Episode 187: School Busing, Girlboss, and Lil Nas X

In this episode, Natalia, Neil, and Niki discuss the recent debate over school busing, the launch of the women’s networking platform, “Girlboss,” and the rapper Lil Nas X.

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Here are some links and references mentioned during this week’s show: 

• After Senators Joe Biden and Kamala Harris clashed at the Democratic debate, school busing is back in the news. Niki referred to historian Matt Delmont’s book on busing and to her own column at Australia’s The Age about the intergenerational dynamics of the Democratic debates. Natalia recommended Ansley T. Erickson’s book on desegregation in Nashville and Lily Geismer’s book on the limits of Boston-area liberalism.
• Entrepreneur Sophia Amoruso has founded a new venture, Girlboss, styled as a “LinkedIn for millennial women.” Natalia referred to this Buzzfeed article about the limits of “girlboss” empowerment.
• Rapper Lil Nas X is behind the summer’s biggest song – “Old Town Road” – and controversy. Natalia noted historian Mark Laver’s Washington Post article about the racist gatekeeping of the country music genre.

 

In our regular closing feature, What’s Making History:

• Natalia shared the new Wondery podcast, “The Shrink Next Door.”
• Neil discussed his cross-country trip.
• Niki recommended Nicole Cliffe’s SELF profile of Alanis Morrissette and also announced a new career move!