The C-Word

Eva Rausing was an heiress and philanthropist whose struggle with addiction made her tabloid fodder. In 2012, the gruesome circumstances of her death left the public to rehash and question her relationship to drugs, crime, and her family. In this episode, Lena and Alissa discuss addiction, privilege, and squalor.

This episode was first published on 12/21/2021.

In the conclusion of Chyna's story, Lena and Alissa discuss Chyna’s attempts to reclaim her career after being fired from the WWE, her reality television appearances, and her crossover into the adult entertainment industry. Also, in this episode: the themes of addiction and enablers, as well as the story of Chyna’s death in 2016. 

This episode was first published on 12/09/2019.

There’s a lot of dopey financial advice out there. Jill Schlesinger is here to call it out, answer your questions, break down the financial news that actually matters, and help you manage your money without losing your mind. No jargon. No judgment. Just clear, actionable financial guidance about saving, investing, buying a home, managing your career, and deciding how to spend your hard-earned dollars.  When it’s time to panic, Jill will tell you. When everyone else is panicking and you shouldn’t be, Jill will tell you that too. Your money. Your move. Let’s go.

Chyna was an iconic wrestler, body builder, and later adult entertainment actress. In this episode, Lena and Alissa discuss gender dynamics in the WWE, Chyna’s early years, and her rise to fame as one of the first women wrestlers who could physically rival men.

This episode was first published on 11/29/2019.

Isabella Blow was a magazine editor, style icon, and muse, known for discovering fashion greats like Alexander McQueen and Stella Tenant. She was legendary for her outlandish outfits, her dirty sense of humor, and her habit of stripping at parties. In this episode, Lena and Alissa discuss musedom, eccentricity and aging, and fashion in the early 2000s. 

This episode was first published on 11/11/2021.

Lena, Alissa, and special guest, Quentin Tarantino, discuss fandom, fame, badly-behaved women characters, and the corrosive effects of Hollywood sexism. Quentin also shares film recommendations, and gives his take on past C-Word episode subjects. 

This episode was first published on 10/28/2021.

The episode turns the lens on the latter half of Marie Antoinette’s life, including the rumors, bad decisions, and mounting pressure that culminated in her eventual beheading. Lena and Alissa also examine her evolution as a contemporary cultural icon, and criticize the meme-ified sad girl version of Marie Antoinette that is often popularized today. 

This episode was first published on 10/14/2021.

Lena and Alissa discuss Marie Antoinette, the last queen of France before the French revolution and cultural symbol of royal excess. In this episode: Marie Antoinette’s marriage as an adolescent, her iconic pouf hairstyle, and the series of events that would make her France’s public enemy No. 1. 

This episode was first published on 09/30/2021.

Vanessa Marquez was an actress best known for her role as Nurse Wendy on ER. Later, she would appear on the reality television show Intervention, which showcased her shopping addiction and agoraphobia. During #metoo, she spoke out about sexual harassment on set. Lena and Alissa discuss how past trauma impacts health, Vanessa’s prolific online posts, and police brutality. 

This episode was first published on 08/19/2021.

In Part 2, Lena and Alissa unpack the years leading up to Amy Winehouse’s death in 2011. They discuss rehab, bad boyfriends, and the 27 club.

This episode was first published on 08/05/2021.