I Don't Know Her

Avery and Rita are on a mission to share the stories your history books left out. Every episode they tackle the brave, complicated, courageous, and important stories of women you've probably never heard of, but you should have. Many of our episodes specifically highlight women of color and LGBTQ+ folks. Join us. Find your new heroes.

HOSTS WITH THE MOST- Avery and Rita 06/03/2023

HOSTS WITH THE MOST- Avery and Rita In which our intrepid podcasters update you all about what's been going on and where things are going. /episode/index/show/idkherpodcast/id/27034638

DOCTOR - Magnus Hirshfeld pt. 2 03/31/2023

DOCTOR - Magnus Hirshfeld pt. 2 At the top, the hosts talk about all of the big changes they experienced in 2022 and what they hope to accomplish in 2023. Then Avery tells part two of Dr. Magnus Hirschfeld’s tale. Hirschfeld was the founder of the first gay rights organization as well as the world’s first sex institute. In part two, learn about what happened when the Nazis rose to power & about Hirschfeld’s partner Li Shui Tong. /episode/index/show/idkherpodcast/id/26401305

LANDOWNER - Biddy Mason 02/11/2023

LANDOWNER - Biddy Mason The hosts start the show talking about Tyre Nichols and giving an update on Rita's ex-husband Nic before diving into the story of Biddy Mason, a formerly enslaved woman who became one of the first African-American women to own real estate in Los Angeles. Over her life Biddy amassed an impressive fortune and was known for her philanthropy. /episode/index/show/idkherpodcast/id/25900290

DOCTOR - Magnus Hirshfeld 01/14/2023

DOCTOR - Magnus Hirshfeld At the top, the hosts talk about all of the big changes they experienced in 2022 and what they hope to accomplish in 2023. Then Avery tells part one of Dr. Magnus Hirschfeld’s tale. Hirschfeld was the founder of the first gay rights organization as well as the world’s first sex institute. His progressive ideas about sexuality and gender are mind blowing for the time. /episode/index/show/idkherpodcast/id/25604979

ACTIVIST - Felicitas Méndez 12/30/2022

ACTIVIST - Felicitas Méndez The hosts talk about their Christmas traditions then Rita tells the story of Felicitas Méndez, a Puerto Rican civil rights activist who scored a major legal victory in California schools, which played a part in ending de jure segregation in the United States. /episode/index/show/idkherpodcast/id/25462323

GENDER PIONEER - Karl Baer 11/26/2022

GENDER PIONEER - Karl Baer Avery and Rita read The Great British Baking Show for filth for the infamous Mexican episode. Then Avery tells a tale close to their heart. Karl M. Baer was born an intersex child whose parents raised him to be a girl, causing years of internal and external strife for him. As a young adult he meets Dr. Magnus Hirschfeld, who changes his life forever. /episode/index/show/idkherpodcast/id/25136868

SPECIAL EFFECTS DESIGNER - Millicent Patrick 11/11/2022

SPECIAL EFFECTS DESIGNER - Millicent Patrick The hosts start the show talking about recording in the new podcast studio at the Spokane Central Library, and about their favorite episodes. Then Rita tells the story of Millicent Patrick, an actress, animator, makeup artist, and special effects designer who blazed a trail through Hollywood that included stints working for Disney and creating an iconic movie monster. /episode/index/show/idkherpodcast/id/24977598

ACTIVIST - Pauline Morton Sabin 10/28/2022

ACTIVIST - Pauline Morton Sabin The hosts discuss monetized feminism and then dig into the story of Prohibition and the woman who helped overturn it. Pauline Morton Sabin was a wealthy woman who switched political parties and became the voice and face of the movement to end Prohibition. /episode/index/show/idkherpodcast/id/24834885

REPOST - Anna May Wong & Dieynaba Sidibe 10/25/2022

REPOST - Anna May Wong & Dieynaba Sidibe In honor of Anna May Wong being featured on the US quarter we are sharing her story again. /episode/index/show/idkherpodcast/id/24789351

WARRIOR - Boudica 10/14/2022

WARRIOR - Boudica The hosts give an update on what they did with their summer vacations. Then Rita tells the story of Boudica, a Celtic warrior who battled the Romans in Great Britain in 1st century AD. /episode/index/show/idkherpodcast/id/24690504

SURGEON GENERAL - Antonia Novello 06/18/2022

SURGEON GENERAL - Antonia Novello The hosts discuss brutal honesty at the top & then Rita dives into the story of Antonia Novello, the first woman to become U.S. Surgeon General. A native of Puerto Rico, Antonia overcame health challenges & rejection to rise to the top of her field (with a few bumps along the way). /episode/index/show/idkherpodcast/id/23467985

SUPERHERO - Wonder Woman 06/10/2022

SUPERHERO - Wonder Woman Rita shares a moment of personal growth at the top of the show. Then Avery does something unprecedented for the show–they cover the origins of the character Wonder Woman and the first woman to ever write her, Joye Hummel, who went unacknowledged for 70 years. /episode/index/show/idkherpodcast/id/23378417

PHYSICAL THERAPIST - Mary McMillan 06/03/2022

PHYSICAL THERAPIST - Mary McMillan At the start of the show, Avery discusses gender affirming speech therapy & Rita has a revelation about her queer journey. Then Rita tells the story of Mary McMillan, often coined the mother of physical therapy. Mary pioneered the physical therapy model & established standards of care. She took her knowledge abroad to China, where she ended up in the crosshairs of WWII, landing her in a prisoner-of-war camp. /episode/index/show/idkherpodcast/id/23313455

ACTIVIST - Barbara Waxman Fiduccia 05/27/2022

ACTIVIST - Barbara Waxman Fiduccia Rita contemplates when she should do the emotional labor of white people and when to step away. Then Avery tells the story of Barbara Waxman Fiduccia, a disability rights activist who focused her work on reproductive rights for disabled women and sexual health education. She also fought against eugenicist views on pregnancy and child-rearing among disabled women. /episode/index/show/idkherpodcast/id/23244566

ATHLETE - Mildred "Babe" Didrikson 05/20/2022

ATHLETE - Mildred "Babe" Didrikson The hosts start the show discussing why an eye for an eye isn’t the way to solve misgendering. Then Rita introduces us to Mildred “Babe” Didrikson, female athlete of the twentieth century. Babe was a powerhouse athlete who competed in track and field, baseball, basketball, golf, and more, winning tournaments, medals, and everything in between. /episode/index/show/idkherpodcast/id/23174618

ADVOCATE - Tanya Zolotoroff Nash 04/29/2022

ADVOCATE - Tanya Zolotoroff Nash Rita & Avery have a tough conversation about a mistake Rita made that resulted in an accidental outing. Then Avery tells the story of Tanya Zolotoroff Nash, a Ukrainian immigrant who became an advocate for Deaf people and worked towards better Deaf accommodations in New York City for 35 years. /episode/index/show/idkherpodcast/id/22948835

ACTIVIST - Jovita Idar 04/22/2022

ACTIVIST - Jovita Idar Rita talks about her bucket list & Avery (yes, that’s right!) shares their philosophy on credit card debt (spoiler: who cares!). Then Rita tells the inspirational story of Mexican American activist, writer, teacher, nurse, and journalist Jovita Idar. Jovita spent her life fighting for the rights of Mexican Americans and Mexican immigrants, and helped unite folks across the Southwest. /episode/index/show/idkherpodcast/id/22875359

SCIENTIST - Dr. Carlee Purdum 04/15/2022

SCIENTIST - Dr. Carlee Purdum This week we are sharing our March Patreon Bonus episode, where AV and Rita sit down with Dr. Carlee Purdum, a research scientist at Texas A&M University who studies how hazards and disasters impact prisons and incarcerated people. The hosts learn a ton from Carlee, like the fact that Texas is one of 13 states that doesn’t provide air-conditioning to all of its prisons (and is one of the hottest states in the country). Carlee is working on multiple levels to address the inequities among incarcerated people, including working with local grassroots organizations like the Texas Prisons Community Advocates and the Campaign to Fight Toxic Prisons. If you are doing something cool/interesting/important in your community, we’d love to hear about it. Please reach out on Patreon, social media, or email us at . To find out more about how you can help with prison conditions, visit and/or donate to . /episode/index/show/idkherpodcast/id/22806872

CONDUCTOR - Antonia Brico 04/08/2022

CONDUCTOR - Antonia Brico AV talks about the next step in their transition (hint: it starts with T!). Then the hosts talk about a woman who should have had a stellar career in classical music, but, instead, was shut out again and again. Antonia Brico was a world-class symphony conductor who was the first woman to graduate from one of the most prestigious conducting schools in the world & was the first woman to conduct the New York Philharmonic, but that wasn’t enough. Also, there is a special bonus after the credits you don’t want to miss. /episode/index/show/idkherpodcast/id/22725155

ZOOKEEPER - Helen Martini 04/01/2022

ZOOKEEPER - Helen Martini AV talks about the grueling training they're putting their wife through to become a firefighter. Then Rita tells the somewhat kooky story of Helen Martini, the first female zookeeper at the Bronx Zoo. Don’t forget that we have released our March bonus episode on Patreon, featuring an interview with Carlee Purdum, a research scientist working on improving the conditions in Texas prisons. You won’t want to miss it! /episode/index/show/idkherpodcast/id/22645283

STRONGWOMAN - Charmion 03/25/2022

STRONGWOMAN - Charmion AV & Rita address criticism from a listener at the top of the show. Then AV discusses the complexities of body politics through the story of Charmion, a strongwoman who defied social norms through her body and her art. /episode/index/show/idkherpodcast/id/22575194

REBROADCAST - Interview w/ Mary Cronk Farrell 03/18/2022

REBROADCAST - Interview w/ Mary Cronk Farrell In honor of Mary Cronk Farrell’s book release next week, we are re-releasing AV’s interview with her. Mary is the author of 8 books about women you’ve probably never heard of, but you should have. The two talk about why they’re drawn to telling these stories, revisit Irena Sendler (S1:E17), and discuss Mary’s new book, Close-Up on War: The Story of Pioneering Photojournalist Catherine Leroy in Vietnam. The book is available in stores on March 22. Visit for more. /episode/index/show/idkherpodcast/id/22492748

DRUMMER - Viola Smith 03/11/2022

DRUMMER - Viola Smith AV shares about some upsetting events that took place over the weekend. Then Rita introduces us to Viola Smith, one of the first professional female drummers and known as the “Fastest Girl Drummer in the World.” Viola made her mark in the Big Band and Swing era, but continued to be a successful professional drummer well into the 1960s and 70s. Subscribe to our Patreon to get access to exclusive content and swag. LINKTREE: /episode/index/show/idkherpodcast/id/22412054

ADVENTURER - Barbara Hillary 02/25/2022

ADVENTURER - Barbara Hillary The hosts have a mini therapy session that begs the question: how much of yourself should you give to others? Then AV talks about Barbara Hillary, the first Black woman to reach the North AND South Poles. She was an inspirational, but complicated, person and some of her spicy comments got the hosts talking about some of the exclusivity in feminism. Subscribe to our Patreon to get access to exclusive content and swag. LINKTREE: /episode/index/show/idkherpodcast/id/22251215

ASTRONOMER - Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin 02/18/2022

ASTRONOMER - Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin The hosts discuss the bystander effect at the top of the show, then Rita tells the short, but impressive story of Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin. Cecilia was a scientist and astronomer whose work is the foundation of what we know about the composition of stars today. She was also the first woman to become a full professor at Harvard University. Subscribe to our Patreon to get access to exclusive content and swag. LINKTREE: /episode/index/show/idkherpodcast/id/22163759

DAREDEVIL - Tiny Broadwick 02/11/2022

DAREDEVIL - Tiny Broadwick AV is fired up over a local media outlet giving a platform to a man accused of domestic violence by multiple women. Then they tell the story of the adventurous and feisty Georgia “Tiny” Broadwick, the first woman to jump from a plane and the accidental inventor of the ripcord. Subscribe to our Patreon to get access to exclusive content and swag. /episode/index/show/idkherpodcast/id/22098248

MEDIUM - Helen Duncan 02/04/2022

MEDIUM - Helen Duncan We update all of you on what’s been holding us up the past few weeks. Then Rita tells the hilarious, weird & sometimes really gross story of Helen Duncan, known for being the last person imprisoned for witchcraft in Scotland. Her story begs the question, what do you believe? /episode/index/show/idkherpodcast/id/22020224

SURVIVOR - Kim Hak-Sun 01/07/2022

SURVIVOR - Kim Hak-Sun Kim Hak-Sun was the first Korean comfort woman to break her silence about the atrocities committed by the Japanese Imperial Army during World War II. Her story is difficult but important. Content warning for sexual violence, physical violence, war, suicide and substance abuse. Take care of yourself. /episode/index/show/idkherpodcast/id/21701831

TYCOON - Rebecca Lukens 12/31/2021

TYCOON - Rebecca Lukens The hosts pontificate on the importance of clothing & finding joy in your appearance. Then Rita tells the story of Rebecca Lukens, an American businesswoman & the first woman industrialist. She took over & reinvented her father’s steel business, steering it to become a leader in the new science of boilerplate steel. /episode/index/show/idkherpodcast/id/21640232

DEATH METAL GRANDMA - Inge Ginsberg 12/25/2021

DEATH METAL GRANDMA - Inge Ginsberg Calling all readers & TV watchers! The hosts start off the show with their favorite books & shows from this year. Then AV tells the story of Inge Ginsberg, a Holocaust survivor, spy & journalist turned Death Metal Grandma. Thank you, again, for your support this year. /episode/index/show/idkherpodcast/id/21596588

I Don't Know Her

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