STARGIRL is a mythology I created to make sense of things. It’s a show about girls who stand out, but it's also a way of understanding the world through patterns, both externally (through the type of women who reign over public life), and internally (in how we deploy our own forces of projection). It’s a call to get into your body and follow your intuition—to explore your admiration and judgment of the Stargirls, and let that be a guiding light.By @emmaglennbaker Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episode 33: Willa Cather with Sam Cummins
Today we're joined by Sam Cummins of Nymphet Alumni to discuss the timeless American novelist Willa Cather. We talk about the needless politicization of Cather, why Nature is the ultimate identity cleansing force, and how frontier literature has evolved today.Discussed:Cather novels: O, Pioneers One of Ours My Ántonia Death Comes for the ArchbishopWilla Cather and the Politics of Criticism, Joan Acocella (2000)The Kingdom of Art, early Cather essays collected by Bernice Slote (1966)“Becoming
Episode 32: Gwyneth Paltrow
Happy New Year! Today we take the opportunity to look back at how Gwyneth and Goop defined Wellness in the 2010s. I argue that while Goop lacked a soulful center, Gwyneth is working in the grand Esoteric tradition of seeking the sublime through one's relationship to the body. I look at the current aesthetic detritus of exercise culture, challenge the bad rap on “self-optimization,” and meet Gwyn in her New Age quest for Something Beyond.Discussed:“How Goop’s Haters Made Gwyneth Paltrow’s Company
Episode 31: Kim Kardashian
Today we use Kim Kardashian and Skims to close out many open conversations of the year: the body, motherhood and domesticity, women megalomaniacs, athleticism as an editorial trend, and so much more. I argue that Skims is the most exciting, subversive contemporary *beauty brand* and *grand editorial project* of 2023, commend Kim for her commitment to her own point of view, knight her as a Free Thinker, and formally retire our paranoia around “Girl Culture.” Plus! A deep dive into Tate McRae: her
Episode 30: Bianca Giaever
Bianca Giaever was a local legend, a mythic figure whose forest nymph-like presence lingered in the walls of Garfield High School long after she graduated. I learned about her—her confidence, adventurousness, cleverness, and drive—within the first month of my freshman year, and witnessed hoards of girls (and myself) debase themselves to try to emulate her vibes. I kept tabs on Bianca well after high school, too, and, for a few key years in the 2010s, used her viral Vimeo videos to guide me down
Episode 29: Taylor Swift with Sally Darr Griffin
Today we welcome YouTuber and general internet darling Sally Darr Griffin to tackle Taylor Swift. Discussed: Taylor's insidious creep toward total world domination, the Dream/Threat of a Girls' Girl, power hungry female celebrities, songwriting vs. performance value, the Swiftie microeconomy, Taylor's relentlessly out-of-step visual identity, and so much more. I also let SDG nerd out on her favorite fan theories... buckle up! Follow Sally Darr everywhere:YouTubeTikTokInstagramTwitter
Episode 28: Jennie Kim with Alexi Alario
This week we welcome K-pop expert and fanatic Alexi Alario, the co-host of Nymphet Alumni, to analyze Miss Jennie Kim ♡ We discuss how Jennie sets herself apart from her BLACKPINK peers, her craving for multi-hyphenate Western relevance, and why the “lazy Jennie” narrative makes her even more stannable. We also dissect her perfect neotenous face, Calvin Klein billboards, and incoherent budding solo career.Mentioned:Alexi’s episode of Stan Accounts, the MTV-produced docuseries on K-pop fans“Lazy
Episode 27: Zendaya
Welcome back! Today we discuss Zendaya, arguably the most celebrated Face of Young Hollywood and one of my favorite people to watch move. We discuss all that's demanded of her liminal space of race, her incredible lankiness, the attempted "queering" of her relationship with Tom Holland, and what's beneath the understanding of her as a "safe" celebrity.Mentioned:"Zendaya Holds Court" ELLE magazine shootEuphoria deleted scene w/ Angus CloudBTS video w/ Storm Reid Hosted on Acast. See
Episode 26: Emily Weiss with Marisa Meltzer
This week I'm joined by Marisa Meltzer, longtime beauty industry chronicler and the author of the new book Glossy: Beauty, Ambition, and the Inside Story of Emily Weiss's Glossier. We make the case for Glossier as *the* millennial brand, and discuss Emily's guarded, cipher-esque persona, and chat about how the "girlboss" tag is more apt than modern feminist criticisms give it credit for.Mentioned:Glossy, Marisa's new book on the subject"The Story Behind Glossier" Marisa on The Run Through with V
Episode 25: Ballerina Farm
Big one today! This week we discuss Hannah Neeleman, the first generation farmer and marketing genius behind Ballerina Farm. We discuss the many Dreams/Threats evoked by her particular brand of Harmony: effortless health, graceful motherhood, the family as a social unit, etc. I push back on the angry fixations on her stove, her husband’s family money, and her “lack of agency,” and salute her reverence for performance as a craft in itself. Buckle up!Discussed: @BallerinaFarm on InstagramWe Took T
Episode 24: End-of-Summer Check-In
This week we’re throwing some paint at the wall! I check-in on the aimlessness of my summer energy, reorient, and give a preview of my top 3 Urgent Themes for Fall: Doing Things, the question: How am I treating my body?, and Campy Femininity. I also give my official stance against feminine fragility, and usher in a new era of capability and resourcefulness. Let’s get it!Discussed:“Outdoor Voices Founder Ty Haney Has Moved On. Mostly.” Sangeeta Singh-Kurtz, The Cut@BallerinaFarm on IGAddison’s A.
Episode 23: Caroline Calloway II with Caroline Calloway
Today we return to the subject of Caroline Calloway with CC herself! We discuss the difficulty of self-publishing, the over-simplification of her "revenge" narrative, being a lifelong loner, the worst of her times in New York, and what she sees as her true "craft." Plus, Caroline runs herself through the STARGIRL paradigms and gets an A+ ! Caroline on Twitter, IGBuy SCAMMER Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episode 22: Carrie Bradshaw with Callie Hitchcock
Today we welcome SATC superfan Callie Hitchcock to opine on the “ambling bravado” of Carrie Bradshaw, the beloved character created by Candace Bushnell in her column at the New York Observer and reimagined in HBO’s Sex and the City. We discuss the evolution of the character from seedy partygirl to prudish romantic, the blurring of Candace/Carrie/Sarah Jessica Parker, and what it means to uphold Carrie as an emblem of New York.Discussed:"Why Sarah Jessica Parker Keeps Playing Carrie Bradshaw," Ra
Episode 21: Dasha Nekrasova
Today we go long on Miss Dasha Nekrasova, a podcaster/actress/director and the poster of our time 🫡 We discuss the genius of Red Scare, the tedious bleedout of Dimes Square discourse, and how Dasha's playfulness elevates her above the rotten lot of disaffected e-girls. S/o to Ella @ellasimoneee for all of the help on this one!Mentioned:Girl Online, Joanna Walsh"Red Scare Leans Into Nothing," Noreen Malone in the Cut"Inside the New Right, Where Peter Thiel Is Placing His Biggest Bets" James Pogu
Episode 20: Lauren Kanski
Welcome to my fitness manifesto! Today we explore the rise and reign of Lauren Kanski, a strength and fat loss coach (and my own personal guiding light regarding all things body, nutrition, movement, and longevity). We discuss the social status of fitness chicks, the grifter vibes of protein discourse, and how supreme interest in physical fitness is viewed as villainous.Mentioned:Outlive: The Science and Art of Longevity, Peter Attia MDRFK, Jr. on RoganLauren on Strongest Self Podcast
Episode 19: Caroline Calloway
Welcome back to STARGIRL, a show about girls who stand out! Today we ride the wave of Caroline Calloway's latest publicity cycle, centered on the long-awaited debut of her book, Scammer. We discuss CC's unwavering belief in her own destiny, the power/limits of villain/victim narratives, and how we never got to witness the magnetic, popular-girl character we were told to fear. We also explore the agony of watching someone try to extend their own messaging, and our waning interest in the forever-d
Episode 18: Lana Del Rey with Nisa Neza
Today we welcome Nisa Neza, the host of CAN'T TAKE ME ANYWHERE, to tackle Lana: Part I/ ! We explore: Lana's meandering, sun-flared world, the various sexual tropes she plays with, and how her music and look have evolved (/deteriorated) over the past decade. We also discuss how she foretold our collective Americana nostalgia moment, how patriotism plays out in her music and reception, and how she seized authority as *the* chronicler of Los Angeles. Plus! The threat of women whose self-destructiv
Episode 17: Alix Earle
This week we use TikTok star Alix Earle as a vessel to tackle one of my favorite topics: Blondeness! I discuss what it "means" to be/go blonde, the sorry state of blonde discourse, and how blondeness is deployed as a device in art vs. real life. I also pose the big-kahuna question: What is the beauty standard in 2023? and argue that our collective quest to "transform beauty standards" is less about changing on-the-ground sexual preferences and more about increasing access to commodification. Sca
Episode 16: Mary McCarthy with Katie Roiphe
This week we are joined by a real-life Stargirl, the writer Katie Roiphe, to discuss Mary McCarthy, one of the best and most controversial writers of the 20th century. We talk about the sharpness and brutality of her voice, her rejection of political movements in favor of a more intimate, material investigation of people's behavior, how her mass appeal violated the norms of her intellectual circle, and why she's been written out of certain feminist literary histories. Plus, Katie shares a handfu
Episode 15: Try-Outs I
This week we tackle the backlog of "are they or aren't they" potential-Stargirls, revisit the Too-Too-ness, and talk about the importance of meaningfully alienating people with your ideas. Come play in my world! 🤸Discussed:BeyoncéRihannaRosalíaBLACKPINKDoja CatCharli XCXMegan FoxTaylor SwiftLana Del ReyKardashian/Jenner clanVanessa HudgensNicki MinajAlso discussed:"Parade Expands Into Underwire Bras" WWDLaQuan Smith for Cash by Cash App"A Girl of the Zeitgeist" Janet Malcolm in The New Yorker H
Episode 14: Cami Téllez
This week we delve deep into the uncanny, insidious world of the D2C underwear brand Parade and its CEO, Cami Téllez. I talk about the downsides of bridging art and editorial, the botched AI-ness of everything we're forced to look at, and the tendency for powerful, beautiful women to reject their normie power for the sake of 'relatability.' My essay "Late to the Parade: The Self-Own of Influencer Marketing in 2021" Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episode 13: Azealia Banks
This week we go long on Azealia Banks, the American rapper who can't STFU to save her life. I talk witchiness, how evil women problematize fourth-wave "Do You" feminism, and the thin line between being an aesthete and being a bully. Discussed:"Perpetual Childhood: The Rise of Cute Feminism" by Mikaela Dery in Soft Punk"#MeToo Will Not Survive Unless We Recognize Toxic Femininity" by Meghan Daum in Medium **I kept saying "Doud" instead of "Daum" — brain lapse — apologies!!** Hosted on Acast. See
Lena Dunham I
Lena Dunham's Girls is my favorite piece of art that's been created in my lifetime. I talk about why writing off the show as "narcissistic" is a massive missed opportunity, Lena's compulsion toward self-exposure and body horror, and her acute (unmatched?) understanding of how people behave. Happy Holidays y'all, and see you in the new year! 🌠Discussed:"Lena Dunham Comes to Terms With Herself" Allison P. Davis in The Cut"Crush" by Bianca Giaever for Rachel Antonoff"Why Lena Dunham's 'Girls' Is L
Episode 11: Mitski w/ Molly
Joining us this week is one of my dearest friends, Molly, to discuss the musician and de facto Sad Girl cult leader, Mitski. We talk about the liminal space of teenage girlhood, extended adolescence, how to elevate melodrama into art, and the social power of female passivity.Mentioned:Addison + archival fashion by Janelle Okwodu in Vogue"Grand Unified Theory of Female Pain" Leslie Jamison in VQR"The Misreading of Mitski" Jia Tolentino in TNY Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for m
Episode 10: Julia Fox
This week we explore The Myth of Julia Fox: her hard-partying youth, various artistic endeavors, explicit sex appeal, and attempts at provocation in 2022. We also talk about the fragility of the dream(s) she represents: being young, hot, and reckless in New York; representing a milieu just by being yourself; and turning out just fine (and famous) after following your impulses to the bitter end.Mentioned:"A Retired Dominatrix Goes to Church" Naomi Fry in The New Yorker "Julia's Box: Where the Leg
Episode 09: Grimes
This week, we recap the foundational STARGIRL themes: the nature-artifice continuum, ripe/dead, and the quest for narrative control. Then, we analyze one of the world's highest-profile MPDGs, Grimes, and discuss the power/limits of self-mythology and caricature, how to safely court Evil, and the deep threat of the effortless Weird Girl.Mentioned:"On Duplicity: Grimes and the Allure of the Fantasy Self" Emma Baker in Soft PunkReview of Art Angels in PitchforkHappy Hour by Marlowe Granados
Episode 08: Tinx
Meet Tinx, the TikTok-er turned omniscient multi-hyphenate bae! We talk about her knack for world-building (RMWs, ESWB, LTG, Miss Egg, roti chick, Tinky Tequila, Leg on the Wall Fall etc. ETC.), the downsides of hyper-transparency, and the fragility of the relatable X aspirational influencer model. Mentioned:"Meet Tinx, Your Girlfriend's Favorite Dating and Life Advice Expert" John McDermott in Esquire "Athleisure, barre and kale: the tyranny of the ideal woman" Jia Tolentino in The Guardian (ex
Episode 07: Sally Rooney w/ Mikaela Dery
This week, we are joined by my dear friend Mikaela Dery to discuss Sally Rooney, the Irish novelist. We talk about the high-brow/low-brow nature of her books, how to make malaise stylish, the power dynamics between bookish girls and jock-y dudes, and how Sally foretold young people's preoccupation with Catholicism. Discussed:"What's Really Driving the Sally Rooney Obsession?" Katie Roiphe in WSJ"Normal Novels," Becca Rothfeld in The PointFollow Mikaela on Twitter and InstagramComing events at Mc
Episode 06: Sydney Sweeney
Welcome to the first installment of STARGIRL Auditions: Sydney Sweeney! We evaluate Sydney's potential to become an era-defining actress and sex symbol, and dig into some Paglia-informed ideas about the power of vacant women. Also discussed: AirPod bodies, Maddy vs. Cassie in HBO's Euphoria, and the recent embrace of Americana and GOP aesthetics more generally.Mentioned:"The Age of Instagram Face" Jia Tolentino in TNY"The Politics of Blondness, From Aphrodite to Ivanka" in The CutSexual Personae
Episode 05: Alison Roman w/ Callie Hitchcock
Meet Alison Roman, the food media disruptress who epitomizes the best and worst of single millennial Brooklyn circa 2018. This week we are joined by Callie Hitchcock, my dear friend and a bona fide Alison Roman scholar, who breaks down the zeitgeist and her own personal investment in Alison as the next great domestic goddess. Articles mentioned:- "Alison Roman Just Can't Help Herself" by Lauren Collins in The New Yorker - "Cooking Outside the Lines: A Conversation with Alison Roman" by Callie!!
Episode 04: Jia Tolentino
Meet Jia Tolentino, the former darling of the media world who charmed and frustrated us all for a few critical pre-pandemic years. I talk about her expertly crafted "relatable" persona, why arrogance is better than feigned humility, and why I never want to see another Baby's All Right location tag for the rest of my life. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episode 03: Emily Ratajkowski
Meet Emily Ratajkowski, the hottest woman in the world who can't be satisfied! I talk about her body, her book called "My Body," her hot-girls-for-Bernie Instagram presence, and the gluttonous impulse to control how other people see you. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episode 02: Addison Rae
Meet Addison Rae, the TikTok star who changed my life. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episode 01: Audrey Gelman
Meet Audrey Gelman, the co-founder and former CEO of The Wing, the women-only co-working space that drove people mad from 2016-2020. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.