MADAME CJ WALKER: First Female Millionaire in America

NINA SIMONE: The Genius America Couldn’t Control

Nina Simone is remembered as one of the most powerful voices in music history, but her story began at a piano bench in rural North Carolina. Born Eunice Kathleen Waymon in 1933, Nina dreamed of becoming the first Black classical concert pianist in America. She trained rigorously from childhood and showed extraordinary talent, but after facing barriers that altered the course of her career, she turned to performing in clubs and adopted the stage name Nina Simone. What followed was one of the most remarkable and complicated careers in American history. Simone became a celebrated singer, songwriter, and pianist whose music blended classical, jazz, blues, folk, and gospel influences into something entirely her own. As the Civil Rights Movement intensified, she increasingly used her platform to speak out against racism and injustice, creating songs that became anthems of resistance and social change. In episode 20 of BadAss Women Throughout History, Amy explores Nina Simone's extraordinary talent, her activism, her triumphs and struggles, and the personal cost of refusing to stay silent. It is the story of a woman who transformed disappointment into purpose and used her voice to challenge an entire nation. Nina Simone wasn't just a musician.  She was an artist, activist, and force of nature whose legacy continues to resonate today. SOURCES “What Happened Miss Simone?” - Netflix documentary Watch Next (BAWTH Episodes): → Elizabeth Taylor — The Hollywood Icon Who Refused To Stay Silent → Mary Tyler Moore — The Woman Who Changed Television → Mabel Ping Hua Lee — Fought for the Vote Before She Could Cast One WEBSITE https://badasswomenthroughouthistory.com [https://badasswomenthroughouthistory.com/] SOCIAL MEDIA Instagram: @BadAssWomenThroughoutHistory TikTok: @BAWTHpodcast Facebook: @BAWTH YouTube: @BadAssWomenThroughoutHistory Substack: https://badasswomenthroughouthistory.substack.com

ELIZABETH TAYLOR, The Hollywood Icon Who Refused to Stay Silent

In Episode 19 of BadAss Women Throughout History, Amy tells the story of Elizabeth Taylor - a child star who became one of the most recognizable women in the world, built an empire long before celebrity brands were common, and used her fame to fight for people society had abandoned. From her breakout role in National Velvet to her eight marriages, legendary diamonds, and headline-making romance with Richard Burton, Elizabeth spent decades as the center of Hollywood attention. But her most important work happened off-screen. When the AIDS epidemic swept across America and many public figures stayed silent, Elizabeth Taylor stepped forward. After losing her close friend Rock Hudson, she became one of the first major celebrities to publicly champion AIDS research and patient care. She helped found amfAR, raised hundreds of millions of dollars, testified before Congress, and used her fame to force the world to pay attention. This is the story of a woman who turned celebrity into influence, glamour into activism, and proved that sometimes the bravest thing you can do is stand up when everyone else sits down. SOURCES: * Elizabeth Taylor: The Lost Tapes (HBO) * Being Elizabeth Taylor (BBC) * amfAR archives and historical materials Watch Next (BAWTH Episodes): → Josephine Baker — The Glamorous Star Turned Resistance Operative → Mary Tyler Moore — The Woman Who Changed Television → Mabel Ping Hua Lee — Fought for the Vote Before She Could Cast One WEBSITE https://badasswomenthroughouthistory.com SOCIAL MEDIA Instagram: @BadAssWomenThroughoutHistory TikTok: @BAWTHpodcast Facebook: @BAWTH YouTube: @BadAssWomenThroughoutHistory Substack: https://badasswomenthroughouthistory.substack.com

MABEL PING-HUA LEE: Fought for the Vote… But Couldn’t Cast One

In episode 18 of BadAss Women Throughout History, Amy tells the story of Mabel Ping-Hua Lee, a Chinese immigrant, activist, educator, and suffragist who became one of the most powerful voices in the fight for women's voting rights in America. At just sixteen years old, Mabel led thousands of marchers on horseback through New York City in one of the largest suffrage parades of the era. She advocated for women's education, economic independence, and political equality long before those ideas were widely accepted. But when the 19th Amendment finally passed in 1920, granting women the right to vote, Mabel herself was still barred from the ballot box. Because of the Chinese Exclusion Act, Chinese immigrants were denied citizenship, making it impossible for her to vote despite helping advance the very movement that won the right for millions of other women. Amy explores Mabel's remarkable journey from Guangzhou, China, to the streets of New York, her groundbreaking advocacy, and the lasting impact of a woman whose contributions were largely erased from mainstream history. SOURCES: WomensHistory.org article: https://www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/mabel-ping-hua-lee Podcast: Unsung History Podcast about Mabel Lee Watch next (BAWTH episodes): → Ching Shih — The Pirate Queen Who Commanded The Seas https://youtu.be/ZpD3fVdsfCw?si=AcOSNZthkudW-9By → Hedy Lamarr — The Actress Who Invented WiFi https://youtu.be/e1UAQ4FZF-0?si=vSKbjJrnU34NuczK → Wangari Maathai — The Woman Who Planted a Movementhttps://youtu.be/Eo2Y3n0fG18?si=N1BNgSIeMvy5eWZ7 If you like stories like this: → Subscribe for weekly episodes → Like + comment (it pushes this to more people) → Share with someone who should know this story This show is independently produced, your support directly helps it grow! WEBSITE https://badasswomenthroughouthistory.com SOCIAL MEDIA Instagram: @BadAssWomenThroughoutHistory TikTok: @BAWTHpodcast Facebook: @BAWTH Youtube: @BadAssWomenThroughoutHistory Substack: https://badasswomenthroughouthistory.substack.com/

MARY TYLER MOORE: Changed What Women Could Be

In episode 17 of BadAss Women Throughout History, Amy tells the story of Mary Tyler Moore - the sitcom star who helped redefine womanhood on television. At a time when female characters were expected to be wives, girlfriends, or punchlines, Mary Tyler Moore stepped onto screen as an independent working woman with ambition, complexity, humor, and a life of her own. From The Dick Van Dyke Show to The Mary Tyler Moore Show, she helped quietly shift American culture episode by episode - tackling topics like workplace sexism, equal pay, divorce, grief, and female independence years before television was comfortable talking about them. But behind the smile and groundbreaking success was a woman navigating enormous pressure, personal loss, addiction, and the cost of becoming a symbol for an entire generation. This is the story of the woman who turned the world on with her smile and changed television forever. SOURCES: * Being Mary Tyler Moore documentary - HBO Watch next (BAWTH episodes): → Ching Shih — The Pirate Queen Who Commanded The Seas [https://youtu.be/ZpD3fVdsfCw?si=AcOSNZthkudW-9By] → Hedy Lamarr — The Actress Who Invented WiFi [https://youtu.be/e1UAQ4FZF-0?si=vSKbjJrnU34NuczK] → Wangari Maathai — The Woman Who Planted a Movement [https://youtu.be/Eo2Y3n0fG18?si=N1BNgSIeMvy5eWZ7] If you like stories like this: → Subscribe for weekly episodes → Like + comment (it pushes this to more people) → Share with someone who should know this story This show is independently produced, your support directly helps it grow! WEBSITE https://badasswomenthroughouthistory.com [https://badasswomenthroughouthistory.com/] SOCIAL MEDIA Instagram: @BadAssWomenThroughoutHistory [https://www.instagram.com/badasswomenthroughouthistory] TikTok: @BAWTHpodcast [https://www.tiktok.com/@bawthpodcast?_r=1&_t=ZT-92EPasdnxAt] Facebook: @BAWTH [https://www.facebook.com/BAWTH] Youtube: @BadAssWomenThroughoutHistory [https://www.youtube.com/@BadAssWomenThroughoutHistory] Substack: https://badasswomenthroughouthistory.substack.com/ [https://badasswomenthroughouthistory.substack.com/]

MADAME CJ WALKER: First Female Millionaire in America

In episode 16 of BadAss Women Throughout History, Amy tells the story of Madame C.J. Walker - the daughter of formerly enslaved parents who transformed herself from a washerwoman earning barely enough to survive into a groundbreaking entrepreneur, philanthropist, and activist. At a time when Black women were excluded from most opportunities in America, Walker built a beauty empire specifically for them - creating products, training thousands of women as sales agents, and helping generations of Black women achieve financial independence. Her story is about resilience, ambition, reinvention, and using success to open doors for others. This is the story of a woman who turned survival into legacy. Sources: * On Her Own Ground book by A’Lelia Bundles [https://aleliabundles.com/on-her-own-ground/] * Short Stuff podcast: Madame CJ Walker  [https://open.spotify.com/episode/04ghwN7PH4E8oG6mQRWZGe?si=5b83dbf33bab44a9] * Dinner Party History podcast: Dinner with Madame CJ Walker [https://open.spotify.com/episode/2OlqsqwLrfxD1t2iTKVcbG?si=35c43c02b21944f0] * My Favorite Murder podcast: Get Your Blade Hands Ready [https://open.spotify.com/episode/0KlFgtPRcHhNyVegKdbcFs?si=61046a168b3c4cde] * See Madame CJ Walker’s mansion Villa Lewaro [https://savingplaces.org/places/villa-lewaro-madam-c-j-walker-estate] Watch next (BAWTH episodes): → Ching Shih — The Pirate Queen Who Commanded The Seas [https://youtu.be/ZpD3fVdsfCw?si=AcOSNZthkudW-9By] → Hedy Lamarr — The Actress Who Invented WiFi [https://youtu.be/e1UAQ4FZF-0?si=vSKbjJrnU34NuczK] → Wangari Maathai — The Woman Who Planted a Movement [https://youtu.be/Eo2Y3n0fG18?si=N1BNgSIeMvy5eWZ7] Merch: * Amy wears the a silk scarf twilly from the Tutti Frutti Collection by artist Cara Kozik. Shop the look: https://www.carakozik.com/products/famino-tutti-frutti-silk-twilly [https://www.carakozik.com/products/famino-tutti-frutti-silk-twilly] * Shop all Cara Kozik Designs: https://www.carakozik.com/collections [https://www.carakozik.com/collections] If you like stories like this: → Subscribe for weekly episodes → Like + comment (it pushes this to more people) → Share with someone who should know this story This show is independently produced, your support directly helps it grow! WEBSITE https://badasswomenthroughouthistory.com [https://badasswomenthroughouthistory.com/] SOCIAL MEDIA Instagram: @BadAssWomenThroughoutHistory [https://www.instagram.com/badasswomenthroughouthistory] TikTok: @BAWTHpodcast [https://www.tiktok.com/@bawthpodcast?_r=1&_t=ZT-92EPasdnxAt] Facebook: @BAWTH [https://www.facebook.com/BAWTH] Youtube: @BadAssWomenThroughoutHistory [https://www.youtube.com/@BadAssWomenThroughoutHistory] Substack: https://badasswomenthroughouthistory.substack.com/ [https://badasswomenthroughouthistory.substack.com/]