Culture Study Podcast

Philanthropy is so weird. Celebrities: also weird. When the two collide, you get something even more bizarre. Why should we believe what Ashton Kutcher has to say about human trafficking? How did Bill Gates change the very core of his image? What does The Gilded Age teach us about philanthropy and social position? And why does giving feel more and more like shopping? Amy Schiller joins the pod to work through the tangled knot of modern philanthropy. If you like the show, it is SO INCREDIBLY HELPFUL for our fledging pod if you can share it with others. Send it to your nerdy friend or coworker who’d love it. Post it on Instagram. Follow or subscribe to the pod on your podcast app, and/or write us a quick review on iTunes.Also: we’ve made enough through subscriptions to pay Melody through early March, but without more…..we can’t keep making the show. So if you like the pod, if you want it to continue, consider subscribing today. (And if you’re already a Culture Study newsletter subscriber, you get a screaming deal).Got a question or idea for a future episode? Let us know here. This week, we’re looking for your questions for future episodes about: The romance novel boom; your thoughts and feelings on student loans; whatever Bradley Cooper's whole deal is.You can submit them (and ideas for future eps) here. To hear more, visit culturestudypod.substack.com

At some point in the last year I looked around and realized… 2000s music was EVERYWHERE. Nelly Furtado. Timbaland. Eminem. 50 Cent. MGMT. In Bama Rush videos. At sports games. In the background of TikToks of teens plaintively yearning to be 2000s teens. In weird animation videos meant for seven-year-old boys. Why THIS music, and why RIGHT NOW? Musicologist Nate Sloan— co-host of one of my favorite podcasts, Switched on Pop— has all the answers, or at least most of them. If you like the show, it is SO INCREDIBLY HELPFUL for our fledging pod if you can share it with others. Send it to your nerdy friend or coworker who’d love it. Post it on Instagram. Follow or subscribe to the pod on your podcast app, and/or write us a quick review on iTunes.Also: we’ve made enough through subscriptions to pay Melody through early March, but without more…..we can’t keep making the show. So if you like the pod, if you want it to continue, consider subscribing today. (And if you’re already a Culture Study newsletter subscriber, you get a screaming deal).Got a question or idea for a future episode? Let us know here. This week, we’re looking for your questions for future episodes about: Weird modern architecture and home design trends; your thoughts and feelings on sitting; whatever Bradley Cooper's whole deal is.You can submit them (and ideas for future eps) here. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit culturestudypod.substack.com/subscribe

In this podcast, they discuss the rising trend of cold plunging, its potential benefits, and its journey from obscurity to mainstream. They explore the influence of social media and biohacking on its popularity, including the emergence of a 'bro culture.' The podcast also touches on the neuroscience behind cold plunging and the extremism of cold plunging on social media.

Michelle Cyca discusses the Mean Girls reboot trailer, questioning its appeal to Gen-Z without context, hiding it's a musical, and Tina Fey's uncancellable status. Analyzing the humor and problematic aspects of Mean Girls, they reflect on evolving perspectives and Tina Fey's humor. They explore the portrayal of the Mean Girls musical in the trailer and the trend of adapting films into musicals. The podcast also touches on the resurgence of early 2000s music, financial motivations for movie reboots, and why millennials love throwbacks.

Nicole Washington, with an abundance of knowledge about F1, joins the podcast to discuss the recent rise in popularity of Formula 1. They touch on topics such as the impact of reality TV shows on niche sports, getting started in F1 racing, the ethics of being a fan, and their favorite Formula One podcasts. They also delve into their thoughts on the TV show 'Drive to Survive' and reflect on a Britney documentary.

Philip Maciak, television critic for The New Republic, discusses Paw Patrol, addressing copaganda, plot laziness, gender representation in children's media, the gendering of dogs in the show, and critiques about the underfunding of public services. The episode also explores reducing the mental load of moms during the holiday season and the importance of sharing domestic labor and prioritizing as a family.

Esteemed law professor Leah Litman, co-host of Strict Scrutiny, joins me and Melody to talk about all things TAYLOR + TRAVIS. Like: How did Taylor make the transition from big time pop star to BIGGEST POP STAR? How do we feel about the Matty Healy of it all? Is Travis Kelce interesting or is their relationship just interesting? Why do I feel so ambivalent about the prospect of Taylor getting married (and/or having kids)?? [If you're coming to the paid episode from the free episode, you'll want to pick up the conversation around 50:22.]If you like the episode, it is SO HELPFUL for our fledging pod if you can share it with others. Send it to your nerdy friend or parent who’d love it. Post it on social media. Follow or subscribe to the pod on your podcast app, and/or write us a quick review on iTunes. If you want to support the show financially, and get some cool perks, check out our Substack.Got a question or idea for a future episode? Let us know here. This week, we’re looking for your questions for future episodes about: Celebrity Philanthropies (weird ones, good ones, why do they exist, etc.); Moms for Liberty; Very Contemporary Architecture Trends (like ‘modern farmhouse’); Huberman Husbands; Booktok (think expansively here); ONLINE PURCHASE REVIEW CULTURE (as in: what motivates people to leave reviews? With photos? What makes a good review, what makes a worthless one?); Athleisure (also think expansively here) You can submit them (and ideas for future eps) here. To hear more, visit culturestudypod.substack.com

This episode of the podcast explores topics such as the state of sidewalks, undoinng car dependencies, a power company in Vermont distributing batteries to customers, ready-to-fail water treatment plants, and the lack of good trains. Deb Chachra, author of How Infrastructure Works, joins the conversation to discuss the fascinating systems that shape our world. The episode also mentions the significance of septic systems and encourages listeners to share and support the podcast.

The podcast delves into the decline in clothing quality, the impact of overseas manufacturing, and deceptive advertising tactics by clothing companies. It suggests alternatives for finding affordable and high-quality wool sweaters and highlights the importance of seeking garments made in places of need. The concept of flattering clothing is explored, along with the challenges of shopping amidst the current fashion landscape. The podcast also introduces the Culture Study Podcast and its aim to explore various aspects of culture.

Everything is interesting.That idea has guided the tremendously popular Culture Study newsletter, and it’s at the heart of the Culture Study Podcast, where host Anne Helen Petersen and the smartest people she knows answer listeners’ questions about the nooks and crannies of contemporary culture, from “why are clothes like this now?” to “what’s the deal with F1?”Listeners can submit their own questions here, and find weekly discussion threads, extensive show notes, transcripts and a lot more on Substack. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit culturestudypod.substack.com/subscribe