Murder of Crones

Hosts Jen, Kori, and Zabrina examine how Halloween costumes reflect the narrow, contradictory expectations placed on women and girls. They trace Halloween’s layered traditions, discuss costume play as self-expression and temporary freedom, and question how pop culture sexualizes girls while framing women’s sexuality as both desirable and punishable. Jen, Zabrina, and Kori examine the sexualization of girls and women through Halloween costumes, dress codes, pop culture, and media norms. They weigh personal choice and sexual expression against social pressure, consent, and parents’ responsibility to protect children.   Show Notes Takeaways: - What if the answer is both and neither? - The thing is dressing up in a costume, role-playing, being somebody else, it's always to some degree subversive. - Halloween provides a convenient outlet for some repressed communities such as gay men and trans people. - And that is the joy of Halloween. We can be alter egos. - No one is forcing women to dress in any particular costume. - Dress as you want, however, and as feminists, we would support that. - We are sexualizing our girls at a younger and younger age, which is a problem. - You know, we have to protect our children. “the problem isn't the motive of the girls' dressing. I think the problem is the societal lens.” - “A woman has every right to dress as sleazy as she wants to.” - “That doesn't give men the right to touch them or to do something awful to them” - “we need to be able to walk in that space where we know that no matter what step we take, we're gonna be judged” - “Halloween is a culture production more than anything, and a chance to play at whatever role you want to try on.” - “before you judge, consider who our society has told these young girls to admire” - “it should be up to the parents' discretion. 'Cause we do have to protect our children.” - “why have we erred ... on the side of like violence is the okay thing, sexuality is the thing that is not acceptable?”   Chapters 00:00 The Halloween costume question: choice or cultural pressure? 07:09 How Christian holidays absorbed earlier celebrations 12:10 Why women’s pop-culture icons are often sexy 19:05 Grease and the Madonna-whore double standard 24:04 Sexy Sandy and Halloween’s temporary loophole 26:04 Personal choice versus objectifying beauty standards 27:35 The growing sexualization of girls’ costumes 29:16 Brooke Shields, Britney Spears, and sexualized teen stardom 33:50 Young celebrities and the sexualization of teenagers 34:59 Why finding non-sexy girls’ costumes can be difficult 35:55 School dress codes and the clothes girls can actually buy 38:22 Clothing is not consent, and women choose who gets their attention 40:38 Sexual self-expression, confidence, and Halloween play 44:24 How Halloween commodifies female sexuality 47:44 Sexual liberation, erotic capital, and the cost of judgment 50:15 The double bind: women are judged whichever choice they make 52:11 Whom do we hold up as role models for girls? 54:19 Respecting choice while protecting children 57:13 Why media accepts violence more readily than intimacy 58:42 Closing thoughts and sponsor thanks   References: Bryner, Kelsey, and Sarah Bousquet. “Oversexualization in Hollywood: Brooke Shields - CHILD USA.” Child USA, 18 April 2023, https://childusa.org/oversexualization-in-hollywood-brooke-shields/.  Cerini, Marianna. “History of the Halloween costume.” CNN, 25 10 2020, https://www.cnn.com/style/article/history-of-halloween-costumes.  Firth, Emma. “The marketing of Britney Spears' virginity | The Standard.” Evening Standard, 26 October 2023, https://www.standard.co.uk/lifestyle/britney-spears-memoir-virginity-the-woman-in-me-sex-b1116091.html. Grater, Elizabeth A. “The Rise of "Slut-o-ween": Cultural Productions of Femininity in Halloween Costumes.” Master's Thesis: The Faculty of Columbian College of Arts and Sciences of George Washington University, 2012, pp. 1-84, https://scholarspace.library.gwu.edu/downloads/2b88qc32v?disposition=inline&locale=en Lange, Stephanie. “The Disturbing Story of Brooke Shields.” YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5itAKl5LHg. Parsons, Sophie. “Halloween guising Scotland: Meaning and is it different from trick or treating?” The Herald, Newsquest Media Group, 18 10 2021, https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/19655339.halloween-guising-scotland-meaning-different-trick-treating/. Preston, Charles. “Samhain | Celtic Festival, Paganism, Wicca, Halloween, & Bonfires.” Britannica, https://www.britannica.com/topic/Samhain.  Stonehill, Heidi. “Halloween Traditions Explained: Jack-o'-Lanterns, Costumes & More.” Almanac, Yankee Publishing Company, 22 10 2025, https://www.almanac.com/origins-halloween-traditions.   Contact Information: Find Murder of Crones on You Tube, Tik Tok, Facebook and Instagram.  Email : [email protected]   Special Thanks to www.dinnissendesign.com for Zabrina’s use of their show room for recording. Check them out for all your interior design needs. Dinnissen Design is located in Vancouver and Castlegar BC.

This episode explores the alarming rise of deepfake technology used for non-consensual sexual imagery, its gendered implications, and the urgent need for awareness and regulation. Experts discuss how AI is transforming the landscape of consent, privacy, and safety, especially for women and children. In this episode, we explore the complex issues surrounding AI-generated content, deep fake technology, and their implications for privacy, consent, and safety. Our guests discuss legal frameworks, ethical considerations, and practical steps to protect individuals and society from emerging digital threats.   Show Notes Takeaways: - Deepfake technology and its evolution - Gendered implications of non-consensual deepfake images - Impact on children and youth - Legal and ethical challenges - Role of social media platforms and regulation - Community and parental responsibilities AI and desensitization to fake content - Legal protections against deep fake abuse - The importance of consent in digital representations - Legislation in Canada addressing deep fake harms - The role of technology developers in safeguarding society - The cultural impact of AI amplifying societal biases - Strategies for education and empowerment around AI risks - The challenge of establishing truth in a post-truth era   Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Deepfake Porn and Its Risks 00:59 Community and School-Based Interventions 01:17 The Power of Awareness and Dialogue 01:26 Closing Thoughts and Call to Action 02:06 What Is Deepfake Technology and How Is It Used? 03:59 The Violation of Consent and Bodily Autonomy 05:58 Gendered Impact: Women as Primary Victims 07:50 Technology's Role in Lowering Barriers to Deepfake Creation 10:01 Deepfake in Schools: A Growing Concern 12:02 Statistics on Deepfake Victimization Among Youth 13:54 Legal and Parental Strategies for Prevention 16:00 Community Risks and Online Grooming Groups 17:52 The Exploitation of Children and Vulnerable Populations 19:59 Platform Policies and Industry Responsibility 21:57 Warning Signs and How to Protect Children 23:59 The Economic Chain Behind Deepfake Technology 26:01 Societal Desensitization and Cultural Factors 27:58 Misogyny, Shame, and the Weaponization of Women's Sexuality 29:54 Deepfake as a Political and Social Weapon 32:00 The Future of Women in Public Life and Deepfake Threats   References: Government of British Columbia. (n.d.). Intimate images protection.  https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/public-safety/intimate-images  Government of Canada, Department of Justice. (2026). Protecting Victims Act (Bill C-16): Proposed changes to protect victims of sexual and intimate partner violence. https://canada.justice.gc.ca/eng/csj-sjc/pl/c16/pcs-mpp.html  Henry, N., & Umbach, R. (2025). “I think it’s disgusting and I hate it”: An exploratory study of Australian young people’s perceptions of AI-generated sexual violence. Sexual Abuse, 37(3), 307–335. https://doi.org/10.1177/10790632241247939  Maddocks, S. (2020). “A deepfake porn plot intended to silence me”: Exploring continuities between pornographic and “political” deep fakes. Porn Studies, 7(4), 415–423. https://doi.org/10.1080/23268743.2020.1757499  Paris, B., & Donovan, J. (2019). Deepfakes and cheap fakes: The manipulation of audio and visual evidence. Data & Society Research Institute.  Sensity. (2019). The state of deepfakes: Landscape, threats, and impact. Sensity AI. (Originally published under the company’s former name, Deeptrace.)  UNICEF. (2026, February 4). Deepfake abuse is abuse: Millions of children fear their images are being manipulated into sexually explicit deepfakes. https://www.unicef.org/press-releases/deepfake-abuse-abu se-millions-children-fear-their-images-are-being-manipulated  Weatherbed, J. (2026, August 19). Meta ran ads for an app promising to “nudify” female politicians. WIRED. https://www.wired.com/story/meta-ran-ads-for-an-app-promising-to-nudify-female-politicians/   Contact Information: Find Murder of Crones on You Tube, Tik Tok, Facebook and Instagram.  Email : [email protected]   Special Thanks to www.dinnissendesign.com for Zabrina’s use of their show room for recording. Check them out for all your interior design needs. Dinnissen Design is located in Vancouver and Castlegar BC.

This episode explores the complex and often disturbing world of the manosphere, including its origins, subgroups, and impact on society. The Crones discuss how it influences young men, perpetuates harmful stereotypes, and intersects with issues like mental health, gender roles, and online grooming. This episode explores the complex and organized nature of the manosphere, delving into its tactics, influence, and the dangerous ideologies it promotes. We unpack how these ideas spread, their impact on society, and what can be done to counteract them.   Show Notes Takeaways: Origins and definition of the manosphere Target demographics and grooming tactics Subgroups like men's rights activists and pickup artists Impact on men's mental health and societal roles The intersection with feminism and patriarchy Online influence and radicalization strategies Misleading statistics and pseudoscience used by the movement The role of social media in spreading toxic ideologies Potential solutions and support networks for men The deliberate organization and progression of the manosphere to radicalize young men The influence of pseudo-scientific theories like hypergamy and kleptogamy The role of memes and online content in indoctrination The impact of anti-feminist rhetoric on societal attitudes and violence The connection between online extremism and real-world violence The importance of parental awareness and education in countering harmful content The movement of men going their own way (MGTOW) and its societal implications The historical context of gender roles and custody laws The spread of misogynist and anti-feminist ideologies through mainstream media Strategies for societal and governmental responses to online extremism   Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to the Manosphere and Its Impact 00:11 Introduction to the organized nature of the manosphere 02:59 How content is used to radicalize young men 03:56 What Is the Manosphere? Origins and Main Features 07:01 Target Audience: Young Boys and Grooming Tactics 07:02 The role of memes and humor in indoctrination 10:00 Subgroups: Men's Rights Activists and Pickup Artists 11:57 Pseudo-scientific theories like hypergamy and kleptogamy 15:01 Impact on Men's Mental Health and Societal Expectations 16:58 The influence of anti-feminist rhetoric on violence 19:49 The Concept of the Man Box and Restrictive Masculinity 21:53 Historical context of gender roles and custody laws 25:07 The Red Pill and Its Misinterpretation of Reality 26:58 The movement of men going their own way (MGTOW) 30:00 Misleading Statistics and Pseudoscience in the Movement 31:54 The spread of misogynist ideologies in mainstream media 35:02 The Dangerous Narrative of Women as Liars and Victims 36:56 Government responses and policy recommendations 39:51 Online Grooming and Predatory Strategies 41:55 The importance of parental awareness and education 45:04 The Role of Social Media in Radicalization 46:51 The impact of online extremism on society 49:58 Potential Solutions and Support for Men 51:59 Strategies to push back against harmful ideologies 55:00 Conclusion: Why We Must Address the Manosphere's Influence   References: Aileen, and Dan. Manosphere: Debunked. Acast, 17 March 2026, https://shows.acast.com/manosphere-debunked/about. Podcast. Andoh, Efua. “Rethinking masculinity to build healthier outcomes.” American Psychological Association, 23 September 2025, https://www.apa.org/monitor/2025/11-12/rethinking-masculinity. Accessed 2 August 2026. “APA Guidelines for Psychological Practice with Boys and Men.” American Psychological Association, August 2018, https://www.apa.org/about/policy/boys-men-practice-guidelines.pdf. Accessed 2 August 2026. Bates, Laura. Men Who Hate Women: From incels to pickup artists, the truth about extreme misogyny and how it affects us all. Simon & Schuster, 2020. Colman, Gene C. “Gender Bias in the Family Courts of Canada: Fact or Fantasy?” Gene C. Colman; Family Law Center, 16 March 1999, https://www.complexfamilylaw.com/featured-articles/gender-bias-in-the-family-courts-of-canada-fact-or-fantasy/. Equimundo. “State of American Men 2025.” Equimundo Research Reports, 2025, https://www.equimundo.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/State-of-American-Men-2025.pdf. Migliore, Brianna J. “The Manosphere's Favorite Myths (and the Science They Get Wrong).” Dysregulation Nation, Substack, 02 April 2026, https://dysregulationnation.substack.com/p/the-manospheres-favorite-myths-and. Accessed 30 July 2026. “No Ma'am.” Blogger.com, 03 November 2015, https://no-maam.blogspot.com/. Vien, Dominique. “CONFRONTING ANTIFEMINIST IDEOLOGIES IN CANADA Report of the Standing Committee on the Status of Women.” Government of Canada, June 2026, https://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2026/parl/xc71-1/XC71-1-1-451-6-eng.pdf. Weinman & Associates, P.C. “Are the courts gender biased in custody cases?” Weinman & Associates, 12 June 2020, https://www.weinmanfamilylaw.com/blog/2020/06/are-the-courts-gender-biased-in-custody-cases/. “What is the manosphere and why should we care?” UN Women, https://www.unwomen.org/en/articles/explainer/what-is-the-manosphere-and-why-should-we-care. Accessed 30 July 2026.   Contact Information: Find Murder of Crones on You Tube, Tik Tok, Facebook and Instagram.  Email : [email protected]   Special Thanks to www.dinnissendesign.com for Zabrina’s use of their show room for recording. Check them out for all your interior design needs. Dinnissen Design is located in Vancouver and Castlegar BC.

In this episode, we explore the complex nature of toxic positivity, its origins, and its impact on emotional health. We discuss how societal and cultural pressures encourage us to suppress genuine feelings and the importance of emotional honesty and resilience. In this episode, the panel explores the complexities of toxic positivity, emotional resilience, and the importance of embracing all facets of human experience, including darkness and vulnerability. Kori, Zab and Jen discuss how societal norms, cultural influences, and personal experiences shape our emotional responses and perceptions of positivity.   Show Notes Takeaways: - Toxic positivity often leads to the denial and invalidation of authentic emotions. - Society, especially women, has been conditioned to prioritize pleasantness over honesty. - Mind over matter can be a powerful tool for resilience but can also be misused to dismiss real pain. - Recognizing the difference between healthy optimism and toxic positivity is crucial for mental health. - Acceptance of reality, including mortality, is essential for genuine well-being.   Chapters 00:00 Introduction to the episode and topic of toxic positivity 00:13 Introduction to the complexities of human emotion 02:02 Manifesting versus wishing: understanding the difference 02:03 What is toxic positivity and how does it manifest? 04:13 Personal stories and experiences with toxic positivity 05:02 The role of genuine gratitude in emotional health 06:18 The blame and shame associated with illness and toxic positivity 09:22 Cultural roots and societal conditioning around positivity 09:57 Signs and impacts of toxic positivity 12:02 The importance of emotional honesty and validation 15:00 Cultural influences on emotional expression and positivity 15:21 Optimism versus toxic positivity: recognizing the difference 17:20 The concept of mind over matter and resilience in adversity 20:01 The importance of embracing darkness and sadness 20:12 Historical examples of mind over matter in extreme situations 23:11 Manifestation, positivity, and their intersection with toxic positivity 24:59 How societal norms shape our emotional responses 25:52 Acceptance, mortality, and living within one's reality 29:59 The influence of privilege and capitalism on positivity 35:00 Patriarchy and emotional labor in women 39:58 Community, resilience, and shared hardship 45:01 The role of spiritual beliefs and soul contracts 50:06 Balancing light and darkness in life 55:06 The value of vulnerability and authenticity 59:59 Conclusion: embracing the full spectrum of human experience   References: Bandura, A. (1977). Social learning theory. Prentice Hall. Ehrenreich, B. (2009). Bright-sided: How positive thinking is undermining America. Metropolitan Books. Festinger, L. (1957). A theory of cognitive dissonance. Stanford University Press. Goodman, R. D. (2022). Toxic positivity: Keeping it real in a world obsessed with being happy. Balance. (Popular psychology rather than primary research, but widely cited in discussions of the concept.) Gross, J. J. (1998). The emerging field of emotion regulation: An integrative review. Review of General Psychology, 2(3), 271–299. https://doi.org/10.1037/1089-2680.2.3.271 Hayes, S. C., Strosahl, K. D., & Wilson, K. G. (2016). Acceptance and commitment therapy: The process and practice of mindful change (2nd ed.). Guilford Press. Lerner, M. J. (1980). The belief in a just world: A fundamental delusion. Plenum Press. Mauss, I. B., Tamir, M., Anderson, C. L., & Savino, N. S. (2011). Can seeking happiness make people unhappy? Emotion, 11(4), 807–815. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0022010 Susan David. (2016). Emotional agility: Get unstuck, embrace change, and thrive in work and life. Avery. Wood, J. V., Perunovic, W. Q. E., & Lee, J. W. (2009). Positive self-statements: Power for some, peril for others. Psychological Science, 20(7), 860–866. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9280.2009.02370.x   Contact Information: Find Murder of Crones on You Tube, Tik Tok, Facebook and Instagram.  Email : [email protected]   Special Thanks to www.dinnissendesign.com for Zabrina’s use of their show room for recording. Check them out for all your interior design needs. Dinnissen Design is located in Vancouver and Castlegar BC.

Join hosts Zabrina, Kori and Jen while they explore the fascinating science behind menopause, the grandmother hypothesis, and the role of elders in human evolution and society. Discover how ancient wisdom and modern research reveal the importance of community, memory, and intergenerational support.   Show Notes Takeaways: - The grandmother hypothesis and its role in human evolution - The rarity and significance of menopause in nature - The importance of elders in traditional societies - Research on hunter-gatherer communities and food sharing - The evolution of human babies and cooperative breeding - The discovery of menopause in chimpanzees and implications - The cultural significance of the crone and aging women - The impact of modern society on intergenerational support - The importance of community and collective caregiving - The value of wisdom and oral tradition in societies   Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to the grandmother hypothesis and its significance 02:13 Menopause in nature and its evolutionary mystery 03:09 The role of grandmothers in child survival and knowledge transfer 08:16 The evolution of helpless human babies and cooperative breeding 09:50 Sarah Hardy's research on helplessness and brain development 12:19 Humans as cooperative breeders and the village concept 20:32 The role of older female orcas and other species in survival 21:50 Menopause in other species and its evolutionary roots 24:29 Chimpanzees and the evolution of menopause 26:33 Reevaluating the grandmother hypothesis with new evidence 27:10 The societal impact of losing intergenerational support 30:08 Trusting intuition and passing down wisdom 32:02 The importance of cultural transmission and oral knowledge 37:11 The cultural significance of the crone and aging women 40:23 The role of elders as community guides and memory keepers 42:36 The value of women as knowledge keepers beyond motherhood 43:21 The indigenous perspective on elders and community support 45:46 Raising children in community and the importance of collective effort 46:00 Conclusion: Wisdom, community, and the future of society   References: Dunsworth, H. M., et al. (2012). Metabolic hypothesis for human altriciality. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 109(38), 15212–15216. Hawkes, K. (2009). Evaluating grandmother effects. American Anthropologist, 111(2), 230–233.  Hrdy, S. B. (2009). Mothers and others: The evolutionary origins of mutual understanding. Harvard University Press.  Nattrass, S., et al. (2019). Postreproductive killer whale grandmothers improve the survival of their grand offspring. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 116(52), 26669–26673.  Wood, B. M., et al. (2023). Demographic and hormonal evidence for menopause in wild chimpanzees. Science, 382(6669), eadd5473.    Contact Information: Find Murder of Crones on You Tube, Tik Tok, Facebook and Instagram.  Email : [email protected]   Special Thanks to www.dinnissendesign.com for Zabrina’s use of their show room for recording. Check them out for all your interior design needs. Dinnissen Design is located in Vancouver and Castlegar BC.