Sixteenth Minute (of Fame)

This summer, a fish named Alice fell from the sky and directly into the lawn of junior doctor Ben Beska. And so, of course, he tweeted about it... only to lose his newly beloved fish just a week later. What followed was what it looks like to go viral in 2024. Jamie speaks with Ben Beska over the course of two months to track the journey; plus, we talk to Stanford psychiatrist Dr. Elia Aboujaoude to learn what going viral has the potential to do to your mind. Follow Ben's fish adventures here: https://x.com/Beska Buy Dr. Aboujaoude's new book, A Leader's Destiny, here: https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/elias-aboujaoude/a-leaders-destiny/9781541703018/?lens=publicaffairs See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, we're taking a tangent -- my dad, Mike Loftus, passed away two weeks ago, and this episode is twenty minutes about that. I've needed some extra time to get our upcoming episodes together, but I've wanted to share more about him and the last two weeks. I really miss him. We'll be back to regular episodes next week. As promised, the links: Obituary: https://www.waittfuneralhome.com/obituary/MichaelP-Loftus  Patriot Ledger writer Eric McHugh wrote this really comprehensive, thoughtful piece about him: https://www.patriotledger.com/story/sports/2024/07/24/family-hockey-were-ledger-bruins-writer-mike-loftus-twin-passions/74518399007/  My dad's good friend Mick Colageo, another hockey writer, remembers him here: https://bostonhockeynow.com/2024/07/21/colageo-boston-bruins-reporter-mike-loftus-a-pros-pro/ And the podcast I pulled a clip from is from Pucks with Haggs with Joe Haggerty, featuring Mick and fellow hockey writer Steve Conroy from The Boston Herald: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HimCsyfw3Hk&t=590sSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Naomi H is a Twitter furry who gained notoriety after a viral incident with a National Space Council member. In a candid conversation, she opens up about losing her NASA internship, the fallout from that controversial tweet, and how it shaped her online identity. Naomi shares her journey of self-discovery as a transgender woman, navigating both personal challenges and public scrutiny. The discussion also touches on her new creative projects, including a horror film, highlighting the complexities of modern digital life and resilience.

Host Scott Rogowsky discusses the rise and fall of HQ Trivia, sharing insights on the app's popularity, internal struggles, PR crises, tech problems, financial troubles, and founder controversies. He also talks about his transition from comedy to hosting, online content consumption, success, and uncertainties in the world of internet game shows.

This week, a bonus interview from our 65-foot-hot-dog episode — 404 Media’s Jason Koebler talks to Jamie about how we need to remind people that writers aren’t robots. Then, Jamie reminds you she is not a robot. Listen to the 404 Media Podcast here: https://www.404media.co/the-404-media-podcast/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What happens when public artwork becomes the main character? For the last two months, a culture war has raged around a gigantic sculpture of a hot dog in Times Square... and playing right into the artists' hands. Jamie goes to New York to talk about the secret agenda of the hot dog with creators Jen Catron and Paul Outlaw. Then, a talk with Carol Adams, the author of 'The Sexual Politics of Meat,' about why the hot dog is still a subversive symbol, why I needed to go vegan a decade ago, and how harassment has evolved from right wing radio into the internet era. (did you seriously think Jamie wasn't going to find an excuse to do a hot dog episode? gzet a grip) follow Jen and Paul: https://www.catronandoutlaw.com/ follow Carol Adams: https://caroljadams.com/ buy Raw Dog: The Naked Truth About Hot Dogs: https://bookshop.org/p/books/raw-dog-the-many-histories-of-hot-dogs-jamie-loftus/18785131?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwp4m0BhBAEiwAsdc4aOntkU4kENdIs91XZ-UKCNSxQ8nvIO1kakfzoI7ugVgqAWA1ABNkQBoCTtoQAvD_BwESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Willie McNabb discusses the 30-50 feral hogs issue, Professor Tomacek explains feral hog problems, Karl Kasarda connects feral hogs to American gun laws

Savage dance creator Keara Wilson discusses the Black TikTok strike of 2021, highlighting the lack of credit and compensation for Black choreographers by white influencers, sparking a movement for accountability and inclusivity. The conversation explores the impact of social media algorithms in perpetuating racism and the power of collective organizing to demand recognition for creators.

A man from Philadelphia ate a rotisserie chicken daily for forty days. The podcast delves into competitive eating, the viral challenge, and the consequences of the feat. It also explores the ethics of the meat industry, societal acceptance of quirks, and humorous tales surrounding the Chicken Man's legend.

Taylor Lorenz, Julia Claire, and Bridget Todd discuss online outrage, harassment towards women, societal projections, internet algorithms, shame, 'wife guys,' and empowerment narratives. They explore Twitter's algorithm change, Elon Musk's acquisition, navigating personal pain online, and dispelling misconceptions about wealth and hobbies. The podcast transitions from Coffee Wife to Daisy in Bali, with light-hearted banter and mentions of sponsors like High Five Casino and Planned Parenthood.