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September is for back-to-school, changing weather, and apparently a LOT of celebrity magazine covers. For the Season 1 finale of Pop Syllabus, Christiana picks up the September issues and takes us inside their biggest covers and most interesting stories. From Kaia Gerber and Homer Gere on Vogue to Rihanna, Usher, Charli XCX, and a powerful Essence cover celebrating Black women, she explores what these magazines choose to put on their covers, what they leave inside the pages, and what it all says about pop culture right now. Thanks to our sponsor, Bilt Rewards, for supporting today's episode: https://joinbilt.com/popsyllabus Follow Pop Syllabus: YouTube | Instagram | TikTok | Substack Merch available now! Sponsor Pop Syllabus: advertise@companionarts.com If there’s a topic you’d like us to deconstruct, tell us in the comments. Email: hello@popsyllabus.com  01:30 Kaia Gerber and Homer Gere on the cover of US Vogue  02:42 Regime change at Vogue  03:30 Nepo babies  06:00 US Vogue cover  07:16 Rihanna on the cover of Elle 09:35 Rihanna’s relationship with Dior  10:47 Elle editorial with Rihanna   12:08 Jermey Strong on the cover of GQ  14:21 GQ editorial with Jeremy strong 16:33 Nicole Kidman on the cover of British Vogue  18:43 Brad Pitt on the cover of Esquire 20:04 Esquire editorial with Brad Pitt 26:18 Sanaa Lathan, Nina Compton, Mara Brock Akil and Nikole Hannah-Jones on the front cover of Essence  27:50 Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson on the back cover of Essence  28:09 America at 250  30:00 Seeing Black women with mature skin and gray hair  31:30 Isan Elba  32:01 Hair styles and product recommendations in Essence  35:38 Mardi Gras  36:00 Essence editorial with Sanaa Lathan, Nina Compton, Mara Brock Akil and Nikole Hannah-Jones  37:19 Terrence Jenkins and Mikalah Sultan 39:12 Essence editorial with Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson 40:57 “Letters to America” in Essence 41:30 Afro-optimism  41:52 The American flag and who gets to own it  44:20 Christiana’s relationship with England and the English flag 46:19 Black women and reproductive health in Essence  46:42 Usher on the cover of Architectural Digest 49:25 A feature on decorative plates in Architectural Digest 49:58 Usher’s Architectural Digest feature  52:58 Charli XCX on the cover of Rolling Stone  54:40 George Michael feature in Rolling Stone 55:00 Comparing Rolling Stone to other magazines 55:13 Shaboozey in Rolling Stone 55:40 James Comey profile in Rolling Stone 57:00 Charli XCX editorial in Rolling Stone  57:40 Afroman in Rolling Stone 59:00 Keke Palmer editorial in Rolling Stone 01:00:18 Adam Friedland in Rolling Stone  01:00:42 The Legend of the Plaster Caster in Rolling Stone 01:02:16 A man who wants to help people print guns in Rolling Stone 01:02:30 Assessing Rolling Stone  01:03:12 Star Magazine 01:10:00 How to keep up with Christiana Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Forget the stereotypical image of ADHD. For many women, it looks a lot different.  This week, Christiana sits down with Corinne the Coach to explore why women and girls are so often overlooked, why women of color face even greater barriers to diagnosis, and how ADHD can impact everything from mental health and shame to motherhood, money, and work. Corinne also opens up about her own diagnosis, navigating medication, and building a business while neurodivergent. Corinne’s website: https://corinnethecoach.life/  Follow Pop Syllabus: YouTube | Instagram | TikTok | Substack Merch available now! Sponsor Pop Syllabus: advertise@companionarts.com If there’s a topic you’d like us to deconstruct, tell us in the comments. Email: hello@popsyllabus.com  01:43 Corinne’s ADHD diagnosis  06:45 Why it takes longer for girls and women to get diagnosed with ADHD 11:30 Different types of ADHD  16:30 Underdiagnosis among girls and women of color 22:15 How ADHD can be related to eating disorders and substance abuse 26:58 Skepticism around women of color having ADHD  29:30 Signs that a woman may be struggling with mental health challenges 31:45 How women hide their shame  35:12 Strains on mothers 38:58 How Corinne started her business while being neurodivergent  39:50 How ADHD keeps people impoverished  41:04 Taking medication for ADHD  48:00 Corinne’s experiences with ADHD medication  54:45 How we can support the people in our lives who might have ADHD 01:08:21 How you can find Corinne the Coach Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We love to talk about motherhood like there’s a right way to do it. But the rules have never been as simple as they seem. This week, Christiana sits down with WIRED senior culture writer and author of One Bad Mother Ej Dickson to explore the cultural history of the “bad mom,” from the “welfare queen” to today’s MAHA moms, momfluencers, tradwives, and stage moms. They unpack why the ideal of the “good mother” has always been complicated, why dads seem to get a much easier assignment, and how motherhood became one of our favorite ways to police women. Follow Ej: Instagram Ej’s website: https://www.ejdickson.com/  Follow Pop Syllabus: YouTube | Instagram | TikTok | Substack Merch available now! Sponsor Pop Syllabus: advertise@companionarts.com If there’s a topic you’d like us to deconstruct, tell us in the comments. Email: hello@popsyllabus.com  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Botox, filler, beauty trends, and the pressure to keep up with it all. This week, Christiana sits down with NYT columnist and UNC Chapel Hill professor Dr. Tressie McMillan Cottom to explore how beauty culture is changing around the world, why our appearances carry so much power, and what happens when the rules of beauty keep changing. Follow Tressie: Instagram   Thanks to our sponsor, Bilt Rewards, for supporting today's episode: https://joinbilt.com/popsyllabus Follow Pop Syllabus: YouTube | Instagram | TikTok | Substack  Merch available now! Sponsor Pop Syllabus: advertise@companionarts.com If there’s a topic you’d like us to deconstruct, tell us in the comments. Email: hello@popsyllabus.com 01:37 Meet Dr. Tressie McMillan Cottom  03:45 Sculpt and how beauty norms became what they are right now 06:12 The democratization of plastic surgery and injectibles  09:06 Beauty and ugliness as structural concepts  13:14 The end of body positivity a return to whiteness  15:13 How technology has changed time, our attention, and beauty norms  16:55 Peptides  19:45 How what is seen as beautiful has changed  21:00 Thinking of ourselves as scientific compositions  22:05 Grappling for community  22:39 Discourse around “the Black community”  24:15 Ethnic rhinoplasty  25:51 The death of the natural hair movement  26:30 What is Black beauty now? 27:10 The homogeneity of beauty  30:14 How the formula we were taught for a good life isn’t working and cruel optimism 35:26 Observing neutrally and knowing our choices aren’t neutral  39:10 The cost of resistance and choosing our defeats  42:49 Bracing for impact  45:00 Black women being punished  45:40 Conservative movements among white women and where white women go next 49:55 “One Household, One Vote” and women retreating from the workplace  52:30 Late-stage capitalism and AI will come for everyone, including men 54:00 Men committing Interpersonal violence 55:30 Going analog  56:38 How Tressie approaches reading and engaging with ideas 01:01:22 What Tressie is turning to for nourishment and delight  01:06:25 What Tressie is working on now Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Divas! We all love them, and we all have very strong opinions about who deserves a spot in our personal top 3. So this week, Christiana sits down with journalist, culture critic, and the NFL’s first LGBTQ+ brand ambassador Ryan Mitchell to bring back our signature pop culture rubric and rank the biggest divas of the 2020s. But who will take the crown? Listen in to find out. Follow Ryan: Instagram   Follow Pop Syllabus: YouTube | Instagram | TikTok | Substack Merch available now! Sponsor Pop Syllabus: advertise@companionarts.com If there’s a topic you’d like us to deconstruct, tell us in the comments. Email: hello@popsyllabus.com  00:00 Intro 00:13 Meet Ryan 05:00 Showing up as a Black queer fat person  07:20 Growing up in the South  08:22 Ryan’s role as the NFL’s first queer ambassador  12:12 Navigating the current conservative backlash 15:02 How to show up for queer folks right now  19:02 How pop culture brings people together  22:20 The definition of a “Diva”  27:20 How Christiana made this 2020s diva list  29:17 The “general population” category for 2020s divas 30:10 The “technicalities” category for 2020s divas 30:48 The “sleeper divas” category for 2020s divas  32:50 Attitude as part of the criteria  36:00 Ariana Grande 47:27 Billie Eilish  55:14 Chappell Roan 59:00 Celebrities are still humans  01:00:35 Olivia Rodrigo 01:02:50 Sabrina Carpenter 01:04:43 Olivia Rodrigo 01:05:55 Beyoncé 01:12:26 Charli xcx 01:19:29 Cleo Sol and Syd 01:19:37 Yebba 01:20:40 PinkPantheress 01:20:54 SZA 01:20:59 Doechii 01:21:03 Where you can find Ryan Mitchell  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Only a small percentage of women are naturally blonde, yet blonde hair has become one of the most powerful symbols of beauty and privilege in American culture. This week, Christiana sits down with Sarah Mesle, USC professor and author of Tangled: Seven Iconic Moments in White Women's Hair and What They Tell Us About Power, Pleasure, and Complicity, to examine the cultural politics of white women’s hair. Through stories of blonde privilege, Britney Spears, and Princess Diana, Sarah explains how hair reveals the complicated relationship between beauty, identity, and power. Sarah’s website: https://sarahmesle.com/  Follow Sarah: Instagram Follow Pop Syllabus: YouTube | Instagram | TikTok | Substack   Merch available now! Sponsor Pop Syllabus: advertise@companionarts.com If there’s a topic you’d like us to deconstruct, tell us in the comments. Email: hello@popsyllabus.com  1:26 Meet Sarah  1:47 Hair and white feminine power 3:50 Sarah’s interest in hair 5:08 White visual performances and whiteness as a currency  8:50 January 6th uprising 10:40 Partisan aesthetics  13:50 Princess Diana and women with short hair 18:43 Blonde hair  20:58 JoJo Siwa 21:33 Maternal love and white resource hoarding  22:40 White mothers giving their daughters elaborate hair styles  25:00 Blonde privilege and the value of the currency of whiteness 27:47 How Black women are treated depending on their hair styles 29:30 Class and white women’s fear of “trashiness”  32:40 Relationship between white women’s hair and thighs  33:30 Thin hair  35:17 Long hair and the women surrounding Trump  36:06 Picking white women to focus on in “Tangled”  40:32 Britney Spears 45:50 Complicating the idea that there are victims and villains 47:00 Cruel optimism  48:10 Gwyneth Paltrow  51:00 Opting out and diverging from the norm  54:30 The game is rigged  55:20 What’s next?  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, writer and YouTuber Blue Telusma joins Pop Syllabus for a wide-ranging conversation on modern relationships, gender dynamics, and what Love Island reveals about our culture. Best known for her sharp commentary on the hit reality series, Blue and Christiana explore everything from dating and accountability to race and media. Then, the two debut our new Pioneers, Builders & Innovators game, weighing in on cultural figures from Joe Rogan and Tyra Banks to Jay-Z, Madonna, Kim Kardashian, and Kris Jenner. Follow Blue: Instagram  Follow Pop Syllabus: YouTube | Instagram | TikTok | Substack Merch available now! Sponsor Pop Syllabus: advertise@companionarts.com If there’s a topic you’d like us to deconstruct, tell us in the comments. Email: hello@popsyllabus.com  1:18 Meet Blue Telusma 5:28 The Diaspora Wars Explained 6:10 Dating Nigerian Men and Blue's Dating Experience 10:16 "Good Women Aren't Having Babies Anymore" 15:45 Partnership vs. Companionship 22:05 Dating as an Unambiguous Woman 27:37 What Love Island Gets Wrong About Race 36:20 Calling Out Women vs. Challenging the System 38:55 The Ego Tantrums Taking Over Love Island 40:38 Has Reality TV Normalized Dysfunction? 45:45 Pioneers, Builders & Innovators Game 52:12 Joe Rogan: Pioneer, Builder, or Innovator? 57:18 Tyra Banks: Pioneer, Builder, or Innovator? 1:07:13 Jay Z: Pioneer, Builder, or Innovator? 1:11:45 Madonna: Pioneer, Builder, or Innovator? 1:15:58 Kim Kardashian & Kris Jenner: Pioneers, Builders, or Innovators? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The royal family has mastered the art of staying in the spotlight. For generations, they’ve been a source of fascination, controversy, and endless conversation. But why do we keep coming back to the Crown? In this episode, Christiana sits down with NY Times bestselling author of Endgame: Inside the Royal Family and the Monarchy’s Fight for Survival, TV writer, producer, and royal commentator Omid Scobie to break down the monarchy as the ultimate pop culture phenomenon. After 13 years covering the royal beat, Omid shares what he’s learned about the institution, the media machine behind it, the scandals that shaped public opinion, and why the world remains obsessed with the royals. Follow Omid: Instagram Explore Omid Scobie’s Books on the Royal Family Follow Pop Syllabus: YouTube | Instagram | TikTok | Substack Merch available now! Sponsor Pop Syllabus: advertise@companionarts.com If there’s a topic you’d like us to deconstruct, tell us in the comments. Email: hello@popsyllabus.com  1:14 Meet Omid Scobie 3:40 Inside the Royal Beat 5:54 Why Britain Created WAG Culture 6:50 Meghan, Harry & the Palace 13:28 How the Press Built Meghan's Narrative 17:46 Why Americans See the Royals Differently 19:46 What Makes Someone a Royalist? 21:21 Kate's Cancer Announcement 23:28 Why Royal Women Face More Scrutiny 26:31 Why Meghan & Harry Became Easy Targets 30:08 Writing Endgame 36:17 Inside the Royal Feuds 39:32 America's "Royal Families" 43:49 Can the Monarchy Ever Change? 46:13 Prince Andrew & the Epstein Scandal 52:14 King Charles, Trump & Politics 55:27 Harry vs. William 58:17 Behind Palace Dynamics 1:04:51 The Monarchy's Diversity Problem  1:09:24 The Royals in 2027: What's Next? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Millions of people watch The Real Housewives, but few know what it's really like to be one.  In this episode, Christiana sits down with former Real Housewives of Potomac star and Miss USA 2013, Candiace Dillard Bassett, for an honest conversation about fame, friendship, IVF, marriage, and what it actually takes to survive one of television's biggest franchises. Follow Candiace: Instagram  Read Christiana’s Substack essay on why The Real Housewives is the dark mirror we deserve: https://popsyllabus.substack.com/p/why-the-real-housewives-is-the-dark  Follow Pop Syllabus: YouTube | Instagram | TikTok | Substack Merch available now! Sponsor Pop Syllabus: advertise@companionarts.com If there’s a topic you’d like us to deconstruct, tell us in the comments. Email: hello@popsyllabus.com  01:16 Meet Candiace Dillard Bassett 02:17 Why Candiace became a Real Housewife 03:30 Candiace’s familial privilege   05:20 Black American Princess (BAP) culture  06:00 Feeling shame about growing up privileged  10:00 From beauty pageants to Real Housewives 13:38 Crying as a Black woman on reality TV 18:49 Candiace and Monique Samuels’ friendship breakup 20:45 Drew Sidora’s salary leak and the economics of being a Real Housewife 29:44 The psychological toll of being on Real Housewives  33:00 Going through IVF 37:08 On returning to Real Housewives 39:14 Colorism on reality TV 43:44 Candiace’s first test scene 45:10 Candiace’s longstanding relationships from the show 45:30 The Traitors season 4 48:08 What’s next for Candiace 54:20 Candiace’s marriage with Chris Bassett Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Are GLP-1s changing our relationship with our bodies? The science says yes, but not in the ways you might think. In this episode, Christiana sits down with Dr. A. Janet Tomiyama, health psychologist, UCLA professor, and director of the Diet, Stigma, and Health (DiSH) Lab, to examine how GLP-1s are redefining body positivity, exposing the persistence of weight stigma, and raising bigger questions about who gets to be accepted and why. Thanks to our sponsor, Bilt Rewards, for supporting today's episode: joinbilt.com/popsyllabus Follow Pop Syllabus: YouTube | Instagram | TikTok | Substack Merch available now! Sponsor Pop Syllabus: advertise@companionarts.com If there’s a topic you’d like us to deconstruct, tell us in the comments. Email: hello@popsyllabus.com  1:25 Meet Janet 3:53 What Japan and Nigeria Reveal About Weight Stigma 5:55 Is Weight Really About Willpower? The Science of Genetics & Dieting 7:56 Should Governments Pay for Weight Loss? 9:37 Why Most Diets Don't Work Long-Term 15:41 How Culture Shapes the Way We Eat 20:21 Why Bigger Bodies Once Represented Wealth 24:29 What Is "Food Noise"? 29:01 The Hidden Reality of Eating Disorders in Black Women 32:14 GLP-1s, Grief, and the Identity Shift No One Talks About 36:41 Who Gets Access to GLP-1s? 42:21 The Risks and Unknowns of GLP-1 Medications 49:03 Are GLP-1s a Lifetime Commitment? 51:28 Raising a Family in a Weight-Obsessed World 56:14 Should Parents Put Their Kids on GLP-1s? 1:01:21 Why Body Neutrality May Be More Realistic Than Body Positivity Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We're back with another round of our signature pop culture game, Are They a Star, Celebrity, or Famous Person?  This week, Christiana is joined by Emmy Award-winning TV host, Zuri Hall, to pull names from the bowl and weigh in on everyone from Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark to Cardi B, Dua Lipa, Timothée Chalamet, Anna Wintour, Billie Eilish, Bad Bunny, The Weeknd, and more. They also get into the rise of influencer culture, the business of celebrity, and who has the staying power to become a true star. Ready to play? Follow Zuri on Instagram Zuri’s Substack Follow Pop Syllabus: YouTube | Instagram | TikTok | Substack Merch available now! Sponsor Pop Syllabus: advertise@companionarts.com If there’s a topic you’d like us to deconstruct, tell us in the comments. Email: hello@popsyllabus.com 1:36 Meet Zuri Hall 3:35 Zuri’s exit plan from Access Hollywood 9:36 The game begins 12:33 Angel Reese enters the chat 13:30 Angel Reese vs Caitlin Clark rivalry breakdown 15:41 Timothée Chalamet, Leonardo DiCaprio & Daniel Day-Lewis energy 18:03 Anna Wintour: the “mean boss” myth 19:41 Charli D'Amelio family drama 20:37 Celebrities vs influencers: who runs culture now? 26:44 Cardi B chaos & charisma 34:14 Dua Lipa wedding watch + love life 37:47 Billie Eilish era check 40:03 Bad Bunny takeover 41:43 The Weeknd enters the conversation 47:23 Zohran Mamdani surprise finale Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

More women are having children after 40, but what does that actually look like when you are in it?  In this episode, Christiana sits down with Jesse Golden, CEO and founder of The Golden Secrets, to talk about her journey of trying for motherhood at 45, including IVF, miscarriage, and starting over later in life. She also opens up about home birth, treatment costs, community, and what it really means to redefine motherhood on your own terms. Follow Jesse on Instagram  Follow Pop Syllabus: YouTube | Instagram | TikTok | Substack Merch available now! Sponsor Pop Syllabus: advertise@companionarts.com If there’s a topic you’d like us to deconstruct, tell us in the comments. Email: hello@popsyllabus.com  1:09 Meet Jesse Golden 2:53 Trying for motherhood again at 45 4:09 What it’s really like trying to get pregnant in your 40s 6:15 Navigating miscarriage and loss 10:04 Inside Jesse’s IVF journey 14:43 The real cost of IVF (financial and emotional) 19:44 Finding community as a woman giving birth after 40 22:14 What actually helps improve your chances of pregnancy 27:22 Is IVF the right path for you? 32:53 Egg freezing and what the future of IVF looks like 36:21 Exploring home birth later in life 40:13 Jesse’s home birth story 43:36 Staying grounded in your choices and your body Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week’s pop culture syllabus comes straight from the magazine rack!  In this solo episode, Christiana sits down to talk us through the latest from Women's Health, GQ, Harper's Bazaar, and the juiciest tabloids, breaking down celebrity glow-ups, style statements, and luxury obsessions from names like Jay-Z, Anne Hathaway, Rita Ora, and more while unpacking what this month’s magazines are really saying about pop culture. Follow Pop Syllabus: YouTube | Instagram | TikTok | Substack Merch available now! Sponsor Pop Syllabus: advertise@companionarts.com If there’s a topic you’d like us to deconstruct, tell us in the comments. Email: hello@popsyllabus.com  0:39 Rita Ora’s wellness era 3:12Inside Rita’s new look 7:00 The millennial facelift boom 13:55 Meghan & Harry tabloid drama 17:30 Ryan Seacrest’s face fears 19:17 Paris Hilton, theme queen 21:40 Crosswords: hot or not? 23:04 Jay-Z’s GQ takeover 23:39 Is Jay-Z channeling Basquiat? 28:12 Luxury ads everywhere 29:02 Pop culture’s iconic watches 32:22 Sketchers sketchy ads  34:06 GQ’s wedding rulebook 36:22 The life of Jay-Z 38:44 The Horology of HOV 45:38 Anne Hathaway’s Harper’s Bazaar moment 49:35 Chanel’s star-studded campaign 54:10 Bobbi Brown & beauty businesses 57:18 Ariana’s Swarovski sparkle 59:03 Inside Lulu Guinness’ whimsical home Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Women spend a lot of time wondering what men really think about love and relationships.  In this episode, Christiana sits down with Holly Solem, advice columnist and creator of the social media series Manthropology, to discuss what she’s learned from interviewing men about dating, masculinity, and loneliness. They also play a game revisiting iconic fictional men in pop culture and how they shaped millennial women’s understanding of love and relationships. Holly’s Vogue essay Follow Holly on Instagram Follow Mathropology on Instagram Follow Pop Syllabus: YouTube | Instagram | TikTok | Substack Merch available now! Sponsor Pop Syllabus: advertise@companionarts.com If there’s a topic you’d like us to deconstruct, tell us in the comments. Email: hello@popsyllabus.com  01:19 Meet Holly Solem  06:20 Holly’s move back to LA  07:14 Creating “Manthropology” 11:28 What Holly has learned about men while making “Manthropology”  13:34 How men in LA compare to men in NY 14:45 How women absorb the shame of men   16:09 Misogyny in 2026 18:02 Platonic relationships between straight men and women  22:20 How Holly reacts during Manthropology interviews 23:20 White girlhood vs. Black girlhood  25:51 Fictional pop-culture men game  27:14 Chandler Bing from “Friends”  28:58 Ross Geller from “Friends” 29:39 Batman  30:50 Superman  32:24 Homer Simpson  34:10 Lawrence from “Insecure” 35:13 Big from “Sex and the City”  37:13 Don Draper from “Mad Men” 38:18 Walter White from “Breaking Bad”  40:13 Nick Young from “Crazy Rich Asians”  41:35 Prince Akeem from “Coming to America”  42:46 Austin Powers  43:37 James Bond 46:40 Wolverine 48:13 Adam Sackler from “Girls” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We’ve been calling women divas for years, but we still can’t agree on what the word actually means or who qualifies.  In this episode, Christiana sits down with music journalist Gerrick Kennedy, co-author of Brandy's new memoir, Phases, to do the impossible: rank the greatest divas across the 90s, 2000s, and 2010s and unpack what really earns someone the title.  Together, they debate the diva status of icons like Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, Janet Jackson, Beyoncé, Britney Spears, Rihanna, Taylor Swift, and Lady Gaga, while making the case for a few overlooked sleeper divas along the way. By the end, it becomes clear that defining a diva is a lot harder than it sounds. Gerrick’s book with Brandy: https://www.harpercollins.com/products/phases-brandy?variant=44324080779298  Gerrick’s book on Whitney Houston: https://gerrickkennedy.com/whitneyhouston  Follow Gerrick on Instagram Follow Pop Syllabus: YouTube | Instagram | TikTok | Substack Merch available now! Sponsor Pop Syllabus: advertise@companionarts.com If there’s a topic you’d like us to deconstruct, tell us in the comments. Email: hello@popsyllabus.com  01:18 Meet Gerrick Kennedy  03:20 How Gerrick Built a Career in Music Journalism 06:33 The Time Gerrick Met Joe Jackson 11:18 Diva Ranking Game  13:19 Defining a “diva”  16:46 Ranking 90s divas  18:50 Brandy  27:07 Janet Jackson  29:22 Mariah Carey  34:07 Gerrick on Working With Brandy on Phases 36:16 The Patriarchal Control Behind Pop Divas 40:59 Ranking 2000s divas  42:11 Why Divas Have to Go Solo 48:59 Jennifer Lopez  55:59 Britney Spears  1:00:37 Amy Winehouse 1:05:01 Ranking 2010s divas  1:06:03 Lady Gaga  1:12:54 Rihanna  1:16:29 Tinashe  1:17:52 Beyoncé 1:23:56 Taylor Swift  1:25:39 The Next Generation of Pop Stars Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Whether you love them or hate them, it’s hard to argue the Kardashians didn’t completely change the way we think about fame. So how did this family go from reality TV to becoming the blueprint for modern celebrity and one of the most powerful forces in pop culture? In this episode, Christiana sits down with author MJ Corey to talk about her book Deconstructing the Kardashians: A New Media Manifesto and trace the evolution of the Kardashians and what their success really says about them. Together, they do what the internet has always done best and overanalyze the Kardashians, getting into fame, branding, controversy, and where this endlessly fascinating family goes next. Follow MJ on Instagram  Follow Pop Syllabus: YouTube | Instagram | TikTok | Substack Merch available now! Sponsor Pop Syllabus: advertise@companionarts.com If there’s a topic you’d like us to deconstruct, tell us in the comments. Email: hello@popsyllabus.com  00:52 MJ Corey’s first time watching Keeping Up With the Kardashians 03:08 Understanding postmodernism to understand the Kardashians 03:50 Kim Kardashian and ethnic ambiguity  04:55 Comparing the Kardashians to iconic American brands 08:50 Kris Jenner, the O.J. Simpson trial and revisionist history  13:00 The Kardashians, cultural appropriation and Black romantic partners 22:00 The Kardashians as early adopters of technology  25:25 The Paris robbery and trial 31:09 How the Kardashians will be remembered 32:15 Who will be Kris’ successor? 34:12 Predicting Kim’s future in politics  36:20 Which grandchild is most likely to be the next star?  37:40 Does Kim venture into podcasting?  38:10 Does SKIMS IPO? 38:28 How many more times will Kim Kardashian get married?  40:00 When will Kris Jenner retire? 42:04 What’s the future of Kylie Jenner and Timothée Chalamet? 44:29 Which Kardashian is mostly likely to make a hard pivot?  48:30 MJ’s biggest prediction for the Kardashians/Jenners in the next five years Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Celebrity couples today don’t just date, they trend, and every move instantly becomes part of the cultural conversation online.  In this episode, Christiana sits down with E! Entertainment host Erin Lim Rhodes to play our signature Celebrity Couples Game and debate some of pop culture’s most talked-about pairs, from Kylie Jenner and Timothée Chalamet to Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck, Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco, and more. Expect hot takes, chaotic rankings, and a few moments that will definitely have you rethinking everything you thought you knew about these couples. Follow Erin on Instagram Follow Pop Syllabus: YouTube | Instagram | TikTok | Substack Merch available now! Sponsor Pop Syllabus: advertise@companionarts.com If there’s a topic you’d like us to deconstruct, tell us in the comments. Email: hello@popsyllabus.com  01:03 Meet Erin Lim Rhodes 04:24 Erin’s move to Singapore  06:18 Getting hired by E!  11:46 “The Rundown” and using social media  18:29 The Celebrity Couples Game 19:30 Timothée Chalamet and Kylie Jenner 20:43 Gabrielle Union and Dwyane Wade 24:36 Nick Jonas and Priyanka Chopra 28:40 Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck  33:14 Olandria and Nic Vansteenberghe 36:28 John Legend and Chrissy Teigen 41:57 Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco 48:49 Zoë Kravitz and Harry Styles Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Womb health is still one of the most misunderstood areas of women’s care, especially for Black women.  In today’s episode, Christiana sits down with gynecologic oncologist and author of A Terrible Strength: The Hidden Crisis of the Black Womb and Your Survival Guide to Healing to walk us through fibroids, endometriosis, and the symptoms that are often dismissed, plus what women should be asking about care and diagnosis. Dr. Kemi’s website Follow Dr. Kemi Doll: Instagram Follow Pop Syllabus: YouTube | Instagram | TikTok | Substack Merch available now! Sponsor Pop Syllabus: advertise@companionarts.com If there’s a topic you’d like us to deconstruct, tell us in the comments. Email: hello@popsyllabus.com  01:00 Meet Dr. Kemi Doll 03:40 How Dr. Doll’s background has informed her work  07:30 Understanding womb suffering 08:55 Black women with womb suffering getting misdiagnosed  10:47 Womb condition #1: heavy menstrual bleeding  23:40 Options for people with the BRCA1 gene 25:36 Womb condition #2: endometriosis  35:29 Teenagers and young women with womb suffering  39:05 Womb condition #3: fibroids  51:18 Womb condition #4: endometrial cancer  01:01:28 Advice for dealing with doctors and medical institutions 01:08:45 Combining holistic wellness with medicine 01:11:55 Setting boundaries in order to heal  01:13:00 Where to find Dr. Kemi Doll’s work  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to another week in pop culture, where nothing is calm and everything is a headline. In this episode, Christiana flips through the latest tabloids and magazines, breaking down celebrity chaos, unhinged headlines, and the editorials everyone can’t stop talking about. Sydney Sweeney, Doja Cat, Timothée Chalamet, Anne Hathaway, and more all show up in this week’s rundown as Christiana shares her hot takes on what’s worth the hype and what’s just noise. Follow Pop Syllabus: YouTube | Instagram | TikTok | Substack   Merch available now! Sponsor Pop Syllabus: advertise@companionarts.com If there’s a topic you’d like us to deconstruct, tell us in the comments. Email: hello@popsyllabus.com  01:50 Sydney Sweeney’s “Magazine Milkies” Moment 02:59 Sofía Vergara’s Sketchy Skechers Ad 03:54 Sydney Sweeney’s Viral Lingerie Editorial 08:15 Why Everyone Is Suddenly Obsessed With Tyriq Withers 10:04 Twilight Taylors 10:22 Is Robert Pattinson the New Leonardo DiCaprio? 12:40 Teyana Taylor as Lady Liberty 14:26 Inside the “MAGA Land” Editorial 21:54 Doja Cat on Vogue 24:48 India’s Growing Influence on Pop Culture 27:10 Bhavitha Mandava, Versace & Fashion’s Rising New Faces 29:08 Jelly Roll’s Weight Loss Transformation 34:20 Sarah Michelle Gellar’s People Magazine Cover 35:48 The Royal Roundup: Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle & More 37:22 Anne Hathaway’s Best Oscars Look 38:14 Sarah Michelle Gellar Is Making a Comeback 40:19 Harry & Meghan “Exiled” From Hollywood? 43:21 Christiana’s Top Magazine Recommendation Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In Hollywood, everyone wants a “perfect” face, but the goal now is to make it look like nothing was ever done. But behind that natural look is a growing set of procedures most people would never recognize. Today, Christiana sits down with Double Board Certified Facial & Reconstructive Plastic Surgeon Dr. Carl Truesdale to understand what’s driving Hollywood’s obsession with undetectable plastic surgery, from subtle lifts to revision procedures, as well as how cosmetic work among men and AI are shaping today’s beauty standards. Dr. Truesdale’s website  Follow Dr. Truesdale: Instagram  Follow Pop Syllabus: YouTube | Instagram | TikTok | Substack Merch available now! Sponsor Pop Syllabus: advertise@companionarts.com If there’s a topic you’d like us to deconstruct, tell us in the comments. Email: hello@popsyllabus.com  01:02 Meet Dr. Carl Truesdale  02:07 How Dr. Truesdale got into cosmetic surgery  03:50 Cultivating a diverse practice with cultural competency  09:05 The costs of cosmetic surgery  10:01 Thread lifts, fillers and botox  12:20 How Dr. Truesdale contributes to beauty standards and pressures  15:00 Psychological shifts for patients 17:00 Patients who are unhappy after their procedures   18:55 Dr. Truesdale on sharing his work on social media  21:46 Not being able to share the work he does for some celebrities  22:58 Celebrities who don’t share that they have had work done  25:20 Karama Brown  25:38 Lower blepharoplasty 26:06 Men getting plastic surgery  30:08 Looking younger longer  31:24 Revision surgeries   34:17 Knowing when to operate and turning patients away  34:57 Mid-facelifts  35:45 Responding to those who say plastic surgery is bad  39:10 A rapper whose “friend” paid for her cosmetic work  40:41 The future of plastic surgery, AI, and beauty standards  46:02 Christiana requests a free consultation from Dr. Truesdale   47:30 Dr. Truesdale doing his parents’ plastic surgery  49:00 Where you can find Dr. Truesdale online Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Non-monogamy is everywhere right now, and so are the opinions about it. In today’s episode, Christiana sits down with psychologist and Chapman University Professor Dr. Amy Moors to unpack open relationships, ethical non-monogamy, and why more people are exploring love outside the traditional mold. Dr. Amy Moors research Follow Pop Syllabus: YouTube | Instagram | TikTok | Substack Merch available now! Sponsor Pop Syllabus: advertise@companionarts.com If there’s a topic you’d like us to deconstruct, tell us in the comments. Email: hello@popsyllabus.com 01:07 Meet Dr. Amy Moors 03:31 Defining non-monogamy  04:30 Defining polyamory and open relationships  05:50 Different types of polyamory  07:06 Who engages in consensual non-mongamy? And how common is it? 10:25 Loving multiple people 14:10 Stigmas towards people who practice consensual non-monogamy  17:35 Christiana’s familial experiences with polygamy  21:35 Both monogamy and non-monogamy can be messy  22:40 How societal inequities show up in relationships  25:19 Lindy West, millennial feminism, and trad wives 27:04 Gender ratios among non-monogamous couples 28:10 Measuring “success” among non-monogamous relationships  31:01 Couples who open their relationships after being monogamous  34:20 Why is non-monogamy seemingly everywhere?  39:18 Americans don’t like to talk about sex  41:45 LGBTQ+ couples and non-monogamy  44:28 Learning from people who practice non-monogamy  46:16 Non-monogamous parents and their children  53:20 Non-hierarchical polyamory  55:30 Finding the time to sustain non-monogamous relationships    57:42 The future of consensual non-monogamy 01:04:30 Where to find Dr. Moors’ work  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

No matter where you find yourself on the internet, celebrities’ lives are constantly in front of us, but who’s actually a star and who’s just famous? From icons like Beyoncé to rising names like Sabrina Carpenter and Sydney Sweeney, Christiana sits down with award-winning reporter and podcaster Sam Sanders to play “star, celebrity, or famous person” and break down what really makes someone last in pop culture. Follow Sam: Instagram  Follow Pop Syllabus: YouTube | Instagram | TikTok | Substack |  Merch available now! Sponsor Pop Syllabus: advertise@companionarts.com If there’s a topic you’d like us to deconstruct, tell us in the comments. Email: hello@popsyllabus.com  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#SugarBaby culture is everywhere online. But why is it making such a big comeback now? As money gets tighter and “SugarTok” gains traction, conversations around sugar dating and hypergamy are becoming more mainstream. Christiana sits down with Cornell lecturer Dr. Megan Sawey to examine what’s driving the trend and what it means for modern dating. Megan’s research on sugar dating Follow Pop Syllabus: YouTube | Instagram | TikTok | Substack Merch available now! Sponsor Pop Syllabus: advertise@companionarts.com If there’s a topic you’d like us to deconstruct, tell us in the comments. Email: hello@popsyllabus.com 01:17 Meet Dr. Megan Sawey 07:20 Understanding hypergamy and dating up  12:29 Sugar dating in relation to sex work  17:55 Sugar dating as an entrepreneurial endeavor  31:50 Sugar dating and the digital intimacy economy  33:50 Sugar dating and politics   37:20 How sugar dating is portrayed as heteronormative in media and marketing  41:45 Sugar daddies and how sugar dating is regulated  45:20 Sexual racism and sugar dating 48:28 Sugar dating for men vs. women 51:07 The future of sugar dating and hypergamy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The internet didn’t just change sex. Sex built the internet. So who actually gets credit for shaping the digital world? Today, Christiana speaks with Mindy Seu, author of A Sexual History of the Internet, to unpack how sex, desire, and the labor of sex workers quietly built the foundations of the internet, and why that history is still left out of the conversation. Follow Mindy on Instagram Follow Pop Syllabus: YouTube | Instagram | TikTok | Substack Merch available now! Sponsor Pop Syllabus: advertise@companionarts.com If there’s a topic you’d like us to deconstruct, tell us in the comments. Email: hello@popsyllabus.com  00:56 Meet Mindy Seu 01:32 Cyberfeminism 05:04 How sex and sex workers have influenced the evolution of the internet  10:10 Sex workers and cryptocurrency 12:05 Defining “sex work” 23:36 Why don’t more people know about the sexual history of the internet? 26:40 The physicality of technology   32:26 Female body parts named after men  33:51 How technology and the sex industry are influencing each other  35:36 How the sexual nature of the internet is affecting girls and women  38:31 Digital black books for sex workers 39:30 Sex workers currently experimenting with technology and artificial intelligence 42:05 OnlyFans 45:54 The internet as a utopic fantasy space  47:30 The future of the internet and AI Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you’re a Swiftie, this episode is for you. Today, Christiana sits down with professor and author Misty Heggeness to break down her book Swiftnomics and how Taylor Swift turned fandom into a $4 billion touring empire, and what it reveals about consumption, influence, and the rise of a new economic model led by women. Misty’s website: https://www.mistyheggeness.com/  Follow Pop Syllabus: YouTube | Instagram | TikTok | Substack |  Merch available now! Sponsor Pop Syllabus: advertise@companionarts.com If there’s a topic you’d like us to deconstruct, tell us in the comments. Email: hello@popsyllabus.com  00:42 Meet Misty Heggeness 04:07 Swiftynomics and studying Taylor Swift as an economic muse  09:20 How do we scale swiftynomics?  11:13 Women creating space for other women  15:08 Swiftnomics vs. Sheryl Sandberg’s “Lean In” movement  18:00 “Pearl clutchers” vs. “granolas”  20:00 Women leaving the workforce and being economically sidelined  31:44 “Masterminding” the systems 36:08 Hoarding wealth  42:45 Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce 49:40 The future of Swiftynomics  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Like, why did the “Valley Girl” become America’s favorite punchline? Today, Christiana sits down with journalist and author, Koa Beck, to talk about how the Valley Girl stereotype took off in pop culture, why it has been so misunderstood, and how it reflects America’s bigger anxieties about young women and femininity that still shape how we see them today. Follow Koa: Instagram  Subscribe to Koa’s Substack Follow Pop Syllabus: YouTube | Instagram | TikTok | Substack |  Merch available now! Sponsor Pop Syllabus: advertise@companionarts.com If there’s a topic you’d like us to deconstruct, tell us in the comments. Email: hello@popsyllabus.com 00:28 The Valley 01:25 Defining the “Valley Girl” 05:03 Valley speak and the valley girl accent 08:10 From the valley girl to the modern day influencer 17:35 The history of the Valley Girl 24:31 Why the trope of the “Valley Girl” is white  26:44 Why the valley stereotypes are associated with girls 31:00 How the concept of the “Valley Girl” became negative 40:00 The Valley Girl and sex  44:29 The Valley Girl and influencer culture 48:19 The future of the Valley Girl Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Colorism isn’t new. It’s the curse embedded in Hollywood’s DNA. Today, Christiana sits down with scholar-activist Dr. Yaba Blay to unpack how colorism operates behind the scenes of pop culture, why lighter skin is still centered, and how these hierarchies shape everything from stardom to self-worth. Follow Dr. Yaba Blay: Instagram  Follow Pop Syllabus: YouTube | Instagram | TikTok | Substack |  Merch available now! Sponsor Pop Syllabus: advertise@companionarts.com If there’s a topic you’d like us to deconstruct, tell us in the comments. Email: hello@popsyllabus.com  00:37 Defining “colorism” 03:30 The relativity of colorism  06:04 How colorism functions in Hollywood  08:15 A history of colorism and skin bleaching  12:50 Gender bias and colorism in entertainment  17:02 Beyonce and colorism in the music industry  28:40 Moments that feel like societal shifts 33:00 How skin bleaching has transformed  37:00 Understanding the context around why people bleach their skin  42:55 Hair trends among Black women  51:00 Questioning society and capitalism (not just the individual)  54:20 What choices can we make in light of colorism? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Looksmaxxing is the internet’s latest male self-improvement trend — where your jawline is a strategy and your face is a project. Today, Christiana sits down with Associate Professor of Sociology at Dalhousie University, Dr. Michael Halpin, to explain what looksmaxxing really is, why cosmetic surgeries are on the rise, and how this corner of the Manosphere is reshaping masculinity and the way men see women. Dr. Michael’s research on looksmaxxing: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Hn3HDozK8_GMWOVtv3do3joZ4Guyxlpp/view  Follow Pop Syllabus: YouTube | Instagram | TikTok | Substack Merch available now! Sponsor Pop Syllabus: advertise@companionarts.com If there’s a topic you’d like us to deconstruct, tell us in the comments. Email: hello@popsyllabus.com  03:35 Defining “looksmaxxing” 09:45 Who is looksmaxxing?  11:00 Lookism and why boys and men are looksmaxxing  14:50 How looksmaxxing and its harmful impacts are spreading beyond the manosphere 20:42 The PSL scale  24:40 How looksmaxxers and incels are subcultures within the manosphere 40:38 What can be done to stop harmful looksmaxxing  44:00 Looksmaxxing as an emerging health crisis Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Almost a year later, Sinners is still unforgettable, and Wunmi Mosaku’s Annie stole our hearts. But behind the performance was a woman navigating first-time motherhood, career crossroads, and big life choices.  On today’s episode, Christiana talks to Oscar-nominated Wunmi about her maternity brand Iyadé, self care, and lessons from a career-defining role. Wunmi’s maternity brand’s website:.iyadebywunmi.com Follow Wunmi on Instagram: @wunmimosaku Follow Pop Syllabus: YouTube | Instagram | TikTok | Substack Merch available now! Sponsor Pop Syllabus: advertise@companionarts.com If there’s a topic you’d like us to deconstruct, tell us in the comments. Email: hello@popsyllabus.com  00:36 Wunmi’s Oscar nomination 03:40 “Sinners” and how playing Annie changed Wunmi’s life  08:40 Why Annie resonates with audiences  14:57 Loving yourself  18:45 Wunmi’s Golden Globe pregnancy announcement  24:04 Creating Iyadé, a maternity clothing brand  29:55 Being careful about who and what you invite in  38:43 Admiring Delroy Lindo and Michael B. Jordan’s acting 42:35 Self care  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Astrology is everywhere, blending spirituality, social media, and even AI apps that promise to read your future.  Today, Christiana speaks with astrology historian, Margaret Gaida, to understand how astrology shapes love, culture, and the hidden inequalities of the cosmic world. Margaret’s website: mghsci.wordpress.com/dissertation Follow Pop Syllabus: YouTube | Instagram | TikTok | Substack |  Merch⁠ available now! Sponsor Pop Syllabus: ⁠advertise@companionarts.com⁠ If there’s a topic you’d like us to deconstruct, tell us in the comments. Email: ⁠hello@popsyllabus.com⁠  02:20 Astrology in the East vs. West  03:30 Astrological predictions throughout history  07:45 The mothers of astrology  12:45 Why women and LGBTQ+ communities are attracted to astrology  18:32 Astrology and science  23:48 Big Zodiac, tech and AI 29:31 White influencers and astrology   41:04 “Space racism” and dating  44:50 Individualism vs. communities  47:40 The future of astrology in America  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When Rachel Lindsay said yes to being on The Bachelor, she had no clue what she was getting herself into. Since then, she has gone from practicing lawyer, to The First Black Bachelorette, to media personality and author.  Today, Christiana and Rachel talk about Black women on reality TV and how she helped change the genre.  Follow Rachel: Instagram   Follow Pop Syllabus: YouTube | Instagram | TikTok | Substack |  Merch available now! Sponsor Pop Syllabus: advertise@companionarts.com If there’s a topic you’d like us to deconstruct, tell us in the comments. Email: hello@popsyllabus.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jeff Hiller was 49 when he won his first Emmy but, despite what many people think, he didn’t just come out of nowhere. He was a working comedian and actor for years before landing his breakout role on HBO’s Somebody Somewhere. On today’s episode, Christiana talks to Jeff about his book “Actress of a Certain Age: My Twenty-Year Trail to Overnight Success” and why none of us seem to feel like we’re adulting right.   Follow Jeff: Instagram   Follow Pop Syllabus: YouTube | Instagram | TikTok | Substack |  Merch available now! Sponsor Pop Syllabus: advertise@companionarts.com If there’s a topic you’d like us to deconstruct, tell us in the comments. Email: hello@popsyllabus.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Disney Adults are some of the most fascinating, layered, and hated subcultures in contemporary American life.  Today, Christiana speaks with Robbie Whelan, author of the forthcoming book House of Mouse, to understand the world of Disney Adults.  Follow Robbie: X Follow Pop Syllabus: YouTube | Instagram | TikTok | Substack   Merch available now! Sponsor Pop Syllabus: advertise@companionarts.com If there’s a topic you’d like us to deconstruct, tell us in the comments. Email: hello@popsyllabus.com  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Glass skin, a 10-step-skincare routine and one of the fastest growing beauty categories in the world. Welcome to the church of K-Beauty!  Today, Christiana speaks with Elise Hu, author of Flawless: Lessons in Looks and Culture from the K-Beauty Capital, the definitive book on how K-Beauty took over the world.  Follow Elise: Instagram | TikTok   Follow Pop Syllabus: YouTube | Instagram | TikTok | Substack   Merch available now! Sponsor Pop Syllabus: advertise@companionarts.com If there’s a topic you’d like us to deconstruct, tell us in the comments. Email: hello@popsyllabus.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today, we’re talking about “Big Wellness” - the business, its benefits, the grift? Whether we think it’s all a scam, or can’t wake up without a gorgeous green cup of matcha, wellness culture has changed our world forever.  To help us understand this phenomenon, Christiana speaks to Amy Larocca, journalist and author of How to Be Well: Navigating Our Self-Care Epidemic, One Dubious Cure at a Time. Follow Amy: Instagram  Follow Pop Syllabus: YouTube | Instagram | TikTok | Substack |  Merch available now! Sponsor Pop Syllabus: advertise@companionarts.com If there’s a topic you’d like us to deconstruct, tell us in the comments. Email: hello@popsyllabus.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Pop Syllabus is a show where host Christiana Mbakwe Medina deconstructs the zeitgeist and answers the big cultural questions. How did we swing from body positivity to thin-being-in? Why do so many people trust wellness influencers over medical doctors? And how did tech oligarchs become the new celebrities? Think of Christiana as a cross between a messy news anchor and guerilla academic. Each week, she and an expert guest will unpack a buzzy topic, and help us understand the moment while going through it. Pop Syllabus is produced by Nkiruka Productions and Companion Arts. Subscribe now on Spotify, YouTube, Apple Podcasts and wherever you get your podcasts. MERCH OUT NOW! https://popsyllabus.com/ Sign up for Christiana’s Substack! https://popsyllabus.substack.com Follow us! Instagram:  @popsyllabus TikTok:   @popsyllabus   Sponsor Pop Syllabus: advertise@companionarts.com If there’s a topic you’d like us to deconstruct, tell us in the comments. Email: hello@popsyllabus.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Pop Syllabus is a show where host Christiana Mbakwe Medina deconstructs the zeitgeist and answers the big cultural questions. How did we swing from body positivity to thin-being-in? Why do so many people trust wellness influencers over medical doctors? And how did tech oligarchs become the new celebrities? Think of Christiana as a cross between a messy news anchor and guerilla academic. Each week, she and an expert guest will unpack a buzzy topic, and help us understand the moment while going through it. Pop Syllabus is coming soon! Subscribe now on Spotify, YouTube, Apple Podcasts and wherever you get your podcasts. MERCH OUT NOW! Sign up for Christiana’s Substack! Follow us! YouTube | Instagram | TikTok Sponsor Pop Syllabus: advertise@companionarts.com If there’s a topic you’d like us to deconstruct, tell us in the comments. Email: hello@popsyllabus.com Pop Syllabus is produced by Nkiruka Productions and Companion Arts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices