Feminist Frequency Radio

On this topical episode of the podcast we’re tackling fame, celebrity culture, and fandom. While celebrity is nothing new, the modern landscape of social media creates both new avenues to fame, as well as new opportunities for fans to access their favorite stars and content creators. Today we’re talking: toxic celebrity, access and entitlement, and the false “democratization” of fame that offers a little bit of notoriety to anyone.Time Stamps:5:51 - Main discussion43:56 - What’s your Freq Out?Ebony on the novel The Good Luck Girls by Charlotte Nicole DavisAnita on the novels from the Wayfarers series by Becky Chambers— The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet and A Closed and Common OrbitLinks Mentioned:https://www.vice.com/en/article/dy8npv/ava-rose-tiktok-fame-social-media-influencer-harrassment-v28n1Follow Us:Join our PatreonOur WebsiteSubscribe to FFR on Apple PodcastsSubscribe to our Star Trek PodcastTwitterInstagram

Arrogant tech bros cruelly disregarding privacy and the boundaries of decency in worship of their own genius (and as the world cheers on) has become a modern horror staple (e.g. the film Ex Machina or the series Devs), but today on the podcast we’re discussing the HBO series MADE FOR LOVE, where the tone for this premise takes a darkly comedic turn as we follow Hazel Green-Gogol (played by Cristin Milioti) and her bid for freedom from her controlling, narcissistic husband (played by Billy Magnussen) who has literally put a chip in her head without her consent. What did we think? Listen in to find out.Time Stamps:3:34 - Main discussion on Made for Love44:01 - What’s your Freq Out?Caro on the HBO series Mare of EasttownEbony on Without RemorseFollow Us:Join our PatreonOur WebsiteSubscribe to FFR on Apple PodcastsSubscribe to our Star Trek PodcastTwitterInstagram

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 Soldier45:28 - What’s your Freq Out?Ebony on the series The Great Pottery Throw DownCaro on the video game Devotion developed by Red Candle GamesAnita on the book Making Movies by Sidney LumetLinks Mentioned:https://twitter.com/pinballwitch/status/1386549231977078786?s=21Follow Us:Join our PatreonOur WebsiteSubscribe to FFR on Apple PodcastsSubscribe to our Star Trek PodcastTwitterInstagram

When all your faves are problematic, it may be tempting, or even natural, to tease out progressive politics or disruptive readings within media which on the surface seems to support the status quo. Is that ultra-macho action movie really about found family? Is your favorite root-for-the-bad-guy drama actually a scathing indictment of violence and toxic masculinity? Well, maybe not, but the tendency to seek a progressive meaning in the media we love is called “left-reading,” and today on the podcast Carolyn, Ebony, and Anita are taking a look at the phenomena and discussing why it happens and what harm might be done by excusing popular media in this way.Time Stamps:6:00 - Introduction to “Left-reading”9:34 - The Equalizer and The Equalizer 217:13 - Breaking Bad20:46 - Star Wars, Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings27:00 - Optimistic left-reading, opportunities for reclamation, and personal interpretation vs real-world impact36:24 - Cop-aganda40:00 - Fury Road and Ripley44:00 - John Wick and The Fast and the Furi

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 Cowboy48:54 - What’s your Freq Out?Caro on the Director’s Cut of the film Doctor SleepAnita on the 2008 Swiss film Home directed by Ursula MeierEbony on the novel Gods of Jade and Shadow by Silvia Moreno-GarciaLinks Mentioned:Statement from the Fletcher Street Urban Riding Club about the film: http://fsurc.com/news/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Home_(2008_Swiss_film)Follow Us:Join our PatreonOur WebsiteSubscribe to FFR on Apple PodcastsSubscribe to our Star Trek PodcastTwitterInstagram

Today on the podcast we’re returning from our break (and yet somehow still entering vacation mode) as Anita, Caro, and special guest Charlie Jane Anders take a look at Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo’s colorful comedy Barb & Star Go to Vista Del Mar. Is this movie a timely escape or a bit of a bad trip? Listen in to find out what we found so polarizing.** This week’s Bonus segment (normally only available to our Patreon supporters) will be available to all! Make sure you listen in as we talk to special guest Charlie Jane Anders about her illustrious career, her writing process, and her brand new YA sci-fi book, Victories Greater Than Death!Time Stamps:9:38 - Main discussion on Barb & Star Go to Vista Del Mar40:16 - What’s your Freq Out?Special Guest Charlie Jane Anders on season 2 of Batwoman on the CWCaro on the book Afropessimism by Frank B Wilderson IIIAnita on the novel Trail of Lightening by Rebecca RoanhorseFollow Charlie Jane:Preorder Victories Greater Than Death - bit.ly/VGTDpreorderoffershttps:

Today’s very special episode of the Bonus is available to all! Listen in as we talk to Charlie Jane Anders about her illustrious career, her writing process, and her brand new YA sci-fi book, Victories Greater Than Death!Follow Charlie Jane:Preorder Victories Greater Than Death - bit.ly/VGTDpreorderoffershttps://twitter.com/charliejanecharliejane.comhttps://instagram.com/charliejaneandersFollow Us:Our WebsiteSubscribe on Apple PodcastsTwitterInstagram

Today on the podcast we’re joined by Special Guest Walter Chaw, film critic for Film Freak Central, to discuss writer/director Lee Isaac Chung’s semi-autobiographical film Minari, which despite being about an American family pursuing a version of the American Dream, controversially won Best Foreign Language Film at the 2021 Golden Globe Awards. Listen in as we discuss how this beautifully authentic film insightfully approaches a particular American experience through the story of the Yi family.Time Stamps:8:55 - Main discussion on Minari45:27 - What’s your Freq Out?Special Guest Walter Chaw on increased Asian American visibility and representation in recent film releases along with the increase of hate crime against Asian Americans.Links Mentioned:Walter Chaw’s review of Minari at Film Freak Central: https://www.filmfreakcentral.net/ffc/2021/01/minari.htmlWalter Chaw’s review of Raya and the Last Dragon at Film Freak Central: https://www.filmfreakcentral.net/ffc/2021/03/raya-and-the-last-dragon.htmlDenver Pub

We asked our patrons to pick a time-loop film for us to discuss and they have spoken! FFR is headed back to 1999 to take a look at the propulsive German thriller, Run Lola Run. The film has endured for over 20 years as both an influential movie and cultural reference point, with its unrelenting visual and narrative pace. Join us as we revisit the story of fire-engine-red-headed Lola (played by Franka Potente) and her desperate run through Berlin to save her feckless boyfriend.Time Stamps:5:40 - Main discussion on Run Lola Run40:06 - What’s your Freq Out?Caro on the 1970 documentary Meeting the Man: James Baldwin in ParisLinks Mentioned:https://www.theguardian.com/film/2021/jan/11/how-we-made-run-lola-run-franka-potente-berlinhttps://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/run-lola-run-1999feministfrequency.com/freqoutFollow Us:Join our PatreonOur WebsiteSubscribe to FFR on Apple PodcastsSubscribe to our Star Trek PodcastTwitterInstagram

Our spotlight on Black cinema continues today on the podcast with our look at The 40 Year Old Version.  Written, directed and produced by first-time director Radha Blank, this sharp comedy won the 2020 US Dramatic Competition Directing Prize at Sundance. Join us as we discuss this semi-autobiographical tale of a Black creative grappling with asserting an authentic voice in a marketplace governed by white gatekeepers demanding compromise.Time Stamps:5:52 - Main discussion on The 40 Year Old Version38:39 - What’s your Freq Out?Caro on the 2010 film BeginnersFollow Us:Join our PatreonOur WebsiteSubscribe to FFR on Apple PodcastsSubscribe to our Star Trek PodcastTwitterInstagram

Continuing our month-long series of episodes focusing on work by Black creators, on today’s podcast we’re taking a look at Judas and the Black Messiah. Directed by Shaka King, the Sundance 2021 premiering film has earned both critical acclaim and scrutiny.  Can a Hollywood movie adequately tell a story about political radicals? Does Judas and the Black Messiah do justice to Fred Hampton? Listen in to hear our thoughts.Time Stamps:6:43 - Main discussion on Judas and the Black Messiah41:48 - What’s your Freq Out?Anita on the TV series Ted LassoLinks Mentioned:“Judas and the Black Messiah Is What Happens When Hollywood Co-opts Radical History” by Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, February 11, 2021 - https://www.vulture.com/article/judas-and-the-black-messiah-movie-review-hbo-max.html“Judas and the Black Messiah is a Call to Action [Review]” by Jourdain Searles, okayplayer, February 11, 2021 - https://www.okayplayer.com/culture/judas-and-the-black-messiah-review.htmlFollow Us:Join our PatreonOur WebsiteSubscribe to

Today on the podcast, we’re discussing Julie Dash’s lush and lyrical 1991 film Daughters of the Dust. Focusing on a multi-generational group of Gullah women on the eve of a life-altering move, this sweeping work was the first film directed by a Black woman to get a general theatrical release in the United States. 30 years later, the haunting and expressive film retains its striking impact.Time Stamps:3:49 - Main discussion on Daughters of the Dust44:34 - What’s your Freq Out?Ebony on the novel Song of Solomon by Toni MorrisonAnita on the film CODA written and directed by Sian HederLinks Mentioned:https://www2.bfi.org.uk/news-opinion/news-bfi/features/beyonce-lemonade-julie-dash-daughters-dusthttps://lareviewofbooks.org/article/uses-beauty-daughters-dust-diasporic-inheritance/http://www.newyorker.com/culture/richard-brody/the-return-of-julie-dashs-historic-daughters-of-the-dustFollow Us:Join our PatreonOur WebsiteSubscribe to FFR on Apple PodcastsSubscribe to our Star Trek PodcastTwitterInstagram

Kicking off our month of episodes focusing on films by Black creators, today Anita is back with Ebony and Carolyn to discuss Dee Rees’ 2011 directorial debut, Pariah. The film was a low-budget independent release which announced Rees as a formidable talent six years before Mudbound would earn her an Academy Award nomination in 2017. Join us as we discuss this achingly authentic look at the life of a queer Black teenager in Brooklyn, struggling to discover and assert her truth, even as her parents make it painfully clear they will not accept that their daughter is gay.Time Stamps:5:39 - Main discussion on Pariah45:06 - What’s your Freq Out?Caro on the game Paradise KillerAnita on the film The Pink Cloud directed by Iuli GerbaseFollow Us:Join our PatreonOur WebsiteSubscribe to FFR on Apple PodcastsSubscribe to our Star Trek PodcastTwitterInstagram

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 Woman44:56 - What’s your Freq Out?Special Guest Kat Spada on the Fox Network sitcom, Call Me KatFollow Us:Join our PatreonOur WebsiteSubscribe to FFR on Apple PodcastsSubscribe to our Star Trek PodcastTwitterInstagramFollow Kat Spada:twitter.com/kat_ex_machinaKat’s podcast: twitter.com/90210blaze

On this week’s podcast, we’re taking a look at Christopher Nolan’s aggressively high-concept film, Tenet, the disorienting twists, turns, and logic loops of which demand a lot of its audience. Is it worth the effort it takes to truly engage with the film? Listen in as Caro and Ebony discuss.Time Stamps:6:52 - Main discussion on Tenet50:05 - What’s your Freq Out?Caro on the ASMRtist, Phoenician SailorLinks Mentioned:Phoenician Sailor video: Tenet [ASMR] - https://youtu.be/iOipX-8unekFollow Us:Join our PatreonOur WebsiteSubscribe to FFR on Apple PodcastsSubscribe to our Star Trek PodcastTwitterInstagram

CW: for discussions of suicideToday 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 Up42:41 - What’s your Freq Out?Caro on the Netflix series Pretend it’s a CityFollow Us:Join our PatreonOur WebsiteSubscribe to FFR on Apple PodcastsTwitterInstagram

Welcome to the first Feminist Frequency Radio podcast of 2021 where Anita, Ebony and Carolyn are lassoing the truth out of the confounding mess of a movie that is Wonder Woman 1984. We thought if nothing else we could coast through the two-and-a-half-hour run time on 80s nostalgia and Pedro Pascal’s charm, but there’s a lot more wrong with this movie than the aesthetics.Time Stamps:8:12 - Main discussion on Wonder Woman 198449:52 - What’s your Freq Out?Ebony on the Netflix series NarcosCaro on the film Sorry to Have Missed You directed by Ken LoachLinks Mentioned:https://twitter.com/EvelKneidel/status/1342697529876611077Follow Us:Join our PatreonOur WebsiteSubscribe to FFR on Apple PodcastsSubscribe to our Star Trek PodcastTwitterInstagram

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/donateTime Stamps:5:30 - Main discussion on Nomadland41:22 - What’s your Freq Out?Mrs. Fletcher - the HBOMax seriesDolly Parton’s America - the podcast seriesHaven - the video game from The Game BakersLinks Mentioned:Feminist Fr

Anita and Ebony are joined by special and surprise guest Dave Proctor to discuss Happiest Season, Hulu’s new queer Christmas romcom from actor/writer/director Clea DuVall. Starring Kristen Stewart, Aubrey Plaza, Mackenzie Davis, Mary Steenburgen, Victor Garber, Dan Levy, Alison Brie, and Mary Holland (who also co-wrote), the film pulls out all the Christmas Movie tropes we’re used to seeing on Hallmark, but does the classic holiday treatment work here? Hint: we can’t decide if it works better as a romcom or a horror movie, so….Make a Donation for #GivingTuesday at http://www.feministfrequeny.com/donateTime Stamps:4:36 - Main discussion on Happiest Season37:00 - What’s your Freq Out?Anita on The Daevabad Trilogy by S.A. ChakrabortyLinks Mentioned:“Is Happiest Season a Horror Film? A scientific exploration” by Max Weiss - https://www.baltimoremagazine.com/section/artsentertainment/is-happiest-season-a-horror-film/https://www.buzzfeed.com/noradominick/happiest-season-aubrey-plaza-rileyNomadland tickets: https://

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 Fest10:07 - Tostu (Redbird)19:36 - Blackfeet Boxing28:55 - Walking Together36:52 - The Fall42:45 - Intrepidus52:12 - What’s your Freq Out?Caro on Small Axe, collection of five original films by Steve McQueen, and the first film of the series, Mangrove Links Mentioned:LA Skins Fest - https://laskinsfest.com/event/14th-annual-la-skins-fest/Small Axe - https://www.a