Content warning for discussions of rape and sexual assault as well as a reference to torture.

This week I sat down to talk with Emma Cooper, creator of the comedy show Rape is Real & Everywhere, which highlights the comedy and storytelling of rape and sexual assault survivors. I had a chance to see the show during the Vancouver Fringe Festival this year, and then got to sit down with Emma to talk about the cathartic power of comedy, burnout in activist work, the challenges and rewards of producing a show that touches viewers so deeply, getting past our desire to be good, and a whole lot more. Speaking of more, here are some links!

• First off, here’s the link to Emma’s show on November 23 in Vancouver!
• And here’s the Facebook event for the Secret Feminist Agenda meet-up on November 8. You can find the rest of the events and buy tickets and passes at vanpodfest.ca.
• Emma mentions a bunch of comedians, including Alex Sparling, Amber Harper-Young, Heather Jordan Ross, Randee Neumeyer, and Ryan Lachance. You should go follow them all!
• They also recommend Good One: A Podcast About Jokes
• Some of the books I mentioned were I Hope We Choose Love by Kai Cheng Thom and The Witches Are Coming by Lindy West.
• I also talked about the use of photography by the Khmer Rouge and my sad dissertation.

The podcast theme song is “Mesh Shirt” by Mom Jeans off their album “Chub Rub.” Listen to the whole album here or learn more about them here. Emma’s theme song was “Praying” by Kesha.

Secret Feminist Agenda is recorded and produced by Hannah McGregor on the traditional and unceded territories of the Squamish, Musqueam, and Tsleil-Waututh First Nations.