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Artwork for Material Girls
The Pitt
Capitalism
Mental Health
Feminism
Pop Culture
Harry Potter
Wicked
Dopamine
Patreon
Dirty Dancing
Taylor Swift
The Notebook
Twilight
Nostalgia
Jurassic Park
Gilmore Girls
The X Files
Disney
Self-Improvement
Neoliberalism

A scholarly podcast about pop culture hosted by Hannah McGregor and Marcelle Kosman, produced by Witch, Please Productions.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes266Founded11 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
TV & FilmSociety & Culture

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Artwork for Material Girls

Latest Episodes

When Hannah and Marcelle go to Disneyland, you can pretty much bank on them returning happier, out some cash, and deep in the throes of processing the experience! So what better return to the pod than an episode about Pixar and Henry Jenkins' theory ... more

This episode has nothing to do with NPR's All Things Considered, but that's the kind of cuckoo behavior you get when Coach invites resident wittle babies, Gaby and Zoe, on mic. Hannah and Marcelle are off having a Disney adventure and while they're a... more

Well, folks…to quote Nurse Dana, Pitty Party’s (almost) over.

Marcelle, Zoe, and Gaby chat all about the season two FINALE of the Pitt in this penultimate episode of Pitty Party! They dig into their general thoughts on the episode, how hot Dr. Al-Ha... more

Definitively our most Canadian conversation yet!

In this episode of Material Girls, we once again take a look at Heated Rivalry — this time focusing on the Canadian-ness of the show. We were joined in February by sister of the pod, Hope Rehak, to th... more

Key Facts

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Number of Listeners
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Recent Guests

John Batt
Historian and social media/education commentator behind Canada.gov.ca
Canada.gov.ca
Episode: Heated Rivalry x Canadiana with John Batt
Coach Rehack
Guest speaker providing mentorship perspective
Episode: Material Concerns: Desperate to Understand Pt. I
Zena Sharman
Essayist and nonfiction writer; author and expert on the film's production and labor history
Episode: 9 to 5 x Labour Feminism with Zena Sharman
Zoe Mix
Guest expert on Wuthering Heights
Episode: Wuthering Heights x The Promise of Happiness with Zoe Mix
Helen Zaltzman
Expert in linguistic etymology.
The Allusionist
Episode: Daddy: A Live Show with Helen Zaltzman and Martin Austwick
Martin Austwick
Musician and guest contributor.
Neutrino Watch
Episode: Daddy: A Live Show with Helen Zaltzman and Martin Austwick
Lindy West
Best-selling author and executive producer of the show, Shrill
Episode: The Lord of the Rings x Arcadia with Text Me Back! With Lindy West and Meagan Hatcher-Mays
Meagan Hatcher-Mays
Works in democracy, the courts, and politics
Episode: The Lord of the Rings x Arcadia with Text Me Back! With Lindy West and Meagan Hatcher-Mays
Dr. Leigh Dyrda
Cultural critic and scholar with a focus on eco-gothic media analysis
Episode: The X Files x Conspiracy with Leigh Dyrda

Hosts

Hannah McGregor
Co-host known for insightful commentary and humor, connecting personal anecdotes with critical cultural discussions.
Marcelle Kosman
Co-host who brings a blend of academic critique and humor, enhancing the dialogues on pop culture phenomena.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 3.2k ratings
  • I can’t believe I’ve never left a review

    As I lie in the darkness at 3am and listen to witch please aka material girls ( i can’t sleep) as I have done countless times, it has dawned on me that I’ve been listening to this podcast for almost 10 years, I started listening to this as a 17-year-old that had been kicked out of formal education, I have since been to university, but I have learnt more from this podcast then anything else in my life. Listening to this 10 years ago, I for the first time understood things about ideology and the p... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    jaimajem
    United Kingdom25 days ago
  • Food for thought

    Love love love this show introducing me to new ideas from critical theory. I really enjoyed going back and listening to the more recent Witch Please episodes. My small amount of remaining HP knowledge helped me hook onto the ideas.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Meeky on the moon
    United Kingdom2 months ago
  • Heated Rivalry Episode

    I’ve loved this show since its beginning but have never left a review. This episode was SO GOOD! I literally was saying “YES!” over and over like I was in a revival meeting. I’ve loved smutty fanfic for years and have always felt like it was radical. It gave me such a completely new, healthy understanding of my own body and sexuality outside of my millennial upbringing of purity rings and Cosmopolitan magazine. I love talking about fanfic to anyone who will listen and love that I now having some... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Beautifulblue89
    United States3 months ago
  • Silliest Serious Product

    This is far and away my favorite podcast! Highly recommend if you’re someone who enjoys thinking deeply. Marcelle and Hannah’s insights shape how I see the world around me while making it feel like a good parasocial hang. The Barbie X Petrocapitalism episode in particular blew my mind, but they’re all great.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Bean Machine 2000
    United States4 months ago
  • Material relevant to your interests!

    Material Girls is a hilarious, topical, and expert deep dive on pop culture today. Hosts Marcelle and Hannah have a chemistry and arch sense of humour that builds on the formula of their previous podcast, Witch, Please (an awesome feminist read through of the Harry Potter universe, also recommended!). It is such a gift that they are now using their powers to make sense of whatever has surfaced from the late capitalist sea of content to capture our attention and stir up controversy. I recommend M... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Kaz_8419
    Canada4 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners appreciate the blend of humor and critical insight, often noting the podcast provides a refreshing perspective on pop culture.
Many find the content intellectually stimulating, often citing the relevance of topics to contemporary society and media.
Several listeners express gratitude for the show's ability to make complex theories accessible and enjoyable.
The hosts are praised for their chemistry and ability to engage in thoughtful discussions that feel personal yet academically rigorous.

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Heated Rivalry x Canadiana with John Batt
Q: Why is hockey used as a lens for Canadian culture in Heated Rivalry, and is it genuinely representative?
Hockey serves as a performative symbol of Canadian masculinity and regional identity, but the hosts argue it should be read more as a vehicle for exploring relationships, culture, and national conversations rather than a focus on the sport itself.
Heated Rivalry x Canadiana with John Batt
Q: What is the Massey Commission and why does it matter to Canadian cultural policy today?
It established a framework for state-supported cultural development and framed Canadian culture as something distinct and worth funding to resist American cultural dominance, a legacy that still informs how Canadians talk about funding and national identity.
The Oscars x Symbolic Capital
Q: Do winning an Oscar translate into lasting financial or career benefits beyond the perceived prestige?
Yes, winning can lead to measurable gains like higher-profile roles, better employment opportunities, and increased box office performance for the winner's projects, though the effect varies and is mediated by ongoing campaigns and market forces.
9 to 5 x Labour Feminism with Zena Sharman
Q: What is the central thesis about how labor feminism is depicted in 9to5?
Labor feminism is shown as a movement that centers wage equality, workplace control, and concrete accommodations, expanding the vocabulary of workplace rights and linking gendered labor to broader organizing, rather than merely focusing on cultural commentary about femininity.
Daddy: A Live Show with Helen Zaltzman and Martin Austwick
Q: What's the relationship between mommy and daddy?
There will be a separate episode to discuss 'mommy' as a counterpart to 'daddy'.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Material Girls

What is Material Girls about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Engaging with the nuances of pop culture, this podcast hosts lively discussions featuring thoughtfully woven insights on contemporary topics through a critical lens. The conversations span a diverse range of subjects, including media representation, language evolution, queer culture, and the social implications embedded within popular narratives. The hosts maintain a carousel of humor and intellect, drawing from their academic backgrounds to explore significant cultural moments while also reflecting on personal experiences and community involvement. Their unique ability to blend entertainment with profound commentary makes this podcast distinctive, appealing to those who appreciate a blend of scholarly critique and humor.

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How many subscribers and views does Material Girls have?

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Which podcasts are similar to Material Girls?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Material Girls:

1. Hot and Bothered
2. Culture Study Podcast
3. Harry Potter and the Sacred Text
4. Maintenance Phase
5. If Books Could Kill

How many episodes of Material Girls are there?

Material Girls launched 11 years ago and published 266 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Material Girls?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

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What guests have appeared on Material Girls?

Recent guests on Material Girls include:

1. John Batt
2. Coach Rehack
3. Zena Sharman
4. Zoe Mix
5. Helen Zaltzman
6. Martin Austwick
7. Lindy West
8. Meagan Hatcher-Mays

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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