Here's The Thing, Tho with Soaliha

Hello friends! This week's episode is a repost from SBS's five-part podcast series My Ramadan, which Soaliha appeared on last week and we've added a preamble to. SBS has given us permission to reshare it here, the following is their description of the episode: From intermittent fasting to Sydney's iconic Lakemba markets, Ramadan has developed a mainstream visibility and hipster cachet it didn't used to have. How do Gen Z Muslims in the West square this with historic Islamophobia? Journalist and podcaster Soaliha Iqbal and writer Lina Ali discuss the hipsterfication of Ramadan with host Sarah Malik. Enjoy!   Soaliha: @soalihaofficial & Linktree Mitch: @mitchs.miscellanea & Linktree Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/soaliha Email: heresthethingthopodcast@gmail.com PayPal: PayPal.me/soaliha  Facebook Group: Here's The Thing, Tho With Soaliha Podcast Group   

This week we discuss James Cameron's infamous Avatar films, specifically focusing on the second film and its fetishisation of colonialism. Buckle up folks, it's a wild ride. We talk about colonialism and environmental destruction as a spectacle, the myth of the Noble Savage and the White Messiah, nuclear families and heteronormative depictions of intimacy and domination, and of course, the usual topics of sexism, racism, misogyny and cultural appropriation.   Recommendations:  It's Not About The Burqa — a collection of essays edited by Mariam Khan. My favourite chapters:  On The Representation Of Muslims: Terms and Conditions Apply by Nafisa Bakkar Between Submission And Threat: The British State's Contradictory Relationship With Muslim Women by Malia Bouattia A Woman Of Substance by Saima Mir   Soaliha: @soalihaofficial & Linktree Mitch: @mitchs.miscellanea & Linktree Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/soaliha Email: heresthethingthopodcast@gmail.com PayPal: PayPal.me/soaliha  Facebook Group: Here's The Thing, Tho With Soaliha Podcast Group    Sources: 'Avatar 2' Production Designers Explain Every Vehicle in 'The Way of Water,' From SeaDragons to Skel Suits 'Avatar 2' VFX Team on the Evolution of the Tulkun and Simulating Water for Performance Capture   'Avatar 2' Cast: What 'The Way of Water' Cast Really Looks Like - Variety  Indigenous people slam Avatar (again) for tropes and inaccuracies  Opinion | The Messiah Complex - The New York Times Jean Baudrillard, Simulacra and Simulation, 1981

Warning: This episode contains discussions of sexual assault and image-based abuse. This week we discuss the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) in recent months and its political implications with respect to labour, capitalism, racism, and sexism.  We also discuss how new AI technologies are being used to perpetuate violence against women in the case of deepfake pornography.   Soaliha: @soalihaofficial & Linktree Mitch: @mitchs.miscellanea & Linktree Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/soaliha Email: heresthethingthopodcast@gmail.com PayPal: PayPal.me/soaliha  Facebook Group: Here's The Thing, Tho With Soaliha Podcast Group    Sources: Vic Police Defends Protective Services Officer Who Slapped 11YO Across The Face During Arrest  Yes, Black officers killed Tyre Nichols. What is the correct response to that? | Reverend William Barber and Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove | The Guardian  AI generated image wins Australian photo comp  Why Don't We Treat Non-Consensual Deepfake Porn Of Women As Rape?  How an Evil Clown, a Haitian Trickster Spirit, Two Wizards, and a Cast of Dozens Turned a Database Into a Society   Researcher Says Her Avatar Was Raped On Meta's Metaverse Platform  Where Does Meaning Come From? | Alexander R. Galloway Soaliha's book recommendation: Everyone In My Family Has Killed Someone   

This week we discuss the pervasive notion of “reproductive futurism” and how it relates to current issues such as abortion rights, queerphobia, and climate change. We talk about how reproductive futurism – the dominant political order which privileges future children over everything else – structures all aspects of our society and shapes both progressive and conservative thought.   Soaliha: @soalihaofficial & Linktree Mitch: @mitchs.miscellanea & Linktree Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/soaliha Email: heresthethingthopodcast@gmail.com PayPal: PayPal.me/soaliha  Facebook Group: Here's The Thing, Tho With Soaliha Podcast Group    Sources: No Future: Queer Theory and the Death Drive, Lee Edelman, 2004 1 in 3 American women have already lost abortion access. More restrictive laws are coming. - The Washington Post  How 1970s Christian crusader Anita Bryant helped spawn Florida's LGBTQ culture war

This week we discuss a series of alarming recordings that were leaked by a Queensland police officer, and a scandalous recycling story which revealed just how precarious recycling is. We talk about the broader culture of racism in our police institutions, the girlbossification of policing, identity politics and the fundamental links between our recycling industry, consumerism and capitalism. Oh, and we discuss Love Is Blind S3 of course.   Soaliha: @soalihaofficial & Linktree Mitch: @mitchs.miscellanea & Linktree Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/soaliha Email: heresthethingthopodcast@gmail.com PayPal: PayPal.me/soaliha  Facebook Group: Here's The Thing, Tho With Soaliha Podcast Group    Sources: Police dog bite sparks outrage as 13-year-old WA boy Jayden Abraham suffers severe injuries  Leaked audio reveals Queensland police staff in racist conversations, joking about violence to black people and protesters  Head of Queensland police First Nations unit investigated for alleged racism  For Fuck's Sake: The Boss Of Qld Police's First Nations Unit Is Under Investigation For Racism  Queensland police promoted officer who called colleague a ‘towelhead' and had history of bullying REDcycle's collapse is more proof that plastic recycling is a broken system - ABC News

This week we discuss representation, toxic identity politics and celebrity queerbaiting.  We talk about the cancellation of Constance Wu, the way we punish actors for not representing their communities perfectly, and how fandom weaponised the term “queerbaiting” to punish Kit Connor.    Soaliha: @soalihaofficial & Linktree Mitch: @mitchs.miscellanea & Linktree Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/soaliha Email: heresthethingthopodcast@gmail.com PayPal: PayPal.me/soaliha  Facebook Group: Here's The Thing, Tho With Soaliha Podcast Group    Sources Selena Gomez Wasn't Sure She Was Ready To Tell This Story HotD Needs More Female Directors Because *That* Finale Scene Was Needlessly Traumatising For Viewers Just Gonna Say It: Constance Wu's Heartbreaking Sexual Harassment Story Is Familiar To All WOC  What is 'queerbaiting' and how did the internet turn it into a weapon? | SBS The Feed  Queerbaiting and Fandom, edited by Joseph Brennan, 2019 “The Queer Public and its Problem with Representation,” Tyler Quick, The Velvet Light Trap No. 86, 2020

This week we discuss a controversial article about sustainability in the bedroom, Lydia Thorpe's ‘conflict of interest' and ethical issues around Netflix's Jeffrey Dahmer series.  We talk about consuming our way out of climate change and the sexist nature of sustainability marketing, the hypocrisy and suspicious timing surrounding Lydia Thorpe's relationship with a bikie, and the growing issue of victims who have their stories co-opted and stolen in the name of the true crime genre.   Soaliha: @soalihaofficial & Linktree Mitch: @mitchs.miscellanea & Linktree Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/soaliha Email: heresthethingthopodcast@gmail.com PayPal: PayPal.me/soaliha  Facebook Group: Here's The Thing, Tho With Soaliha Podcast Group    Sources The Beige Index  How to have environmentally friendly sex - triple j  A First Pregnancy May Be Difficult to Achieve After Long-Term Use of an IUD | Guttmacher Institute  Triple J Is Getting Slammed For Claiming The IUD Is An 'Eco-Friendly' Alternative To The Pill  Staunch or stubborn? Lidia Thorpe on the voice, the treaty and real power | Indigenous Australians | The Guardian Alan Tudge: Government won't comment on $500,000 payout to former staffer Rachelle Miller | Australian election 2022 | The Guardian  Is Ryan Murphy's Jeffrey Dahmer show the most exploitative TV of 2022? Jeffrey Dahmer Victim's Mom Slams Folks Who Wear 'Evil' Halloween Costumes Surviving victims of Kim Kardashian's podcast murder say she never called them | Daily Mail Online

Today we talk about Jordan Peele's latest film ‘Nope' and explain why we liked it.  We discuss the film's subversion of colonial anxieties, its themes of exploitation and spectacle, and answer the burning question: what was up with the chimp? This episode was recorded Saturday, October 8, 2022.   Soaliha: @soalihaofficial & Linktree Mitch: @mitchs.miscellanea & Linktree Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/soaliha Email: heresthethingthopodcast@gmail.com PayPal: PayPal.me/soaliha  Facebook Group: Here's The Thing, Tho With Soaliha Podcast Group    Sources The Current Debate: “Nope” and the Society of the Spectacle on Notebook | MUBI Review: “Nope” Is One of the Great Movies About Moviemaking | The New Yorker  

This week we discuss three major news stories from the last two weeks: Black Ariel, Iranian protests against Hijab mandates and a bombshell report about the chemical imbalance myth.  We talk about white supremacy and the concerning emergence of digitally-erased Blackness, white feminists and their gleeful demonisation of hijab (which is actually a praxis, not a clothing) and a suss shift in discourse around the role serotonin plays in depression.   Soaliha: @soalihaofficial & Linktree Mitch: @mitchs.miscellanea & Linktree Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/soaliha Email: heresthethingthopodcast@gmail.com PayPal: PayPal.me/soaliha  Facebook Group: Here's The Thing, Tho With Soaliha Podcast Group    Sources: Little Mermaid: Disney Made Non-White Mermaids Canon Nearly 30 Years Ago  Protests over Mahsa Amini's death spread in Iran, authorities issue warning as death toll from clashes with police grows - ABC News The serotonin theory of depression: a systematic umbrella review of the evidence | Molecular Psychiatry  Is the chemical imbalance an ‘urban legend'? An exploration of the status of the serotonin theory of depression in the scientific literature - ScienceDirect 

We're back!!! This week we discuss two topics: the death of the queen and gossip surrounding Harry Styles. We talk about the way monarchists tone police people of colour and downplay the impacts of colonialism. We also examine the recent shift in people's perception of Harry Styles amid accusations of queerbaiting and the drama around the Don't Worry Darling premiere at Venice. This episode was recorded on Friday, September 9, 2022.   Soaliha: @soalihaofficial & Linktree Mitch: @mitchs.miscellanea & Linktree Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/soaliha Email: heresthethingthopodcast@gmail.com PayPal: PayPal.me/soaliha  Facebook Group: Here's The Thing, Tho With Soaliha Podcast Group    Sources: Aborigines Welfare Ordinance 1954  Pose star Billy Porter: ‘Did I ever think I'd be this successful? No, because I'm gay' | Style | The Sunday Times Billy Porter apologises to Harry Styles: "I didn't mean no harm"   Harry Styles' comments on gay sex and sexuality are frustratingly coy

We have an announcement: we're taking a little hiatus to rest, recuperate and refresh our little brains. In the meantime, listen to our backlog and hit us up on Instagram! Bye for now, not forever :)   Soaliha: @soalihaofficial & Linktree Mitch: @mitchs.miscellanea & Linktree Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/soaliha Email: heresthethingthopodcast@gmail.com PayPal: PayPal.me/soaliha  Facebook Group: Here's The Thing, Tho With Soaliha Podcast Group   

This week we talk about #TraumaTok, aka a corner of TikTok where people openly share their harrowing traumas to the app with little concern about where their stories will end up. We discuss the normalisation of “trauma dumping”, trauma bonding as a modern means to friendship, trauma as an identity or in-group, and how TikTok actively benefits from the #TraumaTok community.   Soaliha: @soalihaofficial & Linktree Mitch: @mitchs.miscellanea & Linktree Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/soaliha Email: heresthethingthopodcast@gmail.com PayPal: PayPal.me/soaliha  Facebook Group: Here's The Thing, Tho With Soaliha Podcast Group    Sources Bridgerton's Kate Sharma Isn't Poorly Written, She's Authentic South Asian Representation Anthony Albanese's 'Not Woke' Cover Wasn't Just Cringe, It Was Also Transphobic   'Dark days for our democracy': What the new protest laws in NSW mean  Why TikTok is so obsessed with labeling everything a trauma response. What we can all learn from 'trauma dumping' online  We're worried about the wrong kind of 'trauma talk' online Investigation: How TikTok's Algorithm Figures Out Your Deepest Desires TikTok: Eating disorders, racism, censorship and distorted realities | Four Corners

*NOTE: This is a reshare of a previous episode. But! The first 20 minutes is a discussion on recent events. This week we talk about the rise of ‘ecofascism' and its concerning prevalence in left wing circles.  We talk about what it is, why it's so convincing and how to spot ecofascist myths.    Soaliha: @soalihaofficial & Linktree Mitch: @mitchs.miscellanea & Linktree Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/soaliha Email: heresthethingthopodcast@gmail.com PayPal: PayPal.me/soaliha  Facebook Group: Here's The Thing, Tho With Soaliha Podcast Group    Sources Eco-fascism: What It Is, Why It's Wrong, and How to Fight It   Overpopulation Discourse: Patriarchy, Racism, and the Specter of Ecofascism – by Jordan Dyett and Cassidy Thomas Just 100 companies responsible for 71% of global emissions, study says  Jane Campion quickly squanders good will from Sam Elliott response with misguided comment of her own - The Washington Post  

This week we talk about Russia's invasion of Ukraine – not the geopolitics, but the impact these events have had on the boundaries of Australian news media.  We discuss the racist coverage of the invasion and the double standards it exposed, some unprecedented events in our own country's media, and how all of this has totally shifted the limits on what kind of racism is acceptable to call out.   Soaliha: @soalihaofficial & Linktree Mitch: @mitchs.miscellanea & Linktree Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/soaliha Email: heresthethingthopodcast@gmail.com PayPal: PayPal.me/soaliha  Facebook Group: Here's The Thing, Tho With Soaliha Podcast Group    Sources: Twitter Thread: Racist Reporting Of Russia/Ukraine  A Russian Perspective | Q+A  Grace Tame and Brittany Higgins are supremely admirable, and the acceptable white faces of Australian feminism | Sisonke Msimang | The Guardian

CW: This episode briefly discusses suicide. This week we talk about one of our favourite topics – government propaganda. But not the type fed to civilians like us. This time, we're talking about Australia's various international anti-refugee ad campaigns, which are specifically aimed at people seeking asylum. We discuss the human rights abuses asylum seekers face in Australia, the morally corrupt companies that partner with our government to create anti-refugee ads, the modern technology required to get these messages across, and what this means for us as allies to asylum seekers.  Please consider donating to the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre while you are here.   Soaliha: @soalihaofficial & Linktree Mitch: @mitchs.miscellanea & Linktree Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/soaliha Email: heresthethingthopodcast@gmail.com PayPal: PayPal.me/soaliha  Facebook Group: Here's The Thing, Tho With Soaliha Podcast Group    Sources: The Park Street Refugees Don't Need Novak Djokovic's Help, They Need Yours  The Aus Govt, Evil To Its Core, Had A Comp For Short Films To Show Refugees Aren't Welcome Here  Zero Chance  Zero Chance - YouTube Channel   TBWA Worldwide - Wikipedia Ad agency behind government's film competition warning against 'illegal migration' has won ethical awards    Australia's anti-immigration YouTube videos are attempting to scare off asylum seekers — Quartz  Australian government targets asylum seekers with graphic campaign | Australia news | The Guardian Angus Campbell warns asylum seekers not to travel to Australia by boat | Australia news | The Guardian Australia: Deterrence propaganda? | Opinions | Al Jazeera

This week we talk about the link between capitalism and various mental illnesses, and how our collective trauma is a rational response to a decaying world. We discuss the chemical imbalance myth, the history of anti-psychiatry, the social model of disability and how, in an ideal post-capitalist world, the current definition of mental illness would change dramatically, if not cease to exist. *NOTE: While we discuss the political nature of psychiatry and medical prescriptions, we want to stress that we are not giving you medical advice. Only you can decide what works for you. For some people, medication is life saving and essential. For others, it isn't. Both experiences are valid.   Soaliha: @soalihaofficial & Linktree Mitch: @mitchs.miscellanea & Linktree Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/soaliha Email: heresthethingthopodcast@gmail.com PayPal: PayPal.me/soaliha  Facebook Group: Here's The Thing, Tho With Soaliha Podcast Group    Sources: Dr Ayesha Khan's Instagram (especially this and this post) The Challenge of Going Off Psychiatric Drugs | The New Yorker Mark Fisher, Capitalist Realism (2009, Zer0 Books) Debunking the Two Chemical Imbalance Myths, Again  The Stepford Wives - You're Wrong About | Podcast on Spotify

This week Mitch takes the lead and deep dives into the surprisingly complex discourse around the tiny house movement, and how it exists in a weird, capitalist paradox. We talk about deceiving ‘wholesome' reality TV shows, Airbnb's monopoly on the short term rental market, gentrification in trendy neighbourhoods and how some renovation shows are just landlord propaganda. As always, everything is capitalism, baby. *Note. This episode has been released on Invasion Day. We want to remind everyone to stand in solidarity with First Nations people and oppose colonialism, white supremacy and genocide in all its forms. You can find your local Invasion Day protest here. For a list of First Nations orgs to donate to, click here. Last year, we recorded an episode titled Australia Day Shouldn't Exist which you can listen to if you want to learn more about our stance on abolishing Australia Day.   Soaliha: @soalihaofficial & Linktree Mitch: @mitchs.miscellanea & Linktree Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/soaliha Email: heresthethingthopodcast@gmail.com PayPal: PayPal.me/soaliha  Facebook Group: Here's The Thing, Tho With Soaliha Podcast Group    Sources Wachsmuth, D., & Weisler, A. (2018). Airbnb and the rent gap: Gentrification through the sharing economy. Environment and Planning A: Economy and Space, 50(6), 1147–1170. https://doi.org/10.1177/0308518X18778038 Every Melbourne suburb's median house and unit price gains in 2021 | Herald Sun Videos: NEVER TOO SMALL Tasmanian bed-Sit Micro Apartment - 26.5sqm/285sqft NEVER TOO SMALL Luxury Sydney Micro Apartment - 24sqm/258sqft NEVER TOO SMALL Off-Grid Farm Tiny Cabin - 40sqm/430sqft NEVER TOO SMALL Melbourne Art-Deco Micro Apartment - 23sqm/247sqft

This week we catch up on all of the Covid related stories that broke while we were on break – and, oh boy, a lot has happened. We discuss the constant backflipping from our leaders regarding Covid rules, the nature of capitalism and how this wave of the pandemic manifests it, RAT availabilities and the ~free market~, and how the pandemic has exposed our ableism. Phew. It's a lot. *CORRECTION: Soaliha said a mentally ill woman was jailed after escaping quarantine in Queensland to see her mother. This woman was arrested, but not jailed. There was a different, separate incident where a Queensland woman was jailed for breaching isolation rules.   Soaliha: @soalihaofficial & Linktree Mitch: @mitchs.miscellanea & Linktree Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/soaliha Email: heresthethingthopodcast@gmail.com PayPal: PayPal.me/soaliha  Facebook Group: Here's The Thing, Tho With Soaliha Podcast Group    Sources: National cabinet: Requirement for Covid cases to get day six test scrapped  Scott Morrison says he won't 'undercut' businesses by funding free rapid antigen COVID-19 tests @MSMWatchdog2013 Tweet Rapid antigen tests: Wholesaler says retailers deliberately pushing up demand   Face masks: Priceline sells 50 for $249 amid Victoria restrictions  For those of us with disabilities, lockdown won't end as long as Covid strategies leave us behind | Anthea Williams | The Guardian Limiting Who Can Access Free PCR Tests Is Actually Ableist AF & We Need To Talk About It  Cairns woman arrested after elaborate alleged escape from hotel quarantine Qld Covid-19: Police place woman in jail for allegedly refusing home quarantine 

This week we are actually on our end of year break, but we pre-recorded a bonus Q&A session to celebrate reaching our 50th episode! We answer questions about our careers, studies, our relationship origin story, our vision for the podcast, and a bunch of other random fun things our listeners have asked about. Enjoy, and we'll see you in the new year! *Note: this episode was recorded a week early, so we talk about how normal and fine and not anxious we are. We just wanted to issue a correction: in light of recent COVID events, we are totally anxious! Anyway, happy holidays and good bye!   Soaliha: @soalihaofficial & Linktree Mitch: @mitchs.miscellanea & Linktree Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/soaliha Email: heresthethingthopodcast@gmail.com PayPal: PayPal.me/soaliha  Facebook Group: Here's The Thing, Tho With Soaliha Podcast Group 

This week we discuss a topic that our listeners request every month: should we cut off friends that have problematic opinions? We talk about what we define as friendship, what we expect to get out of friendships, and how this measures up when it comes to the people in our lives that are bigoted — and why we think that, actually, cutting off bigots is admirable. And we're proud of you.    Soaliha: @soalihaofficial & Linktree Mitch: @mitchs.miscellanea & Linktree Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/soaliha Email: heresthethingthopodcast@gmail.com PayPal: PayPal.me/soaliha  Facebook Group: Here's The Thing, Tho With Soaliha Podcast Group    Sources  Lush is becoming anti-social – We Are Lush

This week we talk about a range of news topics that have occurred over the last fortnight. A little variety episode for you lovely listeners! The contents? Not so lovely. We discuss the infuriating Kyle Rittenhouse case making global headlines, more local yet equally infuriating stories of police misconduct in NSW, and the way NSW Police seem to be attempting to rehabilitate their image with a new, conveniently timed investigation.    Soaliha: @soalihaofficial & Linktree Mitch: @mitchs.miscellanea & Linktree Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/soaliha Email: heresthethingthopodcast@gmail.com PayPal: PayPal.me/soaliha  Facebook Group: Here's The Thing, Tho With Soaliha Podcast Group    Sources  Kyle Rittenhouse found not guilty of killing two people at Black Lives Matter protest in Kenosha   'Hush' money: NSW police pay out more than $100m in relation to legal settlements  William Tyrrell search in Kendall to last 'weeks and weeks' as police push through poor weather conditions  Cleo Smith case sparks calls to treat Indigenous missing children cases equally Mother and Daughter Spend Months in Jail After Cops Mistake Tea for Drugs  @QasimRashid tweet  @middlechurch tweet 

This week we talk about Facebook groups, university campus culture, fandoms and what they all have in common: safe spaces.  We discuss the ways in which a lot of safe spaces have lost their meaning, often facilitate racism and white fragility, and remain notably unsafe for many marginalised people.   Soaliha: @soalihaofficial & Linktree Mitch: @mitchs.miscellanea & Linktree Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/soaliha Email: heresthethingthopodcast@gmail.com PayPal: PayPal.me/soaliha  Facebook Group: Here's The Thing, Tho With Soaliha Podcast Group    Sources  Catherine Fox, 2007, “From Transaction to Transformation: (En)Countering White Heteronormativity in ‘Safe Spaces,'” College Text, vol. 69, no. 5. You Are Triggering me! The Neo-Liberal Rhetoric of Harm, Danger and Trauma Lauren Berlant interview  Roger Ebert's Fanboys (2009) movie review

This week we discuss the concept of ‘churnalism': a type of journalism that relies on PR packages and repurposing other articles in the writing of stories. We talk about what it's like working in the modern-day media industry, the pros and cons of churnalism for both writers and readers, and what it actually means for the future of journalism.   Soaliha: @soalihaofficial & Linktree Mitch: @mitchs.miscellanea & Linktree Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/soaliha Email: heresthethingthopodcast@gmail.com PayPal: PayPal.me/soaliha  Facebook Group: Here's The Thing, Tho With Soaliha Podcast Group    Sources: McKenzie Wark, Capital is Dead, 2019 Churnalism or news? How PRs have taken over the media

This week we talk about brand activism: can it ever be sincere? And if so, does it matter if the work being done is still positive? We discuss a recent news story where a brand went viral for its social commentary, and how that relates to white feminism, commercialisation, and the girlbossification of, well, everything.    Soaliha: @soalihaofficial & Linktree Mitch: @mitchs.miscellanea & Linktree Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/soaliha Email: heresthethingthopodcast@gmail.com PayPal: PayPal.me/soaliha  Facebook Group: Here's The Thing, Tho With Soaliha Podcast Group    Sources: Why Every Feminist Should Start A Business This Year  Full article: Feminism Means Business: Business Feminism, Sisterhood and Visibility   

This week we talk about parasocial relationships, celebrities, and society's love for gossip.  We break down what a parasocial relationship is, discuss celebrity culture and how we use it to navigate our own social relationships, argue the benefits of gossip, and discuss our own experiences being ‘micro-celebrities'.   Soaliha: @soalihaofficial & Linktree Mitch: @mitchs.miscellanea & Linktree Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/soaliha Email: heresthethingthopodcast@gmail.com PayPal: PayPal.me/soaliha  Facebook Group: Here's The Thing, Tho With Soaliha Podcast Group    Sources: Why Do People Gossip? Here's What Science Says  Crystal Abidin: Layers of Identity — Real Life What Jennifer Lopez is really like, according to celeb publicist Rob Shuter

This week we talk about a range of news topics that have occurred over the last fortnight. A little variety episode for you lovely listeners! We discuss Georgia Love's racism scandal, the tensions between Bondi and Western Sydney, NSW's roadmap to freedom, Police surveillance and cybersecurity, and that awful gameshow, ‘The Activist'.   Soaliha: @soalihaofficial & Linktree Mitch: @mitchs.miscellanea & Linktree Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/soaliha Email: heresthethingthopodcast@gmail.com PayPal: PayPal.me/soaliha  Facebook Group: Here's The Thing, Tho With Soaliha Podcast Group    Sources: Why Britney Spears's Dad Jamie Filed to End Conservatorship     Georgia Love Racism Scandal Georgia Love Apologises For 'Casually Racist' Insta Video Of A Cat Inside An Asian Restaurant Surprising twist in Georgia Love's 'racist' video scandal     Bondi and Western Sydney John Barilaro Just Admitted Curfews Don't Work & Syd LGAs Only Have One Bc Of Media Pressure  Brad Hazzard Claimed 'People Of Other Backgrounds' Are Flouting Restrictions & Fkn Excuse Me? Western Sydney's Outrage Over Bondi's Crowds Is Fair & It's About More Than Just Mask Wearing     Roadmap to freedom Government responses to COVID-19 are undermining our democratic commitments — why have progressives remained silent?    Covid App/Cyber Laws Is Pandemic Australia Still a Liberal Democracy? Australia COVID: QR check-in data being used by police to solve crimes South Australia facial recognition trial: Covid app blasted by Fox and Breitbart criticised over lack of safeguards Australian powers to spy on cybercrime suspects given green light NSW Police won't be accountable for 'incorrectly issued fines' says Commissioner    The Activist  KIM SAIRA

This week we discuss a phrase that's becoming a bit of a buzzword: no ethical consumption under capitalism. We talk about what the term means, how it's being co-opted, and the inherently exploitative nature of any and all labour under capitalism.   Soaliha: @soalihaofficial  Mitch: @mitchs.miscellanea  Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/soaliha Email: heresthethingthopodcast@gmail.com PayPal: PayPal.me/soaliha  Facebook Group: Here's The Thing, Tho With Soaliha Podcast Group    Sources: What Does "There's No Ethical Consumption Under Capitalism" Truly Mean? — Sunstroke Magazine  Ethical Consumerism, Part 1: Is There Such a Thing?

This week we discuss ~conspiracies~: why are they so popular, what is the appeal to them, how are they concocted, and who are the most vulnerable to believing them? We also talk about the relationship between race, class and conspiracies – how racism is incredibly prevalent in western conspiracies, and that class and racial differences make certain conspiracy theorists more sympathetic than others. Note: Follow up ends at 19:14   Soaliha: @soalihaofficial  Mitch: @mitchs.miscellanea  Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/soaliha Email: heresthethingthopodcast@gmail.com PayPal: PayPal.me/soaliha  Facebook Group: Here's The Thing, Tho With Soaliha Podcast Group    Sources:  Follow up:  Eight Extinction Rebellion protesters arrested for defacing Parliament House, the Lodge. Prime Minister rebukes ‘selfish' Extinction Rebellion vandals in climate report response Jamie Spears agrees to step down as Britney Spears' conservator  Al Jazeera's Live Coverage Of Taliban Takeover NSW MP Tony Burke Said Class Is The Reason COVID Cases Are Higher In Western Syd & Fkn Finally   Conspiracies: How Conspiracy Theorists Have Tapped Into Race and Racism to Further Their Message  Viral thoughts: Why COVID-19 conspiracy theories persist  As the coronavirus rages on, antisemitic and anti-vaccine conspiracies collide online The fringe theories long attached to UNESCO sites   Coronavirus world updates: German nurse accused of injecting saline solution instead of COVID 19 vaccine TikTok: Data mining, discrimination and dangerous content on the world's most popular app      

This week we discuss the way white people use narratives of domestic violence and misogyny in ethnic communities to justify colonisation. We talk about the way western media reports on femicide by men in non-white countries, the conflicts of navigating these discussions as a person of colour, and the fact that men of colour experience gendered violence, too.    Soaliha: @soalihaofficial  Mitch: @mitchs.miscellanea  Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/soaliha Email: heresthethingthopodcast@gmail.com PayPal: PayPal.me/soaliha  Facebook Group: Here's The Thing, Tho With Soaliha Podcast Group    Sources: The Indian girl killed for wearing jeans People Are Slamming NSW Police For Calling In The Army To Enforce Lockdown In Western Sydney  

Welcome to our first interview! In this bonus episode we are in conversation with Grafton Tanner to discuss the politics of nostalgia as it relates to colonial racism, capitalism, and the building of radical futures.   Grafton Tanner: @GraftonTanner Soaliha: @soalihaofficial  Mitch: @mitchs.miscellanea  Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/soaliha Email: heresthethingthopodcast@gmail.com PayPal: PayPal.me/soaliha  Facebook Group: Here's The Thing, Tho With Soaliha Podcast Group    The Hours Have Lost Their Clock out in October   

This week we talk about the Katie Hopkins saga that took over our newscycle as we watched her go from entering the country as a celebrity VIP for Big Brother, to being deported over contempt for quarantine.  We discuss what her entry into Australia says about our borders, the state of racist Australian reality TV, and the disturbing precedents that “bad character” deportations can set.    Soaliha: @soalihaofficial  Mitch: @mitchs.miscellanea  Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/soaliha Email: heresthethingthopodcast@gmail.com PayPal: PayPal.me/soaliha  Facebook Group: Here's The Thing, Tho With Soaliha Podcast Group    Sources:  ATAGI statement on revised recommendations on the use of COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca, 17 June 2021  Top EU court rules hijab can be banned at work  Katie Hopkins   Katie Hopkins fined by NSW police and deported from Australia after visa cancelled

*Note: this episode was recorded on Monday 11 July and since then some things have changed. NSW has since announced COVID relief payments for workers, and health authorities are now recommending the AstraZeneca vaccine to people under 60 that live in or near outbreaks*   This week we discuss the NSW Government's handling of surging COVID-19 cases and it's relationship to ever-increasing police powers.  We talk about the bungled vaccine roll-out, mixed-messing from health authorities and the government, and the blame they are placing on individuals instead of a broken system.   Soaliha: @soalihaofficial  Mitch: @mitchs.miscellanea  Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/soaliha Email: heresthethingthopodcast@gmail.com PayPal: PayPal.me/soaliha  Facebook Group: Here's The Thing, Tho With Soaliha Podcast Group    Sources: Western Sydney residents feel they are being ‘scapegoated' as police pledge Covid crackdown Katie Hepworth Tweet

This week we talk about the anti-Blackness that's been in headlines recently regarding the Olympics. We talk about where this discourse is coming from — how is it that in 2021, Black women are still being excluded from womanhood? Who actually decides the definition of 'woman'? Is gender racial?  P.S. Follow up ends at 32 minutes this episode — it's a long one! So skip to there if you want to get straight into the topic.    Soaliha: @soalihaofficial  Mitch: @mitchs.miscellanea  Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/soaliha Email: heresthethingthopodcast@gmail.com PayPal: PayPal.me/soaliha  Facebook Group: Here's The Thing, Tho With Soaliha Podcast Group    Sources: New! New Yorker: Britney Spears's Conservatorship Nightmare  Ten ethical flaws in the Caster Semenya decision on intersex in sport  Trans Girls Belong on Girls' Sports Teams Zoé on Twitter: Black athletes at the Olympics bell hooks, Eating the Other Donna Haraway, The Cyborg Manifesto   

*Due to Covid lockdowns in Sydney we weren't able to record a new episode this week. But in light of the Britney Spears conservatorship updates, we're republishing our #FreeBritney episode with a new introduction. So it's like a preface to a second edition of a book* This week we discuss the #FreeBritney movement and its relevance to feminist discourse.  We talk about Britney Spear's conservatorship and the conversations it opens around conspiracy theories, the financial subjugation of vulnerable women, and the bodily autonomy of those with disabilities.    Soaliha: @soalihaofficial  Mitch: @mitchs.miscellanea  Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/soaliha Email: heresthethingthopodcast@gmail.com PayPal: PayPal.me/soaliha  Facebook Group: Here's The Thing, Tho With Soaliha Podcast Group    New sources: ‘All this money and they are not happy. I don't hear them laughing' - Louis Walsh on the darker side of fame Britney Spears Demands an End to ‘Abusive' Conservatorship Just Gonna Say It: #FreeBritney Is 100% A Feminist & Disability Rights Issue   Original sources: https://www.vanityfair.com/style/2020/11/the-oracle-of-britney-spears  https://www.teenvogue.com/story/jamie-lynn-spears-trustee-britney-spears-multi-million-dollar-trust https://www.today.com/popculture/britney-spears-wants-her-conservatorship-case-be-open-public-t190903 https://www.etonline.com/britney-spears-sons-allegedly-granted-temporary-restraining-order-against-singers-father-131771 https://www.huffingtonpost.com.au/entry/britney-spears-tmz-held-against-will_n_5cd98a83e4b0b0e70ab39d85?ri18n=true&guccounter=1 https://www.5why.com.au/everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-freebritney-movement/  

This week we finally talk about Girlboss feminism. Where it came from; what it is; and why we hate it. We talk about Girlboss feminism and its relationship to capitalism, the way it relies on the marginalisation of ethnic women, and the fact that it does nothing to actually challenge patriarchal systems.   Soaliha: @soalihaofficial  Mitch: @mitchs.miscellanea  Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/soaliha Email: heresthethingthopodcast@gmail.com PayPal: PayPal.me/soaliha  Facebook Group: Here's The Thing, Tho With Soaliha Podcast Group    Sources: New Zealand mum traumatised after newborn boy drops on hospital floor  Victoria's Secret's ‘feminist' rebrand is as flimsy as a polyester thong | Arwa Mahdawi  Gaslight Gatekeep Girlboss, explained  Cruella Is Gaslight, Gatekeep, Girlboss in Movie Form

This week we talk about imposter syndrome – what it is, what it isn't, and how it's different from regular insecurity.  We talk about the way imposter syndrome's racial intersections mean women of colour experience it differently, and the stakes white supremacy and capitalism have in your imposter syndrome.   Soaliha: @soalihaofficial  Mitch: @mitchs.miscellanea  Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/soaliha Email: heresthethingthopodcast@gmail.com PayPal: PayPal.me/soaliha  Facebook Group: Here's The Thing, Tho With Soaliha Podcast Group    Sources: Stop Telling Women They Have Imposter Syndrome - HBR  David Graeber, Bullshit Jobs, Penguin, 2019 

This week we talk about nostalgia. Everything in the 2020s from the latest fashion trends, movies, and popular music are often retro-inspired, if not just straight up recycling old trends.  We talk about why nostalgia is so important to us right now, what it represents to our generation specifically, and capitalism's stake in maintaining nostalgia as a means of controlling discourse.    Soaliha: @soalihaofficial  Mitch: @mitchs.miscellanea  Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/soaliha Email: heresthethingthopodcast@gmail.com PayPal: PayPal.me/soaliha  Facebook Group: Here's The Thing, Tho With Soaliha Podcast Group    Sources: How Olivia Rodrigo Became a Canvas for Millennial Nostalgia Final fantasy: millennials' long embrace of video game nostalgia The Political Appeal of Nostalgia Grafton Tanner, The Circle Of The Snake, Zero Books, 2020.

This week we talk about TWO different topics!! First we talk about selective activism and the way people weaponise their marginalised status to justify political inaction.  Then we talk about medical racism in Australia, specifically discussing the recent tragic death of Aishwarya Aswath and the way our attitudes have changed regarding front-line workers post-pandemic.   Soaliha: @soalihaofficial  Mitch: @mitchs.miscellanea  Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/soaliha Email: heresthethingthopodcast@gmail.com PayPal: PayPal.me/soaliha  Facebook Group: Here’s The Thing, Tho With Soaliha Podcast Group    Sources: Nurses say they warned of Perth Children's Hospital staffing crisis before seven-year-old's death 'Pure medical negligence': Parents of Aishwarya Aswath slam report into her death at Perth hospital  Hospital apologises for leaving Aboriginal patient on the ground outside Hospital patient claims she faced reprisals from staff after helping Aboriginal woman

This week we talk about the new Netflix adaptation of 'Shadow and Bone' and how it encapsulates some problematic trends in the YA fantasy genre. We discuss the prevalence and romanisation of grooming in many of these stories, as well as the voyeuristic nature of racism in the new series. *This episode contains SPOILERS for the Netflix series 'Shadow and Bone' so proceed at your own risk! Soaliha: @soalihaofficial  Mitch: @mitchs.miscellanea  Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/soaliha Email: heresthethingthopodcast@gmail.com PayPal: PayPal.me/soaliha  Facebook Group: Here’s The Thing, Tho With Soaliha Podcast Group    Source List Twitter threads: https://twitter.com/literarypenny/status/1385753311178002432 https://twitter.com/JamesAkinaka/status/1386360209866625027   

This week we talk about the rise of ‘ecofascism’ and its concerning prevalence in left wing circles.  We talk about what it is, why it’s so convincing and how to spot ecofascist myths.   Soaliha: @soalihaofficial  Mitch: @mitchs.miscellanea  Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/soaliha Email: heresthethingthopodcast@gmail.com PayPal: PayPal.me/soaliha  Facebook Group: Here’s The Thing, Tho With Soaliha Podcast Group    Sources Eco-fascism: What It Is, Why It's Wrong, and How to Fight It   Overpopulation Discourse: Patriarchy, Racism, and the Specter of Ecofascism – by Jordan Dyett and Cassidy Thomas Just 100 companies responsible for 71% of global emissions, study says

Due to popular demand, this week we continue our conversation on what it's like being in-between two identities.  We talk about wanting to be white, resenting your culture, the alienation of being in-between, and accepting who you are.    Soaliha: @soalihaofficial  Mitch: @mitchs.miscellanea  Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/soaliha Email: heresthethingthopodcast@gmail.com PayPal: PayPal.me/soaliha  Facebook Group: Here’s The Thing, Tho With Soaliha Podcast Group 

This week we talk about the concept of being “white-passing”, and how the term has become more sinister than its originators planned. We also talk about the disconnect of growing up away from your mother country, racist policing, eugenics and the Australian government’s bizarre consent video.   Soaliha: @soalihaofficial  Mitch: @mitchs.miscellanea  Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/soaliha Email: heresthethingthopodcast@gmail.com PayPal: PayPal.me/soaliha  Facebook Group: Here’s The Thing, Tho With Soaliha Podcast Group   

This week we do a casual explainer on Ramadan – what it is, why we love it, why some Muslims start fasting on different days, all the random questions we get from non-Muslims about it, etc.  This episode is part of our minisodes that we are doing during the month of Ramadan, because fasting while talking for an hour is super hard. Enjoy! And bonus points to the listeners who recognise where our title is from. (For those who don’t – it’s from Ramy.)     Soaliha: @soalihaofficial  Mitch: @mitchs.miscellanea  Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/soaliha Email: heresthethingthopodcast@gmail.com PayPal: PayPal.me/soaliha  Facebook Group: Here’s The Thing, Tho With Soaliha Podcast Group    Sources: The politics of moon sighting: Why some UK Muslims stopped following Saudi Arabia

This week we talk about the controversial ‘female gaze’ - what is it, where did the term come from, and does it even exist? We discuss Laura Mulvey’s work on the male gaze, how it birthed the ‘female gaze’, and the different conceptions of what the modern female gaze could look like. We also break down arguments against the female gaze, including the impossibility of existing outside of the male gaze, reinforcing gender binaries, and the lumping together of all female experiences.   Soaliha: @soalihaofficial  Mitch: @mitchs.miscellanea  Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/soaliha Email: heresthethingthopodcast@gmail.com PayPal: PayPal.me/soaliha  Facebook Group: Here’s The Thing, Tho With Soaliha Podcast Group    Sources: Laura Mulvey's "Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema" How Do We Define the Female Gaze in 2018? The Radical Power of the Gaze: On “Portrait of a Lady on Fire” Feb 28, 1 “Portrait of a Lady on Fire” Is More Than a “Manifesto on the Female Gaze” How Portrait of a Lady on Fire celebrates the female gaze  No Such Thing Not Yet: Questioning Television's Female Gaze

This week we break up our topics into little segments - first, we talk about the sudden popularity of NFTs and their connection to our commodity-obsessed capitalist dystopia, and then we discuss 'tensions' between Black and Asian communities following the Atlanta shooting, class reductionism and the difference between activism and raising awareness.     Soaliha: @soalihaofficial  Mitch: @mitchs.miscellanea  Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/soaliha Email: heresthethingthopodcast@gmail.com PayPal: PayPal.me/soaliha  Facebook Group: Here’s The Thing, Tho With Soaliha Podcast Group 

This week we talk about the bombshell Meghan/Harry/Oprah interview that’s been saturating entertainment news.  We talk about the response we have to the interview, the intriguing relationship between the Royals and the British press, the evils of British colonialism and the ever-increasing irrelevance of the Royal Family.    Our special guest Veera Ramayah (she/her): Veera Ramayah (@veera.ramayah) Vramayah.journoportfolio.com Soaliha: @soalihaofficial  Mitch: @mitchs.miscellanea  Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/soaliha Email: heresthethingthopodcast@gmail.com PayPal: PayPal.me/soaliha  Facebook Group: Here’s The Thing, Tho With Soaliha Podcast Group    Sources: Read the full transcript of Harry and Meghan's bombshell interview with Oprah What Is The Firm? Why Meghan Markle Used Royals' Nickname  Was Meghan's son Archie denied the title 'prince' because he's mixed race? 10 Evil Crimes Of The British Empire Princess Michael of Kent sorry for wearing 'racist' brooch Princess Michael Of Kent: 15 Ways This Royal Is The Most Embarrassing In Modern Times

This week we talk about the way people project ideas of ‘wokeness’ onto WOC, and the higher standards we are held to compared to other people.  We talk about racial trauma and my relationship with self-commodification: the idea that WOC are expected to commodify their experiences in order to deserve a voice.    Soaliha: @soalihaofficial  Mitch: @mitchs.miscellanea  Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/soaliha Email: heresthethingthopodcast@gmail.com PayPal: PayPal.me/soaliha  Facebook Group: Here’s The Thing, Tho With Soaliha Podcast Group    Sources: Lizzo's Body Is Not A Political Battlefront  Flex Mami, Australia's ultimate influencer, is done with influencing

This week we discuss Anastasia, Disney princesses and monarchist propaganda in kids movies, leading to a conversation about propaganda in general. Is everything political?  We talk about the Russian revolution, the politics in Frozen 2, Marxism in A Bug’s Life and how much we fucking love Bluey.    Soaliha: @soalihaofficial  Mitch: @mitchs.miscellanea  Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/soaliha Email: heresthethingthopodcast@gmail.com PayPal: PayPal.me/soaliha  Facebook Group: Here’s The Thing, Tho With Soaliha Podcast Group    Sources: Think of the Children! Tuesday: 'Anastasia' and Revisionist History  Anastasia, the Lion King, and Monarchist Propaganda in 1990s Animated Film  Frozen 2's postcolonial plotline: is it all a bit of a charade?  'Antz': Marxist Propaganda for Kids  Hetero-Romantic Love and Heterosexiness in Children's G-Rated Films  

CW: Discussions of rape, including descriptions of Brittany Higgin’s sexual assault. This week we follow up on Facebook’s news ban, and discuss what this means for democracy and Australian media. Then we get to our main topic of the day - rape culture.  We talk about Brittany Higgin’s explosive sexual assault allegations in Parliament, the Liberal Party’s platform as one that breeds and perpetuates misogyny, the lack of education around consent, and how rape culture is well and truly an essential part of Australian society.   Soaliha: @soalihaofficial  Mitch: @mitchs.miscellanea  Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/soaliha Email: heresthethingthopodcast@gmail.com PayPal: PayPal.me/soaliha  Facebook Group: Here’s The Thing, Tho With Soaliha Podcast Group    Source List: Brittany Higgin’s sexual assault allegations Fourth woman accuses staffer in Brittany Higgins case  Brittany Higgins's rape allegations speak to basic questions of accountability in politics The Brittany Higgins allegations have unearthed fury among women staffers and politicians Investigation reveals history of sexism and inappropriate behaviour by Attorney-General Christian Porter UNSW Baxter College president says he doesn't know why he participated in 'appalling' sexist chant Former St Kevin's College students claim warnings about sexist culture were ignored Boys Club - Four Corners  Rapture Nightclub's Treatment Of Women Just Proves Rape Culture Is Still Alive And Kicking  Consent petition: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSduOvPbj9fDynm26O9rmuUq42DDQuaUsvvwAZVyoDjoWkCOdA/viewform

This week we talk about the much hyped period drama Bridgerton and its attempt at 'colour-blind' casting - and all the ways that awkwardly backfired. We discuss Hamilton's contentious racial politics, the awkward implications that come with casting a Black Hermione, and if colour-blind casting can ever really work in a world built on white supremacy. Our spoiler-filled (and potentially triggering) chat of Bridgerton is from 13:00-41:15. Soaliha: @soalihaofficial Mitch: @mitchs.miscellanea Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/soalihaEmail: heresthethingthopodcast@gmail.comPayPal: PayPal.me/soaliha Facebook Group: Here’s The Thing, Tho With Soaliha Podcast Group  Sources:https://observer.com/2021/01/bridgerton-sees-race-through-a-colorist-lens/https://www.vox.com/22215076/bridgerton-race-racism-historical-accuracy-alternate-historyhttps://www.vox.com/22194033/bridgerton-netflix-rape-scene-novel https://www.counterpunch.org/2015/08/21/hamilton-the-musical-black-actors-dress-up-like-slave-tradersand-its-not-halloween/

This week we discuss the film Promising Young Woman - or more specifically, why we felt it does more harm than good for women and rape survivors. We also follow up on the #FreeBritney movement, and talk about the power structure and racial nature of cancel culture. Our spoiler-heavy Promising Young Woman discussion is from the 25:30-50:10 min mark, so skip that section if you don't want spoilers or if you may find the segment triggering. Soaliha: @soalihaofficial Mitch: @mitchs.miscellanea Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/soalihaEmail: heresthethingthopodcast@gmail.comPayPal: PayPal.me/soaliha Facebook Group: Here’s The Thing, Tho With Soaliha Podcast Group