Season 2 of the Virtuosa Society Podcast kicks off with a tale close to heart for host Katie Harman as she unfolds the largely unknown story of the Miss America Pageant that almost wasn’t.

Weaving interviews with her fellow competition sisters and fascinating historical references, Katie unfurls the events surrounding 9/11 that led to an unprecedented vote by the 51 young women competing for the title and crown of Miss America 2002. A decision that documentary filmmakers later dubbed as “pop culture that saved America.”

Interviews include:

Meghan Shanley, Miss Virginia 2001

Kim Grice, Miss Kansas 2001

Erin Smith, Miss Iowa 2001

Monica Hardin, Miss Kentucky 2001

Tony Danza interview ℅ “When Pop Culture Saved America”

Atlantic City Press coverage of Bob Reneissen, Miss Hawaii 2001 Denby Dung and Miss New Jersey 2001 Julie Barber

Under the Crown: 51 Stories of Courage, Determination and the American Spirit

Bring My Crown!: Miss America Sings Broadway

Producer: Katie Harman @katieharmanebner

Audio Engineer: Will Cowser @williamcowser

Title Song: “Reflection of the Sun” by Anna Landström

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Host Katie Harman takes a trip down memory lane to revisit some of her favorite moments in each of Season 1’s seven episodes. She reveals the common thread of collaboration within each story and the “moments of convergence” that are the apex of each story - when one talented woman meets another talented woman and spontaneous combustion happens in the form of something impactful, innovative, imaginative or awe-inspiring. Producer: Katie Harman @katieharmanebner Audio Engineer: Will Cowser @williamcowser Title Song: “Reflection of the Sun” by Anna Landström www.virtuosasociety.com Follow @virtuossociety on Instagram, Facebook and Threads

Episode 7 is a ghost tale!

The mystery of a name that was only known to paper… and a woman who wrote hundreds of Tin Pan Alley tunes in the shadow of a pseudonym. Host Katie Harman unfolds the story of composer Irene Higginbotham, and how she - along with three other legendary women of Tin Pan Alley - helped shape American popular music in the 1930s-1950s. The episode also features a portion of Katie’s interview with Broadway and cabaret star Natalie Douglas, as she shares her thoughts on the influence of Irene Higginbotham. Catch their full conversation in Virtuosa Society Podcast’s companion series “Between the Bio” which dives deeper into Natalie’s fascinating life and career, including the challenges, triumphs and lessons learned between the highlights in her bio.

Research referenced throughout the episode:

The Jazz Standards, by Ted Gioia

Lady Sings the Blues, by Billie Holiday with William Dufty

“Good Morning Heartache,” by David "Chet" Williamson Sneade https://worcestersongs.blogspot.com/2012/12/good-morning-heartache.html

“Recording Studios: A History Of The Most Legendary Studios In Music,” by Martin Chilton https://www.udiscovermusic.com/in-depth-features/history-of-recording-studios/

“The History of Tin Pan Alley” by Nate Wooley https://soundamerican.org/issues/big-band/history-tin-pan-alley

“The Harlem Renaissance: What Was It, and Why Does It Matter?" by Cary D. Wintz https://www.humanitiestexas.org/news/articles/harlem-renaissance-what-was-it-and-why-does-it-matter

“Glenn Gibson Biography” by Eugene Chadbourne https://www.allmusic.com/artist/glenn-gibson-mn0001331660#biography

Producer: Katie Harman @katieharmanebner

Audio Engineer: Will Cowser @williamcowser

Title Song: “Reflection of the Sun” by Anna Landström

www.virtuosasociety.com

Follow @virtuossociety on Instagram, Facebook and Threads