Consent, Communication, and the Influence within Popular Media

In Episode 2 of Is That Okay?, hosts Al Thiel and Sheila Confer from the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg explore consent, communication, and the influence of popular media. What does meaningful consent look like? Why is communication so important? And how do college culture, television, books, movies, and other media shape the way we think about consent, boundaries, and relationships?

Al and Sheila examine both positive and problematic examples through discussions of Inside the Manosphere, Ted Lasso, Heated Rivalry, Joe Abercrombie’s The Devils, and There’s Something About Mary. Along the way, they consider how the media we consume can influence our expectations about relationships and create opportunities for conversations about consent.

Listen in as they unpack these examples and ask the question at the heart of the podcast: Is That Okay?

Listener Discretion: This episode includes discussions of sexual violence and gender-based harm that some listeners may find difficult.

Is That Okay? is supported by the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg and Blackburn Center in Greensburg, Pennsylvania