Estradiol Illusions

Rudolph: A Transgender Perspective

Rudolph with your nose so bright, won't you guide my sleigh tonight? Such is the question Santa posed, after committing acts of intolerable cruelty against the poor young reindeer merely because he was born different.
Transgender people have heard this story before.
The TV special Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer reinforces casual bigotry. Its Santa is a giant asshole. Santa & Coach Comet can go straight to hell. No reindeer games, no presents, just a steaming pile of coal and permanent place on the naughty list. Never allow your oppressors to gaslight you into pulling their sleigh.
 
Ian's original article from 2017: https://ianthomasmalone.com/2017/12/a-transgender-perspective-on-rudolph-the-red-nosed-reindeer/
 
Poster courtesy of CBS

TTTE & Chill: Thomas' Snowy Surprise

Holiday themed TTTE & Chill! Join Ian & Tarabelle for a trip to the Island of Sodor for a bunch of snowy shenanigans. Percy's driver abandons him on a siding to be covered in ice, while Skarloey's crew roughs it out inside the igloo. Why didn't Terence get to come to Mrs. Kyndly's Christmas party? How is he supposed to watch over her house? All of that and more!
This tape covers the following episodes: 
 
It's Only Snow
Jack Frost
Toby Had a Little Lamb
Snow
Thomas' Christmas Party
Thomas and the Missing Christmas Tree
Winter Wonderland (Music Video)
**Note** We chose this tape over earlier Christmas' features as this one does not contain duplicate episodes that TTTE & Chill has already covered or is about to cover.
VHS image courtesy of Anchor Bay Entertainment

The Mandalorian Season 2 Recap (Episode 6)

Grab your jetpack and your Sarlacc pit, Boba Fett is back! The long-awaited return of everyone's favorite tertiary bounty hunter lived up to the hype. Temuera Morrison was absolutely superb.
Ian provides some context for Boba Fett's popularity, including his debut in the beloved Star Wars Holiday Special. Mando might not be very good at watching his son, but at least Grogu has darksaber to keep himself occupied.  
Ian's written review! https://ianthomasmalone.com/2020/12/the-mandalorian-season-2-review-chapter-14/

The Last Blockbuster

Grab your popcorn and your membership card, because we're making tonight a Blockbuster Night! We are so thrilled to host Sandi Harding, manager of the final Blockbuster store open in the world, located in Bend, Oregon, and Taylor Morden and Zeke Kamm, director & writer/producer of the fabulous new documentary The Last Blockbuster to the show.
Sandi shares plenty of great insights as to why her Blockbuster has survived in the streaming era, a staple of the Bend community. Taylor & Zeke share their experiences crafting the documentary and why Blockbuster is a place that sparks such fond memories for so many. The film is pure joy for cinephiles.
The Last Blockbuster premieres on VOD on December 15th.
To purchase merchandise from the last Blockbuster, please visit their website: https://bendblockbuster.com/ 
Ian's review of the film: https://ianthomasmalone.com/2020/12/the-last-blockbuster-is-pure-joy-for-film-aficionados/ 
 
Film poster courtesy of 1091 Pictures

The Slutcracker

We are delighted to continue our holiday coverage with a panel discussion on a Boston holiday staple: The Slutcracker, joined by creator/artistic director Vanessa White, performer Jolie LaVie, stage crew Rae Mansfield & makeup artist Sparklle T. Due to covid restrictions, The Slutcracker will make its on-screen debut with Slutcracker: The Movie, available now. Vanessa and the Slutcracker talent share plenty of behind the scenes stories and talk at length about the importance of bringing inclusion to the world of ballet.
To learn more about The Slutcracker: The Movie and where to rent the film, check out their website http://www.slutcracker.com/.
Be sure to follow the official Slutcracker pages, @slutcracker on Instagram & Facebook. 
 
 
Images courtesy of The Slutcracker
 

The Mandalorian Season 2 Recap (Episode 5)

100th episode of Estradiol Illusions! We dive into what Ian thought was the best episode of The Mandalorian ever, steeped in Star Wars' lore. Ahsoka Tano's live-action debut was flawless. Baby Yoda's name reveal, not so much. Do we have to call him Grogu? Ian doesn't want to. 
Thank you everyone for following us these for 100 episodes. Here's to another hundred!
Ian's written review: https://ianthomasmalone.com/2020/11/the-mandalorian-season-2-review-chapter-13/

Candis Cayne

We are delighted to welcome iconic transgender actress Candis Cayne to the show. Candis has appeared on such shows as The Magicians, Grey's Anatomy & Dirty Sexy Money. Candis recently starred in the new holiday film I Hate New Year's, which comes out December 4th on VOD. 
Candis talks about about storied career and the evolution of trans representation on screen, as well as her new role in I Hate New Year's. This holiday season will be tough for many, but the film offers LGBTQ people some much needed inclusivity in a genre often defined by its heteronormativity.
 

The Mandalorian Season 2 Recap (Episode 4)

Episode four takes us back to Nevarro, the pile of rocks not named Tatooine or Jakku. While Baby Yoda munches on space macarons, Mando, Greef, and Cara Dune seek to blow up the Imperial Remnant's lava base. Prequel fan favorite midichlorians return, evoking nostalgia for Jar Jar Binks.
Join ITM as she breaks down an uneven episode that pulled itself together right as the action started. Halfway through the season already! Time flies when you're using the force to steal cookies. 

Mark Nelson, Biosphere 2

Today we are joined by Dr. Mark Nelson, one of the eight original scientists who lived inside Biosphere 2 for two years in the early 90s. The events of Biosphere 2 were chronicled in the excellent documentary Spaceship Earth (available on Hulu), one of Ian's favorites from Sundance. Dr. Nelson talks at length about his experiences inside Biosphere 2, as well as many of the discoveries they made along their journey.
Dr. Nelson has a new book out called Life Under Glass: Crucial Lessons in Planetary Stewardship from Two Years Inside Biosphere 2. You can purchase it here: https://www.synergeticpress.com/shop/life-under-glass/
Dr. Nelson's other books include Pushing our Limits: Insights from Biosphere 2  (https://www.amazon.com/Pushing-Our-Limits-Insights-Biosphere/dp/0816537321) & The Wastewater Gardener: Preserving the Planet One Flush at a Time (https://www.synergeticpress.com/shop/the-wastewater-gardener/)

ASOIAF: Data Science & Network Theory

We're back in Westeros! Delighted to welcome Professor Colm Connaughton from the University of Warwick to discuss a paper he worked on, alongside a team from several universities in the UK & Ireland.
 
The paper "Narrative structure of A Song of Ice and Fire creates a fictional world with realistic measure of social complexity" dives into the ways George R.R. Martin has crafted such an intricate universe that mirrors our own society while remaining accessible to readers.
Colm presents many of his findings in a fascinating conversation that touches subjects including Barristan Selmy, House Frey, the Meereenese Knot, & podcast favorite Stannis Baratheon among many others. Join us for a delightful dive into Westeros lore.
The full paper can be read here (recommended reading before or during the episode): https://www.pnas.org/content/early/2020/10/27/2006465117
 
You can follow Colm on Twitter @CPConnaughton

The Mandalorian Season 2 Recap (Episode 3)

Big character reveals! Baby Yoda stops eating the last of Frog Lady's eggs! What could be better?
Join ITM for a discussion of a vast improvement over last episode. Three episodes in, the plot is finally moving forward! Cozy up with a bowl of octopus chowder and tune in for some Star Wars analysis. 
Ian's episode 3 recap: https://ianthomasmalone.com/2020/11/the-mandalorian-season-two-recap-chapter-eleven/

Sidney Flanigan

We are delighted to welcome actor & musician Sidney Flanigan to the show. Sidney made her acting debut in the spectacular film Never Rarely Sometimes Always at Sundance, one of Ian’s favorites from the festival. Sidney’s band Starjuice just released a new EP “Reminders,” which can be heard of Spotify. Sidney talks about her experiences making Never Rarely as well as the challenges of recording music in the covid era.
Be sure to check out Starjuice on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/3b4yx9xGEgYJW3Kp9kwZLO
Ian’s Sundance review of Never Rarely Sometimes Always: https://fansided.com/2020/01/25/never-rarely-sometimes-always-sundance-review/
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cover art courtesy of Starjuice. Headshot by Victoria Stevens. 

No Ordinary Man

Today we are delighted to host Aisling Chin-Yee, Chase Joynt & Amos Mac, co-directors and co-writers of the fascinating new documentary No Ordinary Man to the show. The film chronicles the life and legacy of jazz musician Billy Tipton, whose death sparked a media firestorm after it was revealed that he was a transgender man. Aisling, Chase, and Amos share plenty of insights from their experience making the doc, an important piece of LGBTQ cinema.    
 
No Ordinary Man is part of DOC NYC’s exciting slate. Tickets can be purchased here: https://www.docnyc.net/
 
Ian’s review of the film: https://ianthomasmalone.com/2020/10/no-ordinary-man/
 
Film poster courtesy of Parabola Films

Mandalorian Season 2 Recap (Episode 2)

Chapter 10, "The Passengers" was a bit of a mixed bag. The stellar action sequences were hindered by some pretty abysmal plotting and narrative choices. 
Are we supposed to care that Baby Yoda is casually eating the last of Frog Lady's eggs? Join host ITM as she breaks down this peculiar episode. 

Mandalorian Season 2 Recap (Episode 1)

Baby Yoda show is back! Join host ITM for an exciting recap of The Mandalorian's second season premiere, full of Tusken Raiders, Deadwood, and the return of fan favorite R5-D4.
Is Boba Fett going to be pissed that Raylan Givens borrowed his duds? Did Baby Yoda get enough blue milk? Do Krayt dragons dream of electric sandworms? Make yourself a nice bowl of spice melange and tune in to find out! 
Ian's episode one review: https://ianthomasmalone.com/2020/10/the-mandalorian-season-two-review-chapter-9/

Vote Joe Biden & 2020 Senate Analysis

Looking at you, unenthusiastic voters. Joe Biden is not a great candidate. This "decent" man has decades worth of indecent votes to his name, a shameful legacy that we shouldn't have to revisit in 2020. Alas, here we are.
Trump is infinitely worse. It's not even close. LGBTQ rights, reproductive rights, healthcare, and the very future of our nation is at stake. Voting doesn't need to be fun, but you need to vote. Trump may never end if we don't put a stop to this American Carnage. 
Ian also dives into the state of the 2020 Senate race and why it's way closer than the mainstream media thinks. Please, please, please vote. We can't pack the courts without senators who will do the packing. 
Fuck Trump. Vote Biden.