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A podcast celebrating political moments on TV teen dramas, hosted by union communicator and teen drama enthusiast Maria DiPasquale.
Produced by Jeff McHale, with art by Maddy Wiryo (logo + season 1) and Charles O’Leary (seasons 2-5, movie specials)
Episodes
Sunday Dec 21, 2025
Sunday Dec 21, 2025
Welcome back to our series of special episodes covering political moments in teen movies! To close out 2025, Maria is joined by Mo and Christina, the co-hosts of the Movies That Raised Us podcast, to dive into the American Girl cinematic universe via SAMANTHA: AN AMERICAN GIRL HOLIDAY (2004) starring a young AnnaSophia Robb. This deeply political story traces 1904, an unforgettable year in Samantha Parkington’s life, exploring class difference, child labor, women’s suffrage, and workers’ rights. Samantha goes on quite the journey, from plotting to jail break her friends from an orphanage to witnessing the harrowing factory injury scene that stuck with Mo as a child. In true American Girl fashion, Samantha ultimately gives an unsanctioned speech about factory working conditions at a school event, learning that sometimes you have to break the rules to fight for justice. Plus: we discuss Uncle Gard and Aunt Cornelia as THEE hottie brownstone socialist power couple, Mia Farrow gagging us as Grandmary, and how Samantha’s fits remain undefeated.
For this episode, we recommend you first watch or have familiarity with SAMANTHA: AN AMERICAN GIRL HOLIDAY, rentable on YouTube and Apple TV.
FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL | instagram, tumblr, tiktok, bluesky: @leftistteendrama | twitter, letterboxd: @leftyteendrama | website: leftistteendrama.com
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ABOUT US:
MARIA DIPASQUALE (she/her; host/editor) is a Brooklyn-based union communicator, organizer, and writer who watches too much TV. She splits her free time between devouring teen dramas, creating this podcast, tenant organizing, and writing and reading (fan)fiction. Follow Maria on Twitter @Maria_DiP26, IG @mdzip, and tiktok @marialovesunions.
MO CRUZ (she/her; guest) and CHRISTINA SCHMIDT (she/her; guest) are co-hosts of Movies That Raised Us, a weekly film review podcast. Once Upon A Time (aka freshman year of college), Mo and Christina met in the big apple. While neither became Princess of Genovia or found their long lost twin sister, they did bond over the movies that put those ideas in their heads. If you long for the days of talking through movies with your best friends, analyzing every juicy detail, and making whatever film you just watched your entire personality- look no further. Sit back and relax, as Mo and Christina cover formative movies, flip phones, and growing up on Movies That Raised Us. Listen to the pod anywhere you get your podcasts, plus find MTRU on Instagram, Tiktok, and Twitter.
JEFF MCHALE (he/him; producer) is an extremely online guy who plays games, works in the cannabis industry, and loves talking old TV.
CHARLES S. O’LEARY (they/he; art) is a designer + writer based in Richmond, VA. They're currently getting their MFA in Graphic Design at Virginia Commonwealth University, and spend most of their time unsuccessfully scheming how to get off Instagram (@c.s.0.l).
Maria and Jeff’s good union cats CLARENCE and VINNY may make an appearance and/or be mentioned.
intro song: Stomping the Room by Delicate Beats
All opinions shared on this show are that of individuals and do not represent the views of any organization we may be affiliated with.
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SOURCES DISCUSSED IN THE EPISODE:
- December 13, 2023, Collider, 'American Girl' Movie In Development From Mattel, Paramount by Rob London
- September 24, 2025, Retail Dive, The American Girl doll of the year is Samantha’s great, great granddaughter. By Kaarin Moore
- October 29, 2025, Michael Lange, How Zohran Can Reach 50% (includes discussion of the “Commie Corridor.”)
- November 3, 2025, Michael Lange, Predicting Every Block of the 2025 NYC Mayoral Election
Sunday Dec 14, 2025
Sunday Dec 14, 2025
In the Leftist Teen Drama Season 5 finale, Maria is joined by twins Kelly Gilbert and Mick Gilbert to contrast the experiences of Catholic teenage girls coming of age in Belfast and Derry during The Troubles on SAY NOTHING (2024) and DERRY GIRLS (2018-2022). For one set of teen girl characters – Marian and Dolours Price – the Cause and the war are all consuming, inseparable from their experience of girlhood. But for teen characters in the DERRY GIRLS universe – Clare Devlin, Erin Quinn, Orla McCool, and Michelle Mallon [and honorarily James Maguire] – the Troubles are simply the political backdrop of their girlhoods, with much more teenage problems often taking a front seat instead. Still, thorough lines run through the stories: a deep hatred for British colonialism; common socioeconomic conditions and the Catholic working class solidarity that comes with it; and, overall, a love for Ireland. We discuss all the political complexities explored on the two shows, ending with a lot more questions than answers.
For this episode, we recommend you first watch or have familiarity with DERRY GIRLS Seasons 1-3, streaming on Netflix, and SAY NOTHING Season 1, streaming on Hulu and Disney+.
FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL | instagram, tumblr, tiktok, bluesky: @leftistteendrama | twitter, letterboxd: @leftyteendrama | website: leftistteendrama.com
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ABOUT US:
MARIA DIPASQUALE (she/her; host/editor) is a Brooklyn-based union communicator, organizer, and writer who watches too much TV. She splits her free time between devouring teen dramas, creating this podcast, tenant organizing, and writing and reading (fan)fiction. Follow Maria on Twitter @Maria_DiP26, IG @mdzip, and tiktok @marialovesunions.
KELLY GILBERT (she/her; recurring guest) is a student (phd in Twilight), sometimes activist, teen drama aficionado in Brooklyn! Find her IRL every night drinking her sorrows away at Margaritaville, the Jimmy Buffet Experience!
MICK GILBERT (they/them; recurring guest) is a comic based between Upstate NY and Brooklyn, and Kelly’s identical twin! They love Degrassi: The Next Generation and turn to it for wisdom on how to be the best 32 year old Canadian teen they can be.
JEFF MCHALE (he/him; producer) is an extremely online guy who plays games, works in the cannabis industry, and loves talking old TV.
CHARLES S. O’LEARY (they/he; art) is a designer + writer based in Richmond, VA. They're currently getting their MFA in Graphic Design at Virginia Commonwealth University, and spend most of their time unsuccessfully scheming how to get off Instagram (@c.s.0.l).
Maria and Jeff’s good union cats CLARENCE and VINNY may make an appearance and/or be mentioned.
intro song: Stomping the Room by Delicate Beats
All opinions shared on this show are that of individuals and do not represent the views of any organization we may be affiliated with.
_
SOURCES DISCUSSED IN THE EPISODE:
- Say Nothing: A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland by Patrick Radden Keefe
- March 4, 2019, Prospect Magazine, In Derry Girls and Milkman, teenage girls dance through the Troubles by Caroline Magennis
- May 2, 2019, Counterpunch, An American Reporter in Belfast: How a New Yorker Writer Got So Much Wrong in His Bestselling Book On The Troubles by Ed Moloney
- June 10, 2025, Los Angeles Times, ‘Say Nothing’ courted a global audience. In Ireland, it sparked a heated debate by Lesley O’Toole
- July 29, 2025, Hollywood Reporter, Disney Sued for Defamation Over FX Series ‘Say Nothing’ by Katie Kilkenny
- December 9, 2025, The Guardian, Britain’s ‘golden egg’: how IRA agent Freddie Scappaticci was protected to the end by Daniel Boffey
SUGGESTED FURTHER READING/LISTENING:
- One Man's Terrorist: A Political History of the IRA by Daniel Finn
- The podcast Mick listened to beforehand: Redhanded, Episode 224 - The Guildford Four & The Maguire Seven
Sunday Dec 07, 2025
Sunday Dec 07, 2025
In the penultimate episode of Leftist Teen Drama Season 5, Maria is joined by fellow union comms girlie Diana Hussein to dive into the SAVED BY THE BELL (1989-1993) Teachers’ Strike episode. As the first of multiple Leftist Teen Drama episodes on this quintessential ‘90s teen show, we dive into this short-lived plotline in which Zack and Slater manipulate Principal Belding and union president Mr. Tuttle to ensure Bayside teachers go on strike so Zack and Slater can get out of school. Despite the shaky motives, the teachers do end the strike with a better contract than they started with, making this probably the weirdest strike episode we’ve discussed so far.
For this episode, we recommend you first watch or have familiarity with SAVED BY THE BELL but especially the “Teachers Strike” episode, streaming on Tubi.
FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL | instagram, tumblr, tiktok, bluesky: @leftistteendrama | twitter, letterboxd: @leftyteendrama | website: leftistteendrama.com
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ABOUT US:
MARIA DIPASQUALE (she/her; host/editor) is a Brooklyn-based union communicator, organizer, and writer who watches too much TV. She splits her free time between devouring teen dramas, creating this podcast, tenant organizing, and writing and reading (fan)fiction. Follow Maria on Twitter @Maria_DiP26, IG @mdzip, and tiktok @marialovesunions.
DIANA HUSSEIN (she/her; recurring guest) has done Communications in the labor movement for nearly a decade. As a kid, Diana collected 1980s teen romance novels at garage sales and flea markets with her mom. This obsession later translated into a love for TV shows of that genre. From the days of My So-Called Life and Daria, to The O.C. and Gossip Girl, she still holds a passion for young adult storylines today — especially when they feature working-class narratives.
JEFF MCHALE (he/him; producer) is an extremely online guy who plays games, works in the cannabis industry, and loves talking old TV.
CHARLES S. O’LEARY (they/he; art) is a designer + writer based in Richmond, VA. They're currently getting their MFA in Graphic Design at Virginia Commonwealth University, and spend most of their time unsuccessfully scheming how to get off Instagram (@c.s.0.l).
Maria and Jeff’s good union cats CLARENCE and VINNY may make an appearance and/or be mentioned.
intro song: Stomping the Room by Delicate Beats
All opinions shared on this show are that of individuals and do not represent the views of any organization we may be affiliated with.
Sunday Nov 30, 2025
Sunday Nov 30, 2025
Maria is joined by Dondré Taylor-Stewart for Leftist Teen Drama’s first episode covering A DIFFERENT WORLD (1987-1993) – but it certainly won’t be our last. Once Debbie Allen took the helm in Season 2, she mde HBCU politics a cornerstone of the show, dealing with issues ranging from colorism and racism to HIV and date rape. We focus on Season 2’s “Radio Free Hillman,” a Martin Luther King, Jr. Day dedication episode in which Hillman College students stage a sit-in at a campus admin building after Dwayne Wayne’s radio show is abruptly pulled off the air. We talk about Freddie Brooks as a more natural protest leader than Dwayne; the short-lived movement’s demands, tactics, and strategy, or lack thereof; and the valuable lesson learned by Dwayne when he ultimately realizes that he jumped the gun in playing new, unreleased music without first listening to its contents.
For this episode, we recommend you first watch or have familiarity with A DIFFERENT WORLD, but especially Season 2, Episode 10, “Radio Free Hillman,” streaming on Netflix.
FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL | instagram, tumblr, tiktok, bluesky: @leftistteendrama | twitter, letterboxd: @leftyteendrama | website: leftistteendrama.com
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ABOUT US:
MARIA DIPASQUALE (she/her; host/editor) is a Brooklyn-based union communicator, organizer, and writer who watches too much TV. She splits her free time between devouring teen dramas, creating this podcast, tenant organizing, and writing and reading (fan)fiction. Follow Maria on Twitter @Maria_DiP26, IG @mdzip, and tiktok @marialovesunions.
DONDRÉ TAYLOR-STEWART (he/him; recurring guest) is a Jersey-born, Jamaican-raised TV writer in Los Angeles. His writing focuses on Black and queer characters finding themselves amid society's margins. By day, he works in environmental public policy; by night, he's busy crafting original pilots and DJ-ing.
JEFF MCHALE (he/him; producer) is an extremely online guy who plays games, works in the cannabis industry, and loves talking old TV.
CHARLES S. O’LEARY (they/he; art) is a designer + writer based in Richmond, VA. They're currently getting their MFA in Graphic Design at Virginia Commonwealth University, and spend most of their time unsuccessfully scheming how to get off Instagram (@c.s.0.l).
Maria and Jeff’s good union cats CLARENCE and VINNY may make an appearance and/or be mentioned.
intro song: Stomping the Room by Delicate Beats
All opinions shared on this show are that of individuals and do not represent the views of any organization we may be affiliated with.
_
SOURCES DISCUSSED IN THE EPISODE:
October 26, 2020, Essence, Young, Gifted And Black: The Impact Of 'A Different World' 30 Years Later by Jessica Littles
Sunday Nov 23, 2025
Sunday Nov 23, 2025
**SPOILERS INSIDE** DO NOT LISTEN BEFORE YOU FINISH SEASON 1.
At first glance, WE WERE LIARS (2025-present) might seem like any other rich kid teen drama, but this show goes much deeper with its anticapitalist and anticolonial messages than most. Maria and Kelly Diaz break down the entire first season as the Liars – Cadence Sinclair, Gat Patil, Johnny Sinclair, and Mirren Sinclair – begin to shift their perspectives on the private island where they spend their summers, and the high-profile capitalist patriarch Harris Sinclair who rules over it all.
For this episode, we STRONGLY recommend you first watch the entirety of WE WERE LIARS Season 1, streaming on Prime Video, and/or have read the entirety of the book We Were Liars by E. Lockhart.
FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL | instagram, tumblr, tiktok, bluesky: @leftistteendrama | twitter, letterboxd: @leftyteendrama | website: leftistteendrama.com
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ABOUT US:
MARIA DIPASQUALE (she/her; host/editor) is a Brooklyn-based union communicator, organizer, and writer who watches too much TV. She splits her free time between devouring teen dramas, creating this podcast, tenant organizing, and writing and reading (fan)fiction. Follow Maria on Twitter @Maria_DiP26, IG @mdzip, and tiktok @marialovesunions.
KELLY DIAZ (she/her; recurring guest) is a Research Program Manager at Yale University studying disability & chronic illness justice, access, and inclusion. She is also an adjunct instructor of Media Studies at the City College of New York (CCNY). She has a Ph.D. from the Annenberg School for Communication at the University of Pennsylvania where she wrote her dissertation on depictions of youth activism on television. She loves to analyze and discuss the intersection of pop culture and politics and is passionate about the role entertainment plays in social justice movements. She has a dog, Matilda "Tillie," who is named after the magical, brilliant, and justice-serving character!
JEFF MCHALE (he/him; producer) is an extremely online guy who plays games, works in the cannabis industry, and loves talking old TV.
CHARLES S. O’LEARY (they/he; art) is a designer + writer based in Richmond, VA. They're currently getting their MFA in Graphic Design at Virginia Commonwealth University, and spend most of their time unsuccessfully scheming how to get off Instagram (@c.s.0.l).
Maria and Jeff’s good union cats CLARENCE and VINNY may make an appearance and/or be mentioned.
intro song: Stomping the Room by Delicate Beats
All opinions shared on this show are that of individuals and do not represent the views of any organization we may be affiliated with.
_
SOURCES DISCUSSED IN THE EPISODE:
September 17, 2025, Elle, We Were Liars Season 2: Everything We Know by Aimée Lutkin and Lauren Puckett-Pop
Sunday Nov 16, 2025
Sunday Nov 16, 2025
Maria is joined by fellow union comrade and FREAKS AND GEEKS (1999-2000) superfan Margaret McLaughlin to break down the political themes of the show’s one and only season, which is firmly set in the 1980-1981 school year. We discuss Lindsay Weir’s journey walking the tightrope between “freak” and “geek,” and the way she tests the waters of finding her political voice; the controversial yet revealing episode “Kim Kelly Is My Friend”; and Bill Haverchuck as a solid representation of the latchkey kid. We also analyze all the political themes of Season 1, Episode 17, which features groundbreaking intersex representation in the character of Amy, as well as a vice presidential visit to McKinley High that has all the characters talking politics and gives Lindsay the chance to speak truth to power.
For this episode, we recommend you first watch or have familiarity with the entirety of FREAKS AND GEEKS Season 1, but especially Season 1, Episode 3, “Tricks and Treats,” Season 1, Episode 4, “Kim Kelly Is My Friend,” Season 1, Episode 17, “The Little Things,” and Season 1, Episode 18, “Discos and Dragons.”
FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL | instagram, tumblr, tiktok, bluesky: @leftistteendrama | twitter, letterboxd: @leftyteendrama | website: leftistteendrama.com
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ABOUT US:
MARIA DIPASQUALE (she/her; host/editor) is a Brooklyn-based union communicator, organizer, and writer who watches too much TV. She splits her free time between devouring teen dramas, creating this podcast, tenant organizing, and writing and reading (fan)fiction. Follow Maria on Twitter @Maria_DiP26, IG @mdzip, and tiktok @marialovesunions.
MARGARET MCLAUGHLIN (she/her; guest) is a Philly-born, LA-based labor organizer and aficionado of both high cinema and trash tv. Her favorite movie of the last five years is LA CHIMERA (watch it!) and most disgusting, trainwreck watch of a tv show is Secret Lives of Mormon Wives (please don’t do mental harm to yourself by watching). She’s offline but sometimes you can find her on Twitter at @mags_mclaugh
JEFF MCHALE (he/him; producer) is an extremely online guy who plays games, works in the cannabis industry, and loves talking old TV.
CHARLES S. O’LEARY (they/he; art) is a designer + writer based in Richmond, VA. They're currently getting their MFA in Graphic Design at Virginia Commonwealth University, and spend most of their time unsuccessfully scheming how to get off Instagram (@c.s.0.l).
Maria and Jeff’s good union cats CLARENCE and VINNY may make an appearance and/or be mentioned.
intro song: Stomping the Room by Delicate Beats
All opinions shared on this show are that of individuals and do not represent the views of any organization we may be affiliated with.
_
SOURCES DISCUSSED IN THE EPISODE:
- Freaks, Gleeks, and Dawson's Creek: How Seven Teen Shows Transformed Television by Thea Glassman
- And listen to our SPECIAL EP: Leftist Teen Drama In Conversation with Thea Glassman for more insights from the Freaks and Geeks chapter of the book!
- September 23, 2014, Buzzfeed News, Meet Television's Groundbreaking Intersex Character by Louis Peitzman
- December 6, 2012, Vanity Fair: Paul Feig: What Would’ve Happened to Every Character in Freaks and Geeks’ Lost Second Season by Robert Lloyd
Sunday Nov 09, 2025
Sunday Nov 09, 2025
Maria is appropriately joined by two of her fellow millennial teen drama Internet friends, Abir Mohammad and Jillian Bonanne, to break down the queer college journey of Benny Scanlon on Season 1 of OVERCOMPENSATING (2025-present.) The vaguely 2010s campus setting of this show feels all too familiar, providing at times painfully accurate representations of the college experience for the younger end of the millennial generation – including the fact that many LGBTQIA+ millennials came out in college/university, rather than in high school. We analyze and celebrate the non-linear and unrushed way that Benny’s story begins to unfold, and what we hope to see in the upcoming second season.
For this episode, we recommend you first watch or have familiarity with OVERCOMPENSATING Season 1, streaming on Prime Video.
FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL | instagram, tumblr, tiktok, bluesky: @leftistteendrama | twitter, letterboxd: @leftyteendrama | website: leftistteendrama.com
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ABOUT US:
MARIA DIPASQUALE (she/her; host/editor) is a Brooklyn-based union communicator, organizer, and writer who watches too much TV. She splits her free time between devouring teen dramas, creating this podcast, tenant organizing, and writing and reading (fan)fiction. Follow Maria on Twitter @Maria_DiP26, IG @mdzip, and tiktok @marialovesunions.
ABIR MOHAMMAD (he/him; recurring guest) is a London-based Writer and Casting Assistant with a passion for YA media. He likes to write about the specific experiences surrounding the queer, brown, Muslim and working class communities that he grew up in, and can talk your ear off about the casting of any TV show you can think of. Follow Abir on Twitter @abirmohxmmad or Instagram @abirmohammad.
JILLIAN BONANNE (she/her; guest) is a content creator, podcaster, and certified teen drama superfan in NYC. Whether she's breaking down love triangles, visiting filming locations, or ranking heartthrobs, she brings nostalgia, humor, and a pop culture brain that never sleeps. Follow Jillian on IG, TikTok & YouTube @previouslyon_teentv
JEFF MCHALE (he/him; producer) is an extremely online guy who plays games, works in the cannabis industry, and loves talking old TV.
CHARLES S. O’LEARY (they/he; art) is a designer + writer based in Richmond, VA. They're currently getting their MFA in Graphic Design at Virginia Commonwealth University, and spend most of their time unsuccessfully scheming how to get off Instagram (@c.s.0.l).
Maria and Jeff’s good union cats CLARENCE and VINNY may make an appearance and/or be mentioned.
intro song: Stomping the Room by Delicate Beats
All opinions shared on this show are that of individuals and do not represent the views of any organization we may be affiliated with.
_
SOURCES DISCUSSED IN THE EPISODE:
- Elle, May 22, 2025, The Joy Of 'Overcompensating' Is How It Celebrates Millennial Culture Rather Than Cringing Over It
Sunday Nov 02, 2025
Sunday Nov 02, 2025
In fulfillment of a listener request from @vanesawye on Tumblr, Maria and recurring guest Dondré Taylor-Stewart break down the HBO Max teen drama GENERA+ION (2021). This short but impactful show is packed with political moments, from Chester’s recurring experience of getting dress coded for being visibly queer to Delilah subverting the activist character trope. We talk about Greta’s asexuality, Nathan’s experience of coming out as bisexual while having conservative parents, and how cruel of a decision it was for HBO Max to cancel and pull a show that so many queer teens could see themselves in.
For this episode, we’d usually recommend you first watch or have familiarity with GENERA+ION Season 1, but it’s incredibly hard to find so we mostly just wish you luck in trying to watch it.
FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL | instagram, tumblr, tiktok, bluesky: @leftistteendrama | twitter, letterboxd: @leftyteendrama | website: leftistteendrama.com
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ABOUT US:
MARIA DIPASQUALE (she/her; host/editor) is a Brooklyn-based union communicator, organizer, and writer who watches too much TV. She splits her free time between devouring teen dramas, creating this podcast, tenant organizing, and writing and reading (fan)fiction. Follow Maria on Twitter @Maria_DiP26, IG @mdzip, and tiktok @marialovesunions.
DONDRÉ TAYLOR-STEWART (he/him; recurring guest) is a Jersey-born, Jamaican-raised TV writer in Los Angeles. His writing focuses on Black and queer characters finding themselves amid society's margins. By day, he works in environmental public policy; by night, he's busy crafting original pilots and DJ-ing.
JEFF MCHALE (he/him; producer) is an extremely online guy who plays games, works in the cannabis industry, and loves talking old TV.
CHARLES S. O’LEARY (they/he; art) is a designer + writer based in Richmond, VA. They're currently getting their MFA in Graphic Design at Virginia Commonwealth University, and spend most of their time unsuccessfully scheming how to get off Instagram (@c.s.0.l).
Maria and Jeff’s good union cats CLARENCE and VINNY may make an appearance and/or be mentioned.
intro song: Stomping the Room by Delicate Beats
All opinions shared on this show are that of individuals and do not represent the views of any organization we may be affiliated with.
_
SOURCES DISCUSSED IN THE EPISODE:
- Queerty, May 22, 2025, Justice for ‘Genera+ion’: Why the queer HBO Max teen series still deserves its flowers by David Opie
- The Daily Beast, August 18, 2022, Why Is HBO Max Erasing the Best Queer Teen Series From Existence? by Fletcher Peters
- Entertainment Weekly, September 15, 2021, Genera+ion co-creator responds to show's cancellation, answers most-asked finale questions by Zelda Barnz
- AwardsWatch, July 8, 2021, Interview: Justice Smith talkin’ about his ‘genera+ion’ and celebrating queer identity by Michael-Michelle Pratt
- IndieWire, March 11, 2021, ‘Genera+ion’ Review: HBO Max’s Gen Z Dramedy Is Confused About Its Identity by Jude Dry
- Variety, March 5, 2021, HBO Max’s ‘Generation’ Takes on Gen Z With Familiar Teen Show Tropes: TV Review by Caroline Framke
Sunday Oct 26, 2025
Sunday Oct 26, 2025
Maria is joined by recurring guest Kelly Diaz and disability rights activist Sasha Blair-Goldensohn to talk about disability justice on both SEX EDUCATION (2019-2023) and in real life. In Sex Education Season 4, wheelchair user Isaac Goodwin disrupts mock exams to protest the chronically broken elevator at Cavendish College, inspiring the entire student body to hold an impromptu sit-in until the lift is fixed. We talk about this inspiring direct action and how it parallels the real-life fight to make the New York City subway system fully wheelchair-accessible, a fight of which Sasha is part! Kelly and Maria also generally break down disability representation on the show, as shown through the characters of Isaac Goodwin and Aisha Green, a deaf character introduced in Season 4 who also plays a pivotal role in the sit-in.
For this episode, we recommend you first watch or have familiarity with SEX EDUCATION Seasons 1-4, but especially Season 4, Episode 7, “Episode 7,” streaming on Netflix.
FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL | instagram, tumblr, tiktok, bluesky: @leftistteendrama | twitter, letterboxd: @leftyteendrama | website: leftistteendrama.com
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ABOUT US:
MARIA DIPASQUALE (she/her; host/editor) is a Brooklyn-based union communicator, organizer, and writer who watches too much TV. She splits her free time between devouring teen dramas, creating this podcast, tenant organizing, and writing and reading (fan)fiction. Follow Maria on Twitter @Maria_DiP26, IG @mdzip, and tiktok @marialovesunions.
KELLY DIAZ (she/her; recurring guest) is a Research Program Manager at Yale University studying disability & chronic illness justice, access, and inclusion. She is also an adjunct instructor of Media Studies at the City College of New York (CCNY). She has a Ph.D. from the Annenberg School for Communication at the University of Pennsylvania where she wrote her dissertation on depictions of youth activism on television. She loves to analyze and discuss the intersection of pop culture and politics and is passionate about the role entertainment plays in social justice movements. She has a dog, Matilda "Tillie," who is named after the magical, brilliant, and justice-serving character!
SASHA BLAIR-GOLDENSOHN (he/him; guest) works at Google Maps to make accessible, disability-inclusive places, transit and walking routes easier to find. He is also an activist with the Rise and Resist Elevator Action Group for New York City subway accessibility, and has appeared in the New York Times, Vital City, West Side Rag, PBS and Vice News.
JEFF MCHALE (he/him; producer) is an extremely online guy who plays games, works in the cannabis industry, and loves talking old TV.
CHARLES S. O’LEARY (they/he; art) is a designer + writer based in Richmond, VA. They're currently getting their MFA in Graphic Design at Virginia Commonwealth University, and spend most of their time unsuccessfully scheming how to get off Instagram (@c.s.0.l).
Maria and Jeff’s good union cats CLARENCE and VINNY may make an appearance and/or be mentioned.
intro song: Stomping the Room by Delicate Beats
All opinions shared on this show are that of individuals and do not represent the views of any organization we may be affiliated with.
_
SOURCES DISCUSSED IN THE EPISODE:
- Joyce, M. (2025). Perspective: Highlighting Disability Voices and Viewpoints through Artistry and Accessibility [Conference presentation]. 4th Annual Symposium for Disability and Accessibility at Yale, New Haven, CT, United States.
- Bradley, D., Pombier, N., Rodriguez, M. T., and Sonneborn, L. (2025). Access as Invitation: Challenging the Constraints of Normative Arts Participation [Conference presentation]. 4th Annual Symposium for Disability and Accessibility at Yale, New Haven, CT, United States.
- Disabled Art Collectives:
- https://www.thedisabilitycollective.com
- Hook & Loop in Philadelphia- https://whyy.org/articles/undue-burden-painted-bride-philadelphia-artists-disabilities/
- Intertwine Arts- https://www.intertwinearts.org
- Crip Camp
- Stanford Social Innovation Review, Winter 2017: The Curb-Cut Effect by Angela Glover Blackwell
- NYC Subway Elevator Action Group and activity timeline
- RAR / EAG ADA35 march, July 26, 2025: photos, more photos, Sasha's speech, Village Star article (good, though low crowd estimate -- perhaps closer to 1k).
SUGGESTED FURTHER READING/WATCHING/LISTENING:
- 2024 NYPL talk: 15 Years on Wheels
- June NPR: "Meet the Google engineer making Maps more accessible”
- May 2024 New Accessibility Updates across Lookout, Google Maps and more - Keyword post including the icon launch on desktop Maps, now at 50M+ establishments.
- October 2023 8 Ways we’re making daily tasks more accessible: Accessible Walking Routes, Disabed-Owned business attribute.
- May 2023 5 products and features that make the digital world more accessible Keyword post by UX Researcher Jerry Robinson, including the visible-by-default icon added to mobile Maps at 40M+ worldwide places.
- December 2022 Help users discover more with New Places API Updates Keyword by James Harrison including developer access to wheelchair accessibility data via the Place Details API.
- November 2022 New Maps Updates to Help You Make the Most of the Holidays - Keyword by Amanda Leicht-Moore including Worldwide Availability of Wheelchair Accessible Places (previously US,GB,AU,JP only).
- December 2021 Architectural Digest “Design for All” profile: Sasha Blair-Goldensohn: The tech innovator maps a more accessible future. Interview and summary of Maps ADI work.
- May 2021 How Anyone Can Make Maps More Accessible - Keyword post by Mara Chomsky highlighting Local Guide contributions
- May 2020 Find wheelchair accessible places with Google Maps - Keyword blog post announcing Maps setting, by Sasha Blair-Goldensohn
- December 2019 How I'm Making Maps Better for Wheelchair Users Like Me - Keyword blog post from Sasha Blair-Goldensohn
- October 2019 Detailed Voice Guidance for Users with Vision Impairment - Keyword post from Wakana Sugiyama
Sunday Oct 19, 2025
Sunday Oct 19, 2025
TW: sexual assault (and the fallout) discussed throughout the episode
Maria is joined by Rosalie Murray and Kelly Gilbert to discuss Paige Michalchuk’s sexual assault plotline as depicted over several seasons of DEGRASSI: THE NEXT GENERATION (2002-2015). Similar to Tim Riggins’ arc that we discussed in Episode #7, this plotline begs for an abolitionist reading. From spontaneously singing “Poor Thing” and driving Dean out of a public space to outing him as a rapist at his frat house and facing his lawyer down in court, Paige goes on quite the character journey as she processes her trauma. We break it all down while also arguing that Paige’s experience pressing charges against her rapist is essentially an essay on why the carceral system fails to bring any sort of meaningful justice for sexual assault survivors.
For this episode, we recommend you first watch or have familiarity with DEGRASSI: THE NEXT GENERATION Seasons 1-4, but especially Season 2, Episodes 7-8, “Shout,” Parts 1 and 2; Season 2, Episode 20, “How Soon Is Now?”; and Season 4, Episodes 1-2, “Ghost in the Machine,” Parts 1 and 2, currently streaming on multiple services, including YouTube, HBO Max, Tubi, and Hulu.
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ABOUT US:
MARIA DIPASQUALE (she/her; host/editor) is a Brooklyn-based union communicator, organizer, and writer who watches too much TV. She splits her free time between devouring teen dramas, creating this podcast, tenant organizing, and writing and reading (fan)fiction. Follow Maria on Twitter @Maria_DiP26, IG @mdzip, and tiktok @marialovesunions.
ROSALIE MURRAY (she/her; recurring guest) is an elementary school social worker/human living in Queens, NY. Besides spending time with her cat, Louise, she loves to cook tasty ass vegan food with friends, karaoke-ing or starting another ceramic project. She also loves to watch endless youtube videos, reality television and, of course, Degrassi.
KELLY GILBERT (she/her; recurring guest) is a student (phd in Twilight), sometimes activist, teen drama aficionado in Brooklyn! Find her IRL every night drinking her sorrows away at Margaritaville, the Jimmy Buffet Experience!
JEFF MCHALE (he/him; producer) is an extremely online guy who plays games, works in the cannabis industry, and loves talking old TV.
CHARLES S. O’LEARY (they/he; art) is a designer + writer based in Richmond, VA. They're currently getting their MFA in Graphic Design at Virginia Commonwealth University, and spend most of their time unsuccessfully scheming how to get off Instagram (@c.s.0.l).
Maria and Jeff’s good union cats CLARENCE and VINNY may make an appearance and/or be mentioned.
intro song: Stomping the Room by Delicate Beats
All opinions shared on this show are that of individuals and do not represent the views of any organization we may be affiliated with.
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SOURCES DISCUSSED IN THE EPISODE:
- Transform Harm, February 18, 2020, Surviving Rape as a Prison Abolitionist by Miriam Perez-Putnam
- Transform Harm, June 25, 2020, What About the Rapists and Murderers? By Angel Parker
- The Cut, October 1, 2020, Aching for Abolition As a survivor of sexual violence, I know prison isn’t the answer. by Camonghne Felix
- Xtra Magazine, July 2, 2021, Degrassi’s Paige Michalchuk was complicated, to say the least, but her journey was my journey by Mira Miller
- Chanel Miller, Know My Name: A Memoir
- Are Prisons Obsolete? by Angela Y. Davis
SUGGESTED FURTHER READING: