ICYMI

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.

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.

Charlie Sosnick, a writer on internet subcultures and masculinity, walks through the rise of looksmaxxing. He explains the PSL scale and the split between soft tweaks and extreme surgeries. They explore how forums and influencer culture normalize dangerous beauty math for teen boys. The conversation links racialized ideals, gay aesthetics, and pandemic-era optimization trends.

Jenna Ryu, a SELF lifestyle writer who coined the term 'finger princess,' explains the Korean-rooted label for the friend who asks easy questions instead of scrolling or Googling. They unpack common group-chat behaviors, why those habits grate, how to spot thoughtful vs lazy questions, and gentle tactics for handling or avoiding the problem.

Sonia Weiser, a journalist who covers tech and online dating, tried making her dating profile weird on purpose. She talks about how AI-made, formulaic bios flatten conversation. She explores shitposting tactics, why specific odd details spark replies, and how social media DMs and authenticity are reshaping how people meet.

Kat Tenbarge, a journalist who covers internet culture and online communities, explains how Jeffrey Epstein has been turned into a meme. She unpacks viral shitposts, AI clips, and how file releases became entertainment. They discuss harmful redactions, conspiracy escalation, and how laughing at images can erase victims. The conversation urges shifting from clicks to responsible, survivor-centered action.

On today’s episode, host Kate Lindsay is joined by Mia Sato, reporter at The Verge and author of the recent piece, “The rise of the slopagandist.” Creators like Nick Shirley are claiming to be journalists, making unfounded accusations against immigrants that directly result in ICE raids, including the unrest in Minneapolis that resulted in the death of two civilians. The content is lazy and designed to generate outrage, but is only becoming more influential as traditional journalism continues to decline. This podcast is produced by Daisy Rosario, Vic Whitley-Berry, and Kate Lindsay. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Alex Kirshner, Slate writer and co-host of Hang Up and Listen, who writes about internet culture and tech habits. He explains why he tried the Brick device and how its physical friction changed his phone use. They compare Brick to dumb phones and apps. They also explore the irony of announcing offline moves online and whether these tools truly cut screen time.

Laura Wheatman Hill, writer and commentator who penned the Slate piece arguing TikTok should be abandoned. They talk about TikTok’s ownership shakeup, algorithm failures that erased personalized feeds, reports of removals and blocked messages, and how these changes threaten the platform’s cultural relevance and trust.

On today’s episode, host Kate Lindsay is joined by Slate contributing writer David Mack to discuss the surge of niche celebrity drama unfolding in the midst of a horrifying news cycle. We’re cancelling the “Glambot guy”? Brooklyn Beckham broke up with his family via Instagram Story? Those two hockey podcasters didn’t actually like Heated Rivalry??? This drama is so petty, but also so necessary for staying sane during these times. Which means: We’re breaking down every detail of it. This podcast is produced by Daisy Rosario, Vic Whitley-Berry, and Kate Lindsay. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.