Alice Ball is a name that was almost erased from history. At just 23 years old, Alice revolutionized the treatment for leprosy—a feared and misunderstood disease that carried a dark history in Hawaii. In this episode, we will explore Alice’s groundbreaking work, her struggle for recognition, and the decades-long fight to reclaim her legacy.
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Sources:
A Woman Who Changed the World
Why Don’t More of Us Know Her Name? Alice A. Ball is Hidden in History
Race Relations During the 1890s
Overlooked No More: Alice Ball, a Chemist Who Created a Treatment For Leprosy
The Chemist Whose Work Was Stolen From Her
UWSOP: Alumni Legend Alice Ball
The History of Hansen's Disease In Hawaii
Alice Ball: The US Chemist Who Developed the Ball Method
A Wholesome Horror: The Stigmas of Leprosy in the 20th Century
Kava History on the Islands
What is Jim Crow
The Compromise of 1877
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40:23
The Woman Who Told The Truth About Sex
In the 1970s and 80s, Shere Hite believed that understanding sexuality meant listening—really listening—to people’s experiences. Her anonymous surveys offered women a rare space for honesty and transformed the conversations around sex at the time. In this episode, we explore Shere’s quiet revolution, the controversy it sparked, and her lasting impact on how we think about intimacy and identity today.
Follow us on Instagram @watchhercookpodcast
Sources:
Hite, S. (1976). The Hite report: A nationwide study on female sexuality. Macmillan.
The Disappearance of Shere Hite. [San Francisco, California, USA]:IFC Films, 2023., Kanopy Streaming, 2024.
In ‘The Disappearance of Shere Hite,’ a canceled sex researcher is reclaimed
The Hite Report: Summary
She Changed the Way Women Thought About Their Sexuality. Now She’s Finally Getting Her Due
My Life With Shere Hite: the forgotten feminist who changed sex forever
Hite, Shere 1942–
New York Times- The Hite Report
Shere Hite revolutionalised female pleasure – so why did the world forget about her?
Orgasms Are Marvellous Happiness
Ecofemonism
Women’s History- Betty Friedan
AIDS, Sexual Behavior, and Intravenous Drug Use.
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54:35
The Woman Who Spoke To Animals
Deep in Europe’s oldest forest once lived a witch… or at least that’s what people called her. Simona Kossak, defined by her anything-but-ordinary life, was a biologist and Professor of Forest Sciences who dedicated herself to protecting the Białowieża Forest’s fragile ecosystem. Living in a remote cabin surrounded by her wild companions, she was as fierce in her activism as in her love for nature, leaving a lasting legacy on both science and conservation.
Follow us on Instagram @watchhercookpodcast
Sources:
The Extraordinary Life of Simona Kossak -Scroll down to see the iconic image of Simona and her boar, Zabka!
The Badass Story of Simona Kossak
Legendary Conservationist Simona Kossak Lived Her Life in a Forest Hut With a Lynx, a Boar and a Terrorist Crow
Białowieża Forest- UNESCO World Heritage
Poland faces €100,000-a-day fines over illegal logging in Białowieża forest
Effectiveness of an acoustic wildlife warning device using natural calls to reduce the risk of train collisions with animals
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45:08
The Fearless Trio of WWII
At just 14, 16, and 18, sisters Truus and Freddie Oversteegen and their friend Hannie Schaft became brave resistance fighters against the Nazis during WWII. With their lives on the line, they carried out some of the most dangerous missions in the resistance, standing up against tyranny and leaving a legacy that has inspired women all over the world.
Follow us on Instagram @watchhercookpodcast
Sources:
Brady, Tim. Three Ordinary Girls. Kensington, 2024.
This Teenager Killed Nazis With Her Sister During WWII
Schaft, Hannie (1920–1945)- Encyclopedia
Overlooked No More: Hannie Schaft, Resistance Fighter During World War II
Hannie Schaft, the redheaded girl
Her War Never Stopped
Hannie Schaft: the Dutch spy who was executed by the Nazis
Freddie Oversteegen, Teenage Resistance Fighter Who Assassinated Nazis, Has Died at 92
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35:04
The Girl Who Stood Up To The Taliban
Who is Malala? A question that once shook the world—asked in the face of death, now answered with unwavering bravery. Today, we uncover the story of Malala Yousafzai, a young Pakistani girl who risked her life to stand up for girls' right to education and has since become a global symbol of resilience. Join us as we explore her journey, the impact of her fight, and the legacy that continues to inspire millions around the world.
Follow us on Instagram @watchhercookpodcast
Sources:
Muhammad Salman Khan, Women’s markets: The everyday affective dimensions of Taliban’s violence in Swat, Pakistan, Geoforum, Volume 138.
https://malala.org/
Malala Yousafzai-Biography
Moving moments from Malala's BBC diary
Malala Yousafzai’s Dad On the Importance Of Girls Education
Evaluating the Cultural and Social Impacts of the 2009 Military Operation in Swat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK): A Case Study of Operation Rah-e-Rast
Malala Yousafzai Wins Nobel Peace Prize 2 Years After Shooting
Malala Yousafzai- Nobel Lecture
United Nations- Messengers of Peace- Malala Yousafzai
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Watch Her Cook is a podcast about the women who made history—or headlines. Every Wednesday, friends Cassie and Danielle dive into the stories of women who shattered norms, defied expectations, and proved their skills and aspirations reached far beyond the kitchen. From brave trailblazers to those who stirred up a scandal, we’re uncovering the bold, brilliant, and sometimes brazen women who left their mark!
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