The Tales We Tell

In this episode of The Tales We Tell, Clara Cook is joined by Hattie from the Hattie Talks podcast to explore the barrier breaking TV show Gentleman Jack, based on the life of the diarist and lesbian Anne Lister. We discuss Anne's struggles, her triumphs and her passionate romantic relationships. We examine if Gentleman Jack is accurate in its representation of the strict gender and class roles of early 19th century Britain.

In this episode of The Tales We Tell, Clara Cook is joined by Maddie and Kelsey, hosts of the Let The Boys Kiss podcast to explore women and gender in fandom. We discuss everything from fan art and shipping to fanfiction and fan communities. We ask who are the fans who produce fanfiction and actively ship characters? And how does gender and sexuality play a part in transformational fandom?

In this episode of The Tales We Tell, Clara Cook is joined by recurring guest Natalie to discuss the female characters of the Jurassic Park franchise. We ask if they are empowering or if they fall into female stereotypes. And could the best female character in the film series actually be a dinosaur?!

In this episode of The Tales We Tell, Clara Cook is joined once again by podcaster Annie to discuss hit TV show The Marvelous Mrs Maisel. We examine the show's female characters and the challenges they face. We ask if the show addresses the barriers women faced in America in the 1950s and 60s and if Mrs Maisel is really as marvelous as she initially appears. 

In this episode of The Tales We Tell, Clara Cook is joined by podcaster and author AJ Black, to discuss the character of M and the women of the James Bond franchise. We examine Judi Dench's portrayal of Bond's steely female boss, the real-life inspiration behind the character and how the idea of the 'Bond Girl' has changed over the years. We look into the idea of gender-flipping and ask if there should ever be a female James Bond.

In this episode of The Tales We Tell, Clara Cook is joined by the host of The Movie Palace podcast, Carl Sweeney, to discuss Helen O'Hara's book 'Women vs Hollywood.' We examine how women's contribution to early cinema has been almost erased from film history, discuss if the Studio System was actually damaging to actresses and why the Auteur theory is often not applied to female directors. 

In this episode of The Tales We Tell, Clara Cook is joined by singer and producer Natalie Nicole Gilbert to explore the films, A Star is Born and The High Note. We ask if these two stories are realistic representations of women's experiences in the music industry and discuss the pressures that female singers and producers face in today's world. We explore how artists can struggle to maintain creative control over their work and personal lives and we listen to a track from Natalie's new album. Find Natalie on Twitter: https://twitter.com/natalienicole/ Find Natalie on Spotify:  https://open.spotify.com/artist/4bVTLb1w7VXW2X33cExu7D?si=LjaRpOkWRuegzKTFQLuw7w

In this episode of The Tales We Tell, Clara Cook is joined by podcaster and author Duncan Barrett to explore Marvel's Jessica Jones. We discuss how the show portrays toxic masculinity, female anger and uses the superhero universe to explore coercive and controlling relationships. We ask if Jessica Jones is aimed at a female audience or if can be enjoyed by both men and women.

In this episode of The Tales We Tell, Clara Cook is joined by bestselling author Una McCormack to explore the character of Captain Kathryn Janeway from Star Trek Voyager. We discuss Una's new book charting Janeway's life and career, diversity in past and future Star Trek series and the importance of including female characters in science fiction. 

In this episode of The Tales We Tell, Clara Cook is joined by Miriam to explore the Netflix show Unorthodox. We discuss how accurate the tv series in its portrayal of an Orthodox community and examine the role of women in Hasidic Judaism. Miriam bravely tells her own story of leaving the Orthodox community and the challenges she faced.

In this episode of The Tales We Tell, Clara Cook is joined by returning guest Annie Flowers to explore Naomi Alderman's novel The Power. We ask if this book is a cautionary tale on gender inequality or a feminist revenge fantasy and if we had 'The Power' what we would do with it ourselves.

In this episode of The Tales We Tell, Clara Cook is joined by Miriam to explore the Netflix show Unorthodox. We discuss how accurate the tv series in its portrayal of an Orthodox community and examine the role of women in Hasidic Judaism. Miriam bravely tells her own story of leaving the Orthodox community and the challenges she faced.

In this special episode of The Tales We Tell, Clara Cook is joined by Ashley Bouchard to discuss the stories about women and by women that we are hoping to read, watch and listen to while we are living under lockdown during the current pandemic. We discuss the importance of maintaining good mental health, how stories can help and make a list of recommendations for our listeners. A list of stories to listen, read and watch can be found here: http://tiny.cc/dku1oz  

In this episode of The Tales We Tell, Clara Cook is joined by California native Annie Flowers to discuss the musical comedy show Crazy Ex-Girlfriend. We examine the many varied themes in the show including sexual health, friendship, mental health and female ambition. We ask if this award winning comedy could have been written by a man or if it exhibits a uniquely female perspective of the pursuit for happiness and self-fulfilment. 

In part 2 of this two part episode of The Tales We Tell, Clara Cook is again joined by history buff Amy Neal to discuss the many visual representations of Queen Elizabeth I in both film and TV. We reflect on Elizabeth's later years and the portrayal of her physical appearance on screen. We ask if filmmakers have a responsibility to portray history accurately or if they should have creative licence in telling tales about the past however they wish.

In this episode of The Tales We Tell, Clara Cook is joined by history buff Amy Neal to discuss the many visual representations of Queen Elizabeth I in both film and TV. We examine the history behind the myths of the Virgin Queen and whether different productions have been historically accurate. We ask if film is a gateway for the general public to learning history and how many of the stories that filmmakers explore about Elizabeth are real and how many are part of the famous myths that surround her.

In this episode of The Tales We Tell, Clara Cook is joined by Leslie Knope fan Mar to discuss the TV comedy series Parks and Recreation. We examine the inspiring character of Leslie Knope, the show's portrayal of female ambition and sexism in local politics. We ask if it is important to have women in lead roles in comedy and if comedy can be useful in exploring and exposing gender stereotypes.

In this episode of The Tales We Tell, Clara Cook is joined by writer and podcaster Sarah Blair to discuss the film The Wife. We examine the role of the Wife in her marriage to her prize-winning husband, the concept of the mental load, who earns the money and who brings up the children and how a woman's talent can be exploited in a patriarchal society. We ask if The Wife is a realistic cinematic portrayal of a marriage in crisis. 

Join us for a very special crossover episode in which The Tales We Tell joins forces with The Movie Palace podcast! Hosts Carl Sweeney and Clara Cook welcome regular guest Kelechi Ehenulo to talk about the famous film All About Eve and the recent stage adaptation of the story for London's West End. We talk about un-likeable women, female fandom and the experience of ageing in the world of female stardom.

In part two of our two-part episode on female interpretations of the Homeric Epics, host Clara Cook is once again joined by David Manasian to discuss the first female translation of The Odyssey, the different novelisations of the myths written by women and whether it is possible that the poet Homer could have actually been a woman.

In this two-part episode of The Tales We Tell, Clara Cook is joined by the family patriarch and fan of the Homeric epic, David Manasian to discuss female interpretations of the epic poems of The Iliad and The Odyssey. In part one we examine the women of Greek Myth and both the male and female views of the stories that surround them. We ask whether women really were so oppressed in Ancient Greece and if a woman's view of war is underrepresented in literature.

In this episode of The Tales We Tell, Clara Cook is joined by Horror fan Rosie Powell to discuss the TV series Penny Dreadful. We examine the female characters of the show, the themes of sex, death and Victorian morals. We ask whether women are well represented in the Horror genre and if there is room for improvement.

In this episode of The Tales We Tell, Clara Cook is joined by  L. M. Montgomery expert Jessica Young to discuss the many adaptations of Anne of Green Gables. We discuss why some adaptations are more successful than others, why Montgomery is less well known than her own literary creation and how Anne continues to appeal to new generations of audiences.

In this episode of The Tales We Tell, Clara Cook is joined by Sacramento native Ashley Bouchard to discuss Greta Gerwig's critically acclaimed film 'Lady Bird.' We discuss what it is like to grow up in a small city, move far away from home and how important it is to accurately represent female adolescence on screen.

In part two of our two-part episode on The Handmaid's Tale, host Clara Cook is once again joined by Natalie Joanes and Kelechi Ehenulo to discuss the men of Gilead, the creative aspects of the show, our obsession with dystopias and the trope of female suffering in television. 

In this two-part episode of The Tales We Tell, Clara Cook is joined by Natalie Joanes and Kelechi Ehenulo to discuss the TV adaptation of The Handmaid's Tale. We discuss the characters of June and Serena, the women of Gilead and their relationships both with each other and the men that surround them.

In this first episode of The Tales We Tell, Clara Cook is joined by X Files fan Natalie Joanes to discuss the character of Dana Scully, FBI Agent and Medical Doctor. We discuss the effect the character has had on female viewers, her development throughout the series and whether male script-writers can ever write realistic female characters.