Reevaluating Unhinged Women: From Bad Moms to Playboy Bunnies
Feminist Book Club: The Podcast
Release Date: 03/18/2025
Intro to Romance Books for Non-Romance Readers
Feminist Book Club: The Podcast
The romance genre is what keeps the book industry afloat, but where do you start if you’re not typically a romance reader? Join Renee, Mhairie, and Shoshana for a quick introduction to some of the terms used in the romance genre, plus recommendations for folks who don’t typically read romance. This episode is perfect for readers new to romance, confused by romance, or long-time romance readers looking for some fresh recommendations! Books mentioned: Resources mentioned: (Brooklyn...
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Feral and Hysterical: In conversation with Mother Horror
Feminist Book Club: The Podcast
The ‘ber months are here, so that means we’re reading horror. You know we read horror all year round, but we brought in the expert - Mother Horror herself! Tune in to hear Mhairie chat about horror books, women in horror, becoming an accidental author, and good old fashioned vibes reading. Books mentioned: - Sadie Hartmann - Peter Straub - Sadie Hartmann - V. E. Schwab - John Boyne - Elizabeth Macneal () - Monique Asher () - Trevor Noah (Audiobook is an Audible exclusive so we won’t link it, screw you Amazon!) - Silvia Moreno-Garcia () - Stephen...
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Man’s Best Friend? Thoughts on Sabrina Carpenter
Feminist Book Club: The Podcast
In this episode, Mhairie, Ashley, and Nox dive into the bold and provocative album art for Sabrina Carpenter’s Man’s Best Friend. The conversation explores the layered imagery, the cultural reception, and how it intersects with themes of power, desire, and kink. From feminist critique to playful banter, the hosts unpack how art can spark dialogue around pleasure, performance, and pushing boundaries. Support and follow our guest and host! Follow Ashley: // Follow Mhairie: // Follow Nox: // // This episode was edited and produced by Renee Powers on...
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Girl on Girl, Part II: Desire, Consent, & the Marketplace of Pleasure
Feminist Book Club: The Podcast
Join hosts Ashley, Mhairie, and Mariquita as they return for the much-anticipated follow-up to their deep dive into Girl on Girl by Sophie Gilbert. In this episode, the conversation moves beyond pop culture’s impact on women and digs into the murky intersection of porn, commodification, and the market’s influence on sexual agency. Prepare for a thoughtful and candid exploration of what it means to possess—and reclaim—real agency in a world that often packages sex and desire as products. Books Mentioned: Support and follow our guest and host! Follow Ashley: //...
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Affirming Masculinity with Jacob Tobia
Feminist Book Club: The Podcast
Ashley sits down with Jacob Tobia to discuss their book Before They Were Men. Together, they explore why Jacob avoids the phrase “toxic masculinity,” what healthier models of masculinity could look like, and how the different places Jacob has lived have shaped their views on gender and gender nonconformity. Books Mentioned: by Jacob Tobia Support and follow our guest and host! Follow Jacob: Follow Ashley: // This episode was edited and produced by Renee Powers on the ancestral land of the Dakota people. Original music by Learn...
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Girl on Girl: How Pop Culture Turned a Generation of Women Against Themselves
Feminist Book Club: The Podcast
Mariquita, Mhairie, and Ashley dive into , unpacking its most thought-provoking themes. In Part I, they explore how reality TV and social media have shaped generational beauty standards, question the pitfalls of so-called “empowerment” movements, and discuss how media literacy can equip the next generation to be both powerful and protected. Books Mentioned: Support and follow our hosts! Follow Mariquita: // Follow Mhairie: // Follow Ashley: // This episode was edited and produced by Renee Powers on the ancestral land of...
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The Hollow Half by Sarah Aziza
Feminist Book Club: The Podcast
Looking for your next beloved memoir? Rah and Ashley dive into by Sarah Aziza—a lyrical, layered exploration of queerness, family, conflict, and the passage of time. They unpack how Aziza weaves these themes into a deeply personal yet universally resonant narrative, and why savoring the book slowly made all the difference. Content Warnings: disordered eating, sexual assault, self-harm, social justice conflict Books Mentioned: by Roza Nozari by Lamya H by Samra Habib by Rashid Khalidi by Omar El Akkad Support and follow our hosts and guest! Follow...
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Nostalgic Summers and Prophetic Dystopia
Feminist Book Club: The Podcast
Our feminisms contain multitudes. First, Jordy shares some books and tv shows to ingest if you don’t want to watch The Summer I Turned Pretty on Amazon but still want the sweet nostalgic summer vibes. Then, Kenesma chats with Idrys Creed about her forthcoming book 14 Flags, a dystopian novel inspired by current events in the spirit of Octavia Butler. The Summer I Turned Pretty, minus the Bezos (0:22) Join Jordy for a jam-packed episode of book and TV show recommendations that give The Summer I Turned Pretty vibes without supporting Amazon. If you’re craving summer swoons,...
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Libraries Get It Right While We Get It Wrong
Feminist Book Club: The Podcast
In today’s two-part episode, you’ll hear some of our contributors take a deep dive into a smattering of library systems across the United States. It’s fascinating to compare and contrast different regions, especially in light of funding threats. Libraries certainly do it right. Then hear from a woman who did it all wrong–Rax King–as she discusses her new book Sloppy. Libraries Across America (0:22) Join Jordy, Shoshana, and Mariquita as they explore the contrasts between funding and accessibility to teen summer reading lists in urban and rural libraries across the U.S....
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Favorite Books of 2025 So Far (Mariquita and Kenesma's version)
Feminist Book Club: The Podcast
Mariquita and Kenesma dive into their top 5 favorite books of 2025 (so far—with six months of reading still ahead!). In this spoiler-free conversation, they highlight memorable quotes, unpack recurring themes, and explore what makes each of these reads so unforgettable. From powerful storytelling to characters that linger long after the last page, this chat is a celebration of books that moved, challenged, and inspired them. Whether you're looking for your next great read or just love hearing people geek out about books, this episode is for you. Books/Resources Mentioned: ...
info_outlineThe unhinged woman trope is undoubtedly one of our favorites, but what kind of woman gets to be unhinged and who gets a redemption arc? In this episode, Mariquita and Mhairie tackle those questions in a discussion about All of the Other Mothers Hate Me, then Yasi and Nox discuss two memoirs from former Playboy bunnies.
All the Other Mothers Hate Me (0:21)
Mariquita and Mhairie discuss the debut novel All the Other Mothers Hate Me by Sarah Harman and just why it is that we love the trope of the unhinged woman, generally, and the bad mommy, more specifically. As they talk, they look at who gets to claim these tropes, who doesn’t, and who doesn't even get to be seen in the first place.
Playboy Bunny Memoirs: Life Behind the Ears (23:52)
Yasi and Nox dive into the memoirs Down the Rabbit Hole by Holly Madison and Only Say Good Things by Crystal Hefner. In this conversation, they discuss both authors' personal experiences and struggles during their time in the Playboy empire, exploring the darker side of fame, identity, and self-discovery.
Books/Resources Mentioned:
All the Other Mothers Hate Me by Sarah Harman
Down the Rabbit Hole: Curious Adventures and Cautionary Tales of a Former Playboy Bunny by Holly Madison
Only Say Good Things: Surviving Playboy and Finding Myself by Crystal Hefner
Being Kendra: Cribs, Cocktails, and Getting My Sexy Back by Kendra Wilkinson
Support this episode’s hosts:
Follow Mariquita: Instagram // Threads
Follow Mhairie: Instagram // Bluesky
Follow Nox: Instagram // TikTok // Threads // YouTube
Follow Yasi: Instagram // Website
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This episode was edited and produced by Renee Powers on the ancestral land of the Dakota people.
Original music by Amarissa
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