ICYMI

Ed Zitron, technology critic and host of Better Offline, dismantles the latest AI apocalypse frenzy. He examines sensational whistleblower claims, staged scares, superintelligence mythology, and the media’s role in amplifying hype. The conversation also explores how doomsday rhetoric serves tech investors, while real concerns like job losses, environmental damage, and mental-health risks get sidelined.

Kelsey Weekman, a Yahoo News culture reporter covering internet trends, explores vertical microdramas: 90-second smartphone soaps packed with forbidden alphas, cursed billionaires, pregnant werewolves, and surprise quadruplets. She examines their booming economy, devoted female audience, opportunities for actors, and why Hollywood is watching. Plus, AI threatens to replace the humans who make these gloriously ridiculous stories.

Kyle Raymond Fitzpatrick, a writer and cultural critic focused on internet culture, joins a deep dive into “ambient celebrity.” They unpack Alex Earle’s redundant reality-TV fame and quiet Unwell fallout, Stella Lefty’s familiar-sounding songs and billionaire privilege, and Zoella’s mysterious disappearance. It’s a sharp tour of sanitized entertainment, consequence-free infamy, and why online nothingness feels strangely compelling.

Lizzie O’Leary, journalist and host of What Next: TBD, joins a lively conversation about raising kids online. They explore screen-time anxiety, viral “Oreo Gate” parenting debates, fertility group chats, endless school apps, and algorithm-powered advice bubbles. They also tackle parental monitoring, school conflicts, and helping children build independence without eliminating every discomfort.

Josh Lora, the writer and creator behind TellTheBees, explores why boyfriend content has become socially awkward online. He unpacks “Boyfriendland,” heterofatalism, emotional avoidance, and the backlash to viral debates about women hiding relationships. The conversation also examines influencer-style romance, wedding “ball-and-chain” jokes, ironic couple content, and the difference between genuine gestures and relationship performance.

AI and plagiarism accusations are reshaping online outrage, but biased detection tools and sensational media coverage can turn uncertainty into punishment. Kate Lindsay and investigative journalist Dre examine the Jason Arday controversy, racial disparities in scrutiny, the role of Cambridge and publishers, and why public anger should target powerful institutions instead of vulnerable writers.

Carmen Vicente, a social media strategist and creator who writes the newsletter Scroll Sick, joins to unpack why platforms feel toxic. They talk comment sections as gladiator pits. They trace discourse rot from Tumblr to TikTok. They discuss algorithms that reward outrage and whether playfulness can return to online spaces.

Leah Carroll, true crime writer and author of Down City, brings personal history and reporting chops. She talks about how the Lindsay Clancy case became a social media spectacle. They unpack online conspiracy fandom, parallels to televised trials like O.J., and the clash between armchair sleuthing and conversations about postpartum and harm to families.

Angela Perry, online commentator who breaks down women's basketball for wider audiences. She talks about the WNBA finally getting mainstream attention. She traces how new fans and sensational headlines can overshadow on-court play. She discusses racialized coverage, fandom tensions between new and longtime supporters, and players using digital platforms to reclaim their stories.

Kathryn Jezer Morton, writer for The Cut and author of The Story of Your Life, explores her idea of “friction maxing.” She explains how relentless convenience erodes our tolerance for silence, boredom, and messy social life. They talk about parenting, screens, AI replacing small human exchanges, and practical ways to reintroduce friction into daily routines.