Deviant Women Podcast

In the underworld of Paris's Belle Epoque, where the wealthiest of men flocked to mingle with the beautiful and cultured demimondaine, Liane de Pougy found the calling she didn't know she was looking for. After leaving her abusive husband and young son, eighteen-year-old Anne-Marie Chassagne found herself in this centre of pleasure and decided to take up with the reigning queen of courtesans, Valtesse de la Bigne. Under her mistresses' tutelage, Chassagne, who renamed herself Liane de Pougy, would go on to grace the stage at the Folies-Bergere, be courted by the likes of Leopold II, and publish subversive sapphic auto-fiction. But it wasn't all partying. After losing her prince husband, Pougy took the veil and devoted her life to supporting those with disabilities.So in this time of great uncertainty, escape with us into the the fabulous and decadent world of the Belle Epoque!Griffin, Susan. The book of the courtesans: a catalogue of their virtues. Broadway, 2002.Hewitt, Catherine. The Mistress of Paris: The

At the turn of the twentieth-century, in the rowdy streets of Chattanooga, Tennessee, a young Bessie Smith was literally singing for her supper. Busking alongside her brother, Bessie learned the hard way just what it took to capture an audience against the odds: to sing and dance and demand attention despite the clatter of carts and the shouts of storeowners and vendors selling their wares. This early foray into the performing life would help shape Smith into the greatest performer of her age, rising up to the heights of Empress of the Blues and becoming the highest paid black entertainer of her day. In her private life she was just as bold and brash as her stage persona, never shying away from saying what she thought and more than happy to get into a fistfight or two. So put the needle on some vinyl and join us we get down and bluesy with Bessie Smith. Brooks, Edward. The Bessie Smith Companion. Da Capo, 1983.Clark, John. Experiencing Bessie Smith: A Listeners Companion. Rowman and L

In the melting pot of 19th century New Orleans, one woman emerged as the most powerful and legendary practitioners of Louisiana Voodoo. From her humble beginnings as the daughter of a free-man and his Voodoo doctor mistress, Laveau grew up to become a priestess, a healer, an activist and a commanding and influential leader of her community. But Laveau's story is as much legend as it is reality, and even in her lifetime stories proliferated about her midnight graveyard ceremonies, animal sacrifices and mesmerising evil incantations.So how, in a story like this, do we tell the difference between history and myth? And who do we believe when we listen to her story? Join us for our Season Four premier as we pick apart the complex and fascinating life of the Voodoo Queen of New Orleans, Marie Laveau!Fandrich, Ina Johanna. The Mysterious Voodoo Queen, Marie Laveaux : a Study of Powerful Female Leadership in Nineteenth-Century New Orleans. Routledge, 2016. Long, Carolyn Morrow. "Perceptions of New

It’s 2020, and on February 27 Deviant Women are back for season four, bringing you more hags and enchantresses, more gender-queering lady-lovers, more gin-swirling, party-loving bohemians, and more brilliant muses and killer queens. This isn’t just a podcast that celebrates the heroism of forgotten women of the past: Deviant Women isn’t afraid to get down and dirty with the good, the bad, and everything in between, unpicking the blurry zigzag of history and myth and the downright messy and misunderstood stories of femininity we’ve been telling ourselves for centuries. So join Deviant Women on February 27 as they launch another season dedicated to unravelling the stories of those who double, double toiled and troubled, who fought and duelled and died in glorious ruin, and who didn’t write the rules, but smashed them.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

To whet your appetites before our season 4 launch on February 27, we decided to break into the Patreon vault and unlock one of our exclusive Holes in History episodes for your listening pleasure! So plug in your headphones, get the car's bluetooth switched on, or plug into the stereo so the whole family can enjoy ... The Valiant Ladies of Potosi!The story of two swashbuckling lady lovers is one that's cropped up on the internet of late, and it's not surprising why. Two young women dressed as men, duelling and brawling from the taverns to the streets, what's not to love? But when history and fiction collide, things get slippery. Join us as we unpack the mystery at the heart of The Valiant Ladies of Potosi!  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

It's the holiday season, but we've taken a little time out of our summer break to bring you some good cheer with our annual Christmas Special! In this end of year special we chat about our summer plans, our favourite Deviant Women of 2019, and then we dive into the Roman goddess of the New Year, Strenua, and her Italian counterpart, La Befana. Grab a drink, a mince pie and some pudding, and let's get into some festive goodness!If you want to support Deviant Women, follow us on: PatreonTwitter @DeviantWomenFacebook @deviantwomenpodcastInstagram @deviantwomenpodcast  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In the underworld of prohibitionist Harlem, there was one queen who ruled the roost - Stephanie 'Queenie' St Clair. The Caribbean racketeer was not only a boss entrepreneur of the illegal numbers game, she was also a leader and activist, funnelling her vast riches back into the community. Unlike others on the scene, she ruled by reputation alone, and was known for her elegant style and give-no-fucks attitude. But then, as prohibition came to an end, the mob started seeking out new lucrative enterprises and showed up on her turf. Queenie soon found herself in the midst of a gang-land showdown with the infamous mobster Dutch Schultz! So join us down at the speakeasy as we knock one back in our final episode of 2019 with Queenie St Clair!Stewart, Shirley. The World of Stephanie St. Clair: An Entrepreneur, Race Woman and Outlaw in Early Twentieth Century Harlem. Peter Lang, 2014. If you want to support Deviant Women, follow us on: PatreonTwitter @DeviantWomenFacebook @deviantwomenpodcastInstagram @devia

By the end of the 1920s, the U.S. was rocked by financial and ecological disasters that saw it spiral into the Great Depression. At the same time, the advent of sound film was ushering in the golden age of American animation, and with it, one of history's most iconic film makers: Walt Disney. While Disney would become a household name, at the heart of his finest work were countless unsung artists and animators; one of the most legendary among them was Mary Blair. With a background in watercolour and fine arts, Blair's use of bold colours and shapes would go on to cement her reputation as one of the most influential artists in the Disney story. But she would leave more than just her legacy at Disney, devoting her working life to creating the kind of art that dreams are made of. So gather your woodland animal friends about you as we take a break from our last few darker episodes and go goofy (sorry) for the art and flair of Mary Blair.If you want to support Deviant Women, follow us on: PatreonTwi

Sadly, due to come unforeseen circumstances we’ve had to delay our episode by one week. We’ll see you next week, but for now we get to introduce a new addition to Lipp Media. All the Shit I’ve Learned Abroad is a travel podcast focussed on everything and anything related to travel. Hosts Steph and Andrea, two Canadian expats, come together remotely each week to record episodes based on their own travel experiences ranging from lost passports, missed flights, and travel scams. Andrea lives and works in London and travels around Europe whenever a free weekend permits. And Steph now lives in Melbourne after spending the past four years traveling the world. The show launched in 2019 with popular episodes on underrated travel destinations, travel snobbery and how to navigate trips during festival season. In the following episode, Steph and Andrea discuss solo travel. This episode touches on why traveling on your lonesome is so great, what holds you back from trying it a

In 1632 in a small, haunted Ursuline convent, a series of strange disturbance began to occur. When the Prioress, 25-year-old Sister Jeanne, was beset by terrifying dreams of a priest who cursed her and bade her to perform obscene sexual acts, she knew who was to blame. She had been possessed, she claimed, by demons under the direction of one Urbaine Grandier, the powerful parish priest of Loudun. As more and more of the nuns came under the influence of devils, it was determined that elaborate exorcisms were in order, and investigations into Grandier's maleficent magic began. While Sister Jeanne maintained that she was the innocent victim of possession, others soon suggested her potential involvement with a conspiracy to bring Grandier down. So, was Jeanne indeed a victim of maleficent witchcraft, or is the power of hysteria to blame for her actions? Perhaps, though, she was far more calculating than this! Get out your rosary beads and holy water and join us in this week's Halloween episode to find out more ab

It's finally time, Deviants! This fortnight, we journeyed way, way back to visit the figure who started it all, the original Deviant Woman - the witch, the slayer, the mean mother you don't want to cross - Medea! From her mythological beginnings as Jason's right-hand-woman to her titular role at the centre of Euripides' famous drama, Medea remains one of Greek mythology's most infamous and intriguing figures. After supporting Jason through his conquests with the Argonauts (and saving his life on multiple occasions!) Medea was betrayed in the most awful way, and her method of revenge is one that has seen her labelled a madwoman, a fiend, and a wicked and monstrous mother. But is it really that simple?We're joined by Let's Talk About Myths, Baby's fabulous host Liv to dive into all things monsters, betrayal, rage and revenge. So grab your poisons, your favourite coronet and climb aboard your dragon chariot, and join us as we break down one of our all time favourite Deviant Women, Medea!If you want to support De

Known in her lifetime by many names, Malintzin would be recorded in history as the infamous La Malinche. Born into nobility and sold into slavery, from a young age Malintzin possessed a gift for language and diplomacy. In 1519, she was given to Hernán Cortés, the leader of the Spanish invading forces. When her translation skills were discovered, Cortés used her as his interpreter and, eventually, took her as his lover. Positioned as a vital go-between for the Spanish and indigenous peoples, her role is now seen as the decisive factor in the success of the Spanish mission in the "New World". Often cast as either the victim of the Spanish invaders or Cortés’s duplicitous ‘whore’, she has only recently started to be understood in the light of her historical reality. Journey with us to the temples of Tenochtitlan to witness an epic clash of civilisations, and discover La Malinche: scheming betrayer of her people to some, symbolic mother of the Mestizo race to others.If you want to su

In the dark and seedy cabarets of Weimar Berlin, where sex was a performance and decadence was king, one woman ruled the room. Born to artist parents at the turn of the century, Anita Berber was destined for a life on the stage. Famed for her kohl-rimmed eyes, her bright red hair, and her provocative burlesque, Berber became an underground sensation. But she was just as infamous for her scandalous bisexual affairs and hotel orgies as her avante-garde performances, and with dances named 'Cocaine', 'Morphine', and 'Asylum', you know she partied as hard as she danced! So join us in the end-of-the-world liberalism of Weimar Germany as we trace this Expressionist queen to the stage and beyond!Funkenstein, Susan Laikin. “Anita Berber: Imaging a Weimar Performance Artist.” Woman's Art Journal, vol. 26, no. 1, 2005, pp. 26–31. Gordon, Mel. The seven addictions and five professions of Anita Berber: Weimar Berlin's priestess of depravity. Feral House, 2006.Toepfer, Karl Eric. Empire of ecstasy: nudity an

During the turbulent years of World War II the pool halls and billiard rooms of the U.S. were quiet: the men who had once populated them had gone off to fight. But after the war a new buzz brought audiences flooding back to professional billiards, and an unexpected star was on the rise. Known as the 'First Lady of Billiards', Masako Katsura hailed from Japan, where she had already established herself as a national champion. But after meeting and marrying an American serviceman, Katsura found herself in the U.S., where a resurgence in the sport meant she stood to become the world's first female billiards champion. So come on and chalk your cue (that's not a euphemism...) as we delve into the world of a woman whose ball skills (also not a euphemism...) paved the way for women in the male-dominated world of professional billiards.If you want to support Deviant Women, follow us on: PatreonTwitter @DeviantWomenFacebook @deviantwomenpodcastInstagram @deviantwomenpodcast  See acast.com/privacy for pri

We are Alicia and Lauren, your Deviant Women hosts! Each fortnight, we discuss a ‘deviant’ woman from history, fiction, mythology or the contemporary world. Women who aren’t afraid to break the rules, to subvert the system, to explore, to seek and to challenge the status quo.But we also like to dig deep into the ideas that have restricted women's lives and shaped the way we tell their stories. Who gets to be a virgin? Who gets to be a whore? Why not be both?! (It's always better to be both). So join us, won't you, and learn more about the devious, dastardly, and daring women overlooked in the history books.If you want to support Deviant Women, follow us on: PatreonTwitter @DeviantWomenFacebook @deviantwomenpodcastInstagram @deviantwomenpodcast  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

When Wendy Carlos released Switched On Bach, the first classical album recorded on a synthesizer, she radically transformed people's understandings of what electronic music could do. At the time of the album's release, Wendy was also six-months into hormone therapy and struggling with her rising fame and anxieties about how the public might react to her transition. But Switched On Bach was a huge success and Wendy went on not only to critical acclaim, but to work with famed composers and film directors, including scoring Stanley Kubrik's A Clockwork Orange and The Shining. Join Lauren and our special guest host, Deviant Women's own composer India Hooi, as we discover how Wendy Carlos changed music forever!“Behind The Score: A Clockwork Orange by Wendy Carlos.” Noisegate, 16 Sep. 2018 https://noisegate.com.au/behind-the-score-a-clockwork-orange-wendy-carlos/. Accessed 10 August, 2019.Playboy Magazine. "Playboy Interview: Wendy/Walter Carlos." Digital Transgender Archive. 1979, https://www.digitaltransgend

What the hell is queer theory? Who gets to identify as queer? Does it mean anything to call yourself a “queer ally”? These are the kinds of questions writers Benjamin Riley and Simon Copland ask on Queers, a discussion and interview podcast about critical queer politics and culture.Simon Copland is a PhD Student in Sociology at the ANU. He is a freelance writer with a focus on gender, sexuality and politics. In his spare time he does powerlifting, loves rugby union and is a David Bowie fanatic. Benjamin Riley is a freelance writer and journalist, writing about queer politics and culture, sex and gender, and mental health. Listen to Queers on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or below.Queers is a Lipp Media podcast.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

*Content Warning. This episode contains discussion of mass murder and suicide*Carolyn Layton had an idyllic childhood. Daughter of a socially progressive Methodist minister father and peace activist mother, she grew up believing passionately in social justice and racial equality. After marrying Larry Layton, a conscientious objector, the two began a new life together, a life founded on their shared principles of equality, freedom and social progress. Then they found an incredible new church, that seemed to share and espouse the values they held most dear: The People's Temple. As Carolyn became progressively more involved with the organisation and its charismatic leader, Jim Jones, she started to change, and it wasn't for the better.Join us as we chat to Laura Elizabeth Woollett, author of Beautiful Revolutionary, about how Carolyn became implicated in the greatest loss of American life until September 11, and the complexities of how we remember the mistress of Jim Jones.If you want more, be sure to pick up a

After fleeing her arms-dealing husband and his castle in the Austrian countryside, Hedy Lamarr made her way to Hollywood and the open arms of MGM Studios. She was going to be a star! The only problem: she'd gained a risque reputation for herself in the Czech film Ecstacy. This temptress image is one that would follow Hedy for much of her career, despite the fact that not only was she an extraordinary talent, she was also an extraordinary mind. Because little did most of Hollywood know, Hedy spent her evenings working on an invention that would go on to change the world forever! Join us as we journey through wartime Vienna to the MGMs studio lots, and watch the thrilling and devastating downfall of the bombshell, Hedy Lamarr. Barton, Ruth. Hedy Lamarr: the most beautiful woman in film. University Press of Kentucky, 2010Dean, Alexandra director. Bombshell: The Hedy Lamarr Story (2017) Reframed Pictures.If you want to support Deviant Women, follow us on: PatreonTwitter @DeviantWomenFaceb

As colonial powers muscled in on 18th century India, one woman rose from obscurity to become the leader of a powerful and formidable mercenary army. From the life of a dancing girl to life on the battlefields, the Begum Samru was feared and respected not just by her troops, but also by those who held the highest power. But she loved just as boldly as she fought, and her heart led her to desperate measures of Shakespearean proportions. Follow us into the wild and vibrant streets of the Mughal Empire as we trace the legendary life of the Begum Samru.Keay, Julia. Farzana: The Woman Who Saved an Empire. I.B. Tauris, 2014.Sleeman, William, 1788-1856.Rambles and Recollections of an Indian Official. http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/15483?msg=welcome_stranger#Ch75If you want to support Deviant Women, follow us on: PatreonTwitter @DeviantWomenFacebook @deviantwomenpodcastInstagram @deviantwomenpodcast  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.