Big Reputations

37. Megan Thee Stallion

In this episode we discuss the unapologetically pro-woman rapper, Megan Thee Stallion. We talk about how she got into rapping, her relationship with her record label, and the ways in which the media has judged her based on how she looks and the lyrics to her songs. Then we consider how men (especially those in positions of power in the music industry) have felt entitled to Megan’s fame and money and the even more nefarious practice of misogynoir in the music industry. Finally we share some of Megan’s achievements in her relatively short career (so far!). 
Trigger warnings: Gun violence, racism
 
Follow the podcast:
Twitter: @BigRepPod
Instagram: @BigReputationsPod
 
Become a Patreon supporter: patreon.com/bigreputationspod
 
Merch: https://www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/86669619
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hosts: Kimberly Kunkle and Rebecca L. Salois
Logo Design: Samantha Marmolejo
Music: Shawn P. Russell
Sound Consultant and Mixing: Shawn P. Russell
Research: Kimberly Kunkle
Recording and Editing: Rebecca L. Salois
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Sources:
"These Female Rappers Don't Want to Be Defined by Industry Sexism. They’re Setting Their Own Rules," by Natalegé Whaley
"WAP – Women Empowerment or Objectification?" by Julia Ross
"Why I Speak Up for Black Women," by Megan Thee Stallion
Misogynoir Transformed: Black Women’s Digital Resistance, by Moya Bailey
The Motherlode, 100+ Women Who Made Hip Hop, by Clover Hope
"Girlhood Interrupted: The Erasure of Black Girls’ Childhood," by Rebecca Epstein, Jamilia J. Blake, and Thalia González
 

36. Dolly Parton

In this episode we discuss the phenomenal singer-songwriter, actress, and activist that is Dolly Parton. We consider some of the ways in which the media and audiences have perceived her over the years, especially as it relates to her socio-economic background and physical appearance. Then we look deeper into the things she has done, the reasons she has done them, and what she has done for the world in the name of kindness and for the greater good. Finally, we look at the ways in which she educates herself and those around her by taking accountability and making changes whenever she learns from her mistakes.
 
Follow the podcast:
Twitter: @BigRepPod
Instagram: @BigReputationsPod
 
Become a Patreon supporter: patreon.com/bigreputationspod
 
Merch: https://www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/86669619
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hosts: Kimberly Kunkle and Rebecca L. Salois
Logo Design: Samantha Marmolejo
Music: Shawn P. Russell
Sound Consultant and Mixing: Shawn P. Russell
Recording and Editing: Rebecca L. Salois
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sources:
"Dolly Parton’s Unusual Life Defies Everyone’s Expectations," by Shaoni Das
"Dolly Parton and Southern Womanhood / Race, Respectability, and Sexuality in the Mid-Century South," by Madalyn Bell
"The Parton Paradox: A History of Race and Gender in the Career of Dolly Parton," by Lindsey L. Hammers, 
Dolly on Dolly: Interviews and Encounters with Dolly Parton, edited by Randy L. Schmidt 
Dolly Parton, Songteller: My Life in Lyrics, by Dolly Parton
Dolly Parton: Here I Am

35. Diet Culture

In this episode we define and discuss Diet Culture, how it has affected us, and how it has affected and others. We tackle the history and origins of Diet Culture including how it has evolved to continue to terrorize us in modern times. Then we take a look at the impact the media has on our ways of thinking about Diet Culture, and the truth behind its hold on us as a society. To wrap up, we look at the damage Diet Culture has done to women and what we can do to avoid it.
Trigger warnings: eating disorders, fat shaming, diet talk
 
 
Follow the podcast:
Twitter: @BigRepPod
Instagram: @BigReputationsPod
 
Become a Patreon supporter: patreon.com/bigreputationspod
 
Merch: https://www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/86669619
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hosts: Kimberly Kunkle and Rebecca L. Salois
Logo Design: Samantha Marmolejo
Music: Shawn P. Russell
Sound Consultant and Mixing: Shawn P. Russell
Recording and Editing: Rebecca L. Salois
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sources:
The F*ck It Diet: Eating Should Be Easy, by Caroline Dooner
“Diet Culture: A Brief History” by the Social and Health Research Center in San Antonio, TX
"The Unbearable Weight of Diet Culture" by Jessica Teich
“The Long, Strange History of Dieting Fads,” by Melissa Wdowick
"Does the media's depiction of food feed into diet culture?" by Sarah Gill
“The Evolution of Diet,” by Ann Gibbons
Health at Every Size
 

Bonus: End of Year Recap and Bloopers 2022

In this episode, we look back at 2022. We started in July 2021, so this is our first full calendar year making this podcast and sharing it with you all. We recap our thoughts and experiences from the year, discuss our favorite episodes, look at some of the fun statistics about you, our listeners, and talk about the episodes we are looking forward to in the first half of next year. Then we drop in some of our bloopers from the second half of the year. We hope you find them as funny as we do, or that they at least make you laugh a couple of times!

34. Sofia (The Color Purple)

In this episode we discuss the character of Sofia from The Color Purple. We talk about her characteristics, her views on life, and her overall determination. Then we consider the different perspectives of characters such as Harpo, Celie, and the townspeople regarding Sofia and her behavior. Next we discuss the reception of this character in the context of both the novel and the film. Beyond looking at the perception of Sofia as a bully, we also cover the criticism of how Black men were portrayed. Finally we look beyond Sofia’s big reputation from her relationships with other women to the life events that made her who she was. 
Trigger warnings: Brief mentions of sexual abuse, physical violence
 
 
Follow the podcast:
Twitter: @BigRepPod
Instagram: @BigReputationsPod
 
Become a Patreon supporter: patreon.com/bigreputationspod
 
Merch: https://www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/86669619
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hosts: Kimberly Kunkle and Rebecca L. Salois
Logo Design: Samantha Marmolejo
Music: Shawn P. Russell
Sound Consultant and Mixing: Shawn P. Russell
Recording and Editing: Rebecca L. Salois
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sources:
The Color Purple, by Alice Walker
The Color Purple, 1985 Directed by Steven Spielberg, currently available on HBO Max
"Reflecting on ‘The Color Purple’ 35 Years After It Hit Theaters," by Mekeisha Madden Toby
 

33. Madonna Thunder Hawk

As Native American History Month comes to an end, we wanted to cover an incredible indigenous woman, Madonna Thunder Hawk. Madonna Thunder Hawk is a Native American civil rights activist. She is known for her leadership in the American Indian Movement (or AIM) and for her organization work against the Dakota Access Pipeline among other things. In this episode, we look at her work as an activist, protester, and reformer for Native American Rights and the motivations and controversies surrounding some of her involvement in various occupations. Then we dig a little deeper and consider how her advocacy work has helped preserve and improve the lives of Native women and children in particular. Finally we wrap up with some of the film, television, and books that include Thunder Hawk, mention her ongoing projects, and share a little advice from her to young Native people.
 
Follow the podcast:
Twitter: @BigRepPod
Instagram: @BigReputationsPod
 
Become a Patreon supporter: patreon.com/bigreputationspod
 
Merch: https://www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/86669619
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hosts: Kimberly Kunkle and Rebecca L. Salois
Logo Design: Samantha Marmolejo
Music: Shawn P. Russell
Sound Consultant and Mixing: Shawn P. Russell
Recording and Editing: Rebecca L. Salois
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sources:
Warrior Women Film website
Interview with Thunder Hawk on France 24’s “The Interview”
We Shall Remain: Part V - Wounded Knee
Indigenous Women Leaders Podcast: An Interview with Lakota Elder Madonna Thunder Hawk.
The Lakota People’s Law Project

32. Frida Kahlo

In this episode we discuss the Mexican artist Frida Kahlo. We spend some time on her early life before she turned to art, and her life leading up to her accident. Then we talk about her healing journey, her early art career, and her tumultuous relationship with Diego Rivera. Next we break down some of the labels that were assigned to Kahlo throughout her life and discuss why there might be more to them than meets the eye. Finally, we wrap up with a discussion of her impact on the art world, women’s role in society, and the LGBTQIA+ community.
Trigger warnings: sexual abuse, miscarriage,abortion, motor vehicle accident, attempted suicide
 
Follow the podcast:
Twitter: @BigRepPod
Instagram: @BigReputationsPod
 
Become a Patreon supporter: patreon.com/bigreputationspod
 
Merch: https://www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/86669619
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hosts: Kimberly Kunkle and Rebecca L. Salois
Logo Design: Samantha Marmolejo
Music: Shawn P. Russell
Sound Consultant and Mixing: Shawn P. Russell
Recording and Editing: Rebecca L. Salois
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sources:
"Frida Kahlo: Making Her Self Up," a virtual exhibit from Victoria and
Albert Museum
"Frida Kahlo and Appropriation of Indigenous Cultures," by Chris Gonzalez
Frida (2002), starring Salma Hayek, Alfred Molina, and Ashley Judd

31. Eartha Kitt

In this episode we discuss the one and only Eartha Kitt, an American actress and singer from the mid-twentieth century. We cover her rise to fame, from her early singing career to her role as Catwoman and beyond. Then we look at some of the factors that led to her being ostracized by Hollywood including one particular interaction with a certain first lady. Finally we talk about her involvement with activism, her support for the LGBTQIA+ community, and how she unknowingly opened doors for other Black actresses.
Trigger warnings: Abuse, rape, racism
 
Follow the podcast:
Twitter: @BigRepPod
Instagram: @BigReputationsPod
 
Become a Patreon supporter: patreon.com/bigreputationspod
 
Merch: https://www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/86669619
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hosts: Kimberly Kunkle and Rebecca L. Salois
Logo Design: Samantha Marmolejo
Music: Shawn P. Russell
Sound Consultant and Mixing: Shawn P. Russell
Editing: Rebecca L. Salois
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sources:
Catwoman vs. the White House”  Directed by Scott Calonico
Eartha & Kitt: A Daughter's Love Story in Black and White by Kitt Shapiro 
I'm Still Here: Confessions of a Sex Kitten by Eartha Kitt
Rejuvenate: It’s Never Too Late, by Eartha Kitt

30. Women in Leadership: The Workplace

In this episode, we discuss women in leadership. Specifically women in leadership positions in the workforce. We cover the history of women in the workforce, particularly in the US, including some of the first women in CEO positions. Then we consider the role that the media plays in perpetuating and breaking stereotypes of women in positions of leadership. We address words and terms that are often used to describe female leaders in the workplace, how they differ from those used to describe male leaders, and why this matters. Finally we wrap up with a conversation about gender inequality in leadership overall, the concept of “women’s work” in corporate jobs, and how labels for women in the workforce differ between women of different racial backgrounds.
 
Follow the podcast:
Twitter: @BigRepPod
Instagram: @BigReputationsPod
 
Become a Patreon supporter: patreon.com/bigreputationspod
 
Merch: https://www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/86669619
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hosts: Kimberly Fludd and Rebecca L. Salois
Logo Design: Samantha Marmolejo
Music: Shawn P. Russell
Sound Consultant and Mixing: Shawn P. Russell
Recording and Editing: Rebecca L. Salois
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sources:
The Fix: Overcome the Invisible Barriers That Are Holding Women Back at Work, by Michelle P. King
“Madam C.E.O., Get Me a Coffee” by Adam Grant and Sheryl Sandberg for the NYT
“Does the Media Influence How We Perceive Women in Leadership?” a study put out by the Rockefeller Foundation
 “The Different Words We Use to Describe Male and Female Leaders” by David G. Smith, Judith E. Rosenstein, and Margaret C. Nikolov (Harvard Business Review)
"The Crucial Role of Media in Achieving Gender Equality"
"Gender on the Homefront"

29. Eve

In this episode we discuss a legendary biblical figure, and the first women, Eve. We talk about her “alleged” sins and how it affected her and future generations. Then we cover how she has been depicted in both history and modern day pop-culture. Finally we wrap up by considering how different translations, literary studies, and science have challenged this biblical figure.
 
Follow the podcast:
Twitter: @BigRepPod
Instagram: @BigReputationsPod
 
Become a Patreon supporter: patreon.com/bigreputationspod
Merch: https://www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/86669619
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hosts: Kimberly Fludd and Rebecca L. Salois
Logo Design: Samantha Marmolejo
Music: Shawn P. Russell
Sound Consultant and Mixing: Shawn P. Russell
Recording and Editing: Rebecca L. Salois
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sources:
The Gospel According to Eve: A History of Women’s Interpretation, by Amanda W. Benckhuysen
The Rise and Fall of Adam and Eve, by Stephen Greenblatt
“The Trial of Eve” by Maya Wilson Autzen
“From the Garden of Eden to 'Killing Eve': Deconstructing the First Woman in Art,” by Lydia Figes
“Long Demonized in Art, Eve Has Become a Pop Culture Icon” by CaveArtFair