About the show
Fun, inspiring stories of real-life extraordinary women, from athletes to fearless leaders, that help girls believe in themselves and take on the world.
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A podcast from Rebel Girls focused on building confidence in girls everywhere. Each episode explores the lives of real-life extraordinary women, from record-breaking athletes to fearless leaders. With empowering stories, interviews, news, and advice this show will inspire listeners to believe in themselves and take on the world. Formerly called Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls.
Fast Facts
- Audience
- Ages 8+
- Format
- Listen in any order
- Typical length
- 12 min
- Episodes
- 486
- Seasons
- 8 seasons
- Topics
- Stories For Kids, Education For Kids
Listen now
Listen on the Once Upon a Pod app Hand-picked, kid-safe shows worth their earsor press play on any episode below to listen right here
Episodes
486 episodes
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Betsy DeHont: Once Upon a Tomorrow
9 min 18 July 2024Betsy DeHont is a Senior Art Department Manager for Horizon Worlds at Meta She believes that everyone can connect through storytelling and she’s thrilled to be creating stories of the future
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Tara Franz: The Power of Curiosity
9 min 16 July 2024Tara Franz is an innovative user experience researcher at Meta who is bringing authenticity to the Metaverse By asking questions, and exploring all the possible answers, Tara builds connection and community
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Get to Know Jordan Chiles
10 min 11 July 2024Jordan Chiles is a 23 year old Olympic gymnast with an incredible sense of style. In 2020, she represented the United States at the Tokyo Summer Olympic Games, where she won a silver medal. She is also an outspoken advocate for female athletes, focusing on body positivity and mental health. Jordan brought us the story of fellow Olympian and style icon, Florence Griffith Joyner. Listen to hear how Jordan stays calm before major competitions, and what she wears to feel like her most powerful self! AND catch Jordan at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games! Credits This podcast is a production of Rebel Girls. It’s
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Florence Griffith Joyner Read by Jordan Chiles
16 min 9 July 2024Flo Jo was never afraid to be who she was: fast. A runner all her life, Flo Jo went on to become the first American woman to win four medals in a single Olympics. Her one-legged bodysuits and long nails left dazzled audiences around the world. About the Narrator At just 23 years old, gymnast Jordan Chiles is an Olympic silver medalist with an awesome sense of style! She read the story of fellow Olympic athlete and style icon, Florence Griffith Joyner. Listen in to hear what makes Jordan feel powerful! Credits This podcast is a production of Rebel Girls. It’s
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Get to Know Sara Blakely
11 min 17 April 2025Get to know inventor, businesswoman, and philanthropist, Sara Blakely! Sara brought us the story of Melinda French Gates Sara talks to us about being a good leader, helping others creatively, and inventing something that is all your own!
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Melinda French Gates Read by Sara Blakely
19 min 15 April 2025Melinda French Gates is an advocate for women and girls around the world As co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and founder of Pivotal Ventures, Melinda works to dismantle systemic barriers that leave people behind
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Get to know Elena Favilli
9 min 3 October 2024Get to know Elena Favilli who read us the story of Alfonsina Strada! Elena is a writer, entrepreneur, and co-founder of Rebel Girls Listen to Elena talk about her childhood in Italy, how she conceived of Rebel Girls, and how she can relate to bicyclist Alfonsina Strada!
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Alfonsina Strada Read by Elena Favilli
13 min 1 October 2024Alfonsina Strada discovered cycling in the early 1900s when Italian women were supposed to be focused on home and family She ignored the gossip and entered the Giro d’Italia bike race using a man’s name, becoming the first and only woman to ride in the world-famous event
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Autumn Peltier: Saving Sacred Water
17 min 3 June 2025For nearly a decade, seventeen-year-old Indigenous activist Autumn Peltier has been speaking to local communities and world leaders about the sacredness of water—and how and why we should protect it. This story is from the new Rebel Girls app! You can listen to more stories like this, PLUS all the podcast episodes you know and love. Just go to go.rebelgirls.com/dream-on to download and listen for free! This podcast is a production of Rebel Girls and is
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Powerful Pairs Story Bundle
30 min 17 February 2026Explore four different stories about Rebel Girls who followed their passions And they did it with their moms! Hear the stories of Beyoncé Knowles and Blue Ivy Carter, Briana Sullivan and Cambyr Sullivan, Leena Sharma and Bhakti Sharma, and Portia Mbau and Lumai de Smidt Each of these powerful pairs faced different challenges, but they’re connected to each other by their rebel spirit and vision
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Thokozile Muwamba Read by Refilwe Ledwaba
20 min 25 August 2026Once upon a time, there was a girl who soared and swooped through the sky. Her name is Thokozile Muwamba. In 2017, at age 24, Thokozile Muwamba broke barriers by becoming Zambia’s first female fighter pilot. Today, she continues to soar through the sky and is also an outspoken advocate against cyberbullying. [This episode originally aired September 2021]. About the Narrator Refilwe Ledwaba is a social entrepreneur, an advocate of girl’s education especially Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics (STEAM) education. She spent 10 years in the South African Police Services (SAPS) as a Helicopter Pilot, the first black woman to do so. She is also a qualified fixed-wing Pilot and Flight instructor ,a qualified Drone Pilot and currently training as a Drone Pilot instructor. She is passionate about youth development in Africa, particularly the empowerment of girls. She is the founder of Girls fly programme in Africa (GFPA) foundation, an information and educational STEAM programme for primary, high school and Post-school learners with a focus on aviation and space. The programme includes the use of design thinking, technology, and innovation to shape, empower, enable, and support the next generation of makers and problem solvers in the aviation and space industry in Africa while entrenching the spirit of Ubuntu. Credits This podcast is a production of Rebel Girls and is
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Get to Know Camille Stennis
9 min 18 June 2026Meet one of the audio producers and sound designers behind some of your favorite Rebel Girls episodes, Camille Stennis. Camille talks about her own creative process and journey to discovering her identity as a member of the LGBTQ+ community. Living happily in Los Angeles with her wife and 2 dogs, Camille shares how important it is to do what you love. [This episode originally aired August, 2021.]
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Audre Lorde Read by Camille Stennis
24 min 16 June 2026Born in Harlem in 1934 to a family of Caribbean immigrants, Audre Lorde grew up to become a Black feminist icon and celebrated American poet, writer, and activist. Best known for her works exploring her own multifaceted identity, Lorde both struggled with and embraced the differences that made her unique—and the ones that drew her to others. A poet and self-described “warrior,” Lorde created a space for herself in America by writing about her personal experiences and advocating for freedom for people of color, the LGBTQ community, women, and oppressed communities around the globe. [This episode originally aired in August, 2021.] About the Narrator Camille Stennis is an audio editor, music composer and sound designer based out of Los Angeles, CA. She has a BFA in Music Production & Sound Design for Visual Media from the Academy of Art University, and has also interned at companies such as Jingle Punks, Unified Films, and was previously the Head of Production at Jam Street Media supporting various creative productions in podcasting, music publishing and audio visuals. She worked as an Audio Producer and Sound Designer for Rebel Girls. Camille is also a member of the LGBTQ+ community, living happily with her wife and dogs. Credits This podcast is a production of Rebel Girls and is
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Naomi Osaka Read by Megalyn Echikunwoke
19 min 22 October 2026Once upon a time, there was a girl from Japan with arms so strong she could serve a tennis ball at more than 120 miles per hour. Her name is Naomi Osaka - a powerful professional tennis player who has taken the sport by storm and has become an advocate for mental health. Naomi has been ranked No. 1 by the Women's Tennis Association and is the first Asian player to hold the top ranking in singles. About the Narrator Megalyn Echikunwoke is an actor, writer singer and dancer. Discovered at a high school theater camp by a Hollywood manager, she got her start in the industry at 14. She has a striking presence with an undeniable talent through her range of portrayals of characters in television, film and the theater. Though she was raised by a widowed, single mother who worked as a registered nurse on the Navajo Reservation in Arizona, she is of Igbo-Nigerian, German, Irish and Scandinavian descent. She is also the granddaughter of a Igbo tribal leader which technically makes her African royalty. Inspired by her many cultural influences, Megalyn believes in the power of art and storytelling to expose injustice, shift culture and heal communities. Credits This podcast is a production of Rebel Girls and is
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Lorella Praeli Read By Diane Guerrero
18 min 11 August 2026Born in Peru, Lorella Praeli became an activist at a young age when she stood up to middle school bullies in her small Connecticut town and, in college, came out as an undocumented immigrant. Within a few years, she became known as one of the foremost and fiercest youth advocates working to pass the DREAM Act, which would offer protections for undocumented youth. Though she became an American citizen in 2015, today, Lorella continues to fight for change and build power among immigrants in the U.S. [This episode originally aired December 2020.] About the Narrator Diane Guerrero is an American actress, activist and author. She is currently a Series Regular on DC Universe/HBO Max’s series DOOM PATROL. She plays “Crazy Jane,” the most powerful member of the show’s titular band of outcast superheroes. She is also known for her roles as “Sofia,” a series regular on the CBS comedy SUPERIOR DONUTS, “Maritza Ramos” on the award-winning, Emmy and Golden Globe nominated Netflix series ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK (for which she received THREE Screen Actors Guild awards) and as "Lina" in CW's break-out hit, JANE THE VIRGIN. She was nominated for the 34th Imagen Awards, is the winner of the Lupe Ontiveros Indomitable Spirit Award by the National Hispanic Media Coalition and Variety had named her one of the top 10 Latina actresses to watch: Variety's Top Ten Latinas. Credits This episode was a production of Rebel Girls and Boom Integrated, a division of John Marshall Media. It’s
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Get to Know Lindsey Vonn
8 min 4 July 2024Today, you'll hear from Lindsey Vonn who narrated the previous episode about Simone Biles. If you haven't listened to that episode, now is a great time to go back and check it out. Lindsey Vonn is a former alpine ski racer for the United States Ski Team. She’s won Olympic bronze and gold medals, two World Championship gold medals, and four overall World Cup titles. A New York Times bestselling author, she founded the Lindsey Vonn Foundation, which supports girls through scholarships, education, and athletics. [This episode originally aired August 2020.]
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Alicia Alonso Read by Yuan Yuan Tan
28 min 1 September 2026Once upon a time, there was a Cuban ballerina who was blind. Her name was Alicia. As a little girl, Alicia was a naturally talented dancer. She spent her days filled with hours and hours of practice. She became one of the best dancers in the world. Then when she was 19, a medical condition caused her to lose her ability to see but that did not stop Alicia. She continued to dance and choreograph. She even started her own dance company which became the National Dance Company of Cuba. [This episode originally aired May 2020.] About the Narrator: Yuan Yuan Tan is a Principal dancer with the famous San Francisco Ballet, celebrating her record-breaking 25th anniversary in this 2020 season. Born in Shanghai, Yuan Yuan began dancing when she was 11 years old and went on to become the youngest principal dancer in the history of the San Francisco Ballet. She also continues to perform several times a year in China where she also frequently participates in teaching workshops, competitions, and other community programs to nurture new generations of dancers. This podcast is
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Get To Know Tanja Babich
4 min 29 July 2026This season, we invited our credit readers to interview our storytellers. Today, you'll hear from Tanja Babich who narrated the previous episode about Carmen Amaya. If you haven't listened to last week's episode, now is a good time to go back and check it out! Tanja reveals how she optimizes her schedule to be an early morning news anchor, her superpower, and how she deals with criticism! [This episode originally aired October 2020.] About Babich: Tanja Babich gives the term “early riser” a run for its money, waking up at 2:30 AM each weekday morning to deliver the day’s headlines at ABC 7 Chicago. Her work has afforded her the opportunity to do aerial stunts in an F-16 fighter jet, cover President Obama’s 2009 inauguration, and trail Pope Francis on his first trip to the United States. But the job she is most proud of is mom to two fierce and fun little girls...with one more daughter on the way! Tanja was born in Canada to immigrant parents from Serbia and Chile. She speaks four languages and finds tremendous joy traveling to cities near and far with her husband Paul and her rebel girls. Credits: This episode of Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls is produced by Elena Favilli, Joy Fowlkes, and Meg Murnane. Sound design and original theme music by Elettra Bargiacchi. Mattia Marcelli was the sound mixer. Special thanks to Clio McClure for coordinating our credit readers and interviewers.
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Carmen Amaya read by Tanja Babich
22 min 28 July 2026Once upon a time, there lived a flamenco dancer who could break floorboards with her feet. Her name was Carmen. Everywhere she went, audiences were awed and shocked by her masterful dancing and the fury of her feet. She belonged to the Romany, a group of people in Europe known as gypsies and treated as outsiders. But Carmen would not allow her family to suffer prejudice and ignorance. Family was everything to her, and every penny she made, from dancing at taverns or in small market squares to performing in Carnegie Hall, went to support the people she loved most. The world would come to know Carmen Amaya as “The Gypsy Queen.” [This episode originally aired July 2019]. About the Narrator: Tanja Babich gives the term “early riser” a run for its money, waking up at 2:30 AM each weekday morning to deliver the day’s headlines at ABC 7 Chicago. Her work has afforded her the opportunity to do aerial stunts in an F-16 fighter jet, cover President Obama’s 2009 inauguration, and trail Pope Francis on his first trip to the United States. But the job she is most proud of is mom to two fierce and fun little girls...with one more daughter on the way! Tanja was born in Canada to immigrant parents from Serbia and Chile. She speaks four languages and finds tremendous joy traveling to cities near and far with her husband Paul and her rebel girls. Credits: This episode of Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls is produced by Elena Favilli, Joy Fowlkes, and Meg Murnane, with writing by Francesca Cavallo and narration by Tanja Babich. Jestine Ware edited all scripts and Janice Weaver fact-checked all scripts. Sound design and original theme music by Elettra Bargiacchi. Mattia Marcelli was the sound mixer. Special thanks to Clio McClure who coordinated all credit recordings and narrator donations.
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Get to Know Dogsledder and Adventurer Blair Braverman
12 min 27 October 2026What would you do if you were surrounded by wolves for six hours in the snowy wilderness? Dog musher and adventurer Blair Braverman has been there! In this episode, Blair tells us about Hari, a blind sled dog who led her team to safety through a blinding whiteout. She also explains how she stays calm when she's scared (her dogs are counting on her!), and what led her to start mushing in the first place. Plus, Blair shares her advice for inventing your own dream career: try lots of things, don't worry if some don't work out, and never be afraid to be yourself. Grab a cozy blanket and get ready for an adventure, rebels! Play Rebel ⚡ Stay Rebel
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Get to Know Megalyn Echikunwoke and Celeste the Therapist
11 min 24 October 2026Megalyn Echikunwoke is an actor, writer singer, and dancer. Discovered at a high school theater camp by a Hollywood manager, she got her start in the industry at 14. She has a striking presence with an undeniable talent through her range of portrayals of characters in television, film and the theater. Though she was raised by a widowed, single mother who worked as a registered nurse on the Navajo Reservation in Arizona, she is of Igbo-Nigerian, German, Irish and Scandinavian descent. She is also the granddaughter of an Igbo tribal leader which technically makes her African royalty. Inspired by her many cultural influences, Megalyn believes in the power of art and storytelling to expose injustice, shift culture and heal communities.
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Get To Know Brit Morin
8 min 15 October 2026Meet Brit Morin, the founder and CEO of Brit + Co, a modern lifestyle and education company. Brit brought us the story of princess, fashion designer and businesswoman Diane Von Furstenberg. In this interview she tells us more about the experience of being an entrepreneur and how you can get started on your OWN business adventure.
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Diane Von Furstenberg Read by Brit Morin
19 min 13 October 2026Diane Von Furstenberg is a fashion icon who made a huge impact on the way women dress today with her signature wrap dress in the 1970’s. In this episode we explore her life from her early days in Belgium and France to her becoming a real-life princess and then taking the fashion world by storm with a style and sense that is all her own. About the Narrator Brit Morin is the founder & CEO of Brit + Co, a modern lifestyle and education company providing classes, content, products and experiences geared towards women with a creative spirit and a do-it-herself attitude. With an engaged community of tens of millions of women per month, products distributed in mass retail stores nationwide, and millions of online class enrollments, Brit + Co is the leading destination for learning and discovery among females. Morin is a chart-topping podcaster, hosting the show Teach Me Something New with Brit Morin in collaboration with iHeartRadio. She’s also author of the bestselling book, Homemakers: A Domestic Handbook for the Digital Generation and is a regular lifestyle expert on Good Morning America, the Today Show, Live with Kelly & Ryan, Rachael Ray and more. As of June 2020, Brit added venture capitalist to her resume, helping to start the fund, Offline Ventures as a managing partner. She invests in early stage companies in various sectors that seek to make our offline lives better. Brit has been awarded various accolades, including Ad Age’s 40 Under 40, Adweek’s Creative 100, Forbes 30 Under 30, Fortune’s Most Promising Entrepreneurs, Refinery29’s 30 Under 30, one of Parents magazine’s Most Influential Millennial Moms, and one of ELLE magazine’s American Women at 30. Brit is a board member of Life360 as well as the Girl Scouts of the USA. She’s a Henry Crown Fellow and member of the Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO). Prior to founding Brit + Co, she worked in product and marketing roles at Google and Apple. Her interests include tech, storytelling, design, women, photography, the great outdoors, and just about any creative project she can get her hands on. Brit was raised in San Antonio and attended the University of Texas. She currently resides in the Bay Area with her husband and two young sons.
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Pearl Thusi
9 min 8 October 2026Pearl Thusi narrated our story about former first lady, Michelle Obama. Thusi is a South African actress, model, television host, and radio personality. She plays the title character in Queen Sono, Netflix’s first African original series.
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Becoming Michelle
21 min 6 October 2026Michelle always aimed high– and inspired others to do the same. When Michelle was a little girl living on the Southside of Chicago, her mother always told her, "If it can be done, you can do it." Actress Pearl Thusi reads her story.
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Playoffs, Records & Emotional Goodbyes — What a Week in the W!
9 min 2 October 2026Breanna Stewart just dropped a 30-point, 10-rebound, 5-assist playoff game and is only the FOURTH player EVER to do so. The Liberty took down the top-seeded Lynx. And that's just the beginning of the women’s sports news this week… 🏆 Olivia Miles wins Rookie of the Year with ALL 74 votes! 👋 An emotional farewell to Nneka Ogwumike, the legend who changed the WNBA on AND off the court ⚾ Mo'ne Davis is BACK 12 years after her Little League history, she's a pro baseball CHAMPION ⚽ Ashley Sanchez ties the NWSL single-season goal record & earns a USWNT call-up! 🏒 The PWHL announces its first-ever All-Star event And MORE! Plus, a VERY special Pep Talk: Rebel Girls CEO Jes Wolfe shares a powerful message about finding your path and building your dreams. Play Rebel and Stay Rebel! ✌️
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Get to Know Cecile Richards
6 min 1 October 2026Get to know Cecile Richards, a national leader for women’s right and social and economic justice in this Rebel Girls Interview. Cecile brought us the story of Samantha Power who served as the U.S Ambassador to the United Nations. Here, Cecile tells us about the rebel women who inspired her growing up and why you should never wait to be asked! [This episode originally aired October 2020.]
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Samantha Power Read by Cecile Richards
23 min 29 September 2026Once upon a time, there was a girl who told powerful stories, and helped solve world problems. Her name is Samantha Power. Samantha was born in Ireland and moved to the United States with her mom and brother when she was 9 years old. She was always interested in telling stories and explaining how the world worked so she became a journalist, first in sports and later as a war correspondent. But world events pushed her into a life of service to her adopted country. Samantha worked for President Barack Obama and eventually served as the U.S Ambassador to the United Nations. About the Narrator Cecile Richards is a national leader for women’s rights and social and economic justice, and a co-founder of Supermajority, a new organization fighting for gender equity. She is the author of New York Times bestseller Make Trouble. As President of Planned Parenthood Federation of America and Planned Parenthood Action Fund for 12 years, Richards worked to increase affordable access to reproductive health care and to build a healthier and safer world for women and young people. [This episode originally aired October 2020.] Credits This podcast is a production of Rebel Girls and Boom Integrated, a division of John Marshall Media. It’s
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A Statue, a Speedsuit & SO Many Records — What a Week!
9 min 25 September 2026Kelsey Mitchell is the new single-season scoring leader, Angel Reese hit 500 rebounds — a league FIRST — and that's only the beginning! This week on the Weekly Sports Show, Pepper's got the scoop on: 🏀 Records everywhere: A'ja Wilson, Olivia Miles, Paige Bueckers & Rhyne Howard all made history 🎟️ The Valkyries sold out 44 STRAIGHT games and the WNBA just passed 3.4 MILLION fans this season! 🗽 Lisa Leslie's statue "The First Lady" unveiled — capturing the first dunk in WNBA history 🏄♀️ 19-year-old Erin Brooks won her THIRD straight surf title — the first to do it in one season since 2008! Plus, Gotham FC updates, a new speedsuit on the track, and team USA flag football star Ashlea Klam shares her advice on finding your place and staying true to your passions in this week's Pep Talk 💬 Play Rebel and Stay Rebel! ✌️
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Get to Know Maya2960
11 min 24 September 2026Meet Maya2960, a social media activist and political commentator, brought us the story of Shirley Chisholm, the first black woman to be elected to the United States Congress. Listen in as Maya shares the ups and downs of using her voice to influence social and political change. [This episode originally aired September 2021.]
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