Pop Culture

A look at the role first ladies play in presidential politics with culture commentator Sheri Parks, associate dean and associate professor of American studies at the University of Maryland College Park, Maryland.

Thursdays- August 16, 23, 30  

Good Life Thursdays

The practice of solitary confinement in prisons is under increasing criticism. What isolation practices does Maryland use? We talk to Urbanite contributing writer Michael Corbin, and Maryland Correctional Institute for Women assistant warden Kendall Gifford.

McDaniel College president and pop culture analyst Roger Casey on what the fall TV season has to offer.

Mailbag.

Maryland Morning Culture Calendar.

Is the American workplace flexible enough to support a work-life balance for women? Are women "opting out" of their careers or are they being forced out? As the "mommy wars" rage on, we take a deeper look at women in the workplace: how some face environments hostile to mothers, children and the demands of family caregiving - and what small changes could benefit everyone involved. With Bernie Jones, editor of "Women Who Opt Out: The Debate over Working Mothers and Work-Family Balance."
Original airdate: 05/19/12

A rebroadcast of our lively discussion about the wildly popular "Fifty Shades of Grey" trilogy, the erotic-themed novels that still hold the top three spots on the New York Times bestseller list for both e-books and trade paperbacks. Some call it "mommy porn." Others have praised the novels for helping women talk and think more freely about sex. But are its themes of S&M and sexual submission harmless fantasy or is there something problematic in its popularity? Why are millions of women responding to these books and why now?

A look at the latest from the world of television with Baltimore Sun media critic, David Zurawik, including HBO's The Newsroom and the state and worth of cable news.