Deep Thoughts About Stupid Sh*t

That’s so funny I forgot to laugh!On this week’s episode, Emily and Tracie welcome Mallory Henson to talk about her reverence for the TV show Pee-wee’s Playhouse. Mallory introduces the sisters to the path Paul Reubens took to develop the character of Pee-wee Herman and how the show recreated the joyful chaos of a child’s mind while also teaching intentional lessons on acceptance and intercultural curiosity. While not everything has aged perfectly–there was a misogynistic and fatphobic joke from the first season of the show that stuck like a splinter in little 8-year-old Emily’s mind–it’s clear that Reubens was a loving and joyful entertainer who delighted in making his fans happy.Connect the headphones, la-la-la-la, listen to the podcast, la-la-la-laFor more from Mallory, check out her InstagramContent warning: Discussions of fatphobiaMentioned in this episodehttps://hommes.studio/journal/what-is-memphis-design-style/Our theme music is "Professor Umlaut" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Find us on Facebook or InstagramLearn more about Tracie and Emily (including our other projects), join the Guy Girls' family, secure exclusive access to bonus episodes, video versions, and early access to Deep Thoughts by visiting us on Patreon. 

Party Time! Excellent! [Extended guitar solo]On this week’s episode of Deep Thoughts, Emily revisits the most important cultural touchstone of the late 20th century: Wayne’s World. In addition to introducing an entire generation to Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody, this film presented a surprisingly complex characterization of Tia Carrere’s Cassandra and taught us that Milwaukee is the only major American city to have three Socialist mayors. While not everything holds up to 30 years of hindsight–the film doesn’t pass the Bechdel test, leans into the crazy ex-girlfriend trope, and makes a joke about police committing sexual assault–this remarkably sunny, silly, and sweet film still has a lot to offer modern audiences.Exsqueeze me? Baking powder? Why haven’t you started listening already?Content warning: Mentions of domestic violence, discussion of sexualized police violenceMentioned in this episodehttps://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/waynes-world-1992Our theme music is "Professor Umlaut" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Learn more about Tracie and Emily (including our other projects), join the Guy Girls' family, secure exclusive access to bonus episodes, video versions, and early access to Deep Thoughts by visiting us on Patreon. 

It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s an unreasonable hatred for Hackensack, New Jersey!This week, Tracie brings her Deep Thoughts about the 1978 film Superman: The Movie. From the way this film helped legitimize comic books and superheroes as a valid art form to the huge influence Christopher Reeve’s Superman still has on our culture, this pillar of the Guy Girls’ childhood offers a lot to appreciate on a second look. But, not everything is rosy in Smallville and Metropolis, including the misogyny of Lois Lane’s inability to spell, despite being The Daily Planet’s best reporter, and a cavalier attitude about consent.Retreat to your own personal Fortress of Solitude and take a listen.Our theme music is "Professor Umlaut" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Learn more about Tracie and Emily (including our other projects), join the Guy Girls' family, secure exclusive access to bonus episodes, video versions, and early access to Deep Thoughts by visiting us on Patreon. 

REDRUM! REDRUM!On this week’s episode of Deep Thoughts, Emily breaks down the horror masterpiece, The Shining. The sisters walk through the ways in which Shelley Duvall’s portrayal of Wendy Torrance is an unexpected feminist icon, how Kubrick created an intentionally incoherent film while abusing his actors (except for 6-year-old Danny Lloyd), and just what is up with the theory that the film is a critique of the genocide of Native Americans. Also: Emily shares her deeply held belief that moving hedge animals are NOT SCARY.Jump on your big wheel, throw on your headphones and listen…if you dare!CW: Discussions of domestic violence, child sexual assault, murder, and genocideMentioned in this episode:"MAZES, MIRRORS, DECEPTION AND DENIAL" by Rob AgerThe September House by Carissa Orlandohttps://www.salon.com/2013/10/04/stanley_kubrick_misogynist_partner/Shelley Duvall’s Faerie Tale Theaterhttps://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/great-movie-the-shining-1980Our theme music is "Professor Umlaut" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Learn more about Tracie and Emily (including our other projects), join the Guy Girls' family, secure exclusive access to bonus episodes, video versions, and early access to Deep Thoughts by visiting us on Patreon. 

HEY YOU GUY(Girl)S!On this week’s Deep Thoughts, Tracie revisits a classic of GenX childhood: The Electric Company. This children’s sketch comedy program with an all-star cast (Morgan Freeman! Rita Moreno! Bill Cosby?) showcased the wonderful ways that informal education can be intentional, subversive, funny, and validating. While not everything from The Electric Company has aged well (the Spell Binder relied on racist stereotypes about Arabs and did we mention Bill Cosby?), there is much to enjoy in this staple of 1970s television.Make like Fargo North, Decoder, and apply your mustache and headphones to take a listen!Get your sticker while supplies last! Our theme music is "Professor Umlaut" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Learn more about Tracie and Emily (including our other projects), join the Guy Girls' family, secure exclusive access to bonus episodes, video versions, and early access to Deep Thoughts by visiting us on Patreon.

“This face right here is my over the moon face.”This week, Tracie and Emily welcome Joanna Church to share her Deep Thoughts about the television show Veronica Mars. Between trying to recap the telenovela-sounding plot to Tracie (coma babies! children switched at birth! a school bus that drives off a cliff and explodes!), Joanna explains how this hilarious teenage noir teaches us that there is no justice, people cannot reinvent themselves, only become who they truly are, and that all we can hope to have is meaningful relationships. Grab your taser and make sure you bring Backup (the dog) while you listen to this week’s episode!Mentioned in this episode:Hark a vagrant! http://www.harkavagrant.com/?id=341CW: Discussions of rape and sexual assault and abstract discussions of suicideOur theme music is "Professor Umlaut" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Learn more about Tracie and Emily (including our other projects), join the Guy Girls' family, secure exclusive access to bonus episodes, video versions, and early access to Deep Thoughts by visiting us on Patreon. 

Looking good, Tracie! Feeling good, Emily!On this week’s Deep Thoughts, Emily analyzes Trading Places, the film that taught her what a short sale is, how a bookie works, and that she is most definitely a money nerd. While the film offers a pointed critique of capitalism and racism, it undercuts its own message with the truly weird train/costume party scene and the random bikini-clad women on the beach at the end. Tracie and Emily also tell the story of how Jamie Lee Curtis happened to be at Emily’s wedding (really!).Pour yourself a glass of frozen concentrated orange juice and listen!Content warning: Mention of implied rape of an antagonistMentioned in this episode:https://crossingthethemes.wordpress.com/2021/12/31/film-analysis-trading-places/https://www.usinflationcalculator.com/https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/trading-places-1983Our theme music is "Professor Umlaut" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Learn more about Tracie and Emily (including our other projects), join the Guy Girls' family, secure exclusive access to bonus episodes, video versions, and early access to Deep Thoughts by visiting us on Patreon. 

It smells like the funk of 40,000 years in here!In today’s episode,Tracie shares her deep thoughts about the iconic and groundbreaking 1983 music video for Michael Jackson’s Thriller. From the way the mini film subverts expectations to the meaning behind the horror tropes it relies on to how to contextualize Jackson’s immense talent with the troubled and abusive life he led, the Guy girls explore what it means that a novelty song featuring a zombie flash mob and Vincent Price saying “y’all’s” helped make MJ king of the world.Throw on your headphones and listen…before darkness falls across the land!TW: Oblique references to the allegations against Michael Jackson and the childhood abuse he endured.Mentioned in this episode:Our TikTok about HorrorDeep Thoughts about ClueInflation Calculator The full Thriller videoOur theme music is "Professor Umlaut" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Learn more about Tracie and Emily (including our other projects), join the Guy Girls' family, secure exclusive access to bonus episodes, video versions, and early access to Deep Thoughts by visiting us on Patreon. 

It mu5t be found…it being a realistic portrayal of womenFor this episode of Deep Thoughts, Emily dives into the valiant, vulnerable, and very very sexist portrayal of “perfection” in the 1997 Luc Besson film The Fifth Element. Milla Jovovich’s Leeloo is the poster child for the trope of Born Sexy Yesterday, wherein a childlike but fully adult woman who is both profoundly wise and unutterably naive needs the protection and guidance of an ordinary man. But the weird gender values don’t stop with Leeloo. Tracie and Emily also talk about the hyper-masculinity of Bruce Willis’s Korben Dallas and the “unmanning” of virtually every other male character. Also: How exactly did Plavalaguna plan to get the stones out? REALLY?Grab your Multi-pass and your headphones and take a listen with us.Mentioned in this episode:https://youtu.be/0thpEyEwi80?si=hV0MKtjaSnNrOduIOur theme music is "Professor Umlaut" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Learn more about Tracie and Emily (including our other projects), join the Guy Girls' family, secure exclusive access to bonus episodes, video versions, and early access to Deep Thoughts by visiting us on Patreon. 

Good night and good luck and you stay classy, San Diego!On this week’s episode of Deep Thoughts, Tracie and Emily welcome media studies professor (retired) Jon Shorr to talk about how pop culture has conditioned us to think about journalism, reporters, and “the news.” From Lois Lane to Woodward and Bernstein to Mary Tyler Moore, we discuss the ways comics, movies, and television have introduced us to a profession few of us have direct knowledge of and how our assumptions about gender, race, and sexuality affect our experience of the news. If you’re mad as hell and not going to take it anymore, throw on some earbuds and take a listen!Find more of Jon's work on Burning Bright, a weekly podcast presenting poetry and prose by writers over 50 from Passager Books Our theme music is "Professor Umlaut" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Learn more about Tracie and Emily (including our other projects), join the Guy Girls' family, secure exclusive access to bonus episodes, video versions, and early access to Deep Thoughts by visiting us on Patreon. 

We are the sisters who say Ni! Bring us…a shrubbery.On today’s episode of Deep Thoughts, Tracie and Emily dig into a source of both sisters’ understanding of what is funny, Monty Python and the Holy Grail. After 49 years, this film remains super funny, because it subverts our expectations. With minimal plot, despite the purported quest for the titular grail, it’s basically just a vehicle for a slew of the Pythons’ favorite medieval sketches. A Deep Thoughts look at those vignettes reveals interesting questions about power, authority, and knowledge, nuanced (but not exactly positive?) commentary on queerness and masculinity, and a fundamental playfulness with the medium of film that remains delightful this half-century later. We disagree about how sympathetic we’re meant to feel about the leftist peasants’ self-governance, but we are in complete agreement that the Castle Anthrax scene is improved when we assume the oral sex Lancelot thwarts was to be performed by Galahad, not on him. Don’t hurt your brain calculating the airspeed of an unladen swallow! Have a listen to our Deep Thoughts about Monty Python and the Holy Grail!Mentioned in this episode:The article about the zeitgeist: https://www.popmatters.com/monty-python-and-the-holy-grail-40th-anniversary-edition-blood-politics-sil-2495463955.htmlOne gay commentator on queerness in Holy Grail and Spamalot https://epgn.com/2020/12/02/one-joke-too-many/CW: Discussion of transphobia, homophobia, Woody Allen and male fantasies of sex with teenaged girlsOur theme music is "Professor Umlaut" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Learn more about Tracie and Emily (including our other projects), join the Guy Girls' family, secure exclusive access to bonus episodes, video versions, and early access to Deep Thoughts by visiting us on Patreon. 

Great Scott!! A time traveling oedipal complex masquerading as family entertainment?This special patrons-only bonus episode of Deep Thoughts takes a closer look at the film that ensured the DeLorean’s ongoing cultural relevance: Back to the Future. From the erasure of Black culture and ambition to some truly weird sexual politics (Marty was gonna do what in that parked car? And Lorraine was happy for her would-be rapist to come to her home 30 years later?), Emily and Tracie talk about all the ways this weird, regressive, fun, and remarkably well-made movie reifies social hierarchies and celebrates bizarre friendships between high school kids and ageless mad scientists.Listen as we take this baby to 88 MPH—and go back to the future.Mentioned in this episode:https://newrepublic.com/article/122243/how-back-future-helped-make-me-feministCW: Discussion of on-screen sexual harassment and implied sexual assault.Our theme music is "Professor Umlaut" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/To listen to the complete episode, become a Patron! Patrons are members of the Guy Girls' family, with exclusive access to bonus episodes, video versions, and early access to Deep Thoughts. 

Ooh, my little pretty one…who was really going to be somebody by age 23On today’s episode of Deep Thoughts About Stupid Sh*t, Tracie revisits the film of Generation X: Reality Bites. Despite passing the Bechdel test with flying colors, the story of documentary filmmaker Lelaina (played by Winona Ryder) not only seems to present the audience with a choice between selling out and suffering (while being insulted by Ethan Hawke), but it also has erased the authorship of the film’s writer, filmmaker Helen Childress, by attributing her choices to director Ben Stiller. Listen in as we turn up the volume and dance in the gas station mini mart along with Lelaina, Vickie, Sammy!Mentioned in this episode:The Atlantic's look back at Reality BitesOur theme music is "Professor Umlaut" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Learn more about Tracie and Emily (including our other projects), join the Guy Girls' family, secure exclusive access to bonus episodes, video versions, and early access to Deep Thoughts by visiting us on Patreon. 

Let’s do the time warp agaaaaaain! (Except with ongoing enthusiastic consent this time, mkay?)This week, Emily and Tracie talk aboutthe beloved 1975 film Rocky Horror Picture Show. From its influence on culture, fashion, music, and film to its catchy AF songs, there’s a lot to love in this genre-bending gender-bending mashup of B horror/sci fi, musical theater, drag culture, and comedy. But despite Rocky Horror’s important strides forward for LGBTQ acceptance, there’s some ugly (and period appropriate) disregard for consent.Listen in as Emily and Tracie revisit this favorite of their high school years–at the late night, double feature, picture show!CW: Discussions of in-film scenes featuring dubious (at best) consent.Mentioned in this episode:https://aninjusticemag.com/gently-ripping-apart-the-rocky-horror-picture-show-ce2ff8022e60https://www.tor.com/2012/10/31/the-astonishingly-sensical-plot-of-the-rocky-horror-picture-show/Our theme music is "Professor Umlaut" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Learn more about Tracie and Emily (including our other projects), join the Guy Girls' family, secure exclusive access to bonus episodes, video versions, and early access to Deep Thoughts by visiting us on Patreon. 

Don’t you…forget about misogyny…Don’t Don’t Don’t Don’t!On today’s episode of Deep Thoughts, Tracie takes another look at the 1985 John Hughes film The Breakfast Club. Though this classic Gen X teen movie passes the Bechdel test and explicitly names the prude-or-slut trap of female sexuality, it also treats Claire and Allison like prizes for the boys in the film and assures the audience that we’re not so different from each other–by featuring a cast that is entirely white, cishet, thin, and able-bodied.Sounds like your earbuds and my earbuds should get together and listen to this podcast.CW: Discussion of on-screen sexual harassment, evidence of physical abuse, and suicidal ideation.Our theme music is "Professor Umlaut" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Learn more about Tracie and Emily (including our other projects), join the Guy Girls' family, secure exclusive access to bonus episodes, video versions, and early access to Deep Thoughts by visiting us on Patreon. 

AS IF!This week on Deep Thoughts, Emily re-examines her favorite movie from high school: Clueless. Not only did this film kickstart Emily’s Paul Rudd appreciation, but it also provided her with some lovely examples of teen girl friendship, healthy father/daughter relationship dynamics, and how to apologize. But it’s not all sunshine in this adaptation of Jane Austen’s Emma. Tracie and I also discuss how the film normalizes disordered relationships with food and exercise while teaching that unwanted male attention (and assault) are the price of being female–as is being shamed whether you are sexually experienced or inexperienced.Throw on your earbuds and relive the fashion, the music, and the casual homophobia of 1995!Mentioned in this episode:https://www.townandcountrymag.com/leisure/arts-and-culture/a33300757/clueless-25th-anniversary-amy-heckerling-interview/Clueless on YouTube (with ads)Our theme music is "Professor Umlaut" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Learn more about Tracie and Emily (including our other projects), join the Guy Girls' family, secure exclusive access to bonus episodes, video versions, and early access to Deep Thoughts by visiting us on Patreon. 

That [imperialist, whip-wielding archeologist] belongs in a museum!On today’s Deep Thoughts, Tracie takes on a pillar of her and Emily’s childhood: Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark. The sisters talk about what’s great (the soundtrack, the cinematography, Marion Ravenwood’s badassery), what’s not so great (the imperialism, the toxic masculinity, the lack of any women other than Marion), and what’s seriously inaccurate (the bulldozer archeological tactics, the history of the Ark of the Covenant, Marion’s ability to drink giant men under the table).Listen as we try not to ruin another childhood favorite. Just watch out for snakes!CW: Conversation about romantic relationships between an adult man and an underage girl, brief mention of the possibility of sexual assault Mentioned in this episodeArchaeologists React to Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost ArkScreen Rant fact checking RaidersEcclesia and SynagogaChristian SupersessionismOur theme music is "Professor Umlaut" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Learn more about Tracie and Emily (including our other projects), join the Guy Girls' family, secure exclusive access to bonus episodes, video versions, and early access to Deep Thoughts by visiting us on Patreon. 

Come with me and you’ll be in a world of pure imagination…and capitalismThis week, Emily shares her deep thoughts about the 1971 classic film Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. She loves Gene Wilder’s funny and menacing portrayal of Wonka that still manages an undercurrent of sweetness, and the cinematography is a masterclass in how to make unwrapping a candy bar an edge-of-your-seat scene. But Roald Dahl’s hierarchical attitudes toward class, gender, money, and worthiness–not to mention his personal bugaboos about gum chewing and television–really undercut the magic.Oompa loompa doopity dissenIf you are wise you’ll give this a listen!Don't miss a single deep thought! Mosey on over to guygirlsmedia.com, share your deets, and get Tracie & Emily in your inbox every week!Mentioned in this episodeFrom the ‘chocolate factory’ to vet medGene Wilder died of Alzheimer’s. His family explains why they didn’t disclose his diagnosisRoald Dahl himself made changes to the Oompa LoompasRoald Dahl's family apologises for his antisemitismIan Fleming and Roald Dahl’s friendly rivalryQuotations and Literary Allusions spoken by Willy WonkaLamb to the Slaughter by Roald DahlRoald Dahl’s letter about losing his daughter to measlesOur theme music is "Professor Umlaut" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Learn more about Tracie and Emily (including our other projects), join the Guy Girls' family, secure exclusive access to bonus episodes, video versions, and early access to Deep Thoughts by visiting us on Patreon.

It takes a special person to impress a dragon.In this bonus episode, Tracie shares deep thoughts about the science fiction and fantasy novel series the Dragonriders of Pern by Anne McCaffrey. From her early exhilaration of discovering fantasy novels with female protagonists to her current discomfort upon realizing the essentialist nature of dragon/rider pairings, Tracie shares with Emily how McCaffrey’s world made her a reader…and why it deserves a second look with a more critical eye.Throw on your earbuds and join us as we battle the Thread! (But only if you’re a Patron. This bonus episode is exclusive content!)CW: abstract discussions of rape.Our theme music is "Professor Umlaut" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Learn more about Tracie and Emily (including our other projects), join the Guy Girls' family, secure exclusive access to bonus episodes, video versions, and early access to Deep Thoughts by visiting us on Patreon. 

Slay it with me: other girls are awesome!For this week’s episode of Deep Thoughts, Tracie and Emily welcome Kate Moody, aka The Money Librarian, to share her analysis of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Kate introduces Emily (a Buffy virgin) to the world of vampires, Hellmouths, and why all librarians love Giles. With Kate’s analysis, the sisters put Buffy in her proper place in the pantheon of superheroes, while engaging with the not-so-savory side effects of a romance between a teenage girl and a 200 year old undead killing machine. Also, much side-eye of what Joss Whedon considers to be a “moment of true happiness.”Pop on your headphones and take a listen!Our theme music is "Professor Umlaut" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Learn more about Tracie and Emily (including our other projects), join the Guy Girls' family, secure exclusive access to bonus episodes, video versions, and early access to Deep Thoughts by visiting us on Patreon. Where to find Kate:Ms. Moody MoneyThe Money Librarian–YouTubeFollow Kate on Twitter