Josephine Baker’s Memoir Fearless and Free (with Tocarra Mallard)

Glamorous Trash: A Celebrity Memoir Podcast

Chelsea Devantez

Society & Culture, Arts, Books

4.6 • 2K Ratings

🗓️ 7 February 2025

⏱️ 72 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Chelsea and comedian Tocarra Mallard dive into Josephine Baker’s newly translated memoir, “Fearless and Free.” They explore how she danced her way to global stardom, secretly worked as a WWII spy for the French Resistance (yes, she smuggled German secrets on sheet music), and built a legacy as groundbreaking as it was complicated. Plus, a deep dive into her controversial Rainbow Tribe and the memoir’s wildest moments—including a psychic rabbit’s foot and some truly questionable recipes. Trigger warning: This episode discusses sensitive topics, including abuse, suicide, and antisemitism. Take care while listening and find helpful resources here. Follow Chelsea: Instagram @chelseadevantez Where to order Chelsea’s book: Bookshop.org Find other places to order Show Notes: Ricki Lake Memoir Episode (with Tocarra) Jennifer Hudson Memoir Episode “Paris, Paris, Paris” by Josephine Baker Josephine Baker Interview with Erik Bye for Norwegian TV Where to find our guest: Tocarra Mallard Instagram TikTok YouTube *** Glamorous Trash is all about going high and low at the same time— Glam and Trash. We recap and book club celebrity memoirs, deconstruct pop culture, and sometimes, we cry! If you've ever referenced Mariah Carey in therapy... then this is the podcast for you. Thank you to our sponsors: Visit Brooklinen.com and use code TRASH to get $20 off your order of $100 or more. Libro.fm - Click here to get 2 audiobooks for the price of 1 with your first month of membership using code TRASH. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Want to give a special someone a gift they'll truly love this Valentine's Day?
0:04.8	Treat them to something that never goes out of style.
0:07.7	A beautiful bouquet of 12 red roses.
0:11.1	They're classic for a reason.
0:12.9	And all for just £15 at Waitrose.
0:16.3	Selected lines and stores.
0:17.6	Subject to availability ends 14th of February.
0:27.0	Welcome to Glammer's Trash.
0:31.6	This is a celebrity memoir podcast where we dive into all of the glamour and all of the trash.
0:32.1	If you've ever referenced Mariah Carean Therapy, then this might be the podcast for you.
0:36.7	I'm your host, Chelsea DeMontes.
0:38.1	I'm a TV writer, comedian, filmmaker, author, and sometimes I'm in stuff too.
0:42.3	And today, we are book clubbing the memoir of dancer, singer, actress, phenomenon,
0:48.6	Josephine Baker.
0:49.9	It is titled Fearless and Free.
0:52.9	Now, Josephine Baker is one of the first black female superstars, if not the first.
0:58.6	She was the very first black woman to star in a silent film.
1:02.8	And there are so many layers to her story, this is going to be a wild ride.
1:09.6	From dancing in a skirt made out of bananas to leading the civil
1:15.0	rights movement in many ways to adopting 12 children later in life from every race and religion
1:20.7	entitling them the rainbow tribe even if you are not super familiar with josephine baker it's
1:26.3	this is it's going to be a good one. Now,
	...

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