The blatant betrayal that erased the Tupperware queen from history
Throughline

The blatant betrayal that erased the Tupperware queen from history

B2Upper-intermediateAugust 13, 202649 min

Brownie Wise revolutionized how we store our food. She was one of the first female corporate executives in U.S. history. But she’s not a household name. This week on our series Hidden Histories, the rise and fall of the queen of plastics—and one of corporate America's most dramatic betrayals. (This episode originally aired in 2025) Guests: Alison Clarke, author of Tupperware, the Promise of Plastic in 1950s America Bob Kealing, author of Life of the Party: The Remarkable Story of How Brownie Wise Built, and Lost, a Tupperware Party Empire Supp...

Play episode

Opens the player: the full transcript, every word clickable, with translation and flashcards.

Try it: tap any word

Real sentences from the start of this episode. Every word is marked with its level.

Sentence 9 of 12 · 0:32

Hey, I hope you're enjoying Through Line's summer series, Hidden Histories.

,

most dramatic betrayals.

Hear this sentence

Tap a word to see its meaning in your language.

Do you know these words?

8 harder words from this episode. Tap one to see what it means, then mark it.

  • B20:32
  • B26:59
  • B215:40
  • C123:16
  • B232:19
  • C133:52
  • C140:06
  • C150:02

Mark a few words and we'll tell you how this episode fits your level.

Is this episode right for you?

B2

B2 · Upper-intermediate

Comfortable if you already follow TV news

A1 30%A2 41%B1 21%B2 7%C1 1%
  • 92% of the words are B1 or easier.
  • 157 words a minute: a natural pace.
  • 259 harder words (B2 and up) in the whole episode.

Transcript

The opening of the episode. The whole transcript is in the player.

0:00

This week on Consider This, stories about the Trump administration. Hear how a former Olympian was targeted by the Justice Department over damage to the reflecting pool. Plus, inside Trump's secret decoy flight out of Turkey that left press and cabinet

0:15

officials on Air Force One without him. Listen for those stories and more of the week's biggest news. This week on Consider This from NPR. Hey, I hope you're enjoying Through Line's summer series, Hidden Histories.

0:32

In the latest installment, the woman behind a plastic empire and one of corporate America's most dramatic betrayals. Here it is. Alright, alright, alright.

That was the opening. The rest of the episode (48 min) is in the player: every word clickable, with translation, saved words and flashcards.

Continue in the player

Automatically generated from the audio. May contain errors. Audio belongs to its publisher and is played from their feed. Rights holders can request removal — copyright & takedown policy