Sophie's Parlor

04/27/2026

⁠⁠ Women’s music was a movement all its own in the 1970s. It was about social change, feminist solidarity, and self-empowerment. And, more often than not, it was about le***an love and pride. Not surprising since le***ans were the driving force behind the movement.⁠⁠

That’s where Meg Christian (the subject of season 8, episode 8) played a major role. In 1973, Meg and a collective of like-minded le***ans founded Olivia Records. It was a groundbreaking independent record company for women and by women. What the Olivia collective lacked in capital and experience, they made up for in talent and vision. Both on stage and behind the scenes, Olivia provided an antidote to the straight boys’ club of the music industry, and they put women’s music on the map.
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Photo: The Olivia Records collective, 1977. From left to right: Ginny Berson, Meg Christian, Teresa Trull, Judy Dlugacz, Robin Brooks, Sandy Ramsey, Kate Winter, and Jennifer Woodul. Credit: Image from LP insert of Teresa Trull’s “The Ways a Woman Can Be,” courtesy of QueerMusicHeritage.com.

04/08/2026

🚀 WE HAVE LIFT-OFF! 🚀 The barrier-breaking NASA Artemis II mission is officially on its way to the moon, and Mission Specialist I Christina Koch is officially on her way to making history as the first woman to orbit the moon 👩‍🚀🌕💫

Koch already blazed trails in 2019 when she she joined the all-women spacewalk aboard the ISS, and she currently holds the record for the longest single spaceflight by a woman.

We can't wait to follow the Artemis II crew's flight, which should approach the moon in about 6 days! 🚀

04/08/2026

Sophie's Parlor will be participating in this marathon today during our regular slot from 3-5pm. Tune in!

04/08/2026

In honor of Jazz Appreciation Month, WPFW presents No Regrets: The Music and Spirit of Billie Holiday, airing Wednesdays at 5pm, and Thursdays at 2pm EST, beginning April 1 through May 13 at wpfw.org

No Regrets is a 13-episode audio streaming series that explores Holiday’s musical genius and legacy exploring her early life, the evolution of her singing style, how her haunting rendition of “Strange Fruit” played a vital role in the birth of the Civil Rights movement and other topics related to her astonishing career.

The focus throughout, is Holiday’s singular musical artistry, her independent spirit, how her unique approach to her music became one of the strongest influences in the evolution of jazz, and how she continues to influence performers today.

The series includes interviews with: Angela Davis, Karrin Allyson, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Lara Downes, Dr. Farah Jasmine Griffin, Corky Hale, Alan Harris, Rene Marie, Professor Robert O’Meally, Dan Morgenstern, Fred Plotkin, Adam Clayton Powell III, Beth Roars, Dianne Reeves, Phil Schaap, Andromeda Turre and Casandra Wilson.

The program also includes archived interviews collected by Linda Kuehl including Count Basie, Teddy Wilson, Silvia Syms, Jo Jones, Milt Gabler, John Hammond, Billie Taylor, Mal Waldron, Bobby Tucker and others.

Narrated by veteran Jazz host, Rhonda Hamilton.

02/25/2026

Today is the day to show your support for Sophie’s Parlor during the Winter Membership Drive at WPFW! Become a sustaining member by calling 800-222-9739 or going online to WPFWFM.org and clicking the donate now button!

Washington DC, listener supported community radio station dedicated to Jazz and Justice streaming live.

02/18/2026

Join Diva of the Day Helen today! Show your support for WPFWFM.org by donating today, during the show….

Washington DC, listener supported community radio station dedicated to Jazz and Justice streaming live.

02/11/2026

In a remarkable feat of mathematical ingenuity, high school students Calcea Johnson and Ne'Kiya Jackson have redefined the boundaries of trigonometry by presenting a series of five new proofs for the Pythagorean theorem. Their groundbreaking work, published in the prestigious American Mathematical Monthly, challenges the long-held belief that such proofs could only be achieved using circular reasoning. In their study, the duo not only introduces these five original proofs but also unveils a method to derive five additional demonstrations, bringing the total to ten. Nine of these proofs are entirely new to the mathematical community, offering fresh perspectives on this ancient mathematical truth. By clarifying the relationship between different forms of trigonometry, Johnson and Jackson have opened a new pathway for understanding the theorem, marking a significant contribution to the field of mathematics and inspiring future generations of mathematicians.

01/07/2026

Anna May Wong, the first Chinese American movie star and the first Asian American actress to become internationally famous, was born on this day in 1905. Wong is often remembered for her efforts to combat racial inequality and ethnic stereotypes in early film.

Born Wong Liu Tsong in Los Angeles, Wong was a third generation Chinese American, who grew up working at her family's laundry business but her dream was to star on the silver screen. The West Coast was just beginning its reign as the center for film studios, and young Wong was enthralled. By the age of nine she had chosen her stage name, Anna May Wong. At age 17, she landed her first leading role in the Technicolor film "The Toll of the Sea," a performance that received rave reviews.

Critical praise continued to follow Wong but the only jobs being offered were for supporting roles depicting stereotypical characters. Her hopes for leading roles were limited, as the laws of the day even prevented in*******al kisses from appearing on-screen. Frustrated by the limited options, and a tendency for Hollywood to cast non-Asians for Asian characters, Wong pursued stage and screen roles elsewhere. Her travels brought her to Europe, where she developed a glowing reputation, but she eventually moved back to Hollywood. She continued to be met with and challenge typecast roles for the duration of her career, which lasted for 40 years and included 54 films.

While Wong began acting in the silent film era, she is one of the few actresses who successfully made the transition to cinema with sound. Her contributions to the film industry have been honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and a pillar depicting her image in the "Gateway to Hollywood" sculpture.

To introduce children to Anna May Wong's fascinating life, we recommend "Shining Star: The Anna May Wong Story" for ages 5 to 9 at https://www.amightygirl.com/shining-star

For adult readers, we recommend "Not Your China Doll: The Wild and Shimmering Life of Anna May Wong" (https://amzn.to/47ghvBX) and "Anna May Wong: From Laundryman’s Daughter to Hollywood Legend" (https://amzn.to/4aE22ON)

For books for children and teens about Asian-American Mighty Girls, visit our blog post "60 Mighty Girl Books for Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month" at https://www.amightygirl.com/blog?p=33613

To inspire children and teens with the stories of artistic girls and women - both in real-life and fiction - visit our "Creative Arts" book section at http://amgrl.co/2ibkDIQ

And for hundreds of children's books that explore racism and prejudice in both modern and historical contexts, visit our "Racial & Ethnic Discrimination" book section at http://amgrl.co/2wE6Jbl

01/07/2026

12/22/2025

Betty Reid Soskin, the nation’s oldest park ranger when she retired in 2022 at age 100, and a trailblazer in preserving the history of Black Americans and women, died Dec. 21. She was 104.

Soskin devoted her life to telling stories that might otherwise have gone untold, highlighting the contributions of marginalized communities and ensuring that forgotten voices were brought to the forefront of American history.

Read more ⬇️

11/18/2025