Women’s History Month: Q&A with Unladylike
This Women’s History Month, Stitcher is partnering with Wonder Media Network to celebrate historic firsts and uplift some of our favorite women-hosted podcasts.
Cristen Conger and Caroline Ervin live and breathe women’s history. On their award-winning podcast Unladylike, they comb through stories of rule-breaking women with detailed research and a healthy dose of feminist rage. We sat down with Cristen and Caroline to hear about how they amplify women’s stories all year long.
Happy Women’s History Month! How are you honoring or recognizing this celebratory month?
Cristen & Caroline: Honestly, we like to think that every month is Women’s History Month on Unladylike. Our year-round goal is to produce audio that recognizes women’s histories and lived experiences. But it’s especially important to us during Women’s History Month to amplify figures who are often overlooked, undervalued and/or whitewashed out of public memory.
Will you be releasing any Women’s History Month episodes you want to promote?
C & C: We aren’t releasing anything new, but if you’re looking for Women’s History Month vibes, we recommend:
- Ep. 06: How to Break the Bronze Ceiling
- Ep. 20: How to Stop Getting Screwed In the SCOTUS
- Ep. 46: How to Toot Your Own Horn
Who are some historic “firsts” in media that you look up to as you have been building Unladylike?
C & C: One of our favorite stories of audio sisters doing it for themselves comes from public radio. Back in the 1970s when NPR first hit the airwaves, the number of female voices it broadcast was low-key groundbreaking.* But it wasn’t exactly a feminist utopia. Early in their NPR careers, reporters Cokie Roberts, Linda Wertheimer and Nina Totenberg had to put up with some of their coworkers derisively referring to them as the “fallopian troika.”
*It should also be noted that since public radio paid so little, there were fewer men hustling for the mics.
Part of Unladylike’s mission is to “claim our space and make more room for others.” How do you make space for others and strive to tell more inclusive stories?
C & C: One of the first questions we ask ourselves when we’re brainstorming episodes is, “What stories aren’t being told about this particular topic?” Whose voices don’t we hear talking about it?
Listening to our audience is also essential. Folks let us know when they do — and don’t — hear themselves reflected on the show, and that kind of feedback also tells us how to do better.
It goes without saying that this has been a difficult year. How have you supported each other?
C & C: In such an emotional time, giving each other extra grace, compassion and benefits of the doubt has gone a long way. Same goes for reminding each other that stepping away and taking time off of work is healthy, too!
By Women’s History Month in 2022, what progress do you hope to have seen for women?
C & C: We hope that an Equal Rights Amendment will finally be ratified into the US Constitution! It was first introduced to Congress way back in 1923, so you’d think that 99 years would be long enough to make it happen …
