Assigned Reading with Becky Mollenkamp: Conversations about Feminist Essays

About Assigned Reading with Becky Mollenkamp: Conversations about Feminist Essays

This isn’t your average podcast—it’s a radical little book club for your ears. Each week on Assigned Reading, feminist business coach Becky Mollenkamp invites a brilliant guest to read and unpack a feminist essay. Together, they dive into the juicy, nuanced, sometimes uncomfortable questions these texts raise about power, identity, leadership, liberation, and more. If you’ve ever wanted to have big conversations about big ideas—but without having to get dressed, make small talk, or leave your introvert bubble—you’re in the right place. 🎧 This show is for the nerdy, the thoughtful, the socially conscious. 💬 It’s for people who crave deeper dialogue, new perspectives, and human connection in a world full of sound bites. 📚 Think of it as a feminist book club you don’t have to RSVP for. Assigned Reading is here to help you feel less alone, more seen, and newly inspired—with accessible essays, warm rapport, and the kind of smart conversations that stay with you. 🚨 Sign up for Becky's newsletter, Feminist Rants Are My Superpower: https://beckymollenkamp.com/rants 🎤 PROUD MEMBER OF THE FEMINIST PODCASTERS COLLECTIVE 🎤 http://feministpodcastcollective.com/

Publisher

Becky Mollenkamp

Category

education · society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

Yes

First episode

26 Apr 2025

Latest episode

26 Jan 2026

Latest episodes

17 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   26 Jan 2026

   Another show you may love from the Feminist Podcasters Collective

   Check out the Season 10 trailer for Here’s What I Learned with Jacki Hayes, a fellow member of the Feminist Podcasters Collective (http://feministpodcastcollective.com/). This season is built around real experiments. Jacki isn’t just talking about ideas. She’s inviting coaches and service providers to assign her an actual experiment from their area of expertise. She runs it in her business, then they come back together to break down what worked, what didn’t, and what the results actually show. If you like practical insight, honest reflection, and learning from real-world tests instead of polished theories, this season is worth a listen. Find the show wherever you listen to podcasts or visit https://www.jackihayes.co/podcast (https://www.jackihayes.co/podcast)

2. 

   30 Dec 2025

   New podcast for you! Check out Just Rest

   Our friend Nicole just dropped the trailer for her new podcast Just Rest — and we're SOOO excited! We’re both part of the Feminist Podcast Collective (http://feministpodcastcollective.com/), and watching this show come to life has been such a joy. Just Rest is for people who care deeply, work hard, and are tired of being told burnout is just the price of caring. This podcast is all about rest as resistance, sustainable change, and staying human in a grind-obsessed world. It’s thoughtful, grounded, and deeply compassionate — the kind of show that feels like a long exhale. Give the trailer a listen, then rate & review if it resonates. It makes a huge difference for indie, values-driven podcasts. 🎧 https://justrest.buzzsprout.com (https://justrest.buzzsprout.com/)

3. 

   29 Jul 2025

   How to Stop Using the Master’s Tools: A Convo with Cher Hale

   What does it really mean to dismantle systems of oppression? In this episode of Assigned Reading, Becky is joined by writer and publicist Cher to unpack Audre Lorde’s iconic 1979 speech “The Master’s Tools Will Never Dismantle the Master’s House.” They explore tokenism, parenting under patriarchy, the trap of girlboss feminism, and how discomfort is often a necessary part of real allyship and liberation. From personal storytelling to deep analysis, this conversation is a powerful, intersectional reflection on how we show up—for ourselves and each other. This week’s text: ✍️ “The Master’s Tools Will Never Dismantle the Master’s House” by Audre Lorde (https://www.historyisaweapon.com/defcon1/lordeuses.html) This week’s guest: Cher Hale is a publicist, writer, and creative multi-hyphenate who explores the intersections of identity, equity, and expression. She’s known for her radical integrity, boundary-setting magic, and powerful voice. Find Cher: 🌐 https://www.cherhale.com (https://www.cherhale.com) 📱 https://www.instagram.com/cherhale (https://www.instagram.com/cherhale) Discussed in this episode: Tokenism in feminist spaces Parenting without power-over dynamics Creating diverse friendships with intention Why TERFs are not feminists Rejecting girlboss, hyper-capitalist feminism Navigating rejection and community building The challenge of creative expression under capitalism Resources mentioned: The Messy Liberation Podcast (https://messyliberation.com/) Erica Courdae (imperfect allyship) (https://www.ericacourdae.com/) The Peanut app (https://www.peanut-app.io/) Jordan Maney’s episode on rest and asking for help (https://beckymollenkamp.com/assigned/) 👉🏼 Sign up for Becky’s newsletter, Feminist Rants Are My Superpower (https://beckymollenkamp.com/rants) 🎤 Proud members of the Feminist Podcasters Collective (http://feministpodcastcollective.com/)

4. 

   22 Jul 2025

   Relinquishing the Patriarchy: Talking adrienne maree brown with Sandhya Sudhakar

   Becky Mollenkamp and Sandhya Sudhakar dive into adrienne maree brown’s blog post "Relinquishing the Patriarchy." This rich, layered discussion covers gender roles, emotional labor, discomfort, and how patriarchy harms us all. From parenting to dating, personal identity to privilege, they explore how internalized systems shape us—and what it really takes to unlearn them. With insights into Enneagram types, somatic therapy, and white womanhood, this is a powerful reflection on liberation, healing, and building a better future. This week’s text: ✍️ "Relinquishing the Patriarchy" by adrienne maree brown (https://adriennemareebrown.net/2019/05/28/relinquishing-the-patriarchy/) This week’s guest: Sandhya Sudhakar 🌐 sandhyasudhakar.com (https://sandhyasudhakar.com) 🎧 Working Your Way Podcast (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/working-your-way/id1644436075) 📱 LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandhyasudhakar/) Discussed in this episode: The emotional and practical challenges of raising a white son under patriarchy How dating cishet men intersects with feminist values What men are “owed” by society (and what they aren’t) The emotional cost of privilege and power Enneagram as a tool for understanding social roles White discomfort, male fragility, and the journey to awareness The limits of "burn it all down" rhetoric Somatic therapy, internal safety, and how to actually do the work Resources mentioned: Somatic Experiencing International practitioner directory (https://directory.traumahealing.org/practitioners-listing/) “My Grandmother's Hands” by Resmaa Menakem (https://amzn.to/44Cv40s) Enneagram Institute (https://www.enneagraminstitute.com/) The Narrative Enneagram (https://www.narrativeenneagram.org/) 👉🏼 Sign up for Becky’s newsletter, Feminist Rants Are My Superpower, for more conversations that call in your heart and your brain: https://beckymollenkamp.com/rants (https://beckymollenkamp.com/rants) 🎤 Proud member of the Feminist Podcasters Collective: http://feministpodcastcollective.com/ (http://feministpodcastcollective.com/)

5. 

   15 Jul 2025

   Feminist Porn Critique: Unpacking Andrea Dworkin’s Legacy with Goddess Erica

   This week, Becky and Goddess Erica discuss Andrea Dworkin’s 1988 essay on pornography and power. They explore ethical porn, sex education reform, and the intersection of pleasure, patriarchy, and AI. A bold, vulnerable conversation about dismantling shame and building new systems for healing and desire. This week’s text:  ✍️ “Pornography: Men Possessing Women” by Andrea Dworkin (https://repository.law.umich.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?params=/context/mjlr/article/1825/&path_info=) Goddess Erica: 🌐 https://goddesserica.com (https://goddesserica.com) 🎧 https://podcasts.apple.com/goddess-erica-show 📱 (https://podcasts.apple.com/goddess-erica-show%20%F0%9F%93%B1) https://instagram.com/goddesserica (https://instagram.com/goddesserica) Discussed in this episode Andrea Dworkin’s legacy and critiques Mainstream porn vs. feminist porn The role of AI in shaping porn culture Teaching kids sex education through pleasure and media literacy Make Love Not Porn and other ethical platforms The difference between erotic and pornographic Reclaiming bodily agency through semi-nude meditation Resources mentioned Make Love Not Porn (https://www.makelovenotporn.com/) Dipsea (https://www.dipseastories.com/) Audre Lorde’s 'Uses of the Erotic' (https://www.colorado.edu/ftep/sites/default/files/attached-files/lorde_uses_of_the_erotic.pdf) 👉🏼 Sign up for Becky’s newsletter, Feminist Rants Are My Superpower (https://beckymollenkamp.com/rants) 🎤 PROUD MEMBERS OF THE FEMINIST PODCASTERS COLLECTIVE (http://feministpodcastcollective.com/)

6. 

   8 Jul 2025

   What It Means to Do the Work: Feminism Beyond the Hashtags (with Kim Romain)

   Host Becky Mollenkamp interviews Kim Romain about Barbara Love's essay on liberatory consciousness, exploring awareness, analysis, action, and accountability for personal liberation.

7. 

   1 Jul 2025

   The Truth About Aging and Gender Roles (with Ana Xavier)

   Podcast producer Ana Xavier discusses Susan Sontag's essay on the double standard of aging with Becky Mollenkamp, exploring its continued relevance and impact on gender roles in this interview.

8. 

   24 Jun 2025

   Understanding Kimberle Crenshaw’s Landmark Essay on Intersectionality (with Tori Williams Douglass)

   Host Becky Mollenkamp and Tori Williams Douglass analyze Kimberle Crenshaw's intersectionality essay, revealing how legal systems overlook Black women's unique oppression and discussing the concept's continuing relevance in this interview episode.

9. 

   17 Jun 2025

   Trans Anger and Feminist Solidarity with Taina Brown

   Taina Brown discusses Sylvia Rivera's "Bitch on Wheels" speech with Becky Mollenkamp, examining trans voices, intersectionality, and solidarity within the LGBTQ+ rights movement in this interview.

10. 

    10 Jun 2025

    We Should All Be Feminists: A Deep Dive with Faith Clarke

    Host Becky Mollenkamp and Faith Clarke analyze Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's essay *We Should All Be Feminists*, examining feminism's intersections with race, colonization, and identity through a Black Caribbean lens in this interview.

11. 

    3 Jun 2025

    Love as Liberation: Unpacking bell hooks (with Heather Vickery)

    Heather Vickery discusses bell hooks' essay "Love as the Practice of Freedom" with Becky Mollenkamp, exploring love as liberation, boundaries with compassion, and feminist ethics in this interview.

12. 

    27 May 2025

    Intersectional Feminism vs. Girlboss Feminism: Chatting about Lindy West with Paige Worthy

    Paige Worthy discusses Lindy West's essay on feminism, examining its strengths and weaknesses while exploring intersectionality, burnout, and the evolution of feminist thought with host Becky Mollenkamp in an interview.

13. 

    20 May 2025

    Objectification Begins With Words: Reading Robin Wall Kimmerer with Nancy Harris

    They say it takes a village to raise a child and that's true. And it also takes a village to launch a podcast. I wanted to give a shout out to the people on my launch crew for a signed reading who helped spread the word in this first week. These are the folks who took time out of their schedule to be a part of getting people excited about this new show. And I am so grateful to them. Meg Wheeler, Equitable Money Project (https://equitablemoneyproject.com/) Madeline Reeves, Fearless Foundry (https://www.fearlessfoundry.com/) Lindsay Phillips, Smooth Business Podcasting (https://smoothbusinesspodcasting.com/) Amelia Hruby, Off the Grid (https://offthegrid.fun/) Kim Romain, Life & Business Alchemist (https://kimromain.com/) Lena Gosik-Wolf, Nora Magazine (https://lenadesigns.studio/nora-magazine) Sarah Dittmore, The Empress and The Fool podcast (https://www.sarahdittmore.com/podcast) Andréa Jones, OnlineDrea Inc. (https://onlinedrea.com/everything/) Meg Casebolt, Love At First Search (https://loveatfirstsearch.com/) Lyndsay Clements, Ellen Grace Marketing (https://ellengracemarketing.com/services/) Heather Vickery, Was it Chance Podcast (https://open.spotify.com/episode/1QyU6e5LRwyWGKv4vGNU2G?si=SIxKDB6eRIa21dGfxA2uow) Nicole Havelka, Defy the Trend (https://www.defythetrend.com) Phoenix Carlson, Two Lazy Dogs (https://twolazydogs.site/) Jen Vertanen, We the Unruly (https://jenvertanen.com/) Valerie Friedlander, Valerie Friedlander Coaching (https://valeriefriedlander.com/podcast) Nicole Pickens, Resonant Word Cher Hale, For the Attention (https://fortheattention.substack.com/) Kandas Rodarte, Gratitude Geek Podcast (http://kandasrodarte.com/podcast) Jacki Hayes, OBM (https://www.instagram.com/jackihayes_obm) Amy Taylor, Advancing With Amy (https://advancingwithamy.com) Dacy Gillespie, mindful closet (https://www.mindfulcloset.com/) Thank you all so much. And there were many, many more. These are the folks who actually filled out a form to let me know they would be sharing, but I know there are more people who've been out there sharing as well. And so thank you to all of you. And thank you so much to the Feminist Podcasters Collective (http://feministpodcastcollective.com/), of which Assigned Reading is a proud member, of which I am a proud leader. We are an amazing community of podcasters who are independent creators who are trying to amplify the voices of marginalized folks who care deeply about social justice. And that is an incredible support community that has also been there every step of the way of this show from ideation to release and helping to promote. So thank you all. Thanks those of you who are on the Launch Crew and thank you listeners. I'm gonna link to all of those people in the show notes and I'd be grateful if you took a moment to go learn more about them and say thank you for their efforts. I hope you're loving the show. Thank you for listening. And let's get back to the regularly scheduled programming. This week’s text: ✍️ “Speaking of Nature” by Robin Wall Kimmerer (https://orionmagazine.org/article/speaking-of-nature/) This week’s guest: Nancy Harris (she/her) is an executive coach, keynote speaker, and facilitator supporting leaders and organizations committed to equity, people-centered work, and transformational change. She’s the founder of Restart Consulting, host of The Intersection podcast, and a lifelong nature-lover rediscovering the power of slowing down. Find Nancy: 🌐 restartconsulting.com (https://restartconsulting.com) 🎧 The Intersection podcast (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-intersection/id1494168369) 📱  (https://www.linkedin.com/company/restart-consulting/)LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/nhannette/) Discussed in this episode: The objectification of nature—and the people we treat like objects too How Indigenous language teaches respect through grammar and animacy What it means to re-humanize the world around us Why slowing down is radical and reconnecting is revolutionary The power of rest, seasonality, and nature as a model for leadership What “nature deficit disorder” is and why we feel it so deeply How language has been used to colonize, erase, and devalue Parallels between natural resource extraction and human exploitation Why mindfulness and appreciation can be powerful acts of resistance How we might live and lead differently by learning from the earth Resources mentioned: • “Braiding Sweetgrass” by Robin Wall Kimmerer (https://amzn.to/4lSJ4d7) • “Wintering” by Katherine May (https://amzn.to/3GvvvjB) • On Being podcast with Krista Tippett (https://onbeing.org/series/podcast/)• ”The Other End of the Leash” by Patricia McConnell (https://amzn.to/44jn5FR)• “The Privatization of Everything” by Donald Cohen & Allen Mikaelian (https://amzn.to/42XkcrK) 🚨 Sign up for Becky’s newsletter, Feminist Rants Are My Superpower (https://beckymollenkamp.com/rants) 🎤 PROUD MEMBER OF THE FEMINIST PODCASTERS COLLECTIVE (http://feministpodcastcollective.com/)

14. 

    12 May 2025

    Unpacking Compulsory Heterosexuality: Exploring Adrienne Rich's essay with Lindsay Johnson

    This week’s text: ✍️ (https://inquest.org/abolition-can-mend-our-democracy/)“Compulsary Heterosexuality and Lesbian Existence” by Adrienne Rich (https://posgrado.unam.mx/musica/lecturas/Maus/viernes/AdrienneRichCompulsoryHeterosexuality.pdf) This week’s guest: Lindsay Johnson, aka The Radical Connector, is a sales & visibility coach for misfit entrepreneurs building their businesses to the beat of their own drums and radical enough to believe they can change the world! Lindsay’s superpower is getting entrepreneurs over their fear and discomfort of selling, taking bold action, and gaining the confidence to put themselves out there!  After 20+ years of helping entrepreneurs make money in a way that feels good, their message is clear: you matter, your work is important, and you deserve to make excellent money while you change the freaking world! Find Lindsay: 🌐 theradicalconnector.com (https://www.theradicalconnector.com/)▶️ youtube.com/c/theradicalconnector (https://www.youtube.com/c/theradicalconnector) 📱instagram.com/radicallinds (https://www.instagram.com/radicallinds/) Discussed in this episode: What to do when important ideas come from problematic people Cancel culture, nuance, and evolving past rigid thinking The roots of compulsory heterosexuality in capitalism, colonialism, and white supremacy Lindsay’s vulnerable journey to understanding their non-binary identity How proximity to power complicates identity and solidarity The dangers of the incel pipeline and raising feminist boys Queerness, gender, and neurodivergence as natural human expressions The power and politics of the “lesbian continuum” Choosing labels vs. living beyond them Resources Mentioned: “You and Your Gender Identity: A Guide to Discovery” by Dara Hoffman-Fox (https://amzn.to/3RFxV1h) “The Invention of Heterosexuality” Jonathan Ned Katz (https://english101sp2015.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/jonathan-katz_the-invention-of-heterosexuality.pdf) (essay) Adolescence on Netflix (https://www.netflix.com/title/81756069?source=35) “Is Gossiping Feminist?” by Abbie Teal (https://retrospectjournal.com/2024/11/17/is-gossiping-feminist-the-history-behind-the-villainisation-of-tell-tales/) 🚨 Sign up for Becky's newsletter, Feminist Rants Are My Superpower (https://beckymollenkamp.com/rants/) 🎤 PROUD MEMBER OF THE FEMINIST PODCASTERS COLLECTIVE (http://feministpodcastcollective.com/) 🎤

15. 

    12 May 2025

    Joy Is Revolutionary: A Conversation on Zadie Smith’s Essay with Jordan Maney

    This week’s text: ✍️ “Joy” by Zadie Smith (New York Review of Books) (https://blogs.baruch.cuny.edu/britlitmodernity/files/2015/08/Zadie-Smith.pdf) This week's guest: Jordan Maney is the Radical Joy Coach™ helping Black, brown, and queer folks recover their softness, reclaim their joy, and rest without guilt. She’s a writer, speaker, and coach whose work centers joy as a liberatory, ancestral practice. Jordan’s presence is sunshine—you’ll see what we mean. Find Jordan: 🌐 radicaljoycoach.com (https://radicaljoycoach.com) 📷 @radicaljoycoach on Instagram (https://instagram.com/radicaljoycoach) Discussed in this episode: Why Zadie Smith’s essay is “close but no cigar” The bittersweet intersection of joy and grief Is joy a struggle, a surrender, or a risk? What ecstasy (the drug and the feeling) says about manufactured joy The difference between pleasure, contentment, happiness, and JOY Black Southern church traditions as containers for joy The power of presence, noticing, and choosing joy in dark times Why resisting despair is a revolutionary act of self-love Concerts, croissants, and the art of letting yourself become joy Resources mentioned: “Beloved” by Toni Morrison (https://amzn.to/4jM0hCS) “White Teeth” by Zadie Smith (https://amzn.to/447Ok68) Risk It For a Biscuit™ (yes, we’re putting that on a T-shirt) 🚨 Sign up for Becky's newsletter, Feminist Rants Are My Superpower (https://beckymollenkamp.com/rants/) 🎤 PROUD MEMBER OF THE FEMINIST PODCASTERS COLLECTIVE (http://feministpodcastcollective.com/) 🎤

16. 

    12 May 2025

    Abolition Can Mend Democracy: Discussing Angela Davis’ essay with Amelia Hruby

    This week’s text: ✍️ “Abolition Can Mend Our Democracy” by Angela Y. Davis (Inquest) (https://inquest.org/abolition-can-mend-our-democracy/) This week’s guest: Amelia Hruby is a feminist writer, podcaster, and producer with a PhD in philosophy. She’s the founder of Softer Sounds (https://softersounds.studio), a feminist podcast studio for entrepreneurs and creatives, and host of Off the Grid (https://offthegrid.fun), a podcast about leaving social media without losing your clients. Her work explores deep community, collective care, and tech refusal. Find Amelia: 🌐 ameliahruby.com (https://ameliahruby.com) 🎧 softersounds.studio (https://softersounds.studio) 📱 offthegrid.fun (https://offthegrid.fun) Discussed in this episode: Why prisons exist—and what they really teach us about “freedom” Angela Davis’s vision of abolition beyond incarceration Carceral logic in our schools, healthcare, diet culture, and even in how we treat ourselves Why spirituality, somatic healing, and forgiveness are necessary for abolition Amelia’s personal journey with abolition, including becoming a prison pen pal The myth of inherently “bad” people—and why we must believe in love after harm How a society built on punishment requires us to reimagine democracy What abolitionist practice can look like in our daily lives Resources mentioned: “Are Prisons Obsolete?” by Angela Y. Davis (https://amzn.to/3GDE7V2) “Women, Race, & Class” by Angela Y. Davis (https://amzn.to/44GAXdg) “Freedom Is a Constant Struggle” by Angela Y. Davis (https://amzn.to/3EB2Wk1) “My Grandmother’s Hands” by Resmaa Menakem (https://amzn.to/4cLRyyl) “Democracy in America” by Alexis de Tocqueville (https://amzn.to/3GkRJVr) Black and Pink (penpals program) (https://www.blackandpink.org/penpal-newsletter/) 🚨 Sign up for Becky's newsletter, Feminist Rants Are My Superpower (https://beckymollenkamp.com/rants/) 🎤 PROUD MEMBER OF THE FEMINIST PODCASTERS COLLECTIVE (http://feministpodcastcollective.com/) 🎤

17. 

    26 Apr 2025

    Assigned Reading with Becky Mollenkamp is Coming May 13th!

    Welcome to Assigned Reading—the feminist podcast where we read bold, brilliant essays and talk about them like real people. In this short trailer, host Becky Mollenkamp introduces the show and what to expect: weekly conversations about powerful feminist essays, deep questions, occasional confusion, and a whole lot of curiosity. Each episode features a different guest and a different piece of feminist theory—from classics to contemporary gems. This isn’t a lecture. It’s not a class. There are no pop quizzes. Just honest conversations about big ideas and how they show up in our actual lives. Whether you're new to feminist writing or you’ve been digging into theory for decades, you’re invited to join the conversation. 🎙️ New episodes weekly 📚 Essays will always be linked in the show notes 💌 Want more? Subscribe to Becky’s newsletter: Feminist Rants are My Superpower (https://beckymollenkamp.com/rants/)

Who has been a guest on Assigned Reading with Becky Mollenkamp: Conversations about Feminist Essays

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Kim Romain
• Ana Xavier
• Tori Williams Douglass
• Taina Brown
• Faith Clarke

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

45,184

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

14 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 78 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

89

Social presence

91

YouTube

72

Engagement

51

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