In this episode, we explore the remarkable story behind "The Cure for Women: Dr. Mary Putnam Jacobi and the Challenge to Victorian Medicine that Changed Women’s Lives Forever." Host Theresa Bakken is joined by author Lydia Reeder and audiobook narrator Sara Sheckells to discuss the life and legacy of Dr. Mary Putnam Jacobi—a pioneering scientist and physician who broke barriers for women in medicine during the 19th century.

Key Highlights:

• Mary Putnam Jacobi’s Journey: From a publisher’s daughter in New York to a trailblazing doctor, Jacobi overcame societal and institutional barriers, becoming a force in both science and women’s rights.
• Historical Context: The episode delves into the challenges women faced in accessing education and medical training, the suffrage movement, and the prevailing (often harmful) medical theories about women’s health.
• Scientific Breakthroughs: Jacobi’s research debunked myths about women’s bodies, especially regarding menstruation and fertility, and helped introduce evidence-based medicine to America.
• Personal Connections: Lydia Reeder shares how her own family history inspired her research, while Sara Sheckells reflects on the importance of telling women’s stories and the parallels between Jacobi’s era and today.
• Broader Impact: The conversation touches on the collective efforts of women in history, the importance of public education, and the ongoing relevance of Jacobi’s courage and scientific rigor.
• Audiobook Sample: Listeners hear a vivid scene from Jacobi’s youth, capturing her awe and inspiration as she peers through a microscope—a moment that set her on her groundbreaking path.

Get The Cure for Women audiobook from Libro.fm

https://www.awin1.com/cread.php?awinmid=25361&awinaffid=970873&ued=https%3A%2F%2Flibro.fm%2Faudiobooks%2F9781666681376

Colorado Humanities Colorado Book Awards

https://coloradohumanities.org/programs/colorado-book-awards/

Sara Sheckells narrator

https://sarasounds.com/

Lydia Reeder author

https://lydiareeder.com/

 This is a story about getting focused and creative. It's a non-fiction handbook and guidebook to your brain and what current brain science tells us about how to thrive, relax and even work better with others. The author is a cognitive scientist intent on turning good science into good life strategies. I am so excited to feature the audiobook SHARP 14 Simple Ways to Improve Your Life with Brain Science by Therese Huston on this Desideratum. Thanks to the team at publisher Dreamscape Media including Producer Pete Cross and Editor Cody Stephenson. And, thanks to this episode’s sponsor Pozotron (the audiobook prep and proofing service I use on every single audiobook project I work on).

Here’s an affiliate link to Libro dot fm to get the SHARP audiobook with all its science based brain hacks. Here’s a link to the episode sponsor Pozotron. And, here’s the link to the late Reverend Frederick Buchner profile on PBS. I hope like me you will find ways to support PBS and NPR at your local level. As always, thanks for being here. Thanks for listening.

This is a story about a robot. Annie Bot was created to be the perfect companion and girlfriend for her human owner Doug. She's designed to adapt and learn to get better at serving and meeting his needs. It's a story about what and how she learns. You follow her to her tune up appointments with technicians, you ride a bike with her, and feel her sentience and consciousness grow even while you are continually reminded she's a robot and needs to plug into a charger regularly.

On this episode of Desideratum we're talking about the disarmingly, provocative, edgy novel Annie Bot with author Sierra Greer and narrator Jennifer Jill Araya. Jennifer is an Audie award winning narrator - with incredible range and skill you will hear in the audiobook samples. And, author Sierra Greer has been racking up the awards for this book. Annie Bot just won the Arthur C. Clarke Award which is an award started by and named for the author of the 2001 space Odysessy. It's a yearly award. Annie Bot is the 39th winner. Back in 1987, Margaret Atwood's The Handmaids Tale won the Arthur C Clarke. Annie Bot was also named a Best Book of the Year by Scientific American, Harper's Bazaar and NPR - a Best Science Fiction and Fantasy Book of the Year by the Washington Post and Elle.

I hope you enjoy meeting these comfort zone pushing, deep thinking and award winning storytellers as much as I did.

Jennifer's websites:

https://www.starvingartistnomore.com/https://www.jenniferjillaraya.com/

Sierra's website:

https://www.sierragreerwriter.com/

Libro.fm Affiliate Link directly to the Annie Bot audiobook:

https://www.awin1.com/cread.php?awinmid=25361&awinaffid=970873&ued=https%3A%2F%2Flibro.fm%2Faudiobooks%2F9780063312722