Messy Liberation: Feminist Conversations about Politics and Pop Culture

Becky Mollenkamp and Taina Brown
  • 4.5 (16)
  • News Commentary
  • Updated Weekly

Join feminist coaches Taina Brown and Becky Mollenkamp for casual (and often deep) conversations about business, current events, politics, pop culture, and more. We’re not perfect activists or allies! These are our real-time, messy feminist perspectives on the world around us. This podcast is for you if you find yourself asking questions like: • Why is feminism important today? • What is intersectional feminism? • Can capitalism be ethical? • What does liberation mean? • Equity vs. equality — what's the difference and why does it matter? • What does a Trump victory mean for my life? • What is mutual aid? • How do we engage in collective action? • Can I find safety in community? • What's a feminist approach to ... ? • What's the feminist perspective on ...?

  1. Why Mental Health Care Is Failing Marginalized Communities (with Dr. Han Ren)

    2d ago

    Why Mental Health Care Is Failing Marginalized Communities (with Dr. Han Ren)

    Get "Liberate Your Business" by Becky Mollenkamp https://liberateyourbusiness.com/ In this episode of Messy Liberation, hosts Becky Mollenkamp and Taina Brown sit down with Dr. Han Ren, a licensed psychologist and author of the upcoming book The Hyphenated Life, to explore why therapy is inherently political. They discuss the systemic barriers to accessing quality mental health care, how politics shapes therapeutic practice, the dangers of pathologizing trauma responses, and why "therapy speak" often reinforces white supremacy. If you've ever struggled to find a therapist who truly understands your lived experience — or wondered why the mental health field feels so disconnected from issues of justice — this conversation is essential listening. In This Episode, We Get Into: Why therapy and psychology have always been political — even when grad school pretends otherwiseHow Dr. Han Ren started creating mental health content on TikTok in 2020 to fill gaps in representationThe exhausting reality of finding a therapist who understands your marginalized identitiesWhy therapists can no longer afford to keep their values "close to the chest" — it's a safety issueHow politics directly impacts what happens in the therapy room (and why that matters)The concept of imposter phenomenon and how it disproportionately affects people from marginalized communitiesWhy pathologizing trauma responses is a form of social controlHow "therapy speak" reinforces white supremacy and individualismThe model minority myth and how different communities are villainized by mental health narrativesWhy healing is for everyone, but therapy doesn't have a monopoly on healingThe role of self-love, community, grief, and "doing the reps" in real healingResources Mentioned: The Hyphenated Life by Dr. Han Ren: https://amzn.to/3RhbmmFBorderlands/La Frontera by Gloria Anzaldúa: https://amzn.to/3PTXnmlDr. Han Ren's website: https://www.drhanren.com/Dr. Han Ren on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drhanrenDr. Han Ren on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.han.ren/🎤 JOIN US IN THE FEMINIST PODCASTERS COLLECTIVE: http://feministpodcastcollective.com/

    41 min
  2. How to Have Difficult Conversations Without Losing Yourself (with Danielle Marshall)

    Jun 1

    How to Have Difficult Conversations Without Losing Yourself (with Danielle Marshall)

    Get "Liberate Your Business" by Becky Mollenkamp https://liberateyourbusiness.com/ In this episode of Messy Liberation, hosts Becky Mollenkamp and Taina Brown sit down with equity strategist and executive coach Danielle Marshall to explore the art of having difficult conversations across political and ideological divides. They discuss the limitations of echo chambers, the difference between engagement and community, and why being able to hold multiple perspectives — even when you disagree — is essential for creating real change. If you've ever struggled with whether to engage someone whose views challenge yours, this conversation offers a refreshing framework for navigating disagreement without sacrificing your values. In This Episode, We Get Into: Why echo chambers feel safe but can be limiting — and when that mattersThe difference between engaging with people and bringing them into your inner communityHow to set a clear goal before entering a challenging conversationMarjorie Taylor Greene as a real-time case study in people changing their minds (yes, really)Why we're so afraid to be wrong — and how binary thinking keeps us stuckThe burden of trying to convince everyone to see things your wayHow cancel culture makes it harder to hold space for nuance and changeEverything is political: how even your garbage and clothing choices are political actsWhy "convincing you is not my ministry" might be the most freeing phrase you hear todayHow to ask yourself: Is this perspective serving me — and how is it working for me?Danielle Marshall's website: culture-principles.com 🎤 JOIN US IN THE FEMINIST PODCASTERS COLLECTIVE: http://feministpodcastcollective.com/

    55 min
  3. 100th Episode LIVE

    May 27

    100th Episode LIVE

    Get "Liberate Your Business" by Becky Mollenkamp https://liberateyourbusiness.com/ Becky Mollenkamp and Taina Brown celebrate reaching 100 episodes of Messy Liberation, the feminist podcast dedicated to helping listeners understand the world through an intersectional feminist lens. In this milestone live episode, they reflect on two years of consistent conversations about pop culture, politics, social justice, and the power of slow, sustainable activism.IN THIS EPISODE, WE GET INTO: Celebrating 100 episodes and why most podcasts don't make it this farThe origin story: how Becky and Taina met and decided to start a podcast togetherWhat keeps the show sustainable and consistent over two yearsHow personal growth and social progress both require a long-term lensThe power of showing up in your life and relationships, even in small waysWhy "everything is political" and how that framework changes how we move through the worldThe upcoming "Everything Is Political" series covering topics like composting, fashion, data analysis, and therapyHonoring your capacity and burnout prevention in activism and creative workReflecting on monumental personal growth that only becomes visible over timeThe importance of community touchpoints and consistent spaces for learning and connection🎤 JOIN US IN THE FEMINIST PODCASTERS COLLECTIVE: https://feministpodcastcollective.com/

    46 min
  4. Punching Up vs. Punching Down: What the Kevin Hart Roast Reveals About Power

    May 18

    Punching Up vs. Punching Down: What the Kevin Hart Roast Reveals About Power

    Get "Liberate Your Business" by Becky Mollenkamp https://liberateyourbusiness.com/ Becky Mollenkamp and Taina Brown unpack the controversy around the Kevin Hart roast, exploring why comedy that punches down reinforces harmful power dynamics. They discuss how roasts, jokes about women's bodies, and casual misogyny contribute to a larger cultural moment where rights and representation are being systematically stripped away—and why pushing back matters now more than ever. In This Episode, We Get Into: Why roasts make us uncomfortable (and why that matters)The difference between punching up, punching laterally, and punching down in comedyHow jokes about women's bodies and Black women's intelligence don't exist in a vacuumThe connection between rape culture humor and the loss of reproductive rightsWhy "it's just a joke" is never just a joke when power dynamics are at playHow comedy can either challenge or reinforce oppressive systemsThe importance of asking "what's funny about that?" when jokes cross the lineWhy people with privilege need to be the ones speaking up in rooms where marginalized people are the targetHow cultural moments like this contribute to the normalization of racism, misogyny, and authoritarianismWays to push back without being aggressive—and why it matters 🎤 JOIN US IN THE FEMINIST PODCASTERS COLLECTIVE: http://feministpodcastcollective.com/

    42 min
  5. Performative Activism, Billionaire Art Shows, and the Myth of Meritocracy

    May 11

    Performative Activism, Billionaire Art Shows, and the Myth of Meritocracy

    Get "Liberate Your Business" by Becky Mollenkamp https://liberateyourbusiness.com/ In this episode of Messy Liberation, hosts Becky Mollenkamp and Taina Brown dive into the tone-deaf spectacle of the Met Gala, unpacking what celebrity wealth displays reveal about economic inequality and performative activism. They also explore the myth of meritocracy in higher education, the emotional labor of parenting during high-stakes testing, and how to find joy and rest when everything feels heavy. In This Episode, We Get Into: Why the Met Gala feels like a "let them eat cake" moment during skyrocketing inflation and wealth inequalityThe difference between art as subversion and art as "sucking the dick of power"Performative activism vs. real protest (looking at you, Sarah Paulson's dollar bill accessory)How billionaires like Jeff Bezos hosting the Met Gala undercuts any claim of artistic rebellionThe myth that going to Harvard (or other elite schools) is the secret to wealthHow legacy admissions and cronyism maintain class hierarchies in higher educationSupporting kids through stressful standardized testing without reinforcing toxic achievement cultureProcessing grief, finding dopamine hits in gamified productivity, and giving yourself permission to restThe slow, steady growth of creative projects you do just because you love themWhy we keep showing up for these conversations (and thank you for listening) 🎤 JOIN US IN THE FEMINIST PODCASTERS COLLECTIVE: http://feministpodcastcollective.com/

    39 min
  6. Finding Agency When the World Is on Fire

    May 4

    Finding Agency When the World Is on Fire

    Get "Liberate Your Business" by Becky Mollenkamp https://liberateyourbusiness.com/ In this episode of Messy Liberation, hosts Becky Mollenkamp and Taina Brown dig into Trump's latest authoritarian moves — from putting his face on passports to plastering government buildings with his image. They explore the privilege of leaving the country when things get dark, the importance of staying present when the world feels like it's on fire, and small acts of resistance that help us reclaim agency in impossible times. In This Episode, We Get Into: Trump's plan to put his photo in U.S. passports (and why that's some dictator-level nonsense)The tan suit vs. sitting in your own shit: a study in Republican hypocrisyWhy "just leave the country" is peak privilege and not as easy as people thinkThe emotional toll of coming home from vacation to this dumpster fireHow post-vacation blues hit different when your country is falling apartBecky's "Bring the Magic" challenge: finding agency through small acts of kindnessWhy being present isn't toxic positivity — it's survivalTaina's spring gardening as embodied resistanceFinding ways to control your cortisol when the world is literally on fireChoosing not to have a heart attack while everything burns around you🎤 JOIN US IN THE FEMINIST PODCASTERS COLLECTIVE: http://feministpodcastcollective.com/

    48 min
  7. Why Mental Health Days Are Resistance (Not Self-Indulgence)

    Apr 27

    Why Mental Health Days Are Resistance (Not Self-Indulgence)

    Get "Liberate Your Business" by Becky Mollenkamp https://liberateyourbusiness.com/ In this episode of Messy Liberation, hosts Becky Mollenkamp and Taina Brown dive into why mental health days matter more than ever, and why the world won't stop demanding productivity just because you're feeling overwhelmed. They discuss how to recognize when you need rest, navigate guilt around taking time off, challenge capitalist expectations around constant productivity, and build community care into your life even when our culture doesn't make it easy. If you've ever felt like you're supposed to just brush your teeth and go to work while the world is on fire, this conversation is for you. In This Episode, We Get Into:• Why the world feels heavier as we age, and whether things are actually worse now or if we're just more aware• How neuroscience explains why young people make different decisions (spoiler: their frontal lobes aren't fully developed yet)• The real cost of living in a culture that expects "business as usual" no matter what's happening in the world• Why mental health days aren't just about rest; they're about resistance to capitalist productivity culture• The invisible labor of managing a household and why "partnership" doesn't automatically mean equality• How to ask for help even when you feel like you shouldn't have toWhy we've lost the village model of community care, and how to start rebuilding it• Setting boundaries around work, rest, and what you're actually capable of in a given moment• The difference between rest as recovery and rest as a regular practice• Why you need community care whether you're partnered up or not Resources Mentioned:• "How We Show Up: Reclaiming Family, Friendship, and Community" by Mia Birdsong: https://amzn.to/41U8M8h• "Liberate Your Business" by Becky Mollenkamp: https://beckymollenkamp.com/book/ 🎤 JOIN US IN THE FEMINIST PODCASTERS COLLECTIVE: http://feministpodcastcollective.com/

    47 min
  8. Wealth, Fame, and White Privilege: Why "Get Rich" Feminism Is Broken

    Apr 20

    Wealth, Fame, and White Privilege: Why "Get Rich" Feminism Is Broken

    Get "Liberate Your Business" by Becky Mollenkamp https://liberateyourbusiness.com/ In this episode of Messy Liberation, hosts Becky Mollenkamp and Taina Brown explore wealth, fame, and privilege through an intersectional feminist lens. Fresh off Taina's trip to Paris, the conversation unpacks how capitalism conditions us to believe money solves all problems, why being rich doesn't equal happiness, and how white women need to reckon with the ways whiteness shapes their relationship to money and power—even while experiencing gender-based oppression. In This Episode, We Get Into: Why we're conditioned to believe celebrities and wealthy people have no problems (and why that's b******t)How anxiety shapes the way we think about money, safety, and accessThe difference between financial security and being rich-rich—and why one matters more than the otherWhat fame actually costs: privacy, safety, constant scrutiny, and never knowing who's around you for the right reasonsWhy having money doesn't erase trauma, PTSD, or the way our brains are wiredHow wealth can buy access to things that lead to happiness—therapy, rest, travel, time with loved ones—without being a cure-allThe isolation and judgment that can come with having more money than the people around youWhy white women need to stop centering their own experiences when talking about wealth and financial liberationHow the "all women need to get wealthy" narrative erases the different lived realities of BIPOC womenWhy it's critical for white women to understand that gender oppression and white privilege can (and do) coexist🎤 JOIN US IN THE FEMINIST PODCASTERS COLLECTIVE

    9 min
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About

Join feminist coaches Taina Brown and Becky Mollenkamp for casual (and often deep) conversations about business, current events, politics, pop culture, and more. We’re not perfect activists or allies! These are our real-time, messy feminist perspectives on the world around us. This podcast is for you if you find yourself asking questions like: • Why is feminism important today? • What is intersectional feminism? • Can capitalism be ethical? • What does liberation mean? • Equity vs. equality — what's the difference and why does it matter? • What does a Trump victory mean for my life? • What is mutual aid? • How do we engage in collective action? • Can I find safety in community? • What's a feminist approach to ... ? • What's the feminist perspective on ...?

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