Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast Right Answers Mostly

We’re diving into one of history’s most powerful and dysfunctional dynasties, The Habsburgs. From strategic marriages and massive empires to generations of inbreeding that eventually caught up with them. Get ready for royal drama, a truly insane family tree, and a reminder that history is just gossip. Created and produced by Claire Donald and Tess Bellomo Follow us on social media, buy merch, and more⁠⁠ HERE! ⁠⁠ Join our ⁠PREMIUM CHANNEL HERE ⁠ Sources: History Found , History Profiles , History Mapped Out , Ann Foster , Wikipedia, Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week we cover the Lizzie Borden murder case, one of the most famous in American criminal history.  Accused of brutally killing her father and stepmother with an axe in 1892, Lizzie's trial became a media frenzy. But here’s the twist: she was found not guilty. So was she a cold-blooded killer, or just a single woman in her 30s in the 1800s?! In this episode we break down the crime, the evidence, and bring it back to Bravo more than ever! Let us know your thoughts, Rammies! Created and produced by Claire Donald & Tess Bellomo Follow us here for more information about Right Answers Mostly including social media, merch, and announcements. Join our premium channel HERE where you get three bonus episodes a month (celeb gossip and personal catch up plus ONE more history lesson). You'll get added to our close friends on instagram and also get first access to merch Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome to Back to School Month all month long! Today we cover Nellie Bly: the original girl who sleuthed. After forcing her way into the male dominated world of journalism, Nellie became famous for going undercover inside a notorious New York insane asylum, where she exposed the horrific treatment of its female patients. But she didn’t stop there. She interviewed a serial killer, traveled through Mexico, reported from the front lines of World War I, and raced around the entire world in just 72 days. This is the story of the fearless, complicated and wildly ambitious woman who changed investigative journalism forever, and proved that women didn’t belong on the sidelines of history. They belonged on the front page. Created and produced by Tess Bellomo and Claire Donald. Find out more about RAM, where to follow us, our merch, and more here Want a discount on our premium channel where you get THREE bonus eps a month? We're having a back to school sale where you can get it for $4.99/month for THREE months! It is usually $7.99/month so this is an amazing deal! Sign up here to support our show! Once again, that is $4.99 PER month, every month, not $4.99 for three months total. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In the final chapter of Marilyn Month, we’re covering the last years of Marilyn Monroe’s life and the mystery that still surrounds her death more than 60 years later. From her divorce from Arthur Miller and buying a home of her own, to her rumored relationships with the Kennedys and the infamous “Happy Birthday, Mr. President” performance at Madison Square Garden. We’re also getting into Marilyn’s final photo shoots, her last days, and what we know about the night she died. Then, we’re breaking down the conspiracy theories that have followed her death for decades: the Kennedys, the conflicting timelines, the unanswered questions, and what we actually believe happened. Created and produced by Claire Donald and Tess Bellomo Follow us on social media, buy merch, and more⁠ HERE! ⁠ Join our PREMIUM CHANNEL HERE Sources: Marilyn Monroe: The Biography , The Mystery of Marilyn Monroe: The Unheard Tapes , Vanity Fair Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today we're taking a deep dive into the life of the one and only Dolly Parton - the queen of rhinestones, wigs, and big hair. We start in the Great Smokey Mountains of East Tennessee where Dolly grew up, singing and playing music from an early age. We find out how Dolly got her big break in Nashville, and how she met her very secretive husband of 57 years, Carl Dean. We break down Dolly's classic looks and phrases and her extensive philanthropy work including the Imagination Library and donating $1 million to COVID19 research. And because we can't help ourselves, we do a line reading from the infamous Dolly Parton, Barbara Walters interview. This is DOLLY PARTON!  Created and produced by Claire Donald and Tess Bellomo  Follow us on Instagram at @Rightanswersmostly and TikTok at @Rightanswersmostly  Join Premium at https://rightanswersmostly.supportingcast.fm/ for $7.99/month for two bonus episodes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In episode three of our Marilyn Monroe Month, we’re getting into the height of Marilyn’s fame: the iconic movies, the scandals, and her marriages to two of the most famous men in America, Joe DiMaggio and Arthur Miller. While Hollywood wanted Marilyn Monroe the sex symbol, Marilyn wanted something more. We’re talking about her fight with the studio system, her determination to become a serious actress, and how she eventually took on Hollywood itself. TW: This episodes contains discussions of physical abuse Created by Claire Donald and Tess Bellomo Follow us on social media, buy merch, and learn more about the show ⁠HERE⁠ Join our premium channel ⁠HERE ⁠ ⁠Get $28 off your first month of Nuuly with code RAM ⁠ Sources: ⁠Marilyn Monroe The Biography ⁠, ⁠Interview with Jane Russell⁠, ⁠Interview with Lauren Bacall ⁠, Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

If you love history and gossip, this one's for you! All August long we're covering all things Marilyn Monroe- her childhood, rise to stardom, marriages, conspiracy theories and more- because history is just gossip! Subscribe anywhere you listen to podcasts and share with your friends so we can gab together! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome to our second episode of our Marilyn Monroe Month! Norma Jeane is gone... Marilyn Monroe is about to be born. This week, we follow Marilyn's extraordinary transformation from a lonely aircraft factory worker into one of the most photographed women in America. After being discovered on a wartime assembly line, she throws herself into modeling, bleaches her hair, signs with the Blue Book Modeling Agency, and quickly realizes that beauty alone isn't enough. Hollywood is a game, and she's determined to learn how to play it. We dive into the complicated, often exploitative relationships that shaped her early career, from powerful studio executives and photographers to the acting coaches and mentors who recognized her undeniable star power. Along the way, Marilyn navigates ambition, reinvents herself from Norma Jeane Dougherty into Marilyn Monroe, lands her first studio contracts, and begins chasing the movie career she believes she's destined for. We end with the now-infamous nude calendar photos, a $50 modeling job she never imagined would follow her forever. The images that could have destroyed her career instead became one of the most pivotal turning points in Hollywood history. Created and produced by Tess Bellomo & Claire Donald Find out more about our show here To support our show and receive three bonus episodes a month for just $7.99, go here! Sources: Marilyn Monroe: The Biography by Donald Spoto Use code RAM to receive $28 off your first Nuuly purchase! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

WELCOME TO MARILYN MONTH! All month long, we're doing deep dives into Marilyn Monroe's life because she deserves so much more than just one episode. To kick things off, we're taking it all the way back to the beginning: Norma Jeane's childhood. In this episode, we cover everything from her toddler years through high school, ending on quite the cliffhanger for next week's episode. We dive into the foster parents who raised her, the women who abandoned her, protected her, and shaped her, and how those early relationships influenced the woman she would become. We also talk about the changes she began experiencing around eighth grade, her first crush, and the moments that marked the beginning of her transformation into Marilyn Monroe. Created and produced by Tess Bellomo and Claire Donald For more on RAM, go here If you're interested in joining our subscription for THREE bonus episodes a month, please support the show and sign up here! Thank you for dressing us, Nuuly! Use code RAM for $28 off your first order! TW: This episode contains multiple mentions of SA Sources: Marilyn Monroe, The Biography by Donald Soto Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Release in honor of The Odyssey: This week we re-visit one of history’s juiciest conflicts: The Trojan War. It all starts with a beauty contest judged by a lil shepherd, and spirals into a decade-long war fought over the world’s most shtunning woman. We're talking forbidden love, bro betrayals, hunky men and intense battles. Turns out the gods have a lot of drama. Created and produced by Tess Bellomo and Claire Donald For more on RAM, go here For our SUBSCRIPTION, 3 bonus eps a month, sign up for $7.99/month! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jackie Robinson didn't just change baseball, he changed America. This week, we're rounding out American Icons month with  the incredible story of the man who broke Major League Baseball's color barrier and the impossible pressure that came with it. We talk about how Branch Rickey chose Jackie to integrate the sport, why he was expected to endure racism without fighting back, and how Rachel Robinson became one of the most important partners in his legacy. This is the story of an athlete, activist, husband, and leader who changed far more than the game of baseball.  Created and produced by Claire Donald and Tess Bellomo Follow us on social media, buy merch, and more⁠ HERE Join our premium channel for 3 bonus eps a month ⁠HERE and save 15% when you buy annually! Try ⁠Nuuly ⁠and get $28 off your first month with code RAM Sources: Jackie Robinson documentary , Wikipedia Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Long before pop stars built entire careers around reinvention, Madonna was changing the rules in real time. In this episode, we trace her journey from a broke dancer arriving in New York City with a lot of religious trauma and just a few dollars to becoming the best selling female recording artist of all time. Along the way, we unpack the controversies that made headlines, the reinventions that reshaped pop culture, her groundbreaking advocacy during the AIDS crisis, and the ambition that inspired generations of artists, from Britney Spears to Taylor Swift. Love her or hate her, modern pop stardom wouldn't exist without Madonna. Created and produced by Tess Bellomo & Claire Donald For our socials, merch and more about us, check out our website! TRY NUULY HERE! Code RAM for $28 dollars your first month! To join our premium channel with THREE bonus episodes a month, go here! It is just $7.99 and you get to support our show, get access to close friends and be the first to purchase highly requested merch! Link to Truth or Dare documentary Listen to Tess's best of Madonna playlist here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

RE-RELEASE: Join us in this MUCH requested nostalgic episode as we delve into the enchanting world of American Girl Dolls, exploring their rich history and the cultural impact they've had since their inception in 1986 by founder Pleasant Howard . We’ll trace the journey from the original dolls—each representing a different era in American history (THEY ARE RAMMIES)—to the diverse characters that reflect contemporary society. Discover how these beloved dolls not only sparked a passion for history in young girls but also fostered conversations about identity, diversity, and empowerment.  ALSO SURPRISE: Enjoy two 90s quizzes to take at home! Created and produced by Claire Donald & Tess Bellomo Follow us here for more information about Right Answers Mostly including social media, merch, and announcements. Join our premium channel HERE where you get three bonus episodes a month (celeb gossip and personal catch up plus ONE more history lesson). You'll get added to our close friends on instagram and also get first access to merch Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In honor of America's 250th birthday and American Icons month (in a cool, liberal way), we're celebrating the trailblazers who helped shape the country, and few reached greater heights than Sally Ride. This week, we're telling the story of the physicist who became the first American woman in space, broke through one of the world's most exclusive boys' clubs, and inspired generations of girls to dream bigger. But behind the headlines was a woman who fiercely guarded her private life. For nearly three decades, Sally shared her life with her partner, Tam O'Shaughnessy, a relationship the public didn't learn about until after Sally's death. We explore why she chose privacy, what it meant to be a gay woman navigating fame in the 1980s and '90s, and how her legacy extends far beyond her historic spaceflight. From NASA missions and media scrutiny to quiet courage and lasting impact, this is the story of an American icon whose influence is still reaching for the stars. Created and produced by Tess Bellomo & Claire Donald Merch, shop our outfits and check out our socials here Want three bonus eps a month for just $7.99?? We talk personal lives, pop culture and more! ⁠TRY NUULY HERE! ⁠ Code RAM for $28 dollars your first month! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Everybody knows RuPaul. But the story of how he became RuPaul? It's even better than you think. This week, we're following his journey from a kid in San Diego to discovering drag in Atlanta, creating his unforgettable glamazon persona in New York, overcoming addiction, and building the empire that is RuPaul's Drag Race. We also unpack the lessons that have defined his life: identity, resilience, chosen family, and the radical act of believing in yourself before the world does. Whether you're a Drag Race superfan or simply curious about the man behind the icon, this episode is a celebration of one of the most influential cultural figures of our time. Sources: The House of Hidden Meanings, NPR, Vanity Fair, Vulture, A&E Biography, Wikipedia Created and produced by Claire Donald and Tess Bellomo Follow us on social media, buy merch, and more⁠ HERE! ⁠ Join our premium channel for 3 bonus eps a month ⁠⁠here⁠⁠ and save 15% when you buy annually! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We're BACK! This Pride Month, we're diving into the extraordinary life and legacy of Harvey Milk, the camera shop owner turned activist who became one of the first openly gay elected officials in the United States. Long before rainbow logos and corporate Pride campaigns, Harvey Milk was fighting for visibility, representation, and equality at a time when being openly gay could cost you your job, your family, and your safety. From his childhood on Long Island to becoming the unofficial "Mayor of Castro Street" in San Francisco, Milk transformed personal authenticity into political power, encouraging LGBTQ+ people everywhere to step into the light and be seen. In this episode, we explore Milk's rise to political office, his role in defeating California's anti-gay Briggs Initiative, his famous call for people to come out, and the tragic assassinations of both Milk and Mayor George Moscone. We also unpack the "Twinkie Defense," the White Night Riots, and why Harvey Milk's message that "hope will never be silent"continues to resonate today. Thank you to our guest, Chris DeRosa, for joining us! Check him out here and make sure to listen to our episode of Fixing Famous People Created and produced by Tess Bellomo & Claire Donald If you want to follow us on socials, buy merch, and shop our outfits, go here If you're interested in our Premium Channel where you get THREE bonus episodes a month for $7.99, or you can save 13% if you buy annually, please support our show! Sources include: History.com, Wikipedia, Milk (The Movie) The Times Of Harvey Milk Documentary (1984) If you are an LGBTQIA+ listener and are struggling, please know that you are not alone and support is available. The Trevor Project provides free, confidential crisis support for LGBTQ+ young people 24/7: Call: 1-866-488-7386 Text: START to 678-678 Chat online: thetrevorproject.org/get-help 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is available for anyone experiencing emotional distress or a mental health crisis: Call or Text: 988 LGBT National Help Center offers confidential peer support and local resources: National Hotline: 1-888-843-4564 Youth Talkline: 1-800-246-7743 Visit: lgbthotline.org Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

RE-RELEASE FOR PRIDE: This week's episode is on a fashion industry icon and trailblazer, André Leon Talley. From his early years growing up in the Jim Crow-era South to his rise to prominence as a fashion journalist and Vogue's first African-American male creative director. Join us as we dish on everything from his infamous caftans and his time at Vogue magazine to his juicy stories of Anna Wintour and Karl Lagerfeld...we spill it all. TRIGGER WARNING: This episode contains discussion of sexual assault and eating disorders Created and produced by Claire Donald and Tess Bellomo Go here to discover more about us, buy merch, and follow our socials Join Premium to access THREE bonus episodes a month for $7.99 Bellesa Link, EVERYONE who signs up wins a FREE toy or gift card!: https://www.bboutique.co/vibe/rightanswersmostly-podcast Rula patients typically pay $15 per session when using insurance. Connect with quality therapists and mental health experts who specialize in you at https://www.rula.com/RAM #rulapod new customers can use code RAM and get 20% off your first order at perelelhealth.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

RE-RELEASE for Pride Month! We dive deep into the life and work of Frida Kahlo, the fearless woman who endured pain, tragedy, and even a tumultuous love life. We'll explore how her self-portraits captured both her physical and emotional pain, and how her work challenged the dominant artistic traditions of her time. From her early struggles as a young artist to her rise as a feminist icon, Claire and Tess cover all the juicy details of Frida's life. This is Frida Kahlo, a queer, feminist icon!. Created and produced by Claire Donald and Tess Bellomo  Follow us here to learn more about us, get merch, and check us out on socials Join Premium for $7.99/month for three bonus episodes a month here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

RE-RELEASE EPISODE: We're kicking off pride month with the king of Bravo and the king of our hearts, Andy Cohen. We know Andy as the father of the Real Housewives but in this episode we find out about his idyllic childhood in St. Louis, MO and how his love of soap operas were unknowingly prepping him for all things Housewives. We talk about Andy's extensive career as a producer/journalist at CBS before rising the ranks at Bravo and we delve into the personal life of Andy Cohen and the challenges he has faced along the way. From navigating his identity as an openly gay man in the media industry to becoming a father through surrogacy, we explore the impact of his personal experiences on his career and the broader cultural landscape. This is Andy Cohen. Created and produced by Claire Donald and Tess Bellomo Follow us on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠@Rightanswersmostly⁠⁠⁠⁠ and TikTok at ⁠⁠⁠⁠@Rightanswersmostly⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow us on socials, and check out merch here! If you want to join our premium channel for THREE bonus episodes a month, check out all of the perks! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week, we unravel the myth of Coco Chanel, the woman who revolutionized women’s fashion, built one of the most powerful luxury empires in history, and carefully crafted herself into a feminist icon. But behind the pearls, perfume, and little black dresses was a much darker story. From poverty and ambition to affairs with powerful men, antisemitism, Nazi collaboration allegations, and the reinvention of her own legacy, we explore how Coco Chanel became both a symbol of female freedom and one of fashion’s most controversial figures. Was she a visionary? A social climber? A survivor? A villain? Maybe all four. Grab a cigarette and your tweed blazer, because this one is messy. Created and produced by Tess Bellomo & Claire Donald If you want the full episode, and to get THREE bonus episodes a month, go here. Follow us on socials, buy merch, and stay updated here! Sources: Chanel Unbuttoned BBC, Wikipedia Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week, we’re discussing the extraordinary history of Christian Dior and the designer who reshaped fashion forever. From the devastation of post WW2 Paris to the revolutionary debut of the “New Look” in 1947, Christian Dior created a vision of glamour, femininity, and fantasy that transformed the fashion industry forver. We explore Dior’s early life, World War II, couture during occupation, the rise of the House of Dior, the evolution of luxury branding, and the legacy that still defines fashion today. From couture salons to celebrity campaigns, this is the story of how Christian Dior became CHRISTIAN DIOR. Created and produced by Claire Donald and Tess Bellomo Follow us on social media, buy merch, and more⁠ HERE! ⁠ Join our premium channel for 3 bonus eps a month ⁠⁠here⁠⁠ and save 15% when you buy annually! SOURCES: Vogue , Vogue on Christian Dior , The New Look, Wikipedia , Glam Observer , Time, The Independent Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Before Calvin Klein, underwear was something your mom bought in a three pack. After him? It was a personality. This week, we’re getting into the story of Calvin Klein, how a kid from the Bronx turned “clean and simple” into one of the most powerful fashion brands in the world. We’re talking jeans that made millions in a week, ads that changed culture, and the women who defined the look (and the vibe). Plus: the Kelly Rector influence, Carolyn Bessette Kennedy’s quiet takeover of the aesthetic, and the business missteps that almost took the whole empire down. Created and produced by Tess Bellomo & Claire Donald For more RAM and to learn about us, go here! If you are interested in THREE bonus episodes a month (pop culture, our own personal lives, and the full history episode at the end of the month) go here! only $7.99/month or save 13% when you buy annually! Thanks to Bellesa for sponsoring today's episode!EVERYONE who signs up wins a FREE WhisperVibe™ OR a FREE Rose toy with any Whisper™ order!  https://www.bboutique.co/vibe/rightanswersmostly-podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week, we’re diving into the history of the Met Gala, from its origins as a high-society fundraiser to the global spectacle it is today. We break down how the event transformed under icons like Diana Vreeland and Anna Wintour, and how it became fashion’s biggest (and most chaotic) night.Of course, we had to get into the drama. From the infamous Solange–Jay-Z elevator incident to celebs getting caught breaking the rules, we’re unpacking the night's biggest scandalsWe also share our favorite looks of all time, plus why this year’s Met Gala is sparking so much conversation, and controversy, across fashion and pop culture.Whether you watch for the fashion, the history, or the chaos…this is your ultimate guide to the Met Gala! Created and produced by Claire Donald and Tess Bellomo Follow us on social media, buy merch, and more⁠ HERE! ⁠ Join our premium channel for 3 bonus eps a month ⁠⁠here⁠⁠ and save 15% when you buy annually! Sources: Vogue, The First Monday in May , Time, NYTimes, Wikipedia Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Before Marilyn, there was Jean. In this episode, we dive into the dazzling, and devastating, life of Jean Harlow, Hollywood’s original platinum blonde bombshell. (Wait until you hear how she achieved this look and you'll say thank you to your hair dresser next time..) From her meteoric rise to stardom to the image that redefined beauty, Harlow was truly to “dye” for. But behind the peroxide glow was a story of pressure, scandal, and a life cut far too short. Glamour, grit, and a legacy that still shines, this is Jean Harlow like you’ve never heard before. Created and produced by Tess Bellomo & Claire Donald For more RAM, go here This is a premium full episode. If you want to hear the full version, sign up here for $7.99/month for THREE bonus episodes, one that is the full history every month. You won't regret it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

River Phoenix was everything Hollywood wanted: talented, magnetic, and deeply beloved. So how did it all go so wrong? Joined by friend of the pod Hannah Aaron Brown, we unpack the life and tragic death of River Phoenix, from his unconventional upbringing and rapid rise to fame, to the pressures, people, and environment that surrounded him in his final years. Created and produced by Claire Donald and Tess Bellomo Follow us on social media, buy merch, and more⁠ HERE! ⁠ Join our premium channel for 3 bonus eps a month ⁠⁠here⁠⁠ and save 15% when you buy annually! Follow Hannah on TikTok and Instagram and Listen to her podcast, Not Apsirational! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Anna Nicole Smith: A woman who went from small-town Texas to Playboy Playmate, Guess model, and reality TV star , becoming one of the most famous women in the world along the way. But behind the blonde bombshell image was a more complicated story: a whirlwind marriage to an 89-year-old oil tycoon, a never-ending legal battle over his fortune, and a media frenzy that turned her life into spectacle. This week, we’re diving into the rise, the chaos, and the tragedy of Anna Nicole Smith- a woman that was built up by Hollywood only to relish in watching her fall. Created and produced by Claire Donald and Tess Bellomo Follow us on social media, buy merch, and more⁠ HERE! ⁠ Join our premium channel for 3 bonus eps a month ⁠⁠here⁠⁠ and save 15% when you buy annually! Sources: Buzzfeed , Anna Nicole Smith: You Don't Know Me, New York Magazine, Vanity Fair, Interview Magazine, People Magazine, You're Wrong About Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Brittany Murphy was one of the most beloved stars of the 2000s: funny, talented, and endlessly watchable. So when she died suddenly at just 32, the story shocked Hollywood. But the more you look into it… the more questions there are. In today’s episode, we’re breaking down Brittany Murphy’s rise to fame, the intense scrutiny she faced, and the details surrounding her death, from official reports to the rumors that followed. What was really going on behind the scenes? Did her husband, Simon really have something to do with it? And why does her story still feel unresolved? TW: this story contains many conversations around eating disorders. Created and produced by Tess Bellomo & Claire Donald For more RAM, go here! If you want to join our premium subscription where you get THREE bonus episodes a month, sign up here! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Josephine Baker: a woman who escaped poverty, danced her way to fame, became the most famous woman in Paris, and then, plot twist, served as a spy for the French Resistance during World War II. And when the war ended, she didn’t slow down, she took that same power into the fight for civil rights, refusing to play by America’s rules. A story that sounds like fiction, but Josephine Baker did all of that, and more. Created and produced by Claire Donald and Tess Bellomo Follow us on social media, buy merch, and more⁠ HERE! ⁠ Join our premium channel for 3 bonus eps a month ⁠⁠here⁠⁠ and save 15% when you buy annually! Sources: New Yorker, https://glreview.org/article/article-959/, PBS , CIA.gov, Vogue, Ebony, Biography.com, Harpers Bazaar , Wikipedia Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

For most of human history, childbirth belonged to women. Midwives guided mothers through labor, cared for newborns, and held generations of medical knowledge within their communities. But over time, birth moved from homes to hospitals, and from the hands of women to the authority of male physicians. In this episode, we explore the hidden history of childbirth, the rise of modern gynecology, and the women whose bodies shaped the field but whose names were nearly erased from it. At the center of this story are three enslaved women in the 1840s American South: Anarcha, Betsey, and Lucy. Suffering from a devastating childbirth injury, they were subjected to years of experimental surgeries by physician J. Marion Sims, procedures performed without anesthesia or the ability to consent. Sims would later be celebrated as the “father of modern gynecology,” but the medical advancements credited to him were built on the pain, endurance, and forced labor of these women. We also trace the overlooked legacy of Black midwives, who for generations were the backbone of maternal healthcare in the United States. Once trusted community leaders and healers, they were gradually pushed out of medicine as childbirth became increasingly medicalized and controlled by white male physicians. Trigger Warning: This section of the episode addresses scientific experimentation on enslaved women and violation of their bodies. Created and produced by Tess Bellomo and Claire Donald For more RAM, go here! If you're interested in our premium channel for THREE bonus episodes for $7.99/month. Get added to close friends, hear about pop culture, and get to know us more! You also get the last FULL history episode here! HAPPY WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week we’re diving into the story of Shonda Rhimes, the woman who completely changed television. Before Rhimes, network TV rarely centered complicated women, diverse casts, or stories about power, ambition, sexuality, and work told from a female perspective. From Grey’s Anatomy to Scandal to Bridgerton, Rhimes built an empire by telling the kinds of stories about women that television had long ignored. We talk about her early life, how she broke into Hollywood, the rise of Shondaland, and how she reshaped what television looks like, and who gets to be the main character. This is Shonda Rhimes! Created and produced by Claire Donald and Tess Bellomo Follow us on social media, buy merch, and more⁠ HERE! ⁠ Join our premium channel for 3 bonus eps a month ⁠⁠here⁠⁠ and save 15% when you buy annually! Sources: Television Academy , Vice, Wbur, Oprah.com, Theboar.org, Variety, Hollywood Reporter, Wikipedia, Call Her Daddy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Before she was a pop girl, a tabloid headline, or the blueprint for millennial style, Hilary Duff was just a kid from Texas with a big dream and a head voice that would become weirdly controversial. This week on Right Answers Mostly, we’re diving into the full Hilary Duff story: from early auditions to becoming Disney Channel’s most relatable star on Lizzie McGuire. We talk about the cultural earthquake of Metamorphosis, the chaos of early 2000s tabloid culture, public breakups, and why she was constantly compared to women she was never trying to be. But more than that, we explore why Hilary always felt different. She wasn’t the strongest singer. She wasn’t the most provocative. She didn’t reinvent pop music. And yet...she endured. From A Cinderella Story to her pop reinventions, to quietly building a stable career in shows like Younger, Hilary carved out something radical: longevity without spectacle. While other young women were chewed up by fame, she chose steadiness. We unpack the sexism around her voice, the pressure on teen girls to be “effortlessly exceptional,” and why Hilary Duff’s greatest strength might be that she always let us see her trying. Not perfect, but just trying. Created and produced by Tess Bellomo & Claire Donald For more RAM, get to know us here If you like us and are interested in our premium channel in which you get THREE bonus episodes a month for $7.99 (many other perks included) go here Intersted in Tess's writing? Subscribe to her medium for pieces around feminism and pop culture! Sources include: The Twisted World of Hilary Duff Deep Dive, Wikipedia & People Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We are kicking off Women's History Month with the one and only, Joan Didion. Before she became one of the most iconic writers of the 20th century, Joan Didion was just a quiet, observant girl from Sacramento who would go on to capture the myth and emotional reality of American life. From her early days at Vogue to her life in Hollywood and her marriage to fellow writer John Gregory Dunne, Joan Didion wasn’t just participating in the culture. She was observing and documenting it. In this episode, we explore how Joan Didion became a literary icon, how she cultivated the persona of the ultimate cool girl, and why her writing captured the emotional reality behind America’s myths. Welcome to Women's History Month! Created and produced by Claire Donald and Tess Bellomo Follow us on social media, buy merch, and more HERE! Join our premium channel for 3 bonus eps a month ⁠here⁠ and save 15% when you buy annually! SOURCES: Joan Didion: The Center Will Not Hold, The Guardian , Vanity Fair, What She Means, Vogue, Wikipedia Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

John and Jackie Kennedy weren’t just a couple, they were a brand. In this episode, we break down their upbringings, the expectations that shaped their marriage, and why Jackie Kennedy became the emotional and public backbone of Camelot. From JFK’s affairs to the carefully curated image America consumed, we explore how Jackie wasn’t living a fairytale, she was performing one. TW: Birthing trauma and child loss Produced and created by Tess Bellomo & Claire Donald For more RAM, go here! Main feed gets a preview but our premium subscribers get a full 90 minute episode which goes more into the affairs, Marilyn Monroe, and the end of Jackie's life. Please consider supporting our show here and purchasing for $7.99/month or save 13% when purchased annually! You get THREE bonus episodes, one of them being a full history. Sources include the following: Even the Rich Podcast, Vanity Fair, Wikipedia Town & Country, People Magazine. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

“I’ve come to believe that it’s not what has happened to our family that has been cursed—it’s the fact that we’ve never been able to deal with it privately.” — Eunice Kennedy Shriver The idea of the “Kennedy Curse” has followed this family for generations, often explained away as bad luck or fate. But the truth is more complicated. In this episode, we explore how constant public scrutiny, enormous expectations, and a deep resistance to vulnerability shaped the Kennedy family’s most painful moments, especially in the case of Rosemary Kennedy, whose lobotomy reflects how fear, misunderstanding, and the pressure to protect an image could lead to irreversible decisions. Rather than a story about a doomed bloodline, this episode looks at how power, silence, and the denial of privacy shaped one of America’s most famous families, and why those choices continued to ripple outward long after they were made. This is The Kennedy Curse. Created and produced by Claire Donald and Tess Bellomo Follow us on social media, buy merch, and more⁠ HERE! ⁠ Join our premium channel for 3 bonus eps a month ⁠⁠here⁠⁠ and save 15% when you buy annually! Sources: American Dynasties: The Kennedys, People, Historyextra.com, Rosemary's Wiki, NPS.Gov, Kathleen's Wiki, Historytoday.com, Chappaquiddick Wiki, People article #2 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Before they were a symbol of 90s perfection, John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette were shaped by very different kinds of pressure. John grew up inside America’s most mythologized family, raised in public grief and constant expectation. Carolyn came from outside the dynasty, building her life on privacy, control, and impeccable restraint. When they fell in love, it looked like fate. What followed was something far messier. In this episode, we trace how fame became a third partner, how obsession was mistaken for romance, and how one of the most aestheticized couples in modern history quietly unraveled, ending in tragedy. Because Camelot 2.0 wasn’t just glamorous. It was toxic, suffocating, and devastatingly human. Produced and created by Tess Bellomo and Claire Donald For more RAM, check us out here! If you're interested in our THREE bonus eps a month for $7.99, go here Sources include: Wikipedia, Vanity Fair, People, and the podcast Significant Lovers If you or someone you know is struggling with addition you can get help by calling 988. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome to Kennedys Month at Right Answers Mostly. We’re kicking things off at the very beginning: the building of the Kennedy dynasty and the man behind it all, Joseph P. Kennedy Sr.. The Kennedy story begins with famine in Ireland, and a risky escape to Boston, Massachusetts. We unpack how Juicy Joe built his fortune, pulled the strings behind the scenes, and paved the way for his sons, most famously John F. Kennedy, to enter politics. Was it clean? Not exactly. Was it effective? Absolutely. From backroom deals to carefully crafted public images, this is the origin story of how the Kennedys didn’t just enter American politics, they conquered it, and sealed their place as American royalty. THIS IS THE KENNEDY DYNASTY! Created and produced by Claire Donald and Tess Bellomo Follow us on social media, buy merch, and more⁠ HERE! ⁠ Join our premium channel for 3 bonus eps a month ⁠⁠here⁠⁠ and save 15% when you buy annually! Sources: American Dynasties: The Kennedys , NPS.gov, Wikipedia, altaonline Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Before Lilly Pulitzer was splashed across sorority houses, bachelorette parties, and every preppy closet in America, she was just a Palm Beach socialite trying not to ruin her clothes while running a juice stand. What happened next accidentally created one of the most recognizable fashion empires of all time. In this episode, Tess and Claire dive into how Lilly turned bright, stain-hiding shift dresses into a symbol of wealth, freedom, and rich girl rebellion and why her hot-pink prints quietly blew up the buttoned-up fashion rules of the 1950s and ’60s. We’re talking Jackie Kennedy (HINT HINT for future episode) in Palm Beach, old money social codes, glamorous breakdowns, scandalous divorces, and the rise of casual luxury before anyone was allowed to dress “effortless.” If you love this episode you can find the entire episode here on our premium channel! The fourth episode of every month is a preview unless you are a subscriber. This helps support our show! Created and produced by Tess Bellomo and Claire Donald Curious about more RAM? Go here! Sources: Town and Country Magazine Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week, we’re joined by Katy from Queens Podcast, whose deep knowledge of royal history helps us unpack how Eleanor quietly (and sometimes not-so-quietly) shaped empires, fueled crusades, and influenced generations of rulers, all while being married to two very mediocre kings who consistently failed upward. From Louis VII to Henry II, we break down how Eleanor’s intelligence, wealth, and strategy built power structures that men happily claimed as their own. We explore Eleanor’s marriages, her imprisonment, her political savvy, and why history punished her for the same ambition it rewarded in men. Plus: feminist rage, royal divorce drama, and proof that the concept of “letting him think it was his idea” is much older than we thought. If you love powerful women, messy monarchies, and reclaiming history from underwhelming men ,this episode is for you. You can follow Katy and Nathan from Queens Podcast here for all of their episodes and follow them on instagram here. Created and produced by Tess Bellomo and Claire Donald For more RAM, go here! To join our premium subscription channel for THREE bonus episodes a month where you get to know us, go here! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It’s our first episode of 2026, and we’re kicking off the year by spilling the most famous tea in American history... literally. You learned about the Boston Tea Party in school, but probably not like this. We’re breaking down what actually led a group of colonists to dress up, break into ships, and dump thousands of pounds of tea into Boston Harbor. From corporate monopolies and bad political decisions to unhinged protests and unintended consequences, this episode proves once again that history is just gossip. Oh and we're sorry that we said we wanted to beef with our British Rammes, you know we love you. Welcome to 2026 with Right Answers Mostly! Created and produced by: Claire Donald and Tess Bellomo For more RAM, go ⁠here.⁠ Join our premium channel for 3 bonus eps a month ⁠here⁠ and save 15% when you buy annually! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week, we’re joined by Dr. Lindsay M. Chervinsky , presidential historian and Executive Director of the George Washington Presidential Library at Mount Vernon , to talk all things George Washington Dr. Chervinsky breaks down a George Washington you’ve probably never met: a little petty, a little theater-kid coded, low-key hot, surprisingly funny, occasionally temperamental, and undeniably courageous. We get into the myths, the mess, the leadership, and why George’s particular brand of integrity (and humor!) is something we desperately wish we saw more of today. Created and produced by Claire Donald and Tess Bellomo Learn more about Dr. Lindsay M. Chervinsky HERE Learn more about Mt. Vernon HERE For more RAM, GO HERE Join our premium channel for 3 bonus eps a month ⁠here⁠ and save 15% when you buy annually! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this week’s episode, we dive into the life of Hollywood’s original “I’ll do it my way” girl: Katharine Hepburn. From growing up in a fiercely progressive household (her mom was literally fighting for birth control while her dad was lecturing on public health) to reinventing herself as the pants wearing, ice-bath-taking, golf obsessed wellness influencer of 1930, Hepburn was never going to fit the studio mold. We unpack her rise from east coast tomboy to four time Oscar winner, the rumors, the reinventions, the romances (real and speculated), and the unapologetic independence that made her a legend. It’s a story of privilege, pressure, feminism before we called it that, and the price of living life on your own terms in old Hollywood. History is just gossip, and this is Hepburn like you’ve never heard her. Produced and created by Tess Bellomo & Claire Donald For more RAM, go here To join our premium subscription for 3 bonus eps a month for $7.99, go here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rammies, we are battling a hangover but the pop culture wheel never stops turning. From celeb couples insisting they’ve never had an argument (sure, Jan), to Momtok’s Whitney stepping into the role of Roxy in Chicago, to the confirmed political leanings of Craig from Southern Charm (le heavy sigh)… we cover it all. Join us in the haze. Created and produced by Claire Donald and Tess Bellomo For more RAM, go ⁠here.⁠ Join our premium channel for 3 bonus eps a month ⁠here⁠ and save 15% when you buy annually! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week, we dive into the Clarence Thomas hearings and the woman who changed the conversation forever: Anita Hill. Anita Hill made history in 1991 when she testified about the sexual harassment she had experienced while she was an aide to Clarence Thomas, a Supreme Court nominee who had been her supervisor at the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. We unpack her testimony, the senators who voted to confirm, and the legacy of a moment that still echoes today. TW: This episode contains discussions of sexual harassment Created and produced by: Claire Donald and Tess Bellomo For more RAM, go ⁠here.⁠ Join our premium channel for 3 bonus eps a month ⁠here⁠ and save 15% when you buy annually! Sources: Anita: Speaking Truth To Power, Politico , Wikipedia , You're Wrong About, NYTimes, CBS News Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week, we’re back recapping MomTok Season 3 because it’s genuinely all we can think about. We get into everything: Miranda holding strong as our liberal queen (can we get her on RAM?!), which husbands we detest the least, and of course…the big Jessi affair. Then we wrap things up with our final BravoCon thoughts. Created and produced by Claire Donald and Tess Bellomo For more RAM, go ⁠here.⁠ Join our premium channel for 3 bonus eps a month ⁠here⁠ and save 15% when you buy annually! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week we’re diving into the story of Rosalind Franklin, the brilliant chemist whose work literally shaped our understanding of life itself… and who history almost forgot. Before “girlboss” was even a word, Rosalind was out here breaking barriers at Cambridge, fighting for lab space, and producing the famous “Photo 51” that helped unlock the double helix, only to have her male colleagues take the glory. We talk about what it meant to be a woman in science in the 1950s, how her confidence and precision were often mistaken for “difficult,” and why her legacy feels so hauntingly familiar in a world that still loves to under credit women. Created and produced by Tess Bellomo & Claire Donald For more about RAM, go here! Sign up for our premium subscription for $7.99/month here! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this week's episode of Pop Culture we talk about.....well, how Hollywood is deeply scaring us. From the ostentatious Baby2Baby Gala, to Kris Jenner's 70th birthday party hosted at Jeff Bezos' mansion, everything is feeling MAGA and weird. We also talk about how much we adore Jennifer Lawrence, Leo's 51st birthday party and dive into what is really happening with Kylie Cook and Amanda Batula. We wish we were at BravoCon so badly it is painful. Created and hosted by Tess Bellomo & Claire Donald For more RAM, go here To join our premium subscription we mention for $7.99/month, go here! We also are running a discount for NEW premium Rammies, so DM us if interested . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In the mid-2000s, Jude Law and Sienna Miller were the it-couple —hot, British, and impossibly cool. But when the tabloids uncovered Jude’s affair with the nanny, it became one of the most defining scandals of the decade. In this episode, we revisit the chaos, the heartbreak, and the cultural obsession that turned a private betrayal into front-page news. Created and produced by Claire Donald and Tess Bellomo For more RAM, go ⁠here.⁠ Join our premium channel for 3 bonus eps a month ⁠here⁠ and save 15% when you buy annually! Sources: HelloTefi TikTok, The Guardian , Buzzfeed, The Guardian , Jude Law Wikipedia , Sienna Miller Wikipedia Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Grab your Lip Smackers and your flat iron, because this week on RAM Pop Culture, we’re cracking open our Teen Vogue archives and heading straight back to 2007. It’s a full on glossy magazine sleepover as we rediscover the quizzes, cover girls, and chaos that defined an era. We take you through the “What Kind of Best Friend Are You?” quiz (are you a Selena, Blake, Zendaya, or Lindsay?), and of course play “Would You Rather: Teen Edition” We talk about the power of teen magazines in shaping our identities, political stances, and the performative perfection of the “It Girl,” and how every friendship in your teens felt like a cover story. From Juicy Couture tracksuits to the “Young Hollywood” issue, from Zac Efron prom fantasies to finding yourself in the MySpace age , it’s our love letter to that formative, lip-gloss-sticky chapter of growing up. This magazine shaped us and Claire was even in it! Because at the end of the day… history is just gossip, especially when it’s written in pink gel pen. RIP to a LEGENDARY magazine! Created and produced by Claire Donald and Tess Bellomo For more RAM, go ⁠here.⁠ Join our premium channel for 3 bonus eps a month ⁠here⁠ and save 15% when you buy annually! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode we honor the iconic, Diane Keaton. From her power suits, To Godfather legacy, to dating some of Hollywood's most eligible Bachelors and every single person falling in love with her on set, to becoming a single mom in her 50s, this woman is such an inspiration and Hollywood will forever miss her kookiness, style, wit, and heart. We love you, Diane! Created and produced by Tess Bellomo & Claire Donald For more RAM, go here! To join our PREMIUM channel for $7.99/month, go here! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this week's episode of RAM Pop Culture Edition, we're diving into VOGUE Honey. Vogue World: the looks, the celebrities, the RAM coded throw backs (Hello Marie Antionette!) and of course discussing the controversial article that has swept the world, author Chante Jones "Is Having a Boyfriend Embarrassing Now?" which has really shook single and partnered women and started a discussion: Why do boyfriends feel Republican? Then we talk about the industry's struggles in LA, Halie and Justin of course, and some celebrity couple updates! Tangents include: The Jonas Brothers, The Male Loneliness Epidemic & Rosalia (WE STAN!) Created and produced by Tess Bellomo & Claire Donald For more RAM, go here If you're interested in our bonus episodes for $7.99/month, go here! You get the FULL bonus episode at the end of every month, two other episodes catching up on our personal lives, and get added to close friends on instagram! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices