Two Gems in A Pod

Annie and Alexa discuss the flip side of the coin; toxic femininity. While not as heavily discussed as its counterpart, it is a very existent phenomenon. Toxic femininity can be described as the development of a series of negative traits women can exhibit in order to adhere to societal expectations of female behavior. From Pick-Mes to Build-A-Man Beckys and Cool Girls, women can both internalize and perpetuate misogyny. Megan Thee Stallion, OnlyFans, personal anecdotes and WAP...this is one you're going to want to settle in and grab a glass of wine for.

Toxic Masculinity manifests itself in a variety of ways; from incels and "nice guys" to Chads, and while they all exist on different ends of the spectrum, they are a product of the regulation of male behavior in a patriarchal society. Annie and Alexa bring on their first male guest, Timi, to discuss toxic masculinity, its proliferation throughout modern culture, and its detrimental physical and mental effects on men.

The tragic murder of George Floyd was the catalyst that set off protests in all 50 states and around 13 countries. Only small crowds have gathered specifically for the female victims of police brutality like Breonna Taylor, who would have been celebrating her 27th birthday this month, or Atatiana Jefferson, whose case seems to have faded from the nation's collective memory. We've all seen social media posts about protecting Black men, but what of their female counterparts, who stand at the crossroads of oppression between racism and sexism? What of Oluwatoyin Salau, a young black female activist who was sexually assaulted and murdered at the hands of a black man? Annie and Alexa discuss the male-centric leaning of the Black Lives Matter movement, Black women and girls on the frontlines, and the sudden “love” that seems to emerge for Black women in times of crisis. Who protects us?

Riots have exploded in Minneapolis, with people protesting, looting big name stores, and sparring with police. Black people across the country are incensed. Atatiana Jefferson, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and now George Floyd. The names of the victims of white supremacy's siege on Black people would exceed the character limit within this description box. Annie and Alexa reflect on the 1960s-era Civil rights movement and discuss whether unleashing havoc on the country is enough to make a point or if it only serves to distract from its true purpose; to hold the institutions that subjugate Black people accountable. Should we emulate MLK or Malcolm?

Joined by a special guest, we discuss the recent storm surrounding Lana Del Rey and upcoming artist Doja Cat, whose career seemed to suffer a major fall from grace before it could really kick-off. From inflammatory Instagram posts to racist chat rooms and blatant tone-deafness, we talk about what these events reveal about our favorite celebrities and stan culture.

Annie and Alexa trace the origins of the dark skin appreciation and #MelaninMagic movements that boomed on social media beginning in 2016 to now and discuss whether the current mainstream adoration for dark skin, particularly on Black women, is genuine or whether mass media and entertainment industries are merely riding the wave of a fad. Is there a true advancement in dark-skinned female representation, or are dark-skinned Black women being used as props via tokenism to hide colorist undertones?

Annie and Alexa discuss the tragic shooting death of Ahmaud Arbery in what has been called a “modern-day lynching” and debate the morality of displaying the suffering of black bodies in mass media. They also explore the racial undertones of the anti-lockdown protests happening across the country, police brutality, and the racial disparities created by COVID-19 in seeking and obtaining adequate healthcare.

Social media platforms give everyone a voice, even those spewing racist, xenophobic, or otherwise offensive content. The new social media app “TikTok” formerly known as musical.ly, has given birth to viral dances and challenges, and, unfortunately emboldened racists. Annie and Alexa discuss viral cases of racism on the app, and debate the justification of doxxing, which can result in one losing job and education prospects. Should Twitter play judge, jury and executioner?