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Culture Study Podcast
PodcastCultura y sociedadInglésE

Culture Study Podcast

de Anne Helen Petersen

NuevoWhat Happens When *This* Many Women Leave the Church?11 de noviembre de 2026 · 1 h 18 min
Episodios
159
Se publica
cada semana
Último episodio
11 Nov 2026
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Sobre el podcast

A podcast about the culture that surrounds you — with Anne Helen Petersen and a bunch of very smart co-hosts.

Episodios 159

  1. What Happens When *This* Many Women Leave the Church?

    1 h 18 minEpisodio 150

    If you've ever attended a Christian church, you know that place might be led by men — but it's run by women. Women making the coffee hour cookies. Women making the felt banners that hang at Easter. Women …

    Notas del episodio

    If you've ever attended a Christian church, you know that place might be led by men — but it's run by women. Women making the coffee hour cookies. Women making the felt banners that hang at Easter. Women showing up, tithing, and singing in the choir. Women are the core constituency of the Christian church — and for the first time in history, young women are leaving the church at higher rates than men.

    Journalist Sarah Stankorb has spent years talking to women about all the reasons they've left the church. Some left because of how their leaders handled the pandemic. Others left because of Trump, or the refusal to grapple with sexual abuse in the church, or Black Lives Matter — or a dozen reasons that come together into a loss of faith, either in God or the institution of which they'd been a part. For this episode, we explore those reasons for leaving, but also ask: what's the future of the Christian church in America? What becomes of these spaces when and if women are no longer there to organize and keep them running? And if these women are leaving their churches... where, exactly, are they going?

     

    Thanks to the sponsors of today's episode:Show Notes:
    • Go buy Damned If She Does here!
    • Find more of Sarah's excellent work here
    • The Pew study that Sarah repeatedly references can be found here
    • Sarah's recent Slate piece on trad wives leaving the church (including the original 'stay-at-home daughters')
    We're currently looking for your questions on the following topics:
    • SIMPLE COOKING WITH YOTAM OTTOLENGHI! We're talking about his new cookbook, Simple Too, and want to talk about the entire concept of "simple cooking" — but you can also ask for tips, specific recipes for specific situations that hew to "simple," or any other questions you have for one of the most renowned cookbook authors of our time.
    • FANCY JOURNAL / PLANNER CULTURE with Alex Sujong Laughlin — what fantasy of self are we chasing? What works, what pisses you off, what feels like pandering?
    • WTF IS GOING ON WITH TELEVISION RIGHT NOW with Phil Maciak and Kathryn VanArendonk — podcasts-as-television, Netflix's Second Season Problem, what the networks aren't learning from Widow's Bay, ask us more!
    • VENMO CULTURE: People who won't let you treat, people who say they're gonna Venmo you after you put a big dinner on your card and then don't, the utility (and annoyance) of Splitwise, Venmo-ing for a $4 coffee... convince Melody that there's an episode here
    • LOW KEY SUPER RICH PEOPLE — ever since I read this piece on 'American Gentry' I've wanted to do a big episode about how the real (diffuse) wealth in this country is people who own car dealerships, HVAC companies, and other "pass-through" S-Corps. How does that wealth persist, what power does it wield, why do they vote the way they do, WHO ARE THEY, REALLY? (We're talking with some economists who've really crunched the numbers on this, so it's gonna be fascinating)
    • Anything you need advice for/want musings about for the AAA segment. You can ask about anything — it’s literally the name of the segment.

    • Join the ranks of paid subscribers and get bonus content, access to the discussion threads, ad-free episodes, and the knowledge that you're supporting an indie pod trying to make its way in the world.
    • Got a question to submit, a prompt for Ask Anne Anything, or an idea for a future episode? Tell us here.
    • Catch up on everything else happening in the Culture Study universe here.
    • Transcripts will be available here within 24 hours of publishing.


    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

  2. ICYMI: The “Tradwife” To Girlboss Pipeline

    39 minExtra

    Last week, Anne went on Slate's podcast about internet culture, ICYMI. The conversation felt very in line with what we talk about on Culture Study, so we're dropping this episode in your feed as a special …

    Notas del episodio

    Last week, Anne went on Slate's podcast about internet culture, ICYMI. The conversation felt very in line with what we talk about on Culture Study, so we're dropping this episode in your feed as a special weekend treat. Enjoy!

    The “tradwives” are retreating. Nara Smith went on Call Her Daddy to renounce any association with the term, and has been in the middle of a full-on rebrand as the promotes her new cookbook. Other figureheads, like Hannah Neeleman aka Ballerina Farm, are taking a step back to put their business first. Meanwhile, the actual former tradwives are suffering. On today’s episode, host Kate Lindsay is joined by author and Culture Study host Anne Helen Petersen to talk about why these women are making such public shifts, and what happens when the word “tradwife” loses all meaning.

    • Join the ranks of paid subscribers and get bonus content, access to the discussion threads, ad-free episodes, and the knowledge that you're supporting an indie pod trying to make its way in the world.
    • Got a question to submit, a prompt for Ask Anne Anything, or an idea for a future episode? Tell us here.
    • Catch up on everything else happening in the Culture Study universe here.
    • Transcripts will be available here within 24 hours of publishing.


    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

  3. How Did Work Communication Become Such a Sh*t Show?

    1 h 9 minEpisodio 149

    Coworkers using AI to respond to emails written using AI. Coworkers who put the entire email, in caps, in the subject line. Other coworkers who seemingly refuse to use their email at all. Coworkers who send you …

    Notas del episodio

    Coworkers using AI to respond to emails written using AI. Coworkers who put the entire email, in caps, in the subject line. Other coworkers who seemingly refuse to use their email at all. Coworkers who send you a Teams Chat, then an email, then a text, then call you on your personal phone. Organization-wide freakouts about moving from Slack to Teams. What made contemporary workplace communication into such a sh*t show — and what can we do about it? Amy Gallo joins us to answer all your questions about annoying, bewildering, and time-sucking coworker comms, and to give some provocative takes on which generation is actually the worst at email.

    Thanks to the sponsors of today's episode:
    • Don’t miss NOBL’s Biggest Sale of the Year! Head to NOBLTravel.com for up to 67% off your entire order!
    • Go to  https://zbiotics.com/culturestudy and use CULTURESTUDY at checkout for 15% off any first time orders of ZBiotics probiotics.
    • Thanks to Article for sponsoring this podcast! Article is offering our listeners $50 off your first purchase of $100 or more. To claim, visit ARTICLE.COM/CULTURE and the discount will be automatically applied at checkout.
    • Taking care of your health just got easier – start here with Zocdoc: https://zocdoc.com/culture
    Show Notes:
    • Find out more about Amy Gallo and her work here
    • Follow Amy on Instagram here
    • Buy Amy's bestselling book Getting Along: How to Work with Anyone (Even Difficult People) here
    We're currently looking for your questions on the following topics:
    • SIMPLE COOKING WITH YOTAM OTTOLENGHI! We're talking about his new cookbook, Simple Too, and want to talk about the entire concept of "simple cooking" — but you can also ask for tips, specific recipes for specific situations that hew to "simple," or any other questions you have for one of the most renowned cookbook authors of our time.
    • FANCY JOURNAL / PLANNER CULTURE with Alex Sujong Laughlin — what fantasy of self are we chasing? What works, what pisses you off, what feels like pandering?
    • WTF IS GOING ON WITH TELEVISION RIGHT NOW with Phil Maciak and Kathryn VanArendonk — podcasts-as-television, Netflix's Second Season Problem, what the networks aren't learning from Widow's Bay, ask us more!
    • VENMO CULTURE: People who won't let you treat, people who say they're gonna Venmo you after you put a big dinner on your card and then don't, the utility (and annoyance) of Splitwise, Venmo-ing for a $4 coffee... convince Melody that there's an episode here
    • LOW KEY SUPER RICH PEOPLE — ever since I read this piece on 'American Gentry' I've wanted to do a big episode about how the real (diffuse) wealth in this country is people who own car dealerships, HVAC companies, and other "pass-through" S-Corps. How does that wealth persist, what power does it wield, why do they vote the way they do, WHO ARE THEY, REALLY? (We're talking with some economists who've really crunched the numbers on this, so it's gonna be fascinating)
    • Anything you need advice for/want musings about for the AAA segment. You can ask about anything — it’s literally the name of the segment.

     

    • Join the ranks of paid subscribers and get bonus content, access to the discussion threads, ad-free episodes, and the knowledge that you're supporting an indie pod trying to make its way in the world.
    • Got a question to submit, a prompt for Ask Anne Anything, or an idea for a future episode? Tell us here.
    • Catch up on everything else happening in the Culture Study universe here.
    • Transcripts will be available here within 24 hours of publishing.


    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

  4. All Your Book Trends Questions, Answered

    51 minEpisodio 148

    GOD THIS EPISODE IS GOOD. I absolutely love talking about the publishing industry with Alyssa Morris: she has such a sharp eye for what makes people feel things (and what does and does not make people buy …

    Notas del episodio

    GOD THIS EPISODE IS GOOD. I absolutely love talking about the publishing industry with Alyssa Morris: she has such a sharp eye for what makes people feel things (and what does and does not make people buy books). Every time we talk I swear we could go another two hours, but this time we try our best to limit ourselves to just over one. We talk about the feeling that "high-concept" books are everywhere, Yesteryear and its siblings, cozy fantasy, Dungeon Crawler Carl's Audible exclusive deal (and what the author is doing to make it more accessible), why SO MANY NOVELS take place in WORLD WAR II, how Theo of Golden went big with boomers, and, of course, the slow burn success of The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion. It's such a fun ride.

    Also: when we recorded, I'd only read the first Emma M. Lion — I am now fully obsessed, on Volume Five, and can't wait to do a whole pod on the series when Volume Nine comes out in February. I have also been apprised by ex-Mormon/Mormon pop culture expert Meg Conley that Brower is absolutely Mormon, so take this as an update to our uncertain discussion of Brower's religion.

     

    Thanks to the sponsors of today's episode:Show Notes:We're currently looking for your questions on the following topics:
    • FANCY JOURNAL / PLANNER CULTURE with Alex Sujong Laughlin — what fantasy of self are we chasing? What works, what pisses you off, what feels like pandering?
    • WTF IS GOING ON WITH TELEVISION RIGHT NOW with Phil Maciak and Kathryn VanArendonk — podcasts-as-television, Netflix's Second Season Problem, what the networks aren't learning from Widow's Bay, ask us more!
    • WOMEN LEAVING THE (CHRISTIAN) CHURCH — what are you seeing, what are you curious about, what are they leaving for?
    • VENMO CULTURE: People who won't let you treat, people who say they're gonna Venmo you after you put a big dinner on your card and then don't, the utility (and annoyance) of Splitwise, Venmo-ing for a $4 coffee... convince Melody that there's an episode here
    • LOW KEY SUPER RICH PEOPLE — ever since I read this piece on 'American Gentry' I've wanted to do a big episode about how the real (diffuse) wealth in this country is people who own care dealerships, HVAC companies, and other "pass-through" S-Corps. How does that wealth persist, what power does it wield, why do they vote the way they do, WHO ARE THEY, REALLY? (We're talking with some economists who've really crunched the numbers on this, so it's gonna be fascinating)
    • Anything you need advice for/want musings about for the AAA segment. You can ask about anything — it’s literally the name of the segment.

    • Join the ranks of paid subscribers and get bonus content, access to the discussion threads, ad-free episodes, and the knowledge that you're supporting an indie pod trying to make its way in the world.
    • Got a question to submit, a prompt for Ask Anne Anything, or an idea for a future episode? Tell us here.
    • Catch up on everything else happening in the Culture Study universe here.
    • Transcripts will be available here within 24 hours of publishing.


    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

  5. BONUS EPISODE: The Particular Badness of Verity [preview]

    13 minExtra

    A psychological thriller about writing with three movie stars — sign me up! Let's do this! This is extremely my shit! But Verity has so much going wrong: bad writing, incoherent acting, a hesitancy to embrace …

    Notas del episodio

    A psychological thriller about writing with three movie stars — sign me up! Let's do this! This is extremely my shit! But Verity has so much going wrong: bad writing, incoherent acting, a hesitancy to embrace the abject, a text that wishes it was Rebecca, a distractingly cool house, Dakota Johnson being Dakota Johnson.....it's quite bad. And yet, both Margaret and I agree: we had a pretty fun time at the movies. Contradictions abound.

    Also discussed: the bad mother trope, favorite worst passages from the book version, the return of Josh Hartnett, a very weird understanding of book publishing, The Hand That Rocks the Cradle, what Gone Girl does that Verity cannot, and naming your kid Crew.

    • Join the ranks of paid subscribers and get bonus content, access to the discussion threads, ad-free episodes, and the knowledge that you're supporting an indie pod trying to make its way in the world.
    • Got a question to submit, a prompt for Ask Anne Anything, or an idea for a future episode? Tell us here.
    • Catch up on everything else happening in the Culture Study universe here.
    • Transcripts will be available here within 24 hours of publishing.


    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

  6. How to Get Dressed (with Corinne Fay)

    1 h 12 minEpisodio 147

    The third installment in our BACK TO SCHOOL Fashion Series is here! Corinne Fay is one of my favorite style writers — in part because she's writing for people that "Style" has largely ignored. She's out here …

    Notas del episodio

    The third installment in our BACK TO SCHOOL Fashion Series is here! Corinne Fay is one of my favorite style writers — in part because she's writing for people that "Style" has largely ignored. She's out here finding the clothes that are actually inclusively sized, that work on all sorts of bodies, and that fit with your vision of self and gender. Her work delights me and expands my own style repertoire, and I think you, too, will be delighted as we work through so many listener questions about the everyday problems of just getting dressed. How do you figure out your style vs. what media has said should be your style? How do you find your sense of style postpartum? How do you deal when shopping for clothes feels like distress? How do you figure out your late-in-life queer style? We tackle them all.

     

    Thanks to the sponsors of today's episode:
    • Save 20% Off Honeylove by going to honeylove.com/CULTURE
    • Use code CULTURE at jonesroadbeauty.com to get a free gift with your first purchase
    • Machine Washable Rugs, Made Better. For a limited time only, our listeners get 10% off + free shipping at tumbleliving.com/CULTURE
    • Article is offering our listeners $50 off your first purchase of $100 or more. To claim, visit ARTICLE.COM/CULTURE and the discount will be automatically applied at checkout.
    Show Notes:We're currently looking for your questions on the following topics:
    • FANCY JOURNAL / PLANNER CULTURE with Alex Sujong Laughlin — what fantasy of self are we chasing? What works, what pisses you off, what feels like pandering?
    • WTF IS GOING ON WITH TELEVISION RIGHT NOW with Phil Maciak and Kathryn VanArendonk — podcasts-as-television, Netflix's Second Season Problem, what the networks aren't learning from Widow's Bay, ask us more!
    • WOMEN LEAVING THE (CHRISTIAN) CHURCH — what are you seeing, what are you curious about, what are they leaving for?
    • VENMO CULTURE: People who won't let you treat, people who say they're gonna Venmo you after you put a big dinner on your card and then don't, the utility (and annoyance) of Splitwise, Venmo-ing for a $4 coffee... convince Melody that there's an episode here
    • LOW KEY SUPER RICH PEOPLE — ever since I read this piece on 'American Gentry' I've wanted to do a big episode about how the real (diffuse) wealth in this country is people who own care dealerships, HVAC companies, and other "pass-through" S-Corps. How does that wealth persist, what power does it wield, why do they vote the way they do, WHO ARE THEY, REALLY? (We're talking with some economists who've really crunched the numbers on this, so it's gonna be fascinating)
    • Anything you need advice for/want musings about for the AAA segment. You can ask about anything — it’s literally the name of the segment.

    • Join the ranks of paid subscribers and get bonus content, access to the discussion threads, ad-free episodes, and the knowledge that you're supporting an indie pod trying to make its way in the world.
    • Got a question to submit, a prompt for Ask Anne Anything, or an idea for a future episode? Tell us here.
    • Catch up on everything else happening in the Culture Study universe here.
    • Transcripts will be available here within 24 hours of publishing.


    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

  7. Code-switching and Cussing (with Audie Cornish and Ari Shapiro!!)

    59 minEpisodio 146

    This episode is so chaotic! (Also very fun, very interesting, and obviously very smart.) All of our best laid plans for how it would go went straight out the window — that's what happens when you talk to two of …

    Notas del episodio

    This episode is so chaotic! (Also very fun, very interesting, and obviously very smart.) All of our best laid plans for how it would go went straight out the window — that's what happens when you talk to two of the smartest, most introspective personalities in podcasting right now. We talk about NPR Voice (and how it's continuing to change), ticks of rural speech, what people actually mean when they say 'I didn't know you were Black' or 'I didn't know you were gay,' and so much more. This episode is a real just trust me — I hope you laugh as much as we did.

     

    Thanks to the sponsors of today's episode:
    • If you’re looking to make a small change in your routine, you can get 15% off your first order at Blueland.com/CULTURE.
    • Ollie. Feed the Obsession. Go to ollie.com/culture and use code CULTURE to get 70% off your first box!
    • Wake up with clearer skin, smoother hair, and cooler sleep. Use code CULTUREPOD for an extra 30% off at blissy.com/CULTUREPOD.
    • NOBL gives you real travel peace of mind — security, design, and convenience all in one. Head to NOBLTravel.com for 46% off your entire order!
    Show Notes:
    • Go listen to Engagement Party!
    • Follow Audie on Instagram here and Ari on Instagram here
    • The conversation with Kara Swisher on 'ditching the NPR personalities' that made me want to do this episode is excerpted here
    We're currently looking for your questions on the following topics:
    • WORKPLACE COMMUNICATION — no one knows wtf to do these days. Why are emails SO BAD? Why are people texting your personal phone? What are we even doing with Slack/Teams right now? Let's work through the weirdness.
    • FANCY JOURNAL / PLANNER CULTURE with Alex Sujong Laughlin — what fantasy of self are we chasing? What works, what pisses you off, what feels like pandering?
    • WTF IS GOING ON WITH TELEVISION RIGHT NOW with Phil Maciak and Kathryn VanArendonk — podcasts-as-television, Netflix's Second Season Problem, what the networks aren't learning from Widow's Bay, ask us more!
    • WOMEN LEAVING THE (CHRISTIAN) CHURCH — what are you seeing, what are you curious about, what are they leaving for?
    • VENMO CULTURE: People who won't let you treat, people who say they're gonna Venmo you after you put a big dinner on your card and then don't, the utility (and annoyance) of Splitwise, Venmo-ing for a $4 coffee... convince Melody that there's an episode here
    • LOW KEY SUPER RICH PEOPLE — ever since I read this piece on 'American Gentry' I've wanted to do a big episode about how the real (diffuse) wealth in this country is people who own care dealerships, HVAC companies, and other "pass-through" S-Corps. How does that wealth persist, what power does it wield, why do they vote the way they do, WHO ARE THEY, REALLY? (We're talking with some economists who've really crunched the numbers on this, so it's gonna be fascinating)
    • Anything you need advice for/want musings about for the AAA segment. You can ask about anything — it’s literally the name of the segment.

    • Join the ranks of paid subscribers and get bonus content, access to the discussion threads, ad-free episodes, and the knowledge that you're supporting an indie pod trying to make its way in the world.
    • Got a question to submit, a prompt for Ask Anne Anything, or an idea for a future episode? Tell us here.
    • Catch up on everything else happening in the Culture Study universe here.
    • Transcripts will be available here within 24 hours of publishing.


    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

  8. Is the Age of Posting Over?

    1 h 18 minEpisodio 145

    This is not an episode about whether or not you should delete your social media accounts — we've had that conversation, and we'll keep having that conversation. Instead, this is an episode about all the weird …

    Notas del episodio

    This is not an episode about whether or not you should delete your social media accounts — we've had that conversation, and we'll keep having that conversation. Instead, this is an episode about all the weird habits we've developed around posting: posting on vacation, posting (or not posting) when sick or on leave, posting about your everyday life to your 200 followers like you're an influencer. It's about what compelled us to start posting in the first place — all the small pleasures of knowing things about people — and how those pleasures have been wrung out of the process.

    Social media taught us a different way of telling the story of our lives. But now those stories feel dystopian and uncanny. Is it the end of posting as we knew it? Kathryn Jezer-Morton, author of the fantastic new book The Story of Your Life: How Social Media Shapes the Way We Experience Everything, joins the pod to work through these questions and more.

     

    Thanks to the sponsors of today's episode:
    • Taking care of your health just got easier – start here with Zocdoc: https://zocdoc.com/culture
    • Thanks to Article for sponsoring this podcast! Article is offering our listeners $50 off your first purchase of $100 or more. To claim, visit ARTICLE.COM/CULTURE and the discount will be automatically applied at checkout.
    • Go to  https://zbiotics.com/culturestudy and use CULTURESTUDY at checkout for 15% off any first time orders of ZBiotics probiotics.
    • Use code CULTURE at jonesroadbeauty.com to get a Free Gift with your first purchase!
    Show Notes:We're currently looking for your questions on the following topics:
    • WTF IS GOING ON WITH TELEVISION RIGHT NOW with Phil Maciak and Kathryn VanArendonk — podcasts-as-television, Netflix's Second Season Problem, what the networks aren't learning from Widow's Bay, ask us more!
    • WOMEN LEAVING THE (CHRISTIAN) CHURCH — what are you seeing, what are you curious about, what are they leaving for?
    • VENMO CULTURE: People who won't let you treat, people who say they're gonna Venmo you after you put a big dinner on your card and then don't, the utility (and annoyance) of Splitwise, Venmo-ing for a $4 coffee... convince Melody that there's an episode here
    • LOW KEY SUPER RICH PEOPLE — ever since I read this piece on 'American Gentry' I've wanted to do a big episode about how the real (diffuse) wealth in this country is people who own care dealerships, HVAC companies, and other "pass-through" S-Corps. How does that wealth persist, what power does it wield, why do they vote the way they do, WHO ARE THEY, REALLY? (We're talking with some economists who've really crunched the numbers on this, so it's gonna be fascinating)
    • THE LATEST IN BOOK TRENDS with Alyssa Morris (from our very popular BookTok episode!). Ask Alyssa about whatever you're seeing in the book world: covers, genres, how it's handling fan-fic, BookTok trends.....
    • JOURNO-INFLUENCERS with s.e. smith — yep, another episode on influencers, this time on how they're changing the norms of journalism. What journo-influencers do you follow and what makes them compelling? What's the future of journalism when it's wed to this style of promotion? Is it actually anything new? Ask away!
    • Anything you need advice for/want musings about for the AAA segment. You can ask about anything — it’s literally the name of the segment.

    • Join the ranks of paid subscribers and get bonus content, access to the discussion threads, ad-free episodes, and the knowledge that you're supporting an indie pod trying to make its way in the world.
    • Got a question to submit, a prompt for Ask Anne Anything, or an idea for a future episode? Tell us here.
    • Catch up on everything else happening in the Culture Study universe here.
    • Transcripts will be available here within 24 hours of publishing.


    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

  9. How an Article of Clothing Goes Viral

    58 minEpisodio 144

    It feels like a real symptom of the modern age that an article of clothing can just start... following you around online. There it is, in your Instagram feed (again, and again, and again). But it's also there …

    Notas del episodio

    It feels like a real symptom of the modern age that an article of clothing can just start... following you around online. There it is, in your Instagram feed (again, and again, and again). But it's also there in between paragraphs while you're reading the New York Times, or suggesting you click while you're sifting through your Buy Nothing group on Facebook, or accosting you every tenth video on TikTok.

    It'd be one thing if these things were cute... but so many of them feel like they're trying to make fetch (or a barrel leg) happen. I'm so thrilled to have veteran fashion journalist Cheryl Wischhover here to explain how an item of clothing goes viral (we tackle so many of your specific asks) and how virality, e-commerce, and influencing intertwine. This is an absolutely fascinating ep — I can't wait to hear your thoughts!

    Thanks to the sponsors of today's episode:Show Notes:We're currently looking for your questions on the following topics:
    • WTF IS GOING ON WITH TELEVISION RIGHT NOW with Phil Maciak and Kathryn VanArendonk — podcasts-as-television, Netflix's Season Season Problem, what the networks aren't learning from Widow's Bay, ask us more!
    • WOMEN LEAVING THE (CHRISTIAN) CHURCH — what are you seeing, what are you curious about, what are they leaving for?
    • VENMO CULTURE: People who won't let you treat, people who say they're gonna Venmo you after you put a big dinner on your card and then don't, the utility (and annoyance) of Splitwise, Venmo-ing for a $4 coffee... convince Melody that there's an episode here
    • LOW KEY SUPER RICH PEOPLE — ever since I read this piece on 'American Gentry' I've wanted to do a big episode about how the real (diffuse) wealth in this country is people who own care dealerships, HVAC companies, and other "pass-through" S-Corps. How does that wealth persist, what power does it wield, why do they vote the way they do, WHO ARE THEY, REALLY? (We're talking with some economists who've really crunched the numbers on this, so it's gonna be fascinating)
    • THE LATEST IN BOOK TRENDS with Alyssa Morris (from our very popular BookTok episode!). Ask Alyssa about whatever you're seeing in the book world: covers, genres, how it's handling fan-fic, BookTok trends.....
    • JOURNO-INFLUENCERS with s.e. smith — yep, another episode on influencers, this time on how they're changing the norms of journalism. What journo-influencers do you follow and what makes them compelling? What's the future of journalism when it's wed to this style of promotion? Is it actually anything new? Ask away!
    • Anything you need advice for/want musings about for the AAA segment. You can ask about anything — it’s literally the name of the segment.

    • Join the ranks of paid subscribers and get bonus content, access to the discussion threads, ad-free episodes, and the knowledge that you're supporting an indie pod trying to make its way in the world.
    • Got a question to submit, a prompt for Ask Anne Anything, or an idea for a future episode? Tell us here.
    • Catch up on everything else happening in the Culture Study universe here.
    • Transcripts will be available here within 24 hours of publishing.


    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

  10. BONUS EPISODE: Dungeon Crawler Carl's Utilikilt Masculinity [preview]

    19 minExtra

    There are eight books in the Dungeon Crawler Carl series, and people have bought fourteen million of them. First published online, then self-published on Amazon, with an audiobook version that people won't shut …

    Notas del episodio

    There are eight books in the Dungeon Crawler Carl series, and people have bought fourteen million of them. First published online, then self-published on Amazon, with an audiobook version that people won't shut up about, Dungeon Crawler Carl has become the fantasy phenomenon of the year — and earned the moniker of "the book that all your [dude] friends who don't read are actually reading."

    I went in skeptical: video game fiction is decidedly not my genre. But there were enough people in the Culture Study universe reading and loving them that I knew there was something going on — with the style, the worldview, the genre play — that would be the makings of a good podcast episode. (I just didn't expect to like it quite as much as I did — as you'll hear in the ep, I'm on now on Book Four!)

    If you're deep in DCC and want to talk about what works (and doesn't), we go there. If you're mystified by the popularity, we go there too. And we try really, really hard to make this an episode that'll still be interesting to people who haven't read the books, but want to think more about why these books are so popular.

    Also discussed: Princess Donut as child sidekick, editing (or lack thereof), Katia's surprising arc, whether this book is for teens, Foot Buffs, D&D, a particular stylistic tick, Wenatchee in-jokes, and truly so much more.

    (And if you'd like access to this paid podcast-subscriber-only episode, you can upgrade your Culture Study subscription SO EASILY here. If you have any issues, just email me at annehelenpetersen @ gmail dot com)

    Quick Show Notes:

    • Join the ranks of paid subscribers and get bonus content, access to the discussion threads, ad-free episodes, and the knowledge that you're supporting an indie pod trying to make its way in the world.
    • Got a question to submit, a prompt for Ask Anne Anything, or an idea for a future episode? Tell us here.
    • Catch up on everything else happening in the Culture Study universe here.
    • Transcripts will be available here within 24 hours of publishing.


    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

  11. When Convenience Actually Kinda Sucks

    1 h 22 minEpisodio 143

    Over the last six years, our conversations on Culture Study have often circled back to a handful of recurring themes: contemporary work culture, burnout, optimization culture, intensive parenting, the often …

    Notas del episodio

    Over the last six years, our conversations on Culture Study have often circled back to a handful of recurring themes: contemporary work culture, burnout, optimization culture, intensive parenting, the often hollow pull of the algorithm, the tattered social safety net, and the desire to engage more with the world (and community) around us. We're fun, I promise! And today we're going to weave together so many of those threads in an intricate conversation about the broken promises of convenience culture.

    Gabe Bullard started writing Against Convenience years before "friction-maxxing" became a thing. He's thought deeply about the bad time bargains of conveniences large and small, and he's spectacularly well-equipped to work through your questions on everything from the tyranny of pre-check, the difficulty of letting go of a lunch-order-habit, and much bigger questions about how convenience culture facilitates our worst forms of individualism. There's so much for us to keep building on in the comments, too, so make sure and find us there.

    Thanks to the sponsors of today's episode:

    • Get $35 off your first box of wild-caught, sustainable seafood—delivered right to your door. Go to:  https://www.wildalaskan.com/CULTURE
    • Ready to upgrade your eyewear to something functional, fashionable, fun, and affordable? Head to goodr.com/CULTURE to claim $10 off your first order.
    • Article is offering our listeners $50 off your first purchase of $100 or more. Visit ARTICLE.COM/CULTURE and the discount will be automatically applied at checkout.
    • Save 20% Off Honeylove by going to honeylove.com/CULTURE

    Show Notes:

    We're currently looking for your questions on the following topics:

    • WHAT'S GOING ON INFLUENCER CULTURE? with Katie Sturino — what's going on with privacy, spon, monetization, politics, algorithm fatigue — anything you want to ask someone who's watched the influencing world transform from inside
    • THE LATEST IN BOOK TRENDS with Alyssa Morris (from our very popular BookTok episode!). Ask Alyssa about whatever you're seeing in the book world: covers, genres, how it's handling fan-fic, BookTok trends.....
    • JOURNO-INFLUENCERS with s.e. smith — yep, another episode on influencers, this time on how they're changing the norms of journalism. What journo-influencers do you follow and what makes them compelling? What's the future of journalism when it's wed to this style of promotion? Is it actually anything new? Ask away!

    • Join the ranks of paid subscribers and get bonus content, access to the discussion threads, ad-free episodes, and the knowledge that you're supporting an indie pod trying to make its way in the world.
    • Got a question to submit, a prompt for Ask Anne Anything, or an idea for a future episode? Tell us here.
    • Catch up on everything else happening in the Culture Study universe here.
    • Transcripts will be available here within 24 hours of publishing.


    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

  12. Fighting is an Art. Here's How To Get Better At It.

    1 h 5 minEpisodio 142

    IF YOU NEED HELP ADDING YOUR SUBSCRIBER-ONLY FEED TO YOUR PODCAST PLAYER, JUST CLICK HERE! Conflict happens — and navigating that conflict is essential to a healthy community, a healthy relationship, and a …

    Notas del episodio

    IF YOU NEED HELP ADDING YOUR SUBSCRIBER-ONLY FEED TO YOUR PODCAST PLAYER, JUST CLICK HERE!

     

    Conflict happens — and navigating that conflict is essential to a healthy community, a healthy relationship, and a healthy workplace. But so many of us are conflict-adverse (often for good reason). We need better strategies, better paradigms... better fighting advice. Priya Parker, author of the Culture Study foundational text The Art of Gathering, is here to give it to us.

    We talk about fighting with our parents — especially stubborn parents. We talk about women figuring out their tone and conflict navigation at work (and on Slack!!!). We talk about how to fight when you and your partner have opposite fighting "styles"... and how to fight when you start crying as soon you sense conflict. I often shy away from conversations like these because the advice can feel very theoretical and woo. But there's so much actionable advice packed into this episode — we finished recording and Melody immediately texted me to say wow, to which I replied, dude, I know. Listen and see what we mean!

     

    Thanks to the sponsors of today's episode:
    • Wake up with clearer skin, smoother hair, and cooler sleep. Use code CULTUREPOD for an extra 30% off at blissy.com/CULTUREPOD
    • Ollie. Feed the Obsession. Go to ollie.com/culture and use code culture to get 70% off your first box!
    • Use code CULTURE at jonesroadbeauty.com to get a free gift with your first purchase!
    • Get 40% off select Lola Blankets products at Lolablankets.com by using code CULTURE at checkout. Experience the world’s #1 blanket with Lola Blankets.
    Show Notes:
    • Follow Priya Parker on IG here (I'm always getting ideas from her!)
    • Buy The Art of Fighting here
    • Subscribe to Priya's wonderful newsletter "Group Life" here
    • The Group Help Learning Lab
    • A transcript for this episode is available here.
    We're currently looking for your questions on the following topics:
    • WHAT'S GOING ON INFLUENCER CULTURE? with Katie Sturino — what's going on with privacy, spon, monetization, politics, algorithm fatigue — anything you want to ask someone who's watched the influencing world transform from inside
    • THE LATEST IN BOOK TRENDS with Alyssa Morris (from our very popular BookTok episode!). Ask Alyssa about whatever you're seeing in the book world: covers, genres, how it's handling fan-fic, BookTok trends.....
    • JOURNO-INFLUENCERS with s.e. smith — yep, another episode on influencers, this time on how they're changing the norms of journalism. What journo-influencers do you follow and what makes them compelling? What's the future of journalism when it's wed to this style of promotion? Is it actually anything new? Ask away!
    • Anything you need advice for/want musings about for the AAA segment. You can ask about anything — it’s literally the name of the segment.

    • Join the ranks of paid subscribers and get bonus content, access to the discussion threads, ad-free episodes, and the knowledge that you're supporting an indie pod trying to make its way in the world.
    • Got a question to submit, a prompt for Ask Anne Anything, or an idea for a future episode? Tell us here.
    • Catch up on everything else happening in the Culture Study universe here.
    • Transcripts will be available here within 24 hours of publishing.


    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

  13. Trying to Have Kids Amidst a Polycrisis

    1 h 10 minEpisodio 141

    I love kids. In a different timeline, I'd almost certainly have them. But when I was in my 30s, I looked around — and looked at my own bank account, and the realities of childcare, the weight of my student …

    Notas del episodio

    I love kids. In a different timeline, I'd almost certainly have them. But when I was in my 30s, I looked around — and looked at my own bank account, and the realities of childcare, the weight of my student loans, and how hard people without close family support were working just to get by — and I thought: I can't make this work. And because I didn't even try to have a kid, I didn't have to confront the likelihood of needing fertility treatment to get pregnant in my late 30s.

    People often say that there's no good time to have a baby, so you should just ignore all the things that make it feel fraught and go for it. You'll make it work. But that argument has begun to feel increasingly out-of-touch. Parenting amidst a polycrisis is really hard. If you've delayed parenthood for whatever reason, getting pregnant — or adopting a child — has become incredibly expensive. Even in countries with robust safety nets, adults are increasingly deprioritizing having kids. In her new book, Anna Louie Sussman takes a non-sensationalist look at the declining birth rate in so many countries, digging past the surface-level data to get at the much deeper question: what makes parenthood feel increasingly inconceivable? And what could possibly be done to make it feel otherwise?

     

    Thanks to the sponsors of today's episode:
    • NOBL gives you real travel peace of mind — security, design, and convenience all in one. Head to NOBLTravel.com for 46% off your entire order!
    • If you’re looking to make a small change in your routine, you can get 15% off your first order at Blueland.com/CULTURE
    • Get $35 off your first box of wild-caught, sustainable seafood—delivered right to your door. Go to:  https://www.wildalaskan.com/CULTURE
    • Article is offering our listeners $50 off your first purchase of $100 or more. To claim, visit ARTICLE.COM/CULTURE and the discount will be automatically applied at checkout.
    Show Notes:
    • Learn more about Anna Louie Sussman's work here
    • Buy Inconceivable here
    • We talk about the original NYT article ("The End of Babies") that sparked this book; you can find it here (gift link)
    We're currently looking for your questions on the following topics:
    • WHAT'S GOING ON INFLUENCER CULTURE? with Katie Sturino — what's going on with privacy, spon, monetization, politics, algorithm fatigue — anything you want to ask someone who's watched the influencing world transform from inside
    • THE LATEST IN BOOK TRENDS with Alyssa Morris (from our very popular BookTok episode!). Ask Alyssa about whatever you're seeing in the book world: covers, genres, how it's handling fan fic, BookTok trends.....
    • JOURNO-INFLUENCERS with s.e. smith — yep, another episode on influencers, this time on how they're changing the norms of journalism. What journo-influencers do you follow and what makes them compelling? What's the future of journalism when it's wed to this style of promotion? Is it actually anything new? Ask away!
    • Anything you need advice for/want musings about for the AAA segment. You can ask about anything — it’s literally the name of the segment.

     

    • Join the ranks of paid subscribers and get bonus content, access to the discussion threads, ad-free episodes, and the knowledge that you're supporting an indie pod trying to make its way in the world.
    • Got a question to submit, a prompt for Ask Anne Anything, or an idea for a future episode? Tell us here.
    • Catch up on everything else happening in the Culture Study universe here.
    • Transcripts will be available here within 24 hours of publishing.


    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

  14. Why Are So Many Men Unraveling?

    1 h 7 minEpisodio 140

    A man with a fairytale castle in upstate New York who keeps trying to make a self-produced reality show about "princesses" happen — and become a modern-day Hugh Hefner. A man who got famous on YouTube for lawn …

    Notas del episodio

    A man with a fairytale castle in upstate New York who keeps trying to make a self-produced reality show about "princesses" happen — and become a modern-day Hugh Hefner. A man who got famous on YouTube for lawn care who ends up filming himself as a baby — and has a SWAT team called to his house. These stories form the backbone of Jon Ronson's journey into the world of "unraveling men." Those two men's stories are exceptional, but they're also an entry point into a subject area I like to think of as "WTF is going on with dudes right now."

    Join Jon and me as we avoid the usual discussion about "toxic masculinity" and go deeper into friend-less-ness, algorithms, purposelessness, Sad Dads, and male buffoonery. It's a wild ride that felt like the beginning of a much longer conversation (that I hope we can keep having in the comments)!

     

    Thanks to the sponsors of today's episode: Show Notes:
    • Buy The Castle here!
    • You can read an excerpt of The Castle — specifically about the guy who started out as a lawn care influencer and then became The Third Baby — in the New York Times Magazine 
    • Jon mentions his piece for GQ about the White House cage fight
    • Learn more about Jon Ronson's work (there's so much of it!) here
    • We mention So You've Been Publicly Shamed, Jon's previous book
    • I wrote a piece back in 2023 addressing some of Richard Reeves' findings re: men & ambition
    • I reference an episode of The Ezra Klein Show where he references his arguments being reproduced/distorted for engagement — it's the most recent Mailbag ep, which you can find here
    We're currently looking for your questions on the following topics:
    • WHAT'S GOING ON INFLUENCER CULTURE? with Katie Sturino — what's going on with privacy, spon, monetization, politics, algorithm fatigue — anything you want to ask someone who's watched the influencing world transform from inside
    • THE LATEST IN BOOK TRENDS with Alyssa Morris (from our very popular BookTok episode!). Ask Alyssa about whatever you're seeing in the book world: covers, genres, how it's handling fan-fic, BookTok trends.....
    • JOURNO-INFLUENCERS with s.e. smith — yep, another episode on influencers, this time on how they're changing the norms of journalism. What journo-influencers do you follow and what makes them compelling? What's the future of journalism when it's wed to this style of promotion? Is it actually anything new? Ask away!

    • Join the ranks of paid subscribers and get bonus content, access to the discussion threads, ad-free episodes, and the knowledge that you're supporting an indie pod trying to make its way in the world.
    • Got a question to submit, a prompt for Ask Anne Anything, or an idea for a future episode? Tell us here.
    • Catch up on everything else happening in the Culture Study universe here.
    • Transcripts will be available here within 24 hours of publishing.


    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

  15. BONUS EPISODE: Let's Talk About Friend Breakups [preview]

    11 minExtra

    In June, I sent out a Friday Thread prompt that readers had been asking for, in one shape or another, for years: How do we talk about non-romantic breakups? Why do they sting SO MUCH? Why is the vocabulary …

    Notas del episodio

    In June, I sent out a Friday Thread prompt that readers had been asking for, in one shape or another, for years: How do we talk about non-romantic breakups? Why do they sting SO MUCH? Why is the vocabulary around a friend breakup so paltry? I know many people found tremendous solace just reading through other people's stories and knowing that 1) friend breakups are part of life and 2) yes, as a culture, we are very bad at acknowledging them let alone grieving them.

    For this month's subscriber-only bonus episode, Margaret and I decided to do a deep read of the thread — and a deep revisiting of our own friend histories — to talk about different "buckets" of friend breakups, how we process them in the moment and as we age, what facilitates them (bad communication!), and why they're sometimes necessary. Discussed therein: ghosting, sub-tweeting, sucky boyfriends, recurring dreams about long-ago friends, expectation mismatches, friendship promiscuity, the dearth of pop culture representations of (lasting, non-comedic) friend breakups, and more.

    (And if you'd like access to this paid podcast-subscriber-only episode, you can upgrade your Culture Study subscription SO EASILY here. If you have any issues, just email me at annehelenpetersen @ gmail dot com)

    • Join the ranks of paid subscribers and get bonus content, access to the discussion threads, ad-free episodes, and the knowledge that you're supporting an indie pod trying to make its way in the world.
    • Got a question to submit, a prompt for Ask Anne Anything, or an idea for a future episode? Tell us here.
    • Catch up on everything else happening in the Culture Study universe here.
    • Transcripts will be available here within 24 hours of publishing.


    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

  16. The Politics of White Women's Hair

    1 h 19 minEpisodio 139

    Let's do some HAIR STUDIES! How does blondeness recruit and convey power? When is curly hair a signifier of unruliness — and when does it say Cool Girl? Will we ever be free of the tyranny of the beachy wave? …

    Notas del episodio

    Let's do some HAIR STUDIES! How does blondeness recruit and convey power? When is curly hair a signifier of unruliness — and when does it say Cool Girl? Will we ever be free of the tyranny of the beachy wave? What's the New Karen Cut? Should we talk about Julia Roberts' hair in Pretty Woman for a solid 10 minutes? (Yes!) Sarah Mesle joins the pod to talk about her new book, Tangled: Seven Iconic Moments in White Women's Hair and What They Tell Us About Power, Pleasure, and Complicity, parse "good" blonde dye-jobs, wonder what happened to the Old Lady cut, and answer all of your questions about the politics of white lady hair.

    Thanks to the sponsors of today's episode: Show Notes: We're currently looking for your questions on the following topics:
    • WHAT'S GOING ON INFLUENCER CULTURE? with Katie Sturino — what's going on with privacy, spon, monetization, politics, algorithm fatigue — anything you want to ask someone who's watched the influencing world transform from inside
    • THE LATEST IN BOOK TRENDS with Alyssa Morris (from our very popular BookTok episode!). Ask Alyssa about whatever you're seeing in the book world: covers, genres, how it's handling fan-fic, BookTok trends.....
    • JOURNO-INFLUENCERS with s.e. smith — yep, another episode on influencers, this time on how they're changing the norms of journalism. What journo-influencers do you follow and what makes them compelling? What's the future of journalism when it's wed to this style of promotion? Is it actually anything new? Ask away!
    • Anything you need advice for/want musings about for the AAA segment. You can ask about anything — it’s literally the name of the segment.

    • Join the ranks of paid subscribers and get bonus content, access to the discussion threads, ad-free episodes, and the knowledge that you're supporting an indie pod trying to make its way in the world.
    • Got a question to submit, a prompt for Ask Anne Anything, or an idea for a future episode? Tell us here.
    • Catch up on everything else happening in the Culture Study universe here.
    • Transcripts will be available here within 24 hours of publishing.


    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

  17. All Your Questions About Personal Style, Answered

    1 h 1 minEpisodio 138

    Welcome to the first of our three-part series on BACK TO SCHOOL FASHION, which is really just an excuse for us to talk about style and clothes. Today, the incredible Sophie Strauss — aka, the stylist for …

    Notas del episodio

    Welcome to the first of our three-part series on BACK TO SCHOOL FASHION, which is really just an excuse for us to talk about style and clothes. Today, the incredible Sophie Strauss — aka, the stylist for regular people — joins us to answer your questions about finding that one piece that will solve all your fashion problems, letting go of the fantasy capsule wardrobe, what you're actually asking when you say "can I pull this off?," and, of course, our most popular question by far: how to figure out your style in your late 30s/40s. Sophie is the ideal Culture Study guest; I can't wait for you to get to know her (and her style philosophy). This is an episode about style that is not meant to make you feel bad about yours — what a revelation!

    Thanks to the sponsors of today's episode:
    • Save 20% Off Honeylove by going to honeylove.com/CULTURE
    • Thanks to Article for sponsoring this podcast! Article is offering our listeners $50 off your first purchase of $100 or more. To claim, visit ARTICLE.COM/CULTURE and the discount will be automatically applied at checkout.
    • Get 40% off select Lola Blankets products at Lolablankets.com by using code CULTURE at checkout. Experience the world’s #1 blanket with Lola Blankets.
    • Ready to upgrade your eyewear to something functional, fashionable, fun, and affordable? Head to goodr.com/CULTURE to claim $10 off your first order.
    Show Notes: We're currently looking for your questions on the following topics:
    • HOW TO FIGHT! Priya Parker has a new book on how to actually disagree (fruitfully!) with others, so this is your opportunity to ask all those questions about the people in your life who shut down when you disagree / escalate unnecessarily / immediately throw straw-men your way ('people in your life' can also include you, of course)
    • WTF IS GOING ON WITH DUDES/ DESPERATE MASCULINITY RIGHT NOW with Jon Ronson. You can read about his incredible new book here, but the gist is: the old order of masculinity is collapsing, and some very weird behaviors are emerging amidst that collapse. What have you noticed, what's alarming, what are your theories about how dudes are dude-ing the way they are — let's go.
    • FINANCIAL INTERDEPENDENCE with Maria Melchor, author of Always Have Enough. Instead of aiming for financial independence, what does it mean to try and build a sort of collective wealth for your family and community? How does the idea of wealth operate differently for first-generation immigrants — and what lessons should everyone adopt?
    • All things CODE-SWITCHING with Ari Shaprio and Audie Cornish (how do you change your voice, your posture, your demeanor, your subject areas, the way you talk about reality television, whatever, depending on layered context)
    • Anything you need advice for/want musings about for the AAA segment. You can ask about anything — it’s literally the name of the segment.
     

     

    • Join the ranks of paid subscribers and get bonus content, access to the discussion threads, ad-free episodes, and the knowledge that you're supporting an indie pod trying to make its way in the world.
    • Got a question to submit, a prompt for Ask Anne Anything, or an idea for a future episode? Tell us here.
    • Catch up on everything else happening in the Culture Study universe here.
    • Transcripts will be available here within 24 hours of publishing.


    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

  18. How Does AI Mess With Our Creativity?

    1 h 16 minEpisodio 137

    More than a year ago, Melody put a placeholder in our shared podcast planning document: SOMETHING SMART ABOUT AI. We were sick, bored, or frustrated with the way so many podcasts were talking about it — usually …

    Notas del episodio

    More than a year ago, Melody put a placeholder in our shared podcast planning document: SOMETHING SMART ABOUT AI. We were sick, bored, or frustrated with the way so many podcasts were talking about it — usually because it involved dudes talking with other dudes and universalizing proclamations about whether artificial intelligence was going to usher in an age of utopia (doubtful) or kill us all (doubtful but more probable). We wanted someone willing to get into the gray areas of LLM and chatbot use in particular — someone with real experience with what they can do and real ambivalence about what they do to us.

    That person is Vauhini Vara, author of Searches: Selfhood in the Digital Age, and one of my absolute favorite thinkers working and writing today. In this episode, we talk about how LLMs short circuit the creative process, how they're changing the way students learn to think and discern, the specious argument that AI "democratizes creativity," really bad AI art, and why it's so hard to talk about AI usage just generally. I loved this conversation and keep coming back to the ideas, challenges, hopes, and frustrations we discussed — I think you will too.

    AI comes for the Community Flyer

    Thanks to the sponsors of today's episode:
    • Ollie. Feed the Obsession. Go to ollie.com/culture and use code CULTURE to get 70% off your first box!
    • Wake up with clearer skin, smoother hair, and cooler sleep. Use code CULTUREPOD for an extra 30% off at blissy.com/CULTUREPOD.
    • Use code CULTURE at jonesroadbeauty.com to get a free gift with your first purchase!
    • If you’re looking to make a small change in your routine, you can get 15% off your first order at Blueland.com/CULTURE**.**
    Show Notes:
    • Follow Vauhini on Bluesky here and learn more about her work here
    • Buy Searches (which you know I LOVED!) here
    • Read my interview with Vauhini from last year about Searches here
    • Vauhini's essay in the The Believer that we repeatedly reference — "Ghosts"
    • Vauhini's piece in Bloomberg on chatbots and AI in kids' classrooms
    • You can find a transcript of this episode here
    We're currently looking for your questions on the following topics:
    • HOW TO FIGHT! Priya Parker has a new book on how to actually disagree (fruitfully!) with others, so this is your opportunity to ask all those questions about the people in your life who shut down when you disagree / escalate unnecessarily / immediately throw straw-men your way ('people in your life' can also include you, of course)
    • WTF IS GOING ON WITH DUDES/ DESPERATE MASCULINITY RIGHT NOW with Jon Ronson. You can read about his incredible new book here, but the gist is: the old order of masculinity is collapsing, and some very weird behaviors are emerging amidst that collapse. What have you noticed, what's alarming, what are your theories about how dudes are dude-ing the way they are — let's go.
    • FINANCIAL INTERDEPENDENCE with Maria Melchor, author of Always Have Enough. Instead of aiming for financial independence, what does it mean to try and build a sort of collective wealth for your family and community? How does the idea of wealth operate differently for first-generation immigrants — and what lessons should everyone adopt?
    • All things CODE-SWITCHING with Ari Shaprio and Audie Cornish (how do you change your voice, your posture, your demeanor, your subject areas, the way you talk about reality television, whatever, depending on layered context)
    • Anything you need advice for/want musings about for the AAA segment. You can ask about anything — it’s literally the name of the segment.

    • Join the ranks of paid subscribers and get bonus content, access to the discussion threads, ad-free episodes, and the knowledge that you're supporting an indie pod trying to make its way in the world.
    • Got a question to submit, a prompt for Ask Anne Anything, or an idea for a future episode? Tell us here.
    • Catch up on everything else happening in the Culture Study universe here.
    • Transcripts will be available here within 24 hours of publishing.


    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

  19. The Women's Fitness Industrial Complex

    1 h 17 minEpisodio 136

    Why is Planned Parenthood telling you that you should lift heavy during your menstrual cycle? Why will no one shut up about protein? How many different ways can a company try and convince you it's not a diet …

    Notas del episodio

    Why is Planned Parenthood telling you that you should lift heavy during your menstrual cycle? Why will no one shut up about protein? How many different ways can a company try and convince you it's not a diet when it's TOTALLY A DIET??? How have companies taken advantage of the actual gaps in research on women's bodies to sell us crap?

    Journalist and elite distance runner Zoë Rom and registered dietitian Kylee Van Horn join the pod to break down how the women's fitness industrial complex convinces us of new health and training vulnerabilities (and then offers their products to fix them). This is one of those episodes that will piss you off and make you feel grateful that others are out here noticing how weird and manipulative these spaces can be.

    Via the Planned Parenthood Instagram

    Thanks to the sponsors of today's episode:
    • Get 15% off OneSkin with the code CULTURE at https://www.oneskin.co/CULTURE
    • Go to https://zbiotics.com/CULTURESTUDY and use CULTURESTUDY at checkout for 15% off any first time orders of ZBiotics probiotics.
    • Thanks to Article for sponsoring this podcast! Article is offering our listeners $50 off your first purchase of $100 or more. To claim, visit ARTICLE.COM/CULTURE and the discount will be automatically applied at checkout.
    • Taking care of your health just got easier – start here with Zocdoc: https://zocdoc.com/CULTURE
    Show Notes:
    • Follow YOUR DIET SUCKS on Instagram here!!!
    • Listen to YOUR DIET SUCKS here
    • Find our more about Your Diet Sucks — including how to support them on Patreon — here
    • Find out more about Zoë Rom's other work — including her book on How to Become a Sustainable Runner — here
    • Follow Kylee / Fly Nutrition on IG here
    • Learn more about Fly Nutrition here
    • An example of the Planned Parenthood "how to exercise during what part of your cycle" messaging
    • My now quite old piece on yoga teacher training as an MLM
    • I reference the work of friend of the pod Virginia Sole-Smith; go check out her stuff!
    • You can find a transcript of the episode here
    We're currently looking for your questions on the following topics:
    • HOW WE SHARE ON SOCIAL MEDIA TODAY — how we narrativize our lives, what's changed, what's weird, what's still important and keeping us on these apps... with the great Kathryn Jezer-Morton
    • WE'RE DOING A WHOLE FASHION SERIES! Submit any/all questions you have about viral clothing trends, plus-size thrifting and/or anything you want to ask Corinne Fay, author of Big Undies, or figuring out your style
    • HOW TO FIGHT! Priya Parker has a new book on how to actually disagree (fruitfully!) with others, so this is your opportunity to ask all those questions about the people in your life who shut down when you disagree / escalate unnecessarily / immediately throw straw-men your way ('people in your life' can also include you, of course)
    • All things CODE-SWITCHING with Ari Shaprio and Audie Cornish (how do you change your voice, your posture, your demeanor, your subject areas, the way you talk about reality television, whatever, depending on layered context)
    • Anything you need advice for/want musings about for the AAA segment. You can ask about anything — it’s literally the name of the segment.

    • Join the ranks of paid subscribers and get bonus content, access to the discussion threads, ad-free episodes, and the knowledge that you're supporting an indie pod trying to make its way in the world.
    • Got a question to submit, a prompt for Ask Anne Anything, or an idea for a future episode? Tell us here.
    • Catch up on everything else happening in the Culture Study universe here.
    • Transcripts will be available here within 24 hours of publishing.


    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

  20. BONUS EPISODE: The Hair (and Women) of The Odyssey [preview]

    4 minExtra

    Two bonus episodes in two weeks, what is even happening! Well, The Odyssey happened — and after reading and writing about Matt Damon for this week's newsletter, I knew I wanted to talk and think more about the …

    Notas del episodio

    Two bonus episodes in two weeks, what is even happening! Well, The Odyssey happened — and after reading and writing about Matt Damon for this week's newsletter, I knew I wanted to talk and think more about the adaptation itself. Or, more specifically: the women of The Odyssey and Nolan's struggle to write women in his films. Oh, and their hair, of course — which is why Sarah Mesle, preeminent hair scholar, was the first person I emailed.

    We have an upcoming episode of the regularly scheduled pod with Sarah all about her forthcoming book Tangled: Seven Iconic Moments in White Women's Hair and What They Tell Us About Power, Pleasure, and Complicity, but for now, enjoy as we talk about Calypso's balayage, what Circe's hair could've (and should've) done, how Nolan created a world without female armpits, and so much more. Just remember these bonus episodes are a bit more off-the-cuff and unpolished — we think of them as the beginning of a conversation, not the end. So let's continue in the comments!

    (And if you'd like access to this paid podcast-subscriber-only episode, you can upgrade your Culture Study subscription SO EASILY here. If you have any issues, just email me at annehelenpetersen @ gmail dot com)

    • Join the ranks of paid subscribers and get bonus content, access to the discussion threads, ad-free episodes, and the knowledge that you're supporting an indie pod trying to make its way in the world.
    • Got a question to submit, a prompt for Ask Anne Anything, or an idea for a future episode? Tell us here.
    • Catch up on everything else happening in the Culture Study universe here.
    • Transcripts will be available here within 24 hours of publishing.


    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

  21. The Case For Quitting

    1 h 24 minEpisodio 135

    I have aspired to be like Lindsay Crouse — professionally and personally — since the first time I figured out who she was. Killing it as an editor and writer at the New York Times opinion section. Absolutely …

    Notas del episodio

    I have aspired to be like Lindsay Crouse — professionally and personally — since the first time I figured out who she was. Killing it as an editor and writer at the New York Times opinion section. Absolutely wrecking expectations about how fast women in their 30s can be (re: running). If you're a high-achiever millennial, she was living that that life we all dreamed of.

    Then a bunch of things in her life changed (I won't spoil them entirely here, but yes they involve difficult pregnancies and difficult physical recoveries) and she quit a bunch of things — and then wrote a book about quitting. In this episode, we have a wide-ranging conversation about what keeps us from quitting (especially but not uniquely high-achieving eldest daughters), who has the privilege to quit, and the actual science around quitting (and why most people should quit far earlier than they think).

    We recorded this conversation two weeks ago, and I'm still rolling it over in my head — I think it'll have a similar effect on you.

    Thanks to the sponsors of today's episode: Show Notes: We're currently looking for your questions on the following topics:
    • HOW WE SHARE ON SOCIAL MEDIA TODAY — how we narrativize our lives, what's changed, what's weird, what's still important and keeping us on these apps... with the great Kathryn Jezer-Morton
    • WE'RE DOING A WHOLE FASHION SERIES! Submit any/all questions you have about viral clothing trends, plus-size thrifting and/or anything you want to ask Corinne Fay, author of Big Undies, or figuring out your style
    • HOW TO FIGHT! Priya Parker has a new book on how to actually disagree (fruitfully!) with others, so this is your opportunity to ask all those questions about the people in your life who shut down when you disagree / escalate unnecessarily / immediately throw straw-men your way ('people in your life' can also include you, of course)
    • All things CODE-SWITCHING with Ari Shaprio and Audie Cornish (how do you change your voice, your posture, your demeanor, your subject areas, the way you talk about reality television, whatever, depending on layered context)

    • Join the ranks of paid subscribers and get bonus content, access to the discussion threads, ad-free episodes, and the knowledge that you're supporting an indie pod trying to make its way in the world.
    • Got a question to submit, a prompt for Ask Anne Anything, or an idea for a future episode? Tell us here.
    • Catch up on everything else happening in the Culture Study universe here.
    • Transcripts will be available here within 24 hours of publishing.


    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

  22. BONUS EPISODE: The 'Woke' Little House on the Prairie... Kinda Works??? [preview]

    11 minExtra

    Bonus eps are when we go deep on a cultural phenomenon, text, or celebrity that's overwhelming our feeds, charming our pants off, sparking general bewilderment, or, in this case, making us think long and hard …

    Notas del episodio

    Bonus eps are when we go deep on a cultural phenomenon, text, or celebrity that's overwhelming our feeds, charming our pants off, sparking general bewilderment, or, in this case, making us think long and hard about a text. When Vulture critic Kathryn VanArendonk texted Margaret to report that the new "woke" (don't worry, we discuss this designation at length) Little House on the Prairie was actually pretty good... I have to admit, I was dubious.

    HOW. HOW COULD THIS BLATANTLY RACIST AGAINST NATIVES, this deeply engaged in MANIFEST DESTINY INDIVIDUALISM story be... good? Worthwhile? Useful? Yes, I devoured this whole series as a kid. But an adaptation now? I was envisioning Yellowstone for elementary students.

    But listen: this Little House is doing something pretty interesting. It's not always successful. But you're going to have to listen to the episode to hear why. (Side note: Even if you haven't watched it and/or have no plans to, there's so much to think about re: adaptations and how to talk about this particularly foundational narrative to American history.)

    (And if you'd like access to this paid podcast-subscriber-only episode, you can upgrade your Culture Study subscription SO EASILY here. If you have any issues, just email me at annehelenpetersen @ gmail dot com)

    • Join the ranks of paid subscribers and get bonus content, access to the discussion threads, ad-free episodes, and the knowledge that you're supporting an indie pod trying to make its way in the world.
    • Got a question to submit, a prompt for Ask Anne Anything, or an idea for a future episode? Tell us here.
    • Catch up on everything else happening in the Culture Study universe here.
    • Transcripts will be available here within 24 hours of publishing.


    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

  23. How to Fall in Love with a City

    1 h 20 minEpisodio 134

    IF YOU NEED HELP ADDING YOUR SUBSCRIBER-ONLY FEED TO YOUR PODCAST PLAYER, JUST CLICK HERE! Are you struggling to figure out the joys of your new home? Do you keep comparing it to a city you fell deeply in love …

    Notas del episodio

    IF YOU NEED HELP ADDING YOUR SUBSCRIBER-ONLY FEED TO YOUR PODCAST PLAYER, JUST CLICK HERE!

    Are you struggling to figure out the joys of your new home? Do you keep comparing it to a city you fell deeply in love with before? Maybe you're visiting a new city soon and just want tips on how best to appreciate its pleasures. Lilah Raptopoulos has spent so much time in her personal and professional life amassing tips on how to fall in love with a city — and this conversation is such a font of wisdom (about tourism, about living), with a ton of small, mid-size, and under-appreciated city boosterism. We talk about a bunch of US cities — but also a bunch of cities all over the world. I already know the comments on this one are gonna rule.

    An aerial view of Cadiz, Spain (Marco Bottigelli, Getty Images)

    Thanks to the sponsors of today's episode:
    • Thanks to Article for sponsoring this podcast! Article is offering our listeners $50 off your first purchase of $100 or more. To claim, visit ARTICLE.COM/CULTURE and the discount will be automatically applied at checkout.
    • Ready to upgrade your eyewear to something functional, fashionable, fun, and affordable? Head to goodr.com/CULTURE to claim $10 off your first order.
    • Save 20% Off Honeylove by going to honeylove.com/culture
    • Get 15% off OneSkin with the code CULTURE at https://www.oneskin.co/CULTURE
    Show Notes: We're currently looking for your questions on the following topics:
    • HOW WE SHARE ON SOCIAL MEDIA TODAY — how we narrativize our lives, what's changed, what's weird, what's still important and keeping us on these apps... with the great Kathryn Jezer-Morton
    • CONVENIENCE CULTURE: From dinner to groceries to daily news to hailing a cab to finding a playlist-- we're used to getting a lot of things we want in a "convenient" way. What's that doing to us and our society? How have you embraced or eschewed convenience in your life?
    • WOMEN'S FITNESS INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX. As our co-host Zoe Rom puts it: "Women are told they need to do fasting, creatine, lifting, fueling, and recovery differently than men. Sometimes the science backs it. More often the "different" is a marketing mechanism: invent a gendered problem, sell a gendered protocol, collect the markup." What's going on here? Where have you seen it, what pisses you off about it... take this wherever you'd like.
    • Anything you need advice for/want musings about for the AAA segment. You can ask about anything — it’s literally the name of the segment.

    • Join the ranks of paid subscribers and get bonus content, access to the discussion threads, ad-free episodes, and the knowledge that you're supporting an indie pod trying to make its way in the world.
    • Got a question to submit, a prompt for Ask Anne Anything, or an idea for a future episode? Tell us here.
    • Catch up on everything else happening in the Culture Study universe here.
    • Transcripts will be available here within 24 hours of publishing.


    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

  24. Who Are The Heartthrobs of 2026???

    1 h 8 minEpisodio 133

    There are few things I like to do more than argue about the fine gradations of Who Is A Star Today And Why. I love the categorization element (what's the difference between a heartthrob and a sex symbol??) but …

    Notas del episodio

    There are few things I like to do more than argue about the fine gradations of Who Is A Star Today And Why. I love the categorization element (what's the difference between a heartthrob and a sex symbol??) but I especially love thinking about what the actors we designate as heartthrobs tell us about our current understandings of masculinity. Is Pedro Pascal a heartthrob or a boyfriend? Is Leonardo DiCaprio the Eternal Heartthrob? Are the stars of Heated Rivalry the Official Heartthrobs of 2026? Do our heartthrobs age with us, or are they eternally 22? Romance author and male celeb aficionado Adib Khorram joins me to work through all of the above and so much more.

    Connor Storrie and Hudson Williams at the Vanity Fair Oscar Party (via Getty)

    Thanks to the sponsors of today's episode:
    • Make the switch to Blueland today and get 15% off your first order by going to Blueland.com/CULTURE
    • Get 40% off select Lola Blankets products at Lolablankets.com by using code CULTURE at checkout. Experience the world’s #1 blanket with Lola Blankets.
    • Use code CULTURE at jonesroadbeauty.com to get a free gift with your first purchase!
    • Ollie. Feed the Obsession. Go to ollie.com/culture and use code CULTURE to get 70% off your first box!
    Show Notes: We're currently looking for your questions on the following topics:
    • HOW WE SHARE ON SOCIAL MEDIA TODAY — how we narrativize our lives, what's changed, what's weird, what's still important and keeping us on this apps....with the great Kathryn Jezer-Morton
    • THE NEXUS OF LLMs/A.I. AND CREATIVITY: A.I. Boosters argues that LLMS can free us for more creative endeavors — or "facilitate" our creative work. THOUGHTS???? (This one's with the brilliant Vauhini Vara, whose work grapples with these questions in a way I've never seen before). Hopefully this piece on how A.I. keeps wasting my G-D time will spark some questions on your end.
    • CONVENIENCE CULTURE: From dinner to groceries to daily news to hailing a cab to finding a playlist-- we're used to getting a lot of things we want in a "convenient" way. What's that doing to us and our society? How have you embraced or eschewed convenience in your life?
    • WOMEN'S FITNESS INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX. As our co-host Zoe Rom puts it: "Women are told they need to do fasting, creatine, lifting, fueling, and recovery differently than men. Sometimes the science backs it. More often the "different" is a marketing mechanism: invent a gendered problem, sell a gendered protocol, collect the markup." What's going on here? Where have you seen it, what pisses you off about it... take this wherever you'd like.

    • Join the ranks of paid subscribers and get bonus content, access to the discussion threads, ad-free episodes, and the knowledge that you're supporting an indie pod trying to make its way in the world.
    • Got a question to submit, a prompt for Ask Anne Anything, or an idea for a future episode? Tell us here.
    • Catch up on everything else happening in the Culture Study universe here.
    • Transcripts will be available here within 24 hours of publishing.


    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

  25. You Asked for a Parental Death Prep Episode. We Got the Perfect Guest.

    1 h 5 minEpisodio 132

    Whatever your relationship is with your parents — incredibly close, estranged, somewhere in-between — there's just so much to handle when one of them dies. It doesn't matter if the death was sudden or a long …

    Notas del episodio

    Whatever your relationship is with your parents — incredibly close, estranged, somewhere in-between — there's just so much to handle when one of them dies. It doesn't matter if the death was sudden or a long time coming, our reticence to deal with (or even talk about) the postscripts of our lives leaves people scrambling, untangling, and slamming up against walls of legal bureaucracy. So we wanted to talk to someone who's been through it — and has accumulated a deep well of knowledge about preparing for these scenarios and navigating them when they've arrived. Certified death doula Becky Robinson offers deeply practical advice that's also filled with compassion — and I know we'll continue to build on her advice in the comments.

    Thanks to the sponsors of today's episode:
    • Taking care of your health just got easier – start here with Zocdoc: https://zocdoc.com/CULTURE
    • Thanks to Article for sponsoring this podcast! Article is offering our listeners $50 off your first purchase of $100 or more. To claim, visit ARTICLE.COM/CULTURE and the discount will be automatically applied at checkout.
    • Wake up with clearer skin, smoother hair, and cooler sleep. Use code CULTUREPOD for an extra 30% off at blissy.com/CULTUREPOD
    • Go to https://zbiotics.com/CULTURESTUDY and use CULTURESTUDY at checkout for 15% off any first time orders of ZBiotics probiotics.
    Show Notes: We're currently looking for your questions on the following topics:

    HOW WE SHARE ON SOCIAL MEDIA TODAY — how we narrativize our lives, what's changed, what's weird, what's still important and keeping us on this apps....with the great Kathryn Jezer-Morton

    THE NEXUS OF LLMs/A.I. AND CREATIVITY: A.I. Boosters argues that LLMS can free us for more creative endeavors — or "facilitate" our creative work. THOUGHTS???? (This one's with the brilliant Vauhini Vara, whose work grapples with these questions in a way I've never seen before). Hopefully this piece on how A.I. keeps wasting my G-D time will spark some questions on your end.

    WOMEN'S FITNESS INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX. As our co-host Zoe Rom puts it: "Women are told they need to do fasting, creatine, lifting, fueling, and recovery differently than men. Sometimes the science backs it. More often the "different" is a marketing mechanism: invent a gendered problem, sell a gendered protocol, collect the markup." What's going on here? Where have you seen it, what pisses you off about it... take this wherever you'd like.

    QUITTING. Journalist Lindsay Crouse's new book asks, "In a world that prizes persistence, when does perseverance work against us?" What are your thoughts, fears, and questions around quitting? What are you struggling to quit?

    Anything you need advice for/want musings about for the AAA segment. You can ask about anything — it’s literally the name of the segment.

    • Join the ranks of paid subscribers and get bonus content, access to the discussion threads, ad-free episodes, and the knowledge that you're supporting an indie pod trying to make its way in the world.
    • Got a question to submit, a prompt for Ask Anne Anything, or an idea for a future episode? Tell us here.
    • Catch up on everything else happening in the Culture Study universe here.
    • Transcripts will be available here within 24 hours of publishing.


    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

  26. What Made Our Boomer Moms... Like This?

    1 h 5 minEpisodio 131

    We love our boomer moms. And our boomer moms are complicated. When Tracy Clark-Flory first told me about her memoir — in which she discovers the half-sister her mother had at age 19, and was forced to give up …

    Notas del episodio

    We love our boomer moms. And our boomer moms are complicated. When Tracy Clark-Flory first told me about her memoir — in which she discovers the half-sister her mother had at age 19, and was forced to give up for adoption — I immediately thought about how so many of our boomer moms' choices were limited in ways we struggle to imagine. No matter how feminist their current politics may be, it doesn't change the fact that so many of them grew up (and became adults) in deeply patriarchal, racist, restrictive, and incredibly anti-sex families and communities.

    So in this episode, Tracy and I work to activate some deep empathy for boomer moms just generally — but we're also very real about how some of the patterns they couldn't escape have affected their children. We talk about boomer moms who loathe feminism, who've dealt with un-present partners, who struggle with bitterness, who reproduce the criticalness of their own parents, and who really, really want to give gifts. The goal for this episode is empathy that doesn't shy from consequences; became a paid subscriber so you can continue to work through these themes in the comments!

    Thanks to the sponsors of today's episode: Show Notes:
    • Buy My Mother's Daughter here
    • Follow Tracy Clark-Flory's work here
    • Subscribe to Tracy's weekly newsletter on sex, feminism, and pop culture here
    • Listen to her fantastic podcast Dire Straights (with the fantastic Amanda Montei!!) here
    We're currently looking for your questions for future episodes about:

    THE NEXUS OF LLMS/A.I. AND CREATIVITY: A.I. Boosters argues that LLMS can free us for more creative endeavors — or "facilitate" our creative work. THOUGHTS???? (This one's with the brilliant Vauhini Vara, whose work grapples with these questions in a way I've never seen before). Hopefully this piece on how A.I. keeps wasting my G-D time will spark some questions on your end.

    WOMEN'S FITNESS INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX. As our co-host Zoe Rom puts it: "Women are told they need to do fasting, creatine, lifting, fueling, and recovery differently than men. Sometimes the science backs it. More often the "different" is a marketing mechanism: invent a gendered problem, sell a gendered protocol, collect the markup." What's going on here? Where have you seen it, what pisses you off about it... take this wherever you'd like.

    HOW HAVING A FAMILY BECAME SO DAUNTING (and DIFFICULT). Anna Louie Sussman is coming on the pod to talk about her incredible new book on the feeling of "impossibility" when it comes to contemporary family. We can talk about fertility, cost, equal partnership, affordability, safety, climate grief, so many things.

    QUITTING. Journalist Lindsay Crouse's forthcoming book asks, "In a world that prizes persistence, when does perseverance work against us?" What are your thoughts, fears, and questions around quitting? What are you struggling to quit?

    • Join the ranks of paid subscribers and get bonus content, access to the discussion threads, ad-free episodes, and the knowledge that you're supporting an indie pod trying to make its way in the world.
    • Got a question to submit, a prompt for Ask Anne Anything, or an idea for a future episode? Tell us here.
    • Catch up on everything else happening in the Culture Study universe here.
    • Transcripts will be available here within 24 hours of publishing.


    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

  27. RF Kuang Answers Your Questions About Dark Academia

    1 h 7 minEpisodio 130

    FIRST THINGS FIRST: IF YOU NEED HELP ADDING YOUR SUBSCRIBER-ONLY FEED TO YOUR PODCAST PLAYER, JUST CLICK HERE! Dark Academia is a literary genre. Dark Academia is an aesthetic. Dark Academia is a fantasy space …

    Notas del episodio

    FIRST THINGS FIRST: IF YOU NEED HELP ADDING YOUR SUBSCRIBER-ONLY FEED TO YOUR PODCAST PLAYER, JUST CLICK HERE!

    Dark Academia is a literary genre. Dark Academia is an aesthetic. Dark Academia is a fantasy space. Or maybe Dark Academia is kind of a overgeneralizing label that few authors actually embrace. That's what R.F. Kuang, author of Babel and Katabasis thinks — and having her on the pod to talk about the trappings of the genre made for a fascinating discussion. We talk about the rise of genre right now, whether it subverts or reinforces the world it depicts, why State School Dark Academia doesn't really exist, and of course race, class, and the ideologies fantasy allows us to explore (and explode), just generally. Come hang out in R.F. Kuang's brilliant mind!!

    Thanks to the sponsors of today's episode:
    • Ready to upgrade your eyewear to something functional, fashionable, fun, and affordable? Head to goodr.com/CULTURE to claim $10 off your first order.
    • Get 15% off OneSkin with the code CULTURE at https://www.oneskin.co/CULTURE
    • Use code CULTURE at jonesroadbeauty.com to get a free gift with your first purchase!
    • Thanks to Article for sponsoring this podcast! If you’re in the market for a beautiful new sofa, dining table or bed, head over to https://www.article.com/
    Show Notes: We're currently looking for your questions for future episodes about:

    THE NEXUS OF LLMS/A.I. AND CREATIVITY: A.I. Boosters argues that LLMS can free us for more creative endeavors — or "facilitate" our creative work. THOUGHTS???? (This one's with the brilliant Vauhini Vara, whose work grapples with these questions in a way I've never seen before). Hopefully this piece on how A.I. keeps wasting my G-D time will spark some questions on your end.

    WOMEN'S FITNESS INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX. As our co-host Zoe Rom puts it: "Women are told they need to do fasting, creatine, lifting, fueling, and recovery differently than men. Sometimes the science backs it. More often the "different" is a marketing mechanism: invent a gendered problem, sell a gendered protocol, collect the markup." What's going on here? Where have you seen it, what pisses you off about it... take this wherever you'd like.

    HOW HAVING A FAMILY BECAME SO DAUNTING (and DIFFICULT). Anna Louie Sussman is coming on the pod to talk about her incredible new book on the feeling of "impossibility" when it comes to contemporary family. We can talk about fertility, cost, equal partnership, affordability, safety, climate grief, so many things.

    • Join the ranks of paid subscribers and get bonus content, access to the discussion threads, ad-free episodes, and the knowledge that you're supporting an indie pod trying to make its way in the world.
    • Got a question to submit, a prompt for Ask Anne Anything, or an idea for a future episode? Tell us here.
    • Catch up on everything else happening in the Culture Study universe here.
    • Transcripts will be available here within 24 hours of publishing.


    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

  28. Intergenerational Friendships Rule

    50 minEpisodio 129

    FIRST THINGS FIRST: IF YOU NEED HELP ADDING YOUR SUBSCRIBER-ONLY FEED TO YOUR PODCAST PLAYER, JUST CLICK HERE! When people around my age tell me that no one else their age has time to hang out, I have a go-to …

    Notas del episodio

    FIRST THINGS FIRST: IF YOU NEED HELP ADDING YOUR SUBSCRIBER-ONLY FEED TO YOUR PODCAST PLAYER, JUST CLICK HERE!

    When people around my age tell me that no one else their age has time to hang out, I have a go-to response: you need intergenerational friends! Older friends, younger friends, friends at a different (and often more flexible) life stage than you — it rules. I cherish my intergenerational friendships, and I'm thrilled to have Pulitzer Prize winner Andrew Sean Greer on the pod to talk about the legendary intergenerational friendship that inspired his new novel, Villa Coco, and help answer all your questions on cultivating these relationships in your own life. This episode will make you grateful for your existing age-spanning friendships and get you excited to make many, many more.

    Thanks to the sponsors of today's episode:
    • Ollie. Feed the Obsession. Go to ollie.com/culture and use code CULTURE to get 70% off your first box!
    • Wake up with clearer skin, smoother hair, and cooler sleep. Use code CULTUREPOD for an extra 30% off at blissy.com/CULTUREPOD.
    • Get 15% off your first order of cleaning products by going to Blueland.com/CULTURE
    • Get 40% off select Lola Blankets products at Lolablankets.com by using code CULTURE at checkout. Experience the world’s #1 blanket with Lola Blankets.
    Show Notes:

    We're currently looking for your questions for future episodes about:

    THE NEXUS OF LLMS/A.I. AND CREATIVITY: A.I. Boosters argues that LLMS can free us for more creative endeavors — or "facilitate" our creative work. THOUGHTS???? (This one's with the brilliant Vauhini Vara, whose work grapples with these questions in a way I've never seen before). Hopefully this piece on how A.I. keeps wasting my G-D time will spark some questions on your end.

    WOMEN'S FITNESS INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX. As our co-host Zoe Rom puts it: "Women are told they need to do fasting, creatine, lifting, fueling, and recovery differently than men. Sometimes the science backs it. More often the "different" is a marketing mechanism: invent a gendered problem, sell a gendered protocol, collect the markup." What's going on here? Where have you seen it, what pisses you off about it... take this wherever you'd like.

    HOW HAVING A FAMILY BECAME SO DAUNTING (and DIFFICULT). Anna Louie Sussman is coming on the pod to talk about her incredible new book on the feeling of "impossibility" when it comes to contemporary family. We can talk about fertility, cost, equal partnership, affordability, safety, climate grief, so many things.

    Anything you need advice for/want musings about for the AAA segment. You can ask about anything — it’s literally the name of the segment.

    • Join the ranks of paid subscribers and get bonus content, access to the discussion threads, ad-free episodes, and the knowledge that you're supporting an indie pod trying to make its way in the world.
    • Got a question to submit, a prompt for Ask Anne Anything, or an idea for a future episode? Tell us here.
    • Catch up on everything else happening in the Culture Study universe here.
    • Transcripts will be available here within 24 hours of publishing.


    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

  29. BONUS EPISODE: Is Off Campus the Corniest New Show on Television... or The Hottest? [preview]

    18 minExtra

    Bonus eps are when we go deep on a cultural phenomenon, text, or celebrity that's overwhelming our feeds, charming our pants off, or sparking general bewilderment. Off Campus does all three! It's a new …

    Notas del episodio

    Bonus eps are when we go deep on a cultural phenomenon, text, or celebrity that's overwhelming our feeds, charming our pants off, or sparking general bewilderment. Off Campus does all three! It's a new, eight-episode hockey romance now airing on Amazon and it manages to be intermittently corny, incredibly hot, ostensibly very straight (but arguably made for the bisexual-gaze) and... does a pretty excellent job of handling of storylines involving sexual assault and physical abuse?? A wonder, truly.

    For the first half of the episode, we talk about the series in general: what it's about, where it's set, its worldview and understanding of romance. We talk about the basics of the plot but avoid major spoilers. Then we get detailed. We talk about bra fit. We talk about specific needle drops. We discuss what makes that scene so hot — and the way the show handles trauma and consent. If you haven't watched, I hope this ep compels you to give Off Campus a try... and if you have, WE HAVE SO MUCH MORE TO TALK ABOUT.

    (And if you'd like access to this paid podcast-subscriber-only episode, you can upgrade your Culture Study subscription SO EASILY here. If you have any issues, just email me at annehelenpetersen @ gmail dot com)

    • Join the ranks of paid subscribers and get bonus content, access to the discussion threads, ad-free episodes, and the knowledge that you're supporting an indie pod trying to make its way in the world.
    • Got a question to submit, a prompt for Ask Anne Anything, or an idea for a future episode? Tell us here.
    • Catch up on everything else happening in the Culture Study universe here.
    • Transcripts will be available here within 24 hours of publishing.


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  30. Dozens of Irish Books for Your Summer Reading (with Maggie O’Farrell)!

    45 minEpisodio 128

    I LOVE IRISH LITERATURE. And like so many of you, I love the work of Maggie O'Farrell – so when I heard her new book was very Irish (set in the aftermath of The Great Hunger in the late 19th century) I wondered …

    Notas del episodio

    I LOVE IRISH LITERATURE. And like so many of you, I love the work of Maggie O'Farrell – so when I heard her new book was very Irish (set in the aftermath of The Great Hunger in the late 19th century) I wondered if she'd be willing to come on the pod to do one of our favorite things here on Culture Study: offer very specific book recommendations. Stay tuned for a delightful conversation that will add a solid half dozen books to your TBR list.

    Thanks to the sponsors of today's episode:
    • Go to https://zbiotics.com/CULTURESTUDY and use CULTURESTUDY at checkout for 15% off any first time orders of ZBiotics probiotics.
    • Use code CULTURE at jonesroadbeauty.com to get a free gift with your first purchase!
    • Thanks to Article for sponsoring this podcast! If you’re in the market for a beautiful new sofa, dining table or bed, head over to https://www.article.com/
    • Stop putting off those doctors appointments and go to Zocdoc.com/CULTURE to find and instantly book a doctor you love today.
    Show Notes:

    We're currently looking for your questions for future episodes about:

    THE NEXUS OF LLMS/A.I. AND CREATIVITY: A.I. Boosters argues that LLMS can free us for more creative endeavors — or "facilitate" our creative work. THOUGHTS???? (This one's with the brilliant Vauhini Vara, whose work grapples with these questions in a way I've never seen before). Hopefully this week's piece on how A.I. keeps wasting my G-D time will spark some questions on your end.

    WOMEN'S FITNESS INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX. As our co-host Zoe Rom puts it: "Women are told they need to do fasting, creatine, lifting, fueling, and recovery differently than men. Sometimes the science backs it. More often the "different" is a marketing mechanism: invent a gendered problem, sell a gendered protocol, collect the markup." What's going on here? Where have you seen it, what pisses you off about it... take this wherever you'd like.

    HOW HAVING A FAMILY BECAME SO DAUNTING (and DIFFICULT). Anna Louie Sussman is coming on the pod to talk about her incredible new book on the feeling of "impossibility" when it comes to contemporary family. We can talk about fertility, cost, equal partnership, affordability, safety, climate grief, so many things.

    Anything you need advice for/want musings about for the AAA segment. You can ask about anything — it’s literally the name of the segment.

    • Join the ranks of paid subscribers and get bonus content, access to the discussion threads, ad-free episodes, and the knowledge that you're supporting an indie pod trying to make its way in the world.
    • Got a question to submit, a prompt for Ask Anne Anything, or an idea for a future episode? Tell us here.
    • Catch up on everything else happening in the Culture Study universe here.
    • Transcripts will be available here within 24 hours of publishing.


    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Aquí están los 40 episodios más recientes de 159. Los anteriores están en el feed del podcast.

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