Swerve South

Queering Oxford: The Long Path to Pride

isomctr@gmail.com (julia kraus, pat miller, loki francis swain, Matt Kessler) — Tue, 30 Apr 2024 15:43:26 +0000

In this pop-up podcast episode by Isom graduate assistant Julia Kraus, we explore the history of Oxford Pride, tracing its roots and celebrating its vibrant evolution. Julia dives into interviews and stories that highlight the courage and resilience of Oxford's LGBTQ+ community. From Pat Miller's pioneering spirit in the early '90s to contemporary initiatives led by voices like Matt Kessler and Loki Francis Swain, this episode captures the essence of struggle, solidarity, and celebration. Join us as we honor the past, spotlight the present, and gear up for the 2024 Oxford Pride Parade. Don’t miss this inspiring journey through the colorful streets of Oxford's queer history.

Season 8, Episode 4 // Student Voices: Pop Culture and Healthcare

isomctr@gmail.com (paul mora) — Thu, 25 Apr 2024 17:00:00 +0000

In this Swerve South Student Popup, Paul Mora presents two student podcasts that work together to present a multifaceted look at gender and sexuality. The episode features two segments: the first examines LGBTQ+ representations in popular TV shows, while the second dives into the complexities of LGBTQ+ health care and its portrayal in the media. Special guest Vanessa Charlotte joins the discussion, offering her expert insights.

Season 8, Episode 3 // Student Voices: Sexuality in the City with Sophia Purvis

isomctr@gmail.com (sophia purvis, Dr. Jaime Harker) — Thu, 4 Apr 2024 17:00:00 +0000

Join us for the latest installment of Swerve South's Student Popup series, where Sophia Purvis delves into the iconic New York saga of friendship, fashion, and finding oneself in "Sex and the City" and its modern-day continuation, "And Just Like That...". In this episode, Sophia, under the guidance of Dr. Jaime Harker’s English 384: The Queer ’90s course, explores the intricate relationship these series have with the queer community, highlighting both their contributions and missteps over the years.

Season 8, Episode 2 // Student Voices: Just Roll with Jaleah Walker

isomctr@gmail.com (jaleah walker, Dr. Theresa Starkey) — Thu, 7 Mar 2024 18:00:00 +0000

In the inaugural “Swerve South Student Popup,” Jaleah Walker takes us on a captivating journey through the evolution of roller skating. Crafted as a project for Dr. Theresa Starkey’s Gender Studies 201 course, this episode delves into how roller skating has historically provided an avenue for women to challenge and transcend societal norms. From its inception in the 19th century to the adrenaline-packed realm of roller derby, Walker illuminates the role of roller skating in empowering women. Moreover, she examines the critical intersections of race and gender within this vibrant culture. The episode highlights how skate rink segregation gave rise to a unique African American skating subculture, showcasing Black skaters as pioneers of innovative styles. It also emphasizes how skate nights became a platform for Black women to showcase their individuality and resilience in the face of systemic sexism and racism. Join us for a profound exploration of how roller skating has shaped and been shaped by the struggles and triumphs of gender and race.

'Season 8, Episode 1 // Amplifying Insights: Announcing a Season of Student Voices'

isomctr@gmail.com (Jaime Harker, Theresa Starkey) — Thu, 22 Feb 2024 18:04:33 +0000

Theresa gives an introduction to the 2024 Isom Student Gender Conference with the theme Intersections of Inequality. Mississippi’s longest continuously running student conference, it will take place March 20-22 on campus, featuring the work of undergraduate and graduate students and offering opportunities to engage and converse.
Jaime announces the Conference’s keynote speaker, Dr. Alex Ketchum, who will present on how gender and sexuality research circulates in public forums on Thursday, March 21 at 4 PM. Visit Dr. Ketchum’s website to read her full bio!
Our hosts preview two of the student podcasts soon to appear in the Swerve South feed! Get ready for Sophia Purvis’s exploration of 90s gender and sexuality through a podcast episode on Sex and the City, and an episode on the culture surrounding roller skating by Jaleah Walker.

Season 7, Episode 3 // Remembering Minnie Bruce Pratt

isomctr@gmail.com (Dr. Julie Enszer, Dr. Jaime Harker) — Thu, 26 Oct 2023 17:50:00 +0000

Welcome to another engaging episode of Swerve South! Today, Jaime Harker is in conversation with Julie Enszer, discussing the indomitable spirit and legacy of the late poet Minnie Bruce Pratt. Journey through their personal experiences with Pratt's poetic world and reflect upon her pivotal role within feminist communities.

For full details, visit: https://sarahisomcenter.org/swerve-south/2023/10/26/season-7-episode-3-remembering-minnie-bruce-pratt

Season 7, Episode 2 // Judy Blume Forever

isomctr@gmail.com (Dr. Theresa Starkey, Dr. Jaime Harker) — Thu, 5 Oct 2023 17:50:00 +0000

Welcome to this episode of Swerve South! Join Jaime and Theresa on a nostalgic journey as they discuss the recent documentary, "Judy Blume Forever." This documentary delves deep into Blume's life and the indelible mark her books left on countless young readers.

Our hosts reminisce about the pivotal role Blume's books played during their adolescence, especially growing up in conservative Christian households. The tales offered a rare understanding of their own bodies amidst an environment where such topics were often treated as taboos. Jaime and Theresa also shine a light on a key aspect of the documentary: the diverse range of writers and readers who share their experiences with Blume’s work. It's a reflection on Blume’s universal reach, transcending the narrow societal confines her books often depicted.

Though they couldn't always relate to Blume's characters, Jaime and Theresa deeply admire the documentary's insight into Blume's life. They are left pondering whether Judy Blume might ever tackle the topic of menopause—a theme still seeking its literary moment.

For full details, visit: https://sarahisomcenter.org/swerve-south/2023/10/4/season-7-episode-2-judy-blume-forever

Season 7, Episode 1 // Sabbatical Scrolls and Intersections of Inequality

isomctr@gmail.com (Dr. Theresa Starkey, Dr. Jaime Harker) — Thu, 21 Sep 2023 18:50:00 +0000

Welcome to Season Seven of Swerve South Podcast! In this inaugural episode, Jaime Harker and Theresa Starkey unravel a captivating discussion about the revolutionary impact of online communities on the publishing industry. They also touch upon the crucial topic of bypassing traditional gatekeepers and its implications on the literary ecosystem. But the conversation doesn't end there; listen as Jaime and Theresa delve into the Sarah Isom Center's initiatives, highlighting the challenges in addressing inequality from diverse perspectives.

For full details, visit: https://sarahisomcenter.org/swerve-south/2023/9/21/season-7-episode-1-sabbatical-scrolls-and-intersections-of-inequality

Season 6, Episode 1 // Our Bodies, Ourselves

isomctr@gmail.com (Dr. Theresa Starkey, Dr. Jaime Harker) — Thu, 17 Nov 2022 19:00:00 +0000

From early women’s liberation’s goal in the “Declaration of Sentiments” of rethinking the role of the body to the western philosophy of the mind/body split, the body has been theorized, politicized, and policed. Despite this history of oppression, the body has also been a site of resistance and power. Our hosts discuss various myths, like that of the vaginal orgasm, about the body and landmark texts that have shaped our thinking about embodiment. While the title and inspiration for this episode is taken from the 1970 book Our Bodies, Ourselves by the Boston Women’s Health Collective, this episode expands the conversation about embodiment to touch upon trauma studies and trans experience.

For full notes, visit: http://www.sarahisomcenter.org/swerve-south/our-bodies-ourselves

Season 5, Episode 6 // Queering Oxford: It's been a drag

isomctr@gmail.com (Jaime Harker, Kevin Cozart, Matt Kessler) — Thu, 21 Apr 2022 21:00:00 +0000

For further reading, see http://www.sarahisomcenter.org/swerve-south/queering-oxford.

Code: Pink

Oxford Pride

Small Town Gay Bar

Eric GoDiva Holliday

Matt Kessler

Season 5, Episode 5 // Glitterary Festival: A Queer Literary Festival

isomctr@gmail.com (Jaime Harker, Beth Ann Fennelly, Kate Leland) — Thu, 7 Apr 2022 21:00:00 +0000

torrin a. greathouse

Jericho Brown

Beth Ann's website

Kate Leland's website

Season 5, episode 3// The Revolutionary World-Making of the Lesbian and Women in Print Movement

isomctr@gmail.com (Dr. Jaime Harker, Dr. Julie Enszer) — Thu, 7 Apr 2022 18:15:00 +0000

Dr. Julie Enszer's publications can be found here here: https://julierenszer.com/

Sinister Wisdom

The Lesbian South: Southern Feminists, the Women in Print Movement and the Queer Literary Canon

Season 5, episode 2// Creating Zion: Building a More Inclusive University of Mississippi and Broader Community

isomctr@gmail.com (Dr. Jaime Harker and Dr. Ethel Scurlock) — Thu, 24 Feb 2022 22:00:00 +0000

Associate Professor of English and African- American studies

Senior Fellow Luckyday Residential College

Chair of African- American Studies

Interim Dean of Sally Barksdale Honors College

Pastor - Alvis Grove Missionary Baptist Church, Oakland

First United Baptist, Batesville

Season 5, Episode 1// Implementing the Feminist Non-Profit

isomctr@gmail.com (Jaime Harker, Theresa Starkey) — Thu, 17 Feb 2022 22:00:00 +0000

Click here to read more, visit http://www.sarahisomcenter.org/swerve-south/2022/2/10/season-5-episode-1

The Queer Thing About Florida // Season 4, Episode 4

isomctr@gmail.com (Jaime Harker, Tyler Gillespie) — Thu, 2 Dec 2021 19:30:00 +0000

Listen as Gillespie shares his journey from being a professional writer to discovering an unexpected love for teaching writing to first-year students and the possibility of exposing students to their own unexpected love of writing. Gillespie speaks about his fondness for teaching in the FASTrack program, which focuses on first-generation college students, who often have difficulty otherwise acculturating to campus. He also discusses how his involvement with the UM Pride Network helped him connect with other queer faculty on campus and led to the development of Missy, a literary magazine dedicated to LGBTQ+ issues. https://issuu.com/missy_magazine/docs/missy_issue_1. Current and former University students, faculty, or staff, LGBTQ or allies are welcome to submit their work for consideration at missysubmissions@gmail.com.

Gillespie’s most recent publication is The Thing about Florida: Exploring a Misunderstood State, a collection of essays that looks below the surface level of headlines about what is often called “the weirdest state in the country.” His current research deals with how writing and other rhetorical practices helped shape LGBTQ+ communities in Florida.

Gender, The South, & Interdisciplinary Transgressions // Season 4, Episode 3

isomctr@gmail.com (Jaime Harker, Theresa Starkey, Katie McKee, Afton Thomas) — Thu, 11 Nov 2021 19:45:00 +0000

McKee shares how the interdisciplinary work of the Center has created space for different ways to imagine The South, and Thomas discusses how her theatre background enables her to envision programs that also foster those world-making possibilities. The host and guests also share suggestions for bringing those interdisciplinary world-making ideas into the classroom, including using a former CSSC student and musician’s original song about The Outsiders, entitled “Do it for Johnny,” to broaden student’s understanding of the novel and the film.

The Brood and Body Horror // Season 4, Episode 2

isomctr@gmail.com (Theresa Starkey, Elizabeth Venell, Leslie Delassus) — Fri, 29 Oct 2021 22:17:44 +0000

The ghoulish trio explains how the film fits into a larger canon of horror films from the 1970s that expose cultural anxieties around displaced manhood, the dread of second wave feminism, and monstrous wives/children run amok. Drawing upon Linda Williams’s theoretical framework about body genres in film—such as horror, pornography, and melodrama—our guests discuss The Brood’s fun combination of reproductive horror and domestic melodrama that explores masculine anxiety, feminine monstrosity, and the return of the abject. This conversation delves into other horrifying historical depictions of women’s mental health, as observations on mise-en-scéne find connections with Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s short story “The Yellow Wallpaper.” Our host and guests dream up merchandise items inspired by the film, like a Brood fashion line and microbrew. They also share their favorite horror films to watch in preparation for Halloween. Don’t miss this spooktacular episode!

Talking Feminist and Queer World-Making // Season 4, Episode 1

isomctr@gmail.com (Theresa Starkey, Jaime Harker) — Thu, 30 Sep 2021 21:00:00 +0000

This conversation looks at both Theresa’s experience in ready-made queer spaces in Atlanta in the late 80s and early 90s and Jaime’s experience in the early 90s with queer world-building in the suburban town of Provo, Utah, while attending graduate school at Bringham Young University.

Find out about the DIY ethos that Theresa found alluring in those spaces and how those punk and queer and alternative ideas impacted the programming, like Sarahfest, that the Isom Center offers. And learn how Jaime and fellow graduate students created their own queer world-building with an event called Feminist Home Evening, a play on the Mormon tradition of Family Home Evening, where Mormon families, led by the father, gather every Monday evening to learn more about the Mormon faith in a Sunday-school style gathering, as a response to BYU’s refusal to allow the English department to offer a feminist theory course.

The Crown's Complicated Women

isomctr@gmail.com (La Shonda Mims, Jaime Harker, Hilary Coulson) — Thu, 8 Apr 2021 20:30:00 +0000

In this week’s edition of Swerve South, Jaime is joined by special guests Hilary Coulson and La Shonda Mims to discuss the complicated women featured in season 4 of The Crown. We talk about how the latest season grapples with the complexities of gender presentation and thorny female relationships. This conversation unpacks the divisive legacy of Margaret Thatcher, the brilliance of Gillian Anderson’s performance (and hair), the spell of Princess Diana, and how the show falls short of capturing her remarkable charisma. The episode fleshes out the season’s political backdrop, from the effects of Thatcherism on the working class to the anti-apartheid movement of the 1980s. Our host and guests also share their own adolescent impressions of the royal family and contemplate why royal drama continues to keep us so enthralled.

For show notes & extras, visit: https://sarahisomcenter.org/swerve-south/2021/4/7/the-crowns-complicated-women-season-3-episode-5

Eurovision, Eurotrash, & Camp

isomctr@gmail.com (Theresa Starkey, Jaime Harker) — Thu, 25 Mar 2021 16:00:00 +0000

In this edition of Swerve South, Jaime and Theresa discuss the campy delight of Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga, Will Ferrell’s spoof/celebration of the international song competition Eurovision. Our hosts share some of their favorite moments from the film: cameos from former Eurovision winners like Conchita Wurst, outrageous costumes and performances, and the surprisingly moving ending. The episode explores Eurovision’s odd combination of artificial, schlocky camp and absolute sincerity and contemplates why the international pop culture phenomenon has yet to land with American audiences. Whether you’re a longtime fan of Eurovision or a newcomer, this episode is a great introduction to both the movie and the contest’s over-the-top charms.

Check out our show notes and extras.

The Gay '90s

isomctr@gmail.com (Jaime Harker, Kevin Cozart, Theresa Starkey) — Thu, 11 Mar 2021 20:00:00 +0000

In this final installment of our “decades” series, Theresa, Jaime, and special guest Kevin Cozart dive into the 1990s, an era that saw LGBTQ culture burst out of the closet and into the mainstream. We reflect on the many milestones in queer literature, music, television, and film achieved in the ‘90s—from Angels in America winning the Pulitzer Prize to Ellen DeGeneres coming out on national television. Our hosts discuss how these pop culture moments shaped their own relationships to queerness and how the ‘90s have influenced contemporary LGBTQ culture.

Show notes & extras: sarahisomcenter.org/swerve-south/2021/3/9/the-gay-90s

The Queer '80s

isomctr@gmail.com (Theresa Starkey, Jaime Harker) — Thu, 25 Feb 2021 17:00:00 +0000

On this episode of Swerve South, Jaime and Theresa follow up the last episode’s discussion of proto-feminist 1970s television with a conversation about the surprising outpouring of queer representation in 1980s pop culture. While the ’80s—a decade defined by the conservatism of the Reagan administration and the devastation of the AIDS crisis—is typically viewed as a low point for LGBTQ acceptance, this episode celebrates the many expressions of queerness in 1980s music, film, television, sports, and more. From mainstream offerings like Personal Best (1982) and Culture Club to more underground, alternative fare like Atlanta’s public access variety show The American Music Show and the cult films of John Waters, this episode chips away at the conservative veneer of the ’80s and anticipates the explosion of queer culture to come in the 1990s.

Show notes and extras: https://sarahisomcenter.org/swerve-south/2021/2/1/the-queer-80s-season-3-episode-2

Girl Power in the 1970s

isomctr@gmail.com (Theresa Starkey, Jaime Harker) — Thu, 11 Feb 2021 21:00:00 +0000

Welcome to a new season of Swerve South! Join Jaime and Theresa on a nostalgia trip to the world of 1970s pop culture as they discuss the female-centered television shows that helped shape their nascent ideas of feminism. From Charlie's Angels to The Bionic Woman, this upbeat conversation explores how ’70s “girl power” television offered young women a sense of power and possibility, even as it was laden with contradictions. Whether you grew up with these shows or are just being introduced to them now, this episode provides a fascinating look into how ’70s pop culture both absorbed and resisted the influences of the women's liberation movement.

Special Guest William Boyle // Sarahfest Bonus Episode

isomctr@gmail.com (William Boyle) — Wed, 11 Nov 2020 17:00:00 +0000

Welcome to another special Sarahfest bonus episode of Swerve South! In this episode, Theresa is joined by author William Boyle to discuss Vincente Minnelli’s 1956 “male-centric” melodrama, Tea and Sympathy. The film centers on Tom Robinson Lee, a sensitive young man who finds himself at odds with the hyper-masculine, conformist culture of his all-boys boarding school. Struggling to fit in with his classmates, Tom instead finds companionship with his headmaster’s wife, Laura, and over the course of the film, her role in Tom’s life evolves from maternal figure to romantic interest. Theresa and Bill dig into the film’s Lynchian qualities that reveal the violence and sordidness lying just beneath the surface of its idyllic 1950s New England setting. Often seen as a minor film in Minnelli’s oeuvre, this fascinating conversation pays homage to Tea and Sympathy’s searing indictment of toxic masculinity, tender exploration of identity, and covert depiction of queerness.

Special Guest Megan Abbott // Sarahfest Bonus Episode

isomctr@gmail.com (Sarah Isom Center) — Wed, 28 Oct 2020 18:00:00 +0000

Welcome to a special Sarahfest bonus episode of Swerve South! This week, Theresa is joined by novelist, television writer, and showrunner Megan Abbott to discuss their shared pop cultural obsession: coming-of-age stories. Theresa and Megan dive into the subversive coming-of-age touchstones of their own adolescence and interrogate why, even as adults, they keep returning to complicated narratives of girlhood and growing up. This leads into a fascinating conversation about the 1969 film The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie and the particular allure of the mentor-protégé subset of the coming-of-age genre. Set at a Scottish girls’ school in the 1930s, the film follows four young students who fall under the thrall of their glamorous (and dangerous) teacher Miss Jean Brodie, played by Maggie Smith. From thorny student-teacher relationships to a slippery romance with fascism, Theresa and Megan explore this thought-provoking film.

Special Guest Hilary Coulson

isomctr@gmail.com (Sarah Isom Center) — Thu, 28 May 2020 18:00:09 +0000

Join Jaime, Theresa, and special guest Hilary Coulson for this week’s episode of Swerve South! Hilary is a Visiting Assistant Professor at the University of Mississippi and has a joint appointment with the Sarah Isom Center for Women and Gender Studies and the History Department. In this episode, Hilary shares her route to academia, her research on prisons, and new pathways and questions for scholars. In this conversation the hosts take pause to honor mentors and engage in discussion about the power of institutions, impacts on women, and the legacy of slavery.

For show notes and extras, visit: https://sarahisomcenter.org/swerve-south

Women and Terror

isomctr@gmail.com (Sarah Isom Center) — Thu, 7 May 2020 20:32:17 +0000

Welcome to this week’s edition of Swerve South! Join Jaime and Theresa as they take a deep dive into a troubling sociological phenomenon: the obsession with women’s terror. In this revealing discussion, our hosts examine films that left them unsettled in their formative years and analyze the implications for our broader culture. This is a relatable and informative episode that will make you think of those lasting images and their impact on our psyches. From The Seduction and female terror to Silence of the Lambs and transphobia, Jaime and Theresa cover a lot of ground in this engaging episode that is sure to get you thinking!

For show notes and extras, visit https://sarahisomcenter.org/swerve-south

Special Guest Nancy Maria Balach

isomctr@gmail.com (Nancy Maria Balach) — Thu, 30 Apr 2020 05:00:19 +0000

Welcome to Swerve South! Join your hosts Jaime and Theresa as they welcome special guest Nancy Balach to the program. This episode is packed with great conversation about the power of music, collaboration, and feminism! First, you’ll hear a little bit about Nancy’s background which helps lay the groundwork for her career path as the founder of the Living Music Resource (LMR). Nancy pioneered the LMR effort through the University of Mississippi’s music department and the program continues to grow and evolve. LMR offers students the opportunity to imagine the ways their degree in music can be used once they graduate by immersing them in the community. This project is all about making students aware of the power they have to impact and shape society. In this episode you can hear Jaime, Theresa, and Nancy put their beliefs into practice as they discuss the collaborative efforts between the Sarah Isom Center for Women and Gender Studies and the music department. Stay tuned for a special announcement about plans for this year’s Sarahfest!

Little Women

isomctr@gmail.com (Sarah Isom Center) — Wed, 22 Apr 2020 17:15:04 +0000

If you love all things Louisa May Alcott, you will love this edition of Swerve South! Join hosts Theresa and Jaime as they analyze the latest Little Women (2019) film and share information about Alcott, her life, and the parallels of her writing with her own experiences. In this episode, Jaime and Theresa share their experiences reading Little Women and how film adaptations have enriched or disappointed their take on the classic novel. This fun, fast-paced segment delves into identity, coming of age, 19th century womanhood, and the lasting power of Alcott’s narrative. An analysis of women, work, economics, and the choices women had (and continue to face), helps frame their analysis of a classic work.

For show notes and extras, visit https://sarahisomcenter.org/swerve-south

Religion

isomctr@gmail.com (Sarah Isom Center) — Thu, 16 Apr 2020 17:54:25 +0000

Welcome to Swerve South! This week the hosts delve into their religious backgrounds and discuss some of the ways their religious upbringing informed their decisions to pursue gender studies. Do you have a pervasive fear of the devil? What are your thoughts on patriarchy and how does this relate to theology? You will ask these questions and dive into some buried thoughts that will help you consider the power of religion in social constructions and pop culture. This week’s conversation is personal, yet relatable. Join Jaime and Theresa as they discuss the impact of Mormonism and Southern Baptist religious traditions on their career paths and discover or consider some ways your background shapes you. Once you listen, you may consider the power of childhood traditions and maybe take a little solace in knowing we all have some religious baggage to work through! For show notes and extras, visit: https://sarahisomcenter.org/swerve-south

Special Guest Baker Rogers

isomctr@gmail.com (Baker Rogers) — Wed, 8 Apr 2020 17:37:43 +0000

In this episode of Swerve South, Jaime is joined by Baker Rogers who is an Assistant Professor of Sociology at Georgia Southern University. Jaime had some time to check in with Baker who is at the University of Mississippi to speak at the first annual Trans Summit! Listen to Jaime and Baker discuss the complexities of growing up in religiously conservative spaces, discovering self through college, and challenging the narrative that queer people only exist in urban metropolitan spaces. In this episode we also have a special opportunity to get a sneak peek into Baker’s work on trans men in Southern spaces and we get a special inside look at their recent publications: Trans Men in the South: Becoming Men and Conditionally Accepted: Christians’ Perspectives on Homosexuality & Gay and Lesbian Civil Rights. This episode ends with an excellent discussion of the challenges in the classroom to ensure a physically safe but intellectually threatening environment.

For show notes and extras, visit: https://sarahisomcenter.org/swerve-south

Special Guest Mandy Carter

isomctr@gmail.com (Mandy Carter) — Wed, 1 Apr 2020 14:14:55 +0000

Welcome to a special episode of Swerve South! Join Jaime for an inspirational conversation with Civil Rights Activist and founder of Southerners on New Ground, Mandy Carter. In this episode, Mandy tells a bit of her fascinating life story and offers a history lesson through the lens of her life and work for 50 years in Civil Rights movements. In addition to an exceptional history lesson, you’ll also hear a discussion of activism, coalition building, intentionality of organizing, and the power of sustained political activism. As a nod to the intentions of this podcast, Mandy and Jaime swerve their discussion to the south and consider homecoming for former southerners or people with familial roots in the regional south. They consider rebuilding the south as an inclusive space that works for all inhabitants. Listen to this episode and be inspired to consider the power of one. Ask yourself: “How do we stand up together?”

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Learn more about the organizations and groups discussed in this episode:

Highlander Center
War Resisters League
Peace and Freedom Party
National Council of Elders
CDF Haley Farm
Students Against Social Injustice
UM NAACP
United Campus Workers of Mississippi
Farm Labor Organizing Committee
National Black Justice Coalition
Yoknapatawpha Arts Council

Be sure to check out our recommended readings and movies:

Brother Outsider: The Life of Bayard Rustin
Quaker: Social Justice Testimony
Suzanne Farr, Homophobia: A Weapon of Sexism
Mab Segrest, My Mama’s Dead Squirrel
"The Story of Cesar Chavez"
"Is This the Most Radical Mayor in America?"
Pat Parker Poetry
Dorothy Allison

Take a look at these extra links and resources:

Joan Baez, Center for the Study of Nonviolence
Archived Article about Creating Change Conference
Meg Christiansen, “Southern Home”
Holly Near on Singing For Our Lives
Oxford Film Festival
Oxford Pride Parade
Violet Valley Book Store

An Introduction to the Invisible Histories Project

isomctr@gmail.com (Amy McDowell, Jessica Wilkerson) — Wed, 25 Dec 2019 06:05:05 +0000

Welcome to this week’s episode of Swerve South! Once again, we have a special and exciting episode to share. This week, we are thrilled to introduce the “Invisible Histories Project” with professors Amy McDowell of Sociology, Jessica Wilkerson of History and Southern Studies, and our host, Jaime Harker of English and the Isom Center. Join us for a discussion about queer spaces in the South, how community is created and fostered throughout the region, and the important work that is being done to preserve the oral histories and lived experiences of queer folks living in Mississippi. Not only do we get a chance to be introduced to the project and fabulous professors and archivists who foster this project, we also get some perspective on the subversive nature of their work that takes special care to collect and preserve the stories of people who have historically been marginalized, discriminated against, and surveilled by the state. Join us for an empowering episode about taking back the archive and carving out space for queer history in the Bible Belt.

A Conversation with Samantha Allen

isomctr@gmail.com (Samantha Allen) — Wed, 18 Dec 2019 06:05:28 +0000

Welcome to Swerve South! Join your host Jaime Harker for a discussion with special guest Samantha Allen, award winning journalist and author of Real Queer America: LGBT Stories from Red States. In this episode, Jaime and Samantha dish on their Mormon upbringing and how it impacted their journeys of self-realization within the queer community. Samantha’s path from the buttoned-up and gender rigid state of Utah, to her 2-month long road trip through the red states proves there are queer communities in the most (traditionally) unexpected places. Her work sheds light on the less often discussed “red states” regions and members of the LGBT community who calls those spaces home. A portion of the interview includes encouraging discussion about the dynamic nature of a degree in gender studies. Join us for an rousing chat about gender, the power of education, and finding hope and inclusivity in our often polarizing political environment.

Check out some of Samantha Allen's exciting projects:

Double W is a podcast about the WNBA hosted by Laurel Powell and Samantha Allen featuring a variety of guests who’ll talk about all aspects of women’s hoops: the play, the culture, and more.

Get Lost, a newsletter by Real Queer America and Love & Estrogen author Samantha Allen. Named after the 1995 Magnetic Fields album, Get Lost explores unsung and undersung places, people, and texts through a personal lens. This third entry takes you to the Greek island of Santorini.

A Special Discussion with Latinx band Chócola!

isomctr@gmail.com (Chócola) — Wed, 11 Dec 2019 06:05:12 +0000

Welcome to a special edition of Swerve South! This week, our episode begins with a little history and appreciation for those who paved the way for our generation of women’s and gender scholars. Theresa and Jaime start the episode with a little background on events hosted by the Sarah Isom Center for Women’s and Gender Studies to scaffold a discussion with Chócola, a Latinx band out of Charlotte, North Carolina. The band came to the University of Mississippi to headline the Sarah Isom Center’s annual “Sarahfest,” and took a little bit of time to sit down Theresa to discuss their new album, their path to music, and their artistic process. Join us for a fun episode that swerves to unexpected places! From a connection to second wave feminism and the creation of art, space, and place, to a discussion about the spiritual experience of making music, you won’t want to miss this week’s episode!

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Be sure to stream Chócala's music on Spotify or download their newest album from BandCamp.

Watch to Chócala's LMR LIVE! interview with Nancy Maria Balach from Living Music Resource.

Tea Time: Race, Power, and Podcasting

isomctr@gmail.com (Karen Tongson, Wynter Mitchell) — Wed, 4 Dec 2019 14:16:26 +0000

Join your host Jaime Harker as she sips the tea with Karen Tongson and Wynter Mitchell-Rohrbaugh in a tell-all session about the life, legacy, and demise of their beloved Podcast, Pop Rocket. Karen and Wynter delve into the gendered and racial dynamics of their parent company’s decision to disband the production of Pop Rocket and share how they created a strong bond and resolve to forge on with their own iteration of the show. Karen and Wynter are now hosts of their own Podcast, Waiting to X-Hale, a show dedicated to fleshing out some of the most influential cultural and social movements that defined Generation-X. Karen and Wynter are veteran podcasters with a loyal following and a fresh take on the importance of popular culture in shaping identity. Their strong cultural analysis is rooted from a queer and woman of color experience. Join us for a riveting discussion about race, power, and podcasting!

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Check out Karen & Wynter's podcast: Waiting to X-Hale

Follow Wynter on Twitter and find Karen's works here

Our Feminist Evolutions

isomctr@gmail.com (Sarah Isom Center) — Mon, 2 Dec 2019 15:10:37 +0000

Join Jaime and Theresa for a fun conversation about the influence of 80’s pop culture, badass female rock stars, gender, and rebellion in their lives. Get an inside look at the power of music for Theresa who grew up in a punk rock space and another outlook from Jaime regarding the power of punk rock in a suburban setting for a teenager trying to break free. In this episode, we hear some first-hand experiences from the hosts about the evolution of their interests in gender and culture through the lens of 80’s bands and their legacy. This electrified discussion covers the power of music to subvert gender norms, allow youngsters to rebel, and find safety in alternative spaces.

Be sure to check out our episode playlist for a dip into the music mentioned in this episode: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7Ggks1gE4XVqYWh6GTuk2h?si=I7Q-ogt7TTyEZTpk9JaiUg

Some episode corrections: The first band Theresa saw was Air Supply. And an important clarification about the Atlanta band Smoke--Smoke is the name of the band. Lead singer was Benjamin and Benjamin Smoke is the name of a 2000 documentary about the band by Jem Cohen and Peter Sillen.

Introduction

isomctr@gmail.com (Sarah Isom Center) — Mon, 18 Nov 2019 17:08:19 +0000

Welcome to Swerve South! Join your hosts, Jaime Harker and Theresa Starkey, director and co-director of the Sarah Isom Center for Women and Gender Studies at the University of Mississippi as they introduce their new adventure in podcasting. Swerve South is a non-mainstream look at the world through the lens of the rebellious, unexpected, radical space of the Deep South. In this introductory episode, your hosts discuss their intentions for the podcast: to veer from the norm and discuss all things feminism, multicultural, pop culture and queer. Deviate from the doldrums and take a breather with us each week for lively discussions and interviews from visitors to the university as we explore the intersections we all inhabit. Welcome to our world. It’s time to Swerve South!

Learn more about your hosts and their work: Theresa Starkey's The Deadbeat and Good Neighbors // Detecting the South in Fiction, Film, and Television edited by Deborah E. Barker & Theresa Starkey // Jaime Harker's The Lesbian South: Southern Feminists, the Women in Print Movement, and the Queer Literary Canon // Water Valley, MS - Get Lost Blog by Samantha Allen // Special thanks to: Tyler Keith for production and music and Hilary Coulson for our episode descriptions