arts podcast

The new ABC limited series The Newsreader is a late 20th century period drama about sexual politics, egos and the stories that shaped our consciousness in the mid 1980s. Co-creator and writer Michael Lucas and series writer Kim Ho take us behind the scenes.

We talk about that Good Weekend profile of celebrity chef and MasterChef judge Jock Zonfrillo, which casts doubts on some of the recollections in Zonfrillo’s new memoir, Last Shot. Zonfrillo and publisher Simon & Schuster are standing by the book; Nine, which owns The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, is standing by journalist Tim Elliott’s feature.

As we cradle our Japanese rice baby sacks and cry about the imminent end of the world, we fill our dried out husks with Cooking with Paris and The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.

And: should we normies follow Jennifer Aniston’s example and cut covid vaccine deniers out of our lives? 

Show notes:

The Newsreader: https://iview.abc.net.au/show/newsreader

Good Weekend profile of Jock Zonfrillo: https://www.smh.com.au/national/he-s-very-nice-the-only-problem-is-chef-marco-pierre-white-on-jock-zonfrillo-20210714-p589q3.html

Jennifer Aniston's decision to cut ties with unvaccinated people could backfire: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-08-10/jennifer-aniston-cuts-off-people-who-refuse-covid-vaccine/100362204

Vogue Australia September cover: https://www.instagram.com/p/CSOiYQSgG4T

Cooking with Paris: https://www.netflix.com/title/81312532

Week two of the Tokyo Olympics is a healing balm on our lockdown-chapped souls. Peter Bol’s heroic run in the 800m final unified Australia; Simone Biles made a comeback in gymnastics to snatch bronze on the balance beam; New Zealander Ruby Tui’s post-match BBC interview served energy and light.

Who are the 'strangest’ women in music, and what makes them strange? Melbourne writer Lesley Chow puts words around the ephemeral pleasure of pop music in her new book, You’re History: the Twelve Strangest Women in Music.  

Along with the Tokyo Olympics, BL is obsessing over the ‘nerd Olympics’ otherwise known as Australian Survivor. Meanwhile BW is tickled by the HBO limited series, The White Lotus.

Also: a horny farewell to Twitter Fleets; YouTube bans Sky for a week; all the ways we love to be insulted with free stuff.

Show notes:

You're History: The Twelve Strangest Women in Music: https://www.penguin.com.au/books/youre-history-9781913462314

Ruby Tui's BBC interview: https://twitter.com/JoCurrie/status/1421045933156884483?s=19

Mike White: https://www.newyorker.com/culture/the-new-yorker-interview/mike-white-on-money-status-and-appearing-on-survivor

Sky's YouTube ban: https://www.theguardian.com/media/2021/aug/04/sky-news-australia-purges-several-videos-from-youtube-after-ban-over-covid-misinformation

Subtle Asian Traits, the massively popular Facebook group founded in 2018 by a friendship group of Melbourne teens, is being developed into a TV series. How does a community based on Asian cultural memes translate onto screen, and what do its founders think of the trajectory from messenger group, to online influence and nascent television fame? A conversation with two SAT cofounders, Tony Xie and Kerry Kang.

The pandemic Olympics are here. BW and BL talk through the highlights, quirks and major stories coming out of the Tokyo Games: who’s winning hearts; Australian swim coach Dean Boxall’s viral celebratory thrusts; and US gymnast Simone Biles’ ‘radical courage’.

Also — why JLo’s 52nd birthday photos are gifts to everyone, and we’re having a laugh at Netflix’s furry dating show, Sexy Beasts

Show notes:

Subtle Asian Traits on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1343933772408499/

Subtle Asian Traits to be developed into TV series: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/subtle-asian-traits-tv-series-jumpcut-1234971715/

The Radical Courage of Simone Biles’s Exit from the Team USA Olympic Finals: https://www.newyorker.com/sports/replay/the-radical-courage-of-simone-biless-exit-from-the-team-usa-olympic-finals

Dean Boxall celebrates Ariarne Titmus’ gold medal: https://twitter.com/kenvogel/status/1419485523392016387?s=20

Jennifer Lopez celebrates 52nd birthday: https://www.vanityfair.com/style/2021/07/jennifer-lopez-celebrates-52nd-b-day-smooching-ben-affleck-on-a-yacht

Sexy Beasts on Netflix: https://www.netflix.com/title/81298845

The cast of The Lion King singing Circle of Life at their first rehearsal in 15 months:https://www.instagram.com/tv/CRyYyg1BKRi/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

It's a solo episode this week fellow daydreamers. Charlie shares his thoughts on Kevin Can F&%K Himself, Bo Burnham's Netflix special Inside, and Lin-Manuel Miranda's apology for colorism in his film In the Heights. He also catches you up on his home life, Julianne Nicholson's acting in Mare of Easttown, and even reads you an Elzabeth Bishop poem. You can follow CBP on Instagram @creatingbehavior, and Charlie's NYC acting conservatory, the Maggie Flanigan Studio @maggieflaniganstudio. For written transcripts, Charlie's blog, or to contact him for private coaching, check out https://www.creatingbehaviorpodcast.com

Millions of Australians are in lockdown, the national covid vaccine rollout is confusing to say the least — but we’ve got you, dear listeners!

BL + BW have prepared a care package of highlight interviews from the first half of 2021 for a safe, no contact delivery in your audio feed. 

Crazy Rich Asians actor Remy Hii, veteran of three quarantines, shares some tips on surviving lockdown and shares his vision for what’s next in Australian storytelling.

Randall Park of WandaVision, Fresh off The Boat and Always Be My Maybe shares a sense memory of being hugged by Keanu Reeves.

Malcolm Spellman, showrunner for The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, talks about writing Black Lives, displacement, and systemic inequality into the MCU series.

In The Heights, from Crazy Rich Asians director Jon Chu and based on Lin Manuel Miranda and Quiara Alegría Hudes’ Tony-award winning musical, is a slice of summer joy with a colourism problem. The glaring omission of Afro Latinx cast members in a film set in the New York neighbourhood of Washington Heights, which has a predominantly Dominican Republican population, has been called out as erasure. The filmmakers say they’re aware of it and discussed it, so why this outcome?

BW+BL debrief on the latest revelations out of Britney Spears ongoing challenge to her 13-year conservatorship. “This conservatorship in abuse,” Spears told a Los Angeles court. “I want my life back.”

And ABC sport broadcaster, former AFL footballer and audience favourite Tony Armstrong joins SE for a 360 conversation on sport, media, race and representation, and his current cultural preoccupations.

Also: a look at allegations of toxic workplace culture at Sony Music Australia

Show notes:

Britney Spears speaks: www.abc.net.au/news/2021-06-24/britney-spears-tells-judge-conservatorship-abusive/100239606

Guardian Australia investigation of Sony Music Australia: www.theguardian.com/culture/2021/jun/21/sony-music-australia-allegations-toxic-work-culture

In The Heights colourism: www.theroot.com/lets-talk-about-in-the-heights-and-the-erasure-of-dark-1847064126

Tony’s Terrible News: www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3rRBof81TU

Live, werk, pose! Steven Canals, co-creator, executive producer, writer and director of Pose gets deep and meaningful with BL + BW, reflecting on the end of the award-winning series which has been hailed as groundbreaking for trans representation. Steven shares what it was like to be in the room when Billy Porter shared his HIV status with the cast and crew of Pose, and his view of the current TV landscape.

Also, what do we think about the news that a Hollywood feature on the Christchurch terrorist attacks is in the works? The overwhelming early reaction has been ‘too soon’.

And: our nostrils are flared, our orifices clenched at legal analyst Jeffrey Toobin’s return to CNN.

Show notes:

Suspension of Jeffrey Toobin: https://www.vice.com/en/article/epdgm4/new-yorker-suspends-jeffrey-toobin-for-zoom-dick-incident

Pose series finale recap: https://variety.com/2021/tv/news/pose-series-finale-recap-billy-porter-fx-1234989297/

They Are Us film makers defend motives :https://deadline.com/2021/06/they-are-us-new-zealand-muslim-tragedy-producers-defend-motives-jacinda-ardern-rose-byrne-1234775194/

Rose Byrne to play Prime Minister Jacinta Arden in They Are US: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/rose-byrne-jacinda-ardern-andrew-niccol-cannes-they-are-us-new-zealand-mosque-shooting-1234965908/Mohamed Hassan's response on Twitter: https://twitter.com/mohamedwashere/status/1403108587740798982?s=20

Petition calling for shut down of They are us: https://www.change.org/p/filmnation-entertainment-shut-down-they-are-us-movie-which-side-lines-victims-of-the-march-15th-terrorist-attack?recruiter=1210874702&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=psf_combo_share_initial&recruited_by_id=402d83f0-cba1-11eb-a45a-3d4cec3f6e2a

“Everything Housewives becomes Housewives” is the mantra of Real Housewives recapper, scholar and journalist Brian Moylan. Brian’s New York Times bestselling book, The Housewives: The Real Story Behind the Real Housewives is drenched with detail. It answers fans’ burning questions and charts the rise of the Bravo television franchise. Brian joins BL + BW for an extended chat about table flipping, boat rides from hell and who pays for the trips?

OK, see you: Kim’s Convenience cast members Simu Liu and Jean Yoon have gone public with allegations of systemic dysfunction behind the scenes of the hit sitcom. How does this affect our viewing of the beloved show?

Also, Lorde’s solar-powered bum is giving us life this winter and BL meditates on Mad as Hell’s full frontal nudity.

In the highly anticipated Friends reunion, the original cast gets together for just the second time since the hit sitcom ended in 2004. They were on a break! BW reflects on the seemingly random assortment of celebrity cameos who dropped in to talk about how much they loved Rachel, Ross, Monica, Phoebe, Chandler and Joey, and what, if anything, we learned from the whole episode.

Spoiler warning. The Mare of Easttown finale left us feeling devastated, satiated, hollowed out, pensive, wishing for more Mare! BL + BW take their final opportunity to talk Mare, cheesesteaks, Guy Pearce and murder durdur.

Pallavi Sharda left Australia for Bollywood to chase acting opportunities she couldn’t find at home. Now she’s back in front of Australian audiences, most recently in ABC’s Retrograde and the Audible podcast Slushy. BL talks to Pallavi about her career path and what’s next. 

Also, yes we do talk about the Channel 9 snowstorm, er, Covid vaccine ad.  

Show notes:

Singapore COVID-19 vaccine ad: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-05-03/singapore-government-releases-campaign-ad-to-promote-vaccine/13327404

Friends reunion: https://binge.com.au/shows/show-friends-the-reunion!10539

Pallavi Sharda: https://www.instagram.com/pallavisharda/

Slushy podcast: https://www.audible.com.au/pd/Slushy-Audiobook/B093R3GVVP

NYT Kate Winslet profile: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/31/style/mare-of-easttown-kate-winslet.html?smtyp=cur&smid=tw-nytimes

Malcolm Spellman, showrunner and head writer of the MCU’s The Falcon and The Winter Soldier talks to BW about his approach to infusing contemporary politics into the superhero TV series. 

BW + BL read the entrails of Drag Race Down Under’s latest expulsions and surprise returns.

No Mare of Easttown debrief this week, but BL + BW talk through Andrew Yang on Ziwe, the joy of Art Works on ABC TV Plus, and the third season of Master of None.

Show notes:

Ziwe with Andrew Yang: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uV67dJGXACQ

The Guardian review of Friends Reunion: https://twitter.com/AndrewYang/status/1391897869137887234?s=20

Junkee outlines Drag Race Down under episode 4- Art Simone returns: https://junkee.com/rupauls-drag-race-down-under-s1e4-recap/295724

The Linda Lindas performing Racist, Sexist Boy live at the Los Angeles Public Library: https://www.instagram.com/tv/CPExF-YrYl5/

Montaigne talks about working through the disappointment of the cancelled 2020 Eurovision Song Contest to come through with a new song, Technicolour, for the 2021 competition, and the process of competing via video from Australia.

Happy 20th, Shrek, it’s time to celebrate millennial culture. Hannah Reich mounts an impassioned defense of the Academy Award-winning film in the face of unappreciative critics.

Finally, BL reviews Underground Railway, the 10-part Barry Jenkins-directed adaptation of Colson Whitehead’s novel, and *spoiler alert* we pour out a Rolling Rock for Det. Colin Zabel, now resting in the big wawa in the sky.

Show notes:

Montaigne's Eurovision performance: www.youtube.com/watch?v=bX_y759_F_U

Mare of Easttown explainer: www.abc.net.au/news/2021-05-20/mare-of-easttown-kate-winslet-tv-miniseries/100145988

Kate Winslet talks wawa, gobbler hogies and : recycling with Guy Pearce: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2lTpXcMABmZkeatdNz23aJ?si=X_Gkx1E4QzORUUzGzIV8oA&nd=1

Angourie Rice on the Screen Show: www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/the-screen-show/angourie-rice,-pablo-larrain,-alice-rohrwacher/13340690

The Underground Railroad: www.primevideo.com/detail/amzn1.dv.gti.f2bbc210-d908-9560-2a0c-2d8a527c2020?ref_=dvm_pds_tit_au_dc_s_g%7Cm_DGDjjO4Wc_c521246635845

ABC Top 5 Residency: www.abc.net.au/radio/programs/top5/

The following are links to the Art History School's Chagall video and to the trailer for Flying Lovers.

Please share your comments and/or questions at stephanie@warfareofartandlaw.com

To hear more episodes, please visit Warfare of Art and Law podcast's website.

Music by Toulme.

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To leave questions or comments about this or other episodes of the podcast and/or for information about joining the 2ND Saturday discussion on art, culture and justice, please message me at stephanie@warfareofartandlaw.com.

Thanks so much for listening!

© Stephanie Drawdy [2024]

Cheesesteaks, vaping, wawa coffee and a Philly 40. Kate Winslet as gritty, grizzled, hard bitten grandma detective Mare Sheehan is out to solve a murder durdur, while juggling many commitments including a fling with hot Guy, Pearce. 

BL demonstrates his encyclopedic knowledge of RuPaul’s Drag Race queens AND hear from very special guest, Michelle Visage, RuPaul’s ride or die, and currently judging Drag Race Down Under. 

Let’s get loud because Bennifer is rebooting and BW is feelin’ so good. Love don’t cost a thing and we’re all wondering if Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck will go the distance this time around.

Also, whomst is cheugy?

Show notes:

Gwyneth Paltrow on Smartless podcast: https://smartless.simplecast.com/episodes/gwyneth-paltrow

Explainer on all things Drag Race Down Under: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-05-01/rupaul-s-drag-race-down-under-drag-queen-reality-tv/100091256

Kate Winslet on Mare of Easttown and Mildred Pierce: https://www.indiewire.com/2021/05/kate-winslet-hbo-mildred-pierce-producer-mare-sheehan-interview-1234634521/

Are you cheugy? https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/29/style/cheugy.html

A special episode of Stop Everything recorded live at the Sydney Writers’ Festival, in front of a real-life, 100% capacity crowd at Carriageworks.

BL + BW appeared with two special guests: Carly Findlay, the editor of Growing Up Disabled in Australia, and Sam van Zweden, the author of Eating With My Mouth Open. We discussed the body, disability, fatness – and the medicalisation, language and politics around these things.

If you need support or to talk to someone. The Butterfly Foundation is a site where you can find resources for eating disorders and body image: www.butterfly.org.au

Lifeline is also available 24 hours: https://www.lifeline.org.au/

Show notes:

Carly Findlay: https://carlyfindlay.com.au/

Sam van Zweden: https://samvanzweden.com/

Megan Jayne Crabbe aka body posi panda: https://www.instagram.com/bodyposipanda/

Lindy West, author of Shrill: https://www.lindywest.net/

The Strands That Bind Us –
Kathleen Newman-Bremang is the senior editor for Refinery 29, tv host, and freelance television producer. She has been a close friend of Matthew’s for over 10 years and actually helped Matthew land his job as the hair expert on CTV’s THE SOCIAL, which she produced for many years.

Today we talk about her hair journey as a black woman growing up in a predominately white Toronto suburb, being called out by a professor for trying to “act white” by wearing her hair straight, and navigating work places with expectations of what “professional hair” is supposed to look like.

Kathleen leads us through the appropriations of black hair, the laws that are being passed to protect black women in the workplace and why she’s tired of saying “please don’t touch my hair.”  

This is Kathleen's hair story...

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The Strands That Bind Us –
Kara Liebowitz, is a native New Yorker, an up and coming competitive boxer, florist, craftswoman, and cancer survivor.

We speak about the obvious and not so obvious challenges with losing your hair in the treatment process and her words of advice for future treatment goers and their loved ones.

From being in an aggressive training regimen to learning how to walk again, she speaks to her battle with hair loss, shaving her head, and embracing wig options throughout her treatment.

This is Kara's Hair story....

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The Strands That Bind Us –
The Morning Star. The Truth Teller.
Sarain is Anishinaabe from Batchawana First Nation, just outside of Sault Sainte Marie, OntarioSince Matthew has known her, she has been fearlessly empowering Indigenous communities and amplifying their voices, especially those of the youthShe is a dancer, choreographer, stylist, activist, brand ambassador, television host and content producer. A storyteller at heartSarain’s is the host of the award-winning series, "RISE" on Viceland, sharing her vision for creating meaningful dialogue about Indigenous resilience and resistanceToday we talk about the importance of hair to indigenous community and why, residential schools, and cultural appropriation in her community.

This is Sarain's Hair story....

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The Strands That Bind Us –

On this episode of The Strands That Bind Us, we have the privilege to speak with one of my favorite and most influential people in my career to date, David Hoffman.

From his upbringing in St. Louis, we speak about his initial connection to hair and how he has been able to connect with clients throughout his career.

David’s ability to see beauty in others is a trait of his that I learned watching him from day 1 in his salon. His rule of 51 % business and 49% relationship speaks beautifully to his mindset towards each client.

Having a passion for fostering relationships with the clientele he sits with, David is well known for creating beautiful hair, and having such a remarkable and positive imprint on each person he touches.

He speaks to and from the heart, and is a huge part of my success in my own career.

Serving his clientele has kept him working long hours, but never working hard he states. His level of service and approach to his craft and customers is truly remarkable.

This is David Hoffmann’s story...

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The Strands That Bind Us –
Today on The Strands That Bind Us, we have one of my Matthew’s closest friends and part of his COVID “pod” family, Ryan Hansen. Who may be one of the funniest humans he knows. Ryan grew up in San Diego working as a “hype man” at parties on saturdays, and spending sundays at mega churches with his family. He now lives in LA as a successful Hollywood actor. Matthew’s personal fave shows he worked on have been Veronica Mars , Ryan Hansen solves crimes, and just announced for a 3rd season for the funniest show He has watched this quarantine ... PARTY DOWN. But he may be most notable being 2011 buddytv’s 79th sexiest man on tv.... and we think the hair may have played a small role in this. But honestly, hair has been a huge factor in his rolls as an actor and he has been very well known for his luscious locks, and today you will hear why. We wanted to bring you a different perspective of hair, from an actors point of view.

THIS is Ryan Hansen’s hair story.

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Hey friends,

Pittsburgh comedian and musician, James Jamison, joins us to talk about convincing yourself to be creative/productive (during the pandemic and in general). We hope you enjoy this weeks episode of the podcast!

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Nominate Us for Pittsburgh Magazine's Best of the Burgh: https://www.pittsburghmagazine.com/

Leave an iTunes Review: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-butch-and-the-bi/
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Featuring: Bob Rudenborg, Jon Marek
Special Guest: James Jamison
Editing: Jon Marek
Theme: Brian Adams

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Jame's Insta: https://www.instagram.com/punburgher/
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Find Us Across the Web: https://linktr.ee/TheButchandTheBi

Jon's Links: https://linktr.ee/jonklobster
Bob's Links: https://linktr.ee/asmallfrogart

A Pickle Lane Production

Featuring: Bob Rudenborg, Jon Marek
Editing: Jon Marek
Theme: Brian Adams

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Find Us Across the Web: https://www.thebutchandthebi.com/links
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