The Beautiful and Banned

Christine Renee Miller and Jessica Goudeau
  • 5.0 (22)
  • SOCIETY & CULTURE
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

A weekly conversational podcast with Christine Renee  Miller and Jessica Goudeau about banned books, plays, and films now and throughout history--with occasional guests. 

  1. 2D AGO

    S4, E1: Heated Rivalry with Special Guest Nisha Sharma

    We're back and we have missed you! Is it even a podcast if we haven't talked about Heated Rivalry? In the first episode of Season 4, we are joined by special guest Nisha Sharma: a lawyer, award-wining writer, former corporate culture executive, scholar and author of over ten published books for teens and adults--and, more importantly for us, our dear colleague at Wilkes University! We're delighted to have one of the smartest women we know join us to talk all things Heated Rivalry, including why it's been banned in Russia, what exactly that means in a country where it's illegal to be LGBTQIA+, and what Russian young people are telling the world about what it's like to finally see a joyful depiction of a queer relationship. Also: even in the midst of everything going on right now, we're still finding hope! Join the conversation on Substack! If you'd prefer to be a Patreon subscriber, you can join now for just $3 a month. Thank you for your support! The success of this podcast depends on you! "The Beautiful and Banned" is produced by Jessica Goudeau and Christine Renee Miller. Follow us on social media: @beautifulandbannedpod, @christinereneemiller, and @jessica_goudeau.  If you have questions for us, visit the "Contact Us" page on our website. If you liked our show, please rate and subscribe on Apple, Spotify, or anywhere you listen to podcasts. The best way to support our podcast is to share it with your friends! Our co-producer, Rob Heath, wrote and performed our theme music. Kalin Siegwald designed our logo. This is A Sisters By Different Misters Production. Episode 1 links:  Rachel Reid's website with the books from Carina PressNBC News article about HR as a "word-of-mouth hit" in Russia that could lead to prisonReuters article about the Russian Supreme Court's banning of the "LGBTQ movement" as "extremist"The ramifications of that law, according to Coming OutThe Moscow Times overview of the HR phenomenon in RussiaNisha's recs for writers to read if you liked HR:  Meryl Wilsner (they/them)Cat Sebastian (she/her) [Jessica seconds; I'm obsessed with Cat Sebastian]We'd love to hear from you! Send us a text to suggest books, plays, films, or guests, or just share your thoughts!

    1h 15m

  2. 07/01/2025

    S3, E9: 1984 by George Orwell, Season Finale

    Is George Orwell psychic? In this emotional season finale, Christine and Jessica discuss the rise of totalitarianism and Orwell's eerily accurate predictions. In prepping for the episode, they saw firsthand how AI is already doing the very thing Orwell warned us again--erasing our past in real time. And, as they recorded on the heels of a war that ended as quickly as it began, the idea of constant war has never felt so real. You won't want to miss this discussion. Join the conversation on Substack! If you'd prefer to be a Patreon subscriber, you can join now for just $3 a month. Thank you for your support! The success of this podcast depends on you! "The Beautiful and Banned" is produced by Jessica Goudeau and Christine Renee Miller. Follow us on social media: @beautifulandbannedpod, @christinereneemiller, and @jessica_goudeau.  If you have questions for us, visit the "Contact Us" page on our website. If you liked our show, please rate and subscribe on Apple, Spotify, or anywhere you listen to podcasts. The best way to support our podcast is to share it with your friends! Our co-producer, Rob Heath, wrote and performed our theme music. Kalin Siegwalddesigned our logo. Jillian Benedict is our amazing podcast assistant. This is A Sisters By Different Misters Production. We will be taking the rest of the summer off to read and rest. We hope you join us in the fall for season 4 of "The Beautiful and Banned"! Episode 9 Links:  1984 by George OrwellA Britannica biography of OrwellA link to an accurate story about 1984 being banned--in 1981 in Jacksonville, Florida.A link to an inaccurate story of it being banned (the book does not, as this Am*zon affiliation site claims, maintain "its status as the most banned book of all time in America"). This is one example of many that inaccurately called 1984 the most banned book in the US.Park MacDougald's 2016 article on Peter Thiel in The IntelligencerThe "Behind the Bastards" episodes with Ed Helms on Curtis Yarvin (Mencius Moldbug) are a great place to learn more. Or this New Yorker profile about Yarvin. We'd love to hear from you! Send us a text to suggest books, plays, films, or guests, or just share your thoughts!

    1h 8m

  3. 06/24/2025 ·  BONUS

    S3, Interlude 2

    In this short interlude, Jessica and Christine are together at the Creative Writing MFA program Wilkes University, where they met and they both teach. They tell you why there will be a one-week delay on the season finale--which gives you time to read George Orwell's 1984 along with them! Join us next Tuesday for the final episode of season 3!  Join the conversation on Substack! If you'd prefer to be a Patreon subscriber, you can join now for just $3 a month. Thank you for your support! The success of this podcast depends on you! "The Beautiful and Banned" is produced by Jessica Goudeau and Christine Renee Miller. Follow us on social media: @beautifulandbannedpod, @christinereneemiller, and @jessica_goudeau.  If you have questions for us, visit the "Contact Us" page on our website. If you liked our show, please rate and subscribe on Apple, Spotify, or anywhere you listen to podcasts. The best way to support our podcast is to share it with your friends! Our co-producer, Rob Heath, wrote and performed our theme music. Kalin Siegwalddesigned our logo. Jillian Benedict is our amazing podcast assistant. This is A Sisters By Different Misters Production. Interlude 2 link: Find out more about the Maslow Family Graduate Program in Creative Writing at Wilkes UniversityWe'd love to hear from you! Send us a text to suggest books, plays, films, or guests, or just share your thoughts!

    11 min

  4. 06/10/2025

    S3, E8: Red, White, and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston

    Christine and Jessica discuss Red, White, and Royal Blue, one of the most banned books in recent history: a royal romp with political overtones and a heart of gold. Jessica's life goal of getting Christine to read contemporary romance is unlocked! And even though Jessica was less than hopeful about Texas politics in this episode, just a few days after it was recorded, the first lesbian, Asian-American mayor of San Antonio was elected in a decisive victory despite being the outspent underdog, proving why McQuiston's book remains so timely--because Texas will always, always surprise you. Join the conversation on Substack! If you'd prefer to be a Patreon subscriber, you can join now for just $3 a month. Thank you for your support! The success of this podcast depends on you! "The Beautiful and Banned" is produced by Jessica Goudeau and Christine Renee Miller. Follow us on social media: @beautifulandbannedpod, @christinereneemiller, and @jessica_goudeau.  If you have questions for us, visit the "Contact Us" page on our website. If you liked our show, please rate and subscribe on Apple, Spotify, or anywhere you listen to podcasts. The best way to support our podcast is to share it with your friends! Our co-producer, Rob Heath, wrote and performed our theme music. Kalin Siegwalddesigned our logo. Jillian Benedict is our amazing podcast assistant. This is A Sisters By Different Misters Production. Join us in two weeks in the season 3 finale as Christine and Jessica discuss 1984 by George Orwell! Episode 8 Links:  Red, White, and Royal BlueCasey McQuiston's websiteA 2022 Publisher's Weekly interview with McQuistonThe Texas Tribune on one of the Texas lege bills we mentionWe'd love to hear from you! Send us a text to suggest books, plays, films, or guests, or just share your thoughts!

    57 min

  5. 05/27/2025

    S3, E7: Notes of a Native Son by James Baldwin

    For the first time on this podcast, we're reading a book that is not banned: Notes of a Native Son by James Baldwin is controversial and challenging, but not challenged--at least not yet. But it's such a seminal book for understanding where we are in the country, and how we can both criticize and love our country, that we decided to read it anyway. Listen in to this important conversation about Baldwin whose every word is incredible, the roots of racism and how it hurts all of us, and how we can move forward as a nation. This book is deeply critical and holds well-earned hope--we promise, this conversation will change you. Join the conversation on Substack! If you'd prefer to be a Patreon subscriber, you can join now for just $3 a month. Thank you for your support! The success of this podcast depends on you! "The Beautiful and Banned" is produced by Jessica Goudeau and Christine Renee Miller. Follow us on social media: @beautifulandbannedpod, @christinereneemiller, and @jessica_goudeau.  If you have questions for us, visit the "Contact Us" page on our website. If you liked our show, please rate and subscribe on Apple, Spotify, or anywhere you listen to podcasts. The best way to support our podcast is to share it with your friends! Our co-producer, Rob Heath, wrote and performed our theme music. Kalin Siegwald designed our logo. Jillian Benedict is our amazing podcast assistant. This is A Sisters By Different Misters Production. Join us in two weeks as Christine and Jessica discuss Red, White, and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston!  Episode 7 links:  Notes of a Native Son by James BaldwinBaldwin's biography Info about Baldwin's relationship with Lucien Happersberger We'd love to hear from you! Send us a text to suggest books, plays, films, or guests, or just share your thoughts!

    55 min

  6. 05/20/2025

    S3 Interlude

    In this short interlude, Jessica talks about why there's not an episode this week, what next week's episode will hold as we discuss our first book that has NOT been banned, and what's happening at the Library of Congress in the one of the most bonkers stories of our time (which is saying a lot). All links and quotes for today's LOC story can be found in today's article in The Injustice Report.   Call your representatives ASAP and tell them you're very worried about what's happening at the Library of Congress and expect them to speak up! We look forward to joining you next week with our episode about James Baldwin's Notes of a Native Son--not a banned book but a critical one for us today. We'd love to hear from you! Send us a text to suggest books, plays, films, or guests, or just share your thoughts!

    19 min

  7. 05/06/2025

    S3, E6: A Court of Thorns and Roses, with Special Guest Alyssa Morris

    To talk about ACOTAR, Jessica is joined this week by special guest Alyssa Morris, whose popular Romancing the Phone newsletter demystifies into BookTok trends and digs into the publishing industry. Alyssa and Jessica talk about the phenomenon of A Court of Thorn and Roses (banned statewide in Utah schools), what's really happening with romance and romantasy, and why these genres deserve such respect. Don't worry, we also cover fairy smut! Join the conversation on Substack! If you'd prefer to be a Patreon subscriber, you can join now for just $3 a month. Thank you for your support! The success of this podcast depends on you! "The Beautiful and Banned" is produced by Jessica Goudeau and Christine Renee Miller. Follow us on social media: @beautifulandbannedpod, @christinereneemiller, and @jessica_goudeau.  If you have questions for us, visit the "Contact Us" page on our website. If you liked our show, please rate and subscribe on Apple, Spotify, or anywhere you listen to podcasts. The best way to support our podcast is to share it with your friends! Our co-producer, Rob Heath, wrote and performed our theme music. Kalin Siegwald designed our logo. Jillian Benedict is our amazing podcast assistant. This is A Sisters By Different Misters Production. Join us in two weeks as Christine and Jessica discuss Notes of a Native Son by James Baldwin!  Episode 6 links: Alyssa's newsletter, Romancing the PhoneAlyssa's websiteAbout ACOTAR from Alpha Reader, AP News, and Utah State Board of Education  Alyssa's Recs: Romance: We Could Be So Good and You Should Be So Lucky by Cat SebastianBeach Read and Book Lovers by Emily HenryPretty Face by Lucy ParkerPsy Changeling series by Nalini SinghYou Made A Fool of Death with Your Beauty by Akwaeke EmeziA Love Song for Ricki Wilde by Tia WilliamsWhat I Did for a Duke by Julie Anne LongYA: Anna and the French Kiss, Lola and the Boy Next Door, and Isla and the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins, plus her upcoming adult romance debut Overdue (October)The Wallflower series by Lisa KleypasRomantasy:  An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Taahir, The Star Touched Queen by Roshani Chokshi, Radiance by Grace DravenJessica's Romance/Romantasy Recs: Anything by: Naina KumarAli HazelsoodNisha SharmaEhi OkosunNiWe'd love to hear from you! Send us a text to suggest books, plays, films, or guests, or just share your thoughts!

    1h 10m

  8. 04/22/2025

    S3, E5: Pride and Book Comes Home, with Special Guest Rob Sanders

    Read, Review, and Recommend! These are the suggestions by today's guest, children's book author, Rob Sanders, about how to support writers of challenged and banned books. Join us for this delightful conversation about the cutest book we will ever feature on this show, Book Comes Home: A Banned Book Journey--Rob's most recent book that had us reminiscing about our own dearly beloved childhood favorites--as well as Pride: The Story of Harvey Milk and the Rainbow Flag, which remains one of the most banned children's book in the US. Make sure to check out Rob's recommendations for organizations he loves below! Join the conversation on Substack! If you'd prefer to be a Patreon subscriber, you can join now for just $3 a month. Thank you for your support! The success of this podcast depends on you! "The Beautiful and Banned" is produced by Jessica Goudeau and Christine Renee Miller. Follow us on social media: @beautifulandbannedpod, @christinereneemiller, and @jessica_goudeau.  If you have questions for us, visit the "Contact Us" page on our website. If you liked our show, please rate and subscribe on Apple, Spotify, or anywhere you listen to podcasts. The best way to support our podcast is to share it with your friends! Our co-producer, Rob Heath, wrote and performed our theme music. Kalin Siegwald designed our logo. Jillian Benedict is our amazing podcast assistant. This is A Sisters By Different Misters Production. Join us in two weeks as Jessica discusses A Court of Thorn and Roses with special guest, Alyssa Morris (May 6)! Episode 5 links: Rob Sanders's websiteBook Comes HomePride: The Story of Harvey Milk and the Rainbow FlagPride and Less Prejudice, which provides LGBTQ-inclusive books to Pre-K through 3rd grade classrooms to help students and teachers “Read out loud, read out proud!”Florida Freedom to Read Project: defending every student’s right to access information and ideas while at school.We'd love to hear from you! Send us a text to suggest books, plays, films, or guests, or just share your thoughts!

    54 min
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5
out of 5
22 Ratings

About

A weekly conversational podcast with Christine Renee  Miller and Jessica Goudeau about banned books, plays, and films now and throughout history--with occasional guests. 

Information

  • Creator
    Christine Renee Miller and Jessica Goudeau
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    45
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Beautiful and Banned
  • Show Website
    The Beautiful and Banned

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