Monday Mini: A Fond Farewell to 2022, Part 2

In part two of our good-bye to 2022, we discuss our favorite book club picks, interviews and guest segments, among other things. 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:05):
Hey, this is Annie and Samantha and welcome to Steff.
I've never told you protection of iHeart Radio, and we're
back with part two of our Little Quebec too, and
a little one. I guess in the last episode I

(00:27):
couldn't help it. Yeah, well it's it's nice. Like we said,
we do a lot, and it's kind of hard to
wrangle just to look through all the stuff we've done.
It could be hard to keep track of when we've
done it. And time doesn't exist anymore. Yeah, we know this. Yeah,
it's true, and we don't really have a great way.
There are ways, but we don't have a great easily

(00:49):
searchable way of looking at every episode we've done and
when we did it. It seems like we should, but wait, don't, no, no,
But you can see part one where we also have
some behind the scenes facts about about why and how
all these things come to be in the topics we
choose um And in that one we talked about movies

(01:12):
and our kind of quote regular episodes. But in this one,
we're gonna look at some of the interviews and books
and and stuff like that that we've talked about and
our favorites in those. In those categories and kind of compare. Um.
So starting with the book club, I'll say the book
club was one we had that idea pretty early on.

(01:33):
I think that was your idea as well. You know
that was you really, Yeah, it was you had because
you've been wanting to do it, apparently as a segment,
and you added it in. Well, We've always had the
concern with book club, which is a segment that I love,
but it does require like a reading an entire book,
which we do a lot for research for others. That's

(01:55):
what we do for researching the quote unquote regular too,
I know. So sometimes we do try to like make
it fit. Yeah, so if we're already reading this book,
maybe we can do this for a book club. It
doesn't usually work out that way you try, But that
was always the concern with it, is like, oh, I
want to do this, at least speaking for me, I

(02:16):
want to do it, but it's we're gonna have to
find time to read a book every month in a
timely manner, like in a month, you know. But I
will say, while sometimes it has been stressful, it is nice,
even though I guess you can make an argument either way,
it's nice that it's for work. It's also stressful that
it's for work. But because of that, I've read a

(02:36):
lot of books I wouldn't have read, which has been
really great, and it's it's nice to get to read
them and talk about them and to get paid to
read them and talk about them. But that that's probably
one of my favorite things, is I at least UM.
I have read a lot of things that I have
loved and that have like opened my mind, have alerted

(02:58):
me to other issues, have been beautiful, full have stuck
with me. But also we try we try to mix
it up. We try to a wide range of topics,
so it's not always like so heavy um and all
of those books are important. But I have enjoyed it,
even though it can be kind of like, oh gosh,
I've got to read this book. In one way, yeah,

(03:18):
you know, I think I love that this pushes us
to be more purposeful and actually dig deep for the
authors and what their intention is. In like the breakdown
of the types of books. So we feel like we've
stretched a lot of different topics and styles and I
love that, and I love that we have so many
um different authors from different backgrounds. A chunk of our

(03:41):
reading has been from marginalized people. I love that because
I feel like unless you're taking a core specific to that,
you don't ever really touch it or you don't even
know that it exists. And I feel like this has
really pushed our boundaries and I hope you're the listener
to look beyond what you just like to try things
that are new. So I've definitely enjoyed that part too. Yeah. Yeah,

(04:05):
And I would say for myself, like I would consider
myself someone who loves reading. A lot of that is
fan fiction, will admit, but I do love reading. There
is a certain point where you're kind of like, oh,
I've done work, I'm tired, and you don't like even
finding the book can be a lot of work. Maybe
you just hear from somebody, So this is nice. This
is nice because we do look like every month there's

(04:25):
usually some kind of theme or some kind of idea
we have and we'll try to dig deep into what's
going on. So I yeah, it's really it's been a
rewarding segment um for sure. One of my favorites, which
was a two parter and it came after an activists
around the world, was the intersectional Environmentalist because as I

(04:46):
said in a recent it was a round up on
activist around the world. I that's one of my biggest
issues is protecting the environment and the environment um and
it has been since I was quite young. But it's
also always kind of given me this anxiety because it
does get reduced down so much too. Hey just recycle,

(05:07):
which is not accessible for everybody. Like, I like that
this book was so needed. It was so needed. I
like that it examined those issues in the history of
them and the future of them, and it was very
helpful with like the resources in the back. I just
I loved it. Yeah, she had a whole like to
do or a book activity book with it, and I

(05:30):
thought that was phenomenal. It was such a great idea.
Discovering other environmental activists is phenomenal, and then having that
being intersectional, which is the issue, which is what we've
been talking about when we talk about indigenous activists as well. Like,
it's it's awesome just being able to like put that
and it's actually been written and put out there for
us to consume. Love it, Yes, yes, I love it.

(06:05):
Another one of my favorites was a tough one for
both you and I was crying in h mart um.
And it was tough for different reasons. It was beautifully written,
it was very moving, it was quite painful. Um. But
I just thought that was so because I remember I
had read it and I was like, I think I
texted you and I was like, hey, it's a really

(06:28):
great book. Just so you know, you did you try
to give me a warning on that one? Thank you
for that. Oh yeah, I loved that one and that
one I saw a lot on a lot of like
best books of two roundups. I also, again no surprise,
I loved the ones we kind of did around I

(06:50):
think it was around Dragon Con time, um, which again
I assume everyone knows what that is. It's in the
August beginning of September. US we're kind of quote easier
reads Queens of Geek and fan Girl, which was just
kind of an exploration of fandom and coming of age,
and they were really fun. I hadn't read something like

(07:14):
that in a while, and I just very much enjoyed them.
And you know, you know, I loved talking about fandom
and I had so many thoughts on on both of them.
So those those were up there. It was wonderfully written.
Rainbow right Rainbow Wrow. Yeah, yeah, Rainbow Row. Like I

(07:35):
had read her book before and I really enjoyed it,
and then reading this it felt so it was such
a well written fiction that I could see why it
appeals because even me not knowing quite as much, I
felt it. I felt the characters they were really well developed.
It was a great book. And I think I talked
about it with you right before. I was like, I
loved it. I couldn't get enough. I couldn't put it down.

(07:56):
Like that's a sign of a great fiction. Yeah, yes, es, yes,
we might have to revisit. Like I said, you can
read the other books in the series, maybe an upcoming
book club because I would love to read continue with
the stories. Another one I really really loved was Mexican Gothic,
and I was excited to read that one, and I

(08:17):
would say it exceeded my expectations. It was like a
good It was very like set the scene, the atmosphere,
there was some romance, there was some horrors around mushrooms,
all the stuff that makes a good book. No, I
really I really enjoyed it. Um And that's definitely one

(08:37):
that had been popular, was very popular as getting a show,
but I'm not sure if I would have read it, uh,
if not for for this segment. So it was it
was such a such a fun read. I think you
had picked this book out and I knew really nothing
about it. You gave me the choices. It is what
we did with each other, like this is my choices,
you pick one because we're very indecisive, but like I

(08:59):
really he loved it, and I talked about the fact
that it was very reminiscent of Weathering Highs and the
Bronze Sisters that I was like in Jane Eyre that
I'm like, yeah, everything about that is right up my alley.
Weirdly about mushrooms, which we had a theme for, which
was odd. I actually chose that as one of my
favorites as well, because it's it left an impression on
me in such a way that I was like, this

(09:20):
fills like old Gothic that I know of and loved
in high school, in middle and in college. Like so
I love that this was a new writer taking on
that style and it was gorgeous, gorgeous, and I really
loved it. So that was also one of my picks.
The Bridge called my back. I love short stories, you know, this.

(09:40):
I love essays and I love poems, so having that
all in one collection, as well as the fact that
these are some die hard, powerful feminists around the world.
I loved it. I loved everything about it. You could
pick and choose the different stories, and we did. We did.
We picked like different poems and different essays, and it
was so hard to choose just one because it's a
pretty large book and the new editions that come out.

(10:02):
But I think it's something that everybody should have. I
met this copy should be in uh your collection because
there's a lot to it. And then the way it
supports uh, marginalized communities and women. I think it's important
because it brings a lot of voices out and you
learn about new authors and new poems, which is important.
So that was one of mine persuasions. Of course, you know,

(10:23):
because it's one of my favorite books anyway, but they
keep reading that it was good. I love Yeah, I
loved it too much. Um. And then of course the
Little Girl who Gave Zero come on, it was so fun.
The illustrations are fun, the reading of the stanzas were fun,
and yeah, I think it's fantastic. Um. And then of
course we we do also want to mention Feminism is

(10:45):
for Everybody my bell hooks, and I think it's a
phenomenal book. Like I think it's a good easy read
and kind of a great introduction of why feminism is
important for the entire world and for everyone. So I
definitely want to call that one out as well. Yes, yeah,
we really have read some great books everybody. Yes, and

(11:08):
you have recommended a lot of them are given us suggestions,
so keep those in and then also you know, not
to toot my own horn. But I have loved I
feel like two is the year we really started the fiction.
Every month we've done some before then, Um, but I
have really loved it. I have loved hearing what Christina
does with it, uh, And I've just had a really

(11:30):
great time, especially now that we're in kind of continuing story.
It's been really fun to interact with you listeners about
it and to hear what Christina does, because Christina is amazing. Yeah. Yeah,
you to your own horn, because this is your creation
and people are eating it up and loving it. Is
it a little uh dark and somebody? Yes, but we

(11:53):
love it. We love it here and I think it's
a great mix up to what we do, especially because
you are a writer and this is a part of
one of your mini hats and you should share it,
and sharing it's such it feels like a privilege to
be able to listen to your creation. So yes, you
are awesome. And then Christina doing her magic always always amazing. Yeah,

(12:15):
well thank you. But that was also something we did
kind of purposefully because we wanted not only for the
audience for it to be to have some mix ups
between you know, movies and books and regular episodes and
all those stuff happy hours so it's not always the
same thing, but also for Christina because Christine is amazing
to be like, hey, would you like to try this? Um,
and Christina if you're listening to this, and they're like,

(12:35):
oh my gosh, no, we had a discussion about it,
but you can always let us know if you're tired. Um. Yeah.
Just the kind of give us all a chance to
try different things. Um. Which, speaking of I moving on
to kind of like interviews or when we bring people

(12:55):
on the show, because that that's also a mixed up
for us and for the listener. Uh, and they're great.
One of the my favorite interviews we've done was with
Gatgi Juny Fox. Um. That was just such inspiring interview. Uh.
And it was so cool to hear about her future
projects and all of the thought that went into the

(13:16):
documentary that she had done. Um. So that was a
big one. I really loved a d H D Kink
and sex with Kate Osborne. Um. That was a really
informative one. And I feel like we made a friend.
We did I hope so I interview, we were like,
we went to brunch with her, We need to do
another brunch session with her, Yes, we do see what

(13:38):
else is going on? Also, the interview we did with
Margaret Killjoy I loved. It's just always so cool when
we have people on who are doing these amazing things
and who can bring so much to the conversation that
we just couldn't. So we're internally eternally grateful to people
come on the show to speak with this. Well, obviously

(13:59):
I love it because I feel like this is how
I make friends Now. I told you that was my
goal when I started this podcast. And yeah, I'm like,
I definitely uh enjoyed all of these interviews. Fox was
an amazing interview to me because we discovered so much
about history that has been left out and I think
it's so important that we keep talking about it because
we don't want it to die out again. UM and

(14:20):
her information, her documentary, her her digging UM and her
showing us like giving us the privilege to see something
that is so sacred, such as all the different rituals UM,
all of the titles within their community. It was phenomenal.
And having her on the show, of course, I was
flustered as per usual and and fan girling because she
does amazing work and she has done some amazing things

(14:42):
for her community and really bringing around UH the history
for us to learn. So being a part of that
felt exciting. Yeah, it's and I did not sust it.
I felt that And then yeah, like I said, Kate,
I'm like your friend, we're friends, and I feel like
there's so much more information she can give us, especial
in the world of UH world. Bye web UM content creating,

(15:04):
and I want to come back and hopefully we can
get our back on the show to talk a little
more about her other projects, because I think they're phenomenal
and that brings a lot of attention to UM stigmas
that we've talked about for so long that needs to
be gone so I loved that interview. Anytime, just anybody
who comes on and get really excited. Yes, yes, And

(15:25):
as we said in our I think our wrap up
of activists around the world, we said, we're trying to
do more interviews in a way that is feasible and
it's not going to stress everybody out, So right, hopefully
that will happen. And we've already gotten some suggestions from
your listeners, so keep those coming in as well. And

(15:55):
then our episodes always that we have with Yeves female
first are amazing. Um. She always comes in with somebody
that I'm like furious I haven't heard of before but
so eager to have heard of, but now from her,
she does a great job. And then Bridget. When Bridget
comes on, UM always brings something that is like relevant

(16:20):
and important and showcases how much tech is an issue
when it comes to feminism. Some of my favorites that
she did with us two is abortion is a tech issue,
and of course the Sculliar fact we both kind of
nerded out about the X Files. It was great. It
was hilarious because we'd already kind of talked about Scully

(16:42):
and her pants suit and awakening everybody's bisexuality apparently, but
like the fact that you guys really had a deep
conversation about the impact of this character and why representation matters. Um,
And it's a white woman, so even for that, but
you still didn't see many women playing those types of

(17:03):
roles in general, and hopefully we will continue to step
up the representations. But yeah, I really enjoyed that too. Um.
With the eas episode, she teaches us so much and
I always go off on tangent because it's so either
heartening or disheartening that they are just being discovered or
you know, like there's such a mixed bag of emotions.
And then the conversation we continually have to have is

(17:24):
this is what we know right now, but there could
be more discoveries, and hopefully there will be more discoveries
because we know people have been doing these things. People
in the marginalized communities most likely have done it before
and just has not been recognized. And it's kind of
frustrating but at the same time exciting. A fun Mooi
was one that's more historical context, and I love hearing
about her as the first allegedly Chinese woman in the

(17:47):
United States. Uh to me, of course, Asian culture is
really fascinating. So hearing that kind of history is always
good to know, um, as well as the Unit's Foot
that her work in medicine, like that's such an amazing thing,
and we've talked about this continually because even today, women
aren't getting credit for today's work. Uh So having a

(18:07):
historical context to see in the eighteen fifties of what
she discovered and what she did and the foundations she
laid and finally getting her do like that was an
awesome episode just to see because we're seeing that today
and we're hoping that we can change that pattern essentially,
So talking about Unit's Foot and the work she did
does have a bigger implication of crediting women in stem essentially.

(18:30):
So I thought that was a really important episode. Yeah,
as for a Bridget, every time we get on here,
we always like go off on great conversation and topics
and like dig into theories, and that's that's such a
different level. The Meg and Markle and the single Users
episode really like and we're talking about today because we
know a lot is happening with the royal family. It
was trending on your Twitter badly enough. UM, not mine though, um.

(18:55):
But I thought that was a big conversation, especially when
it comes to race and bots and all of the
different things and attacks. Being constantly aware of that and
bringing that to the forefront I felt was so important
as well as Evan Rachel would an accountability because we
still have to have this conversation because as I was
talking about the previous episode about Brooke Shield, she had
a lawsuit against Playboy to try to take that down,

(19:17):
but she lost in New York based on some uh
side uh code of models, so she was claimed as
a model and not a child. So this is sort
of professional work, Like that's a conversation about it, and
it is still out there. That photo from that publication
is still out there. I don't understand why this is
not classified as child porn. I have so many questions,

(19:41):
but this conversation about a tech accountability and why it's
still out there, and why they're allowing these things which
are violating women's rights and violating women's privacy and violating
a lot of people, um in so many ways. And
it's a repeated violation because it's constantly a reminder and
it's out there. So I thought it was such a
big and important station that she brought and I love

(20:01):
the fact that we were able to talk about it
and then call out the men who are really always good. Yeah,
we need to revisit that one. Yeah. Well, uh, final
final call out. We always loved doing the listener mail segments.
We got to play wey Haven thanks to listener Amanda,

(20:21):
who came on sent us an audio clip about why
weh Haven impacted Amanda, and that was so fun. We
had a great Amanda. I'm waiting for addition number three.
Someone give me an update because I played one into
a lot. I need the third one supposed to come
out this year. Maybe we should revisit this too. Maybe

(20:44):
we should revisit I think that'd be great. Uh. And
then we had Jamie Summers, who's been a longtime supportive
listener of us, uh come on and talk about Twitch
and Jamie's experience on Twitch. So that was great too,
uh And we are looking into doing more of that.
As you know, we have this kind of long awaited

(21:05):
Sex in the City a listener episode. It is still coming,
we promise, just by the holidays, but life happens and
we are behind. We are hopefully we can give to
you like an actual date soon, but yes we have,
we're collecting the names. If you've Bannard, you're there, yes,
uh yeah, and I found you on social media, so

(21:25):
if you're tagging even under the episodes, I got you.
I promise, yes, yes, but yeah, this is This has
been a fun look back and you listeners have made
made two great and I'm excited for what happens. And again,
if you have any ideas anything you want to see here,
I guess we we love getting your suggestions because really

(21:49):
you help make the show what it is. So thank you,
thank you. Yes, if you would like to contact us,
you can our emails Stephanie and mom step I heart
media dot com. You can also I find us on Twitter,
Mom Stuff podcast, our Instagram and Stuff I Never Told You.
Thanks as always to our super producer Christina. Thank you Christina,
and thanks to you for listening. Stuff Owner told You.
Distrection I Heart Radio for more podcast for my Heart Radio,

(22:10):
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