She rose to stardom as a teenager and has stayed at the top for almost twenty years. In this episode, I dive into the career trajectory of Taylor Swift and explore what her journey has to say about growing up as so many of us have watched her do so in the public eye. I also discuss why she appeals so much to teenage girls, and what's the potential dark side to such popularity.

You can sign up for my Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/WildeandDarling

Some things I read:
https://www.theswiftmuseum.com/life-and-career

https://www.theteenmagazine.com/the-invalidation-of-the-interests-of-teenage-girls-and-young-women

An incredibly special episode! I talk to the talented, intelligent and passionate Tom Christophersen about one of our seminal childhood films, the 1986 Jim Henson classic 'Labyrinth.' We really get INTO IT in this episode. We talk about the incredible technical achievements in this movie, the magic of puppetry and practical events, and the underrated genius that is Jim Henson. Beyond that, we talk about this film as a queer allegory, an extraordinary coming of age story, and an exploration of smashing the patriarchy. Topics of discussion also include the morbidity of kids movies from the 80s, David Bowie's clearly visible penis, and the alternative universe where this movie stars Sting and Jane Krakowski.

You can find Tom's work at their website here, and also find them on social media at @_tompoly.

You can watch The Making of the Labyrinth on YouTube here.

My Patreon bonus episode this month is further discussion with Tom, where we get into our shared childhood memories, the importance of creative arts expression for children, and what their big influences were as a young person on who they are now.

You can sign up for my Patreon here.

In which I dig into the newest element of the Santa Claus story, and how a picture book and toy written by a mother/daughter team has become a global phenomenon. I discuss the history and origins of Elf on the Shelf, and explore some of the critcisms of it. Spoiler alert: this thing makes people MAD.

If you want to support the podcast and get monthly bonus episodes, you can subscribe to my Patreon here:
https://www.patreon.com/WildeandDarling

References and further reading:
Medium: Where Did This “Elf on the Shelf” Come From?

HuffPost: The Strange And Sweet History Of The Elf On The Shelf

TODAY: What's the Elf on the Shelf story?

The Telegraph: The real story behind Elf on the Shelf

Woman's Day: What Is The Elf on the Shelf and How Does It Work?

The Atlantic: You're a Creepy One, Elf on the Shelf

Vox: The Elf on the Shelf is the greatest fraud ever pulled on children

The Washington Post: The Elf on the Shelf: It must be stopped!

The New York Times: Beware the Elf on the Shelf, Privacy Watchdogs Warn

The Guardian: Elf on the Shelf is a fun and festive way to teach your child to submit to the surveillance state

HerFamily: Elf on the Shelf is actually pretty bad for your kids, according to an expert

PsychologyToday: Will the Elf on the Shelf Improve Your Child's Behavior?

The Sydney Morning Herald: Why the Elf on the Shelf is banned from my home