By Sophia-Joelle McDowell

When Trump campaigned for president in 2016, he rejected feminism. By the end of his presidency, the list of sexist comments he made was lengthy. His views on women fueled the growth of many feminist activists. Madigan and her previous co-host Keegan of the Your Angry Neighborhood Feminist podcast were no exception.

After attending a march the day after Trump was elected, the two wanted to make a more significant statement. Eager to keep the conversation going, Your Angry Neighborhood Feminist was born to create a space for support, education, and growth.

We spoke with Madigan about the podcast and goal to create a community of loving and like-minded intersectional feminists and a place for support.

How has the podcast and community grown over the past few years?

The podcast world has grown, and there is such a large community here in Los Angeles, which is a really wonderful support system to have. As far as my audience goes, I’ve been amazed by the continual growth in numbers and by the amount of people who reach out to me on a daily basis due to the show. 

I have made some really great friendships through the podcast, and I’ve been able to support a lot of listeners through some tough times by chatting with them or giving them some love on the show. 

It also amazes me how many young people want to interview me for school papers and projects, and that gives me a big sense of pride and responsibility. I’ve also had some listeners on as guests which has been so fun!

Can you recall a moment when you witnessed the hard work that goes into Angry Neighborhood Feminist pay off?

Looking back at the last six months since I’ve taken on solo production of the show, I’m really proud of myself for the continual growth and progress I’ve been able to make on my own during this time. I had a lot of self-doubt, but I’ve proven to myself that I am more capable than I had believed. 

I am constantly validated by the love that is shared with me by listeners on social media, and there is no greater feeling than knowing you’re doing something right. 

You recently started the Angry Feminist Book Club. Why did you create this? How do you select each month’s book?

I wish I could tell you I had some super intellectual way of choosing each book, but really it’s just whatever book I feel most passionate about at the time, or that’s most applicable to the time of year. 

I chose the first book, Baracoon, for Black History Month after picking up the book at my boyfriend’s sister’s place on New Year’s Eve and skimming it. I felt I could learn a lot from the book, and my listeners could as well, and I am so glad that I chose that text to start the club off with. 

This coming month, I am covering my friend India Oxenberg’s audiobook Still Learning from Audible. I feel like India’s story has better helped me understand why people are sucked into cults, about psychological manipulation, and healing, and I am excited to share it with my listeners! I’m also thrilled that India will be joining me in the conversation as well. 

So far, the book club has enjoyed Barracoon: the Story of the Last “Black Cargo” and Women Talking. Can you give us a brief idea of your thoughts (without giving too much away from those Patreon episodes?

I feel like Baracoon was such a unique text, or at least a style very different than I am used to because it is not written as a novel, but a documentation of anthropological research. What I love about this book is hearing Kossula’s voice, as the author, Zora Neale Hurston, wrote out what he said phonetically. 

Women Talking was a book I had wanted to read for a while, and I heard about the movie when it was nominated for an Academy Award. I have a rule for myself that I have to read the book before I see the movie, and once I got into the first chapter, I already had a million and one things I wanted to discuss and rage about!

It is such an important look at sexual assault and violence against women in a very vulnerable position. The fact that the story is based on true events—and those events didn’t take place that long ago—is another reason why I think the story is also an important reminder. 

Are there any books you would recommend to those new to feminism?

I am a biography and memoir lover, and I would suggest reading a book about a feminist that interests you, like I Am Malala by Malala Yousafzai or My Life on the Road by Gloria Steinem. 

Is there anything you would like to add or inform our readers about?

On the show, I cover everything from Problematic Faves like the television show Friends and the movie The Notebook, hot button topics like toxic masculinity and rape culture, to my most-beloved episodes, Feminist Faves, where I cover the story of a feminist from history or today. 

There’s also the Coming Out Episodes, released during Pride Month, where I share listeners’ coming out stories, and one year, my own!  Also each week there is a mini What’s in the News episode, where I cover the week’s news events through my personal feminist perspective. 

Overall, my goal for the show is still to create a community of loving and like-minded intersectional feminists who can support each other on our journeys to become better activists and people in the world. 

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