Judy Blume Forever: Don’t Put Judy Blume in the “Nice Lady” Box
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WDTB Executive Producer Caty Borum interviews Judy Blume, the legendary author who pioneered young adult literature for several generations. They discuss her books, the Peabody-Award-winning documentary based on her remarkable career (Judy Blume Forever), her uncensored thoughts on book bans, and how empowering preteen and teen girls through storytelling plays a role in our collective liberation.
Episode Description
In this episode, we ask the question, “Why is normalizing the experiences of adolescence, especially for young girls, so disruptive?” Caty Borum, WDTB Executive Producer and Executive Director for the Center for Media & Social Impact, interviews legendary author and disruptor Judy Blume, author of Are You There God? It’s Me Margaret, Blubber, Forever, and the center of the recent Peabody Award-winning documentary about her life, Judy Blume Forever. Caty and Judy discuss her inspiration, using writing to find a way to a better life, puberty as a time to celebrate girlhood, and finding community through fighting book bans. After their interview, Caty speaks with Chelsey Goodan, author of Underestimated: The Wisdom and Power of Teenage Girls, about the untapped power of teenage girls and the importance of feeling seen.
Show Resources
Judy Blume Forever winner profile
Watch our Exclusive Peabody Conversation with co-directors Davina Pardo and Leah Wolchok
Peabody Finds Newsletter: Reading Judy Blume in the Book Ban Era