Harsh Reality: The Story of Miriam Rivera

im not sure if it was the script or the narration but it all felt so clunky, like it was the first read through. It didn’t feel authentic at all. Still, really good to go so in depth into a particularly odd and particularly memorable moment in reality TV.

I binged every episode whilst cleaning and was really engrossed. It really reinforces how much I dislike the shallow era of TV (past and current). It angers me how the English media including well known presenters have always been allowed to openly bully, objectify or sexualise women (transgender or otherwise). As an English woman with different but relateable hard times I can relate to some of Miriam's struggles and shattered dreams/ideologies. It has very much made me come a lot closer to understanding how it must feel to be transgender. I think people are on a sliding scale of masculinity to femininity and people can say what they want but Miriam definitely was a woman in my view. In a world where stupid people say they identify as a plant pot it is refreshing to listen to a show which serves as a kind and common sense voice for transgender people.

So much to unpack and understand with this story which I think was brilliantly done. I particularly enjoyed the soothing tone of the narration.

Fantastic, searing, eye opening podcast about the dangers of reality TV and the othering and fetishisation of trans people.