Big Reputations

In this episode, we discuss the one and only Ms. Oprah Winfrey. We will give a brief overview of her early life, including her introduction to the media world and her rise to fame. Then we look at how the world has seen Oprah over the years, both the good and the bad. We consider biases and assumptions before reflecting on the truths of her life experiences. Next, we cover some of the many controversies that she has been linked to,...

In this episode, we discuss American politician and attorney and the former Vice President of the United States, Kamala Harris. We talk about how the media treated her at all stages of her career, from attorney to presidential nominee We touch on the sexism and racism that Harris has had to face, and we chat about her legacy and how her presidential run (and loss) has changed politics in this country.

Trigger warnings: sexism, ra...

In this episode, we discuss the topic of female characters in the television show, Supernatural, which ran from 2005-2020. First we look at the premise for the show that Eric Kripke created and was picked up by the WB and introduce a handful of the women who made an appearance on the show. Then we consider the intended fanbase, the television viewership over the years, and the core fandom, which is made up predominantly of cis-wome...

In this episode, we talk about the fictional character Miranda Priestly from the novel and film, The Devil Wears Prada. We consider how the other characters saw Miranda, both the good and the bad. Then we look at what audiences thought of Priestly, especially with the release of the film, but also a bit about how those perceptions have changed or at least shifted over the last two decades. Finally, we wrap up with a discussion abou...

This month's Little Reps release from the vault is someone we covered almost two years ago to the day, in October 2022: Lilly Ledbetter. We decided to release this episode to the public because we recently learned that Ledbetter passed away at age 86 just this past weekend on October 12, 2024. We thought sharing this episode with everyone would be a great way to honor her legacy and the work that she did in her life.

In addition to...

In this episode we cover singer, actress, and reality TV star Jessica Simpson. We look back at everything the media had to say about her over the years including comments about her intelligence, weight, romantic partners, and more. Then we dig into some of the truths behind her behaviors and actions, and the effect that the media and the public can have on a young woman. We also share some of Jessica’s own reflections on her early ...

Hello everyone! Welcome back to our “Little Reputations Rewind” where we release a back catalog episode of our formerly exclusive “Little Reputations” Patreon content from the vault. 

These episodes are generally half an hour or so, and in them we discuss women who might not necessarily have a Big Reputation but who we think are cool to learn about, nonetheless. 

Remember, if you enjoy these, you can always join our Patreon as a Ma...

In this episode, we discuss a local (to us!) hero, Sonia Sotomayor, from her time growing up in the Bronx to her years and years of education, and her journey to the Supreme Court. We elaborate on the hurdles and bigotry she had to face while making her way to the highest court in the land and we talk about her views, how they have changed over the years and with different cases and the state of the United States of America. Finall...

In this episode, We discuss Lizzo and her early introduction into the world of music as well as her rise in the industry. Then we cover the release of the single that really brought her to the forefront of everyone’s attention and how the media reacted to her music and her image. Next we explore the controversies surrounding Lizzo from accusations of harassment to plagiarism. But we also discuss her views on body image and what goo...

This episode we welcome our very first guest co-host, Rebecca's sister Brooke, and we give the month off to new mom, Kim. We discuss the role of stepmoms, in our own lives and in general. From the bad to the good, and everything in between. We define the term and explore how it has evolved over the past several centuries, including the introduction of the stepmom in stories and fairy tales. Then we explore the fairy tale side of th...

In this episode, we discuss the history and origins of the most famous pig on the planet, Miss Piggy! From what people thought of her, to what she thought of herself, we explore how her image has changed over the years. From diva, who can do it all, to accusations of being a violent abuser, we chat about how her personality often rubbed people the wrong way. Lastly we cover how she became a feminist and gay icon, despite or because...