definitionally a "vibe based economy" cultural product. it is fun to think about women as symbols for a time. difficult to listen to at times. host pingpongs from occasionally insightful to deeply stupid and insecure. may keep listening regardless but am often stunned by how something which is very clearly the host's personal gripe is taken as a known fact of the world. that to me is second-hand embarrassing to hear.

would love a cory kennedy ep

Could not get through it. There’s a difference between having empathy for people who are not perfect, and implying sympathy toward people that encourage hateful/dismissive rhetoric toward marginalized groups. Maybe I just didn’t understand what she was trying to get at with this episode but it kind of made my stomach turn. I might return to it if the host finds a cohost that can offer differing perspectives from her own.

I came for Dasha, stayed for Lena Dunham, Lana & Sally Rooney… it’s SO COOL to find someone talking seriously and so in depth about these women. I’ve always felt like other media outlets didn’t really “get” them, continually assigning the wrong journalist to cover them. I love Emma’s own personality typing/archetypes that’s she’s come up with too. So creative!

I found this pod searching for ballerina farm content, bc something about that account was giving me lingering conflicting feelings I couldn’t put into words. This podcast set up the world building, provided the background, & held the discussion that really helped me understand where these conflicting feelings were coming from, it felt like a discussion I was having with someone despite the fact in my real life i don’t know anyone who is familiar with the account let alone has feelings on it. I love the candids musings on girlhood, womanhood, motherhood, sovereignty, & threats.The long form, intelligent, vulnerable essay style delivery is my favorites in the podcast world. This was one of those things where somehow I could tell from the cover art & name of the podcast this was going to be a 5 star, drown in it for days, recommend to everyone I know type of situation & I wasn’t wrong. I love the range of girls you have chosen for this project & maybe someday I would like to hear your thoughts on Kate Middleton’s status as a stargirl; this is not a revolutionary take for sure, but I do think she is a star.

Gross

Emma is SO brilliant in her analysis of what makes some women so captivating. I love that she goes into things that others don’t notice or think are beneath commenting on, like the question of what is a woman’s vibe? She is intellectually rigorous and pushes me to reconsider things. Just one example—Emma inspires me to prioritize fitness and health in a way that other public intellectual cool girls don’t. I’m not writing this effusive review because I’m a friend, I’m just a loyal fan who seriously believes in her project <3

give this woman a pulitzer just for the ballerina farm episode alone

Emma’s analysis is thoroughly satisfying and entertaining. I agree with another reviewer that I prefer the episodes with out a guest, the same depth isn’t there when she has to translate her interpretations and point of view. I often roll my eyes but I nod in agreement just as often. Regardless, this is a novel concept and I’ll listen as long as she posts! 🤍

I LOVE this podcast. Recently discovered it and I’m nearly caught up with all the episodes. Such a unique idea for a series - breaking down women in pop culture we are drawn to, love to hate, loathe follow, or just generally enjoy. All the feelings. This host breaks em all down. I particularly loves the Ballerina Farm /Hannah episode. She NAILED IT.

First season was soo good!

I’ve listened to several eps by now and I find the dichotomies very fun to engage with (ripe v dead, sun/moon/star etc) but listening to the Addison Rae episode is really turning me off to the host. She seems to think of physical beauty as a sort of talent worthy of high praise in itself, and I get that she has other supposed reasons for liking Addison, but it’s a bit tiresome to hear her glorify her youth and attractiveness to an absurd degree. Many of the other star girls like Lena Dunham or Lana Del Rey I can get behind analyzing because they’ve had to work to find their voice and sharpen their skills, but to put Addison Rae in the same category as them just feels wrong. I think we just viscerally disagree on this point, but I do respect the host’s intelligence and how well she articulates her ideas, so I’ll keep listening.

the perfect podcast. can’t wait to torture my boyfriend by making him listen to this while we clean. the best revenge for making me listen to lex fridman. i’m in love!!!!!

i listened to the azalea banks episode and had never listened before. the podcast started off calling azalea's hair "weave" and "fake", which as white women, this felt racist. she then says she doesn't quite believe in "fatphobia" and that we're only just starting to listen to people saying "what's the point of body positivy when most americans are obese?", and that "thickness is out". to me, it's clear fat people are descriminated against and she reinforces the body type "trend". in the 40 minutes i listened, i learned nothing new about azalea as she only described her vibe.

I’ve been enjoying this show! Very similar to conversations I have with my own friends. This all makes sense—college girls, city girls, writer girls, Twitter girls. Nothing too unexpected here but fun and affirming to engage with! I beg.. beg! Emma to try to soften up the Uhms and saying whatever or I don’t know before speaking. It undermines her clever & nuanced points. I want her to be authoritative! It would make engaging w the content in good faith much easier.

amazing insights and worldbuilding

I really enjoy Emma’s Stargirl categorizations and analyses. I get nostalgic and feel like I’m 17 again reading through gossip mags. Love this pod and always on the look out for new eps.

Glad I stumbled on your podcast. Keep going! 🙏🏻

My new favorite pod. Azealia episode is spot on.. prefer the ones without guests, the host has a very entertaining stream of conscience.

I would love to get more analysis around the cultural and racial context of the stargirls — highly relevant for subjects like alison roman, tiktokkers, etc.

I really enjoy this show! Please cover more women of color

Well-set up premise. for fans of nymphet alumni, it girl theory and celebrity memoir book club

I finally know who Addison Rae is