Feminist Frequency Radio (Kat Spada, Anita Sarkeesian)
Explore every episode of Feminist Frequency Radio
| Pub. Date | Title | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 05 Jul 2023 | FFR 237: Road House | 00:59:45 | |
Welcome to a new season of feminist media criticism goodness! Today Kat and Anita are discussing the 1989 action classic Road House, starring none other than our beloved Patrick Swayze. Listen in for a nostalgic stroll through the absolutely bonkers landscape of this corner of the Dirty Dancing/Point Break/Road House Swayze trifecta. Links Mentioned:
Find Kat: Find Anita: Find Us: | |||
| 02 Nov 2022 | FFR 219: That Time When with Anita Sarkeesian & Carolyn Petit | 01:06:50 | |
On this special episode, Kat Spada interviews cohost Anita Sarkeesian and Feminist Frequency Family Founder Carolyn Petit about their new Nebula original series, That Time When. Directed and presented by Anita and written by Carolyn, the show dives into some of the most divisive moments of modern history, when politics and pop culture collide. Listen in as they discuss the behind-the-scenes creative process, why this show is so different from the “Tropes” series, and why this show about the past matters now. Time Stamps: 50:52 - What’s your Freq Out?
Links Mentioned:
Find Carolyn: Find Anita: Find Kat: Find Us: | |||
| 25 Nov 2020 | FFR 146: LA Skins Fest | 00:56:52 | |
For this week’s podcast we checked out the 14th Annual LA Skins Fest, a festival of Native American films which was held virtually this year. The festival was a great opportunity to explore films by and about indigenous people whose stories too rarely get told in mainstream media. On this episode we’ll be discussing several works which stood out to us, from documentaries, to dramas about contemporary family life, films that employed elements of sci-fi and horror to explore generational trauma, and much more.
CW: discussion of suicide as part of a film plot in our segment on Intrepidus, beginning at 42:45
Time Stamps: 3:28 - Main discussion on LA Skins Fest 10:07 - Tostu (Redbird) 19:36 - Blackfeet Boxing 28:55 - Walking Together 36:52 - The Fall 42:45 - Intrepidus 52:12 - What’s your Freq Out?
Links Mentioned:
Follow Us: | |||
| 04 Nov 2020 | FFR 143: First Cow | 01:01:20 | |
On the cusp of the 2020 US presidential election, we’re taking a look at a film set in 1820s Oregon Territory, telling the story of two men trying to make their way in the harsh frontier of the burgeoning American West. Join us on this week’s podcast, as we sink our critical teeth into this sweet cake of a “Caro film”: Director Kelly Reichardt’s 2019 film First Cow, exploring friendship, masculinity and the consequences of capitalism in a deliberately paced story filled with bright spots of light, sweetness, and memory. Time Stamps: 13:17 - Main Discussion on First Cow 45:37 - What’s Your Freq Out?
Links Mentioned:
Follow Us: | |||
| 21 Oct 2020 | FFR 141: Blade | 00:59:46 | |
Welcome to the second episode in our spooky season series, revisiting classic, cult or nostalgic witch and vampire movies as chosen by our patrons. Today we’re traveling back to 1998, when Wesley Snipes starred as the titular vampire hunter, Blade. 9 years after Tim Burton’s Batman, and 20 years before the MCU’s Black Panther, Blade was the first Marvel Superhero theatrical release, the grandfather of every Marvel Superhero movie to follow. Join us as we dive into a grimdark version of LA, populated by blood and power thirsty vampires that can only be stopped by a stoic vampire/human hybrid seeking revenge. Time Stamps: 5:52 - Main Discussion on Blade 46:10 - What’s Your Freq Out?
Links Mentioned:
Follow Us: | |||
| 18 Oct 2023 | Fortnightly FREQouts #6 - Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour | 00:17:04 | |
It’s a new season of Feminist Frequency Radio with a whole new batch of Fortnightly FREQout mini-episodes. On the heels of an interesting summer for live music and concert films, Kat shares her thoughts about pop, nostalgia, and the sense of community that live music brings. Links Mentioned:
Find Kat: Find Feminist Frequency: | |||
| 14 Apr 2021 | FFR 160: Concrete Cowboy | 01:02:05 | |
On this episode of the Feminist Frequency Podcast, Ebony is back in the saddle and leading the charge, hosting our discussion of the new Netflix film Concrete Cowboy, from first-time director Ricky Staub and starring Idris Elba, Lorraine Toussaint, and Stranger Things’ Caleb McLaughlin. While we can agree that Idris Elba and Method Man in cowboy hats is a good thing, our opinions diverge from there. Who’s take do you agree with? Listen in to find out. Time Stamps: 15:11 - Main discussion on Concrete Cowboy 48:54 - What’s your Freq Out?
Links Mentioned:
Follow Us: | |||
| 10 Apr 2019 | FFR 72: Leaving Neverland with special guest Francesca Fiorentini | 00:54:03 | |
In this week's episode, Anita and Ebony are joined by comedian, correspondent, and host of The Bitchuation Room Podcast, Francesca Fiorentini. The topic under discussion in this episode is the 2-part HBO documentary Leaving Neverland, about the decades-long child sexual abuse alleged against Michael Jackson by two survivors, Wade Robson and James Safechuck. We talk about living through a moment of increased cultural reckoning with horrific crimes like these, as well as the responsibility to honor the courage of people who come forward to tell their stories. RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network) is the nation's largest anti-sexual violence organization. RAINN created and operates the National Sexual Assault Hotline (800.656.HOPE,online.rainn.org y rainn.org/es) in partnership with more than 1,000 local sexual assault service providers across the country. Timestamps 2:53: Pop Culture News (gamers being awful, Cowboy BeBop casting) 10:34 Leaving Neverland (CW: abuse and sexual assault) 41:25: What's Your FREQ Out? (Ramona Quimby, "culture smashed" yoga, Anita talks class dynamics in media) Relevant Links: | |||
| 18 Sep 2019 | Special Episode: Gaming's #MeToo Moment | 00:31:53 | |
This week, we shift away from our usual format for a special bonus episode. Join Anita and Carolyn for a conversation about recent events in the gaming industry that have lead to what many are calling gaming’s #MeToo moment. Our conversation explores the social systems and biases that allow men to routinely commit acts of abuse and then protect them from the repercussions, the far-reaching pain and trauma caused by these acts and the accompanying abuses of power, and what change and justice might look like. PLEASE NOTE: This episode comes with a trigger warning for discussions of abuse and suicide. Read Nathalie Lawhead’s blog post at http://www.nathalielawhead.com/candybox/calling-out Sign up for our newsletter at feministfrequency.com | |||
| 03 Nov 2017 | 00 New show from Feminist Frequency Radio drops Nov 15th! | 00:25:00 | |
Feminist Frequency Radio is coming for your media. Each week, Anita Sarkeesian, Carolyn Petit, and Ebony Aster bring you dispatches from the pop culture wars and invite you to listen in on their entertaining, stimulating, take-no-prisoners conversations about the latest films, games, and tv. They’ll be bringing their distinctly different feminist perspectives to the mix as they celebrate and critique it all. With special guests from all over the feminist media sphere, an assortment of great bonus segments, and your questions keeping them on their toes, Feminist Frequency Radio is there to help you dig deeper into the things you love. Warning: Feminist Frequency Radio may significantly enhance your media experience. | |||
| 23 Nov 2022 | FFR 222: Black Panther: Wakanda Forever with Ebony Adams | 00:59:04 | |
We return to the MCU for the final episode in this mini-season of Feminist Frequency Radio. Author, activist, and beloved member of the Feminist Frequency Family, Ebony Adams returns to the podcast as special guest for our discussion of Wakanda Forever, the highly-anticipated yet complicated sequel to Ryan Coogler’s 2018 film Black Panther. Links Mentioned:
Time Stamps: 39:37 - What’s your Freq Out?
Find Ebony: Find Anita: Find Kat: Find Us: | |||
| 23 Aug 2023 | Fortnightly FREQouts #4: Every Body | 00:08:21 | |
A HurriQuake can't stop Kat Spada from bringing you brief reviews and industry news. On this Fortnightly Freq-out, she shares her thoughts on media and events viewed from the safety of her own storm-ready home, including Every Body, a documentary on intersex lives. Links Mentioned:
Find Kat: Find Feminist Frequency: | |||
| 31 Jul 2019 | 88: Fandom & Capitalism | 00:50:48 | |
There’s a lot to celebrate about our increasingly diverse mainstream media landscape. Modern audiences can immerse themselves in so many different kinds of compelling stories-- stories from which POC, the disabled, queer people -- (basically anyone who wasn’t middle class, straight, and white) had traditionally been excluded. It’s a victory of a sort, but it only goes so far. We still have so far to go in terms of representation in our media, but more than that, can we ever really look to corporate media to independently advance the culture in a progressive, meaningful, and sustainable way? How do we ensure mindful engagement with media and demand accountability from the billion dollar behemoths behind our favorite media properties? SEGMENT TIMESTAMPS: RELEVANT LINKS: FOLLOW US: | |||
| 20 Mar 2019 | FFR 69: Batman Returns with Kim Belair | 01:00:22 | |
This week, the crew hosts writer, designer, and founder of Sweet Baby Inc, Kim Belair for a hilarious discussion of the 1992 cinematic classic Batman Returns! Before that, though, Caro serves up a heapin' helpin' of cringeworthy Pop Culture News (this week's topics included info about James Gunn's rehiring for Guardians of the Galaxy 3; Operation Varsity Blues; and Dean Cain confirming why he was the worst Superman). The show wraps with some freq'in out about Spelunky 2, anxiety management, and Nils Frahm. If you want keep the good times going, stay tuned for the FREQ'in After Party -- which you can have access to by becoming a backer at www.patreon.com/femfreq. We want to hear from you, so head on over to feministfrequency.com/freqout and send us your FREQ-Out today!And watch our brand new miniseries, Queer Tropes in Video Games! | |||
| 02 Aug 2023 | FFR 239: The End of Feminist Frequency featuring Anita Sarkeesian and Jae Lin | 01:03:27 | |
Following this week's announcement about the closure of Feminist Frequency, Executive Director Anita Sarkeesian and the Games and Online Harassment Hotline Director Jae Lin chat more about what this means for our work as the organization sunsets. Links Mentioned:
Find Anita: Find Jae: Find Kat: Find Us: | |||
| 08 Mar 2023 | FFR 226: Teen Machos | 01:09:46 | |
It’s the first episode of this season of Feminist Frequency Radio, presenting “Machos: Fully Loaded!” This week we’re going back to high school, getting to know some of the moodiest machos of all: teen machos! From big men on campus to the bad boys underneath the bleachers, we’re taking a look at the archetypes and iconic portrayals of teen masculinity on screen. Links Mentioned:
Time Stamps: 1:02:37 - Macho of the Week Find A.C.:
Find Kat: Find Us: | |||
| 29 Nov 2017 | 03 A Nosebleed in Time | 00:56:46 | |
We're back with Episode Three of Feminist Frequency Radio! This week, we dive into the latest entertainment news and share our excitement for Ava DuVernay’s upcoming film adaptation of A Wrinkle in Time. We then discuss comedian Hari Kondabolu’s thought-provoking new documentary The Problem With Apu, which looks at the harm done by Apu of The Simpsons, perhaps the single most enduring racial stereotype of a character in American pop culture history. We also return to Hawkins, Indiana circa 1984 to share our reactions to the second season of Stranger Things and Anita explains that, like Eleven, she too used to get nosebleeds a lot (but unfortunately she doesn’t divulge the nature of her telekinetic powers). Finally, Carolyn admits that International Men’s Day put her in a reflective mood and made her reconsider some things she said on last week’s show. Things referenced in this episode: The Gender Knot by Allan G. Johnson: https://www.amazon.com/Gender-Knot-Unraveling-Patriarchal-Legacy/dp/1439911843/ The You Must Remember This podcast's series of episodes on Charles Manson and Hollywood: http://www.youmustrememberthispodcast.com/episodes/youmustrememberthispodcastblog/2015/5/26/charles-mansons-hollywood-part-1-what-we-talk-about-when-we-talk-about-the-manson-murders Doha's tweet with images from The Last of Us, Logan, and Stranger Things 2: https://twitter.com/sokareemie/status/932026625134272512 | |||
| 01 Dec 2021 | FFR 184: Reproductive Rights in the Media with Special Guests Rachel Lee Goldenberg and Lizz Winstead | 00:58:39 | |
Today on a special episode of the podcast, Anita is joined by director and co-writer of the film Unpregnant—Rachel Lee Goldenberg—as well as Lizz Winstead, co-creator of The Daily Show and founder and executive director of the non-profit Abortion Access Front. Together we’ll be discussing abortion and reproductive rights both as portrayed in media and in the US today. Episode Photo Credit: aafront.org Time Stamps: 47:48 - What’s your Freq Out?
Links Mentioned:
Follow Rachel:
Follow Lizz:
Follow Us:
| |||
| 19 Mar 2018 | JoCo Cruise Interview #2: The Ethics of Storytelling with Patrick Rothfuss | 00:36:39 | |
In the second of our JoCo Cruise interviews, Anita talks with fantasy author Patrick Rothfuss about the power of stories, from the ones we create around the table with friends when playing D&D to the ones projected on the big screen, and why professional storytellers have a responsibility to use their power for good. The conversation touches on their shared love for Moana and delves into the limitations of “strong female characters” and the pressure to simplify stories when adapting for film, and what can get lost in the process. Follow Patrick on Twitter at @PatrickRothfuss and learn more about his charity at worldbuilders.org | |||
| 05 Sep 2018 | 42: Mulholland Drive | 00:57:48 | |
This week, Anita’s away so Ebony and Carolyn get weird with a look back at David Lynch’s Mulholland Drive, a dreamlike odyssey about female fantasy, the commoditization of women in Hollywood, and—well, what IS Mulholland Drive about, really? We go on a winding journey in search of answers. We also discuss Louis CK and the enduring lack of real consequences for so many male abusers, the cultural rehabilitation of George W. Bush, and we take a moment to wish a very happy birthday to one of our favorite actors. We want to hear from you, so head on over to feministfrequency.com/freqout and send us your FREQ-Out today! Segment Timestamps: :00 intro 1:15 opening chit-chat 2:55 pop culture news: Louis CK and the MeToo movement Marco Rubio reacts to Neil Armstrong biopic First Man Happy Birthday Keanu! 14:50 Mulholland Dr. 45:40 What’s Your FREQ-Out? Carolyn on the cultural rehabilitation of George W. Bush, Ebony on the TNT series Claws, and a listener FREQ-Out on the film I Am Not an Easy Man, currently streaming on Netflix 56:40 wrap-up Relevant Links: Roxane Gay for the New York Times on Louis CK and what justice for men like him should look like Aparna Nancherla for the New York Times on Louis CK and who gets second chances Trailer for I Am Not an Easy Man | |||
| 23 Jan 2019 | FFR 61: The Favourite | 00:55:40 | |
FFR #61: The Favourite This week, we’re traveling back to the court of Queen Anne for all the stately and scandalous manipulations of The Favourite, the Oscar-nominated film starring Olivia Colman, Emma Stone and Rachel Weisz. Throughout the movie, courtiers Sarah (Weisz) and Abigail (Stone) scheme and compete against each other politically and sexually to be the favorite of the queen (Colman). Our conversation covers the film’s power dynamics and cold political ploys, its depiction of female sexuality, the excellent performances, and the appeal of a film in which women who wield some degree of influence are the primary focus. SEGMENT TIMESTAMPS: 3:10 Entertainment News (More Ghostbusters, Chris Pratt, Erykah Badu) RELEVANT LINKS: Jay Smooth's video on ten other things MLK said: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AIFTNmOOLmk | |||
| 08 Jul 2020 | FFR 129: The Last of Us Part II | 01:00:20 | |
In this week’s episode, Anita and Carolyn embark on a grim and arduous journey through the discourse over The Last of Us Part II. We share our personal reactions to the game’s cast of characters, talk about its view of humanity and its use of violence, discuss the game’s narrative structure and themes, and ultimately answer the question of whether or not we found the grueling quest it takes us on to be worthwhile. Join us! Time Stamps:
Links Mentioned:
Follow Us: | |||
| 20 Jun 2018 | 31: Catching Pancakes With Special Guest Open Mike Eagle | 00:56:59 | |
#31 Catching Pancakes With Special Guest Open Mike Eagle On this week’s episode, Anita and Ebony chop it up with hip hop artist Open Mike Eagle, who you may remember from one of Anita’s JoCo Cruise interviews. Topics include Mike’s E3 experience, sexism in games and in sports journalism, how professional wrestling has changed, the uncomfortable horror of TV’s The Handmaid’s Tale, and more! Segment Timestamps: 00: Greetings and Introductions Relevant Links: | |||
| 05 Apr 2023 | FFR 230: Lady Machos | 01:11:57 | |
It’s time for Lady Machos! This week on our “Machos: Fully Loaded” series, we’re continuing our investigation of onscreen masculinity through a discussion of gender transgression and the women in media who have taken some of the most memorable and iconic macho action roles in history. Links Mentioned:
Time Stamps: 1:02:49 - Macho of the Week Find A.C.:
Find Kat: Find Us: | |||
| 06 Oct 2021 | FFR 178: The People Under the Stairs with Special Guest Dave Proctor | 00:53:23 | |
We’re back from break, and just in time for spooky season! Joining Anita and Ebony is returning special guest—writer, mental health advocate, video game designer, and friend to Feminist Frequency—Dave Proctor, to take a look at Wes Craven’s somewhat bizarre entry to his horror empire, 1991’s The People Under the Stairs. This film was a divergence for the “Master of Horror” both in its tone and topic—a self-aware horror comedy dealing with disenfranchisement, white Christian moralism, and Reagan era social and economic politics in an utterly over-the-top way. Listen in to hear our take on the good, the bad, and where this movie fits into the horror genre as a whole. Time Stamps: 11:15 - Main discussion on The People Under the Stairs 43:27 - What’s your Freq Out?
Links Mentioned: Follow Dave: Follow Us: | |||
| 09 May 2018 | 25: A Robitussin Ride | 01:00:28 | |
On this week’s FFR, it’s a queer media extravaganza as we talk Netflix’s reboot of Queer Eye and the Wachowskis’ seminal 90s lesbian crime film Bound. Queer Eye can certainly be heartwarming and endearing, but we also discuss how it obscures systemic issues and misrepresents potential solutions to matters of oppression and violence against marginalized people. Also, Anita calls out one of their design decisions as absolutely unacceptable. Moving on to Bound, we celebrate the film’s visual style and the ways in which it reaffirms queer female sexuality, which was so significant when it was released in 1996. Ebony brings the magic despite being under the weather, and Anita reveals a celebrity people used to tell her she looks like. Segment Timestamps: :00 A special message from Ebony 2:20 Ebony’s epic quest to sneeze 3:30 Pop culture news: Donald Glover’s big weekend 7:30 A prelude to this week’s queer bonanza 12:00 Queer Eye 33:00 A quick message from Ebony and Carolyn 34:30 Bound 48:20 What’s Your FREQ-Out? 59:10 Wrap-up Relevant Links: John Paul Brammer on the Met Gala and the homophobia of the Catholic church: https://www.them.us/story/catholic-church-homophobic-met-gala Subscribe to Cinemaball: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/cinemaball/id1372297272?mt=2 | |||
| 11 Mar 2020 | FFR 118: Devs | 00:55:46 | |
Mysterious and ominous, Devs, Hulu’s new limited series from Alex Garland, seems right in line with the filmmakers other contributions to the sci-fi genre, Ex Machina and Annihilation. After two episodes, Anita, Carolyn and Ebony agree that the series is “interesting” but their definition of what makes is so may differ depending on which one you ask. Tune in to hear our thoughts on class, race, critical reception of the series, and that giant statue. Time Stamps: 1:22 - International Women’s Day fails 4:42 - Main Discussion on Devs 42:34 - What’s Your Freq Out?
Links Mentioned:
Follow Us: | |||
| 27 Apr 2022 | FFR 198: The Seduction of Toxic Masculinity with special guest Dave Proctor | 01:07:56 | |
Anita and new cohost Kat Spada start off the season strong with an episode all about the allure of toxic masculinity onscreen. Special guest Dave Proctor returns to discuss why male characters embodying cisheteronormative values can be so obviously problematic, but often still manage to be attractive and compelling to us a viewers. Time Stamps: 54:36 - What’s your Freq Out?
Learn more about Kat: Follow Dave: Follow Us: | |||
| 12 Sep 2018 | 43: Live from XOXO! (Corrected Audio) | 00:57:43 | |
This week, we bring you a very special show recorded live at the XOXO festival in Portland! We decided to liven things up by playing a special game in which each of us presents one piece of media we loved when we were younger to the crowd, and asking them to vote: Can we still love this thing, or do we have to dump it? A cult classic NES game, a mostly forgotten 80s TV series, and a much-maligned episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer are all on the chopping block. How will the crowd decide? But that’s not all! We also talk about how Burt Reynolds was the first male centerfold in Cosmo Magazine (and whether or not this was a win for feminism), the “copaganda” of Insomniac’s new Spider-Man game for PS4, what sets Anita and Ebony’s upcoming book History Vs. Women apart, and much more. Segment Timestamps :00 A Special Intro from Anita 1:10 We’re Live at #XOXO! 4:50 Entertainment News: Burt Reynolds as Cosmo’s First Male Centerfold, “Copaganda” in Insomniac’s New Spider-Man Game 15:30 Intro to “Defend the Dumbest Thing You Love” 16:35 Carolyn Presents: Golgo 13: Top Secret Episode 24:35 The Crowd Votes! 25:05 Ebony Presents: The Insiders 31:20 The Crowd Votes! 32:05 Anita Presents: "Beer Bad" 40:10 The Crowd Votes! 41:50 What’s Your FREQ-Out? Carolyn on Into the Breach, newly released on Switch! Ebony on Reconstruction: America’s Unfinished Revolution by Eric Foner 50:10 What Sets Our Upcoming YA History Book History Vs. Women Apart! 53:00 Anita on John Scalzi’s The Collapsing Empire and media that frankly depicts period pain 57:15 Wrap-up Relevant Links Learn more about and pre-order History Vs. Women! Lynn Peril for Bust on Burt Reynolds as Cosmo's first centerfold Naomi Clark's Twitter thread on Spider-Man and the police | |||
| 11 Apr 2018 | 21 Watch the Fried Ones | 00:56:19 | |
In this week’s episode of Feminist Frequency Radio, Anita and the gang discuss Netflix’s tantalizing new food documentary series Ugly Delicious, which explores the collisions of food, culture, and history. When does culinary tribute cross over into culinary appropriation? How do we handle beloved foods that have become saddled with deeply racist associations? Whose cuisine is considered valuable and whose is considered disposable? Then we talk about Bury Me, My Love, a mobile game that puts you in the role of a husband whose wife is a Syrian refugee attempting a dangerous journey to Europe. The game’s subject matter is weighty, but Ebony still finds a way to bring up the original theatrical release of the movie Clue. Finally, we each share something we’ve been digging lately in What’s Your FREQ-Out? Timestamps: :00 Brought to you by… Relevant links: The Problem with Apu: https://www.amazon.com/Problem-Apu-Season-1/dp/B077GB9J33 | |||
| 12 Jun 2024 | FFR 253: Seconds | 00:41:57 | |
Who’s in the mood for a little June Gloom? We finally watched John Frankenheimer’s 1966 film Seconds, starring Rock Hudson, in a feature segment we’re calling “Retro Featurism.” Kat and A.C. wonder what its Frankenstein-esque plotline in which viewers could find gay or trans messaging, says about the current moment where stories like Poor Things and Severance (and Maggie Gyllenhaal’s upcoming The Bride) are resonating with audiences. Plus, the return of our celebrity guessing game “What’s Wrong With Me?”!!! Discussed in this episode:
Note: In this episode, Kat erroneously and incorrectly uses the term “plus sized” in description. Apologies for this misuse of the phrase! Find Kat: Find AC: Find Us: | |||
| 18 Dec 2024 | FFR 261: Wicked: Part One | 00:47:12 | |
A.C. and Kat are back from their first semester at Shiz University for winter break, and we just had to talk about Jon M. Chu's blockbuster Broadway adaptation of Wicked: Part One. Starring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande in the story before the story we all know from The Wizard of Oz, this is a tale that was originally published as a novel by Gregory Maguire in 1995. On its face it's a movie about accepting yourself when you don't fit in, but it's much more so about the way marginalized communities are threatened by authoritarian governments and the complicit neighbors who don't want to "rock the boat." We were impressed by its portrayal of class consciousness and the added nuance brought by casting a Black actress in the role of Elphaba. Finally, we hold a mini state of the union on Hollywood movie musicals. Find Kat: Find AC: Find Us: | |||
| 24 Aug 2022 | FFR 212: Total Recall with Karen Tongson | 01:03:25 | |
Special guest, professor, podcaster, and prolific author Karen Tongson joins Anita and Kat for episode five of our “Cyberpunk Summer” series, where we are discussing the 1990 sci-fi action film Total Recall, from director Paul Verhoeven. Based on Philip K. Dick’s 1966 short story “We Can Remember It for You Wholesale,” the movie stars Arnold Schwarzenegger as a construction worker who receives implanted memories of his time working as a spy on Mars—or is he a Martian spy whose memories of life as a construction worker were implanted? Note: Enjoy this episode of the podcast as a video at patreon.com/femfreq or on Youtube here: https://youtu.be/xM9RRHmwvEI Time Stamps: 46:26 - What’s your Freq Out?
Links Mentioned:
Find Karen: Find Us: | |||
| 09 Jan 2019 | FFR 59: If Beale Street Could Talk | 00:59:20 | |
FFR #59: If Beale Street Could Talk This week on FFR, we’re discussing Moonlight director Barry Jenkins’ wonderful new film, If Beale Street Could Talk. We get into the striking beauty of the film’s visual composition, the way it creates a feeling of community and solidarity that stretches beyond just what we see on the screen, and how it somehow manages to overflow with warmth and love, even as it gazes unflinchingly at the cruelties of systemic injustice. We also dish about the highs and lows of the Golden Globes, Carolyn offers up a new video game recommendation, Ebony asks where the white women are in the conversation about R. Kelly, and Anita says the cheesiest thing she’s ever said in her life. SEGMENT TIMESTAMPS: 0:50 The Golden Globes (Sandra Oh hosts, Green Book wins (boo!), Olivia Colman wins (yay!) 10:15 A special message from Anita 10:35 If Beale Street Could Talk 45:50 What’s Your FREQ-Out? Carolyn on Return of the Obra Dinn, Ebony on the voices missing from the conversation about R. Kelly, Anita on Aquaman RELEVANT LINKS: Hannah Giorgis talks to Beale Street composer Nicholas Britell about the process of creating the film's wonderful score: https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2018/12/if-beale-street-could-talk-nicholas-britell-composer-music-score/577879/ | |||
| 25 Aug 2021 | FFR 175: Tuca & Bertie, Season Two with Special Guest Annalee Newitz | 01:11:50 | |
Anita and Ebony are joined by author, journalist and podcaster Annalee Newitz to talk about the highly anticipated second season (that almost didn’t happen) of Tuca & Bertie. Two years and a hundred episodes of this podcast ago, we talked about the first season of this show and have been pleased to see this season offers even more weird delights from its off kilter bird world, and continues to charm and move audiences with its bracing honesty, sincere compassion, and lots of boob jokes. Time Stamps: 9:42 - Main discussion on Season Two of Tuca & Bertie 52:25 - What’s your Freq Out? * SCIENCE EDITION *
Links Mentioned:
Follow Annalee: Follow Us: | |||
| 13 Jun 2018 | 30: I Come Bearing Stories | 00:51:06 | |
In this week's episode, we welcome Anita back to the bridge and set sail on the USS Radical Empathy for a heist adventure for the ages! We dig into the effervescent appeal of Ocean's 8, while sparing a wink for that queer subtext we love. Anita has questions about why Rihanna's character doesn't vape in this year our Lord 2018, but before she gets any resolution on the issue we moved on to the feature-length series finale of the cult favorite, Sens8. We get into the show's celebration of alternative relationship structures, shared love and connection, and those patented Wachowski action scenes. All this and more in this week's episode: check it out! Subscribe to Feminist Frequency Radio now to get a new episode every Wednesday on iTunes, Stitcher, Player FM, Spotify or iHeartRadio! And become an FFR backer on Drip to join the community and get access to rewards like early access and weekly bonus segments. Segment Timestamps 0:00 Here we go again | |||
| 15 Mar 2023 | FFR 227: Machos Who F*** | 01:16:14 | |
This installment of “Machos: Fully Loaded” is for mature listeners only because we’re talking about exotic dancers, adult film stars, and machos who engage in sex work. From Magic Mike and Boogie Nights to more triple-X-rated arthouse picks, we’re tackling the onscreen intersections of masculinity and sexuality. Links Mentioned:
Time Stamps: 1:08:54 - Macho of the Week Find A.C.:
Find Kat: Find Us: | |||
| 30 May 2024 | FFR 251: Monkey Man | 00:50:20 | |
Join Kat and A.C. for a discussion of Monkey Man, the directorial debut of star Dev Patel. We talk about action movie tropes, what happens when actors get to make their first feature behind the camera, and the “internet boyfriend”-ification of British boys in the 2010s. Plus, the return of our ill-advised celebrity guessing game entitled, “What’s Wrong With Me?” Find Kat: Find AC: Find Us: | |||
| 04 Jul 2018 | 33: W. Kamau Bell's New Comedy Special and the Very Real Dangers of Online Harassment | 00:55:40 | |
FFR #33: W. Kamau Bell's New Comedy Special and the Very Real Dangers of Online Harassment This week on FFR, the dynamic trio discusses the new Netflix comedy special by self-proclaimed “heterosexual cisgender dad man” W. Kamau Bell, Private School Negro, which gets into matters of white supremacy and whether or not Trump is a racist. (“Yes, he is a racist.”) Then, following two tragic instances of deadly violence last week that were directly linked to online harassment, we talk about the ways in which the danger and trauma of online harassment is so often dismissed, and why it’s so important to take seriously. Meanwhile, Anita can’t stop humblebragging, someone else has rudely already checked out the DVD Ebony wants from the library, and Carolyn and Ebony’s migraines just might be the result of a government conspiracy. Segment Timestamps: :00 a brief message from Ebony Relevant Links: Petrana Radulovic on the polarized reactions to Pixar’s Bao: https://www.polygon.com/2018/6/26/17505726/pixar-bao-dumpling-short-reactions | |||
| 01 Mar 2023 | FFR Presents - Machos: Fully Loaded | 00:08:32 | |
Feminist Frequency Radio’s Kat Spada and special guest A.C. Lamberty introduce you to a brand new season of the podcast with a different spin. For the next several episodes, we will be bringing you all of the feminist media criticism goodness you crave, but this time exploring the specifics of masculinity and machismo in a season we’re calling MACHOS: FULLY LOADED. Links Mentioned:
Find A.C.:
Find Kat: Find Us: | |||
| 30 May 2018 | 28: I Wanted To See Some Rocky and Bullwinkle | 00:58:52 | |
In this week’s off-the-rails episode of Feminist Frequency Radio, Ebony finally slides into the captain’s chair and brings on board a temporary first officer for an away mission that might not make it into syndication. Comedian, writer, and amateur chicken wrangler, Julie deGroot joins Ebony for an entertaining ramble through issues as diverse as finding your purpose later in life and finding salvation on the dance floor. Ebony tries to pressure Julie into discussing topics that never actually get explored (Minnesota politics, cooking hams, Julie’s weird celebrity crushes, the Pope), but we instead we wind up talking a bit about Kanye West tomfoolery, and growing up as a queer kid in the midwest. Stay tuned for Julie’s protest music playlist! Check it out! Subscribe to Feminist Frequency Radio now to get a new episode every Wednesday on iTunes, Stitcher, Player FM, Spotify or iHeartRadio! And become an FFR backer on Drip to join the community and get access to rewards like early access and weekly bonus segments. Links to check out: Segment Timestamps 0:00 Can you help us ring that bell and reach our May fundraising goal? We’re only $5K away! :54 An explanation for why this week’s special guest sounds like she’s speaking into a tin can 1:46 And away we go! Introducing this week’s special guest 10:54 Pop Culture News 19:26 Ebony’s Inevitable Crime Drama Mention 24:52 The Roundtable: doing creative work at your own pace; looking back at 1968 through the lens of our parents’ experience; and what counts as protest music | |||
| 01 May 2019 | 75: Avengers: Endgame | 00:53:21 | |
In this week’s FFR, our 75th episode, it’s a spoilerific conversation about the latest MCU crossover epic, Avengers: Endgame. First we talk about whether or not the film worked for us purely on the level of being an enjoyable superhero film that offers a satisfying conclusion to the cliffhanger of Infinity War, before delving into deeper discussions of fat-shaming, queer representation, and the film’s one ostensibly “feminist” moment. We also cover the tragic death of director John Singleton, an infuriating draft pick by the San Francisco 49ers, and more. SEGMENT TIMESTAMPS: 2:45 Entertainment News (John Singleton, Nick Bosa, Notch) 11:30 Avengers: Endgame 41:45 What’s Your FREQ-Out? (Veep, Steven Yeun and John Cho on The Twilight Zone, looking past the surface of Las Vegas, The Reluctant Royals novels by Alyssa Cole) RELEVANT LINKS: More on Alyssa Cole’s Reluctant Royals books: https://alyssacole.com/ | |||
| 22 Feb 2023 | FFR 225: The Menu with Soleil Ho | 00:52:57 | |
Our “Eat the Rich” mini-series concludes with a high-concept final course and an exciting special guest. Soleil Ho—writer, podcaster, and San Francisco Chronicle restaurant critic—joins our discussion of Mark Mylod’s 2022 comedy thriller The Menu, starring Anya Taylor-Joy, Ralph Fiennes, and Hong Chau. Links Mentioned:
Time Stamps: 43:45 - What’s your Freq Out?
Find Soleil: Find Anita: Find Kat: Find Us: | |||
| 04 Sep 2019 | FFR 93: Copaganda | 00:49:50 | |
Anita decided to forego our usual intro banter this week, so we just jumped right into this week's topic: the social impact of our cultural obsession with depictions of policing. From Dragnet to Brooklyn 99, what lies behind our abiding interest in the people and institutions tasked with maintaining “law and order”? SEGMENT TIMESTAMPS: LINKS Follow Us: | |||
| 26 Jul 2023 | Fortnightly FREQouts #2: Barbenheimer | 00:19:50 | |
Feminist Frequency Radio presents the second mini-episode in our Fortnightly FREQouts series. Kat’s back with more brief reviews and industry news from the last two weeks, along with her reactions to the opening weekend event of the summer: Greta Gerwig’s Barbie and Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer. Links Mentioned:
Find Kat: Find Us: | |||
| 09 Aug 2023 | Fortnightly FREQouts #3: TMNT Mutant Mayhem | 00:11:35 | |
Kat’s back with more brief reviews and industry news from the last two weeks in our ongoing “Fortnightly FREQout” series. Today she shares some thoughts on the latest installment to the MCU—Secret Invasion—as well as recent seasons of Hulu series The Bear and This Fool. She also gives her impression of the latest Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise entry—TMNT: Mutant Mayhem. Links Mentioned: Find Kat: Find Feminist Frequency: | |||
| 07 Feb 2018 | 12 You Won’t Hate Everything About This Episode! | 00:53:53 | |
On this week’s Feminist Frequency Radio, Carolyn makes her triumphant return to the podcast and celebrates by making Anita and Ebony go see Call Me by Your Name, leading Ebony to recount the seemingly eternal experience of watching the film and forcing Anita to face questions about whether she’s ever been in love. We also talk about the fantastic new platformer Celeste which brilliantly meshes its mountain-climbing mechanics with an effective storyline about struggling with mental illness and spend a little time getting increasingly excited for Black Panther’s impending release. Finally, Anita asks listeners to chime in on whether or not she should continue enduring the expansive boredom of The Expanse! Referenced in this episode: Photos from the “purple carpet” premiere of Black Panther: http://www.harpersbazaar.com/celebrity/red-carpet-dresses/g15920220/black-panther-premiere-red-carpet/ | |||
| 22 Jul 2020 | FFR 131: The Old Guard | 00:57:24 | |
After a brief detour into recent events in Portland, we get into Netflix's hugely successful new action flick, The Old Guard, featuring Charlize Theron as the de facto leader of a group of immortal mercenaries as they welcome a new member and face a new adversary. Our conversation touches on the strength of Gina Prince-Bythewood’s direction, as well as the makeup of the crew, with its international membership that includes two gay men whose fierce devotion to each other melted even Anita's heart. We discuss how the identities of the main characters feel central to their stories and their experiences. Additionally, concerns are raised about the “strong female character” trope, we talk about the loneliness that comes with immortality, and mention some of the fun questions that the premise of a movie like this raises. Time Stamps:
Links Mentioned:Follow Us: | |||
| 01 Aug 2018 | 37: Blindspotting | 00:52:14 | |
This week on FFR, we’re discussing the potent and perceptive cocktail of comedy and drama that is Blindspotting. An insightful, powerful and deeply funny new film about Oakland, Blindspotting explores the impact of police violence, gentrification, and racism through the lens of a lifelong friendship between Collin, who is black, and Miles, who is white. Our conversation covers the film’s concerns with race and privilege, what it means to be an authentic Oaklander, the roles women occupy in Blindspotting, and more. In addition, we cover the racist response to black actor Anna Diop’s casting as Starfire in Titans, the Fox-Disney deal’s implications for the MCU, and some of our favorite recent reads and listens! Also, we feature our first ever listener-submitted FREQ-Out, and Anita tries to pronounce the title for the upcoming Spike Lee film BlacKkKlansman. Submit your own FREQ-Out by visiting feministfrequency.com/freqout/! Segment Timestamps: :00 introductions and banter Relevant Links: Alex Abad-Santos for Vox on Starfire and Anna Diop My Solo Exchange Diary by Kabi Nagata The anthology Game Devs & Others: Tales from the Margins, edited by Tanya De Pass The website of romance writer Rebekah Weatherspoon Lucy Bellwood’s collection of comics about impostor syndrome, 100 Demon Dialogues Follow comedian Marcella Arguello on Twitter Check out Marlowe’s new self-titled album | |||
| 16 Apr 2018 | JoCo Cruise Interview #6: Open Mike Eagle on Hip Hop, Politics, and Snorkeling | 00:39:50 | |
In this candid conversation, the last of our special JoCo Cruise interviews, Anita talks to hip hop artist Open Mike Eagle about both his evolution as a rapper and the evolution of hip hop as a whole. The two also discuss how our current political reality seeps into the fabric of everyday life, accepting that as an artist, you might start off creating some pretty bad art, and the horrors of bad snorkeling experiences. Check out Mike’s work at mikeeagle.net | |||
| 15 Jan 2020 | FFR 110: The Mandalorian - Season One | 00:57:44 | |
We’re back in the Star Wars Universe! In episode 105 of FFR, we wondered after three episodes where all the women were in The Mandalorian. Now that season one is finished, we’re revisiting the spaghetti space western with special guest Jonathan Mann, to jam out to his viral song “Baby Yoda Baby Baby Yoda,” talk about Star Wars deep-lore and our own fan theories for next season, and to weigh in on the representations of women The Mandalorian ultimately offered. Time Stamps: 1:34 - Capitalism and the dark side of Baby Yoda (Baby Baby Yoda) 12:45 - Main Discussion on The Mandalorian - Season One 41:05 - What’s Your Freq Out?
Follow Us: Follow Jonathan Mann: | |||
| 26 Oct 2022 | FFR 218: She-Hulk with Annalee Newitz | 01:09:19 | |
Welcome to the first episode of a mini-season of pop culture goodness! Today Anita, Kat, and returning special guest Annalee Newitz are talking about She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, the most recent of the MCU’s forays into television series. Created by Jessica Gao and starring Tatiana Maslany, the show brings to the screen a character introduced to comics in 1980: lawyer Jennifer Walters. After an emergency blood transfusion from her cousin Bruce Banner, she transforms, developing Hulk-like superpowers similar to his. Listen in as we discuss the critical, as well as the social, reception of the series, along with our own thoughts on what unique takes and perspectives She-Hulk adds to the bulk of film and television comic book adaptations. CW: She-Hulk contains depictions of online harassment, violence, and sexual assault, so please listen to our conversation with caution. Time Stamps: 52:30 - What’s your Freq Out?
Links Mentioned:
Find Annalee:
Find Us: | |||
| 08 Nov 2023 | FFR 244: normporn featuring Karen Tongson and A.C. Lamberty | 01:04:36 | |
Kat’s “Machos: Fully Loaded” guest co-host, A. C. Lamberty, returns to Feminist Frequency Radio for a special interview with returning guest Karen Tongson to discuss her brand-new book normporn: queer viewers and the tv that soothes us. Links Mentioned:
Find Karen: Find A.C.:
Find Kat: Find Us: | |||
| 16 May 2024 | FFR 250: Challengers | 01:01:55 | |
Join Kat and A.C. for a discussion of one of their most hotly anticipated movies of 2024, Luca Guadagnino’s Challengers starring Zendaya, Josh O’Connor, and Mike Faist. The FFR hosts were mixed on their reactions, but both saw opportunities where it could have ascended to greater heights than it ultimately did—in particular with the underwritten female character in the middle of the film’s central love triangle. While we love the craft accomplishments of this movie, we can’t help but wonder what Paul Verhoeven might have done with this story. Plus, we check in on this spring’s film festivals, from the recently debuted Los Angeles Festival of Movies presented by Mubi to the 77th annual festival in Cannes, which just kicked off. Discussed in this episode:
Find Kat: Find AC: Find Us: | |||
| 15 Apr 2020 | FFR 120: L. A. Originals | 00:54:05 | |
Originally slotted to debut at the 2020 SXSW Film Festival, but currently made available on Netflix, the documentary L. A. Originals chronicles the partnership between director Estevan Oriol and master graffiti artist and high profile tattooist, Mark Machado, aka Mister Cartoon. Join us as we share some of our thoughts and reactions regarding storytelling, cultural appropriation vs appreciation, and the intersection of cultural identity and feminism, as we explore this intriguing, if somewhat rambling, story about the rise of two prominent Chicano artists over the shifting landscape of 25+ years. Time Stamps: 1:34 - Isolation updates: movement and fashion 3:57 - Main Discussion on L. A. Originals 40:13 - What’s Your Freq Out?
Links Mentioned:
Follow Us: | |||
| 25 Sep 2019 | FFR 96: Hustlers | 00:48:40 | |
In December of 2015, an article was published in New York Magazine that told an amazing story. In the wake of the 2008 Wall Street collapse, a group of women who worked at the New York strip club Scores saw the men and the money stop coming in, so they devised a risky, unconventional, and illegal way to make the money come in. Now the true story of these women and their criminal endeavor is the subject of the new film Hustlers. Written and directed by Lorene Scafaria, the film stars Jennifer Lopez and Constance Wu and charts the spectacular rise and fall of a criminal enterprise that tells us a great deal about wealth and power in the early 21st century. Follow Us: Join our Patreon Community https://www.patreon.com/femfreq Our Website https://feministfrequency.com/ Subscribe, rate and review us on Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Twitter https://twitter.com/femfreq Instagram https://www.instagram.com/femfreq/ Youtube http://bit.ly/2bDhQUX | |||
| 29 Aug 2018 | 41: Hackers, Strange Days and How to Pronounce Ralph Fiennes | 00:59:13 | |
In this week's episode, your favorite radical hacker collective get into the nitty gritty of 90's tech paranoia via the 1995 films Hackers and Strange Days. Caro can't help but admire SD's attempt to create compelling fable for its time; while Ebony and Anita discuss the gendered violence the film doesn't allow us to look away from. Hackers turned out to be a bit harder to reckon with -- not least because Caro couldn't get past the image of a skateboarding Fisher Stevens; Ebony was tormented by Lorraine Bracco's befuddled shrieking; and Anita found the film's technobabble to be long on "cool," but short on substance. We want to hear from you, so head on over to feministfrequency.com/freqout and send us your FREQ-Out today! The Witcher Developer CD Projekt Red Apologizes for Transphobic Joke | |||
| 14 Jul 2021 | FFR 169: Black Widow | 00:49:08 | |
Today on the podcast we’re discussing the 24th (!!!!) entry to the MCU, Black Widow. The movie attempts to balance themes of chosen family, trauma and healing with its need to deliver lots of fight scenes and CGI spectacle. But does it succeed, and knowing Natasha’s ultimate ending, do we still care? Listen in to hear our conversation. Time Stamps: 10:00 - Main discussion on Black Widow 45:13 - What’s your Freq Out?
Links Mentioned:
Follow Us: | |||
| 22 Apr 2020 | FFR 121: Mrs. America | 01:00:18 | |
This week on the Feminist Frequency Radio podcast we grapple with Hulu’s limited series Mrs. America, focusing on the battle for and against the Equal Rights Amendment in the 1970s. Join as we struggle with the powerful questions and feelings the series raises as this telling of feminism’s past illuminates the many issues the movement continues to face today. Time Stamps: 1:39 - Week #2645 of the Quarantine Report 4:43 - Main Discussion on Mrs. America 51:01 - What’s Your Freq Out?
Links Mentioned:
Follow Us: | |||
| 29 Jul 2020 | FFR 132: Palm Springs | 00:54:02 | |
This week we're off to Palm Springs via the new time-loop rom-com on Hulu starring Andy Samberg and Cristin Milotti. We discuss how Palm Springs tweaks the familiar structure of films like Groundhog Day in some significant ways to serve up something fresh, while also acknowledging that it can't entirely avoid some of the troubling matters of consent that often seem to come with the time-loop territory. We also talk about how the film explores questions of what it means to live ethically when every day is the same as the previous ten thousand days, and the surprising sweetness of its love story. Time Stamps:
Links Mentioned:
Follow Us: | |||
| 22 Jan 2020 | FFR 111: The Witcher | 00:52:40 | |
This week we journey through the brutal landscape of The Witcher. Probably best known through CD Projekt Red’s video game series, the Netflix adaptation has met with mixed reviews. Join us as we take a look at ways in which fantasy and Patriarchal tropes are presented, reinforced, acknowledged and questioned in a self-aware story that may not be sure on which side it lands. Should you toss a coin to your witcher? Time Stamps: 1:40 - Exploring whether or not Anita can BECOME a podcast 3:50 - Main Discussion on The Witcher 41:20 - What’s Your Freq Out?
Follow Us: | |||
| 05 Jun 2024 | FFR 252: The Fall Guy | 00:54:28 | |
In this week’s episode, Kat holds court on the movie that seemed uniquely designed just for her (which she ultimately found fairly disappointing): The Fall Guy. Directed by longtime stunt performer David Leitch and starring Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt, A.C. and Kat predominantly found the movie… “cute.” Which is fine! But Kat was really hoping for a lot more about the love of stunts, all things considered. Then, A.C. debuts a new, extremely unhinged game entitled “Nightmare Blunt Rotation,” and Kat has a lot to answer for. Find Kat: Find AC: Find Us: | |||
| 22 Nov 2023 | FFR 245: Scott Pilgrim Takes Off featuring Ethan Harper | 00:56:21 | |
Kat is joined by cartoon and comics-style illustrator Ethan Harper to discuss the new animated series Scott Pilgrim Takes Off, based on both the original graphic novels written and drawn by O’Malley beginning in 2004 and the live-action film adaptation from 2010 directed by Edgar Wright. Spoilers ahead! Links Mentioned:
Find Ethan: Find Kat: Find Feminist Frequency: | |||
| 09 Apr 2018 | JoCo Cruise Interview #5: Showrunner Amy Berg on Making TV That Matters | 00:19:22 | |
In our latest JoCo Cruise interview, Anita talks to writer and showrunner Amy Berg, who has worked on shows such as Leverage, Eureka, Person of Interest, and Starz’ current hit sci-fi series Counterpart. Here, Berg recounts the bold way she once got Joss Whedon’s attention, the unproduced Lost script that helped her make a name for herself, and all the things that go into being showrunner on a major TV series. Anita also talks to Berg about consciously doing the work to create a more inclusive television landscape, and what impact our current political landscape is likely to have on the visions of the future that television will give us in the years ahead. | |||
| 26 May 2021 | FFR 166: Entertainment News | 01:01:21 | |
On this episode of FFR, Entertainment News returns with a crop of pop culture updates and events that are designed to make you bury your head in the nearest pillow and scream. From un-cancelable sexual offenders to the latest string of reboots, remakes, and retreads, we’re here to talk about the things that are keeping our group chats popping and our Twitter feeds unbearable. Time Stamps: 2:27 - Talking about our recent live stream event 10:03 - Everything Old Is New Again:
29:33 - The World Is On Fire and We Can’t Talk About It
38:09 - You Can’t Cancel Me or Shut Me Up
47:58 - What’s your Freq Out? ** Note: There was an error in episode 165 (Carrie) where we played the wrong guest freq out. We apologize for the error and this week are playing both guest freq outs, in context, in this episode of the podcast:
Additional Links Mentioned:
Follow Us: | |||
| 04 Mar 2020 | FFR 117: High Fidelity with Special Guest Nicole He | 00:51:42 | |
Carolyn and Anita are joined on the podcast by special guest Nicole He, game developer and creative technologist, to take a look at Hulu’s High Fidelity, originally a novel by Nick Hornby, but probably known by most from the 2000 film starring John Cusack as Rob Gordon, a record store owner and obsessive music fan who takes us through his all-time top-five most painful breakups while trying to reunite with his most recent girlfriend. Hulu’s series swaps out this white dude version of Rob for a queer, woman of color played by Zoe Kravitz. Does the new representation in High Fidelity matter? And what happens to the narrative when this swap is applied to a character who epitomized a new kind of toxic masculinity at the start of the 21st century? Time Stamps: 1:45 - a little bit about Nicole and how she makes some of the coolest sh*t Anita’s ever seen 7:02 - Main Discussion on High Fidelity 41:20 - What’s Your Freq Out?
Links Mentioned:
Follow Us:
Follow Nicole: | |||
| 06 Jun 2018 | 29: Invest in Sassy Droids | 01:03:21 | |
In this week’s episode, it’s a sci-fi spectacular as Ebony and Caro navigate the asteroid field of a movie that is Solo. We talk everything from Ron Howard’s directing to the squandering of Thandie Newton to the Star Wars series’ gradual shift into a much less interesting approach to storytelling. We reserve particular ire, however, for the film’s treatment of its feisty, politically revolutionary droid L3-37. From there, we travel back in time to 1984 to revisit the James Cameron classic, The Terminator! In later episodes, we’ll look at other franchise properties, but we wanted to go back to where it all began. Our discussion touches on the great supporting performances of Lance Henriksen and Paul Winfield as a couple of cynical but decent cops, how Linda Hamilton’s Sarah Connor is presented as a “virtuous” mother figure, what makes the special effects so great, and especially Arnold Schwarzenegger’s performance as a literal killing machine and how he came to embody an ideal of manhood in the 1980s. Other topics include the cancellation of Roseanne, the brilliance of The Americans’ final season, and how so often even the warmest and most inviting children’s literature tells children of color that they are not welcome to fully enter the worlds those books create. Segment Timestamps: :00 THANK YOU! relevant links: Cinemaball Episode 5: L.A. Confidential https://feministfrequency.com/video/cinemaball-05-l-a-confidential-1997/ | |||
| 18 Apr 2018 | 22 Apples: The Loudest @$%*ing Fruit (TM) | 00:53:14 | |
On this week’s show, we discuss the use of sound in John Krasinski’s new horror thriller A Quiet Place, whether Ebony would survive in this particular brand of apocalypse, the agony of living in a world without crunchy food, and whether seeing it in a theater is the best decision or the worst decision. We also talk about the sensitive way in which the film handles its deaf character, Regan, who is played by deaf actor Millicent Simmonds, and Ebony drops some knowledge about horror films as a genre. Then we discuss the new espionage series Killing Eve starring Sandra Oh. Is it a completely absurd spy show or is it a show that’s consciously playing with spy tropes? (Why not both?) We highlight the smart little details that humanize its characters, and how wonderful it is to see Sandra Oh cast as the lead in a major series. Also, Anita and Ebony discuss the lack of croissant-sharing in their relationship, and Anita goes on an eye-opening educational journey as she learns both that John Krasinski is the dude from The Office and that aromanticism is a word that actually means something. Segment Timestamps: :00 Brought to you by… Relevant Links: Jon Caramanica’s review of Beyonce’s Coachella performance for the New York Times: https://mobile.nytimes.com/2018/04/15/arts/music/beyonce-coachella-review.html | |||
| 20 Feb 2019 | FFR 65: What We Talk About When We Talk About The Oscars | 00:54:07 | |
This week on FFR, we gear up for this weekend’s Oscars with a focus on the Academy Awards: why they matter, how they’ve worked to promote a notion of cinematic excellence that centers and glorifies whiteness, and how they’ve historically tended to celebrate films about people of color only when those films send comforting messages about race and racism. Also, the latest terrible thing Bill Maher has said, and a behind-the-scenes glimpse into Anita’s Slack habits. SEGMENT TIMESTAMPS: 2:45 Entertainment News (Bill Maher says something awful, Activision Blizzard layoffs, Don Cheadle’s t-shirt) 14:10 The Academy Awards 43:50 What’s Your FREQ-Out? Trump and body-shaming humor, Burning and Steven Yeun, James Blake’s new album, and Tom Gun LIVE in Los Angeles 52:20 wrap-up RELEVANT LINKS: Marlow Stern for The Daily Beast on Bill Maher's comments on Peter Farrelly Patrick Klepek for Waypoint on the Activision Blizzard layoffs Video: Kim Basinger calls out the Academy for not nominating Do the Right Thing at the 1990 Oscars Angelica Bastien on Jared Leto and our masculine notions of what constitutes great method acting The Trailer for Burning starring Steven Yeun | |||
| 03 Jun 2020 | FFR 127: Police Brutality and Black Lives Matter | 00:51:03 | |
This week’s podcast was recorded on May 31, 2020. We won’t be discussing a new piece of media; we’re discussing a nation at war. Over the past week, we have watched as righteous protests rise in the wake of the Minneapolis police murder of George Floyd—and the deaths of many other black people including Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and Tony McDade. In response, the white supremacist American state apparatus has activated violently. Today, we want to share with you some of what we’ve seen, resources that might help you take action, and ways to make sense of some of the conflicting narratives we’re being fed.
#blacklivesmatter RESOURCE LIST: PETITIONS, DONATE, CALL AND EMAIL TO DEMAND JUSTICE AND SHARE: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-0KC83vYfVQ-2freQveH43PWxuab2uWDEGolzrNoIks/mobilebasic?fbclid=IwAR0zIYlxvOAQh6LDych9e3LCZ8nf2I43gPzEnfWCeYMAe1zB00tTv0PEHZs
ORGANIZATIONS TO SUPPORT (but please do your own research):
LINKS FOR READINGS AND REFERENCE:
RECOMMENDED RESOURCES (COMPILED BY Sarah Sophie Flicker and Alyssa Klein) Articles to read: • “America's Racial Contract Is Killing Us” by Adam Serwer Atlantic (May 8, 2020) • Ella Baker and the Black Freedom Movement (Mentoring a New Generation of Activists • ”My Life as an Undocumented Immigrant” by Jose Antonio Vargas | NYT Mag (June 22, 2011) • The 1619 Project (all the articles) | The New York Times Magazine • “The Intersectionality Wars” by Jane Coaston | Vox (May 28, 2019) • Tips for Creating Effective White Caucus Groups developed by Craig Elliott PhD • ”White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack” by Knapsack Peggy McIntosh • “Who Gets to Be Afraid in America?” by Dr. Ibram X. Kendi | Atlantic (May 12, 2020)
• Black Feminism & the Movement for Black Lives: Barbara Smith, Reina Gossett, Charlene Carruthers (50:48) • "How Studying Privilege Systems Can Strengthen Compassion" | Peggy McIntosh at TEDxTimberlaneSchools (18:26)
Podcasts to subscribe to: • 1619 (New York Times) • About Race • Code Switch (NPR) • Intersectionality Matters! hosted by Kimberlé Crenshaw • Momentum: A Race Forward Podcast • Pod For The Cause (from The Leadership Conference on Civil & Human Rights) • Pod Save the People (Crooked Media) • The Combahee River Collective Statement Books to read: • Black Feminist Thought by Patricia Hill Collins • Eloquent Rage: A Black Feminist Discovers Her Superpower by Dr. Brittney Cooper • Heavy: An American Memoir by Kiese Laymon • How To Be An Antiracist by Dr. Ibram X. Kendi • I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou • Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson • Me and White Supremacy by Layla F. Saad • Redefining Realness by Janet Mock • Sister Outsider by Audre Lorde • So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo • The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison • The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin • The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness by Michelle Alexander • The Next American Revolution: Sustainable Activism for the Twenty-First Century by Grace Lee Boggs • The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson • Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston • This Bridge Called My Back: Writings by Radical Women of Color by Cherríe Moraga • When Affirmative Action Was White: An Untold History of Racial Inequality in Twentieth-Century America by Ira Katznelson • White Fragility: Why It's So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism by Robin DiAngelo, PhD
Films and TV series to watch: • 13th (Ava DuVernay) — Netflix • American Son (Kenny Leon) — Netflix • Black Power Mixtape: 1967-1975 — Available to rent • Clemency (Chinonye Chukwu) — Available to rent • Dear White People (Justin Simien) — Netflix • Fruitvale Station (Ryan Coogler) — Available to rent • I Am Not Your Negro (James Baldwin doc) — Available to rent or on Kanopy • If Beale Street Could Talk (Barry Jenkins) — Hulu • Just Mercy (Destin Daniel Cretton) — Available to rent • King In The Wilderness — HBO • See You Yesterday (Stefon Bristol) — Netflix • Selma (Ava DuVernay) — Available to rent • The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution — Available to rent • The Hate U Give (George Tillman Jr.) — Hulu with Cinemax • When They See Us (Ava DuVernay) — Netflix
Organizations to follow on social media: • Antiracism Center • Audre Lorde Project • Black Women's Blueprint • Color Of Change • Colorlines • The Conscious Kid • Equal Justice Initiative • Families Belong Together • The Leadership Conference on Civil & Human Rights: • MPowerChange • Muslim Girl • NAACP • National Domestic Workers Alliance • RAICES • Showing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ) • SisterSong • United We Dream
More anti-racism resources to check out: • 75 Things White People Can Do for Racial Justice • Anti-Racism Project • Jenna Arnold's resources (books and people to follow) • Rachel Ricketts' anti-racism resources • Resources for White People to Learn and Talk About Race and Racism • Showing Up For Racial Justice's educational toolkits • “Why is this happening?” — an introduction to police brutality from 100 Year Hoodie • Zinn Education Project's teaching materials Photo credit: Alex Wong | Getty Images
Follow Us: | |||
| 13 Jan 2021 | FFR 150: This Way Up | 00:51:30 | |
CW: for discussions of suicide Today on the podcast, Ebony is taking a turn hosting, leading a discussion with Caro and Anita on the new Hulu series This Way Up. This Irish series about a woman on the edge has drawn early comparisons to Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s Flea Bag, but it offers it’s own unique perspective on a life in crisis. Join us as we take a look at what this show gets right and wrong about living in your head while living in community. Time Stamps: 8:05 - Main discussion on This Way Up 42:41 - What’s your Freq Out?
Follow Us: | |||
| 26 Sep 2018 | 45: Searching | 01:00:19 | |
On this week's episode of FFR, the gang discusses Searching, a new thriller starring John Cho which takes place entirely on computer screens. As David Kim, a father searching for his missing daughter, John Cho navigates Facebook, Tumblr, creates spreadsheets, makes phone calls using FaceTime, and otherwise employs technology in the ways that many of us do every day as just an ordinary part of our lives. Our conversation touches on the effectiveness of Searching as a thriller, the aspects of it that are traditional and those that are more experimental, how it depicts the way we sometimes seek connection online while avoiding it in the physical world, and the different things we allow and expect from fathers as opposed to mothers in movies. We also talk about the collapse of Telltale games and the larger issue of labor in the games industry, the recent hubbub over Bert and Ernie, and lots more. (Note that there have been new developments in the Telltale situation since the recording of this conversation on Monday morning, including the filing of a class action lawsuit against the company.) Segment Timestamps :00 A Quick Message from Anita and Ebony :30 Intro, Weekend Confessions 2:10 Entertainment News: Telltale Games shuts down and labor practices in the industry; Why the conversation about Bert and Ernie matters 16:00 A quick message from Carolyn 16:15 Main Topic: Searching (no spoilers) 31:25 More Searching (spoiler warning issued) 47:20 What’s Your FREQ-Out? Carolyn on Maya Rudolph in Forever Ebony on Domestic Violence Awareness Month and the criminalization of DV survivors Anita on the Elementary season finale (no spoilers) 58:55 wrap-up Relevant Links: Matt Zoller Seitz on Searching: https://www.rogerebert.com/mzs/30-minutes-on-searching Elizabeth Simins on Bert and Ernie: https://www.theverge.com/2018/9/19/17879916/bert-ernie-gay-sesame-street-mark-saltzman-controversy The Survived and Punished curriculum for Domestic Violence Awareness Month on the criminalization of survivors of domestic violence: https://survivedandpunished.org/2018/09/23/2018curriculum/ | |||
| 01 Nov 2023 | Fortnightly FREQouts #7 - The Babadook | 00:13:00 | |
It’s Halloween, and we’re continuing our journey through scary movies about motherhood after spending last week with Rosemary's Baby. In this week's Fortnightly FREQout mini episode, Kat gets personal talking about grief, fear, and monsters in Jennifer Kent's 2014 film The Babadook. Content warning for listeners: this episode talks about death. Find Kat: Find Feminist Frequency: | |||
| 27 Jul 2022 | FFR 208: Johnny Mnemonic with Ryan Broderick | 00:53:43 | |
Cyberpunk Summer is here, and we’re coming in hot with JOHNNY MNEMONIC, the 1995 film directed by Robert Longo and based on the 1981 short story by one of the authors credited with the invention of the cyberpunk genre: William Gibson. It boasts a preposterous cast, including Keanu Reeves, Dolph Lundgren, Takeshi Kitano, Ice-T, and Henry Rollins. The film, which was made at the time the internet was starting to enter everyday lives, includes a lot of the elements we’ve come to associate with cyberpunk fundamentally, but how does it feel to watch it in 2022 (one year after the events are the movie are set)? Join Anita, Kat, and our special guest—journalist and podcaster Ryan Broderick—as we try to make sense of it all. Note: Enjoy this episode of the podcast as a video at patreon.com/femfreq or on Youtube here: https://youtu.be/Hl2KzCYDOtA
Time Stamps: 43:19 - What’s your Freq Out?
Find Ryan:
Find Us: | |||
| 20 Nov 2019 | FFR 104: Geek Girl Con 2019 | 00:51:03 | |
FemFreq Radio is bringing you a live one this week! That's right, podcast fans: this week's episode was recorded live at our home away from home in Seattle at Geek Girl Con! After some of our standard "we've forgotten how to podcast" intro fumbling, things get interesting when Anita, Carolyn, and Ebony offer their choices for standout media properties from the past decade. Anita has some choice words to say about a fish; Carolyn refuses to be pigeonholed into CMBYN fandom; and Ebony laments what could have been in a historic small town in NY. Follow Us:
| |||
| 08 May 2019 | 76: Knock Down The House | 00:55:41 | |
Hey, Feminist Frequency Listeners! We had a fantastic discussion about the new Netflix documentary Knock Down the House, which documents the thrilling challenges posed to the political establishment by the record numbers of women and people of color looking to unseat long-time incumbents in 2018. In addition to Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez of New York, the film introduces viewers to candidates navigating the murky political waters of West Virginia, St. Louis, MO, and Las Vegas, NV. 0:00 Welcome to the incredibly high-energy goodness of episode #76 Relevant links: https://www.criterion.com/current/category/19-on-the-channel Tune in, subscribe, rate, and review! Become a backer of this podcast by joining our brand new community on Patreon! Find us at patreon.com/femfreq Subscribe to our YouTube channel for more videos: http://bit.ly/2bDhQUX | |||
| 05 Jun 2019 | 80: Always Be My Maybe | 00:55:30 | |
This week we dive into Always Be My Maybe, Netflix’s latest romcom staring Ali Wong, Randall Park (and of course) Keanu Reeves. Because we are rapidly turning into a Keanu Reeves podcast. Ebony and Anita had very different opinions on this movie. Anita tried to opt-out of this episode because she feels bad about her opinions. Carolyn still refuses to bring us any positive entertainment news but does talk about some news in games. Time Stamps:
Buy a t-shirt! dftba.com/femfreq Links Mentioned:
Follow Us:
| |||
| 08 Apr 2020 | FFR 119: Coping in Isolation | 00:42:27 | |
Like so much of life right now, the format for this episode of Feminist Frequency Radio will be a bit different. Check in with us while we shelter-in-place, and Anita, Carolyn and Ebony share the films, shows, books, games and new hobbies that are seeing us through self isolation. Time Stamps: 1:34 - Vibe check 15:40 - Media for Quarantimes: Carolyn:
Ebony:
Anita:
Follow Us: | |||
| 24 Apr 2019 | 74: Ramy with Zahra Noorbakhsh | 01:02:03 | |
Anita has returned! But Ebony is gone. To make up for it we’ve brought back very a special guest, everyone’s favorite Iranian-American Muslim Comedian, Zahra Noorbakhsh. This week we dive into Hulu’s newest sitcom Ramy. Created by comedian Ramy Youssef we follow the story of a 20-something Egyptian-American Muslim living in New Jersey, and trying to sort out who he really is and what he really wants in a world that sends him confusing and often-contradictory messages about what it means to be a young Muslim in America today. Go check out Zahra’s work: SEGMENT TIMESTAMPS: 4:11 - Entertainment News Become a backer of this podcast by joining our brand new community on Patreon! Find us at patreon.com/femfreq Subscribe to our YouTube channel for more videos: http://bit.ly/2bDhQUX | |||
| 02 May 2018 | 24: The Monthly Ebony Meeting | 00:55:34 | |
On this week’s FFR, Anita has left Ebony and Carolyn to fend for themselves! In our desperate attempt to put together a coherent podcast in Anita’s absence, we go deep on Avengers: Mandatory Moviegoing Experience (or Infinity War as it’s more commonly known), discussing the film’s various representations of masculinity, the roles women play in its narrative, and its surprising ending. (Take heed: our conversation has more Infinity War spoilers than there are grooves in Thanos’ chin.) From there, we dive into recent events that have brought “incel” ideology into the media spotlight. Don’t know what “incel” means? Well, enjoy your final moments of ignorance before we explain what it is and tear it to shreds! We also touch on Netizens, a powerful documentary on online harassment which features Anita and recently had its premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival. Segment Timestamps: :00 A Special Message from Carolyn Relevant Links: Netizens | |||
| 15 Feb 2023 | FFR 224: Glass Onion with Devindra Hardawar | 01:03:30 | |
Anita and Kat welcome special guest Devindra Hardawar for the next installment of our Eat the Rich mini-season. This week we’re discussing Rian Johnson’s Glass Onion. Guest and co-host opinions on the film run from 1-10, so listen in to see where you land on this lively episode of Feminist Frequency Radio! Links Mentioned:
Time Stamps: 50:40 - What’s your Freq Out?
Find Devindra: Find Anita: Find Kat: Find Us: | |||
| 04 May 2022 | FFR 199: The Witch with special guest Dr Kishonna Gray | 01:07:25 | |
On the heels of the recent release of director Robert Eggers’ Viking epic The Northman, Kat Spada and special guest Dr. Kishonna Gray—Associate Professor in Writing, Rhetoric, and Digital Studies at the University of Kentucky—step back to 2015 to consider Egger’s first film, The Witch. CW: This episode contains discussion of film portrayals of supernatural or historical violence against woman and children, including infanticide. Time Stamps: 1:00:10 - What’s your Freq Out?
Follow Kishonna: Follow Us: | |||
| 03 Jan 2018 | 07 Leaping Around in Time With Anita Sarkeesian and the Doctor | 01:00:41 | |
Happy New Year, everyone! We get 2018 off to a perfectly smooth start as Anita leaps us forward in time by launching us right into a conversation about the Doctor Who Christmas Special, which marked both the end of Peter Capaldi's tenure as the Doctor and the introduction of Jodie Whittaker, the first woman to ever fill the Doctor's shoes. We also talk about Carolyn's favorite game of last year, the heartwarming and hilarious Butterfly Soup, look at some of the latest entertainment news, and conclude with the customary round of "What's Your Deal?" So make some hot cocoa, toss a few more coals on the fire, and get cozy with us for the first Feminist Frequency Radio of the year! You can find Butterfly Soup at https://brianna-lei.itch.io/butterfly-soup | |||
| 17 Jul 2019 | 86: Strong Female Character | 00:46:49 | |
Your battle-hardened hosts gather in the Thunderdome to discuss Strong Female Characters in our media. What kinds of aesthetic and narrative features tend to mark someone as a “strong female character”? Which genres seem most invested in the presentation of a specific kind of sexualized female badass? How do we celebrate the presence of authentic strong female characters while keeping our critical goggles attuned to their more problematic incarnations? Time Stamps: 6:10 - Strong Female Characters 38:15 - What’s Your FREQ Outs: Super Mario Maker 2; Courtney Milan's entire oeuvre; Gato Roboto Links Mentioned: Become a backer of this podcast by joining our community on Patreon! Find us at patreon.com/femfreq Subscribe to our YouTube channel for more videos: http://bit.ly/2bDhQUX | |||
| 23 May 2018 | 27: When Carolyn’s Gone, It’s Just a Disaster | 00:52:08 | |
In this week’s episode, Ebony realizes 40 minutes in that Producer Phil needs to slap a “saucy language warning” on all of her segments because she has no home training. Anita shares some interesting news about ice cream mafia wars in small town Sweden; and Carolyn’s guiding hand is woefully missed during a disjointed, rambling, ramshackle edition of Pop Culture News. | |||
| 14 Mar 2018 | 17 You Both Were in My Dreams as Puppies | 00:53:31 | |
In this week’s podcast, Anita opens the door on some of the strange imagery from her dreams. Then, we work through our feelings about Ava DuVernay’s film adaptation of Madeleine L’Engle’s children’s classic, A Wrinkle in Time and discover that maybe how you feel about this movie depends on how in touch you are with your inner child. Also, because so many people seem to wrongly think that we “agree” with the ways in which the current administration is scapegoating video games, we dive into the White House’s tactics and what our critiques of games and media in general are actually saying. Finally, we wrap things up with some cheers and recommendations in What’s Your FREQ-Out?! Segment Timestamps: Start: Ebony and Phil announce the winners of our book giveaway Relevant Links: Anxy Magazine: https://anxymag.com/ | |||
| 28 Apr 2021 | FFR 162: The Falcon and The Winter Soldier | 00:58:33 | |
Following the success of WandaVision, The Falcon and The Winter Soldier is the MCU’s latest attempt to handle tough topics in a weekly action series, but does it manage to be more than propaganda? Listen in as Anita, Ebony, and Carolyn dive into a heated discussion of how a show framed as opening a new era for Captain America mostly reinforces the status quo. Time Stamps: 6:11 - Main discussion on The Falcon and The Winter Soldier 45:28 - What’s your Freq Out?
Links Mentioned: Follow Us: | |||
| 27 Jan 2021 | FFR 152: Promising Young Woman with Special Guest Kat Spada | 00:49:33 | |
CW: discussion of sexual assault and violence
While Anita remains in parts unknown, Ebony and host Carolyn are joined by special guest Kat Spada to discuss Emerald Fennell’s revenge thriller, Promising Young Woman, a film both darkly comedic and astutely descriptive of rape culture. Join us as we discuss what make Cassandra Thomas’ quest to punish the “Nice Guys” so provocative. Time Stamps: 5:18 - Main discussion on Promising Young Woman 44:56 - What’s your Freq Out?
Follow Us:
Follow Kat Spada:
| |||
| 13 May 2020 | FFR 124: The Half of It | 00:57:17 | |
On this episode of Feminist Frequency Radio we take a look at The Half of It, the second film from Saving Face director Alice Wu. Available for streaming on Netflix, the film is a take on the classic-literature-as-teen-movie genre, reimagining Cyrano de Bergerac as wry, bookish teenager Ellie Chu, who reluctantly agrees to help charming but dim-witted Paul woo the girl that Ellie herself has a crush on. Join us as we examine how this film subverts expectations of the genre, telling a surprisingly multi-faceted story of teen angst. Time Stamps: 4:47 - Main Discussion on The Half of It 41:52 - What’s Your Freq Out?
** Support the Stay in the Game Relief Fund - https://givebutter.com/stayinthegame Follow Us: | |||
| 06 Dec 2023 | FFR 246: Gremlins featuring Oscar Montoya | 00:53:45 | |
Feminist Frequency Radio is celebrating the holidays with the creepy Christmas classic, 1984’s Gremlins. Joining Kat is this episode’s special guest: actor, comedian, and dancer Oscar Montoya. Links Mentioned:
Find Oscar: Find Kat: Find Feminist Frequency: | |||
| 24 May 2023 | FFR 236: Machos In Review | 01:25:18 | |
This past season of Feminist Frequency Radio co-hosts Kat Spada and A.C. Lamberty investigated masculinity in movies and TV on our “Machos: Fully Loaded” series. On this final bonus wrap-up episode, Anita Sarkeesian returns to strap in, strap on, and weigh in on all our most-loved machos. Links Mentioned:
Find A.C.:
Find Kat: Find Anita: Find Us: | |||
| 23 Oct 2019 | FFR 100: Alien | 00:52:19 | |
On this week’s episode, Ebony and Carolyn revisit the sci-fi horror classic Alien, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. Our conversation attempts to examine some of the film’s many layers—its focus on working-class characters and their concerns, the ways in which H.R. Giger’s design for the alien taps into some of our most primal fears—while also acknowledging the filmmaking elements that help to make it such an enduring landmark of sci-fi cinema.
Time Stamps: 2:00 Alien 43:35 What’s Your FREQ-Out? (Carolyn on Joseph Arthur’s new album Come Back World, Ebony on the documentary Memory: The Origins of Alien)
Relevant Links: Ebony on Vasquez from Aliens: https://feministfrequency.com/2017/03/28/absolutely-badasses-looking-back-on-vasquez-30-years-later/ | |||
| 09 Dec 2020 | FFR 148: Nomadland | 00:47:36 | |
Today on the podcast Anita and Carolyn are hitting the road (figuratively, if not literally) to discuss NOMADLAND, the critically acclaimed film written, directed, AND edited by next year’s Eternals director Chloe Zhao. The film is gorgeous, as through main character Fern (played by Frances McDormand) it paints a picture of nomadic survival in the real life culture of American workers without roots, following sporadic work opportunities with no safety net beyond what fellow travelers can offer. Listen in as we discuss all the ways this film succeeds at telling a thoughtful, complex story about poverty, the failings of American Capitalism, and the intricacies and complexities of human relationships and grief. Make a Donation to our end of year campaign at http://www.feministfrequeny.com/donate Time Stamps: 5:30 - Main discussion on Nomadland 41:22 - What’s your Freq Out?
Links Mentioned:
Follow Us: | |||
| 13 Oct 2021 | FFR 179: No Time To Die with Special Guest Teddy Dief | 00:57:19 | |
This week the podcast is taking a step away from October’s spookier fare so that we can discuss the latest Bond movie, No Time To Die, with returning special guest, game designer, director, and musician, Teddy Dief. Directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga and co-written by Phoebe Waller-Bridge, the 25th entry to the franchise is also the last that will star Daniel Craig as the titular, not-so-secret-identity, super spy. While it can be argued (and will be on this podcast) that Daniel Craig’s turn as Bond has been a divergence for the franchise from the start, No Time To Die promises to be something radically different from a film series built around male power fantasies. Is it? Listen in for our (somewhat differing) takes. Time Stamps: 44:37 - What’s your Freq Out?
Follow Teddy: Follow Us:
| |||
| 26 Aug 2020 | FFR 136: Lovecraft Country | 00:53:57 | |
On this week’s FFR we discuss the first two episodes of HBO's Lovecraft Country, a show that blends horror elements into a tale about racism in 1950s America, but first we talk about how the horrors of anti-Black racism remain so inescapable in America today, where police have once again exacted brutal violence on a Black man. Our discussion of the show touches on the ways in which it draws from pulp fiction and acknowledges the complexity of our relationship to tales that we love even if they don’t love us back, its subversion of classic Americana and fascinating use of audio, and the experience of watching this show right now, while living in a world in which some of us are exhausted from the experience of constantly being dehumanized and endangered. Time Stamps:
Links Mentioned:
Follow Us: | |||
| 07 Oct 2020 | FFR 139: Enola Holmes | 01:00:10 | |
The Netflix film Enola Holmes introduces us to the much younger (and perhaps more brilliant) sister of the infamous Sherlock and Mycroft Holmes. The film is based on a series of YA detective novels by author Nancy Springer, and our heroine (played in the film by Stranger Things’ Millie Bobby Brown) is a quick-thinking and fearless young woman who frustrates and amazes everyone around her in equal measure. We discuss who we think the intended audience is, and whether the film succeeds in delivering a feminist-minded moral to a younger audience. We also discuss casting choices for Mycroft and Sherlock, held up against Arthur Conan Doyle’s source material, and offer up some opinions on other recent adaptations. Time Stamps: 3:37 - Main Discussion on Enola Holmes 42:04 - What’s Your Freq Out?
Links Mentioned:
Follow Us: | |||
| 11 Sep 2019 | FFR 94: Life Is Strange 2, Episode 4 - Faith | 00:53:15 | |
On this week’s FFR, Ebony and Carolyn continue our conversation about Life Is Strange 2 by diving into the recently released fourth episode, Faith. We talk about a particularly challenging scene in which Sean encounters a pair of racists, the different ways in which we approach the game as players, and the way the game continues to give its characters a surprising level of emotional complexity, and to view them through a compassionate lens. SEGMENT TIMESTAMPS: RELEVANT LINKS: Adele Lim leaves Crazy Rich Asians sequels: https://variety.com/2019/film/news/crazy-rich-asians-co-writer-exit-pay-disparity-1203323236/ FFR 83: Life Is Strange 2: Episode 3 - Wastelands with Tevis Thompson https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MVluczkc-Vg Follow Us: | |||
| 08 Jan 2020 | FFR 109: Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker | 00:54:24 | |
Happy New Year and welcome back to FFR! We’re kicking off the decade with a deep look at Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. A cultural phenomenon spanning 40 years, here’s our look at what the final chapter of this space opera delivered, where it delighted, where it disappointed, and who it didn’t represent. Time Stamps: 4:23 - Main Discussion on Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker 39:12 - What’s Your Freq Out
Links Mentioned: “Are We Really Going to Pretend That Gay Kiss in The Rise of Skywalker Matters?” by K. Austin Collins - https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2019/12/are-we-really-going-to-pretend-the-gay-kiss-in-the-rise-of-skywalker-matters Follow Us: | |||
| 17 Jan 2018 | 09 FREQing Out Over the Whimsical Fish Man’s Deal | 00:57:55 | |
This week on Feminist Frequency Radio, Guillermo del Toro’s latest film The Shape of Water divides the crew! Find out which of us were seduced by the film’s tender love story and which of us have no souls as we contemplate just what it means to fall in love with a fish man. (This discussion may involve Ebony busting out one of her patented Hater Rants.) We also talk about prominent women criticizing the #MeToo movement and examine what last week’s Aziz Ansari story says about our cultural expectations around romantic and sexual encounters. We round things out with a look at the trans-centric web series Her Story and a round of What’s Your Deal? Also, the podcast faces its most vital question yet: Should What’s Your Deal change its name to What’s Your FREQout? Help us decide! Segments: Entertainment News: 5:07-15:35 The Shape of Water: 15:37-32:47 Her Story (web series): 32:51-45:53 What’s Your Deal?/Wrap-Up: 45:53-57:54 Referenced in this episode: Margaret Atwood op-ed: Am I a bad feminist? https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/am-i-a-bad-feminist/article37591823/ News story about French letter denouncing #MeToo: http://www.cnn.com/2018/01/10/europe/catherine-deneuve-france-letter-metoo-intl/index.html Babe story about Aziz Ansari: https://babe.net/2018/01/13/aziz-ansari-28355 Her Story web series: herstoryshow.com Saladin Ahmed’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/saladinahmed Comics: Lizz Winstead and Laurie Kilmartin | |||
| 24 Jan 2018 | 10: I Tonya, Me Too, You People | 00:57:34 | |
This week’s Very Special Episode is AAA-rated! Anita takes a trip to Chicago and ropes in Feminist Frequency superstar Ashley Fellows and Vulture writer Angelica Bastien to discuss camp, perspective, and the cycle of abuse in I, Tonya. Anita segues seamlessly into a critique of how the #MeToo and #TimesUp movement are being mischaracterized to paint grey areas in issues of consent where grey areas don’t actually exist, and then everyone takes a shot at “What’s Your FREQ Out Deal” with a shout out to Heathers, a weary side-eye at a recent Wonder Woman title, and unbridled enthusiasm from Anita for some board games she’s been loving. Tune in and subscribe today so you don’t miss a single episode! "How the #MeToo Movement Could Kill Some Sexy Hollywood Movies" | |||