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PODCAST

The Persistence

Angélica Cordero

The Persistence, hosted by Angélica Cordero, dives into the untold stories of people who’ve shaped history but rarely get the spotlight. Mixing bold personal stories, deep historical insights, and today’s fight for justice, each episode uncovers the connections between past movements and modern struggles. If you’re ready to see history through a fresh, intersectional lens, this is the podcast for you. obsessivelycurious.substack.com

history

All Episodes

30:33

Don't Kid Yourself Baby

The Persistence ·

2025/10/24

Finding the perfect theme song is almost impossible, until you stumble on Folds Band’s “Don’t Kid Yourself, Baby,” a funk-infused tribute to Fannie Lou Hamer, the civil rights legend who could turn a microphone into a movement. Band member Seth Moskowitz discovered her fire-breathing 1969 speech from the Vietnam Moratorium at UC Berkeley, and the rest is soul-shaking history. Hamer didn’t just fight voter suppression in Mississippi; she faced beatings, threats, and still showed up to shake the 1964

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39:51

A Special Conversation with Bob Hotard

The Persistence ·

2025/10/10

When does paying attention become a form of protest? In this episode of The Persistence, host Angélica Cordero sits down with Bob Hotard, a UX designer who turned his skill for human-centered design into real-world activism. From building safe spaces for tough conversations inside AT&T to marching for justice in the streets, Bob’s journey proves that making change doesn’t always require a megaphone—just persistence. Blending personal storytelling, history, and a little wit, this episode challenges

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42:24

Episode 12: There is fiction in the space between

The Persistence ·

2025/09/26

What do Cold War witch hunts and old-school fables have in common? In this episode of The Persistence, host Angélica Cordero connects The Boy Who Cried Wolf and The Emperor’s New Clothes to America’s Red Scare, exposing how paranoia and denial fueled McCarthyism. With humor and insight, Angélica revisits the stories of Paul Robeson, Dorothy Parker, and Hazel Scott, brilliant artists and activists who refused to stay silent, even when the cost was everything. This isn’t just history. It’s a mirror

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39:28

Episode 11: Living in Captivity

The Persistence ·

2025/09/05

The 1950s sold us smiling housewives, white picket fences, and tidy sitcom kitchens. But behind the canned laughter? Millions of women were juggling two jobs. One at home, one on the clock…and still getting shortchanged.In this episode of The Persistence, host Angelica Cordero pulls back the curtain on post–World War II America. From union women taking on GE and Westinghouse, to Black garment workers packing Madison Square Garden, to Latina mamas turning PTA meetings into organizing hubs. This is

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32:39

It don’t matter what you wear

The Persistence ·

2025/08/22

Drag in uniform? Believe it. In this episode of The Persistence, host Angélica Cordero uncovers the hidden world where World War II soldiers swapped rifles for wigs and turned the battlefield into a stage. From Irving Berlin’s hit This Is the Army to all-soldier revues that broke barriers of race, gender, and sexuality, these performances reveal how the military used theater to boost morale and how queer expression thrived in the unlikeliest of places.It’s a story of radical joy in the middle of

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43:37

Episode 10: Walking on Broken Glass

The Persistence ·

2025/05/23

Forget Rosie the Riveter’s flex. In this episode of The Persistence, host Angélica Cordero flips the script on the usual WWII girl-power narrative and digs into the real story of the women who didn’t just roll up their sleeves—they reprogrammed the whole damn machine. From scrubbing floors and working fields to leading strikes, staffing factories, and forcing entire industries to modernize, these women fought for fair pay, safety, dignity, and a future where they mattered. Angélica takes you through

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33:18

Episode 9: B***h

The Persistence ·

2025/05/12

In Episode Nine of The Persistence, Angélica Cordero connects today’s personal and societal headaches to the messy fight for progress throughout history. She zeroes in on Margaret Sanger, the birth control trailblazer whose game-changing fight for reproductive rights is forever complicated by her ties to the eugenics movement. It’s a story that proves people, like history, are rarely tidy, and progress is always tangled in contradictions. With her signature mix of wit, heart, and a healthy dose of

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32:42

Episode 8: You can get with this Or you can get with...

The Persistence ·

2025/04/25

In this compelling episode of The Persistence, host Angélica Cordero explores the idea of life as a never-ending performance, where each of us plays multiple roles to meet expectations, navigate pressures, and make sense of our identities. With her signature wit and insight, Angélica draws a vibrant parallel between our everyday performances and the dazzling world of 1920s queer nightlife during the Pansy Craze. She shines a spotlight on trailblazing drag performers like Gladys Bentley, Gene Malin,

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37:06

Episode 7: Games, Changes, and Fears

The Persistence ·

2025/04/04

In this thought-provoking episode of The Persistence, host Angélica Cordero dives into the theme of growth through struggle. Using Henry Kissinger's controversial legacy as a backdrop, Angélica explores the idea that brilliance is born from pressure and challenges. The episode delves into historical and personal anecdotes, highlighting the importance of conflict in storytelling and real life. With a mix of humor and insight, she draws parallels to pop culture, historical events, and personal

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17:03

Ready or Not

The Persistence ·

2025/04/04

History is in motion, shaped by relentless activism and collective action. This episode reflects on the turbulence of late 2024 into early 2025, drawing a powerful analogy between life and a chaotic road trip. Rather than rushing ahead blindly, it’s a time to pause, reassess, and plan. Change isn’t inevitable—it’s made by those willing to fight for it. From Senator Cory Booker’s 25-hour filibuster to everyday acts of resistance, this conversation highlights the power of ‘good necessary trouble,’

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20:09

Amuse-bouche

The Persistence ·

2024/12/14

What keeps progress alive when the odds feel impossible? In this episode of The Persistence, host Angélica Cordero unravels stories of bold resilience that have shaped history—from Enheduanna, the first-known author who wielded her words to assert power, to Judy Chicago’s The Dinner Party, an unapologetic celebration of women’s achievements. Along the way, we explore how oral traditions and collective action have kept the flame of progress burning through the centuries. Tune in for a vibrant mix of

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58:40

Episode 6: You Gotta Be

The Persistence ·

2024/11/23

In this episode, host Angélica Cordero takes a deep dive into the ominous origins of the Atlantic slave trade, beginning with Prince Henry the Navigator's arrival of enslaved Africans in Portugal in 1444. The narrative then shifts to Gomes Eannes de Azurara, Henry's chronicler, who struggles with the horrifying reality of human suffering he witnesses. Fast forward to the turbulent history of women's and civil rights activism in America, highlighting figures like Harriet Tubman, Susan B. Anthony, and

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11:36

A Chill Pill

The Persistence ·

2024/11/15

This episode offers a guided meditation to help listeners release tension and find equilibrium. The narrative inspires courage to face uncertain futures, emphasizing the importance of small, consistent steps and the shared strength drawn from historical figures who persevered through challenges. The episode encourages recognizing one's part in a larger story and moving forward despite uncertainties, with an emphasis on contributing to a better future for all.This episode was written by and produced

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38:07

Episode 5: Coming Out of the Dark

The Persistence ·

2024/10/18

In this episode, host Angélica Cordero takes us on a personal visit to the birthplace of the U.S. women's rights movement in Seneca Falls, where over 300 men and women gathered in 1848. They boldly outlined their grievances in the Declaration of Sentiments, calling out gender inequalities enshrined in law and society. The constitution's inspiration from the Haudenosaunee Confederacy and their matrilineal society is explored. The episode also challenges the popular narrative that credits Susan B

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11:59

A Note from our Host

The Persistence ·

2024/10/04

Host Angélica Cordero gets real about a delay in releasing episode 5 due to illness, but rather than leaving listeners empty-handed, she shares some reflections on resilience. Inspired by a recent trip to Monterrey, Mexico, and the symbolic power of Jesús Contreras’ sculpture Malgré Tout, she mixes personal stories with historical insight. Cordero recounts her time in Monterrey and Santiago, touching on her family’s roots and a trek into the mountains, all while exploring themes of persistence.This

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48:37

Episode 4: Never Quite as it Seems

The Persistence ·

2024/09/20

In Episode 4 of The Persistence podcast, Angélica Cordero delves into the complexities of historical research, including biases, gaps, and the laborious efforts of preserving and interpreting sources. She touches on personal anecdotes, the overlooked roles of marginalized groups, and how figures like Olympe de Gouges and Olaudah Equiano fought against inequality. The episode also covers the Haitian Revolution, highlighting how lost and fragmented histories paint an incomplete picture of our

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41:06

Episode 3: Isn't it ironic?

The Persistence ·

2024/09/06

In Episode 3 of The Persistence, host Angélica Cordero takes listeners on an insightful journey, connecting historical dots through a playful version of Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon. Using the game, she connects the dots between historical figures, events, and objects, revealing how seemingly unrelated moments have shaped our world today. From childhood memories of watching Disney’s The Three Caballeros to the story behind the iconic China Poblana dress, and the adventurous escapades of Jeanne

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61:36

A Special Conversation with Fold

The Persistence ·

2024/08/23

The Persistence host Angélica Cordero joins musicians Seth Mowshowitz and Sam Hutchison from Fold, the band behind our theme song Don’t Kid Yourself Baby. Together, they share in an insightful conversation about the deep connections between music and history, revealing how melodies serve as powerful vessels for emotional resonance, protest, and the retelling of historical narratives. Seth opens up about navigating the world as a musician in the midst of neurodivergence, his undiagnosed autism, and

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62:43

Episode 2: Back to Life, Back to Discovery

The Persistence ·

2024/08/09

Ever wondered about the trailblazing women of ancient history who shattered norms and left an indelible mark? In Episode 2 of The Persistence, host Angélica Cordero takes you on a lively and engaging journey through the lives of remarkable figures like Enheduanna, Hatshepsut, Sappho, and Hypatia. These women broke barriers and faced down challenges to change the game in culture, science, and politics. From groundbreaking poetry to ruling empires, Angélica's mix of insightful storytelling and a dash

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23:26

Episode 1 - This is no ordinary world

The Persistence ·

2024/08/09

Picture yourself at a rally, shoulder to shoulder with a sea of passionate people fighting for change. In the debut episode of The Persistence, host Angélica Cordero takes us back to her first protest rally in San Antonio in 2021, where she stood up against Texas' restrictive abortion law. With personal stories and deep historical insights, Angélica links past and present acts of resistance, shining a light on the unyielding spirit of persistence. She draws powerful connections between today's

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21 results

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