Pop Syllabus – Details, episodes & analysis

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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