The Oral History Podcast » podcast

Episode 17: We discuss craft issues and questions involved in YA sex scenes, whether you’re reading them or writing them, and reference several titles in the process.

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SHOW NOTES

Our Current Reads

Carrie:

Women In Clothes, by Sheila Heti, Heidi Shulavits and Leanne Shapton
Unbroken Brain: A Revolutionary New Way of Understanding Addiction, by Maia Szalavitz
The Careful Undressing of Love, by Corey Ann Haydu

Christa:

The Imperfectionists, by Tom Rachman
Underground Railroad, by Colson Whitehead
Never Look An American in the Eye: A Memoir of Flying Turtles, Colonial Ghosts, and the Making of a Nigerian American, by Okey Ndibe
Rani Patel in Full Effect, by Sonia Patel

Announcements

— Our TinyLetter serves as a companion piece for each episode and guess what: you can subscribe here

— We’re working on an episode about censorship and YA fiction, and how this has occurred at any point in the publication or distribution process, whether you are an author, editor, teacher or librarian. We can keep each submission anonymous if preferred. We’d love to hear from you! Email here.

“Let’s break it all down for you.”

Books and Other References

Thief of Shadows, by Elizabeth Hoyt
Wintersong, by S. Jae-Jones
Plus One by Elizabeth Fama
Graceling by Kristin Cashore
The Black Dagger Brotherhood series ,by J.R. Ward
My Year Zero, by Rachel Gold
Three Truths and A Lie, by Brent Hartinger
Underneath Everything, by Marcy Beller Paul
“Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” by Joyce Carol Oates
Smooth Talk movie
“Welcome to the New America: Straight-ish, heteroflexible, and pansexual”
See No Color, by Shannon Gibney
The Cheating Episode that Carrie’s “condom stalemate” anecdote referenced
The concept of lunarception

Episode 12: We discuss traditional cultural lessons regarding masculinity and YA titles that address masculinity in fascinating ways.

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SHOW NOTES

Our Current Reads

Christa
The War That Saved My Life, by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
Fates & Furies, by Lauren Groff
Carrie:
Raging Star, by Moira Young
The Narcotic Farm, by Nancy D. Campbell

“As an underclassman who suddenly has to be the quarterback while taking care of my grandmother and having no parents, I’m here to say being a man is complicated.”

References
2nd Annual WriteLadyHeadRight Flash Fiction Tumblr & submission guidelines
My So-Called Life: the scene when Jordan Catalano holds Angela’s hand
on the slobby dress of men & the movie Clueless
Anatomy of a Country Music Song series
Angie Manfredi on Twitter @misskubelik
Iron John: A Book About Men, by Robert Bly
Starhawk, author & activist
a collection of romance novels edited by Christa
“Best Of Grindr” on Instagram
Sabaa Tahir on research and world-building in An Ember in the Ashes

“Sure I get the ladies but I basically have no education or idea of what to do with my life post-football. So, yeah.”

Recommended Reads
Fever Pitch, by Heidi Cullinan
Jellicoe Road, by Melina Marchetta
All-American Boys, by Jason Reynolds & Brendan Kiely
Winger, by Andrew Smith
September Girls, by Bennett Madison
An Ember in the Ashes, by Sabaa Tahir

Want more? Subscribe to our accompanying TinyLetter for further discussion on this episode!

Episode 11: We discuss some of the books that helped shape our own sexual education and thinking over the years.

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Our Current Reads
Christa
The Theory of Everything by Gae Polisner

Carrie
The Spymaster’s Lady by Joanna Bourne
Rogue Spy by Joanna Bourne
An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir

“everything you’re saying is so resonant and deep and important; never stop talking...”

References
In Bed with Susie Bright podcast
On Our Backs magazine
writer Carol Queen
Susie Sexpert’s Lesbian Sex World by Susie Bright
Mother-Daughter Sex Advice by Susie Bright & Aretha Bright
A Natural History of Love & A Natural History of the Senses by Diane Ackerman
Leatherfolk: Radical Sex, People, Politics, and Practice edited by Mark Thompson
a bit on Jocelyn Elders, former SURGEON GENERAL (not Attorney General candidate, that’s Carrie’s error)
Disgruntled by Asali Solomon
Sula by Toni Morrison
The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
“Penis Passion” essay by bell hooks
The FetLife website

“wow, yr both really turning me around on a lot of topics here”

Recommended Reads
Full Exposure by Susie Bright
Woman: An Intimate Geography by Natalie Angier
Outrageous Acts & Everyday Rebellions by Gloria Steinem
The Best American Erotica anthology series edited by Susie Bright & others
Harmful to Minors: The Perils of Protecting Children from Sex by Judith Levine
Cunt: A Declaration of Independence by Inga Muscio

Episode 10: We discuss illicit relationships where there is a power differential between the people involved, as well as legal and social restrictions.

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Our Current Reads
Carrie
Walk On Earth A Stranger by Rae Carson
The Master by Kresley Cole

Christa
Traffick by Ellen Hopkins
The Death and Life of Zebulon Finch, Volume I: At the Edge of Empire by Daniel Kraus

the power & control wheel

References
being on “the down low”
“Is This TMI?” flash fiction
Drowning Instinct by Ilsa J. Bick
Boy Toy by Barry Lyga
Flawed by Kate Avelynn
Forbidden by Tabitha Suzuma
How I Live Now by Meg Rosoff
Searching for Caleb by Anne Tyler
Other Broken Things by Christa Desir

Recommended Reads
Consent by Nancy Ohlin
Girl by Blake Nelson
How We Fall by Kate Brauning
Out of Darkness by Ashley Hope Perez
The Sacred Lies of Minnow Bly by Stephanie Oakes
Still Waters by Ash Parsons

Tell us what you think! Leave a comment or send us an email: feedback AT theoralhistorypodcast DOT com

Episode #6: We discuss that most taboo sex act, the Greatest Love of All, masturbation.

Subscribe in iTunes here; listen via Stitcher here.

Current Reads
– Christa: just finished The F-It List by Julie Halpern; now reading My True Love Gave To Me: Twelve Holiday Stories by Various YA Authors
– Carrie: just finished The Alex Crow by Andrew Smith & The Summer Prince by Alaya Dawn Johnson; now reading By Its Cover by Donna Leon

References
– Dahlia, the Twitter reference = Dahlia Adler, YA/NA Author
– Betty Dodson’s main site w/ Carlin Ross, plus their YouTube channel and the video Carrie referenced where Betty draws the internal clitoral structure
– Jaclyn Friedman’s main site and podcast “Fucking While Feminist” & book What You Really Really Want: The Smart Girls Shame-Free Guide to Sex & Safety
– Susie Bright’s podcast: “In Bed with Susie Bright” (free episodes via iTunes; subscribe via Audible)

A Few Other Smart Women Who Write About Sex
– Carol Queen
– Chelsea G Summers
– Tristan Taormino

On Euphemisms & Masturbation
– Euphemism Generator site
– Some slang for masturbation (FYI, this is a Reddit thread)
– Beautiful Agony Tumblr (masturbation images from the neck up)

Books Mentioned
Bastard Out of Carolina by Dorothy Allison
The Color Purple by Alice Walker
Push by Sapphire
Cunt: A Declaration of Independence by Inga Muscio