Catherine the Great: German Girl Turned Russian Tsar
In 1745, a random German girl marries the future tsar of Russia. Six months into her husband’s reign, she stages a coup to overthrow ...
Women of Power
A podcast exploring what power means and looks like for women—starting by telling the stories & analyzing the strategies of influential women.
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Latest Episodes
Ep 5: Fei-Fei Li: Curiosity, Exploration, and Discovery at the Dawn of AI
Stanford professor Fei-Fei Li has been nicknamed the "godmother of AI." She recently wrote a memoir about her childhood in China, struggles as an immigrant in New Jersey, and the curiosity and relationships that propelled her to the top...
Ep 4: Catherine the Great: German Girl Turned Russian Tsar
We unpack how Catherine, born a minor German princess, won the love of the Russian public and overthrew her husband to become Tsarina of Russia. We also examine how she became one of only 3 Russian rulers ever to have "the Great" append...
Ep 3: Lady Bird Johnson: Attaining Power By Being #2
In this episode, we do something different: we cover a woman whose power was entirely derived from her husband. We discuss how Lady Bird achieved her ambitions by fighting hard for her marriage to the most powerful man of her time, President Lynd...
Ep 2: Angela Merkel: How To Be Both Machiavellian And Modest
Angela Merkel started her life as a research scientist in East Germany. At 35, within a year of entering politics, she was elected to Parliament, and went on to serve as Chancellor of Germany for 16 years. We analyze her stunning rise to power, a...
Ep 1: Anna Wintour: The Devil Who Wears Prada
We analyze the motivations and machinations of the media mogul and fashion icon who inspired The Devil Wears Prada . Sources: Anna: The Biography , by Amy Odell Front Row: Anna Wintour: The Cool Life and Hot Times of Vogue's Editor in C...
About
Hey! I'm Amy, host of Women of Power.
In each episode, I tell the story and analyze the rise of a powerful woman. I read thousands of pages of biographies and dig into interviews to bring you the juiciest stories and most actionable insights.
It's a practical podcast for ambitious women. It's also a fun exploration of business, psychology, history, gender, and the workings of power.
I've always loved reading memoirs and biographies. At Stanford I studied history and technology, and since graduating, I've read 30-50 books a year alongside a demanding tech career. As I grew from engineer to founder & executive of a 25-person startup, I realized that I didn't always resonate with the strategies and motivations of successful men.
That's why I'm making Women of Power: to explore how influential women have navigated social situations and leveraged their femininity to grow their power. I hope you’re as fascinated and inspired as I am by their strategies.
Episode Transcripts
Lady Bird Johnson: Attaining Power As A Supporting Figure
In this episode, we do something different: we cover a woman whose power was entirely derived from her husband. We discuss how Lady Bird ac...
Angela Merkel - Machiavellian Yet Modest Chancellor Of Germany
Angela Merkel started her life as a research scientist in East Germany. At 35, within a year of entering politics, she was elected to Parli...
The Ascent of Anna Wintour
We analyze the motivations and machinations of the media mogul and fashion icon who inspired The Devil Wears Prada . You can also read th...