Sisters of Sci-Fi
32 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 4 years ago - ★★★★★ - 11 ratingsContrary to the (thankfully) diminishing belief that science fiction is a predominantly male genre, women have been at the forefront of sci-fi and speculative fiction since before it became a popularized literary category. Sisters of Sci-Fi is a bi-monthly podcast that examines the immense amount of science fiction written by women since the 1600s. In order to cover as many writers as possible, over this enormous expanse of time, rich with options, the show is formatted like a sort of book club, so listeners can plan ahead and read along, or sit back and enjoy the discussions between host L. Stephanie Tait, and her fellow guest-hosts. New episodes will be posted the first and third Tuesday of every month.
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Episodes
L.A. Young- Race and Oppression in Science Fiction
June 12, 2020 07:02 - 12 minutes - 17.2 MBL.A. Young generously does a guest-takeover-episode of the podcast to talk about race and oppression in Science Fiction. With her extensive knowledge, she gives suggestions and examples of works by Black Sci-Fi/Speculative Fiction authors that have used the genre to address the issues of racism and social justice within society. The biggest thank you to L.A. for doing this episode and sharing her insights into such an impressive reading list! The complete list of books and stories she ment...
Jeanne Cavelos- Astrophysics, Sci-Fi, and the Odyssey Writing Workshop
February 19, 2020 09:37 - 58 minutes - 80 MBJeanne Cavelos and I talk about her journey from Astrophysicist to Sci-Fi editor, to writer, to creator of the Odyssey Writing Workshop. Odyssey Writing Workshops Charitable Trust site (lots of free resources for writers): https://odysseyworkshop.org/ Jeanne’s site: http://jeannecavelos.com/ Odyssey Blog: https://odysseyworkshop.wordpress.com/ Odyssey Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/OdysseyWorkshop Odyssey Twitter Page: https://twitter.com/OdysseyWorkshop Odyssey Ins...
Joyce Chng- Rider
February 04, 2020 22:24 - 59 minutes - 81.4 MBThis episode is filled with SPOILERS, since we give specifics throughout our discussion. Theo Motzenbacker and I cannot say enough good things about Joyce Chng's book Rider, which is the first book in the Rider trilogy. You can purchase copies of the series here: https://awolfstale.wordpress.com/the-rider-trilogy-ya-sf/ The next book we cover will be Love and Gravity, by Samantha Sotto, in a crossover episode with Melissa Haskins of the Paperback Romance Book Club Podcast. It is mo...
Dalal Hanna and Andrea Reid- Riparia and Freshwater Ecology
January 21, 2020 08:24 - 48 minutes - 67.3 MBDalal Hanna and Andrea Reid, of the organization Riparia, and I talk about their work to educate young women on the importance of freshwater ecology and fisheries, as well as the importance of educating young women through Riparia on how they can make a difference. Instagram: @Dalal_el_Hanna and @AndreaJaneReid and @RipariaExpeditions Twitter: @Dalal_el_Hanna and @andreajanereid Websites: http://bennettlab.weebly.com/dalal.html and http://andreajanereid.com/ Riparia: www.riparia.ca The...
Mary Shelley- Lodore and Frankenstein
January 15, 2020 00:02 - 1 hour - 164 MBThis episode is filled with SPOILERS, since we give specifics throughout our discussion. Melissa Selzer and I cover a LOT in this episode- not only do we talk about two of Mary Shelley's works (Frankenstein and Lodore), we also talk about the history of Gothic Literature, our personal experiences with reading Frankenstein when we were younger, who Mary Shelley was, and how different Frankenstein the novel is from the film versions of the story. The next book review will be on Joyce Chng'...
Dr. Monifa Phillips- Materials Physics and Scientific Patents
December 05, 2019 23:35 - 46 minutes - 64.3 MBDr. Monifa Phillips and I talk about her recent PhD research, and her current career as an electronics and engineering trainee patent attorney. You can find her on twitter at @monifa_monifa And her linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/monifa-physicist/ Here is the article about the Anywayup Cup: https://www.theguardian.com/money/2012/jun/08/a-working-life-the-inventor Our next book will actually be two: a comparative study between Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prome...
Devorah Major- Trade Winds
November 15, 2019 21:28 - 59 minutes - 81.6 MBThis episode is filled with SPOILERS, since we give specifics throughout our discussion. Melissa Selzer and I both thoroughly enjoyed Devorah Major's short story, Trade Winds. The idea of home and being able to translate that idea to someone with a different context to the word really struck a chord with us. Here is a link to videos of her performing her work: https://www.devorahmajor.com/?page_id=12 Our next book will actually be two: a comparative study between Mary Shelley’s Franken...
Dawn Sam Alden and Jen Albert- Fight Choreography and Klingon Tamburlaine
October 25, 2019 02:49 - 1 hour - 150 MBI had the great honor and pleasure of talking with Dawn Sam Alden and Jen Albert about their experiences as both fight coordinators and acting in classic theatre, including their current production of a Klingon adaptation of Christopher Marlowe's Tamburlaine through the theatrical company, the School of Night. See the show-notes on our website for photos from the production. You can find Jen Albert on the following social media: Twitter:@thejenalbert Instagram:@thejenalbert Twitter: @...
Claudia Gray- Star Wars: Bloodline
October 18, 2019 01:08 - 50 minutes - 69.5 MBThis episode is filled with SPOILERS, since we give specifics throughout our discussion. Quick amendment to this episode: Hera WAS mentioned in Rogue One and the Ghost is one of the rebel ships that shows up for the battle of Scarif. Kate Motzenbacker and I cover Claudia Gray's Star Wars: Bloodline. It most likely can be found at your local library, as well as on Amazon and through Penguin Random House's website. We both absolutely adored this book. I personally cannot recommend this b...
Dr. Linh Anh Cat- Fungi, Reclaiming STEM, and Sci-Fi Book Reviews
September 18, 2019 21:42 - 44 minutes - 60.6 MBDr. Linh Anh Cat talks about her work on fungi, using her work in STEM to help inform public policy, her organization, Reclaiming STEM, and writing book reviews for the Book Riot Blog. Twitter: @LinhAnhCat https://linhanhcat.weebly.com/ Our next book will be Bloodline by Claudia Gray. It may be available at your local library, or it can be purchased on Amazon. Sisters of Sci-Fi is available on iTunes, Spotify, Google Play, and through the RSS Feed.
Magdalena Mouján Otaño- We and Our Own
September 12, 2019 21:46 - 39 minutes - 54.4 MBMelissa Selzer and I talked about We and Our Own by one of histories most incredible women, Magdalena Mouján Otaño. The poem, of the same name, written by her grandfather, that inspired this short story is here: Zer da Euskera, nor da euskaldunak, Zeiñ, will Nongotarrak say? Galdezka daude atzerritarrak Ontara Begira, mundu gustyan bere berdiñik Ez Duben Euskal will miss. Eziñ ikusi gaituste ondo, irten gautezen argira, iñork mantxarik sortu ez dezan Gure Jatorri Garbira. - Pe...
V.S. Holmes, Writing and Archaeology
August 27, 2019 17:54 - 47 minutes - 65.3 MBPart two of a crossover with the Amphibian Press Podcast, V.S. Holmes talks about her experiences as a writer, publisher, and archaeologist in the private sector. Part one can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7CRdtAH5oxw&feature=youtu.be Website: www.vsholmes.com Publishing site: www.amphibianpressbooks.com Box set pre-order/order: books2read.com/darkhorizons Start reading the archaeological sci-fi series (Starsedge: Nel Bently) for free: https://www.vsholmes.com/explor...
Tamai Kobayashi- Pantopte's Eye
August 22, 2019 20:22 - 48 minutes - 66.1 MBNeha Bawa joins me to talk about "Panopte's Eye" by Tamai Kobayashi. A copy of the story is in So Long Been Dreaming: Post-Colonial Science Fiction and Fantasy. It is more than likely available at your local library, as well as on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/So-Long-Been-Dreaming-Postcolonial/dp/155152158X/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=So+Long+Been+Dreaming&qid=1557281170&s=gateway&sr=8-1 Our next story will be We and Our Own by Magdalena Moujan Otano. You can find it in the anthology Cosmos Lat...
Dr. Steffi Diem- Nuclear Fusion
August 14, 2019 00:45 - 53 minutes - 73.3 MBDr. Steffi Diem joins us to discuss her fascinating work in Nuclear Fusion. She talks about how she got into the subject area during college, what she's working on now, and the important, positive impact Nuclear Fusion can have on the future of clean/green energy. A link to the image of the reaction in process: https://www.iter.org/fr/newsline/229/1229 Image of the Pegasus Toroidal Experiment at Princeton can be found in the show notes for this episode on the Sisters of Sci-Fi webs...
Pat Murphy- Love and Sex Among the Invertebrates
May 08, 2019 02:11 - 38 minutes - 53.1 MBThis episode is filled with SPOILERS, since we give specifics throughout our discussion. Dr. Steffi Diem and I both adored the short story Love and Sex Among the Invertebrates by Pat Murphy. It is available on iBooks, Kindle, and in the fantastic collection, Sisters of the Revolution: a Feminist Speculative Fiction Anthology, edited by Ann and Jeff VanderMeer. It is also available here: https://www.amazon.com/Love-Sex-Among-Invertebrates-Murphy-ebook/dp/B009KZ0ZV0 Our next stor...
Dr. Nyssa Silbiger- Climate Change and Marine Ecosystems
April 23, 2019 08:51 - 37 minutes - 51.1 MBDr. Nyssa Silbiger talks about her work in Marine Biology and how climate change affects marine ecosystems. She also brings up the important, and often overlooked, element of how climate change is a social justice issue, and that changes happening in one part of the globe wind up affecting ecosystems in entirely different areas. Website: https://nyssasilbiger.com/ Twitter: @NSilbiger Our next story will be Love and Sex Among the Invertebrates by Pat Murphy. It is available on iBooks,...
Nisi Shawl- Everfair
April 10, 2019 05:30 - 1 hour - 136 MBThis episode is filled with SPOILERS, since we give specifics throughout our discussion. Teresa Jusino, of the Finding Felicity Podcast, and the Leather and Love Podcast, joins me to talk about Everfair by Nisi Shawl (who it, admittedly, one of my favorite authors). The bio of Nisi Shawl, as told in her own words (as I promised in the intro): http://www.nisishawl.com/Autobiography.html Follow Teresa on social media: Twitter and IG, @teresajusino @teampomonok Facebook: @teampomonok ...
Mary Poffenroth- Fear and Communication
March 19, 2019 07:57 - 59 minutes - 81.9 MBUsing her work and research in the area of the Biology of Fear, Mary Poffenroth teaches people, especially scientific researchers, techniques to be able to communicate their findings to the public in an accessible way. Here is an infographic that shows her 3 steps for neutralizing fear: https://www.marypoffenroth.com/infographic Website:https://www.marypoffenroth.com Twitter: @marypoffenroth IG: @marypoffenroth Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marypoffenroth/ Facebook: https...
L. T. Meade- The Blue Laboratory
March 06, 2019 03:30 - 36 minutes - 50.2 MBThis episode is filled with SPOILERS, since we give specifics throughout our discussion. Sandra Escalante-Harder and I talk about The Blue Laboratory by L.T.Meade. You can find a copy of it in the collection The Dreaming Sex, edited by Mike Ashley. It is more than likely available at your local library, or can be purchased on Amazon. Sandra on IG: @_____sandrita_____ We both loved this story, and how well it illustrated the creepy side of science, pairing the trope of tenacious go...
Cristina Patterson- Contact Lens Painter
February 20, 2019 03:02 - 37 minutes - 51.7 MBCristina Patterson has the most unique job and impressive filmography I have seen to date. She uses her talents as an artist to create and paint the contact lenses we see in just about every major sci-fi, fantasy, horror, and action movie and tv show from the past 18 years. IG: EyeFXInc Website: https://eyeinkfx.com/ Our next story will be The Blue Laboratory by L. T. Meade, which can be found in the collection The Dreaming Sex, edited by Mike Ashley. It is more than likely available a...
Carole McDonnell- Lingua Franca
February 13, 2019 01:00 - 31 minutes - 42.8 MBThis episode is filled with SPOILERS, since we give specifics throughout our discussion. Kate Motzenbacker and I cover Lingua Franca by Carole McDonnell. If you haven’t read it can be found here: https://www.wattpad.com/story/12540512-lingua-franca We were both adored this story, heart-wrenching though it was, and are hooked on Carole McDonnell's gorgeous writing style. Her website can be found here: http://carolemcdonnell.blogspot.com/p/about-me.html Our next story will be The Blue ...
Christine Boylan, Gina Young, Nicole Sousa- Sci-Fi Theatre
January 22, 2019 09:01 - 1 hour - 92 MBA very special episode with not one but three guests: Christine Boylan, Gina Young, and Nicole Sousa talk with host L. Stephanie Tait about the production of their Sci-Fi Lesbian Rom-Com play, Meet Cute. There are spoilers as we discuss specifics about the play. Christine Boylan's Bespoke Plays: bespokeplays.com Gina Young: ginayoung.com Nicole Sousa's Bride-Con series: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxUhMzJGPrznqeAF6i_ikM8-YrUGweCfq Our next story will be The Blue Lab...
Rokeya Sakhawat Hossain- The Sultana's Dream
January 09, 2019 23:10 - 37 minutes - 51.3 MBThis episode is filled with SPOILERS, since we give specifics throughout our discussion. Kate Motzenbacker and I cover The Sultana's Dream by Rokeya Sakhawat Hossain. If you haven’t read it, yet, a pdf of the story, written in 1905, can be found here: http://digital.library.upenn.edu/women/sultana/dream/dream.html We were both totally in love with both the writing style of Rokeya Sakhawat Hossain, and the story itself. It was a much needed breath of fresh air. Link to the images disc...
Brianna da Silva from the Females in Fantasy podcast
December 18, 2018 21:38 - 47 minutes - 64.8 MBThis is a special two-episode crossover with Brianna de Silva from the Females in Fantasy Podcast. Originally this was part 1 of 2, but due to holiday season craziness, the first portion of this episode (to be published on the Females in Fantasy podcast) will be up December 21st. You can find her podcast on iTunes, Soundcloud, and Google Play. Brianna's book of poetry, A Canvas of Stars can be purchased on Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/Canvas-Stars-Poems-Losing-Finding/dp/198311894...
Pamela Sargent- Shore of Women
December 05, 2018 04:52 - 58 minutes - 80.9 MBThis episode is filled with SPOILERS, since we give specifics throughout our discussion. Trigger warning for discussion of rape. Melissa Selzer and I cover The Shore of Women by Pamela Sargent. If you haven’t read it, yet, it can more than likely be found at your local library, or can be purchased on Amazon. An eBook version is also available in various places, including Kindle and iBooks. We both enjoyed this book, overall, despite its glaring faults. Our next story for Episode ...
Cat Rambo- Writer, Editor, President of SFWA
November 20, 2018 08:02 - 32 minutes - 45.3 MBIt was a huge honor to interview Cat Rambo, Science Fiction and Fantasy writer, editor, and current President of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America. We discussed her experience as a woman working within this genre. TW- mention of rape being present in science fiction stories from minute 18:25 to 20:49. You can follow Cat Rambo on social media at: Her upcoming books are: Her fantastic classes can be found here: http://www.kittywumpus.net/blog/academy/ Our next book f...
Sabrina Vourvoulias- Ink
November 13, 2018 09:46 - 1 hour - 107 MBThis episode is filled with SPOILERS, since we give specifics throughout our discussion. I am so sorry this episode is a week late- I was dealing with the aftermath of being so heavily involved in the midterms here in California. Nadia Vazquez and I cover Ink by Sabrina Vourvoulias. If you haven’t read it, yet, it can more than likely be found at your local library, or can be purchased here: https://www.amazon.com/Ink-Sabrina-Vourvoulias/dp/0615657818 Ebook version: https://www.ba...
Dr. Steffi Diem- Experiences of Women in STEM
October 16, 2018 07:46 - 36 minutes - 50.4 MBTW: Discussion of sexual harassment in the workplace. Dr. Diem approached me about having a discussion about some of the things she has encountered as a woman working in STEM a long time ago. We decided to record a "what would you have done" format for this topic. This episode inspired me to open it up into and ongoing part of this podcast, since it is first and foremost a podcast about women's voices. If you have encountered similar situations, we would love to hear from you. Also, ...
Becky Chambers- The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet
October 02, 2018 07:02 - 1 hour - 94.5 MBThis episode is filled with SPOILERS, since we give specifics throughout our discussion. Dr. Steffi Diem and I cover The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet by Becky Chambers, which can more than likely be found at your local library, or can be purchased here: https://www.harpercollins.com/9780062444127/the-long-way-to-a-small-angry-planet/ https://www.amazon.com/Long-Small-Angry-Planet-Wayfarers/dp/0062444131 An audio version is also available in various places. We both tho...
Kitty Swink- Actor, Producer
September 18, 2018 07:44 - 40 minutes - 56.2 MBThe second episode of each month will feature a woman somehow involved in science fiction (writing, directing, makeup design, etc.) or STEM (science, technology, engineering, or math). It is a fun way to get to know the women who are active within the genre. This month my guest is Kitty Swink, known by sci-fi fans for her work on various science fiction tv productions (Star Trek DS9) and films, as well as producing the web series, Riley Parra. She speaks to her personal experience of the f...
Ann Leckie- Ancillary Justice
September 04, 2018 10:49 - 1 hour - 24.4 MBThis episode is filled with SPOILERS, since we give specifics throughout our discussion. For our first episode, I chose to discuss Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie with Kate Motzenbacker. You can purchase the ebook on itunes and kindle, and the physical copy through here: https://www.amazon.com/Ancillary-Justice-Ann-Leckie/dp/031624662X/ref=tmm_pap_title_0 https://www.indiebound.org/book/9780316246620 Kate and I both adored this book, and have now both read the entire trilogy. CO...
Sisters of Sci-Fi Preview
September 01, 2018 23:14 - 1 minute - 1.43 MBLaunching September 4, join L. Stephanie Tait and her guest hosts on the first and third Tuesdays of each month.