The Bitchionary

In which Becca and Lily have a free form discussion about the 2023 film, and 2021 novel, Nightbitch. The film is described as a “black comedy horror film” that was written and directed by Marielle Heller and stars Amy Adams. It is based on the 2021 magical realism novel by Rachel Yoder. In the most basic terms, it’s a tale of motherhood in which a mother transforms into a dog. In more complicated terms, it’s a weird and wonderful exploration of motherhood, identity, magic, rage, and the challenge of being a woman, mother, wife, artist, and dog. This is a bonus episode, a rambling conversation about all of these issues. Please listen, watch the film, read the book, and tell us what you think!

Connect with Us!

Patreon: ⁠patreon.com/TheBitchionary⁠

Substack:⁠ ⁠https://thebitchionary.substack.com/⁠⁠

Apple Podcasts:⁠ ⁠The Bitchionary⁠⁠

Pocketcasts: ⁠https://pca.st/3tebsk24⁠

Instagram ⁠@theb.chionary⁠

Blue Sky: @thebitchionary.com

Email: ⁠[email protected]⁠ for general inquiries.

Email Becca at ⁠[email protected]⁠ or Lily at ⁠[email protected]⁠. 

Sources

“Nightbitch” by Rachel Yoder

Nightbitch, the movie, starring Amy Adams, written and directed by Marielle Heller

This episode continues the story we began with Clara Lemlich and the uprising of the 20,000. We focus exclusively on the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire—a defining moment in American history, one that would go on to inspire France Perkins and the New Deal. The final episode in this series will follow France Perkins from the day of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire and into FDR’s cabinet. This episode does include descriptions of the deaths of the women in the factory as well as a brief discussion of this tragedy and its relationship to the tragedy of 9/11. These are difficult topics and anyone who is not up for this should skip this episode.

Connect with Us!

Patreon: ⁠patreon.com/TheBitchionary⁠

Instagram ⁠@theb.chionary⁠

Substack: ⁠https://thebitchionary.substack.com/⁠

Apple Podcasts: ⁠The Bitchionary⁠

Blue Sky: @thebitchionary.com

Email: ⁠[email protected]⁠ for general inquiries.

Email Becca at ⁠[email protected]⁠ or Lily at ⁠[email protected]⁠. 

Sources

“Triangle: The Fire that Changed America” David von Drehle

Floor plans of the Asch Building:

https://88711531.weebly.com/asch-building-floorplans.html

An article:

https://inthesetimes.com/article/the-triangle-shirtwaist-factory-fire-live-through-modern-day-organizing

David von Drehle’s article about how he researched his book:

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/uncovering-the-history-of-the-triangle-shirtwaist-fire-124701842/

Cornell’s online collection, including victim profiles

https://trianglefire.ilr.cornell.edu/

In this episode, we do a deep dive into the story of Clara Lemlich, a Jewish immigrant and labor organizer who, in 1909, sparked an uprising of 20,000 workers that began a great wave of labor laws and protections for all workers in America. This is Part 1 of what has turned into a 3-part series. Part 2 will continue the story, detailing the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire and the role this disaster played in catalyzing some profound changes to American Labor. In that episode we meet a woman who witnessed the fire, Frances Perkins, the first female cabinet secretary and architect of The New Deal. In Part 3, we learn all about Frances Perkins and her role in shaping many of the policies and protections that ushered in a "New Deal" for Americans.

Let us know what you think and if there are future topics you’d like us to discuss, Please also share with all the bitches in your life and help us get out in the world!

Connect with Us!

Patreon: patreon.com/TheBitchionary

Instagram @theb.chionary

Substack: https://thebitchionary.substack.com/

Apple Podcasts: The Bitchionary

Email: [email protected] for general inquiries.

Email Becca at [email protected] or Lily at [email protected]. 

Sources

- "Triangle: The Fire That Changed America" by David Von Drehle

- Clara Lemlich, “The Inside of a Shirtwaist Factory,” Good Housekeeping 54 (March 1912), 367-369, https://reader.library.cornell.edu/docviewer/digital?id=hearth6417403_1340_004#page/67/mode/1up

- Article about Clara: https://jwa.org/encyclopedia/article/shavelson-clara-lemlich

- Article about ILGWU: https://jwa.org/encyclopedia/article/international-ladies-garment-workers-union

In which Becca and Lily engage in a freeform discussion around the word “Bitch”--its historical roots, its personal connotations, whether derogatory words like this can ever be reclaimed fully as a term of positive empowerment, and many digressions and diversions in between!

Special thanks to our friend and colleague Spencer Nilsen for all of his help with our recording setup, helping us learn how to use the editing tools, and general moral support as we launch our new podcast. Any errors, bad edits or sound are ours, of course. Please bear with us as we learn how to use the tools and develop the skills we need to bring The Bitchionary to a streaming platform near you.

Let us know what you think, what your relationship with the word “bitch” is, future topics you’d like us to discuss, and if you’d love to buy some “The Bitchionary” SWAG! Please also share with all the bitches in your life and help us get listened to out in the world!

Follow us on Patreon at patreon.com/TheBitchionary and Instagram @theb.chionary

Email us at: [email protected] for general inquiries. Email Becca at [email protected] or Lily at [email protected]. 

What’s It To Ya Punk by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ ; Artist: http://audionautix.com/

Below are links to articles and references cited in the show. We’ve added additional references here in case you’d like to do more research.

Links & References

The Bitch Manifesto

https://www.jofreeman.com/joreen/bitch.htm

Bitch: A History

https://web.archive.org/web/20150907162256/http://clarebayley.com/2011/06/bitch-a-history/

About the use of the word “bitchin’” in surfer slang

https://stronglang.wordpress.com/2024/03/27/thats-bitchin/

Use of the word “bitch” surged after women’s suffrage

https://www.vox.com/21365241/19th-amendment-womens-suffrage-backlash

A Brief History of the Word “Bitch,” Necessitated by Benedict Cumberbitch

https://medium.com/the-wifey-word/a-brief-history-of-the-word-bitch-necessitated-by-benedict-cumberbitch-676af728bbd0