Feminist Frequency Radio

Latest Episodes:

JoCo Cruise Interview #3: Wild Adventures and Critical Comedy with John Hodgman Mar 26, 2018

Show notes

In the third of our JoCo Cruise interviews, Anita talks to the very funny writer/performer/actor John Hodgman about his unusual career, from his stint as an “expert” on anything and everything on The Daily Show to the unlikely way in which he landed the gig of a lifetime, playing the PC in the tremendously successful PC vs. Apple ad campaign. From there, the two embark on a thoughtful conversation about wealth, privilege, class, and income inequality.

18 A Gaggle of Chimpanzees Hopped Up on Nyquil Mar 21, 2018

Show notes

In 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 Season; while Ebony is unashamed to admit that Holby City continues to have her shook. Anita wraps up the section by abusing the FREQ Out system and tries to slip in TWO freq outs: she loved the Black Panther soundtrack and tries to speak on West Coast hip hop and then also wanted to chat about A Case of Distrust.

Segment Timestamps:
:16 - Intros
1:42 - VoP (Voice of Phil)
1:50 - Anita and Ebony wrote a book! Also, we fail to talk about the new Marvel Infinity War trailer
5:53 - Jessica Jones
27:06 - Florence
39:15 - What's Your FREQ Out Deal?

Relevant links:
Caro's glowing review of Florence: https://feministfrequency.com/2018/02/22/a-splash-of-color-the-quietly-feminist-love-story-of-florence/
The Fifth Season: http://nkjemisin.com/books/the-fifth-season/
Anita's JoCo cruise interview with N.K. Jemisin: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YoXBJQTeXqA
The place Ebony goes for Holby City recaps: https://pauseliveaction.wordpress.com/
A Case of Distrust: http://www.acaseofdistrust.com/
Help make the media more feminist: http://www.feministfrequency.com/donate
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JoCo Cruise Interview #2: The Ethics of Storytelling with Patrick Rothfuss Mar 19, 2018

Show notes

In the second of our JoCo Cruise interviews, Anita talks with fantasy author Patrick Rothfuss about the power of stories, from the ones we create around the table with friends when playing D&D to the ones projected on the big screen, and why professional storytellers have a responsibility to use their power for good. The conversation touches on their shared love for Moana and delves into the limitations of “strong female characters” and the pressure to simplify stories when adapting for film, and what can get lost in the process.

Follow Patrick on Twitter at @PatrickRothfuss and learn more about his charity at worldbuilders.org

17 You Both Were in My Dreams as Puppies Mar 14, 2018

Show notes

In this week’s podcast, Anita opens the door on some of the strange imagery from her dreams. Then, we work through our feelings about Ava DuVernay’s film adaptation of Madeleine L’Engle’s children’s classic, A Wrinkle in Time and discover that maybe how you feel about this movie depends on how in touch you are with your inner child. Also, because so many people seem to wrongly think that we “agree” with the ways in which the current administration is scapegoating video games, we dive into the White House’s tactics and what our critiques of games and media in general are actually saying. Finally, we wrap things up with some cheers and recommendations in What’s Your FREQ-Out?!

Segment Timestamps:

Start: Ebony and Phil announce the winners of our book giveaway
1:00 introductions
2:45 Anita’s weird dreams
4:08 pop culture news (box office milestones and Ready Player One’s premiere)
8:10 A Wrinkle in Time
27:10 The Trump administration’s scapegoating of video games
44:10 What’s Your FREQ-Out?!
Ebony on Bodyminds Reimagined by Sami Schalk and on Lois McMaster Bujold’s Vorkosigan saga
47:15 Carolyn on Radiant Historia
49:30 Anita on Anxy Magazine
52:15 wrap-up

Relevant Links:

Anxy Magazine: https://anxymag.com/
Lois McMaster Bujold and the Vorkosigan saga http://www.dendarii.com/
Bodyminds Reimagined by Sami Schalk https://www.dukeupress.edu/bodyminds-reimagined
Brie Code’s Tru Luv Media (tend-and-befriend games): http://www.truluvmedia.com/
Tom VanDerWerff’s piece on A Wrinkle in Time: https://www.vox.com/culture/2018/3/12/17098464/a-wrinkle-in-time-ava-duvernay-review-storm-reid-christianity
Cited pieces on video game violence:
By Simon Parkin: https://www.newyorker.com/tech/elements/donald-trump-takes-on-the-nonexistent-link-between-violent-video-games-and-mass-shootings
By Tom Bissell: http://grantland.com/features/line-explores-reasons-why-play-shooter-games/

FFR JoCo Interview #1: Talking Writing, Worldbuilding and Games with Sci-fi Author N.K. Jemisin Mar 12, 2018

Show notes

While Anita was aboard the 2018 JoCo Cruise, she took the opportunity to talk to some of the amazing creators who were trapped at sea with her! In this first JoCo interview, she speaks with the amazing sci-fi writer N.K. Jemisin, creator of the acclaimed Broken Earth series. The conversation covers how Jemisin became a professional writer, the exciting new era of fantasy writers who are pushing past the "Tolkien-clone" mold, and Jemisin’s own process for worldbuilding and character creation. Anita and N.K. also talk about Jemisin’s love of video games, our cultural notions of what gamers look like vs. what gamers actually look like, and her admiration for NieR: Automata, Shadow of the Colossus, and Mafia 3.

16 All the Hollywood Not-Gay Gay People Mar 07, 2018

Show notes

In this episode, Anita and Carolyn are joined by special guest, comedian Irene Tu! We all endured the epic Oscars ceremony last weekend to discuss our favorite moments, our reactions to the winners, and whether or not things in Hollywood are actually getting better. Then, in keeping with the cinematic theme, we recount our disorienting experiences in the shimmer after seeing Annihilation. What does it all mean? Was it any good? What’s with making the main character a white woman? Finally, we each share something we’ve been thinking about in What’s Your FREQ-Out, which gives Irene a chance to talk about just why people have been showing her so many drugs lately.

Segment Times:

0-1:10 Ebony’s special intro

1:11-2:28 welcomes and introductions

2:29-5:10 Anita’s Trust No Man banner and Irene’s Man-Haters Comedy show

5:15-27:10 The Oscars

27:15-47:17 Annihilation

What’s Your FREQ-Out?—

47:30 Carolyn on the Her Head in Films podcast

49:40 Irene on people showing her various drugs

53:38 Anita on Godless

58:27 wrap-up

Relevant links:

How Mad Should I Be About the Whitewashing in Annihilation? by E. Alex Jung: http://www.vulture.com/2018/02/whitewashing-in-annihilation-starring-natalie-portman.html

How Annihilation Nails the Complex Reality of Depression by Angelica Jade Bastién: www.vulture.com/2018/03/annihilation-movie-depression.html

Her Head in Films podcast: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/her-head-in-film/id1355929182

Man Haters Comedy, co-hosted by Irene Tu: http://www.manhaters.org/

15 Rocking the Boat on the JoCo Cruise with Special Guest Wil Wheaton! Feb 28, 2018

Show notes

Welcome to our very first live episode of Feminist Frequency Radio! Recorded at sea aboard the JoCo Cruise, this episode finds Anita and Femfreq friend and board member Felix Kramer in conversation with actor and writer Wil Wheaton! The conversation reaches far and wide, with talk of Wolfenstein II, our shifting relationship to sci-fi in our increasingly dystopian present, confronting your privilege and being an effective ally, exploring ancient Egypt with the help of Assassin’s Creed Origins’ Discovery Tour mode, and much more. So take your Dramamine and hop aboard, we’ve got so much fun stuff to talk about!

Segment timestamps:

00:01: Ebony welcomes you aboard

01:21 Greetings and introductions with Anita, Felix, and Wil

2:57 How the JoCo Cruise is going and what the JoCo Cruise is

8:28 Recent stuff we loved: Felix on Black Panther

9:34 Wil on Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus

14:26 Science fiction in the era of Trump

18:52 Has #MeToo changed how you engage with media?/Calling out abusers

28:55 Acknowledging your privilege and having hard conversations

33:33 Media that’s inspiring you right now, Wil on Journey (the game)

37:13 Felix’s history with video games

40:29 Wil on acting and writing

43:25 Intro to What’s Your FREQ-Out?

43:43 Felix on Assassin’s Creed Origins’ Discovery Tour mode

47:56 Wil on hating Cuphead and loving Red Dead Redemption

51:41 Anita on Creed and Tessa Thompson as Bianca

55:07 What Wil is up to and where you can find his work

57:22 Where you can find Felix online

58:08 Where you can find Anita / Bye!

Relevant links:

Learn more about the JoCo Cruise: https://jococruise.com/

Wil Wheaton's book Dead Trees Give No Shelter: http://wilwheatonbooks.com/

Audio version of Wil's book: wilwheaton.bandcamp.com

14.5: Five Minutes With Ebony on Black Panther, History, and Culture Feb 21, 2018

Show notes

In this impromptu supplement to this week's main episode of Feminist Frequency Radio, Ebony takes a few minutes to share some thoughts on how Black Panther skillfully navigates themes of culture, history, and the difference between appreciation and appropriation, with one scene in particular serving as a pointed commentary on who gets to own the past.

14 Black Panther Feb 21, 2018

Show notes

This week, on a very special episode of Feminist Frequency Radio, we go all in on Black Panther! From the wonders of Wakandan technology to all the fantastic female characters, from the breathtaking costumes to the surprisingly persuasive politics of the film’s soulful villain, we spend almost the entire show discussing the newest (and brightest) star in the Marvel cinematic universe.

Segment timestamps:

Entertainment News (Cobra Kai and Overwatch League): 2:10-4:50
Black Panther: 4:50-48:18
What’s Your FREQ-Out?
Carolyn on new iOS game Florence: 49:00-50:18
Ebony on The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander: 50:18-52:48
Anita on The Expanse: 52:48-58:10

Referenced on this episode:

The New Jim Crow: http://newjimcrow.com/

Anita’s quote tweet of Eve Ewing’s tweet - https://twitter.com/anitasarkeesian/status/964433278827511809

Anita’s Twitter thread about The Expanse Season 2 - https://twitter.com/anitasarkeesian/status/962793735682646017

Cobra Kai trailer: https://youtu.be/xLtYmhj-0Kg

13 Tilda Swinton and Gwendoline Christie’s Space Robot Baby Feb 14, 2018

Show notes

On this week’s FFR, we suit up to join the crew of the ill-fated (and surprisingly hungry) international space station featured in The Cloverfield Paradox! Ebony gives us her best Irish accent and Carolyn questions the difference between good-bad movies and bad-bad movies while we navigate the rubble of the film’s plot and praise the performance of Gugu Mbatha-Raw. We also discuss the recent decision by Formula One to end the long-standing tradition of grid girls, and we tackle the larger debate about “choice feminism” with which arguments about grid girls are inextricably linked. Finally, we FREQ out about Mindhunter, classic Hollywood romcoms, and Grace and Frankie, and Anita argues that it’s better for a series to leave people wanting more than for it to start giving people less.

Segment Time Stamps:

Entertainment News- 2:35-5:45
Cloverfield Paradox- 5:45-27:40
Grid Girls and Choice Feminism: 27:48-43:45
What’s Your FREQ-Out?
Ebony on Mindhunter: 43:50-49:40
Caro on Classic Cary Grant Comedies of Remarriage: 49:40-53:45
Anita on Grace and Frankie, and When a Series Should End: 53:48

Referenced on this Episode:

The original, official Formula One post on the end of grid girls: https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/headlines/2018/1/formula-1-to-stop-using-grid-girls-.html

AJ Plus video about exhibitors hiring models at a UK gambling convention:
https://twitter.com/ajplus/status/961798070328426496

Anita’s Twitter thread about The Expanse
https://twitter.com/anitasarkeesian/status/962774990264266757

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