logo
episode-header-image
Jun 17
1h 13m

A Million Little Pieces x Life Writing w...

Witch, Please Productions
About this episode

As a podcast all about the zeitgeist, we've wanted to do an episode about James Frey's memoir A Million Little Pieces — and the 2005 controversy around it — for years. So when Traci Thomas (she/her) agreed to join us on Material Girls, we were thrilled to finally have the perfect guest to help us dig in.


Among numerous other accomplishments, Traci Thomas is the creator and host of the critically acclaimed literary podcast, The Stacks, as well as the writer behind the incredible Substack, Unstacked. Through her insights into celebrity book clubs, Oprah's cultural positioning in the early aughts, publishing norms and reader expectations, Hannah and Marcelle make sense of one of the most fascinating scandals of the last 20 years.


Note — if you don't care about the controversy, but you've always wanted to understand the differences between memoir, autobiography and auto-fiction, then you should give this episode a listen. :)


To learn more about Material Girls, head to our Instagram at instagram.com/ohwitchplease! Or check out our website ohwitchplease.ca. We'll be back next week with a Material Concerns episode, but until then, go check out all the other content we have on our Patreon at Patreon.com/ohwitchplease! Patreon is how we produce the show and pay our team! Thanks again to all of you who have already made the leap to join us there!


***


Material Girls is a show that makes sense of the zeitgeist through materialist critique* and critical theory! Each episode looks at a unique object of study (something popular now or from back in the day) and over the course of three distinct segments, Hannah and Marcelle apply their academic expertise to the topic at hand.


*Materialist Critique is, at its simplest possible level, a form of cultural critique – that is, scholarly engagement with a cultural text of some kind – that is interested in modes of production, moments of reception, and the historical and ideological contexts for both. Materialist critique is interested in the question of why a particular cultural work or practice emerged at a particular moment.


Music Credits:

“Shopping Mall”: by Jay Arner and Jessica Delisle ©2020

Used by permission. All rights reserved. As recorded by Auto Syndicate on the album “Bongo Dance”.


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Up next
Yesterday
Proactive Kinship with Hannah McGregor | Gender Playground
As we continue our July break, we are dropping into your feed with an episode of Gender Playground! If you don't yet know, Gender Playground is a show about the joys of gender-affirming care for kids — and it's hosted by Marcelle. We love this show and we’re currently releasing n ... Show More
48m 32s
Jul 1
Should I Quit Drinking? with Marcelle Kosman | The Real Question
As we mentioned last month, Material Girls is taking a summer break for the month of July! We’ll be releasing drop-in episodes from other podcasts that we think you'll enjoy. Today, we're sharing The Real Question: Should I Quit? — a podcast from our friends at Not Sorry. Marcell ... Show More
26m 6s
Jun 24
Material Concerns: Marcelle and Coach Have One-on-One Time Pt. I | Ad-Free
No Hannah on this episode! But we still have fun! So much fun, we didn't record a part two... The burnout is real, but we're still so sorry! Part two is coming by the end of the week! Please enjoy this one-on-one chat between Marcelle and Coach until then! And be sure to scoop ti ... Show More
29m 3s
Recommended Episodes
Oct 2024
JJS#200 - Tying Up Loose Ends
The 200th episode is finally here! Josh and Logan are looking back at four years of the JJS and thinking about what's changed and what hasn't. They also look back at a couple stories that Josh said he'd tell another time but never actually did. So now's the time! Josh tells a few ... Show More
1h 10m
Mar 2024
*PATREON PREVIEW* Things We Don't Do in Front of Our Partners
This is a preview of our new Patreon Exclusive episode. Subscribe to our Patreon to check out the full episode :www.patreon.com/whatsthejuice WTJ Merch : https://whatsthejuice.shop SUBSCRIBE ON YOUTUBE:https://youtube.com/@whatsthejuicepod/ FOLLOW US: WTJinstagram : https://www.i ... Show More
6m 36s
Oct 2024
this episode sucks
https://www.patreon.com/emergencyintercom join the Patreon for bonus episodes, q&a/topic submissions, livestreams, pay for ky's lobotomy we went to big sur and it was so beautiful it momentarily distracted us from the relentless marching of time and we are going to start hitting ... Show More
1h 26m
Aug 2024
OSPod Episode 100: Roman Wise-Guys, Cadmus, and 100 Episodes of the OSPod!
Happy 100 episodes! In a longer celebratory episode we recap 100 episode of the OSPod, all the questions, comments, and concerns we've answered over the years, and really take a swing for a big guest. Plus! Cadmus, Roman Wise-Guys, and more movies from Indigo!Our podcast, like ou ... Show More
1h 34m
Jul 2021
BIG NEWS! (No full episode this week. But this is still fun!)
Hi folks, we're taking the week off to get ahead of things here at PBO corporate. Use the break wisely and go check out an old episode you may have missed or, even better, send our show to a friend and introduce someone you love to how awesome we are! And come see us on tour in A ... Show More
7m 11s
Jun 10
Episode 344 - Week of June 2nd - 8th
No Kamar, no problem! Pat is back is the house to replace Kamar who is currently buying property out west. Sober Kamar cannot be stopped! Ok week, I guess. Minus the FBI shill... Enjoy! This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give therapy a try at betterhelp.com/jree and get on ... Show More
2h 37m
Aug 2024
398. Glizzy Overdrive
Get a 60-day free trial at shipstation.com/congrats. Thanks to ShipStation for sponsoring the show! 😮 Get a shoutout on this show at holler.baby/chrisdelia 🎤 MY SPECIAL: GROW OR DIE is here: chrisdelia.com/god 😏 Wondering where the missing episodes are? they're on Patreon: pat ... Show More
1h 5m
Jul 2024
Episode 299 - Week of July 15th - 21st
300 weeks ago (missed a week due to COVID) we sat down and recorded our first episode. Never did I think we be a week away from 300 episodes. Time is odd. Thanks for joining us for the ride! Enjoy! For advertising inquiries, please visit: https://www.advertisecast.com/TheJoeRogan ... Show More
2 h
Jun 2023
SE5 EP70: Seann & Mikey’s Not So Excellent Adventure (Part 2)
In this episode Seann Walsh, Mikey & Paul Mcaffrey follow on from Part 1 discussing their disaster trip to Washington DC! This is of course just a snippet of the full episode so if your enjoying it and want to hear the full discussion just head over to pattern using the link belo ... Show More
23m 17s
Nov 2024
412. Givin' Gawk
😮 Holler price drop! Get a shoutout on Congratulations for $40 for the next week: holler.baby/chrisdelia 🎤 MY SPECIAL: GROW OR DIE is here: chrisdelia.com/god 😏 Wondering where the missing episodes are? they're on Patreon: patreon.com/chrisdelia - Extended episodes + 1 whole e ... Show More
1 h