
Skimm This
“Skimm This” tackles important topics that impact women, and empowers generations of women to live smarter. Listen to our miniseries throughout the year, airing on Thursdays.
Latest episodes

Nov 3, 2022 • 41min
Made You Look: Affirmative Action, Salary Transparency, Twitter Takeover
First: We’re breaking down the biggest headlines of the week: the Fed raising interest rates yet again, the growing risk of political violence leading up to election day, and Elon Musk’s chaotic onboarding @ Twitter.
Then: The Supreme Court heard two major cases on affirmative action this week. And according to analysts, the Supremes appear ready to reverse decades of precedent. We talk to an expert about what’s gone down in oral arguments so far, and what the impacts of an affirmative action reversal could look like.
Next: NYC’s new salary transparency law took effect this week, and it could have an impact far beyond the tri-state area. We’re talking to two experts about what’s changing for employees, employers, and those on the job hunt. And how you can take advantage of transparency laws, even if you don’t live in a place that has them.
Plus: In partnership with our friends at Slack, we're taking listeners behind the scenes of our digital HQ to show how certain Slack channels help us do our jobs better. Next up: #people-leaders.
Finally: The midterm elections are next week, and we’re handing the mic over to you to hear what’s on your mind as you get ready to vote.
On this episode, you’ll hear from:
Seema Mohapatra, MD Anderson Foundation Endowed Professor in Health Law and Professor of Law
Zoe Cullen, Assistant Professor of Business administration, Harvard Business School
Mandi Woodruff-Santos, Career Coach, Co-Host of the Brown Ambition Podcast
Molly Rosen, VP of People, theSkimm
Graelyn Brashear, Senior Director of Audio, theSkimm
Sophie Riese, senior manager of consumer insights and UX research, theSkimm
Skimm’rs Leslie, Katlin, and Jenny
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Skimm'd by Alex Carr, Will Livingston, and Blake Lew-Merwin with help from Hannah Parker and Alaisha Key. Engineered by Andrew Callaway and Elie McAfee-Hahn. TheSkimm’s head of audio is Graelyn Brashear. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 27, 2022 • 40min
Karma: US GDP, Ye’s Fallout, Midterm Voting
First: We’re breaking down the biggest headlines of the week: US GDP numbers, Ye's (aka Kanye West) fallout, and what you need to know about RSV, a respiratory virus that’s pushing some hospitals to their capacity.
Then: A major investment conference dubbed ‘Davos in the Desert’ took place this week in Saudi Arabia. And despite dirty looks from Team Biden, America's top finance bros attended. We’ll Skimm the drama in the desert…in 60 seconds.
Next: We’re tapping an expert to help break down three of the biggest issues voters are thinking about heading into midterms – from abortion access, to the economy, to the future of democracy.
Plus: In partnership with our friends at Slack, we're taking listeners behind the scenes of our digital HQ to show how certain Slack channels help us do our jobs better. First up: #skimmr-feedback.
Finally: In honor of Taylor Swift’s Midnights, we asked music critic how we should actually be listening to albums. Because it turns out: we’ve been doing it wrong this whole time. As a bonus, Alex asks the big question: is this Taylor Swift’s most millennial album ever?
On this episode, you’ll hear from:
Dr. Stephanie Davis, pediatric pulmonologist, UNC Children’s Research Institute
Laura Barrón-López, White House correspondent, PBS Newshour
Sophie Riese, senior manager of consumer insights and UX research, theSkimm
Nora Princiotti, co-host of Every Single Album, The Ringer
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Subscribe and leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts
Skimm'd by Alex Carr, Will Livingston, and Blake Lew-Merwin with help from Hannah Parker. Engineered by Andrew Callaway and Elie McAfee-Hahn. TheSkimm’s head of audio is Graelyn Brashear. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 26, 2022 • 16min
Kid Q&A: Sleep On It
Should you let your baby cry it out at night? Is it ever OK to give a toddler melatonin? And maybe most importantly — will you ever get a good night's sleep again? This week, we're teaming up with Boston Children's Hospital to answer your biggest questions about parenting and your kids' health. And for our final episode, we're tackling every parent's favorite topic: sleep. Dr. Judith Owens, director of the hospital's pediatric sleep center, puts a lot of our worries to bed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 25, 2022 • 17min
Kid Q&A: Cold, Flu or COVID?
It's virus season again — though if you feel like it's been virus season nonstop for years, you're not alone. This week, we're teaming up with Boston Children's Hospital to answer your biggest questions about parenting and your kids' health. And today it's all about those respiratory viruses your kids keep bringing home from daycare. We're talking to infectious disease specialist Dr. Kirstin Moffitt to get the rundown on how to manage risk, how to navigate the latest vaccine news, and what to look out for your if your kid does come down with a cold, RSV, flu, or COVID. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 24, 2022 • 14min
Kid Q&A : The Tantrum Diaries
We’ve all heard of the “terrible twos.” But what’s really going on when a toddler has a tantrum? And what’s “normal”?This week, we're teaming up with Boston Children's Hospital to answer your biggest questions about parenting and your kids' health. Starting with those spectacular meltdowns. We've tapped psychologist Dr. Erica Lee to help us understand why kids tantrum, how to help your own toddler when they do, and (crucially) how to stay sane through all of it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 20, 2022 • 34min
Midnights: Liz Truss, Student Loans, Midterms
First: We’ve got the context on the week’s biggest headlines: Liz Truss is out after 44 days in office, new tax brackets that could mean more cash in your wallet (thanks inflation), and Netflix’s Hollywood comeback.
Then: The U.S. government has officially launched the application for people to apply for student debt relief. We’re breaking down all the info you need to know if you’re eligible. Plus people keep saying it takes less than a minute to fill out… so we’re putting that theory to the test, all in 60 seconds.
Next: We’re Skimming the stakes of the midterm elections - who’s going to control congress, who might run in 2024, and what the future of our election systems looks like. Want to learn more? Check out our midterm election guides.
Also: We’re in a mental health crisis in America. And work, aka the place you spend over 50% of your time, could be to blame. We're talking to the government's top doc about his latest guidelines on how companies can protect their workers mental health.
Finally: There’s been a lot of BGE this fall – Big Gourd Energy. We sat down with one of the nation’s top female mega-pumpkin growers to get a behind the scenes look at the wild world of mega-pumpkins.
On this episode, you’ll hear from:
Jen Palmieri, Co-host of The Circus, Showtime
Dr. Vivek Murthy, U.S. Surgeon General
Cindy Tobeck, giant pumpkin farmer
Want more Skimm?
Sign up for our free daily newsletter
Email us your questions about what’s going on in the news right now
Subscribe and leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts
Skimm'd by Alex Carr, Will Livingston, and Blake Lew-Merwin. Engineered by Andrew Callaway and Elie McAfee-Hahn. TheSkimm’s head of audio is Graelyn Brashear. We had additional help this week from Hannah Parker. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 17, 2022 • 16min
In This Economy?!: Staying Sane
Sky-high inflation. Rising interest rates. A maybe recession. Oh, it’s just the second financial crisis millennial women are facing in their lifetime. In this special miniseries from the Skimm This team, we're going to give you the tools you need to navigate a rocky economic environment. Today, we’re talking about staying sane in this economy. All these headlines haven’t been great for our mental health - and we know that financial stress can seriously impact our well-being. So in our final episode, we're Skimm'ing actionable steps you can take today to give yourself peace of mind in the future. On this episode, you’ll hear from: Emily Thorn, Head of Consumer Advocacy, Marcus by Goldman SachsPS: The views expressed today by Emily Thorn are her own and do not necessarily reflect the views or institutional opinions of The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., Goldman Sachs Bank USA, Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC or any of their affiliates, subsidiaries or divisions. The information provided is for informational use only and is not a substitute for individualized professional advice. Goldman Sachs Bank USA and Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC are not providing any financial, economic, legal, accounting, tax or other recommendation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 13, 2022 • 33min
Long Time Running: January 6th Committee, Xi Jinping, 5 Years of #MeToo
First: We’ve got the context on the week’s biggest headlines: September inflation numbers (sigh), the final January 6th committee hearing, another escalation in the war in Ukraine, and an update on Venezuelan migrants trying to enter the US.
Then: This month marks five years since journalists broke several #MeToo stories and sparked convos about sexual harassment and assault in the workplace. And as Harvey Weinstein starts his second trial for sex crimes this week, #MeToo’s legacy is still with us. So we're Skimm'ing five things that have happened in the five years years since the first Weinstein story broke – from legislation that's passed to how we think about #MeToo in the workplace.
Next: Chinese leader Xi Jinping is about to take on an unprecedented third term this weekend. We're speaking to The Economist's China correspondent about how he changed the nation – and its position on the international stage – and what we can expect in the future.
Finally: October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. And a lot has changed since the first officially recognized one in 1995, from the decline in death rates to treatment quality. We talk to theSkimm’s senior health writer to learn when you should get your risk evaluated, and how screening tech has changed. PS: Learn more about guidance on early screening and risk for breast cancer here.
On this episode, you’ll hear from:
Sue Lin Wong, China correspondent, The Economist
Carly Mallenbaum, senior health writer, theSkimm
Want more Skimm?
Sign up for our free daily newsletter
Email us your questions about what’s going on in the news right now
Subscribe and leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts
Skimm'd by Alex Carr, Will Livingston, and Blake Lew-Merwin. Engineered by Andrew Callaway and Elie McAfee-Hahn. TheSkimm’s head of audio is Graelyn Brashear. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 10, 2022 • 16min
In This Economy?!: Investing
Sky-high inflation. Rising interest rates. A maybe recession. Oh, it’s just the second financial crisis millennial women are facing in their lifetime. In this special miniseries from the Skimm This team, we're going to give you the tools you need to navigate a rocky economic environment. In our second episode, we’re talking about investing…in this economy. Because ICYMI, stocks haven’t exactly been on the up and up. We’re going to break down the best investment accounts for your money goals, what a “bear market” means for our finances, and how to develop your investment mindset. PS: head to Marcus.com for more insights that can help you live your best financial life.On this episode, you’ll hear from:
Delyanne Barros, investing coach Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 6, 2022 • 35min
Guess Who’s Back: SCOTUS Returns, NFL Controversy, Twitter and Musk
First: We’re giving you the context on this week’s biggest headlines, including: Biden’s latest move on marijuana, what to expect from the new Supreme Court term, an update on Hurricane Ian recovery efforts, and the anti-regime protests in Iran.
Then: Just when you thought you’d had enough, the internet’s most toxic couple is back on again. We’ll Skimm the messy love story between Elon Musk and Twitter, and why they’re eloping for real this time…in 60 seconds.
Next: The NFL is in the headlines again and – spoiler – it’s not for good news. After the Dolphins’ QB suffered what appears to be two head injuries in back-to-back games, the league’s sketchy history with head injuries is back in the spotlight. We'll break down where the league stands on concussions and how their policies have affected players from the big leagues to high school fields.
Finally: Voice memos are somewhere between a text and a call. But, like crafting the perfect text, there’s an art to it. We spoke with an etiquette expert on the do’s and don’ts of voice memos. So you can still record your thoughts without starting a new podcast.
On this episode, you’ll hear from:
Leslie Scism, news editor, The Wall Street Journal
Lindsay Jones, senior editor, The Ringer
Skimm HQrs: Sophie, Kat, Cameryn, Melanie, Irina and Andrew
Elaine Swann, founder & CEO, Swann School of Protocol
Want more Skimm?
Sign up for our free daily newsletter
Email us your questions about what’s going on in the news right now
Subscribe and leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts
Skimm'd by Alex Carr, Will Livingston, and Blake Lew-Merwin. Engineered by Andrew Callaway and Elie McAfee-Hahn. TheSkimm’s head of audio is Graelyn Brashear. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices