In this episode, Hannah and Marcelle welcome guest Matt Wildcat (he/him) to discuss the hit reality TV show, "The Traitors." Marcelle and Matt begin by offering a quick rundown of the game's mechanics and its charm (TLDR: Alan Cumming). Whether you're a fan, like Marcelle, or you've never watched the show, like Hannah, this episode is for YOU. Tune in for an hour deep dive into the lasting effects of the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes in 2023 and the rise of reality star celebrities. To learn more ab...
Enjoy this new Material Concerns episode featuring a classically chaotic check-in that is largely about Coach's fixation on pudding and Marcelle's forthcoming political career. We then jump into Ok, Hear Me Out (menstruation, sticker charts, budgeting!), followed by No Time! (a clip from our Sapphic episode). We wrap Part I of the episode with Apocalypse Toolkit and save Make It Make Sense (Matcha!) and Creature Report for part two. Head to Patreon.com/ohwitchplease to listen! For as little as $...
This episode of Material Girls delves into the phenomenal popularity of Rebecca Yarros' Fourth Wing, focusing on the unique strategies of its publisher, Entangled Publishing. The discussion explores how Entangled's market-driven, collaborative approach challenges traditional publishing norms, particularly concerning authorship and copyright, drawing on Foucault's concept of the 'author function' and examining a related lawsuit to unpack the complexities of originality and collective creativity in the romantasy genre and beyond.
Join the hosts for a new Material Concerns episode featuring listener testimonials, creature updates covering plants, ocean life, and cats, and the debut of a new segment called "Left on the Table," exploring unresolved topics from past episodes and personal dynamics. The episode also discusses reflections on their recent episode about "sapphic" and offers details on how to support the podcast and access exclusive content, including part two of this episode, on Patreon.
Hannah and Marcelle explore the rising popularity of the term "sapphic" in relation to radical and lesbian feminism. They discuss personal experiences with labels, the history of "sapphic" and "lesbian," and how the term is used today, including in genre fiction and as an umbrella term. The episode delves into the complex history of 20th-century feminist movements and their evolution, contrasting political organizing with identity performance and considering how capitalism and material conditions influence contemporary queer culture and activism.
First things first, we NEED a jingle. Anyone wanna step in? Email us at [email protected], if so. :) Otherwise, please enjoy this Material Concerns episode, once again hosted by Hannah, Marcelle and Witch, Please Productions' producer, Coach (aka the other Hannah). Tune in for a goofy chat about about money laundering, the importance of poetry, reasonably priced tofu, the problem with heartburn and the value of supporting creators you love. Head to Patreon.com/ohwitchplease to get part two...
Hannah y Marcelle analizan la película "Piratas del Caribe: La Maldición del Perla Negra" en el contexto político de 2003, examinando el excepcionalismo americano y la invasión de Irak. Discuten cómo la película resonó con el público en un momento de trauma nacional y la retórica de la necesidad de actuar sin restricciones legales. También exploran temas de soberanía, libertad y el papel de la cultura popular en la política.
On this week's Material Concerns, we revisit some familiar segments and introduce some new ones! We also make an official request for jingles to be emailed our way at [email protected] . We sing, we giggle, we give recs, and so much more. Happy listening! This month, we're running a Patreon push! We need to hit $7k/month to sustain our show and the labor that goes into making it possible! Please consider joining today for as little as $54/year. You'll get ad-free episodes, bloopers, ...
This episode analyzes the Apple TV+ show "Severance" through the lens of Marxist alienation and the Kafkaesque. It explores the show's depiction of corporate culture, work-life balance, and the rise of anti-work movements. The hosts discuss the aesthetic and political project of the show, connecting it to the works of Franz Kafka and the concept of a nightmarish bureaucratic machine.
Hannah, Marcel, and Coach discuss the exciting news of going weekly with the podcast and introduce new segments, including recommendations (Okay, Hear Me Out), consumer product reviews (Consumer Retorts - Pretty Litter, Orange Theory, Kitty Curls), and sharing items in their personal 'Apocalypse Toolkits'. They encourage listener feedback and promote their Patreon for exclusive content.
In this week's episode, we’re talking about the conspiracy theory that Canadian pop punk icon Avril Lavigne died and was replaced by a body double named Melissa. You heard us right! To help navigate the mess of this theory, we have an esteemed guest, Cristen Conger (she/her), who is deep in conspiracy discourse. Cristen is the cofounder of Unladylike Media, author of the book Unladylike: A Field Guide to Smashing the Patriarchy and Claiming Your Space and the host of the new breakout hit podcast...
She's back! Beloved podcaster and author Vanessa Zoltan (she/her) joins Hannah and Marcelle to dig into one of the most famous "weepies" of the 21st century: The Notebook (2004). If you cry at the line "If you're a bird, I'm a bird," have the phrase "What do you want?" ringing in your head, or regularly view the 2005 MTV Movie Award for Best Kiss, then this episode is for you. Hannah first contextualizes The Notebook in early aughts America (think post 9/11 conservative politics) and Vanessa off...
This week, longtime friend of the pod, Neale Barnholden (he/him), joins Marcelle and Hannah to discuss the materiality of comic books and their influence on modern-day meme culture! They talk reading conventions, colonization, de- and re-contextualization, as well as the raced and classed history of comics. Together, they then dive into Paul Davis's idea of "the culture text" (adaptations, parodies, references of the text created by culture at large). They consider how Richie Rich came to refere...
What is more zeitgeist-y than Wicked Part One? Well, arguably, the memes, interviews, and merch ABOUT Wicked Part One! In this episode Hannah and Marcelle are joined by the wonderful author, Youtuber and internet busybody, Leena Norms, to discuss this year's blockbuster— and the paratexts surrounding it. If you've been targeted an Elphaba eyeshadow palette, a Glinda-themed popcorn bucket, or anything online that says "holding space," then you've engaged with Wicked's paratexts. And guess what? W...
Over the course of its seven seasons, The Golden Girls had 25 million viewers and earned 68 Emmy nominations. Each of the girls, Rue McClanahan (Blanche Devereaux), Bea Arthur (Dorothy Zbornak), Estelle Getty (Sophia Petrillo) and Betty White (Rose Nylund) won Emmy's for their performances and more than three decades later, the show is still in syndication. All to say, the show was popular! Beloved friend of the pod and The Golden Girls super fan, Marshall Watson (he/him), joins Hann...
In honor of spooky season, we bring you an episode about the beloved cult classic, Twin Peaks! This show from Mark Frost and David Lynch, starring Kyle MacLachlan , is widely understood as one of the most influential television series ever! And yet it its original run began April 1990 and ended just fourteen months later in June 1991. In this episode, Marcelle explores why this show, that began as a hit, fell in ratings so quickly. Hannah and Marcelle then discuss the power of cult followings an...
Today we’re dropping a bonus conversation into your feed featuring Adrian Angus, a dear friend of Marcelle's who passed away unexpectedly in September. This bonus episode was originally released as a Patreon perk back in March 2021. At the time, our flagship show was Witch, Please, a scholarly podcast about the Harry Potter world and this bonus accompanied our Book three episode about The Prison Industrial Complex with guest Mercedes Eng — which you can listen to wherever you get your podcasts. ...
For this episode, we're joined by Jesse Meadows (they/them) to discuss the most zeitgeist-y neurotransmitter around: dopamine! Have you been targeted Instagram Reels and Tik Toks about increasing your dopamine levels or managing ADHD through pleasure abstinence? Well that may have more to do with tech bros, billionaires and health capitalism than you think! Tune in for a conversation about pseudo-science, "hedonic Calvinism," eugenics, Big Pharma, manipulative algorithms and more! Check out Jess...
In this episode, Hannah and Marcelle discuss what made Steven Spielberg's Jurassic Park (1993) the ultimate CGI summer blockbuster, the history of American spectacle, and the monstrosity of the movie's out-of-control lady dinosaurs! Hannah leads this episode and if you're left wanting more, we have great news: their forthcoming book, Clever Girl: Jurassic Park , is available for preorder right now! Clever Girl "is a smart and incisive exploration of everyone’s favorite dinosaur movie and the fem...
We continue our summer slowdown with a new Material Concerns episode once again featuring answers to YOUR questions. Marcelle is in Ontario for a family TRIP (not a vacation because kids are present!!) and Hannah is recovering from travels east! In this episode, they answer your hard hitting questions like "why is your team so hot!!!!?" Part two of this conversation will be available at all our tiers on Patreon on Thursday! For just $5 USD/month you'll get to hear Marcelle and Hannah discuss mor...
We're so thrilled to be joined by the incredible Karrmen Crey (she/her) for this episode about FX's coming-of-age dramedy, Reservation Dogs! Released via Hulu from 2021-2023, this show is notable not only for its rich storytelling and beloved protagonists (shoutout to Bear, Cheese, Elora, and Willie Jack!), but also for its entirely Indigenous creative team from the creators to the cast and crew. In this episode, Marcelle (who is a huge fan of the show) offers some insight into how Reservation D...
Welcome back to another Material Concerns episode! We recorded this episode live for all our Patreon supporters so you'll notice there's a slightly different vibe; namely, Coach is on mic! We talk theory, past episodes, what's making our hearts flutter these days, and more. If you want more, tune into Part II, all about the second half of Bridgerton Season Three, through our Patreon. Become a paid supporter at any tier and you'll get access to the video and to the audio! We'll be back in two wee...
Have you ever been to a Tupperware party? Or perhaps a Pure Romance party? Avon? Then you may be familiar with pyramid schemes! In this episode, Marcelle guides Hannah through the history of Tupperware parties and their rising popularity post WWII. She then offers some Lauren Berlant theory (which always makes for a good episode!!); specifically, their concept of "cruel optimism." If that sounds familiar, it's because we first visited this theory in our Queer Eye episode. Enjoy the episode and b...
