A Special Place in Hell Meghan Daum & Sarah Haider

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How is a cruise like BDSM? How is BDSM like this podcast? The girlx/womenx begin by clearing their throats about the last episode (TLDR: we are sorry you are mad), and Sarah recounts her tragic, abusive childhood (and in so doing provides living proof that hurt people hurt people). 
They then move on to the chaos at Columbia, sidestepping the political discussion entirely to wave their canes at the damned kids. 
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Links
* CRYING MYSELF TO SLEEP ON THE BIGGEST CRUISE SHIP EVER by Gary Shteyngart
* No Dorm or Dining Hall: Ilhan Omar’s Daughter Recounts Protest Arrest
* Isra Hirsi, Ilhan Omar's Daughter, On Columbia Arrests, Barnard Suspension, Palestine Protests

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In the wake of the solar eclipse, the girls/women contemplate the state of American leisure, particularly, the Supposedly Fun™ pastime of cruise vacations. After taking an intermission to defend the TERF Queen from the usual suspects, they (aka Sarah) chastise second generation immigrants for being ingrates. Finally, another argument about psychotherapy (sorry!). 
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Links: 
* CRYING MYSELF TO SLEEP ON THE BIGGEST CRUISE SHIP EVER by Gary Shteyngart 
* Activist faces 18 felony counts for allegedly threatening Bakersfield City Council
* SHIPPING OUT by David Foster Wallace
* Tweet by Rivkah Brown on JK Rowling


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Our fearless heroines return once again to defend the indefensible. First, they throw their hat in with the chaotic billionaire of Twitter/X, no not Elon Musk (although him too), but terf-queen J.K. Rowling. Why is Scotland so fascist? Should America invade that country, if for no other reason than to water down those unintelligible accents? Then they ruminate over class, wondering why everyone is afraid of rural whites. Finally (and probably inevitably) Meghan defends the honor of Woody Allen, who she suspects is the Real Victim. All that said, we all know that the real victim is Justice – and also, you the listener. 
Links
An Utterly Misleading Book About Rural America by Tyler Austin HarperTwitter/X thread by Hussein Aboubakr Mansour
A Son Speaks Out, Moses Farrow on Woody Allen and Mia Farrow


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This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit aspecialplace.substack.com

On this live-streamed (and members-only) episode, the girls/women ponder the merits of yet another titillating essay by Pulitzer Prize winner and aspiring female Andrea Long Chu, who argues that transition should be understood and accepted as a matter of choice, of a “freedom of sex”.
Has Chu finally gone too far? Or is this a preview of our glorious genderf*ck future?Then, Sarah finally reveals her misogynoir, appalling Meghan, who is still reeling from her last encounter with Intersectionality Twitter. Finally, they discuss yet another essay by Grazie Sophia Christie, a rising star in the personal essay genre (so say we). Is petty female envy the reason women will not take us to Mars?
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Links
Freedom of Sex The moral case for letting trans kids change their bodies
My Beautiful Friend

On this very long episode, the girls/women discuss the recent New York Magazine piece on Andrew Huberman’s allegedly womanizing ways.  Meghan defends the magazine fact-checking process, but Sarah finds the whole thing disgusting. They both agree that attempting to optimize your poops is psychotic, unless of course it is done in the name of Science. 
They then move on to age gaps in dating, and whether Sarah is trash for dressing for the Male Gaze. 
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Links
New York Magazine: Andrew Huberman’s Mechanisms of Control
The Cut: The Case for Marrying an Older Man 


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This week, the girls/women are joined by writer Larissa Phillips, and the three discuss her recent essay in which she recounts her violent rape in the early 90s. Larissa shares her thoughts on the helpfulness of “trauma” discourse on recovery, the #metoo era, and the tension between personal responsibility and public trust.
They also touch on Larissa’s work in adult literacy, a subject Sarah finds especially interesting, as she’s still learning how to read.
Relevant Links
Larissa’s Essay in Quillette  
After Rape: A Guide for the Tormented by Celeste Marcus
On Not Being A Victim by Mary Gaitskill, Harper’s Magazine, March 1994 

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This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit aspecialplace.substack.com/subscribe