The C-Word

Episod

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  Marion Jones 20.08.2026 1j 14min

  Marion Jones was a track star and Olympic champion. Despite her record-breaking athletic prowess, her career was torpedoed by doping allegations that would ultimately end in a prison stay. In this episode, Lena and Alissa discuss the pressure our public places on athletes—especially women of color—to become symbols of American exceptionalism.This episode was first published on 03/03/2022.
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  Winona Ryder, Part 2 13.08.2026 1j

  In this episode Lena and Alissa tackle Winona Ryder’s infamous shoplifting incident and the very public trial that followed. They also discuss her friendships with Gwyneth Paltrow and former C-Word subject Brittany Murphy, the tabloid rumors about Winona's romantic relationships, her career hiatus, and her eventual comeback, with the show Stranger Things.This episode was first published on 02/17/2022.
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  Winona Ryder, Part 1 06.08.2026 1j 7min

  Lena and Alissa discuss Winona Ryder—90s icon, chic misfit, and poster child of gen-x nostalgia. In this episode: Winona’s nontraditional childhood, 90s bullies, her meteoric rise, her relationship with Johnny Depp, and the events leading up to her infamous shoplifting incident.This episode was first published on 02/03/2022.
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  Madam Alex 30.07.2026 1j 9min

  Hollywood madam Elizabeth Adams (aka Madam Alex) ran a high-end Beverly Hills prostitution ring in the 70s and 80s. Her women — many of whom went on to become famous actors — were set apart by their manicured glamor, poise, and intellect, making her business THE go-to escort service of the Hollywood elite. In this episode, Lena and Alissa unpack the OG Hollywood madam’s affinity for muumuus, fraught dealings with the Los Angeles Police Department, and relationship with the successor to her empire, Heidi Fleiss. This episode was first published on 01/06/2022.
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  Eva Rausing 23.07.2026 55min

  Eva Rausing was an heiress and philanthropist whose struggle with addiction made her tabloid fodder. In 2012, the gruesome circumstances of her death left the public to rehash and question her relationship to drugs, crime, and her family. In this episode, Lena and Alissa discuss addiction, privilege, and squalor.This episode was first published on 12/21/2021.
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  Chyna, Part 2 16.07.2026 50min

  In the conclusion of Chyna's story, Lena and Alissa discuss Chyna’s attempts to reclaim her career after being fired from the WWE, her reality television appearances, and her crossover into the adult entertainment industry. Also, in this episode: the themes of addiction and enablers, as well as the story of Chyna’s death in 2016. This episode was first published on 12/09/2019.
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  Introducing: Money Moves with Jill Schlesinger 14.07.2026 24min

  There’s a lot of dopey financial advice out there. Jill Schlesinger is here to call it out, answer your questions, break down the financial news that actually matters, and help you manage your money without losing your mind. No jargon. No judgment. Just clear, actionable financial guidance about saving, investing, buying a home, managing your career, and deciding how to spend your hard-earned dollars.  When it’s time to panic, Jill will tell you. When everyone else is panicking and you shouldn’t be, Jill will tell you that too. Your money. Your move. Let’s go.
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  Chyna, Part 1 09.07.2026 50min

  Chyna was an iconic wrestler, body builder, and later adult entertainment actress. In this episode, Lena and Alissa discuss gender dynamics in the WWE, Chyna’s early years, and her rise to fame as one of the first women wrestlers who could physically rival men.This episode was first published on 11/29/2019.
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  Isabella Blow 02.07.2026 1j 19min

  Isabella Blow was a magazine editor, style icon, and muse, known for discovering fashion greats like Alexander McQueen and Stella Tenant. She was legendary for her outlandish outfits, her dirty sense of humor, and her habit of stripping at parties. In this episode, Lena and Alissa discuss musedom, eccentricity and aging, and fashion in the early 2000s. This episode was first published on 11/11/2021.
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  Our 50th Episode ft. Quentin Tarantino 25.06.2026 51min

  Lena, Alissa, and special guest, Quentin Tarantino, discuss fandom, fame, badly-behaved women characters, and the corrosive effects of Hollywood sexism. Quentin also shares film recommendations, and gives his take on past C-Word episode subjects. This episode was first published on 10/28/2021.
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  Marie Antoinette, Part 2 18.06.2026 1j 11min

  The episode turns the lens on the latter half of Marie Antoinette’s life, including the rumors, bad decisions, and mounting pressure that culminated in her eventual beheading. Lena and Alissa also examine her evolution as a contemporary cultural icon, and criticize the meme-ified sad girl version of Marie Antoinette that is often popularized today. This episode was first published on 10/14/2021.
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  Marie Antoinette, Part 1 11.06.2026 53min

  Lena and Alissa discuss Marie Antoinette, the last queen of France before the French revolution and cultural symbol of royal excess. In this episode: Marie Antoinette’s marriage as an adolescent, her iconic pouf hairstyle, and the series of events that would make her France’s public enemy No. 1. This episode was first published on 09/30/2021.
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  Vanessa Marquez 04.06.2026 1j 9min

  Vanessa Marquez was an actress best known for her role as Nurse Wendy on ER. Later, she would appear on the reality television show Intervention, which showcased her shopping addiction and agoraphobia. During #metoo, she spoke out about sexual harassment on set. Lena and Alissa discuss how past trauma impacts health, Vanessa’s prolific online posts, and police brutality. This episode was first published on 08/19/2021.
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  Amy Winehouse, Part 2 28.05.2026 57min

  In Part 2, Lena and Alissa unpack the years leading up to Amy Winehouse’s death in 2011. They discuss rehab, bad boyfriends, and the 27 club. This episode was first published on 08/05/2021.
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  Amy Winehouse, Part 1 21.05.2026 56min

  Recognized for her singular voice and iconic beehive, Amy Winehouse became a near-instant music legend as well as a tabloid mainstay in the 2000s. On the 10th anniversary of her death, Lena and Alissa discuss the singer-songwriter’s precocious talent, her rebellious teen years, and the start to a bad romance that would fuel her later work as well as her addictions.  This episode was first published on 07/22/2021.
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  Nancy Spungen 14.05.2026 1j 21min

  Nancy Spungen was a groupie and major figure of the 1970’s punk rock scene. Her tumultuous relationship with Sid Vicious of the Sex Pistols became so infamous that “Sid and Nancy” has become a moniker for bad romances. Their relationship was characterized by drug abuse, violence, and codependence, and ended with Nancy’s murder in their shared hotel room. In this episode, Lena and Alissa discuss the controversies surrounding Nancy’s death, her early years as a bad teenager, and being labeled “annoying.”  This episode was first published on 07/08/2021.
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  Frances Farmer, Part 2 07.05.2026 48min

  In part two of Frances Farmer’s story, Lena and Alissa examine Frances’ later years out of the spotlight, her battles with addiction, and the posthumous repackaging of her legacy.  This episode was first published on 06/24/2021.
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  Frances Farmer, Part 1 30.04.2026 46min

  Although Frances Farmer was a star of Hollywood’s “Golden Era” and an intellectual powerhouse in her own right, her achievements have been overshadowed by myths surrounding her public struggles with mental health. Her periods in psychiatric hospitals and involuntary confinement have entered pop culture lore, immortalized by everyone from Jessica Lange to Kurt Cobain. In the first of two parts, Lena and Alissa consider Frances’s early rebellious years, her ascent to fame, and the relationships that shaped her burgeoning career.  This episode was first published on 06/10/2021.
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  Bai Ling 23.04.2026 56min

  Before Bai Ling was labeled a “wacktress” by the tabloids, she was a prolific actress best known in the U.S. for her role in the cult classic, The Crow. Her wacky behavior and soundbites about living on the moon made her a frequent character of the early 2000s press. In this episode, Lena and Alissa unpack Bai’s childhood in Mao Zedong’s China, her ascent as an American star, her iconic stint on Celebrity Rehab, and the myths about Asian-American womanhood that continue to saturate the public’s perception about her.  This episode was first published on 05/27/2021.
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  Introducing Family Lore 21.04.2026 3min

  Family Lore is a weekly narrative podcast that celebrates and investigates ancestral mystique. Each episode begins with a guest sharing a fascinating family legend, followed by a historical deep-dive to uncover the truth and meaning behind the tale. Available now: link.pscrb.fm/f0281/FLFD