Stories from the Beauty Parlor

Each episode unfolds as an intimate portrait of a beauty parlor and the women* who work there. Through these stories, our listeners will gain insight into diverse cultures and customs, all centered around the universal theme of women* wanting to look and feel their best. As a space that is both private and communal, the beauty parlor provides a window into deeper topics, blending feel-good content with rich, insightful storytelling.

As our journey progresses, we will share narratives about complex, globally relevant issues, humanizing individuals from communities otherwise misrepresented by a single, oversimplified political narrative. Our goal is to bridge the gap between traditional beauty media and the activist sphere. With our “feel good, do good” approach, we are working to raise awareness of the issues explored in each episode, building a global community that champions women*’s stories.

Latest

Episode 3: Morocco – Hammam, ramadan... and divorce

Our Morocco episode takes us into the communal care world of hammams, a centuries old tradition. We explore topics like intergenerational care, female financial empowerment, Moroccan beauty secrets, and divorce. With insightful interviews from Meryem Naji and owner Fatima Zahra Faskhi of Rabat’s Hammam Marassa as well as Ghizlane el Aouni, our third episode proves that caring for the self is about more than solitary retreats and solo face-masks, but rather a complex effort to connect ourselves to the women* in our lives who make our sense of community stronger. 

Episode 2: Georgia – drag shows, create beauty, protest, repeat

In this episode the team travels to Georgia, weaving local creatives’ narratives with the complex history of the country. We first meet Not-So-Virgin-Mari, one of Tbilisi’s drag artists, resisting the country’s escalating homophobia. In their classy, high-demand tattoo parlor, we then talk to Pito Seturi, an internationally known Georgian artist, who reflects on Russia’s interference in their democratic elections that gave power to the conservative Georgian Dream Party. As Tbilisi enters 115+ days of continuous protesting via art, activism, and a lot of mocking, we get a poignant picture of Georgia’s Soviet history, the authoritarian playbook, and how queer-led community organizing fights for power through beauty.

Episode 1: Kosovo – wedding rituals and nail therapy in Europe’s youngest country

In our debut episode, we visit Linda at Serpent Claws Salon in the Kosovo capital of Pristina, and Elvira at Beauty Line, located in a Bosnian village on the border of North Macedonia. In their respective salons, we learn more about the tension of and opportunities for advocating for change while retaining important cultural traditions. Our episode questions how migration plays a role in Kosovo, and what we can learn about being a woman* and becoming a wife through a 6-hour long make-up ritual.  

Introducing the Transatlantic Feminist Podcast

Why revolve a feminist podcast around beauty parlors? Wouldn’t that be counterproductive in a world already obsessed with women*’s appearances? We’re here to change your mind. Meet our co-hosts Annamaria Olsson (she/her) and Pamela Chomba (she/her), both award winning migrant-justice organizers (and beauty junkies) based in Berlin and Washington, DC, respectively, as they discuss the birth of Stories from the Beauty Parlor and their tactics to fight authoritarian governments with a feminist vision and lots of community care.

Season 1 Trailer

This is Stories from the Beauty Parlor, an intimate journey around the world, one beauty parlor at a time. Coming March 29, 2025.