Two free history-driven podcasts commemorating 100 years of the 19th Amendment and women’s constitutional right to vote are now available. Episodes will be released weekly through September 16, featuring the untold stories of the women’s suffrage movement and the generations of activists who championed equal rights.
Podcast 1) And Nothing Less: The Untold Stories of Women’s Fight for the Vote
Co-hosted by actresses Rosario Dawson and Retta.
“Men their rights and nothing more; women their rights and nothing less.” Written by Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton, women’s rights activists used this resonant rallying call to demand voting equality. The suffrage movement also included an array of diverse voices beyond these two well-known leaders, as generations of activists fought for full access to the ballot.
Rosario Dawson and Retta will guide listeners through stories not often found in history books alongside a range of guests, including historian Dr. Martha S. Jones (Vanguard: How Black Women Broke Barriers, Won the Vote, and Insisted on Equality for All), journalist Elaine Weiss (The Woman’s Hour), and Michelle Duster, the great-granddaughter of suffragist and civil rights icon Ida B. Wells.
“The full history of the women’s suffrage movement, the work of so many heroes who fought for and secured women’s right to vote, resonates profoundly today,” said Dawson. “It’s an honor to bring such powerful stories from our nation’s history to audiences everywhere.”
“It’s a joy to bring the history of the women’s suffrage movement in America (and around the world) to life,” said Retta. “Especially with Rosario, who I’ve been a fan of and whose sense of civic duty I admire. U.S. women’s history is rich with iconic voices and perspectives, many of which I hadn’t even heard of until this project. It really sheds light on what it means to be a citizen, even today. I’m excited to be a part of it, and for listeners to tune in.”
Podcast 2) The Magic Sash
Hosted by gold medal gymnast and advocate Aly Raisman.
In this historical fiction adventure for tweens, an 11-year-old girl and boy journey back in time to meet iconic heroes of the movement, including Susan B. Anthony, Frederick Douglass, and Harriet Tubman, and experience key moments in women’s suffrage history, such as the first women’s rights convention in Seneca Falls in 1848 and the 1913 Women’s Suffrage Parade in Washington, D.C. The podcast is co-produced by TRAX from PRX—a podcast network for 9 to 13 year olds––and Peabody Award-winning producers Gen-Z Media.
“I believe that voting is one of the most important rights anyone can have,” said Raisman. “I vote because it is an opportunity for change. Just like in The Magic Sash, people today are using their voices to better the world. I hope the story of Lotty, Isaiah, and Florence, and everyone they met on their journey, inspires people and reminds them that their voice and story matters.”
In support of these vital stories, the National Park Service created companion materials for each podcast, available free alongside each new episode. The guides will also include lesson plans for elementary and middle school teachers to support their use of the podcasts in the classroom. Both “The Magic Sash” and “And Nothing Less” are available to audiences via Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, and across audio platforms where podcasts may be found.
Happy listening!
Podcasts made possible by the Women’s Suffrage Centennial Commission, the National Park Service, and public media organization PRX.
Top image provided by National Park Service.