Critical Babe Theory

Sarah is back from London with a theory about polyamory, and Francesca decides she no longer cares about Ezra Klein. We discuss Trump’s White House renovations, the looming war with Venezuela, the NYC mayoral race, the "ceasefire," and much more.

Movement professional, social worker in-training, and friend of the pod Brittany Rowell joins us to discuss matters of the mind and body: Is being skinny actually fascist? Does therapy actually work? And why do all roads lead to MAHA? Plus, Francesca recounts her time at a psychic institute.

Follow Britt on Instagram @britbritrowell  

Discussed:

⁠Is pilates political?

Psychiatry Won’t Solve Our Mental Health Crisis — Only Politics Can Do That

"But was silence not an option?"

Francesca continues her righteous crusade against polyamory and Ezra Klein, as we review Klein's recent conversation with Ta-Nehisi Coates about Charlie Kirk's legacy.

Discussed:

Ta-Nehisi Coates on Bridging Gaps vs. Drawing Lines

Friend of the pod Emily Meade (The Deuce, Dead Ringers, The Penguin) joins us to talk about life as a working actress. We discuss the Riyadh Comedy Festival, witchcraft, Scientology, “Tilly” the AI actress, and much more.

Follow Emily on Instagram @need4meade

Watch Emily's breakout performance at a weird Catholic Church-sponsored Italian children's singing competition in the 90s

Visit patreon.com/CriticalBabeTheory and subscribe for the full episode <3

We discuss “heterofatalism” and the latest propaganda against straight men.  

Discussed: 

The Trouble with Wanting Men 

This Economist Crunched the Numbers and Stopped Dating Men 

The Princess of 72nd Street 

Rep Richie Torres & AIPAC

Jia Tolentino on Elizabeth Gilbert 

Slouching Towards Bethlehem

Full episode on Patreon for subscribers only. https://www.patreon.com/c/CriticalBabeTheory

We discuss the latest schizo current events (Israel bombing Qatar, the Epstein birthday book, Kamala's memoir) and find out while recording that right-wing political activist Charlie Kirk was shot dead at the Utah Valley University.

Correction: Iryna Zarutska is the name of the 23-year-old Ukranian refugee who was murdered in Charlotte, North Carolina. May she rest in peace.

Discussed: 

Charles Heston: “From my cold, dead hands”

Kamala Harris 107 Days excerpt

Epstein Birthday Book 

The New Yorker on Schizophrenia and autoimmune conditions

We discuss Sarah's experience getting cancelled at work and Andrea Chu’s review of Thomas Chatterton William’s new book Summer of Our Discontent: The Age of Certainty and the Demise of Discourse.

Plus: Francesca’s controversial statements on polyamory, Sarah’s visit to a nude beach, talking to men on the subway, Ezra Klein’s moral failings, Trump federalizing the DC police, and more.

Discussed:

Andrea Long Chu on Thomas Chatterton Williams's new book

Ezra Klein on Palestine

How a Polyamorous Mom Had ‘a Big Sexual Adventure’ and Found Herself

Republican lawmaker in jail on child sex abuse material charges resigns from office

Victoria Lagano tattoos

Dilettante, suspected communist, essayist, and musician Zay, aka Civic Flora, joins the pod to discuss the return of fascism, reconciling our material desires with our socialist dreams, the alleged male loneliness epidemic, bromance, third spaces, and much, much more.

Follow Zay on Instagram @civicflora

Check out Zay's music and essays here