Shows
Feminist Frequency RadioFFR 253: SecondsWho’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:Fortnightly Freq-Out episode about the documentary Rock Hudson: All That Heaven Al...
2024-06-1241 min
Feminist Frequency RadioFFR Season Preview: Anyone But YouFFR Season Preview: Anyone But You with new co-host A.C. LambertyFeminist Frequency Radio is coming back for its first new season as an independent podcast following the sunset of the FF organization after an incredible 15 years. Kat Spada is thrilled to be re-joined by new co-host A.C. Lamberty, who joined Kat last year for FFR's indulgent "Machos: Fully Loaded" limited series.In this week's episode we're catching up on Feminist Frequency news, getting amped for the new season, and dissecting a movie we both enjoyed greatly and almost walked out of the...
2024-02-2830 min
Feminist Frequency RadioFFR 241: Memoirs featuring Janie Haddad TompkinsActress, writer, and podcaster Janie Haddad Tompkins joins Kat Spada for a literary journey through their favorite memoirs ranging from coming-of-age and adventure to celebrity juiciness. Tune in for a Feminist Frequency Radio AMA with Kat on Sunday, October 1 at 10am PT in the Feminist Frequency Discord!Links Mentioned:- "Celebrity Book Club" podcast: https://www.chelsearosedevantez.com/celebrity-book-clubFind Janie:- twitter.com/janiehaddad- instagram.com/lebaneselooker- Podcast: Stay F. Homekins – https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/stay-f-homekins-with-janie-haddad-tompkins-paul-f-tompkins/id1503706010- Newsletter: Weekend Water – https://weekendwater.substack.com/
2023-08-301h 11
Feminist Frequency RadioFFR 240: Force Majeure featuring Ebony AdamsFeminist Frequency alumnus Ebony Adams joins Kat Spada for a look at Triangle of Sadness director Ruben Östlund’s 2014 film, Force Majeure. The film is a darkly comic peek into a troubled marriage pushed to the edge on a ski trip after the threat of an approaching avalanche results in a moment of profound cowardice.Links Mentioned:FFR ep 23, Triangle of Sadness: https://feministfrequency.com/video/triangle-of-sadness-with-karen-tongson-eat-the-rich-episode-1-ffr-223/@sunglasseskidmusic on TikTokFind Ebony:twitter.com/ebonyasterFind Kat:twitter.com/kat_ex_machinaFind Us:Join our PatreonOur WebsiteSubscribe to FFR...
2023-08-161h 09
Feminist Frequency RadioFFR 237: Road HouseWelcome 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:FFR 203, 1940s Hollywood: https://feministfrequency.com/video/femme-fatale-1940s-hollywood-film-noir-with-julie-grossman-ffr-203/Find Kat:twitter.com/kat_ex_machinaFind Anita:twitter.com/anitasarkeesianFind Us:Join our PatreonOur WebsiteSubscribe to FFR on Apple PodcastsTwitterInstagramtwitch.tv/femfreq
2023-07-0559 min
Feminist Frequency RadioFFR 234: Alpha MachosWe’re diving into the Macho hierarchy with an episode of “Machos: Fully Loaded” that’s all about the Alphas. What is it that makes these machos reign supreme? Is it domination, power, or just living your life a quarter mile at a time? Listen to our discussion of some of the most over-the-top, high-octane machos out there.Links Mentioned:Machos: Fully Loaded film list - https://letterboxd.com/aclamberty/list/machos-fully-loaded/https://letterboxd.com/aclamberty/list/machos-fully-loaded/Fast & Furious nomenclature on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@fredasquith/video/7199205413357653254Blood Knife piece: https://bloodknife.com/everyone-beautiful-no-one-horny/Keanu tra...
2023-05-031h 26
Feminist Frequency RadioFFR 231: Machos Who Are DaddiesCalling all daddies, zaddies, and baddies! This week on our “Machos: Fully Loaded” series, we’re continuing our investigation of onscreen masculinity through a discussion of fatherhood in media, looking at portrayals of dads and father figures who've been central figures of movies and television.Links Mentioned:Machos: Fully Loaded film list – https://letterboxd.com/aclamberty/list/machos-fully-loaded/New York Times article about a man adopting the baby he found in a subway station: https://archive.nytimes.com/query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage-9D0DE7DD1230F930A35750C0A9659D8B63.htmlHannah Hamad's "Hollywood Fatherhood: Paternal...
2023-04-121h 07
Feminist Frequency RadioFFR Presents - Machos: Fully LoadedFeminist 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:FFR’s episode on Tár - https://feministfrequency.com/video/unpacking-tar-with-special-guest-a-c-lamberty-ffr-220/Find A.C.:Website: https://www.aclamberty.com/On Instagram and Letterboxd at @aclambertyFind Kat:
2023-03-0108 min
Feminist Frequency RadioFFR 224: Glass Onion with Devindra HardawarAnita 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:FFR episode on The Witch - https://feministfrequency.com/video/the-witch-with-special-guest-dr-kishonna-gray-ffr-199/FFR episode on We Are Lady Parts - https://feministfrequency.com/video/we-are-lady-parts-with-special-guest-zahra-noorbaksh-feminist-frequency-radio-173/Time Stamps:50:40 - What’s your Freq Out?Anita on the series Fleish...
2023-02-151h 03
Feminist Frequency RadioFFR 220: Tár with A.C. LambertyWe’re talking about Todd Field’s first film in 16 years: the Cate Blanchett showpiece Tár. A darling of the Venice Film Festival, and heavily buzzed about for awards consideration, Tár is a meandering two-hour and 38-minute journey through its titular character’s fall from grace. Joining our conversation is special guest, filmmaker, and entertainment professional, A.C. Lamberty, to help us unpack the film’s difficult subject matter and complex presentation.CW: The film we’re discussing deals with subjects of suicide and abuse of power, so please listen with caution.Time Stamps:
2022-11-0955 min
Feminist Frequency RadioFFR 213: Spy Kids with Fran TiradoOkay, so maybe “Cyberpunk” is a stretch for this one. Still, we couldn’t pass up the opportunity to discuss one of our special guest—writer, critic, podcaster, and media consultant—Fran Tirado’s childhood faves. This week, we are talking about the first movie in Robert Rodriguez’s Spy Kids franchise, which debuted in 2001. Alexa PeñaVega and Daryl Sabara star as the titular kids who have to spring into action when their ex-spy parents—played by Antonio Banderas and Carla Gugino—are captured by the sinister duo played by Alan Cumming and Tony Shalhoub. The supporting cast includes Cheech Mar...
2022-08-311h 00
Feminist Frequency RadioFFR 200: The Big Lebowski with special guests Ebony Adams & Carolyn PetitFor our 200th(!!) episode of Feminist Frequency Radio, Anita, Ebony, and Carolyn reunite to discuss the Coen brother’s infinitely quotable, The Big Lebowski. Since its 1998 release, the film has earned cult classic status, spawning festivals, conferences, and even a religion: Dudism. Does our original FFR trio abide? Listen in as we revisit The Dude on his hapless, meandering odyssey through LA to find out.Time Stamps:6:00 - Main discussion on The Big Lebowski41:49 - What’s your Freq Out?Carolyn on the book Conflict Is Not Abuse: Overstating Harm, Community Responsibility, and...
2022-05-1156 min
Feminist Frequency RadioFFR 199: The Witch with special guest Dr Kishonna GrayOn 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?Kishonna on the game FortniteKat on the HBOMax series Julia and the companion podcastSubmit your own FREQ out at feminist...
2022-05-041h 07
Feminist Frequency RadioFFR 198: The Seduction of Toxic Masculinity with special guest Dave ProctorAnita 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?Kat on the movie Aline (2020) directed by and starring Valérie LemercierAnita on the shows Severance on Apple TV, and Minx and Winning Time both on HBOMaxDave on The Linda Lindas’ album Growing Up...
2022-04-271h 07
Feminist Frequency RadioFFR 197: Never Rarely Sometimes Always with special guest Kat SpadaWe finish Women’s History Month and this season of FFR with Eliza Hittman’s critically-acclaimed, profoundly affecting 2020 film, Never Rarely Sometimes Always. Joining us for this emotionally intense discussion is returning special guest, writer and podcaster, Kat Spada.CW: This episode includes discussion of suicide, abuse, sexual assault and other sensitive topics. If you need help please reach out to organization like RAINN.org or call the National Sexual Assault Hotline available 24 hours at 1-800-656-4673Time Stamps:43:07 - What’s your Freq Out?Ebony on the documentary Attica (2021) directed by Tra...
2022-03-3054 min
Feminist Frequency RadioFFR 196: The Souvenir with special guest Carolyn PetitNext in our series of works by women filmmakers is director Joanna Hogg’s loosely-autobiographical 2019 film, The Souvenir. Joining us to talk about the film is FemFreq Favorite and Managing Editor at Kotaku, Carolyn Petit! We’ve missed our former co-host and know you have, too; a good discussion is all but guaranteed when Caro’s in the house, and today is no exception as we tackle the film’s themes of addiction, power, art, self-discovery and more. And be sure to check out our bonus episode this week! Usually a Patrons-only privilege, this week’s Bonus is available wherever yo...
2022-03-231h 02
Feminist Frequency RadioFFR 195: Jennifer’s Body with special guest Jordan CrucchiolaWritten by Diablo Cody, directed by Karyn Kusama, and starring Megan Fox, Jennifer’s Body is the next in our series featuring women filmmakers. The film struggled to find an audience in 2009, but has earned a reappraisal in recent years. It’s new to Anita and Ebony, but luckily we’re joined by writer, producer, podcast host, returning FFR guest, and notably, “America’s Foremost Scholar on Jennifer’s Body”, Jordan Crucchiola. Opinions are strong and varied so buckle in for a lively discussion. And if you’re a Patron (or want to become one) visit Patreon.com/femfreq for a Patron exc...
2022-03-161h 08
Feminist Frequency RadioFFR 194: The Piano with special guest Kat SpadaWe’re kicking off a month of episodes dedicated to the work of pioneering female directors, and to get us started, we’ll be talking about Jane Campion’s 1993 Oscar-winning film, The Piano. Writer, raconteur, podcast host, and our special guest, Kat Spada, joins our discussion as we grapple with an undeniable masterpiece of a film that is simultaneously racist and which presents a deeply troubling “love” story built upon coercion. Can we reconcile the more pernicious and problematic aspects of this film with its magnetic sensualism, compelling performances, and gorgeous filmmaking?Time Stamps:54:41 - What’s you...
2022-03-091h 10
Feminist Frequency RadioGRAFFITI GRRLZ with special guest DR. JESS PABÓN-COLÓN | Feminist Frequency Radio 193Remember when we promised to take the podcast in some new and interesting directions this year? Well, you’re in luck because today we’re talking: visual art, global feminisms, resistance, anti-capitalism, and more through a focus on graffiti, and to do so, we’ve got a pioneering and interdisciplinary scholar and activist in the field to join us. Dr. Jess Pabón is Associate Professor of Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies at SUNY New Paltz. Her teaching and research areas are vast and varied, and include Performance Studies & Theories; Black and Latina/o/x Performance and Visual Culture S...
2022-03-021h 18
Feminist Frequency RadioFFR 191: Song of Solomon with Tai Coleman and Jae LinThis week, we’re diving into literature with Toni Morrison's incredible Song of Solomon. Joining Ebony is Dr. Tai Coleman and our very own Jae Lin.CW: This episode includes discussion of incest, abuse, and sexual assault. If you or someone you know is suffering with these issues please call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-4673 to get the support you need.Freq Outs:Everything Sad is Untrue by Daniel NayeriSubmit your own FREQ out at feministfrequency.com/FREQOUTLinks Mentioned:Toni Morrison interview about Song of So...
2022-02-0954 min
Feminist Frequency RadioFFR 190: Eve’s Bayou with special guest Dr. Taiyon ColemanThis week, we’re adding to our collection of conversations on iconic 90s Black cinema by delving into the aesthetics and atmosphere of Kasi Lemmons’ 1997 directorial debut, Eve’s Bayou. Joining us to discuss this gem of a film is Dr. Taiyon Coleman, who last joined our podcast for our I Am Not Your Negro episode.CW: This episode includes discussion of incest, abuse, and sexual assault. If you or someone you know is suffering with these issues please call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-4673 to get the support you need.Time S...
2022-02-0247 min
Feminist Frequency RadioFFR 189: Legend with special guest Charlie Jane AndersAn episode for Tim Curry fans, and Tim Curry fans only! Today on the FFR podcast we are revisiting one Ebony’s childhood favorites, Ridley Scott’s 1985 glorious, florid, Baroque banquet of a film: Legend. Writer Charlie Jane Anders returns as special guest for this fantastical trip down memory lane. Does Legend hold up after all these years?Time Stamps:43:43 - What’s your Freq Out?Ebony on the series (based on book by Emily St. John Mandel) Station ElevenAnita on the film Aniara (2018)Charlie Jane on the novels She Who Became the Sun by She...
2022-01-2655 min
Feminist Frequency RadioFFR 187: Benedetta with special guest Carolyn PetitIn our final episode of 2021, we welcome a very special guest: Carolyn Petit herself! Along with Anita and Ebony, the original FFR trio are discussing Paul Verhoeven’s Benedetta—the premiere of which faced protests by Catholics upset with the film’s depiction of illicit attraction between 17th century nuns. Does this ecstatically portrayed story of Sister Benedetta—a fervently devoted Renaissance nun consumed by the force of her transcendent visions—qualify as a Very Caro Movie? Listen in to our lively discussion to find out.Make a Donation for our end of year campaign at Givebutter.com/femfre...
2021-12-2255 min
Feminist Frequency RadioFFR 186: The Terminator Franchise with special guest Caroline HeldmanAlong with their special guest—Caroline Heldman, chair of critical theory and social justice at Occidental College and the executive director at The Representation Project—Anita and Ebony are taking on the entirety of the Terminator franchise. From the 1984 original and “T2” a decade later, to the (perhaps less memorable) follow-ups from the two-thousands and beyond, the Terminator franchise catalyzed the careers of Arnold Schwarzenegger, Linda Hamilton, and Michael Biehn and launched a pop culture juggernaut that to date includes 6 films, novels, a tv show, video games, comics, and a web series. Just what is it about the characters and conc...
2021-12-151h 04
Feminist Frequency RadioFFR 184: Reproductive Rights in the Media with Special Guests Rachel Lee Goldenberg and Lizz WinsteadToday 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.orgTime Stamps:47:48 - What’s your Freq Out?Rachel on the film C’mon C’mon directed by Mike MillsLizz on the Washington Post story about a “mat...
2021-12-0158 min
Feminist Frequency RadioFFR 183: Eternals with Special Guests Teddy Dief and Kim BelairIf you’re a regular listener, you may remember us expressing careful optimism at the news that Chloé Zhao was set to direct an entry to the MCU. Well, Eternals is finally here and you can consider our hopes dashed. Two special returning guests are joining Anita on this episode of the podcast: game designer, director, and musician, Teddy Dief; and CEO of Sweet Baby Inc, Kim Belair. Together Anita and our guest try to answer: In a film with no dearth of talent, how did Eternals go so wrong?Time Stamps:6:20 - Main discussion on E...
2021-11-1759 min
Feminist Frequency RadioFFR 182: The Manchurian Candidate with Special Guests Dr Kishonna Gray and Paul SpencerAfter two separate polls, our Patrons have finally granted Ebony’s wish and selected The Manchurian Candidate (1962) for discussion. In Anita’s absence, Ebony is joined by not one, but two! very exciting special guests: Associate Professor in Writing, Rhetoric, and Digital Studies at the University of Kentucky, Dr. Kishonna Gray, as well as writer and bon vivant, Paul Spencer. Join us for a lively discourse on this classic political thriller.Time Stamps:6:45 - Main discussion on The Manchurian Candidate (1962)44:26 - What’s your Freq Out?Paul on the books Chaos: Charles Manson...
2021-11-1059 min
Feminist Frequency RadioFFR 181: Dune with Special Guest Jordan CrucchiolaDenis Villeneuve’s take on Frank Herbert’s sci-fi classic has finally hit theaters and HBO Max. Anita and Ebony are on hand with special guest—writer, producer, and Lynch-Dune-stan—Jordan Crucchiola to take it apart. There have been several film adaptations of Dune, and Villeneuve’s version has a lot going on that we are excited to discuss. Let’s get to it! Time Stamps:50:28 - What’s your Freq Out?Jordan on the series I Know What You Did Last Summer and the film The Voyeurs both on Amazon Prime VideoSubmit your own FREQ out at...
2021-11-041h 03
Feminist Frequency RadioFFR 180: Slumber Party Massacre with Special Guest Jessica ZollmanThe podcast returns for our Spooky Season finale with a viewing of the 1982 slasher classic Slumber Party Massacre featuring horror super-fan and friend of Feminist Frequency, returning special guest Jessica Zollman. Listen in to join us on this wild ride via the ultimate “thriller killer driller” iconic slasher movie.Time Stamps:8:37 - Main Discussion on Slumber Party Massacre43:56 - What’s your Freq Out?Jessica on The BatmanAnita on Tom Holland casting in the Uncharted movieEbony on the IATSE strike and Netflix walk-outSubmit your own FREQ out at feministfrequency.com/FREQOUTLinks...
2021-10-271h 00
Feminist Frequency RadioFFR 179: No Time To Die with Special Guest Teddy DiefThis 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 D...
2021-10-1357 min
Feminist Frequency RadioFFR 178: The People Under the Stairs with Special Guest Dave ProctorWe’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...
2021-10-0653 min
Feminist Frequency RadioFFR 177: Back to the Future with Special Guest Teddy DiefGreat Scott! We’re firing up our flux capacitors and heading back in time to talk about 1985’s Back to the Future. Recent listeners will remember our special guest from our last episode—game designer, director, musician, and friend of the podcast, Teddy Dief. Chosen by our Patrons from a group of time travel films, Back to the Future (produced by Steven Spielberg and directed by Robert Zemeckis) is far more problematic than many of us remembered. Listen in to our discussion as we interrogate how a movie so culturally iconic and beloved presents so many issues. Or else, just t...
2021-09-081h 01
Feminist Frequency RadioFFR 176: The White Lotus with Special Guest Teddy DiefFrequent listeners will know that Anita has been dying (not) to talk about The White Lotus from writer, actor and director Mike White. On this episode, she and Ebony are joined by video game designer, creative director and singer, Teddy Dief, the discuss the HBO series centered around wealthy white vacationers in Hawaii and the staff catering to their every whim.Time Stamps:7:55 - Main discussion on The White Lotus40:32 - What’s your Freq Out?Ebony on the comic Love and Rockets by Jaime HernandezTeddy on the graphic novel On a Su...
2021-09-011h 01
Feminist Frequency RadioFFR 175: Tuca & Bertie, Season Two with Special Guest Annalee NewitzAnita 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...
2021-08-251h 11
Feminist Frequency RadioFFR 174: Creativity in Crisis with Special Guest Charlie Jane AndersAnita and Ebony are joined on this episode of FFR by special guest Charlie Jane Anders— writer, podcast host, event impresario and one of the founders of io9, a website devoted to science fiction, fantasy, futurism, science, technology and related news. She’s the author of several books of speculative fiction and “inspirational weirdness,” including Victories Greater Than Death, The City in the Middle of the Night, and All the Birds in the Sky. She’s here today to hold our hands as we try to wrestle with creativity in times of crisis, the subject of her new book, Never Say Y...
2021-08-181h 02
Feminist Frequency RadioFFR 173: We Are Lady Parts with Special Guest Zahra NoorbakshAnita and Ebony are joined this week by a special guest—Iranian-American comedian, writer, actor and co-host of the award-winning #GoodMuslimBadMuslim podcast, Zahra Noorbaksh—to discuss the new comedy from writer/director Nida Manzoor, We Are Lady Parts. The wildly funny and fiercely feminist show centers on the brash, raucous, unapologetic members of all-female, all-Muslim punk band. Listen in to our conversation as sing the show’s praises and engage in a larger discussion around how stories about and by Muslims are told. Time Stamps:6:33 - Main discussion on We Are Lady Parts43:00...
2021-08-1154 min
Feminist Frequency RadioFFR 172: We Are the Best!It’s Caro’s last episode as co-host of the Feminist Frequency Radio Podcast, but she’s lightening the weight on our hearts with her final delightful discussion pick: the irreverent 2013 gem We Are the Best! about a group of young teen girls forming a punk band in 1982 Sweden. Another perfectly “Caro Movie” that focuses on beautiful, character-driven storytelling, We Are the Best!captures those golden moments of adolescence when everything seems both possible and impossible at once. Friendships seem to burn brighter; parental attention starts to chafe; and identity is an ever-changing kaleidoscope. Listen in for our discussion as we say...
2021-08-0458 min
Feminist Frequency RadioFFR 157: Run Lola RunWe 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...
2021-03-0348 min
Feminist Frequency RadioFFR 108: Fave Five of the DecadeIt’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 Danie...
2019-12-1829 min
Feminist Frequency RadioFFR 107: Noelle with The Bechdel CastHo 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 N...
2019-12-1154 min
Feminist Frequency RadioFFR 100: AlienOn 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 Alien43:35 What’s Your FREQ-Out? (Carolyn on Joseph Arthur’s new album Com...
2019-10-2352 minFeminist Frequency RadioFFR 97: UnbelievableBased on true events, the new Netflix series Unbelievable begins with a teenager named Marie Adler in Washington state reporting a rape to the police. The police launch their investigation, but soon, because of Marie’s erratic behavior and an almost complete absence of forensic evidence, they begin to suspect that she made up the attack in a desperate bid for attention. They pressure her to retract her story, and to “confess” that she made the whole thing up. A few years later, detectives in Colorado launch an investigation into a serial rapist whose crimes bear a remarkable similarity to Mar...
2019-10-0250 minFeminist Frequency RadioFFR 96: HustlersIn 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...
2019-09-2548 minFeminist Frequency RadioSpecial Episode: Gaming's #MeToo MomentThis 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 di...
2019-09-1831 minFeminist Frequency RadioFFR 94: Life Is Strange 2, Episode 4 - FaithOn 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:
2:50 A note from Carolyn about recent events
4:30 Entertainment News: Walter Mosley leaves Star Trek: Discovery Writers Room, Crazy Rick As...
2019-09-1153 minFeminist Frequency RadioFFR 93: CopagandaAnita 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:
1:34 - Anita and Ebony talk about the danger of being the sardonic friend
3:56 - Copaganda
39:51 - What's Your Freq Out?
LINKS
Raise Hell: The Life and Times of Molly Ivins: https://www.mollyivinsfilm.com/
A Short Hike : http...
2019-09-0449 minFeminist Frequency RadioFFR 92: The Last Black Man in San FranciscoOn this week’s episode, we talk about the beautiful new film The Last Black Man in San Francisco, a deeply personal movie about identity, gentrification, and institutional power. Ebony Adams calls it “simultaneously tactile and dreamlike!” Also, the ramifications of Jay-Z’s new deal with the NFL, and Marvel’s disappointing refusal to publish an anthology introduction that has some (appropriately) harsh words for Donald Trump.
SEGMENT TIMESTAMPS:
2:45 Entertainment News
14:00 The Last Black Man in San Francisco
40:40 What’s Your FREQ-Out? (Carolyn on Eliza, Ebony on One Child Nation, Anita on the power...
2019-08-2852 minFeminist Frequency RadioFFR 91: The Art of Self DefenseThis week, we're going toe-to-toe with writer-director Riley Stearns' new dark comedy The Art of Self Defense, starring Jesse Eisenberg and Alessandro Nivola. We talk about how the film brings a critical lens to the socially constructed "rules" of manhood, and to the ways in which men are pressured to perform masculinity among other men in the establishment of a kind of hierarchy. We also discuss how the film works as a kind of response to Fight Club.
SEGMENT TIMESTAMPS
2:10 The Art of Self Defense
33:45 What's Your FREQ-Out?
Ebony on holding it...
2019-08-2144 minFeminist Frequency RadioFFR 90: Once Upon A Time in HollywoodSPOILERS ABOUND FROM THE VERY BEGINNING OF THE EPISODE -- BE WARNED
Blend yourself a frozen marg and buckle up for this week's episode of Feminist Frequency Radio, in which your Southern California stalwarts cruise up the 101 for a journey into Hollywood Past. This week, we discuss Quentin Tarantino's 9th feature film, an epic* ode to manly men and one uncomplicated babywoman. Two of your hosts left the theater feeling personally attacked by the film's masturbatory fantasia; one host had thoughtful and ruminative insights about the film's seductive evocation of time and place. You'll be completely "surprised"...
2019-08-1456 minFeminist Frequency Radio89: Time Travel and Feminism with Annalee NewitzTime travel is such a powerful fictional device. It allows creators to shine a light on the cultural struggles and social ills of the present by making powerful connections with the past, and by offering wonderful or horrifying visions of the future. Of course, it can also just be a whole lot of fun! But time travel is uniquely powerful as a tool for feminist writers; after all, feminism has always fought to prevent women’s contributions from being written out of history. Time travel allows for stories in which women struggle not just to gain power but to re...
2019-08-0757 min
Feminist Frequency Radio88: Fandom & CapitalismThere’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? H...
2019-07-3150 minFeminist Frequency Radio83: Life Is Strange 2: Episode 3 - Wastelands with Tevis ThompsonOn this week’s episode, Carolyn and Ebony continue their conversation about Life Is Strange 2, a conversation that started back in episode 63. Today, we’re talking about Episode 3: Wastelands, and we’re joined for our conversation by the writer and critic Tevis Thompson. Our discussion explores the ever-increasing political relevance of the series, the game’s noteworthy sincerity, the unconventional way in which it casts you as the character without the gimmicky powers, the specific impact of Cassidy and other characters, and much more. Also, Carolyn and Tevis talk about their admiration of Fortnite, and Ebony and Carolyn talk about th...
2019-06-261h 06Feminist Frequency Radio82: BooksmartThis week, Anita plays hooky so Carolyn and Ebony are responsible for keeping the student body on track. Classic nerds! Our topic this week is Booksmart, Olivia Wilde's feature debut about two young overachieving women on the cusp of graduation. Tune in for a discussion of the way the film empathizes and delights with its multiplicity of characters, centers the teen girl experience, and is delightfully, unapologetically queer. Plus, we ask the question: how do we talk about films about teens versus films for teens?
Time Stamps:
00:27 - Entertainment News: Gender breakdown in games at...
2019-06-1958 minFeminist Frequency Radio73: Shazam!Anita’s off on another one of her globehopping adventures, so Ebony and Carolyn hold it down this week with a look at the latest DC Comics flick, Shazam! There’s a refreshing sense of lighthearted fun to this film, especially in contrast to the grimdark Batman and stuffy Superman of DC’s recent movie output, and a welcome dose of heartwarming sentiment as well. We talk about the way the film contrasts a tough-guy, go-it-alone form of masculinity with asking for help and relying on each other, what it has to say about found families, and the problems with i...
2019-04-1756 min
Feminist Frequency RadioFFR 71: UsEveryone is talking about Us. And for good reason. This week we dive into the hotly anticipated new horror movie from the mind of Jordan Peele.
SEGMENT TIMESTAMPS:
1:27 - Intro baner
1:44 - Entertainment News: Zach Snyder said some dumb things, Jussie Smollett and the Chicago PD, Alanis Morissette critique
14:10 - Main Topic: Us
45:02 - What’s Your FREQ Outs
50:28 - Guest FREQ out from Katie
RELEVANT LINKS:
Manohla Dargis on Us - https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/20/movies/us-movie-review.html?referrer=google_kp
New York Post story on...
2019-04-0353 min
Feminist Frequency RadioFFR 70: GretaThis week on FFR, we’re talking about the new film from Neil Jordan, director of The Crying Game, Interview With a Vampire and others: Greta. Greta is a psychologically terrifying tale of an innocent young woman named Frances (Chloe Grace Moretz) who befriends a lonely, older French woman named Greta (Isabelle Huppert), only to discover that she’s gotten much more than she’s bargained for as Greta’s obsession with her begins intruding on every aspect of her life. Our conversation explores the film’s place in Ebony’s beloved psychobiddy genre, its concerns with loneliness and isolation, a...
2019-03-2757 min
Feminist Frequency RadioFFR 69: Batman Returns with Kim BelairThis 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...
2019-03-201h 00
Feminist Frequency RadioFFR 68: Captain MarvelFFR Ep 68 - Captain Marvel
The crew is back together as we dive into all that is Captain Marvel, the newest entry in the Marvel Cinematic universe. Entertainment news this week includes Steam’s disappointingly sad statements about their policies, The Division 2 and the Captain Marvel “boycott”. We’re FREQing out about The Nod, “Take me to Merch”, Tim Apple, American Heiress: The The Wild Saga of the Kidnapping, Crimes and Trial of Patty by Jeffrey Toobin
Join us in the bonus episode for even more (and I would say even better conversations about Captain Marvel) by be...
2019-03-1354 min
Feminist Frequency RadioFFR 67: LorenaIn this episode of FFR, Anita’s off giving talks in different cities so the podcast falls to Ebony and Carolyn this week, who do their best to fill the big Anita-shaped hole in all our hearts. The focus of this episode is Lorena, the new four-part documentary series on Amazon Prime which takes a fresh look at a case that set the tabloid world on fire in 1993: the case of Lorena Bobbitt. The new doc offers a deep, thoughtful examination of all the elements at work in the trial and the public’s perception of it: the nation’s fail...
2019-03-0654 min
Feminist Frequency RadioFFR 64: Russian DollThe triple[doll] threat is back in the Keanu Reeves Memorial Studio & Herbarium this week for a dive into the mindbending world of Netflix's new series, Russian Doll. The comedy-drama, created by Natasha Lyonne, Amy Poehler, and Leslye Headland, is hilarious, moving, surreal, brash, and unapologetic in its tough love for Natasha Lyonne's game developer main character, who is forced to relive her 36th birthday over and [painfully] over. Basically, we deserve a Nobel Peace Prize for Podcasting for this episode.
We want to hear from you, so head on over to feministfrequency.com/freqout and send...
2019-02-1356 min
Feminist Frequency RadioFFR 57: She-Ra and the Princesses of PowerFFR #57: She-Ra and the Princesses of Power
This week, we journey to the world of Etheria for showrunner Noelle Stevenson’s bold reimagining of She-Ra, and we very much like what we see! From the surprisingly complex explorations of friendship dynamics (for what’s ostensibly a children’s cartoon) to the terrific assortment of body types to the wonderful way that some characters don’t conform to standard gender expectations and much more, this show has so much to offer young viewers (in addition to just being an entertaining show, of course). Plus, can we just talk about ho...
2018-12-1957 min
Feminist Frequency RadioFFR 56: Doctor WhoFFR #56: Doctor Who
At long last, Anita and Ebony finally get around to talking about Doctor Who on the podcast! First, they both share their different relationships with the history of the show, and what they’re bringing with them to the new season, which stars Jodie Whittaker as the show’s first female Doctor. (Please note that this episode was recorded in early November, and only includes discussions of the season’s first five episodes.) We get into the overall political values of the new season under new showrunner Chris Chibnall, and give special attention to the ep...
2018-12-1253 min
Feminist Frequency Radio42: Mulholland DriveThis 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 f...
2018-09-0557 min
Feminist Frequency Radio41: Hackers, Strange Days and How to Pronounce Ralph FiennesIn 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...
2018-08-2959 min
Feminist Frequency Radio38: Mission: Impossible - Fallout#38: Mission: Impossible - Fallout
On this week’s episode, Anita’s off on a top-secret assignment, no doubt saving the world from the evil forces of anti-feminism, so Carolyn and Ebony hold down the fort at FemFreq HQ by diving into the international intrigue of Mission: Impossible - Fallout. Join us as we discuss hero Ethan Hunt’s moral convictions, the not-so-magical way in which the film makes millions of brown people disappear, how the IMF is both the cause of and solution to the world’s problems, what makes M:I a cinematically interesting franchise as a whole...
2018-08-0855 min
Feminist Frequency Radio37: BlindspottingThis 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 Sta...
2018-08-0152 min
Feminist Frequency Radio31: Catching Pancakes With Special Guest Open Mike Eagle#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
3:20 pop culture news: “Everything Is Love,” can you pirate something that’s streaming?
8:30 Anita’s cab ride and Kanye’s latest
2018-06-2056 min
Feminist Frequency Radio30: I Come Bearing StoriesIn 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...
2018-06-1351 min
Feminist Frequency Radio29: Invest in Sassy DroidsIn 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 wante...
2018-06-061h 03
Feminist Frequency Radio18 A Gaggle of Chimpanzees Hopped Up on NyquilIn this week's episode, the Feminist Frequency Killjoys (call us, Marvel) unleash a torrent of opinions about Netflix's Jessica Jones; from its complicated wrestling with trauma to the ways in which people of color are often used as narrative tools in the service of white women's healing. Then we gush over the mobile game, Florence, which Caro called "both a beautiful game and also a game about beauty—the beauty of creation, color, and connection."
Finally, we each share something we’ve been thinking about in What’s Your FREQ Out?! Caro is reading N.K. Jemisin's The Fifth...
2018-03-2152 min
Feminist Frequency Radio08 Now With Bonus Relaxing Nature Sounds!With rainfall lending a lovely natural ambiance to the conversation, we discuss the power of representation in Black Panther and the formation of the Time's Up initiative to combat cultures of sexual harassment in every industry. This brings us to the highlights and disappointments of the politically charged 75th Annual Golden Globes. After discussing everything from Oprah's powerful speech to the failure of any of the night's male winners to directly address the recent reckoning in Hollywood in any meaningful way, our intrepid crew ventures into "USS Callister," a thought-provoking Star-Trek-influenced existential nightmare that serves as Black Mirror's fourth...
2018-01-101h 02