Episode 9: Yoga, Cultural Appropriation, & Decolonizing Our Practice

05/03/16 • 70 min

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!

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Episode 8: Prince, Collective Mourning, & Public Space

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!

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Episode 10: Lifestyle Politics

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.