The Real Housewives of Humanities podcast host Basil Soper delves into the intersection of The Real Housewives and social justice issues. Focusing on the theme of classism in episode 2, Class Acts and Reality Checks, examines the portrayal of wealth in The Real Housewives franchises and the viewers relationship to it, with a particular emphasis on the New York and Atlanta series.

The episode features an interview with Christine Sweeney, an expert on media representation, who offers insights into the broader implications of reality TV, particularly in shaping aspirations and perceptions of the American dream.

Host: Basil Soper

Producer: Mikaela Reid

Welcome to the Real Housewives of Humanities podcast: where reality TV can't escape reality. 

On this show, we talk to experts and Real Housewives fans about social justice issues and theories that end up in the franchises. 

Many scandals over the years have led to lawsuits and incarceration in the Real Housewives universe. Wives and househusbands alike have found themselves in legal trouble, financial struggles, issues with substance abuse, and at times assault charges have been handed out. We look at how the authorities treated Housewives across franchises in the face of incarceration and how franchises produced the stories of women like Teresa Giudice, Phaedra Parks, Jen Shah, Erika Jayne, and Lunann de Lesseps. 

In this episode, we speak to Cortez Wright about how incarceration and the Real Housewives intersect. Cortez possesses years of non-profit communications and development experience working at the intersection of queer & trans liberation, getting justice for people impacted by the criminal legal system in the Deep South, and reproductive justice in the South. They've worked on and assisted in crafting fundraising and communications strategies around a variety of issues, including, but not limited to, anti-shackling and the criminalization of Black mothers, abortion access and stigma, reproductive coercion, pop-culture, and media representation of Queer & Trans youth of color.

Can the Real Housewives be a catalyst of change or do they cause more harm than good? Listen and tell us what you think! 

rhohpodcast@gmail.com

Executive Producer: Mikaela Reid

Hosted and Written by: Basil V. Soper