Sarah Marshall (writer)

Last updated

Sarah Marshall
Born
Oregon, U.S.
Occupations
  • Writer
  • podcaster
Known for
Notable work
  • How Anna Nicole Smith Became America's Punchline,
  • The End of Evil,
  • The Incredible True Story of How Titanic Got Made
Website www.remembersarahmarshall.com

Sarah Marshall is an American journalist, writer, and podcaster. She is the host of the modern history podcast You're Wrong About , which discusses incidents from history that the hosts consider as misunderstood or misinterpreted. Marshall has written extensively on other non-fiction subjects including serial killers and Satanic panic. [1]

Contents

Early life

Marshall has lived most of her life in Portland, Oregon, including part of her childhood on Sauvie Island. [2] She received both undergraduate and MFA degrees from Portland State University, and has also taught writing at Portland State. [1] [2]

Career

Tonya Harding

In 2014, Marshall published an 11,000-word essay titled Remote Control in The Believer . The story posits that Tonya Harding was "unfairly vilified" by the media in order to better shape and sell a narrative. [3] [4] [5] Marshall's piece was featured by Time magazine, and her piece is oft-referred to as a defense of a misunderstood woman in history. [6] [7] [8] [9]

As of 2023, Marshall said that she has never met Harding, a fellow Oregon native, despite being in talks with Harding's manager at one point. She stated that meeting Harding is not something she feels is necessary, noting "I don't think [Tonya Harding] would want to meet some woman who has all these thoughts about her career. She seems happy." [2]

Podcasts

Late Night Love Affair

Marshall cohosted the series Late Night Love Affair in 2015 with Candace Opper. They discussed various literary topics, including a book review of Manson family member and convicted murderer Susan Atkins' Child of Satan, Child of God. [10] [11]

You're Wrong About

After her work on the Tonya Harding piece, Marshall was contacted twice by Michael Hobbes, first anonymously via fan-letter while working for a human-rights organization, and later while he worked at The Huffington Post when he wanted to collaborate with Marshall on misunderstood history. [9] Starting in 2018, Marshall and Hobbes co-hosted the podcast You're Wrong About where they discussed misunderstood or misinterpreted events from history. Hobbes left the podcast in 2021 with Marshall continuing as a solo host. [9] [12]

You Are Good

Marshall hosts the podcast You are Good, previously known as Why are Dads, with Alex Steed. The hosts "attempt to understand what the hell it means to be the grown children of dads and other dad-like figures. And, as they do with all difficult subject matter, they do so by looking through a pop culture lens." [13] [14]

Satanic panic

Marshall has frequently discussed the topic of Satanic panic, a moral panic of largely unsubstantiated allegations of child sexual abuse starting in the United States in the 1980s. Marshall has discussed the possibility of writing a book on the matter of the Satanic panic, but has not published anything as of 2023. [15] The Satanic panic was frequently referenced in episodes of You're Wrong About specifically as a means of comparison to absurd or ridiculous events.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tonya Harding</span> American former sportswoman (born 1970)

Tonya Maxene Price is an American former figure skater, retired boxer, and reality television personality.

The Satanic panic is a moral panic consisting of over 12,000 unsubstantiated cases of Satanic ritual abuse starting in the United States in the 1980s, spreading throughout many parts of the world by the late 1990s, and persisting today. The panic originated in 1980 with the publication of Michelle Remembers, a book co-written by Canadian psychiatrist Lawrence Pazder and his patient, Michelle Smith, which used the discredited practice of recovered-memory therapy to make sweeping lurid claims about satanic ritual abuse involving Smith. The allegations, which afterwards arose throughout much of the United States, involved reports of physical and sexual abuse of people in the context of occult or Satanic rituals. In its most extreme form, allegations involve a conspiracy of a global Satanic cult that includes the wealthy and elite in which children are abducted or bred for human sacrifices, pornography, and prostitution.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nancy Kerrigan</span> American figure skater (born 1969)

Nancy Ann Kerrigan is an American former figure skater. She won bronze medals at the 1991 World Championships and the 1992 Winter Olympics, silver medals at the 1992 World Championships and the 1994 Winter Olympics, as well as the 1993 US National Figure Skating Championship. Kerrigan was inducted into the United States Figure Skating Hall of Fame in 2004.

<i>The Satanic Bible</i> Religious text of LaVeyan Satanism

The Satanic Bible is a collection of essays, observations, and rituals published by Anton LaVey in 1969. It is the central religious text of LaVeyan Satanism, and is considered the foundation of its philosophy and dogma. It has been described as the most important document to influence contemporary Satanism. Though The Satanic Bible is not considered to be sacred scripture in the way that the Christian Bible is to Christianity, LaVeyan Satanists regard it as an authoritative text as it is a contemporary text that has attained for them scriptural status. It extols the virtues of exploring one's own nature and instincts. Believers have been described as "atheistic Satanists" because they believe that God and Satan are not external entities, but rather projections of an individual's own personality—benevolent and stabilizing forces in their life. There have been thirty printings of The Satanic Bible, selling over a million copies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Will Sasso</span> Canadian actor

William Sasso is a Canadian actor, comedian and podcaster. He is notable for his five seasons as a cast member on Mad TV from 1997 to 2002, for starring as Curly in the 2012 film reboot of The Three Stooges, and as Mover #1 in Happy Gilmore (1996). He is also known for his TV roles as Carl Monari in Less than Perfect (2003–2006), Doug Martin in How I Met Your Mother (2008–2012), and Bill Ryan in United We Fall (2020).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Roderick (musician)</span> American musician and writer

John Morgan Roderick is an American musician, singer, songwriter, podcaster, and politician. He is the lead singer and guitarist of the rock band The Long Winters, was a touring member of the rock band Harvey Danger, and co-hosts the podcasts Roderick On The Line, and Omnibus.

<i>Michelle Remembers</i> Discredited book about recovered memory psychotherapy

Michelle Remembers is a discredited 1980 book co-written by Canadian psychiatrist Lawrence Pazder and his psychiatric patient Michelle Smith. A best-seller, Michelle Remembers relied on the discredited practice of recovered-memory therapy to make sweeping, lurid claims about Satanic ritual abuse involving Smith, which contributed to the rise of the Satanic panic in the 1980s. While the book presents its claims as fact, and was extensively marketed on that basis at the time, no evidence was provided; all investigations into the book failed to corroborate any of its claims, with investigators describing its content as being primarily based on elements of popular culture and fiction that were popular at the time when it was written.

Hail Satan, sometimes Latinized as Ave Satanas or Ave Satana, is an exclamation used by some Satanists to invoke the name of Satan in contexts ranging from sincere expression to comedy or satire. The Satanic Temple uses the phrase as a sincere expression of rational inquiry removed from supernaturalism and archaic tradition-based superstitions.

The 1994 U.S. Figure Skating Championships were held at the Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, Michigan. Medals were awarded in four colors: gold (first), silver (second), bronze (third), and pewter (fourth) in four disciplines – men's singles, ladies' singles, pair skating, and ice dancing – across three levels: senior, junior, and novice. The event was used to determine the U.S. teams for the 1994 Winter Olympics and the 1994 World Championships.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Satanic Temple</span> Non-theistic religious organization

The Satanic Temple (TST) is a non-theistic religious organization and new religious movement that is primarily based in the United States, with additional congregations in Australia, Canada, Finland, Germany, and the United Kingdom. Co-founded by Lucien Greaves, the organization's spokesperson, and Malcolm Jarry, the organization uses Satanic imagery to promote civil rights, egalitarianism, religious skepticism, social justice, secularism, and the separation of church and state, supporting their mission "to encourage benevolence and empathy [among all people]." The Satanic Temple has utilized religious satire, theatrical ploys, humor, and legal action in their public campaigns to "generate attention and prompt people to reevaluate fears and perceptions", and to "highlight religious hypocrisy and encroachment on religious freedom."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lucien Greaves</span> Co-founder and spokesperson for The Satanic Temple

Douglas Mesner, better known as Lucien Greaves, is a social activist and the spokesman and co-founder of The Satanic Temple.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">After School Satan</span> After school program project created as an alternative to Christian-based after school groups

After School Satan is an after school program project of The Satanic Temple, a non-theistic American religious organization based in Salem, Massachusetts, and is sponsored by Reason Alliance LTD, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. It was created as an alternative to Christian-based after-school groups, specifically at schools that host the Evangelical Good News Club. The program neither teaches about Satanism nor attempts to convert club-goers; they instead teach about rationalism and understanding the world around us. It is against the beliefs of the Satanic Temple to teach religious practice in schools, which is opposite to how the Good News Club functions. The Satanic Temple rejects supernatural beliefs and views Satan as a literary symbol of rebellion against authority, not as a supernatural entity.

<i>I, Tonya</i> 2017 film directed by Craig Gillespie

I, Tonya is a 2017 American biographical sports mockumentary black comedy film directed by Craig Gillespie and written by Steven Rogers. It follows the life and career of American figure skater Tonya Harding and her connection to the 1994 assault on her rival Nancy Kerrigan. The film states it is based on "contradictory" and "totally true" interviews with Harding and her ex-husband Jeff Gillooly, suggesting they are unreliable narrators. This means the viewer must decide for themselves whether to see the film as the truth or as a version concocted by Harding herself. It features darkly comedic interviews with the characters in mockumentary style, set in the modern day, and breaks the fourth wall. Margot Robbie stars as Harding, Sebastian Stan as Gillooly, and Allison Janney as Harding's mother LaVona Golden. Julianne Nicholson, Caitlin Carver, Paul Walter Hauser, and Bobby Cannavale also star.

<i>Hail Satan?</i> 2019 American film

Hail Satan? is a 2019 American documentary film about the origins of The Satanic Temple, including the group's grassroots political activism. Directed by Penny Lane, the film premiered at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival, and was released in the United States on April 19, distributed by Magnolia Pictures. The film follows Satanists working to preserve the separation of church and state against the privileges of the Christian right.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Assault of Nancy Kerrigan</span> American competitive figure skating scandal

On January 6, 1994, Nancy Kerrigan, an American figure skater, was struck on the lower right thigh with a telescopic baton by assailant Shane Stant as she walked down a corridor in Cobo Arena in Detroit, Michigan. Kerrigan had been practicing skating on an ice rink in the arena shortly beforehand.

<i>Youre Wrong About</i> American pop culture podcast

You're Wrong About is an American history and pop culture podcast created by journalist Michael Hobbes and writer Sarah Marshall. It has been hosted by Marshall since its inception; Hobbes also hosted until 2021. Launched in May 2018, the show explores misunderstood media events by interrogating why and how the public got things wrong. Show topics have included events like the Challenger Disaster, the O. J. Simpson Trial, and the Murder of Kitty Genovese and covered people such as Anna Nicole Smith, Yoko Ono, Tonya Harding, and Lorena Bobbitt. It was named one of the ten best podcasts by Time in 2019.

<i>Pantsuit Politics</i> American political podcast

Pantsuit Politics is an American political podcast hosted by Sarah Stewart Holland and Beth Silvers. The podcast was launched in November 2015. The hosts aim to assist listeners in engaging in challenging political discussions with "grace and respect." New episodes are released twice a week.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dockside Saloon and Restaurant</span> Restaurant in Portland, Oregon, U.S.

Dockside Saloon and Restaurant, or simply Dockside, is a diner and dive bar in Portland, Oregon, United States. Established in 1986, the nautical-themed, New American restaurant is known for being where incriminating evidence against Tonya Harding related to the assult of Nancy Kerrigan was dumped in 1994.

Michael Hobbes is a journalist and podcast host. He was formerly a Senior Enterprise Reporter for HuffPost. His writing has also appeared in Pacific Standard, The New Republic, and Slate. He currently co-hosts the podcast Maintenance Phase, which focuses on the poor science behind health and wellness fads, and the podcast If Books Could Kill, which focuses on the flawed premises of various popular non-fiction books. He also previously hosted You're Wrong About, which debunks common historical myths and stories.

If Books Could Kill is a podcast hosted by Michael Hobbes and Peter Shamshiri about popular nonfiction books about ideas in American culture and politics. It is based around criticising bestselling nonfiction books of the late 20th and early 21st centuries. Books featured on the podcast include Freakonomics by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner, Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell, and The End of History and the Last Man by Francis Fukuyama. Released on November 2, 2022, the podcast has received largely positive reviews from critics.

References

  1. 1 2 Burbank, Megan. "Not That Sarah Marshall". Portland Mercury. Retrieved July 2, 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 "A Portland-Raised Podcaster Talks Hunkering Down with Her Parents". Portland Monthly. Retrieved July 2, 2023.
  3. ↑ Schwiegershausen, Erica (January 8, 2014). "Was Tonya Harding a Victim, Too? A New Essay Investigates". The Cut. Retrieved July 2, 2023.
  4. ↑ "Remote Control". Believer Magazine. January 1, 2014. Retrieved July 2, 2023.
  5. ↑ Marshall, Sarah (January 1, 2014). "Remote Control: Tonya Harding, Nancy Kerrigan, and the Spectacles of Female Power & Pain". The Believer . Archived from the original on August 5, 2018. Retrieved December 23, 2017.
  6. ↑ Oshinsky, Sandy Allen, Dan (January 5, 2014). "9 Feature Stories We're Reading This Week: Serpent Handlers And A Rivalry Remembered". BuzzFeed. Retrieved July 2, 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  7. ↑ Oregonian/OregonLive, Katy Muldoon | The (January 4, 2014). "Tonya Harding-Nancy Kerrigan: still making news 20 years after knee-whacking scandal". oregonlive. Retrieved July 2, 2023.
  8. ↑ Schmitz, Ashleigh (January 9, 2014). "The Tonya Harding, Nancy Kerrigan Scandal Turns 20: Is Harding a Victim, Too?". Parade: Entertainment, Recipes, Health, Life, Holidays. Retrieved July 2, 2023.
  9. 1 2 3 "'You're Wrong About' Host Sarah Marshall on Revisiting Misunderstood Women". Time. February 22, 2022. Retrieved July 2, 2023.
  10. ↑ Late Night Library (January 8, 2015), Margaret Atwood – Surfacing , retrieved July 3, 2023
  11. ↑ Late Night Library (May 21, 2015), Susan Atkins – Child of Satan, Child of God , retrieved July 3, 2023
  12. ↑ "You're Wrong About's Sarah Marshall on What Comes After Revisionist History". Vanity Fair. June 17, 2022. Retrieved July 2, 2023.
  13. ↑ https://www.remembersarahmarshall.com/podcasts
  14. ↑ Walker, Chloe (June 16, 2021). "You Are Good: A Film Podcast Unafraid of Feelings". Podcast Review. Retrieved July 2, 2023.
  15. ↑ Illing, Sean (May 25, 2021). "Why are we so worried about Satan?". Vox. Retrieved July 2, 2023.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.