The Femme Files: A History of Iconic Women

Two empires, both alike in dignity, but reigned by very different iconic women. One ruled Enlightenment Russia in the 18th century, the other built her country music empire over the past 60 years in the United States. 

Neither woman was destined for greatness from birth but they both fought tooth and nail to reach the very top, clambering over significant men in their lives to do so. But they aren't just power hungry blonde bombshells with larger than life hairstyles, both have a genuine interest in philanthropy, championing charitable causes close to their hearts to become 'women of the people'.

Underestimate them at your peril! 

Sources:
Dolly Parton's America
Dolly Parton - Wikipedia
Dolly Parton - beauty routine
https://intothegloss.com/2019/06/dolly-parton-dream-top-shelf/
Dolly Parton - charity 
Forbes article - Dolly Parton x Moderna vaccine


Catherine The Great, Vaccine Queen

Goth meets grunge in this episode as we explore the tragic lives and artistic genius of Mary Shelley and Courtney Love. In the 1810s Mary Shelley cemented her name as the mother of the horror/sci-fi genre with her seminal work, Frankenstein. And as Hole's front woman, Courtney Love courted controversy as the first lady of the grunge scene in the 1990s. Join us as we delve into their doomed romances, emo tendencies and rebellious natures.

Email - [email protected]
Twitter - @filesfemme
Instagram - @femmefilespodcast

Links

Vulgar History Podcast with Ann Foster - Halloween Special Mary Shelley

You’re Dead to Me Podcast - Mary Shelley

Romantic Outlaws: The Extraordinary Lives of Mary Wollstonecraft and Her Daughter Mary Shelley

Strange Love: The Story of Kurt Cobain and Courtney Love

‎You're Wrong About: Courtney Love on Apple Podcasts

Why does Courtney Love make people so uncomfortable?

8 Times Courtney Love Was, Well, Courtney Love | Billboard

It’s time to get physical, metaphysical! As we delve into the lives of  poetess and playwright,  Aphra Behn, and comedy supernova,  Phoebe Waller Bridge. With their bawdy humour and licentious attitudes, these two set the London theatre scenes of the 17th and 21st centuries alight. But we’re not just comparing them for their raunchy repartee OHH NO! This pair are also connected to the world of spies. We promise you this episode will have been worth the wait!

Email - [email protected]
Twitter - @filesfemme
Instagram - @femmefilespodcast

Links

The Spy Who Became England’s First Successful Female Writer 

The lead character on Fleabag just came out as bisexual 

Whatever happened to TV's working-class heroes?

Let's be frank, it takes more than talent alone to produce a Fleabag | Frances Ryan

Phoebe Waller-Bridge defends Fleabag from poshness criticisms

Aphra Behn: A Secret Life: : Janet Todd: Bloomsbury Reader 

Other podcasts on this topic:

In Our Time: Aprha Behn 

The Dead Ladies Show: Episide 14 Podcast #14: Aphra Behn & Vivian Maier

New Thinking: Aphra Behn 

For as long as we've told stories, we've told stories of swashbuckling heroes, usually men. Not anymore. Come with us as we explore the unparalleled career of 19th century female pirate Ching Shih and modern day astronaut Christina Koch.

Both of these women have pushed boundaries to excel in spheres almost always dominated by men. But most importantly, would you rather go to the loo on a pirate ship or a spaceship? Join us as we dissect the important stuff (and the toilet situation!)

Email - [email protected]
Twitter - @filesfemme
Instagram - @femmefilespodcast

Links

It’s Britney, bitch AND Lady Jane Grey. We’re kicking off our second season with a look at two extraordinary women who enjoyed great celebrity but fell under the control of their scheming families - or did they….?

It’s time to get into your double denim, put down the live python and save kissing Madonna for later because you’re going to want a piece of this.

Email - [email protected]
Twitter - @filesfemme
Instagram - @femmefilespodcast

Links

BBC Doc, Helen Castor - England's Forgotten Queen The Life and Death of Lady Jane Grey 

Vulgar History Podcast, hosted by Ann Foster - How to Lose a Queen in Nine Days

The Battle for Britney: Fans, Cash and a Conservatorship

British Library - Jane’s Writings from the Tower 

Lady Jane Grey, England’s Forgotten Queen: An interview with Dr Helen Castor (Part 1)

2003 MTV VMAs: Madonna, Britney & Christina 

And finally, from our TikTok spirit guide Josie, check out #freebritney content on the platform for some conspiracy theories. 

As it's the festive season,  we thought it fitting to look at two women who told us ‘how to eat’.  These domestic goddesses transformed home cooking. So get the ham out of the Coca Cola, put that piece of pigeon pie down and save the marmite spaghetti for later, we’re bringing you some Christmas cheer!

Email - [email protected]
Twitter - @filesfemme
Instagram - @femmefilespodcast

Links

Mrs Beeton's Christmas

Nigella Lawson on Food, Feminism, and Men in the Kitchen

Christine Frederick, The New Housekeeping

The Evolution of Kitchen Design: A Yearning for a Modern Stone Age Cave

Penge Heritage Trail - Mrs Beeton

Two women, set on a trajectory for greatness from an early age. But just when they had the world at their feet, it all fell apart in catastrophic fashion. 

We’ve joined with the fabulously 'fetch' Hashtag History podcast from across the pond to bring you an episode about two car crash gingers: Mary Queen of Scots and Lindsay Lohan. We’ll be giving you the '411' on Hollywood vs Holyrood as we sip suggestively named cocktails, dressed in army pants and flip flops.

Get in losers, we’re bringing you a jam-packed discussion!

Check out our friends, Rachel and Leah, at www.hashtaghistory-pod.com/

Email - [email protected]
Twitter - @filesfemme
Instagram - @femmefilespodcast

Links

Lindsay Lohan’s Troubled Timeline

Here is what happens when you cast Lindsay Lohan in your movie

What happened to Lindsay Lohan?

You can’t hurt Lindsay Lohan now

A Visual Timeline of Lindsay’s Fall from Grace

An overview of Mary’s life 

Mary and Elizabeth’s relationship

Facts about Mary 

Mary and Elizabeth’s relationship 

Mary’s husbands 

Mary’s tapestries 

Do you want to live deliciously?

For our fifth episode we’re casting our attentions to the mythical goddess Circe and wellness guru Gwyneth Paltrow. These two titans are known as much for their witchery as they are for stirring up contention.

As we gather in our coven (virtually) we’ll be exploring sorcery, the occult and of course, vaginal eggs. ‘Tis the season of the witch and things are going to get frightening!

Email - [email protected]
Twitter - @filesfemme
Instagram - @femmefilespodcast

Links

How Goop’s Haters Made Gwyneth Paltrow’s Company Worth $250 Million

9 Of Gwyneth Paltrow's Most Outrageous Health Hacks

Circe’s Transformations: Art Images of the Greek Sorceress Through The Ages

How Gwyneth exploited gaps in medical knowledge of women’s health

9 Women on Why They Attended Gwyneth Paltrow’s Goop Summit

From witches to wellness: medicine and magic in London

The Penis-Snatching Witches Who Terrorized Men In The 15th Century

Women have been cancelled since the dawn of time it seems (looking at you Eve) and our latest female figures are no exception. In this episode we explore the banishment and de-platforming of Georgiana Cavendish, Duchess of Devonshire and pop star Taylor Swift.
One was shunned by high society, the other driven into hiding by a social media storm. But why is it that women often find themselves so brutally cancelled from society? And once cancelled, is there any way to gain back what you've lost?

Join us as we discover how these ladies rode the wave of mob mentality and made it out the other side.

*TW: bullying & suicide*

Email - [email protected]
Twitter - @filesfemme
Instagram - @femmefilespodcast

Links

How 'cancel culture' quickly became one of the buzziest and most controversial ideas on the internet

Why we can’t stop fighting about cancel culture

Ricky Gervais calls out cancel culture: ‘You shouldn’t have to go to court for telling a joke’

The Internet Trend For ‘Cancelling’ Women Has To Stop

Gallery Hopes to Sell Kanye West’s ‘Famous’ Sculpture for $4 Million

A timeline of Taylor Swift's feud with Kanye West and Kim Kardashian

10 Things About Cancel Culture

Harper's Letter

‘Romantic Female Friendship’: Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire and Chiswick House

Georgiana Biography

Two teen warriors come head to head in this episode. That’s right, we’re meeting Joan of Arc and Greta Thunberg! Political battlefields, iconic haircuts, medieval misogyny (looking at you Donald Trump) and Tinder, we’re covering all the burning issues. 

In between discussing their star signs and who you'd rather be stuck on a boat with (zero emissions, mind) we’ll be talking about Josie’s OBSESSION with TikTok and why Gen Z's have such beef with Millenials. It's time to grab your battle axes, pull up a pew and join us for this celebration of teen spirit.

Email - [email protected]
Twitter - @filesfemme
Instagram - @femmefilespodcast

Links
Greta details her autism
https://deadline.com/2020/02/greta-thunberg-book-details-her-autism-struggles-in-childhood-impact-on-family-1202866423/

Greta Thunberg's Growing White Problem
https://www.thestranger.com/slog/2020/01/30/42707711/greta-thunbergs-growing-white-problem

17 Need to Know Facts about Greta Thunberg
https://togetherband.org/blogs/news/facts-about-greta-thunberg

The Greta Effect
https://www.businessinsider.com/greta-thunberg-effect-uk-children-online-activism-spikes-2020-2?r=US&IR=T

Greta Thunberg: ‘They see us as a threat because we’re having an impact’
https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2019/jul/21/great-thunberg-you-ask-the-questions-see-us-as-a-threat

Here's how Greta started a global climate movement in just 18 months
https://www.businessinsider.com/greta-thunberg-bio-climate-change-activist-2019-9?r=US&IR=

Joan of Arc: always handy when the English need a slapping
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/europe/france/articles/Joan-of-Arc-always-handy-when-the-English-need-a-slapping/

Joan of Arc: For Fascists and Feminists
https://daily.jstor.org/joan-of-arc-for-fascists-and-feminists/

The 600-year struggle for the soul of Joan of Arc
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/the-600-year-struggle-for-the-soul-of-joan-of-arc-6284992.html

How Joan of Arc turned the tide in the Hundred Years’ War
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/magazine/2017/03-04/joan-of-arc-warrior-heretic-saint-martyr/

100 Years War Family Tree
https://collections.royalarmouries.org/hundred-years-war.html