Imagine a dollhouse, but amongst the miniature furniture and doors, you find…a murder scene. Frances Glessner Lee- often referred to as the “Mother of Forensic Science” - created tiny crime scenes known as the Nutshell studies, to revolutionize the way detectives investigated real cases. In this episode, we uncover how a woman from Chicago’s elite society transformed her privilege and passion into a legacy that shaped modern forensic science.

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Georgia Frontiere rose from the entertainment world to become one of the most powerful women in professional sports, making history as the first female primary owner of an NFL team. Facing intense public scrutiny, she guided the Los Angeles Rams to a Super Bowl championship and cemented a legacy of resilience, vision, and underestimated leadership in the league.

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In the early 19th century, most people thought extinction was impossible - if no new creatures appeared, how could any have ever vanished? Mary Anning, a young fossil hunter from Lyme Regis, proved them wrong with discoveries that rewrote Earth’s history. Living on the Jurassic Coast, she became the first to uncover the first complete skeleton of an extinct marine reptile, changing paleontology forever.

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We’re back with Part 2 of our Nellie Bly series!

Last week, we shared how Nellie went undercover in an asylum to expose the abuse and neglect happening behind closed doors. Her reporting shocked the nation and sparked real reform.

This week, we follow her next bold chapter - the story of how she circumnavigated the globe. In 1889, Nellie set off on a solo journey to beat Jules Verne’s fictional Around the World in 80 Days. With just a single satchel, she crossed oceans, continents, and countless cultural boundaries and ended up making history. 

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You may know us from our other podcast, National Park After Dark (Apple and Spotify).

This week on Watch Her Cook, we will be sharing a National Park After Dark Episode about fearless Journalist, Nellie Bly, in our first 2-part series!

In 1887, Nellie faked insanity to expose the brutal conditions inside Blackwell’s Island Insane Asylum. Her daring undercover investigation not only shocked the nation, but ignited real change in mental health care and journalism.

Join us next week for Part 2 where we follow Nellie on her groundbreaking journey to become the first woman to circumnavigate the globe.

See you then!

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1848 marked the start of a wave of westward expansion that would forever change the American frontier and the lives of the Native peoples who called it home. Amid this upheaval rose Chipeta- a warrior for peace, a skilled diplomat and the soon-to-be voice of the Uncompahgre tribe. Married to Chief Ouray, Chipeta played a vital role in negotiations between Native nations and the U.S. government- helping to bridge the two worlds, often standing as the only woman at the table. This episode tells the story of her strength and compassion amongst the heartbreak, and explains why she will forever be honored as “Queen of the Utes”

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In 1986, over 350 passengers on board Pan Am Flight 73 were faced with a traveller’s worst nightmare… their plane was hijacked. At just 22 years old, head flight attendant, Neerja Bhanot, stepped up to lead the cabin crew- making decisions that would come to define one of the most heroic responses in aviation history. This episode explores the story of Neerja and the brave flight attendants who risked their lives to protect the lives of strangers in the face of terror.

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Sources:

https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/archive/chandigarh/when-neerja-s-husband-told-her-if-you-can-t-cook-stop-eating-647498/

Michael Thexton- A 13-hour hijack

BBC- Inside the hijack: The unheard stories of Pan Am 73

Neerja Bhanot- Inspiration Personified 

Neerja: A fond tribute to a forgotten hero

The story of Neerja Bhanot- India’s flight attendant

Remembering Neerja Bhanot: Rare photos of India’s Braveheart

Neerja’s father penned this heartbreaking piece 

Tribute India Times

The story of Pan American world airways

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She was a woman who lived many lives. When beauty meets genius, the result is Hedy Lamarr. Even though she is known for her glamorous Hollywood roles, Hedy was also an inventor whose technology laid the groundwork for Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and GPS. This episode uncovers her journey from silver screen star to tech thought-leader, revealing how her brilliance changed the world, even though it went unrecognized in her lifetime.

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Sources:

How Hollywood Star Hedy Lamarr invented the tech behind wifi 

Hedy Lamarr and frequency hopping 

Frequency hopping spread spectrum 

Hedy Lamarr- Sultry star who reigned in Hollywood of 30s and 40s 

Random Paths to frequency hopping

Bombshell: Interview with Richard Rhodes on Hedy Lamarr

How Hedy Lamarr and her inventions changed the world 

Hollywood’s Brightest Bombshell: The Hedy Lamarr story 

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In light of Independence Day, we will not be releasing an episode this week.

We'll be back next Wednesday, July 9, with another powerful story from an incredible woman!

See you then!

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She was a loving mother, a grieving widow–and one of America’s most prolific female serial killers. In the 19th century, Norwegian immigrant Belle Gunness lured wealthy suitors to her Indiana farmhouse through newspaper ads promising love, fortune, and a fresh start—only for them to strangely disappear. What investigators discovered when they visited her home would leave behind one of the most chilling mysteries in American true crime history.

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