Strong Female Leads

After an amazing five years, the time has come for Strong Female Leads to hang up our capes for the forseeable future.   A combination of professional and personal changes means that availability to record and edit podcasts has become more or less impossible to maintain going forwards in 2023.   We couldn't be more grateful for such a wonderful audience willing to listen to our thoughts on nerd culture from a feminist perspective. And what a few years it's been! Captain Marvel, female Ghostbusters, Jodie Whittaker and so much more (not that we're taking the credit... but we're absolutely taking the credit).   Massive shout out to our Book Club readers (and Krissy!), everyone who chats to us on Twitter and all of our fabulous guests.   It's been a brilliant run. Our archive will remain in all the places you find podcasts and you can find the hosts in all the usual ways (we'll pin this to our Twitter feed as well, @strfemaleleads).   Peace out, nerds.

New York, New York! In this episode, Kate and Colleen are reviewing all of the news from New York Comic-Con, which at this point should probably be called New York TV-Con. Marvel! Star Trek! Velma's officially a lesbian now!   Plus, it's our book club review of 'The Echo Wife' by Sarah Gailey. What did they think of this twisty sci-fi summer read?   And RIP to Dame Angela Lansbury. She played a singing teapot and a witch who defeated Nazis, you best believe she was a Strong Female Lead.   Colleen: https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2022/oct/11/angela-lansbury-star-of-tv-film-and-theatre-dies-aged-96   Kate: https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/first-black-adam-reactions-pour-in/   Colleen: https://gizmodo.com/my-neighbor-totoro-stage-show-london-studio-ghibli-1849655275   Main Feature New York Comic Con took place last week and it's become the peak autumn time for announcements for all the best things coming up in the world of geek. We've got some of the biggest announcements here... https://gizmodo.com/new-york-comic-con-2022-news-trailers-announcements-1849638028 https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/comics/article/90567-fans-come-roaring-back-to-new-york-comic-con-2022.html     Bonus Feature Our most recent pick, from our recent fabulous guest Krissy, was The Echo Wife by Sarah Gailey!

News Debs: Noteworthy Book review: https://gizmodo.com/disney-princess-beyond-the-tiara-author-interview-1849543164   Kate: Archie Comics https://gizmodo.com/archie-betty-cooper-alien-hunter-chilling-adventures-1849539948   Debs: https://www.themarysue.com/brie-larson-asks-if-anyone-wants-her-to-play-captain-marvel-again-and-yes-i-do-very-much     Main topic   There are miles-long queues here in the UK to mark the passing of Queen Elizabeth. Today we look at some of the monarchies that have mattered (perhaps more) to us in fiction!   Game of Thrones. A whole series about a battle for the royal seat. You watching House of Dragons?   Aragorn King Triton/Elsa/   Queen Momby   Pevensie Kids from Narnia   King Arthur   The Princess Diaries   Star Wars?   Fave? Worst/Best Why is the idea of monarchy so popular in fiction Which land would you like to rule?   Bonus Feature -- D23 Top Ten Debs, welcome to highlight ANY of the things you think are key. We'll do a dash through the top ten. Maybe 5 and 5 each? https://d23.com/every-major-announcement-from-disney-branded-television-at-d23-expo-2022/     Kate's (Including extra in case there's crossover/mutual picks) Disenchanted Inside Out 2 Ironheart Thunderbolts The Marvels Christmas Specials Muppet Mayhem

News Colleen...this is basically an excuse for us to talk about She-Hulk https://www.themarysue.com/megan-thee-stallion-in-she-hulk/   Kate https://gizmodo.com/marvel-comics-monica-rambeau-photon-miniseries-1849465414   Colleen...https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/furiosa-mad-max-prequel-release-date-cast-story/   Academia in genre entertainment   Xavier Academy starfleet academy jedi academy praxeum Sunnydale/Buffy Battle School (Ender's Game) Miss Peregrine's Hogwarts/Durmstrang/etc... Riverdale Avalon (The Mists of Avalon) Avengers Academy Dance Academy from Suspiria Monsters University Springfield Elementary   Book Club: The Echo Wife by Sarah Gailey  

Intro   Strong Female Needs Colleen: Strange New Worlds Kate:   News Colleen: https://gizmodo.com/nichelle-nichols-star-trek-uhura-actor-obituary-1849353418   Kate: https://www.theguardian.com/film/2022/aug/03/irredeemable-batgirl-movie-unexpectedly-cancelled-despite-being-in-final-stages   Colleen: https://screenrant.com/star-wars-andor-show-release-date-delay-updates/   Main Feature - SDCC reactions! SDCC is back as the biggest update in the geek calendar and we've been treated to a plethora of updates, trailers, fun panels and more. As we've said before, yay for conventions.   So what's - well, not hot, but lukewarm off the press?   Dungeons and Dragons trailer Marvel - phase 5! Avengers! Namor! Trailers for Wakanda Forever and an improved She-Hulk! Secret Wars! Daredevil! I'm so tired! https://www.polygon.com/sdcc/23272923/marvel-black-panther-2-ant-man-3 Sandman! Rings of Power versus House of Dragon Star Trek! DC https://www.polygon.com/sdcc/23272917/dc-panel-warner-bros-news-trailers-announcements   Anything you're looking forward to? Any surprises?   Bonus features - Strong Female Sport! Look. We're sorry in advance to our German listeners and also to everyone who isn't English but - IT'S COME HOME, THERE ARE NO MORE YEARS OF HURT.   Yep, we wanted to recap a bit on the Women's Euro tournament and the historic victory of the Lionesses and a bit of a look at how women's sport is doing at the moment. If you don't want to listen to the next bit, the short answer is: better than ever but still underfunded.   Do you watch any women's sport? How about participating? Did you enjoy the match? Will it change your mind about sporting stuff in the future?  

Hey there Leaders,   New idea. Actual show notes...   Strong Female Needs Debs: English women's football team Colleen: Sea of Tranquility   Spoiler Alert   News   Debs: https://www.themarysue.com/harley-quinn-the-animated-series-season-3/   Colleen: https://variety.com/2022/tv/awards/emmys-nominations-list-2022-1235313788/   Debs: https://gizmodo.com/we-now-know-the-exact-crater-that-spat-out-a-famous-mar-1849170072   Main Feature - Conventions! Conventions are, perhaps inexplicably, back. Those of you who follow the Strong Female Leads twitter account will know that I was down at London Film & Comic Con this weekend and it was a BLAST but  there have definitely been some changes since 2019! So we were thinking - what does the future hold for this fundamental geek space?   Difference between virtual and in person Less merch now and feeling less specialised BUT ALSO a growth in independent operators Is there still a space for virtual cons? Lessons learned (or not) - news in the press about Joseph Quinn Are you going to change your behaviour around conventions going forward?   Bonus Feature - Phase 4! Look, we bang on a lot about Marvel but perhaps you've lost track of all the telly and movies and life is short - is it worth catching up on? Can you just get the highlights?   Spoilers Very mild Harley Quinn animated TV series spoilers Very mild spoilers for MCU, particularly Phase 4 Chip & Dale Rescue Rangers Mild speculation about The Marvels and linked to WandaVision Stronger spoilers for Dr Strange & The Multiverse of Madness Russell Crowe's accent in Thor: Love & Thunder

Hey there Leaders Do you read books? Do you like summer? Do you like lazing in the sun and reading a book either with your eyes, your ears, you fingers? #inclusive Then this show id for you as we have a very special guest to pick out some ace SFL summer reads just for you. Yes you there, the one trying to hide the it's too hot for a bra look.

Hey There Leaders, As Western civilisation slowly crumbles around us with war, famine, pestilence and death galloping across the wheat fields of Europe, the seas rise and the skies fall and prices threaten to tarnish our gilded cages, RELAX! We've got the answer to everything, everywhere all at once. Just bury your heads in the sands of popular entertainment as Kate and Colleen highlight the great stuff to look forward to this summer in cinemas and streaming services near you! So sit back, grab some popcorn and soda and enjoy the apocalypse live and in IMAX ratio or just watch Top Gun Maverick and Lightyear and keep believing it's all going to be ok. Love ya :D  

Hey there leaders, This time we look into those ladies in the pop culture world who are very good who they are good but when they're bad they're so much better... VILLAINS! Every hero needs one and the ladies as, of course, under represented. But those we have always steal the show and not just if they are animated by Disney.

Hey There Leaders, It's Easter! That holiday that really wants to be the new xmas! But hey! Chocolate right? This time we chat Dr Who, state of the game, the specials, what we can expect coming up and how excited are we are for the return of the Sea Devils. Kate Joins in for a review of our book club choice Piranesi. Enjoy!

Hey There Leaders The power of the ring is coming to Amazon. We look at the teaser trailer and give some background to the history of Tolkien's wider mythology.

Hey there Leaders, Thanks for your patience as we deal with some technical issues.   Here we go finally with a new episode where we look closely at Jennifer's Body and ask ourselves what makes a horror movie 'meta'. Tropes abound. Enjoy.

Hey There Leaders This week we are going into the fascinating subject of video game hardware... No really please don't switch off it'll be useful at least :D In our special feature we have a little preview of some comic book properties upcoming in 2022... IN COMICS!!

Hey there Leaders,   Happy new Year!! We're bigger, bolder and brasher than ever with guests and all your nerdtastic needs.   Hope you had a smashing yuletide in the meta verse. This time we are talking all things MCU Phase 4 and spoiling the Matrix Resurrections.    ENJOY!!

Hey There Leaders, If you like your dystopian cyberpunk apocalyptic futures you're in luck. You're living in one. However if you like utopian happy endings then this is the episode for you.   Happy Disney Plus Day

Hey there Leaders, Love a show? Had it cancelled before the end? Thought about a letter writing campaign or an internet crusade? This week we look at past efforts and how successful can they be.  What shows would you like to come back? And on top of the release of the amazing Guardians of the Galaxy game are there any properties yet to be given a video game treatment we would like to see.

Hey there Leaders This time CCG and ole Kate McCabe take a gentle wander through the autumn schedules, kicking over piles of leaves to unearth the gems coming soon.  

Hey There Leaders, This time out we bring season FIVE (I know right?!?) to a close with a look at reboots, remakes, sequels, prequels, pre-sequels, preboots and all the other bollocks these rights holders have of just making the same story over and over and over and over and over again. In our special we have an interview with Aliki Chappell and crew about their new play.

Hey There Leaders,   This time out we look at yet another resurgence of DC at what is left of the box office. Is it a second coming? Third? Fourth? Were they ever there at all?   

Hey There Leaders,   When we thought about who are the unsung women of pop culture, we realised the answer was, well, ALL OF THEM! But we managed to narrow down a few for our main section   Enjoy  

Hey there Leaders, Get those quarters on the cabinets as we climb up to Kong, chase those pesky ghosts, fix it with Felix and !@£$£# with Q*bert, yes SFL is going down to the nostalgia mall to visit arcade and see why yet another 80s icon is finding new life in the new millennium. Debs will mention VHS. Fiver on it.  

Hey there Leaders   This time we talk trilogies and as the author of the dark wood trilogy who better than their author and awesomeness personified Gabby Hutchison Crouch. Oh,and buy the books, kay? Kay. :D

Hey There Leaders It's almost lockdown over time. Are you looking forward to going out in to the big scary  disease ridden abyss that is left of our world? Yea? Well we chat about it anyway.

Hey there leaders Set phasers for stunned because as well as slew of season renewals and trailers we're even getting a whole new Star Trek show. Unable to contain CCG as she rushed to her cosplay closet we retuned our communicators and got down to som serious 'new' Trek chat. Following on we have the book club review!

Hey there Leaders, Get your ululations ready and your chakrams spinning, don you leather and doff your caps as we tackle the wonder that is Xena Warrior Princess. How have we not given her a, ahem, deep dive, in 5 years? Well we have now. With special guest, super fan/comedian Llayda Arden (@llaydaarden)

Hey There Leaders, With Black Widow finally getting a date to hit screens large and small this July Kate and Debs rattle off their fave ladies spies. Spoiler, there's so many to choose from as it seems espionage is one genre that the ladies are as well represented. Guess we have a lot to thank Mata Hari for after all. The Falcon and The Winter Soldier's first 3 episodes get the spoiler review treatment too. Enjoy.

Hey there leaders, This time around Kate and Colleen go into fictional matriarchal societies. Don't know what brought it to mind. just popped in there.  Also it's award season. So let's talk frocks. :o)  

Hey there Leaders, Disney+ is getting what Uncle Walt would call... Plussed. By adding Star the international version of Hulu. So that makes it disney++? Get programming with all the genre programming (geddit) as we scroll through the app and pick some faves. Stay Safe. 

Hey there Lockdown Leaders This time McCabe the Mighty and The CCG take a look at the sate of the game concerning our fave lady heroes in print and beyond. Will Black Widow ever see the light of day? was WW84 out of 100? What vision do we have for Wanda? Stay Safe, we love you all.

Hey there Leaders You know those shows, those ones you watch and go WTF just happened why is there a polar bear or a guy that can walk through walls or someone who looks like an alien but isn't and where did everyone go? Yeah. Those shows that you cannot fathom or leave alone. With Wandavision currently blowing our minds we look back and into the mystery box genre.

Hey there Leaders, HAPPY NEW YEAR!! Colleen and Kate gather around a guttering candle deep in lockdown to look ahead at what us nerds might make as resolutions for a geeky 2021. And a new year book club pick.

Hey there Leaders, The gangs all here to look back on 2020 as we look forward to chrimbo. Nuff said.

Hey there Leaders As we approach the festive season, emerging slowly from our covid bunkers, blinking in the weak winter sun, trying to buy xmas presents without using Amazon and find some scraps of the old normal, Debs and Kate talk the future of movies, cinemas and streaming. Enjoy

Hey there Leaders   This time round the gals are chatting romance of the fiction variety. We love it in our fan fiction, we love it in our comics and movies so why not love it for what it is. So rip those bodices, flounce that mane and buckle in for our very special surprise guest. Oh, and McCabe fixes American politics with Colleen's help. Enjoy!!

Hey there Leaders It's Halloween!! We're back from our late summer hiatus, ready to be locked down again. What better way to cap off the spooky season with a Halloween watch-along of Halloween. That's right the 1978 seminal slasher flick. Are old horror movies still horrific? Will our resident scaredy-cats Kate and Colleen make it through? Watch along with us and this classic from Carpenter.  

Hey there Leaders, As we are all still sequestered inside our hermetically sealed pandemic proof bunkers we go through our collections of physical media and discuss the merits of physical over digital. Not to mention celebrating those dead media formats. In our special feature we give you some of our fave box sets to get you started. So clear out this shelves and get ready to start... Curating.

Hey there Leaders,   Colleen & Kate take the plunge into Room 101 on this episode 101. Will COVID be going in? If it is will we have to wear a mask and stay 2 meters away from the podcast?    We also review out book club pick and bring you all the nerd news we had 5 minutes to find on the net.   See you on the other side.

Hey there Faithful Leaders   Thanks for sticking with us for 100 episodes!!   Through Trump, Brexit, Pandemics and haters on the internet we have prevailed to bring you the best in lady centric nerdaliciousness.   Thank you to everyone who has contributed over the years and here's to the next 100.   Now listen to Kiri Pritchard-McLean gives her top 5 genre lady ass kickers. (not that they kick lady ass, i mean sometimes they do but they are ass kicking ladies. Maybe it would've been better to put that first. If only you could edit this stuff.)

Hey there leaders, More fuel for our book clubbers and comic hangers and word nerds as Kate and Colleen drill through the Hugo Awards.

Hey There Leaders, With Covid virtually over and it being virtually time for convention season and comic-con happening virtually at virtually the same time it would have normally. We look at how conventions could happen virtually, virtually all the time. And then we book our own virtual con, SFL CON 2021!!

Hey there Leaders Difficult and interesting times. So we're doing our best. Keep safe and strong.  

Hey there Lockdown Leaders, Sort of a full house this time as Colleen and Debs are joined by comedian and PR Guru Vix @PRVix Leyton talk all things Buffy in a nineties nostalgia fest triggered by her return to network TV in the UK.

Hey There Leaders Welcome to the inaugural induction ceremony for the venerable hall of Strong Female legends. Debs as usual goes full hipster on her nominee. Once again it's down to Ole Kate McCabe and her faithful old family retainer Apples to sift through the decade that taste forgot, the 80's, and pick out their fave action heroines of the Reagan era.  

Hey there leaders, Colleen and Kate are back with a special guest to talk everything Fan Vids. Whatever they are. *SHRUG* :D

Hey there Leaders, Hope you are staying safe and staying in. In order to help you do so we welcome back our very own Dungeon Mistress Fiona Howatt of What Am I Rolling podcast to talk all things about getting into playing D&D remotely, with your family and for free.  

Hi There Leaders We know you're all stuck inside but i bet for some that's not such a bad thing when it comes to those comfort watches, reads and play throughs. Colleen and Kate go thru there's and yours will in their PJs. You just know it.

Hey there Leaders, Unsurprisingly we had no issues getting all three of us to be indoors to record this. And unsurprisingly Debs is uncontrollable as we talk all about the wonderful world of Disney Plus. We all need something to watch and enjoy alone or together and we all need a little magic these days. But is Disney+ all that it's cracked up to be?

Hey there Leaders, This time we look at, er, leaders. With the U.S. Election in full swing and the ladies already out (fingers crossed for a VP nom?) we chat all those heroic presidents and prime ministers and the like that have graced our screens small and silver. Who would you follow into battle against aliens, zombies, outbreaks?

Hey there Leaders This time Colleen and Debs delve into the history of the genre sit-com, from the Jetsons to the Orville, rentaghost to disenchanted, mork and mindy to morecambe and wise (just checking you were paying attention). What are your faves? What did you think of the Doctor Who finale? See what our intrepid whovians predicted and how close they got.  WATCH THE SKIES (and the TV) as you spin round this 3rd rock from the sun as our hitch-hikers guide you round a Red Dwarf, up avenue 5 an to the futurama.

Hey there Leaders, This time Kate chats to Lukas Kirkby, one half of PotterVision, about his show, a Harry Pottrt parody, for fans by fans. A whole new genre which takes fan fiction to a new level by being your very own Mel Brooks! Kate and Colleen also bring you the news and finally get round to review (gushing) about our book club choice "Darkwood".

Hey there Leaders, Please joints in welcoming our NEW CO-HOST! You may remember her from Strong Female Reads, as our roving MCU correspondent and Clexa-con guest host it's @thecolleencg Colleen Cheetham-Gerrard!! Proof indeed that engagement is rewarded we celebrate not only our new team-up, not only Harley Quinn and the Birds of Prey but All female team-ups in general. So let's get the band together and be "A-Force" to be reckoned with as Strong Female Leads does Team-ups.