To L And Back: An L Word Podcast

To L and Back is a new podcast from Autostraddle.com in which Riese Bernard will be re-watching and discussing every episode of the iconic lesbian series we hate to love: The L Word! Join Riese and her Season One co-host, Buffering the Vampire Slayer's Kristin Russo, for this excruciating trip down memory lane. Logo Design by Carra Sykes Theme Song by Be Steadwell Episode Mix by Lauren Klein

Calling all heterosexual orphan shoplifters, it’s time for a “To L and Back” holiday special in which we recap the classic controversial holiday film, “Happiest Season,” starring our very own Kristen Stewart and Dan Levy and directed by Clea Duvall. Join two unpopular Jews as we traverse territory similar to The L Word’s: the collective psychological meltdown of a group comprised almost entirely of wealthy white people! Follow us on Instagram and Twitter at @tolandback Follow Riese everywhere at @autowin and her esteemed website @autostraddle. Join our membership program, A+, to ensure our site lasts as long as this show did!  Follow Carly Usdin everywhere @carlytron Theme song: Be Steadwell @besteadwell Logo: Carra Sykes @carrasykes Episode Produced, Mixed, Edited: Lauren Klein @laurentaylorklein

It’s therapy time at the Los Angeles sheriff’s department and boi is there some interrogation going on!!! Who burned down wax? (Cue guitar riff) Who stole the negative? Who has pretty little eyes? Does Tina have parents? Bring your beloved and some poetry and we will get down to business but definitely nobody is gonna talk about who killed Jenny just in case you were wondering! Follow us on Instagram and Twitter at @tolandback Follow Riese everywhere at @autowin and her esteemed website @autostraddle. Join our membership program, A+, to ensure our site lasts as long as this show did!  Follow Carly Usdin everywhere @carlytron Theme song: Be Steadwell @besteadwell Logo: Carra Sykes @carrasykes Episode Produced, Mixed, Edited: Lauren Klein @laurentaylorklein

Several weeks ago, we gathered an all-star cast of friends of the pod for a LIVE reading of “The Farm,” the thwarted L Word spinoff that never got picked up, in which Alice was sent to prison for Jenny’s murder! Join Brittany Ashley, Brittani Nichols, Laura Zak, Fawzia Mirza, John Bellamy, Cerise Castle, El Sanchez, Analyssa Lopez, Drew Gregory, Erin Sullivan and Kelley Quinn on this very bad road in the podcast recording of the live reading! Follow us on Instagram and Twitter at @tolandback Follow Riese everywhere at @autowin and her esteemed website @autostraddle. Join our membership program, A+, to ensure our site lasts as long as this show did!  Follow Carly Usdin everywhere @carlytron Follow our SPECIAL GUESTS @bishilarious, @analocaa, @heykq, @laurazak, @draw_gregory, @thefawz, @elsanchovilla, @drjohnboochie, @yourmajestcee, @active_senior_, @britt27ash Theme song: Be Steadwell @besteadwell Logo: Carra Sykes @carrasykes Episode Produced, Mixed, Edited: Lauren Klein @laurentaylorklein Special thanks to our broadcast producer, Karl Saint Lucy! @karlsaintlucy

On our very first episode of “To L and Back,” Kristin and Riese dig into our own relationships to this wonderful lesbian program and then plummet into The L Word’s first hour of groundbreaking television (with our leather bracelets on), in which Jenny moves to L.A. and Bette and Tina scour the town for viable sperm. Your Hosts: Riese Bernard; autostraddle.com; @autowin Kristin Russo; kristinnoeline.com; @kristinnoeline Logo Designed by Carra Sykes Theme Song by Be Steadwell Episode Mix by Lauren Klein

For Part Two of The L Word’s invigorating pilot, which Riese and Kristin honestly really liked a lot, lesbians have actual lesbian sex, nobody gets pregnant (yet!), Jenny has a big decision to make and The Chart begins tracking the mistakes of every lesbian, everywhere, forever. Your Hosts: Riese Bernard; autostraddle.com; @autowin Kristin Russo; kristinnoeline.com; @kristinnoeline Logo Designed by Carra Sykes Theme Song by Be Steadwell Episode Mix by Lauren Klein

This week on To L and Back, we’ve lovingly sliced tiny bits of our outstanding interview with Guinevere Turner into our recap of “Let’s Do It,” in which Alice pursues vaginal rejuvenation (for science!), the gals put together a mission to ascertain the disposition of one Ms Lara Perkins, Tim throws an awkward dinner party in an apron, and we all agree that pants were way too low-waisted in 2004. Also, our GIVE MIA KIRSHNER A RETROACTIVE EMMY campaign continues. To L & Back is an Autostraddle podcast produced by Riese Bernard, Lauren "Karen" Klein, and Kristin Russo Theme song by Be Steadwell Edited & Mixed by Lauren “Karen” Klein Logo by Carra Sykes Follow us on instagram @tolandback

We drank a LOT of wine with Guinevere Turner (who played Gaby Deavoux and wrote for The L Word’s first two seasons) and along the way, spoke about dildos, working with your ex, the Chart’s origin story, the electric Season One writers room and a fateful trip to Dinah Shore. Beware! This interview contains spoilers!

All hail Queen Peggy Peabody, who arrives this week for an art buying spree — but will she save Bette’s job?? Meanwhile, Lacey has discovered the joys of flyering, Lara’s finger injuries won’t get in the way of her hot date with Dana and Alice debates the pros and cons of asking Gabby to step off, bitch. Check out Autostraddle.com for your weekly episode footnotes and musical complaints. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter at @tolandback Follow Riese everywhere at @autowin and her esteemed website @autostraddle. Join our membership program, A+, to ensure our site lasts as long as this show did! Follow Kristin Russo everywhere @kristinnoeline. Theme song: Be Steadwell @besteadwell Logo: Carra Sykes @carrasykes Episode Mixed & Edited by Lauren Karen Klein Produced by Riese Bernard, Lauren Karen Klein, and Kristin Russo

Alice’s eccentric mother Lenore is here and ready to lie because, at least according to Jenny’s Professor Nick Whatever, “everyone’s a liar, dear.” But are they? Or has Hector Projector STRUCK AGAIN? Also: why is Bette being so mean? Who puts pee on a plate? Did Tim remember to DVR the slalom performance? Why isn’t Lara more excited about Dana’s incredible orgasm? Did Riese notice that Mr. Piddles was in the frame? This week we will tackle these questions and so many more as we discuss “Lies Lies Lies,” which was honestly a very dark episode of The L Word. Check out Autostraddle.com for your weekly episode footnotes and musical complaints. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter at @tolandback Follow Riese everywhere at @autowin and her esteemed website @autostraddle. Join our membership program, A+, to ensure our site lasts as long as this show did! Follow Kristin Russo everywhere @kristinnoeline. Theme song: Be Steadwell @besteadwell Logo: Carra Sykes @carrasykes Episode Mixed & Edited by Lauren Karen Klein Produced by Riese Bernard, Lauren Karen Klein, and Kristin Russo

Are you in the market for a whey protein smoothie? Well I hope so because that’s what you’re getting on this week’s “To L and Back,” in which we recap “Lawfully,” a real doozy of an episode in which Alice’s Mom is wild, Bette can’t believe Tina is gonna wear that dress, and Kristin would like Riese to stop saying “meat” so much! Check out Autostraddle.com for your weekly episode footnotes and musical complaints. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter at @tolandback Follow Riese everywhere at @autowin and her esteemed website @autostraddle. Join our membership program, A+, to ensure our site lasts as long as this show did! Follow Kristin Russo everywhere @kristinnoeline. Theme song: Be Steadwell @besteadwell Logo: Carra Sykes @carrasykes Episode Mixed & Edited by Lauren Karen Klein Produced by Riese Bernard, Lauren Karen Klein, and Kristin Russo

Stuff those dirty ’shrooms in your face, poke her in the face and liquor in the rear and then brace yourself for a world in which suddenly nobody has a cell phone anymore cuz if they did there’d be no plot! Jenny’s still got her tights on though, just FYI, and Shane’s making some valuable business connections while Tim stomps around a lot, Bette takes a trip to New York City for an art opening, and Alice rides Lisa’s sensitive “lesbian-identified male” vibes. Will any of us be able to hold our horses for Twat the night? One thing’s for sure: Kristin really wants to bang a gong like ten times because WHAT THE L IS GOING ON HERE Check out Autostraddle.com for your weekly episode footnotes and musical complaints. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter at @tolandback Follow Riese everywhere at @autowin and her esteemed website @autostraddle. Join our membership program, A+, to ensure our site lasts as long as this show did! Follow Kristin Russo everywhere @kristinnoeline. Theme song: Be Steadwell @besteadwell Logo: Carra Sykes @carrasykes Episode Mixed & Edited by Lauren Karen Klein Produced by Riese Bernard, Lauren Karen Klein, and Kristin Russo

Do you need a bath? Well then, you and Jenny have something in common! This week on The L Word, all tights are off and the yacht party is ON. Also: the girls stage a very important intervention with Bette and Tina in hopes of saving them from sinking into the deep, sticky quicksand of boring pregnancy conversations, Kristin has an incorrect opinion about warm milk, Dana and Lara cry in a restaurant, Lisa sent Reiki vibes to Alice and wonders if she heard them, everybody gets very drunk, people dance in various ways, there’s some full-frontal nudity, and Shane has deep thoughts about love and marriage. For those riveting events and so much more, you will not want to miss this week’s episode of To L and Back! Check out Autostraddle.com for your weekly episode footnotes and musical complaints. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter at @tolandback Follow Riese everywhere at @autowin and her esteemed website @autostraddle. Join our membership program, A+, to ensure our site lasts as long as this show did! Follow Kristin Russo everywhere @kristinnoeline. Theme song: Be Steadwell @besteadwell Logo: Carra Sykes @carrasykes Episode Mixed & Edited by Lauren Karen Klein Produced by Riese Bernard, Lauren Karen Klein, and Kristin Russo

Join Riese and our guest co-host, director/writer Carly Usdin (who autowin fans will remember from Riese’s original L Word Recaps) AND our special celebrity guest, writer/actor/comic Brittani Nichols, for this week’s episode of “To L and Back,” in which Bette and Tina join Dan Foxworthy’s Special Social Group for Problematic Parents, Jenny’s college buddy comes to town with binoculars and an appetite for spy work, Dana tries to explain to her parents that it’s okay to be outdoorsy, and we finally get to attend West Hollywood’s hottest dance party, TWAT THE NIGHT. Don’t forget, little figs: everyone has feelings for their girlfriends but it doesn’t mean we have to act on them! Check out Autostraddle.com for your weekly episode footnotes and musical complaints. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter at @tolandback Follow Riese everywhere at @autowin and her esteemed website @autostraddle. Join our membership program, A+, to ensure our site lasts as long as this show did! Follow Kristin Russo everywhere @kristinnoeline. Theme song: Be Steadwell @besteadwell Logo: Carra Sykes @carrasykes Episode Mixed & Edited by Lauren Karen Klein Produced by Riese Bernard, Lauren Karen Klein, and Kristin Russo

This week on another gripping episode of “To L and Back,” Cherie Jaffe tells Shane that in terms of what she can do for her, she needs a change; Conservatives turn out to have very different taste in art than Bette does, Dana gets set up with an Andrew, Jenny attempts to digest food and wine at a sadistic dinner party hosted by her ex-lover and her mean girlfriend, and Slim Daddy brings Kit a smoothie but she can drink her own smoothie, okay? Also Kristin is a furry. Check out Autostraddle.com for your weekly episode footnotes and musical complaints. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter at @tolandback Follow Riese everywhere at @autowin and her esteemed website @autostraddle. Join our membership program, A+, to ensure our site lasts as long as this show did! Follow Kristin Russo everywhere @kristinnoeline. Theme song: Be Steadwell @besteadwell Logo: Carra Sykes @carrasykes Episode Mixed & Edited by Lauren Karen Klein Produced by Riese Bernard, Lauren Karen Klein, and Kristin Russo

Hey have you seen any bread… for toast? Jenny hasn't… at least not yet. Also, Alice hasn't gotten her period yet but guess what WE DON'T CARE. While everybody sorts all that out, Dana gets a haircut, Francesca and Marina continue torturing each other with wicked games, Bette prepares for a Mommi-off with Fae Buckley, Tina wants to help at-risk children at the Institute for Social Justice Mart, Shane continues falling for Cherie but first has to teach her daughter how to do putt-putt golf, and Dana and Jenny run into each other at the intersection of Sad and Hot. Also Riese was wrong about the palms being the last lesbian bar in LA, it was actually the last lesbian bar in West Hollywood and the second to last lesbian bar in LA. The last was The Oxwood Inn in the valley. Check out Autostraddle.com for your weekly episode footnotes and musical complaints. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter at @tolandback Follow Riese everywhere at @autowin and her esteemed website @autostraddle. Join our membership program, A+, to ensure our site lasts as long as this show did! Follow Kristin Russo everywhere @kristinnoeline. Theme song: Be Steadwell @besteadwell Logo: Carra Sykes @carrasykes Episode Mixed & Edited by Lauren Karen Klein Produced by Riese Bernard, Lauren Karen Klein, and Kristin Russo

It’s our first-ever live episode of To L and Back, recorded live at A-Camp! Join us — and special guests Be Steadwell, Marni Kellison, Laneia Jones and two “margaritas” as we tackle the Dinah Shore episode. Dana will meet Tonya, her guest liaison, who is the worst, and Shane will recall the girl who took her sunshine toy and then her heart, and Jenny, who is not a 100-footer, will buy a “lesbians wanted” t-shirt and deliver a short monologue on the topic of Marina. We will talk about how hot Candace the Carpenter is when she’s out here workin’, and our own Dinah Shore medical emergencies, and the truth about cats and dogs and lesbians and the harmonies of “Closer to Fine” and when we’re done, everybody will go to the pool! Just watch out for disease okay? Shane might not be around to leave you a bottle of water. Check out Autostraddle.com for your weekly episode footnotes and musical complaints. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter at @tolandback Follow Riese everywhere at @autowin and her esteemed website @autostraddle. Join our membership program, A+, to ensure our site lasts as long as this show did! Follow Kristin Russo everywhere @kristinnoeline. Thank you to special guests Laneia Jones, Marni Kellison, & Be Steadwell! Theme song: Be Steadwell @besteadwell Logo: Carra Sykes @carrasykes Episode Mixed & Edited by Lauren Karen Klein Produced by Riese Bernard, Lauren Karen Klein, and Kristin Russo

Who here can speak the language of the manatees? Well, not Jenny with that weird font, that’s for sure. Elsewhere this week, a protest breaks out at the California Art Center over whether or not it is true that Art = Filth, landing Bette, Candace, Alice, Dana and Shane in the ’ol clinker, where Candace and Bette fight sexual tension with road trip games. Meanwhile, Dana’s monster girlfriend is left alone with her cat, Tina does 150 good deeds in one day, Kit starts a flirty friendship with a sexy drag king, Jenny and Marina both go on dates with Robin the Trapeze Artist and Tim enjoys beers and basketballs. Check out Autostraddle.com for your weekly episode footnotes and musical complaints. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter at @tolandback Follow Riese everywhere at @autowin and her esteemed website @autostraddle. Join our membership program, A+, to ensure our site lasts as long as this show did! Follow Kristin Russo everywhere @kristinnoeline. Theme song: Be Steadwell @besteadwell Logo: Carra Sykes @carrasykes Episode Mixed & Edited by Lauren Karen Klein Produced by Riese Bernard, Lauren Karen Klein, and Kristin Russo

It’s time for the finale of The L Word’s first stunning season and boi did we have feelings this week!! Provocations is finally making its big debut, Jenny is playing the dating game, Ivan loves a lip sync, Alice doesn’t think Dana should marry tonya, Shane is spiraling over Cherie and HOW WILL IT ALL END? WILL IT BE JUST LIKE THEY SAID IT WOULD BE?? WILL LIFE GO EASY ON ME? Tina will throw a shoe. Check out Autostraddle.com for your weekly episode footnotes and musical complaints. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter at @tolandback Follow Riese everywhere at @autowin and her esteemed website @autostraddle. Join our membership program, A+, to ensure our site lasts as long as this show did! Follow Kristin Russo everywhere @kristinnoeline. Theme song: Be Steadwell @besteadwell Logo: Carra Sykes @carrasykes Episode Mixed & Edited by Lauren Karen Klein Produced by Riese Bernard, Lauren Karen Klein, and Kristin Russo

This week on To L and Back, Riese has four of her Autostraddle Senior Editors right there with her at a table because for just one week a year, we actually work in the same location instead of all over this damn country! First, we quiz Rachel, L Word Virgin, on what happened in Season One (which she has never seen) and then we talk about our fave characters and sex scenes and then we reveal the true reason for this podcast episode (it involves an upcoming fundraiser!!!) It’s just a super fun hang for all of us and I think you’ll like it.  Follow us on Instagram and Twitter at @tolandback Follow Riese everywhere at @autowin and her esteemed website @autostraddle. Join our membership program, A+, to ensure our site lasts as long as this show did! Follow: Carmen @carmencitaloves Laneia at @grrreen Sarah at @sarwarrior Rachel @danascullyirl Theme song: Be Steadwell @besteadwell Logo: Carra Sykes @carrasykes Episode Mixed & Edited by Lauren Karen Klein Produced by Riese Bernard, Lauren Karen Klein, and Kristin Russo