Dolls of Our Lives

In preparation for our upcoming Melody episodes, this month’s feature is Shine Bright: A Very Personal History of Black Women in Pop (2022).

Shine Bright is Danyel Smith's love letter to the important musicians in her life. A prominent music journalist, Smith has sat across from some of the biggest names in pop over the past few decades. In a series of biographical chapters, Smith shares her experiences with singular talents like Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, and more, weaving in her own story as a fan. We discuss this insightful and well researched history of Black women in pop, sharing some of what we’ve learned from Smith.

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Original air date: June 25, 2023

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There comes a time in every woman's life when she must...flee from her family's summer estate holding precious heirlooms in trash bags?

For this month's Patreon episode, we read Vanderbilt: The Rise and Fall of an American Dynasty. This short, punchy, and very readable family biography was written by Anderson Cooper (descendent of Vanderbilts) and Katherine Howe (descendent of some of Salem's finest). This book chronicles some of the Vanderbilts' finest moments during their ascent into America's elite, along with some of their more challenging times (see opening anecdote, and/or anything to do with Gloria). We consider what motivated Cooper to write the book, and what we can learn from another collective biography of the rich during a period of great economic inequality.

original air date: December 30, 2021

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Happy Halloween! On this episode we read Avi's Something Upstairs (1988).

Seeing your favorite childhood keychain may take you back for a moment. But what if that keychain could also take you to another time period? Would you do what needed to be done to stop an injustice from repeating? Avi’s 1988 classic Something Upstairs asks and answers those questions, and boldly breaks the space time continuum. When protagonist Kenny moves to a new place, he finds that he's not alone in his attic bedroom. A ghost named Caleb has also been forced to reside there for centuries. Through this time travel story, Avi explores race and power across three centuries in Providence, RI. We talk about this twisty plot, the uses of ghost stories, and the real real estate that serves as the setting for this book.

Avi's Website: https://www.avi-writer.com/blog/2017/03/story-behind-the-story-20something-upstairs/

A Real Pardon Tillinghast: https://www.geni.com/people/Rev-Pardon-Tillinghast-II/6000000004993081912

Walking Tour: https://www.rihs.org/school_tours/avis-something-upstairs-walking-tour/

More on Slavery in Providence, RI: https://www.brown.edu/Facilities/John_Carter_Brown_Library/exhibitions/jcbexhibit/Pages/exhibSlavery.html

http://library.providence.edu/encompass/rhode-island-slavery-and-the-slave-trade/rhode-island-slavery-and-the-slave-trade/

https://www.avi-writer.com/blog/2017/03/story-behind-the-story-20something-upstairs/

https://www.geni.com/people/Rev-Pardon-Tillinghast-II/6000000004993081912

https://w3.ric.edu/sherlockcenter/dsi/avi.pdf

https://www.rihs.org/school_tours/avis-something-upstairs-walking-tour/

original air date: October 31, 2021

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"I'll never forget the day I got stuck on Lisa Frank!"

With these immortal words, Mila Kunis launched her career and the sticker obsessions of at least a million young people.  In this Patreon episode, we talk all about the world of Lisa Frank. We share our own favorite characters, discuss the complex naming conventions of some of the more popular designs, and delve into the dark world of the Lisa Frank Factory. We have also included some other bonuses you will want to put right next to your vintage Lisa Frank Trapper Keepers.

This summer, it was our pleasure to work with Rebecca Doyle, a student and designer who dazzled us with her talent and sharp instincts.

Check out Rebecca's awesome work!

• American Girl x Lisa Frank character pairings

Original air date: September 27, 2021

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With so much recent discussion about the ideas and intentions of the "founders," we decided to watch the film version of the musical 1776...so you won't have to. Clocking in at 2 hours and 45 minutes, this performance will give you more questions than answers as to how the Declaration of Independence was actually written. We talk about Mr. Feeny's (a.k.a William David Daniels's) turn as John Adams, what's really going on with the depiction of Thomas Jefferson's wife, and the general fixation with leading white men of this era.

original air date: July 27, 2022

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A wise person once said: "having fun is never hard when you've got your library card." To this precious adage, we'd like to add an additional locale for future fun consideration: the fictional Telegraph Club. In this month's feature, we decided to read Malinda Lo's phenomenal YA book Last Night at the Telegraph Club. We discuss the fantastic resources in the book (a bibliography! timelines!) along with the super-accurate-yet-still-deeply-compelling historical adventures of protagonist Lily Hu. While trying to dodge accusations of Communism, keep up her high math grades to participate in the space race, AND help a friend win Miss Chinatown, Lily catches feelings for her classmate Kath. Tune in to hear us discuss their romance at the Telegraph Club -- and to discover whether this Space Girl finds the one who can "know the galaxies of (her) heart."

Original air date: May 30, 2021

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In anticipation of the Barbie movie coming out this July, we took a dive into the corporate history of America’s (smaller) doll.

Join us for a review of Barbie and Ruth: The Story of the World's Most Famous Doll and the Woman Who Created Her. Robin Gerber’s dual biography charts the rise of Barbie under the leadership of the ruthless girlboss Ruth Handler. Her book shares fascinating information about the culture of Mattel—and explains how Barbie and Ken got their names. Much like the Barbie movie, whether you have a love or hate the doll, this episode is for you.

Original air date: July 17, 2023

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Fifty years after the Watergate scandal, and endless “gates” later, what can we learn from a children’s book about one of America’s most famous crooks? For this Patreon episode, we looked at the dense and at times, baffling children’s book called The Story of Watergate. Though this is hardly a cool bedtime read, it does shed light on an important moment of reckoning.

Original air date: June 17, 2022

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Earlier this year, Selma Blair published her memoir entitled Mean Baby. Described as “mean” in her early years, Blair has been searching for labels that fit for decades. A self-described seeker, Blair has looked to psychics, fellow celebrities, teachers, and writers to figure out how to write her own story. In this book, Blair talks about some of her more famous roles (Cecile in Cruel Intentions, Vivian in Legally Blonde) and her great loves (a prep school, actor Jason Schwartzman, and her son, Arthur). A note from us: readers/listeners should know that Blair describes her experiences with eating disorders, mental health, substance abuse, and chronic illness with great detail.

Original air date: September 28, 2022

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What does your family tree say about you? Maud Newton tackles this question in her new and powerful book, Ancestor Trouble. Through this project, Newton asks probing questions about a number of her ancestors, questioning family myths and stories along the way. Using her talent as a researcher, Newton uncovers the true stories of relatives whose lives were or are complex, fascinating, and at times, troubling. As we go along for the ride, Newton teaches us about genetic genealogy, ancestor worship, and much more. Part memoir, part social commentary, Newton’s book is great to sit with as we head into the holidays.

Trigger warning: We do reference sexual assault and domestic violence in the course of discussing the content of this book. 

Original air date: November 23, 2022

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