The Pink Aisle

At long last, after anticipating this film for multiple years, Emma and Henry have seen the 2023 Barbie film and might have just as many thoughts as tears Henry shed in watching this film. How do we contend with the many beautiful and contentious contradictions that can be found in this movie and its messages? Listen and you might find it... SUBLIME! Listen on Itunes  |  Listen on Google Play  | ...

In our final part of this retrospective on Ruth Handler's life, we explore her time at Mattel overseeing Barbie's rise to fame, the disasters that saw her leave Mattel, the cancer diagnosis that changed her life, and the personal and legal trials she faced as she was separated from her prized creation, Barbie. What do these things say about Handler and Barbie's legacy, listen and find out! Listen...

This week, we continue to explore the life of Ruth Handler, the creator of Barbie, as we specifically discuss the process she went through in the creation of the doll. A process that included Japanese war criminals, unscrupulous business deals, and a shockingly horny psychologist. How was Barbie able to succeed in these strange and challenging circumstances? Listen and find out! Listen to Part 1 H...

This is part one of three of our retrospective mini-series examining the life and legacy of Barbie's creator, Ruth Handler. In this section, we explore Handler's early life as Henry explains to Emma the different challenges she and her husband faced before creating the doll we all know and love, including scandalous marriages, antisemitism, a changing manufacturing industry, and a something called...

The Pink Aisle returns for the next three weeks in the leadup to the Margot Robbie Barbie film with Behind the Barbie - the Ruth Handler Story; a three-part mini-series which explores the life and legacy of Barbie's creator, Ruth Handler. Join Henry and Emma as they explore the challenges, changes, and mistakes Handler faced in her life and how this affects Barbie's past and future. The first epis...

In anticipation of Greta Gerwig's Barbie movie slated to release in July 2023, The Pink Aisle has a short episode discussing different elements to the latest teaser released for the movie; including the homage to 2001: A Space Odyssey, the new additions to the cast, and our hopes for the story for this film. This is going to be a more informal episode that isn't as polished as our other stuff, but...

The Pink Aisle returns to the halls of Monter High to discuss the recent live-action movie that has left certain fans in a beastly mood... How does generation three of these characters stack up with previous incarnations? Is it as bad as certain fans declare it to be? Listen to find out if it is of true monster heart. Listen on Itunes  |  Listen on Google Play  |  Listen on Spotify Like what you h...

Strap on those skates and head out to the rink, because the Pink Aisle is rollin' in with Monster High: Friday Night Frights! Listen as we marvel at the chaotic world of Skultimate Roller Maze; a sport that is not only responsible for the dismemberment of a student but also is key to maintaining the physical infrastructure of Monster High! Listen on Itunes |  Listen on Google Play |  Listen on Spo...

This week, the Pink Aisle is going to be doing something a little different, as Henry shares the history of Bild Lilli, the German Pinup Doll that Barbie was inspired by.  Though how much of this was inspiration or theft? That is what we will discuss alongside the troublesome history of its parent newspaper, the difference between empowerment and voyeurism, and how Lilli continues to affect the wo...

This week, we return to the hallowed halls of Monster High to discuss the upcoming live-action film and the TV movie Escape from Skull Shore. What we thought was going to be a short discussion about this 44-minute movie ended up spiraling into discussions of King Kong, Colonialism, the implied subjugation of monsters, PT Barnum, and why Lagoona can do so much better than Gil. Listen on Itunes List...

This week, the Pink Aisle will be taking Emma and Henry back to 1934 with Kit Kittredge: An American Girl, a movie that has so many delightful performances that it almost made us forget some of the atrocities committed during the Great Depression. How does this stack with the other American Girl films? Listen to find out! Listen on Itunes Listen on Google Play Listen on Spotify Like what you heard...

This week, we gather in the Pink Aisle to lay our praise and adulation to the lovely, irreplaceable, iconic Molly. Molly Ringwald that is, who stars in with another Molly in An American Girl on the Homefront. Will the adventures of Molly Mcintire live up to her costar? Listen to find out! Listen on Itunes Listen on Google Play Listen on Spotify Like what you heard? Be sure to rate us on your podca...

We are back with another American Girl Doll movie! This time we are heading back to the times of the American Revolution with Felicity: An American Girl Adventure and BOY HOWDY ARE WE UNCOMFORTABLE WITH THIS MOVIE!! ALL WE WANTED WAS A HORSE GIRL MOVIE AND WE GOT THIS INSTEAD! Listen to find out what that is. Listen on Itunes Listen on Google Play Listen on Spotify Like what you heard? Be sure to...

Happy Holidays from the Pink Aisle! Going into the new year, we are going to be examining the American Girl movies and the dolls they are based on, starting with Samantha: An American Girl Holiday. Listen as Emma witnesses the surprisingly dark and realistic issues that Samantha faces in New York during 1904, and Henry reawakens all of his repressed knowledge on the American Girl Doll line. Listen...

This week, we are discussing one of the most beloved elements of the Disney Fairies property, the Pixie Hollow MMO. While this game ended in 2013, the fan community for this game remains pervasive. And to discuss this, we are joined by Nora, one of the developers for the rewrite game We The Pixies, which seeks to recreate the experience of this game. To learn more about We the Pixies, you can play...

This week, we are joined by Bex Silberfien to discuss the latest Barbie movie, Big City, Big Dreams. Listen as Bex realizes just how much Barbie has changed as we experience new songs, a surprisingly dramatic side character, and a whole new second Barbie! What kind of drama awaits us in the Big City, tune in to find out! Bex Silberfien (they/she) is a theater producer and actress. She is an Assist...

After a slight hiatus, we return for a final time to the Disney Fairies franchise with Tinkerbell and the Legend of the Neverbeast, the first movie to be covered on the podcast to make Henry cry! Listen to find out why!. Listen on Itunes Listen on Google Play Listen on Spotify Like what you heard? Be sure to rate us on your podcast platform of choice, and follow us  @PinkAislePod  on Twitter. The...

This week, we are joined by Sam Marchiony to discuss The Pirate Fairy, a movie that introduced many to the Disney Fairies franchise by the merit of a certain Tom Hiddleston in the cast. Listen to see if this movie lives up to the 2014 Tumblr hype as we discuss how this movie does the titular pirate fairy dirty, the wild antics of switched fairy powers, and the uncomfortable romantic implications s...

This week, the world of Pixie Hollow grows bigger as Tinker Bell discovers a mystery about her past in Secret of the Wing. Listen as Henry and Emma discuss the world of the Winter Woods, the changes that were made to the Disney Fairy series, and the reproductive implications of fairies having siblings. Listen on Itunes Listen on Google Play Listen on Spotify Like what you heard? Be sure to rate us...

This week, we are joined by the lovely Drawpinion Dump to discuss her favorite of the Disney Fairy movies, Tinkerbell and the Great Fairy Rescue. Join us as we revel in this fun summer-filled journey as the fairies navigate the human world with a little faith, trust, and a lack of questioning for the historical implications of fairies visiting pre-World War Europe! Listen on Itunes Listen on Googl...

This week, we return to the world of Pixie Hollow to discuss Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure. Join us as we discuss the friend dynamics of the Disney Fairies, Tinker Bell's character development, and the romantic possibilities between her and  Terence (Spoiler alert: almost nonexistent). Listen on Itunes Listen on Google Play Listen on Spotify Like what you heard? Be sure to rate us on your podc...

This week, we are going to be delving into a series that is close to both of our hearts, the Disney Fairies series. Listen as we delve into the world of Pixie Hollow, the perilous journey this franchise underwent, and the solid 2008 movie with solid Marxist undertones that came out of these trials!  Listen on Itunes Listen on Google Play Listen on Spotify Like what you heard? Be sure to rate us on...

This week, we have experienced the newest Barbie film, Barbie & Chelsea: The Lost Birthday. Join us as we experience a movie that is basically The Wizard of Oz with 50% more uncanny animals, 100% more pirate lesbians, and 85% less enjoyable musical numbers. Is this movie worth losing a birthday over? Listen to Find out! Listen on Itunes Listen on Google Play Listen on Spotify Like what you heard?...

This week we will explore possibly the most retroactively disturbing and controversial Barbie movie to date: My Scene Goes Hollywood: A movie that will awaken the inner Film Twitter douche of anyone familiar with the film making process, strange parallels to the 1937 version of A Star is Born, and the infamous cameo that no one could see coming.  Listen on Itunes Listen on Google Play Listen on Sp...

This week, we explore the strange world of the My Scene dolls, which was Mattel's attempt to cash in the success of the Bratz Phenomenon of the early 2000s, as well as their first foray into the movie market with My Scene: Jammin' in Jamaica. How well do these movies square up against Bratz? How much will the tie-in soundtrack actually slap? Listen and find out!   Listen on Itunes Listen on Google...