The Purple Couch Clubhouse Podcast
Welcome in, folks to the Purple Couch Clubhouse!
My name is Gabbie Buhay and I am so honored to be this year’s book podcast host brought to you by the Ohio University Women’s Center. I began my journey at the center in the fall of 2021 as a 2nd-year Psychology student, working as the Leadership Programming Intern for the ALAANA+ Women’s Leadership Cohort. My work in that position has boosted my confidence in trying new things and pursuing endeavors related to my passions and beliefs, which is helping people who share similar identities as me and being an advocate to underrepresented voices.
I am hoping that my contribution to the podcast inspires people to venture out of their comfort zones and develop the courage to have healthy conversations about topics important to social change and progress.
We carefully choose our readings to reflect intersectional identities, and we are excited to continue to expand our library. Have a suggestion for what your next podcast host should read with you? Let us know by emailing womenscenter@ohio.edu.
Our website will be updated monthly during term time. Want to get the latest update? Don't forget to sign up for the Women's Center's weekly newsletter, or to follow us for announcements on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook: @OHIOWomenCenter.
Latest Episode (October 2022)
In accordance with Domestic Violence awareness month, the Women’s Center and the Survivor Advocacy program has partnered up to discuss It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover. I am joined by special guests Kaitlyn Urbaniak from the Survivor Advocacy Program, as well as Cheyenne Knavel and Aubrey Hekel, members of the esteemed Ambassador Program for Ohio Crime Victim Justice Center (OCVJC), also known as ViRA.
Listen to the podcast and check out more of Colleen's work here.
Previous Episodes
Episode 8 (April 2022)
Talking About: Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic by Alison Bechdel
In this episode, we read Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic by Alison Bechdel. I am joined by Micah McCarey, OHIO’s LGBT Center director; Dr. J. Alex Reed, Counseling and Psychological Services counselor; and Olivia Tenoglia, a third-year student majoring in women’s, gender, and sexuality studies and environmental studies. Don’t have the time to check out this cool comic? There’s a musical based off Fun Home available online at https://vimeo.com/136654040.
We also have the transcript of the podcast available here. (Opens in a Word document).
Episode 1 (March 2021)
Talking About: "Mapping the Margins" by Kimberlé Williams Crenshaw
In this episode, we read Mapping The Margins: Intersectionality, Identity Politics, and Violence Against Women of Color by Kimberlé Williams Crenshaw. I am joined by Ohio University guests: Cat Russel, the Human Resources Liason for Strategic Programming and Initiatives, and Daniela Grijalva, a senior undergraduate student majoring in both Latin America Studies and Political Studies, and my fellow employee of the Women's Center. Don't have time for this incredible reading? You can also watch Crenshaw's TEDTalk to get an idea of what we'll be discussing: https://www.ted.com/talks/kimberle_crenshaw_the_urgency_of_intersectionality?language=en.
We also have a transcript of the podcast available here.
Episode 2 (April 2021)
Talking About: Becoming Nicole by Amy Ellis Nutt
In this episode we read Becoming Nicole: The Transformation of the American Family by Amy Ellis Nutt. I am joined by Ohio University guests: Chloe McDowell, a COVID Campus Liaison for our COVID office, Luvina Cooley, an undergraduate student worker at the LGBT Center, majoring in Anthropology through the Honors Tutorial College, and Dr. Jan Heubenthal, the LGBT Center Assistant Director. Don’t have time to read this book? Check out this talk by Nicole Maines to hear the major parts of the story.
We also have a transcript of the podcast available here.
Episode 3 (August 2021)
Talking About: The Body is Not an Apology by Sonya Renee Taylor
In this episode we read The Body Is Not An Apology by Sonya Renee Taylor. I am joined this week by Alicia Rodgers and Sami Nandyal, two medical students here at Ohio University in the Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, and Lizzie Jáuregui, the Assistant Director of Residential Life at Vassar College. This month, our episode is primarily about body positivity. In discussing this, we want to recognize how body positivity has not always been trans-inclusive and ensure that we are being inclusive during our conversation today. To read more about this topic visit: https://everydayfeminism.com/2016/03/body-positive-trans-inclusive/.
Listen to our podcast here.
Episode 4 (September 2021)
Talking About: Love from A to Z by S.K. Ali
In this Episode we read Love From A to Z by S.K. Ali. I am joined by Dr. Amy Burge, a lecturer in Popular Fiction at the University of Burmingham, UK and romance novel expert, and Habiba Abdelaal, a Public Administration and Non-profit management master's Student at Ohio University and the Graduate Assistant of the Women’s Center. If you enjoyed our conversation about romance novels, the documentary I mentioned is called Love Between The Covers and you can find where to watch it here: http://www.lovebetweenthecovers.com/. If you’re interested to read more about the book or author, please visit: https://skalibooks.com/books/
Episode 5 (October 2021)
Talking About: Brave, Not Perfect: Fear Less, Fail More, and Live Bolder By Reshma Saujani
In this episode we read Brave, Not Perfect: Fear Less, Fail More, and Live Bolder By Reshma Saujani. I am joined by Ohio University’s Interim Associate Dean of Students and Director of our Margaret Boyd Scholars program, Kathy Fahl, and a Margaret Boyd Scholar herself, Isabel Alvarez who is a first-year student majoring in Computer Science. Enjoy our discussion? Check our Saujani’s TEDtalk on the same topic.
Episode 6 (November 2021)
Talking About: Colonize This! (An Anthology)
In this episode, we read “Because you’re a girl” by Ijeoma A. An essay from the book Colonize This! Young Women of Color on Today’s Feminism curated by Daisy Hernandez and Bushra Rehman. My guests include the Assistant Director of the Ohio University Women’s center, MaryKathyrine Tran and some of her ALAANA+ Women’s Leadership Cohort students: Kaia Mckenney, a third-year environmental studies and spanish double major, Bri Joseph a first-year communication sciences and disorders student, and Katie Hall, a first-year marketing student. Want to read more? Check out a review and where to find the full book at https://www.sealpress.com/titles/daisy-hernandez/colonize-this/9781580058834/
Episode 7 (January 2022)
Talking About: Lab Girl by Dr. Hope Jahren
In this episode, we read Lab Girl by Dr. Hope Jahren. I am joined by Dr. Janet Duerr, biologist who teaches and researches at Ohio University, and Grace Sallar, current PhD student and Assistant Dean for Student Services for the Russ College of Engineering and Technology. Our discussion today features multiple facts, supported by evidence, if you’d like to learn more about them you can explore our references here:
- No Time to Play it Safe: The #MeToo Movement Shouldn’t Discourage Men from Mentoring Women
- Women in Science Receive Less Grant Money than Their Male Peers
- Women in STEM and Mental Health
Listen to the podcast here and view the transcript (Opens in a Word document)