Backtalk

Latest Episodes:

Backtalk: Toxic Diet Culture Targeting Kids Sep 19, 2019

Show notes

This week, Dahlia and Amy talk about Kurbo, a weight loss app for children. The app is from Weight Watchers and they claim its purpose is to help children become healthier but experts say that an app like Kurbo can cause children to have an unhealthy relationship with food, promote eating disorders, and cause extra stress. The app feels like a ploy to create future consumers for the $72 billion diet industry and it's so wrong.

WATCH

"What We Do in the Shadows" (both the movie and the FX TV series) take a hilarious mockumentary lens to vampire living.

READ

Yukiko Motoya's short story collection, "The Loneliest Bodybuilder" is quirky, surreal, and so much fun to read. A must-read for contemporary Japanese literature.

LISTEN

"Skin & Bone" by Ambrosia Parsley

Backtalk: Back to School Sep 06, 2019

Show notes

This week, Dahlia and Amy get into the back-to-school season. We spend more than a decade in school developing our worldview and learning how to be decent human beings. What happens when the people in charge of our education are closed-minded and unwilling to accept social progress? From schools with Confederate namesakes to creating a more inclusive curriculum, here's a look at all the ways our education can shape us.

WATCH

Based on the Patricia Highsmith romance novel, "The Price of Salt" (1952), "Carol" is a gorgeous film starring Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara about unrequited lesbian love in an unaccepting time.

READ

"Trick Mirror: Reflections on Self delusion" by Jia Tolentino covers internet culture, scammers, reality shows, and so much more. This essay collection is truly an instant classic of the worst decade.

LISTEN

"Darkest Hour" by Joy Crookes

Backtalk: The Power of the People Aug 22, 2019

Show notes

This week, Dahlia and Amy dig into the mass protest movements across the globe. From Puerto Rico to Portland, Oregon, people are showing up to have their voices heard en masse, demonstrating that the power of people to bring down oppressive systems is inspiring and necessary.

READ

The New York Time's 1619 Project is a reframing of American history, centering on the first enslaved Africans and the effects of slavery that can still be felt to this day. The project is a reminder that history isn't static and can only benefit from more perspectives.

WATCH

HBO's Years and Years is a near-future dystopia centered on the Lyons, a British family, and how they deal with life in extraordinarily fucked up times. LISTEN

Mucha Data by Cazzu

BackTalk: This is What White-Supremacist Terrorism Looks Like Aug 08, 2019

Show notes

This week, Dahlia and Amy are heartbroken over the spate of mass murders at the hands of white men with assault weapons. They talk about the importance of naming the acts of violence as white supremacist terrorism and how marginalized people across all communities are left vulnerable. Plus, we take a moment to celebrate the life and work of Toni Morrison, whose words and stories have forever shifted how we understand our world—for the better.

BackTalk: A Racist by Any Other Name Jul 25, 2019

Show notes

This week, Dahlia and Amy agree it's about time for mainstream media organizations to label racists as racists. Recently, Trump tweeted to four congresswomen of color that they should go back to where they came from and accused them of being un-American. While his vile tweets were unsurprising, it was unexpected to see a national news outlet like NPR finally label it as racist. Language matters and it's important to use the right words to describe despicable people. Plus, a shoutout to all our listeners and their support—it means so much! READ

Milkman by Anna Burns, winner of the 2018 Man Booker Prize, is a stream-of-consciousness novel that depicts 1970s Belfast through the eyes of "middle sister," a young woman who is caught between town gossip and a local paramilitary known as "the milkman," WATCH

HBO's limited series, The Night Of, has some amazing performances and cinematography exploring the criminal justice machine and how it grinds through anyone involved in it.

LISTEN

"Alaska" by Banks is a dramatic and dreamy song for the summer.

Recasting a Disney Princess Jul 12, 2019

Show notes

This week, Dahlia and Amy talk about the live-action casting for Disney's "The Little Mermaid." Halle Bailey was announced as Ariel in the upcoming film and many racists cried it would be inaccurate to have Black mermaid in this classic story. Why is it so important for viewers to see a young Black woman be cast as a Disney princess? Plus we're taking a break from Amy vs Dahlia, but leave a rate & review to let us know what you'd like us to argue about in the future.

The Hideous Man Who Became President Jun 28, 2019

Show notes

This week, Dahlia and Amy discuss E. Jean Carroll's cover story for New York Magazine about all of the hideous men from her life. Through her piercing and frank prose, Carroll shares an account of sexual assault at the small hands of Trump. How will this latest accusation against Trump affect his presidency—if at all? In our latest "frivolous" argument, Amy and Dahlia want to know what you think of the 90's comeback in fashion! Text "fashion" to 503-855-6485 to let us know!

Backtalk: It's the End of the World & We Know It Jun 13, 2019

Show notes

This week, Dahlia and Amy are talking about climate change. Climate science consistently shows we must curb our greenhouse gas emissions ASAP in order to stop the exponential damage to the environment, which will most likely create global climate devastation by 2050. Though we can live more conscientiously, it's also up to governmental bodies to set policies and regulations that can create larger change. The fight against climate change can feel hopeless, but at least we're in this together. June is Pride month and in Amy vs. Dahlia, they discuss the worst co-opting of the celebration: Is it the upcoming Straight Pride parade or how brands are unabashedly performing allyship to sell you shit? Text "pride" to 503-855-6485 share your feelings!

The Devil Works Hard But Anti-Abortion Politicians Work Harder May 30, 2019

Show notes

This week, Dahlia and Amy discuss the recent passage of the most severe abortion ban in Alabama and what this could mean for Roe v. Wade and abortion access across the country. Anti-abortion politicians continue to argue for the sanctity of life and the personhood of a fetus while ignoring the humanity of the person who would have to carry the fetus to term—even if their pregnancy was a result of rape or incest. The devil works hard, but anti-abortion politicians work harder. And in Amy vs. Dahlia, who are both in the midst of moving across the country, we want to know what you think is the worst part about packing up and moving. Text "moving" to 503-855-6485 share your feelings!

Meh of Thrones May 16, 2019

Show notes

This week, Dahlia and Amy get into their disappointment over the last and final season of "Game of Thrones." The epic series has given audiences a big cultural moment in the world of dragons, the fight for power, and a slew of women characters to love and hate—but is it doing justice to the story? In Amy vs. Dahlia, we want to know who could have been the best leader of the Seven Kingdoms, dead or alive. Text "thrones" to 503-855-6485 to let us know what you think!

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected