First up, we’ve got questions: Who’s the new addition to the list of EGOT legends? Which ex-husband tried to crash Brittney’s wedding? Who thought “Squid Game” should be a reality show? Why is the Beyhive upset with Saucy Santana, Twitter upset with Lizzo, and everybody upset with Amy Schumer for the tampon shortage? But the big question this week: Why wasn’t Lil Nas X nominated for a 2022 BET Award? Lil Nas X had one of the biggest albums of 2021. “Montero” climbed the charts, and so did its po...
Jun 14, 2022•36 min
First up, we break down the latest in pop culture news from the weekend’s most-talked about breakup — ahem, Lori Harvey and Michael B. Jordan — to the Depp vs. Heard verdict. Then, we kick off Pride Month with a conversation with an icon. Within the last decade, there’s been a huge shift in trans representation in Hollywood. From “Orange is the New Black” to “Pose,” we’ve seen more diverse storylines that explore queer and trans experiences than ever before. And we’ve been introduced to some of ...
Jun 07, 2022•33 min
A few weeks ago, rappers Young Thug, Gunna, and 26 of their YSL crew members were charged in a Georgia RICO case. And prosecutors are arguing that YSL is actually a criminal gang instead of a record label. One of the things they plan to use to prove that: Young Thug’s rap lyrics. Violent lyrics show up in a lot of music genres. But when it comes to rap and hip hop, it’s not unusual for those lyrics to be used in court as evidence to convict artists of crimes. But is it a violation of first amend...
May 31, 2022•34 min
When model Lori Harvey took to TikTok earlier this month to detail her weight-loss diet, the backlash was swift. That’s because, as plenty of dietitians pointed out, the 1,200 calorie-per-day plan she shared was just not enough food for most full-grown humans. But Harvey’s not alone. We’re bombarded with stories about how people are losing weight — from Kim Kardashian’s met-gala dress diet to influencers and #FitFam posts pushing restrictive eating and excessive exercise. At the same time, messa...
May 24, 2022•37 min
It’s a huge week for music and TV. We have questions — and answers. First up: Kendrick Lamar’s new album dropped, but does it live up to the hype? Next: Who won Eurovision, and who tried to cheat by hacking the results? Then: What happened at the Billboard Music Awards, and why are people talking about Cara Delevingne, Doja Cat, and Travis Scott? But the question of the week: Why are folks so mad at the latest casting news? Since Disney+ announced it was adapting the popular YA series “Percy Jac...
May 17, 2022•38 min
So much is trending in pop culture news. We have questions — and answers. First up: Rapper Young Thug was indicted with 27 other members of his crew for gang related charges. Then: What’s the latest in the Johnny Depp. v. Amber Heard trial? We’ll catch you up on the highlights since Heard took the stand. And: Why were people mad at Kim Kardashian for wearing the iconic Marilyn Monroe dress to the Met Gala? A fashion historian gives us the tea. Next: What does being “wrongfully detained” mean in ...
May 10, 2022•35 min
From “Everything Everywhere All At Once” to “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” and “Crazy Rich Asians,” more Asian American stories have made it to the mainstream in the last few years. But it isn’t just the big screen that’s changing. Recently, more TV shows representing the experiences of Americans with East Asian and South Asian backgrounds are popping up on our small screens. We’ve definitely come a long way from 1994’s “All-American Girl” — one of the first primetime sitcoms to fea...
May 03, 2022•30 min
It seems like celebs can’t stay out of court these days. Former Real Housewives of Atlanta star Nene Leakes is suing Bravo for what she says was a racist work environment. Megan The Stallion has an ongoing felony assault case against Torey Lanez. Kardashian friend-turned-foe Blac Chyna is suing the family for allegedly ruining her reality television career. And a few months ago, Cardi B won a defamation lawsuit against YouTuber Tasha K. But the case that everyone seems to be talking about is Joh...
Apr 26, 2022•33 min
Each week, we have incredible conversations with smart culture critics and experts about the biggest pop culture stories, but we don’t get to include every moment. Today, we’re going back to interviews that stuck with us — and sharing moments that didn’t make it into the show before. Like the story comedian Hari Kondabolu told us about an unforgettable encounter at a comedy show that taught him a valuable lesson. And check out our deep dive into Black TV sitcoms with Shadow & Act editor Trey...
Apr 19, 2022•24 min
It seems like everyone is obsessed with fast fashion, and social media has been huge in helping brands like SHEIN, Zara and other online retailers show up in your Instagram, Facebook and TikTok feeds. Love ’em or hate ’em, you can’t deny these brands have changed many people's relationship with clothing. Shopping is cheaper, sizing is seemingly more inclusive, and being trendy is more accessible than ever. SHEIN even landed a spot on TIME’s 100 Most Influential Companies of 2022 list for its imp...
Apr 12, 2022•31 min
When one of the most successful Black actors in Hollywood slaps one of the most famous Black comedians on international television, it's bound to spark conversations. One debate that keeps coming up is whether or not Chris Rock should have even made that “G.I. Jane” joke aimed at Jada Pinkett Smith, who has publicly spoken about her struggles with alopecia. But it feels like we've been having this discussion about comedy — and where we draw the line — a lot lately. Plenty of comedians have come ...
Apr 05, 2022•33 min
Everything that happened at the Academy Awards still has us reeling — especially the moment that stole the show, when Will Smith walked onstage and slapped Chris Rock after the comedian made a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith’s shaved head. People have a lot of opinions. So we talked to the creator of the #OscarsSoWhite hashtag, April Reign, about what happened and the social media storm that followed. And while the Oscars are still trending, awards season isn’t over yet. This Sunday, the 2022 Gram...
Mar 29, 2022•36 min
This Sunday, the 2022 Academy Awards air on ABC. But before you can gaze at the Oscars red carpet and settle in front of the TV with hosts Regina Hall, Amy Schumer and Wanda Sykes, you probably need to get up to speed on the nominated films. We’ve got you covered. We talked with a writer at Vulture to get the lowdown on all the buzz, plus what to watch, what we can't stop talking about, what has us scratching our heads and what you might want to put at the back of the streaming queue. We even ad...
Mar 22, 2022•41 min
Last month, WNBA All-Star Brittney Griner was detained in Russia on alleged drug charges. And if you’re wondering what she was doing over there — simply put, better pay. The Phoenix Mercury star plays with the EuroLeague team UMMC Ekaterinburg, and makes around four times her current $227,900 WNBA salary. NBA players can make millions of dollars here in the states. WNBA players at the top of their game like Griner make much less. That’s a huge problem. Since about half of the WNBA’s athletes pla...
Mar 15, 2022•33 min
People all over the world have watched in horror as Russia continues to invade Ukraine. But the war isn’t just being fought on the ground. It’s also being waged across social media. For the past few weeks, our timelines have been flooded with memes about the conflict. But as we’re processing what some say could be the next World War III, the backlash to what's being posted on all sides has been swift. And there’s been backlash to the backlash. So it has many questioning: is it OK that we’re meme...
Mar 08, 2022•34 min
On Sunday, “Euphoria” finally lowered the curtain on its drama-filled sophomore season, and fans and critics have a lot to say — and not just about Fexi, the Maddy-Cassie showdown or the HBO Max outage that almost caused a Twitter riot. Despite its popularity, the show has been under fire all season long, especially as it zeroed in on the unraveling of Zendaya's character, Rue. After season two premiered, D.A.R.E. accused the series of glamorizing addiction and teenage drug use. But the debate o...
Mar 01, 2022•39 min
Since the breakup of Kimye, it seems like we’ve been keeping up with the Kardashians more than ever. We’re watching made-for-TV type drama unfold IRL, and you can’t go on social media without seeing the rapper going viral. But not all fans are here for the spectacle. Some say that the way Ye’s talking about his ex and her new boyfriend are abusive and triggering, while others are questioning his current mental health status. And others say it’s all a publicity stunt for his new “jeen-yuhs: A Kan...
Feb 22, 2022•39 min
Dating is hard. It’s even harder now that dating apps and social media have entered the chat — or rather, our relationships. And everywhere you turn, there are new standards on what it means to be Facebook or IG official. Ten years ago, you’d ask Dear Abby all of your questions, read Cosmo, or watch a talk show. Now, people are turning to dating influencers online — and finding they have both good and bad advice to give. And whether you’re talking, dating, in a successful relationship, or trying...
Feb 15, 2022•37 min
Even if you don’t watch Bravo’s “Real Housewives,” you know about the franchise built around ridiculously rich women and over-the-top drama. Recently, fans uncovered six months’ worth of racist social media posts from “Real Housewives of Salt Lake City” star Jennie Nguyen. And in a surprising and unusual move, Bravo fired Nguyen and publicly acknowledged the decision via social media. But with all of the scandalous moments that have gone down on screen, does it really surprise us when the Housew...
Feb 08, 2022•36 min
When Carrie Underwood sings about taking a Louisville slugger to the headlights of a cheating ex’s car, does anybody assume she actually did it? What about when Johnny Cash said he shot a man in Reno? Violent lyrics show up in a lot of music. But when it comes to rap and hip hop, it’s not unusual for those lyrics to show up in court. Prosecutors continue to use them as evidence to convict artists of crimes. A bill in New York, which has the backing of Jay-Z, Killer Mike and other rappers, would ...
Feb 02, 2022•44 min
We’re all a little obsessed with “Buffy.” The demon-hunting, vampire-slaying heroine captured our attention in the late 90s — along with the man behind the series, Joss Whedon. His Whedonverse of hits includes everything from “Angel,” “Firefly” and “Dollhouse” to the DC and Marvel universes. But in recent years, the person we thought of as a feminist icon in Hollywood has been accused of toxic and inappropriate behavior. Recently, he addressed the various allegations in a Vulture article, and he...
Jan 25, 2022•43 min
Season two of “Euphoria” is here, and episode one broke HBO records with 2.4 million viewers tuning in to watch. So, yeah — we’re obsessed with the high school drama, which stars actress and Disney alum Zendaya as teen addict Rue. Known for its gritty — and often uncomfortable — storylines portraying drugs, sex and addiction, “Euphoria” is the latest in a long list of shows pushing the boundaries of what's acceptable to see when watching teenage characters. And that has us asking the question: w...
Jan 18, 2022•31 min
Last week, a new season of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” kicked off. The show has opened doors for many drag performers to sashay their way into mainstream culture and educate us on the art of drag. One of the most famous queens to grace the show’s stage: Shangela Laquifah Wadley (aka D.J. Pierce, when out of drag) — after RuPaul, one of the most influential drag performers in America. We talk with Shangela about the history of drag, how it’s evolved, and how she’s using her spotlight — and her HBO show,...
Jan 11, 2022•35 min
We're kicking off 2022 right with a mini episode! We chatted with the one and only Cynthia Erivo. You know her as an award-winning actress and singer, but one thing you may not know is that she’s super serious about her wellness and exercise routine (she’s even part owner of a new workout wear line). And we play a little musical game that's all about getting pumped up! Can you guess what’s on our workout playlist? And speaking of wellness, check out the How to Skimm Your Life Challenge. It’s all...
Jan 04, 2022•9 min
It’s hard to believe that 2021 is almost over. But before we ring in the new year, let’s take a look back at all of the stories that entertained us — the things we watched, the celeb moments we couldn’t stop talking about, the music that topped our Spotify Wrapped lists and the industry shakeups that we’ll still be talking about next year. Can you guess what made our list? And stay tuned, because we also talk with Tan France from “Queer Eye” about fashion, his fave iconic style moments and the N...
Dec 28, 2021•27 min
“Insecure” made us laugh, cry, yell and argue with strangers on Twitter for five years, but now it's time to say goodbye. Issa Rae’s award-winning series broke the mold and portrayed young Black people as more than stereotypes — signaling to Hollywood that creators can tell their authentic stories and be successful. But what will the show's cultural impact mean for the next generation of creatives? You’ll hear from: Taryn Finley, editor HuffPost Black Voices and senior culture reporter who contr...
Dec 21, 2021•36 min
"The Bachelorette’s" Michelle Young is making "Bachelor" nation history. For the first time since the franchise premiered in 2002, the man who'll soon be handed that final rose is guaranteed to be a man of color. It may seem like reality dating shows are making some slow progress on diversity. But why aren’t they keeping up with our IRL views on love and relationships? You’ll hear from: Bethonie Butler, TV and pop culture reporter for the Washington Post. Joanna Weiss, Editor-in-Chief of Experie...
Dec 14, 2021•45 min
Meghan Markle won the latest battle in her privacy lawsuit with British tabloid The Mail on Sunday over its printing a private letter written to her father back in 2019. And the Duchess of Sussex is calling for changes to the tabloid industry. But could this ruling in the UK courts affect how the media covers celebrities? Then, we remember famed designer and style icon Virgil Abloh, and explore the impact of his life and death. You’ll hear from: K.J. Yossman, international correspondent at Varie...
Dec 07, 2021•42 min
The Colin Kaepernick Netflix series "Colin in Black & White" opened with a controversial scene comparing NFL tryouts to chattel slavery. It upset some people. For others, it sparked a conversation about systemic racism within the NFL. But the Kaepernick series also highlights racism present in three major American sports — football, baseball, and basketball. So we’re digging into the series’ big question: Why are sports so racist? You’ll hear from: Rhiannon Walker, sports journalist who's wr...
Nov 30, 2021•34 min
From Black Friday deals and Cyber Monday to after-Christmas sales, more and more brands are selling fast fashion. And social media has been huge in helping brands like SHEIN, Zara and other online retailers show up in your Instagram, Facebook and TikTok feeds. But before you hit check out on your cart, learn the three questions you should be asking yourself to see if it’s really worth the cost. Plus, we talk with basketball legend Dwyane Wade about his latest memoir — and we quiz him on his styl...
Nov 23, 2021•41 min
