The Leftscape

Latest Episodes:

She-Ra’s Feminist Challenge (Episode 29) Dec 19, 2018

Show notes

Wendy Sheridan, Mary McGinley, and Robin Renée do a fair amount of discussing media on The Leftscape, but rarely have they all watched or listened to the show that is the topic at hand. This time, everyone did their homework. Wendy has been watching the new She-Ra and the Princess of Power, and she found what she took for some real talk in Episode 11, “Promise.” Does Catra’s dialogue with Adora point out some of the most uncomfortable truths about white feminism? Listen in to the Leftscape conversation, watch She-Ra on Netflix, and post your thoughts.

This week, Michael Flynn, Michael Cohen, Paul Manafort, and Maria Butina are all making big news. According to the Washington Post, some lies have been repeated so often, they warrant a new rating: The Bottomless Pinocchio. Queer Twitter is calling out TERFs of AfterEllen.com and debating about how Pink News dealt with a Pansexual Pride article that misdefined “bisexual.” Patricio Manuel’s debut and win as the first professional transgender male boxer is reason to celebrate.

Other reasons to celebrate: Las Posadas (Dec 16th -24th), Saturnalia (Dec 17th – 23rd), Winter Solstice/Yule (Dec 21st), National Hard Candy Day, and the birthdays of Edith Piaf, Alyssa Milano, Jennifer Beals, and Richard Leakey.

**Progressive Conversation: Half a Year (Episode 28)** Dec 12, 2018
Show notes

The first episode of The Leftscape posted on May 30, 2018, which means Wendy Sheridan, Mary McGinley, and Robin Renée have been at this for just over half a year. As we are moving toward the end of the year when retrospectives are many, Robin, Mary and Wendy decided to take some time out to reflect on the show so far. From 4th of July music to stirred up demons to a great interview to limerick contest laughs, a lot has come together in the past six months. The Leftscape co-hosts are looking forward to learning, growing, and presenting much more progressive conversation well into the future.

In News, everyone shares thoughts on the passing and mixed legacy of George H. W. Bush. Robin mentions an anti-fascist, anti-racist metal festival scheduled for January called Black Flags Over Brooklyn. The week in observations and weird holidays include Human Rights Week, Ambrosia Day, Ding-a-Ling Day, Gingerbread House Day, and Poinsettia Day. Birthday shout outs go to Frank Sinatra, Edvard Munch, Edward G. Robinson, Bob Barker, Dionne Warwick, Sheila E, Jennifer Connelly, Denny Dias, and others.

Things to do –

Check out some of the media Mary, Wendy, and Robin have been watching and listening to:
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Miss Sherlock,She-Ra, Bag Man, “A Squirrel’s Guide to Success“

**Free to be HSP (Episode 27)** Dec 05, 2018
Show notes

Anne Sabagh is a life coach in Fairfax, VA with a special calling. Though she works with all types of clients, she has particular insight into working with Highly Sensitive People. Highly Sensitive People experience sound, light, crowds, or other stimuli more intensely than others, and so have a need to navigate the world with a bit more intention. Anne took some time out last week to speak with Robin Renée about what it is to be HSP and ways it may bear similarities to introversion or being on the autism spectrum. As an HSP herself, Anne shared some tips about how she has learned to thrive and her journey into life coaching to help others.

At the top of the show, Mary McGinley, Wendy Sheridan, and Robin Renée greet December and talk about the month in acknowledgments. Some seem intuitive for the time of year such as Drunk & Drugged Driving Prevention Month, Safe Toys and Gifts Month, Winter Squash Month, and Recipe Greetings for the Holidays Week. Watermelon Month seems out of season. Bathtub Party Day and International Ninja Day sound like a blast. AIDS Awareness is of utmost importance.

Birthday shouts go out to Walt Disney, JJ Cale, Otto Preminger, Little Richard, John Resnik, Jim Messina, Margaret Cho, and others. The week in news includes worrisome news in the government report on climate change, hopeful news for those with peanut allergies, and some very silly news about political pajamas. Later, Wendy talks about the startling performance/art installation, Romantic Songs of the Patriarchy. All discuss other “great songs with terrible messages.”

Things to do:

Visit Anne Sabagh’s website: Free to be HSP. See what she shares on her Facebook page.

Read about Same-Sex Marriage Laws in the UK.

Read “Why ‘Carousel’ was a problem before #MeToo.”

Check out these great songs (and feel free to discuss and debate their terrible messages!):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hM8XekYI8kI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzHXtxcIkg4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_x6QmuJdms

Here’s the updated version!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qzt7JvsYIuI

Mythbusting Day (Episode 26) Nov 28, 2018

Show notes

Wendy Sheridan, Mary McGinley, and Robin Renée have decided that it’s high time for some mythbusting. No, they didn’t go out and reenact strange folk tale situations or test ballistics from film scenarios as you might see in the popular television show. Instead, they give personal accounts from the life experience that makes them qualified to answer burning questions such as: Can black people swim? Don’t all women really want children? Are bisexuals just gay people who are procrastinating? … and a question asked by only the most well-informed individuals… Do Jews have horns? Some may be shocked and amazed to hear tales of true polyamorous love, an Irish grandmother in the temperance movement, and that sometimes size matters (but not in the way most often assumed). The conversation takes on a host of misguided or outright appalling beliefs with some laughter (See: The Masculine Toilet) along with the serious intent to put to rest ideas that wound.

The personal is political in News of the Week as Robin talks about a recent object lesson in everyday racism at a New Jersey diner. Wendy reports about anti-vax enclaves that have led to outbreaks of chicken pox and measles. Later, everyone discusses the effect or non-effect of Mercury Retrograde. At the top of the show, some serious and not-so-serious things to be aware of or celebrated include Historic Bridge Awareness, Aviation History, Family Appreciation, Life Writing, Movember, and National French Toast Day. Also recognized are the launch of Mariner 4 on this day in 1964 and the first pulsar observed in 1967. Mary offers birthday acknowledgments for William Blake, Anna Nicole Smith, Randy Newman, Ed Harris, Karen Gillan, Jon Stewart, Berry Gordy, and others.

Check out the xkcd comic that Wendy mentions: “Family Decals”

Stan Lee and Marvel Comics characters — **Get Off My Lawn, Thanksgiving! (Episode 25)** Nov 21, 2018
Show notes

Finding Gratitude Beyond Obligation

It’s the day before Thanksgiving, and everyone at The Leftscape wishes a happy holiday to all who celebrate! Robin Renée, Wendy Sheridan, and Mary McGinley have things to be thankful for, though they are also well aware that the holidays can be fraught with inconvenient backstories and obligation. Wendy and Mary are tired of Thanksgiving as a day that demands large amounts of cooking and/or forced gratefulness. All take a moment to acknowledge that for many Native Americans it is a National Day of Mourning. Robin recalls holiday seasons past that were painful, and talks about how a daily practice of mindfulness can help generate genuine gratitude apart from any one grand day.

Some of the 2018 midterm election results that are still rolling in on the blue wave are reasons to be thankful. Among the winners celebrated are Ruth Buffalo, Democratic member-elect for the North Dakota House of Representatives, Andy Kim in New Jersey’s 3rd Congressional District, and Kyrsten Sinema who won an Arizona Senate seat. Great admiration is also in order for Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams’ continued fight for fair voting for all citizens. The Leftscape bids farewell and “Excelsior!” to Stan Lee who passed away at the age of 95. Also in the news, Indivisible has released a new guide to activism that addresses what we can do now that the House of Representatives will have a Democratic majority.

Things to celebrate: foods including banana pudding, pomegranates, sweet potato, stuffing, cookies, and “fun with fondue.” It’s also Jukebox Day, Red Mitten Day, and Tie One On Day. Birthday shout outs go to Rene Magritte, Isaac Bashevis Singer, Harold Ramis, Bjork, Dr. John, Goldie Hawn, Nicollete Sheridan, Alexander Siddig, and Brian Ritchie of Violent Femmes. In the “Why is this Awesome?” segment, Mary celebrates The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

**Things to do:**

Read “Thankless Thanksgiving: Why Being Ungrateful is Important”

Pick up Wendy Sheridan’s *Harlequin and Other Fantasies: Meditative Coloring Book for Grown-Ups*:

httpss://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2MsqdiHdios

Order or download *Holiday 2018* – 14 tracks by LGBT artists including Robin Renée’s “Hare Krishna Christmas.” All proceeds from *Holiday 2018* go to support Quest of Life Media and Broadcast, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting LGBT songwriters and musicians.

Holiday 2018 cover art — **Get Off My Lawn, Thanksgiving! (Episode 25)** Nov 21, 2018
Show notes

Finding Gratitude Beyond Obligation

It’s the day before Thanksgiving, and everyone at The Leftscape wishes a happy holiday to all who celebrate! Robin Renée, Wendy Sheridan, and Mary McGinley have things to be thankful for, though they are also well aware that the holidays can be fraught with inconvenient backstories and obligation. Wendy and Mary are tired of Thanksgiving as a day that demands large amounts of cooking and/or forced gratefulness. All take a moment to acknowledge that for many Native Americans it is a National Day of Mourning. Robin recalls holiday seasons past that were painful, and talks about how a daily practice of mindfulness can help generate genuine gratitude apart from any one grand day.

Some of the 2018 midterm election results that are still rolling in on the blue wave are reasons to be thankful. Among the winners celebrated are Ruth Buffalo, Democratic member-elect for the North Dakota House of Representatives, Andy Kim in New Jersey’s 3rd Congressional District, and Kyrsten Sinema who won an Arizona Senate seat. Great admiration is also in order for Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams’ continued fight for fair voting for all citizens. The Leftscape bids farewell and “Excelsior!” to Stan Lee who passed away at the age of 95. Also in the news, Indivisible has released a new guide to activism that addresses what we can do now that the House of Representatives will have a Democratic majority.

Things to celebrate: foods including banana pudding, pomegranates, sweet potato, stuffing, cookies, and “fun with fondue.” It’s also Jukebox Day, Red Mitten Day, and Tie One On Day. Birthday shout outs go to Rene Magritte, Isaac Bashevis Singer, Harold Ramis, Bjork, Dr. John, Goldie Hawn, Nicollete Sheridan, Alexander Siddig, and Brian Ritchie of Violent Femmes. In the “Why is this Awesome?” segment, Mary celebrates The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

**Things to do:**

Read “Thankless Thanksgiving: Why Being Ungrateful is Important”

Pick up Wendy Sheridan’s *Harlequin and Other Fantasies: Meditative Coloring Book for Grown-Ups*:

httpss://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2MsqdiHdios

Order or download *Holiday 2018* – 14 tracks by LGBT artists including Robin Renée’s “Hare Krishna Christmas.” All proceeds from *Holiday 2018* go to support Quest of Life Media and Broadcast, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting LGBT songwriters and musicians.

red and blue membership cards — **Revoked! (Episode 24)** Nov 14, 2018
Show notes

In Episode 24, Wendy Sheridan talks about a renewed sense of vulnerability and feeling that as a Jewish person her “provisional white card has been revoked” after the recent massacre at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh. It is a newly deepening awareness of a very old danger at work in the world. Wendy along with Robin Renée and Mary McGinley think out loud about the ingrained white supremacy and patriarchy in American society and how we might work to create change. They challenge themselves and others to find ways to erode anti-Semitism, racism, patriarchy and homophobia in everyday life in whatever ways possible.

Later, the conversation shifts to a feminist discussion of the 1966 Neil Simon musical and 1969 film *Sweet Charity* starring Shirley MacLaine with choreography by Bob Fosse. They take a look at its subject and subtext, style, shortcomings, and powerful depiction of female rage. At the top of the show, designated days, weeks, and months include COPD and PPSI (Pharmacists Planning Services Inc.) and AIDS Awareness Months, Fraud Awareness Week, Nurse Practitioner Week, Kindness Week, Dear Santa Letter Week, Hunger and Homeless Awareness Week, and Spicy Guacamole Day. Thursday is National Clean out Your Refrigerator Day. On this day in history, *Moby Dick* was published in 1851, in 1968 Yale University went co-ed, and in 1969 Apollo 12 launched en route to the moon with crew Commander Charles Conrad Jr, Richard F. Gordon Jr, and Alan L. Bean (Wendy met Alan Bean at space camp and Robin named a dog after Charles “Pete” Conrad.). It is the birthday of Edward White, Claude Monet, Aaron Copeland, McLean Stevenson, Patrick Warburton, Yanni, Nina Gordon of Veruca Salt, and Rev. Run of Run DMC.

**Things to do:**

Listen to the podcast Robin mentioned on the decreased commitment to democracy among young people and possible ways to re-energize interest in civic participation: *Radiolab*: “Tweak the Vote”

Watch “Big Spender” from *Sweet Charity*

httpss://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KE2TsAJKBwc

Sweet Charity starring Shirley MacLaine promo art — **Revoked! (Episode 24)** Nov 14, 2018
Show notes

In Episode 24, Wendy Sheridan talks about a renewed sense of vulnerability and feeling that as a Jewish person her “provisional white card has been revoked” after the recent massacre at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh. It is a newly deepening awareness of a very old danger at work in the world. Wendy along with Robin Renée and Mary McGinley think out loud about the ingrained white supremacy and patriarchy in American society and how we might work to create change. They challenge themselves and others to find ways to erode anti-Semitism, racism, patriarchy and homophobia in everyday life in whatever ways possible.

Later, the conversation shifts to a feminist discussion of the 1966 Neil Simon musical and 1969 film *Sweet Charity* starring Shirley MacLaine with choreography by Bob Fosse. They take a look at its subject and subtext, style, shortcomings, and powerful depiction of female rage. At the top of the show, designated days, weeks, and months include COPD and PPSI (Pharmacists Planning Services Inc.) and AIDS Awareness Months, Fraud Awareness Week, Nurse Practitioner Week, Kindness Week, Dear Santa Letter Week, Hunger and Homeless Awareness Week, and Spicy Guacamole Day. Thursday is National Clean out Your Refrigerator Day. On this day in history, *Moby Dick* was published in 1851, in 1968 Yale University went co-ed, and in 1969 Apollo 12 launched en route to the moon with crew Commander Charles Conrad Jr, Richard F. Gordon Jr, and Alan L. Bean (Wendy met Alan Bean at space camp and Robin named a dog after Charles “Pete” Conrad.). It is the birthday of Edward White, Claude Monet, Aaron Copeland, McLean Stevenson, Patrick Warburton, Yanni, Nina Gordon of Veruca Salt, and Rev. Run of Run DMC.

**Things to do:**

Listen to the podcast Robin mentioned on the decreased commitment to democracy among young people and possible ways to re-energize interest in civic participation: *Radiolab*: “Tweak the Vote”

Watch “Big Spender” from *Sweet Charity*

httpss://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KE2TsAJKBwc

Diwali lamps — **Light at the End of the Election (Episode 23)** Nov 08, 2018
Show notes

November is off to an intense start. Wendy Sheridan, Mary McGinley, and Robin Renée welcome listeners to the new month by wishing everyone a Happy NaNoWriMo, Happy National STEM/STEAM Day (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math), Happy (or Hairy) No Shave Month, and introduce some info on other celebrations and awareness days. But the main topic on everyone’s mind is the U.S. midterm election. After what seemed endless campaigning and ratcheted-up anxiety about the importance of outcomes, voters had their say on Tuesday, November 6th. Political and social activism can hardly afford a break for long, but taking time for a few breaths and a smile over some substantial successes is in order.

Robin and Wendy discuss election results, beginning with kudos to the winners in the New Jersey 2nd, 7th, and 11th Congressional districts and to the activists who helped make the victories happen. They talk about the good news of the House of Representatives being back under Democratic control. Tuesday night also turned out to be a good night for diversity, with victories for notable LGBTQ+, Native American, African-American, Latina, and Muslim candidates. There were some not entirely unexpected, but disappointing losses – Beto O’Rourke in Texas and Andrew Gillum in Florida chief among them, as Stacey Abrams is still fighting the good fight and has not yet conceded in Georgia. While far from creating ideal circumstances, the election results have given liberals and progressives reasons to be hopeful.

Later in the show, Robin interviews Biff Bam Pop! publisher, Andy Burns. Just on the heels of the Halloween season, his new book, *This Dark Chest of Wonders: 40 Years of Stephen King’s ‘The Stand*‘ is on its way from Cemetery Dance Publications. Andy shares about how he came to write the book and gives a bit of a Horror/Stephen King 101 for the uninitiated and offers perspective on the spectacle of U.S. politics from north of the border.

Birthday nods include Bram Stoker, Margaret Mitchell, Minnie Riperton, Bonnie Raitt, Rickie Lee Jones, Gordon Ramsay, Tom Anderson (MySpace Tom!), and Laura Jane Grace.

Happy Diwali to all those who are celebrating. May light triumph over darkness!

Things to do:

Read “The Year of Women of Color”

Observe Intersex Day of Remembrance and read this thread on biological sex as a spectrum.

Check out a ’70s classic:

httpss://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kE0pwJ5PMDg

Samhain Traditions (Episode 22) Oct 31, 2018

Show notes

This episode may start out with a bit of silliness as a nod to National Knock Knock Joke Day, but the main topic of the day is the reverent observation of Samhain. This most sacred and solemn of the Pagan holidays occurs at the time of the traditional Celtic new year, and for Pagans today it is a time to remember those who have died. For many, the day is a time for communing and celebrating with loved ones who have passed and for seeking insight through divination. It is a time for quietude in the dark time of the year in the Northern hemisphere, a time for reassessment, and for looking forward to renewal. Wendy Sheridan, Mary McGinley, and Robin Renée each talk about which Samhain customs speak to them most and how they navigate enjoying the secular version of the celebration, Halloween, in the same time frame. Robin shares a Samhain poem that you can read on her website, and the three co-hosts interpret readings using handmade Viking runes, The Shakespeare Oracle, and The Aquarian Tarot. Wendy gives little-known information about the artist behind the classic Rider-Waite Tarot, Pamela Coleman Smith.

In keeping with the Samhain and Halloween theme, October 31st is also National Magic Day and National Increase Your Psychic Powers Day. It is also Girl Scout Founder’s Day. In the news, there is “creativity” involved in voter suppression and there are dueling hexes and prayers at work fighting a political fight in the metaphysical realm. Birthday shouts go out for Peter Jackson, Ethel Waters, Al Paxton, John Candy, Michael Landon, Neal Stephenson, Bernard Edwards, Willow Smith, and Piper Perabo, who Mary is happy to have worked with on a very funny play by George Bernard Shaw.

Corrections: Mary and Wendy discuss how they were both right in Episode 21 about aspects of the plot of Sophie’s Choice. They each had selective memory, combined with some conflation with Hobson’s Choice.

Blessed Samhain and Happy Halloween!