Podcast Summary: The Daily Show: Ears Edition Episode: TDS Time Machine | Shafted - Tales of Unsung Women
Release Date: March 15, 2025
Hosts: Desi Lydic and Dulce Sloan
Producer: iHeartPodcasts and Paramount Podcasts

Introduction

In celebration of Women's History Month, The Daily Show: Ears Edition launches a special segment titled "Shafted - Tales of Unsung Women." Hosted by Desi Lydic and Dulce Sloan, this series delves into the overlooked contributions of remarkable women whose innovations and talents were historically overshadowed or dismissed. This episode features three intriguing stories: Marian Donovan's pioneering work in baby care products, Willie Mae "Big Mama" Thornton's influential yet forgotten musical legacy, and Sarah Howe's early establishment of investment fraud schemes.

Marian Donovan: The Mother of Disposable Diapers

[00:45 – 04:07]

Trevor Noah opens the segment by highlighting the often underappreciated narratives in women's history. Desi and Dulce immediately dive into the story of Marian Donovan, a housewife from Westport, Connecticut, in 1946.

• Dulce Sloan introduces Marian's plight:
  "The victim, Marian Donovan. The crime being a woman." [01:27]

• Desi Lydic humorously underscores Marian's frustration with domestic challenges:
  "Why is there so much shit everywhere?" [01:45]

Faced with the discomfort of rubber diaper covers prevalent at the time, Marian ingeniously repurposes her household items to create a better diaper cover, dubbed the "Boater." This innovation saw immediate success:

• Dulce Sloan remarks on the product's popularity:
  "The diaper covers were flying off the shelves faster than black market birth control pills." [02:38]

Encouraged by her initial success, Marian endeavors to develop a fully disposable diaper. However, she encounters significant sexism, with male manufacturers dismissing her ideas:

• Desi Lydic expresses frustration:
  "There's no market for this, you dumb lady." [02:44]

Despite Marian's relentless efforts, her breakthrough comes posthumously when Pampers introduces a similar product a decade later. The hosts poignantly note the irony:

• Dulce Sloan:
  "Disposable diapers are now a $6 billion industry. Marian should have been the Beyoncé of baby care, but fate made her the Farrah Franklin." [03:26]

The segment concludes by honoring Marian's legacy, emphasizing her foundational role in a now essential industry:

• Desi Lydic:
  "In homes, in daycares, in bathrooms... Marian was shafted, but not defeated." [04:07]

Willie Mae "Big Mama" Thornton: The Original "Hound Dog"

[04:51 – 07:56]

Transitioning to the world of music, Desi and Dulce explore the life of Willie Mae "Big Mama" Thornton, a trailblazing blues singer whose rendition of "Hound Dog" was overshadowed by Elvis Presley's later version.

• Desi Lydic sets the stage:
  "It's the story of a forgotten woman never given her due." [05:02]

Willie Mae's authentic and soulful version of "Hound Dog" reached number one on the R&B charts in 1953 but failed to cross over to the mainstream pop audience due to racial biases:

• Desi Lydic:
  "It was seen as a race record, which is a not so not racist way of saying black music." [06:20]

Despite achieving success within the R&B sphere, Willie Mae's contribution was eclipsed when Elvis Presley reinterpreted "Hound Dog," catapulting it into global fame. The hosts critique the racial disparities in recognition:

• Dulce Sloan:
  "Thank you, white man. Thank you." [06:09]

Elvis's version became a massive hit, benefiting from the industry's preference for white artists, whereas Willie Mae's version remained underappreciated:

• Desi Lydic:
  "Elvis went on to become one of the greatest icons of all time. But despite it all, Willie Mae never lost her gift for expressing emotion in song." [07:35]

The segment poignantly highlights Willie Mae's enduring legacy, despite the systemic barriers that minimized her impact:

• Dulce Sloan:
  "Willie Mae Thornton was a talented artist who launched an iconic song, only to have her legacy washed away." [07:44]

Sarah Howe: The Pioneer of the Ponzi Scheme

[08:54 – 12:03]

The final story delves into the life of Sarah Howe, a 19th-century entrepreneur who inadvertently pioneered what would later be known as the Ponzi scheme.

• Desi Lydic introduces Sarah's unconventional career:
  "Born in the early 1800s, Sarah grew up hustling as a fortune teller and horoscope reader." [08:54]

Despite lacking formal medical training, Sarah masquerades as a doctor, offering dubious treatments:

• Desi Lydic:
  "We want to pour the tonic right over the abdomen." [09:18]

Transitioning from petty scams to a more sophisticated fraud, Sarah establishes the Ladies Deposit, an investment fund exclusively for women. Her persuasive tactics lead over 1,200 women to invest, amassing significant wealth:

• Desi Lydic:
  "Sarah was running one of the first and most successful investment fraud schemes in history. She was basically Bernie Madoff in a bustle." [10:20]

Despite her success, Sarah's scheme eventually collapses, leading to her imprisonment:

• Desi Lydic:
  "She spent three years in jail for her crimes, but the true prison was her gender." [11:19]

Ironically, Sarah's fraudulent model gains notoriety through Charles Ponzi, who later perfects and names the scheme after himself. The hosts lament the lack of recognition Sarah deserves:

• Dulce Sloan:
  "She shattered the glass ceiling of financial crime. Thanks to her, women everywhere can aspire to lie, cheat, and steal just like men." [11:50]

Conclusion

Throughout this episode of "Shafted - Tales of Unsung Women," Desi Lydic and Dulce Sloan illuminate the stories of three remarkable women whose innovations and talents were undermined by societal biases and systemic sexism. From Marian Donovan's foundational role in the disposable diaper industry and Willie Mae Thornton's overlooked musical genius to Sarah Howe's pioneering yet uncredited financial fraud, the episode underscores the enduring impact these women have had despite historical marginalization.

The hosts emphasize the importance of recognizing and honoring these forgotten figures, advocating for a more inclusive recounting of history that gives due credit to women's invaluable contributions.

Notable Quotes:

• Dulce Sloan on Marian Donovan:
  "Disposable diapers are now a $6 billion industry. Marian should have been the Beyoncé of baby care, but fate made her the Farrah Franklin." [03:58]

• Desi Lydic on Willie Mae Thornton:
  "Elvis went on to become one of the greatest icons of all time. But despite it all, Willie Mae never lost her gift for expressing emotion in song." [07:35]

• Dulce Sloan on Sarah Howe:
  "Sarah was running one of the first and most successful investment fraud schemes in history. She was basically Bernie Madoff in a bustle." [10:20]

Additional Information:

Listeners are encouraged to support women's history by tuning into future episodes of "Shafted," where more untold stories of courageous and innovative women will be explored. For more content, visit ParamountShop.com using discount code "TDS20" for 20% off The Daily Show products. Catch new episodes of The Daily Show weeknights on Comedy Central at 11/10c or stream anytime on Paramount+.