Podcast
The C-Word
Hosted by Lena Dunham & Alissa Bennett · EN
With every episode, Lena Dunham and Alissa Bennett take you on a historical deep dive into the life of a woman society dismissed by calling her mad, sad, or just plain bad: Lindsay Lohan, Judy Garland, Winona Ryder, Mariah Carey, Lil Kim and many more. Join them for a rich, hilarious, and heartbreaking look into exactly what it means when we call a woman “crazy.”The C-Word was originally published behind a paywall from 2019 - 2022. This is the first time it’s being released to all major podcast platforms.
42episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Vanessa Marquez
3d ago01:09:57Tap to summarizeVanessa Marquez was an actress best known for her role as Nurse Wendy on ER. Later, she would appear on the reality television show Intervention, which showcased her shopping addiction and agoraphobia. During #metoo, she spoke out about sexual harassment on set. Lena and Alissa discuss how past trauma impacts health, Vanessa’s prolific online posts, and police brutality. This episode was first published on 08/19/2021.
Transcribe →Amy Winehouse, Part 2
1w ago00:57:44Tap to summarizeIn Part 2, Lena and Alissa unpack the years leading up to Amy Winehouse’s death in 2011. They discuss rehab, bad boyfriends, and the 27 club. This episode was first published on 08/05/2021.
Transcribe →Amy Winehouse, Part 1
2w ago00:56:53Tap to summarizeRecognized for her singular voice and iconic beehive, Amy Winehouse became a near-instant music legend as well as a tabloid mainstay in the 2000s. On the 10th anniversary of her death, Lena and Alissa discuss the singer-songwriter’s precocious talent, her rebellious teen years, and the start to a bad romance that would fuel her later work as well as her addictions. This episode was first published on 07/22/2021.
Transcribe →Nancy Spungen
3w ago01:21:31Tap to summarizeNancy Spungen was a groupie and major figure of the 1970’s punk rock scene. Her tumultuous relationship with Sid Vicious of the Sex Pistols became so infamous that “Sid and Nancy” has become a moniker for bad romances. Their relationship was characterized by drug abuse, violence, and codependence, and ended with Nancy’s murder in their shared hotel room. In this episode, Lena and Alissa discuss the controversies surrounding Nancy’s death, her early years as a bad teenager, and being labeled “annoying.” This episode was first published on 07/08/2021.
Transcribe →Frances Farmer, Part 2
May 700:48:40Tap to summarizeIn part two of Frances Farmer’s story, Lena and Alissa examine Frances’ later years out of the spotlight, her battles with addiction, and the posthumous repackaging of her legacy. This episode was first published on 06/24/2021.
Transcribe →Frances Farmer, Part 1
Apr 3000:46:45Tap to summarizeAlthough Frances Farmer was a star of Hollywood’s “Golden Era” and an intellectual powerhouse in her own right, her achievements have been overshadowed by myths surrounding her public struggles with mental health. Her periods in psychiatric hospitals and involuntary confinement have entered pop culture lore, immortalized by everyone from Jessica Lange to Kurt Cobain. In the first of two parts, Lena and Alissa consider Frances’s early rebellious years, her ascent to fame, and the relationships that shaped her burgeoning career. This episode was first published on 06/10/2021.
Transcribe →Bai Ling
Apr 2300:56:48Tap to summarizeBefore Bai Ling was labeled a “wacktress” by the tabloids, she was a prolific actress best known in the U.S. for her role in the cult classic, The Crow. Her wacky behavior and soundbites about living on the moon made her a frequent character of the early 2000s press. In this episode, Lena and Alissa unpack Bai’s childhood in Mao Zedong’s China, her ascent as an American star, her iconic stint on Celebrity Rehab, and the myths about Asian-American womanhood that continue to saturate the public’s perception about her. This episode was first published on 05/27/2021.
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Introducing Family Lore
Apr 2100:03:28Tap to summarizeFamily Lore is a weekly narrative podcast that celebrates and investigates ancestral mystique. Each episode begins with a guest sharing a fascinating family legend, followed by a historical deep-dive to uncover the truth and meaning behind the tale. Available now: link.pscrb.fm/f0281/FLFD
Transcribe →Shannon Wilsey aka Savannah, Part 2
Apr 1600:41:07Tap to summarizeIn Part 2, Lena and Alissa resume their discussion about 90s porn star Savannah. Although she became a mainstream name, Savannah developed a bad reputation within the adult entertainment industry. In this episode, they chronicle her relationships with rockstars, her attempts at a comeback, and her struggles with addiction and debt. Lena and Alissa also discuss the dissolution of her personal identity as Shannon Wilsey and the events that led to her death at age 23. This episode was first published on 03/25/2021.
Transcribe →Shannon Wilsey aka Savannah, Part 1
Apr 900:47:31Tap to summarizeSavannah was the most famous porn performer of the 90s — she ushered in a totally new era of celebrity for other adult film stars. At her peak she made six-figures and was a tabloid mainstay. But behind the scenes, she gained a reputation for bad on-set behavior as her drug addiction spiraled out of control. In the first episode of a two-part series, Lena and Alissa examine Savannah’s origins as Shannon Wilsey, a teenager struggling to move on from a violent childhood and developing what would become a lifelong passion for older male rock stars. This episode was first published on 03/11/2021.
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