

ICYMI
Slate Podcasts
Join Candice Lim and Kate Lindsay twice a week as we gaze deep into the online abyss—and tell you what’s gazing back.Get more of ICYMI with Slate Plus! Join for exclusive bonus episodes of ICYMI and ad-free listening on all your favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe from the ICYMI show page on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Or, visit slate.com/icymiplus for access wherever you listen.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jun 8, 2024 • 37min
Inside the Unsolved 2014 Attack on a Furry Convention
On today’s show, we’re joined by Nicky Woolf, the host Fur and Loathing, a new investigative podcast which attempts to solve the decade-old cold case of a chemical attack at the 2014 Midwest Furfest convention. From their show description, “It’s a journey that will bring [Woolf] face-to-face with the challenges this vibrant, often misunderstood subculture faces–including the far-right extremists looking to wreck the community from within.”This podcast is produced by Se’era Spragley Ricks, Daisy Rosario, Candice Lim and Rachelle Hampton. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

4 snips
Jun 5, 2024 • 54min
TikTok’s Current Main Character is a Familiar Face
Slate staff writer Nadira Goffe joins the show to discuss TikTok drama, including the comeback of controversial content creator Fionita Leggett. They explore inequalities in the influencer industry, controversies, weight loss experiences, and public figure apologies.

Jun 1, 2024 • 40min
Anna Sale on Internet Sabbaticals, iPod Culture and WebCrawler
Rachelle Hampton and Candice Lim are joined by Anna Sale, the host of Death, Sex & Money, to dive into her internet diary. After her podcast jumped to Slate, Sale took a month off and plugged into her surroundings, starting with her local library. Since its return, Death, Sex & Money has dived into diagnosed sociopaths, botox in Appalachia and the magic of mushrooms. But as Sale tells ICYMI, the podcast has developed an interesting relationship with the internet, which makes it both easier and harder to answer the questions her listeners are dying to ask.This podcast is produced by Se’era Spragley Ricks, Daisy Rosario, Candice Lim and Rachelle Hampton. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 29, 2024 • 41min
Encore: TikTok Shop Is a Dystopian Mall Kiosk
Today, we’re revisiting one of our favorite episodes from September 2022 about TikTok Shop.In the episode, Rachelle and Candice are joined by sustainable stylist and fashion educator Lakyn Carlton to discuss TikTok Shop — a new feature that lets users purchase products without ever leaving the app. TikTok Shop is a modern day QVC, where merchants can shell products they’ve made — or are authorized to resell — in live videos with products tagged on screen. In the age of Amazon Storefronts and Etsy, it’s not surprising for TikTok to enter the e-commerce space. But the crowded, merchant-filled experience has ruined the app’s appeal and made users consider quitting TikTok for good.This podcast is produced by Se’era Spragley Ricks, Daisy Rosario, Candice Lim and Rachelle Hampton. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

6 snips
May 25, 2024 • 39min
The Ethics of the Therapist-Influencer
Kate Lindsay, internet culture writer, and reporter, discuss the ethical dilemmas of therapists on TikTok, including client confidentiality, boundaries, and the rise of therapist influencers. They explore the challenges therapists face on social media, navigating mental health disclosures, and the blurred line between content creation and therapy services.

May 22, 2024 • 44min
The Aftermath of a Layoff
Candice Lim is joined by Yowei Shaw (former co-host of NPR’s Invisibilia) to discuss her new podcast Proxy, which takes listeners through the psychological aftermath of a layoff, starting with Shaw’s own layoff from NPR. In March 2023, the public radio institution laid off approximately 10 percent of its staff, resulting in the cancellation of four podcasts, including Invisibilia. Shaw, along with her team, was working on an upcoming season of the podcast when they were suddenly without jobs. More than a year later, Shaw is back with Proxy, which investigates layoff culture and asks questions like “Is there a good way to lay off employees?” and “Why did my HR representative smile when they laid me off?”This podcast is produced by Se’era Spragley Ricks, Daisy Rosario, Candice Lim and Rachelle Hampton. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 18, 2024 • 49min
Jerrod Carmichael Reality Show Makes Reality TV Great Again
On today’s show, Rachelle is joined by Aisha Harris, co-host of NPR’s Pop Culture Happy Hour and author of Wannabe: Reckonings With the Pop Culture That Shaped Me. The two discuss Jerrod Carmichael Reality Show, the latest venture from the comedian behind the Emmy-award winning stand-up special Rothanial. In contrast, Reality Show has been greeted with a mixed critical reception but both Aisha and Rachelle agree that it’s a fascinating project by one of our generation’s most experimental comedians.This podcast is produced by Se’era Spragley Ricks, Daisy Rosario, Candice Lim and Rachelle Hampton. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 15, 2024 • 49min
Street Fights and Moissanite Rings: Reddit’s Favorite “Selling Sunset” Moments
Exploring viral Reddit rumors about 'Selling Sunset', from street fights to moissanite rings. Analyzing fan-favorite moments and social media scrutiny. Delving into reality TV dynamics and dramatic confrontations at Oppenheim Group.

May 11, 2024 • 1h 3min
Never Post: Everyone is a Journalish
Mis- and disinformation researcher Joan Donovan discusses the line between gossip and conspiracy, while the hosts explore swimming in monocultural event discourse. Also, C-SPAN's earliest internet memories are shared in this thought-provoking and engaging episode.

May 8, 2024 • 52min
How Kate Middleton’s Disappearance Redefined Monoculture
Delving into Kate Middleton's mysterious disappearance and the ensuing conspiracy theories. Discussing monocultural moments in the internet age and what captures global attention. Exploring the impact of rich individuals and the requirements for a compelling event in 2024. Unraveling the mystery of Kate Middleton's absence and the royal family's handling of the situation. Reflecting on online empathy and speculation in the aftermath of the princess's diagnosis.