MODERN ATHENAS: Recent Episodes
Modern Athenas
We discuss how regular women become Athenas by working hard, persevering through the challenges in their lives and contributing to a better world.
Debra Ginsberg knows most everyone assumes that if you are a waitress or waiter you are just passing through before you move onto a real career. But as Debra tells us in her book, waiting, being a waitress is a career. From details of a restaurant's nightly theatre, to personal moments of victory, and everything in between, Debra takes us into the world of the kitchen, the wait staff, management, and of course, the customer.
INDEX
0:00 Intro and Background of the Book
1:37 The Tip
7:33 Structure of the Kitchen
12:27 Waiting as a Profession
19:32 Mentors: Belinda
24:02 Relationship with the Chef
27:46 Customer Service
33:35 The Theater of Waiting
39:50 Debra’s Son, Blaze
44:31 Out of Context
48:43 Burnout
53:17 Debra Walks Away
58:16 Final Thoughts and Next Episode
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In an unassuming stucco building on a quiet piece of the Hudson River in upstate New York, there is a general store with a small pub in the back. The locals call it the Little Chapel on the River. Author Gwendolyn Bounds introduces us to all the "parishioners" and the two generations of the Guinan family who keep it feeling like home in Garrison, NY. The pub becomes Wendy's new community after 9/11, when she locates from lower Manhattan to Garrison.
INDEX
0:00 Intro and Background of the Book
1:24 Garrison, Guinan’s & The Little Chapel on the River
8:01 September 11, 2001 and the Move to Garrison
13:41 The Guinan Family
22:40 Wanting to Belong
33:13 509ers
37:08 When You Know You Are a Part of a Community
40:39 Characters: William Fitzgerald and Ed Preusser
46:45 Stealing Time
49:25 Final Thoughts and Next Episode
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This episode is the first of a series that focus on women that contribute to our personal toolkit: ways to navigate life’s challenges, tips on how to find those people who you can lean on and guide you, inspiration to persevere through challenges, how to be brave, courageous, and never quit.
In The Bridge Ladies, Betsy Lerner brings us into her mother's bridge group, a group of women who have been playing bridge together every week for fifty-five years. The women have crossed through the decades together, watching each other's children be born, grow up, and have families of their own. Now, as the women move into the next phase of their lives, they are confronting the deaths of their spouses, their own mortality, and what the fifty five years of weekly bridge games mean to each of them.
INDEX
0:00 New Series of Episodes
2:56 Intro to The Bridge Ladies, Debby’s Personal Story
6:10 Demographics
10:20 The Pot Roast Friendship
14:25 The Bridge Club - Logistics
19:06 A Mother’s Critique
22:27 Jackie’s Lunch
25:55 Choosing a Husband
33:47 Maintaining Family Traditions
41:16 Reflecting on Death
46:00 Maybe It is Just Bridge After All
51:55 Final Thoughts and Next Epsiode
Visit www.modernathenas.com for links to all episodes. Subscribe to our podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play or YouTube. Send us feedback or leave a review! Thanks for listening.
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In this podcast, we will be discussing the book Spymistress: The True Story of the Greatest Female Secret Agent of World War II, by William Stevenson. We meet Vera Atkins, a British spy. Vera’s work has never been given the same spotlight as that of other spies or resistance fighters who were part of the war effort. Perhaps that is because she was a woman in a man’s world, or perhaps it is due to a controversy that surrounds her involving the collapse of one of the networks of spies in France. Either way, what there is no controversy about is that she was one of the most important Allied spies and that she was indirectly and directly responsible for the training and success of many of the resistance fighters in German-occupied France.
On a more humorous side note, it is also believed that Vera is the basis for the Miss Moneypenny character in Ian Flemming’s James Bond novels.
INDEX
0:00 Intro and Background of the Book
1:41 F-Section and the Controversy
7:10 The Controversy
14:16 It Takes a Special Breed
18:08 Connections
22:00 Biuro Szyfrow (Cipher Bureau)
30:19 Battle of Taranto
32:35 Adapting to Your Environment
36:02 Making Decisions
40:42 Courage
43:27 Final Thoughts and Next Episode
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We have explored the stories of many Modern Athenas throughout history. In this podcast, we thought we would take a bit of a different approach and talk about the book Feminist Fight Club, by Jessica Bennett. The book started as a monthly huddle of a group of women in a friend’s apartment burning off steam about their frustrations with their sexist male co-workers.
Jessica blends the stories of the group with some research, statistics, and advise in a humorous way that empowers women to take on the sexist behavior and to destroy the self-sabotage that we engage in on a daily basis.
INDEX
0:00 Intro and Background of the Book
1:39 The Enemy: The Stenographucker
7:56 The Enemy: The Lacthater
15:05 The Saboteur: The Doormat
23:45 The Saboteur: The Credit Defaulter
29:01 The Saboteur: The Womenemy
34:42 The Saboteur: The Burnout
40:48 The Saboteur: The Nervous Rambler
46:15 The Trap: Bitchy, Bossy, Too Ambitious
51:25 The Trap: She’s Too Nice To Lead the Team
56:14 Verbal Tripwire: The Over-Apologizer
1:00:16 Final Thoughts and Next Episode
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In this podcast, we will be discussing the book An Improbable Friendship, by Anthony David.
Friendships can happen in the most unlikely of places, in the most unlikely of times. Like romance, it is hard to predict who our friends will be, and even harder to ignore forces that make a friendship blossom. Such is the case of Ruth Dayan, an Israeli Jew, and Raymonda Tawil, a Palestinian Christian. If you asked either of the women if they thought when they first met after the Six Days War in 1967 that they would be lifelong friends, both would laugh and then make a dig at the other’s culture and politics, while professing their admiration for each other. That is their friendship—born out of conflict and forged through decades of turmoil and heartbreak, the two women have a deeply rooted respect and love for each other that transcends borders, religion, and nationalism. Each of them a power broker in a male-dominated society, their intertwined stories are ones of strength and determination. These Modern Athenas demonstrate that no matter a woman’s identity, we all want to create meaning and purpose for ourselves and in our world.
INDEX
0:00 Intro and Background of the Book
1:17 Overview of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
3:18 Ruth Dayan
8:!5 Raymonda Tawil
13:40 1967: Their Paths Cross for the First Time
18:52 April 1973: Kamal Nasser
21:39 1974: Ruth Travels the World on Behalf of Maskit and the World Craft Council
23:25 The Tree Planting in the Peace Forest of Neve Shalom
26:59 The Two-Staters
28:36 Secret Backchannel
34:37 Rabine is Assasinated
40:04 Ruth Meets Arafat: 1999
41:45 Raymonda’s Power
43:15 The Jordanian Funeral
44:37 The End of Arafat
46:38 The Walls
48:27 The Book
51:05 Outro and Next Episode
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Esme Raji Codell's book, Educating Esme, is about her first year teaching fifth grade in a rough and tumble area of Chicago. Esme takes the reader along during the summer before her teaching career starts, as she accepts a position in a new public school. Esme has the tireless energy of all young, new teachers and a deep-rooted belief that no matter what, it is the students that matter. As you listen to her classroom tales, you can’t help but draw parallels between Esme and her classroom, and new leaders and their teams in the workplace. The lessons are the same, and the results are predictable: leaders succeed when they own everything about their job and their team, and the team succeeds when the leader is engaged and the team is invested in the mission.
INDEX
0:00 Intro and Background of the Book
1:54 Why Did They Hire Me?
6:32 The Fairy Tale Festival Proposal
10:54 The Late Night Calls
18:37 Reframing and Finding Creative Solutions
33:13 Inventors
37:12 Greek Gods
39:50 Cajun Christmas
42:36 Read Aloud Time
45:03 We Aren’t Here to be Liked
48:43 Teacher’s Meetings
52:46 When the Team Doesn’t Perform
56:02 Storytelling Festival
1:01:31 How Do I Know I Am Doing It Right?
1:03:06 Outro and Next Episode
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In this podcast, we will be discussing the book "A Nurse’s Story: Life, Death, and In Between in an Intensive Care Unit", by Tilda Shalof. A Nurse’s Story is Tilda’s part memoir, part thought-provoking discussion about her life as a Canadian Intensive Care Unit nurse and the challenges and rewards that come with the job. The book also tells heart-breaking stories and far rarer triumphs that come with working in the ICU. Through it all, Tilda makes you feel as though you are right there with her, experiencing each moment, and re-hashing each hard decision and case after the patients have long since left the unit.
INDEX
0:00 Intro and Background of the Book
1:51 Why Did I Become a Critical Care Nurse?
9:25 Starting Out in the ICU
28:37 Family and Friendships, How they can and cannot support you
33:15 LIfe in the ICU
42:21 Emotional Detachment
46:31 Choosing Life or Death: Decisions of a Patient and a Family
50:52 Outro and End of Season 1
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In this podcast, we will be discussing the book “Canyon Solitude,” by Patricia C. McCairen. Canyon Solitude takes the reader through Patricia’s journey of self-discovery as she leaves her life of comfort and stability and heads West. She lives a life of adventure out west, drifting through the high plateaus of Colorado, learning how to be a river guide down many of the most dangerous and beautiful rivers, and, through it all, she demonstrates why sometimes in life, it is better to leave the safety of the known for the adventure and uncertainty of the unknown. Like all Modern Athenas, Patricia pushed aside the critics and followed her dream. She set her raft afloat down the river and, through her rafting, discovered that not only could she survive, but that she could thrive. Her inner strength, determination, and courage remind us all that in life, you have to keep taking risks and moving forward to new adventures because the true rewards are found beyond the edges of your comfort zone.
INDEX
0:00 Intro and Background of the Book
2:03 Letting Go of Stability
6:17 The Calling of the River
13:57 Support vs. Resistance To Big Decisions
19:10 Setting Off on the Adventure
26:23 What It’s Like to be Alone
32:30 Social Awkwardness and Anxiety
37:34 Embracing Fear
40:23 Downfalls of Dependency
45:13 Women River Guides: Value of Brains over Brawn
48:39 When Everything Goes Wrong
52:34 The End of the River, Beginning of Freedom
57:42 Outro and Next Episode
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In this episode, we are joined by a guest, Alekzandra, or Alleigh, Thoms. Alleigh is co-host Sonja’s niece and an artist who enjoys drawing, painting, sculpting and writing. She is about to enter her second year at St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota. Alleigh recently self-published a book of poetry entitled "If the grass can hold its ground, so can I" that addresses mental illness and other challenges faced by college women today, such as sexual assault. Her hope is that the unapologetic spotlight of her words on these issues that have been kept in the darkness for far too long can inspire dialogue and hope.
INDEX
0:00 Introduction
1:31 Poem: a beginner’s guide to getting up in the morning
6:18 Poem: How’s tricks?
11:45 Poem: no rest without love
16:11 Poem: the tango misogyny
22:54 Poems: Long Live Lexapro / To F
33:53 Poem: The Gospel of the Sun
36:09 Closing Questions
41:00 Outro and Next Episode
Buy Alleigh’s book: http://www.lulu.com/shop/alekzandra-thoms/if-the-grass-can-hold-its-ground-so-can-i/paperback/product-23158026.html
Connect with Alleigh on Instagram @bitter_feminist
Visit www.modernathenas.com for links to all episodes. Subscribe to our podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play or YouTube. Send us feedback or leave a review! Thanks for listening.
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Irena’s Children, is the story of Irena Sendler, a Polish Catholic woman and Modern Athena. In her early 20s during the time period covered by the book (Irena's Children by Tilar J. Mazzeo), and standing 4’11” tall, Irena was not physically imposing. But anyone that underestimated her was sorely mistaken. It was this young woman’s iron spirit, sense of purpose, and bravery that
helped her to organize dozens of ordinary citizens, across the divides of religion, into foot soldiers for her human network. Between 1940 and 1945, this network saved the lives of 2,500 Jewish children who otherwise would have perished with their parents in the Warsaw ghetto, in the rail cars destined for the Treblinka extermination camp, or in the gas chambers at Treblinka. Listen now as we tell her story.
INDEX
0:00 Intro and Background of the Book
1:52 Warsaw at the Start of World War II
3:38 The German Purges Begin
6:13 The Germans Target the Jews
7:48 Irena’s First Resistance Efforts
10:48 The Ghetto is Created
16:53 The Winter of 1941-1942
18:20 Escaping the Ghetto: Saving the Children
25:08 Escaping the Ghetto: Saving the Families
26:55 Gross-Aktion Warsaw
30:50 Trying to Save the Children: Umschlagplatz and The Ghetto Hospital
36:05 Trying to Save the Children: Dr. Korczak’s Orphanage
38:20 The Money Runs Out
40:45 The Lists of Children Grow
44:00 The Final Liquidation of the Ghetto
49:45 Irena’s Capture
55:00 The Warsaw Uprising
59:16 The Fate of the Lists
1:03:00 Outro and Next Episode
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In this podcast, we will be discussing the book “A Little More About Me,” by Pam Houston. Pam Houston is a well-known fiction writer. In A Little More About Me, Pam uses essays to tackle the transformative moments of her life and to reflect on the decisions she has made and the various twists and turns her life journey has taken. As Pam takes the reader on this journey, we see that she refuses to ever give up her dreams, and refuses to settle for what others’ expectations are of her. Time after time, she bravely steps into the unknown to challenge herself and to search for who she truly is and who she wants to be. Pam embodies Athena’s perseverance, bravery through challenges, fortitude, and drive.
INDEX
0:00 Intro and Background of the Book
1:07 Mid-30s
3:30 Walking on the Edge
6:55 Dogs and Kids
10:27 Outgrowing Home
14:04 Friendship: Loss and Gain
19:06 The Grand Tetons: New Boundaries in Life
24:38 Conquering Challenges, Accepting When it is Too Much
28:37 Insecurities: We All Have Them
34:37 Fear of Life Changes
41:24 In the Company of Fisherman: Companionship
47:55 Redefining Success
52:05 Outro and Next Episode
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In this podcast, we will be discussing the book “The Lighthouse Keeper’s Daughter: The Remarkable True Story of American Heroine Ida Lewis,” by Lenore Skomal. Lenore tells the story of Ida Lewis, whose father was responsible for keeping the light burning in the Lime Rock Lighthouse outside of Newport, Rhode Island in the mid-1800s. When Ida was young, her father fell ill, and tending the light fell to her mother and later, to Ida. Ida was considered the bravest woman of her day, not because of her light keeping skills but because of her daring rescues at sea. Ida would see men in danger in the waters surrounding the lighthouse and immediately race for her row boat, casting off and rowing as hard as she could to reach the drowning men. Using her 5’4”, 103-pound frame, she would pull the men into her boat and then row them back to the safety of the shore. Ida’s rescues brought her unwanted fame and attention. While she met some of the biggest political and military names of her day—men who today have their own pages in history books—and was visited by Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony—the leaders of the suffrage movement—Ida never appeared to enjoy the spotlight. The story of this Modern Athena would have been lost to history, or at least relegated to a footnote, if Lenore Skomal had not written this book.
INDEX
0:00 Intro and Background of the Book
1:55 Lighthouses & The Lime Rock Lighthouse
5:25 Ida and Hosea
8:57 Ida’s First Rescue
13:48 The Famous Rescue
19:19 The Famous Rescue: Publicity and Grace Darling
22:59 July 4, 1869
29:03 Ida Becomes a Newport Attraction
38:18 Ida’s Life Moves On
41:38 Ida’s Official Appointment and Last Rescue
45:15 The End of an Era
48:19 Outro and Next Episode
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In this podcast, we will be discussing the book Special Agent: My Life on the Front Lines as a Woman in the FBI, by Candice DeLong. When Candice DeLong joined the FBI, she was one of the few female agents. At that time, women represented less than 4% of a total agent force of 8,000. Today, women remain a minority—there are 1,700 women, representing only 15% of total agents. We wanted to share Candice’s story with you because she is an example of how to succeed as a leader in a male-dominated profession. Her persistence, work ethic, and teamwork were the pillars of her success. And, like many other women in male-dominated professions, she learned how to walk the line between being “one of the guys” and being an assertive, independent woman.
INDEX
0:00 Intro and Background of the Book
1:01 Candice’s Psychiatric Nursing Career: Working Under Stress
5:20 Candice’s Application and Admission to the FBI
10:42 Attending the FBI Academy, Confronting Sexism and Double Standards
18:34 Candice Joins the FBI, Heads to Chicago Field Office
27:58 Women in the FBI: Camaraderie, Mentors and Competition
32:51 Candice’s Home Life, Making Ends Meet as a Single Mother
35:42 Office of Professional Responsibility: FBI’s Internal Affairs Department
37:55 Candice Moves to San Francisco, Works the Unabomber Case
43:27 Outro and Next Episode
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Please note that some of the descriptions in this podcast are graphic and may not be appropriate for children.
In this episode, we discuss a book about Ama Adhe, a Tibetan woman who was imprisoned by the Chinese and subjected to inhumane treatment in labor camps for over twenty years. Adhe’s courage, perseverance and strength throughout her imprisonment and her life embody the very essence of a Modern Athena. "Although the circumstances of her life are tragic, the wisdom, strength, and courage that Ama Adhe sustained through those many torturous years place her among those rare human beings who would not turn their backs on those in need or repeat a doctrine they did not believe in. To Tibetans, Adhe is a symbol of courage and determination; to me, she speaks for a people who against great odds valiantly maintain their culture, their religion, and their inner freedom.”
INDEX
0:00 Intro and Background of the Book
1:12 The Tibet of Adhe’s Childhood
3:39 The Chinese Arrive in Tibet
8:42 Adhe is Detained
11:01 Adhe is Interrogated and Sentenced
14:00 Adhe’s Experiences in the Labor Camps
15:50 Re-Education Meetings
18:00 The Enduring Friendships in the Labor Camps
19:29 Adhe’s Sentence Ends but She is Not Released
26:02 A New Friend and A Return Home After 21 Years
29:19 Adhe is Finally Released from Prison
31:52 Adhe Reunites with Her Brother
35:00 Adhe Leaves Tibet for the Last Time, Meets the Dalai Lama
37:18 Adhe is a Living Testimony
38:52 Tibet Today
39:15 Outro and Next Episode
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Christy Orser is a Major in the US Army. She is also a wife and a mother to two children, William, 5, and Caroline, 2. She graduated from UMass Amherst with a double major in communications and political science. She was also an Army ROTC Distinguished Military Graduate. She holds a Masters in Legislative Affairs from George Washington University. Her military education includes the Military Intelligence Officer Basic and Career courses, the Commanding General Staff Officer Course, the Air Force Space and Missile Intelligence Formal Training Unit, the Army Counterintelligence Agent Course, and the US Army Airborne School. Christy’s awards and decorations include the Bronze Star, for her service in Iraq, the Parachutist Badge, the Army Space Badge, the German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge, and the Order of the Combat Spur. Christy is also the recipient of the General Douglas MacArthur Leadership award. We had the chance to hear about her military career, leadership lessons and how she creates balance in life.
INDEX
0:00 Intro
1:54 Joining the Military and First Deployment
23:06 Coming home and Promotion to New Job
32:09 Army Congressional Fellowship Program
36:09 Mentoring Young Leaders
38:38 Knowing Your “Why”
43:22 Juggling Life, Finding Balance for Family
57:11 Closing Questions
1:03:17 Outro and Next Episode
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We chose Susan Spencer-Wendel as a Modern Athena because in the face of a diagnosis of a terminal illness (ALS), she chose to live a life of joy, building memories, making special moments, and surrounding herself with her family and friends. Susan also took a special trip with each of her children, and with each of her close friends. Knowing her illness’ destructive path, she chose to embrace life rather than allow the illness to control her. She was, in every way, a pillar of strength and courage. This podcast is about her trips, her journeys inward, and her year of finding peace.
INDEX
00:00 Intro and Background of the Book
01:53 ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis)
09:29 Decision to Travel
12:17 Space Shuttle Launch
16:17 The Yukon and the Northern Lights
22:15 Susan’s Mother, Facing Death
27:37 Christmas
31:57 Chickee Hut
36:32 John, Her Husband
41:09 Steph, Her Sister
47:47 The Children’s Trips
50:58 Scrapbooking
55:00 Writing the Book and the Close
57:49 Outro and Next Episode
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Not every Modern Athena is a woman who has become a well-known warrior. Sometimes, Modern Athenas can be found quietly persevering through life’s never ending twists and turns. Making it through one day, and another, until they have passed through darkness, light, and time. In The Rules Do Not Apply, Ariel Levy begins the book talking about the loss of her spouse, her child, her home, and the life she was building for herself. She then turns back time, taking us through her journey of building her writing career, finding love, owning a home, and becoming pregnant. She also takes us through the darkness of her partner’s alcoholism, her miscarriage, and the sense that she may never find happiness. As we discuss Ariel’s rocky road, we hope our listeners find solace in her words: no one has everything in life.
INDEX
00:00-01:06 Intro and Background of the Book
01:07-06:43 Ariel the Writer
06:44-10:24 Ariel’s Mother
10:25-15:17 Ariel’s Father: Life is Fragile
15:18-18:17 Ariel Meets Lucy, Finds Love
18:18-21:29 Fertility: Ticking of the Biological Clock
21:30-24:53 Wanting It All
24:54-27:05 Ariel and Lucy Divided: The Affair and Alcoholism
27:06-35:20 Lucy’s Alcoholism
35:21-40:01 Ariel Gets Pregnant, Joy and Purpose
40:02-47:42 Ariel’s Miscarriage, Loss and Grief
47:43-49:53 Healing
49:54-52:29 The End of the Road, Curiosity and Hope
52:30-53:24 Outro and Next Episode
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The Dressmaker of Khair Khana by Gayle Tzemach Lemmon, tells the story of Kamila Sidiqui and her sisters, who, under Kamila’s bravery, courage, and perseverance, were able to survive under the Taliban rule in Kabul, Afghanistan once their parents and older brother were forced to flee. Charged with her family’s survival, Kamila invented a way to provide for her family—by making dresses. She eventually mobilized her sisters, and their friends, and her local community. Kamila’s ability to keep going even as her world fell apart, her bravery and courage when she unexpectedly became the primary breadwinner for her family, completely unprepared, and her entrepreneurial spirit, all make her a Modern Athena.
INDEX
00:00-01:56 Intro and Background of the Book
01:57-11:23 The Taliban Reginme Takes Over
11:24-16:43 Kamila’s Family
16:44-19:31 The Book Swap
19:32-21:34 Money Begins to Run Out
21:35-26:07 Kamila Becomes a Seamstress
26:08-32:08 Kamila Starts Her Business
32:09-41:03 Her Business Expands
41:04-44:12 A Dressmaking School is Created
44:13-49:19 The Unexpected Wedding Party
49:20-51:36 A Message from the Taliban
51:37-54:59 The Tides Begin to Change
55:00-58:55 After September 11, 2001
58:56-59:47 Outro and Next Episode
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In this podcast, we will be discussing the book Year of No Clutter, by Eve O. Schaub. We chose this book because it addresses ideas around clutter- clutter that inhabits all of our lives. Eve takes a year to declutter her home, most particularly a room she calls the Hell Room. Through her decluttering journey, we learn about Eve’s family’s habits of holding onto clutter, the deep rooted reasons why Eve holds onto material things, and lessons we can all use in our own lives. Eve is a Modern Athena because she has overcome a significant emotional and physical challenge and transformed her way of thinking to make a better life for herself and a better future for her daughters, by setting the example.
INDEX
00:00-01:37 Intro and Background of the Book
01:38-05:36 The Hell Room
05:37-09:35 Hoarder or a Clutter Queen?
09:36-13:56 Problems of Abundance
13:57-20:30 Why Does Eve Keep it All?
20:31-25:28 Change
25:29-31:07 Indecision, Fear and “Extreme Confidence”
31:08-36:11 Excuses
36:12-39:15 Moving Forward
39:16-43:59 Miles’ Gift Ban
44:00-46:34 Creating a Method to the Madness
46:35-50:47 Creative Keeping of Memories
50:48-57:20 Don’t Look Behind You and Reaching the End of the Year
57:21-58:12 Outro and Next Episode
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A Year by the Sea, by Joan Anderson
In the year following a separation from her husband, Joan weathers loneliness and makes new beginnings. She spends intentional time reflecting and discovering her needs, possibly for the first time in decades since becoming a wife and mother. She learns through all of her trials in the year by the sea, that there is great value in individuality. Joan’s toughness, drive, perseverance and vulnerability makes her a Modern Athena.
INDEX
00:00-04:49Intro and Background of the Book
04:50-07:39Sit Still and Hear the Answers
07:40-12:42Visiting the Seals
12:43-17:50Taking Chances
17:51-19:56Joan’s Relationship with Her Husband
19:57-23:22Change
23:23-27:19Minimalism
27:20-34:33Meeting Joanie Erickson: Not looking back, Obscuring yourself
34:34-45:44Meeting Joanie Erickson: Friends who Feed You, Leaving Space, Mentors, Beach Glass
45:45-49:01Recommendation of Patience
49:02-52:34The Water Heater and Clamming
52:35-56:38A Parade of Guests
56:39-58:49Joan’s Reflection on the Year
58:50-1:01:20Joan’s Family: The Year Together and Apart
1:01:21-1:02:19 Outro and Next Episode
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The Center Cannot Hold is a book about Elyn Saks’ journey living with schizophrenia. Elyn has survived decades of learning to accept, and living with, her illness. Her book takes the reader through her journey of diagnosis, treatment, and living day-to-day life. She struggles with whether she is defined by her illness, or whether her illness is a part of her. She struggles through the decision to take medication and whether to get ongoing treatment. Throughout the book, Elyn describes the impact of her illness on her personal and professional life, on the people around her, and on her family. We cannot recommend this book enough, as it provides a glimpse into this too often silent struggle, and promotes compassion for all who suffer with the many challenges of mental illness.
INDEX
00:00-02:08Intro and Background of the Book
02:09-07:44Overview of Elyn’s Professional Life
07:45-12:53Schizophrenia: The Illness
12:54-20:03Elyn’s Diagnosis
20:04-25:33Schizophrenia: The Center Cannot Hold
25:34-30:24The Fight with Medication and Her Illness
30:25-35:16Accepting Medication
35:17-42:43Medication: Side Effects
42:44-46:04Disclosing Her Mental Illness
46:05-51:57The Trauma of Mental Illness
51:58-56:54Research into the Human Brain
56:55-59:35Why Elyn Wrote the Book
59:36-1:00:24Outro and Next Episode
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Life in Motion is about Misty Copeland, the first African-American principal dancer at the American Ballet Theatre, or ABT, in New York. The books winds its way from Misty’s childhood, when she first took up ballet at the local Boys and Girls Club at the urging of her Drill Team instructor, to her first competitions, her first auditions for prestigious summer programs, her entrance into the ABT Studio Team, her ascent to the corps de ballet, then to a soloist, and eventually to a principal dancer. Misty discusses not only her journey but the journey of her family through tumultuous years. Misty finds her way in life through ballet as well as through the guidance of mentors, who are themselves Modern Athenas.
Throughout the book, Misty discusses lessons she has learned about life, about ballet, and about herself. It is these lessons that we are going to focus on today.
00:00-01:10 Intro and Background of the Book
01:11-03:55 Discipline, No Shortcuts
03:56-06:00 The Illusion of Perfection
06:01-11:13 Freedom Through Performance
11:14-14:37 Becoming Less Self-Judgmental
14:38-17:14 Getting Noticed
17:15-21:40 Dichotomies of Life, Finding Balance
21:41-26:02 Believing in Your Purpose
26:03-30:51 Race & Identity
30:52-33:40 Climbing the Ladder
33:41-37:14 Self-Image, Self-Esteem
37:15-42:07 Appreciating What You Have
42:08-46:09 Running Away vs. Confronting Problems
46:10-51:52 Misty's Modern Athenas
51:53-52:47 Outro and Next Episode
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Gertrude was a true Modern Athena in the way she took on risk, stereotypes, and challenging situations. Her work brought new archaeological finds, destroyed stereotypes of what women could be, brought closure to families during World War I, and ended up shaping the modern Middle East.
Georgina Howell's book, Gertrude Bell: Queen of the Desert, Shaper of Nations, is not just a historically accurate portrayal of Gertrude’s life, but it includes exquisite detail into each of her journeys, the people she met along the way, and the politics of each of the worlds she passed through. It also provides incredible detail on the history of the Middle East and why it looks the way it does today. We urge any of our listeners who have any interest in learning about why the modern Middle East has so much conflict to pick up this book.
INDEX
00:00-01:25 Intro
01:26-03:59 Gertrude's Childhood through University
04:00-09:45 Gertrude's Mountaineering Adventures
09:46-14:38 Gertrude's First Global Trips
14:39-17:52 World War I
17:53-20:25 British Intelligence: Cairo
20:26-21:41 History of Iraq Leading Up to the British Occupation
21:42-24:41 Gertrude in Baghdad
24:42-30:04 Working Towards Iraqi Independence
30:05-33:45 After the Work Shaping Iraq is Done
33:46-39:48 Gertrude's Death and Legacy: 1926
39:49-40:46 Outro and Next Episode
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Runner takes us along on Lizzy Hawker’s ultra running journey, from her first ultra race, the Ultra-Trail du Mont Blanc, through her racing career, including five first place finishes in the UTMB, three runs from Everest Base Camp to Kathmandu, Nepal, a Spartathlon win, and a 100km World Championship. Lizzy’s running journey is like many of the challenges and journeys we all face in our lives. Her perseverance in tough conditions, focus on her goals, willingness to take risks, and continuously overcoming the odds to achieve greatness make her a Modern Athena.
INDEX
00:00-01:40 Intro and Background of the Book
01:41-07:26 Work on the British Antarctic Survey: Going South
07:27-11:35 Work on the British Antarctic Survey: Stuck in Ice and Prep for her Ultra Career
11:36-14:41 First Run on the Ultra Trail of Mont Blanc: Background
14:42-20:41 First Run on the UTMB: The Starting Line
20:42-26:37 First Run on the UTMB: Running Through Darkness, Step by Step
26:38-30:29 First Run on the UTMB: Winning
30:30-33:02 Daily Disciplines in Everyday Life
33:03-35:18 Living Simply, Pursuing a Dream
35:19-40:37 The Himalayas: First Expedition to Kalang
40:38-46:24 The Himalayas: From Everest to Kathmandu
46:25-49:10 Life's Pilgrimages
49:11-50:51 Knowing the "Why"
50:52-53:50 Overcoming Anxiety
53:51-56:04 Dare to Dream
56:05-57:01 Outro and Next Episode
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As a young teenager, Sarah was a competitive figure skater with her sights set on the Olympics. Her parents both worked in law enforcement and continue to be strong role models for her. Sarah is a CPA and the CFO for a Veteran Owned business in Philadelphia, PA. Sarah has over 26 years in corporate finance, has run for public office, married for 24 years and is the Mother to two adult children. She volunteers with both the Greater Philadelphia Veterans Network @PhillyVeterans and the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation @MarineScholars and she encourages you to check them out.
INDEX
00:00-01:24Intro
01:25-11:44Parent Role Models
11:45-15:34Childhood Goals
15:35-34:32Career in Finance, How Gender impacts the Workplace
34:33-39:56Running for State Legislature
39:57-49:37Keys to a Strong Marriage and Work/Life Balance
49:38-51:54Volunteer Work with Veterans
51:55-1:02:28Closing Questions
1:02:29-1:03:17 Outro
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Expecting Adam is the journey of Martha Beck and the pregnancy and birth of her son, Adam, who has Down Syndrome. The book opens with Martha taking the reader back to the start of her pregnancy, when she was a PhD student at Harvard. The story winds its way through the triumphs and travails of her pregnancy, including when she received the news of Adam’s condition, and concludes with Adam’s birth. Throughout the book, Martha weaves in stories about Adam, painting an intimate portrait of her son and the way he sees the world. Martha also brings to light the issues of family, hope, destiny, and expectations.
INDEX
0:00:00-0:01:52 Intro and Background of the Book
0:01:53-0:14:10 Surviving Harvard: Imposter Syndrome
0:14:11-0:20:21 Sibyl: The Value of Friendship
0:20:22-0:26:40 Coping with Unexpected Life Changes
0:26:41-0:30:51 Balancing Work-Life Expectations
0:30:52-0:33:27 Asking for Help
0:33:28-0:38:04 The Decision to Keep Adam
0:38:05-0:39:53 Mothering
0:39:54-0:41:50 Being the Parent Your Child Needs
0:41:51-0:45:26 It’s the Little Things in Life
0:45:27-0:49:04 Being Good Enough
0:49:05-0:53:09 Connecting with Others Who Know Pain
0:53:10-0:55:59 Stoicism
0:56:00-0:58:45 Angels in Life
0:58:46-1:01:07 Conclusion
1:01:08-1:02:03 Outro and Next Episode
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Have you ever felt adrift and alone, as though you don’t belong to any one community?
Have you ever been to a foreign country, and not known the language?
Have you ever set out to learn a new skill or area of knowledge and been left frustrated by being unable to grasp the skill as quickly as you would have liked?
In Other Words is centered around the themes of identity, alienation and belonging. As we discuss this book and the author’s use of language to traverse these difficult topics, we invite you to consider your own life and your own feelings of identity and belonging.
00:00-2:40 Intro and Summary of the Book
2:41-6:48 The Lake Metaphor: Facing Challenges
6:49-12:31 The Pocket Dictionary: Security Blankets
12:32-15:20 Language as a Relationship
15:21-23:15 The Locked Gate Opens: Jumping off into the Unknown
23:16-33:58 The Gardener: Importance of Imperfections
33:59-42:01 Discipline in Learning
42:02-45:52 Being Comfortable with Self
45:53-47:49 Why do I Write?
47:50-52:48 Never Reaching Perfection
52:49-58:25 It Will Never Be Enough
58:26-59:18 Outro and Next Episode
Harriet Tubman was a Modern Athena because of her perseverance and warrior spirit. Harriet brought justice to those who could not obtain justice for themselves. Her tireless work to bring slaves to freedom, to assist those in need, and to always give of herself are qualities that are inspiring and extraordinary. We share the account of Harriet's life as written in the book by Catherine Clinton.
0:00:00-0:00:53 Intro
00:54-0:02:39 Background on Harriet Tubman
0:02:40-0:07:16 Harriet's Marriage
0:07:17-0:12:11 Escaping to Freedom
0:12:12-0:15:23 UGRR-Fugitive Slave Law
0:15:24-0:21:18 About the UGRR
0:21:19-0:25:45 Harriet as a Conductor on the UGRR
0:25:46-0:35:01 Harriet's Work Methods on the UGRR
0:35:02-0:40:06 What Made Harriet Special
0:40:07-0:43:41 The Transition Years: 1858-1860
0:43:42-0:47:30 The Civil War: Fort Monroe
0:47:31-0:51:23 The Civil War: Port Royal
0:51:24-0:53:02 Emancipation Proclamation
0:53:04-0:57:34 Combahee River Raid
0:57:35-0:58:13 Heading Home to NY
0:58:14-1:06:55 After the War
1:06:56-1:09:07 Harriet's Legacy
1:09:07-1:09:57 Outro and Next Episode
In this third episode, we discuss the experiences and contributions from the women at JPL (Jet Propulsion Lab) and women of West Computing at Langley. We also share some questions and answers from our listeners.
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00:00-00:49 Intro
00:50-37:45 Compare/Contrast of Women from JPL and West Computing
37:46-51:47 Listener Q & A
51:48-52:53 Conclusion and Next Podcast
In this second episode of the Human Computers cluster, Modern Athenas discusses Margot Lee Shetterly’s Hidden Figures. The book tells the stories of four African American women computers who worked at the Langley Memorial Aeronautical Laboratory in segregated Hampton, Virginia from 1943-1958.
0:00:00 - 0:02:33 Introduction and Summary of the Book
0:02:34 - 0:13:22 Becoming a West Computer: 1943-1958
0:13:23 - 0:34:28 Being an African American Woman at Langley: 1943-1958
0:34:29 - 0:44:02 Working in West Computing: 1943-1958
0:44:03 - 0:48:07 Leadership in West Computing: 1943-1958
0:48:08 - 0:54:33 Balancing Home and Work Life: 1943-1958
0:54:34 - 0:59:33 The End of East Computing and WWII: 1947
0:59:34 - 1:07:08 The End of West Computing: 1958
1:07:09 - 1:17:29 After West Computing: 1958-1969
1:17:30 - 1:19:05 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
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In this inaugural episode, Modern Athenas will discuss the lives and contributions of Human Computers as portrayed in Nathalia Holt's Rise of the Rocket Girls: The Women Who Propelled Us, From Missiles to the Moon to Mars.
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