Podcast · History

The C-Word

by Lena Dunham & Alissa Bennett · English · History

With every episode, Lena Dunham and Alissa Bennett take you on a historical deep dive into the life of a woman society dismissed by calling her mad, sad, or just plain bad: Lindsay Lohan, Judy Garland, Winona Ryder, Mariah Carey, Lil Kim and many more. Join them for a rich, hilarious, and heartbreak

New episodes: Weekly
Typical length: 58 min
Latest: 8 Oct 2026
Language: English

Latest episode

8 Oct 2026 · 1 hr 19 min

Belle Gibson

Belle Gibson was one of the original wellness influencers. She documented her unconventional cancer recovery process—consisting largely of restrictive eating and herbal remedies—for a growing cadre of loyal followers. She furthered her empire by developing a popular wellness app and a book. But it was all a lie. She was never afflicted with the cancer that defined her public identity. This week, Lena and Alissa unpack Belle’s big lie, the toxic undercurrents of internet wellness culture, and the many pitfalls of building a life online. This episode was first published on 10/06/2022.

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Earlier episodes 29 most recent

S5 · E63 · 1 Oct 2026 · 1 hr 31 min
Maila Nurmi AKA Vampira
Maila Nurmi was known for her role as Vampira, the original glamour ghoul, late-night horror host, and proto-goth sex symbol who would inspire the on-screen look of modern-day Morticia Addams. Despite her lasting impact on 1950s America, and on culture at large, few people remember her today. In this episode, Lena and Alissa discuss her artistry, her sharp tongue and scathing disses, and her involvement with Hollywood greats like Orson Welles, Marlon Brando, Elvis Presley, and— most infamously—James Dean.This episode was first published on 09/29/2022.
S5 · E62 · 17 Sep 2026 · 1 hr 58 min
Lindsay Lohan, Part 2
In part two, the tabloids rejoice that Lindsay is legal, and gleefully surveil the rest of her early adulthood. As the public scrutinizes her body, her partying, and her family, Lindsay descends deeper into a seesawing addiction that will land her in numerous rehab stints. In this episode, Lena and Alissa discuss her highly publicized relationship with Samantha Ronson, her moment in prison, her OWN docuseries, and how talk show hosts have become the figureheads for our nation’s paternalistic society. Finally, Alissa chats with New Yorker staff writer and friend-of-the-show, Naomi Fry, about…
S5 · E61 · 10 Sep 2026 · 1 hr 29 min
Lindsay Lohan, Part 1
Lindsay Lohan’s name has become synonymous with maladaptive child stardom, toxic tabloid culture, and the general trainwreckery of the mid-aughts—but it wasn’t always that way. In the first of two parts, Lena and Alissa unpack LiLo’s childhood, her precocious talent and early popularity, the media’s perverse fascination with her prepubescent body, and the beginnings of her Bad Behavior headlines which would drastically influence 2000s pop culture. Lena also shares moments throughout her youth and career during which her and Lilo’s paths have overlapped. This episode was first published on…
S4 · E60 · 3 Sep 2026 · 49 min
Linda Evangelista, Part 2
Lena and Alissa discuss the latter half of Linda’s career—her first retirement and then comeback, the tabloid’s fixation on her weight and health, her much criticized divorce proceedings, and her eventual retreat from public life due to a botched cosmetic procedure. Also in Part 2: aging, plastic surgery, and what it means when your self is defined by how others see you.This episode was first published on 03/31/2022.
S4 · E59 · 27 Aug 2026 · 58 min
Linda Evangelista, Part 1
Linda Evangelista was one of the first Supermodels in the 90s to capture America’s admiration, love, and then criticism. She uttered the infamous words: “We don’t get up for less than $10 thousand a day.” Later, after more than a decade of public fixation on her age and weight, she would become a recluse due to a botched cosmetic procedure. In Part 1, Lena and Alissa discuss Linda’s childhood, her role as one-third of the 90s “Trinity” with Christy Turlington and Naomi Campbell, her famous haircut, and the rise of the model as celebrity. Alissa also shares anecdotes from her years as a…
S4 · E58 · 20 Aug 2026 · 1 hr 15 min
Marion Jones
Marion Jones was a track star and Olympic champion. Despite her record-breaking athletic prowess, her career was torpedoed by doping allegations that would ultimately end in a prison stay. In this episode, Lena and Alissa discuss the pressure our public places on athletes—especially women of color—to become symbols of American exceptionalism.This episode was first published on 03/03/2022.
S4 · E57 · 13 Aug 2026 · 1 hr
Winona Ryder, Part 2
In this episode Lena and Alissa tackle Winona Ryder’s infamous shoplifting incident and the very public trial that followed. They also discuss her friendships with Gwyneth Paltrow and former C-Word subject Brittany Murphy, the tabloid rumors about Winona's romantic relationships, her career hiatus, and her eventual comeback, with the show Stranger Things.This episode was first published on 02/17/2022.
S4 · E56 · 6 Aug 2026 · 1 hr 7 min
Winona Ryder, Part 1
Lena and Alissa discuss Winona Ryder—90s icon, chic misfit, and poster child of gen-x nostalgia. In this episode: Winona’s nontraditional childhood, 90s bullies, her meteoric rise, her relationship with Johnny Depp, and the events leading up to her infamous shoplifting incident.This episode was first published on 02/03/2022.
S4 · E55 · 30 Jul 2026 · 1 hr 9 min
Madam Alex
Hollywood madam Elizabeth Adams (aka Madam Alex) ran a high-end Beverly Hills prostitution ring in the 70s and 80s. Her women — many of whom went on to become famous actors — were set apart by their manicured glamor, poise, and intellect, making her business THE go-to escort service of the Hollywood elite. In this episode, Lena and Alissa unpack the OG Hollywood madam’s affinity for muumuus, fraught dealings with the Los Angeles Police Department, and relationship with the successor to her empire, Heidi Fleiss. This episode was first published on 01/06/2022.
S4 · E54 · 23 Jul 2026 · 55 min
Eva Rausing
Eva Rausing was an heiress and philanthropist whose struggle with addiction made her tabloid fodder. In 2012, the gruesome circumstances of her death left the public to rehash and question her relationship to drugs, crime, and her family. In this episode, Lena and Alissa discuss addiction, privilege, and squalor.This episode was first published on 12/21/2021.
S4 · E53 · 16 Jul 2026 · 51 min
Chyna, Part 2
In the conclusion of Chyna's story, Lena and Alissa discuss Chyna’s attempts to reclaim her career after being fired from the WWE, her reality television appearances, and her crossover into the adult entertainment industry. Also, in this episode: the themes of addiction and enablers, as well as the story of Chyna’s death in 2016. This episode was first published on 12/09/2019.
14 Jul 2026 · 25 min
Introducing: Money Moves with Jill Schlesinger
There’s a lot of dopey financial advice out there. Jill Schlesinger is here to call it out, answer your questions, break down the financial news that actually matters, and help you manage your money without losing your mind. No jargon. No judgment. Just clear, actionable financial guidance about saving, investing, buying a home, managing your career, and deciding how to spend your hard-earned dollars. When it’s time to panic, Jill will tell you. When everyone else is panicking and you shouldn’t be, Jill will tell you that too. Your money. Your move. Let’s go.
S4 · E52 · 9 Jul 2026 · 51 min
Chyna, Part 1
Chyna was an iconic wrestler, body builder, and later adult entertainment actress. In this episode, Lena and Alissa discuss gender dynamics in the WWE, Chyna’s early years, and her rise to fame as one of the first women wrestlers who could physically rival men.This episode was first published on 11/29/2019.
S4 · E51 · 2 Jul 2026 · 1 hr 19 min
Isabella Blow
Isabella Blow was a magazine editor, style icon, and muse, known for discovering fashion greats like Alexander McQueen and Stella Tenant. She was legendary for her outlandish outfits, her dirty sense of humor, and her habit of stripping at parties. In this episode, Lena and Alissa discuss musedom, eccentricity and aging, and fashion in the early 2000s. This episode was first published on 11/11/2021.
S4 · E50 · 25 Jun 2026 · 52 min
Our 50th Episode ft. Quentin Tarantino
Lena, Alissa, and special guest, Quentin Tarantino, discuss fandom, fame, badly-behaved women characters, and the corrosive effects of Hollywood sexism. Quentin also shares film recommendations, and gives his take on past C-Word episode subjects. This episode was first published on 10/28/2021.
S4 · E49 · 18 Jun 2026 · 1 hr 11 min
Marie Antoinette, Part 2
The episode turns the lens on the latter half of Marie Antoinette’s life, including the rumors, bad decisions, and mounting pressure that culminated in her eventual beheading. Lena and Alissa also examine her evolution as a contemporary cultural icon, and criticize the meme-ified sad girl version of Marie Antoinette that is often popularized today. This episode was first published on 10/14/2021.
S4 · E48 · 11 Jun 2026 · 54 min
Marie Antoinette, Part 1
Lena and Alissa discuss Marie Antoinette, the last queen of France before the French revolution and cultural symbol of royal excess. In this episode: Marie Antoinette’s marriage as an adolescent, her iconic pouf hairstyle, and the series of events that would make her France’s public enemy No. 1. This episode was first published on 09/30/2021.
S4 · E47 · 4 Jun 2026 · 1 hr 10 min
Vanessa Marquez
Vanessa Marquez was an actress best known for her role as Nurse Wendy on ER. Later, she would appear on the reality television show Intervention, which showcased her shopping addiction and agoraphobia. During #metoo, she spoke out about sexual harassment on set. Lena and Alissa discuss how past trauma impacts health, Vanessa’s prolific online posts, and police brutality. This episode was first published on 08/19/2021.
S4 · E46 · 28 May 2026 · 58 min
Amy Winehouse, Part 2
In Part 2, Lena and Alissa unpack the years leading up to Amy Winehouse’s death in 2011. They discuss rehab, bad boyfriends, and the 27 club. This episode was first published on 08/05/2021.
S4 · E45 · 21 May 2026 · 57 min
Amy Winehouse, Part 1
Recognized for her singular voice and iconic beehive, Amy Winehouse became a near-instant music legend as well as a tabloid mainstay in the 2000s. On the 10th anniversary of her death, Lena and Alissa discuss the singer-songwriter’s precocious talent, her rebellious teen years, and the start to a bad romance that would fuel her later work as well as her addictions. This episode was first published on 07/22/2021.
S4 · E44 · 14 May 2026 · 1 hr 22 min
Nancy Spungen
Nancy Spungen was a groupie and major figure of the 1970’s punk rock scene. Her tumultuous relationship with Sid Vicious of the Sex Pistols became so infamous that “Sid and Nancy” has become a moniker for bad romances. Their relationship was characterized by drug abuse, violence, and codependence, and ended with Nancy’s murder in their shared hotel room. In this episode, Lena and Alissa discuss the controversies surrounding Nancy’s death, her early years as a bad teenager, and being labeled “annoying.” This episode was first published on 07/08/2021.
S4 · E43 · 7 May 2026 · 49 min
Frances Farmer, Part 2
In part two of Frances Farmer’s story, Lena and Alissa examine Frances’ later years out of the spotlight, her battles with addiction, and the posthumous repackaging of her legacy. This episode was first published on 06/24/2021.
S4 · E42 · 30 Apr 2026 · 47 min
Frances Farmer, Part 1
Although Frances Farmer was a star of Hollywood’s “Golden Era” and an intellectual powerhouse in her own right, her achievements have been overshadowed by myths surrounding her public struggles with mental health. Her periods in psychiatric hospitals and involuntary confinement have entered pop culture lore, immortalized by everyone from Jessica Lange to Kurt Cobain. In the first of two parts, Lena and Alissa consider Frances’s early rebellious years, her ascent to fame, and the relationships that shaped her burgeoning career. This episode was first published on 06/10/2021.
S4 · E41 · 23 Apr 2026 · 57 min
Bai Ling
Before Bai Ling was labeled a “wacktress” by the tabloids, she was a prolific actress best known in the U.S. for her role in the cult classic, The Crow. Her wacky behavior and soundbites about living on the moon made her a frequent character of the early 2000s press. In this episode, Lena and Alissa unpack Bai’s childhood in Mao Zedong’s China, her ascent as an American star, her iconic stint on Celebrity Rehab, and the myths about Asian-American womanhood that continue to saturate the public’s perception about her. This episode was first published on 05/27/2021.
21 Apr 2026 · 3 min
Introducing Family Lore
Family Lore is a weekly narrative podcast that celebrates and investigates ancestral mystique. Each episode begins with a guest sharing a fascinating family legend, followed by a historical deep-dive to uncover the truth and meaning behind the tale. Available now: link.pscrb.fm/f0281/FLFD
S3 · E40 · 16 Apr 2026 · 41 min
Shannon Wilsey aka Savannah, Part 2
In Part 2, Lena and Alissa resume their discussion about 90s porn star Savannah. Although she became a mainstream name, Savannah developed a bad reputation within the adult entertainment industry. In this episode, they chronicle her relationships with rockstars, her attempts at a comeback, and her struggles with addiction and debt. Lena and Alissa also discuss the dissolution of her personal identity as Shannon Wilsey and the events that led to her death at age 23. This episode was first published on 03/25/2021.
S3 · E39 · 9 Apr 2026 · 48 min
Shannon Wilsey aka Savannah, Part 1
Savannah was the most famous porn performer of the 90s — she ushered in a totally new era of celebrity for other adult film stars. At her peak she made six-figures and was a tabloid mainstay. But behind the scenes, she gained a reputation for bad on-set behavior as her drug addiction spiraled out of control. In the first episode of a two-part series, Lena and Alissa examine Savannah’s origins as Shannon Wilsey, a teenager struggling to move on from a violent childhood and developing what would become a lifelong passion for older male rock stars. This episode was first published on 03/11/2021.
S3 · E38 · 2 Apr 2026 · 1 hr 12 min
Sulli
Sulli was a major K-pop star, singer, and actress, known as “the Kim Kardashian of South Korea.” Her pivot away from her initial “baby girl” persona in the K-pop girl group, f(x), resulted in tremendous backlash and online harassment. Controversies ranged from her dating life to her clothing choices to her feminist beliefs. In this episode, Lena and Alissa discuss K-pop training schools, fan entitlement, and the tragic epidemic of K-pop-related suicides in South Korea. This episode was first published on 02/25/2021.
30 Mar 2026 · 2 min
Welcome to Becoming You with Suzy Welch
If you’ve been on this journey with us, you know that Alissa and Lena are obsessed with sharp, witty, decisive women. Today, we’re stepping out of the archives to introduce you to a woman who is helping us look at ourselves and answer big questions with a refreshing amount of grit and zero judgment. Meet Suzy Welch. Suzy is a three-time New York Times bestselling author and the NYU professor behind the cult-favorite class, Becoming You. She’s spent her career as a business journalist and academic dismantling the myths of "perfect" success. Suzy hosts a podcast—also called Becoming You—where…

About The C-Word

The C-Word is a English history podcast from Lena Dunham & Alissa Bennett. Melo plays each episode straight from the publisher's own feed — no ads added, no account needed — and remembers where you stopped, in this browser only.

Publisher: Lena Dunham & Alissa Bennett
Language: English
Category: History
New episodes: Weekly
Typical length: 58 min
Latest episode: 8 Oct 2026
Feed: RSS — paste into any podcast app
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1829499340

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