Have You Heard About... – Details, episodes & analysis

When I first read Jen Sookfong Lee's thoughtful memoir 'Superfan: How Pop Culture Broke My Heart,' I knew I'd have to have her on the show. A fellow Vancouverite, Jen's memoir explores what it was like growing up in a Chinese-Canadian household, cleverly set against the lens of pop culture.
We chat about what it was like growing up wanting to see more of yourself on screen, how kids of immigrants can use pop culture as a tool to navigate the world around them, why we should be paying more attention to the culture that informs us, and so much more.
If you enjoy the podcast, you will most definitely love my new Substack 'we need to unpack this'. It's free to subscribe and breaks down all the cultural beats I've been thinking about. If you like the show, please subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. And if you really like us, consider leaving a 5 star review and sharing with your fellow culture stans. If you have a culture beat topic you’d like the show or Substack to explore, follow along or DM on Instagram where we share cool links, form show ideas, and generally gossip @haveyouheardpodcast
Find more of Jen here and follow her on Instagram 
 

I started a Substack! It covers all the podcast culture beats you love, but also standalone topics that are best explored through writing. I'll also provide recommendations, interesting links, and the usual hot goss. It's called 'we need to unpack this,' and you can subscribe to it for free here.
The first two pieces are all about Blake Lively, both in what she’s really trying to sell us, (no, it’s not just the promise of good hair or sparkling craft beverages), and breaking down what the backlash from the press tour from ‘It Ends With Us’ tells us about ourselves. I’ve been thinking about her and Ryan Reynolds for an embarrassingly long time - both in how they’ve positioned themselves, together, as industry power houses, and how they seem to evade a lot of the backlash from overexposure and earnestness we don’t tolerate as much from other celebrities.
If you enjoy the podcast, you will most definitely love the Substack. And if you want to get into the social media of it all, follow along on Instagram @haveyouheardpodcast. Thanks for listening, your support and feedback make doing the show so much fun, and I really appreciate it. If you have a culture beat topic you’d like the show or Substack to explore, shoot me a DM on Instagram. Enjoy the Substack! 

This episode is a long time coming, an in-depth look at one of our favourite shows, the aesthetically cozy 'Gilmore Girls!'
Cousin Mary is back as guest-host as we debate and revisit key elements throughout the series, exploring both the original run and four part 'A Year in the Life' revival on Netflix, the devoted fandom, and of course behind the scenes gossip; including potential cast drama and the much discussed exit of showrunner's Amy Sherman-Palladino and Daniel Palladino.
Along the way we explore the love interests (a game of F, marry, kill for Dean/Jess/Logan was inevitable), talk problematic aspects of the show, the rumoured rift between Lauren Graham and Scott Patterson, and whether we'll get more episodes. And heads up, there is a special giveaway we announce!
For a more dynamic experience, follow us on Instagram @haveyouheardpodcast. So many of our episodes, including this one, are shaped through discussions with listeners, which you can revisit through our IG highlights. We also post cool articles, tv/film recommendations, and generally love to break down notable cultural moments.
Support the pod by sharing and subscribing wherever you get your podcasts. Please consider rating 5 stars and writing a review on Apple or Spotify, it goes a long way and is much appreciated! xo Mahsa
Helpful references and links  / pop culture homework:
Talking As Fast As I Can: From Gilmore Girls to Gilmore Girls and Everything in Between (Lauren Graham)
Gilmore Girls Has Never Been a Pro Choice Show (Cosmopolitan, Emma Dibdin)

So thrilled to have Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan, the brilliant creators behind the iconic Go Fug Yourself on the podcast!
So many of us have been reading the site since it started in 2004, and it continues to be an OG pop culture staple. What began as a fun side hobby between two friends has spanned nearly 20 years and 25 million page views a month, where they continue to make us laugh while covering red carpet style like no other.
We get into so much in this interview; from their days writing recaps at Mighty Big TV/Television Without Pity, to the inception of Go Fug Yourself, their growth as writers, the loyal community they've built, and lots more. I seriously could have talked to them forever, and can attest that they are as witty and whip smart in person as they are online.
Talented writers, they are co-authors of several books including Messy, Spoiled, the Royal We, and the Heir Affair. They're generously giving away a few signed copies of the Royal We and the Heir Affair to some lucky listeners, details below!

To Enter the Giveaway:
Follow the Fug Girls on Instagram
Follow the Podcast on Instagram
Subscribe to the podcast site (find the subscribe form on your right on desktop, scroll down for mobile)
Canadian and US entries only at this time. Good luck! 

If you enjoy the show, make sure you’re subscribed!  please share, and give us 5 stars on Apple podcasts or Spotify and write a review, it goes a long way with helping the podcast reach more listeners.  

xo Mahsa

The episode for reality tv stans everywhere!
How many times have we referred to reality tv as a guilty pleasure? Or trash tv? Or just generally felt embarrassed admitting to our reality tv vice?
Author Danielle Lindemann joins us to chat about her new book, 'True Story: What Reality TV Says About Us.' As a sociologist and reality tv fan (who teaches a course on reality tv--where do I sign up for that!?), Danielle provocatively suggests that perhaps we shouldn't brush off reality tv as our collective guilty pleasure; that instead by looking at the extremes, what is reflected back to us is a fun-house mirror indicative of ourselves.
Take race for example - Did you know the long running show COPS was cancelled in the wake of George Floyd's murder? Yes, it was then picked up again by FOX (no surprise there), but for a short time, COPS couldn't exist in a post BLM world.
What about the Bachelor franchise? It took 15 years for the show to cast a black Bachelorette, and then another 4 years to cast a black Bachelor (Rachel Lindsay and Matt James, respectively). Not to mention the show always follows a traditional heteronormative courtship (the roses! the proposals! the right reasons trope)! Meanwhile, we see members of the LGBTQ+ community on other reality shows, but they are still heavily produced to appeal to the male gaze.
And what do we make of the greatest paradox of all--that a reality tv star actually made it to the White House!? While Trump may not have landed the Presidency from his tenure on 'The Apprentice,' it certainly didn't disqualify him. And having a platform for him and his family to be in our living rooms weekly in positions of power certainly didn't hurt.
If we peel back the layers of reality tv and see exaggerated versions of our own culture, can we so easily dismiss it as nothing more than a frothy delight? We chat with Danielle and find out.
Obsessions include our latest scam TV pleasure, WeCrashed.
For a more dynamic experience, follow us on Instagram @haveyouheardpodcast. So many of our episodes, including this one, are shaped through discussions with listeners, which you can revisit through our IG highlights. We also post cool articles, tv/film recommendations, and generally love to break down notable cultural moments. Hearing from listeners is our fave, so feel free to drop us a DM to share your thoughts on the latest episode, show suggestions, or anything pop culture. You can find us on Twitter @MahsaSays
If you enjoy the podcast, be sure to subscribe, share, and consider rating 5 stars / writing a review on Apple and Spotify. It goes a long way and is much appreciated.
If you'd like to contribute to our 'Buy Me a Coffee' page to show your support, you can find that here

Helpful references and links  / pop culture homework:
True Story: What Reality TV Says About Us (Danielle Lindemann)
The Bachelor's Ongoing Problem with Hair Texture Diversity (Allure, Amanda Mitchell)

Who better to deep dive the boom of the teen mags than legendary editor Atoosa Rubenstein!? As Founding Editor of CosmoGirl (at age 26!), and former Editor-in-Chief of Seventeen magazine, Atoosa's magic was a blend of understanding the teenage experience, while being acutely relatable to her readers (this, despite living a life of glamour and high fashion in NYC should not be underestimated). After leaving the industry in 2006 (and yes, we chat about why), she re-emerged recently with her Substack Newsletter and Podcast of the same name, Atoosa Unedited. The best kind of guest, Atoosa is generous with her insight, nuggets of industry gossip (!), and the experiences she's grown from.
Atoosa was synonymous with teen mags of an era--the late 90's/early 2000's during their heyday, where it felt like every women's magazine was piggybacking off the success of the teen mag boom by launching their own 'little sister' publication. Fast forward a decade, and teen magazines have all but ceased to exist in print, and only a few remain digitally.
We cover so much ground here; including the decline of the magazine industry, Atoosa's remarkable career that spawned an army of teen girls to dream of publishing careers, the singular anatomy of the teen mags (Trauma-Rama anyone!?), and whether magazines in print form is worth saving. When we have so many digital options and influencers telling us how to dress and what to buy (with algorithmic accuracy!), what is the value, if any, of print?
Atoosa also offers career advice to the grown up CosmoGirls who still dream of having a career like hers. I won't spoil it, but it involves being audacious.
For a more dynamic experience, follow us on Instagram @haveyouheardpodcast. So many of our episodes, including this one, are shaped through discussions with listeners, which you can revisit through our IG highlights. We also post cool articles, tv/film recommendations, and generally love to break down notable cultural moments. Hearing from listeners is our fave, so feel free to drop us a DM to share your thoughts on the latest episode, show suggestions, or anything pop culture. You can find us on Twitter @MahsaSays
If you enjoy the podcast, be sure to subscribe, share, and consider rating 5 stars / writing a review. It goes a long way and is much appreciated.
If you'd like to contribute to our 'Buy Me a Coffee' page to show your support, you can find that here

Helpful references and links  / pop culture homework:
Subscribe to Atoosa Unedited (Substack)
Follow Atoosa on Instagram
Could the Teen Mag Rise Again (The New Yorker, Kate Dwyer)
Returning to the Life You Blew Up (The Cut, Yasmin Gagne)
XOXO, Atoosa (Slate, Heather Schwedel)
Life at 28 with Atoosa Rubenstein (Bustle, Samantha Leach)

Mahsa and guest-host Rachel are back at it with Part Two of the Jillian Harris/Influencer Economy deep dive!
We get to the meat of it in this second half, and do our best to answer the big questions around the relatively new career of influencing, including exploring this unique parasocial relationship and tackling what, if anything, influencers owe their followers.
As we debate the merits of influencers sharing their (curated) world with us, we wonder how much of it they need to share, particularly around their (sometimes controversial) sentiment on what's happening in the world around us. While Jillian has spent the past few years lending her platform to social causes and diverse voices, we can't say the same about all her contemporaries/circle of influencer friends. We get somewhat political this episode, so please note that as always, views are our own. 
And we try to answer the biggest question of all --why are influencers?! Do we need them? Do we love them? Do we love to hate them? Most importantly, what value do they give us?
For a more dynamic experience, follow us on Instagram @haveyouheardpodcast. We post cool articles, tv/film recommendations, and generally love to break down notable cultural moments. We love hearing from listeners, so be sure to drop us a DM. You can find us on Twitter @MahsaSays
If you enjoy the podcast, be sure to subscribe, share, and consider rating 5 stars / writing a review. It goes a long way and is much appreciated.
If you'd like to contribute to our 'Buy Me a Coffee' page to show your support, you can find that here.

Helpful links we reference during the show / pop culture homework:
The Edenic Allure of BallerinaFarm (Culture Study, Anne Helen Petersen)

This is by far the most asked for episode from our listeners, and your complicated feelings on the subject fascinates us!
Mahsa and guest-host Rachel delve into the world of Jillian Harris. From her stint as the Bachelorette to her BFF persona on Instagram, to the evolution of using her platform to speak out on social causes, we have so much to talk about.
This episode is largely shaped by our amazing community on Instagram. We posed the question: "Do you follow Jillian Harris, why or why not,?" and the responses were so insightful we kept the discussion going to examine the influencer economy.  We see their lives summed up in carefully curated IG feeds, but what responsibility do they have to acknowledge life outside those pretty squares?
We had so much to say this will be a two-parter. Part One focusses on Jillian's career, while Part Two (coming next week) will contrast Jillian with a few other Canadian influencers, the intersection of influencing and socio-political  issues, plus tackling some of the big questions around what influencers owe us, and vice-versa.
For a more dynamic experience, follow us on Instagram @haveyouheardpodcast. We post cool articles, tv/film recommendations, and generally gossip. We love hearing from listeners, so be sure to drop us a DM. You can find us on Twitter @MahsaSays
If you'd like to contribute to our 'Buy Me a Coffee' page to show your support, you can find that here.
If you enjoy the podcast, be sure to subscribe, share, and consider rating 5 stars / writing a review. It goes a long way and is much appreciated.

A deep dive on the best new show we have seen in a long time, the wildly chilling Yellowjackets!
Mahsa and guest-host Mary cover lots of ground, so this is spoiler and speculation heavy - fair warning. From what makes the show resonate with so many people, dream casting scenarios, the most imaginative theories on Reddit (we can agree that Adam isn't Javi though, right!?), to the refreshing diversity, and so much more.
Sometimes a show is internet popular and takes over Twitter and Reddit; other times it's popular because so many people actually watch it. Yellowjackets is that rare combination of both, with the magic of perfect casting and pacing, it's nearly poetic. It's the kind of show you want to dissect; part of the fun is the heavy symbolism and 'what does it mean' of it all.
And it's the perfect vehicle for some of our fave 90's actresses - Juliette Lewis, Christina Ricci, and Melanie Lynsky.
Obsessions include the tv show from the 2000's you need to watch if you already miss Yellowjackets, plus Mary's undying love of the Real Housewives multiverse.
If you enjoy the podcast, be sure to subscribe, share, and consider rating 5 stars / writing a review. It goes a long way and is much appreciated!
For a more dynamic experience, follow us on Instagram @haveyouheardpodcast. We post cool articles, tv/film recommendations, and generally gossip. We love hearing from listeners, so be sure to drop us a DM. You can find us on Twitter @MahsaSays
If you'd like to contribute to our 'Buy Me a Coffee' page to show your support, you can find that here.

Helpful links we reference during the show / pop culture homework:
Watch Yellowjackets (Crave in Canada, Showtime in USA)
The Yellowjackets Showrunners Answer All Our Post-Finale Questions (Vulture)
Yellowjackets 10 Best Fan Theories According to Reddit (Screenrant)
Which Yellowjackets Character Are You? (Buzzfeed Quiz)
VC Andrews Episode Reference (Have You Heard About...)
Learn More About the Bechdel Test

The verdict is in, and while it was a mixed bag, Elizabeth Holmes was found guilty on 4 charges of defrauding investors.
Pop culture writer and critic Kayleigh Donaldson joins us as we deep dive the never-ending Elizabeth Holmes story. From the rise and fall of her company Theranos, that promised to revolutionize the healthcare industry by running hundreds of tests through just a few drops of blood, to going from the cover of Forbes to potentially serving time behind bars. We break it all down for you, as we try to answer the big questions (how did she convince investors to give her hundred of millions of dollars, what does this mean for the future of Silicon Valley, how likely is it that she'll serve time, why did nobody ask questions!?)
Perhaps the biggest question is how Elizabeth Holmes will reinvent herself in her second act. Because if it's one thing we know, it's that America loves a good comeback story.
We love engaging with listeners, so follow along and let us know what you think on Instagram @haveyouheardpodcast. We're doing a giveaway of the 'Bad Blood' book by John Carreyrou who broke this story wide open, so follow us on IG to see how you can get your hands on a copy (a must read!)
Follow the wonderful Kayleigh Donaldson on Twitter @Ceilidhann. You can read her work at Pajiba. You can find us on Twitter @MahsaSays
If you like the podcast, please share, and consider leaving 5 stars and writing a review. It goes a long way and is much appreciated.
If you'd like to contribute to our 'Buy Me a Coffee' page to show your support, you can find that here.
Helpful links we reference during the show / pop culture homework:
Bad Blood: Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup (John Carreyrou)
The Inventor: Out for Blood in Silicon Valley (HBO)
The Drop Out (Apple Podcasts)
Bad Blood: The Final Chapter (Apple Podcasts)