Moms Into Literary Freedom

In this week’s episode, Jen and Courtney review just a few of today’s overwhelming—and unacceptable—world events before turning the discussion towards the Tulsa Race Massacre and Blackbirds in the Sky by award-winning author Brandy Colbert. (The book discussion starts around the 39 minute mark.)

World topics range from the Gaza-bound Flotilla, who refuse to be intimidated by Israeli drone strikes as they attempt to deliver food, baby formula, and medicine to besieged and deliberately starved Palestinians, to the “Unconscionably Irreconcilable” SCOTUS decision permitting the racial profiling of Hispanic people. See sources below for more topics discussed. <...

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Jennifer and Courtney look for rainbows in the storm of LGBTQ+ erasure stirred up by the bloated orange Fanta himself. From rainbow-chalk resistance at the Desantis-erased Pulse memorial to lawsuits torching the unconstitutional bans on gender-affirming care—and, because it’s Florida, an alligator and Jello gender reveal—they spotlight resilience, resistance, and joy, topped off with a heartwarming read of When Aidan Became a Brother by Kyle Lukoff and Kaylani Juanita.


Regarding the recent court ruling about Florida’s Book Banning/Don’t Say Gaw Law:

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Courtney and Jen sit down with @missannie.schoolcounselor to hear her story about being fired for being an ally. How dare Miss Annie give LGBTQ students a sense of belonging and self worth?! From imposter syndrome to feminist nuns, they dive into the messy intersections of faith, education, and advocacy—proving that creating safe spaces for kids is always worth the fight.

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Get ready for the third and final Hunger Games episode. Courtney and Jennifer have already compared Panem to America, President Snow to Netanyahu/Trump, and now it's time to draw some parallels between President Snow and AOC…Yes, they went there. 

Using The Mockingjay (Book 3 of Suzanne Collins’ YA dystopia) as a lens, they explore performative leadership and the complicated dynamics of rebellion by trying to make sense of AOC's most recent vote in favor of defensive military aid to Israel. Do today's "disruptive" political figur...

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Courtney and Jennifer have a lot to catch up on — from Trump’s cankles and Netflix’s “woke” reboot of The Babysitter’s Club to the chaos of K-Pop Demon Hunters and the great Coldplay scandal of 2025 (don’t worry, they have opinions).

But things get serious when they dive into the heart of this episode: a raw, unapologetic comparison between President Snow, the fictional fascist of The Hunger Games, mass-murder, Benjamin Netanyahu and our very own fascist-in-chief, Donald Trump.

Using Catching Fire (Book 2 of Suza...

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In this episode, Courtney and Jennifer talk about Ruby Bridges (and how the Secretary of Education/Human Garbage Pail did not know who she is), tacky coffee mugs, gun control, Trump's $6B Ed funding freeze, Norman Rockwell, the KKK, and Lexus-driving white moms drinking coffee (its all connected, we swear). Subscribe to the @MILF4Books YouTube page to see the terrible mug Courtney is drinking her coffee from. 
A woman who called a Black child a slur has raised a backlash but also thousands of dollars |A...

IMPORTANT EDIT AT THE END
What if dystopia isn’t just fiction? While “dystopia” means an imagined world, the themes in The Hunger Games—oppression, inequality, and state control—feel eerily familiar in our real world. From Venezuela distributing food only to government loyalists, to North Korea’s blackout zones outside Kim Jong Un’s elite capital, to the U.S. tax code favoring the ultra-wealthy under legislation like Trump’s “Big Egregious Bill”—real-life echoes of Panem are everywhere. In this episode, Jen and Courtney explore how The Hunger Games mirrors reality—and why that might be the reason it’s one of the m...

Happy Pride Month! How does the Stonewall Uprising connect to Musk and Trump’s public break-up, unlawful ICE raids, cults, and the NY election fraud lawsuit? Tune in to find out!

Sources: 
Cafe ResistanceOutrage and solidarity after ICE raid shakes South Park restaurantImmigration Detention MapAndry Hernandez Romero: Gay asylum seeker deported to prison built for gang members prompts outcry in WeHo | FOX 11 Los AngelesCar Windows Smashed in Violent ICE Arrests: Communities Rally for Union Activists Alfredo 'Lelo' Juarez and Lewelyn Dixon Fighting for Farmworker Rights : r/EyesOnIceElon Musk goes on a warpath against Trump and the GOP ‘Nearly...

This episode probably should have been a two-parter but what's done is done. Join Courtney and Jennifer as they spend almost 2 hours diving into the three major "Caste" systems in the world: Karmic reincarnation in India, Aryan Supremacy in the Third Reich, and enslavement in United States (and its present-day effects). Courtney tells Jennifer about the EIGHT pillars of Caste, that Isabel Wilkerson so beautifully and extensively researched as commonalities for Caste systems around the world. In short, read this book for a detailed look into how and why people suck, and what we can do together to not suck...

Courtney and Jennifer cover the graphic novel adaptation of Anne Frank, which is banned in multiple states, with one case resulted in the firing of an 8th grade teacher thanks to the hate group, Moms for Liberty. Why? Anne describes a vulva with extensive biological accuracy...You'd think we would be supporting this kind of education considering 61% of people cannot accurately identify a vulva on a diagram. But that's not what this episode is about. It's about the importance of bearing witness through literature—especially when the story belongs to a child whose life was stolen by genocide. It's about co...

Courtney and Jen sit down with local friend and Genz for Change Activist, Jack Petocz, who had his beginnings as a high school student known for organizing the group: "Recall FCSB" (Flagler County School Board) after school board member Janet McDonald censored him for calling out her racist, anti-semtic, and homophobic rhetoric. Later, Jack organized a protest against another school board member, Jill Woolbright, for filing a police report against a media specialist who had the book All Boys Aren't Blue by George M. Johnson in their library. This award-winning Black queer memoir was feautured in Courtney and Jen's first...

Courtney and Jen talk about previous books they have covered on this podcast such as The Nowhere Girls by Amy Reed, and how they related to sexual assault for Sexual Assault Awareness month (even though that was in April and it is already May). They are *winning* at the podcasting game. In this episode, instead of talking about a new banned book, they discuss the bigots that should be banned and why it is so important NOT to stay quiet in these unprecedented times.

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Sources

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Jennifer and Courtney sit down with Somatic Psychotherapist and Certified Sex Therapist, Dr. Holly Richmond to discuss all the things SEX. Topics include but are not limited to: How long penile penetration should last (the answer may surprise you!), why douche's are bad in practice but good for namecalling, how to talk to adolescents about masturbation (and the book "We Need to Talk about Vaginas" by Dr. Allison K Rodgers), and the importance of services for sexual assault survivors that are quickly and quietly being defunded by Trump and his MAGAts. 

Buy Dr. Richmond's book: Reclaiming Pleasure: A S...

RFK's "Nazi-shaped" autism registry, his grift about removing food dyes (and the FDA inspectors who regulate them), Pam Bondi's explicit threat to "come after" judges (and the arrest of one!). These are just some of Trump's most recent attempts at authoritarianism that Jennifer and Courtney discuss. Tune in to hear how it all realtes to unlawful deportations, Japanese internment camps and the 2022 children's book "Love in the Library" written by Maggie Tokuda-Hall and illustrated by Yas Imamura. Talking about Trump's abuse of power with your friends, family, and even neighbors, will WEAKEN his abuse of power! Erica Chenoweth, a political sc...

Courtney and Jennifer sit down with Reconciler singer and guitarist Joseph Lazzari to talk about Katy Perry "taking up MORE space", how punk music has always known the truth, and how their song "Love Song for the End Times" pairs perfectly with her cringey rant about love connection and daisies. Sources:
Who is Amanda Ngyuen? Wendy's wants to send Katy Perry back to space Trump Admin fires Women in STEM Buy Reconciler Music and Merch here Check out Joseph's awesome pink triceratops sculpture (and more) here

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Dem Rep. Lauren Simmons showed stunning levels of patience as she gently explained "intersex" to Republican Rep. Andy Hopper…and he still couldn’t grasp anything beyond the “biblical” definition of gender as he defended cutting university LGBTQ+ programs. If only there were books that we could read to educate us on the matter…Oh wait, there are! Join Jennifer and Courtney as they discuss multiple novels Rep. Hopper could read to inform himself on the complex spectrum of sex, including Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe.

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Jen and Courtney discuss Senator Booker’s historical “filibuster”, why it wasn’t actually a filibuster, how much “good” it did, where Booker would fit in “Stamped for Kids” by Ibram X. Kendi and Jason Reynolds and the amazing victory in WI! They also talk about boobs in congress, empty bribes in parenting, Musk needing a spanking, and what the dems need to do to prepare for the 2026 midterms…Spoiler: It’s NOT taking the high road.  

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Courtney and Jen celebrate the end of Women’s History Month by spotlighting the book Speak by Laurie Halse Andseron. This award-winning YA novel was banned 14 times since its debut in 1999 because it made male students feel “uncomfortable”...But when Big Boy Pete Hegseth, Our Orange Oligarchian, and his strange side-kick/Deputy Dictator make us feel uncomfortable, they don’t get banned, they get to…put national safety at risk by accidentally texting sensitive war plans to who the hell knows, illegally dismantle the Dept of Ed in a not-so-secret attempt to privatize education, and take away social security because we belong to...

Courtney &Jen talk about strategies for preserving mental health while living under an orange-monster fueled oligarchy, including but not limited to: Identifying and boycotting certain vices while still finding time for "little treats" Celebrating victories (Such as 17 states dropping the case of removing 504 accommodations and $2 billion of USAID getting released to countries in need) Re-watching 90s prime time dramas (like Buffy!) Reading books that bring you joy Listen in as Jen tells Courtney how things like Trump's lack of gun control,the fight for reproductive rights, & the dismantling of public education relate to banned books, specifically  Nineteen Minutes by Jodi P...

Courtney and Jennifer took a brief hiatus to process the beginning of the "Trusk" regime, but it will take more than a government coup to stop them from resisting! In honor of Black History Month and with the help of a special guest and theology expert, "Tam-Tam", they break down the meaning and significance of Martin Luther King Jr's "Letter from Birmingham Jail" and why facists might not want our students to read it.  It's okay if you don't know anything about how Nebuchenezzer, Socrates, or Gerrymandering relates to today's oligarchy, or how it will ultimately lead to tyranny...we w...

TW: Courtney inadvertently creates uncomfortable imagery of Elon Musk bribing one of his flight attendants with a horse while exposing himself. Courtney and Jennifer make comparisons between Trump and his picks to the antagonistic sexual predators in books, including banned "The Nowhere Girls" by Amy Reed and "The Luis Ortega Survival Club" by Sonora Reyes.  Action Items: Find Your Senator and tell them NOT TO CONFIRM: The alleged rapist and anti-woman in combat PETE HEGSETH for Defense Secretary The alleged child molestation-enabler WWE executive Linda McMahon for Secretary of Education The alleged horse-bribing genital flasher Elon Musk for the unchecked "DO...

Jennifer and Courtney are back after taking some time off to process Trump securing his place as the greatest cult leader in history, winning over devoted fans who continue to vote against their own interests. This episode covers A LOT...but not a book (that's next). Courtney and Jennifer discuss a handful of Trump's wild cabinet picks including but not limited to: The potential fallout of nominating RFK as the secretary of Health and Human Services and what it would mean to ban pesticides (spoiler alert: there would be no food to eat). The inexperienced, univerally hated, and accused sex-trafficker...

Courtney tells Jennifer the amazing story of Henrietta Lacks and her family. The book "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" by Rebecca Skloot was challenged in Tennessee when a mom confused gynecology with pornography. Now, the books has been removed from required reading lists, when Henrietta's story should be amplified and used as an important lesson in bodily autonomy, Black history, systemic racisim, and so much more. Read Henrietta's grandson's book "The Untold Story of Henrietta Lacks" by Ron Lacks to learn more about this phenomenal woman and her family.  Sources: DeSantis Seeks to Silence Brain Cancer Patient Speaking Out A...

Jennifer and Courtney discuss the irony in a Florida school district banning a book called "Ban this Book" by Alan Gratz. Other notable topics include but are not limited to: JD Vance's obsession with pronatalism, why Minecraft is more relevant than the Tuttle Twins, and the horrors of selling slime kits at Scholastic Book Fairs.  Sources: Awards for Ban This Book - Alan Gratz A Florida school district banned ‘Ban This Book.’ Author says that’s ‘erasure of the highest order’ and wants it reinstated | CNN Book about book bans banned by Florida school board | Books | The Guardian Georgia abortion clinics see...

WARNING: This episode contains descriptions of SA. With 54% of American adults having a reading level below the 6th grade, should we be concerned that homeschooling numbers are on the rise? Join Courtney and Jennifer as they discuss the novel, "Push" by Sapphire, which tells the story of 16-year-old illiterate Claireece "Precious" Jones, whose battle with poverty, abuse, and systemic neglect reveals the nefarious intent of right-wing extremist politicians to defund the public education system, make reproductive care illegal, and keep poverty a reality. After all, education = empowerment and we wouldn't want that, would we?  Also, Mariah Carey = GOAT and John Mc...

JR Episodes are back! This week Courtney and Jennifer cover the adorable tear-jerker "Sam is My Sister" by Ashley Rhodes-Courter. Safe for little ears, Courtney reads the book and then joins Jennifer in a discussion on the outrageous "Abducter Bill" AKA SB 254 that not only makes gender-affirming care illegal, but allows the so-called "free" state Florida to intervene in custody and healthcare decisions, even if those decisions were legally and consensually made in another state.  Want to see the video recording of this episode? Become a MILF Ally! Sources: US judge strikes down Florida ban on gender-affirming healthcare | Reuters Florida...

Jennifer and Courtney are trying this new thing called "consistency" where they release a "challenged book" episode every Monday.  Join them this week as they discuss Malindo Lo's phenomenal historical fiction "Last Night at the Telegraph Club". Episode highlights: Courtney admits her attraction to women in mid-century masculine fashion Jennifer calls out Moms for Liberty for taking books out of context YET AGAIN when they mistake a novelty naked lady cigarette lighter for a robotic sex toy...(We're pretty sure sex toys were not robotic in the 1950s...) Buy the book here Become a MILF Ally here

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From penis jokes to using tampons for nose bleeds, Jennifer and Courtney discuss why watching the DNC was so much fun to follow.  Support the show by becoming a MILF Ally!

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Join Courtney and Jen as they discuss Kamala's veep pick,Tim Walz, and why he is the midwestern dad that America so desperately needs.  Become a MILF Ally for access to exclusive content! (Don’t forget to rate and review on Apple podcasts!) Why Republicans are calling Walz 'Tampon Tim' — and why Democrats embrace it The Pink Tax: Latest Updates and Statistics | Bankrate Period Poverty – why millions of girls and women cannot afford their periods | UN Women – Headquarters The Litter Box Lies Why JD Vance's world ain't my Appalachia, either Tim Walz couch joke explained; what he said about JD Vance Ho...

Courtney and Jennifer discuss Biden's exit and America's problem with electing women, BIPOC, LGBTQ+...Basically anything other than white Christian men.  Who could be Kamala Harris' running mate?

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Ryan Walters, superintendent of schools in Oklahoma, is attempting to force teachers to incorporate the Bible into their lessons for grades 5-12. Join Courtney and Jennifer as they discuss the separation of church and state and weird biblical stories involving driving tent spikes through skulls.    Sources: Judges 4:21 But as he lay sleeping from exhaustion, Heber's wife Jael took a tent peg, grabbed a hammer, and went silently to Sisera. She drove the peg through his temple and into the ground, and he died.   Florida Department of Education includes Jane Austen novel in 'American Pride' recs   5 Star Story: Luca and Alberto the...

Courtney and Jennifer discuss the scary truth behind Project 2025, a 900 page blueprint created by the Heritage Foundation (Moms for Liberty, Proud Boys, etc.) that will guide "Tyrannical Trump's" second term if elected. But is it scary enough to persuade fed-up democrats to vote for "Geriatric Genocide Joe"? Sources: We should all be terrified of Trump’s Project 2025 | Robert Reich | The Guardian Cornel West 2024 presidential campaign - Wikipedia Project 2025 Full Document Biden to Democrats in Congress: 'I am firmly committed to staying in this race'

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Courtney tries to spoil the ACOTAR series, but don't worry, Jennifer won't let her! Tune in to find out just how "spicy" this book really is and to hear Courtney say the word "masturbation" way too many times.  Become a MILF Ally! X allows consensual adult nudity, pornographic content under updated policy A Court of Thorns and Roses a book by Sarah J. Maas Masturbation - HealthyChildren.org  

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What is "Nakba"? And why did Columbia Law censor it? And why do Courtney and Jennifer know so little about world religion?  Become a MILF Ally today! Sources: US Bomb Kills Palestinian Refugees The Ongoing Nakba: Toward a Legal Framework for Palestine by Rabea Eghbariah Voices of the Nakba: A Living History of Palestine a book by Rosemary Sayigh and Diana Allan Balfour and Palestine, a legacy of deceit, by Anthony Nutting Colleges Are Moving to Divest From Israel - Newsweek Historic Documents | Shattered Dreams Of Peace | FRONTLINE | PBS Palestinian author’s book signing event cancelled by PTA   Donate to Worl...

In honor of Women’s History Month, we discuss Margaret Atwood’s 1985 banned dystopian novel that hits a little too close to home and why it is so important to read.  Sources: France becomes first country to make abortion a constitutional right | CNN Florida delays ‘fetal personhood’ bill after fallout from Alabama IVF ruling Boston woman with history of antisemitic remarks loses Mass. GOP committee race - masslive.com Caitlin Clark record draws top in-season TV rating since '99 - ESPN Sex Begins in the Womb - Exploring the Biological Contributions to Human Health - NCBI Bookshelf Court Rejects Desantis' Stop Woke...

Round tables, love triangles, gay magicians, and friendly bears. Join Jennifer and Courtney as they discuss all of this plus one man behind 1,000 book challenges in one county. Want the tea? Become an Ally today! Legendborn (Reprint) a book by Tracy Deonn Would you rather be stuck with a man or a bear? The TikTok trend sparking an important conversation  

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A book about "trans trees? Not really. Listen to this JR episode to find out why such an accepting and wholesome book was challenged in Floyd County, Virginia. 

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In honor of the "sex ritual" that is happneing during today's eclipse, Courtney and Jennifer discuss vampire sex, door sex, mormon sex, and more! Don't miss this once in a decade eclipse opportunity! https://www.cbr.com/why-twilight-saga-banned/ https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/factcheck/2024/04/05/debunking-false-claims-2024-solar-eclipse/73208812007/ Sex Magic Ritual MTG warns Americans of Impending Rapture Door Sex book "Unhinged" by Vera Valentine    

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In addition to briefly summarizing this wonderful semi autobiographical novel, Jennifer and Courtney discuss the ban on Mexican-American Studies in Arizona, how DEI is the new CRT and something called "Marshmallow Salesman", which is not what it sounds like... Buy The House on Mango Street here What Arizona’s 2010 Ban on Ethnic Studies Could Mean for the Fight Over Critical Race Theory - POLITICO Banned/Challenged - US English-The House on Mango Street - LibGuides at American School of Madrid Subscribe to be a MILF Ally!  

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