The blatant betrayal that erased the Tupperware queen from history
About this episode
This episode explores the life of Brownie Wise, a pioneering female executive in the Tupperware industry, and the corporate betrayal that led to her erasure from history.
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 Support public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org . See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy
People in this episode
Guests: Alison Clarke, Bob Kealing
Topics covered
- corporate betrayal
- female executives
- food storage
- Tupperware history
- hidden histories
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: NPR
Books & works: Tupperware, the Promise of Plastic in 1950s America, Life of the Party: The Remarkable Story of How Brownie Wise Built, and Lost, a Tupperware Party Empire
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