It's Kind of a Funny Story: Recent Episodes
Kind of Funny Pod
What if your favourite pop star performed for a dictator? How do you feel about movie stars commenting about global affairs on Twitter? Did you know a top supermodel has testified at The Hague? Each week, Mariam and Aisha jump on long-distance calls to discuss the moments in history where pop culture and politics collide, and what it means for fans everywhere.
On Correspondent Dinners, Mayoral Campaigns, and her emails.
Photos:
Photo 6: WHCD 2011
Photo 7: The Tweet
Photo 8: People Magazine
Photo 9: Mayoral Campaign
Photo 10: Emails
Further Reading:
- Seth Meyers remarks at the 2011 White House Correspondents' Dinner (YouTube)
- President Obama at the 2011 White House Correspondents' Dinner (YouTube)
- Weiner: The Story of a Marriage (The Atlantic)
On Greek puzzles and human failures
TW/CW: In this week's episode, Mariam and Aisha discuss topics concerning murder, sexual assault and trauma caused by racist violence, particularly anti-Asian violence.
Photos:
Photo 1: Young Huma
Photo 2: Huma and Hillary
Photo 3: Hillary Clinton's Secret Weapon
Photo 4: Jon Stewart's Roommate
Photo 5: The Wedding
Further Reading:
- Hillary's Secret Weapon: Huma Abedin (Vogue)
- Congressman Anthony Weiner (D-NY) became furious at his GOP colleagues (YouTube)
- WEINER [2016] (IMDb)
On soft power and vaccine diplomacy
Further Reading:
- Soft Power: The Means to Success in World Politics(Harvard University)
- The Rise and Fall of Soft Power (Foreign Policy)
- When Black Women Go From Office Pet to Office Threat (Zora)
On female superstardom and public scrutiny. Plus our (late) thoughts on the Golden Globes, the farmers' protest in India, and Framing Britney Spears.
Further Reading:
- If You Don't Know, Now You Know - India's Farmer Protest (The Daily Show)
- Super Bowl XXXVIII Halftime Show (YouTube)
- In the Beginning, There Was a Nipple (ESPN)
P.S. Did you happen to watch Namaste Wahala on Netflix? Head over to Namase Wahala Reactions to record your thoughts on the film, and we may include your voice note in a future episode!
On Scientology and Taxation
Further Reading:
- Televangelists: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO)
- Scientology's Puzzling Journey From Tax Rebel to Tax Exempt (NYT)
- Scientology’s Vanished Queen (Vanity Fair)
Follow us on Twitter: @KindofFunnyPod
Follow us on Instagram: @KindofFunnyPod
Email us: kindoffunnypodcast@gmail.com
- who is goop?
- what is goop?
- should we be scared of goop?
Listen to this week's episode to find out!
Follow us on Twitter: @KindofFunnyPod
Follow us on Instagram: @KindofFunnyPod
Email us: kindoffunnypodcast@gmail.com
Happy New Year! We're back with an episode focused on one of our faves - Nora Ephron. We discuss her legacy as a journalist, screenwriter, and director, as well as her connection to the infamous Watergate scandal. We also share a podcast update at the beginning of the episode ❤️
Further Reading:
- Deep Throat and Me: Now It Can Be Told, and Not for the First Time Either (The Huffington Post)
- Nora Ephron Dies at 71; Writer and Filmmaker With a Genius for Humor (NYT)
- Everything is Copy (HBO)
- I Think About This a Lot: This Photo of Nora Ephron Looking Miserable While Another Woman Sits on Her Husband’s Lap(The Cut)
It's our twentieth episode! This week, we invited our friend and journalist Annabelle Timsit to discuss fictional countries in pop culture, including Panem, Gilead, and Genovia. Annabelle also shares the reasons she loves the Bachelor franchise, and why we should all watch. This is our last episode of 2020 - we'll see you all in the new year!
Mariam and Aisha are obsessed with political power couples - especially when one of them is a celebrity. Should Grace Kelly have given up her career to live in Monaco? Will we ever forgive Charles?? Has Amal Clooney ever seen Batman & Robin [1997]? You name them, we've gossiped about them. The focus of today's episode is young Eva Perón, a controversial figure in Argentine history and politics. Mariam shares her thoughts on female political power, while Aisha shares as many facts as she can about the movie musical Evita [1996]. Enjoy!
Welcome back! Today's episode is about one of our favourite movie stars: the one and only Jackie Chan! We discuss his biography, our favourite Jackie Chan films, and his legacy in both Hong Kong and Chinese cinema. We also dig into Hong Kong’s relationship with China, and how Jackie, who is from Hong Kong, has distanced himself from his home city.
Further Reading:
- Jackie Chan’s Plan to Keep Kicking Forever(GQ)
- Jackie Chan’s comments on Hong Kong protests spark social media anger as martial arts star calls for peace (SCMP)
- The end of one country, two systems in Hong Kong (The Financial Times)
Follow us on Twitter: @KindofFunnyPod
Follow us on Instagram: @KindofFunnyPod
Email us: kindoffunnypodcast@gmail.com
This week, we're going Back...to the 80s. We delve into Ronald Reagan's legacy, our favourite 80s movies, and the ways in which nostalgia can be used as a manipulative tool in popular culture. Was Ronald Reagan just a B-list actor and a C-list president? Are all John Hughes movies covertly about conservative values? Did Mathew Broderick kill someone in Ireland? Listen to the episode to find out!
Next week, we're taking a break for Thanksgiving, but we'll be back with a new episode on December 7. Stay safe, and happy holidays!
Follow us on Twitter: @KindofFunnyPod
Follow us on Instagram: @KindofFunnyPod
Email us: kindoffunnypodcast@gmail.com
In 1985, American artist Paul Simon travelled to South Africa to record his groundbreaking album "Graceland" - in the middle of a UN cultural boycott. The album was a resounding success for Paul and the South African artists involved, but it raises questions about the meaning of art and collaboration in the midst of a struggle for civil rights. We get into his biography, his relationship with Art Garfunkel, and the legacy of apartheid in South Africa.
Further Reading:
- Paul Simon: The Life
- Under African Skies [2012]
- When Little Steven got Paul Simon’s name off a hit list(Africa is a Country)
- On Hearing My Father’s Legacy in Vampire Weekend (Pitchfork)
Follow us on Twitter: @KindofFunnyPod
Follow us on Instagram: @KindofFunnyPod
Email us: kindoffunnypodcast@gmail.com
Following last week's conversation, we spend today's episode discussing the use of Orientalism as a political tool. We also share our #MuslimRage on the topics of otherisation, representation, and Riz Ahmed. Enjoy!
Further Reading:
- The Riz Test
- The Best Film About Islamic Terrorists Is a Comedy(The Atlantic)
- I Wish I’d Had ‘Ramy’ When I Was a Kid (NYT)
Follow us on Twitter: @KindofFunnyPod
Follow us on Instagram: @KindofFunnyPod
Email us: kindoffunnypodcast@gmail.com
Our next two episodes are all about Orientalism! We start off with a quick biography of the late Palestinian public intellectual, Edward Said. Then we discuss the history of Orientalism and its relevance in popular culture today. Join us for a conversation about the Enlightenment period, Aladdin [1992], and the Met Gala.
Further Reading:
- The Enlightenment’s Dark Side (Slate)
Follow us on Twitter: @KindofFunnyPod
Follow us on Instagram: @KindofFunnyPod
Email us: kindoffunnypodcast@gmail.com
We're back! This week we're delving into the life and times of Stephen Tyrone Colbert. We talk about his comedy background, his relationship with Nicki Minaj, and that one time he starred in a Nora Ephron movie. We also narrate a short history of campaign finance reform in the US, and how Colbert, through his Super PAC (Americans for a Better Tomorrow, Tomorrow), gave America a civics lesson that was worthy of a Peabody Award.
Further Reading:
- Stephen Colbert 1997 'GMA' Report (YouTube)
- The Nicki Minaj Interview with Stephen Colbert(YouTube)
- John McCain’s signature campaign finance law was a real achievement — for its timeby Mark Schmitt(Vox)
Follow us on Twitter: @KindofFunnyPod
Follow us on Instagram: @KindofFunnyPod
Email us: kindoffunnypodcast@gmail.com
This week's episode is all about Naomi Campbell, who has been an icon for decades. Mariam and Aisha discuss her legacy as a supermodel, an icon, and a witness at the Special Court for Sierra Leone. Please stay tuned for news/updates on our upcoming film, Ryan (Murphy) & Alfred (Hitchcock)!
Further Reading:
- Blood Diamonds: The Conflict in Sierra Leone(Stanford)
- Mia Farrow contradicts Naomi Campbell in Charles Taylor trial (NYT)
- There’s No Excuse for Failing the Oscars’ Diversity Requirements(The Atlantic)
Follow us on Twitter: @KindofFunnyPod
Follow us on Instagram: @KindofFunnyPod
Email us: kindoffunnypodcast@gmail.com
On this week's episode, Mariam and Aisha discuss Saturday Night Live (#SNL) and its role in the runup to US Presidential Elections. We count down our top five favourite political sketches and the reasons we love them. Honourable mentions to Iran So Far, Come Back Barack, and Voters for Trump Ad.
We're letting our audience choose our next episode! Follow us on Twitter (@KindofFunnyPod) and Instagram (@KindofFunnyPod) for a chance to vote!
Please join the campaign to bring Paul Rusesabagina home by following @Save_Paul_ on Twitter and @freerusesabagina on Instagram for updates.
Follow us on Twitter: @KindofFunnyPod
Follow us on Instagram: @KindofFunnyPod
Email us: kindoffunnypodcast@gmail.com
On today's episode, we focus on the unique relationship between Indian celebrities (especially Bollywood stars) and Indian politicians, including Prime Minister Modi. Aisha gives an overview of the political system in India while Mariam walks us through a history of Bollywood. Be prepared to add a ton of new movies to your watchlist!
Further Reading:
- Blood and Soil in Narendra Modi's India(The New Yorker)
- Bollywood and the Politics of Hate(Al Jazeera)
- The Real Story Behind Modi's Blooming Romance With Bollywood(The Huffington Post)
Follow us on Twitter: @KindofFunnyPod
Follow us on Instagram: @KindofFunnyPod
Email us: kindoffunnypodcast@gmail.com
A bonus episode on Afrofuturism and Beyoncé's "Black is King", featuring an interview with Damilola Animashaun (@DamDamxx), HBIC at Native Mag.
Follow us on Twitter: @KindofFunnyPod
Follow us on Instagram: @KindofFunnyPod
Email us: kindoffunnypodcast@gmail.com
This week, we're learning about Afrofuturism: its origins, its purpose, and its use in contemporary Black cinema. We watched "Dirty Computer" by Janelle Monae and "Black Panther" by Ryan Coogler and discussed both films' efforts to imagine a different reality for Black people in the US and around the world. Come for our takes on both films, and stay for Mariam's passionate feelings about Lovecraft Country!
Further Reading:
- Afrofuturism takes flight: from Sun Ra to Janelle Monáe(The Guardian)
- Still Processing: We Sink Our Claws Into ‘Black Panther’ With Ta-Nehisi Coates(NYT)
- Africanfuturism Defined
Follow us on Twitter: @KindofFunnyPod
Follow us on Instagram: @KindofFunnyPod
Email us: kindoffunnypodcast@gmail.com
This week, Mariam and Aisha are all about vaccines - why we get them, how they protect communities, and why so many celebrities oppose vaccination. We also touch on the Kamala Harris VP news and give our reviews of Steven Soderbergh's Contagion [2011].
On August 4, 2020, the city of Beirut in Lebanon witnessed two catastrophic explosions, and the city and its citizens are raising money to rebuild. If you have the means, please donate to any one of these organisations:
- The Lebanese Red Cross
- Baytna Baytak
- The Lebanese Food Bank
Further Reading:
- ‘Progressive Prosecutor’: Can Kamala Harris Square the Circle?(NYT)
- Mistrust of a Coronavirus Vaccine Could Imperil Widespread Immunity(NYT)
Follow us on Twitter: @KindofFunnyPod
Follow us on Instagram: @KindofFunnyPod
Email us: kindoffunnypodcast@gmail.com
This week, Mariam and Aisha flash back to the highs and lows of 2012. We discuss #Kony2012 and the relevance of the social justice movement to people from Uganda and surrounding countries. Is #Kony2012 the most egregious form of #slacktivism that exists? Did Invisible Children (the company behind the movement) make a difference or reach their goals? In what ways did #Kony2012 play into the "White-Saviour Industrial Complex", and how can one learn from its mistakes? Listen to our episode to find out!
On August 4, 2020, the city of Beirut in Lebanon witnessed two catastrophic explosions, and the city and its citizens are raising money to rebuild. If you have the means, please donate to any one of these organisations:
- The Lebanese Red Cross
- Baytna Baytak
- The Lebanese Food Bank
Further Reading:
- The Lessons of Kony 2012(Slate)
- The White-Saviour Industrial Complex(The Atlantic)
Listen to our Leo Season Playlist!
Follow us on Twitter: @KindofFunnyPod
Follow us on Instagram: @KindofFunnyPod
Email us: kindoffunnypodcast@gmail.com
Meghan Markle, Barack Hussein Obama, Beyoncé, and Sima from Mumbai.
On this episode, Mariam and Aisha discuss what it means to be 'First, Only Different'. We explain how racism and misogyny work in tandem to distract and detract from the most pressing issues at hand. Expect tangents on the meaning of 'intersectionality', racist tabloid headlines, the tan suit™ and why Princess Anne is our favourite royal.
Further Reading:
- Here Are 20 Headlines Comparing Meghan Markle To Kate Middleton That May Show Why She And Prince Harry Are Cutting Off Royal Reporters (BuzzFeed)
- My President Was Black (The Atlantic)
Listen to our Leo Season Playlist!
Follow us on Twitter: @KindofFunnyPod
Follow us on Instagram: @KindofFunnyPod
Email us: kindoffunnypodcast@gmail.com
Leo Season is here! This week, Mariam and Aisha chat about one of the most iconic Leos - Jennifer Lopez. When did she become such an icon? Is that really Ashanti singing on the track? Why did JLo perform for the President of Turkmenistan? And finally, what part do fans play in conversations about "cancel culture"?
Further Reading:
- The Golden Man(The New Yorker)
- Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO)
Listen to our Leo Season Playlist!
Follow us on Twitter: @KindofFunnyPod
Follow us on Instagram: @KindofFunnyPod
Email us: kindoffunnypodcast@gmail.com
In November 2014, hackers began releasing confidential data that was stolen from Sony Pictures Entertainment. During the hack, the perpetrators demanded that Sony halt the release of the Seth Rogen and James Franco assassination comedy, "The Interview", and they also threatened attacks at any cinemas screening the film.
In this episode, Mariam and Aisha dig in to the controversy surrounding the film (spoilers ahead!), North Korean politics and history, and their favourite Seth Rogen films!
Further Reading:
On North Korea:
- The Girl with Seven Names: A North Korean Defector’s Story, by Hyeonseo Lee
- Nothing to Envy: Ordinary Lives in North Korea, by Barbara Demick
- The Orphan Master’s Son, by Adam Johnson
On Cyberwarfare:
- Pod Save The World: Cyber War
On the Sony Hack:
- Everything You Need to Know About Sony's Unprecedented Hacking Disaster (Gawker)
Follow us on Twitter: @KindofFunnyPod
Follow us on Instagram: @KindofFunnyPod
Email us: kindoffunnypodcast@gmail.com
In March 2003, during a London concert and just before the US invasion of Iraq, the lead vocalist of The (Dixie) Chicks, Natalie Maines, told the audience: "We don't want this war, this violence, and we're ashamed that the President of the United States is from Texas." Her statement led to radio boycotts, public protests, and corporate blacklisting of the group that lasted for the remainder of the Bush years.
In this episode, Mariam and Aisha share the story of The (Dixie) Chicks, as they discuss their relationship with country music, their thoughts on “cancel culture”, and their Chris rankings.
Follow us on Twitter: @KindofFunnyPod
Follow us on Instagram: @KindofFunnyPod
Email us: kindoffunnypodcast@gmail.com
In May 2017, Director Bong Joon Ho’s film “Okja” was met with boos at the Cannes Film Festival in France. In February 2020, he won three Oscars for “Parasite”. In this episode, Mariam and Aisha dive into the reasons for the film’s dismissal at Cannes, the tension between streaming services and the film industry, and the future of film in general. We also touch on Hamilton, Greek mythology, and #Kanye2020.
Follow us on Twitter: @KindofFunnyPod
Follow us on Instagram: @KindofFunnyPod
Email us: kindoffunnypodcast@gmail.com
What if your favourite pop star performed for a dictator? How do you feel about movie stars commenting about global affairs on Twitter? Did you know a top supermodel has testified at The Hague? Each week, Mariam and Aisha jump on long-distance calls to discuss the moments in history where pop culture and politics collide, and what it means for fans everywhere.
Follow us on Twitter: @KindofFunnyPod
Follow us on Instagram: @KindofFunnyPod
Email us: kindoffunnypodcast@gmail.com