For this deep-dive discussion of Tayari Jones’ novel Kin, host Greta Johnsen talks with Traci Thomas, who hosts The Stacks podcast. 

They talk about the exquisite pleasure of reading a book that does exactly what it sets out to do, the beauty of female friendship, and the different ways the main characters are mothered despite the absence of their actual mothers. 

Warning: this is a spoilery conversation! If you haven’t read the book yet, go listen to Greta’s spoiler-free conversation with Tayari. 

SHOW CREDITS

Creator and host: Greta Johnsen

Senior Producer: Ben Goldberg

Composers: Ross Bellenoit and Jeremy Thal

Tile art: Mac Maclean

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Greta Johnsen and Kristen Meinzer discuss the finale of My So-Called Life -- “In Dreams Begin Responsibilities”  -- with Pop Culture Happy Hour host Linda Holmes and Ronald Young, Jr., who hosts Weight for It. 

They talk about the centrality of Angela and Rayanne’s friendship, the power of Patty’s nostalgia trip, and how the episode works as both a season and series finale. 

Plus, Greta and Kristen talk to Winnie Holzman, the creator of My So-Called Life. about how fulfilling it is to hear stories about the show’s impact even though it aired more than 30 years ago. She reflects on one of the main throughlines of her career: wanting to work on creatively inspiring teams.

SHOW CREDITS

Creator and host: Greta Johnsen

Co-host: Kristen Meinzer

Senior Producer: Ben Goldberg

Composer: Andrew M. Edwards

Tile art: Lou Lovisek

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In today’s MSCL rewatch episode, Greta Johnsen and Kristen Meinzer discuss My So-Called Life episodes 17 and 18 -- “Betrayal” and “Weekend”  -- with Soraya Roberts, a culture writer and contributing writer at Defector who wrote the the book In My Humble Opinion: My So-Called Life.

They talk about THE BEYRAYAL, whether Jordan actually loved Angela, and what Brian’s deal is.

SHOW CREDITS

Creator and host: Greta Johnsen

Co-host: Kristen Meinzer

Senior Producer: Ben Goldberg

Composer: Andrew M. Edwards

Tile art: Lou Lovisek

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Greta Johnsen and Kristen Meinzer discuss My So-Called Life episodes 15 and 16 -- “So-Called Angels” and “Resolutions”  -- with Jenn White, the host of the NPR show 1A.

They talk about the ups and downs of what Jenn (somewhat facetiously) calls “a very special episode of My So-Called Life,” the devastation and sweetness of Ricky’s story, and the fact that Sharon is “just a nice, middle-class suburban girl who’s horny,” as Kristen put it.

SHOW CREDITS

Creator and host: Greta Johnsen

Co-host: Kristen Meinzer

Senior Producer: Ben Goldberg

Composer: Andrew M. Edwards

Tile art: Lou Lovisek

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Host Greta Johnsen talks to Tayari Jones. Her novel Kin is the GRETAGRAM book club selection for March. It’s about two girls grow up in the 50’s in Alabama. They each lost their mothers in different ways, and those absences shape the trajectories of both of their lives. 

Tayari and Greta talk about the power of deep, abiding friendship, the importance of asking for help, and how Tayari stumbled upon writing historical fiction.

UPCOMING BOOK CLUB BOOKS:

April: Vigil, George Saunders

May: Whidbey, T Kira Madden

June: Dear Monica Lewinsky, Julia Langbein

July: Canon, Paige Lewis

SHOW CREDITS

Creator and host: Greta Johnsen

Senior Producer: Ben Goldberg

Composers: Ross Bellenoit and Jeremy Thal

Show art: Mac Maclean

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Host Greta Johnsen and co-gost Kristen Meinzer discuss My So-Called Life episodes 13 and 14 -- “Pressure” and “On the Wagon”  -- with culture writer and podcaster Margaret H. Willison. 

They talk about the show’s many different depictions of teenage desire, the fate of the Frozen Embryos, and Patty’s “congenital inability to chill,” as Margaret so skillfully puts it.

SHOW CREDITS

Creator and host: Greta Johnsen

Co-host: Kristen Meinzer

Senior Producer: Ben Goldberg

Composer: Andrew M. Edwards

Tile art: Lou Lovisek

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Host Greta Johnsen and co-host Kristen Meinzer discuss My So-Called Life episodes 11 and 12 --”Picture Perfect” and “Self Esteem” -- with Christina Tucker!!!!  She’s a podcaster and writer who co-hosts the podcast Wait, Is This A Date?. 

They talk about school dance drama, wallpaper as an analogy for sex, and the fact that Delia Fisher is a f*****g QUEEN. .

SHOW CREDITS:

Creator and host: Greta Johnsen

Co-host: Kristen Meinzer

Senior Producer: Ben Goldberg

Composer: Andrew M. Edwards

Tile art: Lou Lovisek

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Greta and Kristen discuss My So-Called Life episodes 9 and 10 --”Halloween” and “Other Peoples’ Mothers” -- with Patrick Hinds!

He co-hosted his own MSCL deep-dive podcawst, My So-Called Podcast, in 2018.

They talk about whether Angela ACTUALLY time travels, how terrible it is to add oregano to a curry, and how Patrick thinks about Patty differently now that he’s a parent. 

SHOW CREDITS

Creator and host: Greta Johnsen

Co-host: Kristen Meinzer

Senior Producer: Ben Goldberg

Composer: Andrew M. Edwards

Tile art: Lou Lovisek

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The GRETAGRAM book club is officially in podcast form! Host Greta Johnsen talks to Nina McConigley, the author of How to Commit a Postcolonial Murder. Her novel is the GRETAGRAM book club selection for February. It’s about two teenage sisters who decide they must kill their uncle. 

While this book is intense it’s also funny and strange -- or, as Nina puts it, cheeky! 

Nina talks about the weirdness of growing up in an immigrant family in Wyoming, the complicated legacy of colonialism, and the nostalgic power of Noxema.

SHOW CREDITS

Creator and host: Greta Johnsen

Senior Producer: Ben Goldberg

Composers: Ross Bellenoit and Jeremy Thal

Show art: Mac Maclean

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On this week’s podcast, Greta Johnsen and Kristen Meinzer discuss My So-Called Life episodes 7 and 8 --”Why Jordan Can’t Read” and “Strangers in the House” -- with Joanna Robinson and Kristin Russo. They’re the perfect guests to talk about MSCL because they hosted their own rewatch podcast, The Boiler Room!

The group chats about Angela’s amazing detective skills, the crumbs of Jordan’s personality we are all subsisting on, and the undeniable relatability of the show’s exquisitely flawed characters.

SHOW CREDITS

Creator and host: Greta Johnsen

Co-host: Kristen Meinzer

Senior Producer: Ben Goldberg

Composer: Andrew M. Edwards

Tile art: Lou Lovisek

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Greta Johnsen and Kristen Meinzerdiscuss My So-Called Life episodes 5 and 6 --”The Zit” and “The Substitute” -- with Anna Sale!

They talk about the messiness of teenage desire and objectification, self-esteem and insecurity, and whether Anna Sale is Patty-ing her children. 

SHOW CREDITS

Creator and host: Greta Johnsen

Co-host: Kristen Meinzer

Senior Producer: Ben Goldberg

Composer: Andrew M. Edwards

Tile art: Lou Lovisek

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.