Big Reputations

19. Abuela Madrigal

In this episode, we discuss Alma “Abuela” Madrigal, matriarch of the Madrigal family and antagonist of the 2021 Disney film, Encanto. After a brief background on the film, its creators, the history behind it, and the character herself, we explore the different characters' relationships with Abuela. We then consider audience perspectives on the character including some who consider her a villain or, at the very least, do not believe she can be easily redeemed. Finally, we address some of the reasons we think that she is the way she is, including issues related to generational trauma, fear of losing the miracle, and even concerns over aging, death, and the future of her family.
Follow the podcast:
Twitter: @BigRepPod
Instagram: @BigReputationsPod
 
Merch: https://www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/86669619
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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
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Sources:
"Encanto Movie Cast & Crew on the New Disney Film," by Jenna Busch
"Why Therapists ARE Talking about Bruno - and all the other Encanto Characters," by Catherine E. Shoichet
"Unpopular Opinion: Abuela Alma Madrigal from ‘Encanto’ Is *NOT* a Villain," by Meryl Medel
"Encanto: 10 Unpopular Opinions About Abuela, According To Reddit," by Angel Shaw
"What Is Generational Trauma? Here's How Experts Explain It.," by Claire Gillespie
"How Turning Red and Encanto Approach Toxic Perfectionism," by Rachel Johnson

18. Jane Fonda

In this week's episode we discuss actress Jane Fonda, her life, her career, and her activism. We look at her early experiences including her marriages and the activism she engaged in during the Vietnam war. As part of this we consider how the media treated what was likely an honest mistake. Next we reevaluate the labels she was given throughout her life and see what more was happening behind the scenes. Finally we wrap up with how she has actively tried to make changes for women in Hollywood, stood up for the underdog, and used her voice and platform to further what she considers important 21st century activism.
Trigger warnings: suicide, depression, sexual assault
 
Follow the podcast:
Twitter: @BigRepPod
Instagram: @BigReputationsPod
 
Merch: https://www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/86669619
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hosts: Kimberly Fludd and Rebecca L. Salois
Logo Design: Samantha Wallace
Music: Shawn P. Russell
Sound Consultant and Mixing: Shawn P. Russell
Recording and Editing: Rebecca L. Salois
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Sources:
Jane Fonda in Five Acts
My Life So Far, by Jane Fonda 
"Jane Fonda After Death and Divorce" an interview with Anna Sale for WNYC
"From 'Hanoi Jane' to the Workout: A Brief History of Jane Fonda's Activism" by Mahita Gajanan for Time Magazine

17. Anita Hill

In this episode we discuss the one and only Anita Hill, her family life, her schooling, and how she came to work in law. Then we dig into how she came to testify during the nomination of future Supreme Court justice Clarence Thomas and what the media and congressional leaders said about her. After that we consider why Hill spoke up in the first place, others who had gone through similar things with Thomas, and the ways in which people attempted to discredit her experience. Finally we wrap up with Hill’s legacy and how her experiences shaped those of other women who suffered from sexual harassment as well including Christine Blasey Ford and many women who came forward during the #MeToo campaign
Trigger warnings: Sexual harassment
Follow the podcast:
Twitter: @BigRepPod
Instagram: @BigReputationsPod
 
Merch: https://www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/86669619
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hosts: Kimberly Fludd and Rebecca L. Salois
Logo Design: Samantha Wallace
Music: Shawn P. Russell
Sound Consultant and Mixing: Shawn P. Russell
Recording and Editing: Rebecca L. Salois
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Sources:
“How History Changed Anita Hill,” by Jeenah Moon for The New York Times 
Speaking Truth to Power by Anita Hill
Anita: Speaking Truth to Power directed by Freida Mock on Amazon Prime
Confirmation, starting Kerry Washigton on HBO Max  

16. Alexandria Ocasio Cortez

In this episode, we look at Alexandria Ocasio Cortez, a US congresswoman from New York’s 14th district, and the youngest woman elected to congress. We talk about her life prior to her political career, the reactions to her congressional win, and her approach to political leadership. Then we move beyond her big reputation and take a look at the her many accomplishments as a congresswoman. And finally we discuss the impact Ocasio-Cortez has had on her district in New York City, on Washington, and on the country at large.
Follow the podcast:
Twitter: @BigRepPod
Instagram: @BigReputationsPod
 
Merch: https://www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/86669619
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hosts: Kimberly Fludd and Rebecca L. Salois
Logo Design: Samantha Wallace
Music: Shawn P. Russell
Sound Consultant and Mixing: Shawn P. Russell
Recording and Editing: Rebecca L. Salois
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sources:
AOC: The Fearless Rise and Powerful Resonance of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, edited by Lynda Lopez
Knock Down the House, directed by Rachel Lears
"Adrift, Broke, and Disillusioned: How a Struggling Bartender Became the Face of a Resurgent Left," by Lisa Miller for New York Magazine
"How Much Has Your ZIP Code Determined Your Opportunities?" by Nicole Daniels for the New York Times

15. Women’s History Month

This week we discuss Women’s History Month. We dig into the history on the topic, including when it started, who started it, and what changes have taken place over the last several decades. Then we discuss the role the media plays in how we understand, honor, and celebrate the month. But we also touch on the performative nature of the media in terms of Women’s History Month celebrations. We then explore some of the many issues that still exist for women even with the advent of Women’s History Month including racial representation, trans representation, and more. Finally, we address the impact that Women’s History Month has had on our society. We talk about the need to uplift the feminine as much as the masculine, and the need to continue the fight for equity. And finally, we ask, how should we celebrate Women’s History Month?
Follow the podcast:
Twitter: @BigRepPod
Instagram: @BigReputationsPod
 
Merch: https://www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/86669619
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hosts: Kimberly Fludd and Rebecca L. Salois
Logo Design: Samantha Wallace
Music: Shawn P. Russell
Sound Consultant and Mixing: Shawn P. Russell
Recording and Editing: Rebecca L. Salois
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sources:
Happy International Women’s Day! Have a Sticker By Jessica Powell
Here’s Why We Don’t Need a Men’s History Month, by Cathy Ching 
Reflections on Women’s History Month, by Rutgers Faculty 
The National Women’s History Alliance’s Commitment on Anti-Racism
How Do Women Feel About Women’s History Month? Conflicted. by Erin Spencer
The Trouble with Women’s History Month, by Maureen Costello

14. Ursula

In This Episode we discuss our first Disney villain: Ursula, the sea witch from The Little Mermaid. We summarize the film for anyone not familiar  and then we discuss her background and how she came to be ostracized by the rest of the sea creatures and merfolk. We analyze Ursula’s design (and the general design of Disney villains) and how that played into audience perceptions of her. And finally, we dive a bit below the surface (under the sea, if you will) and discuss why there’s more to Ursula than we maybe thought. 
Follow the podcast:
Twitter: @BigRepPod
Instagram: @BigReputationsPod
 
Merch: https://www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/86669619
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hosts: Kimberly Fludd and Rebecca L. Salois
Logo Design: Samantha Wallace
Music: Shawn P. Russell
Sound Consultant and Mixing: Shawn P. Russell
Recording and Editing: Rebecca L. Salois
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Sources:
Reclaiming Conch: In Defense of Ursula, Fairy Octomother, by Brigit McCone
Why Ursula Is So Important in The Little Mermaid, by Katherine Cusumano 
Why Ursula Is the Real Hero of “The Little Mermaid” by Ariane Lange 
Beasts of the Deep: Sea Creatures and Popular Culture, edited by Jon Hackett and Sean Harrington

13. Typhoid Mary

In today's episode, we discuss Mary Mallon (not Malone, although we do mispronounce it for the first 15 minutes or so - we promise Kim corrects us part way through!), an Irish-born American cook who is commonly referred to as Typhoid Mary. She earned this nickname because it is believed that she spread typhoid fever to dozens of people throughout NYC. We then talk about the public perception of Mallon by addressing some of the infections that she was thought to have caused, her arrest, and her decades long isolation. Next we dig a little deeper into what it means that she was a “healthy carrier,” and how the health technology of the time affected how she was treated. But we also look at how other “healthy carriers” from that time were treated and what differentiated them from Mallon (you'll never guess! lol). Finally, we  address the overall impact that Mallon’s situation had on the medical world and beyond.
Follow the podcast:
Twitter: @BigRepPod
Instagram: @BigReputationsPod
 
Merch: https://www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/86669619
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hosts: Kimberly Fludd and Rebecca L. Salois
Logo Design: Samantha Wallace
Music: Shawn P. Russell
Sound Consultant and Mixing: Shawn P. Russell
Recording and Editing: Rebecca L. Salois
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sources:
“‘Typhoid Mary’ Strikes Back Bacteriological Theory and Practice in Early Twentieth-Century Public Health" by Judith Walzer Leavitt
The Cook Who Became a Pariah by Anna Faherty
"Mary Mallon (1869-1938) and the history of typhoid fever," from the Annals of Gastroenterology
"The Doctor Who Championed Hand-Washing And Briefly Saved Lives" for NPR

12. Pamela Anderson

In this week's episode, we discuss Pamela Anderson, a Canadian-American actress and model. She is known for her numerous appearances in Playboy magazine and for her work on television series such as Home Improvement, VIP, and most notably, Baywatch. We look at how she was portrayed in the media, particularly after the non-consensual distribution of her sex tape with her then husband Tommy Lee. Then we consider some of the truths beyond what the media focused on, including reactions from Anderson and Lee to their infamous sex tape. Finally we wrap up with what Anderson is up to today including the different ways in which she participates in global and local activism.
 
Trigger warnings: Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault
 
Follow the podcast:
Twitter: @BigRepPod
Instagram: @BigReputationsPod
Merch: https://www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/86669619
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hosts: Kimberly Fludd and Rebecca L. Salois
Logo Design: Samantha Wallace
Music: Shawn P. Russell
Sound Consultant and Mixing: Shawn P. Russell
Recording and Editing: Rebecca L. Salois
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sources:
"From Playboy to Politics: Inside the Extraordinary Life of Pamela Anderson" for 60 Minutes Australia
"A Look Inside Tommy Lee and Pamela Anderson's Marriage" by Deb Coggin
"Pamela Anderson's Garden of Eden" by Caity Weaver
 

11. Whitney Houston

In this episode we discuss American singer and actress Whitney Houston, who is probably most well known for musical hits such as "I Will Always Love You" and "I Wanna Dance with Somebody" as well as her role in the 1992 film The Bodyguard. We discuss her rise to fame, her struggles with addiction, and the general perception that different audiences had of her throughout her career. We then explore some of the behind the scenes experiences and how the things we may not have known as a general public affected her life and her career. Finally, we address the impact she has had on the musical world and beyond.
Trigger Warnings: sexual molestation and substance abuse
 
Follow the podcast:
Twitter: @BigRepPod
Instagram: @BigReputationsPod
 
Merch: https://www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/86669619
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hosts: Kimberly Fludd and Rebecca Salois
Logo Design: Samantha Wallace
Music: Shawn P. Russell
Sound Consultant and Mixing: Shawn P. Russell
Recording and Editing: Rebecca Salois
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sources:
Whitney (2018) Director: Kevin Macdonald
Whitney: Can I Be Me (2017) Directors: Nick Broomfield, Rudi Dolezal
A Song for You: My Life with Whitney Houston by Robyn Crawford
Remembering Whitney by Cissy Houston
"America Created Whitney Houston and Then It Destroyed Her. Her Family Created Nippy, Then Did the Same," by Soraya Nadia McDonald
“The Souls of Black Folk” by WEB Du Bois

BONUS: Bloopers 2021

This time of year is very busy, so instead of bringing you a new episode with a brand new topic, we figured we’d give you a little something to (hopefully) make you laugh! It’s like our little holiday present to you all. We hope you find it as funny as we do, or that it at least makes you chuckle once or twice! 
We've got a great line up of women and topics to cover in 2022, and we can't wait to share those episodes with you. But in the meantime, here’s us - messing up, stumbling over our words, burping, mispronouncing names, and generally just making one another laugh.
Follow the podcast:
Twitter: @BigRepPod
Instagram: @BigReputationsPod
 
Merch: https://www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/86669619
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hosts: Kimberly Fludd and Rebecca Salois
Logo Design: Samantha Wallace
Music: Shawn P. Russell
Sound Consultant and Mixing: Shawn P. Russell
Recording and Editing: Rebecca Salois