There's a new beauty trend in town: why are women trying to look...lifeless?

Today?s guest, Jessica DeFino - beauty reporter, critic, and author of the FLESH WORLD Substack - says contemporary glamorization of anti-aging products and long dead icons like Caroline Bessette Kennedy all fall within a macabre beauty trend, what she calls ?the morgue gaze.? Ageless, poreless, lifeless beauty inspiration keeps consumers coming back for more numb, frozen aesthetics - forever. Jessica joins host Brittany Luse to break down what the morgue gaze is and why we?re so fascinated with the beauty of lifelessness.

Want more about beauty? Check out these IBAM episodes: 
The beauty industry has an Epstein problem
Looksmaxxing is teaching men that pretty hurts.
Peptides & the pursuit of the "perfect" body

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Everyone has to make the decision to have or not have kids. There are good reasons for both.

Are you sick of dating? Terrified of how expensive everything is? Frustrated with America's so-called social safety net? Horrified by the state of healthcare? If you answered yes to any of these, you might be one of the many people deciding to go childfree.

Host Brittany Luse is joined by Sarah McCammon, Senior Fellow at Third Way, and Emma Gannon, author of the novel Olive, to explore the reasons people feel like life might be better without a child -- and how that impacts everyone.

(0:00) Why women choose to go childfree
(1:53) The economic & ideological responses to declining birth rates
(6:01) Pushing back against negative assumptions of childfree women
(10:39) How to deal with society's judgment of family size and choice
(17:33) How childfree women shape modern society
(25:45) How culture and policy lag behind women's expectations of life
(31:02) What true childbearing freedom looks like for everyone

Want to hear more about modern womanhood? Check out these episodes: 
Enough is enough. Is it time to leave America?
Why are people freaking out about the birth rate?
The myth of modern "adulthood"

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Why is the government obsessed with whole milk?

In January, the USDA account on X posted a picture, possibly AI generated, of President Trump with a milk mustache. The caption was, ?Drink up America. #DrinkWholeMilk.? Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. posted what seems to be an AI video that shows him being transported to a nightclub when he drinks milk. The caption is, ?when you take that first sip of whole milk.? Whole milk is also at the top of the new food pyramid. But what?s all this for? How do we make sense of this push for whole milk, especially when milk has some unsavory ideological associations?

Brittany gets into it with Yasmin Tayag, staff writer for The Atlantic who covers science and the future of food, and Andrea Freeman, Second Century Chair Professor of Law at Southwestern Law School and author of the book Ruin Their Crops on the Ground: The Politics of Food in the United States from the Trail of Tears to School Lunch.

Want more about modern health? Check out these episodes:
Were Americans actually healthier in the past?
The difference between losing weight & being "healthy" 
Is tech making us too obsessed with our bodies?

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What happens when tech billionaires control the media you consume?

With the help of his father, Paramount CEO David Ellison's purchase of Warner Bros. Discovery has gained him a roster of franchises and networks, from Looney Tunes to CNN. But the sale hasn't come without serious concerns, from data privacy to the rising costs of streaming services to what this means for workers in the entertainment industry.

Brittany is joined by Mandalit Del Barco, NPR culture correspondent, and David Folkenflik, NPR media correspondent, to cut through the corporate drama and figure out what this deal means for all of us.

(0:00) Why Brittany thinks you should be interested in the Paramount/Warner Bros deal
(4:12) How this deal will impact journalism and what you watch on TV
(7:19) Who are the Ellisons? And what's their relationship to Trump?
(11:49) Why cuts to the entertainment industry impact the entire country
(16:45) Who really controls American culture: the people or the rich & powerful?

Interested in more TV conversations? Check out these episodes:
Sinners vs. One Battle After Another: who should win Best Picture?
Melania Trump?s multi-million dollar ?infomercial?

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It's easier than ever to cheat and to catch a cheater, but is that a good thing?

For example, there are apps and social media groups dedicated to outing a cheater. But what if that paranoia about cheating is actually hurting our relationships? And on top of that, definitions of "cheating" vary widely. How do you decide for yourself what really counts as cheating? And what's really fueling our fear of being cheated on?

Brittany is joined by Kathryn Jezer-Morton, writer of the Brooding column from The Cut, and Shannon Keating, freelance culture journalist, to get to the bottom of why fear of infidelity haunts our culture and our dating lives.

Want more about modern dating? Check out these episodes:
The embarassing truth of dating men
Is he a good guy? Or is he manipulating you?

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The Epstein Files have revealed social and financial relationships throughout the beauty industry - and a toxic veneration for youth. Is it time for the public to reckon with what the powerful tell us is and isn't "beautiful?" 

Host Brittany Luse wonders: can society let go of decades old obsession with youthfulness? Luckily, Jessica DeFino, reporter, critic, and author of the FLESH WORLD substack, joins the show to answer that question and unpack how we?ve made beauty our God.

(0:00) How the beauty industry shows up in the Epstein Files
(3:24) Why the language of "self-care" is hypocritical post-Epstein
(6:06) The beauty industry's obsession with youth
(11:55) The secular religion of beauty
(19:59) America's Next Top Model & the internalization of beauty standards
(24:30) Tyra Banks & the power you lose in pursuit of power

Correction, March 19, 2026
A previous version of this episode incorrectly said that the 1970s tagline ?because innocence is sexier than you think? was used to promote Maybelline products. It was used in advertisements for Love?s Baby Soft products.

Want more about beauty and power? Check out these IBAM episodes:
"Looksmaxxing" is teaching men that pretty hurts.
Peptides & the pursuit of the "perfect" body
The privilege of being "skinny"

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All this health tracking might not be actually very...healthy.

There's a lot of evidence that health tracking can be good for us. Studies have shown that fitness trackers are effective at increasing physical activity, and can pretty accurately detect issues like arrhythmia. And now they're getting a promotional boost from some very influential people: Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and doctor and wellness influencer Casey Means ? President Trump's nominee for surgeon general and founder of Levels Health, a company that analyzes data from continuous glucose monitors. But even as health wearables have benefits ? how do they fit into the Make America Healthy Again vision for health? What does all this data really do for us ? and who else could access it?

Brittany is joined by Adam Clark Estes, senior technology correspondent at Vox, and Lindsay Gellman, a freelance journalist who reports on health and business, to get into it.

Want more about modern health? Check out these episodes:
Were Americans actually healthier in the past?
The difference between losing weight & being "healthy" 
Exercise is more important than ever

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Yes, young men are in crisis, but young women are too. Why aren't we talking about it?

Over the past two years, statistics about men's mental health, educational advancement, and financial well-being have made headlines. And, in turn, sparked an industry of organizations, pundits, and others ringing the alarm about men, particularly young men, being in crisis. But, the data shows young women are struggling at the same rates in most categories. In this episode we're looking at broader data ? across genders ? to see if it paints a more accurate picture of what's going on and to understand why when one gender suffers...all genders do.

Brittany is joined by Faith Hill, staff writer at the Atlantic, and Dr. Meg Jay, clinical psychologist and author of the Twentysomething Treatment to unpack the unspoken crisis women are facing.

Interested in more conversations about modern adulthood? Check out these episodes:
The myth of modern "adulthood"
The political power of Gen Z women
Make America Male Again?

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The stakes feel especially high for this year's top Oscars prize.

It feels like every few years there are two films that really set the tone for where American culture is headed. In 2017: it was Moonlight versus La La Land. In 2019: it was Green Book versus BlackKKlansman. And now, in 2026: it?s Sinners versus One Battle After Another. And there?s one question that host Brittany Luse has at the top of her mind: How do these films capture what it means to live in this moment? And how does the conversation surrounding them become so contentious?

Host Brittany Luse is joined by Nadira Goffe, staff writer of culture at Slate, and Robert Daniels, associate editor at rogerebert.com to unpack the discourse taking the internet by storm.

Interested in other episodes about cultural critique? Check these out:
Pop culture has a 'bean soup problem'
Yes, romance & fantasy novels are political.
What's so hot about Heated Rivalry?

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A "pathetic man" is the guy who gets you to take care of him, because he's purposefully not taking care of himself.

These are the men who lean into the hardships of modern manhood...and expect women to sooth their pain. They're popping up in our TV shows, social media feeds, and real lives. So much so that Tiktoker Josh Lora (aka tellthebeees) has declared 2026 the year of pathetic men. 

Host Brittany Luse and Josh raise a toast to the men who lean into the ways patriarchy and masculinity have failed them?maybe too much.

(0:00) What is a "pathetic man?" And how does he manipulate people?
(4:18) How to spot a "pathetic man" in pop culture and real life
(8:52) How men ask others to support him...rather than supporting himself
(15:18) Why society is primed to excuse men's behavior
(18:46) Pathetic men are the logical evolution of soft boys and baby girls
(24:06) Women are in crisis too...so why do struggling men get all the attention?

Interested in other episodes about modern dating? Check these out:
"The End of Men" by Hanna Rosin
The Embarrassing Truth of Dating Men
Is he a good guy? Or is he manipulating you?

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Are Americans actually becoming less healthy?

That?s an idea that Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has been repeating for a while now. While there are some nuggets of truth in that ? on the whole, American life expectancy has gone up a lot in Kennedy?s lifetime. So why does a backward-looking narrative serve his agenda? And what would actually move the needle forward on improving Americans? health?

Brittany is joined by NPR health policy correspondent Selena Simmons-Duffin to get into the nuances of what ?healthy? means.

Want more about modern health? Check out these episodes:
The difference between losing weight & being "healthy"
Exercise is more important than ever
Sex is pleasurable. It should feel safe too.

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As the old vanguard of civil rights leaders pass, who will fill the void?

Last month, the world lost a titan in the struggle for civil rights: the Reverend Jesse Jackson Sr. His style of leadership is deeply familiar: masculine, charismatic, and inspiring. But is that archetype of the modern Moses-style social justice leader still as salient as it once was? And if not, what would does that mean for civil rights organizing moving forward? We're getting into why it all starts with you and your communities.

Brittany is joined by Dr. Marcus Lee, assistant professor of African American studies at Princeton University, and Dr. Kellie Carter Jackson, the chair of Africana Studies at Wellesley College, to find out.

Interested in more conversations about civil rights and protest? Check out these episodes:
The biggest threat to Trump? Ordinary people.
Is The Squad dead? Cori Bush on the future of progressive politics

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Politically "independent" used to mean you were moderate. Not anymore. 

It's no secret that Americans are politically divided, as faith in political parties erodes. In the past, so-called "independent" voters were likely shifting between Democrats and Republicans. But now, especially Gen-Z, are pushing in new directions, far from the center. In this episode, we explore how "independent" became a rallying cry for change on the left and the right. 

Danielle Kurtzleben guest hosts with Elena Moore, a political reporter for NPR, and Dr. Omar Ali, a professor of African American political history at UNC & author of In the Balance of Power: Independent Black Politics and Third Party Movements in the United States.

Want more episodes on political culture? Check out these episodes:
Woke is BACK! ...really?
MAGA has a DEI policy. Just ask Nicki Minaj.
The Swoletariat: a history of leftist fitness

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Can you afford to get married? Or get a divorce?

Nothing sets the internet on fire more than the fantasy of finding a partner (usually a man) to pay for your lifestyle. We?re here to put those fires out: dating across class is rare (we will explain why) and financial differences can hurt the partner who has less. Plus, with more women becoming the breadwinners, are women actually the new power partners?

Brittany is joined by Wailin Wong, Business and Economics journalist and co-host of The Indicator from Planet Money, and Reema Khrais, host of Marketplace?s This is Uncomfortable (which just had a BRAND NEW season drop. Check it out!)

(0:00) The explicit and implicit ways money shows up in dating
(6:49) Why marriage is a GOOD financial investment
(12:10) Why marriage is a BAD financial investment
(20:13) Dating someone wealthier than you is harder than you think
(37:54) Will women surpass men as the breadwinners?

Want more episodes on dating and finances? Check out these episodes:
Is marriage worth it? Single women say no.
Want to date a rich man? It's harder than you think.
Your date gave you 'The Ick?' That might be a YOU problem.

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If the apps aren't working for you, don't stress ? there?s a different way to date.

Dating apps have quickly become a fixture of modern dating. They do work for a lot of people ? but many are also dissatisfied with the endless swiping and paywalled features. With the apps so ubiquitous, is it still possible to date offline? Or have dating apps made some people too scared of face-to-face rejection?

Brittany is joined by Manuela López-Restrepo, All Things Considered producer and writer, to get into her offline dating journey ? and what she?s learned along the way.

(0:00) Are you fed up with dating apps? Us too!
(4:48) The dating app paradox: who makes money when you swipe...
(15:09) How dating apps change what rejection feels like
(23:05) A trip to a real life singles night (will Manuela find a date?)

Want more about modern dating? Check out these episodes:
The embarrassing truth of dating men
It's never too late to find a good relationship. Here's proof.
Your date gave you 'The Ick?' That might be a YOU problem.

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Who gets to be "hot" in America? And, at what cost?

Some young men are pushing beauty boundaries with guidance from an online trend that's been making headlines: looksmaxxing. Looksmaxxing celebrates intense fitness & skincare routines, extreme body modification, and notably Eurocentric features as the holy grail of modern beauty, but who gets locked out of looksmaxxing when "Chad" is the gold standard? And how painful is it to pursue perfection that's skin deep?

Brittany is joined by Jason Parham, senior writer at WIRED covering internet culture, online dating, and the future of sex.

(0:00) What is "Looksmaxxing" and why it went mainstream
(2:15) How politics influence who gets to be "attractive"
(7:10) Eugenics and the backlash to Black looksmaxxers
(13:28) Why pursuing beauty standards leaves you feeling lonely
(18:43) How to redefine beauty and feel more confident in your body

Interested in more conversations about body politics and beauty standards? Check out these episodes:
MAGA has a DEI policy. Just ask Nicki Minaj.
The privilege of being "skinny"

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Why is the culture so obsessed with men on the down low?

To some, they're a secret, sexy symbol. To others, they're carriers of diseases and lies. What is the truth about men who live their sexual lives 'on the DL', and what does our culture's recurring fascination with them say about how society treats men whose sexualities don't fit into neat boxes? Brittany is joined by Dr. Jeffrey McCune, author of Sexual Discretion: Black Masculinity and the Politics of Passing, and Kai Wright - a journalist and host for the Guardian who has been writing about sexual politics for the last 30 years.

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Is it time to rethink our food delivery habits?

According to data from the National Restaurant Association, around 60% of both millennials and Gen Z say food delivery is an essential part of their lifestyles. But are the steep prices ? and occasional guilt ? worth the convenience? Brittany is joined by NPR Life Kit producer Margaret Cirino, who recently scaled her food delivery habits way back, to discuss why so many have come to rely on it and what a different path could look like.

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Social media could fundamentally shift our understanding of what is and isn't "addictive."

Tech companies are back in court...and likely will be for a while. A wave of lawsuits allege that platforms - like Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, TikTok and Snapchat - are addictive and harmful, especially to children. These cases could change platform regulations and this country's interpretation of what counts as "addiction."

Brittany is joined by NPR correspondent Shannon Bond, and Dr. Carl Erik Fisher, addiction psychiatrist and author of The Urge: Our History of Addiction, to find out what these court cases mean for our relationships with social media - and how social algorithms are fundamentally reshaping our understanding of "addiction."

(0:00) Is social media bad for your mental health?
(1:54) What people are taking social media platforms to court
(7:27) How social media is changing what counts as "addiction"
(15:01) Behavioral vs. Substance addiction
(18:11) How to change your relationship to social media
(23:21) Systemic interventions for social media use

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Is veganism in its flop era?

There was a time when veganism ? or plant-based food ? seemed to be in ascendency: from the early 2010s when Beyoncé adopted a plant-based diet to its height in 2020, when the retail market for plant-based meat made over a billion dollars in sales. And then? things started getting a little more? meaty. From protein-maxxing to the new food pyramid, the culture seems to have shifted. But what does the plant-based food flop era say about our culture, how we think about our food, and how we feel about our future? Special guest host Danielle Kurtzleben, NPR political correspondent, discusses with writer Rachel Sugar, who wrote a piece on the boom and bust of veganism for New York Magazine, and Mark Bittman, long-time food journalist and former New York Times columnist who has written about veganism since the early 2010s.

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Translation tech has improved a lot. So why learn a language?

A lot of people around the world speak English. For those who don?t, AirPods offer live translation ? and Google Translate can fill in gaps, too. So as English-speakers, why learn a second language? Well, it?s hard ? but translation can miss a lot of cultural understanding. Brittany is joined by Emily Kwong, co-host of NPR?s science podcast Short Wave, to explore why putting your brain through learning a new language offers surprising benefits and opportunities for connection.

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Is the far-right in its rainbow coalition era?

We're seeing quite a few examples in the culture that may suggest so: from Nicki Minaj's recent pivot to the MAGA right, to the videos of DHS agents of color making violent arrests, it feels like the far-right is making more space for people of color to find platforms and power. But how does a multicultural right-wing movement square with the politics of the President? Brittany is joined by Axios senior race and justice reporter Russell Contreras to understand the world of multiracial MAGA.

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Learn to code, they said! And then the layoffs started happening...

The tech industry is hemorrhaging jobs. According to one estimate, there have been over 700,000 tech workers laid off since 2022. But there was once a time when ?learn to code? was the advice de rigueur for laid-off workers, and a lot of resources went into teaching kids computer science. So if a cushy position in tech isn?t a ?good? job anymore? what is? Brittany discusses this with Rya Jetha, tech culture reporter for the San Francisco Standard, and Natasha Singer, technology reporter for The New York Times and author of the upcoming book Coding Kids: Big Tech's Battle to Remake Public Schools.

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Bad Bunny's Super Bowl performance had a clear message for his fans and his haters. 

The pop star's show was a colorful and vibrant vision of Puerto Rican culture and heritage, from a real life wedding to boxing matches - and even a surprise cameo from Ricky Martin. Against a backdrop of widespread immigration crackdowns and targeted rhetoric, Bad Bunny centered joy as an act of resistance - and as a space for all people in North and South America to unite. 

Brittany is joined by Pop Culture Happy Hour cohost Stephen Thompson, music and entertainment critic Reanna Cruz, and Alana Casanova-Burgess, host of La Brega podcast, to understand the version of America that Bad Bunny wants us to live in.

(0:00) Bad Bunny's performance was one of the all time greats
(03:04) The key moments: the parade of nations to Ricky Martin & Lady Gaga
(08:11) The story and world that Bad Bunny was building
(12:33) Weddings and joy as acts of resistance
(16:14) The Grammy, Liam Conejo Ramos, and what the moment meant
(23:57) Bad Bunny's radical politics vs. the NFL's politics

For more on Bad Bunny, check out this deep dive into his latest album: Bad Bunny & the battle for Puerto Rico

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Is Melania Trump's new film a documentary? Fan service? Or propaganda?

The Amazon funded $40 million-$75 million film, follows the first lady as she prepares for her husband's second inauguration. But, it's finely manicured editing and it's fabricated storylines obscure reality - much like the Trump administration's broader media strategy. So what's the point?

Brittany sits down with NPR Senior Arts Critic Bob Mondello, and Vulture Movie Critic Alison Willmore. They examine the wardrobe changes, opulent decor, and even Amazon?s financial support of the movie and break down what this film tells us ? and doesn?t tell us ? about the first lady.

(00:00) The Melania Documentary Review: Airless, High Heels, Shiny
(03:07) Melania Trump is staging the scenes of her life
(06:06) Melania is in control - and rewriting history
(13:10) Is Trump's documentary propaganda or fan service?
(17:34) Amazon, Jeff Bezos, and the Trump family business

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So-called "swoletariats" are exercising for the resistance.

There?s a lot of fitness content in conservative manosphere circles ? that?s not new ? but now, there are also fitness influencers who call themselves the ?swoletariat.? That?s a combination of the word ?swole,? meaning buff, and ?proletariat,? meaning the working class ? the swoletariat are people whose fitness regimens connect to leftist politics. NPR's Life Kit producer Margaret Cirino shares her reporting with Brittany on the history of leftist fitness ? and why she?s seeing the swoletariat picking up steam on social media.

Want to know more about fitness and health? Check out these episodes:
The difference between losing weight & being "healthy"
Beware the Wellness Industrial Complex!
The privilege of being "skinny"

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America?s workers are tired ? here?s why.

Do you feel like you can never get off the grind? From gig laborers to salaried workers, a lot of people are keeping their noses to the grindstone in order to remain afloat, avoid job loss, and stay one step ahead of market fluctuations. But this culture of overwork isn?t new ? according to Erik Baker, Harvard lecturer and author of Make Your Own Job: How the Entrepreneurial Work Ethic Exhausted America, the grindset has been intentionally promoted and structurally enforced over decades. Brittany sits down with Erik to discuss how we got here ? and how we can untangle the culture from these working conditions.

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One of the biggest lessons from the clash between ICE and the citizens of Minneapolis is that communities are prepared to stand up for their neighbors.

When Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU Nurse, became the second person killed by federal agents in Minneapolis this month, citizens were there to document the killing. Today, we're exploring how Minnesotans trained for this moment and how, despite deep cultural divides between them, they stood together in the face of government aggression.

Brittany is joined by Adam Serwer, staff writer at The Atlantic, to unpack his time on the ground with communities in Minneapolis and the role of bystanders in these moments of state violence. For more of Adam's reporting from Minneapolis, read his latest piece, "Minnesota proved MAGA wrong."

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How do romantic tropes and fantasies impact how you understand politics?

You might be a fan of Romantic Fantasy, or as the internet calls it: Romantasy. Even if you're not, you would recognize the tradwives or fascism. Romantasies combine supernatural characters and plotlines with the rush of a whirlwind romance novel, and, in this episode, we're exploring how the politics of some of these books have an effect on politics in the real world.

Brittany is joined by Netta Baker,  Advanced Instructor of English at Virginia Tech, and Princess Weekes, video essayist and online pop culture critic. They get into how this genre demolishes misogyny while reinforcing conservative politics.

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Job seekers are sending out hundreds of applications. Here?s why they?re not hearing back.

The unemployment rate has been climbing over the past few years, but historically, it isn?t that high? Even so, some people have been talking about having a really, really rough time finding work. Brittany is joined by Wailin Wong, co-host of NPR?s Indicator podcast, and Nitish Pahwa, staff writer for business and tech at Slate, to get into why the decent macroeconomic numbers aren?t adding up for job seekers and why the market might be stuck in an ?AI doom loop.?

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He's mysterious and aspirational, but is he even real? Or is he just a reflection of all of our society?

The ?finance bro? has become a pretty ubiquitous figure in the American zeitgeist. From American Psycho and Mad Men to the tech bros of Silicon Valley, he?s taken many forms. And these days he has flipped genders in the hit HBO series Industry. But what makes the finance bro mythology so compelling? And why do we sign up to watch him again and again?

To find out, Brittany is joined by chief correspondent at Business Insider and host of Channels, Peter Kafka and Roxana Hadadi, TV critic for Vulture and New York Magazine.

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What does it mean to feel safe during sex these days?

From feeling comfortable with your partner to access to public health and medication, "safety" comes up a lot in sex. But, having the tools you need to feel confident in your own sexual health is an essential part of the pursuit of pleasure. Today, Brittany is joined by Dr. Leisha McKinley-Beach, founder and CEO of the Black Public Health Academy, and Dr. Jasmine Abrams, a research scientist at the Yale School of Public Health, to give us a New Year's booster on how to live our best sex lives ? and explore how to feel safer in bed.

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We're taking a trip back to the 90s and exploring the lives of single Black women and how their stories still show up in media 30 years later. 

This episode comes from NPR's Books We've Loved podcast series. Brittany joined hosts Andrew Limbong and B.A. Parker to revisit Terry McMillan's classic novel, Waiting to Exhale. The three get into how the book was a blueprint for Sex & The City and how it depicts the complexity of Black women's lives - and echoes the lives of Black women today.

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What are we missing something in the conversation around obesity and GLP-1s?

Oprah Winfrey?s new book, Enough, co-authored by endocrinologist Dr. Ania Jastreboff is one of many new narratives attempting to reframe how we think about obesity and diet culture. But host Brittany Luse thinks we?re just scratching the surface. 

She?s joined by Dr. Kellie Carter Jackson, Chair of the Africana Studies Department at Wellesley College and co-host of the podcast This Day, and Dr. Mara Gordon, family physician and NPR's Real Talk with a Doc columnist to unpack fatphobia, the GLP-1 craze, and what it really means to be ?healthy.?

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There's a new sound of protest going viral on TikTok. What is being said, and how much impact could it have?

We're just two weeks into January, but this year has already been eventful. There's Trump's incursion into Venezuela, and last week?s ICE shooting in Minneapolis, which led to protests all across the country over the weekend. And these protests on the street are connected to some of the music we?re hearing online: artists like Jensen McRae and Jesse Welles are responding to current events with their own musical takes on the news with bitesize songs on TikTok. But why is folk protest music having revival, and who is listening? 

Brittany sits down with NPR Music reporter Isabella Gomez Sarmiento to get into why this folk-y protest music hasn?t been popular in decades ? and why it?s going viral now. You can read Isabella's story here.

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Renee Good, a 37-year-old Minnesotan mother, is just one of several victims of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) violence in recent months. But her death marks a turning point in the discourse around state violence.

How will her name and story be used by politicians and protestors? And how does her story line up with other moments of government violence throughout American history?

Brittany is joined by Abené Clayton, the lead reporter for the Guns and Lies in America series at The Guardian. Brittany and Abené unpack the importance of this moment, how Good's death compares to other deaths at the hands of the federal government, and how the narrative around her death is already messier than it should be.

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Ozempic and other GLP-1s have changed how we think of our bodies. Now, some are searching for other quick fixes for their body - far beyond weight loss.

In some Silicon Valley circles, 'Chinese peptides' are taking so-called biohacking to the next level. These unregulated injectables promise to help people who struggle with sleep, losing weight, or even making eye contact. One person even said they were searching for the "Ozempic for autism." Sound ethically dubious? Brittany thought so, too.

To get into it all, Brittany is joined by independent journalist Jasmine Sun, who writes about Silicon Valley culture; and, Karen Maschke, editor-in-chief of Ethics and Human Research. Jasmine and Karen break down the peptide subculture of Silicon Valley and what it means to be human in rapidly self-optimizing world.

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Young women, more than any other group, say they would leave America. Their list of reasons is long and plentiful. 

Have you ever thought about leaving the US, and starting over somewhere else? Maybe living the hygge lifestyle in Denmark, or soaking up the sun in Costa Rica? According to Gallup ? a surprising number of women are considering it. In a poll released in November, 40% of women between the ages of 18 and 44 said they?d move to another country permanently if they had the chance. That?s four times higher than it was a decade ago ? and this sentiment among women is unique to the US. But what?s behind young women?s willingness to imagine life elsewhere? And what does that say about the future of this country?

Brittany breaks it all down with Constance Grady, senior correspondent for Vox?s culture team who covers gender, and Scaachi Koul, senior writer at Slate and co-host of the BBC podcast Where to be a Woman.

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Is the lack of sunlight in the winter months really getting to you? Do you find yourself fighting tooth and nail to keep up with life's demands every winter? You may be dealing with seasonal affective disorder, or SAD.

Brittany has developed her own morning routine to combat this type of depression. Today, she's joined by Dr. Norman E. Rosenthal, psychiatrist and scientist who first described seasonal affective disorder in the 1980s, to get feedback on her SAD routine, and learn about how we all can think differently about the rough winter months.

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What's in and what's out in 2026? Let's set the stage for what to watch out for in the new year.

As you fill out your own bingo card for what will or will not happen in 2026, join Brittany, NPR's tech correspondent Bobby Allyn, and NPR's political correspondent Danielle Kurtzleben. They are laying out the puzzle pieces of 2026 - from the politics of masculinity to the bubble of artificial intelligence to the end of Queen Bee - and piecing them together, so you know what to set your sights on for the next calendar year.  

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From CBD leggings to Soulcycle, wellness is reshaping our relationships to our bodies and souls. But what even is "wellness?"

Well, for one, it's a global industry worth 6 trillion dollars. And it encompasses all kinds of things ? including spirituality: from the spirituality of wellness practices like yoga and reiki, to treating wellness itself like a religion. As spirituality, self-care, and capitalism swirl together, what is missing from the story?

Brittany is joined by Alyssa Bereznak, GQ's Wellness Director, and Rina Raphael, author of the book The Gospel of Wellness: Gyms, Gurus, Goop, and the False Promise of Self-Care, to get into what people get out of a wellness-based spiritualism and consumerism.

This episode originally aired on March 17, 2025.

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If society privileges "thin" people, should you aspire to conform? And at what cost?

Last year, online influencer Slim Kim went viral for a TikTok where she said she loves "being skinny." It sparked a debate that continued throughout 2025: how do we talk about bodies without falling into "body fascism." And with drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy flooding the market, how are the ways we talk about bodies shifting and changing?

Brittany is joined by authors Emma Specter and Kate Manne to find out: what's so wrong with loving being skinny?

This episode originally aired on December 6, 2024.

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If you want something badly enough, should you have it?

Today, Brittany is investigating so-called "manifestation." It's this popular belief that if you want something badly enough, it'll come to you. But here's the thing: our relationship to the internet and algorithms is creating a feedback loop that actually makes our own dreams seem more...possible? But where's the line between dreams, reality, and the internet?

Brittany calls on Tara Isabella Burton, an author and journalist, and New York Magazine's Rebecca Jennings to get to the bottom of this trend: the appeal of manifestation, its symbiotic relationship with the internet, and why it might make us less aware of our humanity.

This episode originally aired on March 31, 2025.

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Christianity showed up in the mainstream in unexpected ways this year. Are we in a revival?

Take a look at this year's Billboard charts. For the first time, multiple Christian musicians charted on the Billboard Hot 100 at the same time ? and stayed there for weeks. And some of the biggest hits of the year - like Alex Warren's "Ordinary" - pull from Contemporary Christian Music sounds. Plus, Trump says he wants to defend Christians. 

In the episode, Brittany talks with Christianity Today reporter Kelsey Kramer McGinnis to understand the multi-billion dollar machine behind the Christian Contemporary Music genre and how this behind-the-scenes system impacts what music you hear.

This episode originally aired on July 23, 2025.

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Why are Mormons so popular, you ask? Because it's part of their faith.

From Hulu's The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives to your favorite homemaking TikTok influencers, the women of the Church of Latter Day Saints have been gaining massive audiences for over a decade. Brittany is joined by Jana Riess, senior columnist at Religious News Service and author of The Next Mormons: How Millennials are Changing the LDS Church to discuss how Mormon culture provides some of TikTok's most powerful influencers with heavenly tools for viral success.

This episode originally aired on November 12, 2024.

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What's it like to date a man? Ask pop stars or your friends, and you might hear it's a struggle.

From Sabrina Carpenter to Summer Walker, some of the biggest female artists on the charts today?are absolutely through with men. It?s a sentiment that has a name: heteropessimism. Coined in 2019 by the writer Asa Seresin, the term encapsulates the embarrassment, disaffection and fatigue that comes from being heterosexual. 

?Men are trash? music that reflects these feelings isn?t new, but NPR Music editor Hazel Cills says it?s making a comeback. So what makes this time different? And what can we learn from this moment's heteropessimism about the realities of dating men today?

(0:00) How Heteropessimism went mainstream
(4:21) What makes this "Men are trash" moment different than the past?
(7:55) What do women want from their relationships?
(14:59) How long will we be in the "men are trash" era?

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There?s been a lot of discourse about what ?6 7? means, but what actually makes it meaningful?

The ?6 7" meme was everywhere this year, online and off. Scrolling through TikTok? You probably encountered it. Sitting in math class? Your teacher probably dreaded everyone shouting out the numbers when they came up in class. NPR intern Sanidhya Sharma investigated the phenomenon by going to schools and sitting down with experts. He's here now to report back to Brittany and get into why some memes aren't for everyone.

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Welcome to the third annual IBAMMYs Culture Awards Show, where we reflect and honor the best and worst cultural moments of the year.

Brittany is joined by Sam Sanders, host of KCRW's The Sam Sanders Show, and Tre'vell Anderson, host of The Seated podcast. All three nominated a person or moment for each of the four categories. NPR's Culture Committee then voted on a winner. Today, we reveal the winners and losers of 2025 and run through the moments we want to remember or forget.

This year's categories & nominees are:

Word of the Year:
"Slop"
"Clock it"
"Labubu"

Villain of the Year:
Sydney Sweeney
Glinda the Good Witch
Billionaires

The Candle in the Dark:
PinkPantheress
One of Them Days
Liniker

Not-on-My-Bingo Card:
KPop Demon Hunters
Yolanda Adams
Katy Perry

Who will win?

(0:00) How will you look back on 2025?
(2:30) The Word of the Year: Slop, Clock It, or Labubu?
(7:51) Villain of the Year: Sydney Sweeney, Billionaires, Wicked Glinda?
(18:07) What brought you joy this year?
(23:23) Not-on-my-Bingo Card: Kpop Demon Hunters, Yolanda Adams, Katy Perry

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Heated Rivalry - the hit HBO Max series - has it all: scintillating romance, hot guys, sports (kind of), and, most importantly, portrayals of gay love and sex that don?t hold back.

Steamy, sensual TV shows aren?t new, but the Canadian series has captured the public's attention in a way that a show hasn?t in a while. So, what?s behind its cultural resonance? What does it mean that this gay romance was written by a woman? And why are straight women and gay men equally into the sex scenes?

Michel Ghanem, TV critic and columnist of ?Appointment Viewing? for The Cut, and Glen Weldon, co-host of NPR?s Pop Culture Happy Hour, join the show to get into why we?re all waiting for every new episode with bated breath.

(0:00) What is Heated Rivalry really about?
(2:40) How successful is the gay TV show?
(6:05) Why are straight women into gay romance?
(9:25) Why all audiences see something new in the sex scenes
(12:12) Can straight actors play queer characters?
(18:30) "Wait, What?!" A Pop Culture Trivia Game

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Are we spending too much on other people?s weddings?

Going to a friend's weddings can be so fun and meaningful? but it can also really hurt your wallet. A survey by LendingTree found that 31% of people who had been to a wedding in the past five years had accrued debt to attend. So what?s driving up the cost of weddings for guests? And what makes it so hard to say no to these expenses?

Brittany breaks it down with Allyson Rees, senior analyst at trend forecasting firm WGSN, and Annie Joy Williams, assistant editor at The Atlantic.

(0:00) For hosts AND guests, weddings are getting really expensive
(2:22) How much it costs to attend someone's wedding
(4:58) Men are spending just as much as women
(7:30) Weddings, social media, and "main character" energy
(11:32) Is this the one night we get to pretend we're ultra rich?
(13:42) How to say no to a friend's wedding
(17:00) Do weddings prove who your friends really are?

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