Season Two Kickoff: Just Two Nerds Talking Shit

Season two starts with a pivot. We’re still here for first-generation college and grad school life, but now we’re applying that lived experience to the stories we all watch, quote, and argue about. As two English PhDs, Sam and LT bring a sharp cultural analysis style without losing the warmth, humor, and honesty that made this show feel like a real conversation in the first place.

In this episode, they talk about the methodology shift from season one, which stayed close to La'Tonya's Smart Girl origin story, into a bigger project focused on cultural representation.

Subscribe, share this kickoff with a friend, and leave us a review. What show or film should we put under the first-gen microscope next?

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Transcript

Welcome Back And Who We Are

LT 0:01

Here we go. Welcome to season two of the Smart Girl Podcast, y'all. This is La'Tonya Rease Miles, a ka L T. I am the author of a book called appropriately Smart Girl, which was about my first gen origin story through K uh through nine different schools by 10th grade, um, which is crazy, on to being a transfer student, and of course, a first-gen graduate, first-gen professional, all the things. Now founder of My Tribe Media, which is a media advocacy group, and um uh delighted to be one of the co-hosts of this particular podcast where we talk about all things first generation college, grad school related.

Why Season Two Changes

LT 0:52

Um, but this season, unlike last season, we're gonna be um Sam and I are gonna be leaning in to the English PhD nerd that we are. It's just true to our core.

Sam 1:05

That's just, you know, that's how we met. That's our origin story, and how I wound up working my shift as I think of it as like the the illustrious number two, the Robin to your Batman.

LT 1:21

I gotta think of a better Nightwing. You are Nightwing.

Sam 1:25

I love it, it's so great. Um, here I'm Sam Pinto. I am also an English PhD, like our friend Dr. La'Tonya Rease Miles. I know we never do that, we're not those people, not at all, but I'm trying to get our cred out there, our expertise. We're not just hot taking from the perspective of, you know, ladies on the street. We are experts. We met in graduate school, uh, talking shit about nerds, black nerds, and nerd, N.E.R.D. because that's what's dating us right now. That was what we did. Um, talking about Dawson's Creek. It was the the heyday of solo Justin Timberlake. Um and I gotta tell you, right before we recorded this, just found out that LT wrote a review of a novel written by NBA ex-wives. Yes. Like we are we are soulmates. It's just clear that we are the intellectual Pacey and Joey.

LT 2:50

Um the cultural pacey and joey.

Sam 2:54

Um and we're bringing this energy to season two.

LT 2:57

Yeah, absolutely. So, Sam, let's talk

Culture Analysis Through A First-Gen Lens

LT 3:00

a little bit about methodology, right? Just a little. How is this season? Dr. LT. Yes, Dr. Sam. Yeah. How is the season different than last season? So, for a recap, season one um was greatly inspired, like I said, by my memoir. And we kind of kept it close in terms of our guests, in terms of our themes, really within the the universe of that particular book. So our guests um who were incredible, many of them were mentioned in the book, or you know, had some kind of uh um relationship to it. But now we are really, like we said before, leaning into um basically cultural representation. So all kinds of TV shows, um, films, um, with a focus on coming of age, being in school, navigating professions and family. That's that's not exclusive to the first gen experience, but it's actually a big hallmark of it. So this is the the direction where we're gonna go in season two.

Sam 4:02

Um, and speaking of inspired by, like Prince with Batman. Yes. With the Batman soundtrack. We don't have to stick to that though. It's Prince has a large oohra, and that's what we're really doing here. That's right. Um, so again, it's about those first gen representations, but it's also about bringing that first gen lens to culture at large, right? To our analysis, even when it's not first gen centered. Um, that's really where we're at. That's really what we're moving toward as we um just have a ball on this podcast. Um, LT, what are we starting with? What does it turn out? We have a whole season worth of stuff on.

Why Sports Starts The Season

LT 4:49

Okay. Well, here's what we are starting with sports. Okay. However, here's what we're not doing, regrettably. Unfortunately, we will not be talking about heated rivalry, even though it is amazing. Have you seen it yet, Sam?

Sam 5:05

I mean, it's no, it's in the queue because I have children that are still at home. But yeah, I know all about it, of course. And also, if you think we won't be referencing, we will reference it.

LT 5:17

We will reference it and how it is the queer romance fantasy that we all need right now. Okay, that probably won't be a central episode for us.

Sam 5:29

Um, however, we but it doesn't mean black hockey won't show up.

LT 5:34

Doesn't mean that, y'all.

Sam 5:35

Doesn't mean listening, keep listening. Did you see the Mighty Ducks 4 teaser? No. That Keenan put out. Oh, yeah. Okay. I have not so just so you know, like it's coming.

LT 5:48

Okay.

Sam 5:48

Yeah.

LT 5:49

While we won't have we won't um be discussing heated rivalry specifically, we will be focused on sports this season, specifically the world of Remember the Titans, T C Williams High School, which is my alma mater. Um, we will

Remember The Titans To Friday Night Lights

LT 6:05

be uh looking at the some of the untold stories of Remember the Titans. So that is so exciting, you guys. We will be um talking to other sports figures, particularly women in sports, and um ultimately talking about the GOAT Friday Night Lights. And so, as we all know, Full Hearts can't lose, right? Oh, clear eyes, full hearts can't lose. Sorry, you gotta get the get the whole thing. That was my bad. Yeah, that's okay. That's okay. So super excited for season two, Sam.

Sam 6:40

Uh, I can't wait. I want to say in the Friday Night Lights tradition, uh join us, y'all. Uh, and that the y'all is parents, tweens, yes, and everyone in between. I there's something for everyone. Absolutely. Also for people that just want the hot takes on. Taylor, Texas, Coach Taylor, I should say, in Texas, but there you go. Um, you know, they say Texas forever, first gen's forever. Hey.