Ep. 1 – Lidia Yuknavitch in Person: On Fearlessness, Truth, and Misfits
Lidia Yuknavitch, interviewed by Daphne Gottlieb
A call for authenticity in life and literature: The author of the award-winning speculative feminist novel “The Book of Joan” and the hypnotic memoir “The Chronology of Water” and selfproclaimed “misfit” has penned a book, enhanced by interviews, called “The Misfit’s Manifesto.”
Ep. 2 – #MeToo & Beyond: Continuing to Tell the Truth
Saru Jayaraman, Winnie M. Li, T. Christian Miller, Bernice Yeung, moderated by Sandhya Dirks
Together these writers, who have plumbed the topic of sexual assault deeply (and personally), will deconstruct the movement and explore its future. Sponsored by Zoetic Press.
Ep. 3 – Murder She Writes: Catherine Coulter Talks with Laurie R. King
Catherine Coulter interviewed by Laurie R. King
The New York Times bestselling suspense writer will be interviewed by Mystery Writers of America NorCal President, a bestselling author of 25 novels. They’ll talk Coulter’s craft, art and life of writing. Sponsored by the Mystery Writers of America, Northern California Chapter.
Ep. 4 – Men and Boys 2018: Cultural and Personal Masculinities
Dacher Keltner, Michael Kimmel, moderated by Otis R. Taylor Jr.
As women across the world make their painful experiences visible, men have begun to grapple with how the masculine identity shapes the power imbalance.
Ep. 5 – Power Up: How Smart Women Win in the New Economy
Magdalena Yesil interviewed by Laura D. Tyson
This smart, compassionate woman — who arrived in this country as a near-penniless immigrant student and became one of the founding board members of Salesforce — gives other smart women the tools they need to win. Sponsored by Strong Legacy Planning.
Ep. 6 – Viv Albertine, Formerly of The Slits, Sits Down with Greil Marcus
Viv Albertine interviewed by Greil Marcus
Post punk rocker (formerly of the feminist cult band The Slits) comes to us from the UK to confront questions of feminism, family and inevitable death with her trademark raw, intimate, vulnerable style. Legendary rock critic Greil Marcus will interview.
Ep. 7 – Women & Speculative Fiction: In the Footsteps of Atwood, Butler, and Le Guin
Åsa Avdic, Maggie Shen King, Lidia Yuknavitch, Meg Elison, moderated by Charlie Jane Anders
A new generation of female authors holds in their hands the future of speculative fiction. With the support of Zoetic Press, the Barbro Osher Pro Suecia Foundation and the Consulate General of Sweden in San Francisco.
Ep. 8 – Women Changing the World: How Phoebe Hearst, Jane Stanford, and Other Women Funded Feminism, Founded Universities, and Inspire Philanthropy Today
Joan Marie Johnson, Catherine Pyke, Alexandra Nickliss, Moderated by Julie Castro Abrams
Phoebe Hearst was the eclectic mother of the University of California at Berkeley, just as Jane Stanford co-founded her namesake university through hands-on activism. What lessons do the stories of these brilliant, empowered women hold today for any woman who wants to use financial resources to shape society? Sponsored by the Journal of Alta California.
Ep. 9 – Translating Trauma
Katherena Vermette, Winnie M. Li, moderated by Natasha Singh
These writers showcase the art of writing trauma — one focusing on Native women and the other inspired by her own experience as a survivor of assault. With the support of the Consulate General of Canada, San Francisco/Silicon Valley.
Ep. 10 – Roxane Gay Takes the Stage
Roxane Gay in conversation with Rafia Zakaria
Renowned fiction writer, essayist and activist Roxane Gay casts her incisive gaze at issues of race, class and gender. Her new collection of stories is “Difficult Women.” Sponsored by The New Republic.
Ep. 11 – Feminist Activism through Popular Fiction
Aya de Leon, Meg Elison, Kate Raphael, and Sarai Walker, moderated by Claire Light
In today’s popular culture, “strong female lead” characters and “difficult women” are more common than ever before. But does that make a story feminist? What about the intersectional feminist landscapes of their stories?
Ep. 12 – Cleve Jones: Rising Up
Cleve Jones interviewed by Scott James
Mentored by LGBT rights pioneer Harvey Milk, Jones is the author of “When We Rise,” which inspired a recent ABC mini-series. Hear Jones’ personal telling of nearly four decades of activism at the heart of the gay rights movement.
Ep. 13 – The Legacy of Adrienne Rich and the Shape of our Feminist Future
Jill Bialosky, Aya de Leon, Susan Griffin, Nell Painter, Morgan Parker, moderated by Sandra Gilbert
An early proponent of intersectionality, Adrienne Rich’s ideas have profoundly shaped feminism. In celebration of “Essential Essays,” a new collection of Rich’s work edited by poetscholar Sandra Gilbert, join Rich’s friends, colleagues, literary and scholarly descendents and longtime editor as they pay homage to Rich’s legacy. Sponsored by Reed Schmidt.
Ep. 14 – On Not Mothering
Sheila Heti, Emilie Pine, Grace Talusan, moderated by Nayomi Munaweera
Often regarded with pity or disdain, women who don’t mother are made to feel like failures. But what possibilities are opened by a child-free life? Brazen in their vulnerability, these authors break the silence on not mothering, addressing the assumptions, stigmas and rewards. With the support of the Consulate General of Canada, San Francisco/Silicon Valley; Culture Ireland; and Women Lit members.
Ep. 15 – A Unique Feminine Mystique: The Female Detective
Cara Black, Kjell Ola Dahl, S.A. Lelchuk, Jenny Rogneby, moderated by Eileen Rendahl
These writers are as fierce as their female crime fighters. Their protagonists confront corrupt cops, solve mysterious deaths while juggling personal woes, quash terrorism and try to stay alive while doling out justice. With support from the Norway House Foundation, NORLA, the Consulate General of Sweden in San Francisco, SWEA San Francisco and the Barbro Osher Pro Suecia Foundation.
Ep. 16 – What Women Want
Aya de Leon, Laura Lindstedt, Lisa Locascio, Tamsen Wolff, moderated by Lisa D. Gray
Aya de Leon’s women characters rob the rich and protect the exploited, Laura Lindstedt depicts seven women meeting after death, Lisa Locascio tells of a young woman discovering her sexual power and Tamsen Wolff traces the path of friendship, love and heartbreak between two women. With the support of FILI – Finnish Literature Exchange, the Barbro Osher Pro Suecia Foundation and Women Lit members.