Leftist Teen Drama

In our first ever Special Episode of Leftist Teen Drama, Maria introduces Kelly Diaz, who recently defended her dissertation at the University of Pennsylvania entitled “Lights, Camera, [Social] Action!: The Goals, Messages, and Impact of Youth Activism on Television.” (Maria—and Leftist Teen Drama—were featured in the dissertation!) Maria and Kelly delve into the project, unpacking everything from Kelly's motivations to undertake the topic to the studies she carried out with screenwriters and young adult TV viewers. The results and insights shared will be of interest to anyone who cares about political organizing/activism and young TV characters! FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL | instagram, tumblr, tiktok: @leftistteendrama | twitter: @leftyteendrama | website: leftistteendrama.com _ ABOUT US: MARIA DIPASQUALE (she/her; host/editor) is a Brooklyn-based union communicator and writer who watches too much TV. Follow Maria on Twitter @Maria_DiP26, IG @mdzip, and tiktok @marialovesunions.  KELLY DIAZ (she/her; recurring guest) is an adjunct instructor of media studies at City College New York. She has a Ph.D. from the Annenberg School for Communication at the University of Pennsylvania where she wrote her dissertation on depictions of youth activism on television. She loves to analyze and discuss the intersection of pop culture and politics and is passionate about the role entertainment plays in social justice movements. She has a dog, Matilda "Tillie," who is named after the magical, brilliant, and justice-serving character!   JEFF MCHALE (he/him; producer) is an extremely online guy who plays games, streams sometimes, and loves talking old TV. Logo art by Maddy Wiryo Maria and Jeff's good union cats CLARENCE and VINNY may make an appearance and/or be mentioned.  intro song: Stomping the Room by Delicate Beats All opinions shared on this show are that of individuals and do not represent the views of any organization we may be affiliated with. _ SOURCES DISCUSSED IN THE EPISODE:  Bandura, A. (2018). Toward a psychology of human agency: Pathways and reflections. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 13(2), 130-136.   Beaumont, E. (2010). Political agency and empowerment: pathways for developing a sense of political efficacy in young adults. In L. Sherrod, J. Torney-Purta, & C. Flanagan (Eds.), Handbook of research on civic engagement in youth (pp. 525-558). Hoboken: Wiley.   Hollywood Health & Society  _ SUGGESTED FURTHER READING: Cooper, E. (2015). “Teens win”: Purveying fantasies of effortless economic mobility and social attainment on rich teen soaps. Popular Culture, 48(4), 731-746.   Griffin, R. A., & Meyer, M. D. E. (Eds.). (2018). Adventures in shondaland: Identity politics and the power of representation. Rutgers University Press.  Hall, A. E. (2020). Audience responses to diverse superheroes: The roles of gender and race in forging connections with media characters in superhero franchise films. Psychology of Aesthetics, Creativity, and the Arts. https://doi.org/10.1037/aca0000363  Hirmer, K. (2013). Female empowerment: Buffy and her heiresses in control. In B. Brodman and J. E. Doan (Eds.), Images of the modern vampire: The hip and the atavistic (pp. 63-75). Fairleigh Dickinson University Press.   Hoewe, L. & Sherrill, A. (2019). The influence of female lead characters in political TV shows: Links to political engagement. Journal of Broadcasting & Electronic Media, 59-76.  Johnson, B., & Faill, D. (Eds.) (2015). Glee and New Directions for Social Change. Youth, Media, and Culture  Jones, C. W. & Paris, C. (2018). It's the end of the world and they know it: How dystopian fiction shapes political attitudes.” Perspectives on Politics, 969-989.  Klein, B. (2011). Entertaining ideas: Social issues in entertainment television. Media, Culture & Society, 33 (2), 905-921.  Kligler-Vilenchik, N. (2016). “Decreasing world suck”: Harnessing popular culture for fan activism. In Jenkins, H., Shreshthova, S., Gamber-Thompson, L., Kligler-Vilenchik, N., & Zimmerman, A. By any media necessary: The new youth activism (pp. 102-148). New York University Press. https://doi-org.proxy.library.upenn.edu/10.18574/nyu/9781479829712.001.0001 Marghitu, S. (2021). Teen TV. Routledge.   Moore, S., Hope, E., Eisman, A., & Zimmerman, M. (2016). Predictors of civic engagement among highly involved young adults: Exploring the relationship between agency and systems worldview. Journal of Community Psychology, 44(7), 888-903.    Moyer-Gusé, E., Chung, A. H., Jain, P. (2011). Identification with characters and discussion of taboo topics after exposure to entertainment narrative about sexual health. Journal of Communication, 61(3).   Mutz, D. & Nir, L. (2010). Not necessarily the news: Does fictional television influence real-world policy preferences? Mass Communication & Society, 13, 196-217. 

It's the Pogues vs. the Kooks, the PCHers vs. the 09ers, the Harbor School vs. Newport Union! In the Season 2 finale of Leftist Teen Drama, Maria is joined by guests Kelly Gilbert and Nicki Morris to discuss the class conflict inherent to the plot and setting of three teen dramas: THE O.C. (2003-2007), VERONICA MARS (2004-2019), and OUTER BANKS (2020-present.) From star-crossed romances and parallel fights on the beach to a Neptune High election based around an elitist points system, Maria and her guests discuss all facets of these teen drama class wars. TW: discussion of marital rape around 44:16 - 46:56 For this episode, we recommend you first watch or have familiarity with THE O.C. Seasons 1-4, streaming on HBO Max and Hulu; OUTER BANKS Seasons 1-2, streaming on Netflix; and VERONICA MARS Seasons 1-3, streaming on Hulu. FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL | instagram, tumblr, tiktok: @leftistteendrama | twitter: @leftyteendrama | website: leftistteendrama.com _ ABOUT US: MARIA DIPASQUALE (she/her; host/editor) is a Brooklyn-based union communicator and writer who watches too much TV. Follow Maria on Twitter @Maria_DiP26, IG @mdzip, and tiktok @marialovesunions. In addition to Leftist Teen Drama, Maria hosts Bodysuits For Bughead: A Riverdale Podcast | tumblr: @bodysuitsforbughead twitter: @B4B_Podcast instagram: @bodysuits4bughead KELLY GILBERT (she/her; recurring guest) is a medical worker and union/teen drama stan living in Brooklyn. Follow her @baeblade5 on insta and @yungworker69 for sporadic, unhinged tweets! NICKI MORRIS (she/her; recurring guest) is a labor communications strategist at a unionized shop! She loves cats, corn, and comrades. Her favorite teen show is Degrassi because she knows we can "make it through" with solidarity! Enjoys watching all good crime shows: The Wire, Claws, Good Girls, Killing Eve, Arrested Development. Follow her on Twitter @NickiMorris321. CHARLES O'LEARY (they/them; art) is, of course, a Brooklyn-based designer, artist, and dilettante. A survivor of the 2012-2016 Tumblr wars, media criticism is all they know. You can find their work at charles-oleary.com, and their silly little life on Instagram at @c.s.0.l. JEFF MCHALE (he/him; producer) is an extremely online guy who plays games, streams sometimes, and loves talking old TV. Maria and Jeff's good union cats CLARENCE and VINNY may make an appearance and/or be mentioned.  intro song: Stomping the Room by Delicate Beats All opinions shared on this show are that of individuals and do not represent the views of any organization we may be affiliated with. _ SOURCES DISCUSSED IN THE EPISODE:  July 19, 2019, Bustle, The Town in 'Veronica Mars' Takes Inspiration From This Famously Affluent Place In California by Savannah Walsh The Debt Collective

“How do you feel?” “Like I've come home.” In a follow-up to Leftist Teen Drama's first-ever podcast episode, Maria and guest Dondré Taylor-Stewart trace the season 3 journey of Eric Effiong on SEX EDUCATION (2019-present.) Maria and Dondré discuss the life-changing experience Eric has during his visit to Nigeria, with his season bookended by a turbulent relationship with Adam. From the various mechanics of gay male sex to the nuances of being LGBTQIA+ in Nigeria, Maria and Dondré discuss all the groundbreaking material the SEX EDUCATION writers continue to give Eric Effiong, a truly revolutionary character.  For this episode, we recommend you first listen to episode #1 of Leftist Teen Drama, as well as watch or have familiarity with SEX EDUCATION Season 3, streaming on Netflix. FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL | instagram, tumblr, tiktok: @leftistteendrama | twitter: @leftyteendrama | website: leftistteendrama.com _ ABOUT US: MARIA DIPASQUALE (she/her; host/editor) is a Brooklyn-based union communicator and writer who watches too much TV. Follow Maria on Twitter @Maria_DiP26, IG @mdzip, and tiktok @marialovesunions. In addition to Leftist Teen Drama, Maria hosts Bodysuits For Bughead: A Riverdale Podcast | tumblr: @bodysuitsforbughead twitter: @B4B_Podcast instagram: @bodysuits4bughead DONDRÉ TAYLOR-STEWART (he/him, recurring guest) is a Jersey-born, Jamaican-raised TV writer whose work often employs satire to examine the cultural crossroads of his identity. He splits his time in Los Angeles with a day job in environmental public policy, freelance writing gigs, and crafting original pilots. Ultimately, Dondré dreams of sustaining a highly collaborative career telling Black stories to help expand imaginations. IG: oxtail.papi TWITTER: dondrenesta CHARLES O'LEARY (they/them; art) is, of course, a Brooklyn-based designer, artist, and dilettante. A survivor of the 2012-2016 Tumblr wars, media criticism is all they know. You can find their work at charles-oleary.com, and their silly little life on Instagram at @c.s.0.l. JEFF MCHALE (he/him; producer) is an extremely online guy who plays games, streams sometimes, and loves talking old TV. Maria and Jeff's good union cats CLARENCE and VINNY may make an appearance and/or be mentioned.  intro song: Stomping the Room by Delicate Beats All opinions shared on this show are that of individuals and do not represent the views of any organization we may be affiliated with.

In the fictional neighborhood of Freeridge, Los Angeles, four Black and Brown kids get to solve a mystery in the midst of their largely immigrant community rife with gun violence and poverty. Maria and her guest Xiomara Loarte discuss all four seasons of ON MY BLOCK (2018-2021), which doesn't shy away from showing all the everyday realities of growing up with gun violence, from Ruby's PTSD to the immigration system and prison industrial complex to the teens' game guessing the caliber of gun shots that ring out in their neighborhood.  For this episode, we recommend you first watch or have familiarity with ON MY BLOCK Seasons 1-4, streaming on Netflix. FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL | instagram, tumblr, tiktok: @leftistteendrama | twitter: @leftyteendrama | website: leftistteendrama.com _ ABOUT US: MARIA DIPASQUALE (she/her; host/editor) is a Brooklyn-based union communicator and writer who watches too much TV. Follow Maria on Twitter @Maria_DiP26, IG @mdzip, and tiktok @marialovesunions. In addition to Leftist Teen Drama, Maria hosts Bodysuits For Bughead: A Riverdale Podcast | tumblr: @bodysuitsforbughead twitter: @B4B_Podcast instagram: @bodysuits4bughead XIOMARA LOARTE (she/her/ella; guest) is a NYC/NJ regular, Master's student at CUNY SLU, and a first time parent who is working towards becoming a seasoned labor organizer. In between being in the good fight she's bumping Salsa, Bad Bunny, or indulging in something fucking delicious. Bad at social media but pretty decent socially, IG: Totalmentexio Twitter: xiomaraloarte CHARLES O'LEARY (they/them; art) is, of course, a Brooklyn-based designer, artist, and dilettante. A survivor of the 2012-2016 Tumblr wars, media criticism is all they know. You can find their work at charles-oleary.com, and their silly little life on Instagram at @c.s.0.l. JEFF MCHALE (he/him; producer) is an extremely online guy who plays games, streams sometimes, and loves talking old TV. Maria and Jeff's good union cats CLARENCE and VINNY may make an appearance and/or be mentioned.  intro song: Stomping the Room by Delicate Beats All opinions shared on this show are that of individuals and do not represent the views of any organization we may be affiliated with. _ SOURCES DISCUSSED IN THE EPISODE:  Welcome to the OC, Bitches podcast episode: The Music of the O.C. On My Block playlists for Season 1, Season 2, Season 3, and Season 4.

Remember the time Summer Roberts from THE O.C. (2003-2007) went to college and became a hardcore environmental activist? Maria and her guests Emma and Hailey trace Summer's Season 4 journey to find her destiny as an early 2000s climate activist, in the long tradition of teen drama mean girls finding their voices through organizing. With many of Summer's demands sounding eerily similar to the demands of today's climate justice movement, Maria also takes the opportunity to discuss the Green New Deal, with the help of A Planet To Win: Why We Need A Green New Deal by Kate Aronoff, Alyssa Battistoni, Daniel Aldana Cohen, and Thea Riofrancos. Maria and her guests discuss this ambitious and exciting policy framework that Summer Roberts would certainly be fighting to pass in the present.  For this episode, we recommend you first watch or have familiarity with THE O.C. Season 4, streaming on HBO Max and Hulu. FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL | instagram, tumblr, tiktok: @leftistteendrama | twitter: @leftyteendrama | website: leftistteendrama.com _ ABOUT US: MARIA DIPASQUALE (she/her; host/editor) is a Brooklyn-based union communicator and writer who watches too much TV. Follow Maria on Twitter @Maria_DiP26, IG @mdzip, and tiktok @marialovesunions. In addition to Leftist Teen Drama, Maria hosts Bodysuits For Bughead: A Riverdale Podcast | tumblr: @bodysuitsforbughead twitter: @B4B_Podcast instagram: @bodysuits4bughead EMMA ROSE (she/her; recurring guest) watches a lot—and she means a lot—of reality tv, with the occasional teen drama or murder mystery or sci-fi thriller thrown in for good measure. When she's not watching said television, you can find her listening to podcasts and diving into internet content about said television. Sometimes she posts on instagram @emmaaaaaroseeeee (5 a's and 5 e's) HAILEY MCINNES (she/her; recurring guest) is a market researcher based in NYC. When she isn't nerding out over data, she can be found binging all of the TV, drinking all the chilled red wine, and hanging with her cat son and human husband. IG: haileymcinnes / TW: haileymcinnes13 CHARLES O'LEARY (they/them; art) is, of course, a Brooklyn-based designer, artist, and dilettante. A survivor of the 2012-2016 Tumblr wars, media criticism is all they know. You can find their work at charles-oleary.com, and their silly little life on Instagram at @c.s.0.l. JEFF MCHALE (he/him; producer) is an extremely online guy who plays games, streams sometimes, and loves talking old TV. Maria and Jeff's good union cats CLARENCE and VINNY may make an appearance and/or be mentioned.  intro song: Stomping the Room by Delicate Beats All opinions shared on this show are that of individuals and do not represent the views of any organization we may be affiliated with. _ SOURCES DISCUSSED IN THE EPISODE:  Welcome to the OC, Bitches! podcast with Rachel Bilson and Melinda Clarke A Planet To Win: Why We Need A Green New Deal by Kate Aronoff, Alyssa Battistoni, Daniel Aldana Cohen, and Thea Riofrancos (with foreword by Naomi Klein) 2019 Forbes article, Report: The U.S. Military Emits More CO2 Than Many Industrialized Nations [Infographic] _ SUGGESTED FURTHER ACTION/LISTENING: plug in to…Sunrise Movement plug in to…DSA Ecosocialists It Could Happen Here podcast

We're talking about SPORTS—and specifically, the long history of protest through sport as it's depicted on two teen dramas. Maria and guest Dondré Taylor-Stewart dive into early 2000s football teen drama FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS (2006-2011) and its 2010s-20s counterpart ALL AMERICAN (2018-present) as both shows tackle football strikes for racial justice. We analyze the differences between a Black football player strike, led by Smash Williams, that takes place before Kaepernick ever took a knee, and the escalating collective action Spencer James and his Black teammates engage in, which is very much influenced by Kaepernick. There are also lots of parallels, including similar talks Smash Williams and Spencer James each have with their mothers about the weight of responsibility for your community vs. for your own personal growth.  For this episode, we recommend you first watch or have familiarity with FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS 1x15 “Blinders” and 1x16 “Black Eyes and Broken Hearts,” streaming on Netflix and Hulu, and ALL AMERICAN 3x11 “The Bigger Picture” and 3x12 “Fight the Power,” streaming on Netflix. FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL | instagram, tumblr, tiktok: @leftistteendrama | twitter: @leftyteendrama | website: leftistteendrama.com _ ABOUT US: MARIA DIPASQUALE (she/her; host/editor) is a Brooklyn-based union communicator and writer who watches too much TV. Follow Maria on Twitter @Maria_DiP26, IG @mdzip, and tiktok @marialovesunions. In addition to Leftist Teen Drama, Maria hosts Bodysuits For Bughead: A Riverdale Podcast | tumblr: @bodysuitsforbughead twitter: @B4B_Podcast instagram: @bodysuits4bughead DONDRÉ TAYLOR-STEWART (he/him, recurring guest) is a Jersey-born, Jamaican-raised TV writer whose work often employs satire to examine the cultural crossroads of his identity. He splits his time in Los Angeles with a day job in environmental public policy, freelance writing gigs, and crafting original pilots. Ultimately, Dondré dreams of sustaining a highly collaborative career telling Black stories to help expand imaginations. IG: oxtail.papi TWITTER: dondrenesta CHARLES O'LEARY (they/them; art) is, of course, a Brooklyn-based designer, artist, and dilettante. A survivor of the 2012-2016 Tumblr wars, media criticism is all they know. You can find their work at charles-oleary.com, and their silly little life on Instagram at @c.s.0.l. JEFF MCHALE (he/him; producer) is an extremely online guy who plays games, streams sometimes, and loves talking old TV. Maria and Jeff's good union cats CLARENCE and VINNY may make an appearance and/or be mentioned.  intro song: Stomping the Room by Delicate Beats All opinions shared on this show are that of individuals and do not represent the views of any organization we may be affiliated with. _ SOURCES DISCUSSED IN THE EPISODE:  September 13, 2020, The Sporting News, Colin Kaepernick kneeling timeline: How protests during the national anthem started a movement in the NFL by Tadd Haislop September 1, 2021, NBC Sports,Kaepernick's kneeling protest still misunderstood five years later by Monte Pool June 5, 2020, The New York Times, Kneeling, Fiercely Debated in the N.F.L., Resonates in Protests, by Kurt Streeter October 15, 2021, Labor 411, Scab Crashes Tractor, 911 Called On Day 1 Of John Deere's Replacement Of Striking Workers

You've seen it on Instagram. It made you smile, it made you cry: the moment the other girls show up to help Aimee Gibbs from SEX EDUCATION (2019-present) get on the bus where she was assaulted. But the reason Maria, along with guests Kelly Gilbert and Nicki Morris, analyze this stunning plotline, is because Aimee's healing journey doesn't stop there, and instead continues into season 3. From the moment when Aimee's assaulted while on the bus to school until her most recent therapy session with Dr. Jean Milburn, Maria and her guests follow Aimee on her gorgeously depicted, nonlinear healing journey (so far). We also touch on the title IX activism we all took part in as college students, and the larger movement against campus sexual assault. CW: sexual assault For this episode, we recommend you first watch or have familiarity with SEX EDUCATION, but especially seasons 2-3, streaming on Netflix. FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL | instagram, tumblr, tiktok: @leftistteendrama | twitter: @leftyteendrama | website: leftistteendrama.com _ ABOUT US: MARIA DIPASQUALE (she/her; host/editor) is a Brooklyn-based union communicator and writer who watches too much TV. Follow Maria on Twitter @Maria_DiP26, IG @mdzip, and tiktok @marialovesunions. In addition to Leftist Teen Drama, Maria hosts Bodysuits For Bughead: A Riverdale Podcast | tumblr: @bodysuitsforbughead twitter: @B4B_Podcast instagram: @bodysuits4bughead KELLY GILBERT (she/her; recurring guest) is a medical worker and union/teen drama stan living in Brooklyn. Follow her @baeblade5 on insta and @yungworker69 for sporadic, unhinged tweets! NICKI MORRIS (she/her; recurring guest) is a labor communications strategist at a unionized shop! She loves cats, corn, and comrades. Her favorite teen show is Degrassi because she knows we can "make it through" with solidarity! Enjoys watching all good crime shows: The Wire, Claws, Good Girls, Killing Eve, Arrested Development. Follow her on Twitter @NickiMorris321. CHARLES O'LEARY (they/them; art) is, of course, a Brooklyn-based designer, artist, and dilettante. A survivor of the 2012-2016 Tumblr wars, media criticism is all they know. You can find their work at charles-oleary.com, and their silly little life on Instagram at @c.s.0.l. JEFF MCHALE (he/him; producer) is an extremely online guy who plays games, streams sometimes, and loves talking old TV. Maria and Jeff's good union cats CLARENCE and VINNY may make an appearance and/or be mentioned.  intro song: Stomping the Room by Delicate Beats All opinions shared on this show are that of individuals and do not represent the views of any organization we may be affiliated with. _ SOURCES DISCUSSED IN THE EPISODE:  Chanel Miller, Know My Name: A Memoir September 21, 2014, The New York Times, In a Mattress, a Lever for Art and Political Protest by Roberta Smith

GMOs and anti-Muslim bigotry, it *must* be the George Bush era. Maria and her guests, childhood friends Dondré Taylor-Stewart and Rosalie Murray, go back in time to the first two seasons of DEGRASSI: THE NEXT GENERATION (2001-2015) to discuss political storylines headed by resident activist girl Emma Nelson and resident Early-2000s-Black-Woman-Who-Deserved-Better Hazel Aden. From Emma telling off teasing boys when she gets her period to Hazel's journey accepting her Somalian identity publicly in a post-9/11 world to Emma's GMO protest turned free speech protest, we run the gamut of early 2000s politics in our first (but certainly not our last) DEGRASSI episode.  For this episode, we recommend you first watch or have familiarity with DEGRASSI: THE NEXT GENERATION Seasons 1-2, especially episodes 1x05 “Parents Day,” 1x09 “Coming of Age,” 2x11 “Don't Believe the Hype,” and 2x19 “Fight For Your Right,” all streaming on HBO Max. FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL | instagram, tumblr, tiktok: @leftistteendrama | twitter: @leftyteendrama | website: leftistteendrama.com _ ABOUT US: MARIA DIPASQUALE (she/her; host/editor) is a Brooklyn-based union communicator and writer who watches too much TV. Follow Maria on Twitter @Maria_DiP26, IG @mdzip, and tiktok @marialovesunions. In addition to Leftist Teen Drama, Maria hosts Bodysuits For Bughead: A Riverdale Podcast | tumblr: @bodysuitsforbughead twitter: @B4B_Podcast instagram: @bodysuits4bughead DONDRÉ TAYLOR-STEWART (he/him, recurring guest) is a Jersey-born, Jamaican-raised TV writer whose work often employs satire to examine the cultural crossroads of his identity. He splits his time in Los Angeles with a day job in environmental public policy, freelance writing gigs, and crafting original pilots. Ultimately, Dondré dreams of sustaining a highly collaborative career telling Black stories to help expand imaginations. IG: oxtail.papi TWITTER: dondrenesta ROSALIE MURRAY (she/her, guest) is an elementary school social worker/human living in Queens, NY.  Besides spending time with her cat, Louise, she loves to cook tasty ass vegan food with friends, karaoke-ing or starting another unfinished crochet project. She also loves to watch endless youtube videos, reality television and, of course, Degrassi. CHARLES O'LEARY (they/them; art) is, of course, a Brooklyn-based designer, artist, and dilettante. A survivor of the 2012-2016 Tumblr wars, media criticism is all they know. You can find their work at charles-oleary.com, and their silly little life on Instagram at @c.s.0.l. JEFF MCHALE (he/him; producer) is an extremely online guy who plays games, streams sometimes, and loves talking old TV. Maria and Jeff's good union cats CLARENCE and VINNY may make an appearance and/or be mentioned.  intro song: Stomping the Room by Delicate Beats All opinions shared on this show are that of individuals and do not represent the views of any organization we may be affiliated with. _ SOURCES DISCUSSED IN THE EPISODE:  December 9, 2021, WYPR, Baltimore's squeegee kids: debating how the community should respond Disney Channel 9/11 PSAs: here's one, and here's another. And this video has a lot of them too. July 6, 2015, The Washington Post: Why we're so scared of GMOs, according to someone who has studied them since the start by Roberto A. Ferdman June 25, 2003, IATP.org, Hundreds Demonstrate Against Genetically Modified Food | IATP by Oscar Duron May 22, 2012, The Guardian, GM crops: protesters go back to the battlefields by Leo Hickman September 20, 2020, BBC News, GM crops: The Greenpeace activists who risked jail to destroy a field of maize - BBC News by Orla Moore and Zoe Applegate  March 26, 2000, CNN Money, Protest erupts at BIO meet  by Martha Slud

You know we had to do it: it's time for Marxist Paris Geller! In this season 6 episode of GILMORE GIRLS (2000-2007), rich girl Paris Geller is forced to work a catering job and finally connects with Marxist theory. Hilarity ensues. Maria is joined by her childhood friends and fellow GILMORE GIRLS superfans Laura Marino and Jessica Hajdukiewicz to discuss this iconic moment. But before we get to the main event of Paris discovering Marx, we touch on Rory and Paris's short-lived activism to free the Burmese prisoners, Rory's political journalism in the Yale Daily News through the years, and the time that actual Yale labor history was depicted in the background of the show. We also dissect the weird and complicated class dynamics present in GILMORE GIRLS as a whole, from Lorelai's background as a working class maid to Emily Gilmore being one of the worst bosses on television. (Of course we also talk some shit about the revival and ASP's blatant anti-fat nonsense.) For this episode, we recommend you first watch or have familiarity with GILMORE GIRLS Seasons 1-6 but especially GILMORE GIRLS 6x05, “We've Got Magic to Do,” streaming on Netflix. Bonus points/god bless you if you've seen season 7 and GILMORE GIRLS: A YEAR IN THE LIFE, also streaming on Netflix.  FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL | instagram, tumblr, tiktok: @leftistteendrama | twitter: @leftyteendrama | website: leftistteendrama.com _ ABOUT US: MARIA DIPASQUALE (she/her; host/editor) is a Brooklyn-based union communicator and writer who watches too much TV. Follow Maria on Twitter @Maria_DiP26, IG @mdzip, and tiktok @marialovesunions. In addition to Leftist Teen Drama, Maria hosts Bodysuits For Bughead: A Riverdale Podcast | tumblr: @bodysuitsforbughead twitter: @B4B_Podcast instagram: @bodysuits4bughead JESSICA HAJDUKIEWICZ (she/her; guest) is a law student in New Jersey pursuing labor and employment law. She doesn't watch (tooooo) much tv, but when she does she almost always gravitates to her comfort shows including Gilmore Girls!  LAURA MARINO (she/her; guest) works in advertising by day and watches, reads, and talks too much about television by night. She has enjoyed yelling about television with Maria for well over a decade, and credits Television Without Pity (RIP) as the first forum to shape her love of deep character and plot analysis. CHARLES O'LEARY (they/them; art) is, of course, a Brooklyn-based designer, artist, and dilettante. A survivor of the 2012-2016 Tumblr wars, media criticism is all they know. You can find their work at charles-oleary.com, and their silly little life on Instagram at @c.s.0.l. JEFF MCHALE (he/him; producer) is an extremely online guy who plays games, streams sometimes, and loves talking old TV. Maria and Jeff's good union cats CLARENCE and VINNY may make an appearance and/or be mentioned.  intro song: Stomping the Room by Delicate Beats All opinions shared on this show are that of individuals and do not represent the views of any organization we may be affiliated with. _ SOURCES DISCUSSED IN THE EPISODE:  Photo of Rory and Logan crossing the GESO picket line at Yale in 2005 Yale Daily News, April 18, 2005, GESO strike reflects years of TA tension by Julie Post Maria's OG blog post about Marxist Paris Geller on "MDip Rewatch" _ SUGGESTED FURTHER READING/LISTENING: All the Marx your heart desires! Shop at your local bookstore. Also, if you want to learn more about Rana Plaza, here's an article to start with: The New Yorker, May 1, 2013, Death Traps: The Bangladesh Garment-Factory Disaster by Sarah Stillman. As promised, places to plug into anti-capitalist organizing: Democratic Socialists of America Sunrise Movement Emergency Workplace Organizing Committee AFL-CIO Contact a Union Organizer form

Guest Liv starts us off by singing the anthem for this episode: “she's biracial…she's a biracial girl…”  Maria, with the help of Liv and her mixed-race perspective, trace the journeys of three mixed-race characters: Ginny Miller from GINNY & GEORGIA (2021-present) Maya Ishii-Peters from PEN15 (2019-2021), and Olivia Baker from ALL AMERICAN (2018–present). From talking back to racist AP English teachers to embracing Black identity through activism to moment(s) we dub the Scary Spice Effect, these three recent teen dramas tackle all sides of growing up mixed-race in our racist ass society—and the nuances of feeling constantly caught between two cultures. For this episode, we recommend you first watch or have familiarity with GINNY & GEORGIA Season 1, streaming on Netflix; PEN15 Seasons 1-2, streaming on Hulu; and ALL AMERICAN Seasons 1-4, streaming on Netflix and the CW. FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL | instagram, tumblr, tiktok: @leftistteendrama | twitter: @leftyteendrama | website: leftistteendrama.com _ ABOUT US: MARIA DIPASQUALE (she/her; host/editor) is a Brooklyn-based union communicator and writer who watches too much TV. Follow Maria on Twitter @Maria_DiP26, IG @mdzip, and tiktok @marialovesunions. In addition to Leftist Teen Drama, Maria hosts Bodysuits For Bughead: A Riverdale Podcast | tumblr: @bodysuitsforbughead twitter: @B4B_Podcast instagram: @bodysuits4bughead OLIVIA “LIV” CHRISTIAN (she/her; recurring guest) is a writer and freelance digital marketer living in Los Angeles, CA. When she's not writing screenplays or working on ways to help her clients shine, you can find her watching teen dramas and hanging on the couch with her cat Rumble. IG: yung.scorp twitter: _yungscorp CHARLES O'LEARY (they/them; art) is, of course, a Brooklyn-based designer, artist, and dilettante. A survivor of the 2012-2016 Tumblr wars, media criticism is all they know. You can find their work at charles-oleary.com, and their silly little life on Instagram at @c.s.0.l. JEFF MCHALE (he/him; producer) is an extremely online guy who plays games, streams sometimes, and loves talking old TV. Maria and Jeff's good union cats CLARENCE and VINNY may make an appearance and/or be mentioned.  intro song: Stomping the Room by Delicate Beats All opinions shared on this show are that of individuals and do not represent the views of any organization we may be affiliated with.

In the season 2 premiere, we take it all the way back to the year 2000 to discuss iconic teen drama DAWSON'S CREEK (1998-2003), as Maria and her guest Emma dive into the time that Joey Potter briefly led a student protest movement in Capeside. When a horde of racist white parents attempt to get the new Black principal fired, Joey leads the students in coming to Principal Green's defense through a series of direct actions that involve 2000s-era flyers, a speak-out, and a picket outside the superintendent's office. Maria and Emma also talk about how the angry white mob parallels the anti-CRT/anti-mask/anti-vax panics of today, and call on any millennial leftist parents to get involved on their local school boards! For this episode, we recommend you first watch or have familiarity with DAWSON'S CREEK 3x15 “Crime and Punishment” and 3x16 “To Green, With Love,” streaming on Netflix and HBO Max. FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL | instagram, tumblr, tiktok: @leftistteendrama | twitter: @leftyteendrama | website: leftistteendrama.com _ ABOUT US: MARIA DIPASQUALE (she/her; host/editor) is a Brooklyn-based union communicator and writer who watches too much TV. Follow Maria on Twitter @Maria_DiP26, IG @mdzip, and tiktok @marialovesunions. In addition to Leftist Teen Drama, Maria hosts Bodysuits For Bughead: A Riverdale Podcast | tumblr: @bodysuitsforbughead twitter: @B4B_Podcast instagram: @bodysuits4bughead EMMA ROSE (she/her; recurring guest) watches a lot—and she means a lot—of reality tv, with the occasional teen drama or murder mystery or sci-fi thriller thrown in for good measure. When she's not watching said television, you can find her listening to podcasts and diving into internet content about said television. Sometimes she posts on instagram @emmaaaaaroseeeee (5 a's and 5 e's) CHARLES O'LEARY (they/them; art) is, of course, a Brooklyn-based designer, artist, and dilettante. A survivor of the 2012-2016 Tumblr wars, media criticism is all they know. You can find their work at charles-oleary.com, and their silly little life on Instagram at @c.s.0.l. JEFF MCHALE (he/him; producer) is an extremely online guy who plays games, streams sometimes, and loves talking old TV. Maria and Jeff's good union cats CLARENCE and VINNY may make an appearance and/or be mentioned.  intro song: Stomping the Room by Delicate Beats All opinions shared on this show are that of individuals and do not represent the views of any organization we may be affiliated with. _ SOURCES DISCUSSED IN THE EPISODE:  The peak early 2000s flyer design for the Dawson's Creek protest Politico, September 8, 2021, Critical race theory turning school boards into GOP proving grounds by Daniel Payne NBC Boston, October 18, 2021, Catholic School Football Team on Cape Cod Allegedly Used Racist Language in Game by Kaitlin McKinley Becker NBC Boston, November 13, 2021, New Calls for Investigation Into Racist, Sexual Hazing Allegations at Danvers High CNN, November 13, 2021, Massachusetts high school students hold walkout to protest racist video by a White classmate by Sahar Akbarzai The Washington Post, November 16, 2021, Opinion: Progressives can no longer cede school boards to the GOP. They should treat them as political arenas to fight — and win. by Katherine vanden Heuvel _ SUGGESTED FURTHER READING/LISTENING: School Colors podcast Jacobin, June 12, 2021, Conservative Opponents of Critical Race Theory Are Pushing Their Own Propaganda by Robert Greene II Jacobin, March 3, 2022, The Republican Party Is Waging a War Against Personal Freedom and Free Expression by Luke Savage

Season 2 is coming, y'all! Starting May 1, 2022, we will be airing new episodes of Leftist Teen Drama on Sundays for a 10-episode second season. We're back covering everything from Paris Geller's Marxist awakening on GILMORE GIRLS to Emma Nelson's activism on DEGRASSI to the iconic “we're all getting the bus” moment on SEX EDUCATION. From high school football strikes to Summer Roberts' environmental activism and Joey Potter leading a student protest movement, you don't want to miss all the political teen drama content we've got coming your way. FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL | instagram, tumblr, tiktok: @leftistteendrama | twitter: @leftyteendrama | website: leftistteendrama.com _ ABOUT US: MARIA DIPASQUALE (she/her; host/editor) is a Brooklyn-based union communicator and writer who watches too much TV. Follow Maria on Twitter @Maria_DiP26, IG @mdzip, and tiktok @marialovesunions. In addition to Leftist Teen Drama, Maria hosts Bodysuits For Bughead: A Riverdale Podcast | tumblr: @bodysuitsforbughead twitter: @B4B_Podcast instagram: @bodysuits4bughead CHARLES O'LEARY (they/them; art) is, of course, a Brooklyn-based designer, artist, and dilettante. A survivor of the 2012-2016 Tumblr wars, media criticism is all they know. You can find their work at charles-oleary.com, and their silly little life on Instagram at @c.s.0.l. JEFF MCHALE (he/him; producer) is an extremely online guy who plays games, streams sometimes, and loves talking old TV. intro song: Stomping the Room by Delicate Beats All opinions shared on this show are that of individuals and do not represent the views of any organization we may be affiliated with.

In the season 1 finale of Leftist Teen Drama, Maria is joined by Emma and Dondré as we discuss the recent emergence of post-apocalyptic teen dramas like THE WILDS (2020-present), THE SOCIETY (2019), and DAYBREAK (2019). We talk about everything from the Gen Z/millennial climate anxiety present in all three scenarios to the way these shows answer the questions, “how will we survive? Where will we get food from, or shelter?” We also discuss the huge parallels between THE WILDS and reality shows, particularly controversial teen reality show KID NATION (2007). Although these scenarios speak to apocalyptic climate anxiety, we find nuggets of hope in the ways the teens join together to help everyone survive; the queer love that thrives in all three shows; and the fact that here, in the present, we have the ability to organize for a Green New Deal and avert the apocalypse.  For this episode, we recommend you first watch and/or have general familiarity with THE WILDS Season 1, streaming on Prime Video; THE SOCIETY Season 1, streaming on Netflix; and DAYBREAK Season 1, streaming on Netflix. FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL | instagram, tumblr, tiktok: @leftistteendrama | twitter: @leftyteendrama | website: leftistteendrama.com _ ABOUT US: MARIA DIPASQUALE (she/her; host/editor) is a Brooklyn-based union communicator and writer who watches too much TV. Follow Maria on Twitter @Maria_DiP26, IG @mdzip, and tiktok @marialovesunions. In addition to Leftist Teen Drama, Maria hosts Bodysuits For Bughead: A Riverdale Podcast | tumblr: @bodysuitsforbughead twitter: @B4B_Podcast instagram: @bodysuits4bughead EMMA ROSE (she/her; recurring guest) watches a lot—and she means a lot—of reality tv, with the occasional teen drama or murder mystery or sci-fi thriller thrown in for good measure. When she's not watching said television, you can find her listening to podcasts and diving into internet content about said television. Sometimes she posts on instagram @emmaaaaaroseeeee (5 a's and 5 e's) DONDRÉ TAYLOR-STEWART (he/him; recurring guest) is a television writer in Los Angeles where he splits his time between writing, adult content creation and obsessively listening to R&B deep cuts like it's 1996. IG: oxtail.papi TWITTER: dondrenesta MADDY WIRYO (they/them; art) is an artist who works all around New England. You can find more of their work at: maddyworldfr.wordpress.com JEFF MCHALE (he/him; producer) is an extremely online guy who plays games, streams sometimes, and loves talking old TV. Maria and Jeff's good union cats CLARENCE and VINNY may make an appearance and/or be mentioned.  intro song: Stomping the Room by Delicate Beats  All opinions shared on this show are that of individuals and do not represent the views of any organization we may be affiliated with. _ SOURCES DISCUSSED IN THE EPISODE:  A Planet To Win: Why We Need A Green New Deal by Kate Aronoff, Alyssa Battistoni, Daniel Aldana Cohen, and Thea Riofrancos (with foreword by Naomi Klein) The New York Times, August 9, 2021, A Hotter Future Is Certain, Climate Panel Warns. But How Hot Is Up to Us. Vox, July 21, 2021, Extreme heat is killing American workers  Politico, September 20, 2021, Biden administration to write workplace safety rule tackling heat stress The New York Times, August 25, 2007, ‘Kid Nation' Lesson: Be Careful What You Pitch  The AV Club, March 10, 2020, Bonanza City, revisited: The pioneers of Kid Nation remember the controversial reality show Kid Nation trailer  Sunrise Movement's Green New Deal definition _ SUGGESTED FURTHER READING/LISTENING: plug in to…Sunrise Movement plug in to…DSA Ecosocialists It Could Happen Here podcast

In the penultimate episode of Season 1, Maria and her guest Hailey McInnes delve into the journey of beloved teen drama character Tim Riggins from FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS (2006-2011). When Tim's family faces mounting medical bills and potential bankruptcy, they take extreme measures to make ends meet—and as a result, Tim becomes caught up in the criminal punishment system. In an episode where we quote a lot of Mariame Kaba, we argue that Tim Riggins' story demonstrates why we need to abolish the prison industrial complex.  For this episode, we recommend you first watch and/or have general familiarity with Seasons 4 and 5 of FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS, streaming on Hulu and Netflix. CW: some brief discussion of sexual violence FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL | instagram, tumblr, tiktok: @leftistteendrama | twitter: @leftyteendrama | website: leftistteendrama.com _ ABOUT US: MARIA DIPASQUALE (she/her; host/editor) is a Brooklyn-based union communicator and writer who watches too much TV. Follow Maria on Twitter @Maria_DiP26, IG @mdzip, and tiktok @marialovesunions. In addition to Leftist Teen Drama, Maria hosts Bodysuits For Bughead: A Riverdale Podcast | tumblr: @bodysuitsforbughead twitter: @B4B_Podcast instagram: @bodysuits4bughead HAILEY MCINNES (she/her; guest) is an advertising media director based in NYC. When she isn't buying ad space, she can be found binging all of the TV, drinking all the chilled red wine, and hanging with her cat son and human husband. IG: haileymcinnes / TW: haileymcinnes13 MADDY WIRYO (they/them; art) is an artist who works all around New England. You can find more of their work at: maddyworldfr.wordpress.com JEFF MCHALE (he/him; producer) is an extremely online guy who plays games, streams sometimes, and loves talking old TV. Maria and Jeff's good union cats CLARENCE and VINNY may make an appearance and/or be mentioned.  intro song: Stomping the Room by Delicate Beats  All opinions shared on this show are that of individuals and do not represent the views of any organization we may be affiliated with. _ SOURCES DISCUSSED IN THE EPISODE:  Are Prisons Obsolete? by Angela Davis We Do This ‘Til We Free Us by Mariame Kaba The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander _ SUGGESTED FURTHER READING/LISTENING: The End of Policing by Alex Vitale Critical Resistance resources #8ToAbolition demands for a police free world MPD 150's Resource and Book List

Maria and her guest Liv Christian talk about the iconic strike episode on SISTER, SISTER (1994-1999). When the Food Boy workers go on strike, Terrence recruits Tamera—and later Tia—to work as scabs, much to staunch unionist Lisa's dismay. But working a non-union job isn't all it's cracked up to be, and Tia and Tamera end up receiving a crash course in unions before walking off the job themselves. In addition to frequently citing Labor Notes' strike guide, we place this strike in the long history of militant unionism in Detroit. Other digressions include discussion of the Black Tiktok strike, the New Yorker strike issue, and our own experiences in the service industry. For this episode, we recommend you have familiarity with SISTER, SISTER and/or watch SISTER, SISTER Season 3, Episode 17 - ‘Paper or Plastic,' streaming on Netflix. FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL | instagram, tumblr, tiktok: @leftistteendrama | twitter: @leftyteendrama | website: leftistteendrama.com _ ABOUT US: MARIA DIPASQUALE (she/her; host/editor) is a Brooklyn-based union communicator and writer who watches too much TV. Follow Maria on Twitter @Maria_DiP26, IG @mdzip, and tiktok @marialovesunions. In addition to Leftist Teen Drama, Maria hosts Bodysuits For Bughead: A Riverdale Podcast | tumblr: @bodysuitsforbughead twitter: @B4B_Podcast instagram: @bodysuits4bughead OLIVIA “LIV” CHRISTIAN (she/her; recurring guest) is a writer and freelance digital marketer living in Los Angeles, CA. When she's not writing screenplays or working on ways to help her clients shine, you can find her watching teen dramas and hanging on the couch with her cat Rumble. IG: yung.scorp twitter: _yungscorp MADDY WIRYO (they/them; art) is an artist who works all around New England. You can find more of their work at: maddyworldfr.wordpress.com JEFF MCHALE (he/him; producer) is an extremely online guy who plays games, streams sometimes, and loves talking old TV. Maria and Jeff's good union cats CLARENCE and VINNY may make an appearance and/or be mentioned.  intro song: Stomping the Room by Delicate Beats  All opinions shared on this show are that of individuals and do not represent the views of any organization we may be affiliated with. _ SOURCES DISCUSSED IN THE EPISODE:  Diana Hussein's tweet about the Sister, Sister strike episode The Strikewave newsletter, https://www.thestrikewave.com/ A History of America in Ten Strikes by Erik Loomis How To Strike and Win: A Labor Notes Guide Women Strikers Occupy Chain Store, Win Big by Dana Frank The Nation, Alabama's Coal Miners Are Striking for Their Lives by Kim Kelly Labor Notes, The Teacher Uprising Spreads Far and Wide Mashable, Black TikTok creators are 'striking' to protest uncredited viral dance trends by Morgan Sung The New York Times, New Yorker Union Reaches Deal With Condé Nast After Threatening to Strike by Katie Robertson The New York Times, Occupy Detroit: A Look at 90 Years of Auto Strikes by André Beganski IUPAT, https://passtheproact.org/ Olivia Rodrigo union meme referenced on the pod _ SUGGESTED FURTHER READING/LISTENING: Working People podcast Belabored podcast Anything in the Labor Notes catalogue Resource form to connect to an organizer: https://aflcio.org/formaunion/contact

In our second discussion about the first two seasons of SEX EDUCATION (2019-present), Maria is joined by Ashley Cunningham and Susannah Wilson, the hosts of The Wet Seat, a podcast about taboo sex topics. We delve into all things sex therapy related, imagining what more inclusive and comprehensive sex education could look like based on the array of topics SEX EDUCATION tackles in just the first two seasons, from asexuality to anal douching and vaginismus. As always, we talk about our own experiences with the subject matter (public school sex education curriculum, anyone?) and our relationships to one another, including our old college apartment affectionately named the Pussy Palace. For this episode, we recommend you first watch or have familiarity with SEX EDUCATION Seasons 1 and 2, streaming on Netflix.  FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL | instagram, tumblr, tiktok: @leftistteendrama | twitter: @leftyteendrama | website: leftistteendrama.com _ ABOUT US: MARIA DIPASQUALE (she/her; host/editor) is a Brooklyn-based union communicator and writer who watches too much TV. Follow Maria on Twitter @Maria_DiP26, IG @mdzip, and tiktok @marialovesunions. In addition to Leftist Teen Drama, Maria hosts Bodysuits For Bughead: A Riverdale Podcast | tumblr: @bodysuitsforbughead twitter: @B4B_Podcast instagram: @bodysuits4bughead ASHLEY CUNNINGHAM (she/her; guest) is a former amateur sexologist and host of The Wet Seat podcast (TW/IG: @thewetseatpodcast). She's currently in advertising, but dreams of a sex therapist certification. Watch her stumble through a TEDx talk on women who watch gay male porn on YouTube: "Escaping Gender Anxiety."  SUSANNAH WILSON (she/her; guest) is an actor in New York who bikes aggressively in all weather, and is quick to flip off cabbies and pedestrians alike. IG: zannahbooo MADDY WIRYO (they/them; art) is an artist who works all around New England. You can find more of their work at: maddyworldfr.wordpress.com JEFF MCHALE (he/him; producer) is an extremely online guy who plays games, streams sometimes, and loves talking old TV. Maria and Jeff's good union cats CLARENCE and VINNY may make an appearance and/or be mentioned.  intro song: Stomping the Room by Delicate Beats  All opinions shared on this show are that of individuals and do not represent the views of any organization we may be affiliated with. _ SOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: The Wet Seat Podcast Escaping Gender Anxiety: Why Women Love Gay Male Porn | Ashley Cunningham | TEDxEmersonCollege _ SUGGESTED FURTHER READING: The Feminist Porn Book: The Politics of Producing Pleasure Pleasure Activism: The Politics of Feeling Good by Adrienne Maree Brown Bonk: The Curious Coupling of Science and Sex by Mary Roach

Come along with Maria and her guests Nicki, Emma, and Kelly: we're going to Camp Moosehead with THE BABY-SITTERS CLUB (2020-present)! When Dawn Schafer and Claudia Kishi discover that only campers who can afford to pay a steep t-shirt fee are allowed to tie-dye, they set out to create an inclusive art class. Their attempts at making things right set off a revolution that includes civil disobedience, political prisoners, a Les Mis-esque barricade, and a campwide general strike. Digressions include anecdotes about camp recycling activism, cliquey Girl Scout troops, and the time Kelly's campers protested her. We also briefly discuss other highlights from Season 1 of THE BABY-SITTERS CLUB. For this episode, we recommend you watch THE BABY-SITTERS CLUB, Season 1, Episodes 9 and 10, ‘Hello, Camp Moosehead!' Part 1 and 2, streaming on Netflix FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL | instagram, tumblr, tiktok: @leftistteendrama | twitter: @leftyteendrama | website: leftistteendrama.com _ ABOUT US: MARIA DIPASQUALE (she/her; host/editor) is a Brooklyn-based union communicator and writer who watches too much TV. Follow Maria on Twitter @Maria_DiP26, IG @mdzip, and tiktok @marialovesunions. In addition to Leftist Teen Drama, Maria hosts Bodysuits For Bughead: A Riverdale Podcast | tumblr: @bodysuitsforbughead twitter: @B4B_Podcast instagram: @bodysuits4bughead NICKI MORRIS (she/her; recurring guest) is a union staffer who loves cats, corn, and comrades. Her favorite teen show is Degrassi because she knows we can "make it through" with solidarity! Enjoys watching criminal syndicate shows in all forms: The Wire, Claws, Good Girls, Killing Eve. Follow her on Twitter @NickiMorris321.  EMMA ROSE (she/her; recurring guest) watches a lot—and she means a lot—of reality tv, with the occasional teen drama or murder mystery or sci-fi thriller thrown in for good measure. When she's not watching said television, you can find her listening to podcasts and diving into internet content about said television. Sometimes she posts on instagram @emmaaaaaroseeeee (5 a's and 5 e's) KELLY GILBERT (she/her; guest) is a medical worker and union/teen drama stan living in Brooklyn. Follow her @baeblade5 on insta and @yungworker69 for sporadic, unhinged tweets! MADDY WIRYO (they/them; art) is an artist who works all around New England. You can find more of their work at: maddyworldfr.wordpress.com JEFF MCHALE (he/him; producer) is an extremely online guy who plays games, streams sometimes, and loves talking old TV. Maria and Jeff's good union cats CLARENCE and VINNY may make an appearance and/or be mentioned.  intro song: Stomping the Room by Delicate Beats  All opinions shared on this show are that of individuals and do not represent the views of any organization we may be affiliated with. _ SOURCES DISCUSSED IN THIS EPISODE: Babysitters Club is a union tweet _ SUGGESTED FURTHER READING: Labor Notes' Secrets of a Successful Organizer guide The Baby-sitters Club book series, of course, if you never read them like all our guests!

In the third episode, Maria and guests Dondré Taylor-Stewart and Liv Christian discuss beloved teen drama characters Moesha Mitchell from MOESHA (1996-2001) and Spencer James from ALL AMERICAN (2018-present). These two Crenshaw-based main characters are plunged into richer, whiter spaces when they transfer to different schools. As a result, they have similar arcs set twenty years apart, as they're pulled between two worlds and try to merge their friend groups even though they're very socioeconomically different, all against the backdrop of gentrification. As always, we pull from our own high school experiences as we talk about everything from academic racism to microaggressions to dealing with the police. Plus: we say “that's so 90s” about a million times and reminisce about the “free on iTunes era.” For this episode, we recommend you watch or have familiarity with MOESHA Season 3 and ALL AMERICAN Seasons 1, 2, and 3, both streaming on Netflix CW: a scene that depicts Black teenagers interacting with racist cops is discussed/featured FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL | instagram, tumblr, tiktok: @leftistteendrama | twitter: @leftyteendrama | website: leftistteendrama.com _ ABOUT US: MARIA DIPASQUALE (she/her; host/editor) is a Brooklyn-based union communicator and writer who watches too much TV. Follow Maria on Twitter @Maria_DiP26, IG @mdzip, and tiktok @marialovesunions. In addition to Leftist Teen Drama, Maria hosts Bodysuits For Bughead: A Riverdale Podcast | tumblr: @bodysuitsforbughead twitter: @B4B_Podcast instagram: @bodysuits4bughead DONDRÉ TAYLOR-STEWART (he/him; recurring guest) is a television writer in Los Angeles where he splits his time between writing, adult content creation and obsessively listening to R&B deep cuts like it's 1996. IG: oxtail.papi TWITTER: dondrenesta OLIVIA “LIV” CHRISTIAN (she/her; recurring guest) is a writer and freelance digital marketer living in Los Angeles, CA. When she's not writing screenplays or working on ways to help her client's shine, you can find her watching teen dramas and hanging on the couch with her cat Rumble. IG: yung.scorp twitter: _yungscorp MADDY WIRYO (they/them; art) is an artist who works all around New England.  You can find more of their work at: maddyworldfr.wordpress.com JEFF MCHALE (he/him; producer) is an extremely online guy who plays games, streams sometimes, and loves talking old TV. Maria and Jeff's good union cats CLARENCE and VINNY may make an appearance and/or be mentioned.  intro song: Stomping the Room by Delicate Beats  All opinions shared on this show are that of individuals and do not represent the views of any organization we may be affiliated with. _ SOURCES DISCUSSED IN THIS EPISODE: ‘Moesha' Creators Changed The Setting In Season 3 To Attract White Advertisers by Brenda Alexander for CheatSheet _ SUGGESTED FURTHER READING: The End of Policing by Alex Vitale

Brooke Davis once organized her workplace for better working conditions. Yes, that Brooke Davis, from ONE TREE HILL (2003-2012), the show that ran for so many seasons, it started on the WB and ended on the CW. Join Maria and her fellow unionists/friends Nicki and Emma as we take you through one of Maria's favorite teen drama plotlines of all time—and talk about how to organize a union in your own workplace. Plus: Maria's thesis that Brooke's organizing experience was foundational to her character, as she later gives up her company and personal fortune to ensure she can repay all her investors.  For this episode, we recommend you have familiarity with ONE TREE HILL and/or watch ONE TREE HILL Season 2, Episode 12: Between Order and Randomness, streaming on Hulu CW: sexual assault and abuse by the One Tree Hill showrunner is briefly discussed at the top of the episode FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL | instagram, tumblr, tiktok: @leftistteendrama | twitter: @leftyteendrama | website: leftistteendrama.com _ ABOUT US: MARIA DIPASQUALE (she/her; host/editor) is a Brooklyn-based union communicator and writer who watches too much TV. Follow Maria on Twitter @Maria_DiP26, IG @mdzip, and tiktok @marialovesunions. In addition to Leftist Teen Drama, Maria hosts Bodysuits For Bughead: A Riverdale Podcast | tumblr: @bodysuitsforbughead twitter: @B4B_Podcast instagram: @bodysuits4bughead NICKI MORRIS (she/her; recurring guest) is a union staffer who loves cats, corn, and comrades. Her favorite teen show is Degrassi because she knows we can "make it through" with solidarity! Enjoys watching criminal syndicate shows in all forms: The Wire, Claws, Good Girls, Killing Eve. Follow her on Twitter @NickiMorris321.  EMMA ROSE (she/her; recurring guest) watches a lot—and she means a lot—of reality tv, with the occasional teen drama or murder mystery or sci-fi thriller thrown in for good measure. When she's not watching said television, you can find her listening to podcasts and diving into internet content about said television. Sometimes she posts on instagram @emmaaaaaroseeeee (5 a's and 5 e's) MADDY WIRYO (they/them; art) is an artist who works all around New England. You can find more of their work at: maddyworldfr.wordpress.com JEFF MCHALE (he/him; producer) is an extremely online guy who plays games, streams sometimes, and loves talking old TV. Maria and Jeff's good union cats CLARENCE and VINNY may make an appearance and/or be mentioned.  intro song: Stomping the Room by Delicate Beats  All opinions shared on this show are that of individuals and do not represent the views of any organization we may be affiliated with. _ SOURCES DISCUSSED IN THE EPISODE:  Variety, ‘One Tree Hill' Cast, Crew Detail Assault, Harassment Claims Against Mark Schwahn (EXCLUSIVE) by Daniel Holloway CNBC, How the coronavirus pandemic may be causing support of labor unions to rise by Abigail Johnson Hess Employer Relations, The Rise of Millennials and their Potential Support for Labor Unions by Ashley Laken, Esq. Axios, Record number of journalists unionize during COVID pandemic by Sara Fischer Labor Notes' Secrets of a Successful Organizer guide Detroit Metro-Times, Thinking of unionizing your workplace? Here are tips from UNITE HERE's Nia Winston.  by Lee DeVito PRO Act information cited from https://passtheproact.org! See also the Working People podcast episode on the PRO Act.  _ SUGGESTED FURTHER READING/LISTENING: Drama Queens rewatch podcast with the original cast of One Tree Hill—Hilarie Burton, Bethany Joy Lenz, and Sophia Bush Working People podcast Belabored podcast Anything in the Labor Notes catalogue Resource form to connect to an organizer: https://aflcio.org/formaunion/contact

In the premiere episode, we talk about the brilliance of the unapologetic Black queer character, Eric Effiong, on SEX EDUCATION (2019-present.) As will become tradition for the pod, Maria and her guests Dondré Taylor-Stewart and Liv Christian discuss our relationships to each other (including how Maria and Dondré became best friends on MySpace, true story) and our relationships to SEX EDUCATION. We then delve into Eric's journey with his sexuality, gender presentation, religion, friendships, and relationships in the first two seasons of the show. For this episode, we recommend you first watch or have familiarity with SEX EDUCATION Seasons 1 and 2, streaming on Netflix.  FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL | instagram, tumblr, tiktok: @leftistteendrama | twitter: @leftyteendrama | website: leftistteendrama.com _ ABOUT US: MARIA DIPASQUALE (she/her; host/editor) is a Brooklyn-based union communicator and writer who watches too much TV. Follow Maria on Twitter @Maria_DiP26, IG @mdzip, and tiktok @marialovesunions. In addition to Leftist Teen Drama, Maria hosts Bodysuits For Bughead: A Riverdale Podcast | tumblr: @bodysuitsforbughead twitter: @B4B_Podcast instagram: @bodysuits4bughead DONDRÉ TAYLOR-STEWART (he/him; recurring guest) is a television writer in Los Angeles where he splits his time between writing, adult content creation and obsessively listening to R&B deep cuts like it's 1996. IG: oxtail.papi TWITTER: dondrenesta OLIVIA “LIV” CHRISTIAN (she/her; recurring guest) is a writer and freelance digital marketer living in Los Angeles, CA. When she's not writing screenplays or working on ways to help her clients shine, you can find her watching teen dramas and hanging on the couch with her cat Rumble. IG: yung.scorp twitter: _yungscorp MADDY WIRYO (they/them; art) is an artist who works all around New England. You can find more of their work at: maddyworldfr.wordpress.com JEFF MCHALE (he/him; producer) is an extremely online guy who plays games, streams sometimes, and loves talking old TV. Maria and Jeff's good union cats CLARENCE and VINNY may make an appearance and/or be mentioned.  intro song: Stomping the Room by Delicate Beats All opinions shared on this show are that of individuals and do not represent the views of any organization we may be affiliated with.

A new podcast celebrating political moments on TV teen dramas, hosted by unionist/teen drama enthusiast Maria DiPasquale. Produced by Jeff McHale, with art by Maddy Wiryo. Season 1 premieres August 15, 2021. Solidarity forever! | FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL | instagram, tumblr, tiktok: @leftistteendrama | twitter: @leftyteendrama | website: leftistteendrama.com