Laura Ingalls Wilder: The Do-over, Part One

Once upon a time, back in 2011, we shared the story of Laura Ingalls Wilder, beloved author of the Little House series and chronicler of life on the US prairie in the late 1800s. Now, 15 years later, we thought it was time to revisit her with our 2026 eyes (and the mountain of information about her that has been revealed since.) Laura wrote her books based on her life, but how much weight is "based on" carrying? Find out in this episode as we tell her story over the same time span that would later be the setting of her books. She lived a very long life; we'll share the rest of her years in Part Two. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Boudica (formerly known as Boadicea ) was a first‑century Celtic queen of the Iceni tribe in what’s now eastern England. After the Roman Empire seized her late husband’s kingdom and brutalized her family, she rallied a massive coalition of tribes and led one of the most famous uprisings in Roman Britain. Her forces burned several Roman towns, including Londinium, and for a brief moment in history she shook the empire’s confidence. Boudicca’s fame endures as a symbol of resistance, leadership, and fierce defiance against oppression. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

To celebrate International Women's Day on March 8th, and Women's History Month during all of March, we have a short message for you all. We couldn't possibly narrow down one or even 31 women to honor this month, so we'll keep honoring as many as we can, 12 months a year, just like we have been for the last 15 years. xo Susan and Beckett Find a woman to celebrate from our extensive catalog of podcasts on our website, thehistorychicks.com, or however you get your podcasts. Share this mini-episode with a friend, or, if you are so inspired, take a gander at our merch shop, and help support our work. Thank you! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dovey Johnson Roundtree grew up in the Jim Crow era South and carried her grandmother’s philosophy of "find a way or make one” as her armor into every challenge she faced. She became one of the first Black women in the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps during World War II, then earned her law degree at Howard and built dual careers as a civil‑rights attorney and as a minister in the AME church. In 1955, she helped win a landmark bus‑desegregation case before the Interstate Commerce Commission, which was a quiet but powerful blow to the concept of “separate but equal.” She spent decades fighting for justice in Washington, D.C., and lived to 104, leaving behind a legacy of unshakable purpose and inspiration for future generations. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Odetta was one of the defining voices of American folk music. Though she had been trained in classical music, she was drawn to spirituals, work songs, traditional ballads, and blues. These songs told the stories of true life - of struggle and of those that overcame oppression. Odetta used her theater training and deep resonant voice to bring these messages to life. Her work inspired later artists like Bob Dylan and Joan Baez, served as a soundtrack for the social reforms of the 1960s, and led to her honorary title as "The Voice of the Civil Rights Movement." There are still a few spaces open on our fall Field Trips to the Loire Valley, and Italy! For information and to register, visit Like Minds Travel. We hope to see you there! For links and codes to advertised products, visit our website's sponsor page at thehistorychicks.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Grandma Moses spent most of her life living on family farms in upstate New York, raising a large family and running a household. She was known in her neighborhood for her award-winning preserves and pickles... not her embroidered artwork! It wasn’t until her late seventies, when arthritis made needlework too painful, that she rediscovered her childhood love of painting and created the style that would make her famous. Her nostalgic scenes of rural life caught the eye of collectors, then museums, then the world, turning her into an international art sensation in her eighties and nineties. Grandma Moses kept painting until just before her death at 101, leaving behind a body of work that reshaped how Americans think about creativity, aging, and the history of our country. Registration is now open for our Field Trip to the Loire Valley in France (August 23-31, 2026) and our Field Trip to Italy (October 7-14.) Visit Like Minds Travel for information and to register! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ona Judge defied one of the most revered historical figures in America in order to escape the institution of slavery. Though she spent the rest of her life as a fugitive, she managed to direct her own existence on her own terms; answering to no one, free at last. This episode was recorded just before our 2023 Washington D.C. Field Trip where we were able to visit Mount Vernon and pay our respects at the African American Burial Ground and Memorial. For more information on that, visit Mount Vernon's website and our shownotes for this episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mother Jones lived one of the most dramatic second acts in American history. Though her early life was shaped by poverty, immigration, and repeated personal tragedies, she reinvented herself in middle age as a warrior for justice. She was a fearless labor organizer - an electrifying speaker who rallied coal miners, steelworkers, railroad shopmen, and exploited children to stand up for their rights. She once earned the label “The Most Dangerous Woman in America” for standing firm against powerful corporate and government pressures. Her work can still be felt in the labor protections, organizing strategies, and economic justice movements around the world. Mother Jones proved that one single, relentless voice... armed with purpose, strategic fury, and above all stamina - could shake the foundations of society. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Martha Gellhorn was one of the most influential war correspondents of the 20th century. Over the course of a 60-year career, she reported from nearly every major global conflict - the Spanish Civil War, World War II, Vietnam, and more. In her work, she focused a compassionate eye on the lives of ordinary people caught up in turmoil beyond their control, and this made her coverage uniquely powerful. Her personal bravery and determination made her into a legend. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As a tie-in to our coverage of Betsy Ambler and Ken Burns' American Revolution documentary we decided to revisit Martha. Some called her The Mother of the Country, some curtseyed and called her "Lady Washington," but no one could doubt that she was uniquely capable to shoulder the responsibilities and rigors of both war and diplomacy. Martha Washington's philosophy of "duty over inclination" became the template for future First Ladies in the newly-formed United States of America. This episode sponsored by: Hungryroot: Use code CHICKS at Hungryroot.com for 40% off your first box and a free item for life. Honeylove:Use code HISTORYCHICKS at Honeylove.com/HistoryChicks for 20% off your order. BLISSY: Use code HISTORYCHICKS at Blissy.com/HistoryChicks for 30% off and a 60-nights risk-free. Quince: Go to Quince.com/CHICKS for free shipping and 365-day returns. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices