Today, we discuss the Kentucky Derby! And how for the first time in history, a horse trained by a woman won! Just another way women are breaking down barriers in a male dominated world.

Unlock the incredible journey of Christina Koch, the first woman to travel beyond low Earth orbit and break the spacewalk record. From her childhood dream of Antarctica and space to living 328 days on the International Space Station, her story exemplifies relentless pursuit, resilience, and curiosity. Discover how she navigated extreme environments—from sub-zero Antarctic winters to the vacuum of space—and how her experiences are transforming our understanding of human limits and exploration.

This episode is perfect for dreamers, explorers, STEM enthusiasts, and anyone inspired by stories of extraordinary human achievement. Christina Koch's journey reminds us that with curiosity and grit, there's no limit to what we can accomplish—whether on Earth, the Moon, or beyond.

Sources:

NASA - Christina Koch Bio

Wikipedia - Christina Koch

Wikipedia - Artemis II

National Air & Space Museum - Christina Koch: From Michigan to the Moon

National Air & Space Museum - What is Artemis II?

USA Science Festival Programs - Christina Koch Bio

USA Science Festival Programs: Astronaut Christina Koch and NASA Engineer Bobak Ferdowsi Youtube Video

NASA - Mission Updates

NASA Welcomes Record-Setting Artemis II Moonfarers Back to Earth 

Astronaut Scholarship Foundation - Neil Armstrong Award of Excellence

Men's Journal: What Christina Koch Said About Leaving Earth Is Hitting People Hard

University of Ghana Applauds Artemis II Crew, Acknowledges Former Exchange Student Christina Koch

Today we discuss two botanical baddies Elzada Clover and Lois Jotter who rafted the length of the Colorado River and mapped the flora they found along the way!

SOURCES

BOOK: Brave the Wild River: The Untold Story of Two Women Who Mapped the Botany of the Grand Canyon by Melissa L. Sevigny

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pE6g_MHtYxo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AlXxoaia78M

https://aadl.org/elzadaclover

https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/february-26/grand-canyon-designated-a-national-park

https://www.americanscientist.org/blog/from-the-staff/trailblazing-women-botanists-in-the-grand-canyon

Sorry for the month off! We are going to be back on our regularly scheduled programming for the foreseeable future! Today we discuss how Sephora is now the official beauty sponsor of F1 Academy. An academy set up to help women achieve racing greatness.

Sources:

https://newsroom.sephora.com/f1-academy-and-sephora-launch-partnership-ahead-of-2026-season/

https://www.lvmh.com/en/news-lvmh/sephora-and-f1-academy-launch-partnership

ESPN recently announced Women’s Sports Sundays, a new primetime block dedicated to women’s sports featuring marquee matchups from the WNBA and NWSL. 
On one hand, more primetime visibility for women’s sports is long overdue and worth celebrating. But on the other, a nine-week summer showcase still feels like a small step in an industry that continues to treat women’s sports as a special feature rather than a permanent fixture. We’re glad it exists but we’re also asking the bigger question: why isn’t this the norm yet?

Check out Haley Rosen's article here

Today we are discussing what has been exploding in the news this past week. The phone call the US Men's Hockey Team received to congratulate them on their big Gold win, and the belittlement of the US Women's Hockey Team, who also took home the gold.

Today we discuss Bessie Coleman, the first Black and Native American woman to earn her international pilot's license. When planes were still in their infancy, Bessie traveled all the way to France to learn how to fly. We discuss her journey through life.

Sources

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Pxyfrd_1gA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4tgR3znEpNE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rtuCpLQ8DCw

https://www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/bessie-coleman

https://blog.museumofflight.org/bessie-coleman-daredevil-pioneer-advocate

https://constitutioncenter.org/the-constitution/historic-document-library/detail/mississippi-south-carolina-black-codes-1865

https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/amzn1.dv.gti.58b351a6-626d-d661-c518-6ab826761a68?ref_=nav_custrec_signin&tag=imdbtag_tt_ov_wbr_shv__pvt_aiv-20

https://findingaids.library.iit.edu/subjects/43#:~:text=Blues%20music%20was%20played%20in%20%22black%20and,35th%20Streets%20becoming%20known%20as%20%22The%20Stroll.

https://www.facebook.com/ABHMuseum/posts/bessie-coleman-became-the-first-african-american-womanand-the-first-native-ameri/1414018693847303/

When we picture lighthouse keepers, we tend to imagine something romantic and solitary—a bearded man on a rocky shore, battling the elements. But in the United States during the 19th century, lighthouse keeping was deeply practical, deeply demanding work, and women were far more involved than most of us realize.

In this episode, we take a closer look at female lighthouse keepers and the essential role they played in keeping early America functioning by focusing on two women: Abbie Burgess and Ida Lewis.

Let us know what you think in the comments!

Sources:

Beacons of History: The Women Lighthouse Keepers of National Marine Sanctuaries

United States Lighthouse Society: Female Keepers

Twin Lights: Honoring Women Lighthouse Keepers for Women’s History Month

Arlington Cemetery: The Bravest Woman in America

United States Coast Guard: Female Lighthouse Keepers

Heroines of the Hudson: The Untold Story of 19th-Century Women Lighthouse Keepers

Wikipedia: Abbie Burgess

United States Coast Guard: Abbie Burgess

United States Coast Guard: Ida Lewis

Wikipedia: Ida Lewis

Wikipedia: Ida Lewis Rock Light

Monster is releasing women 's-specific energy drinks, and the internet is up in arms! Make sure you listen in to hear our thoughts about this new beverage.

https://parade.com/news/backlash-erupts-monster-energy-drink-female-focused-flrt-line

Exploration of the history of stagecoach women, highlighting their bravery and resilience in delivering mail across treacherous terrains in the 1700s and 1800s. Recounts stories of remarkable women like Stagecoach Mary and Charlie Parkhurst, who defied societal norms and proved their strength in a male-dominated world. Highlights include Mary Fields and Charley Parkhurst.

Sources

Stagecoach Women by Cheryl Mullenbach 

https://about.usps.com/who/profile/history/pdf/women-carriers.pdf

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J7gvCnZCKXw

https://about.usps.com/who/profile/history/pdf/women-carriers.pdf

https://www.transgenderhistorymonth.com/tht/charley-parkhurst

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y0ZlSS1vn8Y