34 Circe Salon -- Make Matriarchy Great Again -- Disrupting History

The iconic film Thelma & Louise debuted in 1991 and changed the cinematic landscape forever.  Join Vicki Noble, Dawn "Sam" Alden and Sean Marlon Newcombe as they examine this legendary female revenge film and its effect on culture. 

We present an encore presentation of Vicki Noble's discussion of the Marija Gimbutas Symposium from 2021.  As our following has grown, we'd like to acquaint our new listeners with some of the foundational topics of this podcast.  Without question, the matriarchal scholarship of Marija Gimbutas is a guiding force of Make Matriarchy Great Again-- as is the matriarchal scholarship of Vicki Noble! In fact, Vicki is teaching a course on the matriarchal origins of civilization.  You can find out more here:https://www.yogaandthemoon.fr/vicki-waitlistCelebrating the centennial of Marija Gimbtutas' birth, the Association for the Study of Women & Mythology held a symposium on her life and works.  "Make Matriarchy Great Again" inspiration and charter member, Vicki Noble, chaired one of the discussions and joins us to talk about the symposium and the celebration of the life of Marija Gimbutas.Sean Marlon Newcombe and Dawn "Sam" Alden co-host.

Vicki Noble & Marilu Shinn - Women's Blood MysteriesVicki and Dawn speak with Marilu Shinn about menstrual blood - its beginning, its end, and how it is entangled with the cycles of life and death, our connection with Mother Earth and the moon, and with the powerful shadow aspect of the Goddess, which our society has tried to banish. 

Dawn "Sam" Alden talks with Sean Marlon Newcombe about the myriad of women warriors throughout history and how their stories have been erased. What we talk about in this episode is in many ways foundational to what we’d like to achieve in this podcast.  These are the stories we’d like to tell about women and truths about them that we wish to uncover.  Please also take a look at a video excerpt of this episode: https://youtu.be/B4EA8BwdCJk

Join us for a wonderful discussion of the rematriation movement as it impacts Native American people. According to the women leading the this movement, "rematriation" refers to the Indigenous concept of reclaiming ancestral remains, spirituality, culture, knowledge and resources in a manner that honors the feminine and the female in culture. Rematriation is a way to reclaim indigenous culture and sovereignty while keeping a matriarchal perspective.We talk with Kristen McCormick, an activist involved in Native American and environmental issues, as well as a CEO of a company, to discuss how Native American women's voices have become more prominent as they lead movements to reclaim their matriarchal cultural roots and improve the world for all of us. Sean Newcombe and Dawn "Sam" Alden co-host.

Referred to as, "A black comedy told in pastels," the film "Promising Young Woman" initiates our series on female revenge movies.  Written and directed by Emerald Fennell (for which she won the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay) and starring Carey Mulligan, "Promising Young Woman" is a black comedy thriller which tells the story of a young woman, traumatized by a tragic event in her past, who seeks out vengeance against those who cross her path. Join Dawn "Sam" Alden, Sean Marlon Newcombe and Vicki Noble as they discuss this excellent film.

An epic tale of freedom and slavery, love and war, and the potential futures of humankind tells of a twenty-first century California clan caught between two clashing worlds, one based on tolerance, the other on repression-- such is the novel "The Fifth Sacred Thing" by Starhawk.  Join Dawn "Sam" Alden and Sean Marlon Newcombe as they discuss this seminal work of matriarchal science fiction. 

Join us as Dawn "Sam" Alden regales us about the colorful and incredibly exciting life of Mary Ann Evans, the woman known in India as "Fearless Nadia."  A pioneer of women's action films, this British woman slipped through the conventions of colonial Anglo-Indian culture to become one of the most beloved stars of Indian cinema.  Remembered best as the masked, whip-wielding star of Hunterwali (in which she did her own stunts) Nadia was a star for decades working well into her sixties-- becoming a fitness guru after her film retirement in her seventies!  A life that spanned most of the 20th Century with all its contradictions and triumphs, this is a woman whose story you should know! 

Could matriarchy provide an alternative to the predatory corporatism that defines the global economy? Join us as we bring bring back our third member of the Make Matriarchy Great Again team, Vicki Noble, to discuss the Gift Economy with special guest Genevieve Vaughan.  Genevieve Vaughan is a scholar of semiotics, a peace activist and a feminist who has championed the concept of the "Gift Economy," a means of exchange where goods are given among people rather than bought and sold.  The Gift Economy uses the matriarchal mother-child paradigm as a key basis of its structure.  Given the current painful state of economic affairs in the world, is it finally time for a matriarchal solution?

Returning to chat with us again is Professor Ping Yao of Cal State Los Angeles.  A specialist on gender and religion in Premodern China, Dr. Yao joins us to do a deeper survey into the important aspects of gender systems and gender practices throughout Chinese history, from the earliest period to the modern era.Sean Marlon Newcombe and Dawn "Sam" Alden co-host.