Walks In Time

Cathy Krimmer

Have you ever wondered what life was like for women born in different centuries or places? How did they navigate their daily challenges and relationships? What barriers did they face to education, work and society? And what did they wear and eat? Walks in Time puts you in the shoes of women at different points in history, most of them famous trailblazing women or trailblazing women who should be famous! Experience a day in their life - the sounds, sights, smells and activities. 

Episodes

  1. 20 July

    Nancy Bird: 24 December 1935, Bourke and beyond

    In this episode, you take a walk, a flight and a long car ride in the shoes of Nancy Bird, one of Australia’s pioneering aviatrix. Nancy, later known as Nancy-Bird Walton, and now the namesake of Sydney’s second international airport, became the first Australian woman to earn a commercial pilot’s licence and was a lifelong advocate for women pilots. As there were no jobs for women pilots, she blazed her own path by giving ‘joy flights’ (known as ‘barnstorming’) and charter flights, before being asked to trial assisting with a remote medical service. This had her flying the nurse of the Far West Children’s Health Scheme to settlements beyond the end of the rail line. Just before her twentieth birthday, Nancy became the first woman to run an air ambulance service in the outback, bringing much needed help to many who were otherwise well beyond reach of medical assistance. Nancy had deep compassion, particularly for the women and children of the outback. In this episode you’ll imagine yourself in Nancy’s shoes on 24 December 1935, when she brought special Christmas cheer to the children of the outback. References and further reading: * Walton, Nancy Bird (1990). My God! It’s a Woman! *Malcolm Brown and Harriet Veitch, ’Walton, Nancy-Bird (1915–2009)’, Obituaries Australia, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://oa.anu.edu.au/obituary/walton-nancy-bird-16918/text28806, accessed 20 July 2026 *National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (1933). The D.H.85 “Leopard Moth” Airplane (British): A Three Seat Cabin High Wing Monoplane. NACA Aircraft Circulars. * de Havilland Leopard Moth (DH.85) — Wikipedia  * NACA Aircraft Circular: The D.H.85 “Leopard Moth” Airplane (1933)  * Aeropedia: De Havilland DH.85 Leopard Moth (David C. Eyre, 2019) Music and credits: • Opening and closing music: ’Esmerelda’s Waltz’ from Dusan Bogdanovic’s Book of Unknown Standards, played by Daniel McKay, used with permission of the performer. • Background music includes: Tchaikovsky, The Season, March, Song of the lark (music-box), music by Gregor Quendel from Pixabay; The Best Jazz Club in New Orleans Music by Paolo Argento from Pixabay, Jazz background music (Music by Andrii Poradovskyi from Pixabay) Tales of the Outback Music by Ben Xue from Pixabay. • Copyright and royalty-free sound effects self-created or from Pixabay Contact & Feedback: • Email: walksintime@gmail.com

  2. 4 May

    A powerhouse sister's job description: Katharine Wright, 7 March 1909

    You’ve probably heard of the famous Wright brothers, Wilbur and Orville who invented, built and flew the world’s first flying machine, and achieved the first controlled, sustained flight. But you may not have heard of their sister, Katharine, who was the steady, brilliant force that enabled her brothers’ business venture to ‘take off’ while she took care of things on the ground. In this Walks episode, you put yourself in Katharine’s shoes as she leaves behind her steady job as a teacher and travels across the Atlantic and into Paris to be with her injured brother Orville, in order to be the secretary, PR manager and personal stylist of Wilbur and Orville. 0.0 Intro to this episode 1.20 We meet Katharine, as her ship, the Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse, arrives at Plymouth 3.40 Dressing for the day 4:10 Breakfast on the Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse, 5:00 Disembarking at Cherbourg, via a tender 7.:05 Katharine’s position description 8:20 Media attention at Cherbourg 9:30 Onto the train to Paris 12:15 The enduring fascination with the Wright Brothers’ invention 14:30 Arriving in Paris 15:30 A horse drawn trip to the Hotel du Louvre  17:15 A brother and sister reunited 20:15 Goodnight Orville References and further reading: • The Wright Sister: Smithsonian https://www.si.edu/sidedoor/wright-sister • In her own Wright: https://www.harryhaskell.com/  • The Wright Brothers’ Sister Played a Key Role in Their Success | HISTORY: https://www.history.com/articles/wright-brothers-sister-katharine-first-flight?utm_source=copilot.com • Miracle at Kitty Hawk : the letters of Wilbur and Orville Wright: https://archive.org/details/miracleatkittyha0000wrig_n1z4/page/44/mode/2up?q=katharine • Katharine Wright Haskell - Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katharine_Wright_Haskell?utm_source=copilot.com Music and credits: • Opening and closing music: ’Esmerelda’s Waltz’ from Dusan Bogdanovic’s Book of Unknown Standards, played by Daniel McKay, used with permission of the performer. • Background music includes: Gymnopedie No.2 (Satie), music by Gregor Quendel from Pixabay; Salut d’Amour (Elgar); Menuet sur le nom d’Haydn Music by Jerome Chauvel from Pixabay; French accordion vibe: Music by Yurii Suprunenko from Pixabay; Clair de Lune – L75 Music by Gregor Quendel from Pixabay  • Copyright and royalty-free sound effects self-created or from Pixabay Contact & Feedback: • Email: walksintime@gmail.com

  3. 23 Feb

    Talent, nerves and European splendour: Clara Schumann in 1844

    Episode Overview: 1844: Petersburg. In this episode, you put yourself in the shoes of classical pianist and composer Clara Schumann, and wife of composer Robert Schumann. Hear what it was like for the Schumanns experiencing Russia in the 1840s, including the grand castles and landscapes, and put yourself in Clara’s shoes as she steps up to the piano to perform for a Grand Princess. Episode Highlights & Timestamps: 00:00 – Introduction to Clara 01:24 – Lodging at the Station Inn 03:10 – Why Clara must walk 04:15 – Russian support of European musicians 04:43 – Off in a carriage to see the Tsarskoye Selo – a palace town surrounded by gardens 05:55 – Travelling in the park in a ‘Long line’ 06:48 – Visiting the castles, including the preserved bedroom of Emperor Alexander, the arsenal and what Clara thinks of the artificial ruin 08:30 – Dressing for the performance – what Clara and Robert wore 09:45 – Arriving at Grand Princess Helene’s elegant palace: even an experienced pianist feels nerves when arriving at the performance venue! 11:20 – Sitting down at the piano to perform 12:51 – An evening at the Henselts' 14:00 – Clara’s tensions remain but she will sleep well. References & Further Reading: The marriage diaries of Robert & Clara Schumann : Robert Schumann The complete correspondence of Clara and Robert Schumann : Schumann, Clara, 1819-1896 Credits: Opening and closing music: 'Esmerelda's Waltz' from Dusan Bogdanovic's Book of Unknown Standards, played by Daniel McKay, used with permission of the performer. Background music includes Scenes from Childhood (Robert Schumann), Arabesque (Robert Schumann), Notturno in F Major (Clara Schumann) and Violin Concerto in A minor BMV 1041 – 1st Movement (JS Bach), royalty and copyright free from PixaBay with a number produced by Gregor Quendel. Copyright and royalty-free sound effects self-created or from Pixabay. Contact & Feedback: Email: walksintime@gmail.com

    Talent, nerves and European splendour: Clara Schumann in 1844
  4. 15/12/2025

    Devotion and advocacy: Barbara Wilberforce, wife of William Wilberforce, 1820 London

    Episode Overview: 1820: London. In this episode, you put yourself in the shoes of Barbara Wilberforce, the wife of British trans-Atlantic slave trade abolitionist and politician William Wilberforce. Hear about the impact of typhoid on 1820s London society, including Barbara’s own ongoing health, the role of women in society and William Wilberforce’s long arduous fight to abolish slavery. Episode Highlights & Timestamps: 00:00 – Introduction to Barbara 01:35 – Gore House, and the architectural features of the time 02:07 – Barbara’s noble heritage contrasted with the poverty and injustice in 1820 London 03:57 – Breakfast with William and the underpinning forces of the Wilberforce marriage 05:27 – Barbara’s place as a woman in society – caring, supporting, and managing the household 06:57 – Typhoid and its ongoing impact on Barbara’s life and others in London 08:18 – William’s long arduous fight to abolish the slave trade 09:50 – Barbara’s daily chores including caring for her children, including wayward William Jnr 12:04 – Evening solace in the garden References & Further Reading: ‘A Practical View of the Prevailing Religious System of Professed Christians: In the Higher and Middle Classes in this Country, Contrasted with Real Christianity’, William Wilberforce 1829 https://books.google.com.au/books?id=-usOAAAAIAAJ&redir_esc=y https://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1820-1832/member/wilberforce-william-1759-1833 Credits: Opening and closing music: 'Esmerelda's Waltz' from Dusan Bogdanovic's Book of Unknown Standards, played by Daniel McKay, used with permission of the performer. Background music includes Meditation Charch Music by Natalia; Fur Elise (Beethoven) by Clavier-Music; Amazing Grace William Walker Version 1835 arranged for piano by Gregor Quendel all sourced from Pixabay Other copyright and royalty-free music and sound effects self-created, or from: freesound_community, Alexander Jauk, Universfield, Scottish Guysourced from Pixabay;  Contact & Feedback: Email: walksintime@gmail.com https://walksintime.podbean.com/

    Devotion and advocacy: Barbara Wilberforce, wife of William Wilberforce, 1820 London
  5. 01/12/2025

    Dear mother: letters, loss and motherly love during World War I

    1915, Paddington, London. Your 20-year-old son Dudley is serving on the Western Front in World War I. Most days he has written you a letter, requesting items and letting you know how he is going. But it’s been a few days since his last letter, which came with the alarming news that he was moving closer to the firing line. Experience a day in the life of Katherine Stewart-Smith, as she manages her emotions, family-life and life in late Edwardian Britain during the First World War. Episode Highlights & Timestamps: 00:00 – Introduction to Katherine and the morning routine 03:30 – Revisiting Paddington Station, where Katherine last saw Dudley 05:04 – House and home: Katherine’s domestic life, Dudley’s most recent letters and keeping up appearances 10:30 – A trip into town 11:08 – News from the Western Front 11:49 – Living in the present, with the children at your side 13:49 – Dinner and evening routine References & Further Reading: https://awayfromthewesternfront.org/research/soldiers-stories/dear-mother/ Credits: With thanks to James Stewart-Smith, grandson of Dudley Cauley Stewart-Smith for providing the transcribed letters between Dudley and his mother and his diary as a Prisoner of War to aide research for this story. Opening and closing music: 'Esmerelda's Waltz' from Dusan Bogdanovic's Book of Unknown Standards, played by Daniel McKay, used with permission of the performer. Other copyright and royalty-free music and sound effects self-created, or from: freesound_community, Alexander Jauk, Universfield, Scottish Guy sourced from Pixabay; other music: 'His eye is on the sparrow'; 'Schubert Moment Musical', 'Old Photo' sourced from ClipChamp.  Contact & Feedback: Email: walksintime@gmail.com https://walksintime.podbean.com/ Thank you for listening. If you enjoy this podcast, please share it with your friends and family. https://linktr.ee/walksintime

    Dear mother: letters, loss and motherly love during World War I
  6. 17/11/2025

    Elizabeth Blackwell, first woman to study medicine in the US - January 1849, Geneva

    Imagine facing multiple rejections from universities to study for your chosen career path for no reason other than that you are a woman. Following dozens of rejections, Elizabeth Blackwell was the first American woman to finally be accepted, and then complete a medical degree in order to become a doctor. In this episode, you'll experience a day in Elizabeth's life in January 1849 when she is completing her studies. Take on Elizabeth's perspective as she awakes in her boarding house and takes a short walk to Geneva Medical School where she is the only female amongst her class of male students. Will she let rejection and prejudice stop her from achieving her dream? Take time to consider Elizabeth's determination and discipline, standing against inequality or discrimination and the barriers she faced to education, which would otherwise have held her back from achieving.   Key Topics & Timestamps: 00:00 – Introduction to Elizabeth Blackwell 01:00 – Morning routine and life at the boarding house 03:18 – Attending Geneva Medical School 03:43 – Facing opposition and breaking barriers 05:25 – Elizabeth's motivation for being a trailblazing female medical student  06:30 – Elizabeth as a student 09:15 – Hospital visits and patient care 10:18 – An evening walk in Geneva, dinner and further study 11:33 – Elizabeth's thesis on 'Ship Fever'    Read Elizabeth's Blackwell's thesis on Ship Fever in the Buffalo medical journal and monthly review v.4 (1848-1849) – Blackwell’s thesis on ship fever p 523 https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=hvd.32044103052585&view=1up&seq=535  Beginning and ending music 'Esmerelda's Waltz' from Dusan Bogdanovic's Book of Unknown Standards, played by Daniel McKay, used with permission. Other copyright and royalty-free music and sound effects self created, or from: freesound_community from Pixabay; Mendelsohn Venetian Boat song Music by Gregor Quendel from Pixabay; Nostalgic Sad Piano by Music by Music by Tunetank from Pixabay.   Read more on the Walks In Time webpage: https://walksintime.podbean.com/

    Elizabeth Blackwell, first woman to study medicine in the US - January 1849, Geneva

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Have you ever wondered what life was like for women born in different centuries or places? How did they navigate their daily challenges and relationships? What barriers did they face to education, work and society? And what did they wear and eat? Walks in Time puts you in the shoes of women at different points in history, most of them famous trailblazing women or trailblazing women who should be famous! Experience a day in their life - the sounds, sights, smells and activities. 

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