Gaslight, Gatekeep, Girlboss is the non-cheugy evil twin of the very cheugy Live, Laugh, Love, so of course, here you go: here’s a full episode unpacking the trifecta of white feminism. We talk about Isabel being a corporate lawyer who says fuck at work, the origin of the term girlboss, and debate whether or not Elizabeth Holmes is a Girlboss. Also, we have a discord now! So if you’re not a Patreon patron what are you waiting for?? But if your name is Craig you can get in free. Sorry we don’t ma...
Sep 29, 2021•31 min•Ep. 28
We happen to have a good ol’ buddy who /competed in the Olympics/, so of course, we had to have her on the show so that we could ask her about the supposed “anti-sex” Olympic beds. Meet Regina Salmons, a real life Olympic Rower who competed for Team USA in the Women’s 8 race! She’s 6’1”, not 6’0”, and she’s here to talk with us about the best Olympics memes from Olympics TikTok (where, of course, she was also featured in some viral TikToks). Also, there’s a lot of free condom discourse here, we’...
Sep 15, 2021•40 min•Ep. 27
Isabel is on vacation, so we invited Eric Silver (Multitude, Join the Party) back on the show to fill in! We talk about matzo ball soup, updates in our internet fame quests, Tony Hawk’s blood skateboards, the Mets, internet Yom Kippur, and Mamoswine. Show Notes Amanda talked about OnlyFans on a podcast about… finance!? https://techcrunch.com/2021/08/25/onlyfans-policy-change-is-a-tale-as-old-as-the-internet/ Speaking of podcasts, listen to Join the Party: https://www.jointhepartypod.com/ Vulture...
Sep 01, 2021•39 min•Ep. 26
We regret to inform you that you have reached the dreaded Homestuck episode. We talk about what it was like to be a Homestuck back in the day, why Isabel thinks Homestuck will be taught in English classes in 50 years, the apparent fraud (?), and buckets (???). Shout out to Sophie, Bryan, and Brae for sending us testimonials about how Homestuck ruined (or improved?) your lives. Find Us Online Twitter: https://twitter.com/wowiftruepod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wowiftrue Facebook: https:...
Aug 18, 2021•46 min•Ep. 25
Tumblr announced a monetization feature and all hell broke loose. Isabel witnessed it on the scene, wading through the Wild West of the internet. Amanda wrote about it and snuck the word “Destiel” into an article, prompting Tumblr to get mad. Just another day in the internet’s wasteland, but what does the backlash against Tumblr Post+ mean for the future of the platform? How can social platforms monetize without alienating their community? Big questions, big answers. Show Notes “Tumblr debuts Po...
Aug 04, 2021•31 min•Ep. 24
We take listener questions about our first internet dramas, how we met, forgotten YouTube videos, fanfiction, how to tell if you’re in a social or parasocial relationship, and other things — but somehow, Isabel still teaches us something new about Supernatural, because our show is absolutely cursed. Show Notes Golden Loves Guitar: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KBluUZ4NnZg Goofy Sings Bring Me to Life: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=czLYl4fM8yk Apparently the Pirates video is lost forever. Fin...
Jul 21, 2021•35 min•Ep. 23
Amanda finally breaks and starts making TikToks. Isabel does her Valley Girl voice. It’s full chaotic evil here at Wow If True. We talk about the nuances of Cheugy vs. Camp, the best title for a thesis you’ve ever heard, and somehow, Isabel makes us learn more about Supernatural. We’re fine. We promise. Everything is fine. Show Notes What is Cheugy?: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/29/style/cheugy.html What is Camp?: https://qz.com/quartzy/1419465/susan-sontags-54-year-old-essay-on-camp-is-essen...
Jun 30, 2021•30 min•Ep. 22
TikTok is simple. You crochet chicken nuggets with pride hats, and the people go wild. That’s what happened to our pal Hannah, who’s now known to her 20k followers as “nugget lady” because she’s crocheting so many chicken nuggets. We talk to Hannah about her viral nugget journey, breaking bones, seltzer, bad puns, and more. Show Notes Hannah’s TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@franklyhannah?is_copy_url=1&is_from_webapp=v1 Hank Green roasted me: https://twitter.com/hankgreen/status/140268305136...
Jun 16, 2021•34 min•Ep. 21
It’s ye ole race episode – we talk to two BIPOC fandom creators about how to navigate race on the internet! What do you do when people assume you’re white online? What happens when the thing you’re a fan of constantly pulls racist shit? What responsibility do fans have to correct creators' mistakes? We talk about all of that and more, but also, Isabel somehow manages to inject the BTS McDonald’s meal and Doritos into the conversation. Show Notes Allison’s Tumblr: https://marywhal.tumblr.com/ Joc...
Jun 02, 2021•49 min•Ep. 20
It’s the Shrektacular, the Shrek spectacular in which we speculate about Shrek! We’re back from our break and ready to rumble with some ogre-due content about Shrek, which turns 20 this week. Did Shrek animators really take mud showers while working on the film? We have the answers. What is cheugy? That, we do not have the answer to. We also talk about Zoom Graduation, TAZ Graduation, Zoom Bris, Grabovoi Numbers, ABO, and so much more. Show Notes The Mud Shower saga: https://twitter.com/asilbwri...
May 19, 2021•30 min•Ep. 19
This week, we talk about Joshfight, Jeopardy, finding internet community in weird places, Isabel’s recipe for intentionally bad bibimbap, and our scheduling update. Long story short, to prevent burnout, we are making the decision to take 2 weeks off and then start releasing bi-weekly episode. This will make the show better and more sustainable in the longterm! Thanks for y’alls support thus far <3 Show Notes Isabel’s Story: http://clarkesworldmagazine.com/kim_03_21/ Simming History: https://w...
Apr 28, 2021•32 min•Ep. 18
Today in the lives of your intrepid hosts: Isabel gets really good life advice from Wil Wheaton, Amanda investigates TikTok’s “industry plant punk band,” and also, what do you do with 2.5 pounds of rainbow sprinkles? We also talk about The Circle, the millennial vs. gen z debate (again), and rank people’s Dungeons and Dragons character names, like Kyle the Warlock. Show Notes The Tramp Stamps drama: https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/tramp-stamps-dr-luke-tiktok-backlash-1156440/ Wil W...
Apr 21, 2021•35 min•Ep. 17
When Steve Ibsen was in high school, he made the Kitty Cat Dance, which went viral – but, this was 2004, when YouTube didn’t even exist, and the internet was even wilder than it is now, so he lost control of the Kitty Cat Dance! His meme was used without his permission by Hot Topic and Roblox, and finally, 17 years later, Steve turned the video into an NFT to regain some control. What the #*$*(@ is an NFT? Why are meme creators using them? Listen to find out! Show Notes The Kitty Cat Dance: http...
Apr 14, 2021•41 min•Ep. 16
It’s just us this week! We talk about Lil Nas X’s blood shoes, old tweets about Sandstorm by Darude, the legality of URL hoarding, Omegle adventures, Fuck Yeah blogs on Tumblr, Wizard SATs, Nyan Cat, and more. Show Notes Montero (Call Me By Your Name) by Lil Nas X: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6swmTBVI83k Lil Nas X Apologizes for the Satan Shoe: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ESf8Un3g9zM Shameless plug that Amanda wrote about Nyan Cat: https://www.inputmag.com/culture/nyan-cat-meme-gif-nft-1...
Apr 07, 2021•38 min•Ep. 15
A dating app for people stuck in the Suez Canal, sweaters for your drone, venture capitalist trading cards, real life blue checks, a recruiting agency for quitting your job – Danielle Baskin makes a living off of internet jokes gone too far, and we’re so here for it. We talk about turning memes into businesses, karaoke on the Suez Canal, putting your drone on Tinder, and more. Show Notes Forever Given, the Suez Canal Dating App: www.forevergiven.app Tweet announcing the dating app: https://twitt...
Mar 31, 2021•40 min•Ep. 14
Mike Schubert joins us to talk about reevaluating your “personal brand” after making it big on the internet, being in a parasocial relationship with thousands of people, and launching his new show Modern Muckraker! We ask Mike our burning questions: is it ethical to keep making fandom content when the creator of the source material turns out to be… uh… a TERF? What was it like when Vine collapsed? Do tomatoes belong in guac? Show Notes Help fund Mike's show Modern Muckraker! https://www.kickstar...
Mar 24, 2021•46 min•Ep. 13
It’s just another episode of Wow If True in which Isabel finds a way to mention Supernatural, a television show which is extremely no longer on air. But it’s also not just another episode, because journalist John Loeppky joins us to talk about the relationship between disability and memes! Yes, memes intersect with all aspects of culture. Other conversation topics include Isabel’s sword collection, John’s illustrious wheelchair basketball career, how to use alt text, lettuce, and – for some reas...
Mar 17, 2021•45 min•Ep. 12
The Garages write music about the Blaseball, a web-browser horror/comedy game taking the internet by reverb. It’s a fanband! Like fanfiction, but music, but also extremely punk rock. Today we’re here with Robin Yu, one of the Garages’ over 100 members, to talk about going collectively viral—but also to talk about the Bee Movie, Twilight, Supernatural, Pokemon Go, and a bunch of other similar malarkey! It’s fine! Play blall! Show Notes Post-interview, Robin asked us to clarify that the fourth str...
Mar 10, 2021•44 min•Ep. 11
Ten episodes in, and finally, Amanda went viral! Unfortunately, it was for a dick joke. Meanwhile, Isabel is getting paid on Tumblr to psychoanalyze people. We also discuss Amanda’s long lost Hollywood relative, why people are selling ocean galaxy lights on Twitter, cryptoart, and a life-changing truth about none pizza with left beef. As our lives slowly spin out of control, we also take time to reflect on how the podcast is going – let us know your thoughts! Show Notes Amanda’s viral dick joke:...
Mar 03, 2021•41 min•Ep. 10
We can’t seem to stop talking about the value of workers unions on our meme podcast. This week, we dig into the role of Twitter in the Reply All/Gimlet/Bon Appetit drama that’s unfolding. Also, Amanda tells the story about how recently, she accidentally became a dog’s press secretary. She also shares how not-so-recently, she participated in a Lincoln-Douglass debate about the Cullen family at Borders. Plus, apparently dads are on Clubhouse? Who knew! Show Notes Gimlet thread from Eric Eddings: h...
Feb 24, 2021•45 min•Ep. 9
If you think shitposting can’t get you anywhere, think again. Meet Organizer Memes, the Hannah Montana of progressive political Twitter: by day, they’re just another organizer, knocking door-to-door in the rain. By night, they’re an anonymous Internet personality rubbing virtual elbows with Senators like Jon Ossoff, who they got to tweet “Memes” once. But memes aren’t all fun and games – the account’s anonymity allows organizers to submit stories of their hardships in campaign work in a protecte...
Feb 17, 2021•33 min•Ep. 8
Isabel invests. Amanda doesn’t. But, we both play Animal Crossing. Amanda McLoughlin (Spirits, Join the Party) stops by to teach us about the Gamestop + Wall Street Bets situation by comparing it to turnip sales in Animal Crossing! Other conversation topics include ghosting famous people, the Great Gatsby Undead, Amanda’s secret residence on 123 Reading Road, and the secret sci-fi writers forums. Show Notes Amanda McLoughlin’s Animal Crossing Stonks Thread: https://twitter.com/shessomickey/statu...
Feb 10, 2021•35 min•Ep. 7
In this very meta interview with Eric Silver, Head of Creative at Multitude Productions, we discover that all podcasts are actually just about podcasts. What’s fair use? No one knows! What are the four pillars of mediocre D&D content? You can probably guess. Why is being Jewish on the internet so fraught sometimes? You can probably guess that one too. How much can Join the Party fans pay Eric to eat a D20? Well, the answer to that question is at your fingertips. Show Notes Multitude: https:/...
Feb 03, 2021•41 min•Ep. 6
After the Inauguration, the internet has become even stranger. Why are Senators feuding on TikTok? Is it possible that Dean/Castiel canonization in the CW’s Supernatural is a predictor of major events in U.S. politics? Plus, we’re joined by special guest Tatiana Tenreyro, a pop culture journalist who went viral for her Bernie meme Instagram account @theberniealbums. The pure joy of seeing Bernie in his mittens may have been short-lived, but our quest for internet fame is not. This week, we conti...
Jan 27, 2021•33 min•Ep. 5
Meet Emily Temple-Wood, winner of the Wikipedian of the Year Award and actual internet famous Wikipedia person! Since she was 12, Emily has been writing and editing articles on Wikipedia. After realizing the gender disparity in both the encyclopedia’s content and editors, she started the viral Project Women Scientists. In this episode, we talk about coming of age online, managing internet harassment, the Great Gatsby vs. Zombies, and everyone’s least favorite band, U2. [Note: The audio quality h...
Jan 20, 2021•33 min•Ep. 4
It may be worth pointing out that we recorded this on New Year’s Eve, and… a lot of things have happened on the internet since then. This is a relic of a simpler time. Speaking of relics from simpler times, we have a lot of opinions about Midnight Sun, and we decided that now’s the time to share them. Amanda mourns her Teen Jeopardy career that ended before it began, and Isabel is watching Hannibal? In 2021? Plus, we discuss the edibility (and deliciousness) of various Pokémon, as inspired by th...
Jan 13, 2021•28 min•Ep. 3
Chase Howell moderates hundreds of Facebook groups on Lemgthbook, a corner of the internet where over 150,000 people commit to never use the letter N. We have a lot of questions about this, and we get a lot of answers. In our first interview, Chase tells us the story of her rise to niche internet fame on Lemgthbook. Show Notes Lemgthbook: http://lemgthbook.com/ Lemgthy Earth: https://www.facebook.com/groups/lemgth Famtastic Lomgbois amd Where to Fimd Them: https://www.facebook.com/groups/lomgboi...
Jan 13, 2021•30 min•Ep. 2
Hey, it’s our first episode! We introduce you to your intrepid co-hosts Isabel and Amanda as they strive to become famous on the internet. We talk about Obama reading Marx to impress ethereal bisexuals, the end of Supernatural (it was still running!?), the secret underground world of fanfic publishing, and so much more. Thoughts on the show? Tweet us at @wowiftruepod! Show Notes That time when Amanda got paid to write about memes: https://www.papermag.com/how-facebooks-largest-meme-group-was-ove...
Jan 13, 2021•35 min•Ep. 1
