

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

Feb 24, 2024 • 53min
Who TF Did Reesa Teesa Marry?
Delving into the scammer saga of Reesa Teesa's TikTok series exposing a man she calls 'Legion.' From fake phone calls to imaginary siblings, printing out non-existent bank statements, and a web of deceit, this story uncovers a rollercoaster of lies and manipulation.

Feb 21, 2024 • 48min
Inside the Internet’s Hottest—and Messiest—Club
On today’s episode, Rachelle is joined by Nadira Goffe to dive into the firestorm engulfing two recent interviews on Shannon Sharpe’s delightfully dishy podcast Club Shay Shay. Katt Williams and Mo’Nique sat down with Sharpe in separate three-hour-long interviews that have set the internet ablaze. Both of the legendary comedians dished about their long-standing beefs with figures such as Ludacris, Oprah, Tyler Perry, Cedric the Entertainer, Kevin Hart, D.L. Hughley, Tiffany Haddish and (somehow!) more. Accusations of Illuminati memberships fly. Cognac is sipped. And a new gossipmonger is born.This podcast is produced by Se’era Spragley Ricks, Daisy Rosario, Candice Lim and Rachelle Hampton.ICYMI is sponsored by BetterHelp. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 17, 2024 • 47min
The Turbulence of Air Force Taylor
Rachelle Hampton and Candice Lim talk about Taylor Swift's legal battles and potential cases against AI deepfakes. They discuss the controversy surrounding Emily Mariko's tote bag and influencers' pricing strategies, touching on ethical considerations in influencer marketing.

Feb 14, 2024 • 40min
The State of Dating Apps
Candice Lim is joined by dating culture researcher Lakshmi Rengarajan and culture writer Kate Lindsay to discuss the past, present and future of dating apps. Online dating has been around since the days of dial-up. But apps like Tinder disrupted the market and changed the way we’ve dated for the past decade. Recently, there’s been several trends emerging, from Gen-Z abandoning the apps to baby boomers finding love later in life. So are we witnessing the death of dating apps or have they integrated themselves so deeply into our lives that we can’t live without them?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

Feb 10, 2024 • 40min
The Terminally Ill Influencers Posting Their Way Through Life—and Death
On today’s show, Rachelle makes her triumphant return. She’s joined by A.W. Ohlheiser, a senior technology reporter and editor at Vox, who recently wrote about the complicated lives and deaths of TikTok’s illness influencers. As Ohlheiser wrote, “These stories — whether held in an archive of personal letters, a widely discussed lecture, or on the For You pages of millions — are all shaped by the expectations of the ‘well.’ Turning sickness into content can get views. And just like any content, not all people, or illnesses, have an equal chance of going viral.”But first, Candice fills Rachelle in on what she’s missed online during her time 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

Feb 7, 2024 • 35min
Was TikTok Silent or Silenced?
Culture critic and reporter Cyrena Touros joins the podcast to discuss the battle between Universal Music Group and TikTok. They explore the impact on creators and emerging artists, the financial struggles faced by musicians, and the revolutionary influence of TikTok on music promotion. They also delve into the frustrations and challenges artists face in finding alternative platforms for music promotion.

Feb 3, 2024 • 33min
Paloma Diamond Is TikTok’s Favorite Oscar Loser
Candice Lim is joined by Julian Sewell (@juliansewell), the creator of TikTok’s most famously snubbed actress: Paloma Diamond. In March 2023, Sewell posted a TikTok parodying the behavior of nominated actors at the Academy Awards. Posted days before the actual ceremony, the video gained millions of views immediately and made Paloma the protagonist of Sewell’s faux universe. Since then, Sewell has parodied everyone from Queen Elizabeth II to America’s Next Top Model, but his followers love adding to Paloma’s lore, making her one of TikTok’s favorite characters to root for.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

Jan 31, 2024 • 40min
Nicki Minaj’s 72-Hour Spiral
Candice Lim is joined by Slate writer Nadira Goffe to break down the latest developments surrounding Nicki Minaj’s beef with rapper Megan Thee Stallion. On January 26, Megan Thee Stallion released “Hiss,” which takes aim at several unnamed parties. Fellow rapper Minaj took offense to certain lyrics, leading her to post about Megan for 72 hours on social media and ultimately, release a diss track titled “Big Foot.” While Minaj is notorious for her fraught relationships with female emcees, the social media spiral that occurred has fans questioning their loyalty to the increasingly problematic rapper.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

5 snips
Jan 27, 2024 • 33min
Why YouTube Loves Video Essays
Anisa Khalifa, podcast producer and host of The Broadside from WUNC, joins Candice Lim to discuss the rise of video essays on YouTube. They explore the different categories of video essays, their impact and evolution over time, and why they appeal to Gen-Z and millennials. They also touch on the influence of popular shows like 'Last Week Tonight' and 'Patriot Act', the personalized learning experience they offer, and the dangers of having an opinion on everything.

Jan 24, 2024 • 32min
The TikTok Joy of Mychal the Librarian
Candice Lim talks to Mychal Threets (@mychal3ts), a Bay Area librarian by day and beloved TikTok creator by night. In December 2023, Threets was the target of a negative tweet that called his TikToks weird. But in a shocking twist, the internet ran to Threet’s defense, praising his work and platform as a librarian. Threets joins the conversation to talk about his reaction to that moment, his new rules for navigating the comment section and his surprisingly millennial-core music taste.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