Breaking the Glass Slipper: Women in science fiction, fantasy, and horror
259 episodes - English - Latest episode: 16 days ago - ★★★★★ - 20 ratingsPodcast discussing women in science fiction, fantasy, and horror. Hosted by Megan Leigh, Charlotte Bond, and Lucy Hounsom. New episodes every other Thursday.
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Episodes
Kieron Gillen on gender and diversity in comics
June 08, 2017 11:00 - 57 minutes - 46.3 MBToday is a big day in the UK: the general election. After we mark our ballots (because, of course, all BtGS listeners will get out there and vote today, right?!) and while we all bite our nails in nervous anticipation of the result, we have the perfect distraction… an interview with comics writer Kieron Gillen. […] The post Kieron Gillen on gender and diversity in comics first appeared on Breaking the Glass Slipper.
S02: E12: Kieron Gillen on gender and diversity in comics
June 08, 2017 10:46 - 46.3 MBMegan talks to comic writer Kieron Gillen about diversity within the comics industry as well as the comics themselves. The post S02: E12: Kieron Gillen on gender and diversity in comics first appeared on Breaking the Glass Slipper.
Gail Carriger on comedy in SFF and the heroine’s journey
May 25, 2017 11:00 - 1 hour - 53.1 MBThis week, Charlotte interviews Victorian steampunk/alternate history/comedy/gothic/romance/surrealist/urban fantasy writer Gail Carriger. This is one writer you cannot easily slot into a neat classification. Her writing defies genre so much she has practically invented her own! Gail talks about writing across a wide variety of genres and how she came to write such unique stories. From […] The post Gail Carriger on comedy in SFF and the heroine’s journey first appeared on Breaking the Glass...
S02, E11: Gail Carriger on comedy in SFF and the heroine’s journey
May 25, 2017 10:53 - 53.1 MBCharlotte interviews Gail Carriger about her disregard for genre constraints, the joys of making readers laugh, and whether you should put the milk or the tea in the cup first! The post S02, E11: Gail Carriger on comedy in SFF and the heroine’s journey first appeared on Breaking the Glass Slipper.
Ytasha Womack on Afrofuturism
May 11, 2017 11:00 - 37 minutes - 29.8 MBGenre fiction explores different possibilities of all kinds – what life might be like with the invention of new technologies, other worlds completely divorced from what we know, and more. But why, then, do we still find so many minority voices erased from these ‘other’ worlds where anything is possible. The only limit to science […] The post Ytasha Womack on Afrofuturism first appeared on Breaking the Glass Slipper.
S02, E10: Ytasha Womack on Afrofuturism
May 11, 2017 10:53 - 29.8 MBMegan talks to Ytasha Womack, author of Afrofuturism: The World of Black Sci-fi and Fantasy Culture about the origins, values, and art of the movement. The post S02, E10: Ytasha Womack on Afrofuturism first appeared on Breaking the Glass Slipper.
Maiden, mother, and crone: Ageism in genre fiction
April 27, 2017 11:00 - 54 minutes - 44 MBWanting to see equal representation in genre fiction doesn’t stop at gender. We want to see all kinds of people represented across gender, creed, sexuality, race, age, physical ability, taste in films, dog lovers, cat lovers, tea drinkers, and even those coffee drinkers… You get the point. This week, we ask why only young folk […] The post Maiden, mother, and crone: Ageism in genre fiction first appeared on Breaking the Glass Slipper.
S02, E09: Maiden, mother, and crone: Ageism in genre fiction
April 27, 2017 10:46 - 44 MBWanting to see equal representation in genre fiction doesn’t stop at gender. We discuss the lack of ‘older’ protagonists in genre fiction and the problematic tropes and assumptions about older characters we see. The post S02, E09: Maiden, mother, and crone: Ageism in genre fiction first appeared on Breaking the Glass Slipper.
Fight scenes and women warriors with Juliet McKenna
April 13, 2017 11:00 - 57 minutes - 105 MBAs Kameron Hurley discusses in her Hugo Award-winning article, ‘We Have Always Fought‘, women have always fought. So why don’t we see more women warriors in science fiction and fantasy novels? History is full of women on battlefields and in brawls, even if the history books might gloss over it. Remember: much of the history […] The post Fight scenes and women warriors with Juliet McKenna first appeared on Breaking the Glass Slipper.
S02, E08: Fight scenes and women warriors with Juliet McKenna
April 13, 2017 10:53 - 105 MBWriting fight scenes is a tricky business, there are a lot of factors to keep in mind and elements you must get right or risk alienating the reader, so we talk to writer and martial artist Juliet McKenna on insights into writing better fight scenes and what some of the most common problems are. The post S02, E08: Fight scenes and women warriors with Juliet McKenna first appeared on Breaking the Glass Slipper.
Disney Princesses
March 30, 2017 11:00 - 1 hour - 117 MBIt isn’t possible to be too old for Disney films. You might go through that contrary teenage phase of claiming to have outgrown them, but we all know that’s a lie. Whether you are 6 or 66, no matter your gender, nationality, or creed, Disney films have a special place in all our hearts. While […] The post Disney Princesses first appeared on Breaking the Glass Slipper.
S02, E07: Disney Princesses
March 30, 2017 10:52 - 117 MBHow feminist are the Disney princesses? Have we seen a positive trend in the modern examples? What else does Disney need to do to create positive role models for children? The post S02, E07: Disney Princesses first appeared on Breaking the Glass Slipper.
Laura Lam on exploring the queer experience in SFF
March 16, 2017 12:00 - 34 minutes - 27.9 MB2017 is set to be a big year for Laura Lam. With two new books, the final in her Micah Grey trilogy, Masquerade, and the second in the Pacifica series, Shattered Minds, as well as a short story included in the anthology Nasty Women, she’s definitely one to look out for. If you’ve not come across her books […] The post Laura Lam on exploring the queer experience in SFF first appeared on Breaking the Glass Slipper.
S02, E06: Laura Lam on exploring the queer experience in SFF
March 16, 2017 11:52 - 27.9 MBWith the final book in her Micah Grey series out this month, Laura Lam talks to Lucy about exploring the queer experience in her writing. The post S02, E06: Laura Lam on exploring the queer experience in SFF first appeared on Breaking the Glass Slipper.
Sarah Gailey on sexual violence in SFF
March 02, 2017 12:00 - 33 minutes - 46.4 MBPlease note that this episode may contain content that could upset some listeners. Audience discretion is advised. Late in 2016 I stumbled across a post on Tor.com entitled ‘Do Better: Sexual violence in SFF‘ by Sarah Gailey and I knew I had to interview her for Breaking the Glass Slipper. I wasn’t disappointed. My chat with […] The post Sarah Gailey on sexual violence in SFF first appeared on Breaking the Glass Slipper.
S02, E05: Sarah Gailey on sexual violence in SFF
March 02, 2017 11:49 - 46.4 MB*Trigger warning: This episode contains discussions of sexual violence that may upset some listeners. Genre fiction is, by definition, limitless in its possibilities. Writers could create any world they want… so why do they so often create fictional worlds where sexual violence, particularly against women, is commonplace? The post S02, E05: Sarah Gailey on sexual violence in SFF first appeared on Breaking the Glass Slipper.
Interview with Alison Littlewood
February 16, 2017 12:00 - 26 minutes - 21.5 MBThis week, Charlotte interviews horror writer Alison Littlewood, whose debut novel A Cold Season made a splash when it was first released, making the Richard and Judy Book Club. Since then, she’s published another seven books, including two short story collections. While her writing predominantly falls into the category of horror, Alison is not averse to trying […] The post Interview with Alison Littlewood first appeared on Breaking the Glass Slipper.
S02, E04: Interview with Alison Littlewood
February 16, 2017 11:29 - 21.5 MBCharlotte interviews horror writer Alison Littlewood about how she became a writer, her love of fairytales and the importance of a really good editor. The post S02, E04: Interview with Alison Littlewood first appeared on Breaking the Glass Slipper.
Kameron Hurley on feminist SF and space operas
February 02, 2017 12:00 - 36 minutes - 29.7 MBScience fiction writer Kameron Hurley is the latest victim to naively offer to be interviewed by me. Already well-known for her award-winning essay ‘We Have Always Fought’, several successful series (including God’s War, Worldbreaker Saga, and Bel Dame Apocrypha), and the badass essay collection The Geek Feminist Revolution, her latest book, a standalone space opera, […] The post Kameron Hurley on feminist SF and space operas first appeared on Breaking the Glass Slipper.
S02, E03: Kameron Hurley on feminist SF and space operas
February 02, 2017 11:55 - 29.7 MBMegan interviews two-time Hugo award winning science fiction writer Kameron Hurley. The post S02, E03: Kameron Hurley on feminist SF and space operas first appeared on Breaking the Glass Slipper.
Love triangles
January 19, 2017 12:00 - 45 minutes - 36.3 MBLove triangles are as a common as mud when it comes to fiction. Is your story lacking tension? Throw in a love triangle! Do you want to hook in a teenage audience? Throw in a love triangle? Want some audience titillation?! … You get the idea. But love triangles can be done well, at least, […] The post Love triangles first appeared on Breaking the Glass Slipper.
S02, E02: Love triangles
January 19, 2017 11:42 - 36.3 MBMegan, Lucy, and Charlotte discuss love triangles in SFFH fiction: from the popular one girl, two guy version to the ‘two person’ love triangle. The post S02, E02: Love triangles first appeared on Breaking the Glass Slipper.
Foz Meadows on portal fantasy
January 05, 2017 12:00 - 42 minutes - 58.2 MBPortal fantasy has long been a popular subgenre of fantasy, from classics such as The Chronicles of Narnia to Alice in Wonderland and newer interpretations like Lev Grossman’s The Magicians. One of my favourite novels published last year was Foz Meadows’ YA portal fantasy, An Accident of Stars. The novel played to many of the conventional tropes while also offering […] The post Foz Meadows on portal fantasy first appeared on Breaking the Glass Slipper.
S02, E01: Foz Meadows on portal fantasy
January 05, 2017 11:47 - 58.2 MBMegan interviews genderqueer fantasy author, Foz Meadows, on portal fantasy, its tropes, and how the subgenre can be used to address gender issues. The post S02, E01: Foz Meadows on portal fantasy first appeared on Breaking the Glass Slipper.
The 2017 speculative fiction prospectus
December 15, 2016 12:00 - 53 minutes - 43.1 MBIt is the holiday season and everyone is thinking about presents. Don’t lie, you know you are. You’ve been making a list (even if only in your head) of presents you’d like to receive and trying to work out what your loved ones would like. So, in the spirit of this time of year, we […] The post The 2017 speculative fiction prospectus first appeared on Breaking the Glass Slipper.
Guilty pleasures
December 01, 2016 12:00 - 44 minutes - 61.6 MBWhile we may wish we only appreciated science fiction, fantasy, or horror that presented ideas of gender equality, we’d be lying if we tried to make that claim. There are plenty of books, films, tv shows out there that would make our favourites list that – if we were being honest with ourselves – do […] The post Guilty pleasures first appeared on Breaking the Glass Slipper.
Episode 17: Guilty pleasures
December 01, 2016 11:45 - 61.6 MBWhile we might encourage the appreciation of stories that promote gender equality, we admit that there are plenty of lesser tales we enjoy. Whether we never saw their problematic nature when we first read the book or watched the film or whether we can appreciate other aspects of the story despite its flaws, we explore […] The post Episode 17: Guilty pleasures first appeared on Breaking the Glass Slipper.
Unnecessary romance and token love interests
November 17, 2016 12:00 - 44 minutes - 81.3 MBIt should come as no surprise to regular listeners of Breaking the Glass Slipper that we take issue with female characters being included in a narrative purely to act as a love interest. Unfortunately, it happens all too often. The conversation has flared up again around the plethora of superhero/comic book films where this problem happens […] The post Unnecessary romance and token love interests first appeared on Breaking the Glass Slipper.
Episode 16: Unnecessary romance and token love interests
November 17, 2016 11:43 - 81.3 MBCharlotte, Lucy, and Megan discuss the frequency with which we see female characters added to a story who have no other purpose than to be the love interest. While this does also sometimes occur with male characters, given that good female characters are hard to come by, this is a problem worth talking about. The post Episode 16: Unnecessary romance and token love interests first appeared on Breaking the Glass Slipper.
Interview with Emma Newman
November 03, 2016 12:00 - 1 hour - 121 MBWhile Megan was sunning it up in Australia, Charlotte and Lucy interviewed on of Breaking the Glass Slipper’s favourite people: Emma Newman. Emma is a woman of many talents, including being a fabulous writer, outspoken feminist, snazzy dresser, hilarious podcaster, and audiobook narrator extraordinaire. Is there anything she can’t do?! A relative rarity amongst genre writers, Emma writes […] The post Interview with Emma Newman first appeared on Breaking the Glass Slipper.
Episode 15: Interview with Emma Newman
November 03, 2016 11:44 - 121 MBLucy and Charlotte interview writer, podcaster, and audiobook narrator Emma Newman, covering topics such as worldbuilding, inequality in SFF, and what we can do to change the gender narrative. The post Episode 15: Interview with Emma Newman first appeared on Breaking the Glass Slipper.
Interview with Becky Chambers
October 20, 2016 11:00 - 44 minutes - 80.8 MBThe Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet has been one of my favourite reads this year. If you enjoy science fiction and haven’t made time to read it yet… what are you waiting for? If you want to read my full (spoiler free) review, head over to Pop Verse. Becky Chambers did not have […] The post Interview with Becky Chambers first appeared on Breaking the Glass Slipper.
Episode 14: Interview with Becky Chambers
October 20, 2016 10:50 - 80.8 MBIn today’s episode, Megan chats to Becky Chambers, author of The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet and A Closed and Common Orbit, about using Kickstarter, self-publishing, the importance of beta readers, being nominated for a Clarke Award, writing humour into science fiction, sticking to science within the realm of possibility, and diversity in […] The post Episode 14: Interview with Becky Chambers first appeared on Breaking the Glass Slipper.
Gender swapping
October 06, 2016 11:00 - 43 minutes - 79.6 MBThe new Ghostbusters film is not alone, almost every week we hear of a new franchise reboot or cult film remake with a gender-swapped cast. From turning Splash into the tale of a merman to an Ocean’s Eleven reboot with a full cast of women, it appears as though Hollywood is tackling its diversity problems the way it handles everything […] The post Gender swapping first appeared on Breaking the Glass Slipper.
Episode 13: Gender swapping
October 06, 2016 10:44 - 79.6 MBMegan Leigh, Charlotte Bond, and Lucy Hounsom discuss the new trend in gender swapped reboots and what implications this has for gender equality in the film industry. While we here at Breaking the Glass Slipper appreciate any efforts being made towards equal gender representation on our screens, is gender swapping really the best way to […] The post Episode 13: Gender swapping first appeared on Breaking the Glass Slipper.
Episode 12: African speculative fiction with Chinelo Onwualu
September 22, 2016 11:14 - 80.1 MBMegan Leigh interviews African speculative fiction writer Chinelo Onwualu about racism in the industry, expectations of African writing, and the trends coming out of the continent. Full episode notes can be found at www.breakingtheglassslipper.com The post Episode 12: African speculative fiction with Chinelo Onwualu first appeared on Breaking the Glass Slipper.
African speculative fiction with Chinelo Onwualu
September 22, 2016 10:00 - 43 minutes - 80.1 MB‘We need to include all voices.’ This podcast was set up to increase the conversation around a marginalised group in speculative fiction: women. But women aren’t the only marginalised voices in the industry. Fireside Fiction recently published a report on the embedded racism in the SF publishing industry, including this revelation: In 2015, of 2,039 […] The post African speculative fiction with Chinelo Onwualu first appeared on Breaking the Glass Slipper.
Episode 11: Hugos, Nebulas, and Dawn Cano
September 08, 2016 10:11 - 51.2 MBIt’s so exciting to see so many women recognised in the industry awards right now that we just had to have a little ‘squee’ about it. Charlotte interviews extreme horror author Dawn Cano. The post Episode 11: Hugos, Nebulas, and Dawn Cano first appeared on Breaking the Glass Slipper.
Hugos, Nebulas, and Dawn Cano
September 08, 2016 10:00 - 27 minutes - 51.2 MBAfter the last marathon episode, we have kept things more succinct. First up, Charlotte, Lucy, and Megan geek-out about the 2016 SFF Awards season. Women seem to finally be getting their due and we are all kinds of chuffed about it. After all, women have been writing fantastic books for years, so it’s about bloody […] The post Hugos, Nebulas, and Dawn Cano first appeared on Breaking the Glass Slipper.
Episode 10: Barriers to women in SFF publishing (Live at Nine Worlds)
August 25, 2016 10:37 - 149 MBRecorded live at Nine Worlds Geekfest in London on August 13th, 2016. Discussion of both perceived and real barriers women experience when pursuing a writing career in science fiction, fantasy, and horror. Megan, Charlotte, and Lucy are joined by three fantastic guests: Gillian Redfearn (Gollancz), Lydia Gittins (Titan Books), and Alasdair Stuart (Escape Artists). ***Please […] The post Episode 10: Barriers to women in SFF publishing (Live at Nine Worlds) first appeared on Breaking the Glas...
Live at Nine Worlds
August 25, 2016 10:00 - 1 hour - 149 MBIt seems fitting that Breaking the Glass Slipper would make its live debut at Nine Worlds Geekfest in London, a convention that prides itself on diversity, panel parity, and accessibility. As such, we were there flying the flag for women in genre fiction, recording our panel on ‘Barriers to women in SFF publishing’ (or as […] The post Live at Nine Worlds first appeared on Breaking the Glass Slipper.
Episode 9: Virgins and villainesses (part 2)
August 11, 2016 10:30 - 82.8 MB*Please note that this episode contains spoilers for Game of Thrones season 6. Listen at your own risk. This week, we discuss the tropes common to female villains in SFFH, from irritating cliches to our favourite villainesses. Visit the Pop Verse post for a full list of all texts mentioned in the episode. The post Episode 9: Virgins and villainesses (part 2) first appeared on Breaking the Glass Slipper.
Virgins and villainesses (part 2)
August 11, 2016 10:00 - 45 minutes - 82.8 MBIt’s a bit of a long one this week. Get the three of us together and we can’t shut up about female villains! While I might be biased, I have to say that this is one of our best episodes yet, with Lucy spouting such gems like ‘speaking of psychos…’ and ‘I mean, Gary Oldman… […] The post Virgins and villainesses (part 2) first appeared on Breaking the Glass Slipper.
Episode 8: Virgins and villainesses (part 1)
July 28, 2016 10:56 - 70.4 MBCharlotte takes the helm today, overseeing a discussion of virgins in SFFH. Why do women who have sex often die? Why are magical abilities so often linked to virginity? We ask these questions and more as we discuss desire, gender stereotypes, and go on a tangent about The Fifth Element. Full list of texts references […] The post Episode 8: Virgins and villainesses (part 1) first appeared on Breaking the Glass Slipper.
Virgins and villainesses (part 1)
July 28, 2016 10:00 - 38 minutes - 70.4 MBHave you ever noticed that the women who have sex are often the first to die, while their virginal counterparts tend to last through to the bitter end? This week, Lucy, Charlotte, and I discuss the beginnings of this trope and its inherent sexism, along with a few tangents. For those trying to keep up […] The post Virgins and villainesses (part 1) first appeared on Breaking the Glass Slipper.
Episode 7: Interview with Janine Ashbless/Keris McDonald
July 14, 2016 11:02 - 56.5 MBCharlotte interviews an author who writes both erotica (as Janine Ashbless) and horror (as Keris McDonald). They discuss pornography vs erotica, what frightens a horror writer, and pacing stories as a kind of ‘teasing’. If you blush easy, this might be one to save for when you get home. The post Episode 7: Interview with Janine Ashbless/Keris McDonald first appeared on Breaking the Glass Slipper.
Interview with Janine Ashbless/Keris McDonald
July 14, 2016 10:00 - 30 minutes - 56.5 MBThis week, Charlotte talks to erotica and horror (as Keris McDonald) author Janine Ashbless. No topic is off limits with this wordsmith. They discuss pornography vs erotica, what frightens a horror writer, and pacing stories as a kind of ‘teasing’. If you blush easy, this might be one to save for when you get home. In September, The […] The post Interview with Janine Ashbless/Keris McDonald first appeared on Breaking the Glass Slipper.
Episode 6: Labyrinth
June 30, 2016 10:55 - 67.2 MBMany of us were lucky enough to grow up on Jim Henson’s magical film, Labyrinth. But what is it about the film and its female protagonist that speaks to so many? In memory of the late David Bowie and celebrating the film’s 30th anniversary, Charlotte, Megan, and Lucy discuss why the film remains such an […] The post Episode 6: Labyrinth first appeared on Breaking the Glass Slipper.
Labyrinth
June 30, 2016 10:00 - 36 minutes - 67.2 MBThis Monday marked the 30th anniversary of Labyrinth’s release (in the US). In these three decades, the entire world has been captivated by the story of teenager Sarah and her adventures in the labyrinth. The film is dark, imaginative, and strangely relatable for such a weird fantasy world. With David Bowie’s sexually charged performance, Jim Henson’s […] The post Labyrinth first appeared on Breaking the Glass Slipper.
Episode 5: Interview with Ben Peek
June 16, 2016 10:57 - 65 MBMegan Leigh interviews fantasy writer Ben Peek. The discussion covers his gender and ethnically diverse Children Trilogy, tropes of female characters in fantasy, and the pitfalls involved with marketing writers must navigate once they secure a publishing deal. The post Episode 5: Interview with Ben Peek first appeared on Breaking the Glass Slipper.