

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

Nov 17, 2021 • 23min
The Yassification of the Internet
Exploring the trend of yassification on Twitter and its decline. Also, discussions on Shailene Woodley's defense of Aaron Rodgers, the ongoing feud between Vin Diesel and the Rock, and the appropriation of the term 'yoss'. Wrapping up with tips on sleep hygiene.

Nov 13, 2021 • 28min
Taylor Swift Knows the Internet All Too Well
Taylor Swift just released her version of the 2012 album Red, but if you’d asked her fandom what was coming the answers would’ve included all sorts of red-string conspiracy theories. On today’s episode, resident Swiftie Madison takes Rachelle down Taylor’s rabbit hole, explaining her origins as a MySpace teen, the easter eggs she has and hasn’t hidden, and how her savvy engagement with fans demonstrates just how much she’s mastered the online medium.Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder and Derek John.Support ICYMI and listen to the show with zero ads. Sign up to become a Slate Plus member for just $1 for your first month. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nov 10, 2021 • 24min
The Life Hacks They Don’t Want You to Know About
Discover the secret tips hidden in terms of service, TikTok trends in life hacks, and the deceptive nature of these hacks. Learn about the consequences for service employees and the importance of verifying advice.

Nov 6, 2021 • 24min
The Spon-Con Video That Accidentally Captures the State of Tech
The podcast discusses Facebook's rebranding to Meta and their partnership with a popular TikTok star for a promotional video. They analyze the video's marketing mess and question the star's missing TikTok fame. The rise of Copy, an Italian TikTok star known for visual comedy, is also explored. The hosts delve into the concept of the metaverse, discussing Mark Zuckerberg's announcement and the potential implications. They touch on the phenomenon of a TikTok life hack star and tease answers about the star's identity and following.

Nov 3, 2021 • 28min
The Real Housewives of Social Media
The podcast discusses the influence of social media on reality TV, focusing on 'Real Housewives of Potomac'. The hosts explore the rise of the 'Let's Go Brandon' meme and its implications. They also delve into the dynamics of reality TV, including black audiences' connection to 'Potomac', and discuss Jazelle's TikTok account.

Oct 30, 2021 • 26min
The Untold Story of "Spooky Scary Skeletons"
For this special Halloween episode, you’re in for a handful of treats. Rachelle and Madison reveal their Halloween costumes and talk about what scares and bugs them on the internet this spooky season. They’ll discuss listener-submitted Vines, tweets, and Tumblr posts that are iconic Halloween internet staples, including the viral song “Spooky Scary Skeletons." We’ll dive deep into the origins of the song with Victoria Gold, whose father Andrew Gold wrote the celebrated bop.Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder, Derek John, and Samira Tazari.Support ICYMI and listen to the show with zero ads. Sign up to become a Slate Plus member for just $1 for your first month. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oct 27, 2021 • 29min
Is This YouTuber Eating Himself to Death?
We’re debuting our new segment, “Wormhole,” with this fascinating look into the phenomenon of the viral mukbang YouTuber and drama magnet, Nikocado Avocado. On today’s episode, Rachelle and Madison invite their internet obsessive colleague and senior producer of Slate’s Decoder Ring, Benjamin Frisch, to discuss who this infamous extreme eating content creator is, and why the internet is convinced Nikocado Avocado is eating himself to death.Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder, Derek John, and Samira Tazari.Support ICYMI and listen to the show with zero ads. Sign up to become a Slate Plus member for just $1 for your first month. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oct 23, 2021 • 25min
Is TikTok Giving Teen Girls Tics?
Why have so many young women developed tic disorders during the course of the pandemic? Well, apart from the obvious pandemic-related stressors, TikTok could be a big part of it. On today’s episode, Rachelle and Madison talk to science journalist Maddie Bender about her report for Vice unpacking this medical mystery. They discuss the correlation between exposure to Tic Tok, a subculture on TikTok where influencers share videos of their tic-related symptoms, and the rise of young women who have developed tic-like behaviors. Though social media could be a trigger for this phenomenon, they’ll discuss if TikTok could also be a part of the solution. Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder, Derek John, and Samira Tazari.Support ICYMI and listen to the show with zero ads. Sign up to become a Slate Plus member for just $1 for your first month. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oct 20, 2021 • 26min
We Interviewed the Pug With No Bones
Is it a bones day or a no bones day? That’s the question that’s swept across TikTok, thanks to Noodle the pug. Each morning, owner Jonathan Graziano wakes up and checks if his geriatric pug has bones or not, a helpful way of predicting what sort of day we’re all going to have. On today’s episode, Madison and Rachelle interview Jonathan (and Noodle) about his sudden viral fame, how Noodle is handling such celebrity, and exactly what it means to have a no bones day.Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder and Derek John.Support ICYMI and listen to the show with zero ads. Sign up to become a Slate Plus member. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oct 16, 2021 • 29min
The TikTok Salmon Bowl Can’t Save Us
Emily Mariko’s salmon rice bowl video has taken TikTok by storm, with fans praising its deliciousness and even claiming that her video helped heal their relationship with food. On this episode of ICYMI, Rachelle and Madison figure out where this story fits into the diet culture conversation and explain how the reaction to Mariko’s dish is about much more than just the ingredients she’s using. Of course, they weren’t about to talk about a viral recipe without trying it, so the hosts took to the kitchen to find out whether it really lives up to the hype.Podcast production by Daniel Schroeder and Derek John.Support ICYMI and listen to the show with zero ads. Sign up to become a Slate Plus member. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.


