ILL REPUTE! with Sovereign Syre & Ela Darling

Sovereign Syre and Ela Darling
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ILL REPUTE! with Sovereign Syre & Ela Darling

Writer and comedian Sovereign Syre teams up with VR innovator and former librarian Ela Darling to chronicle the lives of women and gender nonconformists that got a bad rap. Whether they were pioneers in male dominated fields, criminal masterminds, or just epic sl*ts, we here at ILL REPUTE! support women's rights, but more importantly we support women's wrongs.

  1. 11 HR AGO

    Florence Joyner: The Fastest Woman in the World

    Today we are talking about the one and only, Florence "Flo-Jo" Joyner, the woman who redefined speed, style, and success on the track. We’re diving into the life of one of the most iconic athletes of the 20th century. Not just because of her breathtaking world records—still unbeaten decades later—but because of the way she lived. Flo-Jo wasn't just a champion on the track; she was a force of nature in fashion, an icon for Black women, and a cultural trailblazer who challenged the expectations placed on women in sports.  Support Us: http://patreon.com/illrepute Credits: Compiled by Sovereign Syre Hosted by Sovereign Syre and Josh Anderson Produced by Joshua Anderson Works Cited “Florence Griffith Joyner.” Encyclopaedia Britannica. Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Florence-Griffith-Joyner This source provides a comprehensive biography of Florence Joyner, covering her early life, Olympic success, and post-Olympic career. “The Untold Story of Flo Jo, the Fastest Woman of All Time.” Olympics.com. International Olympic Committee. https://olympics.com/en/news/florence-griffith-joyner-flo-jo-world-records A detailed look into Florence Joyner's world records and the lasting impact of her Olympic achievements. Schmidt, Michael S. “Florence Griffith Joyner, 38, Champion Sprinter, Is Dead.” The New York Times, September 22, 1998. https://www.nytimes.com/1998/09/22/sports/florence-griffith-joyner-38-champion-sprinter-is-dead.html An obituary that reflects on her life, her legacy, and the controversies surrounding her sudden death. “Sha'Carri Richardson and the Legacy of Flo-Jo.” The New Yorker, July 2021. https://www.newyorker.com/sports/sha-carri-richardson-flo-jo This article draws parallels between Sha’Carri Richardson and Florence Joyner, focusing on how both athletes used fashion and self-expression as part of their identities in a highly scrutinized public arena. “Double Standard: How the Media Treated Tonya Harding and Nancy Kerrigan Differently.” The Atlantic. January 2018. https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2018/01/tonya-harding-nancy-kerrigan/549722/ This article discusses the media's contrasting portrayals of Tonya Harding and Nancy Kerrigan, focusing on the class and femininity narratives used to criticize Harding. “Serena Williams’s Legacy and the Body Politic.” The Guardian, September 2018. https://www.theguardian.com/sport/serena-williams-legacy-body-politic This piece highlights the racial and gendered criticisms Serena Williams has faced throughout her career, drawing connections to similar challenges faced by athletes like Florence Joyner. Duncan, Margaret Carlisle. “The Media Coverage of Women's Sport: Beyond Sexualization, Gender Stereotyping, and Misrepresentation.” Sociology of Sport Journal. 2012. This academic article discusses the media’s portrayal of female athletes, including critiques of femininity, strength, and how athletes like Florence Joyner, Serena Williams, and Tonya Harding have been framed in public discourse. “The 1980 U.S. Olympic Boycott.” History.com. A&E Television Networks. https://www.history.com/topics/cold-war/1980-us-olympic-boycott Background on the 1980 U.S. Olympic boycott and its impact on athletes like Florence Joyner who missed out on that opportunity. “Florence Griffith Joyner: Nails, Speed, and Style.” Track and Field News. https://trackandfieldnews.com/florence-griffith-joyner A profile of Florence Joyner that emphasizes her unique style and how she used fashion as part of her identity as an athlete.

    42 min

  2. 4 DAYS AGO

    Lil' Repute Minisode: Election 2024 Wrap Up

    THE POLLS ARE IN! and... well... I think you know the rest. In our first minisode ever, Sov and Josh try to make sense of what happened, what goes through the average american's mind during an election cycle, and how it isn't necessarily the end of the world.  Look out for new Lil Repute episodes every thursday!

    26 min

  3. 4 NOV

    Circassian Beauties

    Today we are talking about Circassian Beauties. For a period of time, Circassian women were considered the epitome of beauty. With their fair skin, blue or green eyes, and delicate features, they became an idealized standard of feminine beauty in both the Ottoman Empire and 19th-century Western Europe. But this admiration was deeply entwined with systems of power, slavery, and the commodification of beauty. Support Us: http://illreputepodcast.com Credits: Compiled by Sovereign Syre Hosted by Sovereign Syre and Josh Darling Produced by Joshua Anderson Sources:  Alloula, Malek. The Colonial Harem. University of Minnesota Press, 1986. This work explores how Western colonial powers constructed and eroticized the idea of the harem, particularly through photographs and art, drawing connections to the exploitation and objectification of Eastern women. Bell, James Stanislaus. Journal of a Residence in Circassia. London: Edward Moxon, 1840. A travelogue by a British explorer who spent time in Circassia, providing firsthand accounts of the people, customs, and the widespread Western fetishization of Circassian women. Carnes, Mark C. American National Biography Online. Oxford University Press, 1999. A detailed entry on P.T. Barnum and the cultural phenomenon of the “Circassian Beauty” sideshow act, examining how Barnum commodified these women as part of his freak show empire. Davidson, Alastair. Russia and Circassia: Diplomacy, War, and the Tragedy of the North Caucasus. Bloomsbury Academic, 2011. This book explores the historical background of the Russo-Circassian War and the impact of Russian imperialism on Circassia, including how the displacement and enslavement of Circassian women became part of the slave trade. Faroqhi, Suraiya. The Ottoman Empire and the World Around It. I.B. Tauris, 2004. A comprehensive look at the Ottoman Empire, including the role of the harem and the political influence of women, particularly those who were slaves or concubines like many Circassian women. Gilman, Sander L. Creating Beauty to Cure the Soul: Race and Psychology in the Shaping of Aesthetic Surgery. Duke University Press, 1998. This work examines how race and beauty ideals influenced the development of aesthetic surgery, tracing the origins of Eurocentric beauty standards back to the fetishization of women like the Circassians. Gilman, Sander L. Making the Body Beautiful: A Cultural History of Aesthetic Surgery. Princeton University Press, 1999. A cultural history that explores how the pursuit of beauty, especially within Western standards, has been shaped by racial and colonial influences, with Circassian women serving as early examples of these ideals. Hirsch, Francine. Empire of Nations: Ethnographic Knowledge and the Making of the Soviet Union. Cornell University Press, 2005. Explores how Circassians and other Caucasian groups were racialized and fetishized, both during the Ottoman and Russian empires, and later in Soviet ethnography. Ingres, Jean-Auguste-Dominique. The Turkish Bath. 1862. Louvre Museum, Paris. This painting is one of the most famous representations of the harem fantasy in Western art, depicting pale-skinned, sensual women lounging in a bathhouse—emphasizing the eroticization of Eastern women in European culture. Pierce, Leslie. The Imperial Harem: Women and Sovereignty in the Ottoman Empire. Oxford University Press, 1993. A foundational text for understanding the political and social roles of women in the Ottoman harem, detailing how women of Circassian descent, despite being enslaved, could rise to powerful positions. Robnett, Belinda. How Long? How Long? African-American Women in the Struggle for Civil Rights. Oxford University Press, 1997. Although focused on civil rights, this book provides useful comparisons in how women of color, including Circassians, have been racialized and fetishized across different societies. Said, Edward. Orientalism. Pantheon Books, 1978. The seminal work

    57 min
  4. 🎃HALLOWEEN SPECIAL 🎃 Ruthie Mae McCoy | 2: A Life In The Projects

    29 OCT

    🎃HALLOWEEN SPECIAL 🎃 Ruthie Mae McCoy | 2: A Life In The Projects

    In Part One, we dove into the tragic story of Ruthie Mae McCoy, whose death exposed the harsh realities of life in Chicago's ABLA housing projects and inspired the urban legend of Candyman. We talked about the myth, its real-life origins, and how systemic neglect allowed horrors to happen within these communities. We covered how Ruthie Mae's call to 911 about someone breaking in through her bathroom mirror eerily mirrored the Candyman story. And it wasn't just about ghosts—it was about real, tangible fear and danger that residents had to live with every day. In Part Two, we explore how the systemic issues within the ABLA projects—rampant drug trade, violence, and neglect—created an environment where Ruthie Mae’s tragic story wasn’t just a one-off incident. We’re also going to look at how Ruthie Mae herself fought to survive in this environment, trying to find a way out while battling her own mental health challenges. It’s not just about one person’s fear; it’s about an entire community struggling against conditions that seem insurmountable. We’re going to read more about what life was like in ABLA, and how, despite her best efforts, Ruthie Mae was let down by every system that was supposed to protect her. This part of the story shows just how deeply rooted the problems were—and how the system failed to address them. Support Us: http://illreputepodcast.com Credits: Compiled by Sovereign Syre Hosted by Sovereign Syre and Josh Darling Produced by Joshua Anderson   Sources: "They Came in Through the Bathroom Mirror: A Murder in the Projects" by Steve Bogira, September 3, 1987 Barker, Clive. Books of Blood: Volume 5. HarperCollins Publishers, 1985. Barker, Clive. The Forbidden. Razorline Press, 1985. Bernardi, Daniel Leonard. The Persistence of Whiteness: Race and Contemporary Hollywood Cinema. Routledge, 2007. Clover, Carol J. Men, Women, and Chain Saws: Gender in the Modern Horror Film. Princeton University Press, 1992. Davis, Mike. City of Quartz: Excavating the Future in Los Angeles. Verso, 1990. Dika, Vera. Games of Terror: Halloween, Friday the 13th, and the Films of the Stalker Cycle. Fairleigh Dickinson University Press, 1990. Glass, Ira, and Cecil Adams. “They Came in Through the Bathroom Mirror.” Chicago Reader, 1987. Hunt, Darnell M. Screening the Los Angeles 'Riots': Race, Seeing, and Resistance. Cambridge University Press, 1997. Kotlowitz, Alex. There Are No Children Here: The Story of Two Boys Growing Up in the Other America. Doubleday, 1991. Koven, Mikel J. Film, Folklore, and Urban Legends. Scarecrow Press, 2008. Perry, Imani. More Beautiful and More Terrible: The Embrace and Transcendence of Racial Inequality in the United States. NYU Press, 2011. Turner, Patricia A. I Heard It Through the Grapevine: Rumor in African-American Culture. University of California Press, 1993. Zipes, Jack. The Oxford Companion to Fairy Tales. Oxford University Press, 2000. “Schizophrenia.” American Psychiatric Association: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5), 2013. Siegel, Steven. “Mental Health Services in Low-Income Urban Communities.” Journal of Urban Health, vol. 65, no. 2, 1987, pp. 305-312. Hahn, Jeffrey. “Drug Trade and Violence in Public Housing.” Criminology & Public Policy, vol. 4, no. 3, 1996, pp. 187-209. Becker, Howard. Outsiders: Studies in the Sociology of Deviance. Free Press, 1963.

    46 min
  5. 🎃HALLOWEEN SPECIAL🎃 Ruthie Mae McCoy | 1: Candyman, Candyman, Candyman!

    28 OCT

    🎃HALLOWEEN SPECIAL🎃 Ruthie Mae McCoy | 1: Candyman, Candyman, Candyman!

    Today we’re talking about Ruthie Mae McCoy, the real-life inspiration for the urban legend of Candyman. We’re going to read the article that started it all and react to it as we go. But before we dive into the real-life case that inspired Candyman, let's set the stage by talking about the legend itself—how it started, where it came from, and why it freaks people out so much. Support Us: http://patreon.com/illrepute Credits: Compiled by Sovereign Syre Hosted by Sovereign Syre and Josh Darling Produced by Joshua Anderson   Sources: "They Came in Through the Bathroom Mirror: A Murder in the Projects" by Steve Bogira, September 3, 1987 Barker, Clive. Books of Blood: Volume 5. HarperCollins Publishers, 1985. Barker, Clive. The Forbidden. Razorline Press, 1985. Bernardi, Daniel Leonard. The Persistence of Whiteness: Race and Contemporary Hollywood Cinema. Routledge, 2007. Clover, Carol J. Men, Women, and Chain Saws: Gender in the Modern Horror Film. Princeton University Press, 1992. Davis, Mike. City of Quartz: Excavating the Future in Los Angeles. Verso, 1990. Dika, Vera. Games of Terror: Halloween, Friday the 13th, and the Films of the Stalker Cycle. Fairleigh Dickinson University Press, 1990. Glass, Ira, and Cecil Adams. “They Came in Through the Bathroom Mirror.” Chicago Reader, 1987. Hunt, Darnell M. Screening the Los Angeles 'Riots': Race, Seeing, and Resistance. Cambridge University Press, 1997. Kotlowitz, Alex. There Are No Children Here: The Story of Two Boys Growing Up in the Other America. Doubleday, 1991. Koven, Mikel J. Film, Folklore, and Urban Legends. Scarecrow Press, 2008. Perry, Imani. More Beautiful and More Terrible: The Embrace and Transcendence of Racial Inequality in the United States. NYU Press, 2011. Turner, Patricia A. I Heard It Through the Grapevine: Rumor in African-American Culture. University of California Press, 1993. Zipes, Jack. The Oxford Companion to Fairy Tales. Oxford University Press, 2000. “Schizophrenia.” American Psychiatric Association: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5), 2013. Siegel, Steven. “Mental Health Services in Low-Income Urban Communities.” Journal of Urban Health, vol. 65, no. 2, 1987, pp. 305-312. Hahn, Jeffrey. “Drug Trade and Violence in Public Housing.” Criminology & Public Policy, vol. 4, no. 3, 1996, pp. 187-209. Becker, Howard. Outsiders: Studies in the Sociology of Deviance. Free Press, 1963. 3.

    57 min

  6. 21 OCT

    Project 2025 | 2: Save The Manatees

    In this closing episode we finish reading 2025, and Ela Darling says goodbye...for the time being.

    47 min

  7. 14 OCT

    Project 2025 | 1: It's Worse Than You Think

    Ela and Sovereign read through Project 2025, so you don't have too.

    1h 7m

  8. 7 OCT

    Gretchen Whitmer | 2 "Gretch Did"

    Following the 2016 presidential election, which saw Donald Trump unexpectedly carry Michigan, Whitmer felt a renewed urgency to run for office again. Many of her supporters urged her to step up, recognizing that the state needed a leader who could unite people during divisive times and address the pressing economic and social issues Michigan faced. Michigan had been hit hard by economic challenges, and Whitmer believed she had the experience and vision to bring the state back from the brink. Credits: Compiled by Sovereign Syre Hosted by Sovereign Syre and Ela Darling Produced by Joshua Anderson Sources: True Gretch by Gretchen Whitmer https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gretchen_Whitmer https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2023/07/24/how-gretchen-whitmer-made-michigan-a-democratic-stronghold https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2023/06/gretchen-whitmer-white-house-run https://www.glamour.com/story/gretchen-whitmer-book-excerpt Contact:  illreputepod@gmail.com  Support: https://www.patreon.com/illrepute  Follow:  IG @eladarling69 @sovereign_syre @weareillrepute   TikTok @illreputepod @callmesovvy @eladarlingx  Twitter/X: @sovereignsyre @eladarling @illreputepod  Facebook: ILL REPUTE! A podcast Watch: http://youtube.com/@ill_repute   Shop: http://importantadult.com

    1h 4m
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About

Writer and comedian Sovereign Syre teams up with VR innovator and former librarian Ela Darling to chronicle the lives of women and gender nonconformists that got a bad rap. Whether they were pioneers in male dominated fields, criminal masterminds, or just epic sl*ts, we here at ILL REPUTE! support women's rights, but more importantly we support women's wrongs.

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