Fainting Couch Feminists

Fainting Couch Feminists Episode 18: Trump's America Vs. Real America: Laura Anne Harris Talks About Life as a Professional Eavesdropper

Laura Anne Harris is a solo performer whose latest show, "Destiny USA," is based on her experiences working as a relay operator for the deaf and hard of hearing. The conversations she heard from strangers across America were at times beautiful, and at times infuriating. Trump says he knows "Real America"? Well, Laura heard it. Also in this episode: how "Nanette" is creating space for more women solo performers, what it's like to be forced to repeat racist remarks on-the-job, and why Glenn Weiss' proposal at the Emmys was . . . kind of a dick move.

Fainting Couch Feminists Episode 17: Neo Nazis, Women's Marches, and Serena Williams: Lutze Segu talks Intersectional Feminism

This is an alarm clock of an episode because it will wake you up—especially if you've ever claimed to be an "Intersectional Feminist." Lutze Segu is a multi-issue social justice activist and practitioner of Black queer Feminism, who discussed the difference between presenting yourself as a feminist, and actually participating in social activism.

Fainting Couch Feminists Episode 16: Peep Shows and Pornos: Alexandra Bischoff's Absurd, Intimate Performance Art

In this absurd and sensual episode, dear friend and performance artist Alexandra Bischoff joins Mica to chat about her former job at The Fantasy Factory (Canada's oldest sex shop franchise) and how it influenced her latest performance art pieces: "Peep Show Pop-Up" and "egg shells, egg shells." Ali also discusses her love of embroidering vintage porno mags, a practice that pays homage to two very traditional forms of female labour: embroidery and sex work.

Fainting Couch Feminists Episode 15: Fat Suits, Airbrushing, and the Shortcomings of #BodyPositive: A Convo with Megan Jones and Jocelyn Tennant

Today we're talking bodies. Friends of the podcast Jocelyn Tennant (a screenwriter and short fiction writer) and Megan Jones (a model and poet)join Mica in a conversation about how our experiences with fatness and thinness intersect. We also chat about body dysmorphia, binge eating, that preposterous new show "Insatiable," and how nice it would be to live in a world where "fat" doesn't mean "bad."

Fainting Couch Feminists Episode 14: I'm All Worked-Up About Bikinis and Their Terrifying History

Mica blazes through the (literally) nuclear history of bikinis, what they have come to mean culturally, and why tiny bathing suits can be simultaneously liberating and oppressive. Mica also delves into her personal history with bathing suits and church camp, her hatred of the bikini-and-high-heels combination, CGI asses on Instagram, and what a vain little product of the patriarchy she used to be.

Fainting Couch Feminists Episode 12: Dina Del Bucchia: Everything We Love and Hate About Rom Coms and Marriage

For better or for worse, it's wedding season! This love fest features Dina Del Bucchia, a writer, rom com expert, and self-identified small town bitch. Dina chats with Mica about how romance is represented on screen (and all the problems with that), how romance is represented in real life (and all the problems with that) and why marriage just isn't for her. Also included: jokes about penises, why "whimsy" is such a misunderstood concept, and why smart people can still enjoy stupid TV.

Fainting Couch Feminists Episode 10: Alba Sotorra: How an All-Female Battalion is Revolutionizing Syria

This episode features an interview with Spanish filmmaker and documentarian Alba Sotorra. Alba's latest film, Commander Arian, follows the title character and her journey alongside the Women's Protection Unit in Syria (the YPJ)—an all-female militia fighting to liberate the city of Kobane from ISIS. Alba chats with Mica about how these women are fighting for their right to exist, how they earn freedom on the frontlines, and why it's so important to solidarize with Syrian women. As Alba says, their fight is our fight, too.

Fainting Couch Feminists Episode 9: Mozhdah Jamalzadah: Risking Her Life for Feminism

This episode features Mozhdah Jamalzadah, an Afghan-Canadian pop-singer and talk show host deemed "Afghanistan's Oprah" by Time Magazine. In this interview, Mozhdah chats with host Mica about what it's like to prioritize social issues over your own safety (Mozhdah was forced to leave Afghanistan in 2012 because her talk show, which tackled taboo subjects like divorce and domestic abuse, made her vulnerable to extremist threats) and how her singing career was inspired by her political beliefs as opposed to an inherent love of music.

Fainting Couch Feminists Episode 8: She's Just So "Her": Live with Katie-Ellen Humphries!

Live from the back room of R&B brewing, comedian Katie-Ellen Humphries joins host Mica Lemiski to chat about the different roles we perform—whether on stage, through our art, or in our everyday lives. Also included: how NOT to deal with sexism in a writer's room, and why "I don't change for anyone" is not actually a very cool attitude.

Fainting Couch Feminists Episode 7: It's Time to Un-White

Alicia Elliot joins Mica on the couch to discuss why seeing yourself and your community lovingly represented in literature is so important, and also why colonialism sucks. Also included: Alicia reveals her favourite shade of lipstick, tells us why land acknowledgments can be so problematic, and discusses the Mohawk translation of "depression" and its significance to her.

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  • 43.1 Hair cover
    Room 43.1, Hair
    Edited by Chelene Knight

    In this issue:

    Sonja Boon, Kat Cameron, Jhilam Chattaraj, Chelsea Comeau, Nikka Cornelio-Baker, Unnati Desai, Kimberly Edgar, Sherine Elbanhawy, Kim Fahner, Chantal Gibson, Ali Jo, Tamara Jong, Samantha Jones, Angélique Lalonde, Shelby Lisk, Asli Mahdi, Hannah McGregor, Téa Mutonji, stephanie roberts, Zoe Imani Sharpe, Mallory Tater, Délani Valin, Cara Waterfall, Adrianne Williams, Susan Wismer

    .

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