Don't Waste Your Pretty

It’s All Hallow’s Eve, Mercury is going into retrograde, and California is on fire so thank the stars we have astrologer Candace Marie Looft here to put it all in perspective! She’s got serious thoughts about Instagram astrology and spiritual capitalism plus insights into Beyoncé’s star chart and a horoscope for the United States as a whole. Plus, how can we use spiritual and metaphysical practices to understand chaotic times (and still maintain a healthy skepticism) and what can his horoscope tell us about the President’s mental breakdown?   Candace: Website: http://www.beyondtheveiltarot.com   Insta: https://www.instagram.com/p/B4K9PsvFAbF/   twitter: https://twitter.com/beyondtheveil__

It’s the witching season and we’re celebrating by going deep into the history of witches and the church and state-inflicted terrors of centuries of witch hunting and witch trials! From the  Inquisition to Salem to the unhinged claims of the President today- spoiler! one of these things is not like the others!- what seems like ancient history has direct effects on our lives today. We’ve got ideas about what it means to be the daughters of the women they didn’t burn...

Emotional abuse is scarily common in intimate relationships, but it can be so hard to recognize. Actress Jessie Lee Kelly join us to talk about red flags in dating, what emotional abuse looks and feels like, why so many women stay, and how to set boundaries and break patterns.    If you recognize signs of abuse or need help, you’re not alone!   Domestic Violence Hotline: 1.800.799.SAFE https://www.thehotline.org/is-this-abuse/abuse-defined/   Break the Cycle: https://www.breakthecycle.org   Jessie on insta: @jessieleekelly

Domestic labor- traditionally feminine and unpaid or undervalued-  has increased even as other markers of gender-based equality have (slowly) improved in the United States. Why is this? Why do gender roles and expectations persist so strongly in cis-het households, and for single women? And what are the individual and systemic ways we can work toward more equality? We’re breaking down the ways we fall into the time suck of domestic labor and how we can value and divide it differently.   Find out how much your domestic labor is worth! https://qz.com/work/1083411/this-calculator-makes-the-unpaid-work-women-do-visible/

This week we’re turning to our bible- The Vagina Bible! Dr. Jen Gunter has written a must-have encyclopedia of all things vagina-related- from basic anatomy to the myths and misinformation that are still common, and how education and science can be a source of empowerment and more pleasure for anyone with a vagina!   https://twitter.com/DrJenGunter   https://drjengunter.com   https://www.nlm.nih.gov/portals/public.html#find

It’s been almost two years since sexual assault allegations against Harvey Weinstein incited the cultural reckoning of the #metoo movement. Ursula Macfarlane’s documentary Untouchable (streaming on Hulu) and Jodi Kantor and Meghan Tuohey’s new book She Said both provide new information and context on the Weinstein story and what it reveals about patriarchy and power. We’re talking about both this week-  wondering what’s changed in the last two years, whether we’ll see consequences, and why cancel culture isn’t a thing. 

Social justice and anti-bias educator Liz Kleinrock is a star in the progressive education movement. She joins us to talk about how she approaches working with elementary age kids to understand and confront racism and misogyny— and how to deal with adults who think she’s going too far. From her childhood as a Korean adoptee raised by white parents to going viral teaching kids about consent during the Kavanaugh hearings Liz has deep knowledge and practical tips about how to learn the language that helps all of us understand the complexities of identity and power in a system of founded on oppression. Plus, deep thoughts on #FreeBritney!    Liz’s TED Talk https://youtu.be/G9-urSR19SI https://www.teachandtransform.org/ @teachandtransform   Consent story: https://www.google.com/amp/s/beta.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2018/10/10/can-i-give-you-a-big-big-hug-third-grade-class-in-l-a-learns-all-about-consent/%3foutputType=amp   Other resources: https://www.tolerance.org/ https://www.theconsciouskid.org/

Actor, director and sommelier, Amy K Harmon joins us for a wide reaching conversation on the glam world of wine and the not-so-glam reality of gender dynamics in the restaurant world and also gets personal about her experiences living with eating disorders and the lifelong process of recovery. We talk about vocal code switching and why diet culture is a tool of the patriarchy. And of course Amy has some hot wine tips and trends!

This week Nicole Lynn Evans, currently on Freeform’s Good Trouble, is here to talk about the powerful experience of working on one of television’s most inclusive shows. As an actor, writer, and activist Nicole shares her experiences and insights about living in the world as a person with a disability, the day to day reality of a world saturated with ableism and why true representation- from writers rooms to Halloween costumes- makes all of our lives richer.   Wheelchair Mission: https://www.freewheelchairmission.org/

This week we’re stepping beyond the glossy surface and extreme wealth of Dubai to uncover the gilded cage reality and extreme escapes of two of its royal princesses- Latifah and Heya. What’s the reality for women in one of the wealthiest countries in the world? How are luxury amenities and social media messaging used to manipulate global relationships? What does oil and climate justice have to do with the fight for gender equity? And how is that the men in charge of it all, whether white and Christian or Arab and Islamic, seem to have so many shared ideas about how women should be controlled?    https://www.amnesty.org/en/countries/middle-east-and-north-africa/united-arab-emirates/

It’s hotter than a fresh NXIUM brand outside and we’re here to melt your minds with a deep dive into the world of cults and the (mostly short) men who run them. As we approach  the 50th anniversary of the Manson murders we want to know what still drives so many women to cult life, why does LA breed so many cults and whether Keith Ranniere is Charles Manson’s long lost son. From the Manson family to NXIUM to Tony Robbins to Landmark to MAGA we break down how they perpetuate patriarchy and try to make sense of our own cultish tendencies. 

The full moon, fascism, and our own bleeding bodies have us all fired up for a recap of the weeks highs (jk there’s only one and it’s most-important-film-of-the-year Midsommar!) and lows- so much racism! We’ve got a rundown on the week’s news— from the president’s hate rallies and war-mongering to his connections to Jeffrey Epstein-- and why it matters that we keep paying attention so we can figure out how to fight back. Also, watch out for farmers market hippies and was Hitler a vegetarian?

This week we’re covering the Jeffrey Epstein story and what it reveals about the monstrous men who control the world. We reminisce about our own questionable teenage years and break down the history of the Epstein case, his connections to some of the world’s most powerful men, and how we can fight back against the violence of the patriarchy. Plus a little self-care distraction from the sexual reality dystopia of Love Island!

It’s the 4th of July and the revolutionary vibes are real! In honor of the holiday we’re breaking down the complicated mythology of the United States and how a more honest understanding of history can help us better fight inequality and injustice now. Plus, we finally found the first male voice worthy of featuring on the show!      Donate:  http://raicestexas.org/ http://alotrolado.org/   Fight back: https://indivisible.org/ https://resist.bot/

Jena Friedman, comedian, writer and host/creator of Adult Swim’s Soft Focus is our guest this week and together we’re trying to figure out how to use our free speech to fight fascism before it’s too late! Jena regales us with tales of getting Republicans fired while working on the Daily Show and her summer camp cult leader tendencies. Plus aliens, trench foot and making peace with Elizabeth Warren’s Republican past.Stream Soft Focus:    Watch Jena https://www.adultswim.com/videos/soft-focus-with-jena-friedman/soft-focus-with-jena-friedman-2 Listen to The Indignities of Being a Woman https://www.amazon.com/Indignities-Being-Woman/dp/B07GDRX9B2

What is it about true crime shows that’s so addictive and why are so many women hooked? Why do some people find serial killers sexy? Can watching Dateline help us find catharsis and comfort in a world of violent patriarchy? We’re trying to understand why we love murder stories and how they prepare us for and distract us from the realities of the world. Plus, we’re both bleeding, are you???

This week we’re covering Ava DuVernay’s Netflix mini-series When They See Us and the legacy of the wrongfully accused Central Park Five. From the history of white women making false accusations against Black men to the dehumanizing language used by the press (and the current president) we want more white people to wake up to the reality of the racist carceral state, how it continues, and why we should all be prison abolitionists.    - Get educated about prison abolition with Mariame Kaba interviewed by Chris Hayes: https://www.innocenceproject.org/ (and follow her on Twitter @prisonculture) - Support the wrongfully accused: https://innocencenetwork.org/about/

Pssst! This week is all about gossip- the secrets we share and who and what we talk about when no one else is around. We want to know why gossip is considered something women do and if so, what exactly are men spending time talking about? When is gossip harmful and how does it keep us safe and connected? Is it possible that gossip is part of what got us the terrible president we have and maybe just maybe can it save us from him and all the awfulness he embodies? Or are we JUST BITCHING? 

This week Lindsay Stidham, filmmaker and feminist extraordinaire is back for a round up of some of the major recent events in life in the patriarchy. From dating in LA to supporting migrants in Tijuana, and emotional labor in relationships to the role unconscious bias plays when we talk about our 2020 election faves— get ready because we’ve got a little wine, a lot of feelings, and a slumber party game or two... 

Does the color pink cost more? This week we take a quick but deep look at the Pink Tax- the name given to the fact that products marketed to women are priced on average 7% higher than those for men. From haircuts to birth control to tampons we look at the specific ways women pay more and how we can fight back. https://www.thecut.com/2019/04/new-study-reveals-how-kavanaugh-hearings-changed-americans.html https://www.amazon.com/BIC-Fashion-Retractable-Assorted-Fashion-FHAP21-ASST/dp/B005YGLA5Y https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nXR7MvMXTxk   Find us on social media: Twitter: @wastedprettypod Instagram: @dontwasteurpretty Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dontwasteyourprettypod/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/dwyp Email us: dontwasteyourpretty@gmail.com