This week I am talking with Sally Leslie of the Reclaiming Pride: LGBT+ Survivors of Narcissistic Abuse podcast and my colleague! Sally talks about her decision to create a podcast to address the unique experiences of LGBTQ+ individuals in toxic, narcissistic relationships. We talk about the challenges of finding relevant literature and the pervasive heteronormativity in self-help resources, which often fail to reflect the experiences of non-heterosexual relationships.

Our discussion touches on the psychological and emotional aspects of narcissistic abuse, including gaslighting, performative empathy, and the profound impact on victims' mental health. Sally explains how narcissists often target empathetic and vulnerable individuals, perpetuating cycles of abuse rooted in the victims' past traumas.

Sally Leslie is currently the Director of Faculty and Instructional Development at Valencia College. An educator with over twenty-seven years experience, Sally started the podcast Reclaiming Pride, partly, to fill a gap in a self-help genre that ignores the needs of the LGBTQ+ community. Reclaiming Pride can be found at https://reclaimingpride.buzzsprout.com/

Dr. Adrienne Trier-Bieniek is a gender and media scholar who has published books on gender and pop culture, Beyoncé's influence in music, Tori Amos's fandom, as well as publications focused on the ways pop culture can help heal from trauma. Dr. Adrienne has been featured in publications like The New York Times, The Washington Post, USA Today, and NBC News and can be found at www.adriennetrier-bieniek.com or on Instagram @dr.adriennetb Supplemental teaching resources and more info for instructors is shared monthly via Dr. Adrienne's newsletter. Sign up at www.adriennetrier-Bieniek.com. 

Support the show here. (Unless you are a current student. In that case, keep your money and remember, on Wednesday's we wear pink.)

Welcome to my office hours! I have often thought that the times  my students come and talk with me during office hours are some of the most real moments in higher education. The Office Hours episodes of Most Popular will try and give you that feeling of tucking in to a sort-of comfortable office chair and taking a deep dive into a topic, event, or question that needed some extra TLC. (We can also talk about the band TLC whenever you want.)

This episode of Office Hours addresses a theory that is often covered in sociology, the looking glass self, a concept deeply rooted in demonstrating that the way we see ourselves is not always the way others see us. I relate it to the story of my favorite teacher, Mr. Tom Richert, who is retiring this year after one million years of service. I truly hope you all have had the opportunity to have that one supportive teacher in your life and I also hope this episode makes you think of them and maybe shoot a quick note to see how they are doing.

Dr. Adrienne Trier-Bieniek is a gender and media scholar who has published books on gender and pop culture, Beyoncé's influence in music, Tori Amos's fandom, as well as publications focused on the ways pop culture can help heal from trauma. Dr. Adrienne has been featured in publications like The New York Times, The Washington Post, USA Today, and NBC News and can be found at www.adriennetrier-bieniek.com or on Instagram @dr.adriennetb Supplemental teaching resources and more info for instructors is shared monthly via Dr. Adrienne's newsletter. Sign up at www.adriennetrier-Bieniek.com. 

Support the show here. (Unless you are a current student. In that case, keep your money and remember, on Wednesday's we wear pink.)

Rasheda Williams is the founder and Chief Empowering Officer of Empowered Flower Girl, a social enterprise based in Detroit, Michigan. Listen in as we talk about Rasheda's background in journalism and her shift towards social entrepreneurship and advocacy for youth, including her creation of Empowered Flower Girl, which focuses on helping young people cope with challenges such as bullying and societal pressure, and the importance of mentorship in fostering resilience and growth among youth. Rasheda highlights the positive impact of peer mentoring and young people's involvement in social change, emphasizing that ideas about the next generation of leaders should include emphasizing the importance of listening to and supporting youth.

About Rasheda
Rasheda Williams is the founder of Empowered Flower Girl. Among her numerious achievements, Rasheda has earned the Kumon North America’s “Impact Award” and SASHE’s “Top 10 Companies for Women and Girls.” Rasheda also was also featured in Exeleon Magazine as one of “15 Dynamic Entrepreneurs of 2020", MentHer magazine as one of the “Top 20 Social Impact Founders” , Hope magazine’s Hope 25 and she has been honored as a Community Icon by Esteem We/Detroit Possible. If that wasn’t enough, (and it is certainly not!), in July 2023, Rasheda was named the Empowerment Enterprise Founder of the Year by Acquisition International magazine and received the Social & Business Impact Award. She can be found at https://empoweredflowergirl.com

Dr. Adrienne Trier-Bieniek is a gender and media scholar who has published books on gender and pop culture, Beyoncé's influence in music, Tori Amos's fandom, as well as publications focused on the ways pop culture can help heal from trauma. Dr. Adrienne has been featured in publications like The New York Times, The Washington Post, USA Today, and NBC News and can be found at www.adriennetrier-bieniek.com or on Instagram @dr.adriennetb Supplemental teaching resources and more info for instructors is shared monthly via Dr. Adrienne's newsletter. Sign up at www.adriennetrier-Bieniek.com. 

Support the show here. (Unless you are a current student. In that case, keep your money and remember, on Wednesday's we wear pink.)

Ever feel like the most important relationship in your life is with your phone? Have you found yourself wondering if the kids these days will know how to read (and fold) a paper map or be able to write a check? How young is too young to get a phone for your child?
In this episode of Most Popular I am talking with Emily Cherkin, The ScreenTime Consultant. Emily is a Seattle-based parent and former middle school English teacher who helps families, schools, and organizations become more "tech intentional." Listen as we talk about the important questions surrounding screen time and child development.

About Emily
Emily Cherkin, MEd., The Screentime Consultant, empowers parents to understand and balance family screen time by inspiring a movement around becoming tech-intentional. Emily holds a master's degree in education, is the mother of two, and a former middle school teacher. It is safe to say that she is very familiar with many of the issues facing parents in a digitized society. Emily’s book, The Screentime Solution: A Judgment-Free Guide to Becoming a Tech-Intentional Family, was published in January 2024 by Greenleaf Book Group.

Dr. Adrienne Trier-Bieniek is a gender and media scholar who has published books on gender and pop culture, Beyoncé's influence in music, Tori Amos's fandom, as well as publications focused on the ways pop culture can help heal from trauma. Dr. Adrienne has been featured in publications like The New York Times, The Washington Post, USA Today, and NBC News and can be found at www.adriennetrier-bieniek.com or on Instagram @dr.adriennetb Supplemental teaching resources and more info for instructors is shared monthly via Dr. Adrienne's newsletter. Sign up at www.adriennetrier-Bieniek.com. 

Support the show here. (Unless you are a current student. In that case, keep your money and remember, on Wednesday's we wear pink.)

Comic books are becoming increasingly great examples of how social justice messages can be mixed with great storytelling and artistry. Rebecca Bratspies is an attorney and author of the comic books "Environmental Justice Chronicles", along with the artist Charlie LaGreca. In this episode Rebecca talks about the intersection of environmental justice, law, and pop culture. Rebecca shares how the "Environmental Justice Chronicles," aims to educate young people about environmental justice issues and empower them to take action. We also talk about Rebecca's background, her journey from being a research scientist to a lawyer, and the importance of understanding the historical and legal context in addressing social and environmental challenges.

Rebecca teaches at CUNY School of Law. She is a scholar of environmental justice, human rights, and environmental law. Her book Naming Gotham won the Association of Public Historians of New York 2023 Award for Excellence in Local History. The Environmental Justice Chronicles, her graphic novel series won EPA’s 2023 Clean Air Excellence Award. In 2021, ABA-SEER honored her work with its Commitment to Diversity and Justice Award. The Centre for International Sustainability Law named her its 2022 International Human Rights Lawyer.  www.rebeccabratspies.com

Dr. Adrienne Trier-Bieniek is a gender and media scholar who has published books on gender and pop culture, Beyoncé's influence in music, Tori Amos's fandom, as well as publications focused on the ways pop culture can help heal from trauma. Dr. Adrienne has been featured in publications like The New York Times, The Washington Post, USA Today, and NBC News and can be found at www.adriennetrier-bieniek.com or on Instagram @dr.adriennetb Supplemental teaching resources and more info for instructors is shared monthly via Dr. Adrienne's newsletter. Sign up at www.adriennetrier-Bieniek.com. 

Support the show here. (Unless you are a current student. In that case, keep your money and remember, on Wednesday's we wear pink.)

The portrayal of men in media has been fairly consistent. Take one part muscle (see Thor), one part pain tolerance (see, well, any Fast and Furious film), add a dash of handsomeness (again, Thor, but also anything with The Rock), and stir using a stick made out of the strongest metal in all the land. This recipe will bring you the manly-man, a person who is not just tough physically, but emotionally so strong that nothing will ever break him. Because he can't be broken! Or can he?

In this episode I am talking with Simon Rinne of the Australian organization Mindful Men which is dedicated to supporting men with mental illness and disability. We  discuss the role of pop culture in shaping societal perceptions of masculinity and Simon also discusses his personal journey dealing with undiagnosed mental health conditions, leading to his passion for mental health advocacy. The interview also touches on  how men struggle with loneliness, the power of social media in promoting mental health, and the positive impacts of openly discussing mental health issues, especially within the framework of masculinity.

Simon Rinne is a loving husband and father of two, mental health advocate and social worker. He is also the Founder of Mindful Men, a therapy practice that is dedicated to supporting men with mental illness and disability. Simon’s passion for mental health comes from living with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Depression, Anxiety, Burnout throughout the last 30 years. During this time, he struggled in silence; believing that boys and men can’t cry, all whilst using alcohol as a way to feel “normal”. At the age of 28, Simon finally reached out for help, and ever since has been on a journey of healing. By sharing his story, Simon hopes to inspire others to believe that they can turn their pain into purpose, and move from surviving to thriving.
https://www.mindful-men.com.au
https://linktr.ee/MindfulMen

Dr. Adrienne Trier-Bieniek is a gender and media scholar who has published books on gender and pop culture, Beyoncé's influence in music, Tori Amos's fandom, as well as publications focused on the ways pop culture can help heal from trauma. Dr. Adrienne has been featured in publications like The New York Times, The Washington Post, USA Today, and NBC News and can be found at www.adriennetrier-bieniek.com or on Instagram @dr.adriennetb Supplemental teaching resources and more info for instructors is shared monthly via Dr. Adrienne's newsletter. Sign up at www.adriennetrier-Bieniek.com. 

Support the show here. (Unless you are a current student. In that case, keep your money and remember, on Wednesday's we wear pink.)

Ever heard the phrase "Train like a beast, look like a beauty"? Or, "Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels." Or, "Eat it now, pay for it later." There are so many similar messages aimed at using shame or misinformation in order to convince people that they are one gym routine or diet away from the body that they are told is achievable, especially as we find ourselves scrolling through social media. Thankfully, people like Michael Ulloa exist.  Michael Ulloa is a personal trainer and nutritionist living in Edinburgh, Scotland. His message is that the fitness industry sets people up to seek out incorrect information and he's built an Instagram following using facts couched in funny videos that call out diet culture and the dangers it presents. It doesn't get much more pop culture-y than combining social media trends with real information about health!

In this conversation we talk about the truth behind diet trends, what misinformation is out there regarding the fitness industry, and how health should be presented on social media. I also fangirl over Michael's hilarious videos that expose the absurd nature of diet culture!

You can find more information about Michael via his website, www.michaelulloa.com or his Instagram @michaelulloapt

Dr. Adrienne Trier-Bieniek is a gender and media scholar who has published books on gender and pop culture, Beyoncé's influence in music, Tori Amos's fandom, as well as publications focused on the ways pop culture can help heal from trauma. Dr. Adrienne has been featured in publications like The New York Times, The Washington Post, USA Today, and NBC News and can be found at www.adriennetrier-bieniek.com or on Instagram @dr.adriennetb Supplemental teaching resources and more info for instructors is shared monthly via Dr. Adrienne's newsletter. Sign up at www.adriennetrier-Bieniek.com. 

Support the show here. (Unless you are a current student. In that case, keep your money and remember, on Wednesday's we wear pink.)

In this episode of Most Popular we are talking about the conversations that are hard to have! Joining Dr. Adrienne is the fantastic  Bruce Anthony of the "Unsolicited Perspectives." podcast. Bruce discusses his journey into podcasting, his experiences, and his approach towards discussing difficult but important topics, including learning from his past conversations about issues he thought he knew a lot about. Bruce highlights how being in diverse settings such as the restaurant industry allowed him to grow and evolve. Bruce also talks about the importance of expanding one's social circle to enrich one's understanding and worldview. He also delivers a shocker of a person that he would vote "most popular"-this choice cannot be missed! All said, this is an engaging discussion about the role of education, importance of continual learning, and the influence of podcasts as a medium for facilitating difficult conversations.

Bruce Anthony is the host of the Unsolicited Perspectives podcast where he delves into unique and authentic views on current events, social-political topics, race, class, and gender. Bruce believes that acquiring knowledge from diverse aspects of life helps us evolve as individuals and become more complete human beings. Bruce holds a degree in history from the University of Maryland, where he initially pursued a career in teaching, and the essence of being an educator remains at his core. Unsolicited Perspectives aspires to create a space where we can learn from one another, broaden our horizons, and gain a deeper understanding of the world around us. Find Bruce at www.unsolicitedperspectives.com and on Instagram @unsolicited_perspectives

Dr. Adrienne Trier-Bieniek is a gender and media scholar who has published books on gender and pop culture, Beyoncé's influence in music, Tori Amos's fandom, as well as publications focused on the ways pop culture can help heal from trauma. Dr. Adrienne has been featured in publications like The New York Times, The Washington Post, USA Today, and NBC News and can be found at www.adriennetrier-bieniek.com or on Instagram @dr.adriennetb Supplemental teaching resources and more info for instructors is shared monthly via Dr. Adrienne's newsletter. Sign up at www.adriennetrier-Bieniek.com. 

Support the show here. (Unless you are a current student. In that case, keep your money and remember, on Wednesday's we wear pink.)

This week we are talking about all things non-monogamy with Deanna Fierman,  a mental health therapist at All the Colors Counseling. The conversations ranges from the ways Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith revealed their relationship status (hint-they didn't do so in a super chill Facebook update), to Deanna's experience specializing in  polyamorous relationships. Dr. Adrienne learns a lot about the ways people are counseled when they express an interest in having a non-monogamous relations and  they discuss misconceptions related to polyamory, how counseling works for individuals or couples interested in such relationships, and societal views and acceptance of the same.

Deanna Fierman is a licensed professional counselor in Colorado who established All The Colors Counseling and Consulting to provide a welcoming space for non-monogamous and LGBTQ+ individuals, couples, and polycules seeking support.   Deanna has practiced psychotherapy in a wide variety of clinical settings since 2010, and has been an advocate, educator, consultant, and researcher in queer communities for decades.  You can learn more about Deanna and her work at https://www.allthecolorscounseling.com/

Dr. Adrienne Trier-Bieniek is a gender and media scholar who has published books on gender and pop culture, Beyoncé's influence in music, Tori Amos's fandom, as well as publications focused on the ways pop culture can help heal from trauma. Dr. Adrienne has been featured in publications like The New York Times, The Washington Post, USA Today, and NBC News and can be found at www.adriennetrier-bieniek.com or on Instagram @dr.adriennetb Supplemental teaching resources and more info for instructors is shared monthly via Dr. Adrienne's newsletter. Sign up at www.adriennetrier-Bieniek.com. 

Support the show here. (Unless you are a current student. In that case, keep your money and remember, on Wednesday's we wear pink.)

 Here's a quick dad joke: Why did the scarecrow go into home renovation? Because he was outstanding in his field! This episode of most popular is a home reno crossover between a realtor/podcaster and a professor/podcaster. My guest is Kristina Browning, a licensed realtor and home functionality coach. We talk about the impact of home improvement shows, how their existence affects the realistic nature of home buying and renovation costs, and the pressure to create the perfect home. We touch on the sustainability aspect of home renovations and the influence of HGTV on viewers' perceptions of home aesthetics.

Kristina Browning is a licensed Realtor in Portland Oregon and a Home Functionality Coach® nationwide. Allergic to stagnation, she combines these two home-centric professions in a Podcast called Home Space and Reason. www.spaceandreason.com

Dr. Adrienne Trier-Bieniek is a gender and media scholar who has published books on gender and pop culture, Beyoncé's influence in music, Tori Amos's fandom, as well as publications focused on the ways pop culture can help heal from trauma. Dr. Adrienne has been featured in publications like The New York Times, The Washington Post, USA Today, and NBC News and can be found at www.adriennetrier-bieniek.com or on Instagram @dr.adriennetb Supplemental teaching resources and more info for instructors is shared monthly via Dr. Adrienne's newsletter. Sign up at www.adriennetrier-Bieniek.com. 

Support the show here. (Unless you are a current student. In that case, keep your money and remember, on Wednesday's we wear pink.)