Critical Babe Theory

Friend of the pod Lauren Bille returns to the show and we attempt to talk about dating—but keep getting pulled into current events. The personal is political?Also discussed: the hermeneutics of dating people too young for you, paralyzation of choice, Candace Owens blaming American foreign policy in Venezuela on “Zionists” (editor’s note: by that does she mean Stephen Miller?), the ideal male-female age gap (spoiler: it’s 20 years), what Derek Chauvin is up to, why Hobbes would support increasing marriage rates and how women are responsible for eternal bachelorhood. Also Francesca’ gives her merciless dating advice and confesses a blasphemy.

CBT welcomes in the new year with guest Dhananjay Jagannathan and a super-stoney discussion of what Christ really meant when he said he came with the sword (the Christian mandate for socialism, duh). We break down Phil Christman’s book Why Christians Should be Leftists, the semiotics of woke house style, the aesthetics needed to reach Christian moms and how Christ is a little too radical for the NYC petite bourgeoisie.Also discussed: how sexy we like our thought leaders (very), Hilbert’s paradox as metaphor for the Trinity, the ethics of astrology, and much more. Plus Francesca asks the most serious question of all: can I really consider myself a Christian if I spend hella $$$ on nail art?Read more of his work on Dhananjay's substack, Cultured Opinion: https://culturedopinion.substack.comAnd his essay on the sins of private property:https://comment.org/on-privacy-and-exclusion/

Guest Dhananjay Jagannathan returns to discuss his time as a professor at Columbia University post-October 7th and the ensuing protests and encampments. We discuss how the elite institutions of higher education are eating themselves alive—like it's 1968 all over again.Also discussed: the lost pleasures of MapQuest, how Columbia University loves its grass (more than its students), and that Francesca never wears her glasses and thus lives in blissful ignorance.

This week's guest Dhananjay Jagannathan, essayist and Professor of Philosophy at Hunter College, comes on to discuss the value of education today—is it for the one percent? Is it for spiritual edification? Is it to perform well at cocktail parties? Read more on Dhananjay's substack, Cultured Opinion: https://culturedopinion.substack.comAtlantic article about how students don't read anymore: https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2024/11/the-elite-college-students-who-cant-read-books/679945/

Francesca and guest host Lauren Bille discuss single motherhood (and why you shouldn't be one), the tepid response to pronatalism on the right, dating football players and much more.

You open your eyes at dawn and turn in the cool bedsheets. From outside, you can hear the California High-Speed Rail as it comes to a screeching halt. Your government issued Meta glasses deliver a Page Six alert: recently disgraced influencer has thrown herself into the tracks. You open your window, and an Amazon drone flies in with your reasonably priced prescription of Ozempic, manufactured in the Purdue low-orbit space factory. Your micro-ear piece pings: it's Ezra Klein, reminding you that you're happy now.Friend-of-the-pod Brendan joins to mansplain Derek Thompson & Ezra Klein's Abundance to us.

Sarah is back from London with a theory about polyamory, and Francesca decides she no longer cares about Ezra Klein. We discuss Trump’s White House renovations, the looming war with Venezuela, the NYC mayoral race, the "ceasefire," and much more.

We discuss Francesca’s upcoming play and talk theater with director Molly Shayna Cohen—producing indie theater, being shameless, standing ovations, and falling in love with your co-star. Plus Sarah has an anger attack at the Vatican gift shop.Come see Molly & Francesca's scandalous new play ESCALATION TIME in NYC Nov 7-23! Use code CBT50 for 50% all GA tickets.Follow Molly on Instagram @mollyshaynacohenhttps://www.mollyshaynacohen.com/ Discussed: The Playwright vs. the Theater Victor I. Cazares has stopped taking their HIV meds — until the NY Theatre Workshop calls for a cease-fire in Gaza 

We answer all your burning questions about the NYC mayoral race. Why did Zohran eat a burrito on the subway? Would NYC be safer under Sharia law? And was Francesca once a Cuomosexual? And we endorse Zohran, duh.Come see Francesca's scandalous new play in NYC Nov 7-23! Use code CBT50 for 50% all GA tickets.NYC Find Your Poll Site and see your ballotDiscussed:The Goon SquadThe Feminist by Tony TulathimutteA Reporter Misstook ‘Bill DeBlasio’ for Bill de BlasioWhy Biden's White House Press Secretary is Leaving the Democratic PartyInsane White House 'Major Events' Page

Sarah is back from London with a theory about polyamory, and Francesca decides she no longer cares about Ezra Klein. We discuss Trump’s White House renovations, the looming war with Venezuela, the NYC mayoral race, the "ceasefire," and much more.

Movement professional, social worker in-training, and friend of the pod Brittany Rowell joins us to discuss matters of the mind and body: Is being skinny actually fascist? Does therapy actually work? And why do all roads lead to MAHA? Plus, Francesca recounts her time at a psychic institute.Follow Britt on Instagram @britbritrowell   Discussed:⁠Is pilates political?Psychiatry Won’t Solve Our Mental Health Crisis — Only Politics Can Do That

"But was silence not an option?"Francesca continues her righteous crusade against polyamory and Ezra Klein, as we review Klein's recent conversation with Ta-Nehisi Coates about Charlie Kirk's legacy.Discussed:Ta-Nehisi Coates on Bridging Gaps vs. Drawing Lines

Friend of the pod Emily Meade (The Deuce, Dead Ringers, The Penguin) joins us to talk about life as a working actress. We discuss the Riyadh Comedy Festival, witchcraft, Scientology, “Tilly” the AI actress, and much more.Follow Emily on Instagram @need4meadeWatch Emily's breakout performance at a weird Catholic Church-sponsored Italian children's singing competition in the 90s

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We discuss “heterofatalism” and the latest propaganda against straight men.  Discussed: The Trouble with Wanting Men This Economist Crunched the Numbers and Stopped Dating Men The Princess of 72nd Street Rep Richie Torres & AIPACJia Tolentino on Elizabeth Gilbert Slouching Towards Bethlehem

Full episode on Patreon for subscribers only. https://www.patreon.com/c/CriticalBabeTheory

We discuss Sarah's experience getting cancelled at work and Andrea Chu’s review of Thomas Chatterton William’s new book Summer of Our Discontent: The Age of Certainty and the Demise of Discourse. Plus: Francesca’s controversial statements on polyamory, Sarah’s visit to a nude beach, talking to men on the subway, Ezra Klein’s moral failings, Trump federalizing the DC police, and more.Discussed:Andrea Long Chu on Thomas Chatterton Williams's new bookEzra Klein on PalestineHow a Polyamorous Mom Had ‘a Big Sexual Adventure’ and Found HerselfRepublican lawmaker in jail on child sex abuse material charges resigns from officeVictoria Lagano tattoos

Dilettante, suspected communist, essayist, and musician Zay, aka Civic Flora, joins the pod to discuss the return of fascism, reconciling our material desires with our socialist dreams, the alleged male loneliness epidemic, bromance, third spaces, and much, much more.Follow Zay on Instagram @civicfloraCheck out Zay's music and essays here

We discuss the midtown Manhattan shooting and CTE, self-immolation, Sydney Sweeney’s American Eagle ad campaign, The New York Times’ genocidal journalism, and the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. Discussed:Dorothy Day on self-immolationJustin Trudeau party trickNew York War Crimes dossierGlobal march to GazaThe Information Warfare Consortium Shaping GHF’s PR OffensiveLeonardo DiCaprio is invested in a hotel in IsraelCorrectionsDorothy Day is not a saint, but she should be!According to Palestinian analyst Elhasan Bakr, the prewar amount of aid trucks into Gaza was 500-600 a day, with estimates of 1,000-1,500 trucks needed to alleviate starvation. Israel has failed to reach any of these goals.

Harry Krinsky, co-host of the basketball podcast Nothing But Respect, joins the show for a thrilling cultural exchange. He teaches us about men and sports, and we talk to him about girlie stuff—like having a sapphic awakening while watching Blue Is the Warmest Color.Discussed: the cost of being a sports fan, gambling, male loneliness, how pick-up basketball is sort of gay cruising for straight guys, and Sarah’s attempt to help a stranger on the streets of NYC make friends.Follow Harry on Instagram @lexaprotoolsListen to Nothing But Respect