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Gen-Zers might only know Winona Ryder from “Stranger Things.” But Winona has lived lives. She grew up in a commune, without television and in the company of people like the godfather of LSD. She became one of the most unique and influential actors of the ‘90s – a goth girl, a smart girl, an “it” girl. She was also very open about her struggles with mental health. And then, she got shut out of Hollywood. In this episode, Maria makes the case of why Winona Ryder’s incredible life so far proves she is the ultimate cool girl among us.  Watch this episode on YouTube Video of Winona making faces  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When Bill Cinton appeared on the Arsenio Hall Show playing the sax during his presidential campaign in 1992, it changed political campaigning for good. But Arsenio Hall did much more — he changed late night TV culture. And he did it all while being accused of being too Black by critics and then a sellout by some Black folks.  Arsenio had critics from all sides and yet he somehow stayed gracious, sharp, innovative. Today, Maria looks at how Arsenio became an antidote to a staid late night formula during the five years he was on air and how we lost out on a great entertainer.  Watch this episode on YouTube See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight Maria talks about her favorite creatures in literature: vampires! Because they’re the sexiest creatures of the night, the monsters of beauty and darkness and carnal desires. And also.. the queerest of creatures. From Lord Byron and Mary Shelley’s legendary queer summer, to Bram Stoker’s yesterqueer soul to the first Lesbian vampire “Carmilla” — let yourself feel the night and your innermost desires with this episode and our beloved vampires’ poem of liberation. Watch this episode on YouTube See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s 2005 and Kate Moss is at a high point of her modeling career. Then the Daily Mirror publishes photos of her doing coke. Labels started canceling their contracts with the top model that had become the face of the “heroin chic” era. People say this may be the end of Kate’s career… Who were they kidding? Kate Moss’ career was built on the party girl persona. Maria looks at how Kate Moss embodies a specific era that was obsessed with thinness, drugs and partying. And what her story reveals about who’s afforded the space to be a little messy in life and who’s not. Watch this episode on YouTube See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new “Sense and Sensibility” movie just came out. Netflix is about to premiere yet another adaptation of “Pride and Prejudice”... 200 years later, why are we still so thirsty for 19th Century England? In this episode, Maria and senior producer Marta Martinez talk about the Goddess Jane Austen, who made 19th Century England the perfect landscape for our romantic fantasies, they argue about what the best adaptation of “Pride and Prejudice” is and how Bridgerton took fantasies to whole other level of horniness.    Watch this episode on YouTube See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There’s one thing Mexicans are famous for: their politeness. For some, it might even be too much and seen as a legacy of colonization — like their use of the word “¿Mande?” (order me). In this episode, Maria reveals how there’s so much more to Mexican politeness than just cultural norms or etiquette. From being generous and hospitable, to using tender words and lots, lots, lots of diminutives, politeness runs deep in the Mexican ethos.  Watch this episode on YouTube See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s 2007 and icon Britney Spears is supposed to make her comeback after trying to be out of the spotlight for a while. She’s going to perform the single from her new album — an album that will change music forever. When Britney emerges from the stage, a stunner in a sequined bikini top and micro shorts, Maria sees an artist trying to find her footing again, performing a song that was very unique-sounding for the time. But the media saw something different. Today, Maria is going to call some people out for their lack of vision, for their cruelty, for messing with our girl Britney Jean Spears.  Watch this episode on YouTube See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For centuries, c*nt has been widely seen as the most degrading, the most vile, the most uncouth word of the English language. But in recent years, that has changed. On TV shows, movies and all over the internet, people are proudly serving c*nt. How did that happen? Maria tells you the very enlightening history of the word c*nt. We travel back to pre-historic times, to the Middle Ages, to the 1960s and ‘70s ‘80s. All in search for the origins of c*nt and the people who defended it —most notably Black trans women and dolls at balls.  Watch this episode on YouTube See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The release of an adaptation of Beyoncé’s song “Irreplaceable” in Spanish, “Irreemplazable,” sampling Selena Quintanilla’s hit “Como la flor” recently sparked an uproar. In this episode, Maria digs deeper, by exploring how Selena’s musical and aesthetic style was heavily informed by Black artists and how Beyoncé has shown her love for Latine music for more than 20 years.  Watch this episode on YouTube See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why is Meryl Streep called the greatest living actor? Today, Maria walks us through Meryl’s wide range of career phases. From her accent phase, to her controversial rom-com phase and her “mean-mommy” era. Because before becoming a “BILF” (Boss I’d Like to F**k) in “The Devil Wears Prada,” Meryl had to endure Hollywood’s sexism and ageism. In this episode, Maria reveals how Meryl’s success wasn’t guided mostly by strategy, but by something quieter, something deeper — an instinctual compass.   Watch this episode on YouTube See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

More than 25 years after its release, “Love & Basketball” (2000) still redefines what a love story can be. It’s not just a movie about basketball. It’s about a girl and her dreams, and what it means to believe in yourself against the odds. Today, producer and WNBA superfan Brittany Cronin joins Maria to talk all things “Love & Basketball” – behind-the-scenes romance, girls in sports, the lesbian lore surrounding the film and professional women’s basketball, and why this movie is straight-up film canon. Watch this episode on YouTube See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

They were glamour, talent, beauty – captured in a duo. They were the darling of American Pop and R&B Mariah Carey and the sun of Mexico, Luis Miguel. Two world-dominating artists at the top of their game, successful, rich, gorgeous who belonged to different universes.Until they went on a blind date and fell in love. Maria explores the fairytale love story between Mariah and Luis Miguel, and how movie-worthy romantic gestures can’t make up for finding a partner who understands and accepts where you come from. Watch this episode on YouTube See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Maria asked: why are there no divas anymore? Her friend Paris Alston said, “society traded divas for baddies.” When Maria thinks of the artist that embodies the baddie spirit in her mind most of all, it’s the princess of R&B Aaliyah. A young girl who became a woman as she made music history, transforming R&B and redefining pop and hip hop. Her style was a key part of her personality as well. Aaliyah carried her femininity with an edge. She was an independent thinker, a music visionary, a fashion icon. Today, Maria makes the case of why Aaliyah is the inspiration for the modern baddie era. Watch this episode on YouTube. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When Maria discovered Shakira’s album “Pies Descalzos” at 12 years old, her brain chemistry got altered. Shakira was a revelation: her alternative leather pants, her messy makeup, and that blackest of black hair. Shakira was the antidote to the different shades of blonde that dominated MTV in the late 1990s and early 2000s, the bastion of hope for brunette Latinas. Until the year 2000. The year the world changed. The year Shakira… went blonde! In this episode, Maria analyzes how Shakira’s hair reveals something about an entire generation’s relationship to beauty, assimilation and longing.  Watch this episode on YouTube. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In a relationship, are you a golden retriever or a black cat? Maria is… neither. She’s a human chihuahua. Because they’re fierce, protective of their loved ones, ancient and some might say magical. Today, the story of the chihuahua like you haven’t heard it before. From spirit guides of the great Toltecs and Mexica to their near extermination during colonization, from their TV star role in food advertising to the objectification by Hollywood. You’ll never look at a chihuahua the same way after you listen to this episode.  Watch this episode on YouTube. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.