Maria is appropriately joined by two of her fellow millennial teen drama Internet friends, Abir Mohammad and Jillian Bonanne, to break down the queer college journey of Benny Scanlon on Season 1 of OVERCOMPENSATING (2025-present.) The vaguely 2010s campus setting of this show feels all too familiar, providing at times painfully accurate representations of the college experience for the younger end of the millennial generation – including the fact that many LGBTQIA+ millennials came out in college/university, rather than in high school. We analyze and celebrate the non-linear and unrushed way that Benny’s story begins to unfold, and what we hope to see in the upcoming second season. For this episode, we recommend you first watch or have familiarity with OVERCOMPENSATING Season 1, streaming on Prime Video.  FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL | instagram, tumblr, tiktok, bluesky: @leftistteendrama | twitter, letterboxd: @leftyteendrama | website: leftistteendrama.com _ ABOUT US: MARIA DIPASQUALE (she/her; host/editor) is a Brooklyn-based union communicator, organizer, and writer who watches too much TV. She splits her free time between devouring teen dramas, creating this podcast, tenant organizing, and writing and reading (fan)fiction. Follow Maria on Twitter @Maria_DiP26, IG @mdzip, and tiktok @marialovesunions.  ABIR MOHAMMAD (he/him; recurring guest) is a London-based Writer and Casting Assistant with a passion for YA media. He likes to write about the specific experiences surrounding the queer, brown, Muslim and working class communities that he grew up in, and can talk your ear off about the casting of any TV show you can think of. Follow Abir on Twitter @abirmohxmmad or Instagram @abirmohammad. JILLIAN BONANNE (she/her; guest) is a content creator, podcaster, and certified teen drama superfan in NYC. Whether she's breaking down love triangles, visiting filming locations, or ranking heartthrobs, she brings nostalgia, humor, and a pop culture brain that never sleeps. Follow Jillian on IG, TikTok & YouTube @previouslyon_teentv JEFF MCHALE (he/him; producer) is an extremely online guy who plays games, works in the cannabis industry, and loves talking old TV. CHARLES S. O’LEARY (they/he; art) is a designer + writer based in Richmond, VA. They're currently getting their MFA in Graphic Design at Virginia Commonwealth University, and spend most of their time unsuccessfully scheming how to get off Instagram (@c.s.0.l). Maria and Jeff’s good union cats CLARENCE and VINNY may make an appearance and/or be mentioned.  intro song: Stomping the Room by Delicate Beats All opinions shared on this show are that of individuals and do not represent the views of any organization we may be affiliated with. _ SOURCES DISCUSSED IN THE EPISODE:  Elle, May 22, 2025, The Joy Of 'Overcompensating' Is How It Celebrates Millennial Culture Rather Than Cringing Over It   

In fulfillment of a listener request from @vanesawye on Tumblr, Maria and recurring guest Dondré Taylor-Stewart break down the HBO Max teen drama GENERA+ION (2021). This short but impactful show is packed with political moments, from Chester’s recurring experience of getting dress coded for being visibly queer to Delilah subverting the activist character trope. We talk about Greta’s asexuality, Nathan’s experience of coming out as bisexual while having conservative parents, and how cruel of a decision it was for HBO Max to cancel and pull a show that so many queer teens could see themselves in.  For this episode, we’d usually recommend you first watch or have familiarity with GENERA+ION Season 1, but it’s incredibly hard to find so we mostly just wish you luck in trying to watch it.  FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL | instagram, tumblr, tiktok, bluesky: @leftistteendrama | twitter, letterboxd: @leftyteendrama | website: leftistteendrama.com _ ABOUT US: MARIA DIPASQUALE (she/her; host/editor) is a Brooklyn-based union communicator, organizer, and writer who watches too much TV. She splits her free time between devouring teen dramas, creating this podcast, tenant organizing, and writing and reading (fan)fiction. Follow Maria on Twitter @Maria_DiP26, IG @mdzip, and tiktok @marialovesunions.  DONDRÉ TAYLOR-STEWART (he/him; recurring guest) is a Jersey-born, Jamaican-raised TV writer in Los Angeles. His writing focuses on Black and queer characters finding themselves amid society's margins. By day, he works in environmental public policy; by night, he's busy crafting original pilots and DJ-ing.  JEFF MCHALE (he/him; producer) is an extremely online guy who plays games, works in the cannabis industry, and loves talking old TV. CHARLES S. O’LEARY (they/he; art) is a designer + writer based in Richmond, VA. They're currently getting their MFA in Graphic Design at Virginia Commonwealth University, and spend most of their time unsuccessfully scheming how to get off Instagram (@c.s.0.l). Maria and Jeff’s good union cats CLARENCE and VINNY may make an appearance and/or be mentioned.  intro song: Stomping the Room by Delicate Beats All opinions shared on this show are that of individuals and do not represent the views of any organization we may be affiliated with. _ SOURCES DISCUSSED IN THE EPISODE:  Queerty, May 22, 2025, Justice for ‘Genera+ion’: Why the queer HBO Max teen series still deserves its flowers by David Opie The Daily Beast, August 18, 2022, Why Is HBO Max Erasing the Best Queer Teen Series From Existence? by Fletcher Peters Entertainment Weekly, September 15, 2021, Genera+ion co-creator responds to show's cancellation, answers most-asked finale questions by Zelda Barnz AwardsWatch, July 8, 2021, Interview: Justice Smith talkin’ about his ‘genera+ion’ and celebrating queer identity by Michael-Michelle Pratt IndieWire, March 11, 2021, ‘Genera+ion’ Review: HBO Max’s Gen Z Dramedy Is Confused About Its Identity by Jude Dry Variety, March 5, 2021, HBO Max’s ‘Generation’ Takes on Gen Z With Familiar Teen Show Tropes: TV Review by Caroline Framke

Maria is joined by recurring guest Kelly Diaz and disability rights activist Sasha Blair-Goldensohn to talk about disability justice on both SEX EDUCATION (2019-2023) and in real life. In Sex Education Season 4, wheelchair user Isaac Goodwin disrupts mock exams to protest the chronically broken elevator at Cavendish College, inspiring the entire student body to hold an impromptu sit-in until the lift is fixed. We talk about this inspiring direct action and how it parallels the real-life fight to make the New York City subway system fully wheelchair-accessible, a fight of which Sasha is part! Kelly and Maria also generally break down disability representation on the show, as shown through the characters of Isaac Goodwin and Aisha Green, a deaf character introduced in Season 4 who also plays a pivotal role in the sit-in. For this episode, we recommend you first watch or have familiarity with SEX EDUCATION Seasons 1-4, but especially Season 4, Episode 7, “Episode 7,” streaming on Netflix. FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL | instagram, tumblr, tiktok, bluesky: @leftistteendrama | twitter, letterboxd: @leftyteendrama | website: leftistteendrama.com _ ABOUT US: MARIA DIPASQUALE (she/her; host/editor) is a Brooklyn-based union communicator, organizer, and writer who watches too much TV. She splits her free time between devouring teen dramas, creating this podcast, tenant organizing, and writing and reading (fan)fiction. Follow Maria on Twitter @Maria_DiP26, IG @mdzip, and tiktok @marialovesunions.  KELLY DIAZ (she/her; recurring guest) is a Research Program Manager at Yale University studying disability & chronic illness justice, access, and inclusion. She is also an adjunct instructor of Media Studies at the City College of New York (CCNY). She has a Ph.D. from the Annenberg School for Communication at the University of Pennsylvania where she wrote her dissertation on depictions of youth activism on television. She loves to analyze and discuss the intersection of pop culture and politics and is passionate about the role entertainment plays in social justice movements. She has a dog, Matilda "Tillie," who is named after the magical, brilliant, and justice-serving character!   SASHA BLAIR-GOLDENSOHN (he/him; guest) works at Google Maps to make accessible, disability-inclusive places, transit and walking routes easier to find. He is also an activist with the Rise and Resist Elevator Action Group for New York City subway accessibility, and has appeared in the New York Times, Vital City, West Side Rag, PBS and Vice News. JEFF MCHALE (he/him; producer) is an extremely online guy who plays games, works in the cannabis industry, and loves talking old TV. CHARLES S. O’LEARY (they/he; art) is a designer + writer based in Richmond, VA. They're currently getting their MFA in Graphic Design at Virginia Commonwealth University, and spend most of their time unsuccessfully scheming how to get off Instagram (@c.s.0.l). Maria and Jeff’s good union cats CLARENCE and VINNY may make an appearance and/or be mentioned.  intro song: Stomping the Room by Delicate Beats All opinions shared on this show are that of individuals and do not represent the views of any organization we may be affiliated with. _ SOURCES DISCUSSED IN THE EPISODE:  Joyce, M. (2025). Perspective: Highlighting Disability Voices and Viewpoints through Artistry and Accessibility [Conference presentation]. 4th Annual Symposium for Disability and Accessibility at Yale, New Haven, CT, United States.  Bradley, D., Pombier, N., Rodriguez, M. T., and Sonneborn, L. (2025). Access as Invitation: Challenging the Constraints of Normative Arts Participation [Conference presentation]. 4th Annual Symposium for Disability and Accessibility at Yale, New Haven, CT, United States.  Disabled Art Collectives: https://www.thedisabilitycollective.com Hook & Loop in Philadelphia- https://whyy.org/articles/undue-burden-painted-bride-philadelphia-artists-disabilities/  Intertwine Arts- https://www.intert

TW: sexual assault (and the fallout) discussed throughout the episode Maria is joined by Rosalie Murray and Kelly Gilbert to discuss Paige Michalchuk’s sexual assault plotline as depicted over several seasons of DEGRASSI: THE NEXT GENERATION (2002-2015). Similar to Tim Riggins’ arc that we discussed in Episode #7, this plotline begs for an abolitionist reading. From spontaneously singing “Poor Thing” and driving Dean out of a public space to outing him as a rapist at his frat house and facing his lawyer down in court, Paige goes on quite the character journey as she processes her trauma. We break it all down while also arguing that Paige’s experience pressing charges against her rapist is essentially an essay on why the carceral system fails to bring any sort of meaningful justice for sexual assault survivors. For this episode, we recommend you first watch or have familiarity with DEGRASSI: THE NEXT GENERATION Seasons 1-4, but especially Season 2, Episodes 7-8, “Shout,” Parts 1 and 2; Season 2, Episode 20, “How Soon Is Now?”; and Season 4, Episodes 1-2, “Ghost in the Machine,” Parts 1 and 2, currently streaming on multiple services, including YouTube, HBO Max, Tubi, and Hulu. FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL | instagram, tumblr, tiktok, bluesky: @leftistteendrama | twitter, letterboxd: @leftyteendrama | website: leftistteendrama.com _ ABOUT US: MARIA DIPASQUALE (she/her; host/editor) is a Brooklyn-based union communicator, organizer, and writer who watches too much TV. She splits her free time between devouring teen dramas, creating this podcast, tenant organizing, and writing and reading (fan)fiction. Follow Maria on Twitter @Maria_DiP26, IG @mdzip, and tiktok @marialovesunions.  ROSALIE MURRAY (she/her; recurring guest) is an elementary school social worker/human living in Queens, NY. Besides spending time with her cat, Louise, she loves to cook tasty ass vegan food with friends, karaoke-ing or starting another ceramic project. She also loves to watch endless youtube videos, reality television and, of course, Degrassi. KELLY GILBERT (she/her; recurring guest) is a student (phd in Twilight), sometimes activist, teen drama aficionado in Brooklyn! Find her IRL every night drinking her sorrows away at Margaritaville, the Jimmy Buffet Experience! JEFF MCHALE (he/him; producer) is an extremely online guy who plays games, works in the cannabis industry, and loves talking old TV. CHARLES S. O’LEARY (they/he; art) is a designer + writer based in Richmond, VA. They're currently getting their MFA in Graphic Design at Virginia Commonwealth University, and spend most of their time unsuccessfully scheming how to get off Instagram (@c.s.0.l). Maria and Jeff’s good union cats CLARENCE and VINNY may make an appearance and/or be mentioned.  intro song: Stomping the Room by Delicate Beats All opinions shared on this show are that of individuals and do not represent the views of any organization we may be affiliated with. _ SOURCES DISCUSSED IN THE EPISODE:  Transform Harm, February 18, 2020, Surviving Rape as a Prison Abolitionist by Miriam Perez-Putnam Transform Harm, June 25, 2020, What About the Rapists and Murderers? By Angel Parker The Cut, October 1, 2020, Aching for Abolition As a survivor of sexual violence, I know prison isn’t the answer. by Camonghne Felix Xtra Magazine, July 2, 2021, Degrassi’s Paige Michalchuk was complicated, to say the least, but her journey was my journey by Mira Miller Chanel Miller, Know My Name: A Memoir Are Prisons Obsolete? by Angela Y. Davis SUGGESTED FURTHER READING: Beyond Survival: Strategies and Stories from the Transformative Justice Movement 

In the Leftist Teen Drama Season 5 premiere, Maria is joined by Kelly Diaz to discuss one of the most comprehensive student protest movements that she analyzed in her dissertation on depictions of youth activism on television. In Season 5 of SWITCHED AT BIRTH (2011-2017), a second protest movement emerges over multiple episodes, this time in the university setting of UMKC, purposefully told from the point of view of three Black secondary characters while they fight for racial justice on campus. Much like the Season 2 SWITCHED AT BIRTH plotline Maria and Kelly discussed on Episode #28, this plotline is inspired by real-life events: namely the 2015 racial justice protests at the University of Missouri. We break down the character journeys of our activist characters and the myriad tactics used throughout the movement, from canvassing for petition signatures and interviews with campus blogs to civil disobedience and even a hunger strike.  For this episode, we recommend you first watch or have familiarity with SWITCHED AT BIRTH Seasons 1-5, but especially Season 5, Episode 2, “This Has to Do With Me,” Season 5, Episode 4, “Relation of Lines and Colors,” and Season 5, Episode 5, “Occupy Truth,” currently streaming on Hulu. You may also want to listen to our first Leftist Teen Drama ep that covers events from SWITCHED AT BIRTH Seasons 1-2: Episode #28 - Deaf Students ‘Occupy Carlton’ to Save Their School on ‘Switched At Birth’ in Homage to Historic Gallaudet Protests. FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL | instagram, tumblr, tiktok, bluesky: @leftistteendrama | twitter, letterboxd: @leftyteendrama | website: leftistteendrama.com _ ABOUT US: MARIA DIPASQUALE (she/her; host/editor) is a Brooklyn-based union communicator, organizer, and writer who watches too much TV. She splits her free time between devouring teen dramas, creating this podcast, tenant organizing, and writing and reading (fan)fiction. Follow Maria on Twitter @Maria_DiP26, IG @mdzip, and tiktok @marialovesunions.  KELLY DIAZ (she/her; recurring guest) is a Research Program Manager at Yale University studying disability & chronic illness justice, access, and inclusion. She is also an adjunct instructor of Media Studies at the City College of New York (CCNY). She has a Ph.D. from the Annenberg School for Communication at the University of Pennsylvania where she wrote her dissertation on depictions of youth activism on television. She loves to analyze and discuss the intersection of pop culture and politics and is passionate about the role entertainment plays in social justice movements. She has a dog, Matilda "Tillie," who is named after the magical, brilliant, and justice-serving character!   JEFF MCHALE (he/him; producer) is an extremely online guy who plays games, works in the cannabis industry, and loves talking old TV. CHARLES S. O’LEARY (they/he; art) is a designer + writer based in Richmond, VA. They're currently getting their MFA in Graphic Design at Virginia Commonwealth University, and spend most of their time unsuccessfully scheming how to get off Instagram (@c.s.0.l). Maria and Jeff’s good union cats CLARENCE and VINNY may make an appearance and/or be mentioned.  intro song: Stomping the Room by Delicate Beats All opinions shared on this show are that of individuals and do not represent the views of any organization we may be affiliated with. _ SOURCES DISCUSSED IN THE EPISODE:  August 20, 2018, Inside Higher Ed: Protesters Tear Down Silent Sam by Scott Jaschik June 8, 2020, NPR: Protests Are Bringing Down Confederate Monuments Around The South by Debbie Elliott March 19, 2024, Black Lives Matter: Our History August 26, 2020, Southern Vision Alliance: “A rallying point for Confederate agitators”: Students’ fight to topple racism at the University of Mississippi by Caro Metzler February 28, 2017, Hollywood Reporter: The Story Behind ‘Switched at Birth’s’ Emotional Racism Episode by Kate Stanhope November 10, 2015, CNN: A timeline of the University of Missouri pr

Welcome to Season *FIVE* of Leftist Teen Drama, a podcast for all the girlies who know that “OC” is both shorthand for an organizing committee AND an iconic early 2000s teen drama! Season 5 is filled with a stacked cast of new and returning guests, and I’m happy to announce that, for the first time since 2022, the season has been extended to 10 episodes! We’ve got all our usual suspects: sit-ins and encampments and queer awakenings and class conflict galore. So check out a little taste of Season 5, premiering on Sundays starting October 12 through December 14, 2025. FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL | instagram, tumblr, tiktok, bluesky: @leftistteendrama | twitter, letterboxd: @leftyteendrama | website: leftistteendrama.com _ ABOUT US: MARIA DIPASQUALE (she/her; host/editor) is a Brooklyn-based union communicator, organizer, and writer who watches too much TV. She splits her free time between devouring teen dramas, creating this podcast, tenant organizing, and writing and reading (fan)fiction. Follow Maria on Twitter @Maria_DiP26, IG @mdzip, and tiktok @marialovesunions.  JEFF MCHALE (he/him; producer) is an extremely online guy who plays games, works in the cannabis industry, and loves talking old TV. CHARLES S. O’LEARY (they/he; art) is a designer + writer based in Richmond, VA. They're currently getting their MFA in Graphic Design at Virginia Commonwealth University, and spend most of their time unsuccessfully scheming how to get off Instagram (@c.s.0.l). Maria and Jeff’s good union cats CLARENCE and VINNY may make an appearance and/or be mentioned.  intro song: Stomping the Room by Delicate Beats All opinions shared on this show are that of individuals and do not represent the views of any organization we may be affiliated with.

Welcome back to our series of special episodes covering political moments in teen movies! Maria is joined by twins and self-professed “camp freaks” Kelly and MG Gilbert to break down all the class conflict inherent to the plot of CAMP ROCK (2008). From watching teens and tweens network at camp (gross) to trying to place the subprime mortgage crisis in the story’s timeline to cheering on Mitchie as she stands up for service workers, we had a blast analyzing the class anxiety that motivates Mitchie’s actions throughout her first summer at Camp Rock. (And we promise we’ll be covering the sequel next summer!) TW for brief discussion of Demi Lovato’s real-life sexual assault and reported bad working conditions on the set of Camp Rock. For this episode, we recommend you first watch or have familiarity with CAMP ROCK, rentable on YouTube. FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL | instagram, tumblr, tiktok, bluesky: @leftistteendrama | twitter, letterboxd: @leftyteendrama | website: leftistteendrama.com _ ABOUT US: MARIA DIPASQUALE (she/her; host/editor) is a Brooklyn-based union communicator, organizer, and writer who watches too much TV. She splits her free time between devouring teen dramas, creating this podcast, tenant organizing, and writing and reading (fan)fiction. Follow Maria on Twitter @Maria_DiP26, IG @mdzip, and tiktok @marialovesunions.  KELLY GILBERT (she/her; recurring guest) is a student (phd in Twilight), sometimes activist, teen drama aficionado in Brooklyn! Find her IRL every night drinking her sorrows away at Margaritaville, the Jimmy Buffet Experience! MG GILBERT (they/them; guest) is a comic based in Brooklyn and Kelly’s identical twin! They love Degrassi: The Next Generation and turn to it for wisdom on how to be the best 32 year old Canadian teen they can be.  JEFF MCHALE (he/him; producer) is an extremely online guy who plays games, works in the cannabis industry, and loves talking old TV. CHARLES S. O’LEARY (they/them; art) is a “writer,” “designer,” and “content strategist” based in Richmond, VA by way of Brooklyn, NY. A survivor of the 2010s Tumblr wars, leftist media criticism is all they know. To learn about them professionally, visit charles-oleary.biz. To learn about them personally, visit their Instagram at @c.s.0.l. Maria and Jeff’s good union cats CLARENCE and VINNY may make an appearance and/or be mentioned.  intro song: Stomping the Room by Delicate Beats All opinions shared on this show are that of individuals and do not represent the views of any organization we may be affiliated with. _ SOURCES DISCUSSED IN THE EPISODE: June 6, 2025, FandomWire, Camp Rock 3: Will Demi Lovato and The Jonas Brothers Reprise Their Roles? by Jasmine Dean

In our third Special Episode of Leftist Teen Drama featuring a writer talking about her related body of work, Maria welcomes pop culture writer Thea Glassman to the podcast to discuss her 2023 book, Freaks, Gleeks, and Dawson's Creek: How Seven Teen Shows Transformed Television. We delve into our mutual obsession with teen dramas, Thea’s reporting process for the book, and how she narrowed her book down to the seven revolutionary teen shows she covers. Then, we dive into the seven chapters that chronicle the making of our favorite characters and plotlines on THE FRESH PRINCE OF BEL AIR (1990-1996), MY SO-CALLED LIFE (1994-1995), DAWSON’S CREEK (1998-2003), FREAKS AND GEEKS (1999-2000), THE O.C. (2003-2007), FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS (2006-2011), and GLEE (2009-2015). FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL | instagram, tumblr, tiktok, bluesky: @leftistteendrama | twitter, letterboxd: @leftyteendrama | website: leftistteendrama.com _ ABOUT US: MARIA DIPASQUALE (she/her; host/editor) is a Brooklyn-based union communicator, organizer, and writer who watches too much TV. She splits her free time between devouring teen dramas, creating this podcast, tenant organizing, and writing and reading (fan)fiction. Follow Maria on Twitter @Maria_DiP26, IG @mdzip, and tiktok @marialovesunions.  THEA GLASSMAN (she/her; guest) has written about television for The New York Times, The Hollywood Reporter, Architectural Digest, Glamour and more. Her debut book, Freaks, Gleeks and Dawson's Creek, was released by Running Press, an imprint of Hachette, in 2023. Thea's next book, Who's That Girl: The Definitive History of New Girl, published by St. Martin's Press, an imprint of Macmillan, will land in bookstores next year. She's the co-founder of the newsletter Ministry of Pop Culture, which features essays, interviews, behind-the scenes features and writer-ly tips. Social media: @theaglassman on Instagram JEFF MCHALE (he/him; producer) is an extremely online guy who plays games, works in the cannabis industry, and loves talking old TV. Logo art by Maddy Wiryo Maria and Jeff’s good union cats CLARENCE and VINNY may make an appearance and/or be mentioned.  intro song: Stomping the Room by Delicate Beats All opinions shared on this show are that of individuals and do not represent the views of any organization we may be affiliated with. _ SOURCES DISCUSSED IN THE EPISODE:  Freaks, Gleeks, and Dawson's Creek: How Seven Teen Shows Transformed Television by Thea Glassman Vanity Fair, January 19, 2018, Inside the Thrilling, Chaotic Writers’ Room of Dawson’s Creek by Thea Glassman VICE, March 11, 2019, Where Do Former Teen Stars Go When Their Shows Die? by Thea Glassman Maria’s Unfinished Bughead/Varchie Riverdale The O.C. AU Fanfic

TW: discussion of rape and rape culture Welcome back to our series of special episodes covering political moments in teen movies! Maria is joined by childhood friends Rosalie Murray and Dondré Taylor-Stewart to break down the teen feminist film MOXIE (2021). We have a soft spot for this group of outcasts who form a feminist movement at their high school, drawing parallels to our own short-lived feminist action in our 2011-2012 senior year. While we celebrate teen girls uniting to fight sexist dress codes, sports inequality, and rape culture, we also critique the lack of meaningful intersectional representation that ultimately places this movie in the “white feminist” category. We wish we’d gotten to watch a more fleshed-out ensemble film rather than what felt like a white woman’s journey propped up by diverse side characters. As Dondré says in our Letterboxd review for this movie: “There’s a world where the palatable avatar for feminism doesn’t have to be a white woman.” For this episode, we recommend you first watch or have familiarity with MOXIE, streaming on Netflix. FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL | instagram, tumblr, tiktok, bluesky: @leftistteendrama | twitter, letterboxd: @leftyteendrama | website: leftistteendrama.com _ ABOUT US: MARIA DIPASQUALE (she/her; host/editor) is a Brooklyn-based union communicator, organizer, and writer who watches too much TV. She splits her free time between devouring teen dramas, creating this podcast, tenant organizing, and writing and reading (fan)fiction. Follow Maria on Twitter @Maria_DiP26, IG @mdzip, and tiktok @marialovesunions.  ROSALIE MURRAY (she/her, recurring guest) is an elementary school social worker/human living in Queens, NY.  Besides spending time with her cat, Louise, she loves to cook tasty ass vegan food with friends, karaoke-ing or starting another unfinished crochet project. She also loves to watch endless youtube videos, reality television and, of course, Degrassi. DONDRÉ TAYLOR-STEWART (he/him; recurring guest) is a Jersey-born, Jamaican-raised TV writer in Los Angeles. His writing focuses on Black and queer characters finding themselves amid society's margins. By day, he works in environmental public policy; by night, he's busy crafting original pilots and DJ-ing. IG & TWITTER: oxtail_papi  JEFF MCHALE (he/him; producer) is an extremely online guy who plays games, works in the cannabis industry, and loves talking old TV. CHARLES S. O’LEARY (they/them; art) is a “writer,” “designer,” and “content strategist” based in Brooklyn, NY. A survivor of the 2010s Tumblr wars, leftist media criticism is all they know. To learn about them professionally, visit charles-oleary.biz. To learn about them personally, visit their Instagram at @c.s.0.l. Maria and Jeff’s good union cats CLARENCE and VINNY may make an appearance and/or be mentioned.  intro song: Stomping the Room by Delicate Beats All opinions shared on this show are that of individuals and do not represent the views of any organization we may be affiliated with. _ SOURCES DISCUSSED IN THE EPISODE:  Autostraddle, March 8, 2021, Moxie Review: Netflix’s Teen Feminist Revolution Falls Short by Kayla Kumari Upadhyaya Screenrant, March 2, 2021, Moxie Review: Amy Poehler's Riot Grrrl Movie Has Its Heart In The Right Place by Molly Freeman

Welcome to an emergency special episode of Leftist Teen Drama in which Maria pays tribute to millennial teen drama icon Michelle Trachtenberg, who sadly passed away at the age of 39 on February 26, 2025. Thanks to Erin Rittweger, Colette Shade, Charlotte Morrill, strideofpride, and Kelly Diaz for contributing such powerful reflections on Michelle’s legacy to this episode. And thanks to Diana Hussein for inspiring me to make this episode to begin with. May we all rewatch our favorite Michelle Trachtenberg screen credit this weekend, whether it’s Harriet the Spy, Ice Princess, a favorite Dawn Summers episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer or a favorite Georgina Sparks episode of Gossip Girl, or even an early appearance on the Adventures of Pete & Pete. Rest In Peace, Michelle Trachtenberg. Leftist Teen Drama is sending all our love and solidarity to Michelle’s friends and family and all that knew her! FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL | instagram, tumblr, tiktok, bluesky: @leftistteendrama | twitter: @leftyteendrama | website: leftistteendrama.com _ ABOUT US: MARIA DIPASQUALE (she/her; host/editor) is a Brooklyn-based union communicator, organizer, and writer who watches too much TV. She splits her free time between devouring teen dramas, creating this podcast, tenant organizing, and writing and reading (fan)fiction. Follow Maria on Twitter @Maria_DiP26, IG @mdzip, and tiktok @marialovesunions.  JEFF MCHALE (he/him; producer) is an extremely online guy who plays games, works in the cannabis industry, and loves talking old TV. “Leftist Teen Drama” alternative logo by Charles O’Leary Maria and Jeff’s good union cats CLARENCE and VINNY may make an appearance and/or be mentioned.  intro song: Stomping the Room by Delicate Beats All opinions shared on this show are that of individuals and do not represent the views of any organization we may be affiliated with. _ SOURCES DISCUSSED IN THE EPISODE:  The New York Times, February 26, 2025, Michelle Trachtenberg, ‘Gossip Girl’ and ‘Buffy’ Actress, Dies at 39 by Alex Williams and Michael Levenson Forbes, February 26, 2025, Michelle Trachtenberg Dies At 39 by Tim Lammers The Guardian, February 27, 2025 Michelle Trachtenberg’s natural talent shone in everything from Harriet the Spy to Buffy by Veronica Esposito tweet from Thomas, IATSE member who worked on Gossip Girl Jessica Szohr's Instagram post Joshua Safran’s thread Danny Tamberelli’s Instagram post  NBC News, February 27, 2025, Sarah Michelle Gellar mourns Michelle Trachtenberg, her little sister on 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' by Matt Lavietes People, February 27, 2025, Blake Lively Remembers Gossip Girl Costar Michelle Trachtenberg's 'Yummy Caramel Lipgloss' and Other 'Sweet Details' by Lindsay Kimble US Weekly, February 26, 2025, Rosie O’Donnell Reacts to the Death of ‘Harriet the Spy’ Costar Michelle Trachtenberg: ‘Heartbreaking’ by Daniel Trainor

In our second Special Episode of Leftist Teen Drama featuring a writer talking about her related body of work, Maria welcomes Colette Shade to the podcast to discuss her brilliant book of essays, Y2K: How the 2000s Became Everything (Essays on the Future That Never Was), just released on January 7, 2025. We deep dive into Colette’s essay collection, chatting about all things Y2K pop culture and leftist politics, including Colette’s affinity for DAWSON’S CREEK (1998-2003) and the fact that Y2K activists like Emma Nelson on DEGRASSI: THE NEXT GENERATION (2002-2015) were seen as “annoying.”  TW: discussion of eating disorders from ~48:00ish - ~56:00 FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL | instagram, tumblr, tiktok, bluesky: @leftistteendrama | twitter: @leftyteendrama | website: leftistteendrama.com _ ABOUT US: MARIA DIPASQUALE (she/her; host/editor) is a Brooklyn-based union communicator, organizer, and writer who watches too much TV. She splits her free time between devouring teen dramas, creating this podcast, tenant organizing, and writing and reading (fan)fiction. Follow Maria on Twitter @Maria_DiP26, IG @mdzip, and tiktok @marialovesunions.  COLETTE SHADE (she/her, guest)’s writing has appeared in The New Republic, The Nation, Teen Vogue, Interview Magazine, The Baffler, and Gawker. Y2K: How the 2000's Became Everything (Essays on the Future That Never Was) is her debut collection of essays, out now from Dey Street, an imprint of HarperCollins. Social media: @msshade on Instagram and Twitter; @coletteshade on Bluesky JEFF MCHALE (he/him; producer) is an extremely online guy who plays games, works in the cannabis industry, and loves talking old TV. Logo art by Maddy Wiryo Maria and Jeff’s good union cats CLARENCE and VINNY may make an appearance and/or be mentioned.  intro song: Stomping the Room by Delicate Beats All opinions shared on this show are that of individuals and do not represent the views of any organization we may be affiliated with. _ SOURCES DISCUSSED IN THE EPISODE:  Pick up a copy of Y2K! Bookshop link to buy book and Audible link to buy audiobook. You can also check out excerpts published in Slate and UserMag! Catch Colette Shade on tour! Dates and locations listed on her website.  November 29, 2024, The Nation, 25 Years Ago, the Battle of Seattle Showed Us What Democracy Looks Like by Colette Shade No Logo by Naomi Klein March 10, 1997, The New Yorker, The Cool Hunt by Malcolm Gladwell The Merchants of Cool documentary Girl Model documentary This Changes Everything: Capitalism vs. the Climate by Naomi Klein The End of the Myth: From the Frontier to the Border Wall in the Mind of America by Greg Grandin  _ SUGGESTED FURTHER READING: December 16, 2024 Teen Vogue, The Great Recession: What Happened and How the Aftermath Explains Trump’s Political Success by Colette Shade November 14, 2024, The New Republic, Elon Musk Has Always Been Like This. So Has Silicon Valley. by Colette Shade

In the Leftist Teen Drama Season 4 finale, Maria is joined by Laura Marino and strideofpride to dissect the class dynamics on a longtime listener-requested show: the iconic teen drama GOSSIP GIRL (2007-2012)! Approaching this episode from our usual leftist lens, we mainly zero in on the “working-class” characters who are thrust into the owning-class world of the Upper East Side: Dan Humphrey, Vanessa Abrams, and Jenny Humphrey. Since Maria and Laura were OG Gossip Girl book readers, we discuss the differences between book and TV to ground us. Then, we dive into the six seasons of the hit CW teen drama, breaking down everything from the way Dan and Vanessa are corrupted by the system and the erasure of Vanessa’s biracial identity to messy arcs featuring working-class characters Juliet and Ivy and the Dorota of it all. Finally, S explains why the Dan-as-Gossip-Girl reveal isn’t considered canon to most of the Gossip Girl fandom. TW: discussion of sexual assault, attempted rape, statutory rape  For this episode, we recommend you first watch or have familiarity with GOSSIP GIRL Seasons 1-6, streaming on Netflix and Max, but especially 1x03 “Poison Ivy,” 1x10 “Hi, Society,” 1x12 “School Lies,” 2x07 “Chuck in Real Life,” 2x19 “The Grandfather,” 2x21 “Seder Anything,” 3x01 “Reversals of Fortune,” 3x06 “Enough about Eve,” 4x09 “The Witches of Bushwick,” 4x11 “The Townie,” and 5x02 “Beauty and the Feast.”  FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL | instagram, tumblr, tiktok, bluesky: @leftistteendrama | twitter: @leftyteendrama | website: leftistteendrama.com _ ABOUT US: MARIA DIPASQUALE (she/her; host/editor) is a Brooklyn-based union communicator, organizer, and writer who watches too much TV. She splits her free time between devouring teen dramas, creating this podcast, tenant organizing, and writing and reading (fan)fiction. Follow Maria on Twitter @Maria_DiP26, IG @mdzip, and tiktok @marialovesunions.  LAURA MARINO (she/her; recurring guest) works in advertising by day and watches, reads, and talks too much about television by night. She has enjoyed yelling about television with Maria for well over a decade, and credits Television Without Pity (RIP) as the first forum to shape her love of deep character and plot analysis. STRIDEOFPRIDE or "S" (she/her; guest) is an anonymous blogger who has spent way too much time thinking about the CW's Gossip Girl. You can find her on Tumblr under the name @strideofpride of course, where she mainly blogs about TV, movies, and Marxism.  JEFF MCHALE (he/him; producer) is an extremely online guy who plays games, works in the cannabis industry, and loves talking old TV. CHARLES S. O’LEARY (they/them; art) is a “writer,” “designer,” and “content strategist” based in Brooklyn, NY. A survivor of the 2010s Tumblr wars, leftist media criticism is all they know. To learn about them professionally, visit charles-oleary.biz. To learn about them personally, visit their Instagram at @c.s.0.l. Maria and Jeff’s good union cats CLARENCE and VINNY may make an appearance and/or be mentioned.  intro song: Stomping the Room by Delicate Beats All opinions shared on this show are that of individuals and do not represent the views of any organization we may be affiliated with. _ SOURCES DISCUSSED IN THIS EPISODE: Gossip Girl book series by Cecily von Ziegesar September 26, 2007, Observer, All Bow to Little, Brown’s Queen of Teen Lit by Leon Neyfakh

Maria is joined by Abir Mohammad to break down powerful depictions of British teenagers in the South Asian diaspora on SOME GIRLS (2012-2014), ACKLEY BRIDGE (2017-2022), SEX EDUCATION (2019-2023), and WATERLOO ROAD (2023-present.) This episode is jam packed with South Asian teen characters living in all their complexity – as sexual beings, as Muslims, as hijabis, as queer teens, as protest leaders. We celebrate beloved characters like Saz Kaur, Nasreen Paracha, Naveed Haider, Olivia Hanan, Anwar Bakshi, and Samia Choudhry, while also talking about the ways South Asian representation can continue to be improved in teen dramas. For this episode, we recommend you first watch or have familiarity with SOME GIRLS, streaming on BBC iPlayer, Tubi, and The Roku Channel; ACKLEY BRIDGE, streaming on The Roku Channel and Channel 4 or for purchase on YouTube; SEX EDUCATION, streaming on Netflix; and WATERLOO ROAD, streaming on BBC iPlayer. FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL | instagram, tumblr, tiktok, bluesky: @leftistteendrama | twitter: @leftyteendrama | website: leftistteendrama.com _ ABOUT US: MARIA DIPASQUALE (she/her; host/editor) is a Brooklyn-based union communicator, organizer, and writer who watches too much TV. She splits her free time between devouring teen dramas, creating this podcast, tenant organizing, and writing and reading (fan)fiction. Follow Maria on Twitter @Maria_DiP26, IG @mdzip, and tiktok @marialovesunions.  ABIR MOHAMMAD (he/him; recurring guest) is a London-based Writer and Casting Assistant with a passion for YA media. He likes to write about the specific experiences surrounding the queer, brown, Muslim and working class communities that he grew up in, and can talk your ear off about the casting of any TV show you can think of. Follow Abir on Twitter @abirmohxmmad or Instagram @abirmohammad. JEFF MCHALE (he/him; producer) is an extremely online guy who plays games, works in the cannabis industry, and loves talking old TV. CHARLES S. O’LEARY (they/them; art) is a “writer,” “designer,” and “content strategist” based in Brooklyn, NY. A survivor of the 2010s Tumblr wars, leftist media criticism is all they know. To learn about them professionally, visit charles-oleary.biz. To learn about them personally, visit their Instagram at @c.s.0.l. Maria and Jeff’s good union cats CLARENCE and VINNY may make an appearance and/or be mentioned.  intro song: Stomping the Room by Delicate Beats All opinions shared on this show are that of individuals and do not represent the views of any organization we may be affiliated with. _ INFO ABOUT ABIR’S PLAY: Buy Tickets to Bhaijaan at The Hope Theatre, London, N1 1RL, Friday 31st January 2025 - Saturday 1st February 2025 Follow the play on Instagram!

Maria is once again joined by childhood friend Dondré Taylor-Stewart to talk about the often-political ALL AMERICAN universe, and specifically the HBCU spin-off ALL AMERICAN: HOMECOMING (2022-2024). We trace Simone Hicks’ journey as an HBCU athlete-activist, as she emerges as a leader during two separate experiences of collective Black trauma: a bomb threat and a cop stop. We discuss the show’s depiction of Black joy, resilience, and protest in the aftermath of these traumatizing events, shaping Simone into an activist who eventually pursues a career in sports advocacy for athletes of color. We also discuss the show’s powerful centering of mental health and community, and Simone getting to have both her political activism and an endgame love story with Lando Johnson.  For this episode, we recommend you first watch ALL AMERICAN: HOMECOMING Seasons 1-3, streaming on Netflix, but especially episodes 2x04 “We Shall Not Be Moved,” 2x05 “No More Drama,” 2x13 “Lose to Win,” 2x14 “Stand Up for Something,” and 3x02 “Level Up.” FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL | instagram, tumblr, tiktok, bluesky: @leftistteendrama | twitter: @leftyteendrama | website: leftistteendrama.com _ ABOUT US: MARIA DIPASQUALE (she/her; host/editor) is a Brooklyn-based union communicator, organizer, and writer who watches too much TV. She splits her free time between devouring teen dramas, creating this podcast, tenant organizing, and writing and reading (fan)fiction. Follow Maria on Twitter @Maria_DiP26, IG @mdzip, and tiktok @marialovesunions.  DONDRÉ TAYLOR-STEWART (he/him; recurring guest) is a Jersey-born, Jamaican-raised TV writer in Los Angeles. His writing focuses on Black and queer characters finding themselves amid society's margins. By day, he works in environmental public policy; by night, he's busy crafting original pilots and DJ-ing. IG & TWITTER: oxtail_papi  JEFF MCHALE (he/him; producer) is an extremely online guy who plays games, works in the cannabis industry, and loves talking old TV. CHARLES S. O’LEARY (they/them; art) is a “writer,” “designer,” and “content strategist” based in Brooklyn, NY. A survivor of the 2010s Tumblr wars, leftist media criticism is all they know. To learn about them professionally, visit charles-oleary.biz. To learn about them personally, visit their Instagram at @c.s.0.l. Maria and Jeff’s good union cats CLARENCE and VINNY may make an appearance and/or be mentioned.  intro song: Stomping the Room by Delicate Beats All opinions shared on this show are that of individuals and do not represent the views of any organization we may be affiliated with. _ SOURCES DISCUSSED IN THIS EPISODE: Thurgood Marshall College Fund 5 Things To Know: HBCU Edition HBCU History Timeline, HBCU First March 20, 2023, Deadline, ‘All American: Homecoming’ Bosses Break Down Impacts Of Tennis Team’s Police Stop, Fraternity Hazing & Enlisting Coco Gauff To Guest Star by Katie Campione  August 20, 2024, Screenrant, Seriously, Will All American Ever Give Simone A Break?! by Nadica Terzieva September 30, 2024, TVLine, All American: Homecoming Recap: Simone Goes Out on a Triumphant Note in Series Finale — Grade It! By Rebecca Iannucci

“My So-Called Life was the OG Leftist Teen Drama,” Diana declares. Both MY SO-CALLED LIFE (1994-1995) and Maria turned 30 this year! Diana Hussein again joins the podcast to break down all the politics of this groundbreaking yet short-lived teen drama. We discuss everything from a pre-Columbine gun violence (B) plot to the political awakening of Angela Chase and the raw and groundbreaking depiction of an unhoused queer teenager of color in Rickie Vasquez, famously the first out gay character to be played by an out gay actor on network TV. Arguably none of the shows we’ve discussed on Leftist Teen Drama would’ve existed if not for Winnie Holzman, Claire Danes, Wilson Cruz, and all the other amazing creatives who brought this world to life – and so we’re honored to finally pay proper tribute to My So-Called Life in all its political brilliance.  For this episode, we recommend you first watch MY SO-CALLED LIFE Season 1, streaming on Hulu, but especially 1x03 “Guns and Gossip,” 1x06 “The Substitute,” 1x15 “So-Called Angels,” 1x16 “Resolutions,” and 1x19 “In Dreams Begin Responsibilities.”  FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL | instagram, tumblr, tiktok, bluesky: @leftistteendrama | twitter: @leftyteendrama | website: leftistteendrama.com _ ABOUT US: MARIA DIPASQUALE (she/her; host/editor) is a Brooklyn-based union communicator, organizer, and writer who watches too much TV. She splits her free time between devouring teen dramas, creating this podcast, tenant organizing, and writing and reading (fan)fiction. Follow Maria on Twitter @Maria_DiP26, IG @mdzip, and tiktok @marialovesunions.  DIANA HUSSEIN (she/her; recurring guest) has done Communications in the labor movement for nearly a decade. As a kid, Diana collected 1980s teen romance novels at garage sales and flea markets with her mom. This obsession later translated into a love for TV shows of that genre. From the days of My So-Called Life and Daria, to The O.C. and Gossip Girl, she still holds a passion for young adult storylines today — especially when they feature working-class narratives. JEFF MCHALE (he/him; producer) is an extremely online guy who plays games, works in the cannabis industry, and loves talking old TV. CHARLES S. O’LEARY (they/them; art) is a “writer,” “designer,” and “content strategist” based in Brooklyn, NY. A survivor of the 2010s Tumblr wars, leftist media criticism is all they know. To learn about them professionally, visit charles-oleary.biz. To learn about them personally, visit their Instagram at @c.s.0.l. Maria and Jeff’s good union cats CLARENCE and VINNY may make an appearance and/or be mentioned.  intro song: Stomping the Room by Delicate Beats All opinions shared on this show are that of individuals and do not represent the views of any organization we may be affiliated with. _ SOURCES DISCUSSED IN THIS EPISODE: “My So-Called Life” chapter of Freaks, Gleeks, and Dawson’s Creek by Thea Glassman The Guardian, August 26, 2017, Riot grrrls, beta males and fluid fashion: how My So-Called Life changed TV forever by Soraya Roberts The Guardian, August 20, 2024, ‘Genuinely groundbreaking’: My So-Called Life is still utterly lovable TV, 30 years on by Rebecca Nicholson People, August 28, 2024, My So-Called Life Cast, Creator Reflect on 'Radical' Show 30 Years Later: 'There Would've Been No Dawson's Creek' (Exclusive) by JP Mangalindan Vulture, August 28, 2024, Nothing on TV Felt Like My So-Called Life, interview with creator Winnie Holzman by Matt Stoller Seitz People, August 30, 2024, Wilson Cruz Says My So-Called Life's Rickie Helped Give Queer People 'Permission to Own Our Fabulousness' (Exclusive) by JP Mangalindan 

Maria is joined by Kelly Diaz and Taylor Garland to discuss the inherently political Swedish teen drama YOUNG ROYALS (2021-2024). We trace the star-crossed romance between Crown Prince Wilhelm and the working-class, socialist student Simon Eriksson as their relationship brings out class tensions and questions about the legitimacy of the monarchy. We also analyze our strangest sit-in plotline yet when, inspired by the very people they mock, the privileged students of Hillerska stage a “sit-in strike” to protest repressive new school rules brought on by legitimate student misconduct. Finally, we make sure to touch on the racial politics explored through Felice’s character and the comparatively non-threatening queerness of rich kids like Nils, Stella, and Frederika. TW: eating disorder discussion from ~1:39:44 - ~1:41:37 For this episode, we recommend you first watch YOUNG ROYALS Seasons 1-3, streaming on Netflix. FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL | instagram, tumblr, tiktok, bluesky: @leftistteendrama | twitter: @leftyteendrama | website: leftistteendrama.com _ ABOUT US: MARIA DIPASQUALE (she/her; host/editor) is a Brooklyn-based union communicator, organizer, and writer who watches too much TV. She splits her free time between devouring teen dramas, creating this podcast, tenant organizing, and writing and reading (fan)fiction. Follow Maria on Twitter @Maria_DiP26, IG @mdzip, and tiktok @marialovesunions.  KELLY DIAZ (she/her; recurring guest) is a postdoctoral research fellow with the Lang Center for Civic and Social Responsibility at Swarthmore College and an adjunct instructor of media studies at City College New York. She has a Ph.D. from the Annenberg School for Communication at the University of Pennsylvania where she wrote her dissertation on depictions of youth activism on television. She loves to analyze and discuss the intersection of pop culture and politics and is passionate about the role entertainment plays in social justice movements. She has a dog, Matilda "Tillie," who is named after the magical, brilliant, and justice-serving character!   TAYLOR GARLAND (she/her; guest) is a DC-based union communicator who watches too much TV. She splits her free time between flying obscene amounts for work and play, binging procedural TV dramas, and attempting and failing to reach her yearly reading challenge. Follow Taylor on Twitter @atgarland.  JEFF MCHALE (he/him; producer) is an extremely online guy who plays games, works in the cannabis industry, and loves talking old TV. CHARLES S. O’LEARY (they/them; art) is a “writer,” “designer,” and “content strategist” based in Brooklyn, NY. A survivor of the 2010s Tumblr wars, leftist media criticism is all they know. To learn about them professionally, visit charles-oleary.biz. To learn about them personally, visit their Instagram at @c.s.0.l. Maria and Jeff’s good union cats CLARENCE and VINNY may make an appearance and/or be mentioned.  intro song: Stomping the Room by Delicate Beats All opinions shared on this show are that of individuals and do not represent the views of any organization we may be affiliated with. _ SOURCES DISCUSSED IN THIS EPISODE: Kungahuset.se: The monarchy of Sweden Visit Sweden: Walpurgis Night (Valborg) Teen Vogue, March 19, 2024, Young Royals Creator Lisa Ambjörn Tells All About Netflix Show’s Final Season by K-ci Williams Los Angeles Times, March 19, 2024, Creator of ‘Young Royals’ explains the finale and why it’s ‘beautiful for things to end’ by Max Gao May Day Protest Signs Translated Tumblr analyses I enjoyed and referenced: preciouspatriots: On August’s fate omar-rudeberg:On some cool color theory and the monarchy causetheturtle: Overall analysis of the anti-monarchy of it all!

Maria is once again joined by Nicki Morris and Kelly Gilbert to dissect the conclusion of Aimee Gibbs’ arc on SEX EDUCATION (2019-2023). In Season 4, Aimee pursues art to process her trauma and ends up finding herself through darkroom photography – and producing deeply political art about the patriarchal violence she experienced in the process. We break down Aimee’s parallel artistic and sexual healing journeys, from rating vibrators in her diary with a pink pom-pom pen (iconic) to working her way back to getting intimate with a partner again in the wake of her assault. For this episode, we recommend you first listen to episode #13 of Leftist Teen Drama and watch SEX EDUCATION Seasons 1-4, but especially Season 4, streaming on Netflix. FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL | instagram, tumblr, tiktok, bluesky: @leftistteendrama | twitter: @leftyteendrama | website: leftistteendrama.com _ ABOUT US: MARIA DIPASQUALE (she/her; host/editor) is a Brooklyn-based union communicator, organizer, and writer who watches too much TV. She splits her free time between devouring teen dramas, creating this podcast, tenant organizing, and writing and reading (fan)fiction. Follow Maria on Twitter @Maria_DiP26, IG @mdzip, and tiktok @marialovesunions.  NICKI MORRIS (she/her; recurring guest) is a labor communications strategist at a unionized shop! She loves cats, corn, and comrades. Her favorite teen show is Degrassi because she knows we can "make it through" with solidarity! Enjoys watching all good crime shows: The Wire, The Sopranos, Killing Eve, Law & Order, Arrested Development. Follow her on Twitter @NickiMorris321. KELLY GILBERT (she/her; recurring guest) is a student (phd in Twilight), sometimes activist, teen drama aficionado in Brooklyn! Find her IRL every night drinking her sorrows away at Margaritaville, the Jimmy Buffet Experience! JEFF MCHALE (he/him; producer) is an extremely online guy who plays games, works in the cannabis industry, and loves talking old TV. CHARLES S. O’LEARY (they/them; art) is a “writer,” “designer,” and “content strategist” based in Brooklyn, NY. A survivor of the 2010s Tumblr wars, leftist media criticism is all they know. To learn about them professionally, visit charles-oleary.biz. To learn about them personally, visit their Instagram at @c.s.0.l. Maria and Jeff’s good union cats CLARENCE and VINNY may make an appearance and/or be mentioned.  intro song: Stomping the Room by Delicate Beats All opinions shared on this show are that of individuals and do not represent the views of any organization we may be affiliated with. _ SOURCES DISCUSSED IN THE EPISODE: Link to the three Aimee Gibbs bus stop “photographs” we see in the final episode Chanel Miller, Know My Name: A Memoir

Maria is joined by Kelly Diaz to discuss the epic student occupation plotline on SWITCHED AT BIRTH (2011-2017). When the safe sanctuary that is Carlton School for the Deaf is threatened with closure, deaf and hard of hearing students make a plan to fight back, inspired by the real-life Deaf President Now (DPN) protests at Gallaudet University in 1988. This plotline was a central part of Kelly’s dissertation on depictions of youth activism on television, and we break down all the elements of this protest movement, from in group/out group dynamics and the role of the media to messaging discipline and consensus building.  For this episode, we recommend you first watch or have familiarity with SWITCHED AT BIRTH Seasons 1-2, but especially episodes 2x08, “Tightrope Walker,” 2x09, “Uprising,” and 2x10, “Introducing the Miracle,” streaming on Hulu. FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL | instagram, tumblr, tiktok: @leftistteendrama | twitter: @leftyteendrama | website: leftistteendrama.com _ ABOUT US: MARIA DIPASQUALE (she/her; host/editor) is a Brooklyn-based union communicator, organizer, and writer who watches too much TV. She splits her free time between devouring teen dramas, creating this podcast, tenant organizing, and writing and reading (fan)fiction. Follow Maria on Twitter @Maria_DiP26, IG @mdzip, and tiktok @marialovesunions.  KELLY DIAZ (she/her; recurring guest) is a postdoctoral research fellow with the Lang Center for Civic and Social Responsibility at Swarthmore College and an adjunct instructor of media studies at City College New York. She has a Ph.D. from the Annenberg School for Communication at the University of Pennsylvania where she wrote her dissertation on depictions of youth activism on television. She loves to analyze and discuss the intersection of pop culture and politics and is passionate about the role entertainment plays in social justice movements. She has a dog, Matilda "Tillie," who is named after the magical, brilliant, and justice-serving character!   JEFF MCHALE (he/him; producer) is an extremely online guy who plays games, works in the cannabis industry, and loves talking old TV. CHARLES S. O’LEARY (they/them; art) is a “writer,” “designer,” and “content strategist” based in Brooklyn, NY. A survivor of the 2010s Tumblr wars, leftist media criticism is all they know. To learn about them professionally, visit charles-oleary.biz. To learn about them personally, visit their Instagram at @c.s.0.l. Maria and Jeff’s good union cats CLARENCE and VINNY may make an appearance and/or be mentioned.  intro song: Stomping the Room by Delicate Beats All opinions shared on this show are that of individuals and do not represent the views of any organization we may be affiliated with. _ SOURCES DISCUSSED IN THE EPISODE: February 28, 2013, The Daily Beast, ABC Family’s ‘Switched at Birth’ ASL Episode Recalls Gallaudet Protest by Jace Lacob Gallaudet Museum, The Deaf President Now (DPN) Protest April 3, 2018, USA Today, Gallaudet eyes more progress for deaf community 30 years after 'Deaf President Now' protest by Ryan W. Miller

TW: detailed discussion of anorexia and eating disorder recovery throughout the episode; depiction of a panic attack at ~1:04:00-~1:05:30 In the Leftist Teen Drama Season 4 premiere, we dive into two “the personal is political” plotlines on EVERYTHING NOW (2023). In this short-lived British teen drama, we get introduced to two wonderfully different Black teenage girl characters with a gorgeous best friendship. Maria is joined by childhood friends Dondré Taylor-Stewart and Adrienne Bennett to break down both the carefully-depicted, nonlinear recovery journey of anorexic teenager Mia Polanco and a powerful abortion plotline featuring Becca Lloyd. We also break down all the queer politics and all the mess that happens in between. For this episode, we recommend you first watch EVERYTHING NOW Season 1, streaming on Netflix. FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL | instagram, tumblr, tiktok: @leftistteendrama | twitter: @leftyteendrama | website: leftistteendrama.com _ ABOUT US: MARIA DIPASQUALE (she/her; host/editor) is a Brooklyn-based union communicator, organizer, and writer who watches too much TV. She splits her free time between devouring teen dramas, creating this podcast, tenant organizing, and writing and reading (fan)fiction. Follow Maria on Twitter @Maria_DiP26, IG @mdzip, and tiktok @marialovesunions.  DONDRÉ TAYLOR-STEWART (he/him; recurring guest) is a Jersey-born, Jamaican-raised TV writer in Los Angeles. His writing focuses on Black and queer characters finding themselves amid society's margins. By day, he works in environmental public policy; by night, he's busy crafting original pilots and DJ-ing. IG & TWITTER: oxtail_papi  ADRIENNE BENNETT (she/they; guest) is an Afro-Caribbean visual artist and cultural worker based in New York City. She is passionate about supporting contemporary artists of color. In her practice, she works with cyanotype printmaking, drawing, glass bead making, and ultralight websites. She sells cyanotype printed clothing made with her drawings and graphics; follow her on Instagram @yung.learnt and TikTok @yung.learnt. adriennebennett.xyz JEFF MCHALE (he/him; producer) is an extremely online guy who plays games, works in the cannabis industry, and loves talking old TV. CHARLES S. O’LEARY (they/them; art) is a “writer,” “designer,” and “content strategist” based in Brooklyn, NY. A survivor of the 2010s Tumblr wars, leftist media criticism is all they know. To learn about them professionally, visit charles-oleary.biz. To learn about them personally, visit their Instagram at @c.s.0.l. Maria and Jeff’s good union cats CLARENCE and VINNY may make an appearance and/or be mentioned.  intro song: Stomping the Room by Delicate Beats All opinions shared on this show are that of individuals and do not represent the views of any organization we may be affiliated with. _ SOURCES DISCUSSED IN THE EPISODE: Techradar, April 8, 2024, Netflix cancels beloved coming-of-age comedy series Everything Now, despite season 2 renewal by Carrie Marshall

We are so back. Our 2024 season includes a lot of discourse about class conflict, abundant “the personal is political” moments, and of course, two different civil disobedience plotlines (though one is truly our weirdest sit-in plotline yet!) Check out a little teaser of Leftist Teen Drama Season 4, premiering on Sundays, starting on November 10, 2024 through the end of the year. XOXO, Free Palestine  FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL | instagram, tumblr, tiktok: @leftistteendrama | twitter: @leftyteendrama | website: leftistteendrama.com _ ABOUT US: MARIA DIPASQUALE (she/her; host/editor) is a Brooklyn-based union communicator, organizer, and writer who watches too much TV. She splits her free time between devouring teen dramas, creating this podcast, tenant organizing, and writing and reading (fan)fiction. Follow Maria on Twitter @Maria_DiP26, IG @mdzip, and tiktok @marialovesunions.  JEFF MCHALE (he/him; producer) is an extremely online guy who plays games, works in the cannabis industry, and loves talking old TV. CHARLES S. O’LEARY (they/them; art) is a “writer,” “designer,” and “content strategist” based in Brooklyn, NY. A survivor of the 2010s Tumblr wars, leftist media criticism is all they know. To learn about them professionally, visit charles-oleary.biz. To learn about them personally, visit their Instagram at @c.s.0.l. intro song: Stomping the Room by Delicate Beats All opinions shared on this show are that of individuals and do not represent the views of any organization we may be affiliated with.