Office Sirens

What, like it's hard? Yes.

This week, Prue and Gen are talking about women in the law - starting off with their thoughts on the all-time classic Legally Blonde before discussing the appointment of Justice Jagot to the High Court of Australia and what being in the legal profession looks like for women.

Is Legally Blonde realistic? How much do we care about the dumb blonde stereotype? IS the law reason from free from passion? We discuss everything, from our favourite Elle Woods outfits to the way the film addresses sexual harassment in the workplace. 

We then dive into a discussion of Justice Jagot's appointment to the High Court and break down the numbers of women in the legal profession. What are the barriers to entry? How does the role of judges in Australia compare to the United States Supreme Court? We discuss the intersection between gender and the law and then compare the politicisation of judge appointments in Australia to the US. 

Stay tuned until the end for our weekly recap of the Kardashians.

Things mentioned in this episode (that you should check out): 

- For more on sexual harassment of young female lawyers in the workplace, watch the 7:30 report on former High Court judge Dyson Heydon

- RBG (available on iView)

- John Oliver's piece from Last Week Tonight on Elected Judges

- The Inventor: Out for Blood in Silicon Valley (documentary on Elizabeth Holmes)

- Best and worst judges

- High Court Annual Report 

We're back, baby and today we're talking about the new season of the Kardashians and Kim's venture into private equity. Indulge us as we talk about our favourite moments from Season 1 of the new reality show, give a quick summary of all of the Kardashian business ventures and analyse the relationship between finance and celebrity. If you know all about Tristan Thompson's cheating scandal but nothing about private equity, then this episode is for you (because neither do we). 

Would you let Kim Kardashian handle your investments? What about run your company? Tune in to hear all our thoughts. 

For more information, see:

Kim Kardashian brings in a big name to launch private equity fund - Australian Financial Review

From Billboards to Boardrooms: The changing nature of celebrity endorsements - The Dive / Business News 

The Kardashians Season 2 Trailer

This week, uploaded and recording from their computers, Prue and Gen rant about why we all need to get off the internet.

We start off with a discussion of The Social Network - Gen gushes about Aaron Sorkin, Prue reveals the truth about Armie Hammer's CGI'd face and we discuss the many layers of the film, from bromance to corporate greed.

Then, we try and explain the Metaverse and ask...why is this happening? After breaking down some key terms (what is crypto? what are NFT's? what is VR?) we discuss the growing isolation of our post-COVID world, the escapism and illusion of our virtual worlds and rant about the scary dystopian future of living in the Metaverse at the expense of physical connection and progress #bringbackclubpenguin

Randi Zuckerberg's Cringe NFT Song - YouTube (read comments lmao)

This podcast was recorded on the land of the Gadigal of the Eora Nation. We pay respect to their elders past, present and emerging. Sovereignty was never ceded. Always was, always will be Aboriginal land. 

This week, Prue and Gen cope with their objective insignificance and existential dread by platforming all their opinions on space, from a review of Christopher Nolan's Interstellar to discussing the latest photographs released by the James Webb Space Telescope. 

We'll first dive into the genre of science-fiction before giving a basic explanation of gravitational time dilation, a discussion of how it influences the dramatic tension in the film and asking the hard-hitting questions like should we colonise other planets or try to save our own, is Christopher Nolan an eco-fascist and does love really matter when it comes to science? #factsnotfeelings #loveisthefourthdimension

Then, if you're looking for a quick background on the JWST, an explanation of the first images and what this means for future scientific discovery, listen out for the second half of the episode. What is a light-year? What are Cosmic Cliffs? We also discuss whether we'd go to space (and are very blasé about it), whether we think we're alone in the universe and the idealistic assumption that all of planet Earth would actually work together if aliens invaded.

For more on the JWST images see these resources:

Seeing the Universe Like We've Never Seen It Before - Bloomberg Quicktake: Originals (YouTube) 

Neil & NASA Explain James Webb's First Image - Star Talk (YouTube) 

'The Webb's First Four (Actually 7) Images Explained' - SciShow Space (YouTube)

Hubble Heritage  - NASA

James Webb Space Telescope - NASA 

This podcast was recorded on the land of the Gadigal of the Eora Nation. We pay respect to their elders past and present. Sovereignty was never ceded. Always was, always will be Aboriginal land. 

This week, Prue and Gen interview Vogue Australia Editor Gladys Lai to break down The Devil Wears Prada and the latest from Paris Fashion Week. 

We ask Gladys what the most realistic part of The Devil Wears Prada is whilst also running through our favourite outfits, the best characters and hold ourselves back from reciting the cerulean monologue in full #justicefornigel #nateapologists

Then, tune in to hear Gladys sit through Gen's mispronunciation of 'haute couture' a painful number of times and Prue's raving about Balenciaga. We talked favourite collections and trends from Paris couture week, the relationship between celebrity and high fashion, and the relationship between cancel culture and the fashion industry. 

If you want to see our favourite Fashion Week looks, head to our Instagram @unsolicitedpodcast.au 

You can follow all past and future runways on the Vogue Runway app. 

Thank you so much to Gladys for joining this week's episode - you can find Gladys on Instagram @gladys__lai. 

"7 Trends to Know from Haute Couture Autumn/Winter 22'/23'" by Gladys Lai (Vogue Australia) 

In this episode, Prue and Gen review Season 4 of Stranger Things before turning to discuss the history of the Russian villain stereotype during the Cold War and its resurgence in the current political climate. 

We present our unsolicited takes on Stranger Things (with massive spoilers ahead!) asking all the important questions like: are the episodes too long? Is Eddie Munson sexy? Are you running up that hill? Have you made a deal with God? 

Given Jim Hopper spends the entire season in a Soviet prison, we then discuss American representations of Soviet and Russian villains and how the stereotype never faded from American consciousness after the Cold War. After a brief history and in light of the unfolding invasion of Ukraine, we ask: do these representations have renewed currency? How does the geopolitical landscape interact with media representations, and what constitutes propaganda? 

For some reviews and commentary on Stranger Things read:

'What the "Stranger Things" Finale Reveals' (The New Yorker)

'Stranger Things Won't Save Netflix' (The Atlantic)

Some interesting resources on the USSR, Russia and its relationship to American media are: 

'In Hollywood, the 'evil Russian' stereotype isn't back. It never left' (Los Angeles Times)

'Hollywood stereotypes: Why are Russians the bad guys?' (BBC)

'Russians are Hollywood's go-to film villains - that's unlikely to change' (Washington Post)

'American Nightmare: Images of Brainwashing, Thought Control, and Terror in Soviet Russia' (American Cultural Association Conference)

'Enough with the evil Russians!' (Blog)

'Security Threats and Public Perception: Digital Russia and Ukraine Crisis' by Elizaveta Gaufman

Also see here for Gen's paper 'The Hubris of Human Rights' on the decolonisation of international human rights, its Western origins and an analysis of the alternative Soviet conception of rights. 

This podcast was recorded on land of the Gadigal of the Eora Nation. We pay respects to their elders past, present and emerging. Sovereignty was never ceded. Always was, always will be, Aboriginal land.

In this episode, Prue and Gen discuss the United States Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v Wade, media representations of abortion and the profound violation of bodily autonomy that abortion bans represent. 

We start the discussion with American Horror Story: Murder House - its positives, how it reflects American anxieties about abortion through the horror genre and its potentially pro-life undertones. 

We then give an overview of the decision to overturn Roe v Wade, talk about why invoking the right to life is arbitrary and unproductive (see Judith Jarvis Thomson's famous thought experiment here), the politicisation of the Supreme Court and a comparison with laws surrounding reproductive rights in Australia. 

Some of our favourite commentaries and resources on the decision to overturn Roe are:

'We're Not Going Back to the Time Before Roe. We're Going Somewhere Worse' by Jia Tolentino (The New Yorker) 

'Special Episode: Roe v Wade Is Overturned' - The Daily

'The Supreme Court Considers the Future of Roe' - The Daily

'Emergency Episode - Roe to be overturned' - Opening Arguments

Reversing Roe (Netflix Documentary)

'Rights Are Made in the Streets, Not the Courts' - Black Rose Anarchist Federation 

Disclaimer: Reference to women's rights and bodily autonomy throughout this podcast extends to any persons that can get pregnant, not just cis women.

This podcast was recorded on the land of the Gadigal of the Eora Nation. We pay respect to their elders past, present and emerging. Sovereignty was never ceded. Always was, always will be, Aboriginal land.

In this episode, Prue and Gen discuss perspectives on the Royal Family with a review of the 2021 film 'Spencer', a discussion of the Platinum Jubilee and whether it's time for Australia to become a Republic. 

We talk about what we thought of Kristen Stewart's portrayal and whether the film did justice to Diana's memory, but somehow never got deep into whether or not shoulder pads should make a comeback.

To hear the real Diana Spencer, watch this BBC interview. 

Then, in light of Prince Louis' restless attitude towards the pageantry and the election of an Albanese government, did the Platinum Jubilee celebrations underscore the waning relevance of the Royal Family in the 21st century? Is the tide likely to turn against the monarchy when Prince Charles takes the throne and is this symbolic change important? We provide a rundown of the history of British colonialism and Australian independence and debate the urgency of a republic.

Pro Republic: Australian Republic Movement 

Pro Monarchy: Hon Michael Kirby Lecture

1999 Referendum reports

To demand justice for Kumanjayi Walker, the end to the NT Intervention and for more information on upcoming protests, see these resources:

Indigenous Social Justice Association

Stop Black Deaths in Custody Protest Event

What is the Northern Territory Intervention 

Find us on Instagram (@unsolicitedpodcast.au) for more resources on colonisation and the royal family.  

This podcast was recorded on the land of the Gadigal of the Eora Nation. We pay respect to their elders past, present and emerging. Sovereignty was never ceded. Always was, always will be Aboriginal land.

In this episode, Prue and Gen discuss the nuances of our sexual culture by giving a review of Promising Young Woman before deep diving into New South Wales' new affirmative consent laws. 

What did we love about the movie, what did we find questionable, should there be scope for redemption and should Bo Burnham be the next guest on our podcast? Check out some of our favourite reviews of the movie here: 

'Promising Young Woman' Review: Courting Dangerous Liaisons - The New York Times 

How "Promising Young Woman" Refigures the Rape-Revenge Movie - The New Yorker

Promising Young Woman Review - Vulture

(Also, Paris Hilton's Stars are Blind is an absolute banger). 

Are the new affirmative consent laws enough to deal with the complexities of sexual assault and unwanted sex under patriarchy? Tune in for this discussion, and please see the resources below should you be struggling with experiences of trauma or sexual violence or distressed by anything that you hear:

1800 Respect - National sexual assault, domestic and family violence hotline (1800 737 732)

NSW Rape Crisis Centre (1800 424 017) 

Full Stop Australia - Confidential trauma counselling for sexual, domestic and family violence (1800 385 578)

Lifeline (13 11 14) - Mental Health Support

There are also free, in-person sexual assault clinics in most cities - for services in each state, visit Reach Out.

If you're interested further in how sexual assault intersects with queerness, race and class, take a look at:

The Right to Sex by Amia Srinivasan

Bad Girls: On Being the Accused by Jane Ward

When Does a Watershed become a Sex Panic? by Masha Gessen 

Subscribe and leave us a review or suggestions if you're keen to hear more!

Disclaimer: Discussions of sexual assault in the context of the R v Lazarus; Lazarus v R cases are based only on allegations which have not been proven in court.

Trigger Warning: This podcast contains in-depth discussion of sexual assault. Please feel free to click off if you are likely to be affected by this.

This podcast was recorded on the land of the Gadigal of the Eora Nation. We pay respect to their elders past, present and emerging. Sovereignty was never ceded. Always was, always will be Aboriginal land.