Podcast

Pop Syllabus

Arts, Society & Culture

Pop Syllabus is a show where host Christiana Mbakwe Medina deconstructs the zeitgeist and answers the big cultural questions. How did we swing from body positivity to thin-being-in? Why do so many people trust wellness influencers over medical doctors? And how did tech oligarchs become the new celebrities? Think of Christiana as a cross between a messy news anchor and guerilla academic. Each week, she and an expert guest will unpack a buzzy topic, and help us understand the moment while going through it.

Episodes
37
Releases
Weekly
Typical length
1 hr 4 min
On air since
2026
Latest episode
1 month ago

Episodes

37 episodes, newest first

  1. The Pop Culture Debrief Season Finale: Breaking Down September Issue covers

    Show notes

    September is for back-to-school, changing weather, and apparently a LOT of celebrity magazine covers.

    For the Season 1 finale of Pop Syllabus, Christiana picks up the September issues and takes us inside their biggest covers and most interesting stories. From Kaia Gerber and Homer Gere on Vogue to Rihanna, Usher, Charli XCX, and a powerful Essence cover celebrating Black women, she explores what these magazines choose to put on their covers, what they leave inside the pages, and what it all says about pop culture right now.

    Thanks to our sponsor, Bilt Rewards, for supporting today's episode:https://joinbilt.com/popsyllabus

    Follow Pop Syllabus: YouTube | Instagram | TikTok | Substack

    Merch available now!

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    If there’s a topic you’d like us to deconstruct, tell us in the comments.

    Email: hello@popsyllabus.com

    01:30 Kaia Gerber and Homer Gere on the cover of US Vogue

    02:42 Regime change at Vogue

    03:30 Nepo babies

    06:00 US Vogue cover

    07:16 Rihanna on the cover of Elle

    09:35 Rihanna’s relationship with Dior

    10:47 Elle editorial with Rihanna

    12:08 Jermey Strong on the cover of GQ

    14:21 GQ editorial with Jeremy strong

    16:33 Nicole Kidman on the cover of British Vogue

    18:43 Brad Pitt on the cover of Esquire

    20:04 Esquire editorial with Brad Pitt

    26:18 Sanaa Lathan, Nina Compton, Mara Brock Akil and Nikole Hannah-Jones on the front cover of Essence

    27:50 Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson on the back cover of Essence

    28:09 America at 250

    30:00 Seeing Black women with mature skin and gray hair

    31:30 Isan Elba

    32:01 Hair styles and product recommendations in Essence

    35:38 Mardi Gras

    36:00 Essence editorial with Sanaa Lathan, Nina Compton, Mara Brock Akil and Nikole Hannah-Jones

    37:19 Terrence Jenkins and Mikalah Sultan

    39:12 Essence editorial with Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson

    40:57 “Letters to America” in Essence

    41:30 Afro-optimism

    41:52 The American flag and who gets to own it

    44:20 Christiana’s relationship with England and the English flag

    46:19 Black women and reproductive health in Essence

    46:42 Usher on the cover of Architectural Digest

    49:25 A feature on decorative plates in Architectural Digest

    49:58 Usher’s Architectural Digest feature

    52:58 Charli XCX on the cover of Rolling Stone

    54:40 George Michael feature in Rolling Stone

    55:00 Comparing Rolling Stone to other magazines

    55:13 Shaboozey in Rolling Stone

    55:40 James Comey profile in Rolling Stone

    57:00 Charli XCX editorial in Rolling Stone

    57:40 Afroman in Rolling Stone

    59:00 Keke Palmer editorial in Rolling Stone

    01:00:18 Adam Friedland in Rolling Stone

    01:00:42 The Legend of the Plaster Caster in Rolling Stone

    01:02:16 A man who wants to help people print guns in Rolling Stone

    01:02:30 Assessing Rolling Stone

    01:03:12 Star Magazine

    01:10:00 How to keep up with Christiana

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    1 hr 14 min
  2. Understanding Women with ADHD with Corinne the Coach

    Show notes

    Forget the stereotypical image of ADHD. For many women, it looks a lot different.

    This week, Christiana sits down with Corinne the Coach to explore why women and girls are so often overlooked, why women of color face even greater barriers to diagnosis, and how ADHD can impact everything from mental health and shame to motherhood, money, and work. Corinne also opens up about her own diagnosis, navigating medication, and building a business while neurodivergent.

    Corinne’s website: https://corinnethecoach.life/

    Follow Pop Syllabus: YouTube | Instagram | TikTok | Substack

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    If there’s a topic you’d like us to deconstruct, tell us in the comments.

    Email: hello@popsyllabus.com

    01:43 Corinne’s ADHD diagnosis

    06:45 Why it takes longer for girls and women to get diagnosed with ADHD

    11:30 Different types of ADHD

    16:30 Underdiagnosis among girls and women of color

    22:15 How ADHD can be related to eating disorders and substance abuse

    26:58 Skepticism around women of color having ADHD

    29:30 Signs that a woman may be struggling with mental health challenges

    31:45 How women hide their shame

    35:12 Strains on mothers

    38:58 How Corinne started her business while being neurodivergent

    39:50 How ADHD keeps people impoverished

    41:04 Taking medication for ADHD

    48:00 Corinne’s experiences with ADHD medication

    54:45 How we can support the people in our lives who might have ADHD

    01:08:21 How you can find Corinne the Coach

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    1 hr 12 min
  3. Bad Moms in Pop Culture with Ej Dickson

    Show notes

    We love to talk about motherhood like there’s a right way to do it. But the rules have never been as simple as they seem.

    This week, Christiana sits down with WIRED senior culture writer and author of One Bad Mother Ej Dickson to explore the cultural history of the “bad mom,” from the “welfare queen” to today’s MAHA moms, momfluencers, tradwives, and stage moms. They unpack why the ideal of the “good mother” has always been complicated, why dads seem to get a much easier assignment, and how motherhood became one of our favorite ways to police women.

    Follow Ej: Instagram

    Ej’s website: https://www.ejdickson.com/

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    Email: hello@popsyllabus.com

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    44 min
  4. The State of Beauty Politics and What It All Means with Tressie McMillan Cottom

    Show notes

    Botox, filler, beauty trends, and the pressure to keep up with it all. This week, Christiana sits down with NYT columnist and UNC Chapel Hill professor Dr. Tressie McMillan Cottom to explore how beauty culture is changing around the world, why our appearances carry so much power, and what happens when the rules of beauty keep changing.

    Follow Tressie: Instagram

    Thanks to our sponsor, Bilt Rewards, for supporting today's episode:https://joinbilt.com/popsyllabus

    Follow Pop Syllabus: YouTube | Instagram | TikTok | Substack

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    If there’s a topic you’d like us to deconstruct, tell us in the comments.

    Email: hello@popsyllabus.com

    01:37 Meet Dr. Tressie McMillan Cottom

    03:45 Sculpt and how beauty norms became what they are right now

    06:12 The democratization of plastic surgery and injectibles

    09:06 Beauty and ugliness as structural concepts

    13:14 The end of body positivity a return to whiteness

    15:13 How technology has changed time, our attention, and beauty norms

    16:55 Peptides

    19:45 How what is seen as beautiful has changed

    21:00 Thinking of ourselves as scientific compositions

    22:05 Grappling for community

    22:39 Discourse around “the Black community”

    24:15 Ethnic rhinoplasty

    25:51 The death of the natural hair movement

    26:30 What is Black beauty now?

    27:10 The homogeneity of beauty

    30:14 How the formula we were taught for a good life isn’t working and cruel optimism

    35:26 Observing neutrally and knowing our choices aren’t neutral

    39:10 The cost of resistance and choosing our defeats

    42:49 Bracing for impact

    45:00 Black women being punished

    45:40 Conservative movements among white women and where white women go next

    49:55 “One Household, One Vote” and women retreating from the workplace

    52:30 Late-stage capitalism and AI will come for everyone, including men

    54:00 Men committing Interpersonal violence

    55:30 Going analog

    56:38 How Tressie approaches reading and engaging with ideas

    01:01:22 What Tressie is turning to for nourishment and delight

    01:06:25 What Tressie is working on now

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    1 hr 16 min
  5. Ranking the 2020s Pop Culture Divas with Ryan Mitchell

    Show notes

    Divas! We all love them, and we all have very strong opinions about who deserves a spot in our personal top 3. So this week, Christiana sits down with journalist, culture critic, and the NFL’s first LGBTQ+ brand ambassador Ryan Mitchell to bring back our signature pop culture rubric and rank the biggest divas of the 2020s. But who will take the crown? Listen in to find out.

    Follow Ryan: Instagram

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    If there’s a topic you’d like us to deconstruct, tell us in the comments.

    Email: hello@popsyllabus.com

    00:00 Intro

    00:13 Meet Ryan

    05:00 Showing up as a Black queer fat person

    07:20 Growing up in the South

    08:22 Ryan’s role as the NFL’s first queer ambassador

    12:12 Navigating the current conservative backlash

    15:02 How to show up for queer folks right now

    19:02 How pop culture brings people together

    22:20 The definition of a “Diva”

    27:20 How Christiana made this 2020s diva list

    29:17 The “general population” category for 2020s divas

    30:10 The “technicalities” category for 2020s divas

    30:48 The “sleeper divas” category for 2020s divas

    32:50 Attitude as part of the criteria

    36:00 Ariana Grande

    47:27 Billie Eilish

    55:14 Chappell Roan

    59:00 Celebrities are still humans

    01:00:35 Olivia Rodrigo

    01:02:50 Sabrina Carpenter

    01:04:43 Olivia Rodrigo

    01:05:55 Beyoncé

    01:12:26 Charli xcx

    01:19:29 Cleo Sol and Syd

    01:19:37 Yebba

    01:20:40 PinkPantheress

    01:20:54 SZA

    01:20:59 Doechii

    01:21:03 Where you can find Ryan Mitchell

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    1 hr 23 min
  6. Power, Pleasure, and White Women’s Hair with Sarah Mesle

    Show notes

    Only a small percentage of women are naturally blonde, yet blonde hair has become one of the most powerful symbols of beauty and privilege in American culture.

    This week, Christiana sits down with Sarah Mesle, USC professor and author of Tangled: Seven Iconic Moments in White Women's Hair and What They Tell Us About Power, Pleasure, and Complicity, to examine the cultural politics of white women’s hair. Through stories of blonde privilege, Britney Spears, and Princess Diana, Sarah explains how hair reveals the complicated relationship between beauty, identity, and power.

    Sarah’s website: https://sarahmesle.com/

    Follow Sarah: Instagram

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    1:26 Meet Sarah

    1:47 Hair and white feminine power

    3:50 Sarah’s interest in hair

    5:08 White visual performances and whiteness as a currency

    8:50 January 6th uprising

    10:40 Partisan aesthetics

    13:50 Princess Diana and women with short hair

    18:43 Blonde hair

    20:58 JoJo Siwa

    21:33 Maternal love and white resource hoarding

    22:40 White mothers giving their daughters elaborate hair styles

    25:00 Blonde privilege and the value of the currency of whiteness

    27:47 How Black women are treated depending on their hair styles

    29:30 Class and white women’s fear of “trashiness”

    32:40 Relationship between white women’s hair and thighs

    33:30 Thin hair

    35:17 Long hair and the women surrounding Trump

    36:06 Picking white women to focus on in “Tangled”

    40:32 Britney Spears

    45:50 Complicating the idea that there are victims and villains

    47:00 Cruel optimism

    48:10 Gwyneth Paltrow

    51:00 Opting out and diverging from the norm

    54:30 The game is rigged

    55:20 What’s next?

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    1 hr 3 min
  7. Pioneers, Builders, and Innovators: a new Pop Syllabus rubric with Blue Telusma

    Show notes

    This week, writer and YouTuber Blue Telusma joins Pop Syllabus for a wide-ranging conversation on modern relationships, gender dynamics, and what Love Island reveals about our culture. Best known for her sharp commentary on the hit reality series, Blue and Christiana explore everything from dating and accountability to race and media. Then, the two debut our new Pioneers, Builders & Innovators game, weighing in on cultural figures from Joe Rogan and Tyra Banks to Jay-Z, Madonna, Kim Kardashian, and Kris Jenner.

    Follow Blue: Instagram

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    If there’s a topic you’d like us to deconstruct, tell us in the comments.

    Email: hello@popsyllabus.com

    1:18 Meet Blue Telusma

    5:28 The Diaspora Wars Explained

    6:10 Dating Nigerian Men and Blue's Dating Experience

    10:16 "Good Women Aren't Having Babies Anymore"

    15:45 Partnership vs. Companionship

    22:05 Dating as an Unambiguous Woman

    27:37 What Love Island Gets Wrong About Race

    36:20 Calling Out Women vs. Challenging the System

    38:55 The Ego Tantrums Taking Over Love Island

    40:38 Has Reality TV Normalized Dysfunction?

    45:45 Pioneers, Builders & Innovators Game

    52:12 Joe Rogan: Pioneer, Builder, or Innovator?

    57:18 Tyra Banks: Pioneer, Builder, or Innovator?

    1:07:13 Jay Z: Pioneer, Builder, or Innovator?

    1:11:45 Madonna: Pioneer, Builder, or Innovator?

    1:15:58 Kim Kardashian & Kris Jenner: Pioneers, Builders, or Innovators?

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    1 hr 36 min
  8. Pop Culture and The Royal Family: Past, Present, and Future with Omid Scobie

    Show notes

    The royal family has mastered the art of staying in the spotlight. For generations, they’ve been a source of fascination, controversy, and endless conversation. But why do we keep coming back to the Crown?

    In this episode, Christiana sits down with NY Times bestselling author of Endgame: Inside the Royal Family and the Monarchy’s Fight for Survival, TV writer, producer, and royal commentator Omid Scobie to break down the monarchy as the ultimate pop culture phenomenon.

    After 13 years covering the royal beat, Omid shares what he’s learned about the institution, the media machine behind it, the scandals that shaped public opinion, and why the world remains obsessed with the royals.

    Follow Omid: Instagram

    Explore Omid Scobie’s Books on the Royal Family

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    If there’s a topic you’d like us to deconstruct, tell us in the comments.

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    1:14 Meet Omid Scobie

    3:40 Inside the Royal Beat

    5:54 Why Britain Created WAG Culture

    6:50 Meghan, Harry & the Palace

    13:28 How the Press Built Meghan's Narrative

    17:46 Why Americans See the Royals Differently

    19:46 What Makes Someone a Royalist?

    21:21 Kate's Cancer Announcement

    23:28 Why Royal Women Face More Scrutiny

    26:31 Why Meghan & Harry Became Easy Targets

    30:08 Writing Endgame

    36:17 Inside the Royal Feuds

    39:32 America's "Royal Families"

    43:49 Can the Monarchy Ever Change?

    46:13 Prince Andrew & the Epstein Scandal

    52:14 King Charles, Trump & Politics

    55:27 Harry vs. William

    58:17 Behind Palace Dynamics

    1:04:51 The Monarchy's Diversity Problem

    1:09:24 The Royals in 2027: What's Next?

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    1 hr 17 min
  9. The Anatomy of a Real Housewife with Candiace Dillard Bassett

    Show notes

    Millions of people watch The Real Housewives, but few know what it's really like to be one.

    In this episode, Christiana sits down with former Real Housewives of Potomac star and Miss USA 2013, Candiace Dillard Bassett, for an honest conversation about fame, friendship, IVF, marriage, and what it actually takes to survive one of television's biggest franchises.

    Follow Candiace: Instagram

    Read Christiana’s Substack essay on why The Real Housewives is the dark mirror we deserve:

    https://popsyllabus.substack.com/p/why-the-real-housewives-is-the-dark

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    01:16 Meet Candiace Dillard Bassett

    02:17 Why Candiace became a Real Housewife

    03:30 Candiace’s familial privilege

    05:20 Black American Princess (BAP) culture

    06:00 Feeling shame about growing up privileged

    10:00 From beauty pageants to Real Housewives

    13:38 Crying as a Black woman on reality TV

    18:49 Candiace and Monique Samuels’ friendship breakup

    20:45 Drew Sidora’s salary leak and the economics of being a Real Housewife

    29:44 The psychological toll of being on Real Housewives

    33:00 Going through IVF

    37:08 On returning to Real Housewives

    39:14 Colorism on reality TV

    43:44 Candiace’s first test scene

    45:10 Candiace’s longstanding relationships from the show

    45:30 The Traitors season 4

    48:08 What’s next for Candiace

    54:20 Candiace’s marriage with Chris Bassett

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    1 hr 1 min
  10. GLP-1s and The Death of Body Positivity with Dr. A. Janet Tomiyama

    Show notes

    Are GLP-1s changing our relationship with our bodies? The science says yes, but not in the ways you might think.

    In this episode, Christiana sits down with Dr. A. Janet Tomiyama, health psychologist, UCLA professor, and director of the Diet, Stigma, and Health (DiSH) Lab, to examine how GLP-1s are redefining body positivity, exposing the persistence of weight stigma, and raising bigger questions about who gets to be accepted and why.

    Thanks to our sponsor, Bilt Rewards, for supporting today's episode: joinbilt.com/popsyllabus

    Follow Pop Syllabus: YouTube | Instagram | TikTok | Substack

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    1:25 Meet Janet

    3:53 What Japan and Nigeria Reveal About Weight Stigma

    5:55 Is Weight Really About Willpower? The Science of Genetics & Dieting

    7:56 Should Governments Pay for Weight Loss?

    9:37 Why Most Diets Don't Work Long-Term

    15:41 How Culture Shapes the Way We Eat

    20:21 Why Bigger Bodies Once Represented Wealth

    24:29 What Is "Food Noise"?

    29:01 The Hidden Reality of Eating Disorders in Black Women

    32:14 GLP-1s, Grief, and the Identity Shift No One Talks About

    36:41 Who Gets Access to GLP-1s?

    42:21 The Risks and Unknowns of GLP-1 Medications

    49:03 Are GLP-1s a Lifetime Commitment?

    51:28 Raising a Family in a Weight-Obsessed World

    56:14 Should Parents Put Their Kids on GLP-1s?

    1:01:21 Why Body Neutrality May Be More Realistic Than Body Positivity

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    1 hr 8 min
  11. Are They a Star, Celebrity or Famous Person? with Zuri Hall

    Show notes

    We're back with another round of our signature pop culture game, Are They a Star, Celebrity, or Famous Person?

    This week, Christiana is joined by Emmy Award-winning TV host, Zuri Hall, to pull names from the bowl and weigh in on everyone from Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark to Cardi B, Dua Lipa, Timothée Chalamet, Anna Wintour, Billie Eilish, Bad Bunny, The Weeknd, and more. They also get into the rise of influencer culture, the business of celebrity, and who has the staying power to become a true star. Ready to play?

    Follow Zuri on Instagram

    Zuri’s Substack

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    1:36 Meet Zuri Hall

    3:35 Zuri’s exit plan from Access Hollywood

    9:36 The game begins

    12:33 Angel Reese enters the chat

    13:30 Angel Reese vs Caitlin Clark rivalry breakdown

    15:41 Timothée Chalamet, Leonardo DiCaprio & Daniel Day-Lewis energy

    18:03 Anna Wintour: the “mean boss” myth

    19:41 Charli D'Amelio family drama

    20:37 Celebrities vs influencers: who runs culture now?

    26:44 Cardi B chaos & charisma

    34:14 Dua Lipa wedding watch + love life

    37:47 Billie Eilish era check

    40:03 Bad Bunny takeover

    41:43 The Weeknd enters the conversation

    47:23 Zohran Mamdani surprise finale

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    55 min
  12. IVF, Pregnancy, and Home Birth at 45 with Jesse Golden

    Show notes

    More women are having children after 40, but what does that actually look like when you are in it?

    In this episode, Christiana sits down with Jesse Golden, CEO and founder of The Golden Secrets, to talk about her journey of trying for motherhood at 45, including IVF, miscarriage, and starting over later in life. She also opens up about home birth, treatment costs, community, and what it really means to redefine motherhood on your own terms.

    Follow Jesse on Instagram

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    1:09 Meet Jesse Golden

    2:53 Trying for motherhood again at 45

    4:09 What it’s really like trying to get pregnant in your 40s

    6:15 Navigating miscarriage and loss

    10:04 Inside Jesse’s IVF journey

    14:43 The real cost of IVF (financial and emotional)

    19:44 Finding community as a woman giving birth after 40

    22:14 What actually helps improve your chances of pregnancy

    27:22 Is IVF the right path for you?

    32:53 Egg freezing and what the future of IVF looks like

    36:21 Exploring home birth later in life

    40:13 Jesse’s home birth story

    43:36 Staying grounded in your choices and your body

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    50 min
  13. The Pop Culture Debrief: Deconstructing Magazines

    Show notes

    This week’s pop culture syllabus comes straight from the magazine rack!

    In this solo episode, Christiana sits down to talk us through the latest from Women's Health, GQ, Harper's Bazaar, and the juiciest tabloids, breaking down celebrity glow-ups, style statements, and luxury obsessions from names like Jay-Z, Anne Hathaway, Rita Ora, and more while unpacking what this month’s magazines are really saying about pop culture.

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    Email: hello@popsyllabus.com

    0:39 Rita Ora’s wellness era

    3:12Inside Rita’s new look

    7:00 The millennial facelift boom

    13:55 Meghan & Harry tabloid drama

    17:30 Ryan Seacrest’s face fears

    19:17 Paris Hilton, theme queen

    21:40 Crosswords: hot or not?

    23:04 Jay-Z’s GQ takeover

    23:39 Is Jay-Z channeling Basquiat?

    28:12 Luxury ads everywhere

    29:02 Pop culture’s iconic watches

    32:22 Sketchers sketchy ads

    34:06 GQ’s wedding rulebook

    36:22 The life of Jay-Z

    38:44 The Horology of HOV

    45:38 Anne Hathaway’s Harper’s Bazaar moment

    49:35 Chanel’s star-studded campaign

    54:10 Bobbi Brown & beauty businesses

    57:18 Ariana’s Swarovski sparkle

    59:03 Inside Lulu Guinness’ whimsical home

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    1 hr 5 min
  14. Manthropology with Holly Solem

    Show notes

    Women spend a lot of time wondering what men really think about love and relationships.

    In this episode, Christiana sits down with Holly Solem, advice columnist and creator of the social media series Manthropology, to discuss what she’s learned from interviewing men about dating, masculinity, and loneliness. They also play a game revisiting iconic fictional men in pop culture and how they shaped millennial women’s understanding of love and relationships.

    Holly’s Vogue essay

    Follow Holly on Instagram

    Follow Mathropology on Instagram

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    01:19 Meet Holly Solem

    06:20 Holly’s move back to LA

    07:14 Creating “Manthropology”

    11:28 What Holly has learned about men while making “Manthropology”

    13:34 How men in LA compare to men in NY

    14:45 How women absorb the shame of men

    16:09 Misogyny in 2026

    18:02 Platonic relationships between straight men and women

    22:20 How Holly reacts during Manthropology interviews

    23:20 White girlhood vs. Black girlhood

    25:51 Fictional pop-culture men game

    27:14 Chandler Bing from “Friends”

    28:58 Ross Geller from “Friends”

    29:39 Batman

    30:50 Superman

    32:24 Homer Simpson

    34:10 Lawrence from “Insecure”

    35:13 Big from “Sex and the City”

    37:13 Don Draper from “Mad Men”

    38:18 Walter White from “Breaking Bad”

    40:13 Nick Young from “Crazy Rich Asians”

    41:35 Prince Akeem from “Coming to America”

    42:46 Austin Powers

    43:37 James Bond

    46:40 Wolverine

    48:13 Adam Sackler from “Girls”

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    53 min
  15. Ranking Pop Culture Divas with Gerrick Kennedy

    Show notes

    We’ve been calling women divas for years, but we still can’t agree on what the word actually means or who qualifies.

    In this episode, Christiana sits down with music journalist Gerrick Kennedy, co-author of Brandy's new memoir, Phases, to do the impossible: rank the greatest divas across the 90s, 2000s, and 2010s and unpack what really earns someone the title.

    Together, they debate the diva status of icons like Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, Janet Jackson, Beyoncé, Britney Spears, Rihanna, Taylor Swift, and Lady Gaga, while making the case for a few overlooked sleeper divas along the way. By the end, it becomes clear that defining a diva is a lot harder than it sounds.

    Gerrick’s book with Brandy: https://www.harpercollins.com/products/phases-brandy?variant=44324080779298

    Gerrick’s book on Whitney Houston: https://gerrickkennedy.com/whitneyhouston

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    01:18 Meet Gerrick Kennedy

    03:20 How Gerrick Built a Career in Music Journalism

    06:33 The Time Gerrick Met Joe Jackson

    11:18 Diva Ranking Game

    13:19 Defining a “diva”

    16:46 Ranking 90s divas

    18:50 Brandy

    27:07 Janet Jackson

    29:22 Mariah Carey

    34:07 Gerrick on Working With Brandy on Phases

    36:16 The Patriarchal Control Behind Pop Divas

    40:59 Ranking 2000s divas

    42:11 Why Divas Have to Go Solo

    48:59 Jennifer Lopez

    55:59 Britney Spears

    1:00:37 Amy Winehouse

    1:05:01 Ranking 2010s divas

    1:06:03 Lady Gaga

    1:12:54 Rihanna

    1:16:29 Tinashe

    1:17:52 Beyoncé

    1:23:56 Taylor Swift

    1:25:39 The Next Generation of Pop Stars

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    1 hr 32 min
  16. Deconstructing the Kardashians with MJ Corey

    Show notes

    Whether you love them or hate them, it’s hard to argue the Kardashians didn’t completely change the way we think about fame. So how did this family go from reality TV to becoming the blueprint for modern celebrity and one of the most powerful forces in pop culture?

    In this episode, Christiana sits down with author MJ Corey to talk about her book Deconstructing the Kardashians: A New Media Manifesto and trace the evolution of the Kardashians and what their success really says about them. Together, they do what the internet has always done best and overanalyze the Kardashians, getting into fame, branding, controversy, and where this endlessly fascinating family goes next.

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    00:52 MJ Corey’s first time watching Keeping Up With the Kardashians

    03:08 Understanding postmodernism to understand the Kardashians

    03:50 Kim Kardashian and ethnic ambiguity

    04:55 Comparing the Kardashians to iconic American brands

    08:50 Kris Jenner, the O.J. Simpson trial and revisionist history

    13:00 The Kardashians, cultural appropriation and Black romantic partners

    22:00 The Kardashians as early adopters of technology

    25:25 The Paris robbery and trial

    31:09 How the Kardashians will be remembered

    32:15 Who will be Kris’ successor?

    34:12 Predicting Kim’s future in politics

    36:20 Which grandchild is most likely to be the next star?

    37:40 Does Kim venture into podcasting?

    38:10 Does SKIMS IPO?

    38:28 How many more times will Kim Kardashian get married?

    40:00 When will Kris Jenner retire?

    42:04 What’s the future of Kylie Jenner and Timothée Chalamet?

    44:29 Which Kardashian is mostly likely to make a hard pivot?

    48:30 MJ’s biggest prediction for the Kardashians/Jenners in the next five years

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    58 min
  17. The Celebrity Couples Game with Erin Lim Rhodes

    Show notes

    Celebrity couples today don’t just date, they trend, and every move instantly becomes part of the cultural conversation online.

    In this episode, Christiana sits down with E! Entertainment host Erin Lim Rhodes to play our signature Celebrity Couples Game and debate some of pop culture’s most talked-about pairs, from Kylie Jenner and Timothée Chalamet to Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck, Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco, and more. Expect hot takes, chaotic rankings, and a few moments that will definitely have you rethinking everything you thought you knew about these couples.

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    If there’s a topic you’d like us to deconstruct, tell us in the comments.

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    01:03 Meet Erin Lim Rhodes

    04:24 Erin’s move to Singapore

    06:18 Getting hired by E!

    11:46 “The Rundown” and using social media

    18:29 The Celebrity Couples Game

    19:30 Timothée Chalamet and Kylie Jenner

    20:43 Gabrielle Union and Dwyane Wade

    24:36 Nick Jonas and Priyanka Chopra

    28:40 Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck

    33:14 Olandria and Nic Vansteenberghe

    36:28 John Legend and Chrissy Teigen

    41:57 Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco

    48:49 Zoë Kravitz and Harry Styles

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    58 min
  18. The Conversation We Need About Womb Health With Dr. Kemi Doll

    Show notes

    Womb health is still one of the most misunderstood areas of women’s care, especially for Black women.

    In today’s episode, Christiana sits down with gynecologic oncologist and author of A Terrible Strength: The Hidden Crisis of the Black Womb and Your Survival Guide to Healing to walk us through fibroids, endometriosis, and the symptoms that are often dismissed, plus what women should be asking about care and diagnosis.

    Dr. Kemi’s website

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    01:00 Meet Dr. Kemi Doll

    03:40 How Dr. Doll’s background has informed her work

    07:30 Understanding womb suffering

    08:55 Black women with womb suffering getting misdiagnosed

    10:47 Womb condition #1: heavy menstrual bleeding

    23:40 Options for people with the BRCA1 gene

    25:36 Womb condition #2: endometriosis

    35:29 Teenagers and young women with womb suffering

    39:05 Womb condition #3: fibroids

    51:18 Womb condition #4: endometrial cancer

    01:01:28 Advice for dealing with doctors and medical institutions

    01:08:45 Combining holistic wellness with medicine

    01:11:55 Setting boundaries in order to heal

    01:13:00 Where to find Dr. Kemi Doll’s work

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    1 hr 17 min
  19. The Pop Culture Debrief: Mess, Drama & Headlines (Christiana Solo Episode)

    Show notes

    Welcome to another week in pop culture, where nothing is calm and everything is a headline.

    In this episode, Christiana flips through the latest tabloids and magazines, breaking down celebrity chaos, unhinged headlines, and the editorials everyone can’t stop talking about.

    Sydney Sweeney, Doja Cat, Timothée Chalamet, Anne Hathaway, and more all show up in this week’s rundown as Christiana shares her hot takes on what’s worth the hype and what’s just noise.

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    01:50 Sydney Sweeney’s “Magazine Milkies” Moment

    02:59 Sofía Vergara’s Sketchy Skechers Ad

    03:54 Sydney Sweeney’s Viral Lingerie Editorial

    08:15 Why Everyone Is Suddenly Obsessed With Tyriq Withers

    10:04 Twilight Taylors

    10:22 Is Robert Pattinson the New Leonardo DiCaprio?

    12:40 Teyana Taylor as Lady Liberty

    14:26 Inside the “MAGA Land” Editorial

    21:54 Doja Cat on Vogue

    24:48 India’s Growing Influence on Pop Culture

    27:10 Bhavitha Mandava, Versace & Fashion’s Rising New Faces

    29:08 Jelly Roll’s Weight Loss Transformation

    34:20 Sarah Michelle Gellar’s People Magazine Cover

    35:48 The Royal Roundup: Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle & More

    37:22 Anne Hathaway’s Best Oscars Look

    38:14 Sarah Michelle Gellar Is Making a Comeback

    40:19 Harry & Meghan “Exiled” From Hollywood?

    43:21 Christiana’s Top Magazine Recommendation

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    48 min
  20. Inside Hollywood’s Obsession With “Perfect” Faces With Dr. Carl Truesdale

    Show notes

    In Hollywood, everyone wants a “perfect” face, but the goal now is to make it look like nothing was ever done. But behind that natural look is a growing set of procedures most people would never recognize.

    Today, Christiana sits down with Double Board Certified Facial & Reconstructive Plastic Surgeon Dr. Carl Truesdale to understand what’s driving Hollywood’s obsession with undetectable plastic surgery, from subtle lifts to revision procedures, as well as how cosmetic work among men and AI are shaping today’s beauty standards.

    Dr. Truesdale’s website

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    01:02 Meet Dr. Carl Truesdale

    02:07 How Dr. Truesdale got into cosmetic surgery

    03:50 Cultivating a diverse practice with cultural competency

    09:05 The costs of cosmetic surgery

    10:01 Thread lifts, fillers and botox

    12:20 How Dr. Truesdale contributes to beauty standards and pressures

    15:00 Psychological shifts for patients

    17:00 Patients who are unhappy after their procedures

    18:55 Dr. Truesdale on sharing his work on social media

    21:46 Not being able to share the work he does for some celebrities

    22:58 Celebrities who don’t share that they have had work done

    25:20 Karama Brown

    25:38 Lower blepharoplasty

    26:06 Men getting plastic surgery

    30:08 Looking younger longer

    31:24 Revision surgeries

    34:17 Knowing when to operate and turning patients away

    34:57 Mid-facelifts

    35:45 Responding to those who say plastic surgery is bad

    39:10 A rapper whose “friend” paid for her cosmetic work

    40:41 The future of plastic surgery, AI, and beauty standards

    46:02 Christiana requests a free consultation from Dr. Truesdale

    47:30 Dr. Truesdale doing his parents’ plastic surgery

    49:00 Where you can find Dr. Truesdale online

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    52 min

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