For me, a podcast is the perfect activity to accompany a walk to university, a night of cooking or baking, or even the occasional Sims game night. Whilst I enjoy a range of podcasts (The Rest is Politics is a regular of mine), it was one of the most recent episodes of Call Her Daddy that had me hooked. I admit, I am not the most loyal listener of Alex Cooper’s podcast, and yet I do enjoy an occasional dip into her humorous yet often thought-provoking conversations with celebrities, hence why I couldn’t resist her interview with Michelle Obama.
Touching on a variety of topics, from double standards, to the creation of competition by the patriarchy, and finally landing on a hopeful note about the current political climate, the episode lasted almost two hours. However, the most significant message that stood out to me from the podcast was the importance of female friendship.
The former First Lady describes navigating the sometimes complex field of friendships with women within a patriarchal system, reminding the listener of the importance of making good choices, as well as the responsibility of maintaining relationships. She reflects on her time in the White House, and how she strove to put in extra effort, aware of the distance that her status created between her and other new mothers.
The message of the podcast is clear: despite the patriarchy continuing to pit women against each other, it is integral that we continue to lift each other up, take our friends on our journeys, and make them feel as important as they are.
Photo by Will Francis on Unsplash.