Episode 363: Hoes of History: Jane Seymour
The Homance Chronicles
Jane Seymour is an actress whose talent and resilience have made her a lasting icon. From her breakout role as a Bond girl in Live and Let Die to her Emmy-winning performance on Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman, Jane has captivated audiences for decades. Beyond her career, she’s lived a life full of highs and lows—she’s been married four times, is the devoted mother of six children, and has survived a near-death experience that reshaped her outlook on life. But there’s more to her story than fame, discover her journey from a modest upbringing in England to international stardom, her...
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Episode 362: Hoes of History: Anna Coleman Ladd
The Homance Chronicles
Anna Coleman Ladd was an artist whose work changed lives in the aftermath of World War I. Best known as a sculptor and painter, Anna used her talent in an unexpected and deeply human way: creating facial prosthetics for soldiers who had been severely disfigured in combat. We’ll explore her early life and artistic training, what led her to Paris during the war, and how she founded the Studio for Portrait Masks, where she crafted delicate copper masks that restored not just faces, but dignity and confidence to wounded veterans. At a time when reconstructive surgery was still in its...
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Episode 361: Hoes of History: Mary T. Klinker
The Homance Chronicles
Mary T. Klinker was a dedicated Air Force flight nurse whose courage and compassion left an indelible mark on history. From her early years in Lafayette, Indiana, to her training at St. Elizabeth’s School of Nursing, Mary’s path was defined by service, heart, and an unwavering commitment to caring for others. We follow her journey into the U.S. Air Force, where she became a skilled flight nurse and eventually joined the elite Air Force Reserve’s Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron. Mary’s career put her at the center of some of the most critical humanitarian missions of the Vietnam War...
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Episode 360: Hoes of History: Brigitte Helm
The Homance Chronicles
Brigitte Helm was the enigmatic star who became immortal through her iconic role as Maria and the Machine-Man in Metropolis. From being discovered as a teenager to becoming one of the Weimar era’s most recognizable faces, Helm’s career rose quickly—and burned just as fast. We trace her journey from overnight stardom to her complicated relationship with fame, the pressures of the film industry, and her bold decision to walk away from it all at just 30 years old. We also dive into the personal battles she faced, the turbulent political climate that shaped her choices, and how her...
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Episode 359: Hoes of History: The Kessler Twins
The Homance Chronicles
⚠️ Trigger Warning: This episode discusses suicide and assisted suicide. If these topics are upsetting or activating for you, please take care while listening. You may choose to skip this episode or reach out to someone you trust or a mental health resource for support. Alice and Ellen Kessler were identical twin sisters whose synchronized dance moves, glamour, and charisma made them stars across Europe and beyond. Born in 1936, the twins trained in ballet in East Germany. In 1952, their family fled to West Germany, and soon the sisters began dazzling audiences with their talent. ...
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Episode 358: Hoes of History: Marion Donovan
The Homance Chronicles
Before disposable diapers became a household staple, one determined mother set out to solve a messy, universal problem—and ended up changing the lives of parents everywhere. In this episode, we explore the life and ingenuity of Marion Donovan, the inventor, designer, and entrepreneur whose creativity reshaped childcare. From her early years tinkering with tools in her father’s factory, to the moment she fashioned her first waterproof diaper cover out of a shower curtain, Marion’s story is one of persistence, frustration-fueled innovation, and visionary thinking. We trace her journey from...
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Episode 357: Hoes of History: Caroline Norton
The Homance Chronicles
Caroline Norton was a poet, social reformer, and one of the most influential women you’ve never heard of. Born into privilege but trapped in an abusive marriage, Caroline used her voice and her pen to challenge a legal system that rendered married women powerless. Her fight was personal, painful, and revolutionary. After being cut off from her own income, barred from seeing her children, and publicly scandalized by her husband, Caroline ignited a movement that led to major reforms in British law, including the Custody of Infants Act (1839), the Matrimonial Causes Act (1857), and the Married...
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Episode 356: Hoes of History: Marie Laveau
The Homance Chronicles
Marie Laveau ruled 19th-century New Orleans with a power that transcended race, religion, and reputation. Was she a healer or a hustler? A mystic or a master manipulator? In this episode, we unravel the legend of the Voodoo Queen who turned whispers into influence and left a legacy that still haunts the French Quarter today. Follow us on IG: Connect with us: Send us a Hoe of History request:
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Episode 355: Hoes of History: Susan Cabot
The Homance Chronicles
In this episode, we explore the dramatic and tragic life of Susan Cabot, born Harriet Pearl Shapiro in 1927. From a childhood marked by loss and foster care in the Bronx to her rise as a Hollywood actress in Westerns and cult B-movies like Sorority Girl and The Wasp Woman, Susan’s story is one of ambition, resilience, and hidden struggles. Behind the screen, she navigated secret relationships—including an alleged long-term affair with King Hussein of Jordan—motherhood, and battles with mental health. Tragically, in 1986, her only son, struggling with drug addiction, fatally stabbed her...
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Episode 354: Hoes of History: Blanche Barrow
The Homance Chronicles
Everyone knows the story of Bonnie and Clyde—but few know the woman who was there beside them: Blanche Barrow. Married to Buck Barrow, Clyde’s older brother, Blanche found herself swept into the Barrow Gang’s whirlwind of crime, chaos, and tragedy during the Great Depression. In this episode, we explore Blanche’s journey from a preacher’s daughter to a reluctant fugitive, tracing how love and loyalty pulled her into one of America’s most infamous crime sprees. Discover how her time with Bonnie and Clyde shaped her fate—and how she fought to reclaim her life after the guns went...
info_outlineWe step into the shadowy corridors of 17th-century Paris to uncover the life and legacy of Catherine Monvoisin—better known as La Voisin. Fortune-teller, midwife, poisoner, and alleged sorceress, La Voisin rose from modest beginnings to become a central figure in the notorious Affair of the Poisons—a scandal that shook the court of King Louis XIV to its core.
We explore her double life: by day, a respected healer and diviner; by night, a dealer in black masses, love potions, and fatal poisons. How did she build such a powerful underground network? What drew noblewomen and royals to her services? And what ultimately led to her fiery downfall?
Join us as we unravel the dark mystique of one of history’s most infamous femmes fatales—and examine the fear, desperation, and superstition that fueled her rise and fall.
🔮 Content warning: This episode contains references to murder, occult practices, and violence. Listener discretion is advised.
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