Gals Guide
From the first women's history lending library in the United States...This adult-centered podcast features a round-table discussion where each guest picks a rebellious woman of history relating to our topic of the month. The Gals Pals do get pretty drunk and the show is a lot of fun!
Episodes
Leah finishes Political Change Month with the first Chinese woman to vote in America...and she was a pinball wizard. I know, I know seems like a jump but it’s a journey and we’re in it together. Learn all about Tye Leung Schulze in the final episode of Season 8.
Katie continues Political Change Month by talking about Jeannette Rankin, the first woman to hold federal office in the United States. The Republican Representative for Montana in 1916 and again in 1940. To this date, Jeannette is the only congresswoman to have represented Montana.
Bonnie starts of Political Change Month with the infamous Alice Roosevelt. Have you heard the quote by her dad Theodore Roosevelt? “I can do one of two things. I can be President of the United States or I can control Alice Roosevelt. I cannot possibly do both.” Learn why on this week's episode.
Leah wraps up Defiance Month with a pair of queer Irish ladies that she found so adorably defiant that she just wanted to be in their orbit and share their story. Remember Leah is high on cold medicine as she talks about Lady Eleanor Butler & Sarah Ponsonby. The Ladies of Llangollen were two upper-class women who lived together as a couple in the late 1700s. People wrote poems about them, their house is a museum.
Julie continues Defiance Month by talking about N.O.W. The National Organization for Women.
Katie continues Defiance Month by talking about Kathrine Switzer. After a Jock tried to rip off her bib number, Kathrine is the first woman to officially run the Bost Marathon. Leah's on cold medicine, Bonnie's craftin' without deadlines, and Julie's back.
Bonnie starts Defiance Month with Olga of Kiev. A gal who killed a lot of people who tried to marry her and yet was made a saint. Leah's on cold medicine, Katie's writing letters, Julie's back, and we're pronouncing "Kiev" wrong the whole time.
Leah finishes up Personal Change Month with a gal who experienced the effects of mental illness and decided to create better conditions (not perfect) for those afflicted with mental illness. As Dorothea Dix fought for the humanity of the mentally ill, the culture started to shift more humanely as well. Knowing we still have *LOTS* to go in the field of mental health, learn about Dorothea Dix on this week's episode. Joined by Klair...
Klaire continues Personal Change month with an abstract painter whose legacy personally effects one of our Gal Pals. Learn about Lee Krasner on this week's episode. Joined by Leah, Katie and Bonnie.
Katie continues Personal Change month with a neuroscience journalist who covers drugs, addition and public policy. Learn about Maia Szalavitz on this week's episode. Joined by Leah, Katie and Klaire Lockheart.
Bonnie starts of Personal Change month with a chemist who won a Noble Prize. Joined by Leah, Katie and Klaire Lockheart.
Leah finished up courage month talking about a rebel in a swimsuit. In an era where women were expected to be silent and modest, Annette Kellerman dove headfirst into controversy. She used her body as a tool of protest, a canvas for art, and a vehicle for change. She helped create the modern swimsuit by not being ashamed of her body.
Even in 2025, some of us who wear a swimsuit in public are performing an act of courage. A battle ...
Jackie continues courage month talking about the Camogie and it's women's uniform. Camogie is a sport similar to hurling. The uniform in the past has been a wool skirt and until 2025 a uncomfortable skort. When Kilkenny and Dublin teams protested and wore (gasp!) shorts, they were not allowed to play until they changed clothes. What happened next? Listen to this weeks episode.
Katie continues courage month talking about sisters. The Mirabal Sisters courageously defied the foul dictator Rafael Trujillo known as el Jefe. Patria, Minerva and Maria Teresa are national heroines of the Dominican Republic and the sisters in the book In the Time of Butterflies written by Julia Alvarez.
Bonnie starts of courage month with a gal who was so courageous she ran for President of the United States before women even had the right to vote. Learn about the unique history of Victoria Woodhull, a woman who was certainly ahead of her time!
Riwo finishes up Freedom Month talking about a San Diego Public Librarian who stood up for Japanese American children during WW2 interments. Clara Breed sent books, letters, and support to young readers imprisoned in camps — protecting their right to read and reminding them they were not forgotten.
Katie continues Freedom Month talking about SlutWalk an international movement. SlutWalk were protests to stop people asking "what was she wearing" when discussing rape and sexual assault victims. A call to end slut-shamming as well as ending rape culture.
Bonnie starts off Freedom Month talking about Deborah Sampson, who disguised herself as a man to fight in the American Revolution.
Riwo finishes up Injustice Month with the mother of the LGBTQ movement, Barbara Gittings. She organized with Frank Kameny the first gay rights protest on July 4, 1965. She also fought for gay literary rights and gay mental health rights. She found community and started a movement.
Podcast note: We're on break for the rest of June for the Gal's Guide move to Minnesota. Episodes will return in July.
Katie continues Injustice Month with a suffragette. Lucy Stone spoke out for women's rights, was the first Massachusetts woman to earn a college degree, and even kept her name when she married. Learn all about Lucy.
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