Sapphic Pop, So Hot Right Now

We’ve had listeners asking us to do an episode on sapphic pop for months now, and were trying to figure out who we wanted to co-host. Then Melody sent me a text: I FOUND THE PERFECT PERSON. That person is Trish Bendix, who just published a sprawling look at the past and present (and popularity) of sapphic pop, from Big Momma Thornton to Chappell Roan. I absolutely loved this conversation, where we did our very best to answer your questions about everything from the ‘80s sound in contemporary sapphic pop to Jojo Siwa “inventing” the genre. Plus we talk about “Constant Craving” at least three times (which Melody had never heard!!!!) Make sure you check out the show notes to links to all the songs we mention in the episode. Join the ranks of paid subscribers and get bonus content, access to the discussion threads, ad-free episodes, and the knowledge that you're supporting an indie pod trying to make its way in the world. If you're already a subscriber-- thank you! Join us in the discussion thread for this episode! Got a question or idea for a future episode? Let us know here. Show Notes: Read Trish’s piece on NBC News re: the history of sapphic pop Subscribe to Trish’s newsletter LIT FEMME! CONSTANT CRAVING 4EVER!!!! Some of the ‘80s flavor in Sabrina Carpenter’s “Please Please Please” We didn’t go into it but the Michigan Womyn’s Festival/MichFest shut down in 2015 amidst ongoing arguments from TERFs (including the festival’s founder) that the festival was only for “women born women.” You can read an overview here. Indigo Girls “Ghost”: Indigo Girls 1200 Curfews Live Album (especially recommend the cover of River) Tracy Chapman, “The Promise” We’re currently looking for your questions for future episodes about: Questions about queer romance that aren’t related to “why are all these women writing about romance between two dudes” (which we will definitely tackle, don’t worry) What happened to the summer blockbuster?! How do people access/consume celebrity gossip these days Midwest [Dad] Masculinity WTF is going on with [insert clothing brand/website] here Gwyneth? The new Brad Pitt / George Clooney movie? We’re definitely doing a Paul Mescal episode but I’d love your ideas about who should be my co-host Still want to do a Sydney Sweeney and Gen-Z Stardom ep!!!!! Anything you need advice or want musings on for the AAA segment You can submit them (and ideas for future eps) here (this is the subscriber-only form!) For today’s discussion: What’s your favorite sapphic pop artist? Or: what memories do you have of hearing any of the artists discussed for the first time? Join the ranks of paid subscribers and get bonus content, access to the discussion threads, ad-free episodes, and the knowledge that you're supporting an indie pod trying to make its way in the world. Got a question to submit, a prompt for Ask Anne Anything, or an idea for a future episode? Tell us here. Catch up on everything else happening in the Culture Study universe here. Transcripts will be available here within 24 hours of publishing.