When womanhood is reduced to a capitalist identity, who gets erased—and who gets empowered to do the erasing? In the final episode of Gender War Games, host Cristen Conger joins Material Girls co-hosts Hannah McGregor and Marcelle Kosman to unpack how white womanhood is activated—politically, culturally, algorithmically—to reinforce systems of power. From tradwife aesthetics to terf rhetoric, strategic essentialism to state violence, discover how white femininity gets mobilized as both soft powe...
May 13, 2025•45 min
When misinformation becomes a vibe, who gets caught in the crosshairs? In part 3 of Gender War Games, host Cristen Conger and linguist Amanda Montell (Sounds Like a Cult, Magical Overthinkers) decodes the cognitive glitches, language games, and algorithmic dynamics fueling today’s gender panic. From the illusory truth effect and magical thinking to the viral power of weaponized words, learn how belief is built—not by facts, but by feelings, aesthetics and repetition. (00:00) "Gender War" Is a Sh...
May 06, 2025•34 min
Is wellness the new purity culture? In part 2 of Gender War Games, host Cristen Conger and Cadence Dubus ( @brooklynstrength ), founder of Brooklyn Strength Virtual Fitness and Wellness Studio, breaks down how body control, aesthetic discipline, and "clean" femininity are being sold as self-care—while reinforcing the same old patriarchal power structures. From the rise of Ozempic and disordered wellness trends to body shame masquerading as moral virtue, what happens when femininity and fitness b...
Apr 29, 2025•31 min
Is feminism dead—or just shadowbanned? In part 1 of the Gender War Games miniseries, host Cristen Conger and Diabolical Lies co-hosts Caro Claire Burke and Katie Gatti Tassin dissect how feminism got hyper-commodified, beauty became capitalism's favorite control tactic, and reactionary gender politics took center stage. From antifeminist burnout to algorithmic aesthetics, what's behind the right-wing, conspiratorial rebranding of women and gender—and who's profiting off it? (00:00) Feminism Unde...
Apr 22, 2025•45 min
Sharing a new show from our friends at Higher Ground, hosted by Michelle Obama. On IMO, Michelle and her big brother Craig Robinson bring their candid perspectives to the everyday questions shaping our lives, relationships and the world around us. Each week, they’re joined by a guest to tackle real questions from real folks just like you offering practical advice, personal storytelling, and plenty of laughs. Topics range from dating and relationships, to family and faith. Michelle and Craig shar...
Mar 12, 2025•1 hr 1 min
Why do sex trafficking myths keep spreading—especially among suburban moms and TikTok girlies? Journalist Caitlin Dewey ( Links I Would Gchat You ) unravels how viral misinformation, true crime culture and moral panic have turned Target parking lots into imagined danger zones. Caitlin and Cristen compare the realities of trafficking to "ladies, stay safe!!" rhetoric that insists we're always in danger. Subscribe to Conspiracy, She Wrote and hear the FIVE-part Ladies, Stay Safe miniseries. Scroll...
Feb 25, 2025•45 min
Gold digger. Ice queen. Punching bag. Why was a 22-year-old Robin Givens villainized when her whirlwind romance with boxer Mike Tyson spiraled into a living nightmare? In this bonus from the Unladies' Room, Susie Banikarim ( In Retrospect ) tells us the story of how their brief and tabloid-frenzying marriage ended with Robin declared "the most hated woman in America" and why she still hasn't gotten the cultural redemption she deserves. CW: intimate partner violence . . . Follow Unladylike: Insta...
Dec 31, 2024•33 min
Why waste a good passport marrying a fellow citizen? Is love strong enough to withstand deportation? Journalist and author Anna Lekas Miller shares what happened when she "proposed marriage fraud" to a Syrian refugee and how borders, visas and passports decide who gets to be together. Her book is Love Across Borders: Passports, Papers, and Romance in a Divided World . . . . Follow Unladylike: IG and TikTok Join the Unladies' Room Shop merch Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/ad...
Dec 17, 2024•39 min
With the rise of the " perfectly imperfect " veneer ideal, it's the perfect time to revisit how beauty culture got here. (And subscribe to The Review of Beauty by Jessica Defino !) Why are more young women trading in their natural teeth for cosmetic veneers? What does it say about beauty standards, class perceptions and the dental healthcare gap? Writer Jessica Goldstein drills down on the rise of cosmetic dentistry, aesthetic veneers, head-to-toe "hotness creep" and her brilliant Washington Pos...
Nov 26, 2024•42 min
Good men aren't hard to find. What's "good" is where it gets complicated. Sociologist Emily Carian returns to the pod to share what she learned interviewing male feminists and men's rights activists for her new book Good Guys, Bad Guys: The Perils of Men's Gender Activism . Highlights include: privilege renegotiation, women's roles in cishet men's paths to feminism and/or the manosphere and why a leftist Joe Rogan doesn't exist. Follow Unladylike on Instagram and TikTok Join the Unladies' Room P...
Nov 19, 2024•50 min•Ep. 263
**UNLADIES' ROOM PATREON TEASER** It's a good thing, this bonus episode. Unladies, we're talking about a trio docs out that I'm calling the Venn Diagram of Peak White-Womaning and Girlbossery (really rolls off the tongue, doesn't it?): Martha on Netflix, Breath of Fire on Max and Anatomy of Lies on Peacock. I planned to watch none and ended up bingeing them all. To hear the full, ad-free episode , join the Patreon. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See Privacy Policy...
Nov 17, 2024•3 min
They're trending, unfortunately. Sociologist Emily Carian explains what the men's rights movement is, who it attracts and why. Cristen also talks to Emily about the mental and scientific challenges of interviewing anti-feminist men for her research. This episode originally aired in November 2022. Follow Unladylike Instagram and TikTok Join the Unladies' Room Patreon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Priva...
Nov 12, 2024•33 min
Cristen has a big update about the future of Unladylike and why now's the time to make bittersweet changes. Plus, What Is the Most Unladylike Thing About You: The Supercut!!! Remember - the Unladies' Room Patreon stays open! That where I'll be recapping election results on Saturday's bonus episode. . . . Listen to Conspiracy, She Wrote Follow Unladylike on Instagram and TikTok Join the Unladies' Room Patreon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See Privacy Policy at htt...
Nov 05, 2024•17 min•Ep. 262
How did Nobel Prize-winning scientist Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo become Mexico's first female and first Jewish President? Cristen maps her path into politics, the baggage she brings from her predecessor Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador (aka AMLO) and what–if any–difference Mexican feminists think this Presidenta will make. . . . This episode's sponsor is Wild . Use code UNLADYLIKE20 for 20% off your first order. Follow Unladylike on Instagram and TikTok Join the Unladies' Room Patreon Get your sweatshir...
Oct 29, 2024•24 min•Ep. 261
Prepare to burn your old bras and buy a new salad spinner! Custom bra maker, fitter and A Bra That Fits calculator creator Sarah McElvey blows Cristen's mind with everything you never knew you needed to know about bra sizing, bust measuring and what fit actually feels like. Shopping tips and your new favorite laundry hack included. This episode's sponsor is Wild . Use code UNLADYLIKE20 for 20% off your first order. Follow Unladylike on Instagram and TikTok Join the Unladies' Room Patreon Shop me...
Oct 22, 2024•32 min•Ep. 260
Why do big breasts get so little support when it comes to bra shopping, clothes shopping, healthcare and wellness? Inspired by The New York Times trend piece on "The Power of a Smaller Breast," Cristen revisits past conversations with two listeners who got breast reductions and share why they made the decision to get that weight off their chest and differences it made. From the physical challenges like back pain and bra struggles to the emotional rollercoaster of body image, unwanted attention, ...
Oct 15, 2024•26 min•Ep. 259
It's a Halloween treat from the Unladies Room Patreon! Cristen gets to the bottom of the lady-poisoner trope, where it came from and how true it really is. Highlights include Lucrezia Borgia, prunes stewed in rat poison, Agatha Christie's pre-murder mystery career, misogynist criminal science and one fatal cheesecake. For more ad-free bonus episodes, join the Unladies' Room Patreon Follow Unladylike on Instagram and TikTok Shop merch Advertise with Multitude Productions Learn more about your ad ...
Oct 08, 2024•33 min•Ep. 258
How much is too much of an age gap in relationships, and do sexist double standards apply? Cristen answers a 31-year-old listener who feels self-conscious about dating a 25-year-old guy. Plus, we take a glance at " new MILF cinema ," aka why Nicole Kidman is currently starring in everything. Follow Unladylike on Instagram and TikTok Join the Unladies' Room Patreon Shop merch Advertise with Multitude Productions Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See Privacy Policy at ...
Oct 01, 2024•30 min•Ep. 257
**UNLADIES' ROOM PATREON TEASER** Why did Casandra "Cassie" Ventura risk everything to come forward about the years of abuse she survived from her former boss and ex-boyfriend, Sean Combs, aka Puff Daddy, aka P. Diddy, aka Diddy? Cristen break down that, the federal indictment Combs is facing and the culture of silence, violence and (in)famous parties that shielded him until now. To hear the full ad-free bonus episode and support the pod, join the Patreon. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit...
Sep 29, 2024•6 min
What happens when women's overlooked attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) gets diagnosed? Listeners share the "life-changing" power of finally discovering that it's not you, it's your brain wiring. For a deeper dive on what ADHD is, types of ADHD (hyperactive, inattentive, and combination) and the diagnostic gender gap, listen to the original episode, ADHD All Grown Up . Follow Unladylike on Instagram and TikTok Join the Unladies' Room Patreon Shop merch Advertise with Multitude Produ...
Sep 24, 2024•25 min
When Taylor Swift endorsed Harris/Walz, she cited an “AI of ‘me’ falsely endorsing Donald Trump’s presidential run” as her reason for sharing her 2024 presidential voting plan. But this AI is just one instance of the far-right’s misinformation targeting Swift for years–nay, eras. In this Unladylike- Conspiracy, She Wrote bonus, Swiftie sociologist Brian Donovan breaks down why, how it influenced Swift’s political activism, and what it reveals about her power. And there’s plenty more red string t...
Sep 20, 2024•24 min•Ep. 256
Did you know doctors used to put "too tall" girls (aka, over 5'7") on estrogen to stunt their growth? They even called it "tall girl therapy." Cristen breaks that old news to standup comedian and tall woman Marcella Arguello , who is constantly getting clocked for her height. Marcella and Cristen question societal around height, gender policing tall women and straight women's obsession with tall men. - Hear the latest CONSPIRACY, SHE WROTE - Get in touch on Instagram or hello@unladylike.co - Joi...
Sep 17, 2024•32 min•Ep. 255
Why are most women vegan, and should most feminists be vegan, too? Geographer Catherine Oliver maps out gender politics on our plates and the masculinity of meat. Then, vegan beauty influencer Demi Colleen deconstructs white veganism and decolonizes plant-based diets. Follow Unladylike on Instagram and TikTok Join the Unladies' Room Patreon Listen to Conspiracy, She Wrote Advertise with Multitude Productions Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See Privacy Policy at htt...
Sep 10, 2024•56 min
** UNLADIES' ROOM teaser ** What’s all the fuss about “historic” voter gender gaps? Does polling actually point to a “boys versus girls” US presidential election? Cristen sorts through the stats, fact-checks the media framing with a focus on white women, divorced dads and Theo Von bros. To hear the full, ad-free episode, join the Patreon - and THANK YOU!! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice a...
Sep 08, 2024•6 min
How was Kamala Harris first introduced in the press, and what can it contextualize about her path from prosecutor to politician? Cristen digs into the "socialite" slurs, weaponized relationships and misogynoir that marked her first major media coverage and political showdowns—and how she defined her own narrative anyway. Join the Unladies Room Patreon to go deeper on the widening gender gap in 2024 presidential election polls. Listen and subscribe to CONSPIRACY, SHE WROTE . Episodes 1-5 are out ...
Sep 05, 2024•46 min•Ep. 254
** CONSPIRACY, SHE WROTE episodes 1-3 are out now! Subscribe on your favorite podcast app so you don't miss new episodes every Thursday** Pack your rush bags! It's sorority recruitment season in the South. Elizabeth Bronwyn Boyd takes us beyond the spectacle of #BamaRush into the "competitive femininity" and gender ritual of rush. She also reveals why it's no coincidence that historically white sororities were founded in the antebellum South, how they remained segregated far longer than frats, a...
Aug 27, 2024•45 min
Roxane Gay never envisioned herself as gun owner, until increasing threats forced her to reconsider what it means to be a Black feminist in a country where gun violence is rampant. From the historic role of armed resistance in Black liberation to the modern-day realities of misogynoir and the indifference toward Black women’s safety, Roxane confronts the complexities of gun culture, feminism and who is deemed worthy of self-defense. Her essay "Stand Your Ground" is the final installment of the R...
Aug 20, 2024•40 min•Ep. 253
Are good vibes the secret to success? Cristen revisits psychologist Dr. Gabrielle Oettingen, author of Rethinking Positive Thinking , who rewrites the "law of attraction" with science and one handy acronym. Keep listening: How to Manifest Your BEST Life (original episode) Ask Unladylike: Happiness vs Toxic Positivity Magical Overthinking Have you heard the NEW podcast - Conspiracy, She Wrote ?? Follow Unladylike on Instagram and TikTok Join the Unladies' Room Patreon Advertise with Multitude Pro...
Aug 14, 2024•41 min
Introducing the debut episode of Cristen's brand new podcast Conspiracy, She Wrote . Where intersectional feminism meet conspiracy theories. Grab your red string and follow along for the unhinged women's history and Illuminati paranoia that set the stage for today's conspiracy-pilled political and pop cultures. Cultural historian Lindsay Porter introduces us to the fascist foremothers of modern conspiracism who were spreading disinformation about deep state plots, elite cabals and shady secret s...
Aug 08, 2024•38 min•Ep. 252
From "peek n pokes" to chromosome testing, the Olympics has a questionable history of body policing female athletes. Tested host Rose Eveleth reveals the past, present and future of gender verification policies in elite sports, who they affect and what it has to do with fairness. Highlights include: Caster Semenya's swagger, Cold War paranoia, intersex identity, DDS status (Differences of Sexual Development) and misogynoir. Follow Unladylike on Instagram and TikTok Join the Unladies' Room Patreo...
Jul 30, 2024•44 min•Ep. 251
