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Published by Leftist Teen Drama
A podcast celebrating political moments on TV teen dramas, hosted by union communicator and teen drama enthusiast Maria DiPasquale. Produced by Jeff McHale, with art by Maddy Wiryo (logo + season 1) and Charles O’Leary (seasons 2-5, movie specials)
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Welcome back to our series of special episodes covering political moments in teen movies! Maria is joined by her friend and union comrade Jon Schleuss, the elected President of the NewsGuild-CWA, to discuss all the timeless, pro-union themes of the movie musical masterpiece NEWSIES (1992). This cult classic featuring a young Christian Bale has been inspiring kids to take collective action for generations now, complete with some of the most impressive choreography by an unbelievable number of background actors. We break down the union messages in various song lyrics, discuss why David and Jack is the most popular ship in the Newsies fandom, and also talk about all the parallels to the 1899 newsboys’ strike that the plot of the movie is based on, as well as parallels to the real-life labor struggles of newspaper workers today. For this episode, we recommend you first watch or have familiarity with NEWSIES (1992), streaming on Disney+. FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL | instagram , tumblr , tiktok , bluesky , threads , youtube , serializd : @leftistteendrama | twitter , letterboxd : @leftyteendrama | website: leftistteendrama.com _ ABOUT US: MARIA DIPASQUALE (she/her; host/editor) is a Brooklyn-based union communicator, organizer, and writer who watches too much TV. She splits her free time between devouring teen dramas, creating this podcast, organizing with Italians Against Fascism and in her tenant association, and reading and writing a mix of literary and romance fiction and political nonfiction. Maria’s writing will appear in the book “So Long, Dental Plan” Unions, Labor Relations and Class Struggle…As Seen On TV, forthcoming from SUNY Press in April 2027. Follow Maria on Twitter @Maria_DiP26, Bluesky/Letterboxd/Serializd @mariadip, IG @mdzip, and tiktok @marialovesunions. JON SCHLEUSS (he/him; guest) is the president of The NewsGuild, which is the largest union of media workers in North America and a sector of the Communications Workers of America. He grew up in rural Arkansas and was a data and graphics journalist at the Los Angeles Times where he and his colleagues unionized. A year later he ran for international president and won. Since his election, more than 10,000 workers from 240 workplaces have unionized with the Guild. He's a big fan of sci-fi and fantasy and watches the X-Files on repeat, but his favorite movie of all time is Steel Magnolias. JEFF MCHALE (he/him; producer) is an extremely online guy who plays games, works in the cannabis industry, and loves talking old TV. CHARLES S. O’LEARY (they/he; art) is a designer + writer based in Richmond, VA. They're currently getting their MFA in Graphic Design at Virginia Commonwealth University, and spend most of their time unsuccessfully scheming how to get off Instagram (@c.s.0.l). Maria and Jeff’s good union cats CLARENCE and VINNY may make an appearance and/or be mentioned. intro song: Stomping the Room by Delicate Beats All opinions shared on this show are that of individuals and do not represent the views of any organization we may be affiliated with. _ SOURCES DISCUSSED IN THE EPISODE: Crying the News: A History of America's Newsboys by Vincent DiGirolamo August 18, 2026, Teen Vogue: Teens Have Always Been on the Front Lines of the Labor Movement by Kim Kelly May 11, 2012, Entertainment Weekly, The cult of 'Newsies' by Grady Smith As promised: the picture of the STRIKE! chalkboard sign from The World Will Know scene June 8, 2022, Business Insider: 'Newsies' actress says it's 'funny' fans wanted Christian Bale to end up with male lead instead of her character by Pam DiFiore Support the former Pittsburgh Post-Gazette strikers’ new publication, The Pittsburgh Progress !
Live from The People’s Forum in New York City, it’s Leftist Teen Drama’s first-ever live episode in honor of the podcast’s five-year anniversary! This is an audio version of the episode that was livestreamed on YouTube on August 21, 2026, with an opening comedy set by Mick Gilbert followed by the main segment with Maria featuring Kelly Diaz and Kelly Gilbert. We reflect on the first five years of the podcast and discuss the importance of showing teen characters engaged in successful social movements by analyzing “win” moments from three different teen dramas we’ve analyzed in-depth on the pod – ONE TREE HILL (2003-2012), FELICITY (1998-2002), and SWITCHED AT BIRTH (2011-2017). We also play a diabolical game Maria devised called Name That Teen Drama!, complete with buzzers for the two Kellys. If you want to watch the video version, we highly recommend you check out the replay on our YouTube channel . (Especially for the game toward the end of the ep, because it’s partially visual!) FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL | instagram , tumblr , tiktok , bluesky , threads , youtube , serializd : @leftistteendrama | twitter , letterboxd : @leftyteendrama | website: leftistteendrama.com _ ABOUT US: MARIA DIPASQUALE (she/her; host/editor) is a Brooklyn-based union communicator, organizer, and writer who watches too much TV. She splits her free time between devouring teen dramas, creating this podcast, organizing with Italians Against Fascism and in her tenant association, and reading and writing a mix of literary and romance fiction and political nonfiction. Maria’s writing will appear in the book “So Long, Dental Plan” Unions, Labor Relations and Class Struggle…As Seen On TV, forthcoming from SUNY Press in April 2027. Follow Maria on Twitter @Maria_DiP26, Bluesky/Letterboxd @mariadip, IG @mdzip, and tiktok @marialovesunions. KELLY DIAZ (she/her; recurring guest) is a Research Program Manager at Yale University studying disability & chronic illness justice, access, and inclusion. She is also an adjunct instructor of Media Studies at the City College of New York (CCNY). She has a Ph.D. from the Annenberg School for Communication at the University of Pennsylvania where she wrote her dissertation on depictions of youth activism on television. She loves to analyze and discuss the intersection of pop culture and politics and is passionate about the role entertainment plays in social justice movements. She has a dog, Matilda "Tillie," who is named after the magical, brilliant, and justice-serving character! KELLY GILBERT (she/her; recurring guest) is a student (phd in Twilight), sometimes activist, teen drama aficionado in Brooklyn! Find her IRL every night drinking her sorrows away at Margaritaville, the Jimmy Buffet Experience! MICK GILBERT (they/them; recurring guest) is a comic based between Upstate NY and Brooklyn, and Kelly’s identical twin! They love Degrassi: The Next Generation and turn to it for wisdom on how to be the best 32 year old Canadian teen they can be. (@mommysack11 on social media) JEFF MCHALE (he/him; producer) is an extremely online guy who plays games, works in the cannabis industry, and loves talking old TV. Logo art by Maddy Wiryo intro song: Stomping the Room by Delicate Beats All opinions shared on this show are that of individuals and do not represent the views of any organization we may be affiliated with. _ SOURCES DISCUSSED IN THE EPISODE: “So Long, Dental Plan” Unions, Labor Relations and Class Struggle…As Seen On TV, forthcoming from SUNY Press in April 2027. Follow on Bluesky ! Download our "Take Action with Leftist Teen Drama" Brochure!
In our fourth Special Episode of Leftist Teen Drama featuring a writer talking about her related body of work, Maria introduces Anjali Madgula (pronounced uhnjuhlee mudguhla), who recently completed her Master’s thesis at Rutgers University-Newark entitled, “Organizing In Popular Culture: Teen Drama Television and Jane McAlevey.” (Maria—and Leftist Teen Drama—were featured in the Master’s thesis!) Maria and Anjali delve into the project, breaking down the various teen drama tropes that Anjali analyzed and problematized, as well as the narrative framework she devised, translating Jane McAlevey’s organizing framework in order to effectively depict organizing plotlines on teen drama television. Anjali will be back in Leftist Teen Drama Season 6 to discuss the largest case study from her thesis – an OUTER BANKS (2020-2026) Season 4 organizing plotline – so you don’t want to miss this introduction to Anjali’s research and our newest recurring guest slash member of the super unofficial Political Teen Drama Caucus. YOU ARE INVITED TO CELEBRATE FIVE YEARS OF LEFTIST TEEN DRAMA! Join us at The People’s Forum in NYC on Friday, August 21, 2026 at 6 PM for our first-ever live recording featuring Maria alongside Kelly Diaz and Kelly Gilbert, with opening comedy by Mick Gilbert. Get your free ticket on Eventbrite here to secure your free union-made Leftist Teen Drama logo sticker! Outside the tristate area? Livestream the event on YouTube! FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL | instagram , tumblr , tiktok , bluesky , threads , youtube , serializd : @leftistteendrama | twitter , letterboxd : @leftyteendrama | website: leftistteendrama.com _ ABOUT US: MARIA DIPASQUALE (she/her; host/editor) is a Brooklyn-based union communicator, organizer, and writer who watches too much TV. She splits her free time between devouring teen dramas, creating this podcast, organizing with Italians Against Fascism and in her tenant association, and reading and writing a mix of literary and romance fiction and political nonfiction. Maria’s writing will appear in the book “So Long, Dental Plan” Unions, Labor Relations and Class Struggle…As Seen On TV, forthcoming from SUNY Press in April 2027. Follow Maria on Twitter @Maria_DiP26, Bluesky/Letterboxd @mariadip, IG @mdzip, and tiktok @marialovesunions. ANJALI MADGULA (she/her; recurring guest) is a New Jersey based organizer and writer who recently graduated from Rutgers-Newark with an MA in American Studies. Her research focuses on how organizing is represented in popular culture and how popular culture genre and tropes might relate to telling stories about organizing. Her latest research focuses on teen drama television while drawing inspiration from labor organizer Jane McAlevey’s No Shortcuts. Follow Anjali on Twitter @anjpiscesmoon or instagram @netipotfirefly or email her at anjalim3123@gmail.com. JEFF MCHALE (he/him; producer) is an extremely online guy who plays games, works in the cannabis industry, and loves talking old TV. Logo art by Maddy Wiryo Maria and Jeff’s good union cats CLARENCE and VINNY may make an appearance and/or be mentioned. intro song: Stomping the Room by Delicate Beats All opinions shared on this show are that of individuals and do not represent the views of any organization we may be affiliated with. _ SOURCES DISCUSSED IN THE EPISODE: SPECIAL EP: Leftist Teen Drama In Conversation with Kelly Diaz No Shortcuts: Organizing for Power in the New Gilded Age by Jane McAlevey Raising Expectations (and Raising Hell): My Decade Fighting for the Labor Movement by Jane McAlevey The Promise of Happiness by Sara Ahmed Time Passages: Collective Memory and American Popular Culture by George Lipsitz Teen TV by Stefania Marghitu
YOU ARE INVITED TO CELEBRATE FIVE YEARS OF LEFTIST TEEN DRAMA! Join us at The People’s Forum in New York City on Friday, August 21, 2026 at 6 PM for our first-ever live recording featuring Maria alongside Kelly Diaz and Kelly Gilbert, with opening comedy by Mick Gilbert. Get your free ticket on Eventbrite here to secure your free union-made Leftist Teen Drama logo sticker! Outside the tristate area? Livestream the event on YouTube ! FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL | instagram , tumblr , tiktok , bluesky , threads , youtube : @leftistteendrama | twitter , letterboxd : @leftyteendrama | website: leftistteendrama.com _ ABOUT US: MARIA DIPASQUALE (she/her; host/editor) is a Brooklyn-based union communicator, organizer, and writer who watches too much TV. She splits her free time between devouring teen dramas, creating this podcast, organizing with Italians Against Fascism and in her tenant association, and reading and writing a mix of literary and romance fiction and political nonfiction. Maria’s writing will appear in the book “So Long, Dental Plan” Unions, Labor Relations and Class Struggle…As Seen On TV, forthcoming from SUNY Press in April 2027. Follow Maria on Twitter @Maria_DiP26, Bluesky/Letterboxd @mariadip, IG @mdzip, and tiktok @marialovesunions. JEFF MCHALE (he/him; producer) is an extremely online guy who plays games, works in the cannabis industry, and loves talking old TV. Logo art by Maddy Wiryo intro song: Stomping the Room by Delicate Beats All opinions shared on this show are that of individuals and do not represent the views of any organization we may be affiliated with.
Welcome back to our series of special episodes covering political moments in teen movies! Maria is once again joined by twins and self-professed “camp freaks” Kelly and Mick Gilbert as we return to the CAMP ROCK universe to discuss CAMP ROCK 2: THE FINAL JAM (2010). It’s all about the poor kid camp vs. the rich kid camp in a televised musical battle pitting Camp Rock against the newer and fancier Camp Star. We break down all the class conflict and the movie’s heavy-handed critiques of the music industry, which don’t fully land when they’re being professed by the Disney Corporation. TW for discussion of Demi Lovato’s real-life eating disorder, drug addiction, sexual assault, and reported bad working conditions on the set of Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam. For this episode, we recommend you first watch or have familiarity with both CAMP ROCK films, but especially CAMP ROCK 2: THE FINAL JAM, streaming on Hulu. YOU ARE INVITED TO CELEBRATE FIVE YEARS OF LEFTIST TEEN DRAMA! Join us at The People’s Forum in NYC on Friday, August 21, 2026 at 6 PM for our first-ever live recording featuring Maria alongside Kelly Diaz and Kelly Gilbert, with opening comedy by Mick Gilbert. Get your free ticket on Eventbrite here to secure your free union-made Leftist Teen Drama logo sticker! (We’ll also be livestreaming the event for out of towners; check out our social media for updates on how to access.) FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL | instagram , tumblr , tiktok , bluesky : @leftistteendrama | twitter , letterboxd : @leftyteendrama | website: leftistteendrama.com _ ABOUT US: MARIA DIPASQUALE (she/her; host/editor) is a Brooklyn-based union communicator, organizer, and writer who watches too much TV. She splits her free time between devouring teen dramas, creating this podcast, tenant organizing, and writing and reading (fan)fiction. Follow Maria on Twitter @Maria_DiP26, IG @mdzip, and tiktok @marialovesunions. KELLY GILBERT (she/her; recurring guest) is a student (phd in Twilight), sometimes activist, teen drama aficionado in Brooklyn! Find her IRL every night drinking her sorrows away at Margaritaville, the Jimmy Buffet Experience! MICK GILBERT (they/them; recurring guest) is a comic based between Upstate NY and Brooklyn, and Kelly’s identical twin! They love Degrassi: The Next Generation and turn to it for wisdom on how to be the best 32 year old Canadian teen they can be. JEFF MCHALE (he/him; producer) is an extremely online guy who plays games, works in the cannabis industry, and loves talking old TV. CHARLES S. O’LEARY (they/he; art) is a “writer,” “designer,” and “content strategist” based in Richmond, VA by way of Brooklyn, NY. A survivor of the 2010s Tumblr wars, leftist media criticism is all they know. To learn about them professionally, visit charles-oleary.biz. To learn about them personally, visit their Instagram at @c.s.0.l. Maria and Jeff’s good union cats CLARENCE and VINNY may make an appearance and/or be mentioned. intro song: Stomping the Room by Delicate Beats All opinions shared on this show are that of individuals and do not represent the views of any organization we may be affiliated with.
Welcome to an emergency special episode of Leftist Teen Drama in which Maria pays tribute to teen drama icon James Van Der Beek, who sadly passed away at the age of 48 on February 11, 2026 after a battle with colorectal cancer. Thanks to Kelly Gilbert for submitting a reflection! Maria reflects on his iconic roles, including on shows we’ve covered – his legendary run on DAWSON’S CREEK (1998-2003) and guest-starring roles on ONE TREE HILL (2003-2012) and OVERCOMPENSATING (2025-present). We also mourn the fact that James spent the last years of his life selling off memorabilia and fundraising to be able to afford his cancer treatments. May this be a call to continue fighting for our vision of a collective future where every person has access to universal healthcare. Leftist Teen Drama is sending all our love and solidarity to James’ friends and family and all that knew him. _ ABOUT US: MARIA DIPASQUALE (she/her; host/editor) is a Brooklyn-based union communicator, organizer, and writer who watches too much TV. She splits her free time between devouring teen dramas, creating this podcast, tenant organizing, and writing and reading (fan)fiction. Follow Maria on Twitter @Maria_DiP26, IG @mdzip, and tiktok @marialovesunions. JEFF MCHALE (he/him; producer) is an extremely online guy who plays games, works in the cannabis industry, and loves talking old TV. “Leftist Teen Drama” alternative logo by Charles O’Leary Maria and Jeff’s good union cats CLARENCE and VINNY may make an appearance and/or be mentioned. intro song: Stomping the Room by Delicate Beats All opinions shared on this show are that of individuals and do not represent the views of any organization we may be affiliated with. _ SOURCES DISCUSSED IN THE EPISODE: Leftist Teen Drama: SPECIAL EP: Leftist Teen Drama In Conversation with Thea Glassman Freaks, Gleeks, and Dawson's Creek: How Seven Teen Shows Transformed Television by Thea Glassman Vanity Fair, January 19, 2018, Inside the Thrilling, Chaotic Writers’ Room of Dawson’s Creek by Thea Glassman Leftist Teen Drama: #9 - Joey Potter Against the System: the ‘Dawson’s Creek’ Protest Episode Leftist Teen Drama: #39 - Benny Scanlon’s Millennial Queer College Journey On 'Overcompensating' (So Far) Previously On with Jillian Bonanne: Dawson's Creek Reunion Recap + Pilot Episode Reaction (Tyler's First Time Watch) Los Angeles Times, February 11, 2026, Appreciation: On ‘Dawson’s Creek,’ James Van Der Beek taught millennials how to cry by Ashley Spencer The New York Times, February 11, 2026, James Van Der Beek, Teenage Heartthrob of ‘Dawson’s Creek,’ Dies at 48 by Anita Gates Melissa Joan Hart remembrance on Instagram Steven Canals remembrance on Instagram Dominique Jackson remembrance Hailie Sahar remembrance Eric Andre remembrance Katie Holmes remembrance Busy Phillips remembrance Universal healthcare tweets and James Van Der Beek's death, part 1 Universal healthcare tweets and James Van Der Beek's death, part 2 Donate to the PCRF
Welcome back to our series of special episodes covering political moments in teen movies! To close out 2025, Maria is joined by Mo and Christina, the co-hosts of the Movies That Raised Us podcast, to dive into the American Girl cinematic universe via SAMANTHA: AN AMERICAN GIRL HOLIDAY (2004) starring a young AnnaSophia Robb. This deeply political story traces 1904, an unforgettable year in Samantha Parkington’s life, exploring class difference, child labor, women’s suffrage, and workers’ rights. Samantha goes on quite the journey, from plotting to jail break her friends from an orphanage to witnessing the harrowing factory injury scene that stuck with Mo as a child. In true American Girl fashion, Samantha ultimately gives an unsanctioned speech about factory working conditions at a school event, learning that sometimes you have to break the rules to fight for justice. Plus: we discuss Uncle Gard and Aunt Cornelia as THEE hottie brownstone socialist power couple, Mia Farrow gagging us as Grandmary, and how Samantha’s fits remain undefeated. For this episode, we recommend you first watch or have familiarity with SAMANTHA: AN AMERICAN GIRL HOLIDAY, rentable on YouTube and Apple TV. FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL | instagram , tumblr , tiktok , bluesky : @leftistteendrama | twitter , letterboxd : @leftyteendrama | website: leftistteendrama.com _ ABOUT US: MARIA DIPASQUALE (she/her; host/editor) is a Brooklyn-based union communicator, organizer, and writer who watches too much TV. She splits her free time between devouring teen dramas, creating this podcast, tenant organizing, and writing and reading (fan)fiction. Follow Maria on Twitter @Maria_DiP26, IG @mdzip, and tiktok @marialovesunions. MO CRUZ (she/her; guest) and CHRISTINA SCHMIDT (she/her; guest) are co-hosts of Movies That Raised Us, a weekly film review podcast. Once Upon A Time (aka freshman year of college), Mo and Christina met in the big apple. While neither became Princess of Genovia or found their long lost twin sister, they did bond over the movies that put those ideas in their heads. If you long for the days of talking through movies with your best friends, analyzing every juicy detail, and making whatever film you just watched your entire personality- look no further. Sit back and relax, as Mo and Christina cover formative movies, flip phones, and growing up on Movies That Raised Us. Listen to the pod anywhere you get your podcasts, plus find MTRU on Instagram , Tiktok , and Twitter . JEFF MCHALE (he/him; producer) is an extremely online guy who plays games, works in the cannabis industry, and loves talking old TV. CHARLES S. O’LEARY (they/he; art) is a designer + writer based in Richmond, VA. They're currently getting their MFA in Graphic Design at Virginia Commonwealth University, and spend most of their time unsuccessfully scheming how to get off Instagram (@c.s.0.l). Maria and Jeff’s good union cats CLARENCE and VINNY may make an appearance and/or be mentioned. intro song: Stomping the Room by Delicate Beats All opinions shared on this show are that of individuals and do not represent the views of any organization we may be affiliated with. _ SOURCES DISCUSSED IN THE EPISODE: December 13, 2023, Collider, 'American Girl' Movie In Development From Mattel, Paramount by Rob London September 24, 2025, Retail Dive, The American Girl doll of the year is Samantha’s great, great granddaughter . By Kaarin Moore October 29, 2025, Michael Lange, How Zohran Can Reach 50% (includes discussion of the “Commie Corridor.”) November 3, 2025, Michael Lange, Predicting Every Block of the 2025 NYC Mayoral Election
In the Leftist Teen Drama Season 5 finale, Maria is joined by twins Kelly Gilbert and Mick Gilbert to contrast the experiences of Catholic teenage girls coming of age in Belfast and Derry during The Troubles on SAY NOTHING (2024) and DERRY GIRLS (2018-2022). For one set of teen girl characters – Marian and Dolours Price – the Cause and the war are all consuming, inseparable from their experience of girlhood. But for teen characters in the DERRY GIRLS universe – Clare Devlin, Erin Quinn, Orla McCool, and Michelle Mallon [and honorarily James Maguire] – the Troubles are simply the political backdrop of their girlhoods, with much more teenage problems often taking a front seat instead. Still, thorough lines run through the stories: a deep hatred for British colonialism; common socioeconomic conditions and the Catholic working class solidarity that comes with it; and, overall, a love for Ireland. We discuss all the political complexities explored on the two shows, ending with a lot more questions than answers. For this episode, we recommend you first watch or have familiarity with DERRY GIRLS Seasons 1-3, streaming on Netflix, and SAY NOTHING Season 1, streaming on Hulu and Disney+. FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL | instagram , tumblr , tiktok , bluesky : @leftistteendrama | twitter , letterboxd : @leftyteendrama | website: leftistteendrama.com _ ABOUT US: MARIA DIPASQUALE (she/her; host/editor) is a Brooklyn-based union communicator, organizer, and writer who watches too much TV. She splits her free time between devouring teen dramas, creating this podcast, tenant organizing, and writing and reading (fan)fiction. Follow Maria on Twitter @Maria_DiP26, IG @mdzip, and tiktok @marialovesunions. KELLY GILBERT (she/her; recurring guest) is a student (phd in Twilight), sometimes activist, teen drama aficionado in Brooklyn! Find her IRL every night drinking her sorrows away at Margaritaville, the Jimmy Buffet Experience! MICK GILBERT (they/them; recurring guest) is a comic based between Upstate NY and Brooklyn, and Kelly’s identical twin! They love Degrassi: The Next Generation and turn to it for wisdom on how to be the best 32 year old Canadian teen they can be. JEFF MCHALE (he/him; producer) is an extremely online guy who plays games, works in the cannabis industry, and loves talking old TV. CHARLES S. O’LEARY (they/he; art) is a designer + writer based in Richmond, VA. They're currently getting their MFA in Graphic Design at Virginia Commonwealth University, and spend most of their time unsuccessfully scheming how to get off Instagram (@c.s.0.l). Maria and Jeff’s good union cats CLARENCE and VINNY may make an appearance and/or be mentioned. intro song: Stomping the Room by Delicate Beats All opinions shared on this show are that of individuals and do not represent the views of any organization we may be affiliated with. _ SOURCES DISCUSSED IN THE EPISODE: Say Nothing: A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland by Patrick Radden Keefe March 4, 2019, Prospect Magazine, In Derry Girls and Milkman, teenage girls dance through the Troubles by Caroline Magennis May 2, 2019, Counterpunch, An American Reporter in Belfast: How a New Yorker Writer Got So Much Wrong in His Bestselling Book On The Troubles by Ed Moloney June 10, 2025, Los Angeles Times, ‘Say Nothing’ courted a global audience. In Ireland, it sparked a heated debate by Lesley O’Toole July 29, 2025, Hollywood Reporter, Disney Sued for Defamation Over FX Series ‘Say Nothing’ by Katie Kilkenny December 9, 2025, The Guardian, Britain’s ‘golden egg’: how IRA agent Freddie Scappaticci was protected to the end by Daniel Boffey SUGGESTED FURTHER READING/LISTENING: One Man's Terrorist: A Political History of the IRA by Daniel Finn The podcast Mick listened to beforehand: Redhanded, Episode 224 - The Guildford Four & The Maguire Seven
In the penultimate episode of Leftist Teen Drama Season 5, Maria is joined by fellow union comms girlie Diana Hussein to dive into the SAVED BY THE BELL (1989-1993) Teachers’ Strike episode. As the first of multiple Leftist Teen Drama episodes on this quintessential ‘90s teen show, we dive into this short-lived plotline in which Zack and Slater manipulate Principal Belding and union president Mr. Tuttle to ensure Bayside teachers go on strike so Zack and Slater can get out of school. Despite the shaky motives, the teachers do end the strike with a better contract than they started with, making this probably the weirdest strike episode we’ve discussed so far. For this episode, we recommend you first watch or have familiarity with SAVED BY THE BELL but especially the “Teachers Strike” episode, streaming on Tubi. FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL | instagram , tumblr , tiktok , bluesky : @leftistteendrama | twitter , letterboxd : @leftyteendrama | website: leftistteendrama.com _ ABOUT US: MARIA DIPASQUALE (she/her; host/editor) is a Brooklyn-based union communicator, organizer, and writer who watches too much TV. She splits her free time between devouring teen dramas, creating this podcast, tenant organizing, and writing and reading (fan)fiction. Follow Maria on Twitter @Maria_DiP26, IG @mdzip, and tiktok @marialovesunions. DIANA HUSSEIN (she/her; recurring guest) has done Communications in the labor movement for nearly a decade. As a kid, Diana collected 1980s teen romance novels at garage sales and flea markets with her mom. This obsession later translated into a love for TV shows of that genre. From the days of My So-Called Life and Daria, to The O.C. and Gossip Girl, she still holds a passion for young adult storylines today — especially when they feature working-class narratives. JEFF MCHALE (he/him; producer) is an extremely online guy who plays games, works in the cannabis industry, and loves talking old TV. CHARLES S. O’LEARY (they/he; art) is a designer + writer based in Richmond, VA. They're currently getting their MFA in Graphic Design at Virginia Commonwealth University, and spend most of their time unsuccessfully scheming how to get off Instagram (@c.s.0.l). Maria and Jeff’s good union cats CLARENCE and VINNY may make an appearance and/or be mentioned. intro song: Stomping the Room by Delicate Beats All opinions shared on this show are that of individuals and do not represent the views of any organization we may be affiliated with.
Maria is joined by Dondré Taylor-Stewart for Leftist Teen Drama’s first episode covering A DIFFERENT WORLD (1987-1993) – but it certainly won’t be our last. Once Debbie Allen took the helm in Season 2, she mde HBCU politics a cornerstone of the show, dealing with issues ranging from colorism and racism to HIV and date rape. We focus on Season 2’s “Radio Free Hillman,” a Martin Luther King, Jr. Day dedication episode in which Hillman College students stage a sit-in at a campus admin building after Dwayne Wayne’s radio show is abruptly pulled off the air. We talk about Freddie Brooks as a more natural protest leader than Dwayne; the short-lived movement’s demands, tactics, and strategy, or lack thereof; and the valuable lesson learned by Dwayne when he ultimately realizes that he jumped the gun in playing new, unreleased music without first listening to its contents. For this episode, we recommend you first watch or have familiarity with A DIFFERENT WORLD, but especially Season 2, Episode 10, “Radio Free Hillman,” streaming on Netflix. FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL | instagram , tumblr , tiktok , bluesky : @leftistteendrama | twitter , letterboxd : @leftyteendrama | website: leftistteendrama.com _ ABOUT US: MARIA DIPASQUALE (she/her; host/editor) is a Brooklyn-based union communicator, organizer, and writer who watches too much TV. She splits her free time between devouring teen dramas, creating this podcast, tenant organizing, and writing and reading (fan)fiction. Follow Maria on Twitter @Maria_DiP26, IG @mdzip, and tiktok @marialovesunions. DONDRÉ TAYLOR-STEWART (he/him; recurring guest) is a Jersey-born, Jamaican-raised TV writer in Los Angeles. His writing focuses on Black and queer characters finding themselves amid society's margins. By day, he works in environmental public policy; by night, he's busy crafting original pilots and DJ-ing. JEFF MCHALE (he/him; producer) is an extremely online guy who plays games, works in the cannabis industry, and loves talking old TV. CHARLES S. O’LEARY (they/he; art) is a designer + writer based in Richmond, VA. They're currently getting their MFA in Graphic Design at Virginia Commonwealth University, and spend most of their time unsuccessfully scheming how to get off Instagram (@c.s.0.l). Maria and Jeff’s good union cats CLARENCE and VINNY may make an appearance and/or be mentioned. intro song: Stomping the Room by Delicate Beats All opinions shared on this show are that of individuals and do not represent the views of any organization we may be affiliated with. _ SOURCES DISCUSSED IN THE EPISODE: October 26, 2020, Essence, Young, Gifted And Black: The Impact Of 'A Different World' 30 Years Later by Jessica Littles
**SPOILERS INSIDE** DO NOT LISTEN BEFORE YOU FINISH SEASON 1. At first glance, WE WERE LIARS (2025-present) might seem like any other rich kid teen drama, but this show goes much deeper with its anticapitalist and anticolonial messages than most. Maria and Kelly Diaz break down the entire first season as the Liars – Cadence Sinclair, Gat Patil, Johnny Sinclair, and Mirren Sinclair – begin to shift their perspectives on the private island where they spend their summers, and the high-profile capitalist patriarch Harris Sinclair who rules over it all. For this episode, we STRONGLY recommend you first watch the entirety of WE WERE LIARS Season 1, streaming on Prime Video, and/or have read the entirety of the book We Were Liars by E. Lockhart. FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL | instagram , tumblr , tiktok , bluesky : @leftistteendrama | twitter , letterboxd : @leftyteendrama | website: leftistteendrama.com _ ABOUT US: MARIA DIPASQUALE (she/her; host/editor) is a Brooklyn-based union communicator, organizer, and writer who watches too much TV. She splits her free time between devouring teen dramas, creating this podcast, tenant organizing, and writing and reading (fan)fiction. Follow Maria on Twitter @Maria_DiP26, IG @mdzip, and tiktok @marialovesunions. KELLY DIAZ (she/her; recurring guest) is a Research Program Manager at Yale University studying disability & chronic illness justice, access, and inclusion. She is also an adjunct instructor of Media Studies at the City College of New York (CCNY). She has a Ph.D. from the Annenberg School for Communication at the University of Pennsylvania where she wrote her dissertation on depictions of youth activism on television. She loves to analyze and discuss the intersection of pop culture and politics and is passionate about the role entertainment plays in social justice movements. She has a dog, Matilda "Tillie," who is named after the magical, brilliant, and justice-serving character! JEFF MCHALE (he/him; producer) is an extremely online guy who plays games, works in the cannabis industry, and loves talking old TV. CHARLES S. O’LEARY (they/he; art) is a designer + writer based in Richmond, VA. They're currently getting their MFA in Graphic Design at Virginia Commonwealth University, and spend most of their time unsuccessfully scheming how to get off Instagram (@c.s.0.l). Maria and Jeff’s good union cats CLARENCE and VINNY may make an appearance and/or be mentioned. intro song: Stomping the Room by Delicate Beats All opinions shared on this show are that of individuals and do not represent the views of any organization we may be affiliated with. _ SOURCES DISCUSSED IN THE EPISODE: September 17, 2025, Elle, We Were Liars Season 2: Everything We Know by Aimée Lutkin and Lauren Puckett-Pop
Maria is joined by fellow union comrade and FREAKS AND GEEKS (1999-2000) superfan Margaret McLaughlin to break down the political themes of the show’s one and only season, which is firmly set in the 1980-1981 school year. We discuss Lindsay Weir’s journey walking the tightrope between “freak” and “geek,” and the way she tests the waters of finding her political voice; the controversial yet revealing episode “Kim Kelly Is My Friend”; and Bill Haverchuck as a solid representation of the latchkey kid. We also analyze all the political themes of Season 1, Episode 17, which features groundbreaking intersex representation in the character of Amy, as well as a vice presidential visit to McKinley High that has all the characters talking politics and gives Lindsay the chance to speak truth to power. For this episode, we recommend you first watch or have familiarity with the entirety of FREAKS AND GEEKS Season 1, but especially Season 1, Episode 3, “Tricks and Treats,” Season 1, Episode 4, “Kim Kelly Is My Friend,” Season 1, Episode 17, “The Little Things,” and Season 1, Episode 18, “Discos and Dragons.” FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL | instagram , tumblr , tiktok , bluesky : @leftistteendrama | twitter , letterboxd : @leftyteendrama | website: leftistteendrama.com _ ABOUT US: MARIA DIPASQUALE (she/her; host/editor) is a Brooklyn-based union communicator, organizer, and writer who watches too much TV. She splits her free time between devouring teen dramas, creating this podcast, tenant organizing, and writing and reading (fan)fiction. Follow Maria on Twitter @Maria_DiP26, IG @mdzip, and tiktok @marialovesunions. MARGARET MCLAUGHLIN (she/her; guest) is a Philly-born, LA-based labor organizer and aficionado of both high cinema and trash tv. Her favorite movie of the last five years is LA CHIMERA (watch it!) and most disgusting, trainwreck watch of a tv show is Secret Lives of Mormon Wives (please don’t do mental harm to yourself by watching). She’s offline but sometimes you can find her on Twitter at @mags_mclaugh JEFF MCHALE (he/him; producer) is an extremely online guy who plays games, works in the cannabis industry, and loves talking old TV. CHARLES S. O’LEARY (they/he; art) is a designer + writer based in Richmond, VA. They're currently getting their MFA in Graphic Design at Virginia Commonwealth University, and spend most of their time unsuccessfully scheming how to get off Instagram (@c.s.0.l). Maria and Jeff’s good union cats CLARENCE and VINNY may make an appearance and/or be mentioned. intro song: Stomping the Room by Delicate Beats All opinions shared on this show are that of individuals and do not represent the views of any organization we may be affiliated with. _ SOURCES DISCUSSED IN THE EPISODE: Freaks, Gleeks, and Dawson's Creek: How Seven Teen Shows Transformed Television by Thea Glassman And listen to our SPECIAL EP: Leftist Teen Drama In Conversation with Thea Glassman for more insights from the Freaks and Geeks chapter of the book! September 23, 2014, Buzzfeed News, Meet Television's Groundbreaking Intersex Character by Louis Peitzman December 6, 2012, Vanity Fair: Paul Feig: What Would’ve Happened to Every Character in Freaks and Geeks’ Lost Second Season by Robert Lloyd
Maria is appropriately joined by two of her fellow millennial teen drama Internet friends, Abir Mohammad and Jillian Bonanne, to break down the queer college journey of Benny Scanlon on Season 1 of OVERCOMPENSATING (2025-present.) The vaguely 2010s campus setting of this show feels all too familiar, providing at times painfully accurate representations of the college experience for the younger end of the millennial generation – including the fact that many LGBTQIA+ millennials came out in college/university, rather than in high school. We analyze and celebrate the non-linear and unrushed way that Benny’s story begins to unfold, and what we hope to see in the upcoming second season. For this episode, we recommend you first watch or have familiarity with OVERCOMPENSATING Season 1, streaming on Prime Video. FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL | instagram , tumblr , tiktok , bluesky : @leftistteendrama | twitter , letterboxd : @leftyteendrama | website: leftistteendrama.com _ ABOUT US: MARIA DIPASQUALE (she/her; host/editor) is a Brooklyn-based union communicator, organizer, and writer who watches too much TV. She splits her free time between devouring teen dramas, creating this podcast, tenant organizing, and writing and reading (fan)fiction. Follow Maria on Twitter @Maria_DiP26, IG @mdzip, and tiktok @marialovesunions. ABIR MOHAMMAD (he/him; recurring guest) is a London-based Writer and Casting Assistant with a passion for YA media. He likes to write about the specific experiences surrounding the queer, brown, Muslim and working class communities that he grew up in, and can talk your ear off about the casting of any TV show you can think of. Follow Abir on Twitter @abirmohxmmad or Instagram @abirmohammad. JILLIAN BONANNE (she/her; guest) is a content creator, podcaster, and certified teen drama superfan in NYC. Whether she's breaking down love triangles, visiting filming locations, or ranking heartthrobs, she brings nostalgia, humor, and a pop culture brain that never sleeps. Follow Jillian on IG, TikTok & YouTube @previouslyon_teentv JEFF MCHALE (he/him; producer) is an extremely online guy who plays games, works in the cannabis industry, and loves talking old TV. CHARLES S. O’LEARY (they/he; art) is a designer + writer based in Richmond, VA. They're currently getting their MFA in Graphic Design at Virginia Commonwealth University, and spend most of their time unsuccessfully scheming how to get off Instagram (@c.s.0.l). Maria and Jeff’s good union cats CLARENCE and VINNY may make an appearance and/or be mentioned. intro song: Stomping the Room by Delicate Beats All opinions shared on this show are that of individuals and do not represent the views of any organization we may be affiliated with. _ SOURCES DISCUSSED IN THE EPISODE: Elle, May 22, 2025, The Joy Of 'Overcompensating' Is How It Celebrates Millennial Culture Rather Than Cringing Over It
In fulfillment of a listener request from @vanesawye on Tumblr , Maria and recurring guest Dondré Taylor-Stewart break down the HBO Max teen drama GENERA+ION (2021). This short but impactful show is packed with political moments, from Chester’s recurring experience of getting dress coded for being visibly queer to Delilah subverting the activist character trope. We talk about Greta’s asexuality, Nathan’s experience of coming out as bisexual while having conservative parents, and how cruel of a decision it was for HBO Max to cancel and pull a show that so many queer teens could see themselves in. For this episode, we’d usually recommend you first watch or have familiarity with GENERA+ION Season 1, but it’s incredibly hard to find so we mostly just wish you luck in trying to watch it. FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL | instagram , tumblr , tiktok , bluesky : @leftistteendrama | twitter , letterboxd : @leftyteendrama | website: leftistteendrama.com _ ABOUT US: MARIA DIPASQUALE (she/her; host/editor) is a Brooklyn-based union communicator, organizer, and writer who watches too much TV. She splits her free time between devouring teen dramas, creating this podcast, tenant organizing, and writing and reading (fan)fiction. Follow Maria on Twitter @Maria_DiP26, IG @mdzip, and tiktok @marialovesunions. DONDRÉ TAYLOR-STEWART (he/him; recurring guest) is a Jersey-born, Jamaican-raised TV writer in Los Angeles. His writing focuses on Black and queer characters finding themselves amid society's margins. By day, he works in environmental public policy; by night, he's busy crafting original pilots and DJ-ing. JEFF MCHALE (he/him; producer) is an extremely online guy who plays games, works in the cannabis industry, and loves talking old TV. CHARLES S. O’LEARY (they/he; art) is a designer + writer based in Richmond, VA. They're currently getting their MFA in Graphic Design at Virginia Commonwealth University, and spend most of their time unsuccessfully scheming how to get off Instagram (@c.s.0.l). Maria and Jeff’s good union cats CLARENCE and VINNY may make an appearance and/or be mentioned. intro song: Stomping the Room by Delicate Beats All opinions shared on this show are that of individuals and do not represent the views of any organization we may be affiliated with. _ SOURCES DISCUSSED IN THE EPISODE: Queerty, May 22, 2025, Justice for ‘Genera+ion’: Why the queer HBO Max teen series still deserves its flowers by David Opie The Daily Beast, August 18, 2022, Why Is HBO Max Erasing the Best Queer Teen Series From Existence? by Fletcher Peters Entertainment Weekly, September 15, 2021, Genera+ion co-creator responds to show's cancellation, answers most-asked finale questions by Zelda Barnz AwardsWatch, July 8, 2021, Interview: Justice Smith talkin’ about his ‘genera+ion’ and celebrating queer identity by Michael-Michelle Pratt IndieWire, March 11, 2021, ‘Genera+ion’ Review: HBO Max’s Gen Z Dramedy Is Confused About Its Identity by Jude Dry Variety, March 5, 2021, HBO Max’s ‘Generation’ Takes on Gen Z With Familiar Teen Show Tropes: TV Review by Caroline Framke
Maria is joined by recurring guest Kelly Diaz and disability rights activist Sasha Blair-Goldensohn to talk about disability justice on both SEX EDUCATION (2019-2023) and in real life. In Sex Education Season 4, wheelchair user Isaac Goodwin disrupts mock exams to protest the chronically broken elevator at Cavendish College, inspiring the entire student body to hold an impromptu sit-in until the lift is fixed. We talk about this inspiring direct action and how it parallels the real-life fight to make the New York City subway system fully wheelchair-accessible, a fight of which Sasha is part! Kelly and Maria also generally break down disability representation on the show, as shown through the characters of Isaac Goodwin and Aisha Green, a deaf character introduced in Season 4 who also plays a pivotal role in the sit-in. For this episode, we recommend you first watch or have familiarity with SEX EDUCATION Seasons 1-4, but especially Season 4, Episode 7, “Episode 7,” streaming on Netflix. FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL | instagram , tumblr , tiktok , bluesky : @leftistteendrama | twitter , letterboxd : @leftyteendrama | website: leftistteendrama.com _ ABOUT US: MARIA DIPASQUALE (she/her; host/editor) is a Brooklyn-based union communicator, organizer, and writer who watches too much TV. She splits her free time between devouring teen dramas, creating this podcast, tenant organizing, and writing and reading (fan)fiction. Follow Maria on Twitter @Maria_DiP26, IG @mdzip, and tiktok @marialovesunions. KELLY DIAZ (she/her; recurring guest) is a Research Program Manager at Yale University studying disability & chronic illness justice, access, and inclusion. She is also an adjunct instructor of Media Studies at the City College of New York (CCNY). She has a Ph.D. from the Annenberg School for Communication at the University of Pennsylvania where she wrote her dissertation on depictions of youth activism on television. She loves to analyze and discuss the intersection of pop culture and politics and is passionate about the role entertainment plays in social justice movements. She has a dog, Matilda "Tillie," who is named after the magical, brilliant, and justice-serving character! SASHA BLAIR-GOLDENSOHN (he/him; guest) works at Google Maps to make accessible, disability-inclusive places , transit and walking routes easier to find. He is also an activist with the Rise and Resist Elevator Action Group for New York City subway accessibility, and has appeared in the New York Times , Vital City , West Side Rag , PBS and Vice News . JEFF MCHALE (he/him; producer) is an extremely online guy who plays games, works in the cannabis industry, and loves talking old TV. CHARLES S. O’LEARY (they/he; art) is a designer + writer based in Richmond, VA. They're currently getting their MFA in Graphic Design at Virginia Commonwealth University, and spend most of their time unsuccessfully scheming how to get off Instagram (@c.s.0.l). Maria and Jeff’s good union cats CLARENCE and VINNY may make an appearance and/or be mentioned. intro song: Stomping the Room by Delicate Beats All opinions shared on this show are that of individuals and do not represent the views of any organization we may be affiliated with. _ SOURCES DISCUSSED IN THE EPISODE: Joyce, M. (2025). Perspective: Highlighting Disability Voices and Viewpoints through Artistry and Accessibility [Conference presentation]. 4th Annual Symposium for Disability and Accessibility at Yale, New Haven, CT, United States. Bradley, D., Pombier, N., Rodriguez, M. T., and Sonneborn, L. (2025). Access as Invitation: Challenging the Constraints of Normative Arts Participation [Conference presentation]. 4th Annual Symposium for Disability and Accessibility at Yale, New Haven, CT, United States. Disabled Art Collectives: https://www.thedisabilitycollective.com Hook & Loop in Philadelphia- https://whyy.org/articles/undue-burden-painted-bride-philadelphia-artists-disabilities/ Intertwine Arts- https://www.intertwinearts.org Crip Camp Stanford Social Innovation Review, Winter 2017: The Curb-Cut Effect by Angela Glover Blackwell NYC Subway Elevator Action Group and activity timeline RAR / EAG ADA35 march , July 26, 2025: photos , more photos , Sasha's speech , Village Star article (good, though low crowd estimate -- perhaps closer to 1k). SUGGESTED FURTHER READING/WATCHING/LISTENING: 2024 NYPL talk: 15 Years on Wheels June NPR: "Meet the Google engineer making Maps more accessible ” May 2024 New Accessibility Updates across Lookout, Google Maps and more - Keyword post including the icon launch on desktop Maps, now at 50M+ establishments. October 2023 8 Ways we’re making daily tasks more accessible : Accessible Walking Routes, Disabed-Owned business attribute. May 2023 5 products and features that make the digital world more accessible Keyword post by UX Researcher Jerry Robinson, including the visible-by-default icon added to mobile Maps at 40M+ worldwide places. December 2022 Help users discover more with New Places API Updates Keyword by James Harrison including developer access to wheelchair accessibility data via the Place Details API . November 2022 New Maps Updates to Help You Make the Most of the Holidays - Keyword by Amanda Leicht-Moore including Worldwide Availability of Wheelchair Accessible Places (previously US,GB,AU,JP only). December 2021 Architectural Digest “Design for All” profile: Sasha Blair-Goldensohn : The tech innovator maps a more accessible future. Interview and summary of Maps ADI work. May 2021 How Anyone Can Make Maps More Accessible - Keyword post by Mara Chomsky highlighting Local Guide contributions May 2020 Find wheelchair accessible places with Google Maps - Keyword blog post announcing Maps setting, by Sasha Blair-Goldensohn December 2019 How I'm Making Maps Better for Wheelchair Users Like Me - Keyword blog post from Sasha Blair-Goldensohn October 2019 Detailed Voice Guidance for Users with Vision Impairment - Keyword post from Wakana Sugiyama
TW: sexual assault (and the fallout) discussed throughout the episode Maria is joined by Rosalie Murray and Kelly Gilbert to discuss Paige Michalchuk’s sexual assault plotline as depicted over several seasons of DEGRASSI: THE NEXT GENERATION (2002-2015). Similar to Tim Riggins’ arc that we discussed in Episode #7, this plotline begs for an abolitionist reading. From spontaneously singing “Poor Thing” and driving Dean out of a public space to outing him as a rapist at his frat house and facing his lawyer down in court, Paige goes on quite the character journey as she processes her trauma. We break it all down while also arguing that Paige’s experience pressing charges against her rapist is essentially an essay on why the carceral system fails to bring any sort of meaningful justice for sexual assault survivors. For this episode, we recommend you first watch or have familiarity with DEGRASSI: THE NEXT GENERATION Seasons 1-4, but especially Season 2, Episodes 7-8, “Shout,” Parts 1 and 2; Season 2, Episode 20, “How Soon Is Now?”; and Season 4, Episodes 1-2, “Ghost in the Machine,” Parts 1 and 2, currently streaming on multiple services, including YouTube, HBO Max, Tubi, and Hulu. FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL | instagram , tumblr , tiktok , bluesky : @leftistteendrama | twitter , letterboxd : @leftyteendrama | website: leftistteendrama.com _ ABOUT US: MARIA DIPASQUALE (she/her; host/editor) is a Brooklyn-based union communicator, organizer, and writer who watches too much TV. She splits her free time between devouring teen dramas, creating this podcast, tenant organizing, and writing and reading (fan)fiction. Follow Maria on Twitter @Maria_DiP26, IG @mdzip, and tiktok @marialovesunions. ROSALIE MURRAY (she/her; recurring guest) is an elementary school social worker/human living in Queens, NY. Besides spending time with her cat, Louise, she loves to cook tasty ass vegan food with friends, karaoke-ing or starting another ceramic project. She also loves to watch endless youtube videos, reality television and, of course, Degrassi. KELLY GILBERT (she/her; recurring guest) is a student (phd in Twilight), sometimes activist, teen drama aficionado in Brooklyn! Find her IRL every night drinking her sorrows away at Margaritaville, the Jimmy Buffet Experience! JEFF MCHALE (he/him; producer) is an extremely online guy who plays games, works in the cannabis industry, and loves talking old TV. CHARLES S. O’LEARY (they/he; art) is a designer + writer based in Richmond, VA. They're currently getting their MFA in Graphic Design at Virginia Commonwealth University, and spend most of their time unsuccessfully scheming how to get off Instagram (@c.s.0.l). Maria and Jeff’s good union cats CLARENCE and VINNY may make an appearance and/or be mentioned. intro song: Stomping the Room by Delicate Beats All opinions shared on this show are that of individuals and do not represent the views of any organization we may be affiliated with. _ SOURCES DISCUSSED IN THE EPISODE: Transform Harm, February 18, 2020, Surviving Rape as a Prison Abolitionist by Miriam Perez-Putnam Transform Harm, June 25, 2020, What About the Rapists and Murderers? By Angel Parker The Cut, October 1, 2020, Aching for Abolition As a survivor of sexual violence, I know prison isn’t the answer. by Camonghne Felix Xtra Magazine, July 2, 2021, Degrassi’s Paige Michalchuk was complicated, to say the least, but her journey was my journey by Mira Miller Chanel Miller, Know My Name: A Memoir Are Prisons Obsolete? by Angela Y. Davis SUGGESTED FURTHER READING: Beyond Survival: Strategies and Stories from the Transformative Justice Movement
In the Leftist Teen Drama Season 5 premiere, Maria is joined by Kelly Diaz to discuss one of the most comprehensive student protest movements that she analyzed in her dissertation on depictions of youth activism on television. In Season 5 of SWITCHED AT BIRTH (2011-2017), a second protest movement emerges over multiple episodes, this time in the university setting of UMKC, purposefully told from the point of view of three Black secondary characters while they fight for racial justice on campus. Much like the Season 2 SWITCHED AT BIRTH plotline Maria and Kelly discussed on Episode #28, this plotline is inspired by real-life events: namely the 2015 racial justice protests at the University of Missouri. We break down the character journeys of our activist characters and the myriad tactics used throughout the movement, from canvassing for petition signatures and interviews with campus blogs to civil disobedience and even a hunger strike. For this episode, we recommend you first watch or have familiarity with SWITCHED AT BIRTH Seasons 1-5, but especially Season 5, Episode 2, “This Has to Do With Me,” Season 5, Episode 4, “Relation of Lines and Colors,” and Season 5, Episode 5, “Occupy Truth,” currently streaming on Hulu. You may also want to listen to our first Leftist Teen Drama ep that covers events from SWITCHED AT BIRTH Seasons 1-2: Episode #28 - Deaf Students ‘Occupy Carlton’ to Save Their School on ‘Switched At Birth’ in Homage to Historic Gallaudet Protests. FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL | instagram , tumblr , tiktok , bluesky : @leftistteendrama | twitter , letterboxd : @leftyteendrama | website: leftistteendrama.com _ ABOUT US: MARIA DIPASQUALE (she/her; host/editor) is a Brooklyn-based union communicator, organizer, and writer who watches too much TV. She splits her free time between devouring teen dramas, creating this podcast, tenant organizing, and writing and reading (fan)fiction. Follow Maria on Twitter @Maria_DiP26, IG @mdzip, and tiktok @marialovesunions. KELLY DIAZ (she/her; recurring guest) is a Research Program Manager at Yale University studying disability & chronic illness justice, access, and inclusion. She is also an adjunct instructor of Media Studies at the City College of New York (CCNY). She has a Ph.D. from the Annenberg School for Communication at the University of Pennsylvania where she wrote her dissertation on depictions of youth activism on television. She loves to analyze and discuss the intersection of pop culture and politics and is passionate about the role entertainment plays in social justice movements. She has a dog, Matilda "Tillie," who is named after the magical, brilliant, and justice-serving character! JEFF MCHALE (he/him; producer) is an extremely online guy who plays games, works in the cannabis industry, and loves talking old TV. CHARLES S. O’LEARY (they/he; art) is a designer + writer based in Richmond, VA. They're currently getting their MFA in Graphic Design at Virginia Commonwealth University, and spend most of their time unsuccessfully scheming how to get off Instagram (@c.s.0.l). Maria and Jeff’s good union cats CLARENCE and VINNY may make an appearance and/or be mentioned. intro song: Stomping the Room by Delicate Beats All opinions shared on this show are that of individuals and do not represent the views of any organization we may be affiliated with. _ SOURCES DISCUSSED IN THE EPISODE: August 20, 2018, Inside Higher Ed: Protesters Tear Down Silent Sam by Scott Jaschik June 8, 2020, NPR: Protests Are Bringing Down Confederate Monuments Around The South by Debbie Elliott March 19, 2024, Black Lives Matter: Our History August 26, 2020, Southern Vision Alliance: “A rallying point for Confederate agitators”: Students’ fight to topple racism at the University of Mississippi by Caro Metzler February 28, 2017, Hollywood Reporter: The Story Behind ‘Switched at Birth’s’ Emotional Racism Episode by Kate Stanhope November 10, 2015, CNN: A timeline of the University of Missouri protests by Michael Pearson November 9, 2015, The New York Times, University of Missouri Protests Spur a Day of Change by John Eligon and Richard Pérez-Peña Cooper, E. (2015). “Teens win”: Purveying fantasies of effortless economic mobility and social attainment on rich teen soaps. Popular Culture, 48(4), 731-746. Gordon, H. R. (2008). Gendered paths to teenage political participation: parental power, civic mobility, and youth activism. Gender & Society, 22(1), 31-55. Gordon, H. (2009). We fight to win: Inequality and the politics of youth activism. Ithaca, NY: Rutgers University Press. _ SUGGESTED FURTHER READING: Conner, J. O., Greytak, E., Evich, C. D., and Wray-Lake, L. (2023). Burnout and belonging: How the costs and benefits of youth activism affect youth health and wellbeing. Youth, 3, 127-145. Jenkins, H., Shresthova, S., Gamber-Thompson, L., Kligler-Vilenchik, N., & Zimmerman, A. (2018). By any media necessary: The new youth activism (Vol. 3). NYU Press. https://nyupress.org/9781479899982/by-any-media-necessary/
Welcome to Season *FIVE* of Leftist Teen Drama, a podcast for all the girlies who know that “OC” is both shorthand for an organizing committee AND an iconic early 2000s teen drama! Season 5 is filled with a stacked cast of new and returning guests, and I’m happy to announce that, for the first time since 2022, the season has been extended to 10 episodes! We’ve got all our usual suspects: sit-ins and encampments and queer awakenings and class conflict galore. So check out a little taste of Season 5, premiering on Sundays starting October 12 through December 14, 2025. FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL | instagram , tumblr , tiktok , bluesky : @leftistteendrama | twitter , letterboxd : @leftyteendrama | website: leftistteendrama.com _ ABOUT US: MARIA DIPASQUALE (she/her; host/editor) is a Brooklyn-based union communicator, organizer, and writer who watches too much TV. She splits her free time between devouring teen dramas, creating this podcast, tenant organizing, and writing and reading (fan)fiction. Follow Maria on Twitter @Maria_DiP26, IG @mdzip, and tiktok @marialovesunions. JEFF MCHALE (he/him; producer) is an extremely online guy who plays games, works in the cannabis industry, and loves talking old TV. CHARLES S. O’LEARY (they/he; art) is a designer + writer based in Richmond, VA. They're currently getting their MFA in Graphic Design at Virginia Commonwealth University, and spend most of their time unsuccessfully scheming how to get off Instagram (@c.s.0.l). Maria and Jeff’s good union cats CLARENCE and VINNY may make an appearance and/or be mentioned. intro song: Stomping the Room by Delicate Beats All opinions shared on this show are that of individuals and do not represent the views of any organization we may be affiliated with.
Welcome back to our series of special episodes covering political moments in teen movies! Maria is joined by twins and self-professed “camp freaks” Kelly and MG Gilbert to break down all the class conflict inherent to the plot of CAMP ROCK (2008). From watching teens and tweens network at camp (gross) to trying to place the subprime mortgage crisis in the story’s timeline to cheering on Mitchie as she stands up for service workers, we had a blast analyzing the class anxiety that motivates Mitchie’s actions throughout her first summer at Camp Rock. (And we promise we’ll be covering the sequel next summer!) TW for brief discussion of Demi Lovato’s real-life sexual assault and reported bad working conditions on the set of Camp Rock. For this episode, we recommend you first watch or have familiarity with CAMP ROCK, rentable on YouTube. FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL | instagram , tumblr , tiktok , bluesky : @leftistteendrama | twitter , letterboxd : @leftyteendrama | website: leftistteendrama.com _ ABOUT US: MARIA DIPASQUALE (she/her; host/editor) is a Brooklyn-based union communicator, organizer, and writer who watches too much TV. She splits her free time between devouring teen dramas, creating this podcast, tenant organizing, and writing and reading (fan)fiction. Follow Maria on Twitter @Maria_DiP26, IG @mdzip, and tiktok @marialovesunions. KELLY GILBERT (she/her; recurring guest) is a student (phd in Twilight), sometimes activist, teen drama aficionado in Brooklyn! Find her IRL every night drinking her sorrows away at Margaritaville, the Jimmy Buffet Experience! MG GILBERT (they/them; guest) is a comic based in Brooklyn and Kelly’s identical twin! They love Degrassi: The Next Generation and turn to it for wisdom on how to be the best 32 year old Canadian teen they can be. JEFF MCHALE (he/him; producer) is an extremely online guy who plays games, works in the cannabis industry, and loves talking old TV. CHARLES S. O’LEARY (they/them; art) is a “writer,” “designer,” and “content strategist” based in Richmond, VA by way of Brooklyn, NY. A survivor of the 2010s Tumblr wars, leftist media criticism is all they know. To learn about them professionally, visit charles-oleary.biz. To learn about them personally, visit their Instagram at @c.s.0.l. Maria and Jeff’s good union cats CLARENCE and VINNY may make an appearance and/or be mentioned. intro song: Stomping the Room by Delicate Beats All opinions shared on this show are that of individuals and do not represent the views of any organization we may be affiliated with. _ SOURCES DISCUSSED IN THE EPISODE: June 6, 2025, FandomWire, Camp Rock 3: Will Demi Lovato and The Jonas Brothers Reprise Their Roles? by Jasmine Dean
In our third Special Episode of Leftist Teen Drama featuring a writer talking about her related body of work, Maria welcomes pop culture writer Thea Glassman to the podcast to discuss her 2023 book, Freaks, Gleeks, and Dawson's Creek: How Seven Teen Shows Transformed Television. We delve into our mutual obsession with teen dramas, Thea’s reporting process for the book, and how she narrowed her book down to the seven revolutionary teen shows she covers. Then, we dive into the seven chapters that chronicle the making of our favorite characters and plotlines on THE FRESH PRINCE OF BEL AIR (1990-1996), MY SO-CALLED LIFE (1994-1995), DAWSON’S CREEK (1998-2003), FREAKS AND GEEKS (1999-2000), THE O.C. (2003-2007), FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS (2006-2011), and GLEE (2009-2015). FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL | instagram , tumblr , tiktok , bluesky : @leftistteendrama | twitter , letterboxd : @leftyteendrama | website: leftistteendrama.com _ ABOUT US: MARIA DIPASQUALE (she/her; host/editor) is a Brooklyn-based union communicator, organizer, and writer who watches too much TV. She splits her free time between devouring teen dramas, creating this podcast, tenant organizing, and writing and reading (fan)fiction. Follow Maria on Twitter @Maria_DiP26, IG @mdzip, and tiktok @marialovesunions. THEA GLASSMAN (she/her; guest) has written about television for The New York Times, The Hollywood Reporter, Architectural Digest, Glamour and more. Her debut book, Freaks, Gleeks and Dawson's Creek, was released by Running Press, an imprint of Hachette, in 2023. Thea's next book, Who's That Girl: The Definitive History of New Girl, published by St. Martin's Press, an imprint of Macmillan, will land in bookstores next year. She's the co-founder of the newsletter Ministry of Pop Culture , which features essays, interviews, behind-the scenes features and writer-ly tips. Social media: @theaglassman on Instagram JEFF MCHALE (he/him; producer) is an extremely online guy who plays games, works in the cannabis industry, and loves talking old TV. Logo art by Maddy Wiryo Maria and Jeff’s good union cats CLARENCE and VINNY may make an appearance and/or be mentioned. intro song: Stomping the Room by Delicate Beats All opinions shared on this show are that of individuals and do not represent the views of any organization we may be affiliated with. _ SOURCES DISCUSSED IN THE EPISODE: Freaks, Gleeks, and Dawson's Creek: How Seven Teen Shows Transformed Television by Thea Glassman Vanity Fair, January 19, 2018, Inside the Thrilling, Chaotic Writers’ Room of Dawson’s Creek by Thea Glassman VICE, March 11, 2019, Where Do Former Teen Stars Go When Their Shows Die? by Thea Glassman Maria’s Unfinished Bughead/Varchie Riverdale The O.C. AU Fanfic
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