How Women Are Centered and Silenced in Pop Culture

“Be Bold America!”

Friday, June 5 at 5:00pm (PT)

This interview will examine how women are both centered and silenced, and maligned in popular culture. It will explore a generational legacy in which media harms women, and will unpack what it means when women are cast as “problematic.”

Be Bold America’s guest Allison T. Butler, in her new book The Judgement of Gender, uses grounded and critical media literacy to look at celebrity stories, and those thrust into the spotlight, with more nuance, including the infamously sensationalized coverage of Britney Spears, Anita Hill, and Monica Lewinsky. Join

Be Bold America! on Friday, June 5 at 5:00pm to deconstruct problematic coverage and talk back to the media’s treatment of women.

Interview Guest:

Allison Butler is a Senior Lecturer, Associate Chair, and the Director of the Media Literacy Certificate Program in the Department of Communication at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where she teaches courses on critical media literacy and representations of education in the media. She serves as Vice President on the board of the Media Freedom Foundation.

She is the author of numerous articles and books on media literacy, most recently, Surveillance Education: Navigating the Conspicuous Absence of Privacy in Schools; The Media and Me: A Guide to Critical Media Literacy for Young People; Critical Media Literacy and Civic Learning: Interactive Explorations for Students and Teachers (co-authored with Torrey Trust and Robert Malot); and Educating Media Literacy: The Need for Teacher Education in Critical Media Literacy. She is a co-author of multiple practical resources for media literacy education.

Gardens are bursting with growth and color! How many of those flowers, along with the other plants in our gardens that we may love and cherish, contain dangerous, often lethal, naturally occurring poisons? Many common flowers, fruits, and even vegetables (along with certain weeds and wild plants) may pose serious health and safety hazards to you, your children, your pets, and your livestock!

Join Steven E. Popp and me as we look at the darker side of the plant world. We'll examine a deadly dozen or more plants, ranging from houseplants, the cut-flower garden, the vegetable patch, the orchard, and common weeds. Learn how to stay safe and continue to be a happy gardener!

Our Squid on the Street, Suki Wessling, was at the Santa Cruz Pride Festival this week asking a simple question: What do you love about community radio? It turns out there’s lot to love! Listen in as KSQD fans and community radio aficionados talk about what is special about radio made by the people, for the people.

Top photo by Denise Gallant. Photos below by Rob Darrow.

“Be careful what you wish for” is the beating heart of Curry Barker’s Obsession, a film that takes a well‑worn premise — think Big, Bedazzled, The Monkey’s Paw, The Butterfly Effect, even The Twilight Zone — and tries to reimagine it as modern horror. The result is entertaining enough, with solid performances, but the story never quite escapes its predictability. A few more twists would have kept it from settling into a formula that makes it easy for the audience to drift.

We meet Bear, played by Michael Johnston, a love‑struck, painfully self‑conscious young man living in his late grandmother’s house with his cat, Sandy. He works at a family‑owned music store, where he quietly pines for Nikki, played by Inde Navarrette. Encouraged — or pressured — by his coworker Ian (Cooper Tomlinson), Bear keeps searching for the perfect moment to confess his feelings. But he can’t quite get there, and remains firmly in the friend zone… until fate intervenes.

A visit to a crystal shop introduces Bear to a “One Wish Willow,” a novelty curio he impulsively decides to try. His wish? That Nikki will love him more than anyone in the world. At first, it works like a dream. The two fall into a breathless, giggly romance, inseparable and overflowing with passion. And then — slowly, then all at once — that passion curdles into obsession.

As Nikki’s personality shifts, Bear begins to sense that something is deeply wrong. He starts to wonder whether the “One Wish Willow” actually worked, and whether he’s unleashed something he can’t control. Nikki’s transformation into a manic, violent, and increasingly unhinged presence is chilling, and Navarrette captures the whiplash between deranged intensity and tender affection with unsettling precision.

Johnston’s Bear, meanwhile, embodies a young man with almost superhuman patience — someone who keeps trying to salvage the relationship he thought he wanted, even as it becomes clear he’s in over his head.

The tragedy, of course, is that the real connection he longed for was right in front of him. His coworker Sarah quietly cared for him, and their gentle rapport hinted at something genuine. The film’s moral lands cleanly: when you chase what you think you want, you risk losing what truly matters.

Curry Barker, still early in his filmmaking career, shows real promise here. Obsession may feel familiar to seasoned genre fans, but for audiences new to this kind of supernatural cautionary tale, it will likely land as one of the summer’s more engaging thrillers.

By KSQD’s Film Gang: Susan Lovegren.

Sustainability Now! Sunday, June 7th, 2026

Everyone talks about climate but no one does anything about it.  In recent months, parts of Maui were nearly washed away by Kona Lows that dropped 60 inches of rain.  An unusual trio of Pacific cyclones on both sides of the equator drove warm oceanic water to the east, adding to climate turbulence.  And the world is being warned of an “off-the-charts” El Niño this coming fall and winter. And there’s more!  Are you having trouble keeping track of all of these phenomena?  Relief is at hand!

Join host Ronnie Lipschutz for a tutorial about climate with Dr. Daniel Swain, a weather and climate scientist with the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources division and a research partner at the NSF National Center for Atmospheric Research. He engages extensively with journalists and other media partners, serving as a climate and weather science liaison to print, television, radio, and web-based outlets and is the go-to guy when on latest climate research and findings.

Watch Swain’s latest “Weather and Climate Office Hour” (May 13). Read his “Weather West” blog.

Episode 91: Trauma can profoundly alter the course of a life, shaking our sense of safety, identity, and meaning. But alongside suffering, some people also experience unexpected—even dramatic—psychological growth. In this episode, host and psychotherapist Debra Sloss explores the concept of Post-Traumatic Growth—the possibility that meaningful change can emergehrough the process of rebuilding one’s life following trauma.

We open with a powerful “In Your Voice” story from Holocaust survivor Gitta Ryle, whose reflections on fear, anger, survival, and eventual peace anchor the conversation in lived experience.

Joining the discussion is Richard G. Tedeschi, PhD, Executive Director of the Boulder Crest Institute for Posttraumatic Growth and one of the psychologists who originally coined the term. Drawing on decades of research and clinical work, Dr. Tedeschi explains what post-traumatic growth is, how it differs from post-traumatic stress, and how growth and pain can coexist. He also discusses the psychological process of rebuilding after trauma, the role of meaning-making and community support, and the common misconceptions surrounding growth after adversity.

Also joining the episode is Assemblymember Gail Pellerin, who shares her personal experience of losing her husband to suicide and the profound impact that loss had on her mental health, identity, and life direction. Gail reflects on grief, resilience, and how that experience ultimately helped shape her path into public service and mental health advocacy.

Together, these voices offer a nuanced and hopeful conversation about trauma, healing and the human capacity to rebuild after profound suffering.

Broadcasts 6/7/26 & 6/8/26

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* Indicates a Monterey Bay Area Resource

Organizations

“I participated in the Family to Family support group after my husband’s suicide when I was also navigating mental health challenges of loved ones. This program gave me essential tools to navigate through my grief and manage my family.” – Assemblymember Gail Pellerin

NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) National – an organization and website providing extensive free education and support, advocacy and resources for persons with mental health issues and their families and friends. While NAMI is a national organization, they have local chapters and offer free support groups and share the local resources for mental health support.

Boulder Crest Foundation – The home of Posttraumatic Growth (PTG) and a nationally recognized nonprofit organization serving members of the military, veteran, and first responder communities, as well as their families. Through PTG-based programs, training and education initiatives, research, and advocacy, Boulder Crest supports individuals in living meaningful, connected lives in the aftermath of trauma.

First Responder Support Network (FRSN) is a collaboration of first responder peers (included but not limited to police, fire, dispatch, and emergency medical services), Significant Others & Spouses (SOS) peers, and culturally competent mental health clinicians and chaplains. The programs are supported by dedicated volunteers and charitable contributions. They pledge to be committed to diversity and anti-racism in their work and to offer an inclusive and safe space for every first responder.

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) – A leading national organization dedicated to suicide prevention through research, education, advocacy, and support for individuals and families impacted by suicide. AFSP is also known for its community-based Out of the Darkness walks, which bring people together to raise awareness, reduce stigma, and foster healing and connection.

“The summer after my husband’s suicide, my family and I participated in the overnight Out of the Darkness walk in San Francisco put on by AFSP. We raised money for suicide awareness and walked with hundreds of people whose lives had been impacted by suicide. It was one of the most powerful experiences I have ever participated in and was truly life changing.” – Assemblymember Gail Pellerin

Reading

Transformed by Trauma: Stories of Posttraumatic Growth (2020) by Richard G. Tedeschi and Bret A. Moore – Through powerful personal stories of individuals who have faced profound adversity, this book explores how people can experience positive psychological change in the aftermath of trauma. Blending lived experience with psychological insight, the authors illustrate the many ways people rebuild meaning, purpose, relationships, and identity after difficult life events.

The Posttraumatic Growth Workbook (2016) by Richard G. Tedeschi and Bret A. Moore – This practical workbook offers guided exercises and reflective activities designed to help readers better understand and work through the emotional aftermath of trauma. Grounded in the principles of Post-Traumatic Growth, it provides tools for meaning-making, resilience, and personal growth following difficult life experiences.

Life After Suicide by Jennifer Ashton, is a fantastic book that helped me navigate the unimaginable loss of my husband by putting language to the grief, confusion, and isolation that follow suicide. Through compassion, honesty, and shared experience, the book reminded me that healing is not linear – the path is not straight, it’s not flat, and it’s not one direction.

Man’s Search for Meaning by Victor Frankl (2006) – The author weaves together his experiences surviving Nazi concentration camps with his theory of logotherapy, which centers on the human drive to find meaning even in the face of profound suffering. Since its publication in 1946, the book has offered insight and grounding for readers seeking resilience, purpose, and perspective during times of adversity.

Support Groups

Suicide LOSS Survivors Support Group – Family Service Agency of the Central Coast – A support group for people grieving the suicide death of a loved one, offering connection, understanding, and a safe space to share experiences with others who have also experienced suicide loss. The group helps reduce isolation and supports healing through community and shared understanding.

“This was an incredibly powerful group where I met weekly with others who had lost someone to suicide and truly understood what I was going through.” – Assemblymember Gail Pellerin 

Counseling Support

*Shine a Light Counseling Center – Provides affordable therapy services, including individual, couples, family, and group therapy (including men’s groups), across Santa Cruz, Watsonville, and Monterey.

Contact Guests

*Indicates a Monterey Bay Area resource

By Molly Sullivan.

The Devil Wears Prada 2, the much anticipated sequel to The Devil Wears Prada is a far more serious and less whimsical sequel than its beloved predecessor. Directed by David Frankel and written by Aline Brosh McKenna and Lauren Weisberger, the film reunites us with Andy Sachs, played by Anne Hathaway, 20 years after her days as Miranda Priestley’s overwhelmed second assistant.

Andy is now a successful journalist, but after a brutal media downsizing tied to the shift from print to digital format, she unexpectedly finds herself back in Miranda’s orbit. Miranda, played once again by Meryl Streep, is still ruling Runway magazine, but a public relations disaster involving sweatshop workers has cost the magazine major advertisers. Runway’s financial backer hires Andy to help restore the publication’s image through a series of carefully crafted articles. Neither Miranda nor Nigel, played by Stanley Tucci, seems especially happy to see Andy return. But over time, Andy slowly rebuilds their respect while helping stabilize the struggling magazine.

Complications arrive in the form of Emily, Miranda’s former first assistant, played by Emily Blunt. Now a powerful fashion figure in her own right, Emily becomes Miranda’s rival in a battle for influence in the changing fashion media landscape. Once again, Andy finds herself caught between two strong personalities.

What feels noticeably absent from this sequel is the playful energy that made the original film so entertaining. The humor is much more subdued because the story focuses on career insecurity, media collapse, and reinvention. Andy is no longer the wide-eyed innocent that once made her so endearing, while Emily—once deliciously ruthless—now shows glimpses of vulnerability and humanity. Stanley Tucci remains elegant and understated as Nigel, though even his character feels somewhat restrained here. Meryl Streep still commands the screen as Miranda, but at times the character feels less sharp than before. Supporting appearances from Justin Theroux, Kenneth Branagh, and Lady Gaga add

Still, the film succeeds in highlighting the instability of today’s workplace, where even seemingly secure careers can disappear overnight because of consolidation, technology, and social media. It also emphasizes the importance of adaptability and creative thinking in uncertain times.

Overall, it is enjoyable to revisit Andy, Emily, Nigel, and Miranda two decades later. Just don’t expect the same breezy comedy of the original. This sequel offers a more reflective and serious look at ambition, reinvention, and survival in a rapidly changing world.

Musicians Robbie Fitzsimmons, Cheryl Anderson and David Graham joined our show to talk about their journey in music. Fitzsimmons is producing Santa Cruz Pride’s Queerlantis on June 6 at Veteran’s Memorial Hall and Anderson is directing Considering Matthew Shepard on June 14 at Peace United Church, and Graham is a soloist in the presentation. Queerlantis is a micro festival that includes live bands, local drag performers, dancing and special guest Irene the Alien who appeared on Season 10 of RuPaul’s Allstars. Considering Matthew Shepherd is an oratorio musical presentation chronicling the life and death of Matthew Shepard, a gay college student who was murdered in Laramie, Wyoming. Tickets and information can be found on the Santa Cruz Pride website, SantaCruzPride.org.