91: Two Best Friends pt.1: Out of the Blue

Feb 53 min read

Updated: Mar 4

Discover a women ahead of her time and instrumental to the women's rights movement. Discover who is Matilda Gage? From radical parents to radical children, Matilda dreamed of a better future. A future she did not live to see, but whose influence has been seen by millions this year. Learn more about the women who battled "Wicked" misogyny and how this impacted her son, L. Frank Baum and his later works in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.

Strap in for a whimsical, wild ride as we explore the quirkiest corners of historical advocacy and the magical chaos of Oz! From debunking myths with Matilda Electa Joslyn Gage to unpacking L. Frank Baum's quirky political allegories, we're bringing fresh twists to the tales you thought you knew. Join us for laughs, surprising insights, and a deep dive into the real stories and visionary ideals behind flying monkeys and emerald dreams!

Chapters:

00:14:28 Matilda Electa Joslyn Gage: How Matilda Gage used her voice to shake up the system

00:54:47 Matilda's Legacy: Why Matilda is still a big deal in today’s activist scene

00:59:13 L. Frank Baum: Baum’s quirky connections to real world causes

01:26:50 Writing the Book: America's first children's books with a female lead

01:37:45 The Allegory: The hidden political symbols Baum tucked away in the land of Oz

01:53:54 The Truth: What’s true and what’s just fantasy in the world of Oz

02:10:10 Continuing the Story: How Oz shifts from fantasy to a stage for Baum's bold visions

Photos Referenced:

*Matilda Gage in the 1850s - Courtesy of the Matilda Joslyn Gage Center*

Key Quotes

Just because a character is female or has a magical superior knowledge doth not change, does not change the realities of human nature. - Grant Thomas
What makes a witch evil? What makes magic evil? What is the nature of evil? Wickedness so often nameless as the Wicked Witch of the West was. - Maia Warner
Oz is full of female heroes, rulers, and armies, women who are strong and capable of rational thought. - Maia Warner
Matilda Gage believed in mental manifestation or the intrinsic power of women. She always encouraged women to find the magic in themselves. - Maia Warner

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