Feminist Frequency Radio

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FFR 264: ALL THAT JAZZ Sep 10, 2025

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Is this the first "perfect" movie we've covered on this podcast? This was Kat's first time watching Bob Fosse's 1979 self-referential musical drama All That Jazz, one of A.C.'s absolute favorites. There's something compelling about the way Joe Gideon, Fosse's stand-in for himself, is far from being the hero in his own larger-than-life story of addiction, perfectionism, and womanizing. And though the ending is foreshadowed from the opening scene, it's still jaw dropping when it happens.

Discussed in this episode:

"Le Jeune Homme et La Mort," the opening ballet from White Nights (1985).

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FFR 263: GUYS AND DOLLS Sep 02, 2025

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For the first full episode of our new "Musical Mayhem" season, we watched the 1955 film Guys and Dolls. The gender expectations and relationship dynamics between the central two couples in this movie feel like they'd be right at home in today's modern "trad wife" resurgence as certain segments of society seek to backslide into authoritarianism. Even the series finale of the Sex and the City follow-up And Just Like That... portrays established, successful women post-middle age wringing their hands about whether a man will propose. Unsurprisingly, Guys and Dolls' thin handling of race and class leaves a lot to be desired. But, there's joy to be had in many of the song-and-dance numbers, especially "Pet Me Poppa" featuring Vivian Blaine as showgirl Adelaide.

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FFR 262.5: MUSICAL MAYHEM Season Preview Aug 20, 2025

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Kat and A.C. are back from an extended hiatus in the Heavyside Layer to bring you an all-new season of Feminist Frequency Radio! This time, we're being critical about the media we love while tapping our toes: the screen musical. Join us for a preview episode where we discuss the season ahead and what you can expect from our movie and TV selections, new Letterboxd lists themed to each episode, and special full-length bonuses for Patreon supporters.

Discussed in this episode:

The Ethel Merman Disco Album

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FFR 262: Chasing Chasing Amy featuring Sav Rodgers Jan 29, 2025

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A.C. and Kat are joined by director Sav Rodgers to discuss his documentary feature debut, Chasing Chasing Amy, and the complicated legacy of its subject matter, Kevin Smith's 1997 film Chasing Amy. Sav shares about the arduous process of becoming the central story in his own doc, and examining his relationship to the movie that saved his life as a young queer person. We explore how we take our various fandoms seriously, and what it means to blend loving a piece of media with making that love the focus of our work and/or our identities.

Discussed in this episode:

Sav's film CHASING CHASING AMY, which is also available on Kanopy
Chasing Amyaction figures

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FFR 261: Wicked: Part One Dec 18, 2024

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A.C. and Kat are back from their first semester at Shiz University for winter break, and we just had to talk about Jon M. Chu's blockbuster Broadway adaptation of Wicked: Part One. Starring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande in the story before the story we all know from The Wizard of Oz, this is a tale that was originally published as a novel by Gregory Maguire in 1995. On its face it's a movie about accepting yourself when you don't fit in, but it's much more so about the way marginalized communities are threatened by authoritarian governments and the complicit neighbors who don't want to "rock the boat." We were impressed by its portrayal of class consciousness and the added nuance brought by casting a Black actress in the role of Elphaba. Finally, we hold a mini state of the union on Hollywood movie musicals.

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FFR Bonus: Rapid-Fire Recaps + Gelée Dec 05, 2024

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Kat's fighting a vicious cold, and only had enough raspy voice left to record a bonus mini episode with AC this week. We caught up on all of the random movies and TV Kat watched while traveling or coughing on the couch, from Hit Man and Trap to Love Again and Hot Frosty. AC shared what movies he rewatches annually on Thanksgiving, and yes—The Silence of the Lambs is first on his list. Plus, we talk about AC's new publication with Currant Jam: Gelée, a digital zine on pop culture from emerging journalists, writers, and tastemakers.

Discussed in this episode:

FFR's 2021 episode about The Manchurian Candidate
AC's new digital zine via Currant Jam: Gelée

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FFR 260: Buffy the Vampire Slayer featuring Margaret Wappler Nov 20, 2024

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Luke Perry biographer Margaret Wappler joined us for a conversation about her hybrid memoir profiling the '90s heartthrob, and the impact Perry had on viewers from 90210 to Riverdale. We dug into Fran Rubel Kuzui's 1992 film Buffy the Vampire Slayer, starring Perry alongside Kristy Swanson and Donald Sutherland. We particularly loved the comedic swings of supporting cast members Paul Reubens and David Arquette. Overall, we think the movie's feminist message and uneven tone are almost anachronistic, but can't deny its lasting impact.

Discussed in this episode:

Margaret's latest book, A Good Bad Boy: Luke Perry and How a Generation Grew Up

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FFR 259: The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas featuring Tara Giancaspro Nov 06, 2024

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Writer and musician Tara Giancaspro joins Kat and A.C. for a rootin' tootin' rip-roarin' review of Colin Higgins' 1982 movie musical The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. We get lost in the fun and charm of the music, dancing, and wigs! We delight in the beauty of Dolly Parton and Burt Reynolds! And we get caught up in a discussion of whether a movie like this could be made today, with its light-hearted treatment of sex workers being unfairly persecuted. Plus, an unhinged installment of the "what's wrong with me" game returns, as we decide which famous men we'd let watch our drinks.

Discussed in this episode:

Feminist Frequency Radio's 2020 episode about 9 to 5
DC-based harm reduction organization HIPS

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FFR 258: The Substance featuring Anita Sarkeesian Oct 23, 2024

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Anita Sarkeesian returns to the podcast this week to discuss Coralie Fargeat's buzzy body horror film The Substance, starring Demi Moore and Margaret Qualley. Anita gives the movie 5 out of 5 stars, but she, Kat, and A.C. all find something uniquely different to love about it. After an electrifying in-theater experience, we couldn't stop thinking about its storytelling on the panopticon of the patriarchal gaze. Not to mention its gonzo gross-out creature work!

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FFR 257: The Children's Hour featuring Alonso Duralde Oct 10, 2024

Show notes

Film critic and podcast host Alonso Duralde previously joined us for a discussion about 1950s Hollywood, and it was such a treat to have him return to the show. He recently published the film history compendium Hollywood Pride: A Celebration of LGBTQ+ Representation and Perseverance in Film, so what better film for us to watch together than William Wyler's 1961 opus of lesbian shame, The Children's Hour, starring Audrey Hepburn and Shirley MacLaine.

Discussed in this episode:

The Celluloid Closet (1995)
Our podcast episode about the film Seconds

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instagram.com/alonso.duralde
The Film Library, a Kanopy podcast

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