After an amazing five years, the time has come for Strong Female Leads to hang up our capes for the forseeable future.

 

A combination of professional and personal changes means that availability to record and edit podcasts has become more or less impossible to maintain going forwards in 2023.

 

We couldn't be more grateful for such a wonderful audience willing to listen to our thoughts on nerd culture from a feminist perspective. And what a few years it's been! Captain Marvel, female Ghostbusters, Jodie Whittaker and so much more (not that we're taking the credit... but we're absolutely taking the credit).

 

Massive shout out to our Book Club readers (and Krissy!), everyone who chats to us on Twitter and all of our fabulous guests.

 

It's been a brilliant run. Our archive will remain in all the places you find podcasts and you can find the hosts in all the usual ways (we'll pin this to our Twitter feed as well, @strfemaleleads).

 

Peace out, nerds.

New York, New York! In this episode, Kate and Colleen are reviewing all of the news from New York Comic-Con, which at this point should probably be called New York TV-Con. Marvel! Star Trek! Velma's officially a lesbian now!

 

Plus, it's our book club review of 'The Echo Wife' by Sarah Gailey. What did they think of this twisty sci-fi summer read?

 

And RIP to Dame Angela Lansbury. She played a singing teapot and a witch who defeated Nazis, you best believe she was a Strong Female Lead.

 

Colleen: https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2022/oct/11/angela-lansbury-star-of-tv-film-and-theatre-dies-aged-96

 

Kate: https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/first-black-adam-reactions-pour-in/

 

Colleen: https://gizmodo.com/my-neighbor-totoro-stage-show-london-studio-ghibli-1849655275

 

Main Feature

New York Comic Con took place last week and it's become the peak autumn time for announcements for all the best things coming up in the world of geek. We've got some of the biggest announcements here...

https://gizmodo.com/new-york-comic-con-2022-news-trailers-announcements-1849638028

https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/comics/article/90567-fans-come-roaring-back-to-new-york-comic-con-2022.html

 

 

Bonus Feature

Our most recent pick, from our recent fabulous guest Krissy, was The Echo Wife by Sarah Gailey!

News

Debs: Noteworthy Book review: https://gizmodo.com/disney-princess-beyond-the-tiara-author-interview-1849543164

 

Kate: Archie Comics https://gizmodo.com/archie-betty-cooper-alien-hunter-chilling-adventures-1849539948

 

Debs: https://www.themarysue.com/brie-larson-asks-if-anyone-wants-her-to-play-captain-marvel-again-and-yes-i-do-very-much

 

 

Main topic

 

There are miles-long queues here in the UK to mark the passing of Queen Elizabeth. Today we look at some of the monarchies that have mattered (perhaps more) to us in fiction!

 

Game of Thrones. A whole series about a battle for the royal seat.

You watching House of Dragons?

 

Aragorn

King Triton/Elsa/

 

Queen Momby

 

Pevensie Kids from Narnia

 

King Arthur

 

The Princess Diaries

 

Star Wars?

 

Fave?

Worst/Best

Why is the idea of monarchy so popular in fiction

Which land would you like to rule?

 

Bonus Feature

--

D23

Top Ten

Debs, welcome to highlight ANY of the things you think are key. We'll do a dash through the top ten. Maybe 5 and 5 each?

https://d23.com/every-major-announcement-from-disney-branded-television-at-d23-expo-2022/

 

 

Kate's (Including extra in case there's crossover/mutual picks)

Disenchanted

Inside Out 2

Ironheart

Thunderbolts

The Marvels

Christmas Specials

Muppet Mayhem

News

Colleen...this is basically an excuse for us to talk about She-Hulk https://www.themarysue.com/megan-thee-stallion-in-she-hulk/

 

Kate https://gizmodo.com/marvel-comics-monica-rambeau-photon-miniseries-1849465414

 

Colleen...https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/furiosa-mad-max-prequel-release-date-cast-story/

 

Academia in genre entertainment

 

Xavier Academy

starfleet academy

jedi academy praxeum

Sunnydale/Buffy

Battle School (Ender's Game)

Miss Peregrine's

Hogwarts/Durmstrang/etc...

Riverdale

Avalon (The Mists of Avalon)

Avengers Academy

Dance Academy from Suspiria

Monsters University

Springfield Elementary

 

Book Club: The Echo Wife by Sarah Gailey

Intro

 

Strong Female Needs

Colleen: Strange New Worlds

Kate:

 

News

Colleen: https://gizmodo.com/nichelle-nichols-star-trek-uhura-actor-obituary-1849353418

 

Kate: https://www.theguardian.com/film/2022/aug/03/irredeemable-batgirl-movie-unexpectedly-cancelled-despite-being-in-final-stages

 

Colleen: https://screenrant.com/star-wars-andor-show-release-date-delay-updates/

 

Main Feature - SDCC reactions!

SDCC is back as the biggest update in the geek calendar and we've been treated to a plethora of updates, trailers, fun panels and more. As we've said before, yay for conventions.

 

So what's - well, not hot, but lukewarm off the press?

 

Dungeons and Dragons trailer

Marvel - phase 5! Avengers! Namor! Trailers for Wakanda Forever and an improved She-Hulk! Secret Wars! Daredevil! I'm so tired! https://www.polygon.com/sdcc/23272923/marvel-black-panther-2-ant-man-3

Sandman!

Rings of Power versus House of Dragon

Star Trek!

DC https://www.polygon.com/sdcc/23272917/dc-panel-warner-bros-news-trailers-announcements

 

Anything you're looking forward to? Any surprises?

 

Bonus features - Strong Female Sport!

Look. We're sorry in advance to our German listeners and also to everyone who isn't English but - IT'S COME HOME, THERE ARE NO MORE YEARS OF HURT.

 

Yep, we wanted to recap a bit on the Women's Euro tournament and the historic victory of the Lionesses and a bit of a look at how women's sport is doing at the moment. If you don't want to listen to the next bit, the short answer is: better than ever but still underfunded.

 

Do you watch any women's sport? How about participating?

Did you enjoy the match?

Will it change your mind about sporting stuff in the future?

Hey there Leaders,

 

New idea. Actual show notes...

 

Strong Female Needs

Debs: English women's football team

Colleen: Sea of Tranquility

 

Spoiler Alert

 

News

 

Debs: https://www.themarysue.com/harley-quinn-the-animated-series-season-3/

 

Colleen: https://variety.com/2022/tv/awards/emmys-nominations-list-2022-1235313788/

 

Debs: https://gizmodo.com/we-now-know-the-exact-crater-that-spat-out-a-famous-mar-1849170072

 

Main Feature - Conventions!

Conventions are, perhaps inexplicably, back. Those of you who follow the Strong Female Leads twitter account will know that I was down at London Film & Comic Con this weekend and it was a BLAST but  there have definitely been some changes since 2019! So we were thinking - what does the future hold for this fundamental geek space?

 

Difference between virtual and in person

Less merch now and feeling less specialised BUT ALSO a growth in independent operators

Is there still a space for virtual cons?

Lessons learned (or not) - news in the press about Joseph Quinn

Are you going to change your behaviour around conventions going forward?

 

Bonus Feature - Phase 4!

Look, we bang on a lot about Marvel but perhaps you've lost track of all the telly and movies and life is short - is it worth catching up on? Can you just get the highlights?

 

Spoilers

Very mild Harley Quinn animated TV series spoilers

Very mild spoilers for MCU, particularly Phase 4

Chip & Dale Rescue Rangers

Mild speculation about The Marvels and linked to WandaVision

Stronger spoilers for Dr Strange & The Multiverse of Madness

Russell Crowe's accent in Thor: Love & Thunder

Hey there Leaders

Do you read books? Do you like summer? Do you like lazing in the sun and reading a book either with your eyes, your ears, you fingers? #inclusive

Then this show id for you as we have a very special guest to pick out some ace SFL summer reads just for you. Yes you there, the one trying to hide the it's too hot for a bra look.

Hey There Leaders,

As Western civilisation slowly crumbles around us with war, famine, pestilence and death galloping across the wheat fields of Europe, the seas rise and the skies fall and prices threaten to tarnish our gilded cages, RELAX! We've got the answer to everything, everywhere all at once.

Just bury your heads in the sands of popular entertainment as Kate and Colleen highlight the great stuff to look forward to this summer in cinemas and streaming services near you!

So sit back, grab some popcorn and soda and enjoy the apocalypse live and in IMAX ratio or just watch Top Gun Maverick and Lightyear and keep believing it's all going to be ok.

Love ya :D

Hey there leaders,

This time we look into those ladies in the pop culture world who are very good who they are good but when they're bad they're so much better... VILLAINS! Every hero needs one and the ladies as, of course, under represented. But those we have always steal the show and not just if they are animated by Disney.

Hey There Leaders,

It's Easter! That holiday that really wants to be the new xmas! But hey! Chocolate right? This time we chat Dr Who, state of the game, the specials, what we can expect coming up and how excited are we are for the return of the Sea Devils.

Kate Joins in for a review of our book club choice Piranesi.

Enjoy!