PBS Western Reserve Celebrates Women’s History Month with Special Programming
PBS Western Reserve proudly celebrates Women’s History Month with select programming that highlights women, their stories and achievements.
Women’s History Month 2025
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Becoming Frida Kahlo
Fusion (WNEO 45.2 / WEAO 49.2):
Fridays, Feb. 28 - March 14, at 8 PM
Explore the life of celebrated artist Frida Kahlo in a three-part docuseries. See the major personal and political events of her life, including her stormy and devoted relationship with artist Diego Rivera, whom she married not once but twice.
Women of World War II: The Untold Stories
PBS Western Reserve (WNEO 45.1 / WEAO 49.1):
Sunday, March 2, at 7:30 PM
Tuesday, March 4, at 1 AM
Friday, March 7, at midnight
American women were the secret weapon that won World War II, and in the process, changed the world. In this new documentary, hear directly from the women who built the planes and flew them, fought on the warfront and the home front, cracked codes and broke barriers.
American Experience, Rachel Carson
Fusion (WNEO 45.2 / WEAO 49.2):
Monday, March 3, at 8 PM
RACHEL CARSON is an intimate portrait of the woman whose groundbreaking books revolutionized our relationship to the natural world. When Silent Spring was published in September 1962 it became an instant bestseller and would go on to spark dramatic changes in the way the government regulated pesticides.
POV, Midwives
Fusion (WNEO 45.2 / WEAO 49.2):
Monday, March 3, at 10 PM
Saturday, March 8, at noon
Meet two women running a makeshift clinic in western Myanmar torn apart by ethnic violence. The Buddhist owner helps her apprentice part of a Muslim minority group denied their basic rights become a steady health care provider for her people.
Masterpiece, Nolly
Fusion (WNEO 45.2 / WEAO 49.2):
Wednesdays at 8 PM beginning March 5
This drama series is based on the true story of Noele “Nolly” Gordon, one of the most famous faces on British TV in the 1960s and ‘70s, whose unceremonious firing from her hit show at the height of her career was front-page news. A bold exploration of how the establishment turns on women who refuse to play by the rules, the series is an outrageously fun and wildly entertaining ride through Gordon’s most tumultuous years — and a sharp, affectionate and heartbreaking portrait of a forgotten icon.
The Story of the D-Day Forecast: Three Days in June
PBS Western Reserve (WNEO 45.1 / WEAO 49.1):
Thursday, March 6, at 5 PM
For a few tense days in June 1944, the success of the D-Day military invasion was completely reliant on weather readings taken by a young woman at a remote weather station on Ireland's west coast. The documentary includes a special interview with the now 96-year-old Maureen Sweeney — providing a living link to a unique moment in history, where military might and meteorological analysis collided.
Sharon Isbin: Troubadour
Fusion (WNEO 45.2 / WEAO 49.2):
Thursday, March 6, at 8 PM
Acclaimed for her lyricism, technique and versatility, multiple Grammy winner Sharon Isbin is considered one of today's pre-eminent classical guitarists. Her catalog of recordings from Baroque, folk and Latin to rock, pop and jazz fusion reflects Isbin's remarkable versatility. The documentary focuses on Isbin's inspiring musical journey and role as a teacher to a new generation of guitarists.
In Their Own Words, Queen Elizabeth II
PBS Western Reserve (WNEO 45.1 / WEAO 49.1):
Friday, March 7, at 5 PM
Follow Queen Elizabeth II's remarkable life, from her youth to her uncle's abdication, her father's coronation as King George VI, her experience during World War II, her sudden ascension to the throne and her eventful reign of more than 60 years.
Shaking It Up: The Life and Times of Liz Carpenter
Fusion (WNEO 45.2 / WEAO 49.2):
Friday, March 7, at 7 PM
Sunday, March 16, at 7 PM
The inspirational story of an extraordinary woman who experienced and helped shape some of the most vivid moments and movements of the 20th century. Journalist, White House official, author, humorist, political activist and feminist leader: over her 89 years of service, Liz Carpenter was often front and center where history was unfolding, leaving her own indelible mark on events and people. Hers is an inspiring story of blazing professional trails while pushing forward an agenda for women's rights, the environment and political engagement that is highly relevant today.
Schille
Fusion (WNEO 45.2 / WEAO 49.2):
Sunday, March 9, at 7:30 PM
Tuesday, March 25, at 10:30 PM
This film weaves together the narrative of artist Alice Schille’s life with the story of the Keny family’s multi-generation connection to the artist. Jim Keny and his twin brother, Tim, run Keny Galleries in the historical German Village neighborhood of Columbus, Ohio.
American Experience, The Vote
Fusion (WNEO 45.2 / WEAO 49.2):
Mondays, March 10 & 17, at 8 & 9 PM
Meet the unsung heroes of the movement and relive the fiery, dramatic and unrelenting campaign that led to passage of the 19th Amendment, granting American women the vote and ushering in the largest expansion of voting rights in U.S. history.
Independent Lens, Sister Úna Lived a Good Death
Fusion (WNEO 45.2 / WEAO 49.2):
Monday, March 10, at 10 PM
Saturday, March 15, at noon
Following a cancer diagnosis, Sister Úna — a mischievous, rule-breaking Catholic nun dedicated to social justice — chooses to live as she’s dying. In this touching end-of-life documentary, the self-proclaimed “leader of the misfits” plans her funeral in her last nine months to live.
Singing for Justice
Fusion (WNEO 45.2 / WEAO 49.2):
Thursday, March 13, at 8 PM
Tuesday, March 18, at 10 PM
Singing for Justice reveals the story of Faith Petric (1915-2013), a political radical, musician, mother, worker and grandmother who united folk music and activism through almost a century of American social movements. She aided migrant workers in California during the Great Depression, built Liberty Ships during World War II, faced Cold War-era FBI surveillance, and marched for racial justice in Selma, AL. Over her long and purposeful life, Faith inspired all to take responsibility for social change, women and elders to defy stereotypes, and everyone she met to sing along.
In Their Own Words, Princess Diana
PBS Western Reserve (WNEO 45.1 / WEAO 49.1):
Friday, March 14, at 5 PM
Monday, March 31, at 5 AM
See how Diana defied expectations and evolved into one of the most impactful icons of our time. Look back on her life through a contemporary lens that credits her choices, suffering and triumphs as the ultimate disrupter for a generation of women.
Coronation Girls
PBS Western Reserve (WNEO 45.1 / WEAO 49.1):
Sunday, March 30, at 2 PM
Fusion (WNEO 45.2 / WEAO 49.2):
Saturday, March 15, at 1 PM
In the summer of 1953, philanthropist Garfield Weston put together a sponsorship to send 50 girls from rural communities across Canada to visit London. A cross-country train collected each participant, beginning in the Yukon and gradually reaching the port of Montreal. There, they boarded The Empress of France and dodged icebergs across a stormy Atlantic before finally reaching Liverpool. They were soon standing in Oxford Street to witness the coronation procession of Queen Elizabeth. Witnessing a princess becoming the queen of England transformed them instantly and forever.
Two Wars: No Mail, Low Morale
PBS Western Reserve (WNEO 45.1 / WEAO 49.1):
Sunday, March 23, at 1:30 PM
Fusion (WNEO 45.2 / WEAO 49.2):
Saturday, March 15, at 2:30 PM
During World War II, a shortage of soldiers managing the postal service created a backlog of mail and packages that never made it to their intended destinations. Officials knew the undelivered mail was hurting morale but were unsure how to solve the problem. To address this issue, Mary McLeod Bethune, an educator and political activist, advocated for the enlistment of women of color in the Women’s Army Corps. TWO WARS: NO MAIL, LOW MORALE tells the story of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion (also known as the Six-Triple-Eight), a group of 824 women who served in the Women’s Army Corps.
Great Performances, Ann
Fusion (WNEO 45.2 / WEAO 49.2):
Sunday, March 16, at 5 PM
Tuesday, March 18, at 8 PM
Enjoy a powerful and revealing look at legendary, larger-than-life Texas governor Ann Richards who enriched the lives of her followers, friends and family in this critically acclaimed play written by and starring Emmy Award-winner Holland Taylor.
In Their Own Words, Angela Merkel
PBS Western Reserve (WNEO 45.1 / WEAO 49.1):
Thursday, March 20, at 5 PM
Monday, March 24, at 5 AM
Wednesday, March 26, at 3 AM
Follow Merkel's meteoric rise from pastor's daughter to Time Person of the Year. As a young woman emerging from East Germany, she successfully navigated the male-dominated sphere of German politics to become first female Chancellor of Germany.
Nurse-Midwives: Addressing The Maternal Health Crisis
Fusion (WNEO 45.2 / WEAO 49.2):
Saturday, March 22, at 1:30 PM
With the help of the Community-based Nurse-Midwifery Education Program or CNEP, nurse-midwives and nurse-practitioners are making a difference in rural and underserved communities.
Fannie Lou Hamer: Stand Up
Fusion (WNEO 45.2 / WEAO 49.2):
Saturday, March 22, at 10:30 PM
The documentary FANNIE LOU HAMER: STAND UP examines the life of civil rights legend Fannie Lou Hamer, offering first-hand accounts by those who knew her and worked side by side with her in the struggle for voting rights.
American Experience, Fly With Me
PBS Western Reserve (WNEO 45.1 / WEAO 49.1):
Sunday, March 23, at 2 PM
FLY WITH ME tells the story of the pioneering women who became flight attendants at a time when single women were unable to order a drink, eat alone in a restaurant, own a credit card or get a prescription for birth control. The job offered unheard-of opportunities for travel and independence. These women were on the frontlines of the battle to assert gender equality and transform the workplace.
Discovering Maggie Smith
PBS Western Reserve (WNEO 45.1 / WEAO 49.1):
Tuesday, March 25, at 8 PM
Wednesday, March 26, at 1 AM
Saturday, March 29, at 9:30 PM
Sunday, March 30, at 1:30 AM
Fusion (WNEO 45.2 / WEAO 49.2):
Friday, March 28, at 8 PM
Explore the remarkable on-screen career of Dame Maggie Smith, one of Britain's most prolific actresses. Smith was a prominent figure in British culture for six decades. Her extraordinary film career took off with her role in "Nowhere to Go." Two Academy Awards later, including Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress, Smith had reached the pinnacle of success.
Jacqueline du Pré: Genius and Tragedy
PBS Western Reserve (WNEO 45.1 / WEAO 49.1):
Friday, March 28, at 9 PM
Saturday, March 29, at 2 AM
Sunday, March 30, at 4 AM
Introduced and narrated by grammy-winning cellist Yo-Yo Ma, this film tells the story Jacqueline du Pré and her enigmatic genius, one of the greatest cellists of all time.
American Masters, Becoming Helen Keller
Fusion (WNEO 45.2 / WEAO 49.2):
Friday, March 28, at 9 PM
Revisit the complex life and legacy of the author, advocate and human rights pioneer. Helen Keller, who was deaf and blind, used her celebrity and wit to champion rights for women, people with disabilities and people living in poverty.
Marguerite: From the Bauhaus to Pond Farm
PBS Western Reserve (WNEO 45.1 / WEAO 49.1):
Sunday, March 30, at 5:30 AM
Sunday, March 30, at 3:30 PM
Learn the story of one of America’s most talented mid-century ceramicists, Marguerite Wildenhain. Trained at the famed Bauhaus art school in Germany, Wildenhain became the first woman to receive the “master potter” designation in pre-World War II Europe. During the war, Wildenhain fled to America and helped create an experimental artists colony at an isolated ranch in Northern California. She later established the influential Pond Farm Pottery on the same site and ran an annual summer workshop that trained American artists for three decades.
Forest Her: The Next Wave of Conservation
PBS Western Reserve (WNEO 45.1 / WEAO 49.1):
Sunday, March 30, at 5:30 PM
Monday, March 31, at 12:30 AM
Join in on the journey of exploring the historical roles women have provided to their communities by using scientific forest management while sharing the Next Wave of Conservation from the perspectives of private forest landowners, professional foresters, citizen foresters, and a groundbreaking conservation trailblazer. Planting trees and inspiration for a healthier planet for today and tomorrow.
Discover Local Women’s History
This March, don’t forget to celebrate Women’s History Month by looking to your own backyard. From the battle for the right to vote to the essential work of local Rosie the Riveters in Akron, Ohio, women have had a profound effect on the tragectory of our region.
Discover regional women’s history programs such as The Battle for the Right to Vote and AKRON WOMEN: ANOTHER LOOK AT HISTORY, or curate a double feature highlighting the women of World War II with the latest special and PBS Western Reserve’s THE WOMEN WHO HELPED WIN A WAR.