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
Mar 28, 2026 • 38min
Taylor Frankie Paul's Bachelorette Cancellation Was Inevitable
Rebecca Jennings, New York Magazine features writer known for cultural and media reporting, discusses her profile of Taylor Frankie Paul. She walks through casting choices, influencer fame and Mormon identity. They recount how new allegations and a troubling video shifted coverage. The conversation probes producers' role, network reactions, and calls for Taylor to step back and heal.
8 snips
Mar 25, 2026 • 26min
A Lemon Pound Cake Just Saved Free Speech
Jonquilyn Hill, Vox journalist and Explain It To Me host, joins to unpack internet-culture flashpoints. They trace Afroman’s lemon pound cake moment, how raid footage became satirical songs, and the fast courtroom ruling that followed. Then they pivot to Justin Timberlake’s released DUI footage, the memes it sparked, and what missing clips reveal about public narrative.
Mar 21, 2026 • 43min
Why The Internet Is Arguing About Its Favorite Feminist
Scaachi Koul, Slate senior writer known for sharp cultural reporting, discusses profiling Lindy West and the fierce online fallout. Conversations cover West’s memoir, public reactions to her polyamorous relationship, heated emails from partners, and how confessional writing collides with today’s social media scrutiny.
Mar 18, 2026 • 39min
Meet The Professional Clout-Chaser
Nadira Goffe, Slate staff writer who covers viral personalities and internet culture, breaks down the rise of a ubiquitous social media figure. Short takes cover his TikTok origins, industry ties, surprising corporate and entertainment moves, and the idea of a professional clout-chaser. Expect lively parsing of why this kind of personality succeeds and how it affects journalism and celebrity access.
Mar 14, 2026 • 32min
The “My Husband Hates Me” Influencer
Melanie Hamlett, journalist and creator who writes about toxic heterosexual relationship dynamics, joins to unpack why clips of wives complaining about allegedly hateful husbands go viral. They trace the origins of viral posts, cultural scripts that push women into marriage, how online outrage and defense play out, and where jokes slip into real harm.
Mar 11, 2026 • 41min
Encore: Nobody Wants to Party Anymore
Josh Lora, sociologist and creator behind TellTheBees, explores why staying in has become the default. He traces early internet roots, dating app shifts, and how phones normalize anti-social habits. Conversation covers COVID’s impact, cultural messaging that celebrates staying home, and ideas for rebuilding in-person rituals and low-cost public spaces.
Mar 7, 2026 • 36min
Anthropic Isn't Woke
Tony Ho Tran, Slate editor who covers tech and culture, explains the Anthropic moment. They unpack celebrity-fueled chatbot hype, Anthropic’s safety-first branding and its $1.5B copyright settlement. Conversation covers the Pentagon dispute over surveillance and weapons, political spin calling the company "woke," and whether any AI firm can truly be ethical.
Mar 4, 2026 • 35min
Our Celebrity GoFundMe Dystopia
Lorena O'Neil, an investigative journalist who covers healthcare and culture, dives into the surge of celebrity GoFundMes after deaths. She recounts high-profile cases and explores why fans donate, the online scrutiny that follows, and how crowdfunding exposes inequalities and medical debt. The conversation highlights how visibility and parasocial ties shape modern fundraising.
Feb 28, 2026 • 35min
Influencers Are Cashing In On Nancy Guthrie
Luke Winkie, a Slate staff writer who reported from outside Nancy Guthrie’s Arizona home, gives on-the-ground observations and analysis. He describes the swirl of livestreamers, blurred lines between creators and reporters, and why creators camp outside a quiet house. They discuss sensational titles, ethical risks of amateur investigations, and how attention cycles shape what gets covered.
Feb 25, 2026 • 34min
The Olympic Gold In Going Viral
They unpack a viral zoo story about Punch the monkey and why people are emotionally hooked. They rank social media’s standout Winter Olympics moments from a dog crashing a race to a surprise proposal. They celebrate Alysa Liu’s joyful comeback and explore why her style sparked online fandom.
