When Clara Ford - a poor, Black, cross-dressing, pipe smoking, single mother - was arrested for the murder of dashing, young, white Frank Westwood, nobody expected her to avoid the noose. So how did this unexpected heroine talk her way out of the death sentence - even after she confessed?
Olivia takes us to 19th century Toronto for a wild True Crime adventure with Carolyn Whitzman, author of the fascinating new book Clara at the Door With a Revolver. Join us as we uncover the truth (or do we?) of this unexpected and unbelievable trial.
Music featured in this episode by Zachariah Hickman, Aaron Kenny, E's Jammy Jams, Biz Baz, Vess Ossman, Libby Dees and Adam Roberts.
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THE PHOTOJOURNALIST Catherine Leroy
THE NATURALIST Maria Sibylla Merian
THE MOTHER OF FORENSIC SCIENCE Frances Glessner Lee
THE UNVEILED Huda Shaarawi
THE WARRIOR QUEEN Chand Bibi
VERSAILLES CHRISTMASTIDE Mary Stuart Boyd
THE SCREENWRITER Frances Marion
THE ORGANIZER Celia Sánchez
THE FIRST ACCUSED Tituba
THE PIRATE Ching Shih
BONUS EPISODE: Lost Women of England Tour 2021
THE RANI OF JHANSI Lakshmibai
GONE TO THE ENEMY Eve
THE UNBOWED Wangari Maathai
THE QUEEN OF THE COMSTOCK Eilley Bowers
THE EXILE Stefania Turkevych
THE ROUND-THE-WORLD CYCLIST Annie Londonderry
THE MYSTIC Margery Kempe
THE ROADBUILDER K’awiil
THE MEDIUM Helen Duncan
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