When we last left the Grand Duchess Catherine, she was feeling alone, unloved and unnecessary. She had just given birth and the child, Paul, heir to the Russian Empire, was ripped from her arms to be raised by Empress Elizabeth. Not cool, Elizabeth, not cool at all.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Life. It's funny, you know? Like the time both of us were sick for so long that we couldn't record Catherine the Great Part 2 for this week's show but, instead, have this conversation between Beckett and Carol Wallace? Funny in a "well, that's a little different" way. In 2010 one of us- Beckett- wanted to hear a podcast like her favorite book of all time, To Marry an English Lord, by Gail MacColl and Carol Wallace, but couldn't find one. So we made one. In 2014 we had drinks with Carol Wallace. In 2015 this conversation was recorded and lived in a computer until now. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The listeners have spoken! Catherine the Great, Empress of Russia, was the winner in our Guaranteed Content Poll - and in this episode, we take our innocent German princess from obscurity onto the world stage.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Once upon a time there was a busy, yet highly compassionate and generous bachelor. He became known the world over, but lacked something in his life: a wife. Mrs. Claus often takes a back seat to her more famous husband, Santa, but it's time her history was told. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lillian Gilbreth inspired us. After talking about her life and accomplishments, we thought it was high time to introduce you to four more problem-solving women whose inventions we use every day: Josephine Cochrane, Melitta Bentz, Mary Phelps Jacobs and Hedy Lamarr. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lillian Gilbreth should be remembered for any of her life accomplishments: psychologist, industrial engineer, author, inventor, and pioneer in the field of industrial psychology. From her collection of degrees to her equal partnership marriage to her work with Presidents and to the trailblazing example she set for us modern mothers...she should be remembered for a lot more than simply, "the mother on Cheaper by the Dozen". Let's do something about that. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mary Queen of Scots got off to a good start: she was wearing the crown early and upgraded it at a young age (under the watchful eye of many an interested party),  but once she started making decisions for herself? Ah, that's when her life took dramatic twists and turns that ultimately took the crown off her head. Actually, those decisions got her whole head taken off, but let's start at the beginning, shall we? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Heeeeere’s your seven word summary: We asked, you responded and we answer. For the first time in the five years that we have been doing this show we sat down with a couple of glasses of wine to deviate from our normal format and answer some of your questions.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When we left Dorothy Parker in Part One she was hanging on tenuously at best. Her marriage to Eddie Parker was over, her relationship with George MacArthur was over and the fall-out somewhat stabilized and her suicide attempt was unsuccessful. How will this end? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

She gave us fabulous quotes like, “Men seldom make passes at girls who wear glasses” and “Brevity is the soul of lingerie,” but Dorothy Parker’s life wasn’t all wit and snark. Behind those flip one liners there was a very complex woman who lead a full life far beyond the banter of the Algonquin Round table. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices