Messy Liberation: Feminist Conversations about Politics and Pop Culture

🎙️ In this episode of Feminist Founders, Becky Mollenkamp and Faith Clarke take on the second pillar in their 5-part framework for running a justice-focused business: Leadership.

Leadership isn’t just about having a team or managing others—it’s about how you lead yourself. In this conversation, they explore why self-accountability is crucial, how internalized hustle culture shows up even when we “know better,” and what it really means to invite clients, collaborators, and contractors into your vision.

They also unpack what vulnerability in leadership looks like, how to avoid replicating hierarchical systems, and why building community is essential to sustaining value-aligned leadership.

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Becky Mollenkamp and Taina Brown explore what it means to move from reactivity to proactive dreaming in business and life. They unpack how a feminist future isn't just a dream—it's a practical framework rooted in collective care, somatic awareness, and justice-based entrepreneurship.

They weave in the wisdom of Black and Indigenous feminists like bell hooks, the Combahee River Collective, Audre Lorde, and Paula Gunn Allen. This episode is for liberation-minded founders who are tired of toxic "abundance mindset" advice that ignores class, and who want to explore equity-based business practices that reflect their values.

What You'll Learn:

• Why naming what we do want is crucial for sustainable change
• How collectivist, feminist, and Indigenous wisdom informs business
• What murmurations can teach us about entrepreneurial community
• How scarcity thinking shows up even in justice-driven businesses
• A reimagining of leadership and rest through shared care

Referenced in this episode:

• Combahee River Collective Statement
• “Emergent Strategy” by adrienne maree brown
• “Proposals for the Feminine Economy” by Jennifer Armbrust
• “Braiding Sweetgrass” and “The Serviceberry” by Robin Wall Kimmerer
• My Gold Standard with Stella Gold

Listen if you're ready to stop fighting alone and start building a business grounded in mutual care and liberation.

In this fiery episode of Messy Liberation, feminist business coach Becky Mollenkamp and special guest Taina Brown dive into the growing generational divide around gender equality. Sparked by Cosmo's recent “Feminism Recession” article and the global study it references, this episode unpacks the backlash to feminism among Gen Z men, the weaponization of data, and the hubris of white male leadership.

Discussed in this episode:

• Cosmo's “Feminism Recession” article breakdown
• Gender equity and generational divides
• The rise of anti-feminism among Gen Z men
• Political gaslighting and SignalGate
• Why data literacy and framing matter in feminism conversations
• White male privilege, institutional power, and public accountability
• Raising white boys with emotional intelligence

Resources mentioned:
 📖 “The Great Feminism Recession” in Cosmo
📊 Gender divide study by King’s College in London
📚 “When Your Abuser is Your President” from No Trifling Matter

In this episode, neuroscientist Dr. Kaela Singleton joins us to discuss the neuroscience behind manifestation, dopamine hacking, and why happiness isn’t a sustainable state. We explore how trauma and epigenetics impact the brain, why radical self-care is essential, and the intersection of neuroscience and systemic oppression. Kaela also shares insights on neuro-racism, the effects of capitalism on mental health, and how we can shift our mindset for true contentment.

Discussed in This Episode:

• What dopamine hacking is and why it’s misunderstood
• How manifestation and neuroscience actually intersect
• The truth about happiness and why it isn’t a sustainable goal
• How social media is affecting our attention spans
• The impact of systemic racism on the brain
• Neuro-racism and the historical misuse of neuroscience
• The role of trauma and epigenetics in shaping mental health
• Why radical self-care is a form of resistance
• How capitalism manipulates our dopamine responses
• Practical ways to retrain your brain for contentment

Resources Mentioned:

• Kaela Singleton on Insta
• Kaela Singleton on Bluesky
• Dr. Jim Doty on Mel Robbins’ podcast
• Black in Neuro
• “My Grandmother’s Hands” by Resmaa Menakem
• “They Can’t Kill Us Until They Kill Us” by Hanif Abdurraqib
• “Chain Gang All Stars” by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah
• “Portrait of a Thief” by Grace D. Li
• “Universality” by Natasha Brown
• Draco Malfoy and the Mortifying Ordeal of Being in Love

Dr. Kaela S. Singleton (she/her) is a Black Samoan Queer neuroscientist whose career blends groundbreaking research, community leadership, and advocacy for diversity in STEM. Raised in Georgia, she earned a bachelor’s degree in Neuroscience and Classical History from Agnes Scott College and a Ph.D. in Neuroscience from Georgetown University. Her postdoctoral research at Emory University focused on pediatric neurodegeneration, advancing cellular and developmental neuroscience. 

She now serves as the Director of Grants Management at Cure Alzheimer’s Fund.  Dr. Singleton’s expertise and leadership have earned her recognition as a NINDS BP-ENDURE alum, NINDS D-SPAN Scholar, and Burroughs Wellcome Fund PDEP Fellow. As the President and Co-Founder of Black In Neuro, an international nonprofit, Dr. Singleton is dedicated to fostering equity and accountability in STEM, creating inclusive spaces that celebrate and empower Black scholars.

Reality TV is entertaining, but at what cost? In this episode, Becky Mollenkamp and Taina Brown dive deep into The Ultimatum: Queer Love, exploring how reality TV manipulates emotions, exploits trauma, and raises serious ethical concerns. They discuss the psychology behind our obsession with reality TV, the impact on mental health, and why binge-watching these shows can leave us feeling complicit in the drama. From Love Is Blind to The Real World, they examine how reality TV has evolved and whether it can ever be ethical.

Discussed in This Episode:

• The Ultimatum: Queer Love – What made it so intense?
• How reality TV manipulates emotions to keep us watching
• The psychology of reality TV: Why do we love watching drama unfold?
• Reality TV and mental health: The emotional toll on viewers and participants
• The ethics of reality TV: Consent, exploitation, and manufactured drama
• Parasocial relationships and why we feel connected to reality stars
• The impact of editing: How producers control the narrative
• The evolution of reality TV: From The Real World to Love Is Blind
• Reality TV and capitalism: Turning human experiences into profit
• Can reality TV ever be ethical? How it could be done differently

Reality TV isn’t just mindless entertainment—it reflects deeper cultural values and ethical dilemmas. Whether we love it or question it, we need to be more conscious of what we consume and why.

In this episode, we explore the challenges of staying engaged in activism without burning out. We discuss the emotional toll of activism, the importance of balancing activism and self-care, and how to navigate political exhaustion while maintaining momentum. We also unpack the role of joy in activism, strategies for self-preservation in social justice work, and why finding community in political resistance is essential. If you’ve been struggling with activist energy management, political fatigue, or feeling overwhelmed by the news cycle, this conversation offers tangible ways to stay hopeful and engaged.

Discussed in This Episode:

• How to stay engaged without burning out in activism
• Strategies for managing activist burnout and avoiding burnout as a changemaker
• The emotional toll of activism and how to handle it
• Why resisting white supremacist urgency culture is essential for sustained activism
• The role of joy in activism and how to stay hopeful in a chaotic world
• Navigating political exhaustion and self-preservation in social justice work
• How to find community in political resistance and why it matters
• Mental health and activism: managing activist energy and avoiding despair

Resources Mentioned:

• Indivisible
• Working Families Party
• “How to Keep House While Drowning” by KC Davis

In this episode, Becky Mollenkamp and Taina Brown dive deep into how the fragile male ego shapes business, politics, and social structures. From toxic masculinity in business to the role of male fragility in politics, they explore how gender and power dynamics reinforce exploitation, scarcity, and entitlement. They also discuss the myth of ethical billionaires, how capitalism thrives on scarcity, and why feminist entrepreneurship offers a better path forward.

Discussed in This Episode:

• How the fragile male ego shows up in business and leadership
• Toxic masculinity in business and how it impacts decision-making
• Why billionaires and exploitation go hand in hand
• Can you be an ethical billionaire? The real cost of extreme wealth
• Male fragility in politics and its consequences on policy and society
• How capitalism thrives on scarcity and fuels individualism
• The entitlement of white men and why white women uphold patriarchy
• Feminist entrepreneurship as a model for ethical business practices
• How to challenge male fragility and create meaningful change
• The dangers of hyper-individualism vs. the power of collective thinking

Resource Mentioned:

• No, You’re Not Entitled to Your Opinion by Patrick Stokes

In this episode, Becky Mollenkamp and Taina Brown are joined by Dra. Nicole Cabrera-Salazar, a former astrophysicist turned social impact consultant, to discuss the challenges women of color face in STEM, the problem with DEI in science, and the complexities of leaving academia for activism. Dra. Cabrera-Salazar shares her experience as a Latina scientist navigating systemic barriers, her transition from astrophysics to social justice work, and why marginalized communities drive innovation. 

The conversation explores perfectionism, self-sabotage as self-protection, and the radical act of asking for help in leadership. They also dive into how fear and confusion are used to control progress, why academia needs more diversity, and how resisting capitalist norms in business can lead to meaningful change.

Discussed in This Episode

• The intersection of science and social justice and why it matters
• Breaking barriers in STEM as a Latina and the reality of DEI in science
• How trauma shapes leadership and overcoming perfectionism as a leader
• Why asking for help is radical and the importance of community in business
• The truth about pre-compliance in activism and how fear is used for control
• Resisting capitalist norms in business and why science needs diversity
• The role of marginalized communities in driving innovation

Resources Mentioned

• Movement Consulting with Dra. Nicole Cabrera-Salazar
• Dra. Nicole Cabrera-Salazar on Instagram
• “Don’t Believe Him” by Ezra Klein
• “On Tyranny” by Timothy Snyder

In this episode, Becky Mollenkamp and Taina Brown dive into the emotional and political turmoil of the current moment, discussing RFK Jr.'s appointment, Project 2025, and the SAVE Act's potential impact on voter suppression. They explore the balance between political despair and activism, the importance of self-care as resistance, and how communities can organize in the face of systemic attacks. With a focus on economic activism—including the upcoming February 28th no-spend protest—they discuss ways to resist burnout while staying engaged. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the state of the world, this conversation will remind you that you’re not alone.

Discussed in this episode:

• The emotional toll of political anxiety and how to manage it
• RFK Jr.'s appointment to Health and Human Services and why it’s concerning
• Project 2025 and its potential impact
• The SAVE Act and how it could suppress voter rights
• Title IX rollbacks and the future of women’s rights
• How to fight political burnout and stay engaged
• The role of self-care as political resistance
• How mutual aid and community support can help in times of uncertainty
• The February 28th no-spend day protest and how to participate
• The importance of economic activism as a form of resistance

If you’re looking for ways to navigate the current political landscape without feeling paralyzed, this episode is for you. Tune in and join the conversation.

What’s a hall pass, and who would be on yours? In this episode, Becky and Taina dive into the fun (and slightly messy) world of celebrity crushes and the famous faces that make their lists. From Paul Rudd’s dad bod appeal to Charlize Theron’s effortless elegance, and even the surprise pick of Jeff Goldblum, they unpack the psychology of attraction, the cultural fascination with hall passes, and whether they’re just harmless fun or something more. Plus, do we really have a type, or is attraction totally random? Let’s get into it!

Discussed in This Episode:

• What is a hall pass in a relationship?
• Our ultimate celebrity crush picks (and why we chose them)
• Paul Rudd, Robert Downey Jr., and Jeff Goldblum – crush-worthy or not?
• The allure of Charlize Theron and Emma Stone
• The hottest male and female celebrities we’d put on our lists
• The psychology behind attraction—do we actually have a type?
• Is a hall pass considered cheating, or is it just harmless fun?
• Why we love funny, confident, and slightly rebellious people
• Our audience’s favorite celebrity crushes (send us yours!)

💬 Who’s on YOUR hall pass list? Let us know!
📧 Email us at [email protected] with the subject line Hall Pass.
💬 Comment on YouTube to share your picks!