disposable, she would seize every opportunity put before her in a relentless quest to have her name carved into the history books. Buckle up, kids -- this one's going to be a doozie! (Ep. 77)

Office Hours Ep. 10: Now With Video!

Coming in hot with another laid-back episode of Office Hours, but this time we have video! We are indeed humans! In this episode, we go over all the corrections and questions from our Frida Kahlo series in addition to chatting about our upcoming series on Wu Zhao.

Frida Kahlo Part 6: Una Vida Vivida

In our final episode on Frida Kahlo, we discuss her last decade of life. Coming on the heels of Trotsky's death, Frida and Diego decide to remarry after realizing what they meant to one another, if only for a time. Frida's painting skills peaked in the 1940s, reaching a new level of detail evident in “Rosita Morillo” and “Moses”, which led to national recognition as one of Mexico's finest painters. Her newfound esteem even landed her a teaching position at La Esmeralda, where Frida and the “Fridos” explored the world with an artist's eye. Her time as a teacher was cut short, however, when health issues arose. As her friends sat beside her in the hospital bed once again, they knew she didn't have long to live. In a final effort to celebrate Frida’s alegría, artists, poets, peasants, and rebels banded together for an exhibition that nearly broke down the doors of La Galería Contemporánea. Needless to say, when the party ended, she would spend her last years fighting death with a ferocity only Frida could muster. Tune in to hear the finale of Frida Kahlo! (Ep. 076)

Frida Kahlo Part 5: La Surrealista Asesina

In part 5 of our series covering the dramatic and tragic life of Frida Kahlo, we go over the most formative years for her career as a painter. Following Diego's brutal betrayal of trust, Frida would make more paintings in two years than in the entirety of her marriage to him, creating masterpieces like The Two Fridas, and What the Water Gave Me. After an art show in Manhattan that had Frida spreading her wings outside of her husband's shadow, surrealist icons like Andre Breton would invite her to Paris for an exhibition, which turned out to be more than she bargained for. Back in Mexico, a petulant Diego would shove a political wedge between himself and the 4th International, setting off a chain of events that would leave a hand broken, a skull crushed, a house raided, and Frida Kahlo behind bars. Tune in to part four to hear all the drama! (Ep. 075)