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. Talent, nerves and European splendour: Clara Schumann in 1844

    Feb 23

    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

    16 min
  2. Devotion and advocacy: Barbara Wilberforce, wife of William Wilberforce, 1820 London

    12/15/2025

    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/

    14 min
  3. Dear mother: letters, loss and motherly love during World War I

    12/01/2025

    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

    15 min
  4. Elizabeth Blackwell - January 1849, Geneva

    11/17/2025

    Elizabeth Blackwell - January 1849, Geneva

    Step into the shoes of Elizabeth Blackwell, a true trailblazer and the first woman to earn a medical degree in the US. In this episode, you'll experience a day in Elizabeth's life in January 1849. 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. 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/

    14 min

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.