After a year of storytelling and connection, we reach the final chapter of the HerStance podcast. In this episode, we shift from the global stage to the internal one. Join us for a personal reflection on taming a "sizzling nervous system," finding compassion in a chaotic world, and the 32 lessons gathered from a year of podcasting. This isn't just an end; it’s an invitation to keep the flame alive in your own community.

Listen to the finale and explore the full archive at HerStance.

In this episode:

Discover Lorde’s journey from Harlem to becoming the New York State Poet Laureate.  

Learn about her role in co-founding Kitchen Table: Women of Color Press and her impact on the Afro-German movement in Berlin.  

Explore her "Theory of Difference" and why she believed language is our most powerful tool for resistance.  

Join the HerStance Challenge to turn your silence into language and action.  

Audre Lorde taught us that without community, there is no liberation. Listen now to find your tools for change.

Subscribe & Follow: Visit www.elevateherexistence.com to join the mission and sign up for our monthly newsletter.  

#AudreLorde #HerStance #FeministPodcast #BlackHistory #Intersectionality #WomenEmpowerment

In this episode, we "peel the cosmic onion" to reclaim the Divine Feminine hidden within our winter traditions. From the ancient Anglo-Saxon Mōdraniht (Mother’s Night) to the biological truth of the Reindeer Mother—the actual antlered sun-bearer of the north—we explore how this season was once a sacred celebration of female ancestors and the wisdom of the Dark Goddess.

Join us as we reject the "hustle" and embrace the "Hibernal Urge." Learn why the solstice isn't just a day on the calendar, but a three-day pause—a time for receptivity, gestation, and honoring the women who shaped us.

In this episode, we discuss:

The "Paint Stripper" Effect: Moving past the Victorian rebranding of St. Nicholas and the domesticating of Mrs. Claus.

Mōdraniht: The ancient "Night of the Mothers" and the honoring of the Dísir.

The True Sun-Bearer: Why the reindeer on your holiday cards are actually symbols of a powerful female deity.

Coming Home to the Dark: How to find the "sacred" in the stillness and welcome the rebirth of the light from the womb of the night.

Stop trying to cut through the noise. Sit in the silence with us. Let’s celebrate the feminine divine that rests at the heart of the dark.

This urgent crisis makes the words of our luminary woman today hit so hard: “One of the best ways of enslaving a people is to keep them from education.”

Join us as we explore the life and enduring impact of Eleanor Roosevelt: The First Lady of the World. Discover how she not only navigated the political landscape as an activist and diplomat but also tirelessly championed education and social justice, setting a global standard for human rights that is more relevant than ever.

We explore her journey from a strict, conservative upbringing to a radical social reformer, tracing the moment her conscience was awakened—specifically, by the horrific Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire—which cemented her lifelong commitment to labor reform.

As Franklin D. Roosevelt's Secretary of Labor, Perkins fought tirelessly for the structural safety nets that define modern America, including Social Security, the minimum wage, and the 40-hour work week.

Discover the strategic genius of the woman who navigated a hostile, male-dominated cabinet, famously filing away her observations in a folder labeled "Notes on the Male Mind." We delve into the intense backlash she faced, including an impeachment attempt, and how she used her position to "establish the right of others... to sit in the high seats."

Perkins believed that "The people are what matter to government," and this episode honors the quiet, tenacious revolutionist whose legacy is woven into the very fabric of American fairness and economic security.

This episode dives deep into the lives and work of women who have fundamentally shaped our world and our understanding of it. These are the scientists who made monumental discoveries for the sheer fun of doing physics, the writers who gave vital life to essential human complexities, and the peace advocates who never quit. 

We are here not to apologize for the messiness of history, but to unpack it—examining a true revolutionary not as a saint or a demon, but as a person whose actions brought both profound progress and at times, harm.

In this episode, you can expect us to discuss sensitive and hard-hitting topics:

Reproductive rights and the historical weaponization of law.

The shame surrounding unwanted pregnancy and lack of access to care.

The thorny, unsettling history of the American eugenics movement.

How Sanger's radical empathy drove her to fight the establishment.

The modern-day stakes of information sharing and empathy in public discourse, especially as facts become harder to access and divisive arguments grow louder.

This is a history lesson with real-world, modern stakes. If you need to hit pause, please do, but we encourage you to stay for a discussion that is more relevant now than it has been in decades.

For our very first Conversations with a Catalyst episode, we're joined by Dotty Delafield, a retired librarian and fierce community activist. Carrying on the work of the strong women who came before her, Dotty has long been a role model for young people, showing them how to find their voice, walk a life of faith, and stand up for the greater good.

Inspired by her parents and even her own daughter, Dotty rebooted her career after reading the book I Could Do Anything If I Only Knew What It Was. Now, she is a daily activist in Central Pennsylvania, sharing resources with subscribers on her website and through her email newsletter, "What We Can Do Now for Central Pennsylvania."

Join us as we dive into Dotty's incredible story and hear her insights on activism, legacy, and creating a better world.

In this episode we'll explore how she redefined what it meant to be a woman in comedy and how her philosophy of lifting others up and having fun is not only a  testament to her enduring optimism but can inspire us to take action today.

In this episode of HerStance, we go beyond the 1973 "Battle of the Sexes" to explore the full, powerful legacy of Billie Jean King. Her story isn't just about 39 Grand Slam titles; it's about the seismic shifts she created for women everywhere. We delve into her relentless fight for equal prize money, which paved the way for the opportunities female athletes have today. We examine how her activism, from pushing for Title IX to founding the Women's Tennis Association, extended far beyond the court and into the halls of power. Billie Jean King was a fierce competitor and a brilliant athlete, but above all, she was a feminist warrior who understood that her personal struggle was political. Join us as we explore how she didn't just win a match—she hit back at a world that tried to put women in their place, clearing a path for all of us to stand a little taller, with our heads held high.

Welcome to HerStance, the podcast that dives deep into the lives of history's most impactful women. In this episode, we're pulling back the curtain on Florence Nightingale, revealing the statistician, social reformer, and visionary who transformed medical care as we know it. Did you know she had a rescued owl named Athena who joined her on rounds? It's these fascinating, lesser-known layers that reveal the true breadth of her influence—an influence still profoundly felt in 21st-century healthcare.

Join us as we explore how Nightingale championed not only physical recovery but also the dignity and psychological well-being of patients, laying the groundwork for the modern hospital and the standards of care we expect today.

But our journey doesn't end in the past. We'll also confront the stark realities faced by today's Registered Nurses on the frontlines of volatile environments. From recent deployments abroad to the immense sacrifices and complex challenges in war and conflict zones, these healthcare heroes are vital in saving lives—yet often face woefully inadequate preparation and a lack of decision-making power. We'll delve into the physical and emotional toll, the constant struggle against overwhelming odds, and the profound moral and ethical dilemmas that define their extraordinary service.

Today on HerStance, we honor the radical and impactful life of Susan Brownmiller, a prominent feminist and author of the 1960s and 1970s. We'll delve into her influential books, including her landmark bestseller "Against Our Will," and explore how her powerful legacy continues to resonate with us, the 'third wave,' as we carry the torch forward.

Books by Susan Brownmiller:  

Against Our Will: Men, Women and Rape; Femininity; In Our Time: Memoir of a Revolution; Waverly Place; Seeing Vietnam: Encounters of the Road and Heart; My City Highrise Garden; *Shirley Chisholm: A Biography

https://www.goodreads.com/author/list/35623.Susan_Brownmiller

But as usual, here on HerStance, we're about to unveil a little-known yet incredibly important aspect of this invention. Intrigued? What if we told you that the brilliant mind behind this groundbreaking technology was once known as "the most beautiful woman in the world"?

Join us as we dive into the incredible, often overlooked, legacy of Hedy Lamarr – inventor, actress, and true visionary. 

Discover how these "sisters in law," though diverging in their approach, were united in their pursuit of justice for women. 

Join us as we uncover their inspiring legacies and encourage you to read the Constitution for yourself, gaining a crucial new perspective on how our government functions in a world they could never have envisioned. 

For an interactive resource to engage with the US Constitution and landmark cases of the US Supreme Court, visit https://www.annenbergclassroom.org/constitution/

HerStance delves into the lives of extraordinary women who shaped our world, revealing their vital contributions to culture, industry, education, and art. Stay tuned to the end for a HerStance challenge inspired by Sojourner Truth to take action in your community today.

Join us every two weeks as we reclaim these narratives and build a legacy of true equality. Be inspired. Be informed. Be part of the movement.

You can get started right now by watching or listening to the first 11 episodes on YouTube  http://www.youtube.com/@HerStance

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]]>Sandra Koellefalsecontact@elevateherexistence.com (Sandra Koelle/Mindful Marketplace LLC)HerStance isn't just about history. It's about drawing powerful parallels to the social issues we face now. We explore their challenges, their triumphs, and most importantly, their stance. And each episode culminates in a 'HerStance Challenge' – a practical step you can take to create change in your own community. Join us every two weeks as we reclaim these narratives and build a legacy of true equality. Be inspired. Be informed. Be part of the movement.HerStance isn't just about history. It's about drawing powerful parallels to the social issues we face now. We explore their challenges, their triumphs, and most importantly, their stance. And each episode culminates in a 'HerStance Challenge' – a practical step you can take to create change in your own community. Join us every two weeks as we reclaim these narratives and build a legacy of true equality. Be inspired. Be informed. Be part of the movement.Womens History, HerStance Podcast