Feminist Frequency Radio

**Mark your calendar for Feminist Frequency’s 11th birthday party! This Thursday, May 21st from 5:00 - midnight Pacific time join at Twitch.tv/femfreq for guests, games, and giveaways. This week on the podcast we are delighted to think critically about the Apple TV+ series Little America. The anthology, from makers of The Big Sick and Master of None, puts the immigrant experience at the center of its plot. Currently available to view without a subscription and already renewed for a second season, this series presents stand-alone episodes observing the story and life of an individual immigrant living in the United States. Join us as we take a look at several episodes, from the tale of a young boy left to run the family motel when his parents are deported, or a Nigerian college student in Oklahoma who loves American cowboy culture, to a Syrian refugee seeking asylum in the US so that he can live openly as a gay man, and explore how successfully Little America presents their stories.Time Stamps:6:36 - Main Discu

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 It41:52 - What’s Your Freq Out?Carolyn on Driveways (2019) directed by Andrew Ahn and starring Hong Chau, Lucas Jaye, and Brian DennehyEbony on Tongan responses to Rutger Bregman’s telling of “real life” Lord of the Flies - https://twitter.com/endlessyarning/status/1259346151154708480?s=20 - https://www.theguardian.com/books/2020/may/09/the-real-lord-of-the-flies-what-happened-when-six-boys-were-shipwrecked-for-15-monthsAnita on the

Caitlin Durante—writer, comedian, co-host of The Bechdel Cast, Josie and the Pussycats enthusiast, and very special guest of Feminist Frequency Radio—returns to discuss the 2001 cult classic film with Anita and Carolyn. Can she convince us of its “borderline flawless” status, or, upon closer inspection, does this movie only manage to reinforce the out-of-control corporate commercialism it aims to critique?Time Stamps:2:52 - Main Discussion on Josie and the Pussycats40:03 - What’s Your Freq Out?Carolyn on Tales from the Loop, series on Amazon PrimeCaitlin on the movies Paddington and Paddington 2Anita on “Wake”, episode of the Still Processing podcast - https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/07/podcasts/still-processing-parasite-watchmen-bong-joon-ho.htmlGuest freq out from listener Daniel on Control, game from Remedy Entertainment ** Support the Stay in the Game Relief Fund - https://givebutter.com/stayinthegame Follow Us:Join our PatreonOur WebsiteSubscribe on to FFR on Apple PodcastsTwitterInstagramFollow Caitlin:

Because you asked (and because we need to focus on something other than coronavirus updates) Entertainment News is back! In this episode Carolyn and Anita are joined by returning special guest Laura Hudson, to discuss some of the most interesting recent entertainment news stories and media happenings. From video game and television series announcements we're nervous about, to contemplating the cost of digital turnips in Animal Crossing, we’ve got the news you need.Time Stamps & Links Mentioned:2:36 - Star Wars Series in the Works at Disney+ from Russian Doll Co-creator - https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/star-wars-series-works-at-disney-russian-doll-creator-1291400?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social12:20 - Cyberpunk 2077's faction The Mox protects sex workers from violence - https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2020/04/08/cyberpunk-2077s-faction-the-mox-protect-sex-workers-from-violence/18:15 - Rate My Skype Room - https://www.vanityfair.com/style/2020/04/rate-my-skype-room-twitter - https:/

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 Report4:43 - Main Discussion on Mrs. America51:01 - What’s Your Freq Out?Carolyn on Dr. Phil, Dr. Oz, and others undermining the severity of COVID-19Ebony on Year of the Rabbit, IFC series - https://www.ifc.com/shows/year-of-the-rabbitAnita on the finale of Devs on Hulu, and the new album Fetch the Bolt Cutters by Fiona AppleLinks Mentioned:Combahee River Collective - https://combaheerivercollective.weebly.comAnita on Mrs. America and the current state of feminism - https://twitter.com/anitasarkeesian/status/1250985102450065408?s=20Follow Us:Join our PatreonOur WebsiteSubscribe on to FFR on Apple PodcastsTwi

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 fashion3:57 - Main Discussion on L. A. Originals40:13 - What’s Your Freq Out?Ebony on McMillions documentary series on HBOCarolyn on Colombo episode, “Try and Catch Me” - https://youtu.be/iRgqqywphzwAnita on In the Dream House: A Memoir by Carmen Maria MachadoGuest Freq Out from Chris on Kind Words (lo fi chill beats to write to) game by PopcannibalLinks Mentioned:Gra

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 check15:40 - Media for Quarantimes:Carolyn:Films by Kelly Reichardt - First Cow, Wendy and Lucy, and Certain Women - https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0716980/Ebony:The Terracotta Bride by Zen Cho - https://zencho.org/the-terracotta-bride-out-now/“Penhallow Among Passing Things” by Iona Datt Sharma - https://www.generalist.org.uk/iona/fiction/penhallow-amid-passing-things/Foyle’s War - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foyle%27s_WarAnita:Hart of Dixie - https://g.co/kgs/3ZyAaVNashville - https://g.co/kgs/ZFjAsdZoey’s Extraordinary Playlist - https://g.co/kgs/vKtkgHDevs - https://g.co/kgs/DsGQxh “Wavelength” board game - https://www.wavelength.zoneMarco Polo app - https://www.marcopolo.meThe Light Brigade by Kameron Hurl

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 fails4:42 - Main Discussion on Devs42:34 - What’s Your Freq Out?Ebony on Earthsea series by Ursula K. Le GuinCarolyn on Reply All Podcast episode, “The Case of the Missing Hit” - https://gimletmedia.com/shows/reply-all/o2h8bxAnita on Women’s Weekend Film Challenge - https://www.womensweekendfilmchallenge.com/Guest Freq Out from Ariana on The Raven Cycle novel series by Maggie StiefvaterLinks Mentioned:Shell International Women’s Day cringe - https://twitter.com/lightmyacid/status/1236465779027165185?s=20Police Service o

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 seen7:02 - Main Discussion on High Fidelity41:20 - What’s Your Freq Out?Carolyn on Tevin Thompson’s Fortnite essayNicole on women weightliftingAnita on The Care and Feedin

This week, FFR takes a journey into the genre-defying cinematic poesy of Mati Diop’s Atlantics. The highly acclaimed, supernaturally-tinged drama, screened in competition at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival -- and surprisingly/horrifyingly, it was the first film directed by a Black woman to do so. Join us for a discussion of Diop’s remarkable film, and the necessity and joy of exploring art from a non-white, non-Western perspective.  Time Stamps:1:29 - Gum talk5:55 - Vintage radiator talk6:38 - Atlantics37:01 - What’s Your Freq Out?41:53: Listener FREQ OUT!!! David Nylander on The Dragon PrinceCarolyn - Portrait of a Lady on FireEbony - Off Menu with Ed Gamble and James AcasterAnita - DollfaceItems Mentioned:Trump prefers Gone With the Wind to Parasite African futurism: https://twitter.com/NiNanjira/status/1060839021750951936Follow Us:Join our PatreonOur WebsiteSubscribe on to FFR on Apple PodcastsSubscribe to our Star Trek PodcastTwitterInstagram

Well, hi there, puddin’! Grab a breakfast sandwich and your Fun Guns, because in this week’s podcast Feminist Frequency Radio is  taking on Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn). We’ve been anticipating this movie for quite some time, at best with ambivalence and at worst with skepticism. Media headlines and frothing fanboys have blasted the film, but could it actually be… a pretty fun movie?Time Stamps:1:44 - Anita and Ebony’s Hot Hair Tips, and Caro hangs in there3:10 - Main Discussion on the Birds of Prey31:45 - What’s Your Freq Out?Carolyn on The Intuitionist by Colson WhiteheadEbony on the Pan African Film and Arts Festival (paff.org)Anita on The Calculating Stars and The Fated Sky, both from the Lady Astronaut series of novels by Mary Robinette KowalLinks Mentioned:https://twitter.com/abujimin/status/1227314799303970819?s=21Follow Us:Join our PatreonOur WebsiteSubscribe on to FFR on Apple PodcastsSubscribe to our Star Trek PodcastTwitterInstagram

As The Good Place finishes its 4th and final season, we reflect on the cultural impact of a refreshingly sincere and optimistic show which came at a particularly dark time. Join us as we revisit some of our favorite moments, and ask what The Good Place taught us about how to be a good person in a morally complex world.Time Stamps:0:40 - Anita and Ebony flesh out their Star Trek, space-vape fanfic2:25 - Main Discussion on the final season of The Good Place39:08 - What’s Your Freq Out?Carolyn on Until the End of the World on Criterion ChannelEbony on Cinematography and DPsAnita on Sayaka Murata's “Convenience Store Woman” (2016 in japan) / english translation in 2018Links Mentioned:Our previous episode on The Good Place - https://youtu.be/qq4x0CmDCYI“The Good Place Doesn’t Need a Love Story” by Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, January 23, 2020 - https://www.vulture.com/2020/01/the-good-place-eleanor-chidi-love-story.htmlWomen vs. History: The Defiant Lives That They Don’t Want You to Know by Anita Sarkeesian and

The 92nd Academy Awards will air this Sunday, which means we at FFR must once again extract what meaning we can from an awards show which consistently seems to celebrate the same stories from the same people. Why are the Oscars still such a big deal, and why do we still need to talk about them? We take a look at what the nominations say about the kind of narratives which are held up as the best, including our thoughts on performances, and the stories we loved over the last year that were overlooked.Time Stamps:0:59 - “Homemaking with Anita Sarkeesian”5:22 - Main Discussion on the nomination choices for the 92nd Academy Awards40:21 - What’s Your Freq Out?Carolyn on Kentucky Route ZeroEbony on Dracula (Netflix, 2020) and Bad Boys for LifeAnita on Wired to Wear exhibit at The Museum of Science and Industry in ChicagoLinks Mentioned:Anita’s appearance @ The Washington Post (livestream begins 5pm ET on 2/6) - https://www.washingtonpost.com/washington-post-live-the-power-of-play-video-games-and-esports/“Greta Gerwi

Laura Hudson, writer and friend of the podcast, joins Anita and Carolyn this week for our discussion of Greta Gerwig’s Little Women, the latest adaptation of Louisa May Alcott’s classic novel. The film has earned several Oscar nominations, but conspicuously missing is a Best Director nomination for Gerwig herself. Join us as we discuss how this retelling of March sisters’ story brings up questions of class, race, and what a 151-year old novel has to tell us about the issues and obstacles still faced by women today.Time Stamps:1:52 - Getting to know special guest Laura Hudson6:42 - Main Discussion on Little Women39:04 - What’s Your Freq Out?Carolyn on Watchmen (HBO)Laura on Kentucky Route ZeroAnita on The Spy (Netflix)Links Mentioned:Jennifer E Morrow tweet on Little Women - twitter.com/jenniferemorrow/status/1210386224537645057“Greta Gerwig on the Lives of Little Women And Why ‘Male Violence’ Isn’t All That Matters” by Greta Gerwig, Vanity Fair, January 11, 2020 - https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2020/01/

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 podcast3:50 - Main Discussion on The Witcher41:20 - What’s Your Freq Out?Ebony on Vera and ShetlandCarolyn on Uncut GemsAnita on EuphoriaFollow Us:Join our PatreonOur WebsiteSubscribe on Apple PodcastsTwitterInstagram

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 One41:05 - What’s Your Freq Out?Jonathan on TikTokCarolyn on Little Women and the 2020 Oscar NominationsAnita on The Shining Girls by Lauren Buekes (Zoo City, Moxyland)Guest FREQ out: Halex Pereira on Inferior and Superior by Angela SainiFollow Us:Join our PatreonOur WebsiteSubscribe on Apple PodcastsTwitterInstagramFollow Jonathan Mann:YoutubeTwitterPodcast

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 Skywalker39:12 - What’s Your Freq OutCarolyn on Knives OutEbony on Courtney Milan and the Romance Writers of America (RWA)Anita on Stars Are Legion by Cameron HurleyLinks 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-mattersFollow Us:Join our PatreonOur WebsiteSubscribe on Apple PodcastsTwitterInstagram

It’s the end of the decade! And though it was a tough task, we’ve narrowed down all the media from the last 10 years to our fave five in literature, film, music, television and gaming. Stroll with us down memory lane as we revisit the titles that made us reflect, made us feel, and maybe even moved the needle on what media has to say about the world around us.Time Stamps:1:07 - Ebony’s Fave FiveBook: An Unkindness of Ghosts (2017) by Rivers SolomonFilm: Winter’s Bone (2010) directed by Debra Granik, story by Daniel WoodrellTV: Heaven Sent (2015) episode of Doctor Who directed by Rachel Talalay, written by Steven MoffatMusic: Hozier (immortal) fae legend and spooky bastard (Runner up - Gary Clark Jr)Game: Donut Country (2018) developed by Ben Esposito11:27 - Caro’s Fave Five(honorable mention) TV: San Junipero (2016) episode of Black Mirror directed by Owen HarrisFilm: Museum Hours (2012) written and directed by Jem CohenTV: Twin Peaks: The Return (2017) developed and written by creators David Lynch and Mark Fr

Ho Ho Ho, and Happy Holidays! This week we present the Feminist Frequency x Bechdel Cast Christmas Crossover episode. Jamie Loftus and Caitlin Durante join Anita to discuss the Disney+ movie Noelle, starring Anna Kendrick and Bill Hader. Is this film an empowering #girlboss take on the holiday film genre? Well, maybe from the perspective of a “woke dad”. Listen in to hear our real thoughts on rule by divine monarchy, holiday puns, and at least 3 things this movie gets right.Time Stamps:Defining and reminiscing on the DCOM Genre - 1:52Main Discussion on Noelle - 4:40What’s Your Freq Out - 46:46Anita on The End of The Day by Claire NorthCaitlin on the movie Knives OutJamie on She Said by Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey, the Scattered podcast, and the Netflix true crime series Who Killed Little GregoryPS: Today we're proud to announce one of our upcoming initiatives to help challenge the culture of abuse, harassment and sexism in the games industry: The Games and Online Harassment Hotline, a 24/7 service available

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas! So join us as we take a stroll down amnesia lane with the 1996 Christmas-set action flick The Long Kiss Goodnight starring Geena Davis and Samuel L. Jackson. The film is experiencing something of a critical renaissance of late. Find out what we think of it as we discuss how Samantha Caine fits into the pantheon of female action heroes, the movie’s overall stance on gender politics, and the better movie Ebony sees under the surface of the one we got.Time Stamps:3:15 - The Long Kiss Goodnight41:40 - What’s Your FREQ-Out?-Carolyn on A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood-Ebony on Adam (Moroccan film)-Anita on The Get Out KidsFollow Us:Join our PatreonOur WebsiteSubscribe on Apple PodcastsTwitterInstagramDonate to our End-of-Year Fundraising Campaign