Ever wonder how home ec went from baking pies to building parachutes? In this episode of Book Banter, we chat with Danielle Dreilinger about The Secret History of Home Economics—a fierce, fascinating, and wildly underrated slice of feminist history. From the classroom to the cosmos, the women behind home economics changed the world in ways you’ve probably never heard. —About the AuthorDanielle Dreilinger is a national rewrite editor for Gannett/USA Today Network and the author of the critically acclaimed The Secret History of Home Economics. A former Knight-Wallace Journalism Fellow, she’s reported for The Boston Globe, WGBH, and The Times-Picayune, with work appearing in The Atlantic, Ploughshares, and beyond. She lives in North Carolina with her cats, crafts, and endless curiosity. —About the BookThis isn’t your grandmother’s home ec. Danielle’s book traces the surprising legacy of the field—from Black colleges to astronaut meals—with women at the helm as chemists, inventors, educators, and activists. It’s history that connects the dots between domestic life and radical change. —📚 Buy the book on Bookshop🎧 Book Banter is your cozy corner of the internet for laid-back conversations with authors, illustrators, and other bookish creatives. Let’s talk books! - Subscribe to Book Banter with Rayna wherever you get your podcasts. Watch new content on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/@Book_Banter