Episodes

  • “Jamie McKissyface.” 😚

    “Jamie McKissyface.” 😚
    Jun 7 2023
    On this week’s episode: surprising data on how marital status correlates with the amount of sleep that moms get; an amazing breakthrough happening with one profound psychiatric condition; the grueling and fun process of making our latest "80s kids" recording; and the story of how 15-year-old Jamie got kissed and heard a song that changed his life — on the same day! And that’s a wrap on Season 5 of The Misfit Stars Podcast! We’re going on summer break. Keep in touch! Don’t ever change! Other perfunctory end-of-school yearbook sentiments! We’ll see you again on the other side of summer! Have a good one! LINKS:  Listen to "Take On Me" here!  Psychology Today article on single moms and leisure time.  Seattle Times article about that catatonic woman who awakened after twenty years.
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    1 hr and 3 mins
  • “So good! So good! So good!” ⚾️

    “So good! So good! So good!” ⚾️
    May 31 2023
    On this week’s episode: all the awesome things that progressives can do when we give them power (way to go, Minnesota!); how orcas might be auditioning to carry on the John Wick vengeance franchise; all you never knew you needed to know about knowingness; and details about the best public toilet Shannon’s ever encountered.
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    57 mins
  • “We’re in epidemiological limbo.” 👻

    “We’re in epidemiological limbo.” 👻
    May 10 2023
    On this week’s episode: we celebrate the first instance of actual legal accountability for the disgraced former president; what it means and doesn’t mean that the WHO ended the Covid-19 emergency declaration; how the name David illustrates the absurd level of gender inequality in business; white supremacists' shocking (how are we still shocked?) and gruesome love affair with a murderous dictator; and how kindness cuts through all the bullshit. Here's that DNI annual threat assessment: https://www.dni.gov/files/ODNI/documents/assessments/ATA-2023-Unclassified-Report.pdf
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    47 mins
  • “We’re all in the in-group.” 🌈

    “We’re all in the in-group.” 🌈
    May 3 2023
    On this week’s episode: good news on gun legislation in our home state; a bonkers study about in-group dynamics and the implications it has for the fate of humanity; a recap of our very fun Good to Me theater debut; and the infallibility of actions that are centered in joy.
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    57 mins
  • “The soul is the beautiful part.” 🪞

    “The soul is the beautiful part.” 🪞
    Apr 12 2023
    On this week’s episode: conflicting court opinions regarding medication abortion, and the continuing assault on bodily autonomy and reproductive freedom in the US; holy corrupt courts, Batman!; baby surrender boxes (what the hell?); water, water … nowhere?; and a double dose of inspiration station (‘cause we really need it, y’all). It’s our last episode for a few weeks since we’ll be traveling for our big show debut! See ya on the other side.
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    42 mins
  • “The Need for Chaos.” 🌪️

    “The Need for Chaos.” 🌪️
    Apr 5 2023
    On this week’s episode: yes, we’re talking about that infamous guy who was arraigned on a few dozen felony crimes this week, and since we’re not legal experts, we’re talking about the thoughts and feelings we have about it from the perspective of regular people who believe that no one is above the law; the truth about inflation; the liberating gift that trans and nonbinary people give to all of us; and a reflection on belonging and purpose. LINKS: Katie Brotten's very moving piece of writing about purpose and belonging, as considered through the lens of her relationship with her recently-deceased dog companion Vinnie: https://www.facebook.com/katiebrotten/posts/10228693302050003 🚨 Buy tickets for our Sacramento theater show April 22: https://bstreettheatre.org/music/shannon-curtis/ Listen to our new song "Drive"! https://songwhip.com/shannoncurtis/drive
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    54 mins
  • “Survive to 75!” 👵🏻

    “Survive to 75!” 👵🏻
    Mar 29 2023
    On this week’s episode: the vulnerable feelings that are inherent in creative work / being human; the unsolved mystery of decreasing life expectancy in the United States; a helpful perspective on the origins of America’s unique-in-the-world gun culture; a fiery conversation about what can be done about all the damn gun deaths; and a published poem by one of our very own Misfit Stars supporting members. Here's where to subscribe to James Turner's (wonderful) newsletter: https://turnercreative.ck.page/one-creative-moment-signup Here are ideas for what you can do right now to help combat our gun death epidemic: https://yourlocalepidemiologist.substack.com/p/firearms-what-you-can-do-right-now Here's Misfit Star Jennifer Henry's wonderful new poem: https://www.consilience-journal.com/issue-12-excavate 🚨 Buy tickets for our Sacramento theater show April 22: https://bstreettheatre.org/music/shannon-curtis/ Listen to "Wouldn't It Be Good": https://songwhip.com/shannoncurtis/wouldnt-it-be-good Listen to "Good to Me": https://songwhip.com/shannoncurtis/good-to-me
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    1 hr and 21 mins
  • “Love the machine, hate the factory.” ⚙️

    “Love the machine, hate the factory.” ⚙️
    Mar 22 2023
    On this week’s episode: the fact that Fox News lies is (finally!) getting through to some of its viewers; how we’ve gotten the historical meaning of being a Luddite all wrong; how some revolutionary South Korean women aren’t smashing the patriarchy, but rather opting out of it; a helpful metaphor of entrepreneurship as a rigged carnival game; and how when things feel like they’re spinning out of control, they might actually be falling into place. 🚨 Buy tickets for our Sacramento theater show April 22: https://bstreettheatre.org/music/shannon-curtis/ Here's that Cory Doctorow piece, which is well worth reading: https://doctorow.medium.com/gig-work-is-the-opposite-of-steampunk-463e2730ef0d And here's that piece in The Cut about South Korean women opting out: https://www.thecut.com/2023/03/4b-movement-feminism-south-korea.html Listen to "Wouldn't It Be Good": https://songwhip.com/shannoncurtis/wouldnt-it-be-good Listen to "Good to Me": https://songwhip.com/shannoncurtis/good-to-me
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    53 mins