A rumor has taken hold among some Republicans that President Joe Biden wants to curtail America’s meat consumption — a rumor that, to be clear, isn’t true. The White House has no plans to limit people to eating certain amounts of beef as part of its climate proposal. However, that doesn’t mean meat has a positive impact on the environment. Food-related emissions, including those resulting from meat production, are a major contributor to climate change. Vox senior correspondent Zack Beauchamp deb...
Jul 01, 2021•16 min
This week, a caller from Chicago requests books that take a deep dive into world building and world destroying. Think apocalyptic fiction! Plus, hear Naomi Alderman talk about her book, The Power, as we revisit the Vox Book Club zoom event from April. For books about the end of the world, Constance recommends: The Terra Incognita Trilogy by Ada Palmer Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler A Canticle for Leibowitz by Walter M. Miller Jr. Find Constance and Naomi’s book club conversation here: ht...
Jun 30, 2021•9 min
Flying wasn’t a particularly enjoyable experience prior to the pandemic, and it certainly wasn’t during it. But now, the experience is even worse as the air travel industry struggles to adjust to the influx of passengers eager to get back to the friendly skies. Terry Nguyen, a reporter at The Goods by Vox, explains. Learn more: Read Terry’s story about air travel here. Tell Me More is hosted by Emily Stewart and produced by Sofi LaLonde. Enjoyed this episode? Rate Tell Me More ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and leave a ...
Jun 29, 2021•12 min
Wrinkles have been the bane of aging women's skin since forever. A fear of growing older and physical signs of aging is at the core of a $200 billion dollar anti-aging skin care industry, but there’s hope that this may start to change. Vox senior correspondent, Anna North, explains what’s behind a growing movement to love the skin we’re in, no matter what age. Read the full story: https://www.vox.com/22526590/wrinkles-skin-botox-aging-pandemic-filler Enjoyed this episode? Rate Vox Quick Hits ⭐⭐⭐...
Jun 28, 2021•12 min
Fast cars! Explosions! Family! Outer space! The Fast & Furious franchise has a glorious new addition. In fact, F9 might be the most perfect Hollywood summer blockbuster ever made. Read Alissa’s review here. Read Emily’s explainer of The Fast & Furious franchise here. Enjoyed this episode? Rate Vox Quick Hits ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Looking for a new show or movie? We can help! No request is too vague or too specific. We’ll pair you with something perfect. Contact taylor.mayca...
Jun 25, 2021•13 min
The United States employed a suite of tools in the fight against Covid-19, albeit unevenly. Many states and cities put in place strict guidelines, including mask mandates, business shutdowns, and school closures. Others were more relaxed; some set restrictions, but only for a while. Vox’s Dylan Scott discusses what did and didn’t work in America’s pandemic response, and why it’s hard to even begin to figure it out. Learn more: Read Dylan’s story here. Check out Vox’s pandemic playbook, a look at...
Jun 24, 2021•15 min
Commuting by ferry — remember when we all used to commute? — gave Meredith Haggerty, co-deputy editor of The Goods, cheap and easy access to a feeling mostly reserved for movie trailers. Read her essay here. Enjoyed this episode? Rate Vox Quick Hits ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Subscribe for free. Be the first to hear the next episode of The Best Money I Ever Spent on Vox Quick Hits by subscribing in your favorite podcast app. This episode was made by: Host / Editor: Alanna Okun (...
Jun 23, 2021•8 min
Think about everything you did yesterday. Now imagine how the day would have gone if you didn’t have the internet. Access to the internet isn’t as universal as you might think. Millions of Americans don’t have access to broadband, because of either where they live or what they can afford. But there’s another big, more insidious factor: politics. Vox senior reporter Emily Stewart (@emilystewartm) is here to discuss. References: Rani wrote about low-income Americans’ access to broadband. And Emily...
Jun 22, 2021•13 min
It’s been almost a decade since the idea of the “girlboss” emerged in the corporate world. And while the concept had feminist intentions, the conflation of feminism and capitalism has lead to its downfall. Senior culture writer, Alex Abad-Santos (@alex_abads) explains why we weren’t wrong to hope that girlboss culture would change the workplace for the better, and why it ultimately failed. Read the full story: https://www.vox.com/22466574/gaslight-gatekeep-girlboss-meaning Enjoyed this episode? ...
Jun 21, 2021•14 min
June is Pride Month, a moment to celebrate the queer community and advocate for LGBTQ rights. But the politics of Pride are always thorny: who should participate, how, and what that means for the moment. This year, debates have centered around how much kink should be allowed at pride and, in places like New York, whether the police should be welcome. And there’s a perpetual question of the corporatization of Pride — when Target and MasterCard are sponsoring parade floats, how radical is it? Alex...
Jun 17, 2021•13 min
A 68-year-old, retired grandmother wants to know: "Are there any reads about senior women having creative, life-altering adventures that don’t heavily involve matriarchal family stuff? " It's a tough request considering the publishing industry hasn't demonstrated much interest in these types of stories. But Constance did some research, phoned a friend for help (her mom) and has three books to recommend. Enjoyed this episode? Rate Vox Quick Hits ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Subscri...
Jun 16, 2021•5 min
There’s no denying the housing market has been a little wild lately — home prices are soaring in many parts of the country, and the competition among buyers has people going to some pretty extreme lengths. The last time we saw such a frenzy in the housing market, about 15 years ago, it ended in a crash. Now, it’s hard not to wonder whether the US economy is headed in the same direction, and whether skyrocketing prices will soon come back down to earth. Vox policy reporter Jerusalem Demsas explai...
Jun 15, 2021•14 min
Whether or not you grew up watching the hit TV teen drama, Dawson’s Creek, you are probably familiar with a gif of the titular Dawson, played by James Van Der Beek, sobbing all over the internet. Why did this become a thing and what was the backstory behind it’s existence in the first place? Vox’s Constance Grady interviewed showrunners, editors, and TV critics to find the answers. Read the full story: https://www.vox.com/culture/22364676/dawson-crying-gif-secret-history-dawsons-creek-legend Enj...
Jun 14, 2021•13 min
In the Heights, the new movie musical based on Lin-Manuel Miranda’s hit Broadway debut, seems poised to be the movie of the summer. It’s an electric, joyful celebration of the Latino community in New York City’s Washington Heights neighborhood — and it will make you want to dance. If you haven’t been back to the theaters yet, this is the movie to go see. Read Alissa’s review of In the Heights here. Enjoyed this episode? Rate Vox Quick Hits ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Looking for ...
Jun 11, 2021•12 min
The former president was kicked off social media platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube in the wake of the Capitol riots, and it’s not clear when — or if — they’re going to let him back on. There’s been buzz about Trump starting his own platform, but he’s had a hard time getting it off the ground thus far: The blog he launched in May folded in less than a month. In a way, Trump canceled himself. Shirin Ghaffary, a senior reporter at Recode, discusses life on the internet without the ma...
Jun 10, 2021•13 min
Starting to skateboard in your 30s and beyond, the trend stories tell us, signals some sort of desperation. You’re either going through a midlife crisis or trying to hide one if you think that awkwardly rolling around on a wooden toy, risking a hospital visit the entire time, is a good idea. Steve Rousseau considered all of this, and then decided not to worry about it. He bought a skateboard at the very start of the pandemic, and it’s the best money he’s ever spent. Learn more about your ad choi...
Jun 09, 2021•12 min
After a pandemic year of brands telling us “we’re all in this together” and corporations calling their workers “heroes,” companies are ready to move on. Many businesses cut hazard pay long ago, even though the risks of Covid-19 remain, and firms are pushing their workers to get back to the office. Vox senior correspondent Anna North explores the way the pandemic changed the way we work, and whether we can — and should — go back. Learn more: Read Anna’s story on bosses moving past the pandemic he...
Jun 08, 2021•15 min
Despite TikTok’s promise of being the world’s biggest algorithmically-driven talent show, you may have noticed that the app rewards...the same kinds of people. Rebecca Jennings explains why the TikToc to Hollywood pipelines doesn’t always produce the most interesting or unique stars. Read the full story: https://www.vox.com/the-goods/2021/5/18/22440937/tiktok-addison-rae-bella-poarch-build-a-bitch-charli-damelio-mediocrity Enjoyed this episode? Rate Vox Quick Hits ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and leave a review on App...
Jun 07, 2021•10 min
Drive-in movie theaters have made a comeback — and today, we pretend we’re at one. From horror to weird cult classics, we pick our dream drive-in flicks. Grab some popcorn and a giant soda and join us! Enjoyed this episode? Rate Vox Quick Hits ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Looking for a new show or movie? Let us help! No request is too vague or too specific. We’ll pair you with something perfect. Email our producer [email protected]. We read every email! Subscribe for free...
Jun 04, 2021•13 min
A lot of people felt overworked before the pandemic. Now, well, you can imagine. American work culture has become increasingly untenable for many people. It's basically impossible to keep up with the demands of work and the rest of life, which is especially true for parents, even when we’re not living through a pandemic. The past year has exposed America’s problem with work culture, and pushed working parents to their limits. Is there a way we can fix this? Vox’s Anna North is here to explain. L...
Jun 03, 2021•10 min
Books can feel like a plane ticket to a new part of the world you’ve never seen, a glimpse into a lifestyle or new way of being in the world. A caller from Chicago requests sprawling nonfiction books about a city and the characters in them. Constance recommends: Erik Larson’s Devil in the White City Thomas Dyja’s New York, New York, New York Conor Dougherty’s Golden Gates Watch all of Constace’s conversation with author N.K. Jemisin and The Great Cities trilogy at the vox book club here: https:/...
Jun 02, 2021•9 min
You may have noticed that shorts are getting shorter, legs are the new abs, and it’s now socially acceptable to thirst over men with huge thighs on the internet. Vox senior culture reporter, Alex Abad-Santos (@alex_abads) explains why this summer is all about men’s thighs and why we should care. Read Alex’s story here. Enjoyed this episode? Rate Vox Quick Hits ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Subscribe for free. Be the first to hear the next episode of Vox Quick Hits by subscribing in...
Jun 01, 2021•9 min
We’ve all got one: a go-to comfort watch — that show or movie you can always turn to for a pick-me-up. This week on What to Watch, we share ours. Vox’s film critic Alissa Wilkinson is hooked on HBO’s Selena + Chef, critic at large Emily VanDerWerff can always count on Star Trek (especially Deep Space Nine), and senior producer Taylor Maycan explains her longtime love of CBS’s Survivor. What to Watch is a Vox Quick Hits exclusive series. New episodes every Friday. Hosts: Alissa Wilkinson (@alissa...
May 28, 2021•12 min
Crypto philanthropy is a burgeoning field, and one with lots of unique complications. Take the case of Vitalik Buterin, the programmer who co-founded the cryptocurrency ethereum, and his recent donation to a charity in India to help respond to the Covid-19 crisis there. He gave $1.5 billion in cryptocurrency, including $1 billion in a memecoin called Shiba Inu coin. And, well, that gift didn’t work out as planned. Former Recode senior reporter Teddy Schleifer discusses what happened with Buterin...
May 27, 2021•13 min
Language and identity are tightly intertwined. Which is why for Latina writer Maria Theresa Hart, conquering the Spanish language was something she’s tried to achieve since childhood. When Trump was elected in 2016, she decided to double down on her commitment. Read Maria’s essay here: https://www.vox.com/the-goods/2020/8/4/21348704/spanish-classes-latina-trump-america-english This episode was made by: Writer: Maria Theresa Hart Editor: Alanna Okun Producers: Schuyler Swenson, Sofi LaLonde Engin...
May 26, 2021•9 min
The 2020 Olympics in Tokyo are getting a second chance in 2021 after being postponed due to the pandemic. But whether they should is an open question. Japan is in the midst of a Covid-19 surge, and polls show a majority of its citizens don’t want the games to happen. If there is an outbreak at the Olympics, it’s not just that athletes and coaches could be sickened; they also risk taking the virus home. Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide has a lot riding on the event, and Japan and the International O...
May 25, 2021•15 min
There’s an ongoing reckoning happening in the book publishing industry. Younger staff at publishing houses like Simon & Schuster and Hachette are starting to organize a protest their company’s decisions to publish books by controversial figures, from Mike Pence to Woody Allen. And it’s forcing the industry to ask itself some really tough questions about it’s role as a huge platform and financial resource for authors. Vox book critic Constance Grady joins the show to shed some light on book deals...
May 24, 2021•13 min
Jean Smart (the living legend and multiple Emmy winner) plays Deborah Vance, a famous comedian whose glory days are behind her. Deborah’s agent has a suggestion for her: Hire a younger comedy writer named Ava (Hannah Einbinder) to help spice up her material. Smart and Einbinder’s chemistry and performances take “Hacks” from a showbiz comedy to something with broader appeal. It’s a show that’s interested in the ways women in male-dominated industries are constantly one mistake away from having th...
May 21, 2021•11 min
You probably think you know what cancel culture is, but do you really? The term “cancel culture” has become a trope on Twitter and Fox News, with people constantly decrying someone or something is unfairly being canceled — Dr. Suess, Ellen DeGeneres, July Fourth. But a lot of people misunderstand what cancel culture is, or at least what it was supposed to be: a way to hold powerful people accountable. Vox internet culture reporter Aja Romano joins to discuss what cancel culture means in theory a...
May 20, 2021•13 min
A caller writes “I love a good plot twist. Bonus if the plot isn’t a murder or cfrime.” Vox book critic, Constance Grady gives some recs and shares an excerpt of her conversation with Susan Choi, author of Trust Exercise, from the Vox Book Club. Constance recommends: Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein The Nickle Boys by Colson Whitehead Trust Exercise by Susan Choi Watch Susan Choi’s full conversation with Constance here: https://www.vox.com/culture/22163906/susan-choi-trust-exercise-interview-v...
May 19, 2021•9 min
