#26: Portrait of a Murderer

The Links

0-05:30 – Intro: on David Bowie and Star Wars: The Force Awakens

The Carrie Fisher tweet Anna mentions.

The Carrie Fisher interview Caroline mentions.

05:30 – Making a Murderer

Watch the whole thing on Netflix.

The science behind the confession of Steve Avery's nephew.

What that terrible courtroom sketch reminds us of.

19:15 – Fun Home

A good account of the feelings Fun Home gives you.

An example of the use of colour in the art.

A good interview with Bechdel about the process of creating Fun Home.

27:50 – Quartet

An interesting review with some insight into the original play.

Joan Sutherland and Pavarotti’s Quartet from Rigoletto.

Next week:

Caroline is watching Sheep in the Big City.

Your questions:

We love reading out your emails. If you have thoughts you want to share on anything we've discussed, or questions you want to ask us, please email us on srslypod[at]gmail.com, or @ us on Twitter @srslypod, or get in touch via tumblr here. We also have Facebook now.

Our theme music is “Guatemala - Panama March” (by Heftone Banjo Orchestra), licensed under Creative Commons. 

See you next week!

PS If you missed #25, check it out here.

#22: Time for Adventures

We chat the BBC adaptation of Capital, find joy in Rainbow Rowell’s novels Fangirl and Carry On, and get our teeth into Adventure Time.

The Links

Capital

Claire Tomalin finds the Dickensian parallels in the novel.

The trailer for the BBC adaptation.

John Lanchester on Game of Thrones.

Rainbow Rowell

Our special guest for this section was Elizabeth Minkel, who writes for the NS about fan culture and does her own podcast, Fansplaining. She's on Twitter and Tumblr.

Some blurb about Fangirl and Carry On.

Elizabeth asks: what is fanfiction, anyway?

Adventure Time

Caroline’s favourite AT short (excellent Ice King).

The best, the only Adventure Time long read.

For next time:

Caroline is watching First Dates.

Your questions:

We love reading out your emails. If you have thoughts you want to share on anything we've discussed, or questions you want to ask us, please email us on srslypod[at]gmail.com, or @ us on Twitter @srslypod, or get in touch via tumblr here. We also have Facebook now.

Our theme music is “Guatemala - Panama March” (by Heftone Banjo Orchestra), licensed under Creative Commons. 

See you next week!

#17: Highlands and Night Vales

This week, we discuss historical TV sensation Outlander, otherworldly podcast Welcome to Night Vale and Chris Kraus’ epistolary novel I Love Dick.

The Links

On Outlander

The trailer for the first series.

This is a good piece about masculinity and sexuality in Outlander.

On Welcome to Night Vale

More details about the podcast and how to get episodes can be found here.

You can find the Limetown podcast Caroline mentioned here.

Here are some examples of Night Vale fan art (see more on our tumblr).

On I Love Dick

Leslie Jamison in the New Yorker on the novel and the way it expresses female consciousness.

Haley Mlotek tries to articulate why we love Chris Kraus.

Sheila Heti interviews Chris Kraus.

Next week:

Anna is watching the 2005 film TransAmerica.

Your questions:

We loved reading out your emails this week. If you have thoughts you want to share on anything we've discussed, or questions you want to ask us, please email us on srslypod[at]gmail.com, or @ us on Twitter @srslypod, or get in touch via tumblr here. We also have Facebook now.

Music

The music featured this week, in order of appearance, is:

The Skye Boat Song (Outlander theme)

You Dont Know - Mount Moon

Our theme music is “Guatemala - Panama March” (by Heftone Banjo Orchestra), licensed under Creative Commons. 

See you next week!

#15: Women on the Edge

We discuss Suffragette, the Channel 4 TV series Chewing Gum, and Kim Kardashian’s Selfish.

The Links

On Suffragette

Anna’s article on what the Suffragette movement in Britain really looked like.

Helen's interveiw with Abi Morgan, screenwriter of Suffragette.

On Chewing Gum

The trailer for the series.

Chewing Gum on All4.

An interview with writer and star Michaela Coel.

On Selfish

This is the book.

Sam Riviere on the technological progress documented by Kim Kardashian’s selfies.

This Twitter thread about Kim Kardashian vs Paris Hilton is very informative.

Next week:

Anna is watching the BBC sitcom starring Judi Dench, As Time Goes By.

Your questions:

We loved reading out your emails this week. If you have thoughts you want to share on anything we've discussed, or questions you want to ask us, please email us on srslypod[at]gmail.com, or @ us on Twitter @srslypod, or get in touch via tumblr here. We also have Facebook now.

Music

The music featured this week, in order of appearance, is:

Trills - Oh Freedom

Amerie - 1 Thing

Our theme music is “Guatemala - Panama March” (by Heftone Banjo Orchestra), licensed under Creative Commons. 

See you next week!

#14: Interns, Housemaids and Witches

We discuss the Robert De Niro-Anne Hathaway film The Intern, the very last series of Downton Abbey, and Sylvia Townsend Warner’s novel Lolly Willowes.

The Links

On The Intern

Ryan Gilbey’s discussion of Robert De Niro’s interview tantrums.

Anne Helen Petersen for Buzzfeed on “Anne Hathaway Syndrome”.

On Downton Abbey

This is the sort of stuff you get on the last series of Downton Abbey.

Elizabeth Minkel on the decline of Downton Abbey.

On Lolly Willowes

More details about the novel here.

Sarah Waters on Sylvia Townsend Warner.

Next week:

Caroline is reading Selfish by Kim Kardashian.

Your questions:

We loved reading out your emails this week. If you have thoughts you want to share on anything we've discussed, or questions you want to ask us, please email us on srslypod[at]gmail.com, or @ us on Twitter @srslypod, or get in touch via tumblr here. We also have Facebook now.

Music

The music featured this week, in order of appearance, is:

i - Kendrick Lamar

With or Without You - Scala & Kolacny Brothers 

Our theme music is “Guatemala - Panama March” (by Heftone Banjo Orchestra), licensed under Creative Commons. 

See you next week!

#13: Take Two

We discuss Michael Fassbender’s Macbeth, the recent BBC adaptations of Lady Chatterley’s Lover and Cider with Rosie, and reminisce about teen movie Shakespeare retelling She’s the Man.

The Links

On Macbeth

Ryan Gilbey’s review of Macbeth.

The trailer for the film.

The details about the 2005 Macbeth from the BBC’s Shakespeare Retold series.

On Lady Chatterley’s Lover and Cider with Rosie

Rachel Cooke’s review of Lady Chatterley’s Lover.

Sarah Hughes on Cider with Rosie, and the BBC’s attempt to create “heritage television for the Downton Abbey age”.

On She’s the Man (and other teen movie Shakespeare retellings)

The trailer for She’s the Man.

The 27 best moments from the film.

Bim Adewunmi’s great piece remembering 10 Things I Hate About You.

Next week:

Anna is reading Lolly Willowes by Sylvia Townsend Warner.

Your questions:

We loved talking about your recommendations and feedback this week. If you have thoughts you want to share on anything we've discussed, or questions you want to ask us, please email us on srslypod[at]gmail.com, or @ us on Twitter @srslypod, or get in touch via tumblr here. We also have Facebook now.

Music

The music featured this week, in order of appearance, is:

Our theme music is “Guatemala - Panama March” (by Heftone Banjo Orchestra), licensed under Creative Commons.

See you next week!

#12: Piping Hot Takes

We talk the patronising critical reaction to Ryan Adams’ Taylor Swift cover album, why we love The Great British Bake Off, and The Lives of Christopher Chant by Dianna Wynne Jones.

The Links

On Ryan Adams / Taylor Swift

Read Anna’s article, “Ryan Adams’ 1989 and the mainsplaining of Taylor Swift”. Links to the sexist mansplainy articles discussed are in there.

Listen to 1989 by Ryan Adams on Spotify.

The problematic video for Taylor Swift’s “Wildest Dreams”.

The Pretty Much Amazing review titled “Taylor Swift Writes Ryan Adams’ Best Album”.

On The Great British Bake Off

Helen Thomas’ article about how the overseas format exports of the Bake Off are different to the British version. Read her episode-by-episode blog for the NS here.

Caroline's most-read article ever: "Diana was framed: why did the Great British Bake Off throw an innocent WI judge to the wolves?".

Paul's lion bread:

This is a tennis cake (who knew?):

The Bake Off’s Tamal is on Twitter @DrRayBakes and Nadiya is @BegumNadiya.

If you have to, hate read this by Quentin Letts: "I adore The Great British Bake Off. But does it have to be so right on?"

Laurie Penny on the darker side of “British twee”.

On The Lives of Christopher Chant

Get a copy of The Lives of Christopher Chant by Diana Wynne Jones. This is what Caroline's copy looks like (that Anna read):

The Chrestomanci series has a helpful wiki.

Listener Victoria told us on Twitter that she likes the books so much that her cat is named Chrestomanci:

Next week:

We're going to do a special themed episode looking at popular culture adaptations of “highbrow” texts, so Caroline is watching the film She's the Man (based on Twelfth Night).

Your questions:

We loved talking about your recommendations and feedback this week. If you have thoughts you want to share on anything we've discussed, or questions you want to ask us, please email us on srslypod[at]gmail.com, or @ us on Twitter @srslypod, or get in touch via tumblr here. We also have Facebook now.

Music

The music featured this week, in order of appearance, is:

Ryan Adams's Blank Space

Ella Fitzgerald's Petootie Pie.

Our theme music is “Guatemala - Panama March” (by Heftone Banjo Orchestra), licensed under Creative Commons. 

See you next week!

#9: Falling Girls

The Links

On Katy by Jacqueline Wilson

Here’s an article by Jacqueline Wilson introducing her adaptation of Susan Coolidge's original novel.

A video of her talking about it.

And here’s a lovely review of it by a child.

On Boy Meets Girl

Watch the first episode of Boy Meets Girl on iPlayer.

Read this interview with the star, Rebecca Root.

Here's some background on the show and how it came to be.

On The Falling

Mark Kermode has written a very perceptive review of the film.

A long piece by director Carol Morley on her fascination with the mass hysteria phenomenon.

Here she is listing the films that inspired The Falling.

For next week:

Anna is listening to Cabin Pressure. A preview:

Your questions:

If you have thoughts you want to share on anything we've discussed, or questions you want to ask us, please email us on srslypod[at]gmail.com, or @ us on Twitter @srslypod, or get in touch via tumblr here.

Our theme music is “Guatemala - Panama March” (by Heftone Banjo Orchestra), licensed under Creative Commons.

#8: Graphic Teens

The Links

Find out more about Let's Talk Intersectionality here.

On Diary of a Teenage Girl:

Here is Barbara Speed's piece about the film and its approach to sexuality.

She has also written in more detail about the controversy surrounding its 18 certificate.

We really liked June Eric-Udorie's piece about the film for the Independent.

On Agent Carter:

Caroline has written about Agent Carter and female invisiblity here.

This is also quite a perceptive review of the series.

Make sure you read this excellent piece about the real-life Peggy Carters.

On Persepolis:

Get the book!

You can see the trailer for the film adaptation here:

Three great interviews with Marjane Satrapi.

For next week:

Caroline is watching The Falling. The trailer:

Your questions:

If you have thoughts you want to share on anything we've discussed, or questions you want to ask us, please email us on srslypod[at]gmail.com, or @ us on Twitter @srslypod, or get in touch via tumblr here.

Our theme music is “Guatemala - Panama March” (by Heftone Banjo Orchestra), licensed under Creative Commons.

See you next week!

#4: Latitude and Harper Lee

This week, SRSLY comes to you from the Latitude festival in Suffolk. Plus, we chat about Harper Lee's new book, Go Set a Watchman, with Erica Wagner, and get all flustered by Showtime's Masters of Sex.

The Links

On Latitude:

You can listen to alt-J, Caribou, Lianne La Havas and Songhoy Blues on Spotify.

On Go Set a Watchman:

You can read Erica's review for the NS here.

Anna also very much liked this insightful, harsh review in the National Post.

On Masters of Sex:

You can read Vulture's recap of the first epiosde here, and Flavourwire's here.

For next week, Caroline is watching Obvious Child.

Plus:

You can hear Matthew Sweet chatting to Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger about the politics of The Expendables here.

Your questions:

If you have thoughts you want to share on anything we've discussed, or questions you want to ask us, please email us on srslypod[at]gmail.com, or @ us on Twitter @srslypod, or get in touch via tumblr here.

Our theme music is “Guatemala - Panama March” (by Heftone Banjo Orchestra), licensed under Creative Commons.

See you next week!

#2: Rippling Torsos and Rihanna

In this week’s episode, we discuss Rihanna’s new video with guest June Eric-Udorie, reveal our love for Magic Mike XXL and work out why Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice totally works on YouTube.

The Links

On Rihanna:

June’s piece is here.

(Helen Lewis and Margaret Corvid have also written excellent things on BBHMM that are worth checking out.)

Sunny Singh’s piece is here.

Doreen St Felix’s piece is here.

On Magic Mike:

Watch the trailer now, thank us later:

Anne Helen Petersen at Buzzfeed has explored the film’s expression of female desire here.

Alison Wilmore, Buzzfeed's film critic, has written about the film's fanservice and how smart it is.

And here are two pieces about the both films’ relationship with the female gaze.

On the Lizzie Bennet Diaries:

As a taster, here’s episode one:

The full web series is available in this playlist here. Or if you don’t have time for all of that, Caroline’s made a highlights version which you can see here.

For next week, Caroline is reading Rookie – and you can too, here.

Our theme music is “Guatemala - Panama March” (by Heftone Banjo Orchestra), licensed under Creative Commons.

#1: Grey Beginnings

This week, we try our hardest to read E L James's Grey, talk the new Amy Winehouse biopic with Kate Mossman, and discover our inner Directioner.

The Links

The quote that Anna read is from I Love Dick by Chris Kraus.

This is the John Scalzi quote Caroline read.

You can see some clips from the Amy Winehouse documentary here, and watch the trailer below.

More info about the Kurt Cobain film, Montage of Heck, can be found here.

The Pitchfork piece about the gendering of martyred rock stars is here.

If you really feel you have to, you can buy Grey by E L James here.

Laurie Penny’s piece on Fifty Shades of Grey is here. Helen Lewis and Zoe Margolis are also both very good on this subject.

Listen to the One Direction playlist that Anna made for Caroline here.

Samantha Hunt's piece about the "darkness in this light music that stirs thoughts of life, death, gender, literature, and the multiple problems of aging" is here.

And if you’d like to discover The Lizzie Bennet Diaries with Anna before next week’s episode, you can watch the entire series here.

#0: The Harry Potter Special

For this special launch episode, we explore the politics, economics, and pedagogy of the Harry Potter series. With special guests Helen Lewis, Stephen Bush, Stephanie Boland, Barbara Speed, Jonn Elledge.