Binchtopia

The girlies hop on the mic for the last time this year to recap a timeline of the memes, celebrity relationships, and silly internet shit that captured our attention in 2023. Digressions include a failed STD test and He Need A One Dance. If you’ll miss us on our break, you can find bonus episodes, mediasodes, monthly zoom meetings, and more on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The girlies open up the mailbox and dedicate an entire episode to your hilarious moments. We’re with you through the hard times (salmonella Tinder date) and the good times (dislodging pasta from beneath your fingertip by cooking it soft). Thanks for another year of being our listeners. Digressions include predictions for who will be woman’d in 2024 and our made-up idioms. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The girlies return to the world of family vloggers to answer the important questions — how did the momfluencer come to be and why are we so obsessed with her? Can children ever meaningfully consent to being shared online? Did Jean Baudrillard predict our real life Truman Show with Simulacra and Simulation in 1981? Digressions include your newest NY Times covergirls, the Binchtopia Boy Draft, and one listener’s experience as an assistant momager. Support the podcast on Patreon at patreon.com/binchtopia Binchtopia is created, produced, and hosted by Julia Hava and Eliza McLamb. This episode was edited by Allison Hagan. *note: we hit the character limit for this description -- additional sources for this episode are linked on our Patreon! SOURCES: Momfluenced: Inside the Maddening, Picture-Perfect World of Mommy Influencer Culture Simulacra and Simulation Are We To Be Forever Trapped Between the Two? The Internet, Modernity, and Postmodernity in the Early 21st Century Child-produced content and the simulation of childhood New law entitles child social media influencers to a percentage of earnings Why did Mark Zuckerberg cover his kids’ faces on Instagram? Their lives were documented online from birth. Now, they’re coming of age The YouTube Parents Who are Turning Family Moments into Big Bucks Kidfluencers Are Today’s Version of Chimney Sweeps Research Brief: “Sharenting” and Child Influencers Sharenting: parent blogging and the boundaries of the digital self Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The girlies revisit a classic early Binchtopia episode to unpack the phenomenon of child-centric content — this time with sources! In Part 1 they discuss the history of child labor in America including the plight of minor miners, the exploitation of Shirley Temple, and why we LOVE watching videos of Trisha Paytas playing with Malibu Barbie. Digressions include Eliza’s experience of buying Buddhism in Hollywood, Catholic mantras that go hard, and listener-submitted momager stories. Binchtopia is created, produced, and hosted by Julia Hava and Eliza McLamb. This episode was edited by Allison Hagan. SOURCES: History of child labor in the United States—part 1: little children working History of child labor in the United States–part 2: the reform movement There’s No Business Like Show Business: Child Entertainers and the Law More Than Pocket Money: A History of Child Actor Laws Little Miss Fix-It: The Remarkable Life of Shirley Temple Before The Good Ship Lollipop, Shirley Temple Did 'Baby Burlesks' How cute things hijack our brains and drive behaviour  Assessing the cuteness of children: Significant factors and gender differences Gendering Cuteness Our Aesthetic Categories: Zany, Cute, Interesting  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The girlies go soapbox mode to discuss two women in history that they can’t stop thinking about: their special interest girlbosses. Julia tells the fascinating story of Annie Oakley, the most snatched sharpshooter of all time, and Eliza gets deep into the lore of Connie Converse, the mysterious (gay?) 50’s songwriter who pioneered the genre before disappearing without a trace. Plus, more Kardashian discourse, an angel update, and homophobia-themed mailbox moments. To help keep these episodes ad-free, access bonus episodes, and support the podcast, head to patreon.com/binchtopia Binchtopia is created, produced, and hosted by Julia Hava and Eliza McLamb. This episode was edited by Allison Hagan. SOURCES The true story of Annie Oakley, legendary sharpshooter Annie Oakley | National Women's History Museum. What the True Story of Buffalo Bill Reveals About the Myth of the Wild West Annie Oakley: In A Man’s World  Annie Oakley: The Person To Anyone Who Ever Asks: The Life, Music, and Mystery of Connie Converse by Howard Fishman The Art of Disappearance by Hanif Abdurraqib Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The girlies are back with another Eerie Episode™, this time covering all things WITCHES! They go back into the annuls to unpack the history of European witchery, the Salem Witch trials, voodoo, the current-day Wicca practitioners, and the Etsy spell sellers of today. They discuss “witch” as a socially imposed category and the evolution of witchy practices throughout history. Digressions include some Russian witch tea from a listener and Khloe Kardashian’s unfortunate lot in this life as a Victim Soul. Binchtopia is created, produced, and hosted by Julia Hava and Eliza McLamb. Research for this episode was contributed by Ben Rosenfeld and Charlie Squire. Sources: The Devil in the Shape of a Woman A Brief History of the Salem Witch Trials Damned Women: Sinners and Witches in Puritan New England Why Do Witches Ride Brooms? (NSFW) Caliban and the Witch: Women, the Body and Primitive Accumulation  Drawing Down the Moon : Witches, Druids, Goddess-Worshippers, and Other Pagans in America Today Daring to Be Bad: Radical Feminism in America  Cultural Appropriation in Contemporary Neopaganism and Witchcraft Perceptions of New Orleans Voodoo: Sin, Fraud, Entertainment, and Religion New Age and Neopagan Religions in America  Fantasies of Gender and the Witch in Feminist Theory and Literature Witchcraft for Sale! Commodity vs. Community in the Neopagan Movement Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The girlies venture into Vampire Lore™  in Part I of a series of Eerie Episodes. They explore the shocking disease that turned people into vampires, the impact of vampiric literature, how Stephanie Meyer bastardized Gothic traditions via Mormonism, and more! Digressions include a plug for our upcoming virtual live show, an earnest diary entry from a day-one Twihard, and advice for a binchie who can’t stop dating people who want them to suck their blood.  Get tickets to our virtual Halloween live show here! SOURCES: Vampires: Real Origins, Legends, and Stories The Bloody Truth About Vampires Born to the Purple: the Story of Porphyria Attention, Predation, Counterintuition: Why Dracula Won’t Die by Mathias Clasen The Weird and the Eerie by Mark Fisher (Un)safe Sex: Romancing the Vampire by Karen Backstein Twilight’s Heteronormative Reversal of the Monstrous: Utopia and the Gothic Design by Kelly Budruweit My Vampire Boyfriend: Postfeminism and “Perfect” Masculinity Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Religious scholar Kate Twomey joins to discuss non-binary Christian God, the allure of nuns, and the Israel-Gaza war. They delve into queer theology, sound's role in spirituality, and navigating friend breakups for growth.

The hosts dive into Reddit stories about a seagull stealing cigarettes, a disturbing butter mystery, and more. They explore topics like dinosaurs, racism in rock and roll, bones and taxidermy, family dynamics and bullying, and a nicotine-addicted seagull.

The girlies are in for a nostalgic episode, exploring two of the most puzzling crazes of the 2000’s — Dance Dance Revolution and SillyBandz. Digressions include an entire intro dedicated to telling landlords to GET A REAL JOB!!!!! Plus, the first ever mobile Binchtopia academy for youths.  SOURCES: Are We Human, or Are We Dancer? The Legacy of ‘Dance Dance Revolution,’ 20 Years Later ‘Dance Dance Revolution’ Movie In Works At Stampede; Company Ups Cara Fano To Director Of Development Machine Dance as Fitness and Sport Evolving Relationship between Humans and Machines An Interview With Poet Cathy Park Hong The Last Two Dance Dance Revolution Machines in Manhattan Silly Bandz, the Bracelets That Spring Off Shelves The History & Phenomenon of Sillybandz Silly Bandz Banned Silly Bandz Danger American Fads: Silly Bandz Children’s Peer Cultures Silly Bandz and the Currency of Information Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.