Composer Patricia Martínez on sexism in Argentina, the visual power of performance, and surviving the production of an opera.

Composer Patricia Martínez on sexism in Argentina, the visual power of performance, and surviving the production of an opera.

Patricia Martínez

Eleanor Alberga

Eleanor Alberga on the value of persistence, racism as a form of insanity, and using music to exorcise fear.

Eleanor Alberga on the value of persistence, racism as a form of insanity, and using music to exorcise fear.

Composer Elizabeth Lain discusses the independence that sample libraries afford, the self-defeating nature of elitism, and how classical music's relevance hinges on the inclusion of marginalized voices. 

Composer Elizabeth Lain discusses the independence that sample libraries afford, the self-defeating nature of elitism, and how classical music's relevance hinges on the inclusion of marginalized voices.

Elizabeth Lain

Ayumi Okada

Composer Ayumi Okada on speaking through music, the courage needed to move to a foreign country, and the importance of not compromising your creative voice.

Composer Ayumi Okada on speaking through music, the courage needed to move to a foreign country, and the importance of not compromising your creative voice.

Mara Gibson

Composer Mara Gibson on map-making, escapism, and taking inspiration from poetry.

Composer Mara Gibson on map-making, escapism, and taking inspiration from poetry.

Composer and sound artist Kaley Lane Eaton depicts an immigrant's experience in the Pacific Northwest in 1915, discusses the pressure on young women to prioritize being "sexy and noticed" over being creative, and explores how grief is stored in the lungs. 

Composer and sound artist Kaley Lane Eaton depicts an immigrant's experience in the Pacific Northwest in 1915, discusses the pressure on young women to prioritize being "sexy and noticed" over being creative, and explores how grief is stored in the lungs.

Kaley Lane Eaton

Composer Alondra Vega-Zaldivar on humor, storytelling, and the vital roles artists play as philosophers and messengers. 

Composer Alondra Vega-Zaldivar on humor, storytelling, and the vital roles artists play as philosophers and messengers.

Alondra Vega-Zaldivar

Composer Reena Esmail on mentorship, music as sustenance, and the wisdom of preparing for “wild success.” 

Composer Reena Esmail on mentorship, music as sustenance, and the wisdom of preparing for “wild success.”

Reena Esmail

Jenn Kirby

Irish composer and musician Jenn Kirby on learning music theory as an adult from “kiddy” workbooks, breaking a sweat in a laptop orchestra, and how to enjoy music you hate.

Irish composer and musician Jenn Kirby on learning music theory as an adult from “kiddy” workbooks, breaking a sweat in a laptop orchestra, and how to enjoy music you hate.

Judith Shatin

Composer Judith Shatin talks about visiting the inside of a coal mine, working with early mainframe computers, and blooming where you're planted. 

Composer Judith Shatin talks about visiting the inside of a coal mine, working with early mainframe computers, and blooming where you're planted.

Women composers have historically been left almost entirely out of the classical music canon, and still struggle today to have their work heard. Join Elisabeth Blair as she speaks with composers from around the world about their lives and their music.

I am so happy that this podcast exists. After listening to the first episode, I found myself quickly binging the entire catalog. Even if you aren&#39;t a composer, I think you can still find a lot that is fascinating to hear and learn. The personalities and voices — both musical and literal — are so varied, and I love the diversity of the women interviewed. This is a very well-produced podcast, and I appreciate how much time and effort putting these interviews together must take the host. Please have a listen, it&#39;s really an important subject!

Wonderful podcast!

Thank you for creating this educational and engaging podcast.  Since I started listening to Listening to Ladies, I have learned so much about the music of composers I did not know much about.  I am glad that Elisabeth Blair took the initiative to create this podcast to let the world know about the music created by these diverse group of women composers.

Educational and Engaging

Listening to Ladies

Whitney George

New York City-based composer and conductor Whitney George talks about rebellion in the bathtub, the relative loudnesses of sexism, and the beauty inherent in juxtapositions. 

New York City-based composer and conductor Whitney George talks about rebellion in the bathtub, the relative loudnesses of sexism, and the beauty inherent in juxtapositions.

Composer Marga Richter on how her family rearranged their lives to support her path, what it was like being the only woman composer in her Juilliard class, and where music might come from.

Composer Marga Richter on how her family rearranged their lives to support her path, what it was like being the only woman composer in her Juilliard class, and where music might come from.

Marga Richter

Sarah Hayes

Composer and improviser Lauren Sarah Hayes on making and experiencing sound — in a mausoleum, next to a waterfall, and through specially built furniture.

Composer and improviser Lauren Sarah Hayes on making and experiencing sound — in a mausoleum, next to a waterfall, and through specially built furniture.

Lauren Sarah Hayes

Andrea Reinkemeyer

Andrea Reinkemeyer on the beauty of detail, adventures in linguistic misunderstandings, and choosing your mentors carefully.

Andrea Reinkemeyer on the beauty of detail, adventures in linguistic misunderstandings, and choosing your mentors carefully.

Elizabeth A. Baker on falling in love from the point of view of a neurotransmitter, making music from bicycle parts, and the legacy of Nina Simone.

Elizabeth A. Baker on falling in love from the point of view of a neurotransmitter, making music from bicycle parts, and the legacy of Nina Simone.

Elizabeth A. Baker

Jane Gardner

British composer Bobbie-Jane Gardner on music inspired by cooking, Noam Chomsky, and the city of Birmingham. 

British composer Bobbie-Jane Gardner on music inspired by cooking, Noam Chomsky, and the city of Birmingham.

Bobbie-Jane Gardner

Composer Beth Anderson on phoning up John Cage, not "looking like" a composer, and the collage that is life. 

Composer Beth Anderson on phoning up John Cage, not "looking like" a composer, and the collage that is life.

Beth Anderson

NYC-based composer Lainie Fefferman talks about being the only girl in math class, helping audiences get to know performers, and the problem with the word 'genius.'

NYC-based composer Lainie Fefferman talks about being the only girl in math class, helping audiences get to know performers, and the problem with the word 'genius.'

Lainie Fefferman

Sakari Dixon Vanderveer

Composer Sakari Dixon Vanderveer on composing in middle school, the saxophone as a wild animal, and daring to be visible. 

Composer Sakari Dixon Vanderveer on composing in middle school, the saxophone as a wild animal, and daring to be visible.

Composer Aftab Darvishi speaks about blending musical traditions, having her work deemed "feminine," and the state of new music in Iran.

Composer Aftab Darvishi speaks about blending musical traditions, having her work deemed "feminine," and the state of new music in Iran.

Aftab Darvishi

The Best Multi-Part Documentaries, with documentaries on Obama, Federer vs Nadal, the making of Star Wars, Netflix vs Blockbuster and more. Add episodes you're interested into your queue below!

Best Multi-Part Documentaries

The best episodes for anyone looking to learn more about topics such as happiness, fulfillment, depression and psychology/mental health in general. With interviews with industry experts, personal stories of individuals, this topic has lessons applicable to everyone. Add episodes you're interested into your queue below!