Where do you begin to process the last four years? All the grief, the joy, the heaviness, the fear — it's all so much to unpack. But...you have to start somewhere. We start with New York Times writer and podcaster Jenna Wortham and curator and activist Kimberly Drew. They give us their insights and reflections on the moment, and we talk about their new anthology book Black Futures, and how it reimagines possibilities for Black people.
Jan 20, 2021•41 min
From Hilaria Baldwin's accent to the KimYe divorce to Armie Hammer's...[ahem] proclivities, it has already been a banner year for celebrity gossip. What is it about gossip that pulls us in? Why are we drawn to the hot goss of beautiful people? And ... is it time for us to bench our celebrity obsession? Panelist Sarah Hagi and the queen of gossip Lainey Lui join us for this one.
Jan 13, 2021•40 min
This week's special guest is recording artist and massive internet sensation Saweetie! She joins Pop Chat to talk about how musicians are dealing with the pandemic, the ways social media is changing the industry, her upcoming project Pretty Bitch Music and MORE. Tap In!
Jan 06, 2021•24 min
From Schitt's Creek to The Vow, panelists Kevin Fallon and Amil Niazi reflect on the biggest TV stories of 2020 — offering up a few recommendations along the way. Plus, Elamin chats with India Oxenberg about life after NXIVM and her experience producing Seduced as a survivor of the cult. Part three of our year-end series (and our last show of the year!)
Dec 16, 2020•58 min
From celebrity scandals to major industry shakeups, food writer Alicia Kennedy and reporter Navneet Alang join Pop Chat to unpack this unprecedented year in food. Part two in our year-end series.
Dec 09, 2020•46 min
Memes got us through a pandemic. Influencers missed the moment. TikTok is ascendant. In the first episode of our year-end series, we're looking back at the year in internet culture, and how 2020 changed us. Special guest Taylor Lorenz of the New York Times joins Pop Chat panelist Hussein Kesvani, and they take us through the year in being extremely online.
Dec 02, 2020•44 min
Unpacking the year in music and fandom with the poet, author and host of Lost Notes Season 3.
Nov 25, 2020•26 min
Our first live show, at the Vancouver Podcast Festival! We take a deep breath and talk about how the last four years of the news cycle broke us. We also dive in to the #FreeBritney movement and what the culture owes Britney Spears.
Nov 19, 2020•45 min
From “This Is Us” to “Superstore,” television is starting to reflect life in the pandemic. But some shows do it better than others. And last week, Johnny Depp resigned from the “Fantastic Beasts” movie series after he lost a libel suit. Will his reputation face any damage at all? Plus: our tribute to Alex Trebek, a real one forever.
Nov 11, 2020•42 min
After Trump was elected, artists said “well... think of the art that might come out of this.” Four years later, was that the case? Did the Trump presidency birth a new renaissance of rebellious pop culture? And also: what is it about Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez that riles up the left and the right? Why do we insist on turning our politicians into celebrities?
Nov 04, 2020•32 min
It’s been 14 years since the first Borat movie, but Wawaweewa, the new film interrogates white supremacy and misogyny in a fresh way. Also: why we are obsessed with comparing the Chrises (Evans, Hemsworth, Pratt, Pine), and why must the bad Chris be defended? We dip into the Chriscourse. Very sorry for calling it that.
Oct 28, 2020•41 min
After a photo of Billie Eilish went viral, the body-shamers came out in full force. Then, to counter them, a flood of people calling Eilish “brave.” We need better options to describe real life — and simply just existing in a body. Scaachi Koul joins the Pop Chat panel to imagine a more useful vocabulary.
Oct 21, 2020•25 min
Millions of people are watching Netflix’s “Emily in Paris.” They are doing this despite wholeheartedly believing that it is... not.. good? The Pop Chat panel pack their bags and unpack "Emily in Paris." Plus: will celebrities ever stop saying “vote!” like it’s the most groundbreaking message? The marriage of pop culture and politics endures. Or rather: we endure it.
Oct 14, 2020•29 min
There was a time when SNL met the moment, and used the sharp knife of satire to say something — anything — about how we live now. As the legendary show kicks off its 46th season, we ask: does SNL still got it? We also reflect on the Internet reaction to Chrissy Teigen’s tragic news about pregnancy loss and examine the expectations and performance of online motherhood.
Oct 07, 2020•33 min
Breonna Taylor was shot and killed by police. The internet rallied to keep her name in the news — by turning it into a meme. But does online activism translate to IRL justice? And how do those memes serve her memory? Plus: The Social Dilemma freaked a lot of people out about social media. But does that mean any of us will change our behaviour? And of course, the panel drop their recommendations in the group chat — the wholesome and the saucy.
Sep 30, 2020•38 min
Schitt's Creek cleaned up at the Emmys. What does its success tell us about who gets to make television? We also talk about Emily Ratajkowski’s recent essay for The Cut and whether there’s a double-standard when it comes to celebrity nudes.
Sep 23, 2020•32 min
Reality TV’s royal family is abdicating the throne. After 14 years and 20 seasons, Keeping Up With The Kardashians is ending. Love ‘em or hate ‘em, they changed the face of pop culture. The panel reflects on the legacy of the house Kris Jenner built. And the Emmys are this weekend and zzzzzz, who even gets excited about award shows anymore? The case for and against award shows. Give Roman Roy an Emmy, you cowards. The Pop Chat panel has #thoughts. Shireen Ahmed, Kevin Fallon, and Amil Niazi join...
Sep 16, 2020•39 min
What do the opposite approaches of Mulan and Tenet's blockbuster openings tell us about the future of the film industry? And why does reality TV’s takeover of Dancing with the Stars matter?The Pop Chat panel gets into it. Featuring Kathleen Newman-Bremang, Angelina Chapin, Kevin Fallon, and host Elamin Abdelmahmoud. Don't forget to find us on Twitter: @popchatcbc
Sep 09, 2020•33 min
