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Explore every episode of the podcast Pop Syllabus
Dive into the complete episode list for Pop Syllabus. Each episode is cataloged with detailed descriptions, making it easy to find and explore specific topics. Keep track of all episodes from your favorite podcast and never miss a moment of insightful content.
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Introducing: Pop Syllabus with Christiana Mbakwe Medina | 12 Jan 2026 | 00:01:56 | |
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.
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Pop Syllabus is produced by Nkiruka Productions and Companion Arts
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| Introducing: Pop Syllabus with Christiana Mbakwe Medina | 13 Jan 2026 | 00:02:06 | |
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/
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Instagram: Â @popsyllabus
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If thereâs a topic youâd like us to deconstruct, tell us in the comments.
Email: hello@popsyllabus.com
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| The Dark Side of Wellness | Pop Syllabus | 14 Jan 2026 | 01:02:52 | |
Today, weâre talking about âBig Wellnessâ - the business, its benefits, the grift? Whether we think itâs all a scam, or canât wake up without a gorgeous green cup of matcha, wellness culture has changed our world forever.Â
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: InstagramÂ
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| How K-Beauty Took Over the World with Elise Hu | Pop Syllabus | 23 Jan 2026 | 00:53:09 | |
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!Â
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.Â
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| The Myth of an âOvernight Successâ With Jeff Hiller | 04 Feb 2026 | 00:48:50 | |
Jeff Hiller was 49 when he won his first Emmy but, despite what many people think, he didnât just come out of nowhere. He was a working comedian and actor for years before landing his breakout role on HBOâs Somebody Somewhere.
On todayâs episode, Christiana talks to Jeff about his book âActress of a Certain Age: My Twenty-Year Trail to Overnight Successâ and why none of us seem to feel like weâre adulting right. Â
Follow Jeff: Instagram Â
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| The World of Disney Adults With Robbie Whelan | 30 Jan 2026 | 01:07:14 | |
Disney Adults are some of the most fascinating, layered, and hated subcultures in contemporary American life.Â
Today, Christiana speaks with Robbie Whelan, author of the forthcoming book House of Mouse, to understand the world of Disney Adults.Â
Follow Robbie: X
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| Space Racism & Astrology With Margaret Gaida | 18 Feb 2026 | 00:54:21 | |
Astrology is everywhere, blending spirituality, social media, and even AI apps that promise to read your future.Â
Today, Christiana speaks with astrology historian, Margaret Gaida, to understand how astrology shapes love, culture, and the hidden inequalities of the cosmic world.
Margaretâs website: mghsci.wordpress.com/dissertation
Follow Pop Syllabus: YouTube | Instagram | TikTok | Substack |Â
Merchâ available now!
Sponsor Pop Syllabus: â advertise@companionarts.comâ
If thereâs a topic youâd like us to deconstruct, tell us in the comments.
Email: â hello@popsyllabus.comâ Â
02:20 Astrology in the East vs. WestÂ
03:30 Astrological predictions throughout historyÂ
07:45 The mothers of astrologyÂ
12:45 Why women and LGBTQ+ communities are attracted to astrologyÂ
18:32 Astrology and scienceÂ
23:48 Big Zodiac, tech and AI
29:31 White influencers and astrology Â
41:04 âSpace racismâ and datingÂ
44:50 Individualism vs. communitiesÂ
47:40 The future of astrology in AmericaÂ
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| Paying Homage to Black Women in Reality TV With Rachel Lindsay | 11 Feb 2026 | 00:53:27 | |
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.Â
Today, Christiana and Rachel talk about Black women on reality TV and how she helped change the genre.Â
Follow Rachel: Instagram Â
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| The Power of âSinnersâ With Wunmi Mosaku | 25 Feb 2026 | 00:49:35 | |
Almost a year later, Sinners is still unforgettable, and Wunmi Mosakuâs Annie stole our hearts. But behind the performance was a woman navigating first-time motherhood, career crossroads, and big life choices.Â
On todayâs episode, Christiana talks to Oscar-nominated Wunmi about her maternity brand IyadĂ©, self care, and lessons from a career-defining role.
Wunmiâs maternity brandâs website:.iyadebywunmi.com
Follow Wunmi on Instagram: @wunmimosaku
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Email: hello@popsyllabus.comÂ
00:36 Wunmiâs Oscar nomination
03:40 âSinnersâ and how playing Annie changed Wunmiâs lifeÂ
08:40 Why Annie resonates with audiencesÂ
14:57 Loving yourselfÂ
18:45 Wunmiâs Golden Globe pregnancy announcementÂ
24:04 Creating IyadĂ©, a maternity clothing brandÂ
29:55 Being careful about who and what you invite inÂ
38:43 Admiring Delroy Lindo and Michael B. Jordanâs acting
42:35 Self careÂ
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| The Dangers of Looksmaxxing With Dr. Michael Halpin | 04 Mar 2026 | 00:54:40 | |
Looksmaxxing is the internetâs latest male self-improvement trend â 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. Michaelâs research on looksmaxxing: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Hn3HDozK8_GMWOVtv3do3joZ4Guyxlpp/viewÂ
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Email: hello@popsyllabus.comÂ
03:35 Defining âlooksmaxxingâ
09:45 Who is looksmaxxing?Â
11:00 Lookism and why boys and men are looksmaxxingÂ
14:50 How looksmaxxing and its harmful impacts are spreading beyond the manosphere
20:42 The PSL scaleÂ
24:40 How looksmaxxers and incels are subcultures within the manosphere
40:38 What can be done to stop harmful looksmaxxingÂ
44:00 Looksmaxxing as an emerging health crisis
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| Hollywoodâs Colorism Curse With Dr. Yaba Blay | 11 Mar 2026 | 01:03:20 | |
Colorism isnât new. Itâs the curse embedded in Hollywoodâs 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: InstagramÂ
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If thereâs a topic youâd like us to deconstruct, tell us in the comments.
Email: hello@popsyllabus.comÂ
00:37 Defining âcolorismâ
03:30 The relativity of colorismÂ
06:04 How colorism functions in HollywoodÂ
08:15 A history of colorism and skin bleachingÂ
12:50 Gender bias and colorism in entertainmentÂ
17:02 Beyonce and colorism in the music industryÂ
28:40 Moments that feel like societal shifts
33:00 How skin bleaching has transformedÂ
37:00 Understanding the context around why people bleach their skinÂ
42:55 Hair trends among Black womenÂ
51:00 Questioning society and capitalism (not just the individual)Â
54:20 What choices can we make in light of colorism?
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| Why âValley Girlsâ Are Totally Misunderstood With Koa Beck | 18 Mar 2026 | 00:58:43 | |
Like, why did the âValley Girlâ become Americaâs 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 Americaâs bigger anxieties about young women and femininity that still shape how we see them today.
Follow Koa: InstagramÂ
Subscribe to Koaâs Substack
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00:28 The Valley
01:25 Defining the âValley Girlâ
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 âValley Girlâ is whiteÂ
26:44 Why the valley stereotypes are associated with girls
31:00 How the concept of the âValley Girlâ became negative
40:00 The Valley Girl and sexÂ
44:29 The Valley Girl and influencer culture
48:19 The future of the Valley Girl
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| Taylor Swift & Swiftynomics With Misty Heggeness | 01 Apr 2026 | 00:53:38 | |
If youâre 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.
Mistyâs website: https://www.mistyheggeness.com/Â
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00:42 Meet Misty Heggeness
04:07 Swiftynomics and studying Taylor Swift as an economic museÂ
09:20 How do we scale swiftynomics?Â
11:13 Women creating space for other womenÂ
15:08 Swiftnomics vs. Sheryl Sandbergâs âLean Inâ movementÂ
18:00 âPearl clutchersâ vs. âgranolasâÂ
20:00 Women leaving the workforce and being economically sidelinedÂ
31:44 âMastermindingâ the systems
36:08 Hoarding wealthÂ
42:45 Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce
49:40 The future of SwiftynomicsÂ
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| A Sexual History of the Internet With Mindy Seu | 02 Apr 2026 | 01:01:46 | |
The internet didnât 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
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00:56 Meet Mindy Seu
01:32 Cyberfeminism
05:04 How sex and sex workers have influenced the evolution of the internetÂ
10:10 Sex workers and cryptocurrency
12:05 Defining âsex workâ
23:36 Why donât more people know about the sexual history of the internet?
26:40 The physicality of technology Â
32:26 Female body parts named after menÂ
33:51 How technology and the sex industry are influencing each otherÂ
35:36 How the sexual nature of the internet is affecting girls and womenÂ
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 spaceÂ
47:30 The future of the internet and AI
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| Hypergamy & Sugar Dating With Dr. Megan Sawey | 15 Apr 2026 | 00:57:12 | |
#SugarBaby culture is everywhere online. But why is it making such a big comeback now?
As money gets tighter and âSugarTokâ gains traction, conversations around sugar dating and hypergamy are becoming more mainstream.
Christiana sits down with Cornell lecturer Dr. Megan Sawey to examine whatâs driving the trend and what it means for modern dating.
Meganâs research on sugar dating
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01:17 Meet Dr. Megan Sawey
07:20 Understanding hypergamy and dating upÂ
12:29 Sugar dating in relation to sex workÂ
17:55 Sugar dating as an entrepreneurial endeavorÂ
31:50 Sugar dating and the digital intimacy economyÂ
33:50 Sugar dating and politics Â
37:20 How sugar dating is portrayed as heteronormative in media and marketingÂ
41:45 Sugar daddies and how sugar dating is regulatedÂ
45:20 Sexual racism and sugar dating
48:28 Sugar dating for men vs. women
51:07 The future of sugar dating and hypergamy
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| Are They a Star, Celebrity or Famous Person? with Sam Sanders | 22 Apr 2026 | 01:11:47 | |
No matter where you find yourself on the internet, celebritiesâ lives are constantly in front of us, but whoâs actually a star and whoâs just famous?
From icons like BeyoncĂ© to rising names like Sabrina Carpenter and Sydney Sweeney, Christiana sits down with award-winning reporter and podcaster Sam Sanders to play âstar, celebrity, or famous personâ and break down what really makes someone last in pop culture.
Follow Sam: InstagramÂ
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| Deconstructing the Kardashians with MJ Corey | 03 Jun 2026 | 00:55:46 | |
Whether you love them or hate them, itâs hard to argue the Kardashians didnât 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 InstagramÂ
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00:52 MJ Coreyâs first time watching Keeping Up With the Kardashians
03:08 Understanding postmodernism to understand the Kardashians
03:50 Kim Kardashian and ethnic ambiguityÂ
04:55 Comparing the Kardashians to iconic American brands
08:50 Kris Jenner, the O.J. Simpson trial and revisionist historyÂ
13:00 The Kardashians, cultural appropriation and Black romantic partners
22:00 The Kardashians as early adopters of technologyÂ
25:25 The Paris robbery and trial
31:09 How the Kardashians will be remembered
32:15 Who will be Krisâ successor?
34:12 Predicting Kimâs future in politicsÂ
36:20 Which grandchild is most likely to be the next star?Â
37:40 Does Kim venture into podcasting?Â
38:10 Does SKIMS IPO?
38:28 How many more times will Kim Kardashian get married?Â
40:00 When will Kris Jenner retire?
42:04 Whatâs the future of Kylie Jenner and TimothĂ©e Chalamet?
44:29 Which Kardashian is mostly likely to make a hard pivot?Â
48:30 MJâs biggest prediction for the Kardashians/Jenners in the next five years
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| The Celebrity Couples Game with Erin Lim Rhodes | 27 May 2026 | 00:56:15 | |
Celebrity couples today donât just date, they trend, and every move instantly becomes part of the cultural conversation online.Â
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 cultureâs most talked-about pairs, from Kylie Jenner and TimothĂ©e 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.
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01:03 Meet Erin Lim Rhodes
04:24 Erinâs move to SingaporeÂ
06:18 Getting hired by E!Â
11:46 âThe Rundownâ and using social mediaÂ
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 AffleckÂ
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
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| The Conversation We Need About Womb Health With Dr. Kemi Doll | 20 May 2026 | 01:15:02 | |
Womb health is still one of the most misunderstood areas of womenâs care, especially for Black women.Â
In todayâs 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. Kemiâs website
Follow Dr. Kemi Doll: Instagram
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Email: hello@popsyllabus.comÂ
01:00 Meet Dr. Kemi Doll
03:40 How Dr. Dollâs background has informed her workÂ
07:30 Understanding womb suffering
08:55 Black women with womb suffering getting misdiagnosedÂ
10:47 Womb condition #1: heavy menstrual bleedingÂ
23:40 Options for people with the BRCA1 gene
25:36 Womb condition #2: endometriosisÂ
35:29 Teenagers and young women with womb sufferingÂ
39:05 Womb condition #3: fibroidsÂ
51:18 Womb condition #4: endometrial cancerÂ
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 healÂ
01:13:00 Where to find Dr. Kemi Dollâs workÂ
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| The Pop Culture Debrief: Mess, Drama & Headlines (Christiana Solo Episode) | 13 May 2026 | 00:45:58 | |
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 canât stop talking about.
Sydney Sweeney, Doja Cat, TimothĂ©e Chalamet, Anne Hathaway, and more all show up in this weekâs rundown as Christiana shares her hot takes on whatâs worth the hype and whatâs just noise.
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Email: hello@popsyllabus.comÂ
01:50 Sydney Sweeneyâs âMagazine Milkiesâ Moment
02:59 SofĂa Vergaraâs Sketchy Skechers Ad
03:54 Sydney Sweeneyâs 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 âMAGA Landâ Editorial
21:54 Doja Cat on Vogue
24:48 Indiaâs Growing Influence on Pop Culture
27:10 Bhavitha Mandava, Versace & Fashionâs Rising New Faces
29:08 Jelly Rollâs Weight Loss Transformation
34:20 Sarah Michelle Gellarâs People Magazine Cover
35:48 The Royal Roundup: Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle & More
37:22 Anne Hathawayâs Best Oscars Look
38:14 Sarah Michelle Gellar Is Making a Comeback
40:19 Harry & Meghan âExiledâ From Hollywood?
43:21 Christianaâs Top Magazine Recommendation
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| Inside Hollywoodâs Obsession With âPerfectâ Faces With Dr. Carl Truesdale | 06 May 2026 | 00:52:25 | |
In Hollywood, everyone wants a âperfectâ 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 whatâs driving Hollywoodâs obsession with undetectable plastic surgery, from subtle lifts to revision procedures, as well as how cosmetic work among men and AI are shaping todayâs beauty standards.
Dr. Truesdaleâs websiteÂ
Follow Dr. Truesdale: InstagramÂ
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01:02 Meet Dr. Carl TruesdaleÂ
02:07 How Dr. Truesdale got into cosmetic surgeryÂ
03:50 Cultivating a diverse practice with cultural competencyÂ
09:05 The costs of cosmetic surgeryÂ
10:01 Thread lifts, fillers and botoxÂ
12:20 How Dr. Truesdale contributes to beauty standards and pressuresÂ
15:00 Psychological shifts for patients
17:00 Patients who are unhappy after their procedures Â
18:55 Dr. Truesdale on sharing his work on social mediaÂ
21:46 Not being able to share the work he does for some celebritiesÂ
22:58 Celebrities who donât share that they have had work doneÂ
25:20 Karama BrownÂ
25:38 Lower blepharoplasty
26:06 Men getting plastic surgeryÂ
30:08 Looking younger longerÂ
31:24 Revision surgeries Â
34:17 Knowing when to operate and turning patients awayÂ
34:57 Mid-faceliftsÂ
35:45 Responding to those who say plastic surgery is badÂ
39:10 A rapper whose âfriendâ paid for her cosmetic workÂ
40:41 The future of plastic surgery, AI, and beauty standardsÂ
46:02 Christiana requests a free consultation from Dr. Truesdale Â
47:30 Dr. Truesdale doing his parentsâ plastic surgeryÂ
49:00 Where you can find Dr. Truesdale online
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| Why Open Relationships Are More Common Than You Think With Dr. Amy Moors | 29 Apr 2026 | 01:08:35 | |
Non-monogamy is everywhere right now, and so are the opinions about it.
In todayâs 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
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Email: hello@popsyllabus.com 01:07 Meet Dr. Amy Moors
03:31 Defining non-monogamyÂ
04:30 Defining polyamory and open relationshipsÂ
05:50 Different types of polyamoryÂ
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-monogamyÂ
17:35 Christianaâs familial experiences with polygamyÂ
21:35 Both monogamy and non-monogamy can be messyÂ
22:40 How societal inequities show up in relationshipsÂ
25:19 Lindy West, millennial feminism, and trad wives
27:04 Gender ratios among non-monogamous couples
28:10 Measuring âsuccessâ among non-monogamous relationshipsÂ
31:01 Couples who open their relationships after being monogamousÂ
34:20 Why is non-monogamy seemingly everywhere?Â
39:18 Americans donât like to talk about sexÂ
41:45 LGBTQ+ couples and non-monogamyÂ
44:28 Learning from people who practice non-monogamyÂ
46:16 Non-monogamous parents and their childrenÂ
53:20 Non-hierarchical polyamoryÂ
55:30 Finding the time to sustain non-monogamous relationships  Â
57:42 The future of consensual non-monogamy
01:04:30 Where to find Dr. Moorsâ workÂ
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