Informed Attraction

61. Muppets II - What Makes a Muppet Hot? (ft. Kenjiro Lee)

Listen, last week, Mackenna got really in their feelings about Gonzo, so this week we are doing a DEEP and SCIENTIFIC and OBJECTIVE look at a very VITAL question: what makes a Muppet hot? To answer this question, we are joined by puppeteer and Muppet fanatic, Kenjiro Lee. We dissect the rules of attractiveness in the Muppetverse and then tier list a whole bunch of these dogs, frogs, and whatevers. 
Hosted by: Mackenna Goodrich (she/they; @mack3nna) and Dr. Aubrey Hoffer, PHd (she/her; @hoff.phd)
Guest: Kenjiro Lee (he/him; @kenjiromakestheater @softshellpuppets)
Logo design: Freya SierraTheme Music: Josh Capati
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Listening notes: https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vRvNXG3XP-f8DE0G7zBqOD9mMS2PWQ1SuDoB0y95s0L6f-QKq_MPIGRvoe5gnCExvg-Cc8-qL5rBbVS/pub

60. The Muppets I - Gonzo (he/they/whatever)

Thank Kermit, we are finally talking about muppets. As a post-Pride episode, we're yapping about why so many non-binary folks identify with Gonzo. And uh-oh, we get extremely personal about Mackenna's gender and sexuality. Plus, a special guest appearance by Gonzo and Camilla!
Hosted by: Mackenna Goodrich (she/they; @mack3nna) and Dr. Aubrey Hoffer, PHd (she/her; @hoff.phd)
Interstitial starring A.J. Ditty (@thefuzzymaskedman and @theworstofallpossibleworlds) and Mack
Logo design: Freya SierraTheme Music: Josh Capati
Send us an email at informedattraction@gmail.com
Listening notes: https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vQoLHcEebWVJMnG8zIlYjYaMT10T9t57Ao_gIaIQVt_-6UBc4PqJWkeUpzcL6fkYP4gHG8MwHi5AohQ/pub

59. Male Victims II - That's My Boy (2012) vs May December (2023)

...I mean, it's not even a competition. This week, Mackenna and Aubrey are comparing and contrasting two pieces of media inspired by the Mary Kay Letourneau case: That's My Boy, a raunchy Adam Sandler movie that thinks being abused by an older woman makes you a celebrity, and May December, a movie about how good of an actor Charles Melton is. 
TW: major discussion of sexual abuse of a minor throughout, minor discussion of suicide at 1:42:30
Hosted by: Mackenna Goodrich (she/they; @mack3nna) and Dr. Aubrey Hoffer, PHd (she/her; @hoff.phd)
Logo design: Freya SierraTheme Music: Josh Capati
Send us an email at informedattraction@gmail.com
Listening notes: https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vSmC1ZNKDxKKTAf9rQ9-X3rYkOpwRpvsCpTX8tcO84bL6g-T0epQCjFuiu9W02fYlTUXimIwDIxR1l7/pub

58. Male Victims I - Mary Kay Letourneau is a Predator

This week, Aubrey is putting on her true crime hat to discuss the case of Mary Kay Letourneau. Letourneau was an American teacher sexually abused and subsequently married one of her students. The story became a tabloid frenzy and we wanna figure out why. This series will ultimately be about the treatment of male victims of sexual violence by the media and by society. So, you can imagine why this episode caused Mackenna to scream into a pillow multiple times while recording. But, hey, we make a few good jokes!Content warning: major discussion of grooming and sexual abuse of a minor, major discussion of sexual assault, minor discussion of suicide 
Hosted by: Mackenna Goodrich (she/they; @mack3nna) and Dr. Aubrey Hoffer, PHd (she/her; @hoff.phd)
Logo design: Freya SierraTheme Music: Josh Capati
Send us an email at informedattraction@gmail.com
Listening notes: https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vRiHedk18m_tRye5Mvl7mXgDqOaiVvXfZQqgTPX3AtxLmFH_BqEopyKLA4Pu1yhkXNff6mpDHsToX-a/pub

57. Batman III - Why Can't Women Just Be Villains? (Gotham City Sirens)

Wrapping up our Batman series, this week, Mackenna and Aubrey discuss the Gotham City Sirens: Catwoman, Poison Ivy, and Harley Quinn. We dive deep into the history of each character, as well as their similarities and differences. The big question this week is why can't a woman just be a villain? Also... happy pride Poison Ivy and Harley Quinn are gay. 
Hosted by: Mackenna Goodrich (she/they; @mack3nna) and Dr. Aubrey Hoffer, PHd (she/her; @hoff.phd)
Logo design: Freya SierraTheme Music: Josh Capati
Send us an email at informedattraction@gmail.com
Listening notes: https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vRiNx6RwVvJ4O4WMo6VfNMP0d2jLwc9h8tfeJhenm_-3sSM_JFLA4CYkkOK5Qu4svMp23sHKEBHaXck/pub

56. Batman II - Nightwing Is Caked Up

Na na na na na... NIGHTWING! This week, Mackenna runs through the history of Dick Grayson, from his days as the Boy Wonder Robin to being absolutely caked up at Nightwing. But also... we've got some tangents to go on. Mackenna and Aubrey got together to watch Batman Forever and Batman & Robin together and they HAVE SOME THOUGHTS. Also, who the heck is Devin Grayson?Content Warning: discussion of sexual violence from 51:15-55:20
Hosted by: Mackenna Goodrich (she/they; @mack3nna) and Dr. Aubrey Hoffer, PHd (she/her; @hoff.phd)
Logo design: Freya SierraTheme Music: Josh Capati
Send us an email at informedattraction@gmail.com
Listening notes: https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vRXVfTpuU2Q8P7OA4qyuNa8lZuDOizU46B2SvYhuqUAmHMiO4X8wh8OlDVImJ_xjg4o9ktZ7y2Ss-F0/pub

55. Batman I - Is Becoming Batman a Trauma Response?

Na na na na na... BATMAN! This week, Mackenna and Aubrey launch into a series about the Dark Knight and the people of Gotham. And let me just tell ya: we're getting academic with this one. Mackenna presents a brief history of Batman, as well as their argument for what he teaches us about masculinity and the body as performance. Is becoming Batman a trauma response? Probably. Also, Aubrey has some controversial yet brave takes about Ben Affleck and Mark Hamill. 
Hosted by: Mackenna Goodrich (she/they; @mack3nna) and Dr. Aubrey Hoffer, PHd (she/her; @hoff.phd)
Logo design: Freya SierraTheme Music: Josh Capati
Send us an email at informedattraction@gmail.com
Listening notes: https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vSWP3PwVexTCjeWtjChiisp_haF_dmU79J9dwBPjHHB-dxuRQsrtsEFJLCkuf7vBmwj9g5THrv5eDQ6/pub

54. Romantic Comedies III - Are Men Really Simple? Breaking Down The Ugly Truth (ft. Anne-Marie Pietersma)

This week, Mackenna and Aubrey are joined by actor, rom-com expert, and cheese educator Anne-Marie Pietersma to talk about The Ugly Truth (2009). Three femme people attempt to answer the question: are men really simple? Honestly, y'all, we're so confused by this movie, but at least Katherine Heigl and Gerard Butler were there.
Hosted by: Mackenna Goodrich (she/they; @mack3nna) and Dr. Aubrey Hoffer, PHd (she/her; @hoff.phd)
Guest: Anne-Marie Pietersma (she/her; @annemariepietersma)Check out I'll Have What Cheese Having here!
Logo design: Freya SierraTheme Music: Josh Capati
Send us an email at informedattraction@gmail.com
Listening notes: https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vS-3d9mOdVFN8v6LTDSOcjm-0OxGkM1V9RdW2qaJv3zZVbfR-UXDV7CqQevjvbc1CqbD_2aZ4Trl1YF/pub
 

53. Romantic Comedies II - Wedding Crashers (2005), or Why Men Struggle With Intimacy

This week, Mackenna was very brave and watched Wedding Crashers (2005). We talk a lot about what commonalities romcoms made for men share and honestly, why many men struggle with intimacy in both their romantic and social relationships. A lot of yelling about boys in this one, folks!
Hosted by: Mackenna Goodrich (she/they; @mack3nna) and Dr. Aubrey Hoffer, PHd (she/her; @hoff.phd)
Logo design: Freya SierraTheme Music: Josh Capati
Send us an email at informedattraction@gmail.com
Listening notes: https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vStBANYybSQ6TMoOZqh-ihgpjpqG4O9Zt9lptlOtDwkKmlez_YkQlTd9U5R0P8KJWZhYV7jhNQMjbFj/pub

52. Romantic Comedies I - The Patriarchy and the History of Romantic Comedy

This week, Aubrey presents her case for the core reason as to why some men claim to not like romcoms: the patriarchy. (Wow, everyone is so shocked.) We walk through the history of the romcom and the classic arguments men might make for why they don't enjoy the genre. A lot of love for 13 Going On 30 and Made of Honor in this one, folks!Hosted by: Mackenna Goodrich (she/they; @mack3nna) and Dr. Aubrey Hoffer, PHd (she/her; @hoff.phd)
Logo design: Freya SierraTheme Music: Josh Capati
Send us an email at informedattraction@gmail.com
Listening notes: https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vT-g5Z6OWpzOzLm8VyzzLJnd3atr7SrASIScmSQTdW9MVELX_dJaJzqMb6HGM6IGGcKC34z79FpLPSz/pub