ArtMuse

Epizode

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  Sada Yacco Part Two 24.07.2026 1h 10min

  In Part One we explored Sada’s childhood; how at the age of four she was sent to a geisha house, where she was later adopted by the proprietress and trained to be a geisha. We then explored Sada’s rise as one of the most famous geisha of Tokyo, her relationship with Prime Minister Ito, and her eventual marriage to kabuki star Otojiro Kawakami. In Part Two we finish Sada's story and honor Sada as the remarkable woman she was. From her days as a famous geisha who caught the attention of Japan’s most powerful men, to her breakout as a performer in America and later in Europe where she became a superstar, to her fight to open new avenues of opportunity for women in Japan, and finally, to her decision follow her heart and love the man she desired despite societal scorn, Sada chose to live her life both fiercely and freely and was unafraid to dance to the beat of her own drum.
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  Sada Yacco Part One 10.07.2026 1h 2min

  This episode explores the life of the Japanese geisha, actress, dancer, and fashion icon Sada Yacco. When she first arrived in Paris at the turn of the twentieth century, she sent the entire city abuzz with excitement. Appearing like an apparition from a fantastical dream, she introduced Western audiences to Japanese theater and culture, eventually becoming Japan’s first international female celebrity. Picasso immortalized her on paper, Alfredo Müller printed her on poster, and Guerlain released a perfume inspired by her. Though her time abroad was short, she dazzled the entire western world, and left an indelible impression everywhere she went. When she eventually returned to Japan, she sought to open new avenues of opportunity for Japanese women, founding the country’s first school for female actresses. Over the course of her fruitful career, she transcended cultural boundaries, challenged societal norms, and captured the heart of both the East and West.
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  Special Episode: History Daily Podcast, "The Feminine Mystique" 26.06.2026 20min

  We are sharing a special episode from our friends at the podcast History Daily, which releases daily episodes on interesting historical events that happened on that day. In this episode, host Lindsay Graham discusses Betty Friedan’s seminal work "The Feminist Mystique", published on February 19th, 1963. "The Feminist Mystique", which spoke to widespread discontent amongst American women confined to the domestic sphere, kickstarted the second-wave feminist movement. After conducting her own extensive interviews and research, Friedan expressed the frustration and restlessness many American women were secretly harboring inside. In doing so, Friedan advocated for women’s inherent right to pursue a life and career of their own, and not be limited to domesticity. "The Feminist Mystique" inspired women across the country to go back to school, return to the work force, and find value in their lives outside of being wives and mothers. Friedan deserves to be honored as an important figure of American history, whose work continues to positively impact women today.
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  Charlotte Cushman Part Two 12.06.2026 57min

  In Part One we explored Charlotte’s childhood; her father’s abandonment, the family’s subsequent descent into poverty, and Charlotte’s early ambitions to become a singer. We then explored Charlotte’s breakout performance as Lady Macbeth, her subsequent success in New New York City, Albany, and Philadelphia, and her decision to move to London to further her career. In Part Two we finish Charlotte's story and aim to honor her as the incredible actress she was, who dazzled audiences across the Western world with her impeccable performances, mastered both female and male parts, and played such a convincing Romeo that women frequently fell in love with her, as a brazen and forward-thinking woman who managed her own career, advocating for herself to ensure that she was paid the same rate as her male counterparts, as a passionate lover who openly engaged in same sex relationships in a time when they were harshly condemned, as a fierce feminist who supported women’s rights and female artists, and as a lionhearted woman who faced adversity head on and dared to live her life with authenticity and fervor.
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  Charlotte Cushman Part One 29.05.2026 54min

  Listen to ArtMuse's episode on the revolutionary actress, proud lesbian, savvy business woman, staunch feminist, and force to be reckoned with, Charlotte Cushman. Though Charlotte Cushman was one of the most famous actresses of the 19th century and a household name during her lifetime, she has since been unfairly written out of history. Charlotte deserves to be recognized not only for her impressive career on the stage, but as a remarkable woman in her own right. In this episode, we aim to honor Charlotte as the talented performer she was who mastered both female and male roles, as a savvy business woman who managed her own career, as the ultimate ladies (wo)man unafraid to flaunt her latest female lover at a time when same-sex relationships were strictly condemned, as an early feminist who used her influence to promote the work of female artists, and as a fearless woman who went against the grain in nearly every facet of society, unafraid to break social convention to live her life with authenticity and freedom.
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  Vulgar History: Mary Queen of Scots Part One 15.05.2026 1h 30min

  Today we are sharing a special episode from our friends at Vulgar History, a podcast that looks at history through a feminist lens. In this episode, host Ann Foster introduces us to Mary Queen of Scots, Queen of Scotland from 1542 to 1567. Mary became Queen when she was only six days old and had one of the most tumultuous political reins in history, and her life story is certainly a wild ride. She was married three times, briefly became the Queen of France, became the enemy of Queen Elizabeth I, forced to abdicate the throne in 1567, was imprisoned in England shortly after for nineteen years, and was eventually executed on February 8th, 1587 after being convicted of treason. As such a notorious figure of history, Mary Queen of Scots was portrayed across the mediums. In fact, it’s believed she sat for well over one hundred fifty portraits during her lifetime. We hope to have a full ArtMuse episode on Mary Queen of Scots one day.
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  Stars of the Golden Age: Audrey Hepburn 01.05.2026 54min

  ArtMuse shares a special episode from “The Stars of the Golden Age”, a podcast that dives into the lives of your favorite Old Hollywood stars. In this episode, host Erin Carlson shares the incredible life story of the actress, fashion icon, and humanitarian Audrey Hepburn. From Audrey’s beginnings in Belgium, to her work with the resistance in World War II, to her discovery by director William Wyler who cast her in Roman Holiday and catapulted her into stardom, and finally, to her incredible work as a humanitarian in her later age, Audrey’s life-story is nothing short of remarkable. Audrey Hepburn was photographed by some of the most iconic photographers of the 20th century, such as Cecil Beaton, Richard Avedon, and Philippe Halsman. And of course, pop artist Andy Warhol created a series of portraits of Audrey, which reproduced her famous image from Breakfast at Tiffany’s onto various high contrast backgrounds. Audrey Hepburn fits in perfectly with Season Three of ArtMuse, which focuses on artist models who were performers in their own right.
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  Evelyn Nesbit Part Three 24.04.2026 1h 17min

  In Part Two we shared the harrowing details of White’s assault on Evelyn, taking not only her virginity but also her childhood innocence and joy of life. We then explored Evelyn’s introduction to multi-millionaire Harry Thaw, how he slowly earned Evelyn’s trust, and then proceeded to violently both physically and sexually assault her. In Part Three we finish Evelyn's shocking story, including the murder of Stanford White and the subsequent trial that followed. Evelyn was so much more than the scandal that beset her life, and deserves to be remembered as the remarkably resilient woman she was. In this episode, we aim to honor Evelyn as the bewitching beauty who caught the attention of the best artists of both Philadelphia and New York, who at only sixteen years old took the Big Apple by storm and became the “it girl” of the Gilded Age, who translated her talent onto the stage and became an accomplished performer, who later became a loving and devoted mother, and a woman with an unbreakable vitality, despite White, Thaw, and the world’s best efforts to dim her light.
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  Evelyn Nesbit Part Two 03.04.2026 1h 8min

  In Part One we explored Evelyn’s childhood, her chance discovery by an artist in Philadelphia, her rise in popularity as an artist’s model, her move to New York City, and how quickly she took the city by storm, becoming Gotham’s “it girl”. We then explored Evelyn’s beginnings on Broadway, how she caught the attention of famed architect Stanford White, and his ensuing calculated grooming of Evelyn. In Part two we continue Evelyn's shocking story; White's brutal assault on her, her romantic affair with actor John Barrymore, and meeting Pittsburgh millionaire Harry Thaw, whom she would eventually marry. Evelyn's story will keep you on the edge of your seat and is so important to share. We will finish Evelyn's story and honor her important legacy in Part Three of this episode.
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  Evelyn Nesbit Part One 20.03.2026 59min

  Listen to ArtMuse’s Two Part Episode on the artist’s model, chorus girl, actress, and bewitching beauty, Evelyn Nesbit, who was caught up in one of the most notorious murders in American history.
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  Loïe Fuller Part Two 06.03.2026 1h 13min

  In Part One, we explored Loïe's upbringing in Chicago, her devastating marriage to Colonel William Hayes, and her eventual rise to fame in the American theater world. We then explored the creation of Loïe’s Serpentine Dance, her move to Paris where she became a sensation, and her ingenious use of lighting and costume in her performances. In Part Two we finish Loïe's incredible life story and aim to honor her immense legacy as an avant-garde dancer, innovative inventor, champion of the arts, inspiring teacher, and political advocate, and as a woman who was unafraid to dance, quite literally, to the beat of her own drum.  
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  Loïe Fuller Part One 13.02.2026 1h 4min

  Part One of ArtMuse's Two Part Episode on the dancer, innovator, and visionary, Loïe Fuller. Loïe’s pioneering performances paved the way for the creation of modern dance, and inspired celebrated dancers such as Isadora Duncan and Josephine Baker. Loïe’s enchanting performances also caught the attention of some of the greatest artists of her time. More than seventy different artists captured her likeness across the mediums, making Loïe one of the most frequently depicted women of her time. Though Loïe was once the most famous woman in all of Paris, today she has largely fallen into obscurity, and her immense contributions to both modern dance and stage design have been unfairly written out of history. In this episode, we aim to honor Loïe’s important legacy as a pioneering performer, genius innovator, brilliant teacher, fierce defender of the arts, political advocate, and as a fearless woman who was unafraid to defy societal norms and unapologetically be herself.
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  Sarah Bernhardt Part Two 30.01.2026 1h 17min

   In Part Two of ArtMuse's Episode on the famed actress Sarah Bernhardt, we finish Sarah's incredible life story, and honor Sarah’s legacy as one of the greatest actresses to ever light up the stage, as an accomplished sculptor whose work received international acclaim, as a best-selling author of many books, as an entrepreneur who ran her own theater for over twenty-five years, as a die hard patriot for her country, as a devoted and loving mother, and as one of the fiercest spirits to ever walk this earth.
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  Sarah Bernhardt Part One 16.01.2026 1h 2min

  This episode explores the life story of the actress, artist, author, and superstar Sarah Bernhardt. She is today still considered one of the greatest performers to ever grace the stage. And her life off the stage was equally dramatic. She owned a menagerie of wild animals including lions and alligators, had love affairs with more men than one can count on two hands, and even slept in her own coffin. She kept the world entertained as both an actress and an eccentric and earned her place in history as one of the most iconic women of the 18th and 19th centuries.
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  Art of Crime: From Lisbon With Love, Josephine Baker Part Two 02.01.2026 1h 9min

  ArtMuse shares Part Two of a special two part episode from our friends at The Art of Crime, a podcast that “explores the unlikely collisions between true crime and the arts”. In Part Two, host Gavin Whitehead tells us about Josephine Baker’s time fighting with the French resistance in World War II, a daring mission she took when she delivered top secret documents to the British Intelligence Service, and finally, how she earned the highest French medal of honor at the end of the war.
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  Art of Crime: A Spy Is Born, Josephine Baker Part One 19.12.2025 57min

  ArtMuse presents part one of a special two part episode from our friends at The Art of Crime, a podcast that “explores the unlikely collisions between true crime and the arts”. In this episode, host Gavin Whitehead shares the incredible life story of the famed performer Josephine Baker. In Part One, Gavin explores Josephine Baker’s humble beginnings in St Louis, how she transformed herself from a traveling vaudeville performer, to a chorus girl, and eventually to a popular dancer in Paris, where she moved in 1925 at the age of nineteen. While Baker is today celebrated as one of the greatest performers of Paris’s golden age, Gavin speaks to a lesser known aspect of her life; her role as a spy for the French resistance during World War II.
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  Marian Anderson Part Two 12.12.2025 1h 15min

  In Part One we explored Marian’s childhood in South Philadelphia, the beginnings of her musical career, and her transformative time in Europe, where she became a singing sensation. We left things off in our story just as Marian was returning to America in December of 1935, hoping to find the same success in her home country as she had in Europe. Part Two aims to further Marian Anderson’s immense legacy as one of the greatest American contraltos of all time, as an important figure in the Civil Rights Movement, and as a woman who by leading with love shed a light on one of the darkest periods of American history.
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  Marian Anderson Part One 21.11.2025 59min

  This two-part episode shares the life story of the famed contralto, Marian Anderson, who not only broke hearts but also racial barriers with her soulful singing. Throughout Marian’s long career as a singer, she went on to perform with some of the most renowned orchestras and musical talents of her time. She also became an important figure in the Civil Rights Movement. In her lifetime, Marian was captured across the mediums by some of the most renowned artists of the 20th century. She was photographed by both Irving Penn and Richard Avedon, painted by Beauford Delaney, William H. Johnson, and Betsy Graves Reyneau, and captured in mosaic by Faith Ringgold.
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  Mary Robinson Part Two 07.11.2025 1h 15min

  In Part One we explored Mary’s broody childhood in Bristol, her father’s abandonment of their family, and her eventual move to London. We then explored Mary’s unfortunate marriage to Thomas Robinson and Mary’s ascension to stardom as an actress of Covent Garden. We left things off in our story just after the rise and fall of Mary’s relationship with the Prince of Wales, and her vow to herself to enact her revenge upon him in any way she could. In Part Two we aim to further Mary’s legacy by honoring her as the brilliant, fearless, and forward-thinking woman she was. As an actress, society woman, fashion icon, and entertainer turned author, intellectual, feminist, and abolitionist. As a woman who not only overcame unimaginable tragedies but transformed them into her greatest strengths.
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  Mary Robinson Part One 24.10.2025 1h 11min

  She was the most beautiful woman of her age, but she also had the brains to match. She used her beauty to rise the ranks of London’s society and become one of the earliest female celebrities of the 18th century. But this was not all done in vain. Once she had created a name for herself, she transformed herself into one of the most respected and prolific writers of her day, and used her writing to advocate for both women’s rights and the abolition of slavery. She was beautiful, but she was also brilliant, and she deserves to be remembered just as much for her mind as she is for her stunningly good-looks. This episode explores the life of Mary Robinson, an accomplished actress, poet, writer, activist, and intellectual, and one of the most fascinating women of her age. In her lifetime, Mary was painted by renowned portraitists Sir Joshua Reynolds, Thomas Gainsborough, George Romney, and John Hoppner. Be sure to also listen to Part Two of this episode, which finishes Mary's story and honors her immense legacy as the brilliant, talented, and brave woman she was; a woman who never let the tragedies of her life define her, a woman who became one of the most important writers of her day, a woman who used her writing to advocate for a better world, and a woman, as the Romantic poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge once described, of “undoubted genius”.