What’s in a name? These days, I’m auditioning a few. New grandmother, for one—though don’t call me Nana. I want a name that actually fits me. I’ve let go of a few too—like “friend,” when they stopped showing up, or “nice,” when it meant swallowing what I should’ve said. And while I try not to be a dick, I’ll admit—I’ve been one. Usually somewhere between the deli counter and self-checkout. This month at PROVOKED, we’re naming names. The ones we give ourselves, the ones we drop, and the ones we use when we’re done pretending. It’s about that sharp kind of honesty that only shows up in midlife—when you know what fits and what doesn’t. Call it clarity. Call it agency. Just don’t call me Gramma. –Susan | 🔥 FEATURE THIS WEEK
Is It Time to Walk Away from a Friendship?
Who’s still in your corner—and who’s just sucking up your time and energy? If you’ve ever kept someone around out of guilt, shame, or inertia, this is your wake-up call. READ MORE | 🔥 CALL IT WHAT IT IS
Truth bombs. Name drops. Not sorry. This week’s stories. | | | Not All Dicks Are Men. Ask Me How I Know.
Turns out, being a dick isn’t reserved for men. One woman’s irreverent, unfiltered guide to catching herself in the act—and how we can all be less of one. READ MORE | | | | Call Me Anything But Grandma
Why settle for a name you didn’t choose? This one’s for anyone redefining what it means to age, show up, and be called what you actually are. READ MORE | | | | The 10 Commandments of Grocery Shopping
If you’re out there blocking aisles, forgetting your list, or fondling the produce, consider this your public service announcement. A modern etiquette guide on how to behave. READ MORE | | Taylor Swift Took Her Name Back—Note by Note Taylor Swift was devastated when she lost the rights to her early master recordings—but she didn’t stay quiet. She spoke out. Then she went to work. She re-recorded her first six albums from scratch, releasing “Taylor’s Version” editions that gave her back creative and commercial control. Now, she’s officially bought back the original masters and owns everything—streams, sales, licensing. It’s a major win for artist rights and a blueprint for reclaiming what’s yours. She didn’t walk away. She rebuilt it. When your name is on the work, everything hits differently. I understand that. My name is on PROVOKED. Read our take on why Swift still matters → | ⚡WHAT’S THE BIG DEAL?
Jane Birkin’s Bag Is on the Auction Block Some names don’t just last—they transform everything… The Birkin isn’t just a bag. It’s aspiration, art, commerce, culture—and social currency. It’s a lot. Not all of it good. But it is, without question, a legend. Before it was a $150,000 status symbol, it was a conversation mid-flight. Jane Birkin told the CEO of Hermès his bags were too small and too fussy. She wanted something roomier, something real. The result? An icon. Jane was cool about a lot of things, but what I love most is that she used her bag. She put stickers on the leather, decorated it with charms and tokens, jammed it full of stuff, and let it age with her. Want proof? Check out the seven secret details hidden in the original Birkin → This one? It carries the patina of real life. If it could talk, I’d be in the front row, listening. Read the Sotheby’s release → | 👍🏼 FILED UNDER: HELL YES
Hell Yes to Keeping Your Word—and Bringing Women With You In 2017, Nicole Kidman made a public promise: she’d work with at least one woman director every 18 months. Eight years later, she’s shattered that goal—collaborating with 27 female directors across film and television projects, with more on the way. She didn’t make a speech and disappear. She followed through. Quietly. Intentionally. Repeatedly. It’s part of why her name still holds weight. Staying power isn’t just about star power—it’s about substance. Kidman built a legacy by showing up and putting other women in the frame. What’s your favorite Nicole Kidman movie? (We’re partial to Moulin Rouge but the list is long.)
| 🎬 NOT YOUR BOOK CLUB
Ready to level up your list? Book, Podcast, Netflix, whatever—just make it good. Even And Just Like That Can Hit a Nerve Season 3 Episode 2 I swore I was done. Too many hats, too little substance. But Season 3, Episode 2 of And Just Like That pulled me back in—and not because of the fashion. This episode was personal for me. First, rats. Real ones. Carrie’s infestation ruined her garden, and I felt that in my bones—because the same thing happened to me. The fantasy of city life has a dark side, and nothing freaks you out more than a rat in your kitchen. Yes, that happened. Second? The college consultant, Lois Fingerhood. I spent 15 years in that role. Watching it flattened into a sad-but-true trope stung—but also resonated. The pressure kids are under today? Woof. No, I’m not handing the show a full redemption. But I am giving this episode credit for naming something real. Podcast Pick from our editor, Abby: The Dream, hosted by Jane Marie The American Dream? It’s complicated. The Dream podcast unpacks exactly why—with sharp reporting, no-BS interviews, and an eye on who benefits from keeping the rest of us confused, broke, or complicit. Hosted by Jane Marie—a Peabody and Emmy-winning journalist who’s done time at This American Life and now runs her own company—The Dream tackles MLMs, wellness scams, financial cults, and the empty promises that still get marketed to women in 2025. The show has expanded into weekly episodes that still center on the American Dream—but with more freedom to explore the assholes making it harder to achieve. Her words, not ours. (Okay, ours too.) We’ve covered this topic from our own angle:
Read our take on the MLM trap → Then hit play on The Dream. Because being skeptical is a survival skill. | 👂🏼 OVERHEARD
One line. One truth. One that hit harder than expected. “Every Susan I know is well past 50—it’s like flashing a neon sign the minute we introduce ourselves: Hello! My name is OLD LADY.”
– Susan on names that betray us in—What’s In a Name? Old Bag, Hag, Crone—No Thank You
| This is PROVOKED. Smart stories for women who are done waiting for permission. Women who want to be seen and heard. Women who are old enough to know better. If you loved this, share it with a friend.
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