Feminist Killjoys, PhD

Melody sits down with scholar & UK/European citizen Elena Hristova-Benge to discuss her views on England's vote to leave the European Union. She offers insight into problematic media coverage surrounding Brexit and also contextualizes the decision in relation to xenophobia, colonization, and more.

Melody and Raechel needed a break from the heaviness of the state of things, so they decided to travel back to the late 90s for some AOL-era survey questions! Admittedly, they still manage to talk about some heavy stuff--(CN: brief discussion of Michael Jackson's history of child sexual abuse)--and kill some joy, but overall it's a pretty light episode full of laughs and getting to know more about your two fave feminist hosts! <3 Plus our regular installments of Who's Ruining the Dinner Party? and our RWLs of the week!

Today Melody and Raechel reflect on the tragedy in Orlando when 49 queer, mostly Latinx, lives were lost and 53 more injured. In the discussion they talk about the problems with the media representation of the event, specifically the erasure of Latinx identity, the inaccurate representation of motive, the perpetuation of Islamophobia, and blatantly ignoring our racist, homophobic country's complicity in this. In addition, we discuss a bit about the history of the Queer Liberation movement, specifically as it relates to gay bars, and what it means to live alongside grief as queer people. Plus, check-ins and our RWLs of the week.

In today's episode, Mel & Raechel talk about their responses to the news that Hillary Clinton will be the Democratic nominee for President and what it would mean to vote for Jill Stein instead. Joining them to discuss this is Keegan O'Brien, an organizer with the International Socialist Organization and teacher in the Boston area. Plus, Mel & Raechel check-in about their weeks, and, as always, share what they are Reading/Watching/Listening to. xo

<3 <3 <3 Subscribe on iTunes & leave a review! Follow us on Instagram! And Facebook! And Twitter! Check out our Feminist Killjoys, PhD Mixtape and Spotify! Have some extra dollars and want to support feminist media-makers? Consider donating to our Patreon or as a one-time thing at our website. And of course, feel free to email Melody back in 2004 at fkj.phd@gmail.com <3 <3 <3 Help us Meet our June Goal: 400 FB followers, and 15 iTunes reviews! Also! Please forgive the static in this episode. We're working on raising enough funds to get some better equipment, but for now we're running into some issues. The static is off and on, feel free to fast forward through the tough parts (we edited as much as we could). Today, Melody and Raechel talk about a bunch of stuff in the news that has made them very angry killjoys. After going two weeks without recording together, M & R enjoyed getting back to ranting about injustice. Tune in to hear them discuss Jet Blue slut shaming, Harambe the Gorilla, guns and the UCLA school shooting, sexual assault in higher ed, and more. Plus a shout out to Ali (RIP), and what they are Reading/Watching/Listening to!

In this episode, Melody talks about her trip to Guatemala. In true killjoy fashion, Melody delves into issues of white privilege, white wealth, and the “ugly tourist.” Her analysis is rooted in Jamaica Kincaid’s essay “A Small Place.”

<3 <3 <3 Please listen on iTunes, subscribe, and leave a review! <3 <3 <3 Mel is in Guatemala this week so Raechel had the pleasure of sitting down with media studies scholar Melissa ("Mish") Zimdars! Raechel asks Mish to share her analysis of representations of fatness in the media (and the intersections of race, gender, and disability), fat acceptance, and the social construction of health as a moral imperative. See below for more resources!

Today Melody and Raechel invite you to not listen to this episode of the podcast in favor of instead listening to the podcasts hosted Black women who have discussed Beyonce's Lemonade, as their perspectives are more important than ours. That said, if you want to listen to ours after you listen to those , know that our discussion is about the important and smart perspectives we've read, listened to, and learned from Black women. Specifically, we discuss bell hooks' response to the release, and Black feminist responses to perceived femme-antagonism. ALSO! Who's Ruining the Dinner Party (Raechel says it's women who police other women's language, but Mel disagrees), AND Mel's Feminist Pick of the Month: Rihanna.

Today Melody and Raechel talk about lifestyle politics. What are they, how we do/don't participate, and whether or not it's an effective way to create social change. (TLDL: the revolution will not be purchased....But, maybe we should try to live more ethical lives anyway?) ALSO! Dreams about Prince, working too much, and how media coverage is ruining the WNBA.

In today's episode, Melody and Raechel discuss their relationship to yoga. Raechel is a teacher and student of yoga, and Mel is a devoted student as well. But as critical scholars and activists, both struggle with being white Westerners participating in a practice that has been so commodified from its original roots in India. Throughout the episode, they reflect on whether or not practicing is a type of cultural appropriation, the roots of yoga and how it changed during the British occupation of India, and how, if at all, Western yogis can "decolonize" our practice. Also: Mel bought Drake tickets and Raechel had an awesome morning. Plus, return of Who's Ruining What? and What We're Reading/Watching/Listening To!

In episode 8, Raechel and Melody reflect on the death (and life) of Prince and what it means to collectively grieve (and celebrate) a star with whom so many people have a connection. What does it mean to lose someone we didn't know personally, but who touched our lives, as a musician ,a humanitarian, and a sex & gender icon? How does a celebrity death unite people? How does public memorializing alter the boundaries of public and private space? We reflect on all this, PLUS: our respective schools' spring plays, and what we're listening to/reading/watching!

Today Melody and Raechel play the "Things We Have in Common/Things We Don't" game, and reflect on being vegan, activist Beliebers who have differing opinions on gluten and high heels. Also, a lengthy discussion about being Aquarians and our relationship to astrology. Check-ins include updates on dance clubs and retirement parties, and we're back with our recurring segment, "Who's Ruining What?"! Also, we are super excited to bring your our feminist pick of the week, the Rise & Resist podcast! Raechel is so thankful Lacy and Holly fill the airwaves with posi, feminist, body-love. Listen and subscribe to these babes if you want a weekly hour of all things fitness, feminism, and just general ideas on how to be stoked af about your body and your life. <3

Today, Raechel and Melody get a bit more serious to talk about vulnerability and emotion in the classroom. We discuss navigating our personal feelings on heavy, and sometimes triggering and/or highly difficult, topics in front of our students. How do we get through conversations about #BlackLivesMatter, suicide, and sexual assault and still be "professional"? When might vulnerable emotion be productive? Isolating? We reflect on these questions and many more. Also check-in updates (Mel played video games in class; Raechel gave a speech for her GSA), and What We're Reading and What We're Listening to On Repeat!

Melody and Raechel discuss all things Drake. Also a discussion of power bottoms, cultural appropriation, Jamar Clark, plus What We're Listening To & What We're Reading!

In episode 4, Raechel and Melody define terms and concepts that may be unfamiliar to some audience members, including: queer, cisgender, neoliberalism, among others. Also a discussion of recent transphobic bathroom bills and our Feminist Pick of the Month!