Estradiol Illusions

The Little Drummer Boy

We are continuing our Rankin/Bass coverage with the 1968 classic The Little Drummer Boy. Aaron starts off our story as a misanthropic troubadour performing for an audience of none, only to be changed by the healing power of laughter after pounding his drum until a newborn baby saved his lamb. Ian isn’t sure what to make of her affection for Ben Haramad, the closest thing the special has to a villain who isn’t driving a chariot in the middle of the night.
 
Be sure to check out all of our holiday-themed episodes!

Rudolph‘s Shiny New Year

Holiday coverage continues! Join Ian as she unpacks the trainwreck known as Rudolph's Shiny New Year, where everyone's favorite bullied reindeer is tasked with saving time itself. From the Archipelago of Last Years to Eon the Terrible, nothing here makes any sense. The people in power continue to pick on young children, presenting the sensible question of whether time should be saved.
Be sure to check out our episode from last year covering the original Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer special: https://ianthomasmalone.podbean.com/e/rudolph-a-transgender-perspective/

A Muppet Christmas: Letters to Santa

Our holiday coverage continues! Ian & Tara talk about the 2008 TV special, A Muppet Christmas: Letters to Santa, currently available on Disney+. With strong writing, music from The Muppet Christmas Carol lyricist Paul Williams, and fun celebrity cameos from Uma Thurman, Jesse L. Martin, Whoopi Goldberg, and Nathan Lane, Letters to Santa is a very entertaining way to get into the Christmas spirit. 
Be sure to check out all of our holiday-themed episodes! If you've enjoyed EI this year, please consider leaving us a review.

The Muppet Christmas Carol

When a cold wind blows it chills you, chills you to the bone! Ian is joined by her sister Barbara "Bibble" Malone for an episode dedicated to the definitive holiday classic. Born out of tragedy after the losses of Jim Henson & Richard Hunt, the Muppet troupe banded together to produce one of their finest works. From Michael Caine's iconic performance to Paul Williams' chilling music, The Muppet Christmas Carol is perfect on just about every level, as long as you're watching a cut that contains "The Love is Gone."
Ian's review of the film: https://ianthomasmalone.com/2019/12/the-muppet-christmas-carol-is-the-definitive-christmas-classic/
 

Archie Kao - Christmas at the Ranch

We are delighted to kick off our holiday coverage with Archie Kao, star of the new film Christmas at the Ranch from Tello Films. Archie is also known to international audiences for his roles on shows such as Power Rangers: Lost Galaxy, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, and Chicago P.D.
Archie & Ian talk about Christmas at the Ranch's thoroughly inclusive LGBTQ narrative, Archie's experiences making the film, and an extended conversation on Lost Galaxy bound to delight fans of our Power Rangers coverage. Christmas at the Ranch is a great addition to the holiday genre, perfect for a cozy weekend afternoon. 
You can learn more about Christmas at the Ranch here: https://www.tellofilms.com/products/christmas-at-the-ranch
Ian's review of the film: https://ianthomasmalone.com/2021/12/christmas-at-the-ranch-brings-an-inclusive-touch-to-the-holiday-genre/
Christmas at the Ranch still/poster courtesy of Christin Baker/Tello Films.
Power Rangers: Lost Galaxy still courtesy of Saban Films.
Headshot courtesy of Archie Kao. 
 

TTTE & Chill: Rusty to the Rescue

Back on the Island of Sodor! Rusty to the Rescue introduces the narrow gauge engines and Stepney, the Bluebell Engine who’s maybe lying about liking bluebells in order to escape the scrapyard. Some of the new engines we meet receive new names by the end of the tape, a very confusing dynamic for this series’ young target demographic. Ian & Tarabelle dissect the complexities of these small new engines. Ian also does way too many Harold the Helicopter impressions.
 
This tape includes the following episodes
 
Granpuff
Sleeping Beauty
A Bad Day for Sir Handel
Rusty Helps Peter Sam
Rusty to the Rescue
Thomas and Stepney
Gone Fishing (song)
 

Mighty Morphin Power Rangers (Season 2)

We are back in Angel Grove. Joined by special guest Kennedy Cooper for an in-depth discussion of one of the weirdest seasons in Power Rangers history. Upgrading the Dinozords to the Thunderzords rendered much of the "Zyuranger 2" zord footage unusable, instead spliced together often with mixed results.
Season two featured plenty of great two-part gems, including the iconic "White Light," which introduced the White Ranger. This season marked the departure of original rangers Jason, Zack, and Trini to a years-long "peace conference." Ian & Kennedy discuss of all that and more in this jam-packed episode.
Kennedy cohosts a Super Sentai/Power Rangers podcast called the Sentai Truther Club, which is highly recommended listening. You can check it out here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sentai-truther-club/id1527939510 (also available wherever you get your podcasts)
You can also follow them on Twitter @kennedytcooper
 
 
 
 

Storm‘s End

We are back in Westeros! Jim McGeehin returns to the show for a wide-ranging discussion on Storm’s End, the Stormlands, and the region’s significance within ASOIAF. George R.R. Martin’s worldbuilding is so rich that we can do an entire podcast episode about a mundane topic with relatively little bearing on the overall narrative. Lots of talk on Robert’s Rebellion, The War of the Five Kings, and (f)Aegon’s upcoming plans.
You can follow Jim on Twitter @JM_SLAL, on Tumblr, and on his YouTube page
Jim’s last appearance on the show: https://ianthomasmalone.podbean.com/e/stannis-baratheon-in-the-north/
Be sure to check out all of our other ASOIAF/Game of Thrones episodes.
Map of the Stormlands courtesy of HBO.

Mighty Morphin Power Rangers (Season 1)

It's morphin time! Grab your spandex and your zord, it's time for an in-depth look at one at a pivotal piece of 90s popular culture. Ian and special guest Colin George-Babb explore the first season, full of iconic monsters and the tropes that have come to define the series in the decades since its premiere. Ian and Colin discuss the origins of the series and what they love about this fabulous first season.
No putties were hurt in the making of this episode! 
You can follow Colin at gokaiburakku
 

X-Men: Krakoa

The Reign of X is upon us! Ian and special guest Ed Carroll try to cover the wide range from House of X #1 through Inferno #1 in one hour. This episode is designed to be a "local comic book shop" style chat about the Krakoan era, what worked and what hasn't worked, and some predictions for the end of Jonathan Hickman's iconic run.
Spoiler warnings: Inferno #1 is discussed. Knowledge of all the various X books is definitely not required.
For more of Ed, follow him on Twitter @EdRevelator34
Ed's previous EI appearance: https://ianthomasmalone.podbean.com/e/crisis-on-infinite-earths-1579289163/
Inferno #1 cover courtesy of Marvel Comics.
 

The Controversy over the new Alanis Morissette doc ”Jagged”

A new documentary about Alanis Morissette's iconic album Jagged Little Pill premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival. Morissette herself is not happy with director Alison Klayman's work on Jagged. Ian has seen the doc and finds the whole saga a bit perplexing.
Ian's review of the documentary from TIFF: https://ianthomasmalone.com/2021/09/tiff-review-jagged/
The Deadline article referenced in the episode: https://deadline.com/video/alanis-morissette-documentary-jagged-director-alison-klayman-interview/
Image courtesy of TIFF

Confessions From My New Vagina (Promo)

ITM has a comedy special out! Ian wanted to share some thoughts about why she wanted to make a trans-themed comedy album. She's a little rusty after taking the summer off from podcasting, but very happy to have the special finally out in the world.
Confessions From My New Vagina is available on all major music streaming websites.
Spotify
Apple Music
Amazon Music
Thank you for your support. Please tell all your friends and family and strangers on the street.
 

BloodSisters: Leather, Dykes And Sadomasochism

Happy Pride Month everyone! We are joined today by Michelle Handelman, director of the 1995 classic film BloodSisters: Leather, Dykes And Sadomasochism, which follows the vibrant leatherdyke scene in San Francisco.
Michelle talks about the legacy of the film and its continued relevance, especially as the subject of "kink at Pride" causes its annual faux controversy. Michelle also shares plenty of insights from making the film and the evolution of LGBTQ culture in the 25 years since its release.
Check out a trailer for the film, remastered for its anniversary release with newly recorded bonus features. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7PLMekZhzBQ&t=41s
The remastered DVD will be released on June 29th. You can pre-order here: https://www.kinolorber.com/product/bloodsisters-leather-dykes-sadomasochism-dvd  

Star Trek: The Next Generation - "Yesterday's Enterprise"

We are back on the Enterprise-D, and also the Enterprise-C. Tasha Yar faced a tragically silly death in "Skin of Evil," marvelously analyzed on this humble podcast. Natty Strange is back to help us assess the return of everyone's favorite lesbian chief of security and her weird relationship with Shooter McGavin. 
 
You can follow Nat on Twitter @nuns_on_film. Be sure to check out her new Star Trek blog, deepspacenat.com and her new Twitch channel
You can follow Pokey the Penguin's latest adventures by checking out Pokey's website https://www.yellow5.com/pokey/ & @pokeythepenguin

Jupiter's Legacy w/ co-DP Nicole Hirsch Whitaker

We are delighted to welcome Nicole Hirsch Whitaker to the show to talk about her work as co-director of photography for the new Netflix series Jupiter's Legacy. Nicole shares plenty of insights from behind the scenes and the way she worked to shape the show's unique aesthetic in the crowded superhero landscape. Ian & Nicole also talk about the challenges of framing a series with a giant spoiler that fans of the comic book will know all too well.
 
 
Jupiter's Legacy is currently streaming on Netflix.
 
Headshot courtesy of Nicole Hirsch Whitaker. Series poster courtesy of Netflix.
 

Jessica Ellis

We are delighted to welcome filmmaker Jessica Ellis for an in-depth conversation about her new film What Lies West, a delightful coming of age movie shot in Jessica's hometown Sonoma County. Jessica shares many insights into indie filmmaking, along with some valuable perspectives on Disneyland and the LA sandwich scene.
 
What Lies West comes out May 11th on VOD & DVD. You can learn more about the film at https://www.whatlieswest.com/. 
Ian's review of the film: https://ianthomasmalone.com/2021/05/what-lies-west-is-a-charming-confident-indie-coming-of-story/