Best Emily Guy Birken Podcasts (2024)

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Sabbaticals – Time to Rest and Refocus – TPW500 32:07

1d ago32:07

32:07

Have you taken (or thought about taking) a sabbatical? This week we look at the why and what of sabbatical. (And listen for a special announcement at the end of the episode.)By Laura McClellan

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Deep Thoughts about The Last Unicorn 1:18:37

13h ago1:18:37

1:18:37

Send us a Text Message. Magic! Do as you will! Tracie brings her deep thoughts about the 1982 animated film The Last Unicorn, a lesser-known but beloved part of the traumatizing 80s movie canon. With gorgeous animation–the studio went on to become Studio Ghibli–this film tells an odd story about how mortality allows us to feel regret and reminds us…

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10-Year Podiversary – Lessons Learned – TPW499 35:28

7d ago35:28

35:28

In this episode we’re celebrating 10 years of The Productive Woman podcast and I’m sharing some lessons I’ve learned along the way.By Laura McClellan

1
Deep Thoughts about Four Weddings and a Funeral 1:17:52

8d ago1:17:52

1:17:52

Send us a Text Message. In the words of David Cassidy, in fact, while he was still with The Partridge Family, I think I love you… Join us this week as Tracie and Emily revisit the 1994 film Four Weddings and a Funeral that they first saw in the theater together. Not only did this film launch Guy girls’ long-standing fixation on Hugh Grant, the flop…

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Productive Living: Getting Unstuck, with Britt Frank – TPW498 47:11

15d ago47:11

47:11

This week I'm talking with Britt Frank, a therapist, trauma specialist, and author of The Science of Stuck, about getting unstuck and making a life that matters.By Laura McClellan

1
Deep Thoughts about King Kong with William Patrick Day 1:02:27

15d ago1:02:27

1:02:27

Send us a Text Message. Was it beauty that killed the beast? Or was it capitalism…aided by airplanes? On this week’s episode of Deep Thoughts, Tracie and Emily welcome Oberlin Professor Pat Day to talk about the ape, the myth, the movie legend: King Kong. Prof. Day walks us through how the original filmmakers in 1933 used new technology (A musical …

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Preparing for a Productive Retirement – TPW497 35:28

21d ago35:28

35:28

No matter your age, preparing now, with a focus on what matters most to you, can ensure a smooth transition to a rewarding, meaningful, and productive retirement when the time comes.By Laura McClellan

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Deep Thoughts about Who Framed Roger Rabbit? 1:10:16

22d ago1:10:16

1:10:16

Send us a Text Message. We’re not bad…we’re just drawn that way! In this episode, Emily brings her deep thoughts about a marvel of innovation and animation: Who Framed Roger Rabbit? This 1988 film, a self-conscious mashup of three different animation studios’ styles and the film-noir of the Chinatown films, is a unique vehicle for a conversation ab…

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Lucifer 609 + 610 “Goodbye, Lucifer” & “Partners ‘Til the End” 1:13:18

27d ago1:13:18

1:13:18

Send us a Text Message. In the final episode of Lightbringers, the Guy girls still manage some significant overthinking. The storytelling leads them to some questions about how people who don’t feel remorse might be tortured in the Lucifer universe (in other words, what was the magic behind Lucifer’s whispered words to Lemec?). Additionally, the co…

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Productive Reading: Slow Productivity, by Cal Newport – TPW496 41:29

28d ago41:29

41:29

In this week's installment of our recurring Productive Reading series, we look at key takeaways from Cal Newport's newest book, Slow Productivity.By Laura McClellan

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Deep Thoughts about Dirty Dancing (Patron Exclusive) TEASER 13:13

1M ago13:13

13:13

Send us a Text Message. Now I had the time of my life…revisiting this classic! In today’s special patrons-only bonus episode, Tracie dives deep into the unexpected hit film Dirty Dancing. Join the sisters as they unpack Eleanor Bergstein’s very intentional and subversive storytelling that made abortion integral to the plot (which surprised the heck…

1
Lucifer 607 + 608 'My Best Fiend's Wedding' & 'Save the Devil, Save the World' 49:19

1M ago49:19

49:19

Send us a Text Message. In this penultimate episode of Lightbringers, the Guy sisters continue to notice the moments and threads of season 6 that seem to point to a rushed (and self-amusing) writers’ room. From the unprofessional move of Linda’s book (why didn’t they just make it fiction?) to the disappointingly milquetoast Carroll, there are story…

1
Deep Thoughts About Event Horizon with Scott Kenemore 1:06:19

1M ago1:06:19

1:06:19

Send us a Text Message. Hell is only a word… This week on Deep Thoughts, the sisters welcome best-selling horror novelist (and Emily’s fellow Kenyon alum) Scott Kenemore to discuss the 1997 cult classic Event Horizon starring Sam Neill and Laurence Fishburne. The wide-ranging discussion moves from the meaning of cosmic horror to the importance of i…

1
Lucifer 605 + 606 “The Murder of Lucifer Morningstar” & “A Lot Dirtier Than That” 50:50

1M ago50:50

50:50

Send us a Text Message. With these two episodes we get some subtext about addiction and some supertext about racist policing. In “The Murder of Lucifer Morningstar,” the sisters realize on rewatch (especially in the context of our analysis of so many moments of mental health metaphors) that Chloe’s obsession with the super-strength the necklace pro…

1
10+ Ways to Manage Stress – TPW495 39:04

1M ago39:04

39:04

There are ways to manage stress--and good reasons to do so.By Laura McClellan

1
Deep Thoughts about the Addams Family 1:02:47

2M ago1:02:47

1:02:47

Send us a Text Message. They’re subversive and they’re kooky, whimsical, sweet and spooky…The Addams Family! snap, snap On today’s Deep Thoughts, Emily overthinks The Addams Family–specifically the 1990s era films starring Raul Julia and Anjelica Huston as Gomez and Morticia. The sisters examine how The Addams Family uses horror tropes and subversi…

1
Lucifer 603 + 604 “Yabba Dabba Do Me” & “Pin the Tail on the Daddy” 50:13

2M ago50:13

50:13

Send us a Text Message. As season 6 progresses, the Guy sisters have some moments of joy and appreciation and quite a few quibbles for the writers. Though the cartoonified episode is in some ways delightful (Tracie wanted to be an animator when she was a kid), there are moments in the writing that feel either ableist or rushed (or both). The sister…

1
Productive Living: Becoming CEO of Your Health, with Andrea Nakayama – TPW494 1:04:02

2M ago1:04:02

1:04:02

Andrea Nakayama, Functional Nutritionist and founder of Functional Nutrition Alliance, shares new ways to look at our health and nutrition while improving our productivityBy Laura McClellan

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Deep Thoughts about the Spice Girls 1:12:01

2M ago1:12:01

1:12:01

Send us a Text Message. I really really really wanna zig-a-zig-AH! On this week’s episode of Deep Thoughts, Tracie and Emily delve into the global phenomenon of the Spice Girls. Tracie explains how she saw the inevitability of Spicy world domination while living in London in 1997 and decided to embrace the manufactured pop group’s grrl power, despi…

1
Lucifer 601 + 602 “Nothing Ever Changes Around Here” & “Buckets of Baggage” 50:35

2M ago50:35

50:35

Send us a Text Message. And so begins the Guy sisters’ rewatch of Season 6: Nobody’s favorite season. With these two episodes, the sisters spend considerable time lamenting the fact that there are no media role models for people who are childless by choice, including, it seems, Lucifer. We also are perplexed and perturbed by multiple details of the…

1
Managing Expectations – TPW493 26:33

2M ago26:33

26:33

Disappointment (and worse) can result when we aren't clear on our expectations. Today we’re talking about managing expectations for less stress and more productivity.By Laura McClellan

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Deep Thoughts about Pee-Wee's Playhouse with Mallory Henson 58:42

2M ago58:42

58:42

Send us a Text Message. That’s so funny I forgot to laugh! On this week’s episode, Emily and Tracie welcome Mallory Henson to talk about her reverence for the TV show Pee-wee’s Playhouse. Mallory introduces the sisters to the path Paul Reubens took to develop the character of Pee-wee Herman and how the show recreated the joyful chaos of a child’s m…

1
Lucifer 515 + 516 “Is This Really How It’s Going to End” & “We Could Have Had a Happy Ending” 52:31

2M ago52:31

52:31

Send us a Text Message. These two final episodes of season five pack and emotional wallup. With more than one major character death (though 2 don’t stay dead), the Guy girls both admit to shedding some tears, even in rewatch. The views we get of both Heaven and Hell have Emily and Tracie thinking deeply about the nature of punishment, the compatibi…

1
Crafting a Life That Matters: 10 Essential Questions – TPW492 52:43

2M ago52:43

52:43

Self-reflection is always time well spent, especially if it's helping us grow as an individual. In this episode we’re talking about questions we can ask ourselves to help us create a life that mattersBy Laura McClellan

1
Deep Thoughts about Wayne's World 1:07:24

2M ago1:07:24

1:07:24

Send us a Text Message. Party Time! Excellent! [Extended guitar solo] On this week’s episode of Deep Thoughts, Emily revisits the most important cultural touchstone of the late 20th century: Wayne’s World. In addition to introducing an entire generation to Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody, this film presented a surprisingly complex characterization of Tia…

1
Lucifer 513 + 514 “A LIttle Harmless Stalking” & “Nothing Lasts Forever” 51:59

2M ago51:59

51:59

Send us a Text Message. “A Little Harmless Stalking” & “Nothing Lasts Forever” are ripe for overthinking, and the Guy girls do. These two stories invite meditations on the reconciliation of adult children and their parents, a scene that has become common in contemporary pop fiction, and which Tracie & Emily dub psychological or family dynamic ficti…

1
Productive Living: Financial Wellness, with Tamara Dias – TPW491 49:35

2M ago49:35

49:35

Certified financial social worker Tamara Dias joined me to talk about financial wellness and making a life that matters.By Laura McClellan

1
Deep Thoughts about Superman: The Movie 1:09:14

2M ago1:09:14

1:09:14

Send us a Text Message. It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s an unreasonable hatred for Hackensack, New Jersey! This week, Tracie brings her Deep Thoughts about the 1978 film Superman: The Movie. From the way this film helped legitimize comic books and superheroes as a valid art form to the huge influence Christopher Reeve’s Superman still has on our cu…

1
Lucifer 511 + 512 "Resting Devil Face" & "Daniel Espinoza: Naked and Afraid" 47:52

3M ago47:52

47:52

Send us a Text Message. “Resting Devil Face” is a delightful romp the sisters want to revisit more often. “Daniel Espinoza: Naked and Afraid” may be both of their least favorite. In “Resting Devil Face,” the celestial siblings’ relationship digs in to the very human experience of realizing one’s parent is vulnerable. In a satisfying dovetailing of …

1
From the Vault: Working from Home – TPW490 45:05

3M ago45:05

45:05

Working from home has its benefits--and its challenges. This week I talk about both--and some solutions for the challengesBy Laura McClellan

1
Deep Thoughts about The Shining 1:10:51

3M ago1:10:51

1:10:51

Send us a Text Message. REDRUM! REDRUM! On this week’s episode of Deep Thoughts, Emily breaks down the horror masterpiece, The Shining. The sisters walk through the ways in which Shelley Duvall’s portrayal of Wendy Torrance is an unexpected feminist icon, how Kubrick created an intentionally incoherent film while abusing his actors (except for 6-ye…

1
Lucifer 509 + 510 "Family Dinner" & "Bloody Celestial Karaoke Jam" 50:25

3M ago50:25

50:25

Send us a Text Message. “Family Dinner” and “Bloody Celestial Karaoke Jam” deliver both some of the funniest and some of the most poignant moments of the whole series. With a general appreciation for the relatableness of so much of what happens between characters in these two episodes and a very specific appreciation for Tom Ellis’ collarbones, the…

1
Mental Load and a Life that Matters – TPW489 1:00:19

3M ago1:00:19

1:00:19

How do you manage the mental load that's part of managing a household, a career, relationships, and a life in general? And how do we get others to share that mental load?By Laura McClellan

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Deep Thoughts about The Electric Company 59:48

3M ago59:48

59:48

Send us a Text Message. HEY YOU GUY(Girl)S! On this week’s Deep Thoughts, Tracie revisits a classic of GenX childhood: The Electric Company. This children’s sketch comedy program with an all-star cast (Morgan Freeman! Rita Moreno! Bill Cosby?) showcased the wonderful ways that informal education can be intentional, subversive, funny, and validating…

1
Lucifer 507 + 508 “Our Mojo” & “Spoiler Alert” 38:59

3M ago38:59

38:59

Send us a Text Message. On rewatch, the Guy girls were reminded just how much they compartmentalize their memories about these two episodes. “Our Mojo” and “Spoiler Alert” provide delightfully fun and funny moments intermixed with grim details of the serial-killer-right-under-our-noses storyline. The sisters spend time teasing out the phenomenologi…

1
The Art of Balancing Solo and Social Time – TPW488 22:06

3M ago22:06

22:06

A meaningfully productive life includes a balance of solo and social time--but that balance is different for each of us.By Laura McClellan

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Deep Thoughts about Veronica Mars with Joanna Church 1:12:12

3M ago1:12:12

1:12:12

Send us a Text Message. “This face right here is my over the moon face.” This week, Tracie and Emily welcome Joanna Church to share her Deep Thoughts about the television show Veronica Mars. Between trying to recap the telenovela-sounding plot to Tracie (coma babies! children switched at birth! a school bus that drives off a cliff and explodes!), J…

1
Lucifer 505 + 506 “Detective Amenadiel” & “Blue Ballz” 41:28

3M ago41:28

41:28

Send us a Text Message. “Detective Amenadiel” and “Blue Ballz” are the only two episodes in this whole experiment that the sisters watched while in the same room, and they contain some of their most beloved and most reviled of the whole series. In their meanderings, the Guy girls think about the metaphor of reflection as used both visually and rhet…

1
My Tools for Efficient Work – TPW487 40:30

3M ago40:30

40:30

The tools we use can make all the difference. In this episode I discuss some of the tools I use for efficient work.By Laura McClellan

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Deep Thoughts about Trading Places 1:05:17

3M ago1:05:17

1:05:17

Send us a Text Message. Looking good, Tracie! Feeling good, Emily! On this week’s Deep Thoughts, Emily analyzes Trading Places, the film that taught her what a short sale is, how a bookie works, and that she is most definitely a money nerd. While the film offers a pointed critique of capitalism and racism, it undercuts its own message with the trul…

1
Lucifer 503 + 504 "¡Diablo!" & "It Never Ends Well for the Chicken" 50:01

4M ago50:01

50:01

Send us a Text Message. The layers of meta-commentary in the episode about a TV show where the actual devil is a consultant with the LAPD is lots of fun, and has the sisters wondering if Lucifer would have been more offended on Chloe’s behalf by turning her character into a stripper-turned-detective who doesn’t seem to be particularly bright. And t…

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Productive Reading: Switch Craft, by Elaine Fox, PhD – TPW486 51:33

4M ago51:33

51:33

This week features an installment in our recurring “Productive Reading” series, looking at key takeaways from Switch Craft, by Elaine Fox, PhD, and the tools that can help us thrive in a constantly changing world.By Laura McClellan

1
Deep Thoughts about Michael Jackson's Thriller 53:23

4M ago53:23

53:23

Send us a Text Message. It smells like the funk of 40,000 years in here! In today’s episode,Tracie shares her deep thoughts about the iconic and groundbreaking 1983 music video for Michael Jackson’s Thriller. From the way the mini film subverts expectations to the meaning behind the horror tropes it relies on to how to contextualize Jackson’s immen…

1
Swedish Death Cleaning – TPW485 35:24

4M ago35:24

35:24

Swedish Death Cleaning offers a thoughtful approach to decluttering that benefits us in the present and our loved ones when we're gone.By Laura McClellan

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Lucifer 501 + 502 "Really Sad Devil Guy" & "Lucifer! Lucifer! Lucifer!" 42:12

4M ago42:12

42:12

Send us a Text Message. In our conversation about “Really Sad Devil Guy” & “Lucifer! Lucifer! Lucifer!” we think a lot about the tropes and short cuts that come from soap opera storytelling. And we don’t hate it. Both sisters are impressed with Tom Ellis’s ability to make us believe he is, in fact, his own twin (even down to his butt cheeks!). Trac…

1
Deep Thoughts about The Fifth Element 1:07:17

4M ago1:07:17

1:07:17

Send us a Text Message. It mu5t be found…it being a realistic portrayal of women For this episode of Deep Thoughts, Emily dives into the valiant, vulnerable, and very very sexist portrayal of “perfection” in the 1997 Luc Besson film The Fifth Element. Milla Jovovich’s Leeloo is the poster child for the trope of Born Sexy Yesterday, wherein a childl…

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Lucifer 409 + 410 "Save Lucifer" & "Who's da New King of Hell?" 45:09

4M ago45:09

45:09

Send us a Text Message. “Save Lucifer” and “Who’s da New King of Hell?” allow the Guy Girls to overthink everything from acting vs. directorial choices, to the nature of sin and guilt, to the possibility of a “happy ending” for an immortal being in love with an all-too-human one. Tracie couldn’t wait to start the episode with her frustrations with …

1
Productive Living: Having It All, with Brooke Bentley – TPW484 55:28

4M ago55:28

55:28

Former NFL journalist Brooke Bentley chats with me about choices she's made over the course of her life and career, and the pressure to have it all.By Laura McClellan

1
Deep Thoughts about Journalism in Pop Culture with Jon Shorr 58:24

4M ago58:24

58:24

Send us a Text Message. Good night and good luck and you stay classy, San Diego! On this week’s episode of Deep Thoughts, Tracie and Emily welcome media studies professor (retired) Jon Shorr to talk about how pop culture has conditioned us to think about journalism, reporters, and “the news.” From Lois Lane to Woodward and Bernstein to Mary Tyler M…

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Lucifer 407 + 408 "Devil Is as Devil Does" & "Super Bad Boyfriend" 47:46

4M ago47:46

47:46

Send us a Text Message. “Devil is as Devil Does” and “Super Bad Boyfriend” give some hints that the writers were wrestling with their copagandistic vehicle. However, there were also moments in these two episodes, especially in Chloe’s voice, that oversimplify the “rightness” of human justice. That they made these explorations around the death of a …

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