This week, Stauney and Sadie dive into one of history’s juiciest literary conspiracy theories: Was Shakespeare… a woman?
For centuries, scholars have debated whether the man from Stratford-upon-Avon actually penned the world’s most famous plays — or if “William Shakespeare” was a pseudonym hiding someone else entirely. In this episode, we explore the provocative Atlantic article that reignited the theory that Shakespeare may have been a woman — possibly Emilia Bassano — and the heated responses that followed.
Join us as we unpack the authorship debate, the knowledge embedded in the Bard’s work, and what it meant to be a female writer in the 16th century. Was Shakespeare a woman ahead of her time… or just a man with an incredible quill?
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46:37
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46:37
Wearing the Pants: The Long History of Cross Dressing
This week on More Than a Muse, Stauney and Sadie explore the rich history of cross-dressing in the arts—from ancient traditions to modern pop culture. From Shakespearean heroines and Mulan’s legendary disguise to drag, wartime subversion, and gender-bending on stage and screen, cross-dressing has long been a powerful tool for storytelling, survival, and self-expression. Join us as we discover how artists have used fashion to challenge norms, blur boundaries, and expand what it means to perform gender.
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50:28
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50:28
Frida Kahlo: A Ribbon Around a Bomb
In this episode, Stauney and Sadie dive deep into the extraordinary life and legacy of Frida Kahlo — the artist who turned her body, heartbreak, and political fire into radical self-portraiture. Frida's life was anything but ordinary, from her tragic accident at 18 to her iconic fashion, her tumultuous love story with Diego Rivera, and showing up in her bed at her gallery opening. We explore the evolution of her artistry, her connection to surrealism (whether she liked it or not), her fight against fascism, and the cultural forces that both revered and misunderstood her. Join us as we meet the real woman behind the myth.
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1:04:42
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1:04:42
She Ran Away With the Circus: Miss Lala, Lillian Leitzel, Mabel Stark and more.
In this episode, Stauney and Sadie step into the ring to uncover the stories of extraordinary circus women like Miss LaLa, the aerialist who defied gravity; Lillian Leitzel, whose daring acts made her a legend; strongwoman Katie Sandwina; tiger trainer Mabel Stark; the conjoined singers Millie and Christine McKoy, the lives of May Wirth, Lavinia Warren, Annie Jones and how their artistry, spectacle, and strength often masked a deeper story of exploitation, objectification, and resilience. Join us as we discover how, from sideshows to center stage, these women balanced performance and survival in a world that marveled at their existence while profiting off their bodies.
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55:05
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55:05
The Longing of a Queer Pop Star: Dusty Springfield
Dusty Springfield was one of the most powerful voices in pop music—and one of the most complicated women behind the scenes. In this episode, Stauney and Sadie take a closer look at her career, her image, and the emotional weight of being a closeted queer woman in the spotlight. From her iconic sad ballads to her private struggles with identity and perfectionism, Dusty’s story is one of longing: for love, for freedom, and for control over her own life and legacy. Join us as we break down her biggest hits, her influence on modern music, and why her story still matters today.
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Welcome to MORE THAN A MUSE, a weekly podcast where we explore the lives of women artists, musicians, writers, sculptors, and more. Join Stauney (a graphic designer) and Sadie (a singer-songwriter) EVERY MONDAY as we reframe art history and pop culture with feminism, empowering women to be educated, unapologetically angry, and champion those whom history has forgotten. Through in-depth historical discussions and pop culture chats, we spotlight unsung heroines, all while challenging the status quo. It's time to remember every woman artist as 'More Than A Muse'.
Ireland