ICYMI
Slate Podcasts
Join Kate Lindsay twice a week as we gaze deep into the online abyss—and tell you what’s gazing back.Get more of ICYMI with Slate Plus! Join for exclusive bonus episodes of ICYMI and ad-free listening on all your favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe from the ICYMI show page on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Or, visit slate.com/icymiplus for access wherever you listen. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episodes
Mentioned books
May 13, 2026 • 36min
To Leak or Not To Leak? That's The Fandom Question
Princess Weekes, journalist and pop-culture commentator known for writing about fandoms and media ethics, joins to debate leaks. They reminisce about early fandom leak culture. They unpack how streaming costs, region locks, and social norms push people toward or away from leaked content. They explore artists' perspectives and personal rules for whether to view or share leaks.
May 9, 2026 • 37min
“Blue Dot Fever” Is A Symptom Of Bigger Problems
Alex Suskind, Pitchfork news director and music journalist, explains 'blue dot fever' and why tour cancellations are drawing attention. He breaks down Ticketmaster’s influence, rising concert costs, and how social media skews demand. Short scenes on touring logistics, intimate shows as strategy, and ways to make live music feel worth it.
May 6, 2026 • 32min
Are You “Numbing Out”?
Andrea González-Ramírez, senior writer at The Cut who studies media behavior, discusses why people stop reading the news. Short memories of early internet life set the scene. They explore how chronic stress, social media algorithms, pandemic overload, and learned helplessness lead to emotional shutdown. Conversation ends with practical fixes like community action and intentional news habits.
May 2, 2026 • 32min
The Personal Essay Is Back. The Internet Isn't Ready.
Leigh Stein, author and Substack writer who chronicles writing careers and the internet, joins to talk about the rebirth of confessional nonfiction. They revisit the 2010s essay boom, viral shock pieces, and how social media and politics changed who can safely tell personal stories. Conversations focus on platform shifts, publication responsibility, and where essays live now.
Apr 29, 2026 • 37min
We’re Taking This “Mormon” Trend Too Far
Alyssa Grenfell, an ex-Mormon author and commentator on Mormon culture, breaks down the pop-culturification of Mormonism. She reacts to the new reality spinoff, teases who is actually Mormon, and explores how a ‘Mormon’ aesthetic flattens real religion. They warn about glamorizing problematic history and the risks of monetized motherhood and survivor exposure.
11 snips
Apr 25, 2026 • 44min
Are 62 Million Men In An Online "Rape Academy?"
Kat Tenbarge, culture writer who covers internet culture and online harms, joins to unpack CNN’s probe into a Telegram circle tied to disturbing sexual assault tactics. They discuss Motherless and so-called sleep-content porn. The conversation follows how a 62 million visits stat morphed into viral misinformation and why clarifying numbers matters amid survivor harm and policy debates.
Apr 22, 2026 • 34min
The Internet Has Kept Katy Perry’s Receipts
Scaachi Koul, Slate senior writer known for sharp cultural criticism, revisits Katy Perry’s fall from pop darling to online punchline. She unpacks fading relevance, problematic lyrics and appropriation, and boundary controversies resurfacing online. Short takes on relationships with power, performance choices, and whether the change is Katy’s or ours.
Apr 18, 2026 • 40min
We Are Over Influencers At Coachella
Kelsey Weekman, senior entertainment reporter at Yahoo News who covers influencer culture, shares her on-the-ground view from Coachella Weekend One. She describes brand-driven pop-ups, influencer selection and sponsorship mechanics. The conversation covers influencer drama playing out at the festival, rising costs and audience fatigue, and ideas to refocus the event on regular music fans.
Apr 15, 2026 • 31min
Bosses, Stop Using AI And Do Your Job
Laura Helmuth, former science and health editor and Slate Good Job columnist, offers sharp workplace perspective. She talks about why managers lean on AI more than workers. They explore how AI can increase workloads, erode managerial responsibility, and create confusing expectations. Practical approaches for pushing back and framing AI use as experiments are discussed.
Apr 11, 2026 • 31min
Wikipedia Is The Most Human Place On The Internet
Annie Rauwerda, creator of @depthsofwikipedia and active editor, digs into 25 years of Wikipedia and its volunteer culture. She explores how consensus governance works, the quirky niche editors who patrol typos, the debate over AI-generated content, and why the site still feels deeply human. Expect oddball finds and behind-the-scenes glimpses into how Wikipedia really runs.
