We learn as kids that we've been celebrating Thanksgiving in the US since the Pilgrims and Natives first feasted together, but that's not quite true. It wasn't even celebrated at all in some parts of the country until Lincoln declared a "day of Thanksgiving." And he got the idea from Sarah Josepha Hale, who had actually been advocating for it for many years. So today is a short about her, and I hope you all have a fantastic holiday! Sourceshttps://www.npr.org/2013/11/28/247516223/thanks-to-the-woman-who-helped-make-a-november-thursday-specialhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SarahJosephaHalehttps://www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/sarah-halehttps://www.britannica.com/biography/Sarah-Josepha-Hale

Of the Olympian Goddesses, 3 of them stayed independent for all time, choosing to remain virgins rather than marry. Today we're exploring the myths of Hestia, Artemis, and Athena.Sourceshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hestiahttps://www.greekmythology.com/Olympians/Hestia/hestia.htmlhttps://greekgodsandgoddesses.net/goddesses/hestia/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artemishttps://www.greekmythology.com/Olympians/Artemis/artemis.htmlhttps://greekgodsandgoddesses.net/goddesses/artemis/https://www.thoughtco.com/the-goddess-athena-helps-hercules-117193https://www.greekmythology.com/Olympians/Athena/athena.htmlhttps://greekgodsandgoddesses.net/goddesses/athena/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Athena

She was one of the most famous mistresses of the French court, eclipsing the queen herself. She was patron of the arts and known for one of her famous portraits in a pink and blue dress with large bows. She remained a lifelong friend of the king, even after she no longer held the role of mistress. Today lets learn about the life of Madame de Pompadour.

There were only ever 3 French Queens to live at the Palace of Versailles before the French Revolution (all named Marie, funnily enough). So let's learn about these Queen Maries and their lives at the opulent French court.Sourceshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cOXocybY8YMhttps://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/maria-theresa-of-spain-39259.phphttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MariaTheresaof_Spainhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marie_Leszczy%C5%84skahttps://en.chateauversailles.fr/discover/history/great-characters/marie-leszczynskahttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vy0Zu-gUqQshttps://en.chateauversailles.fr/discover/history/great-characters/marie-antoinette#a-queen-at-the-courthttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VO9He_KhGy4https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marie_Antoinette

These actresses all played amazing roles on screen in the horror genre, and some of their movies became iconic or classics of Halloween.

This week I'm back to some spook-related stuff! Mary Shelley, Shirley Jackson, and Anne Rice have all made their own unique contributions to the genre of horror writing, and I recommend all 3 of them. Sourceshttps://www.biography.com/writer/mary-shelleyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Shelleyhttps://www.biography.com/writer/shirley-jacksonhttp://shirleyjackson.org/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anne_Ricehttps://www.biography.com/writer/anne-rice

These two women were some of the first we know of to do work in STEM fields, areas prodominately filled by men. The second Tuesday in October is Ada Lovelace Day, celebrating and encouraging women in STEM fields. Sourceshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marie-AnnePaulzeLavoisierhttps://womenyoushouldknow.net/marie-anne-lavoisier-birth-modern-chemistry/https://www.computerhistory.org/babbage/adalovelace/https://www.biography.com/scholar/ada-lovelacehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IZptxisyVqQhttps://www.census.gov/library/stories/2021/01/women-making-gains-in-stem-occupations-but-still-underrepresented.html

Happy Spooky Season! This is another short episode. Remembered as one of the most prolific serial killers in history, Elizabeth Bathory would torture her victims in pretty gruesome ways. 400 years later, and she still has an influence in pop culture. Sourceshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ElizabethB%C3%A1thoryinpopularculture#Video_gameshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_B%C3%A1thoryhttps://www.syfy.com/syfywire/countess-elizabeth-bathory-and-the-dark-truth-behind-her-killer-legendhttps://www.biography.com/crime-figure/elizabeth-bathory

Strong-willed, independent, and sharp-witted, Alice Roosevelt was a celebrity from the moment her father took office. Today's episode is a short look at her life.Sourceshttps://www.whitehousehistory.org/alice-roosevelt-longworth-presidential-daughter-and-american-celebrityhttps://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/alice-roosevelt-longworth-4225.phphttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AliceRooseveltLongworth

People used to use some wild things to prevent pregnancy, and some really didn't like that they used anything at all! Although she did some controversial things, Margaret Sanger helped gain the right to access birth control when at the time it was considered immoral and was illegal to even spread information about it, and she founded what is now Planned Parenthood. I for one am glad times have changed!If you or someone you know needs help with reproductive health, visit https://www.plannedparenthood.org/ or call 1-800-230-7526 (for the US). You can also find info on reproductive health and Covid-19 at https://www.cdc.gov/reproductivehealth/index.htmlSourceshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-isi9Vw5l8https://www.pandiahealth.com/resources/birth-control-throughout-history/https://www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/margaret-sangerhttps://www.ourbodiesourselves.org/book-excerpts/health-article/a-brief-history-of-birth-control/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Margaret_Sangerhttps://www.cdc.gov/reproductivehealth/index.htmlhttps://www.plannedparenthood.org/