Mike tells Sarah how a 20-year-old singer, actress and French horn player became Miss America with less than six months of practice. Digressions include Ted Bundy, Stephen King’s “It” and a bonus debunking of the "bra-burning feminist" trope. We're sorry to say that this episode includes a description of child sexual abuse.
Support us:Subscribe on Patr ... Show More
Sep 15
Back to School with Gabe Henry
Who will you be this year? No matter your age, it’s likely that your body remembers the school calendar, and with the blooming aisles of binders and pencils and backpacks, it’s easy to feel like a nervous, hopeful kid waiting for that first day back in class. For this episode, An ... Show More
1h 13m
Sep 1
Ballet with Megan Burbank
Megan Burbank’s gotta dance. The centuries-old dance style known as ballet has been stereotyped in our modern world with images of refined, wispy, frighteningly disciplined young women fighting viciously for roles in ethereal productions. For this episode, Adult Dance Corresponde ... Show More
1h 12m
Mar 2020
159: Vanessa Williams, Whitney Houston and Hollywood’s Misogynoir Problem (Make Me Over, Episode 8)
In 1983, Vanessa Williams became the first black woman to win Miss America. In 1984, a few weeks from the end of her reign, she was forced to step down when she found out Penthouse was going to publish unauthorized nude images of her in their magazine. Williams went on to have a ... Show More
37m 5s
Aug 2024
Chapter 48: It's A Party In The Miss Grand USA
In the world of beauty pageants, you have to be physically and mentally ready to wear the crown-- and falling down and getting back up is all part of the game. Rachel invites the first openly bisexual Miss USA and Director of the Miss Grand USA Pageant, Rachel Slawson, plus this ... Show More
46m 29s
Aug 2024
The TRUTH About Miss America
Sasha Sloan was the 100th anniversary Miss Utah, and a top 10 contender at the 100th Miss America competition. Sasha is very passionate about the Miss America organization, and she is thrilled to tell us what it is really like! What goes into it, what is required, and what exactl ... Show More
1h 1m
Jul 2023
Gender, Drag and Beauty Pageants with Laurie Greene
I delve into the world of gender and drag performance and beauty pageants with Professor Laurie Greene, author of Drag and Beauty Pageants: Performing Femininity in the World’s Playground. We chat about playing into as well as subverting gender norms, camp sensibilities, and the ... Show More
34m 39s