Nepa Scene

In Episode 33, we discuss the brand new monthly girls-only performance night for local comedians, poets, and musicians in downtown Scranton with event creator Jess Meoni and poet Alicia Kulick. Meoni, who also founded the Scranton Zine Fest and Ruthless Zine, talks about why she started the GRRRLS Night open mic, the need to spotlight female artists, and sexual harassment in the scene, which leads to a conversation about how women on any public stage are perceived; the different types of feminism and the connotation of that term today; sexism, racism, and hashtag activism; and some history behind zines and the feminist punk riot grrrl movement, which the event’s name is derived from. We also get into Meoni and Kulick’s writing and how GRRRLS Night is already garnering praise and controversy from the community. In The Last Word segment, we read a few readers’ comments about GRRRLS Night and address why an all-male event isn’t quite as necessary as an all-female night. Professionally recorded every Monday at