The HARD SCREEN

The HARD SCREEN

5.0 (1)
Society & Culture
Updated Bimonthly

Delivering context and clarity, purpose and perspective, on pressing issues of the day -- from author and award-winning independent journalist Tamryn Spruill. Visit The HARD SCREEN online at www.thehardscreen.net, @thehardscreen on Bluesky and Instagram, and @hardscreenpod on X. Got a topic you want screened? Say hello@thehardscreen.net.

Oct 6 · Bonus

S3: Unite Against Banned Books ... with Orwell

It’s Banned Book Week 2026, and we’re throwing our energy behind the American Library Association’s (or the ALA’s) efforts to protect titles and counter censorship. My recent conversations with independent bookstore owners, a banned book list from Bookshop.org, and the ALA's UniteAgainst Book Bans initiative have inspired me to share accumulated suggestions to challenge the relentless attempts to ban books, and therefore, knowledge. Why do people want to limit knowledge, you ask? We dig into that, and more, in this special episode of the HARD SCREEN podcast. Interested in advocating for literary freedom? Resources mentioned in this episode can be found HERE. Episode Credits: This episode was recorded by Tamryn Spruill, HARD SCREEN creator and host. Theme music was composed, performed, and recorded by Anwuliazuka. Dani Shaw at kaleidaweb created our amazing website, thehardscreen.net, and maintains it. The American Library Association provided the amazing resources used in this episode and the "Every Book Banned Leaves" social media asset.
Oct 1

Welcome to 'The W' -- the Book by Tamryn Spruill!

⁠The HARD SCREEN⁠ podcast is back! Powered by a new logo and fresh sonic energy, we bring you the third season's debut: a conversation between HARD SCREEN founder and host, Tamryn Spruill, and author Amy Littlefield. The authors spoke about Spruill's new book, ⁠The W: A History of the WNBA⁠, released in September by Abrams Press. This episode was only made possible by: ⁠Rozzie Bound Co-Op Bookstore⁠, especially co-owner Stephanie Planchart, for organizing and emceeing the event. Visit them at 739 South Street, Roslindale, MA; ⁠Distraction Brewing Co.⁠, for hosting and allowing the use of their audio equipment. If you enjoy delicious beer and a welcoming environment, visit the brewery at 2Belgrade Avenue in Roslindale, MA; ⁠Amy Littlefield⁠, author of Killers of Roe, for leading the conversation with, curiosity, insight, and aplomb; ⁠Dani Shaw at kaleidaweb⁠, for building and hosting the amazing Hard Screen website, and documenting the event in photographs and video recordings; and ⁠Anwuliazuka⁠, composer of our new theme music. None of the contributors to this episode were paid for their mentions. The Hard Screen, on principle, seeks to amplify local and independently-owned businesses. We will always give credit to those who support our work, and also welcome paid ad support. For more, visit [coming soon!] Follow the HARD SCREEN on social media @thehardscreen on Instagram and Bluesky, and @hardscreenpod on X.
Oct 1

S3 E1: Welcome to 'The W' -- the Book by Tamryn Spruill (Part 1)!

The HARD SCREEN podcast is back! Powered by a new logo and fresh sonic energy, we bring you the third season's debut: a conversation between HARD SCREEN founder and host, Tamryn Spruill, and author Amy Littlefield. The authors spoke about Spruill's new book, The W: A History of the WNBA, released in September by Abrams Press. This episode was only made possible by: Rozzie Bound Co-Op Bookstore, especially co-owner Stephanie Planchart, for organizing and emceeing the event. Visit them at 739 South Street, Roslindale, MA; Distraction Brewing Co., for hosting and allowing the use of their audio equipment. If you enjoy delicious beer and a welcoming environment, visit the brewery at 2 Belgrade Avenue in Roslindale, MA; Amy Littlefield, author of Killers of Roe, for leading the conversation with, curiosity, insight, and aplomb; Dani Shaw at kaleidaweb, for building and hosting the amazing Hard Screen website, and documenting the event in photographs and video recordings; and Anwuliazuka, composer of our new theme music. None of the contributors to this episode were paid for their mentions. The Hard Screen, on principle, seeks to amplify local and independently-owned businesses. Follow the HARD SCREEN on social media @thehardscreen on Instagram and Bluesky; and @hardscreenpod on X.
03/25/2021

S2E2: All We Needed Was The Chance

Gabby Williams spoke with The Hard Screen in January during a break between the EuroLeague Women regular and postseasons where she plays for Sopron Basket in Hungary. The forward with the WNBA's Chicago Sky spoke about her new partnership for Ford, the silliness of gendering objects like cars, advertisers' renewed interest in the league's players, the toxic culture of the NCAA and much more. Get the latest "screen" and sign up for the HARD SCREEN Newsletter at: https://thehardscreen.net/.
03/15/2021

S2E1: A look into the WNBA's 25th-anniversary season with Commissioner Cathy Engelbert

Twenty-five years since its inaugural tipoff, the WNBA is still here: "impossible shot after impossible shot after impossible shot." In the runup to the historic 2021 WNBA season, the league has provided The Hard Screen with a first look into the ways the league will pay homage to the past and WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert discusses how the season is an investment in the league's next 25 years. Count It sound clip is copyrighted to the WNBA and provided with permission. Get the latest "screen" and sign up for the HARD SCREEN Newsletter at: https://thehardscreen.net/.
03/13/2021

S1E9: The Cry for Justice Continues

On the one-year anniversary of Breonna Taylor's murder by Louisville police officers, we review the changes that have happened in the wake of her death, explain why justice still has not been served and replay an episode that originally aired on July 31, 2020 about the relentless grief inflicted on families whose loved ones have been killed by police and how that pain is compounded by impunity. WARNING: THIS EPISODE CONTAINS VIVID DESCRIPTIONS OF POLICE VIOLENCE AND MAY NOT BE SUITABLE FOR ALL LISTENERS. Get the latest "screen" and sign up for the HARD SCREEN Newsletter at: https://thehardscreen.net/.
01/06/2021

S1E8: Girl, Bye: The Unforgivable Sins of Kelly Loeffler

Now that Atlanta Dream co-owner Kelly Loeffler has been voted out of a Senate seat she was never voted into, does this mean she returns to WNBA ownership as if nothing ever happened? Unlikely, if the players, who supported her rival, Rev. Raphael Warnock, in the race, have anything to do with it. Many of Loeffler's "sins" during the election, which Warnock won, reflect a racist ideology that runs counter to what most players in the WNBA stand for and, therefore, are unforgiveable. Get the latest "screen" and sign up for the HARD SCREEN Newsletter at: https://thehardscreen.net/.
10/27/2020

S1E7: Natasha Cloud: 'We are the deciding people on who runs our country'

Ahead of the November 3rd presidential election, WNBA champion Natasha Cloud is urging all people to vote, especially Black and brown people who historically have been disenfranchised from the electoral process. In a wide-ranging interview with Tamryn Spruill, Cloud also discussed the need for police reform, the Breonna Taylor case in the context of voting, the Trump supporters in her family and why she is voting for Joe Biden. Get the latest "screen" and sign up for the HARD SCREEN Newsletter at: https://thehardscreen.net/.

Trailer

Welcome to The Hard Screen!

Welcome to The Hard Screen: a podcast about women’s hoops -- a brick wall between the sport you love and the misogynistic nonsense that surrounds it. With a storytelling bent, The Hard Screen marries current events with historical context, emotion with fact, and drills down deep into issues of race, gender and sexuality that impact the place of women’s hoops -- therefore, women’s sports more broadly and, alas, women -- in society. At 20 to 30 minutes per episode, we won’t waste your time, but there’s nothing stopping you from listening to an episode a second or third time if you wish. Get the latest "screen" and sign up for the HARD SCREEN Newsletter at: https://thehardscreen.net/.

Delivering context and clarity, purpose and perspective, on pressing issues of the day -- from author and award-winning independent journalist Tamryn Spruill. Visit The HARD SCREEN online at www.thehardscreen.net, @thehardscreen on Bluesky and Instagram, and @hardscreenpod on X. Got a topic you want screened? Say hello@thehardscreen.net.

Creator

The HARD SCREEN
Years Active

2020 - 2026
Episodes

17
Rating

Clean
Copyright

Copyright © 2020-2026.
Show Website

The HARD SCREEN