Once Upon a Patriarchy: Recent Episodes
Shannan Palma and Wanda Swan
Each episode, fairy tale and media studies scholar Dr. Shannan Palma and award-winning survivor advocate Wanda Swan sit down with a special guest to talk and laugh about all the ways Disney’s versions of fairy tales messed with their heads. They discuss both the pre-Disney literary versions and the changes Disney made to them. They reminisce about jamming to “Kiss the Girl” while asking, with some real concern, “Who is Flounder’s mama?” Does she know where he is? They're taking an outsider’s approach and looking for the counter-narratives in the stories. They’ll empathize with villains. They’ll add some color back into the mix. They’ll explore who gets to dream of happily ever after and who doesn’t — and what absorbing those messages as children taught them. Sponsored by the graduate program in Writing and Digital Communication at Agnes Scott College.
Wanda and Shannan catch listeners up on what was happening outside the studio as they recorded season two. This episode was recorded in October 2019, but did not air until September 2020.
Wanda and Shannan pass the mic to Roula AbiSamra, Dr. Reem Bailony, and Zunera for an in-depth discussion of Aladdin.
Wanda and Shannan sit down with horror writer and scholar Dr. Chesya Burke to discuss the movie Mulan.
Wanda and Shannan sit down with crunk feminist Dr. Chanel Craft Tanner to discuss the movie Moana.
Wanda and Shannan sit down with social work researcher L.B. Klein to discuss the movie Brave.
Wanda and Shannan sit down with author and professor Christine Ristaino to discuss Frozen. This episode contains discussion of sexual assault.
While we're busy producing Season 2, we're sharing outtakes and cut scenes from Season 1. Enjoy this behind the scenes clip from recording episode 6. Wanda and Shannan brainstorm what they want to talk about in the finale.
While we're busy producing Season 2, we're sharing outtakes and cut scenes from Season 1. Enjoy this behind the scenes clip from recording episode 3. Wanda, Shannan, and Tiffany del Valle discuss Disney's (and Wanda's!) anti-cat prejudice.
While we're busy producing Season 2, we're sharing outtakes and cut scenes from Season 1. Here's an excerpt from Episode 6 that didn't make it into the edited episode. Wanda and Shannan discuss how they relate to Disney.
While we're busy producing Season 2, we're sharing outtakes and cut scenes from Season 1. Enjoy this behind the scenes clip from recording episode 5. Esther helps Shannan run mic checks.
While we're busy producing Season 2, we're sharing outtakes and cut scenes from Season 1. Here's an excerpt from Episode 4 that didn't make it into the edited episode. Meg Bossong recognizes some Tyler Perry-themes in Maleficent.
While we're busy producing Season 2, we're sharing outtakes and cut scenes from Season 1. Here's an excerpt from Episode 5 that didn't make it into the edited episode. Wanda, Shannan, and Esther Moody Graff-Radford discuss real life princes and fathers.
While we're busy producing Season 2, we're sharing outtakes and cut scenes from Season 1. Enjoy this behind the scenes clip from recording episode 3. Wanda, Shannan, and Tiffany Del Valle discuss their love of books.
Wanda and Shannan close out season one reflecting on the podcast to date - their partnership, their hopes and fears getting started, highlights from past episodes, and plans for what's to come.
The second half of a conversation with asylum attorney, home-schooling mom, and Louisiana native Esther Moody Graff-Radford about The Princess and the Frog.
Wanda and Shannan sit down with asylum attorney, home-schooling mom, and Louisiana native Esther Moody Graff-Radford to discuss The Princess and the Frog. This one is a two-parter, y'all.
Wanda and Shannan sit down with activist and advocate Meg Bossong to discuss Disney's Sleeping Beauty and Maleficent.
Wanda and Shannan sit down with their dear friend and mutual colleague, diversity and inclusion expert Tiffany Del Valle, to discuss perhaps the most famous fairy tale of all -- Cinderella. Show notes available here.
Wanda and Shannan sit down with literary scholar and Crunk Feminist blogger Dr. Susana Morris to talk about Beauty and the Beast. Belle reads, y'all. That mob scene at the end, though -- so much to uncover. Show notes available here.
Wanda and Shannan sit down with psychotherapist Dr. JaNae Taylor to reminisce about jamming to “Kiss the Girl” while asking, with some real concern, “Who is Flounder’s mama?” Does she know where he is? The star of the show, though, is Ursula, petty queen of darkness. Who is the Sea Witch, really? Show notes available here.
Shannan and Wanda are exceptionally professional and topically relevant as they prep Dr. Susana Morris before recording the show.