Infamous as Charlotte Brontë's 'Madwoman in the Attic', Bertha Mason has become one of literary history's most intriguing women. From her portrayal as the pyromaniac feral woman and first Mrs Rochester, locked away in the cavernous attic, to her revival as passionate young Antoinette in Jean Rhys' Wide Sargasso Sea, Bertha Mason is a character who continues to fascinate both readers and scholars. Join us as we delve into these two portrayals, and attempt to uncover who Bertha Mason is, and what she continues to represent to us.

S1 E3 Bertha Mason

Witty, subversive, and unafraid to offend, author Angela Carter wrote fiction and non-fiction that dealt with sexuality and gender, and that often probed the boundaries of good taste. Join us as we open the book on some of Carter's best known work and the women she writes.

S1 E4 Angela Carter

The identity of Tituba, the Arawak slave at the centre of the Salem Witch Trials, has undergone a series of transformations in the centuries since the craze. From instigator to accused, innocent servant to dark and terrifying Obeah queen, Tituba’s legacy is one that doesn’t always reflect the woman that she was. Come with us to the dark New England forests, where witchcraft is rife and Tituba sits at the heart of its infamous mythology...

S1 E5 Tituba

From the north west of England to the heaving metropolis of Mexico City, Leonora Carrington defied convention. A celebrated Surrealist painter and a deeply inventive writer, Carrington's personal life was just as colourful as her art. Join us as we follow her escape from stuffy English society, Nazi occupied France, and the asylum, to the vibrant and fantastical worlds of her imagination.

S1 E6 Leonora Carrington

Cult hit stars, The Travelling Sisters, are physical, musical, and character comedy at its finest. From Queensland to France, Edinburgh to Hong Kong and everywhere in-between, their sassy and absurdist wit proves that funny women are a force to be reckoned with. Join us in our very exciting and very first guest episode, as we chat to Lucy, Laura, and Ell about the continuing misconceptions around women in comedy, and how to smack down anyone who tells you that 'women aren't funny'.

S1 E7 The Travelling Sisters

Assigned female at birth, Eugenia Falleni led most of his life as Harry Crawford: a tough-talking, whiskey-drinking ladies man. In 1920 Harry was charged with the murder of his first wife, Annie Birkett, and his 'duplicitous' identity as Harry - then perceived a 'sexual perversion' - became Australia's headline news. Join us as we trace Harry's life, from shocking events aboard a merchant vessel on the high seas, to the working houses of Sydney, and wonder whether or not Harry's fate could have been any different.

*this episode contains discussion of trans experience and mention of sexual violence

S1 E9 Harry Crawford

Both born bastards, and disguised as boys in their youths, Anne Bonny and Mary Read shared more than just their love for the sea. Each left the British Isles for a life of piracy in the Caribbean where their fates intertwined. Infamy soon followed, as the pair gained a reputation as the most fearless and ferocious duo of the high seas. Come aboard as we follow the reckless adventures of these swashbuckling lady pirates!

S1 E10 Anne Bonny & Mary Read

Born to only ever be the King's Great Wife, Hatshepsut defied history and, after the death of her Pharaoh husband, proclaimed herself King. A great builder, trader, and military leader, the history of Hatshepsut's achievements was systematically erased, lost for thousands of years until archeologists began to piece together the truth about the woman who ruled as Pharaoh. Come with us as we travel through the mists of time to a land steeped in myth and legends to discover one of the ancient world's greatest rulers.

S1 E11 Hatshepsut

In the epic time of Norse mythology, the Völsunga Saga tells of love, betrayal, tragedy and blood feuds. At the heart of one family's legend sits Guðrún Gjúkadóttir, wife to three kings, and a woman to whom vengeance necessitates a devastating sacrifice. Join us as we venture into a land of Valkyries and dragons, where a sorceress's prophecy might foretell your doom, and you must always be wary of accepting ale!

S1 E12 Guðrún Gjúkadóttir

In 1984 author Margaret Atwood wrote The Handmaid's Tale: the chilling dystopic story of Offred, a woman trying to survive in a world where women have been reduced to their procreative functions. Since its publication, the novel has been turned into a film, an opera, a ballet, and most recently into a Hulu television series. Join us as we pair up with Justin from Mayday: The Handmaid's Tale Podcast to unpack just what it is about Atwood's vision that seems so compelling, and so relevant, over thirty years later.

If you love the episode and want to support us, https://www.patreon.com/user?u=6251394

S1 E13 The Handmaid's Tale

Nakano Takeko  of the prominent Aiku clan was a fierce Onna-bugeisha and master of the deadly naginata. When the Boshin War saw the Shogun’s army square off against the Imperialists, Takeko knew where her duty lay. At just 21, with the Imperial Army at the gates, she led a rag-tag squad of lady warriors onto the battlefield, determined to sacrifice everything for the honour of her clan. Join us as we delve into the fray, but don’t forget to pen your death-poem first, and bring your kaikan dagger just in case …

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S1 E15 Takeko Nakano

In the humid tropics of 1920s Townsville, Lizzy O’Dea became infamous in the local tabloids for shooting her rival. As the press continued to sensationalise her adventures, notoriety for her petty theft and sexual exploits grew. Join us as we chat with author Ariella Van Luyn, whose novel Treading Air follows Lizzy from bookie’s daughter in Brisbane to working girl at the Causeway Hotel, about researching the life of one of history’s hidden women, and why such stories continue to be relevant to us today.

You can find out more about how to get your hands on a copy of Treading Air at ariellavanluyn.com.

If you're a fan of the show and want to show your support, head on over to Patreon https://www.patreon.com/user?u=6251394! We'll love you a bunch!

S1 E16 Lizzie O'Dea

In the rowdy wrestling arenas of Mexico City, there is a woman whose iconic status rivals that of the most famous of the male fighters. Luchadora Irma González grew up in the circus, but it didn't take long before she found her way into the ring, and began travelling the world as a champion fighter, appearing on the silver screen and even pursuing a singing career. Come on and take your ring-side seats and prepare to get shouty as we delve into the amazing world of the women of lucha libre.

S1 E17 Irma Gonzalez

From the moment eighteen-year-old Charlotte Cushman stepped out on stage as Lady Macbeth she was destined for greatness. Treading the boards from New York to London, Charlotte cemented her reputation as the finest American actress of the 19th century. But her personal life was just as dramatic as the parts she played, with a slew of female lovers that placed her at the centre of Rome's artistic expatriate community. Follow us backstage as the houselights dim and we peer beyond the curtain into the life and times of one of the theatre's true legends.

S1 E19 Charlotte Cushman

Amidst the surge and spray of Niagara Falls, Edmonia Lewis spent her childhood hunting, fishing, and making crafts for tourists. But when her half-brother helped her to pursue an education, Edmonia's talent as a sculptor flourished. After leaving America to join the milieu of Italy's artistic sisterhood, Edmonia threw herself into a dedication to art that would see her gain fame, both in Europe and at home. Join us in the bustling art scene of Rome, as we stroll through the arcades and galleries on our search to uncover the life and works of this fascinating figure.

S1 E21 Edmonia Lewis

Born in the early hours of a thunderstorm, with pointed ears and 'witches' marks' on her skin, little Rosaleen was destined for a life of the occult. From her earliest childhood, Roie was drawn to the dark, and her drawings and stories about ghouls, monsters and grotesque horrors set her apart from her peers. As a young woman, she immersed herself in Theosophy, Western Esoterism, dedicated herself to the pagan god, Pan, and pursued a life of art. Come with us to the dingy streets of mid-century Sydney, where Rosaleen's occult paintings and pagan ways made her infamous as the Witch of King's Cross.

S1 E22 Rosaleen Norton

For teenage Uschi Obermaier, rock’n’roll offered an escape from the drudgery of post-war Munich, and it didn’t take long before her beauty and brazenness caught the eye of some of the 20th century’s greatest male musicians. Both lauded and denigrated for her ‘groupie’ status, Uschi's modelling career and high-profile relationships saw her gain notoriety for her hedonistic attitude, but also allowed her the freedom to travel the world. Settle the needle into the groove of a good record, and join us for our final episode of Series One, as we delve into the world of a woman who lived life by her own rules to become an icon of an era.

S1 E23 Uschi Obermaier

Merry Christmas, Deviants! In our special Christmas episode, we close the year by revisiting a few of our favourite deviant women of season one, and introducing our first ever live show. We also take a quick trip to the snowy north to meet the Yule Lad's terrifying mother, and discover the mythological woman at the heart of kissing under the mistletoe! So grab a glass of gluhwein, sit beneath some fairy lights, and join us as we wrap up (ey?) 2017!

Christmas Special

One of Australia's most awarded playwrights, Patricia Cornelius isn't afraid to go where other writers won't. With titles like SHIT and SLUT, Patricia pushes her audience to pay attention to some of society's most visceral issues. In The Club was specially commissioned for the State Theatre Company of South Australia, and it shines a blinding light on accounts of sexual violence in one of our most beloved national sports. Patricia sat down with us to discuss her life in the theatre, and just what inspired her to write this uncompromising new work.

In The Club runs as part of the Adelaide Festival 2018 from the 23rd of Feb to the 18th of March. Find tickets and further details here.

Our thanks to Patricia and the State Theatre Company.

Summer Special - Patricia Cornelius

In October 2017, women across the globe came together under the hashtag MeToo. However, social activist and advocate Tarana Burke had already been campaigning for women of colour under the same banner for eleven long years. In this episode, we talk about her incredibly important work, the pervasiveness of predatory behaviour, and the way women are constantly told that they should somehow take responsibility for a culture of misogyny and sexual entitlement beyond their control. A content warning for listeners that we discuss issues of sexual violence and trauma, getting pretty angry and emotional in the process. This is not an episode best suited to your morning commute! At the same time, we also celebrate the influence of this inspiring woman, and the movement that has grown up in the wake of her work.

Here's some of the articles we discussed:

Brockes, Emma, “Me Too founder Tarana Burke: ‘You have to use your privilege to serve other people’” 15 January 2018 https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jan/15/me-too-founder-tarana-burke-women-sexual-assault

Ford, Clementine, “Don't let Eurydice Dixon's death be a 'cautionary tale'” 15 June 2018 https://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/life-and-relationships/don-t-let-eurydice-dixon-s-death-be-a-cautionary-tale-20180615-p4zllb.html

Gilmore, Jane, “Another vigil for another woman who should be here” 18 June 2018 https://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/life-and-relationships/another-vigil-for-another-woman-who-should-be-here-20180617-p4zm1q.html 

Moran, Claire, “Not everyone can say #MeToo and we need to tackle the causes of sexual violence” 28 March 2018 https://theconversation.com/not-everyone-can-say-metoo-and-we-need-to-tackle-the-causes-of-sexual-violence-93075

Ohlheiser, Abby, “The woman behind ‘Me Too’ knew the power of the phrase when she created it — 10 years ago” 19 October 2017, https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-intersect/wp/2017/10/19/the-woman-behind-me-too-knew-the-power-of-the-phrase-when-she-created-it-10-years-ago/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.5d2f4a129393 

Zacharek, Stephanie, Dockterman,  Eliana and Sweetland Edwards, Haley “The Silence Breakers” 2017 http://time.com/time-person-of-the-year-2017-silence-breakers/

“Tarana Burke Biography”, March 2 2018, https://www.biography.com/people/tarana-burke,

“021 Tarana Burke” The Call with Erika Williams Simon 2 January 2018, https://itunes.apple.com/au/podcast/the-call-with-erica-williams-simon/id1213080056?mt=2

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S2 E7 Tarana Burke

It's the holidays and whatever you celebrate - Christmas, Hanukkah, Yule or the Solstice - we hope you have a most excellent break and enjoy some festive cheer! In our end of year special, we talk about some of our favourites from the season and then get deep into the figure of Frau Pertcha, the Alpine Goddess whose naughty list you *don't* want to end up on! We then trace her connection to Holda, the protectress of women's crafts and children's souls. So grab some eggnog, charge your yule glasses, and join us for some myth and merriment!

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Christmas Special 2018

In our first episode back for Season Three, we get piratical with the most successful pirate of them all ... a woman! From infamous beginnings, Ching Shih's path crossed with Cheng I, a notorious sea dog who terrorised China's southern coastline. Together, they formed an unstoppable coalition of pirates, with a stranglehold on the precious trade that ran through the Pearl River Delta to Canton. But when Cheng I died a new leader was needed, and Ching Shih stepped up to write her place in history. So get your sea legs ready and prepare for battle as we explore the life of the fierce Ching Shih.

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S3 E1 Ching Shih

From conservative Melbourne to the Bohemian underworld of Paris' Rive Gauche, and a wild mountain hideaway in Positano, Vali Myers led a life like no other. Heralded as the original hippy and the muse of beatniks and hipsters, Vali Myers was an artist, dancer and environmentalist who left entire movements in her wake. After living on the streets and dancing in jazz clubs to stay alive, she went on to establish a wildlife sanctuary in Italy where she painted profound images of the sacred, nature and the feminine. Join us as we uncover the extraordinary life of the woman dubbed the Witch of Positano.

For more, read: 
Arnel Stephanie. Vali Myers, Her Place: Women’s Museum Australia,  https://herplacemuseum.com/encounters/vali_myers/ 
Fitzgerald, Danny and Eve, Lina, directors. His Savage Mistress, 2010. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tK1tflgkX8A 
McIntosh, Martin, Jones, Gemma, editors. NightFlower: The Life and Art of Vali Myers, Outre Gallery Press, 2012
van der Elsken, Ed. Love on the Left Bank, Dewi Lewis Publishing, 1999

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S3 E2 Vali Myers

Celebrated as the iconic model and muse for the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, Elizabeth Eleanor Siddall has become one of the most recognisable faces in the history of Western art. However, famed for her beauty and romanticised for her tragic personal life, Lizzie Siddall's own art and poetry was largely brushed aside, diminished by the grandeur of the "great men" who surrounded her. Come with us as we button our bonnets and prepare for some grave-digging in order to examine the mythic story of her life and death, and the long undervalued significance of her own work.

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S3 E3 Lizzie Siddal

Infamous as the 'Mad Queen of Madagascar', Queen Ranavalona's reign is remembered as one of violence and tyranny. But she was also a queen with a noble mission: to protect the sovereignty and traditional practices of her people from the enormous and oppressive colonial forces of the French and English. Her methods, though, were inventive. Come with us to the island of Madagascar to discover a queen unafraid to poison a witch or two (or a few thousand), hang herself some Christians, and lead her nation to its industrial revolution. 

Chernock, Arianne. "Queen Victoria and the "Bloody Mary of Madagascar"." Victorian Studies 55.3 (2013): 425-49,575. Web.
 
Kamhi, Alison. "Perceptions of Ranavalona I: A Malagasy Historic Figure as a Thematic Symbol of Malagasy Attitudes Toward History." Letter from the Editors-in-Chief (2002): 29.
 
Encyclopedia of World Biography. Queen of Madagascar Ranavalona I Biography https://www.notablebiographies.com/supp/Supplement-Mi-So/Ranavalona-I-Queen-of-Madagascar.html

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S3 E4 Ranavalona

Along the rivers and waterways of Mexico, a woman's cries can be heard in the night. Punished for the crime of infanticide, La Llorona wanders in the dark for eternity, ready to snatch away unsuspecting children. But while her story makes for perfect horror film fare, there is more to her than meets the eye. With echoes of the Aztec goddess Cihuacóatl, her significance as a symbol of women's agency and power has been reclaimed in modern feminist reimaginings of La Llorona lore. So turn the lights down low as we prepare for a ghost story that reveals much more about prescribed gender roles than Hollywood would like us to think...

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S3 E5 La Llorona

Famous today as the overlooked illustrator of the influential Rider-Waite-Smith Tarot Deck, in her own time Pamela Colman Smith something of an enigma. Known for her lively and enchanting Jamaican folklore performances, her publishing press and literary magazine, and for her extraordinary miniature theatre, Pamela - Pixie to her friends - wove magical worlds where women had agency and gender was fluid. But she was also a woman cloaked in mystery, and who was often Othered by her contemporaries. Join us, together with PCS scholar Elizabeth Foley O'Connor, as we travel from England to Jamaica, New York and Cornwall, tracing this elusive and enigmatic woman.  Join us, together with PCS scholar Elizabeth Foley O'Connor, as we travel from England to Jamaica, New York and Cornwall, tracing this elusive and enigmatic woman. 

Kaplan, Stuart. R., Mary. K. Greer, Elizabeth Foley O'Connor, Melinda Boyd Parsons. Pamela Colman Smith: The Untold Story. U.S. Games, 2018.

O’Connor, Elizabeth Foley. "‘We Disgruntled Devils Don’t Please Anybody’: Pamela Colman Smith, The Green Sheaf, and Female Literary Networks." South Carolina Review 48: 72-89.

O’Connor, Elizabeth Foley. "Pamela Colman Smith’s Performative Primitivism" in Caribbean Irish Connections: Interdisciplinary Perspectives, edited by Alison Donnell, Maria McGarrity, Evelyn O'Callaghan. University of the West Indies Press, 2015.

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S3 E6 Pamela Colman Smith

In the early 20th century the highly restrictive Comstock Act made it almost impossible for American women to gain access to, or an understanding of, contraceptive methods. Arriving into the impoverished communities of New York city's East side, nurse Margaret Sanger saw women struggling with enormous families of children, the health ramifications of multiple births, and the horrors of back-alley abortions. This motivated her to act, starting a campaign of birth control advocacy that would form her life's work. In the wake of the recent attacks on women's reproductive rights in the U.S., the first of our two part episode looks at this controversial woman's career, and the fundamental changes brought about by her life long work.

Baker, Jean B. Margaret Sanger: A Life of Passion. Farrar, Straus and Giroux Books, 2011.
Huss, S., and Dwight, L. "Planned Parenthood: 100 years of leadership and controversy." in Leadership and Sexuality. Edward Elgar Publishing, 2018.
Kennedy, David M. Birth Control in America: The Career of Margaret Sanger. Yale University Press, 1970.

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S3 E7 Margaret Sanger

In part two of our look at the history of reproduction rights in America, we trace the life of Pat Maginnis: a grassroots activist who campaigned tirelessly to change America's abortion laws. After two harrowing years spent working in an army hospital in Panama, it was Maginnis' personal struggle to find safe and legal abortion providers in the U.S. that cemented her desire to enact change. Pounding the street corners of San Francisco, Maginnis and 'The Army of Three' helped thousands of women, while across the country grassroots organisations sprung up in a pushback that would eventually culminate in the landmark case of Roe v. Wade. Join us as we take a look at the life of just one of the many women who struggled for change, and whose legacy we fight to protect today.



Baehr, Nina. Abortion Without Apology: A Radical History for the 1990s. South End Press, 1990.

Gilmore, Stephanie. Groundswell: Grassroots Feminist Activism in Postwar America. Routledge, 2013.

Loofbourow, Lili. 'They Called Her "the Che Guevara of Abortion Reformers": A decade before Roe, Pat Maginnis' radical activism - and righteous rage - changed the abortion debate forever.' Slate, Dec 4, 2018. https://slate.com/human-interest/2018/12/pat-maginnis-abortion-rights-pro-choice-activist.html 

For more information on current abortion laws globally visit: https://reproductiverights.org/worldabortionlaws

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S3 E8 Pat Maginnis

Marsha P Johnson was a legend of Christopher Street, a revolutionary trans and LGBTQ+ activist, and a leading figure of Stonewall. Famed for her extravagant floral headdresses, her bright red plastic heels, and her generous spirit, Marsha made a name for herself not just as a drag queen, but as a mother to the queer street and trans youth who needed her. Together with her best friend, fellow trans activist Sylvia Rivera, she created STAR, the Street Transvestite (now Transgender) Action Revolutionaries, and advocated for the rights of the most marginalised of her community. Join us on the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots as we celebrate the life of one of Pride's most important figures.

Brockell, Gillian “Marsha P Johnson: ‘America’s first transgender statue’ will immortalise Stonewall riots veteran.” Independent,  13 June 2019.  https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/marsha-p-johnson-transgender-statue-stonewall-new-york-lgbt-a8955766.html

Carter, David. Stonewall: The riots that sparked the gay revolution. Macmillan, 2004.

Chan, Sewell. “Marsha P. Johnson: A transgender pioneer and activist who was a fixture of Greenwich Village street life.” The New York Times, corrected 8 March 2018 https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2018/obituaries/overlooked-marsha-p-johnson.html

France, David, director. The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson. Performance by Victoria Cruz, Marsha P. Johnson (archive), Sylvia Rivera (archive). Netflix.

Global Network of Sex Work Projects. “Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries found STAR House.” Global Network of Sex Work Projects, https://www.nswp.org/timeline/event/street-transvestite-action-revolutionaries-found-star-house

Kasino, Michael, director. Pay It No Mind: Marsha P Johnson. Performance by Martin Boyce, Jimmy Camicia, David Carter. Redux Pictures.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjN9W2KstqE

Naseef, Zoe. “Stonewall was Started by Trans Women of Colour and We Do Not Appreciate Them Nearly Enough.” Bust, https://bust.com/feminism/194711-sex-workers-pride.html

NYC LGBT Historic Sites Project (2017) Activism Before Stonewall https://www.nyclgbtsites.org/theme/activism-before-stonewall/

Riki Wilchins (March 5, 2002) ‘A Woman for Her Time: In Memory of Stonewall Warrior Sylvia Rivera’ The Village Voice https://web.archive.org/web/20060619094746/http://www.villagevoice.com/news/0209,wilchins,32645,1.html

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S3 E9 Marsha P Johnson

Each fortnight, hosts Lauren and Alicia delve into a ‘deviant’ woman from history, fiction, mythology and the contemporary world: those who aren’t afraid to break the rules, to subvert the system, to explore, to seek and to challenge the status quo.

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