Big Reputations

This week we will discuss the iconic singer, songwriter, actress, and dancer: Janet Jackson. We cover her early career, the steps she took to establish control and an independent career, the struggles she faced, and the scandals she has endured. Then we dig into some of the truths behind her experiences including her relationships with family members, being a Jackson and dealing with the tabloids, and the realities of that infamous Super Bowl performance. Finally, we wrap up with Jackson’s legacy, the awards she has received, the humanitarian work she has been involved in, and the female empowerment she encourages. 

Follow the podcast:

Twitter: @BigRepPod

Instagram: @BigReputationsPod

Become a Patreon supporter: patreon.com/bigreputationspod

Merch: https://www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/86669619

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Hosts: Kimberly Fludd and Rebecca L. Salois

Logo Design: Samantha Marmolejo

Music: Shawn P. Russell

Sound Consultant and Mixing: Shawn P. Russell

Recording and Editing: Rebecca L. Salois

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Sources:

• Janet Jackson the documentary released in 2022 directed by Benjamin Hirsch

In this episode, we cover one of our all time favorite Supreme Court justices, the one and only, Ruth Bader Ginsburg. We discuss her education, her early career, the support she had from her partner, a couple of the many cases she tried, and her appointment to the Supreme Court. Then we talk about how she came to be known as RBG, her overall celebrity, her sharp yet articulate dissents, and how and why she continued to serve on the court despite various health concerns. Finally we wrap up with the huge impact that Ginsburg has had on this country, primarily in terms of equality rights and fighting for what is right. But we also talk about how her education and relationship paths can be an inspiration to many.

Follow the podcast:

Twitter: @BigRepPod

Instagram: @BigReputationsPod

Linktree: linktr.ee/bigreputatonspod

Become a Patreon supporter:

patreon.com/bigreputationspod

Merch: https://www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/86669619

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hosts: Kimberly Fludd and Rebecca L. Salois

Logo Design: Samantha Marmolejo

Music: Shawn P. Russell

Sound Consultant and Mixing: Shawn P. Russell

Recording and Editing: Rebecca L. Salois

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Sources:

RBG, a 2018 Documentary directed by Betsy West and Julie Cohen (Amazon Prime)

Ruth: Justice Ginsburg in Her Own Words, a 2019 Documentary directed by Freida Lee Mock (She also did the 2013 Anita Hill doc Anita: Speaking Truth to Power)

My Own Words, by Ruth Bader Ginsburg with Mary Hartnett and Wendy W. Williams

“How Ruth Bader Ginsburg Became the ‘Notorious RBG’” by Lauren Kelley for Rolling Stone

Oyez.com, a free law project from Cornell’s Legal Information Institute, so many court cases are listed and explain

“The Class of RBG” by Dahlia Lithwick and Molly Olmstead 

“Ruth Bader Ginsburg & Dissents: What’s a Dissent?”

“Heavyweight: How Ruth Bader Ginsburg has moved the Supreme Court” by Jeffrey Toobin

Notorious RBG on Tumblr

We had a lot going on recently and with such a heavy topic last episode, we figured we'd lighten things up with another round of bloopers. We hope you find them as funny as we did or that they at least made you laugh once or twice.

We'll be back in two weeks with a new episode on another fantastic woman. In the meantime, enjoy the two of us cracking each other up and having a great time.

Follow the podcast:

Twitter: @BigRepPod

Instagram: @BigReputationsPod

Merch: https://www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/86669619

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hosts: Kimberly Fludd and Rebecca L. Salois

Logo Design: Samantha Marmolejo

Music: Shawn P. Russell

Sound Consultant and Mixing: Shawn P. Russell

Recording and Editing: Rebecca L. Salois

In this episode we discuss an unfortunately timely topic, Roe v. Wade. We dig into the history of the case, including how it came to be, who supported it, how it was challenged over the years, and the eventual overturning of the law. Then we take a look at how the media has approached the subject over the years, from the initial reporting in 1973 on the evening news, to film and television portrayals. We also consider how, both with Roe and Dobbs, the results were leaked prior to the official decision, the opposition and support for the decisions, and organizations that have spoken out against the decision. Next we discuss the truth of abortion as healthcare as well as the legal ramification of overturning Roe v. Wade. Finally we cover who will feel the impact of this decision (spoiler alert: it’s everyone) and what the consequences could be for individuals, society, and even the economy.  

Follow the podcast:

Twitter: @BigRepPod

Instagram: @BigReputationsPod

Merch: https://www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/86669619

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hosts: Kimberly Fludd and Rebecca L. Salois

Logo Design: Samantha Marmolejo

Music: Shawn P. Russell

Sound Consultant and Mixing: Shawn P. Russell

Recording and Editing: Rebecca L. Salois

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Sources:

• Reversing Roe, a 2018 documentary available on Netflix
  

In this episode we discuss the famous (or perhaps, infamous) DC villain/antihero, Harley Quinn. We look at her relationship with the Joker, her friendship (and/or romantic relationship) with Poison Ivy, her involvement in The Suicide Squad, and her role in the creation of the Birds of Prey. Then we consider the different iterations of Harley Quinn over the years and how these changes, both physical and mental, have influenced how audiences perceive her character. Finally we address the importance of imperfection in complex female characters, what might be brewing below the surface of Harley Quinn’s actions, and why she behaves the way she does. 

Trigger Warnings: mentions of mental/emotional/physical abuse

Follow the podcast:

Twitter: @BigRepPod

Instagram: @BigReputationsPod

Merch: https://www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/86669619

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hosts: Kimberly Fludd and Rebecca L. Salois

Logo Design: Samantha Marmolejo

Music: Shawn P. Russell

Sound Consultant and Mixing: Shawn P. Russell

Recording and Editing: Rebecca L. Salois

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Sources:

• "Margot Robbie's 'Birds of Prey' Producer Role Proves She's an Influential, Necessary Voice" by Allie Gemmill

In this episode we discuss former prosecutor, Marcia Clark. We address some of the cases she covered and the stigmas she faced as a female lawyer in the 1990s. We spend some time covering the way that the media treated her during high profile cases, in particular during the OJ Simpson trial in which she served as the head of the prosecution. Then we talk about the realities of being a female lawyer during this time and during this case, including being a working mom and sexism in the workplace. Finally we wrap up with the impact that Clark has had, both in the courtroom and beyond in the years since the Simpson trial. 

Follow the podcast:

Twitter: @BigRepPod

Instagram: @BigReputationsPod

Merch: https://www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/86669619

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hosts: Kimberly Fludd and Rebecca L. Salois

Logo Design: Samantha Marmolejo

Music: Shawn P. Russell

Sound Consultant and Mixing: Shawn P. Russell

Recording and Editing: Rebecca L. Salois

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Sources:

1. "A Conversation With Marcia Clark," by Stephen Calloway
   

In This Episode we discuss the incomparable Marsha P. Johnson, a self-identified drag queen, LGBT activist, and New York City icon. We cover her involvement with the Stonewall uprisings and the origins of Pride as well as her involvement in drag troupes and her time spent as a sex worker. Then we dig into her activism including the formation of STAR, her involvement in ACT UP, and her AIDS advocacy work. After addressing her death, we talk about her lasting legacy as an icon for the LGBTQIA+ community.

In this episode we will address Johnson as she and exclusively use her chosen name.

Trigger warnings: transphobia, mentions of rape and sexual assault, and theories surrounding Johnson's death including murder and suicide.

Follow the podcast:

Twitter: @BigRepPod

Instagram: @BigReputationsPod

Merch: https://www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/86669619

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hosts: Kimberly Fludd and Rebecca L. Salois

Logo Design: Samantha Marmolejo

Music: Shawn P. Russell

Sound Consultant and Mixing: Shawn P. Russell

Recording and Editing: Rebecca L. Salois

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sources:

Pay It No Mind - The Life and Times of Marsha P. Johnson

The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson

Women and the American Story - Life Story: Marsha P. Johnson (1945-1992) by the New York Historical Society Museum and Library

If you’re in NY, the Callen-Lorde Community Health Center has some great resources including transgender specific community resources. If you’re not in NY or you want to just learn more, you can visit their website at callen-lorde.org.

We also recommend this pdf which includes trans specific resources including the trans lifeline, which you can also reach at (877) 565-8860 from anywhere in the US.

In This Episode we discuss the one and only Norma Jeane Mortenson, aka Marilyn Monroe. We dive into some of the struggles she encountered while trying to establish her career and the battles she had to fight with the media, the film industry, and more. Then we cover the realities behind her experiences including her on and off screen personas, her health and well-being, and her relationships with men. We wrap up by discussing her legacy - both personal and professional. 

Trigger warnings: Sexual Abuse, Drug use, Suicide

Follow the podcast:

Twitter: @BigRepPod

Instagram: @BigReputationsPod

Merch: https://www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/86669619

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hosts: Kimberly Fludd and Rebecca L. Salois

Logo Design: Samantha Marmolejo

Music: Shawn P. Russell

Sound Consultant and Mixing: Shawn P. Russell

Recording and Editing: Rebecca L. Salois

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Sources:

1. Celebrities don’t owe us their lives: On parasocial relationships, by  Erica Quinones

In this week's episode we talk about breastfeeding: why some women do it, why others do not, and what factors play into their decisions. Since neither of us have children, we decided we wanted to hear from some experts for this episode: moms. So we asked our listeners to write in and tell us about themselves and their experiences with feeding their children. We share a little about the history behind feeding babies including breastfeeding, formula feeding, wet nurses, and pumping. Then we discuss how the media presents breastfeeding and the controversies between breastfeeding and formula feeding. Next we cover the effects of patriarchy and capitalism on how people choose to feed their babies. And we hear more from the moms who wrote in about their thoughts on feeding their babies. Finally we address the impact that the decision to breastfeed or not has had on different people. We talk about stigmas and push-back and then wrap up with a conversation on accommodations for breastfeeding and pumping in the workplace.

Follow the podcast:

Twitter: @BigRepPod

Instagram: @BigReputationsPod

Merch: https://www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/86669619

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hosts: Kimberly Fludd and Rebecca L. Salois

Logo Design: Samantha Marmolejo

Music: Shawn P. Russell

Sound Consultant and Mixing: Shawn P. Russell

Recording and Editing: Rebecca L. Salois

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sources:

• “Desperate Women, Desperate Doctors and the Surprising History Behind the Breastfeeding Debate,” by Lily Rothman
  

In this episode, we discuss Alma “Abuela” Madrigal, matriarch of the Madrigal family and antagonist of the 2021 Disney film, Encanto. After a brief background on the film, its creators, the history behind it, and the character herself, we explore the different characters' relationships with Abuela. We then consider audience perspectives on the character including some who consider her a villain or, at the very least, do not believe she can be easily redeemed. Finally, we address some of the reasons we think that she is the way she is, including issues related to generational trauma, fear of losing the miracle, and even concerns over aging, death, and the future of her family.

Follow the podcast:

Twitter: @BigRepPod

Instagram: @BigReputationsPod

Merch: https://www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/86669619

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hosts: Kimberly Fludd and Rebecca L. Salois

Logo Design: Samantha Marmolejo

Music: Shawn P. Russell

Sound Consultant and Mixing: Shawn P. Russell

Recording and Editing: Rebecca L. Salois

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sources:

• "Encanto Movie Cast & Crew on the New Disney Film," by Jenna Busch