Keep the Microphone Hot
Building the Stage, Thelma & Louise and a Playlist for Conquering the Manosphere
I’ve been listening to a lot of hip hop lately.
I find the beat motivating and steady. Like a train, it keeps me in motion and on track.
Rock n’ roll friend, this week’s episode playlist of Electric Radio Club is inspired by the documentary Inside the Manosphere. Maybe inspired is the wrong word. Perhaps the correct word to use is motivated!
After watching the documentary, I had to create a high-energy playlist with lots of hip hop and punk, featuring tracks by French Montana, Missy Elliot, Run-DMC, Upchuck, Mannequin Pussy, Viagra Boys, and more!
After viewing this unfathomable documentary, I felt strangely hopeful. If you’ve seen it, you’re probably thinking, HOW?!
How do you feel hopeful after watching a handful of male “influencers” spread messages and acts of racism and misogyny to millions of followers?
I’m not saying ignore what’s happening in the world, but do you remember the cartoon, The Care Bears?
There’s a scene in the Care Bears movie, where they “Care-Bear-Stare” the crap out of this evil punk kid. Their caring energy dominates the bad energy.
There’s the saying where your focus goes, your energy flows.
I’m choosing to focus on the good while connecting with positive communities. Share poems, music, art, and so on!
Why, Oh, Why Can’t I?
When I began my DIY radio show, Electric Radio Club, the first thing several people told me was “You won’t be successful,” or “There’s no money in radio,” or “Oh, cool! There’s no way to make a living doing that.”
While I’ve never worked at an actual radio station, I fully understand the amount of work and fundraising it takes to keep something running.
Here is what trips me up. Controversial shock jocks like Howard Stern and Don Imus could make a living in radio. Nowadays, a plethora of “colorful” male hosts that dominate podcast platforms show that it is even more possible.
But a woman providing a weekly mixtape for music discovery and relating lyrics to pop culture and life moments, that kind of show is not ideal?
Let’s think about this.
Maybe I’m stubborn. And maybe ignorance is bliss, but I think it’s possible.
Allow me to paraphrase the lyrics from Somewhere Over the Rainbow,
If these dudes can fly over the rainbow
Then oh, why can’t I?”
Listen to the Conquering the Manosphere radio episode here.
This week, I’m including the full radio playlist for all subscribers because we all need a playlist that is fun, upbeat and makes one feel empowered.
Plus, this also makes a good workout mix.
Cash Clown
Several years ago, I stumbled upon this interview with screenwriter Callie Khouri, the brilliant mind behind the iconic movie, Thelma and Louise.
Khouri talks about writing her first screenplay (which was Thelma & Louise) and her “If he can do it, I can do it” mentality.
“And so I had never written anything before and I had no idea how to do it, I just knew people did it. And I was producing music videos I was watching people get stuff made that I was just like “Are you kidding me”
That clown got somebody to give him money to make a movie. Are you f*ckin’ kidding me?
You know, I mean it was happening all over the place and so I thought, why can’t I be that clown, you know?”
-Callie Khouri on writing Thelma & Louise
She saw an opportunity that others were getting and went out and made it happen for herself.
Callie Khouri won the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay in 1992 for Thelma and Louise. And it was her first screenplay.
Building the Stage
Singer/songwriter, Sarah McLachlan had the same mentality as Callie Khouri when she started Lilith Fair. McLachlan was told that no one would pay to see two women on the same concert bill. Which blows my mind! The 90s weren’t that long ago.
But the festival proved that concert-goers of all genders, sexual orientations, cultures, and races wanted/needed a festival like Lilith Fair, with nothing but women headliners.
A couple of years ago, I wrote a piece about hosting in-person music meetups and the challenges I faced.
While I’ve put the brakes on hosting in-person events, I knew this was something people were craving.
So I pivoted and created a music podcast series.
I’ve created my own kind of “Lilith Fair” with my new music podcast series, Coffee & Cassettes, where I bring women and femme music enthusiasts to talk about records. Think of it as that I just went record shopping with a friend and we talk about what we bought.
I want to create a stage where women music enthusiasts can talk about music. A stage that music fans of all kinds are welcome!
Check out the first episode of this monthly series with Herizon Music Newsletter and Podcast founder, Thea Wood, the ultimate cheerleader for empowering women in the music industry.
Talking cigar box guitars, Black Sabbath covers and the ultimate friendship song featuring tracks…yes, you’ll hear the songs recommended by the guest. This isn’t just talk. Like any coffee shop, you need a good playlist.
Give the people what they want. Good music and good community!
Next month, I’ll share about
a music video debut at a local film festival — check out the trailer here!
An opportunity for listeners to submit a song request to Electric Radio Club (remember Mixtape Friends? No? Listen to the fun and collaborative playlist here!)
and other miscellaneous adventures and who knows what else I’ll add to my plate by then.
All for now!
Stay inspired,
Joi
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YES, the Care Bears are the inspiration we need! (Though is it weird that I always loved Grumpy Bear's little rain cloud belly? I also love Eeyore and his sad cloud.)