Messy Liberation: Feminist Conversations about Politics and Pop Culture - Problematic Faves (art vs. artist), Billionaire Ethics, and Navigating White Feminism

Problematic Faves (art vs. artist), Billionaire Ethics, and Navigating White Feminism

Explicit content warning

09/09/24 • 55 min

Messy Liberation: Feminist Conversations about Politics and Pop Culture

In this episode of Messy Liberation, hosts Becky Mollenkamp and Taina Brown dive headfirst into the murky waters of problematic favorites. From Kamala Harris' centrist policies to Taylor Swift's status as a billionaire, they explore how these public figures—who were once celebrated—raise ethical questions.

Key Discussion Points:

Problematic Faves: Kamala Harris is at the center of the conversation, with the hosts dissecting her stance on Palestine, centrist politics, and identity politics.
No Ethical Billionaires: The controversial statement that "there are no ethical billionaires" is applied to Taylor Swift, as Becky questions how billionaires accumulate wealth and its impact on climate change.
Separating Art from the Artist: Should we continue to celebrate the work of problematic figures like Michael Jackson and JK Rowling? Becky and Taina tackle the complexities of enjoying art from problematic creators and wrestle with the concept of ethical consumption.
White Feminism: The hosts don't hold back on critiquing peak white feminism, particularly when it shows up as support for high-profile figures like Kamala Harris.
Celebrity Hall Passes & Gender Politics: Things get lighthearted as they reveal their celebrity hall passes, while also discussing the ethics of white celebrities adopting Black children, shining a light on deeper issues of race and privilege.

Resources mentioned:

Be sure to tune in for a candid, sometimes messy, discussion on billionaire ethics, white liberalism, identity politics, and how we navigate the complicated relationships we have with our favorite celebrities.

Join the Conversation: Who are your problematic faves? Connect with us on social media or email us—we want to hear your thoughts!

Subscribe & Review:
If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and review Messy Liberation on your favorite podcast platform. Your support helps us continue to bring you insightful conversations and valuable content.

LEARN MORE:

Taina Brown WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM | THREADS
Becky Mollenkamp WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM | THREADS | FEMINIST FOUNDERS

Key Discussion Points:

Problematic Faves: Kamala Harris is at the center of the conversation, with the hosts dissecting her stance on Palestine, centrist politics, and identity politics.
No Ethical Billionaires: The controversial statement that "there are no ethical billionaires" is applied to Taylor Swift, as Becky questions how billionaires accumulate wealth and its impact on climate change.
Separating Art from the Artist: Should we continue to celebrate the work of problematic figures like Michael Jackson and JK Rowling? Becky and Taina tackle the complexities of enjoying art from problematic creators and wrestle with the concept of ethical consumption.
White Feminism: The hosts don't hold back on critiquing peak white feminism, particularly when it shows up as support for high-profile figures like Kamala Harris.
Celebrity Hall Passes & Gender Politics: Things get lighthearted as they reveal their celebrity hall passes, while also discussing the ethics of white celebrities adopting Black children, shining a light on deeper issues of race and privilege.

Resources mentioned:

Join the Conversation: Who are your problematic faves? Connect with us on social media or email us—we want to hear your thoughts!

LEARN MORE:

Taina Brown WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM | THREADS
Becky Mollenkamp WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM | THREADS | FEMINIST FOUNDERS

Previous Episode

Chappell Roan, Body Empowerment, and the Fight Against Diet Culture

Becky Mollenkamp and Taina Brown dive deep into the complex and often challenging journey of body liberation, body neutrality, and body positivity. They discuss their personal experiences with body image, health struggles, and how society's ever-changing beauty standards impact our relationships with our bodies. From the challenges of dealing with chronic illness like fibromyalgia and perimenopause to the liberating power of embracing body neutrality, this conversation is a candid exploration of what it means to live in a body that doesn’t always conform to societal expectations.

The episode also highlights the importance of trauma work in reconnecting with our bodies and finding true liberation. The hosts discuss the influence of pop culture, specifically Chappell Roan’s music, on the conversation around women’s pleasure and empowerment. They emphasize the significance of self-advocacy and staying true to oneself, whether in the pursuit of health or in the face of diet culture.

Key Discussion Points:

Body Liberation vs. Body Positivity vs. Body Neutrality: The hosts explore the nuances between these concepts and share their personal journeys toward body acceptance.
Trauma and the Body: How trauma can disconnect us from our bodies and the importance of trauma work in the journey toward body liberation.
The Impact of Chronic Illness: Taina’s experience with fibromyalgia and Becky’s with perimenopause, and how these conditions have influenced their relationships with their bodies.
The Influence of Society’s Beauty Standards: How changing beauty trends and diet culture can affect self-perception and the pursuit of body neutrality.
Lizzo, Chappell Roan and Women’s Empowerment: The role of pop culture, specifically Chappell Roan’s music, in challenging societal norms and promoting women’s pleasure and body empowerment.
Self-Advocacy and Perseverance: The importance of advocating for your own needs, both in health and in the broader context of living authentically.

Resources Mentioned:

LEARN MORE:

Taina Brown WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM | THREADS
Becky Mollenkamp WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM | THREADS | FEMINIST FOUNDERS

Next Episode

Abortion, Immigration, and Dog Whistles: Dissecting the Harris-Trump Debate

In this special bonus episode, Becky Mollenkamp and Taina Brown get messy while unpacking last night’s presidential debate. With raw honesty, humor, and some well-placed zingers, they break down Kamala Harris’ debate performance, Donald Trump’s unraveling, and what it all means for the upcoming election. While Kamala wiped the floor with her opponent, the hosts also explore their mixed feelings about her and the Democratic Party’s moderate stance. Expect sharp critiques, political insight, and a whole lot of shade thrown at mediocrity and narcissism in politics.

Key Discussion Points:

Kamala’s Debate Dominance: Becky and Taina both agree—Kamala Harris owned the stage. From shaking Trump’s hand to dismantling his weak talking points, Kamala’s experience as a litigator shined. They reflect on how refreshing (and long overdue) it was to have a woman discussing abortion rights in a presidential debate.
Abortion, Immigration, and... Eating Pets? Becky and Taina laugh, cringe, and rage at Trump’s bizarre claims, including the racist dog whistle about immigrants "eating cats and dogs." They dissect how Trump’s platform continues to rely on xenophobia, fear, and nonsense, while Kamala stays (mostly) on policy.
Narcissism and the ‘Unraveling’: The hosts discuss the classic narcissist behavior Trump displayed, from interrupting Kamala to unraveling after she cleverly baited him about his crowd sizes. Becky explains why Trump’s inability to control his outbursts was the beginning of the end for him in the debate.
Journalism Fails (Again): Both Becky and Taina express their frustration with the debate's moderators and media for not holding Trump accountable enough—especially when his mic wasn't muted, despite the rules.
Progressive Disappointment: Becky and Taina dive into their complicated feelings about Kamala Harris. They respect her as a candidate but struggle with the Democratic Party’s pandering to moderates and Zionists. They discuss the need for a viable third party that represents true progressive values, beyond the capitalist and centrist agenda of the Democrats.
Taylor Swift’s ‘Brave’ Endorsement? Becky and Taina call out Taylor Swift for her delayed endorsement of Kamala Harris and her contradictory friendship with Brittany Mahomes, a Trump supporter. They challenge the idea that Swift’s endorsement was brave, pointing out the stark choices in this election and why complicity isn't an option.

Resources Mentioned: