Informed Attraction

They unpack why villain redemption arcs are so tempting and which arcs feel earned versus rushed. They compare Loki, Kylo Ren, Zuko, and Spike to show different redemption mechanics. They debate Snape’s reveal and argue his motives undermine true moral change. They also dive into an internet subculture that literally worshipped Severus Snape and the drama that tore it apart.

If you couldn't tell by the title, we're reading fanfiction this one! This week, we dive into the question of "why do a lot of women on the Internet get sexually obsessed with evil characters in media?" And we're popping off with Rumplestiltskin from ABC's Once Upon a Time.  Hosted by: Mackenna Goodrich (she/they; @mack3nna) and Dr. Aubrey Hoffer, PHd (she/her; @hoff.phd) Logo design: Freya Sierra Theme Music: Josh Capati Send us an email at informedattraction@gmail.com Listening notes: https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vTGn1LJv_vuZdTUJ-nsACuITHKmz3f828BkRJqqCI7M0F6xwGJjgfOseSSDD3wchL02BwGl199MQIDy/pub

It's done. Mackenna is finally free. This week, she presents Aubrey with a buffet of Tucci content and they talk about an absolute smorgasboard of film and TV, including The Devil Wears Prada, The Lovely Bones, The Hunger Games, and whatever the hell Space Chimps is. Also, they watch the famous negroni video together.  Hosted by: Mackenna Goodrich (she/they; @mack3nna) and Dr. Aubrey Hoffer, PHd (she/her; @hoff.phd) Logo design: Freya Sierra Theme Music: Josh Capati Send us an email at informedattraction@gmail.com Listening notes: https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vRIDKZ6t9MCP-a4x2Nknp2LuKr5YieHDgSRW5U2xE6fHyMbdzyPHdZoOrg0dnHOPI9XIEAbdfnK2Fto/pub

WE FINALLY GOT A BALD TUCCI. This week, we talk about a loooooooot of rom-coms that are fine and one movie that is very good! We also have a discussion about what attractiveness research has to say about bald and balding men. Hosted by: Mackenna Goodrich (she/they; @mack3nna) and Dr. Aubrey Hoffer, PHd (she/her; @hoff.phd) Logo design: Freya Sierra Theme Music: Josh Capati Send us an email at informedattraction@gmail.com Listening notes: https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vQbUPKjM5EKX1L3EPgqtPONWrqpI30u9ajiSSz1TW4TXzlpTuAAKm2USYCczK_PsHuXwI1p9pJHk885/pub

We're back and going deeper INTO THE TUCCIVERSE to talk about Stanley Tucci's indie movie phase. In the 90s, he was doing all kinds of wacky stuff before becoming the hot dad / horrific jester we know and love today. So join us to talk about some epic highs (namely, The Daytrippers) and some epic lows (namely, Mackenna finally had to watch a Woody Allen movie).  Hosted by: Mackenna Goodrich (she/they; @mack3nna) and Dr. Aubrey Hoffer, PHd (she/her; @hoff.phd) Logo design: Freya Sierra Theme Music: Josh Capati Send us an email at informedattraction@gmail.com Listening notes: https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vTNDb5d0SJeC9LomhrszD6o7cWiT4jt8PURLWlnHIK7m6DzoxtIaQ2UO4yuHMIIZalQy2Dui1IqJrBZ/pub

Mackenna and Aubrey are going INTO THE TUCCIVERSE as Mackenna watches through Stanley Tucci's filmography. We want to investigate how Stanley Tucci established his gigantic career and his status as a sexy, sexy man. However, this week, Mackenna mostly watched a lot of bad TV from the 80s and 90s.  Hosted by: Mackenna Goodrich (she/they; @mack3nna) and Dr. Aubrey Hoffer, PHd (she/her; @hoff.phd) Logo design: Freya Sierra Theme Music: Josh Capati Send us an email at informedattraction@gmail.com Listening notes: https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vTkEmGvCoV2bFIlEI7pZ91-YA_7NZG0O92U13WpnxTxdZefzcPVBc5asBNbH2SDRXmtWpqsr5-whsLF/pub

It's the Super Bowl, baby! We have a serious episode about the complications of being a femme fan of the NFL and a DEEPLY SERIOUS episode where Aubrey chooses the football team she will root for for the rest of her life in the most scientific way possible: by deciding which quarterback is the hottest. And, you all finally get to meet Bryce! Hosted by: Mackenna Goodrich (she/they; @mack3nna) and Dr. Aubrey Hoffer, PHd (she/her; @hoff.phd) Guest: Bryce DiLullo (he/him; @gr00vytwoshoes) Logo design: Freya Sierra Theme Music: Josh Capati Send us an email at informedattraction@gmail.com Listening notes (including Mackenna's deeply unhinged slideshow): https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vRiYdREbEvB6iAScgVuja9mhEjV5D_TE7evQjddmfLhYw6UCm6TMU2fAkTCU6iZ88kMLHxZuTZL9Gja/pub

This week, we got a one-off episode about Randy Marsh! Randy is a character from the adult animated sitcom South Park. He is the most prominent parent on the show and Stan's father. And, as Aubrey would say, there's an allure... This episode also features a discussion of how the heck is attraction is formed in the first place as well as the power of the dad bod.   Hosted by: Mackenna Goodrich (she/they; @mack3nna) and Dr. Aubrey Hoffer, PHd (she/her; @hoff.phd) Logo design: Freya Sierra Theme Music: Josh Capati Send us an email at informedattraction@gmail.com Listening notes: https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vSKuocFeFMj0o4eCA1sDeBIc21EZbJtGWWKBDE-3obB4Seh_BgZ8wvNLWJUvtgYLnuoIW64zWvRe3S2/pub

This week, Mackenna and Aubrey are joined by their friend, India Rose Chudnow, who works in the design space and is also just a delight. Aubrey and India watched two episodes of What Not To Wear for this week's episode: Nancy, an Irish step dancing teacher with the best attitude and no sense of style, and Denise, a Super Cute and Blonde flight attendant who loooooves a themed outifit and a poof. The trio discuss when What Not To Wear works, when it doesn't, and what Stacy and Clinton are up to now. Hosted by: Mackenna Goodrich (she/they; @mack3nna) and Dr. Aubrey Hoffer, PHd (she/her; @hoff.phd) Guest: India Rose Chudnow (she/her; @india.nooo) Logo design: Freya Sierra Theme Music: Josh Capati Send us an email at informedattraction@gmail.com Listening notes + resources for Minneapolis: https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vQ8Cd-7ePozyG9JDoSIQodq2G0g0IPsDy7PKLb0DieSDiY6WPH2A_9U5Z5fxFQnl-uBHO5tMTKQSXqu/pub

This week, Mackenna and Aubrey talk about one of Mackenna's favorite shows from childhood: What Not To Wear. Mackenna explains the structure of the show and how it enforced an extremely specific aesthetic. Also, they reminisce about Stitch Fix and Charming Charlie.  Hosted by: Mackenna Goodrich (she/they; @mack3nna) and Dr. Aubrey Hoffer, PHd (she/her; @hoff.phd) Logo design: Freya Sierra Theme Music: Josh Capati Send us an email at informedattraction@gmail.com Listening notes: https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vQLA_GVZL0Dap9O8MjNmOdzc1VcdnTh_FDZz2z5IMJAk-eVDcKNGDcLeOTr5ih-bE4Euq4Q7meOEvTU/pub