Modern Athenas

A Year by the Sea, by Joan Anderson In the year following a separation from her husband, Joan weathers loneliness and makes new beginnings. She spends intentional time reflecting and discovering her needs, possibly for the first time in decades since becoming a wife and mother. She learns through all of her trials in the year by the sea, that there is great value in individuality. Joan’s toughness, drive, perseverance and vulnerability makes her a Modern Athena.INDEX00:00-04:49Intro and Background of the Book04:50-07:39Sit Still and Hear the Answers07:40-12:42Visiting the Seals12:43-17:50Taking Chances17:51-19:56Joan’s Relationship with Her Husband19:57-23:22Change23:23-27:19Minimalism27:20-34:33Meeting Joanie Erickson: Not looking back, Obscuring yourself34:34-45:44Meeting Joanie Erickson: Friends who Feed You, Leaving Space, Mentors, Beach Glass45:45-49:01Recommendation of Patience49:02-52:34The Water Heater and Clamming52:35-56:38A Parade of Guests56:39-58:49Joan’s Reflection on the Year58:50-1:01:20Joan

The Center Cannot Hold is a book about Elyn Saks’ journey living with schizophrenia. Elyn has survived decades of learning to accept, and living with, her illness. Her book takes the reader through her journey of diagnosis, treatment, and living day-to-day life. She struggles with whether she is defined by her illness, or whether her illness is a part of her. She struggles through the decision to take medication and whether to get ongoing treatment. Throughout the book, Elyn describes the impact of her illness on her personal and professional life, on the people around her, and on her family. We cannot recommend this book enough, as it provides a glimpse into this too often silent struggle, and promotes compassion for all who suffer with the many challenges of mental illness.INDEX00:00-02:08Intro and Background of the Book02:09-07:44Overview of Elyn’s Professional Life07:45-12:53Schizophrenia: The Illness12:54-20:03Elyn’s Diagnosis20:04-25:33Schizophrenia: The Center Cannot Hold25:34-30:24The Fight with Me

Life in Motion is about Misty Copeland, the first African-American principal dancer at the American Ballet Theatre, or ABT, in New York. The books winds its way from Misty’s childhood, when she first took up ballet at the local Boys and Girls Club at the urging of her Drill Team instructor, to her first competitions, her first auditions for prestigious summer programs, her entrance into the ABT Studio Team, her ascent to the corps de ballet, then to a soloist, and eventually to a principal dancer. Misty discusses not only her journey but the journey of her family through tumultuous years. Misty finds her way in life through ballet as well as through the guidance of mentors, who are themselves Modern Athenas. Throughout the book, Misty discusses lessons she has learned about life, about ballet, and about herself. It is these lessons that we are going to focus on today. 00:00-01:10 Intro and Background of the Book01:11-03:55 Discipline, No Shortcuts03:56-06:00 The Illusion of Perfection06:01-11:1

Gertrude was a true Modern Athena in the way she took on risk, stereotypes, and challenging situations. Her work brought new archaeological finds, destroyed stereotypes of what women could be, brought closure to families during World War I, and ended up shaping the modern Middle East.Georgina Howell's book, Gertrude Bell: Queen of the Desert, Shaper of Nations, is not just a historically accurate portrayal of Gertrude’s life, but it includes exquisite detail into each of her journeys, the people she met along the way, and the politics of each of the worlds she passed through. It also provides incredible detail on the history of the Middle East and why it looks the way it does today. We urge any of our listeners who have any interest in learning about why the modern Middle East has so much conflict to pick up this book.INDEX00:00-01:25 Intro01:26-03:59 Gertrude's Childhood through University04:00-09:45 Gertrude's Mountaineering Adventures09:46-14:38 Gertrude's First Global Trips14:39-17:52

Runner takes us along on Lizzy Hawker’s ultra running journey, from her first ultra race, the Ultra-Trail du Mont Blanc, through her racing career, including five first place finishes in the UTMB, three runs from Everest Base Camp to Kathmandu, Nepal, a Spartathlon win, and a 100km World Championship. Lizzy’s running journey is like many of the challenges and journeys we all face in our lives. Her perseverance in tough conditions, focus on her goals, willingness to take risks, and continuously overcoming the odds to achieve greatness make her a Modern Athena.INDEX00:00-01:40 Intro and Background of the Book01:41-07:26 Work on the British Antarctic Survey: Going South07:27-11:35 Work on the British Antarctic Survey: Stuck in Ice and Prep for her Ultra Career11:36-14:41 First Run on the Ultra Trail of Mont Blanc: Background14:42-20:41 First Run on the UTMB: The Starting Line20:42-26:37 First Run on the UTMB: Running Through Darkness, Step by Step26:38-30:29 First Run on the UTMB: Winning30:

As a young teenager, Sarah was a competitive figure skater with her sights set on the Olympics. Her parents both worked in law enforcement and continue to be strong role models for her. Sarah is a CPA and the CFO for a Veteran Owned business in Philadelphia, PA. Sarah has over 26 years in corporate finance, has run for public office, married for 24 years and is the Mother to two adult children. She volunteers with both the Greater Philadelphia Veterans Network @PhillyVeterans and the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation @MarineScholars and she encourages you to check them out.INDEX00:00-01:24Intro01:25-11:44Parent Role Models11:45-15:34Childhood Goals15:35-34:32Career in Finance, How Gender impacts the Workplace 34:33-39:56Running for State Legislature39:57-49:37Keys to a Strong Marriage and Work/Life Balance49:38-51:54Volunteer Work with Veterans51:55-1:02:28Closing Questions1:02:29-1:03:17 OutroVisit www.modernathenas.com for links to all episodes.Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play or YouTube.Foll

Expecting Adam is the journey of Martha Beck and the pregnancy and birth of her son, Adam, who has Down Syndrome. The book opens with Martha taking the reader back to the start of her pregnancy, when she was a PhD student at Harvard. The story winds its way through the triumphs and travails of her pregnancy, including when she received the news of Adam’s condition, and concludes with Adam’s birth. Throughout the book, Martha weaves in stories about Adam, painting an intimate portrait of her son and the way he sees the world. Martha also brings to light the issues of family, hope, destiny, and expectations.INDEX0:00:00-0:01:52 Intro and Background of the Book0:01:53-0:14:10 Surviving Harvard: Imposter Syndrome0:14:11-0:20:21 Sibyl: The Value of Friendship0:20:22-0:26:40 Coping with Unexpected Life Changes0:26:41-0:30:51 Balancing Work-Life Expectations0:30:52-0:33:27 Asking for Help0:33:28-0:38:04 The Decision to Keep Adam0:38:05-0:39:53 Mothering0:39:54-0:41:50 Being the Parent Your

Have you ever felt adrift and alone, as though you don’t belong to any one community? Have you ever been to a foreign country, and not known the language? Have you ever set out to learn a new skill or area of knowledge and been left frustrated by being unable to grasp the skill as quickly as you would have liked? In Other Words is centered around the themes of identity, alienation and belonging. As we discuss this book and the author’s use of language to traverse these difficult topics, we invite you to consider your own life and your own feelings of identity and belonging. 00:00-2:40 Intro and Summary of the Book2:41-6:48 The Lake Metaphor: Facing Challenges6:49-12:31 The Pocket Dictionary: Security Blankets12:32-15:20 Language as a Relationship15:21-23:15 The Locked Gate Opens: Jumping off into the Unknown23:16-33:58 The Gardener: Importance of Imperfections33:59-42:01 Discipline in Learning42:02-45:52 Being Comfortable with Self45:53-47:49 Why do I Write?47:50-52:48 Never Reaching Perfection

Harriet Tubman was a Modern Athena because of her perseverance and warrior spirit. Harriet brought justice to those who could not obtain justice for themselves. Her tireless work to bring slaves to freedom, to assist those in need, and to always give of herself are qualities that are inspiring and extraordinary. We share the account of Harriet's life as written in the book by Catherine Clinton.0:00:00-0:00:53 Intro00:54-0:02:39 Background on Harriet Tubman0:02:40-0:07:16 Harriet's Marriage0:07:17-0:12:11 Escaping to Freedom0:12:12-0:15:23 UGRR-Fugitive Slave Law0:15:24-0:21:18 About the UGRR0:21:19-0:25:45 Harriet as a Conductor on the UGRR0:25:46-0:35:01 Harriet's Work Methods on the UGRR0:35:02-0:40:06 What Made Harriet Special0:40:07-0:43:41 The Transition Years: 1858-18600:43:42-0:47:30 The Civil War: Fort Monroe0:47:31-0:51:23 The Civil War: Port Royal0:51:24-0:53:02 Emancipation Proclamation0:53:04-0:57:34 Combahee River Raid0:57:35-0:58:13 Heading Home to NY0:58:14-1:0

In this third episode, we discuss the experiences and contributions from the women at JPL (Jet Propulsion Lab) and women of West Computing at Langley. We also share some questions and answers from our listeners. For more information, visit www.modernathenas.comFollow us on Twitter @modernathenas Like us on Facebook at Modern Athenas00:00-00:49 Intro00:50-37:45 Compare/Contrast of Women from JPL and West Computing37:46-51:47 Listener Q & A51:48-52:53 Conclusion and Next Podcast

In this second episode of the Human Computers cluster, Modern Athenas discusses Margot Lee Shetterly’s Hidden Figures. The book tells the stories of four African American women computers who worked at the Langley Memorial Aeronautical Laboratory in segregated Hampton, Virginia from 1943-1958.0:00:00 - 0:02:33 Introduction and Summary of the Book 0:02:34 - 0:13:22 Becoming a West Computer: 1943-1958 0:13:23 - 0:34:28 Being an African American Woman at Langley: 1943-19580:34:29 - 0:44:02 Working in West Computing: 1943-19580:44:03 - 0:48:07 Leadership in West Computing: 1943-19580:48:08 - 0:54:33 Balancing Home and Work Life: 1943-1958 0:54:34 - 0:59:33 The End of East Computing and WWII: 1947 0:59:34 - 1:07:08 The End of West Computing: 1958 1:07:09 - 1:17:29 After West Computing: 1958-19691:17:30 - 1:19:05 Conclusion and Final ThoughtsFor more information, visit www.modernathenas.com

In this inaugural episode, Modern Athenas will discuss the lives and contributions of Human Computers as portrayed in Nathalia Holt's Rise of the Rocket Girls: The Women Who Propelled Us, From Missiles to the Moon to Mars.For more information on Human Computers, visit www.modernathenas.com