We Love Aunties

This week we pay homage to aunties, in our own lives, in politics, and in pop culture. But first we have to define what an aunty is, so we play a little game called "Aunty or Nah-nty," naming aunty candidates from television shows and movies to refine our criteria for who is and isn't one. We examine the historical relevance of aunties, and think about portrayals of women who are not-quite-our mothers, fiercely independent and repositories for our secrets. Can the "aunty" label be a caricature, or is it strictly an honor? Have on-screen "aunties" changed the way we view childless women in our culture? And can white women be aunties?

Discussed This Week:

Mystic Pizza (The Samuel Goldwyn Company)

“Snapchat Lost $800 Million After Rihanna Criticized Its Offensive Ad” (Emma Stefansky, Vanity Fair)

“LGBTQ Brazillian Councilwoman Assainated” (Saurav Jung Thapa, HRC)

“Bridging The Racial Divide in a Middle School Friendship” (Jonathan Miles, The New York Times)

“Lionel Richie Wants to Teach You How to Be a Real ‘American Idol’” (Alex Pappademas, The New York Times)

Eve’s Bayou (Trimark Pictures)

Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.