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PODCAST

Messy Liberation: Feminist Conversations about Politics and Pop Culture

Becky Mollenkamp and Taina Brown

Join feminist coaches Taina Brown and Becky Mollenkamp for casual (and often deep) conversations about business, current events, politics, pop culture, and more. We’re not perfect activists or allies! These are our real-time, messy feminist perspectives on the world around us. This podcast is for you if you find yourself asking questions like: • Why is feminism important today? • What is intersectional feminism? • Can capitalism be ethical? • What does liberation mean? • Equity vs. equality —

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All Episodes

56:12

Body Liberation vs. Body Positivity: Tiana Dodson on...

Messy Liberation: Feminist Conversations about... ·

2025/09/02

Becky and Taina sit down with Tiana Dodson, a body liberation facilitator who helps people reconnect with their bodies, destigmatize fatness, and confront the oppressive systems that keep us at war with ourselves.Together, we dig into the messy, nuanced truths about body liberation: what it really means beyond “body positivity,” why loving your body isn’t always possible (or required), and how systemic oppression—not personal failure—shapes our relationships with our bodies.Tiana shares her

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43:32

Fascism, Marriage Equality, and White Feminism

Messy Liberation: Feminist Conversations about... ·

2025/08/18

This week on Messy Liberation, Becky and Taina dive headfirst into the chaos of U.S. politics, personal rights under threat, and the culture wars playing out in real time. From the militarization of D.C. to the looming Supreme Court cases threatening Obergefell, they unpack how Project 2025 is already reshaping daily life and why “just wait and see” isn’t an option when democracy is on the line.They also get personal: what it means to feel unsafe in your own country, how queer couples are

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50:02

Subtle signs of misogyny (aka red flags you've been...

Messy Liberation: Feminist Conversations about... ·

2025/08/11

Misogyny isn’t just something “other people” do. In this conversation, Becky and Taina unpack the invisible ways it shows up in our language, our friendships, our relationships, and even inside ourselves.From judging women for wearing too much makeup to men who call women “females,” we explore the sneaky red flags we’ve normalized. And we get real about the internalized misogyny we all carry, even as feminists.We also talk about gay male culture borrowing from Black women, the emotional

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50:45

Polyamory, Parenting & Faith: Breaking Myths About...

Messy Liberation: Feminist Conversations about... ·

2025/08/04

Polyamory isn’t what you think it is. In this episode of Messy Liberation, we sit down with Frances Crusoe to talk about ethical non-monogamy, what it really looks like in practice, and how she navigates parenting, faith, and family while living a polyamorous life. We tackle misconceptions (no, it’s not all orgies), explore how jealousy really works, and dig into the radical idea that love isn’t a finite resource. If you’ve ever wondered how polyamory intersects with feminism, religion, and

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47:46

Trending topics: Bieber, Epstein files, Pedro Pascal,...

Messy Liberation: Feminist Conversations about... ·

2025/07/28

Pedro Pascal’s red carpet style, Malcolm Jamal Warner’s tragic passing, and the chaos around the Epstein files — this episode of Messy Liberation goes everywhere at once. Becky Mollenkamp and Taina Brown dive into pop culture, politics, astrology, and messy real-life feminism with zero polish and plenty of swearing. From debating Pedro Pascal’s “daddy energy” and Leo season’s chaos to unpacking the Cosby Show legacy and the William McNeil police brutality video, they keep it bold,

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41:08

Internalized Superiority and Judging Pop Culture

Messy Liberation: Feminist Conversations about... ·

2025/07/21

Ever feel superior for hating the mainstream? Same. In this episode of Messy Liberation, Becky and Taina dig into the hidden hierarchies we create when we judge popular culture, and how that feeds into white supremacy, fatphobia, and American exceptionalism. From YouTube vlogs and Hallmark movies to queer fanfiction and Audre Lorde, they explore how internalized systems show up in even our most frivolous pleasures. This is a funny, challenging, and honest convo about how true liberation

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46:28

Making Space for Grief and Anger

Messy Liberation: Feminist Conversations about... ·

2025/07/14

Grief is always in the room—and in this raw and powerful conversation, Becky and Taina explore the emotional weight of loss, anger, and what it means to truly feel your feelings. They unpack their personal experiences with recent death, the stigma around female rage, and why American culture is so broken when it comes to grief. From pet loss to patriarchal mindsets, they dive deep into the intersections of anger and grief, why somatic expression matters, and how caretaking roles often

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37:08

Creative Liberation: Ditching Capitalism’s Grip on...

Messy Liberation: Feminist Conversations about... ·

2025/07/07

What if making art wasn’t about monetizing, optimizing, or gaining followers—but about freedom? In this episode, artist and writer Krishna Kayastha joins Becky and Taina to talk about reclaiming creativity from capitalism. From journaling to fanfic, motherhood to self-trust, Krishna shares her journey of redefining what it means to be an artist in a world that demands constant output and productivity.They explore how hustle culture and girlboss messaging warped her creativity, why she

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59:39

Harry Potter, systemic oppression, and the JK Rowling...

Messy Liberation: Feminist Conversations about... ·

2025/06/30

If you’ve ever wondered how a Harry Potter course can be a masterclass in teaching white supremacy, systemic oppression, and feminist critique—you’re gonna love this episode. We’re joined by Professor Julian Womble, who uses the Wizarding World to help his students explore the messy intersections of identity, power, and representation. We dig into fanfiction as reclamation, Hermione’s white savior complex, Lavender Brown’s erasure, and how to love problematic art without ignoring its

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45:44

Parenting, Protest, and White Supremacy

Messy Liberation: Feminist Conversations about... ·

2025/06/23

You ever feel like the world is on fire and you're holding the matches and a bucket of water? Yeah, us too. In this raw and candid convo, Becky and Taina unpack their experiences around the No Kings protest, the complicated dynamics of white allyship, what it means to show up (and what it doesn’t), and the impossible standards placed on parents, especially moms. From the emotional labor of unlearning white supremacy to the tension between safety and activism, this episode dives deep into

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58:04

Bitch on Wheels: Sylvia Rivera's Forgotten Stonewall...

Messy Liberation: Feminist Conversations about... ·

2025/06/18

SPECIAL RELEASE: Becky & Taina on Becky's other podcast, Assigned Reading (if you like this conversation, check out this new podcast here)Becky Mollenkamp and Taina Brown dive deep into Sylvia Rivera’s 2001 speech, "Bitch on Wheels." They unpack Rivera’s righteous rage, explore the erasure of trans voices in LGBTQ history, and reflect on the importance of solidarity and intersectionality in the fight for liberation. This raw speech from a legendary activist is just as urgent today.✍️

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45:45

Porn, Smut, and Intimacy: Feminists Talk Romance Books

Messy Liberation: Feminist Conversations about... ·

2025/06/16

This episode dives deep into Becky and Taina’s wildly different takes on romance novels, smut, and fanfic—plus what makes storytelling feel intimate or just pornographic. We cover the books we’re reading this summer, why Becky knocks stars off for explicit content, and what Audre Lorde has to say about feeling embodied. It’s messy, it’s honest, and it might make you laugh (or blush). Whether you love fanfic, hate sex scenes, or feel somewhere in between, this conversation unpacks it all

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54:45

Sinners Review: A Masterclass in Black Storytelling...

Messy Liberation: Feminist Conversations about... ·

2025/06/09

Is it possible for a horror movie to teach you history? In this episode, Becky and Taina dive deep into the viral new film “Sinners,” unpacking its cultural, political, and emotional power. From Ryan Coogler’s revolutionary copyright deal to the legacy of Jim Crow and Chinese immigration in the South, they explore how this southern gothic, vampiric allegory reveals the truth about American racism, resilience, and black joy. With plenty of irreverence and a little lipstick talk to start,

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43:29

You Can’t Manifest Your Way Out of Capitalism: A...

Messy Liberation: Feminist Conversations about... ·

2025/06/02

You don’t expect to leave a conversation about death and capitalism feeling inspired—but here we are. This episode dives headfirst into the intersections of death work, money trauma, collective care, and class consciousness. Stella Gold (they/them), founder of My Gold Standard, joins Becky and Taina to talk about their journey from hospice and death doula work to anti-capitalist money coaching—and how rebirth, grief, and radical redistribution play into all of it. Whether you’ve sworn off

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39:53

Therapy, hyper-fixations, baked goods, and other...

Messy Liberation: Feminist Conversations about... ·

2025/05/26

What happens when fanfic, therapy, chronic illness, and croissants collide? This episode of Messy Liberation is a rich blend of real talk and radical self-reflection. Becky and Taina explore chronic illness, returning to therapy, and the nuances of finding a Black therapist. They also deep-dive into the power of rest, hyperfixation (hello fanfic and HTML rabbit holes), and the liberatory framework of awareness, analysis, action, and accountability. With laughter, food porn, and a dash of

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54:03

Creative Expression for Adults: Reclaiming Joy Beyond...

Messy Liberation: Feminist Conversations about... ·

2025/05/20

What if creativity wasn’t about talent or output—but about liberation? In this raw and relatable episode of Messy Liberation, Becky and Taina unpack the complicated relationship adults have with creative expression, especially under capitalism and toxic productivity culture. They talk about creative hobbies like sewing, baking sourdough, painting rocks, and learning languages—and how fear of imperfection or 'wasting time' often stops us from even trying. From ego death to somatic healing,

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52:41

Fanfic, Faith, and Feeling Seen

Messy Liberation: Feminist Conversations about... ·

2025/05/12

In this grab bag episode, Becky and Taina get candid about everything from perimenopause and airplane germs to religious trauma and transformative fanfiction. Taina shares how one piece of Draco/Hermione fanfic cracked her wide open, while Becky reflects on the power of feeling seen in storytelling and media. They dig deep into the Catholic Church’s history of abuse, the political theater of the new Pope’s election, and how both personal and collective healing are tied to dismantling the

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52:15

Finding Joy When Everything Sucks

Messy Liberation: Feminist Conversations about... ·

2025/05/05

In this episode of Messy Liberation, Becky and Taina go deep on how to stay informed and engaged without burning out. They talk about the importance of limiting your news intake, ditching moral judgment about productivity, and embracing self-care that actually nourishes you (hint: it’s not a face mask). From managing chronic illness to laughing in the face of despair, they explore how joy, pleasure, and tiny acts of resistance keep us rooted—and keep us going.Discussed in This Episode:Why

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53:09

No Gatekeepers, No Girl Bosses: We’re Building the...

Messy Liberation: Feminist Conversations about... ·

2025/04/28

Becky and Taina are pulling back the curtain on the newest thing they’re building together: the Messy Liberation Coaches Circle—a community for people who coach (formally or informally) and want to practice coaching through a liberatory, feminist, and anti-capitalist lens. In this episode, they share the messy, honest backstory of how the group evolved from a free meet-up into a paid space—and why that change was necessary for sustainability and reciprocity.They talk about what makes the

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44:37

Small Anti-Fascist Actions With Big Impact: Snail...

Messy Liberation: Feminist Conversations about... ·

2025/04/22

Feeling helpless about the state of the world? Same. In this episode, Becky and Taina serve up a spicy mix of rage and real talk about how to practice anti-fascism and anti-capitalism without burning yourself out. From mailing junk to the White House as protest (yes, really!) to joining tool libraries and neighborhood swaps, they share ideas that are affordable, actionable, and rooted in mutual aid.They also go in hard on billionaires-in-space propaganda (👀 looking at you, Jeff Bezos),

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