10 episodes
Starting a Riot Oregon Public Broadcasting
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- Society & Culture
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4.6 • 85 Ratings
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Thirty years ago, a movement called riot grrrl started in the Pacific Northwest. It wasn't just music – it was politics, feminism, culture and zines. And we're still feeling its effects today. Starting a Riot tells the history of riot grrrl: why it started in the Pacific Northwest, and what its lasting impact has been. And we focus on the stories that haven’t often been told as part of the history of the movement. We’ll hear from people on the margins, people who felt left out, and the people who insisted on being part of the conversation anyway.
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Episode 1: “They are our revenge”
Host and She Shreds Media founder Fabi Reyna introduces us to the movement known as riot grrrl. It started in Olympia, Washington in the early 1990s and it was more than just music – it was zines, feminism and community. Riot grrrl kicked open a door that women had been prying open for decades. But the histories of riot grrrl that have been told before haven’t felt fully representative of BIPOC and queer people. We’re leaning into that gap and listening to people on the margins, people who felt left out, people who insisted on being part of the conversation anyway.
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Episode 2: “Well I went to school in Olympia”
Come with us to Olympia, Washington. This little town perched on the Puget Sound is known as the birthplace of riot grrrl. We’ll hear about what it was like in the ’90s, what it meant for the movement to start there and how the town’s history affected riot grrrl.
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Episode 3: “Start a zine!”
In the early ’90s, when riot grrrl was just gaining momentum, zines played a crucial role. At first, zines were the only form of media reporting on riot grrrl bands, meetings and political organizing. And for many young women, self-publishing was a lot more accessible than starting a band.
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Episode 4: “Revolution Girl Style Now”
The DIY spirit of riot grrrl gave women and girls space to create their own version of feminism. They were making connections with each other through zines, music and riot grrrl meetings. And at the same time, they were exposing sexual violence and harassment as systemic problems. As more and more women felt empowered both collectively and individually, they faced pushback from mainstream culture and even within punk scenes.
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Episode 5: “Aerating the soil”
BIPOC and queer fans and musicians didn’t always feel welcomed by riot grrrl. But some managed to claim space in the movement anyway. We dig into what it was like for people who were “aerating the soil” of punk for the next generation, and why some efforts to make riot grrrl more inclusive failed.
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Episode 6: “Don’t call me that”
Riot grrrl left a legacy and … it’s complicated. A lot of the bands that were inspired by the movement don’t want to be directly associated with it any longer. We’ll dig into that and hear from bands that are carrying on the legacy and the spirit of riot grrrl today.
Customer Reviews
Great job!
Really liking this podcast. It’s so interesting to look back at the 90s through a more inclusive lens.
An interesting listen . . .
for this 67-year-old original lipstick lesbian. Rise up! You have nothing to lose but your chains!
Totally Punk
Bikini Kill were totally punk rock, as good as any of the early punk bands and so exciting to see play live. They rocked!
Riot Grrrl produced some of the best bands and music in the 90’s. Those bands got regular air play on KPSU here in Portland. Finally OPB jumps on the bandwagon……..30 years too late! Still, this is an excellent trip back in time to $300 apartment rentals and $5 entry to great shows.
I miss Sleater-Kinney so much……😢