You Betch is a podcast by Morgan Colburn and Heather Schroeder about incredible, bad-ass betches of past and present, good and bad, famous and unknown.
Morgan Colburn and Heather Schroeder
In Episode 74, Morgan discusses the beautiful friendship between icons of stage, screen, and song, Marilyn Monroe and Ella Fitzgerald, and Heather tells the tale of Audrey Munson, the inspiration for hundreds of the world's most renowned sculptures and works of art. Awe-inspiring betches!
Episode 73 features Mary Fields, the first Black woman to become a Star Route Mail Carrier, whose fearlessness in her territory of Montana earned her the nickname 'Stagecoach Mary,' and the Cherry Sisters, wildly regarded as the worst vaudeville act of all time. Betches worth knowing!
In this week's episode, we regale you with the tale of Kate Webster, a Victorian era maid who brutally murdered her mistress and attempted to steal her identity, and Elizabeth Keckley, who was born a slave and became a renowned dress-maker and business woman who dressed the Washington elite, including Mary Todd Lincoln. Formidable betches, indeed!
In Episode 71, we cover Christiana Edmunds, the Chocolate Cream Killer of Brighton, and Sylvia Robinson, the Mother of Hip Hop. Wowzas, betches!
In Episode 70, Morgan tells us about the Gulabi Gang, a group of vigilante women in northern India who fight against domestic abuse, and Heather covers Lady Hester Standhope, an explorer and adventurer who left high society in Regency-era England to travel the Middle East. Brave-ass betches!
Happy Holidays, betches! Join us as we dish and gush over the iconic Dolly Parton, everyones favorite Christmas angel! She's a damn delight.....duh!
In this 'special holiday episode,' we let you in on the secrets of the Reindeer Goddesses, who were clearly the inspiration for the modern-day Santa, and the Queen of Christmas herself, Mariah Carey, legendary songstress and pop star. Happy Holidays, betches!
In episode 68, we discuss one of the most prolific race car drivers of the dawn of the 20th century, Helle Nice, who set the land speed record for female drivers and won the Women's Grand Prix numerous times, and Zona Shue, the Greenbrier Ghost, which was the only known case of a spirit helping convict her own murderer (shocking: it was her husband!). Exciting betches!
In this Spooky Season Episode 67, we cover the murder of Bridget Cleary, who was assumed a Changeling by her friends and family and subsequently set on fire (!!!)by her husband, and the Queen of Halloween, Mistress of the Dark herself, Cassandra Peterson, more famously known as Elvira. Spooky betches, indeed!
This episode showcases Cuban feminist Ana Betancourt, who played an important role in The Ten Year's War for Cuban independence from Spain, and Clementine Barnabet, self-pledged 'leader' of the Church of Sacrifice cult who confessed to over a dozen axe murders as a teenager. Eye-popping betches!
This week is an exercise in narcissism, as we exclusively gab about our own thoughts and opinions! Join us to hear everything from what we think about doing your business in public, to dumb movie franchises, to staying friends with your ex. It's all about us, betches!
In this episode, Heather chats about Empress Dowager Cixi, who ruled as regent in China for decades and ushered the imperial land into the modern era, and Morgan gives us the goods on Hojo Masako, who was the first female shogun of Japan and established the Hojo dynasty. Ruling betches!
In our latest episode, Morgan explores the inspiring story of the Six Triple Eight, an all-Black, all-female unit of the military tasked with delivering a backlog of millions of items of mail during WWII, and Heather shares the tale of Gladys Bentley, a blues singer and pianist, and a Black LGBTQ + icon of the 1920s Harlem Renaissance. Betchiest of betches!
In Episode 62, we delve into the stories of Harriet Burns, the first female Imagineer at Disney, and Julia 'Slick' Lyons, a nurse during the Spanish Flu pandemic who ended a lot more lives than she saved. (Yikes!) Surprising betches!
In Episode 61, we discuss the Kopp sisters, who went to bat with the Big Man in Town and came out on top, and some of the first influential women magicians, Adelaide 'The Queen of Magic' and Minerva 'The Queen of Mystery'. Betches who stand their ground!
In Episode 60, we talk about the horrible Darya Saltykov, a Russian noblewoman who killed upwards of 130 of her servants, and the inspiring Rebecca Lukens, who became America's first female industrialist leader when she took over her family's steel mill. Intimidating betches!
In this social distancing episode, we regale you with the tales of Sarah Biffin, who was born without arms or legs and became a world-famous artist beloved by royalty, and the Pack Horse Librarians, a group of women who risked their lives to bring books to the rural regions of the Appalachians. Stay home, stay safe, and rock on betches!
In this 'special holiday episode,' we let you in on the secrets of the Reindeer Goddesses, who were clearly the inspiration for modern-day Santa, and the Queen of Christmas herself, Mariah Carey, legendary songstress and pop star. Happy Holidays, betches!
In Episode 57, we explore the stories of Arsinoe, Cleopatra's younger and even more devious little sister, and Tracy Edwards, the first woman to receive the Yachtsman of the Year Trophy. These betches won't be overlooked! (Note: Failed to mention sources for the Tracy Edwards info—Wikipedia, TraceEdwards.co.uk, and a Washington Post article by Alex Andrejev.)
In Episode 56, we chat about Dorothy Dandridge, star of stage and screen and the first African American woman to be nominated for a Best Actress Oscar, and Deborah Sampson, the first woman to take a bullet for America during the Revolutionary War. Betches making headlines.
In Episode 55, we catch you up on the tales of Mary Webster, who was hanged for witchcraft in 17th century Massachusetts BUT SURVIVED, and Bessie Coleman, the first woman of African American and Native American descent to hold a pilot's license. I mean, DAMN BETCHES!
In Episode 54, we take you on the wild ride that is the life of Imelda Marcos, First Lady of the Philippines for 21 years (and Heather's birthday buddy!), and the charming tale of the Barefoot Contessa herself, Ina Garten. Influential betches, to say the least!
Episode 53 showcases the bananas story of Bertha Boronda, who mutilated her wayward husband then tried to escape via bicycle before being caught and charged with 'mayhem,' and Edith Wilson, former First Lady of the United States, who basically acted as president after her husband suffered a stroke. Betches taking charge.
In Episode 52, Heather chats about Grace O'Malley, the Pirate Queen of Connacht who proved to be a formidable foe to Elizabeth I's English forces, and Morgan discusses the Mirabal sisters, who opposed the dictatorship of Raphael Trujillo in 1950's Dominican Republic. Brave betches.
In Episode 51, Morgan covers the absolute legend that is Stevie Nicks, and Heather tells the story of Anna May Wong, the first internationally recognized Asian-American film star. Betches to look up to, no doubt.
This week we chat about Margaret Haughery, 'the mother of orphans,' and renowned philanthropist who changed the face of 18th century New Orleans with her humanitarian efforts, and Luisa Capetillo, Puerto Rican activist and political leader who helped enact radical change as a turn of the century feminist. Get ‘em, betches!
In Episode 49, we discuss badasses Patti LaBelle, world renowned singer, performer, and entrepreneur, and Mary Pleasant, 'The Mother of Human Rights in California,' whose life story was straight-up tabloid fodder. Betches get it done!
In Episode 48, we discuss the inspiring stories of Fran Drescher, the influential sitcom producer/writer/star, who also started the Cancer Schmancer Movement, which helps women with early cancer detection and prevention, and Bessie Stringfield, the African American badass biker chick, who defied race and gender norms by traveling around the United States on her Harley in the 1920s. AMAZE-BALLS BETCHES.
After a long hiatus, we're back to regale you with the amazing stories of the legendary Reba McEntire, country superstar of stage and screen, and Isabel "Belle" Bilton, a dance-hall performer in Victorian London who went on to become the Countess of Clancarty. Impressive betches.
This week's episode divulges the stories of San Mao, aka Echo, the Chinese travel-writer with a tragic yet inspiring life story, and Kate Warne, the first female detective in the US, who helped stop an attempted assassination of Abraham Lincoln in 1861. Get it, betches.
This week we delve into the stories of Kate Shelley, who was the first women in the US to have a bridge and a train named after her because of her heroic deed of saving hundreds of lives by preventing a catastrophic railroad crash, and Paula Yates, the famous British TV presenter/rock journalist who infamously died of an accidental heroin overdose in 2000.
Episode 44 deals with Amelia Bloomer, who edited the first women's newspaper, and also popularized the progressive style of dress known today as "bloomers," and bad-ass spy (with a wooden leg she called Cuthbert!)Virginia Hall, who helmed undercover operations for the UK and America during WWII. Badass betches to say the least!
This week's episode covers Maya Lin, the incredible sculptor best known for her design of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and her work on the 9/11 Memorial, and Sylvia Rivera, the drag queen and LGBTQ activist/advocate who co-founded the Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries in the 1970s; she also shares a birthday with Heather! INSPIRING BETCHES!
This week we fill you in on Arizona Kate "Ma" Barker, who was (or wasn't?!) the matriarch of the Barker-Karpis gang in the Public Enemy era, and Ranavalona, the Queen of Madagascar, who ruled with ferocity during the 19 Century. Scary betches!
This week we get REAL with the stories of Diana Nyad, the champion long-distance swimmer, who accomplished things in her 60s that most of us could only dream of doing at our physical peak in our 20s or 30s, and Mary Bowser, the slave-turned-spy who worked for the Union Army as a undercover member of Jefferson Davis's household staff during the Civil War. I mean, what are the rest of us even doing with our lives?!
This week we fill you in on Clara Hughes, the only person to have won multiple medals in both Summer and Winter Olympics, as well as being a huge advocate for mental health treatment/awareness, and Ida Laura Pfeiffer, who was basically the first travel blogger, having spanned the globe and written countless travel logs in the 18th Century, a feat almost unheard of in her time.
In a polarizing episode, we discuss entrepreuner Linda G. Alvarado, Hispanic-American mogul who started her own lucrative and sucessful construction firm AND co-owns the Colorado Rockies (!!!), and anti-feminist Phyllis Schlafly, who infamously rallied against the Equal Rights Amendment in the late 70s and early 80s (yikes--we're not fans!).
This week we hit up the lives of infamous American sociatlite Wallis Simpson, Duchess of Windsor, whose marriage to King Edward VIII rocked the UK (and ultimately the world), and Indian poetess/saint Mirabai, who's devotion to her Lord Sri Krishna was unparalleled--her pious writings and songs are still influential today.
After a TWO WEEK HIATUS, we record our longest episode EVER! In a post-Mother's-Day-homage, Heather talks about dynamic mother/daughter singing sensation, The Judds, and Morgan highlights legendary comedian Joan Rivers. WOMEN CELEBRATING WOMEN!
This week, we dish about Dorothea Dix, who was instrumental in reforming the field of mental illness treatment, as well as psychiatric institutions and prisons in the 1800's, and the influencial blues singer/songwriter Bonnie Raitt, who has earned countless Billboard hits and Grammys, as well as effecting real change in the world as a political activist. LOVE THESE BETCHES.
Episode 35 divulges the stories of Katherine Knight, the first Australian woman to be sentenced to life in prison without parole for the horrific killing (and cooking!) of her boyfriend, John Price, and the acclaimed author of beloved novel Gone With the Wind, Atlanta's own Margaret Michell. These betches, ammiright?
This week we hit up the stories of Ching Shih, the 18th century Pirate Princess of China, and Helena Rubinstein, one of the first female millionaires thanks to her world-wide cosmetics company. Get it, betches.
Episode 33 is all about adorable betches Annette Kellerman, who was the swimmer/actress/performer who popularized the one-piece bathing suit (for which she was once arrested for!), and the legendary country singer/songwriter Loretta Lynn, one of the most iconic and influential recording artists of the 20th century.
This week, we discuss Nancy Wake, who was a secret agent for the French Resistance during the Nazi occupation of Paris, and Diane de Poitiers, the French noblewoman and mistress of King Henry II (20 years her junior!), who wielded an incredible amount of power and influence over the French court. Headstrong betches!
Episode 31 shares the amazing stories of Elizabeth Blackwell, the first woman to receive a medical degree in the United States, and the Night Witches, who were Russian female pilots sent on death-defying missions to unleash bombs on the Nazis. Holy. Shit. Betches.
This week's episode highlights Mary Ann Patten, who was the first female commander of an American merchant vessel, entitled Neptune's Car, and Buffy Sainte Marie, the Canadian Cree singer/songwriter, artist, and activist, best known for her Oscar-winning song, "Up Where We Belong." We're not singing and crying, YOU are!
In this week's episode, we discuss Phryne, the ancient Greek courtesan and intellectual who was infamously aquitted during her trial for heresy by baring her incredible breasts to the jury, and Dr. Barry, who was born female but lived life as a male in order to achieve incredible medical goals, such as performing the first successful c-section birth. Wow. Just, wow, betches.
Episode 28 lavishes you with the stories of the Fox sisters (Leah, Margaret, and Kate) who were instrumental in popularizing the Spiritualist fad of the late 19th century, and Pearl Hart, who went down in history as the 'Bandit Queen,' having pulled off one of the last recorded stagecoach heists in U.S. history. Deviant betches.
In this very special Oscars episode (or....not so much, ha!) Heather tells the tale of Luise Rainer, who was the first person to win two Academy Awards (consecutively, no less)for her work in The Great Ziegfeld and The Good Earth, and Morgan gives us a little history lesson on the legendary tale of Boudica, the fearless Celtic Queen who basically laid waste to an entire civilization to defend the honor of her family. A little Oscars, a little violence...what more does a betch need?
In Episode 26, we share the stories of Nichelle Nichols, who broke ground by portraying the first black female (main)character on network television as beloved Lt. Uhura on Star Trek, and Denise Aubrey-Bertini, who (along with her cousin, Pa-Mela Hernandez) was part of the first black aerialist act in the Ringling Bros. Barnum and Bailey Circus; also she is the FIRST betch who we have been in contact with personally, and we could not be more grateful to her for sharing her story with us! Love these betches!
WE'RE BACK! In this week's episode, we honor Surya Bonaly, the black French figure skater who was frequently passed over for the gold at the Olympics and other top ISU competitions, but still managed to make history by flawlessly executing an illegal backflip during the 1998 Winter games, and Madame CJ Walker (Sarah Breelove)who became the first female self-made millionaire by providing hair care products specifically designed for women of color. Amazing betches.