The Bechdel Cast
The Bechdel Cast
iHeartPodcasts
Reviews
via Podcasts
Great content, maddening editing.
This is such a funny, insightful podcast that is undermined by crappy editing in almost every episode. The show frequently plays parts of discussions multiple times—sometimes for 5 minutes or more at a pass. Five stars for content but jeez, get it together.
banjobabe89
Declining quality
I used to be a big fan but the podcast has declined in quality since 2020. The hosts started to talk about nuances they cannot fully understand, so each episodes ends up being them talking about how “frustrating” (seriously, take a shot each time they say frustrating and you’d die before the ~90 minutes was up) any aspect of a movie they know is somehow problematic but can’t explain the because they are two cis white women. It’s unlistenable now. It’s great to be intersectional in your feminism, but don’t speak on matters that aren’t yours, Save that space for others. They had a great thing going when they examined things with their own eye, instead of speculating on behalf of others.
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mrrp1998
Perspective
I grew up watching movies that said ‘negging’ and ‘wearing her down’ was ok. Thank you for giving me the vocabulary as to why that’s just bad behavior and storytelling. I will do my best to pass that on to my sons. It’s a good podcast. Y’all should listen.
Surfdude 8million
Love It, except for a few minor issues
I love this podcast. I’ve been listening since 2018 and have been a “Matreon” off and on since then. This podcast has completely changed the way I view all media. I have a much more critical eye and am looking forward to teaching my daughter about how to reflect on the media she is consuming. Caitlin and Jaime are so incredibly intelligent and think about movies and the representation of oppressed genders in ways that I was never exposed to as a young adult. However, there are a few aspects of the show that have made me pause and sometimes decide to listen to something else. First, sometimes I feel like there is derogatory language used towards older generations, mostly by Jaime. She sometimes criticizes the “Boomer” generation and while her criticisms are often valid, I wonder if some of my views, as a 41 year old woman, would be discounted due to my age. Finally, for two women who are so brilliant, their lack of descriptors for things they don’t like can be juvenile and limited. They use the phrase “peepee poopoo” to describe all things they don’t like and it can be very irritating to me.
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clgraph
This show!
I love hearing their takes on these movies that we mostly know well and re- thinking from a mature, female perspective. Thank you for your humor and incite!
audsworld14
Loved this show for many years
We were gone girls. Now we’re HERE WOMEN!
Seattlefancora
Brevity - please!
Great podcast with interesting and funny conversations. But… it feel twice as long as it needs to be with a lot of repeated or obvious comments. I feel like the hosts are trying to be perfect - talking about every kind of representation - which leads to lots of criticism and unfocused discussions. I still pop in here and there if I’m interested in the movie or the episode is closer to an hour.
queuea
Feminism lol
Feminists are mentally handicapped. This podcast is a perfect illustration of this fact.
IForgotToPutInTheCrystals
Love the show!
Hi Caitlin and Jamie, Long time listener, first time commenter. Listening to the May December episode now and leaving this here in the review bc I’m not on the socials to leave a comment - the recent HBO movie on the similar topic is The Tale, with Laura Dern - highly recommend. Thanks for the engaging, illuminating discussions!
KrishnaGreer
A better person
Listening to Bechdelcast makes me a better man I think. But a worse Patriarchy the Man. Thought provoking and super entertaining.
Steve is Taken is Taken
oh it’s nice
smoking bongs and staring at walls, bechdel ladies make me feel like i’m part of a social group, five stars
420seank
Great show
This show helps me see movies in a new light, and highlights the value in critiquing our media’s hypnotic messages. Inside the film reviews is tucked a lesson in anti-racism. It’s a clever Trojan horse to disguise politics inside entertainment, and reminds us, of course, that absolutely everything is political.
StarryEyedGal
I love it
I appreciate Caitlin and Jamie’s work on this show. They’ve been committed to listening and learning, and try to approach serious issues along with silly ones. It’s become a kind of comfort for me, in that I randomly come back to it when I’m cycling through media to watch/listen to while doing daily tasks. I like that you can hear how they’ve progressed over the span of the show. Even when they love something, they’re not hesitant to critique it as harshly as other things. Which I have a lot of respect for. I’ve been listening to the show since it’s inception, and it’s only gotten better as the years go on.
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LittleMonster29
Anti-trans nonsense
Conflating being trans and who Ed Gein and Norman Bates are is incredibly problematic. Ed Gein was not trans. He did not identify as a woman. He dug up women and made them into lamps. That is entirely different from being trans, and conflating the two is incredibly offensive.
Teem Dodger
Need Elocution lessons
Impossible to listen to. They say “like” every other word.
Jenivc
This show saved my life
Maybe not saved it, but got me thru the hardest year of my life (my dad died). I just binged this show. Caitlin and Jamie have such fun chemistry (it’s funny to listen back to the earliest ones when they are still figuring things out). I love Caitlin’s recaps. I love the context Jamie brings in. I love how they really try to address their blind spots and bring guests on the show who can elevate the discussion on the film. Most importantly, I love how it’s funny! I’m so glad this show exists. I will just put it on while I’m doing chores and it’s like a fun conversation is happening in the other room. Thank you thank you thank you Caitlin and Jamie.
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IntergalacticPlanetaryPI
Please review better movies
I liked the show in the beginning, but lately they’ve been doing exclusively teen movies/Disney Channel. My question is, who cares about these movies other than the children they are geared towards? As someone who is not a fan of either genre, I’ve had to unsubscribe.
soulja_boi_tellem_is_the_bomb_222332
Gregnant EDITED
I didn’t think it was possible to like the Alien movies any more than I already did. And then I listened to this podcast! If you love a movie or hate a movie, listen to an episode about it. It’s so fun. I laugh until I cry mostly every time. Mostly. ALSO (this is the edit) SO many tropes exposed by this podcast! FINALLY I can explain why some movies rub me the wrong way. Before I was like “idk, I just didn’t like it.” Now I’m like “THIS. This is what hit me wrong.” Particularly the damsel and black best friend tropes. Thank you for giving me tools to talk about these things in an intelligent way.
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-/ellehelle\-
Great show, strange ad content
Jamie and Caitlin, your show is one of my favorite podcasts. I love your conversations and guests. If you read reviews, I want to flag that I Heart is serving more right-wing ads. It’s really strange. Employees Only seems particularly against your values. It’s jarring. Keep being awesome!
EphemeralErika
Great show- keep talking ladies!
I love this show! Great guests every week. I love how the conversation is smart and the topic taken seriously yet the hosts don’t take themselves too seriously. It’s the perfect balance! I get my smart feminist critique served up with some comforting movie talk.
krystalcovert
Fun and educational (but)
I love this show and I always look forward to the hosts and their guests, but I am begging Jamie to stop chewing into the mic. It’s so awful and there are a handful of episodes I’ve noped out of because of smacking and gulping.
Oncethrown
More Jamie Loftus content 😍
Just finished reading Raw Dog and loved it so much. I’ve listened to My Year in Mensa at least six times? Learned a ton from Lolita Podcast and Aack Cast. Trying to find more Jamie Loftus content to consume and I’m so happy to have discovered this back catalog of movies that make up much of my core childhood memories. Caitlin is great too!
Katie_McQ_
467655776 stars!!!
I mean cat nipples!!!
mspassell
Amazing
led me to the gregnant meme and that lives rent free in my mind forever Also very thoughtful, funny and casual in a way that is a good time to listen to. I never watch movies and the recap makes me feel like I do.
lep08d
This show rules
I’ve been listening for a few years and am a huge fan!! Caitlin and Jamie are so frickin funny, and I’ve learned so so much from the show. Thanks, guys!!
T-schmozy
One of my F A V O R I T E S
Hey hey hi hello hey! For starters, I love everything Jamie Loftis does! (Not gonna lie.) I relate to her in many ways and it’s cathartic hearing her opinions on certain things because it’s fairly often they align with my own. Plus, her sense of humor seems very similar to mine, which can be somewhat hard to come across in other forms of traditional media. (Unless it’s an animated series, fantastical film, or something else that isn’t seen as “adult” oriented.) Jamie is out there, witty, and not afraid to just be a little silly. That said, this podcast is really fun, informative, and is a feel good kind of listen. What’s more, this podcast introduced me to Caitlin Durante, too. They remind me of some of my more grounded friends that have a tendency to keep things on track. Caitlin and Jamie’s chemistry and energy is infectious! They have such an amazing dynamic that creates a super cohesive flow. Sometimes (not all the time, but SOMETIMES) the guests can feel like third wheels, especially when their commentary is minimal or their audio quality is incredibly disconnected from the rest of the show. It definitely gives that “this person is calling in” sort of vibe. As far as the content and structure of the show goes, I really enjoy the formula and how they break down movies piece by piece in order to explore intersectionality and other feminist dynamics that aren’t usually explored at large. I will agree with other reviewers that, despite the focus on intersectionality, there can often be some missteps and performative moments. Typically, there will be a black guest if the movie in question discusses black issues, however, it’s not as common for a POC to just be… a natural recurring guest. Though, all in all, if you want a different perspective that challenges the status quo and might be a bit different from what you’re used to seeing or hearing day in and day out, give this one a listen.
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Klaskah
Screw any man who interrupts y’all
Also I googled uncanny valley and I still don’t understand what it means.
SammySquarepants
Loving so far :-)
I just saw Beau Is Afraid and I would love to hear y’all’s take on it. I need a feminist watching and discussion lol
madtopp
a truly shrekian podcast
I am such a fan of this show. The chit chat at the start of each episode may not be for everyone, but it is definitely for me. Jaime and Caitlin rock and I always enjoy hearing their insights and perspectives. I’ve started choosing to watch movies based on whether or not there is an episode covering them. The Nicole Kidman AMC commercial episode is a must-listen.
mirandathecurly
Glad It Exists
But much of it feels familiar and doesn’t land for me at this point in my life. Give it a listen if you haven’t.
From Taipei, with Love
Too much rambling
I may be the only reviewer who doesn't appreciate the endless rambling and supposedly humorous chit chat. I've listened to two episodes and it takes WAY too long for this pair to get down to actually reviewing the movie. I simply don't have the patience, focus nor the time to wait that long. And in the event that I do, the sometimes intelligible points made are interrupted by, you guessed it, more rambling. Stick to the point!
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Tiny Shepherdess
I want to hang out with these people.
I was hooked when the hosts nonchalantly connected Mean Girls and John Wick via violent acts with pencils.
danielbartolini
Geniuses…
Kaitlin really said it best in the Goofy Movie episode. “We are Geniuses.” Best movie criticism on the internet. Love the show. Keep up the good work.
zuijexari
It’s very shrekian for something to mean nothing
Truly love this show even if I’m still sad about the princess bride take down. Reliably funny and insightful. Good work
funpolicelou
Needs editing!
The titanic VHS tape #1 episode. Why are we 50 minutes in and you haven’t gotten to the content yet?! Why are you talking about the door and mythbusters? Shouldn’t that be for VHS #2? Are you even going to talk about the first half of the movie at all in this episode or are you just going to talk about how many times you’ve covered it on the Matreon? Oof, I’m sorry. I love you all but there is so much rambling sometimes that it becomes infuriating to listen to. “Is that all of our business?” happens at almost the 53 minute mark. Am I missing something here? Are you not wanting to discuss the actual content of the film? I’m giving 4 stars because I want to like the podcast. I feel like it could be better if you just thought more about your listener. Some of the episodes are very good and very funny but some are just so full tangents it doesn’t even feel like there is a substantial conversation or analysis which is disappointing for a podcast called the Bechdel Cast where you’re supposedly analyzing films through a feminist lens. I would like more of that.
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Jesssssssss2133537282
Titanic Rehash
Tbh this was my first time listening to a Titanic episode, and I was v dubious. Surprisingly, pleasantly, I loved it. Y’all are great.
sailor_puta
this podcast keeps me going
i talk about this podcast a couple times a day. i started listening in september of 2022 and have made my way through the backlog on the matreon. caitlin and jamie are hilarious and incredibly introspective. i look forward to every episode. great content. big laughs.
heeeeeehawwww
Love the show!
Thank you guys for keeping me company and making me laugh while we all collectively watch the world burn. Also! Fun fact, Common tenrecs have 36 nipples. (Ps. I just listened to the cats episode and you guys were coming up with cat pun names in the intro… and completely walked past Jamie clawftus)
gorb w
It’s the law!
Should be required listening for being a human.
Detritusboy
It’s The Most Fun
I love this show so much and I evangelize it tirelessly. If I’m going to be doing a lot of driving I’ll always cue up a few episodes.
Casey Jane (name is taken)
The Most Satisfying Podcast
I could not have told you how much I would need, adore and savor these conversations. It’s so rare to find temporary autonomous zones from sexism. This podcast provides respite from the barrage for a second. It is an amazing breath of fresh air.
jolieholland
An Iconic Duo!
Loved this show for many years now. Better every ep.
O-H-I-Know
A delight every week
Love the guests, perspective and dynamic. I appreciate that Caitlin and Jamie paved the way for our show.
Alex Steed
This is a 5-star podcast
No really, 5-stars! I like it, they have takes that I haven’t considered. It’s good, you should listen to an episode featuring a movie or guest you enjoy. Try new things!
Rich_Twice
Nothing but love for this show
I listen to episodes about movies I haven’t even seen yet, it’s just that nice to listen to.
economycheese
Simply the best!
I’ve loved this show for a long time and recommend it to everyone I know that enjoys movies and/or pop culture analysis. Caitlin and Jamie are so smart, passionate, and well-researched. Their takes are both nuanced and entertaining. The guests are always incredibly fun. Caitlin and Jamie strike a perfect balance between critiquing harmful film tropes/acknowledging systemic problems in the film industry and maintaining humor and leaning into silly repeating bits that let you feel like you have a lil inside joke with them. I’m a Patreon subscriber because I just want to hear as much as they are willing to share with the world!! This show has given me lots of giggles and made me a small amount smarter about the art I consume. 5 nipples every time.
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Smashleysage
I laughed, I cried, I thought seriously about Christina Applegate
I adore this podcast. Jamie and Caitlin are thoughtful and funny and kind to their guests. The Avatar ep was hilarious and thorough even though I never saw that film. (Also deeply frustrated why one would name a character Sully and not have it be short for Sullivan? Hello?) I look forward to more of their work!
metacom's revenge
Really wanted to like it!
I found this podcast when Jamie Loftus appeared on You’re Wrong About (one of my long—time favs). I was super excited by the concept - exploring intersectional feminism in film, but have disappointingly found it to be more about jokes than analyzing and dissecting these films. I often don’t understand why they choose the films that are discussed, the hosts regularly admit they didn’t do research on a specific idea/topic but talk about it anyway, and there is frequent explicit sexualization of men. I truly can’t tell if it’s a self-aware joke, like “Look how annoying it is when people are so sexualized in film that their character means nothing else!” or if Caitlin is just so horny she can’t see the irony of what she’s doing. But it’s just as annoying as when women are hyper-sexualized. I came for the film analysis, not the in-depth descriptions of how sexy some dad character is (to you). The episodes with guest hosts are usually really good. Definitely give those a try - having a voice of color or a specialized expert, helps provide some structure to reign these hosts in.
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PrincePercyPoole
Like it but question
I followed JL from her other work and am glad I found this one. The Avatar episode was great and the guest provided a ton of insight on aspects of indigenous character coding I never considered and on what Native communities say about the film. One thing I find a little weird tho is the logo for this podcast has two white ladies and two ladies of other races, but the actual two hosts are white ladies. It just seems like a weird choice to put darker skinned people in the logo unless those two are meant to be specific people. The two white ladies are smart and have great insight but why use these cartoon people to legitimize themselves? Maybe I missed something but… it is weird.
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-racer-
Very pseudo intellectual
They make some good points at times, but often they show that they did not understand the movies they review.
Qwertysump
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