This week on Chib Chat our guest, the irreplaceable Gina Kaur Toor, leads us to take a big old step back into the Beforeworld, to 1997, with our discussion of Buffy the Vampire Slayer (starring Sarah Michelle Gellar, Alyson Hannigan, Anthony Head, Nicholas Brendon and David Boreanaz). We think about the restrictions of nineties feminism, gay vampires, scary faces à la Lost Boys style, and the 'chosen one' trope. Our conversation also wanders into the vast stretches of Gina's historical and cultural knowledge, whilst we question the intentions of male feminists in the vein of the show's creator, Joss Wheadon. Is he truly the clichéd white guy who wears a 'This is What a Feminist Looks Like' tshirt simply to attract women, or is his creation a valid attempt at developing complex female characters will inspire young viewers? 

This week we're joined by Merryn Thomas, a graduate from the University of Reading, who now works for The Back Up Trust in central London as a Courses Manager.  We chat about Crip Camp, released in March 2020 via Netflix, and directed by James Lebrecht (who has a leading role in the documentary) and Nicole Newnham. Crip Camp is the story of a group of young folks who come together each summer during the seventies to form their very own inclusive and accessible Woodstock. The profound feelings of community and empowerment that they experience as teenagers informs the basis of their activism as adults. Energized by their implacable leader Judith (Judy) Heumann, disability activists from across the United States revolt, calling for widespride legislative change and a stark improvement in equal rights for people with disabilities. Together, they change the course of history, whilst simultaneously uniting a hugely intersectional group of supporters - including LGBT collectives in San Francisco and the Black Panthers themselves (!). Our conversation delves into a whole host of themes, including self-empowerment, living your best life (apologies for the horrible cliche), relationships, celebrity connections, dating, politics, ableism, intersectionality, allyship and the complexities of language usage. Merryn is an outlandishly articulate and engaging speaker, as well as a very dear friend.  To find out more about The Back Up Trust, to access their resources, or to donate a cheeky bit of cash, visit https://www.backuptrust.org.uk/ Give them a follow on the socials too:  https://www.instagram.com/backuptrust/ https://twitter.com/backuptrust/ https://www.facebook.com/backuptrust/ https://www.youtube.com/user/BackUpTrust

This week we discuss The Old Guard, directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood (Love and Basketball (2000), The Secret Life of Bees (2008)) and released via Netflix in July 2020. The film stars Charlize Theron, Kiki Layne (If Beale Street Could Talk) and Harry Melling aka Dudley Dursley. Before you dive in, we wanted to let you know that there is some discussion of sexual abuse and harassment this week. If that's not what you need to hear right now, then consider skipping this episode. Furthermore, we give away LOTS of spoilers - just a heads up for anybody who hasn't watched The Old Guard yet, but is planning too. See here for a range of resources for survivors, according to your individual needs: https://www.rainn.org/national-resources-sexual-assault-survivors-and-their-loved-ones Stop It Now Wales [referenced by Danni]: https://www.stopitnow.org.uk/wales/

This week we chat with YouTuber and collaborator Turin about his choice of documentary: Ava DuVernay's 13th (also famed for her work on Selma (2014), A Wrinkle In Time (2018) and When They See US (2019).) 13th is currently available to stream via Netflix, but you can also watch it for free on YouTube: https://youtu.be/krfcq5pF8u8 It is mandatory viewing. Share it with your old folks, your younger siblings, your students, your colleagues - share it with everyone! The documentary combines archival footage with the testimony of scholars and educators, in order to reveal the manner in which US society has continued to perpetuate a system of enslavement, via the oppression of Black folks and the imposition of racialized stereotypes. This film will make you reasses everything you thought you knew about the "American" way of life.  We end the episode with the words of Kimberly L. Jones, who gives an impassioned speech about the economics of "looting" in the US. She is a published writer, film director and a former bookseller who devotes her time to a huge range of projects. You can find out more about her work here: https://www.kimjoneswrites.com To watch the full video of her speech use this link: https://youtu.be/llci8MVh8J4 For more on Turin's work - and to hear the both us using a range of daft voices - check out his YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMb8lhKcNLdD2e80K2PPNiw/featured (and of course like and subscribe).   Finally, for more info on how to help incarcerated folks in the US, check out the good work that the Ashville Prisonbooks group are doing: avlpb.org/prison/ Businesses such as JC Penny, Victoria's Secret, McDonald's, Wendy's, Starbucks, Verizon and Sprint are among the many who use prison labour. Be sure to vet everything you buy if not making purchases from an independent retailer.

This is the very first episode of Chib Chat and we are joined by Danni Jones - small business owner, experienced youth and community worker and a devoted Ru Paul fan. This week we start as we mean to go on by devoting our attention to the growing worldwide support for the Black Lives Matter movement and the particular challenges for trans people who belong to this community. We do so via the discussion of The Life and Death of Marsha P. Johnson (2017) and Netflix's Pose (2018). 2020 has been a seriously difficult year for many reasons, but on the Chib Chat pod we want to take a moment to recognise the triumphs of the Black Lives Matter movement in all of its intersectional glories If you do have a bit of spare cash please consider donating to one of the many wonderful organisations supporting trans people of colour. Here's an idea of which accounts you can follow on Instagram and who to donate to:  @ukqtibipocharshipfund  @glittercymru @btfacollective @blacktransmeninc @blacktranstravelfund @mpjinstitute [The Marsha P. Johnson Institute founded in her name] @bravespacealliance @twoc_collective If you're in the UK use the following link to search for services in your area: https://www.stonewallscotland.org.uk/about-us/news/qtipoc-organisations-you-should-know-about If you don't have any dough right now you always volunteer you time via your local BLM chapter. The following link is for US groups only: https://blacklivesmatter.com/chapters/ If for any reason you can't attend an event or volunteer, you can contribute by writing to your local political representative and signing online petitions. For something light, check our the BLM YouTube playlist where you literally raise funds simply by listening. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLtooIklzheqzORPbQBiEZKsw2T4s6SUxv If you liked what you heard, give us a cheeky rating or review, or recommend us to a friend.