Give Yourself A Break: The Guilty Feminist Podcast

Searching for a new podcast I hear you say? Well, stop right there and get ready to hit subscribe – no, I don’t care that you’re not connected to WiFi! The Guilty Feminist podcast is the life coach/best friend/belly laugh/good sob/gateway podcast that you’ve been searching for. 

Let’s be honest with each other (this is a safe bubble of sunshine where we can all be ourselves, ok!), sometimes being a feminist can be hard work. There can be hypothetical land mines every which way. Am I still a feminist even though I won’t leave the house without wearing a coat of mascara? Do I still want to overthrow the patriarchy even though sometimes I find myself daydreaming about taking pottery classes with Ryan Gosling. The answer is yes you are and can I come to that pottery class?

Comedian, kick-ass human and the brains behind The Guilty Feminist podcast, Deborah Frances-White is making all of that guilt disappear! She’s like the fairy godmother of feminist guilt. The podcast explores all kinds of female related topics (YAY we’ve made the list and it’s not to fill a quota) with a hugely diverse array of guests who come on to make you laugh, think and inspire you to keep getting back up when the fatigue sets in. Deborah answered a few of our curly questions about feminism, guilt and how podcasting is taking over the world.

What sparked the idea to create The Guilty Feminist Podcast?

Having constant conversations about feminism and worrying I wasn’t good enough at it! If you’re a comedian, any regular conversation has to turn into a podcast. It’s the law.

Why do you think it’s important for us ‘modern day feminists’ to give ourselves a break sometimes when it comes to dismantling the patriarchy? (i.e. the ‘guilty’ in The Guilty Feminist)

Because guilt is a patriarchal tool to stop us in our tracks. It’s a useless emotion because it’s linked to shame, which robs you of your power. The “guilty” part acknowledges we screw up or we contain paradoxes – the “feminist” part says, that doesn’t stop us taking up more space today. You’re allowed to binge on “Say Yes to the Dress” and still request a pay rise in the morning.

What has been your favourite topic discussed on the podcast?

The episode I did in Australia with Celia Pacquola and Cal Wilson called Nice Girls Don’t was the most powerful one, I think. We looked at when women are required to be “nice” so we don’t “spoil the fun”, what things “nice girls don’t do” and how we can do them and be nice anyway. How “nice” can be a form of physical protection and we went to some seriously scary and very funny places as we did it.

How do you hope your podcast will change the world?

By allowing women to say no more often or less more often as they face the challenges their environment throws up at them. By encouraging women to take up more space and take less crap. By letting women know they have a tribe and an army of like minded women. (When the audience laugh at something you identify with, you know you’re not alone.)

What’s an important lesson you’ve learnt throughout making the podcast about feminism and equality?

That respect, like money, is not given until it’s applied for.

Who are some amazing women that are inspiring you at the moment?

My co-hosts Susan Wokoma, Felicity Ward, Jessica Fostekew, Bisha K Ali, Sindhu Vee, Cariad Lloyd, Sara Pascoe, Jen Brister, Aisling Bea and Jess Thom.

What do you wish you’d known about feminism as a teenager (what would you go back and tell yourself now)?

Don’t listen to the men in charge. They have a vested interest in telling you that you need them and their advice.

How can our audience get involved with The Guilty Feminist/feminism in general?

Listen at guiltyfeminist.com Tweet us at @guiltfempod and come to the show. We are bringing to to Australia and New Zealand in October!