Call Your Girlfriend
359 episodes - English - Latest episode: over 2 years ago - ★★★★★ - 3.9K ratingsA podcast for long distance besties everywhere. Co-hosted by BFFs Ann Friedman and Aminatou Sow. Produced by Gina Delvac. Brand new every Friday.
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Episodes
Winter Books 2019
February 08, 2019 09:07 - 1 hour - 57.6 MBWe discuss what's on our bookshelf and talk to authors of some of our favorite recent titles. Nikki Darling and her protagonist (also named Nikki Darling) explore teen girlhood and '90s Los Angeles in her novel Fade Into You. Esmé Weijun Wang investigates mental illness, stigma and her own diagnosis in The Collected Schizophrenias. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Instagram Anxiety
February 01, 2019 09:16 - 55 minutes - 50.8 MBWe watched both Fyre Festival documentaries. Beyond the quirks of those films we're left with qualms about the social media platforms that ensconce our lives, Instagram in particular. Tech companies evolve, their products change, but we don't have laws or norms that govern the many different digital lives we lead. We get into it about FOMO, the history of personal photography, features that tag your 'close friends' and old pictures, and their ties to capitalism. Plus, how we think about what...
The death and life of Julie Yip-Williams (sponsored by Pineapple Street Media)
January 29, 2019 09:26 - 17 minutes - 15.7 MBWhat if you knew you were dying? How would you prepare your family, and yourself? In a special episode sponsored by Pineapple Street Media, we talk with Eleanor Kagan, producer and host of a new podcast, Julie, that explores the extraordinary life and death of Julie Yip-Williams. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Power of Poetry with Tracy K. Smith
January 25, 2019 09:23 - 42 minutes - 38.5 MBPoetry is the kind of art that makes you slow down and pay attention. And we can’t imagine a better guide than Tracy K. Smith. Tracy is a Pulitzer Prize-winning poet and the current U.S. Poet Laureate. She is the author of Wade in the Water, her most recent book of poems. She hosts The Slowdown podcast, which is all about seeing the world through poetry. And she is the editor of American Journal: 50 Poems for Our Time. We listen to Lia Purpura read her poem "Proximities." Plus, Aminatou and ...
Intimate Secrets
January 18, 2019 09:21 - 53 minutes - 48.6 MBLingerie is more than silks and lace worn only to sexually entice someone else. We go deep on foundation garments: who makes them, who wears them, when, and why. From our own associations around comfort and desire, to the labor, design and skill involved in making intimate garments, to brands that are expanding sizes and shades to fit all bodies. Cora Harrington of The Lingerie Addict joins us with the case for why we all deserve to wear beautiful, comfortable things that fit us, so close to...
The Women's March (or, why the only drama problem is no drama at all)
January 11, 2019 09:12 - 55 minutes - 50.4 MBWe discuss the very real concerns about antisemitism within the leadership of the Women's March. In a Kardashian-level internet investigation, we provide the backdrop of the past two years: from its initial organizing, centering of white women, framing principles, fallout from Charlottesville, and the recurring role of Louis Farrakhan. So while the New York Times is not incorrect to note the divisions "roiling" the Women's March, fighting for freedom and justice isn't a pretty and pleasant t...
Permission Slip 2019
January 04, 2019 09:28 - 36 minutes - 33.8 MBOur yearly kickoff episode in which women we love give you permission to… Liberate your attention (adrienne maree brown | How to Survive the End of the World) Make just a small adjustment (Autumn Brown | How to Survive the End of the World) NOT reply to email (Otegha Uwagba | Women Who) Get to know your body better (Erica Chidi Cohen | Loom) Be tender with yourself (Samhita Mukhopadhyay) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Top Sheroes of 2018
December 28, 2018 09:32 - 44 minutes - 41.2 MBWe look back at the podcast year that was, including interviews with many of our sheroes: Kamala Harris, Alicia Garza, Stacey Abrams, Cynthia Nixon, and Cecile Richards. We also tackled subjects like bisexuality, poop, and white fragility. We even had some men on the show this year! (Remember the dulcet tones of LeVar Burton?) Whether you're a weekly listener or you just heard about us, come bask in some of our favorite moments of the year. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informati...
Thank You For Being a Friend
December 21, 2018 09:27 - 44 minutes - 40.8 MBWe asked for your meet-cute stories, the platonic version of a rom-com whirlwind friend romance. From love at first eyeroll to the bestie you initially hated, to staying friends through the rough patches, we listen to some voicemails and talk about the early days of friendship. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Non-Violent Embezzlement Scam
December 14, 2018 09:40 - 46 minutes - 42.3 MBWe begin to close our books on 2018 as Nancy and Chuck get covered in Cheeto dust. Financial tips for the end of the year, including good money tracking, and organizations we're supporting. Plus, we're cheered by the gambling and vacationing exploits of a pair of scammer nuns. Reading list: Pelosi double-standard Taxes for Artists Shop CYG Scammer nuns Organizations we support: Families Belong Together | Paola Mendoza on Twitter + Instagram Brooklyn Defender Services has an Amazon wi...
Delicious Company with Samin Nosrat
December 07, 2018 09:26 - 50 minutes - 46.5 MBOur queen of cookbooks, Netflix, and writing is here! Samin Nosrat is the author of Salt Fat Acid Heat, and brings her infectious personality and obvious pleasure in eating to the TV show of the same name. We discuss her time at Chez Panisse, how male chefs take credit for their grandmothers centuries of unpaid kitchen labor, and amazing food writers of color to follow. Plus, you can make delicious things in the kitchen if you want to! Samin's pro-tips: don't judge yourself by Instagram and ...
Money Money Money
November 30, 2018 09:10 - 55 minutes - 51.1 MBWe put the personal in personal finance. No lectures, no shame, we turn to Tonya Rapley and Lindsey Stanberry to help us unlock the secrets of making money work for you, whatever your financial picture. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Rewriting Herstory with Alexis Coe
November 23, 2018 10:51 - 40 minutes - 37.3 MBOur favorite herstorian, Alexis Coe, joins us to bust Thanksgiving myths, shade male historians who always disparage the wives and mothers of U.S. Presidents, and shine light on some of the amazing women she profiles in her new podcast for The Wing, No Man's Land. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Seeking Justice
November 16, 2018 09:34 - 54 minutes - 49.9 MBCriminal justice reform is about more than police and prisons. It's about changing the way prosecutors do their jobs. It's about schools, community centers, parks, drug treatment and other resources that stop or delay interactions with the criminal justice system. It's about letting people vote and letting go of trumped-up claims of voter fraud. Lawyer, reporter and criminal justice reform advocate Josie Duffy Rice helps us think through the system, and the role we can play in fixing it, bey...
Post-Midterm Decompression with LeVar Burton
November 09, 2018 21:47 - 39 minutes - 36 MBWe decompress from our tour and the midterm elections. Plus, the one-and-only LeVar Burton helps us answer listener questions in a special post-election edition of Ask A Man. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Fall Books 2018
November 02, 2018 08:02 - 59 minutes - 54.4 MBReaders are leaders! We talk with the authors of some of our favorite recent releases. Nicole Chung's memoir explores transracial adoption through her own experience finding her birth family. Imani Perry brings playwright Lorraine Hansberry's complicated life and relationships into focus in her recent biography. Finally, Glory Edim's Well-Read Black Girl started as a t-shirt, became a book club, events series, and now an edited collection. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Secret Shade with Alicia Garza
October 26, 2018 09:07 - 40 minutes - 37.4 MBIn an excerpt from our first stop on the Shine Theory Tour, we discuss the Cheeto Administration's attempts to erase trans people, investing advice from Reddit, and San Francisco's debate over how to fund services for homeless residents. Plus, we talk with Black Lives Matter co-founder Alicia Garza about how she channels her energy, how she manages hard days, and an innovative approach to handling haters. We have a full hour of additional segments that can only be seen on the road. There a...
A Well-Dressed Monster is Still a Monster
October 19, 2018 07:48 - 37 minutes - 34.7 MBElizabeth Warren's DNA test woes. (Psst: race is a social construct and tribal membership is not granted by chromosomes.) Practical Magic does not hold up. Hocus Pocus does. Melania's colonial cosplay. A brief consideration of fashion we loved from monsters in the Cheeto administration. Plus, Taylor and Kanye's role reversal. Reading List: Lizzie Warren Practical Magic + the curse of heterosexuality (good alternative: Hocus Pocus) Bette Midler’s offensive tweet Melania, most bullied per...
Be a Good Ancestor with Stacey Abrams
October 12, 2018 09:16 - 47 minutes - 43.7 MBGet a flu shot, make sure you're registered to vote, and make a vote-by-mail or Election Day plan with friends. We're still raging at the news, while trying to remind ourselves that working for freedom is a lifelong endeavor, and change can take centuries. A bright spot of hope: we talk with Stacey Abrams, who could be Georgia's next Governor. Reading List Come see us on tour! Get a flu vaccine Register to vote in the midterms Michelle Alexander on resistance Alicia Garza on the long g...
Cute 'n' Dewy (sponsored by Ulta Beauty)
October 11, 2018 09:03 - 34 minutes - 31.6 MBIn a bonus episode sponsored by Ulta Beauty, we take time away from the news and indulge in self-care in the form of skin care, a loud lip for public speaking, and following posts from people of color and of all genders reshaping the meaning of makeup. Plus, beauty hacks from some of our faves: Jenna Wortham, Virgie Tovar, Dodai Stewart, and Fariha Roisin. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
A Women's Anger with Rebecca Traister
October 05, 2018 09:11 - 55 minutes - 51.1 MBFrom #MeToo to Brett Kavanaugh, we have a lot to be mad about. Rebecca Traister is back to discuss her new book exploring the social and historical power of women's anger. When women get angry, movements form and revolutions spark. See: Rosa Parks, Florynce Kennedy, Maxine Waters, and many more sheroes. We discuss rage-crying, the specific history of white women's tears, the lasting impact of Professor Anita Hill, and who has room to express their rage today. No wonder we're told to keep our...
Pay Caregivers Fairly with Ai-jen Poo
September 28, 2018 09:13 - 40 minutes - 37.1 MBPersonal shero and labor innovator Ai-jen Poo joins us to discuss the politics of domestic work. How we can think about and pay for help with children, elders, and housework more fairly and comprehensively. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Give People Money
September 21, 2018 07:36 - 38 minutes - 35.3 MBPoverty need not exist in the U.S. So what can we do about it? We talk with Annie Lowrey about universal basic income and her deeply reported (and kinda radical) book, Give People Money. Reading List: Tour tickets! Give People Money See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Alive with Rage in Q3
September 14, 2018 09:12 - 47 minutes - 43.1 MBIt's Q3 and we're hitting our stride: heading out on tour and really feeling ourselves... enraged. As are some listeners who have written in about recent ad campaigns.We respond to criticism about our ad choices, note pushback against other small women-owned businesses, and how many critiques fall disproportionately to Amina, personally. There no ethical consumption under capitalism. (And, fwiw, the Koch brothers do not own Coca-Cola.) Plus, Serena's righteous rage on the tennis court. And a...
Abuse of Power Comes as No Surprise
September 07, 2018 09:12 - 43 minutes - 39.5 MBAs some of our faves' fave women face charges of abuse and impropriety, we dig into the deeper meaning of #metoo. From feminist critics rushing to the defense of an NYU professor whose texts and emails paint a damning picture of her relationship with a grad student, to accusations against Weinstein survivor Asia Argento (more damning texts), to himpathy for Louis C.K., we look at the many ways people we like or agree with have caused harm. In some cases, in deep contrast to the ideals they p...
White Fragility
August 31, 2018 08:16 - 55 minutes - 51 MBLet's talk about race, baby, and what white people really mean when they say they don't see it. Whether it's willful ignorance about collective racial identity or an unexpectedly defensive flare-up from someone who claims to be progressive or an intersectional feminist, white fragility has serious consequences. We discuss its impact on people of color with Rachel Cargle, and explore ways for white people to break down internal barriers to growth with Robin DiAngelo. If you are white and list...
Midterm Madness
August 24, 2018 07:29 - 55 minutes - 50.9 MBRemember that November 9th feeling? We'd like to move in the other direction, so we're donating money, making calls, and shining a light on the people we'd like to see in office instead. We talk with with state-level candidates we're supporting: Cynthia Nixon in New York and Felicia French in Arizona. Christine Hallquist is trans and just became the Democratic nominee for governor in Vermont. Plus, shoutouts to Congressional candidates Abby Finkenauer in Iowa; Lauren Underwood in Illinois; I...
Friendship Dilemmas
August 17, 2018 09:05 - 47 minutes - 43.4 MBAmina and Ann are writing a book! It's a memoir-manifesto called Big Friendship, and, as we kick off the writing process we're answering some of your friendship questions. Friendships where privilege gets in the way. Friendships where one of you has moved on and doesn't know how to talk about it. Friendships that are post-breakup. Friendships where fat shaming comes into play. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Kamala
August 10, 2018 08:35 - 41 minutes - 37.8 MBSenator Kamala Harris (D-CA) joins us to discuss her policy goals and accomplishments. She believes there is room for optimism even in Ivanka’s dad’s America. Plus, her yes vote on SESTA, safety for sex workers, and why addressing race is a national security imperative (as well as a moral one). Reading List: Harris-Rand op-ed on bail reform Harris statement on SESTA Smart on Crime by Kamala Harris Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Internet Outrage Part 2: Millennial Money
August 03, 2018 08:39 - 34 minutes - 31.6 MBWe love a money diary, even if the internet hated a recent one in Refinery29 about a marketing intern who makes $25/hour and has significant family support to afford her life. In the interest of transparency, we get real about how much we make, where it comes from, secret white people money, emotional spending, and what it means to be self-made. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Internet Outrage Part 1: Privacy
July 27, 2018 07:56 - 37 minutes - 34.1 MBShouldn't we all have a personal code for how we internet? Through the mini saga of plane bae, how we're conditioned to indulge in hetero-patriarchal fantasies. When internet fascination turns to outrage, no surprise, women pay the price. TV networks that juice social media storylines do not. Just because someone's account is unlocked doesn't mean you should publicize their posts, at least not without permission. Plus, the hosts of Unladylike are diving deep into the Equal Rights Amendment a...
Around the World in Feminist News
July 20, 2018 07:48 - 46 minutes - 42.1 MBWe step back from Cheeto-induced chaos in the U.S. and take a global view. Protests at the World Cup in Russia. The politics of globalization and migration on and off the pitch. In China, the government is cracking down on women organizing online. In Nepal, menstrual stigma risks the lives of women and girls. In slightly better news, women in Egypt are working to end gender-based violence, starting with the men who drive cabs and tuk-tuks. Reading List Russia: Hidden Flag / Pussy Riot Worl...
Pooptacular
July 13, 2018 08:58 - 50 minutes - 46 MBEverybody poops and we're finally talking about it all: Period poops. The pleasure of getting regular. Checking your stool as an indicator of health. Eliminating poop shame and stigma. The pleasure of the bidet. And Dr. Susan Stryker on the unnatural social construct of sex-segregated public bathroom. Reading List Everybody is constipated by Maggie Koerth-Baker at FiveThirtyEight The Lily on documenting their poop for the duration of the month “America has softened on stool.” Period poo...
Summer Books 2018
July 06, 2018 09:17 - 54 minutes - 50.1 MBWe're at the library, on the beach, and by the pool with our noses in books/kindles. And you know we're all about the stories that share and expand on women's experiences. This week we hear from Jessica Knoll about The Favorite Sister, her novel full of murder and scandal set in the world of reality TV. Glynnis MacNicol's memoir No One Tells You This is full of dispatches on life after 40 when you don't follow a spouse-and-kids blueprint. Yrsa Daley-Ward is perhaps best known as a poet, and ...
Supreme Agony
June 29, 2018 09:36 - 43 minutes - 39.7 MBAfter a week of upheaval in legal doctrine, the Supreme Court issued another shocking decision: Justice Anthony Kennedy is stepping down. Legal writer (and icon) Dahlia Lithwick explains why Kennedy has never been a centrist, reviews some of the landmark cases Kennedy decided, and previews the likely jurisprudence to come. (Hint: it’s about as scary as you think.) A small silver lining: progressive Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez won her Congressional primary thanks to grassroots support. Plus, we'...
Vote, Protest, Listen to Beyonce
June 22, 2018 08:58 - 42 minutes - 39.3 MBDonate, Protest, Midterm Elections is the new Gym, Tan, Laundry. Let's move from shock and despair at Ivanka's dad's inhumane immigration policy to reading history and taking action. The white women who defend Trump (and still get burned). Delightful quotes from Flo Kennedy: ''Sweetie,'' she said, ''if you're not living on the edge, then you're taking up space.'' Gina got a website! Bey and Jay's creative partnership and black art in white spaces. And the power of a bespoke suit. Reading l...
Buffet of Horrors
June 15, 2018 08:46 - 43 minutes - 39.6 MBRemember when the question was, let me know when this administration gets really bad? Welcome to this week, especially for immigrants. We rage and discuss options for supporting people who are likely affected in your local community. Plus, loving ways to handle bouts of mental illness and depression within a friendship. Reading List: ShopCYG is back! DOJ not interested in asylum A small town in Tennessee deals with immigration raids That Merkel photo Voter-roll purges greenlit by SCOT...
A Taxonomy of Scammers
June 08, 2018 09:22 - 51 minutes - 46.9 MB"The scam economy is entering its baroque phase." From Ponzi schemes to fake royals to imposters in the tech and wellness space, our guide to scammers both amusing and insidious. Common grifters and their scams: Fake royals: Anna Delvey, fake-German-heiress scammer; the guy who impersonated a Saudi royal; fake British royal-adjacent Thomas J Mace Archer Mills Esq. Political grifters: Trump cabinet scammers: Pruitt (and his wife), Carson, Zinke; Ivanka; all Trumps, really; Jill Stein, rec...
Hot Bods
June 01, 2018 09:03 - 46 minutes - 42.6 MB(Hint: you're already in one.) We talk about all the ways we’re feeling good in our bodies this summer; why body positivity is about working to make the world better for ALL kinds of bodies, not just your own; our favorite instagram accounts from people with a range of hot bods; microdosing, psychedelics, and other ways we get out of our heads and into our bodies. Insta accounts we love Jessamyn Stanley / Keah Brown / #DisabledAndCute / the thicc / She’s All Fat / Jacob Tobia / Tuesday Bas...
The Glass Shovel Brigade
May 25, 2018 08:48 - 47 minutes - 43.8 MBWe let our aggressive word nerd selves out to play. Why the Glass Cliff is an imperfect metaphor for women who get promoted after men fail (glass shovel, anyone?). Al Franken and what's next for #metoo men. Plus, your questions: is it okay to call a group of women "hey guys"? how do you deal with a fragile male ego at work? And, you donated 580 pints of blood in our drive, enough to save 1700 lives! Reading list: “The glass cliff” Laura McGann on Al Franken + letters she’s gotten from men...
Under His Iowa
May 18, 2018 09:01 - 38 minutes - 35.5 MBHey girl, we're furious and saddened about, well, a lot actually. First, that former New York AG and public feminist (TM) Eric Schneiderman has abused multiple women. Meanwhile in Iowa, that "fetal heartbeat" bill is really an abortion ban, intended to challenge Roe v. Wade. In Ireland, voters could repeal a constitutional ban on abortion, May 25. New research on the stress and financial strain of anti-abortion laws. And a palate cleanser: we love the web series Bad Ally, Naomi Alderman's bo...
The Wind in Your Hair
May 11, 2018 09:09 - 34 minutes - 31.5 MBWith so much attention on Iran this week, we look at daily life for women. Iranian journalist Masih Alinejad joins us to discuss her campaign against compulsory hijab. Plus, how Western feminists and politicians can be better allies to women in Iran. Masih's soon-to-be-released memoir is The Wind in My Hair. Reading List: The Wind in My Hair: My Fight for Freedom in Modern Iran by Masih Alinejad My Stealthy Freedom campaign White Wednesdays Girls of Revolution Street See omnystudio.co...
Hey Ladies
May 04, 2018 09:04 - 50 minutes - 46.3 MBWedding season is in full swing. Michelle Markowitz and Caroline Moss join us to discuss their book Hey Ladies, which chronicles the (fictional) emails among 8 BFFs in amid bachelorette party planning and wedding madness. We share our loves and gripes about weddings, group travel planning, and how to communicate better across budgets and desires. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
That Don't Impress Me Much
April 27, 2018 08:38 - 54 minutes - 49.8 MBWe discuss the fears black customers face in stores and coffee shops (white people stop calling the cops!) Thank you to everyone who's been #bleedin4Amina, no thank you forever to human housecat Jonathan Chait's opinions about female politicians, and we are devastated about Shania Twain's support for Trump/inability to apologize like a proper Canadian. Reading List: Fear of A Black Patron Alex Nieto EYEROLL @ Jon Chait Nooooo, SHANIA See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Ask A Man
April 20, 2018 09:41 - 54 minutes - 49.9 MBWe're taking 420 off to get stoned, but fear not, some of our favorite men are here to answer questions from listeners and some of ours, including: Why aren't men funny? Why are men so emotional all the goddamn time? And, can men have it all? The Men: Cord Jefferson Thomas Page McBee Chris Roan (aka Mr. Of a Kind) Ezra Klein Bobby Finger Jason Parham Spencer Ackerman Emmanuel Hapsis Jorge Rivas The Resources: Chris's skin care picks, Ezra's book list and more at callyourgirlfrien...
Spring Books
April 13, 2018 09:32 - 56 minutes - 52.2 MBA deep dive into some of the new books we're most excited about, with a focus on nonfiction: Brotopia by Emily Chang, Just the Funny Parts by Nell Scovell and Your Art Will Save Your Life by Beth Pickens. Reading List: Brotopia: Breaking Up the Boys Club of Silicon Valley by Emily Chang Just the Funny Parts: And a Few Hard Truths About Sneaking Into the Hollywood Boys’ Club by Nell Scovell Your Art Will Save Your Life by Beth Pickens Emergency Contact by Mary HK Choi The Female Persua...
Hot and Bothered with Cecile Richards
April 06, 2018 09:32 - 51 minutes - 46.8 MBWe're together in NYC with the iconic Cecile Richards. Cecile is the president of Planned Parenthood, and announced earlier this year that she's stepping down. She tells us why she's leaving, how she felt after testifying before Congress for nearly five hours, and what's next. (A political career perhaps?) Her new book is Make Trouble with the #goals subtitle Standing Up, Speaking Out, and Finding the Courage to Lead--My Life Story. Come for the juicy behind-the-scenes memoir about the fight...
Cult Leader Goals
March 30, 2018 09:28 - 46 minutes - 42.8 MBStormy Daniels: politician, credible source, savvy scammer. Wild Wild Country is our new cult obsession. (Doesn't Amina have the makings of a good cult leader?) Learning new languages as an adult and we're still Bleedin' 4 Amina and discovering an international buffet of blood donation snacks along the way. A SESTA update. Plus, Aly Raisman is calling out concern-troll critics who re-victimize her fellow Olympic gymnasts. Reading list: Stormy Daniels is a boss SESTA update: It passed Wil...
Beautiful Black Bobsledders sponsored by P&G
March 29, 2018 16:47 - 53 minutes - 48.6 MBAmina talks race, friendship and competition with U.S. bobsledders Aja Evans, Elana Meyers-Taylor & Kehri Jones in a bonus episode brought to you by P&G's My Black is is Beautiful. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Asking for Help
March 23, 2018 09:28 - 48 minutes - 44.4 MBGood and bad looks from RBG and Ivanka, respectively. The New York Times and National Geographic are reckoning with their legacies of racism and sexism in very different ways. A digression into Game of Thrones, Age of Adaline and the very dimply Michiel Huisman. An update from Patti Masciesz aka @artpatti on how CYG listeners have been billing the patriarchy! We love Drag Race! But have to drag some of RuPaul's outdated views on trans folk. Reading List Remember to sign up for the blood dr...