After an amazing five years, the time has come for Strong Female Leads to hang up our capes for the forseeable future.
 
A combination of professional and personal changes means that availability to record and edit podcasts has become more or less impossible to maintain going forwards in 2023.
 
We couldn't be more grateful for such a wonderful audience willing to listen to our thoughts on nerd culture from a feminist perspective. And what a few years it's been! Captain Marvel, female Ghostbusters, Jodie Whittaker and so much more (not that we're taking the credit... but we're absolutely taking the credit).
 
Massive shout out to our Book Club readers (and Krissy!), everyone who chats to us on Twitter and all of our fabulous guests.
 
It's been a brilliant run. Our archive will remain in all the places you find podcasts and you can find the hosts in all the usual ways (we'll pin this to our Twitter feed as well, @strfemaleleads).
 
Peace out, nerds.

SFL S6E17 - Hello Goodbye

New York, New York! In this episode, Kate and Colleen are reviewing all of the news from New York Comic-Con, which at this point should probably be called New York TV-Con. Marvel! Star Trek! Velma's officially a lesbian now!
 
Plus, it's our book club review of 'The Echo Wife' by Sarah Gailey. What did they think of this twisty sci-fi summer read?
 
And RIP to Dame Angela Lansbury. She played a singing teapot and a witch who defeated Nazis, you best believe she was a Strong Female Lead.
 
Colleen: https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2022/oct/11/angela-lansbury-star-of-tv-film-and-theatre-dies-aged-96
 
Kate: https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/first-black-adam-reactions-pour-in/
 
Colleen: https://gizmodo.com/my-neighbor-totoro-stage-show-london-studio-ghibli-1849655275
 
Main Feature
New York Comic Con took place last week and it's become the peak autumn time for announcements for all the best things coming up in the world of geek. We've got some of the biggest announcements here...
https://gizmodo.com/new-york-comic-con-2022-news-trailers-announcements-1849638028
https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/comics/article/90567-fans-come-roaring-back-to-new-york-comic-con-2022.html
 
 
Bonus Feature
Our most recent pick, from our recent fabulous guest Krissy, was The Echo Wife by Sarah Gailey!

SFL S6E16 - New York, New York

News
Debs: Noteworthy Book review: https://gizmodo.com/disney-princess-beyond-the-tiara-author-interview-1849543164
 
Kate: Archie Comics https://gizmodo.com/archie-betty-cooper-alien-hunter-chilling-adventures-1849539948
 
Debs: https://www.themarysue.com/brie-larson-asks-if-anyone-wants-her-to-play-captain-marvel-again-and-yes-i-do-very-much
 
 
Main topic
 
There are miles-long queues here in the UK to mark the passing of Queen Elizabeth. Today we look at some of the monarchies that have mattered (perhaps more) to us in fiction!
 
Game of Thrones. A whole series about a battle for the royal seat.
You watching House of Dragons?
 
Aragorn
King Triton/Elsa/
 
Queen Momby
 
Pevensie Kids from Narnia
 
King Arthur
 
The Princess Diaries
 
Star Wars?
 
Fave?
Worst/Best
Why is the idea of monarchy so popular in fiction
Which land would you like to rule?
 
Bonus Feature
--
D23
Top Ten
Debs, welcome to highlight ANY of the things you think are key. We'll do a dash through the top ten. Maybe 5 and 5 each?
https://d23.com/every-major-announcement-from-disney-branded-television-at-d23-expo-2022/
 
 
Kate's (Including extra in case there's crossover/mutual picks)
Disenchanted
Inside Out 2
Ironheart
Thunderbolts
The Marvels
Christmas Specials
Muppet Mayhem

SFL S6E15 - Made up Monarchies

News
Colleen...this is basically an excuse for us to talk about She-Hulk https://www.themarysue.com/megan-thee-stallion-in-she-hulk/
 
Kate https://gizmodo.com/marvel-comics-monica-rambeau-photon-miniseries-1849465414
 
Colleen...https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/furiosa-mad-max-prequel-release-date-cast-story/
 
Academia in genre entertainment
 
Xavier Academy
starfleet academy
jedi academy praxeum
Sunnydale/Buffy
Battle School (Ender's Game)
Miss Peregrine's
Hogwarts/Durmstrang/etc...
Riverdale
Avalon (The Mists of Avalon)
Avengers Academy
Dance Academy from Suspiria
Monsters University
Springfield Elementary
 
Book Club: The Echo Wife by Sarah Gailey
 

SFL S6E14 - Back to School

Intro
 
Strong Female Needs
Colleen: Strange New Worlds
Kate:
 
News
Colleen: https://gizmodo.com/nichelle-nichols-star-trek-uhura-actor-obituary-1849353418
 
Kate: https://www.theguardian.com/film/2022/aug/03/irredeemable-batgirl-movie-unexpectedly-cancelled-despite-being-in-final-stages
 
Colleen: https://screenrant.com/star-wars-andor-show-release-date-delay-updates/
 
Main Feature - SDCC reactions!
SDCC is back as the biggest update in the geek calendar and we've been treated to a plethora of updates, trailers, fun panels and more. As we've said before, yay for conventions.
 
So what's - well, not hot, but lukewarm off the press?
 

Dungeons and Dragons trailer


Marvel - phase 5! Avengers! Namor! Trailers for Wakanda Forever and an improved She-Hulk! Secret Wars! Daredevil! I'm so tired! https://www.polygon.com/sdcc/23272923/marvel-black-panther-2-ant-man-3


Sandman!


Rings of Power versus House of Dragon


Star Trek!


DC https://www.polygon.com/sdcc/23272917/dc-panel-warner-bros-news-trailers-announcements

 
Anything you're looking forward to? Any surprises?
 
Bonus features - Strong Female Sport!
Look. We're sorry in advance to our German listeners and also to everyone who isn't English but - IT'S COME HOME, THERE ARE NO MORE YEARS OF HURT.
 
Yep, we wanted to recap a bit on the Women's Euro tournament and the historic victory of the Lionesses and a bit of a look at how women's sport is doing at the moment. If you don't want to listen to the next bit, the short answer is: better than ever but still underfunded.
 

Do you watch any women's sport? How about participating?


Did you enjoy the match?


Will it change your mind about sporting stuff in the future?


 

S6 E13 - In the middle of a chain reaction

Hey there Leaders,
 
New idea. Actual show notes...
 
Strong Female Needs
Debs: English women's football team
Colleen: Sea of Tranquility
 
Spoiler Alert
 
News
 
Debs: https://www.themarysue.com/harley-quinn-the-animated-series-season-3/
 
Colleen: https://variety.com/2022/tv/awards/emmys-nominations-list-2022-1235313788/
 
Debs: https://gizmodo.com/we-now-know-the-exact-crater-that-spat-out-a-famous-mar-1849170072
 
Main Feature - Conventions!
Conventions are, perhaps inexplicably, back. Those of you who follow the Strong Female Leads twitter account will know that I was down at London Film & Comic Con this weekend and it was a BLAST but  there have definitely been some changes since 2019! So we were thinking - what does the future hold for this fundamental geek space?
 

Difference between virtual and in person


Less merch now and feeling less specialised BUT ALSO a growth in independent operators


Is there still a space for virtual cons?


Lessons learned (or not) - news in the press about Joseph Quinn


Are you going to change your behaviour around conventions going forward?

 
Bonus Feature - Phase 4!
Look, we bang on a lot about Marvel but perhaps you've lost track of all the telly and movies and life is short - is it worth catching up on? Can you just get the highlights?
 
Spoilers

Very mild Harley Quinn animated TV series spoilers


Very mild spoilers for MCU, particularly Phase 4


Chip & Dale Rescue Rangers


Mild speculation about The Marvels and linked to WandaVision


Stronger spoilers for Dr Strange & The Multiverse of Madness


Russell Crowe's accent in Thor: Love & Thunder

SFL S6E12 - Return of the living convention

Hey there Leaders
Do you read books? Do you like summer? Do you like lazing in the sun and reading a book either with your eyes, your ears, you fingers? #inclusive
Then this show id for you as we have a very special guest to pick out some ace SFL summer reads just for you. Yes you there, the one trying to hide the it's too hot for a bra look.

SFL S6E11 - Summer GoodReads

Hey There Leaders,
As Western civilisation slowly crumbles around us with war, famine, pestilence and death galloping across the wheat fields of Europe, the seas rise and the skies fall and prices threaten to tarnish our gilded cages, RELAX! We've got the answer to everything, everywhere all at once.
Just bury your heads in the sands of popular entertainment as Kate and Colleen highlight the great stuff to look forward to this summer in cinemas and streaming services near you!
So sit back, grab some popcorn and soda and enjoy the apocalypse live and in IMAX ratio or just watch Top Gun Maverick and Lightyear and keep believing it's all going to be ok.
Love ya :D
 

SFL S06E10 - Summer Previews 2022 - FIXED

Hey there leaders,
This time we look into those ladies in the pop culture world who are very good who they are good but when they're bad they're so much better... VILLAINS! Every hero needs one and the ladies as, of course, under represented. But those we have always steal the show and not just if they are animated by Disney.

SFL S06E08 - Good at being bad

Hey There Leaders,
It's Easter! That holiday that really wants to be the new xmas! But hey! Chocolate right? This time we chat Dr Who, state of the game, the specials, what we can expect coming up and how excited are we are for the return of the Sea Devils.
Kate Joins in for a review of our book club choice Piranesi.
Enjoy!

SFL S06E08 - What in the Who

Hey There Leaders
The power of the ring is coming to Amazon. We look at the teaser trailer and give some background to the history of Tolkien's wider mythology.

SFL S06E07 - You Tolkien to Me

Hey there Leaders,
Thanks for your patience as we deal with some technical issues.
 
Here we go finally with a new episode where we look closely at Jennifer's Body and ask ourselves what makes a horror movie 'meta'. Tropes abound. Enjoy.

SFL S06E06 - Do you like Meta Movies?

Hey There Leaders
This week we are going into the fascinating subject of video game hardware... No really please don't switch off it'll be useful at least :D
In our special feature we have a little preview of some comic book properties upcoming in 2022... IN COMICS!!

SFL S6E05 - Video Games The Next Generation

Hey there Leaders,
 
Happy new Year!! We're bigger, bolder and brasher than ever with guests and all your nerdtastic needs.
 
Hope you had a smashing yuletide in the meta verse. This time we are talking all things MCU Phase 4 and spoiling the Matrix Resurrections. 
 
ENJOY!!

SFL S6E04 - Fantastic Phase Four

Hey There Leaders,
If you like your dystopian cyberpunk apocalyptic futures you're in luck. You're living in one.
However if you like utopian happy endings then this is the episode for you.
 
Happy Disney Plus Day

SFL S06E03 - Idiotic Optimism

Hey there Leaders,
Love a show? Had it cancelled before the end? Thought about a letter writing campaign or an internet crusade?
This week we look at past efforts and how successful can they be. 
What shows would you like to come back? And on top of the release of the amazing Guardians of the Galaxy game are there any properties yet to be given a video game treatment we would like to see.

SFL S6E02 - Back from the dead

Hey there Leaders
This time CCG and ole Kate McCabe take a gentle wander through the autumn schedules, kicking over piles of leaves to unearth the gems coming soon.
 

SFL S6E01 - Autumn Preview

Hey There Leaders,
This time out we bring season FIVE (I know right?!?) to a close with a look at reboots, remakes, sequels, prequels, pre-sequels, preboots and all the other bollocks these rights holders have of just making the same story over and over and over and over and over again.
In our special we have an interview with Aliki Chappell and crew about their new play.

SFL S5E24 - You Made That AGAIN?

Hey There Leaders,
 
This time out we look at yet another resurgence of DC at what is left of the box office. Is it a second coming? Third? Fourth? Were they ever there at all? 
 

SFL S5E23 - DC on the Rise Again?

Hey There Leaders,
 
When we thought about who are the unsung women of pop culture, we realised the answer was, well, ALL OF THEM! But we managed to narrow down a few for our main section
 
Enjoy
 

Strong Female Leads

Strong Female Leads

Get Started

Download the App