We're back with a brand new episode! Pride is love. Pride is protest. Pride is presence. In this episode we're delving into a brief history of Australian LGBTQIA+ pride & queer political legislation from colonial invasion in 1788 through to the present day. From the early evidence of gay culture in the 1800s, to the monumental moments & people in the 1970s who paved the way to where we stand today. 

Please note: this episode contains references to homophobia, violence, sexual assault, death & police brutality against LGBTQIA+ persons. 

C*ntroversy The Podcast is produced, written & hosted by Velma Vouloir.

You can follow us on Instagram & X at @cntroversypod, or on Facebook at Cntroversy: The Podcast.

Email us at anytime with thoughts of feedback at [email protected], and please don't forget to follow, rate & review the show. Thanks for listening!

On today's episode we are taking it back to the 1980's and delving into the life and legend of one of Los Angeles' most iconic figures - Angelyne. A precursor to the famous for being famous socialites such as Paris Hilton & Kim Kardashian, Angelyne was doing it decades before anyone else. 

Key Sources: 
Angelyne: Attack of the 50ft Sex Kitten. BAM. 1984.
The Billboard Queen. Los Angeles Times. Sarah Medof. 1995.
The Queen of L.A's Billboards.  The Telegraph. Anthony Haden-Guest. 2000
L.A. Billboard Diva Angelyne Bemoans Kardashian, Hilton and “Boring, Gauche” Celeb Culture. The Hollywood Reporter. Gary Baum. 2015.
The Mystery of L.A. Billboard Diva Angelyne’s Real Identity Is Finally Solved. The Hollywood Reporter. Gary Baum. 2017.

Audio sourced from Entertainment Tonight's TV Interview 1984.

C*ntroversy The Podcast is produced, written & hosted by Velma Vouloir.

You can follow us on Instagram & X at @cntroversypod, or on Facebook at Cntroversy: The Podcast.

Email us at anytime with thoughts of feedback at [email protected], and please don't forget to follow, rate & review the show. Thanks for listening!

Amongst an ongoing tech conundrum, we managed to pull together a portable microphone and laptop to bring you this weeks episode. Coming to you straight from the Easter long weekend, Velma is joined by her baby sis Jules for a wine fuelled Q & A sesh. You submitted your questions, & we do our best to answer them! 

We dive into topics ranging from access to ethical pornography to supporting local artists, as well as a whole lot of would you rather's & fuck, marry, kill scenarios. Grab your chocolate stash, pour a glass of wine (or in our case... 4) & enjoy!

C*ntroversy The Podcast is produced, written & hosted by Velma Vouloir.

You can follow us on Instagram & X at @cntroversypod, or on Facebook at Cntroversy: The Podcast.

Email us at anytime with thoughts of feedback at [email protected], and please don't forget to follow, rate & review the show. Thanks for listening!

Hold on to your bowler hats kiddos - Mommy & Daddy are about to take you to the school of cabaret (or is it cabarYAY). This week Velma is joined by legendary Australian cabaret artist, dancer, performer, choreographer, producer & creative director James Welsby (as well as legendary drag artist Valerie Hex) for a discussion on the history of cabaret. We look at the origins of cabaret, as well as some of the key figures, productions & venues specific to Australian cabaret (as well as pondering our own formative inspirations, experiences & the future of the industry).
Please note - Wine was absolutely consumed during the recording of this episode.

You can follow James Welsby on Instagram at @valerie_hex and YUMMY at @yummytheshow.

Key Sources
Tivoli. Frank Van Straten. Thomas C. Lothian Pty. Ltd, 2003
Satie The Bohemian: From Cabaret To Concert Hall. Steven Moore Whiting. Clarendon Press, 1999

C*ntroversy The Podcast is produced, written & hosted by Velma Vouloir.

You can follow us on Instagram & X at @cntroversypod, or on Facebook at Cntroversy: The Podcast.

Email us at anytime with thoughts of feedback at [email protected], and please don't forget to follow, rate & review the show. Thanks for listening!

Calling all muses, queers, bohemians & fashionistas of the world... Join Velma this week for a look inside the decadent world of Luisa Casati, the priestess of hedonism & patroness (& lover) to some of the worlds greatest artists of all time.

Key Source
"Infinite Variety: The Life & Legend of Marchesa Casati", Scott D Ryersson, Michael Orlando Yaccarino. University of Minnesota Press.1999.

Secondary Sources
"The Divine Marquise", Judith Thurman. The New Yorker. September 14th, 2003.
"Marchesa Luisa Casati - A Life In Fashion", Casci Ritchie. The Costume Society. 11th November, 2018.

C*ntroversy The Podcast is produced, written & hosted by Velma Vouloir.

You can follow us on Instagram & X at @cntroversypod, or on Facebook at Cntroversy: The Podcast.

Email us at anytime with thoughts of feedback at [email protected], and please don't forget to follow, rate & review the show. Thanks for listening!

Welcome to the third and final instalment on our series on Bettie Page. This episode, we look not only at the mystery of what ever happened to the vanishing pinup, but the incredible influence she had on art, pop culture, the sub culture of fetishists and kink lovers of the 80s, through to the burlesque revival of the 90s as well as music, haute couture and fashion right through to today.

Please note this episode contains references to severe mental illness and physical violence. Time codes for these are specified below:
31:00-31:40  (physical violence/domestic abuse)
36:00 - 39:50 (severe mental illness/physical violence)

Key Sources:
The Real Bettie Page: The Truth About The Queen of Pinups (biography), Richard Foster. 2005
Bettie Page: The Life of a Pin Up Legend (biography), Karen Essex, James L Swanson, Bettie Page. 2006
The Notorious Bettie Page (digital), Mark Mori. 2012

Secondary Sources:
Bettie Page: The Lost Years (biography), Tori Rodriguez. 2018
Bettie Page: Queen of Curves (reference), Petra Mason, Bunny Yeagar. 2014
The Early Photographs of Bettie Page: An American Icon (reference), Jack Faragasso, 2013
Bettie Page: Aphrodite Rising (fiction), Kimberly Ussery. 2020.

C*ntroversy The Podcast is produced, written & hosted by Velma Vouloir.

You can follow us on Instagram & X at @cntroversypod, or on Facebook at Cntroversy: The Podcast.

Email us at anytime with thoughts of feedback at [email protected], and please don't forget to follow, rate & review the show. Thanks for listening!

We're back this week for a much anticipated continuation of our discussion on pinup legend Bettie Page! This week we look at the years from 1950-1957 where Bettie was making waves as the most popular pinup & 'Queen of Bondage' in century America.

Key Sources:
The Real Bettie Page: The Truth About The Queen of Pinups (biography), Richard Foster. 2005
Bettie Page: The Life of a Pin Up Legend (biography), Karen Essex, James L Swanson, Bettie Page. 2006
The Notorious Bettie Page (digital), Mark Mori. 2012

Secondary Sources:
Bettie Page: The Lost Years (biography), Tori Rodriguez. 2018
Bettie Page: Queen of Curves (reference), Petra Mason, Bunny Yeagar. 2014
The Early Photographs of Bettie Page: An American Icon (reference), Jack Faragasso, 2013
Bettie Page: Aphrodite Rising (fiction), Kimberly Ussery. 2020.

C*ntroversy The Podcast is produced, written & hosted by Velma Vouloir.

You can follow us on Instagram & X at @cntroversypod, or on Facebook at Cntroversy: The Podcast.

Email us at anytime with thoughts of feedback at [email protected], and please don't forget to follow, rate & review the show. Thanks for listening!

Welcome to the first episode in a series dedicated to the worlds most recognisable pinup of the last century, Bettie Page. This week, Velma discusses the early years from Bettie's birth in 1923, through to her early days as a pinup model in 1950.

Please note, this episode contains references to adult themes including family violence, domestic abuse, sexual assault and animal abuse. Listener discretion is advised. Time codes for sensitive content is as follows:

18.34-19.08: family violence, animal abuse, sexual abuse.
34.19-34.29: domestic abuse.
35.22-35.33: sexual assault
38.33-41.00: sexual assault

Key Sources:
The Real Bettie Page: The Truth About The Queen of Pinups (biography), Richard Foster. 2005
Bettie Page: The Life of a Pin Up Legend (biography), Karen Essex, James L Swanson, Bettie Page. 2006
The Notorious Bettie Page (digital), Mark Mori. 2012

Secondary Sources:
Bettie Page: The Lost Years (biography), Tori Rodriguez. 2018
Bettie Page: Queen of Curves (reference), Petra Mason, Bunny Yeagar. 2014
The Early Photographs of Bettie Page: An American Icon (reference), Jack Faragasso, 2013
Bettie Page: Aphrodite Rising (fiction), Kimberly Ussery. 2020.

C*ntroversy The Podcast is produced, written & hosted by Velma Vouloir.

You can follow us on Instagram & X at @cntroversypod, or on Facebook at Cntroversy: The Podcast.

Email us at anytime with thoughts of feedback at [email protected], and please don't forget to follow, rate & review the show. Thanks for listening!

It only took two years... but we are back! Welcome to a whole new season of C*ntroversy. Velma chats about what's coming, and what she's been up to since she ghosted everyone on the airwaves. Happy New Year everybody!

C*ntroversy The Podcast is produced, written & hosted by Velma Vouloir.

You can follow us on Instagram & X at @cntroversypod, or on Facebook at Cntroversy: The Podcast.

Email us at anytime with thoughts of feedback at [email protected], and please don't forget to follow, rate & review the show. Thanks for listening!

Just wanted to squeeze in ONE more indulgent ramble for 2021.  Tune in to hear Velma wishing you all a Happy Holidays, give something of a belated acceptance speech  for our NATIONAL PODCASTING AWARD (Whaaatt?!)  & share some insights into what's coming your way in 2022. 

C*ntroversy The Podcast is produced, written & hosted by Velma Vouloir.

You can follow us on Instagram & X at @cntroversypod, or on Facebook at Cntroversy: The Podcast.

Email us at anytime with thoughts of feedback at [email protected], and please don't forget to follow, rate & review the show. Thanks for listening!