web01.fireside.fm Tue, 05 May 2026 12:40:14 -0500 Fireside (https://fireside.fm) Eurovision Song Context - Episodes Tagged with “Remember Monday” https://eurovisionsongcontext.fireside.fm/tags/remember%20monday Wed, 07 Jan 2026 17:00:00 -0500 We start with expertise and end up in Eurovision. It’s kind of our thing. Eurovision Song Context is a monthly podcast that looks at the Eurovision Song Contest through an unexpected lens: expert insight. Each episode, a guest from a different field — psychology, fashion, politics, design, linguistics, and more — talk about their work and how it helps us understand 2–3 Eurovision entries in a whole new light. Are these songs genuinely good? So bad they’re good? Or just weirdly unforgettable? Longform episodes come out on the 12th of every month (the "douzeth"). We're where brilliant minds meet bad key changes. en-us episodic A podcast where we bring in smart people. We talk about smart things, then veer into glitter, wind machines, and geopolitics. Experts. Insight. Eurovision chaos. Bradley Dalton-Oates We start with expertise and end up in Eurovision. It’s kind of our thing. Eurovision Song Context is a monthly podcast that looks at the Eurovision Song Contest through an unexpected lens: expert insight. Each episode, a guest from a different field — psychology, fashion, politics, design, linguistics, and more — talk about their work and how it helps us understand 2–3 Eurovision entries in a whole new light. Are these songs genuinely good? So bad they’re good? Or just weirdly unforgettable? Longform episodes come out on the 12th of every month (the "douzeth"). We're where brilliant minds meet bad key changes. no Eurovision, music, expert analysis, Europe, music, arts, culture, ESC Bradley Dalton-Oates eurovisionsongcontext@gmail.com Episode 79: (Part 2) Zero Stars, Nul Points: June Thomas on Failure, Cynicism, and Eurovision https://eurovisionsongcontext.fireside.fm/79 6b0b672a-9b28-41e2-a09b-53831db3e1a7 Wed, 07 Jan 2026 17:00:00 -0500 Bradley Dalton-Oates full Bradley Dalton-Oates In this episode, Bradley is joined by writer and longtime Slate culture critic June Thomas for a conversation about criticism, failure, and what it means for a work to be “truly bad.” They explore the difference between a one-star work and a zero-star work — the kind of cultural object that isn’t just unsuccessful, but “fascinatingly, existentially terrible.” This leads into a discussion of Lucy Mangan’s Guardian review of All’s Fair and questions about ambition, tone, intentionality, and when something collapses under its own concept. From there, they bring these ideas into the world of Eurovision, using several entries — from joyful chaos to critically praised underperformers — as case studies in how audiences and critics respond to risk, camp, sincerity, and cynicism. Together they ask whether it’s better to flop than be forgotten, why some failures linger while others vanish, and what Eurovision reveals about our tastes, expectations, and the strange afterlives of cultural failure. 55:17 no <p>Links to June’s Newsletter!<br> <a href="https://buttondown.com/WhereAre" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">https://buttondown.com/WhereAre</a></p> <p>—</p> <p>June Thomas — Book</p> <p>A Place of Our Own: Six Spaces That Shaped Queer Women’s Culture</p> <p>Amazon US<br> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/s?k=A+Place+of+Our+Own+June+Thomas" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">https://www.amazon.com/s?k=A+Place+of+Our+Own+June+Thomas</a></p> <p>Amazon UK<br> <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=A+Place+of+Our+Own+June+Thomas" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=A+Place+of+Our+Own+June+Thomas</a></p> <p>—</p> <p>Podcasts by June Thomas</p> <p>Working (Slate)<br> <a href="https://slate.com/podcasts/working" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">https://slate.com/podcasts/working</a></p> <p>The Waves (Slate)<br> <a href="https://slate.com/podcasts/the-waves" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">https://slate.com/podcasts/the-waves</a></p> <p>Outward (Slate LGBTQ podcast)<br> <a href="https://slate.com/podcasts/outward" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">https://slate.com/podcasts/outward</a></p> <p>Culture Gabfest (June as contributor / alum)<br> <a href="https://slate.com/podcasts/culture-gabfest" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">https://slate.com/podcasts/culture-gabfest</a></p> <p>—</p> <p>Eurovision Songs Discussed in This Episode</p> <p>Jemini – “Cry Baby” (United Kingdom, 2003)<br> Placement: 26th of 26 — 0 points<br> YouTube:<br> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mTV8GUwzRjw" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mTV8GUwzRjw</a></p> <p>Go-Jo – “Milkshake Man” (Australia, 2025)<br> Placement: 11th of 16 in Semi-Final 2 — televote only — did not qualify<br> YouTube:<br> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5lSsijRZmrs" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5lSsijRZmrs</a></p> <p>Jendrik – “I Don’t Feel Hate” (Germany, 2021)<br> Placement: 25th of 26 — 3 points<br> YouTube (music video — song begins ~1:00):<br> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ydgxZnHFLi4" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ydgxZnHFLi4</a></p> <p>Jeangu Macrooy – “Birth of a New Age” (Netherlands, 2021)<br> Placement: 23rd of 26 — 11 points<br> YouTube:<br> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4Fag4yajxk" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4Fag4yajxk</a></p> <p>Olly Alexander – “Dizzy” (United Kingdom, 2024)<br> Grand Final placement: 24th of 26<br> Points: 46 (Jury 46 / Televote 0)<br> YouTube:<br> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4lu8pVGHlA" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4lu8pVGHlA</a></p> <p>Remember Monday – “What the Hell Just Happened?” (United Kingdom, 2025)<br> Placement: 19th of 26<br> Jury: 88 — Televote: 0<br> YouTube:<br> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AfeSxNubBQE" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AfeSxNubBQE</a></p> <p>—</p> <p>Guardian Review Referenced</p> <p>Lucy Mangan — All’s Fair review — “Kim Kardashian’s divorce drama is fascinatingly, existentially terrible”<br> The Guardian — 4 Nov 2025<br> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2025/nov/04/alls-fair-review-kim-kardashian-divorce-drama-is-fascinatingly-existentially-terrible" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2025/nov/04/alls-fair-review-kim-kardashian-divorce-drama-is-fascinatingly-existentially-terrible</a></p> <p>—</p> <p>Other Guardian context discussed</p> <p>Zero-star review roundup reference (Guardian feature)<br> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2025/nov/05/the-guardian-has-only-ever-published-15-zero-star-reviews-here-they-all-are" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2025/nov/05/the-guardian-has-only-ever-published-15-zero-star-reviews-here-they-all-are</a></p> <p>Commentary on star-rating / zero-star precedent (related debate)<br> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2025/nov/06/one-to-zero-star-reviews" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">https://www.theguardian.com/film/2025/nov/06/one-to-zero-star-reviews</a></p> <p>—</p> <p>Article June Mentioned — Olivia Nuzzi memoir discourse</p> <p>Slate — review of “American Canto”<br> <a href="https://slate.com/culture/2025/12/olivia-nuzzi-rfk-donald-trump-ryan-lizza-book.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">https://slate.com/culture/2025/12/olivia-nuzzi-rfk-donald-trump-ryan-lizza-book.html</a></p> <p>—</p> <p>Optional background links for listeners</p> <p>Jeangu Macrooy — Birth of a New Age (Wikipedia)<br> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birth_of_a_New_Age" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birth_of_a_New_Age</a></p> <p>Olly Alexander — Eurovision 2024 entry overview<br> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Kingdom_in_the_Eurovision_Song_Contest_2024" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Kingdom_in_the_Eurovision_Song_Contest_2024</a></p> <p>—</p> <p>Show page &amp; archive</p> <p><a href="https://eurovisionsongcontext.fireside.fm" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">https://eurovisionsongcontext.fireside.fm</a></p> <p>— </p> all’s fair, ambition, criticism, cultural criticism, cultural failure, culture, cynicism, esc, eurovision, eurovision analysis, eurovision flops, eurovision song contest, go-jo, jeangu macrooy, jendrik, june thomas, lucy mangan, media criticism, music competition, olly alexander, one star reviews, outward podcast, pop culture, remember monday, slate, taste and identity, television criticism, the waves podcast, working podcast, zero points, zero star reviews Links to June’s Newsletter!
https://buttondown.com/WhereAre

—

June Thomas — Book

A Place of Our Own: Six Spaces That Shaped Queer Women’s Culture

Amazon US
https://www.amazon.com/s?k=A+Place+of+Our+Own+June+Thomas

Amazon UK
https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=A+Place+of+Our+Own+June+Thomas

—

Podcasts by June Thomas

Working (Slate)
https://slate.com/podcasts/working

The Waves (Slate)
https://slate.com/podcasts/the-waves

Outward (Slate LGBTQ podcast)
https://slate.com/podcasts/outward

Culture Gabfest (June as contributor / alum)
https://slate.com/podcasts/culture-gabfest

—

Eurovision Songs Discussed in This Episode

Jemini – “Cry Baby” (United Kingdom, 2003)
Placement: 26th of 26 — 0 points
YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mTV8GUwzRjw

Go-Jo – “Milkshake Man” (Australia, 2025)
Placement: 11th of 16 in Semi-Final 2 — televote only — did not qualify
YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5lSsijRZmrs

Jendrik – “I Don’t Feel Hate” (Germany, 2021)
Placement: 25th of 26 — 3 points
YouTube (music video — song begins ~1:00):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ydgxZnHFLi4

Jeangu Macrooy – “Birth of a New Age” (Netherlands, 2021)
Placement: 23rd of 26 — 11 points
YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4Fag4yajxk

Olly Alexander – “Dizzy” (United Kingdom, 2024)
Grand Final placement: 24th of 26
Points: 46 (Jury 46 / Televote 0)
YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4lu8pVGHlA

Remember Monday – “What the Hell Just Happened?” (United Kingdom, 2025)
Placement: 19th of 26
Jury: 88 — Televote: 0
YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AfeSxNubBQE

—

Guardian Review Referenced

Lucy Mangan — All’s Fair review — “Kim Kardashian’s divorce drama is fascinatingly, existentially terrible”
The Guardian — 4 Nov 2025
https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2025/nov/04/alls-fair-review-kim-kardashian-divorce-drama-is-fascinatingly-existentially-terrible

—

Other Guardian context discussed

Zero-star review roundup reference (Guardian feature)
https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2025/nov/05/the-guardian-has-only-ever-published-15-zero-star-reviews-here-they-all-are

Commentary on star-rating / zero-star precedent (related debate)
https://www.theguardian.com/film/2025/nov/06/one-to-zero-star-reviews

—

Article June Mentioned — Olivia Nuzzi memoir discourse

Slate — review of “American Canto”
https://slate.com/culture/2025/12/olivia-nuzzi-rfk-donald-trump-ryan-lizza-book.html

—

Optional background links for listeners

Jeangu Macrooy — Birth of a New Age (Wikipedia)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birth_of_a_New_Age

Olly Alexander — Eurovision 2024 entry overview
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Kingdom_in_the_Eurovision_Song_Contest_2024

—

Show page & archive

https://eurovisionsongcontext.fireside.fm

—

]]> Links to June’s Newsletter!
https://buttondown.com/WhereAre

—

June Thomas — Book

A Place of Our Own: Six Spaces That Shaped Queer Women’s Culture

Amazon US
https://www.amazon.com/s?k=A+Place+of+Our+Own+June+Thomas

Amazon UK
https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=A+Place+of+Our+Own+June+Thomas

—

Podcasts by June Thomas

Working (Slate)
https://slate.com/podcasts/working

The Waves (Slate)
https://slate.com/podcasts/the-waves

Outward (Slate LGBTQ podcast)
https://slate.com/podcasts/outward

Culture Gabfest (June as contributor / alum)
https://slate.com/podcasts/culture-gabfest

—

Eurovision Songs Discussed in This Episode

Jemini – “Cry Baby” (United Kingdom, 2003)
Placement: 26th of 26 — 0 points
YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mTV8GUwzRjw

Go-Jo – “Milkshake Man” (Australia, 2025)
Placement: 11th of 16 in Semi-Final 2 — televote only — did not qualify
YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5lSsijRZmrs

Jendrik – “I Don’t Feel Hate” (Germany, 2021)
Placement: 25th of 26 — 3 points
YouTube (music video — song begins ~1:00):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ydgxZnHFLi4

Jeangu Macrooy – “Birth of a New Age” (Netherlands, 2021)
Placement: 23rd of 26 — 11 points
YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4Fag4yajxk

Olly Alexander – “Dizzy” (United Kingdom, 2024)
Grand Final placement: 24th of 26
Points: 46 (Jury 46 / Televote 0)
YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4lu8pVGHlA

Remember Monday – “What the Hell Just Happened?” (United Kingdom, 2025)
Placement: 19th of 26
Jury: 88 — Televote: 0
YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AfeSxNubBQE

—

Guardian Review Referenced

Lucy Mangan — All’s Fair review — “Kim Kardashian’s divorce drama is fascinatingly, existentially terrible”
The Guardian — 4 Nov 2025
https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2025/nov/04/alls-fair-review-kim-kardashian-divorce-drama-is-fascinatingly-existentially-terrible

—

Other Guardian context discussed

Zero-star review roundup reference (Guardian feature)
https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2025/nov/05/the-guardian-has-only-ever-published-15-zero-star-reviews-here-they-all-are

Commentary on star-rating / zero-star precedent (related debate)
https://www.theguardian.com/film/2025/nov/06/one-to-zero-star-reviews

—

Article June Mentioned — Olivia Nuzzi memoir discourse

Slate — review of “American Canto”
https://slate.com/culture/2025/12/olivia-nuzzi-rfk-donald-trump-ryan-lizza-book.html

—

Optional background links for listeners

Jeangu Macrooy — Birth of a New Age (Wikipedia)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birth_of_a_New_Age

Olly Alexander — Eurovision 2024 entry overview
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Kingdom_in_the_Eurovision_Song_Contest_2024

—

Show page & archive

https://eurovisionsongcontext.fireside.fm

—

]]> Episode 78: (Part 1) Zero Stars, Nul Points: June Thomas on Failure, Cynicism, and Eurovision https://eurovisionsongcontext.fireside.fm/78 73245e93-7761-48e8-864a-cf06123679a9 Wed, 07 Jan 2026 16:00:00 -0500 Bradley Dalton-Oates full Bradley Dalton-Oates In this episode, Bradley is joined by writer and longtime Slate culture critic June Thomas for a conversation about criticism, failure, and what it means for a work to be “truly bad.” They explore the difference between a one-star work and a zero-star work — the kind of cultural object that isn’t just unsuccessful, but “fascinatingly, existentially terrible.” This leads into a discussion of Lucy Mangan’s Guardian review of All’s Fair and questions about ambition, tone, intentionality, and when something collapses under its own concept. From there, they bring these ideas into the world of Eurovision, using several entries — from joyful chaos to critically praised underperformers — as case studies in how audiences and critics respond to risk, camp, sincerity, and cynicism. Together they ask whether it’s better to flop than be forgotten, why some failures linger while others vanish, and what Eurovision reveals about our tastes, expectations, and the strange afterlives of cultural failure. 56:19 no <p>Links to June’s Newsletter!<br> <a href="https://buttondown.com/WhereAre" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">https://buttondown.com/WhereAre</a></p> <p>—</p> <p>June Thomas — Book</p> <p>A Place of Our Own: Six Spaces That Shaped Queer Women’s Culture</p> <p>Amazon US<br> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/s?k=A+Place+of+Our+Own+June+Thomas" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">https://www.amazon.com/s?k=A+Place+of+Our+Own+June+Thomas</a></p> <p>Amazon UK<br> <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=A+Place+of+Our+Own+June+Thomas" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=A+Place+of+Our+Own+June+Thomas</a></p> <p>—</p> <p>Podcasts by June Thomas</p> <p>Working (Slate)<br> <a href="https://slate.com/podcasts/working" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">https://slate.com/podcasts/working</a></p> <p>The Waves (Slate)<br> <a href="https://slate.com/podcasts/the-waves" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">https://slate.com/podcasts/the-waves</a></p> <p>Outward (Slate LGBTQ podcast)<br> <a href="https://slate.com/podcasts/outward" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">https://slate.com/podcasts/outward</a></p> <p>Culture Gabfest (June as contributor / alum)<br> <a href="https://slate.com/podcasts/culture-gabfest" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">https://slate.com/podcasts/culture-gabfest</a></p> <p>—</p> <p>Eurovision Songs Discussed in This Episode</p> <p>Jemini – “Cry Baby” (United Kingdom, 2003)<br> Placement: 26th of 26 — 0 points<br> YouTube:<br> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mTV8GUwzRjw" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mTV8GUwzRjw</a></p> <p>Go-Jo – “Milkshake Man” (Australia, 2025)<br> Placement: 11th of 16 in Semi-Final 2 — televote only — did not qualify<br> YouTube:<br> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5lSsijRZmrs" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5lSsijRZmrs</a></p> <p>Jendrik – “I Don’t Feel Hate” (Germany, 2021)<br> Placement: 25th of 26 — 3 points<br> YouTube (music video — song begins ~1:00):<br> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ydgxZnHFLi4" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ydgxZnHFLi4</a></p> <p>Jeangu Macrooy – “Birth of a New Age” (Netherlands, 2021)<br> Placement: 23rd of 26 — 11 points<br> YouTube:<br> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4Fag4yajxk" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4Fag4yajxk</a></p> <p>Olly Alexander – “Dizzy” (United Kingdom, 2024)<br> Grand Final placement: 24th of 26<br> Points: 46 (Jury 46 / Televote 0)<br> YouTube:<br> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4lu8pVGHlA" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4lu8pVGHlA</a></p> <p>Remember Monday – “What the Hell Just Happened?” (United Kingdom, 2025)<br> Placement: 19th of 26<br> Jury: 88 — Televote: 0<br> YouTube:<br> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AfeSxNubBQE" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AfeSxNubBQE</a></p> <p>—</p> <p>Guardian Review Referenced</p> <p>Lucy Mangan — All’s Fair review — “Kim Kardashian’s divorce drama is fascinatingly, existentially terrible”<br> The Guardian — 4 Nov 2025<br> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2025/nov/04/alls-fair-review-kim-kardashian-divorce-drama-is-fascinatingly-existentially-terrible" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2025/nov/04/alls-fair-review-kim-kardashian-divorce-drama-is-fascinatingly-existentially-terrible</a></p> <p>—</p> <p>Other Guardian context discussed</p> <p>Zero-star review roundup reference (Guardian feature)<br> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2025/nov/05/the-guardian-has-only-ever-published-15-zero-star-reviews-here-they-all-are" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2025/nov/05/the-guardian-has-only-ever-published-15-zero-star-reviews-here-they-all-are</a></p> <p>Commentary on star-rating / zero-star precedent (related debate)<br> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2025/nov/06/one-to-zero-star-reviews" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">https://www.theguardian.com/film/2025/nov/06/one-to-zero-star-reviews</a></p> <p>—</p> <p>Article June Mentioned — Olivia Nuzzi memoir discourse</p> <p>Slate — review of “American Canto”<br> <a href="https://slate.com/culture/2025/12/olivia-nuzzi-rfk-donald-trump-ryan-lizza-book.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">https://slate.com/culture/2025/12/olivia-nuzzi-rfk-donald-trump-ryan-lizza-book.html</a></p> <p>—</p> <p>Optional background links for listeners</p> <p>Jeangu Macrooy — Birth of a New Age (Wikipedia)<br> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birth_of_a_New_Age" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birth_of_a_New_Age</a></p> <p>Olly Alexander — Eurovision 2024 entry overview<br> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Kingdom_in_the_Eurovision_Song_Contest_2024" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Kingdom_in_the_Eurovision_Song_Contest_2024</a></p> <p>—</p> <p>Show page &amp; archive</p> <p><a href="https://eurovisionsongcontext.fireside.fm" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">https://eurovisionsongcontext.fireside.fm</a></p> <p>— </p> Eurovision, Eurovision Song Contest, ESC, culture, cultural criticism, criticism, zero star reviews, one star reviews, Lucy Mangan, All’s Fair, June Thomas, Slate, Working podcast, The Waves podcast, Outward podcast, television criticism, media criticism, pop culture, cultural failure, cynicism, ambition, zero points, Eurovision flops, Eurovision analysis, Jeangu Macrooy, Jendrik, Olly Alexander, Remember Monday, Go-Jo, music competition, taste and identity Links to June’s Newsletter!
https://buttondown.com/WhereAre

—

June Thomas — Book

A Place of Our Own: Six Spaces That Shaped Queer Women’s Culture

Amazon US
https://www.amazon.com/s?k=A+Place+of+Our+Own+June+Thomas

Amazon UK
https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=A+Place+of+Our+Own+June+Thomas

—

Podcasts by June Thomas

Working (Slate)
https://slate.com/podcasts/working

The Waves (Slate)
https://slate.com/podcasts/the-waves

Outward (Slate LGBTQ podcast)
https://slate.com/podcasts/outward

Culture Gabfest (June as contributor / alum)
https://slate.com/podcasts/culture-gabfest

—

Eurovision Songs Discussed in This Episode

Jemini – “Cry Baby” (United Kingdom, 2003)
Placement: 26th of 26 — 0 points
YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mTV8GUwzRjw

Go-Jo – “Milkshake Man” (Australia, 2025)
Placement: 11th of 16 in Semi-Final 2 — televote only — did not qualify
YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5lSsijRZmrs

Jendrik – “I Don’t Feel Hate” (Germany, 2021)
Placement: 25th of 26 — 3 points
YouTube (music video — song begins ~1:00):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ydgxZnHFLi4

Jeangu Macrooy – “Birth of a New Age” (Netherlands, 2021)
Placement: 23rd of 26 — 11 points
YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4Fag4yajxk

Olly Alexander – “Dizzy” (United Kingdom, 2024)
Grand Final placement: 24th of 26
Points: 46 (Jury 46 / Televote 0)
YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4lu8pVGHlA

Remember Monday – “What the Hell Just Happened?” (United Kingdom, 2025)
Placement: 19th of 26
Jury: 88 — Televote: 0
YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AfeSxNubBQE

—

Guardian Review Referenced

Lucy Mangan — All’s Fair review — “Kim Kardashian’s divorce drama is fascinatingly, existentially terrible”
The Guardian — 4 Nov 2025
https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2025/nov/04/alls-fair-review-kim-kardashian-divorce-drama-is-fascinatingly-existentially-terrible

—

Other Guardian context discussed

Zero-star review roundup reference (Guardian feature)
https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2025/nov/05/the-guardian-has-only-ever-published-15-zero-star-reviews-here-they-all-are

Commentary on star-rating / zero-star precedent (related debate)
https://www.theguardian.com/film/2025/nov/06/one-to-zero-star-reviews

—

Article June Mentioned — Olivia Nuzzi memoir discourse

Slate — review of “American Canto”
https://slate.com/culture/2025/12/olivia-nuzzi-rfk-donald-trump-ryan-lizza-book.html

—

Optional background links for listeners

Jeangu Macrooy — Birth of a New Age (Wikipedia)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birth_of_a_New_Age

Olly Alexander — Eurovision 2024 entry overview
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Kingdom_in_the_Eurovision_Song_Contest_2024

—

Show page & archive

https://eurovisionsongcontext.fireside.fm

—

]]> Links to June’s Newsletter!
https://buttondown.com/WhereAre

—

June Thomas — Book

A Place of Our Own: Six Spaces That Shaped Queer Women’s Culture

Amazon US
https://www.amazon.com/s?k=A+Place+of+Our+Own+June+Thomas

Amazon UK
https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=A+Place+of+Our+Own+June+Thomas

—

Podcasts by June Thomas

Working (Slate)
https://slate.com/podcasts/working

The Waves (Slate)
https://slate.com/podcasts/the-waves

Outward (Slate LGBTQ podcast)
https://slate.com/podcasts/outward

Culture Gabfest (June as contributor / alum)
https://slate.com/podcasts/culture-gabfest

—

Eurovision Songs Discussed in This Episode

Jemini – “Cry Baby” (United Kingdom, 2003)
Placement: 26th of 26 — 0 points
YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mTV8GUwzRjw

Go-Jo – “Milkshake Man” (Australia, 2025)
Placement: 11th of 16 in Semi-Final 2 — televote only — did not qualify
YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5lSsijRZmrs

Jendrik – “I Don’t Feel Hate” (Germany, 2021)
Placement: 25th of 26 — 3 points
YouTube (music video — song begins ~1:00):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ydgxZnHFLi4

Jeangu Macrooy – “Birth of a New Age” (Netherlands, 2021)
Placement: 23rd of 26 — 11 points
YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4Fag4yajxk

Olly Alexander – “Dizzy” (United Kingdom, 2024)
Grand Final placement: 24th of 26
Points: 46 (Jury 46 / Televote 0)
YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4lu8pVGHlA

Remember Monday – “What the Hell Just Happened?” (United Kingdom, 2025)
Placement: 19th of 26
Jury: 88 — Televote: 0
YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AfeSxNubBQE

—

Guardian Review Referenced

Lucy Mangan — All’s Fair review — “Kim Kardashian’s divorce drama is fascinatingly, existentially terrible”
The Guardian — 4 Nov 2025
https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2025/nov/04/alls-fair-review-kim-kardashian-divorce-drama-is-fascinatingly-existentially-terrible

—

Other Guardian context discussed

Zero-star review roundup reference (Guardian feature)
https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2025/nov/05/the-guardian-has-only-ever-published-15-zero-star-reviews-here-they-all-are

Commentary on star-rating / zero-star precedent (related debate)
https://www.theguardian.com/film/2025/nov/06/one-to-zero-star-reviews

—

Article June Mentioned — Olivia Nuzzi memoir discourse

Slate — review of “American Canto”
https://slate.com/culture/2025/12/olivia-nuzzi-rfk-donald-trump-ryan-lizza-book.html

—

Optional background links for listeners

Jeangu Macrooy — Birth of a New Age (Wikipedia)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birth_of_a_New_Age

Olly Alexander — Eurovision 2024 entry overview
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Kingdom_in_the_Eurovision_Song_Contest_2024

—

Show page & archive

https://eurovisionsongcontext.fireside.fm

—

]]> Episode 66: Staging & Body Language Analysis in Eurovision 2025 with Mark Bowden! https://eurovisionsongcontext.fireside.fm/66 a5187cdc-7c26-40b7-85ab-441a3de3da7a Sun, 13 Apr 2025 10:00:00 -0400 Bradley Dalton-Oates full Bradley Dalton-Oates In this episode, Bradley is joined by body language expert and author Mark Bowden (The Behavior Panel) to break down performances from Sweden, Estonia, Georgia, Austria, and the United Kingdom. They also take a closer look at Martin Österdahl’s body language — and his choice of Rolex. 1:20:24 no <p>In this episode, Bradley is joined by body language expert and author Mark Bowden (The Behavior Panel) to break down performances from Sweden, Estonia, Georgia, Austria, and the United Kingdom. They also take a closer look at Martin Österdahl’s body language — and his choice of Rolex.</p> <p>Links:</p> <p>Martin gets booed at Eurovision 2024 while delivering his tag line “we’re good to go” (30 seconds):<br> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IMd0BAyu8wk" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IMd0BAyu8wk</a></p> <p>Martin Osterdahl's Watch:<br> <a href="https://www.shutterstock.com/editorial/image-editorial/martin-%C3%B6sterdahl-eurovision-toppchefen-%C3%A4r-nybliven-debutf%C3%B6rfattare-med-8500433cf" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">https://www.shutterstock.com/editorial/image-editorial/martin-%C3%B6sterdahl-eurovision-toppchefen-%C3%A4r-nybliven-debutf%C3%B6rfattare-med-8500433cf</a></p> <p>Artist: Johannes Pietsch "JJ", Austria<br> Song: Wasted Love<br> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ieSTNpxvio" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ieSTNpxvio</a></p> <p>Artist: KAJ, Sweden<br> Song: Bara bada bastu<br> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QIvtyzCYJDg" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QIvtyzCYJDg</a></p> <p>Tommy Cash, Estonia<br> Song: Espresso Macchiato<br> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHt5f8hUei4" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHt5f8hUei4</a></p> <p>Remember Monday, United Kingdom<br> Song: What the Hell Just Happened<br> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-hu6R3ZnOdY&amp;list=RD-hu6R3ZnOdY&amp;start_radio=1" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-hu6R3ZnOdY&amp;amp;list=RD-hu6R3ZnOdY&amp;amp;start_radio=1</a></p> <p>Mariam Shengelia, Georgia<br> Song: Freedom<br> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3wu0dUNd4c" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3wu0dUNd4c</a></p> <hr> <p>Book, USA: Truth and Lies: What People Are Really Thinking <br> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Truth-Lies-People-Really-Thinking/dp/1443452092" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">https://www.amazon.com/Truth-Lies-People-Really-Thinking/dp/1443452092</a></p> <p>Book, UK: Truth and Lies: What People Are Really Thinking <br> <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Truth-Lies-People-Really-Thinking-ebook/dp/B072L52J3D" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">https://www.amazon.co.uk/Truth-Lies-People-Really-Thinking-ebook/dp/B072L52J3D</a></p> <p>The Behavior Panel on YouTube:<br> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@TheBehaviorPanel/videos" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">https://www.youtube.com/@TheBehaviorPanel/videos</a></p> <p>TEDx Mark Bowden, The Importance of Being Inauthentic:<br> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1zpf8H_Dd40" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1zpf8H_Dd40</a></p> <p>The King Who Never Was, Netflix<br> <a href="https://www.netflix.com/title/81495974" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">https://www.netflix.com/title/81495974</a></p> <hr> <p>Bradley reviews Azerbaijan, Estonia, Iceland, Netherlands, Norway, &amp; Switzerland on the EuroWhat Podcast: <br> <a href="https://www.eurowhat.com/262" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">https://www.eurowhat.com/262</a></p> <p>The Musical Remix of Bradley's Espresso Macchiato rant from the EuroWhat:<br> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YLQVq95PIwI" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YLQVq95PIwI</a></p> Mark Bowden, Behavior Analysis, Eurovision, ESC, Eurovision 2025 ESC2025, Austria, Remember Monday, United Kingdom, Estonia, Tommy Cash, Sweden, KAJ, Georgia, EuroWhat Podcast, Martin Osterdahl, EBU, Johannes Pietsch, Austria, melfest, Bara Bada Bastu, Sauna In this episode, Bradley is joined by body language expert and author Mark Bowden (The Behavior Panel) to break down performances from Sweden, Estonia, Georgia, Austria, and the United Kingdom. They also take a closer look at Martin Österdahl’s body language — and his choice of Rolex.

Links:

Martin gets booed at Eurovision 2024 while delivering his tag line “we’re good to go” (30 seconds):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IMd0BAyu8wk

Martin Osterdahl's Watch:
https://www.shutterstock.com/editorial/image-editorial/martin-%C3%B6sterdahl-eurovision-toppchefen-%C3%A4r-nybliven-debutf%C3%B6rfattare-med-8500433cf

Artist: Johannes Pietsch "JJ", Austria
Song: Wasted Love
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ieSTNpxvio

Artist: KAJ, Sweden
Song: Bara bada bastu
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QIvtyzCYJDg

Tommy Cash, Estonia
Song: Espresso Macchiato
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHt5f8hUei4

Remember Monday, United Kingdom
Song: What the Hell Just Happened
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-hu6R3ZnOdY&list=RD-hu6R3ZnOdY&start_radio=1

Mariam Shengelia, Georgia
Song: Freedom
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3wu0dUNd4c

Book, USA: Truth and Lies: What People Are Really Thinking
https://www.amazon.com/Truth-Lies-People-Really-Thinking/dp/1443452092

Book, UK: Truth and Lies: What People Are Really Thinking
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Truth-Lies-People-Really-Thinking-ebook/dp/B072L52J3D

The Behavior Panel on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@TheBehaviorPanel/videos

TEDx Mark Bowden, The Importance of Being Inauthentic:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1zpf8H_Dd40

The King Who Never Was, Netflix
https://www.netflix.com/title/81495974

Bradley reviews Azerbaijan, Estonia, Iceland, Netherlands, Norway, & Switzerland on the EuroWhat Podcast:
https://www.eurowhat.com/262

The Musical Remix of Bradley's Espresso Macchiato rant from the EuroWhat:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YLQVq95PIwI

]]> In this episode, Bradley is joined by body language expert and author Mark Bowden (The Behavior Panel) to break down performances from Sweden, Estonia, Georgia, Austria, and the United Kingdom. They also take a closer look at Martin Österdahl’s body language — and his choice of Rolex.

Links:

Martin gets booed at Eurovision 2024 while delivering his tag line “we’re good to go” (30 seconds):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IMd0BAyu8wk

Martin Osterdahl's Watch:
https://www.shutterstock.com/editorial/image-editorial/martin-%C3%B6sterdahl-eurovision-toppchefen-%C3%A4r-nybliven-debutf%C3%B6rfattare-med-8500433cf

Artist: Johannes Pietsch "JJ", Austria
Song: Wasted Love
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ieSTNpxvio

Artist: KAJ, Sweden
Song: Bara bada bastu
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QIvtyzCYJDg

Tommy Cash, Estonia
Song: Espresso Macchiato
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHt5f8hUei4

Remember Monday, United Kingdom
Song: What the Hell Just Happened
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-hu6R3ZnOdY&list=RD-hu6R3ZnOdY&start_radio=1

Mariam Shengelia, Georgia
Song: Freedom
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3wu0dUNd4c

Book, USA: Truth and Lies: What People Are Really Thinking
https://www.amazon.com/Truth-Lies-People-Really-Thinking/dp/1443452092

Book, UK: Truth and Lies: What People Are Really Thinking
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Truth-Lies-People-Really-Thinking-ebook/dp/B072L52J3D

The Behavior Panel on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@TheBehaviorPanel/videos

TEDx Mark Bowden, The Importance of Being Inauthentic:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1zpf8H_Dd40

The King Who Never Was, Netflix
https://www.netflix.com/title/81495974

Bradley reviews Azerbaijan, Estonia, Iceland, Netherlands, Norway, & Switzerland on the EuroWhat Podcast:
https://www.eurowhat.com/262

The Musical Remix of Bradley's Espresso Macchiato rant from the EuroWhat:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YLQVq95PIwI

]]> Episode 63: Bonus: Eurovision 2025, Anglosphere in Crisis? Australia, Ireland, the UK https://eurovisionsongcontext.fireside.fm/63 dae723d3-54d6-4603-89f9-0a1eff3be444 Wed, 12 Mar 2025 14:00:00 -0400 Bradley Dalton-Oates full Bradley Dalton-Oates Russ and Suzie from Euroriffs join me for an emergency recording to discuss whether two-thirds of the anglosphere won't make it to the Eurovision Grand Final. Also: possible hygiene issues on ice cream trucks. 1:02:26 no <p>Russ and Suzie from Euroriffs join me for an emergency recording to discuss whether two-thirds of the anglosphere won't make it to the Eurovision Grand Final. Also: possible hygiene issues on ice cream trucks. </p> Eurovision 2025, Eurovision, ESC, Remember Monday, Go Jo, Emmy Basel, ESC Russ and Suzie from Euroriffs join me for an emergency recording to discuss whether two-thirds of the anglosphere won't make it to the Eurovision Grand Final. Also: possible hygiene issues on ice cream trucks.

]]> Russ and Suzie from Euroriffs join me for an emergency recording to discuss whether two-thirds of the anglosphere won't make it to the Eurovision Grand Final. Also: possible hygiene issues on ice cream trucks.

]]>