A Safe Place For Boys

A Safe Place For Boys

By safeplaceforboysTV & FilmSociety & CultureEducation
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A Safe Place For Boys episodes

  • Cool Runnings, or The Meaning of the Crash (feat. Geoff Sykes)

    Join Kelcee and Spencer AND special guest Geoff Sykes for a conversation about the 1993 live-action Disney sports adventure Cool Runnings. Discussion topics include the looming specter of death, getting serious about your friends’ dreams, and how to be a badass mother (and why.) 

    Content warnings for discussions of racism and sports-related injuries

    Works Cited & Recommended Reading:

    • “I am Dudley 'Tal' Stokes, founding member of the Jamaican Bobsled Team, Olympian and inspiration for the movie Cool Runnings. Ask me anything!”
    • “The two things you need for success are confidence and ignorance | Dudley Stokes” by Cian Fahey, Off the Ball
    • “Cool Runnings,” Teach With Movies
    • “Why Cool Runnings is the best (and most unusual) of Disney’s sports fables” by David Anthony, The AV Club

      • New to the Show? Start at the beginning with Jurassic Park, or Monstrous Moms vs. Dangerous Dads

      Credits:

      Theme Music: Break Through_Narrative by INOD

      Logo Design: Geoff Sykes (find him on Instagram)

      Connect with us!

      Suggestions for episode topics? Email us at: [email protected]

      Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/safeplaceforboys.bsky.social

      Instagram: www.instagram.com/safeplaceforboys/

      Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/WbGP4gg9CXxLvYU5/ 

       

      2 hr 36 min
    • South Park--Bigger, Longer, and Uncut, or Trouble in Paradise Lost

      CONTENT WARNING: South Park

      Join Kelcee and Spencer for their conversation about the (checks notes) Academy Award Nominated, 1999 Adult Animation Comedy Musical South Park--Bigger, Longer, and Uncut. Discussion topics include why it's funny when kids swear, jurisprudence in the case of Satire v. Censorship, and Big Gay Al's Manifesto for Queer Survival. 

      Content warnings for discussions of obscene language (which at times includes the use of said language); discussions of sexism (and sexist language), racism, xenophobia (specifically toward Middle Eastern characters), fatphobia, and antisemitism; and discussions of abusive romantic relationships, suicide/suicidal ideation, child endangerment, homophobic violence, and incest. 

      Works Cited & Recommended Reading:

      • "The Woman Who Wanted Beloved Banned From Schools Is Right About One Thing" by Rebecca Onion, Slate
      • "Why Saddam is Gay: Masculinity Politics in South Park--Bigger, Longer, and Uncut" by Judith Kegan Gardiner, Quarterly Review of Film and Video
      • This Film is Not Yet Rated directed by Kirby Dick

        • Here are some resources if you are looking to expand your horizons and fight present-day censorship efforts!

        • "The Top Ten Most Challenged Books for 2023" by the American Library Association
        • Browsable Booklists from A Room of One's Own Bookstore
        • "Your New Favorite Youtuber" playlist, created by hbomberguy
        • AK Press

          • New to the Show? Start at the beginning with Jurassic Park, or Monstrous Moms vs. Dangerous Dads

          Credits:

          Theme Music: Break Through_Narrative by INOD

          Logo Design: Geoff Sykes (find him on Instagram)

          Connect with us!

          Suggestions for episode topics? Email us at: [email protected]

          Instagram: www.instagram.com/safeplaceforboys/

          Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/WbGP4gg9CXxLvYU5/ 

           

          2 hr 20 min
        • Alien and Aliens Part 2, or Mommy Issues

          Join Kelcee and Spencer for part TWO of their conversation about the scariest movie ever made and its genre-bending sequel: Alien (1979) and Aliens (1986). Discussion topics include meditations on whether it matters that Ripley’s a woman, a deep dive into the goop of the monstrous feminine, and James Cameron’s imaginary dead women.  

          And if you’re wondering what male author we’re quoting around 15:04, it’s John Updike in The Witches of Eastwick. You’re welcome. 

          Content warnings for discussions of sexual assault throughout, sexual imagery, forced pregnancy, body horror, death, child endangerment, and brief mentions of anti-latinx racism. 

          Works Cited & Recommended Reading:

          • “Sigourney Weaver, On Eve Of Her Venice Lifetime Achievement Award, Lifts Lid On Remarkable Career From ‘Alien’ To ‘Avatar’, ‘Working Girl’ To ‘Ghostbusters’ And ‘Star Wars’ Role To Come” by Andreas Wiseman, Deadline
        • “Alien's Gender-Neutral Script, Explained” by Ben Sherlock, ScreenRant
        • “Maternal Mortality Rates in the United States, 2022,” CDC
        • The Monstrous Feminine, by Barbara Creed
        • “Science Fiction: This Time It's War!” by Alasdair Spark, Viet Nam Generation Journal & Newsletter

          • New to the Show? Start at the beginning with Jurassic Park, or Monstrous Moms vs. Dangerous Dads

          Credits:

          Theme Music: Break Through_Narrative by INOD

          Logo Design: Geoff Sykes (find him on Instagram)

          Sound Effect by Trading Nation from Pixabay

          Connect with us!

          Suggestions for episode topics? Email us at: [email protected]

          Instagram: www.instagram.com/safeplaceforboys/

          Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/WbGP4gg9CXxLvYU5/ 

          2 hr 18 min
        • Alien and Aliens Part 1, or In Space Everyone Can Hear You Scream

          Join Kelcee and Spencer for part one of their conversation about the scariest movie ever made and its genre-bending sequel: Alien (1979) and Aliens (1986). Discussion topics include the merits of anatomy-based monster design, whether or not Ellen Ripley needs more trauma, and why you should consider pursuing a forklift operator certification. 

          Content warnings for discussions of sexual assault throughout, sexual imagery, forced pregnancy, body horror, death, child endangerment, and brief mentions of anti-latinx racism. 

          Works Cited & Recommended Reading:

          • “Xenomorph Eggs Originally Looked Very Different In Alien” by Anthony Jones, Screenrant

          New to the Show? Start at the beginning with Jurassic Park, or Monstrous Moms vs. Dangerous Dads

          Credits:

          Theme Music: Break Through_Narrative by INOD

          Logo Design: Geoff Sykes (find him on Instagram)

          Connect with us!

          Suggestions for episode topics? Email us at: [email protected]

          Instagram: www.instagram.com/safeplaceforboys/

          Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/WbGP4gg9CXxLvYU5/ 

          1 hr 53 min
        • The Karate Kid Part 2, or The Ignoble Crane Kick

          Join Kelcee and Spencer for part TWO of their conversation about the 1984 martial arts classic: The Karate Kid. Discussion topics include how to fight and why, a trip to the Cobra Kai Corner, and Mr. Miyagi: The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly. 

           

          Content warnings for discussions of bullying and physical violence, anti-asian racism, and war-related trauma, and mentions of child abuse and misogyny. 

           

          Works Cited & Recommended Reading:

          • Southpaw podcast
        • The scholarship of Dr. Wayne Wong (see a video of his most recent presentation at the Martial Arts Studies Conference soon: here)
        • “Fascist fight clubs: how white nationalists use MMA as a recruiting tool” by Karim Zidan, The Guardian
        • Love Fighting, Hate Violence
        • Conscious Combat Club
        • “Masculinity on the Mat” by Vincent Haddad, Public Books
        • “The Karate Kid at 40: why the film’s lasting appeal stems from a simplistic stereotyping of the ‘mysterious east’” by Paul Bowman, The Conversation
        • “Why I used to hate Mr. Miyagi” by jon, Medium
        • The Real Miyagi (documentary)
        • “The Nisei Soldiers Who Fought WWII Enemies Abroad–and Were Seen As Enemies Back Home” by Erin Blakemore, National Geographic

          • New to the Show? Start at the beginning with Jurassic Park, or Monstrous Moms vs. Dangerous Dads

          Credits:

          Theme Music: Break Through_Narrative by INOD

          Logo Design: Geoff Sykes (find him on Instagram)

          Connect with us!

          Suggestions for episode topics? Email us at: [email protected]

          Instagram: www.instagram.com/safeplaceforboys/

          Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/WbGP4gg9CXxLvYU5/ 

          1 hr 59 min
        • The Karate Kid Part 1, or Adventures in Bonsai-Sitting

          Join Kelcee and Spencer for part one of their conversation about the 1984 martial arts classic: The Karate Kid. Or, if you want to be pedantic: The Karate Kid (Part 1). Discussion topics include a toxic masculinity speedrun, the not-so-real history of karate, and the world’s most abrupt bully redemption arc. 

          See you in two weeks for part two!

          Content warnings for discussions of bullying and physical violence, and brief mentions of child abuse, domestic violence, death, and war-related trauma. 

          Works Cited & Recommended Reading:

          • “This is NOT Karate” by Jesse Enkamp, youtube.com
        •  “The influence of French gymnastics and military French boxing on the creation of modern karate (1867-1914)” by Jean-François Loudcher and Christian Faurillon, Martial Arts Studies
        • “Karate's ambiguity: Traditional martial art or modern combat sport” by Rudolf Jakhel, Revista de Artes Marciales Asiáticas
        • “The sportivization process of a martial art: the karate” by Marcelo Alberto de Oliveira, Jefferson Campos Lopes, Ricardo João Sonoda-Nunes, and Abel Aurélio Abreu Figueiredo, Revista de Artes Marciales Asiáticas
        • “Does my Forward Stance Look a Little Fascist? Meiji-Era Karate & Embodied Politics, by Dr Peter Katz” by Martial Arts Studies, youtube.com

          • New to the Show? Start at the beginning with Jurassic Park, or Monstrous Moms vs. Dangerous Dads

          Credits:

          Theme Music: Break Through_Narrative by INOD

          Logo Design: Geoff Sykes (find him on Instagram)

          Connect with us!

          Suggestions for episode topics? Email us at: [email protected]

          Instagram: www.instagram.com/safeplaceforboys/

          Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/WbGP4gg9CXxLvYU5/ 

           

          1 hr 57 min
        • Hades, or Parent-Trapping in God Mode

          Join Kelcee and Spencer for their SUPER GIANT conversation about the 2019 video game phenomenon Hades. Discussion topics include a rougelike rundown, the downsides of “ancient Greek” body culture, and healthy anger management techniques (that don’t involve stabbing your son with a fork.)

           

          Content Warnings for discussions of child abuse and death throughout, rape and sexual violence (particularly between 1:15:35 and 1:19:22), murder, grief, and pregnancy loss.  

           

          Works Cited & Recommended Reading:

          • “Roguelike Games: 5 Elements of Roguelike Video Games,” Masterclass
        • “Zagreus,” Britannica
        • “What Hades Can Teach Us About Ancient Greek Masculinity,” by Autumn Wright, Wired.com
        • "The Stages of Grief and What to Expect," by Kimberly Holland, Healthline
        • “The Furies,” Brooklyn Museum
        • “Hey, Dad: Hades & Fatherhood,” by George Umbarger, Unwinnable.com
        • “Hades: An Ode to Family Trauma,” by Jessica Howard, Uppercutcrit.com
        • “Anger and Grief,” Hospice Foundation of America
        • “Coping with anger while grieving,” Harvard Health Publishing
        • Beyond Anger: A Guide for Men, by Thomas J. Harbin

          • New to the Show? Start at the beginning with Jurassic Park, or Monstrous Moms vs. Dangerous Dads

          Credits:

          Theme Music: Break Through_Narrative by INOD

          Logo Design: Geoff Sykes (find him on Instagram)

          Connect with us!

          Suggestions for episode topics? Email us at: [email protected]

          Instagram: www.instagram.com/safeplaceforboys/

          Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/WbGP4gg9CXxLvYU5/ 

          2 hr 28 min
        • Mr. Mom Part 2, or The Rocky Interlude

          Join Kelcee and Spencer for part two of their conversation about hidden feminist classic Mr. Mom (1983). Discussion topics include stay-at-home-fatherhood statistics, pandemic callbacks, and, of course, the enduring messages of Rocky 3.

          Recommended Reading: “Male Weepies: A Misunderstood Genre” by Broey Deschanel, Youtube.com

          Content Warnings for discussion of sexism (including workplace sexual harassment and an attempted assault), mentions of physical violence, and mental health issues.

          Works Cited:

          • “It’s Time to Recognize ‘Mr.Mom’ as a Feminist Classic” by Cole Haddon, Substack
        • “Only 6 American Men Identified As Stay-At-Home Dads In The 1970s. Today, It's A Different Story” by Emily Peck, Huffington Post
        • “Mr Mom” Oxford English Dictionary
        • “Hollywood’s Winners and Losers in ‘83” by Aljean Harmetz, New York Times

          • New to the Show? Start at the beginning with Jurassic Park, or Monstrous Moms vs. Dangerous Dads

          Credits:

          Theme Music: Break Through_Narrative by INOD

          Sound Effects from Pixabay

          Logo Design: Geoff Sykes (find him on Instagram)

          Connect with us!

          Suggestions for episode topics? Email us at: [email protected]

          Instagram: www.instagram.com/safeplaceforboys/

          Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/WbGP4gg9CXxLvYU5/ 

          1 hr 15 min
        • Mr. Mom Part 1, or How to Feed Your Baby Chili Without Really Trying

          Join Kelcee and Spencer for part one of their conversation about the hidden “John Hughes” gem from 1983: Mr. Mom. Discussion topics include ruminations on the Detroit Lions, Bad Boss Behavior, and a moment-by-moment breakdown of the most egregious child theft in cinema history. Join us again in two weeks for part two!

          Also sorry we hit the microphone a million times in this one. 

          Recommended Reading: Spencer says to watch Rocky 3 (1982). 

          Content Warnings for discussion of sexism (including workplace sexual harassment and an attempted assault) and mental health issues.

          New to the Show? Start at the beginning with Jurassic Park, or Monstrous Moms vs. Dangerous Dads

          Credits:

          Theme Music: Break Through_Narrative by INOD

          Sound Effect from Pixabay

          Logo Design: Geoff Sykes (find him on Instagram)

          Connect with us!

          Suggestions for episode topics? Email us at: [email protected]

          Instagram: www.instagram.com/safeplaceforboys/

          Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/WbGP4gg9CXxLvYU5/ 

          1 hr 25 min
        • "Season Two" Announcement!

          Hi Everyone! A Safe Place for Boys is going on summer vacation!

          Thank you all so much for the feedback and suggestions you've given us so far. We're really looking forward to bringing you even more compassionate conversations about masculinity in media starting Saturday, August 10th. 

          If you want to watch/play along with us, here is a preview of what we'll be talking about in "season two" (order TBD):

          • Mr. Mom (1983)
        • Alien (1979)/Aliens (1986)
        • The Karate Kid (1984)
        • The Last Dragon (1985)
        • Cool Runnings (1993)
        • Hades (2019)
        • South Park: Bigger, Longer, and Uncut (1999) (Just...trust us)

          • Thank you all again for listening! Have a great summer, and we'll see you again on August 10th. 

          10 min

        About A Safe Place For Boys

        From the publisher's feed

        A Safe Place for Boys is a film and television discussion podcast that seeks to start more compassionate conversations about masculinity in media. Join us every month as we compile our positive…