Bonnie & Maude

These are our last two episodes! Bonnie & Maude is ceasing as a podcast for now, but keep up with our future endeavors at bonnieandmaude.com.In Part 2, we interview Gillian Robespierre, director of 2014's Obvious Child, about how the film is so much more than an "abortion rom-com." This interview was recorded at the Bell House on June 3, 2015 as part of Pregnant Pause, a variety show co-produced with The Doula Project that explored representations of pregnancy, choice, and abortion in pop culture. 

These are our last two episodes! Bonnie & Maude is ceasing as a podcast for now, but keep up with our future endeavors at bonnieandmaude.com.In Part 1, we interview the Latvian-born animator and filmmaker Signe Baumane. Her feature film Rocks In My Pockets chronicles three generations of her family's experience with mental illness, and Signe talks about how dedicating herself to her art has helped her live with depression. Find the trailer, rent, or buy the film at rocksinmypocketsmovie.com, and watch her hilarious and provocative short film collection Teat Beat of Sex at teatbeat.com.This episode includes frank discussion of mental illness, depression and suicide. If you or someone you know needs help, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).

Our guest Lisa Hanawalt has her fingers in many pies. She is a published artist/author, hilarious film critic for The Hairpin, co-host of the Baby Geniuses podcast, and co-producer & production designer of the Netflix show BoJack Horseman. Her sneakily feminist views have been been available in a variety of mediums but we were especially excited to speak with her about Hook, the 1991 Peter Pan reimagining starring Robin Williams. Is it a kids movie or an erotic masterpiece filled with genderfluid characters that inspire the imagination? You may be surprised.The episode also includes Lisa's theories on gender bias in animation, why she loves working on BoJack, and a quick overview of Great Horses of Cinema.--Additional viewing:BuzzFeed's list of 136 Hidden Jokes You Probably Missed On "Bojack Horseman"Season 2 of BoJack Horseman premieres July 17!A still from Julie Doucet comic "Heavy Flow" (originally published in Weirdo #26), referenced by Kseniya.

In celebration of Mother's Day, Amy Gastelum and Anne Noyes Saini, hosts of Mother: A Podcast, stop by the studio apartment to discuss one of the most empowering (but occasionally manipulative) motherhood-themed sci-fi classics, Aliens.Having covered films from a mother's perspective on previous episodes (Rosemary's Baby, Despicable Me, Guy Maddin), we delve deeper into the meaning of the mother bear instinct, mom-on-mom violence, and what it's like to view a chest-burster scene when you're pregnant.Please enjoy this Power Loader Baby Halloween costume.

Gilmore Girls! Weezer! Cruel Intentions! Vanilla Ice! Can't Hardly Wait! We look at the movies and music that get our hearts racing in a special episode, dispatched from our live storytelling show, Pause The Tape, co-hosted with The Soundtrack Series' Dana Rossi.Storytellers, and links to scenes/songs referenced in stories:Kseniya Yarosh on Cool as IceDana Rossi on Gilmore Girls, Season 3, Ep: 8 "Let The Games Begin"C.D. Hermelin on WeezerEleanor Kagan on Can't Hardly WaitDana Rossi on Gilmore Girls, Season 3, Ep: 9 "A Deep-Fried Korean Thanksgiving"Isaac Oliver on Cruel IntentionsOur next live edition of Pause the Tape is on April 30th, 2015 at Videology in Brooklyn. More info at bonnieandmaude.com

To commemorate the sinking of Titanic on the morning of April 15th, 1912, we revisit a movie that stayed afloat long past anyone's expectations.Joining us for this episode is filmmaker and artist Claudia Bitran, currently working on a shot-for-shot remake of the record-breaking 1997 James Cameron film.  All of us watched Titanic as early teens, so the time seems ripe to reassess it now that we're grown-ass women. We also take a closer look at what has buoyed the film while simultaneously making it a target of mockery: teen female fandom.Plus: Hear about some of our listeners' tender memories of watching the film, and tell us yours by leaving a message at 530-628-3379.--Additional reading and viewing:See more of Claudia Bitran's work HERETitanic's alternate ending [video]Titanic survival results on MythBusters [video]A Reevaluation of Titanic by Dana Stevens Why Don’t Studios Rerelease Movies More Often? by Jim PagelsVulture’s Comprehensive Timeline of Titanic’s Cultural Dominance in 1998 by Gwynne WatkinsTitanic Force of a Young Woman in Love by Lorrie MooreAnd of course: http://fuckyeahdicaprio.tumblr.com

Guy Maddin ("National treasure of Canadian cinema") may be less familiar to casual cinema lovers in the States, but once you see his work, you won't be able to forget his bizarre characters or dreamy imagery. In our second mom-cast, we invite Kseniya's mother, Tatiana Watson, to discuss portrayal of parenthood in Maddin's Careful (1992) and Brand upon the Brain! (2006) and how film has bonded the mother and daughter over the years.Outro Music: "The Nightingale and the Rose" by Rosa Ponselle, as featured in Guy Maddin's short film, A Trip To The Orphanage (2004)Previously released episode with Eleanor's mom, Dr. Paula Kagan, discussing Rosemary’s BabyReferenced in the episode: Slums of Beverly Hills 15-Year Reunion

In the second part of our Bonnie & Maude Roving Movie Marathon, we traveled around Brooklyn for a day to sit on our friends' couches and let them pick a surprise movie for us to see. You can surprise yourself by listening through, or watch the films along with us:Part two includes:2:55 Pillow Talk (1959)25:00 The Conversation (1974)40:00 The Heartbreak Kid (1972)58:15 Set It Off (1996)Listen to part one herePause the Tape, an evening of stories about music and film, takes place on February 14th at 7pm at Videology in Brooklyn.The Iron Mule, an evening of short comedy film screenings, takes place on March 1st at 7:30pm at Symphony Space in New York.

Eleanor & Kseniya discuss Wild, Reese Witherspoon's latest leading role. Based on the 2012 memoir by Cheryl Strayed the story is about one woman's self-discover/recovery by way of an 1,100-mile hike on the Pacific Crest Trail. Relegated to the semi-disparaging category of chick-lit, we review the rarity of the 'lone woman' characters and the the insight Wild brings to the female experience. We close out the episode by reviewing some of our favorite woman-centric films from the past year of viewing. Several highlights include Ida and Babadook, two international films that we loved, as well as a number of picks from BAM's outstanding Punk Rock Girls program last Spring. Some articles featured in this episode:The Walking Cure: Talking to Cheryl Strayed About What Made Wild Work by Kathryn Schulz The best new Strong Female Characters are the weak ones by Tasha RobinsonHow Getting Wild Saved a ‘Lost’ Reese Witherspoon by Kyle Buchanan

In early November, we pushed ourselves (and our butts) to the limits of our movie watching abilities and watched EIGHT movies over the course of one weekend. This was a roving marathon, so we asked our friends in different locations around Brooklyn to pick a movie for us to watch, and host us on their couch.Part one (of two) includes:3:50 The Loves of a Blonde (1965)19:10 Drinking Buddies (2013)34:30 Tampopo (1985)43:20 Empire Records (1995)We sincerely thank our marathon hosts for their generosity in participating in this project and appreciate all the listeners who encouraged us when we originally came up with the idea.

Guests Rachel Michelle Fernandes, filmmaker and associate producer for the television show Four Weddings, and Allegra Oxborough, a Bachelor devotee, join us to figure out why we love (and hate on) reality television. Can we learn lessons about ourselves from watching the highly stylized, heavily edited lives of others?Select audio clips from various shows are included as examples throughout, but if you're interested in seeing the visuals take a look here:RuPaul's Drag RaceSurvivorBurning LoveAmerican Ninja WarriorAmerica's Next Top Model

"I'm a 16mm filmmaker, and because film is hard to make, people insist you must defend the fact you're shooting on film. And my defense is that... it's magic."Lyra Hill, a Chicago-based filmmaker, previews clips from, and discusses her short film Uzi's Party, an ominous and funny collage of teenage girls, makeovers, Ouija boards and possession.It's enough to put a spell on you--so Femme Rhythm, the 8-piece all-female a cappella group, does.Follow Lyra, including updates about the release of Uzi's Party, at lyrahill.comFollow Femme Rhythm at femmerhythm.com, and see a video of their performance on our YouTube channel.--"All of Them Witches," recorded on 10/13/2014 at the Bell House in Brooklyn, NY, was a one-night-only variety show hosted by Bonnie & Maude's Kseniya Yarosh and Eleanor Kagan, that explored portrayals of witches and witchcraft in pop culture, film and television.

Would you say that you're really into witchcraft, or are you a witch tourist? Meet the Lady's creator and host Tom Blunt takes us into the dizzying world of Salem, both that of our dimension, and that of Rob Zombie's film The Lords of Salem. Follow Tom at at tomblunt.com, and @tomblunt.--"All of Them Witches," recorded on 10/13/2014 at the Bell House in Brooklyn, NY, was a one-night-only variety show hosted by Bonnie & Maude's Kseniya Yarosh and Eleanor Kagan, that explored portrayals of witches and witchcraft in pop culture, film and television.

We all loved The Craft when we were teenagers, right? But do you remember what happens in the second half of the movie? Cassie Wagler does, and will delve deep into the film's huge problems in its portrayal of race, class, "light" and "dark" magic, and power. Don't be too sad about the reality check though, because she will leave you with a way you can still enjoy the film.Follow Cassie at about.me/cassiewagler and @cassiewagler.--"All of Them Witches," recorded on 10/13/2014 at the Bell House in Brooklyn, NY, was a one-night-only variety show hosted by Bonnie & Maude's Kseniya Yarosh and Eleanor Kagan, that explored portrayals of witches and witchcraft in pop culture, film and television.

Are you a "good" witch, or a "bad" witch? Such is the unanswerable question when it comes to deciding what type of magical person you want to be. Rosie Schaap recounts her own journey of identifying with witchy women, from Excalibur's Morgana (Helen Mirren), to Buffy's Willow (Alyson Hannigan), to The Addams Family's Morticia (Anjelica Huston).Follow Rosie Schaap at rosieschaap.com, and @rosieschaap.Bonus: chamber pop singer AK performs a jazzy rendition of “Love Potion #9.” Follow AK at ak-ak-ak.com, and @thebandak.--"All of Them Witches," recorded on 10/13/2014 at the Bell House in Brooklyn, NY, was a one-night-only variety show hosted by Bonnie & Maude's Kseniya Yarosh and Eleanor Kagan, that explored portrayals of witches and witchcraft in pop culture, film and television.

In the '60s and '70s, the golden age of exploitation cinema, witches in film were branded as one thing only: Satanic. Um, but their Satanic witch parties sound totally awesome?! Tenebrous Kate invites you to spend a little time with such women, and traces their reputation to, of all places, the birthplace of ABBA: Sweden.Follow Tenebrous Kate at lovetrain.super-coven.com, and @tenebrouskate.--"All of Them Witches," recorded on 10/13/2014 at the Bell House in Brooklyn, NY, was a one-night-only variety show hosted by Bonnie & Maude's Kseniya Yarosh and Eleanor Kagan, that explored portrayals of witches and witchcraft in pop culture, film and television.

If a witch is a woman who is notorious for her power, then she has a lot in common with celebrities, right? Writer Racheline Maltese peers into the world of American Horror Story: Coven to find the connections between fame, creepy dolls, and Stevie Nicks.Follow Racheline Maltese at lettersfromtitan.com, and @racheline_m.--"All of Them Witches," recorded on 10/13/2014 at the Bell House in Brooklyn, NY, was a one-night-only variety show hosted by Bonnie & Maude's Kseniya Yarosh and Eleanor Kagan, that explored portrayals of witches and witchcraft in pop culture, film and television.

Eleanor and Kseniya chat about what inspired them to put together a witches-focused variety show and which (ha) aspects of the theme they find most intriguing.Kseniya opens the evening by taking a second look at her favorite witch from childhood reruns, Samantha from Bewitched, and considers how Elizabeth Montgomery's portrayal might have been more progressive than the sitcom setting would suggest.Plus, chamber pop singer AK performs a gorgeous cover of "Bewitched, Bothered, and Bewildered." Follow AK at ak-ak-ak.com, and @thebandak. --"All of Them Witches," recorded on 10/13/2014 at the Bell House in Brooklyn, NY, was a one-night-only variety show hosted by Bonnie & Maude's Kseniya Yarosh and Eleanor Kagan, that explored portrayals of witches and witchcraft in pop culture, film and television.

Host of the WNYC program New Tech City, Manoush Zomorodi joins us to vent. In addition to being an all-around badass veteran broadcaster, she's a mother of two, and is on a perpetual quest for quality entertainment to enjoy with her family. In 2014, not only have kids' movies evolved in style and substance, but the method by which kids consume media has also radically changed. In this episode, two films are on the chopping block: The LEGO Movie vs. Despicable Me. See if you can predict which one won over Manoush's family and which one was a tremendous disappointment. The factors that make a movie "good" for a film enthusiast who is also a mother may surprise you.Closing music: "Everything is Awesome" cover by PianoKeyz

Jane Campion's first feature is odd, gorgeous, and bursting with ideas -- and foreshadows her future breathtaking work in The Piano and Top of the Lake. Kay and Sweetie, two sisters with starkly opposing personalities, give us the chance to talk about on-screen and real life siblings.We also discuss Peel, Campion's first short film, as well as American Gladiators, our guest Lara Gallagher's latest short that recently screened at Palm Springs International ShortFest. The film will be screening this October at Mill Valley Film Festival (screening times), San Jose International Film Festival (Oct.9-12) and St. John's Women's Film Festival (Oct.14-18th).Find more of Lara's work, including her music videos for Hospitality and Wild Flag, here. Additional reading: Order Muppets vs. Chaos Muppets, by Dahlia Lithwick in Slate.--More information about next live event "All of Them Witches" is available here

Join us for a discussion of Kathryn Bigelow's most adrenaline-fueled features, Point Break (1991) and The Hurt Locker (2008). We'll draw a through-line from her cartoonish surfer action flick to the gritty war drama that earned her an Oscar. Along with director, writer, and musician Aviv Rubinstien, we trace the recurring themes of her films, her varied visual styles, and hone in on her aversion of being referred to as a Female Director. She is a Director, point break.

Bonnie & Maude is taking part in Brooklyn Academy of Music's 24-Hour Movie Marathon on Sept. 5th. Twenty-four hours of movies! Will we lose our minds? Find out how you can contribute to kids' arts education and our slow descent into madness, from the comfort of your own couch.Donate here!

Listen to the first half of "You Are Hair," a live variety show we mounted earlier this year to root into the subject of female hair as seen in movies, television, and pop culture. Revel in the power of the pixie cut, as seen in Beyonce and Miley videos. Realize that you're not the only one who experienced Little Mermaid hair envy. And that side-shave haircut you see everywhere? It once stood for something...does it still?The live audio used in this episode was originally recorded at Littlefield in Brooklyn, NY on March 11, 2014.Featuring: Tessa Brown (Hiphopocracy, @tessalaprofessa)Aisha Harris (Slate, @craftingmystyle)Cassie Wagler (Romantic Friendship) Videos from these presentations can be viewed herePart 2 coming next month!

We talk Disney's Maleficent, starring Angelina Jolie's cheekbones and Long Lasting Lipstick. To give us the fairy tale perspective, our guest is Tabled Fables Podcast co-host Sophie Bushwick, who adds context on the varied history and mixed morals of Sleeping Beauty as told by Brothers Grimm and Charles Perrault.While we appreciate that Maleficent subverts some stale tropes like "true love's kiss" and actually puts its female characters in center of the action, we find some of the more adult themes of this PG film quite troubling. Plus: Why do we need villain origin stories in the first place? And why does it always gotta be about revenge?--Outro Music: "Once Upon A Dream" (theme from Sleeping Beauty) sung by Lana Del Rey

In this bonus mini episode, we talk about Anne Hathaway's latest incarnation of Catwoman in The Dark Knight Rises, and our guest David Archer tells a touching personal story about how Michelle Pfeiffer's deranged Catwoman scared him as a child. Plus: What's David's beef with a blonde Selina Kyle, anyway?

We discuss Batman Returns as an introduction to a three-part '90s Batman Sequels Podcrawl with our podcast pals Read It And Weep and Proudly Resents. We've encountered two other cinematic takes on Catwoman since the 1992 Tim Burton-directed film. But Michelle Pfeiffer's hyper-sexual and winking performance is still as fresh as ever in this convoluted Christmas story, where its trio of villains outshine Michael Keaton's caped crusader.Plus, meet the East Coast's utmost Catwoman expert David Archer. He walks us through the history of the character from her inception to her ever-evolving costumes and motives for vengeance.Remember to listen in on June 12th to Read It And Weep's take on Batman Forever (1995) and on June 19th for Proudly Resents' discussion of Batman & Robin (1997).

To those for whom the phrase "light as a feather, stiff as a board" sends shivers up the spine: our newest episode deconstructs The Craft -- a staple of '90s slumber parties and one of the most problematic portrayals of teen girl empowerment. We speak to Lyra Hill (previously a guest for our Cabaret discussion) about her thoughts on The Craft from the perspective of a Pagan, a feminist, and a filmmaker. Lyra is in the final stages of completing the short film Uzi's Party (teaser) and it was a thrill to get a first look at the project and dig into her theories on possession and its ties to performance and femininity. 

In a further exploration of the 'working women' conversation started in Episode 20, Eleanor speaks with Dave Itzkoff, author of the revealing new book Mad as Hell: The Making of Network and the Fateful Vision of the Angriest Man in Movies. He shares some of on- and off-set anecdotes about screenwriter Paddy Chayefsky and star Faye Dunaway, and they ponder the lasting impact of Network, whose commentary on women in the workplace preceded concepts of "lean in" and "glass ceiling."

Many female movie characters have jobs. But what makes a "working woman" movie? Along with our guest, writer/producer/dramaturge Meg Sweeney Lawless, we focus on two unforgettable, hard-nosed working ladies in two classic films: His Girl Friday (1940) and Network (1976). Both films are dark comedies that offer behind the scenes looks at the world of news media, but we leave feeling very differently about its female leads -- why? What makes Rosalind Russell's fast-talking dame so different from Faye Dunaway cool and calculating Diana? You'll be surprised to discover that they have more in common than a first glance would suggest.

Hated by most critics upon its 1999 release, The Woman Chaser is a lost gem, available only on VHS or bootleg. Patrick Warburton (Seinfeld, The Tick) is a car salesman craving artistic release as an independent filmmaker in this neo-noir that walks the line between comedy and tragedy. The film hits every mark on the misogynist checklist in its path to illustrate masculine discontent. Despite its many wrong turns, Kseniya and Eleanor were mostly charmed by the unusual tale of a cinema-loving lug and were intrigued by our guest Caroline Golum's surprising personal connection to the film. Viewing it as a child on late night television, free of feminist judgment, this tale of a man chasing a cinematic dream provided an erotic charge for young Caroline and  artistic inspiration for her future filmmaking and film programming.---Live Show Alert! Bonnie & Maude Presents: You Are Hair -- an evening of edutainment on the subject of women's hair in television, film, and pop culture. 8PM / March 11, 2014 / Littlefield in Brooklyn, NYMore info here---Leave us a voicemail with your suggestions and thoughts: 530-628-3379---Closing music: "Bacoa" by Les Baxter

We begin another snowy month in Brooklyn with a discussion of Frozen, the latest Disney animated film to take the box office by storm. As expected, Frozen has many familiar elements -- songs, orphans, princesses, endless mention of "true love," and an adorably goofy sidekick -- but the story (the first Disney animated feature to be directed by a woman!) also plays on what we know about fairy tale tropes and twists them in a direction that is focused more on sisterly love rather than romance.Kseniya & Eleanor discuss their childhood impressions of Disney films, their surprised enjoyment of Frozen, and what they hope to see in future productions from the studio.Bonus: we read some letters from our mailbag and play a voicemail message we received via 530-628-3379--Closing music: "Let It Go" by Idina Menzel

We discuss Drop Dead Gorgeous (1999), a darkly hilarious mockumentary about a small town beauty pageant that turns violent. Kirsten Dunst once again flexes her comedic muscles, alongside Ellen Barkin and Allison Janney as "the white trash Laverne and Shirley." Amy Adams tries out the sexpot character long before the success of American Hustle or the awkwardness of Cruel Intentions 2. A terrific female cast all around and an unusual script by Lona Williams, who we hope to see more from in the future.Joined by guest Rommel Wood, potentially the movie's #1 fan (she has pretty much the entire film memorized!), Eleanor and Kseniya explore the upsides of black humor, the downsides of pageant and small town life, and the rare instances of when violence against women is actually funny...to women.Closing music: "Drop Dead Gorgeous" by New Mystery Girl

The final frontier: women surviving space by way of fearlessness, wit, sex, and a prominent stripping scene. In one of our laugh-iest episodes ever, Eleanor and Kseniya discuss Gravity (2013), Alien (1979), and Barbarella (1968) with I Love Bad Movies co-editor Matt Carman. We debate whether Ripley is a cat lady, the concept of the "final girl," and Sandra Bullock's frequent vehicle troubles.End credits music: Leonard Nimoy, "Music To Watch Space Girls By"

An epic tale of the horrors of motherhood. And who better to discuss this with if not one of our very own mothers? Eleanor, Kseniya, and Eleanor's mom, Dr. Paula Kagan, delve into the surprisingly funny and spooky aspects of Polanski's classic film and our own early scares.Dr. Paula Kagan is an author, radical nurse, Associate Professor of nursing, as well as an affiliated faculty member of Women & Gender Studies at DePaul University in Chicago.

Spoiler Alert. Recorded the morning of the penultimate episode of Breaking Bad, Kseniya and Eleanor take a look at television's most riveting anti-heros--Breaking Bad's Walter White, Mad Men's Don Draper, and Sopranos' Tony Soprano--through the wives who must deal with them. Skyler White, Betty Draper, and Carmela Soprano, often the recipients of Internet ire, are in need of exploration and your hosts, with the help of Pop Culture Happy Hour's Mike Katzif, are here to do so. (For spoilage purposes, Orange Is The New Black, Orphan Black, Nurse Jackie and Enlightened are also briefly discussed.)Music: "Nasty Gal" by Betty DavisRelated reading:Anna Gunn's Op-Ed in the New York Times, I Have a Character Issue - August 23, 2013That Mind-Bending Phone Call on Last Night’s “Breaking Bad” by Emily Nussbaum - September 16, 2013Anna Gunn And 'Breaking Bad's' Skyler White: Just The Tip Of A Very Big Iceberg by Maureen Ryan - August 25, 2013

Kseniya and Eleanor return after a long summer of either getting married or avoiding a sunburn, respectively, so it's high time to catch up on the movies and TV, new and old, that were consumed. In addition to a chat about Orange Is The New Black, Kseniya brings A League of Their Own, Marie Antoinette, Magic Mike and Dogfight to the table, while Eleanor talks In A World, Bringing Up Baby, and All That Jazz.

This is a live Q&A session that followed our screening of Slums of Beverly Hills on April 24, 2013 (part of our 2 Good 2B 4Gotten series). Star Natasha Lyonne, director/writer Tamara Jenkins, co-star Kevin Corrigan and cinematographer Tom Richmond joined us to reminisce about the highs and lows of making a picture that was, and still feels, very personal to them all. Hearing this conversation is like eavesdropping on a family reunion. Tamara talks about some of the struggles of being a female filmmaker (and why "women in film" panels aren't all they're cracked up to be), while Natasha, expresses how being Tamara's stand-in for Slums made her feel about her future.Plus: Auditioning breast doubles, filming the vibrator dance scene, and learning how to fake an orgasm on camera.Whether you've never seen the movie or sleep with a VHS of it under your pillow, this is a conversation all indie film lovers will enjoy.

We discuss Frances Ha, the new film directed by Noah Baumbach, and written by Baumbach and the film's star, Greta Gerwig. This is a film about the rocky terrain of female friendship as well as what it means to be alone. We talk about why we love Frances so much, despite her flaws and poor decisions. (It might have something to do with her death-defying ability to pee on Subway tracks.) And we take a look at whether Frances Ha bears any of the cynicism found in Baumbach's past works, and suggest other great films that explore female friendship. Cristina Cacciopo (the former film programmer for the dearly departed 92YTribeca, but newly instated at the Alamo Draft House) joins the conversation as the resident Baumbach "nerd." (Her words.)

What good is sitting all quiet in your room? / Come hear the podcast play. / Life is a Cabaret, old chum, / Download our episode 10! This week we're joined by Chicago artist, performer, projectionist, film archivist and movie lover, Lyra Hill. From her earliest memories of watching a broken Costco DVD of Cabaret, Lyra has been fascinated with the Bob Fosse--directed and choreographed musical. Eleanor and Kseniya had never seen it until now, but through a discussion of the grungy aesthetic, the love triangles and the sinister historical context that hangs over this twisted romance, they come to appreciate it as well.  Outro Music: "Cabaret" as sung by Liza Minnelli on Cabaret & All That Jazz: the Liza Minnelli Anthology -- Find out more about Lyra Hill and her many projects at LyraHill.com and BrainFrame.Tumblr.com

We admit it, the ladies of Girls aren't exactly role models. In part 2 of our Season 2 recap, we are joined by Queerty television blogger Chris J. Kelly to review the fluctuating emotional ages of Hannah, Marnie, Jessa, and Shoshanna. We also take a moment to discuss how believable we found the OCD revelation, why we're so obsessed with that Patrick Wilson episode, and why the 'man running to the rescue' component of the finale may not have been so bad. Outro Music: "I Love It" by Icona Pop from the Girls Soundtrack.

Last June we started the Bonnie & Maude podcast with a discussion of Lena Dunham's feature film Tiny Furniture and the opening three episodes of her then-brand-new show Girls. In this episode we continue our conversation with an overview of Season 2 of Girls, sharing how our opinions have changed, evolved, or stayed the same. Listen in as Kseniya shares her Lena Dunham nightmare, Eleanor reveals this season's Rorschach plotting, and we both contemplate why this show is worth your time. Outro Music: "Girls" by the Beastie Boys Bonus: Check out Part 2 of this episode, as we continue the Girls debate with writer Chris J. Kelly.

We talk Mermaids (1990, Richard Benjamin), which combines the magnetic talents of Cher, Winona Ryder and Christina Ricci as a family unit as they move to a sleepy New England town in 1963. In many ways, this is the ultimate coming-of-age film, as young Charlotte (Ryder) deals with her eccentric mother (Cher), her major crush on the cute boy up the road, and her intense Catholic guilt. We both relate to her, in some ways more than others, and this movie's collection of quiet, hilarious moments is what keeps us watching it again and again. Kseniya recommended the book Swimming Studies by Leanne Shapton. Eleanor recommended an essay about the state of the modern romantic comedy, by Linda Holmes on NPR. Join us for a screening of Mermaids at 92Y Tribeca in NYC on Thursday, March 14th. Tickets and info here!

Ain't teenage love grand? Today, we celebrate Valentine's Day with our first-ever live episode recording where we take a closer look at the 1976 horror classic Carrie. Join us and our special guest Tenebrous Kate (Ultra Violent Magazine, I Love Bad Movies) as we giggle and cry our way through this twisted Cinderella tale. We deconstruct why this movie isn't just an American treasure, but also an accurate portrayal of teen girl friction in high school. The podcast was originally recorded at Videology in Williamsburg, Brooklyn on February 9, 2013.

In our first book vs. movie episode, we discuss Jane Campion's 2003 film In The Cut and how it compares to Susanna Moore's original erotic thriller, published in 1995. Does Meg Ryan's flat, brown hair obscure her image as America's innocent sweetheart? Is Jennifer Jason Leigh her sister or friend? Why are all the men in the movie so obsessed with marriage? Does it matter that we spoil the killer's identity? All will be revealed in Episode 6! Literary publicist and all-around bibliophile David Archer joins Bonnie and Maude for the discussion and treats us with an impeccable Meg Ryan impersonation.

We explore Alfred Hitchcock's classic film The Birds, as well as the recent HBO film The Girl -- a behind the scenes look at the director's messy and often abusive relationship with the star of The Birds, Tippi Hedren. What makes The Birds so scary? Does Hitchcock's gross off-screen personality affect our appreciation for his art? We'll also check in with Tippi all these years later, whose squelched acting career made way for her life's work operating the Shambala Preserve, a shelter for big cats. Daily Show writer, host of the screening series Closely Watched Films, co-host of The Flophouse Podcast, and Hitchcock aficionado Elliott Kalan joins us for this discussion about when artist-muse relationships go wrong.

Our first mini episode (a Bon Bon) to hold you over until we complete our next full episode. This one was recorded shortly after Episode 3 (Andy Sidaris / Hard Ticket to Hawaii) and centers around Popatopolis, a documentary about B-Movie writer/producer/director Jim Wynorski.

The exciting conclusion of our Marilyn Monroe discussion. We dig a little deeper into Don't Bother to Knock, find out what Tom means when he calls Marilyn "so beautiful she's practically deformed," offer opinions about actresses portraying Marilyn, and give a little time to My Week with Marilyn. Tom Blunt, the creator and host of Meet the Lady variety show and upcoming Evening Dilemma podcast, joins us.

We couldn't help ourselves. Our Episode 4 discussion on Marilyn Monroe is a two-parter. Sure, we start out discussing The Seven Year Itch and Don't Bother to Knock, but a conversation about the icon can never be about the actress alone and quickly advances onto the meaning of celebrity, beauty, modern-day equivalents of Marilyn, and traditional vs. natural acting. Tom Blunt, the creator and host of Meet the Lady variety show and upcoming Evening Dilemma podcast, joins us.

We tackle Hard Ticket To Hawaii, B-movie master Andy Sidaris' busty-babes-with-guns schlockfest...and, are surprised to uncover a story of female friendship and empowerment. Who would have guessed? If you need us, we'll be doing some soul-searching in the jacuzzi.

Do we like Nora Ephron movies because we're sincere, or do Ephron's movies make sincere people out of us? This question and a remembrance of her brilliance, on this installment of Bonnie & Maude, with Eleanor "Why Do Men?" Kagan and Kseniya "I Don't Want To Talk About Michael" Yarosh.

The hosts of Bonnie & Maude, Eleanor Kagan and Kseniya Yarosh, launch the new film podcast with a discussion of Tiny Furniture, the show Girls, the portrayal of ‘ugly’ characters by women on screen—and what keeps us watching.