Rebel Girls

Get to know rockstar legend Joan Jett, who brought us the story of fellow rocker Kathleen Hanna. At just 16, Joan founded one of the first all-girl rock bands, the Runaways, and forever changed how the world thought about girls and rock n roll.

This podcast is a production of Rebel Girls. It’s based on the book series Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls. This story was produced by Haley Dapkus with sound design and mixing by John Marshall Media. Script editing by Abby Sher. Joy Smith and Jes Wolfe were our executive producers. Original theme music was composed and performed by Elettra Bargiacchi. Thank you to the whole Rebel Girls team who make this podcast possible. Stay rebel!

Whether fronting a punk band or helping to start the Riot Grrrl movement, Kathleen Hanna likes to be on the front lines of fighting for women’s rights. Rebels, get out your combat boots and hear how Kathleen fueled her own artistic and political rebellion.

This episode was read by rockstar legend, Joan Jett. She founded one of the first all-girl rock bands, The Runaways, and later went on to form Joan Jett and the Blackhearts. Her music has been heard all over the world, and in 2015, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

This podcast is a production of Rebel Girls. It’s based on the book series Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls. This story was produced by Haley Dapkus with sound design and mixing by Mumble Media. It was written by Mary Bergstrom and edited by Abby Sher. Fact-checking by Joe Rhatigan. Narration by Joan Jett. Joy Smith and Jes Wolfe were our executive producers. Original theme music was composed and performed by Elettra Bargiacchi. Thank you to the whole Rebel Girls team who make this podcast possible. Stay rebel!

[This episode originally aired August, 2021.] Although Joan Jett has been called the “Godmother of punk,” this rocker’s rise to super stardom came with plenty of twists and turns. From the time Joan picked up her first electric guitar at age 13 in 1971, she was met with the refrain that “girls don’t play guitars”—and that they certainly don’t play rock. Joan spent the rest of her life proving these naysayers wrong, founding one of the first all-girl rock bands at age 16 before skyrocketing to the top of the charts as the frontwoman of Joan Jett and the Blackhearts.

About the Narrator

Donita Sparks is a singer, songwriter, guitarist, writer and actor. She first rose to fame with legendary all female American rock band, L7, which remains active to this day.

Sparks was instilled at a young age with a keen sense of political and social activism. She, along with her bandmates, founded Rock for Choice, a pro-choice organization with the Feminist Majority Foundation producing numerous nationwide benefit concerts. She is particularly known for her raucous live performances and rebellious persona.

Credits

Bad Reputation (Studio) by Joan Jett Courtesy of Blackheart Records Group, Inc

Bad Reputation (Acoustic) by Joan Jett Courtesy of Blackheart Records Group, Inc

Fake Friends by L7 Featuring Joan Jett Courtesy of Blackheart Records Group, Inc

This podcast is a production of Rebel Girls and is based on the book series Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls.

This episode was produced by Isaac Kaplan-Woolner. Sound design and mixing by Bianca Salinas. This episode was written by Alexis Stratton and proofread by Simi Kadirgamar. Haley Dapkus is our production manager. Executive Producer is Katie Sprenger. Original theme music was composed and performed by Elettra Bargiacchi.

A big thanks to the whole Rebel Girls team who make this show possible! For more, visit rebelgirls.com. And if you like what you heard, don’t forget to rate and review this episode, and share it with your friends! Until next time, stay REBEL!

[This episode originally aired October 2021.] Once upon a time, there was a girl who went from making pancakes with her parents to making history as an international rockstar and YouTube sensation — all before turning twelve years old! Her name is Nandi.

Jacqueline Green followed her dream to become a dancer with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in New York City. She began her dance training at age 13 at the Baltimore School for the Arts. She is a 2011 cum laude graduate of the Ailey/Fordham BFA Program, and also trained at the Pennsylvania Regional Ballet, the Chautauqua Institution for Dance, and The School at Jacob’s Pillow. 

This podcast is a production of Rebel Girls and is based on the book series Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls. This episode was produced by Isaac Kaplan-Woolner. Sound design and mixing by Bianca Salinas. This episode was written by Abby Scher and proofread by Joe Rhatigan. Executive Producer was Katie Sprenger. Original theme music was composed and performed by Elettra Bargiacchi. A big thanks to the whole Rebel Girls team who make this show possible! For more, visit www.rebelgirls.com. Until next time, stay REBEL!

Venus and Serena Williams are world champion tennis players. They are also each other’s biggest fans. As players, they’ve competed with and against each other. As sisters, they are forever inspiring and uplifting one another.

This podcast is a production of Rebel Girls. It’s based on the book series Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls. This story was produced by Olivia Riçhard with sound design and mixing by Mumble Media. It was written and edited by Abby Sher. Fact-checking by Joe Rhatigan. Narration by Andia Winslow. Our executive producer was Joy Smith. Original theme music was composed and performed by Elettra Bargiacchi. Thank you to the whole Rebel Girls team who make this podcast possible. Stay rebel!

Marie-Antoinette Katoto trusts her heart and her instincts on the field, letting them carry her towards the goal. This is how she’s helped her team win tournaments and championships and become the top scorer year after year.

This podcast is a production of Rebel Girls. It’s based on the book series Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls. This story was produced by Joy Smith with sound design and mixing by Bianca Salinas. It was written by Abby Sher. Fact-checking by Joe Rhatigan. Narration by Anita Kavuu-Ng'ang'a. Original theme music was composed and performed by Elettra Bargiacchi. Thank you to the whole Rebel Girls team who make this podcast possible. Stay rebel!

Ketanji always knew she wanted to be a judge, but some people dismissed her dreams due to her skin color. Still, she never let people’s doubts shake her confidence. She persevered and became the first Black Female Supreme Court Justice in U.S. history.

This podcast is a production of Rebel Girls. It’s based on the book series Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls. This story was produced by Olivia Riçhard with sound design and mixing by Mumble Media. It was written by Emily McMahon-Wattez and edited by Abby Sher. Fact-checking by Joe Rhatigan. Narration by Ilean Riçhard. Our executive producer was Joy Smith. Original theme music was composed and performed by Elettra Bargiacchi. Thank you to the whole Rebel Girls team who make this podcast possible. Stay rebel!

When Beyoncé was little, it took a lot for her to find her confidence and her voice. With time, she danced and sang her way into becoming one of the most successful musicians of all time. Her 10-year-old daughter, Blue Ivy, is now standing right beside her, singing and speaking out about the beauty and power of Black girls everywhere.

This podcast is a production of Rebel Girls. It’s based on the book series Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls. This story was produced by Haley Dapkus with sound design and mixing by Mumble Media. It was written by Alexis Stratton and edited by Abby Sher. Fact-checking by Joe Rhatigan. Narration by Doreen Oliver. Original theme music was composed and performed by Elettra Bargiacchi. Thank you to the whole Rebel Girls team who make this podcast possible. Stay rebel!

Esther Okade was born with a mind full of numbers and a passion for solving problems. A math prodigy, she mastered algebra at age four. With her deep love of math, she became one of the youngest people to ever enroll in college in the UK.

This podcast is a production of Rebel Girls. It’s based on the book series Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls. This story was produced by Olivia Riçhard with sound design and mixing by Mumble Media. It was written by Sara Weiss and edited by Abby Sher. Fact-checking by Joe Rhatigan. Narration by Donna Louise Bryan. Original theme music was composed and performed by Elettra Bargiacchi. Thank you to the whole Rebel Girls team who make this podcast possible. Stay rebel!

Once upon a time, there was a girl in a red-checkered shirt, long blue jeans, and pink ballet shoes, who was determined to change the world through dancing. Her name is Judith Jamison.

This podcast is a production of Rebel Girls. It’s based on the book series Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls. This story was produced by Isaac Kaplan-Woolner with sound design and mixing by Bianca Salinas. It was written by Abby Sher. Fact-checking by Joe Rhatigan. Narration by Jacqueline Green. Original theme music was composed and performed by Elettra Bargiacchi. Thank you to the whole Rebel Girls team who make this podcast possible. Stay rebel!