'Call Your Girlfriend' podcast
Ann Friedman is co-host of the podcast Call Your Girlfriend and a contributor to the Los Angeles Times and New York Magazine.
PROFILE
Ann Friedman
Guest
FROM Ann Friedman
To the Point
A month after Weinstein, a real awakening? It's been a month since public allegations of sexual harassment, including assault and rape, began against Movie mogul Harvey Weinstein. Since then, a flood of similar accusations has tarnished a host of Hollywood figures, politicians in Sacramento and Washington — and at least one executive at NPR in addition to Fox News. NPR host Mary-Louise Kelly is among those women pressing their boss about complaints of sexual harassment. Photo courtesy of CSIS Ann Friedman is co-host of the podcast Call Your Girlfriend and a contributor to the Los Angeles Times and New York Magazine.
Press Play with Madeleine Brand
‘Call Your Girlfriend’ podcast brings realtalk to live audiences Two girlfriends, one in LA and the other in San Francisco, maintain their friendship by chatting every week. It’s a podcast called “ Call Your Girlfriend ”, and listeners are like flies on the wall, eavesdropping on a conversation between long-distance besties. It’s a no-frills production – the two record in their closets – and since its inception about two years ago, it’s become so popular, the besties have left their closets and taken their show on the road. The two girlfriends of “Call Your Girlfriend” are Aminatou Sow and Ann Friedman, and they’ll be live in LA Thursday night.
To the Point
'Native Advertising' and Audience Trust Newspapers, magazines and websites are making big money from advertisements that look just like their news stories. NPR, which has always relied on underwriters as well as listener support, is supposedly an alternative to commercial broadcasting, but Ira Glass of This American Life says, " Public radio is ready for capitalism ." Critics say the "wall between church and state" that separates news from the business of news is disappearing. Maybe it's out of date. But, how long can sources of information be trusted if their credibility is up for sale?
To the Point
In Silicon Valley, Do Grown-ups Have a Chance? Mark Zuckerberg, who founded Facebook at age 23, famously told an audience, " Young people are just smarter ." And, Zuckerberg just paid $2 billion for Oculus — founded by Palmer Luckey at 21. One cosmetic surgeon says 28-year olds are getting Botox injections to look younger during start-up presentations to venture capitalists their own age. Is ageism all that pervasive in the tech world? Are white men learning what's all too familiar to women, ethnic minorities and the disabled?
To the Point
A Rape Case in Maryville, MO Goes Viral In Maryville, Missouri, the case of last year’s alleged rape of 14-year-old Daisy Coleman will be re-examined after the Kansas City Star raised disturbing questions in an investigative report on Saturday. Last year, the 14-year-old cheerleader claims she was raped by a football star at a drunken high school party. When the town found out, she got the blame. Her mother lost her job and the family home was burned down. The Sheriff says there was evidence for a strong rape case, but the DA refused to prosecute. Investigative reporting has raised disturbing questions, and this week came an announcement: the case will be re-examined. It was one incident in small-town Missouri—but some see a broader pattern of toleration for sexual assault, especially when male athletes are involved.
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To the Point
Human Rights in the era of Donald Trump President Trump’s UN Ambassador, Nikki Haley, said today the US might pull out of the United Nations’ Human Rights Council. Serious violators of human rights are members of the Council itself–and a US resignation could make things worse. Later on today’s show, now that he’s into his second term, comedian turned US Senator Al Franken is telling jokes again.
To the Point
Ex-FBI Director Comey tells his side of the story Today, former FBI Director James Comey came close to calling the President who fired him a liar. The White House denied the claim and called it insulting, but Republican Senators did not challenge Comey’s truthfulness. Many questions remain: did the President try to obstruct a federal investigation? Later, we’ll go behind the “velvet rope” for a look at 5-Star health care for the richest Americans.
To the Point
The longest US war: Will Trump send more troops to Afghanistan? The Trump White House is divided over the Pentagon's request for more troops in Afghanistan—where the US has been fighting for the past 16 years. Is there a formula -- either for "victory" or a political settlement? Is there an end in sight for America's longest war?