Don't Waste Your Pretty

This week it’s a special “after dark” episode with Rebecca Leib, a writer, comedian and host of the podcast Ghost Town. Rebecca is about to go on a third date and we’re harnessing that sexual energy to talk about revolution! We’ve got tales of learning to shoot and hunting D in the Alaskan wilderness and dirty talk tips from Rebecca’s time as a phone sex operator. Plus, theories about what a reality show president says about the rest of us! Ghost Town Podcast https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/exknvj/are-some-kinds-of-sex-work-better-than-others

Our twitter crush Erynn Brook is back to talk about neurodivergence and what it’s like to have ADHD as a woman. From feeling like a messy person or a failure to experiencing anxiety and depression- how does ADHD present differently than the stereotype of the hyperactive child? Why are women under-diagnosed compared to men? How does the data gap make the world more dangerous for women? And what can we do to change it. As usual Erynn has brilliant strategies...    www.ErynnBrook.com 

This week we’re covering the saga of medical tech scammer Elizabeth Holmes and HBO's new documentary The Inventor. From Holmes’ bizarre falsely lowered voice to the genius of her black turtleneck uniform we break down the ways this maybe-sociopath manipulated the already corrupt system of Silicon Valley and raised-  then lost - 9 billion dollars. Plus why was every evil white man of the last 50 years on the Theranos board of directors? Why are billionaire investors so gullible? And what would your uniform be?   Background Reading:   https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2019/02/inside-elizabeth-holmess-final-months-at-theranos   https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2019/02/as-theranos-burned-elizabeth-holmes-was-partyingat-burning-man

This week we’re talking about soft power and a few of the women who wield it- from this week's college admissions scandal to media powerbroker/matchmaker-to-the stars (and rumored Putin girlfriend) Wendi Deng Murdoch, to the mysterious past of Melania Trump. What’s the difference between sleeping your way to the top as a high-level escort, and parleying your business relationship into the billionaire’s second wives club? What about building Yale a library so your C-student can join Skull and Bones versus paying someone to photoshop your instagram influencer club kid’s face onto an elite water polo player’s body to get a recruitment spot at Stanford? We have theories.   Wanna read all the gossip on Wendi? https://splinternews.com/meet-wendi-deng-the-evil-genius-who-hangs-with-ivanka-1793861207   https://gawker.com/5926705/it-was-like-a-war-zone-a-former-nanny-for-rupert-murdoch-and-wendi-deng-speaks-out   https://www.vanityfair.com/style/2014/03/wendi-deng-note-tony-blair

This week we're covering HBO's new documentary Finding Neverland, and it's depiction of the phenomenon of Michal Jackson and his pattern of sexually abusing young boys. Hearing his accusers stories reveals the way abusers groom victims and entire families and illuminates the patterns that we should all be paying attention to and talking about to prevent more victims throughout society. Plus, a follow-up to the R Kelly story and why we have to stop giving platforms to abusers.  CONTENT WARNING: Child sex abuse, Michael Jackson, R Kelly  Need Help?  https://1in6.org/ https://ww.rainn.org/

The Period Coach Stasha Washburn is back to talk all things bloody and body related- helping us understand  the dynamics of the fertility cycle and how to use each phase to our advantage. We talk about weed creams, food therapy, and using devices like Livia to zap period pain  and how to get to the root issue of confronting menstrual stigma and the ways the patriarchy uses body to oppress women. Plus we wonder about Meghan Markle and royal tampons…   Help girls in the developing world get access to menstrual products: https://www.daysforgirls.org/     Connect with Stasha: theperiodcoach.com facebook.com/stashawashburn

This week we’re talking about transforming street harassment into radical art with choreographer Tanya Chianese and the creator of Cat Call Choir, Heather Arnett. We talk about real life experiences with street harassment, how we deal with it, and how they’re using music and dance to confront these dynamics. Plus, find out which 2020 Presidential candidate sent them fan mail! Throughout the show you’ll hear pieces of their original compositions and if you’re in the Bay Area you can check out the full piece, Nevertheless, March 7-10- tickets: http://www.zspace.org/nevertheless?spektrix_bounce=true   https://www.kaneisee.org/ https://www.catcallchoir.com/ https://www.instagram.com/catcallchoir/ https://www.instagram.com/kaneisee/?hl=en

One of our favorite funny ladies, actor/writer Dixie Perkinson joins us this week to talk about freezing her eggs and freeing herself (and her career) from the pressure of a ticking biological clock! We get into the nitty gritty of the process- from dildo cameras to self-injections to cost- while considering the culture of shame and fear around fertility and the choice to have kids or not. Plus, vasectomies, cupping, psychics and other under-appreciated approaches to living one's best life! Dixie's blog: https://www.eatmyprune.com

Friend of the pod/ host of Notorious Women Podcast Lavetta Cannon is here to go deep into Surviving R Kelly and what we’ve learned about hip hop’s biggest predator. We talk about how young girls— especially young Black girls—  are over-sexualized and the ways predators take advantage and are enabled when they’re also considered creative geniuses. How do men like this get away with so much for so long? How does internalized misogyny play a role? How can we all do better by believing victims and once and for all #muteRKelly? https://www.muterkelly.org http://www.erynnbrook.com/stockholm-syndrome-emotional-abuse-part-i/ http://www.erynnbrook.com/stockholm-syndrome-emotional-abuse-part-ii/  

This week filmmaker Shaina Ghuraya and actress Nicole Evans talk about navigating the world as a person with physical disabilities. Often overlooked by both the mainstream and in activist circles- people with disabilities are the only marginalized group which any of us could join at any time via accident, illness, or aging. We talk about the prevalence of ableism, Mattel’s failed attempt to introduce a Barbie with a disability, and all the reasons representation matters.

Did you know that it’s not just THE HOLIDAYS?? It’s also ENGAGEMENT SEASON and there’s no better way to celebrate than breaking down the patriarchal roots of our western wedding traditions with author of The Feminist Bride, writer/artist Katrina Majkut. From Disney dreams and ring fantasies to dowries and 90 Day Fiancé, we’re breaking down the marriage industrial complex and trying to figure out how to make more meaningful rituals (and avoid having garters removed in front of creepy uncles!).   Read Katrina’s book! https://katrinamajkut.format.com/5022355-book https://www.indiebound.org/search/book?keys=Katrina+Majkut

This week artist and graphic designer Sarey Ruden talks with us about turning the shocking-but-casual misogyny of online dating messaging into subversive, sexy art. From the early days of JDate to omnipresent swipe culture we get into the blurred lines of online and IRL, white men being radicalized on Reddit, and the questionable aesthetics of a dick pic.    Check out Sarey’s work : https://www.etsy.com/shop/Sareytales   Submit to Sarey:  Insta @sareytales  sareytales@gmail.com

It’s Mental Health Awareness Month and we’re celebrating with our favorite British babe Nathalie Antonia! We talk about what depression feels like, how we cope at different times, what tools we use to treat the issues we deal with, and how we can practice caring for ourselves and the people in our lives. Content warning: mental health issues, depression, suicide, suicidal thoughts Need help? In the US: https://www.nami.org/ If you’re in a crisis call 1-800-950-NAMI (6264) or text NAMI to 741-741 In the UK: https://www.headstogether.org.uk/ For urgent help call Samaritans: 116 123

Supreme Court nominees have the potential to shape the laws of the country for decades and should have the most impressive judicial/academic/life records and yet somehow a frat boy sexual assaulter who can’t look at a calendar without crying is about to be confirmed because he will surely repeal Roe v Wade! How did we get here? We’re going in on Brett/Bart Kavanaugh, the world of power and privilege he represents, and how we can keep fighting back.  Plus, can someone call Millie Bobby Brown’s parents and tell them to keep Drake away???   Attend an event tonight!  https://act.moveon.org/event/stop_kavanaugh_vigils/search/   Join an Ultraviolet action in the Capitol this week: https://act.weareultraviolet.org/survey/oct-1-5-protest-halls-us-senate/

This week Twitter genius and communication guru Erynn Brook joins us to unpack the myth of the Marriageable Man- what are the socio-cultural stories men and women learn about relationships and commitment? How does this affect relationship dynamics and self-awareness (or lack of it)? Do men know about therapy? Plus, Erynn’s tips on dealing with— and maybe even transforming—  the culture of Twitter abuse. The Marriageable Man Myth thread-  https://twitter.com/ErynnBrook/status/1031669659831922689 Erynn on Twitter https://twitter.com/ErynnBrook http://www.erynnbrook.com/ https://www.nicewhiteladies.com/

This week we’re doing some feminist re-programming— calling out damaging habits and trying to change our brains to reclaim our time and space, confront misogyny and remake the culture for more equity at every level. From saying sorry, to being a Cool Girl, to slut-shaming— what are the beliefs and behaviors we’ve internalized via living within a patriarchy? 

August 21, 2018 was no joke! With plea deals, guilty verdicts, and the President being named as a criminal co-conspirator- things are finally starting to feel historic in a hopeful way! We’re breaking down the latest in the Cohen and Manafort trials, trying to figure out Roger Stone and his odd relationship with the media, and getting wet for Beto O’Rourke.

This week Lizzy Shapiro, frontwoman of the Prohibition-jazz band Lizzy and the Triggermen, talks about learning to embrace her weirdness (and love of fabulous vintage fashion) as a woman and musician— and the power of inviting audiences to lean into their weirdness too. We reminisce about some of our favorite ‘90s movies and wonder if having crushes on Dr. Phil and Tom Selleck means we have a thing for mustaches...

This week we’re joined by Lavetta Cannon, host of the Notorious Women podcast, to talk about the newly notorious Maria Butina: darling of the NRA, Siberian huntress, and newly incarcerated target/witness in the Mueller investigation! From exchanging sex for homework help to jerking off gun nuts to dismantling democracy- we get into all the ways Putin’s Kremlin is fucking us all. Plus Happy Birthday to our real king and queen Barry Obama and Meghan Markle!

It’s a full moon and mercury is in retrograde and the world is on fire, but Intuitive Astrologer Virginia Rosenberg is here to help us understand how astrology can provide insights and wisdom that both support our individual life experience and also motivate us to participate in the necessary work of social justice and change. Plus, is the Scorpio stigma real? What does it mean that the president is a Gemini? What can the planets and stars tell us about where we’re all headed? Also, will we be okay? https://virginiarosenberg.com/blog/2016/7/10/converting-hidden-spiritual-racism-into-sacred-activism-an-open-letter-to-spiritual-white-folks https://virginiarosenberg.com/ Insta @virginiarosenberg