So thrilled to interview Sara Petersen, author of 'Momfluenced: Inside the Maddening, Picture-Perfect World of Mommy Influencer Culture' for the podcast. One of the most memorable books I've read in the past year, 'Momfluenced' helps you make sense of your own complicated parasocial relationship with the domestic goddesses we both love, and truthfully, sometimes hate to follow. We cover everything from trad wives, gatekeepers of the 'good mom aesthetic,' the economic and cultural value of momfluencing, those snarky subreddits, and so much more. If you've found yourself second guessing your follow list, this one is for you!If you like the pod, please consider supporting by sharing with friends and subscribing wherever you get your podcasts. We also love reading reviews, so please rate us 5 stars and write a review on Apple or Spotify. It goes a long way and is much appreciated! For a more dynamic experience, follow us on Instagram @haveyouheardpodcast. So many of our episodes, including this one, are shaped through discussions with listeners.Helpful references and links  / pop culture homework:Subscribe here to Sara Petersen's amazing substack, 'In Pursuit of Clean Countertops'Purchase 'Momfluenced: Inside the Maddening, Picture-Perfect World of Mommy Influencer Culture'

Today’s pod was meant to focus strictly on the reality reckoning and the aftermath of Vanderpump Rules explosive Scandoval that took over the pop culture zeitgeist a year ago. But, in light of Princess Catherine’s video announcement yesterday sharing the news of her cancer treatment, this podcast became something bigger. We’re going to be looking at not only how media treats women and how we’re complicit in it, but what that says about our own values and expectations on what it means to be a princess, a mistress, a scorned woman, and everything in between. While the Royal Family aren’t influencers or Reality stars, a case could be made that they were the origins of this type of entertainment. And if that’s the case, we know the best reality tv gives us a winner and a loser, a villain and a hero, followed by a redemption arc that if you pay close attention, tells us about ourselves. So, let’s talk about it.If you're only here for Scandoval analysis, skip to the 45 minute mark. Fair warning, we have some hot takes!For a more dynamic experience, follow us on Instagram @haveyouheardpodcast. So many of our episodes, including this one, are shaped through discussions with listeners.If you like the pod, consider supporting by sharing and subscribing wherever you get your podcasts, and rating us 5 stars/writing a review. It goes a long way and is much appreciated - xo MahsaHelpful references and links  / pop culture homework:Inside the Real Housewives Reckoning that's Rocking Bravo (Vanity Fair, Anna Peele)

This is more than just a ghostwritten autobiography, it's Britney's ultimate manifesto of feminist rage. From the betrayal of having friends and family leverage her fame for their own agenda, to the unforgiving and relentless scrutiny she's faced simply for being human, Britney finally tells us her truth. A stark look at what happens when a teenage dream tries to break free from societal expectations, one thing remains clear; Britney's ultimate revenge is survival. And by the way, we are all complicit.To enter to win a copy of 'The Woman in Me,' simply rate and write a review of the pod on Apple Podcasts, screenshot, and DM us through Instragram @haveyouheardpodcast. So many of our episodes, including this one, are shaped through discussions with listeners. We also post cool articles and generally love to break down notable cultural moments. Join us!Please consider rating 5 stars and writing a review on Apple or Spotify, it goes a long way in supporting the podcast and is much appreciated! xo MahsaHelpful references and links  / pop culture homework:The True Villain of Britney Spears' Memoir? You (Hayley Maitland, Vogue)

Hey... we're back! Kicking off the new season exploring the singular Taylor Swift who is currently the reigning champ of our pop culture zeitgeist, seemingly everywhere all at once (including the NFL!)Joined by friend of the pod, marketer, and fellow culture enthusiast Patty Connor, we go deep into the Taylorverse. She's generously always giving us something to talk about; the squads, the feuds, the prolific songwriting, and the nearly unmatched work ethic. We cover so much ground including what we think drives her, the communal spirit of her loyal fandom, and her legacy on the music industry and beyond. Oh yeah, and we talk about #87 himself, Travis Kelce. Could he be the perfect assist to her QB persona? For a more dynamic experience, follow us on Instagram @haveyouheardpodcast where there’s lots of pop culture analysis and behind the scenes highlights of how shows are formed, which you, dear listener, are a part of.If you like the show, please share with your friends, subscribe, and give give us 5 stars to show your support. xo Mahsa

Helpful references and links  / pop culture homework:Taylor Swift Pre-VMA Squad Strategy (Lainey Gossip)Olivia Rodrigo Adds Taylor Swift to 'Deja Vu' (Rollingstone)8 Ways Taylor Swift has Changed the Music Business (Billboard)response.anonymous&gclid=CjwKCAjwyY6pBhA9EiwAMzmfwWKJWVmkzH2yjGuUnIMO7aVnfEj9HK0GQb9BAsH_ZnWV623Qn6Md4xoC1pwQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds">What Taylor Swift's Pivot to Streaming Reveals about the Music Industry (The Economist)Here's Why Taylor Swift is Re-Recording her Old Albums (Time)The Staggering Economic Impact of Taylor Swift's the Eras Tour (Time)

We’re tackling one of our most requested topics today, a deep-dive on the First Family of Reality TV and their ascent into major A List status, the Kardashians!Joining the episode is Stacy Lee Kong, Founding Editor of whip smart pop culture site, Friday Things. We break down the Kardashians place in pop culture history and what makes them so compelling. Whether you love them, hate them, or claim not to care, there’s no denying the impact they’ve had on culture.From their business savvy and multiple million (and billion!) dollar companies, to how they've parlayed 15 minutes into 15 years and counting, their cultural currency has never been more relevant. While to some they embody the classic American success story, we break down how they've profited and benefitted from leveraging the aesthetic influence of the Black community, and how that's recently been shifting. Kim cosplaying Marilyn has more to do with perceptions of class than it does fitting into that dress!Shedding the dead weight of 'Keeping Up with the Kardashians' has officially ushered them into their latest era on Disney Plus with 'The Kardashians.' With a much sleeker look and big Disney dollars behind it,  their latest endeavour feels....rich. If their insecurity has always been being viewed as just reality stars, why not reframe the way we consider reality tv? We know nothing this family does is by accident; they are masters of their own narratives, with Mama Kris as the ultimate Momager. So... what does this big budget, cinematic production tell us about the new ways the Kardashians want to be perceived, and what does the future hold?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 MahsaHelpful references and links  / pop culture homework:Subscribe to Friday Things and follow them on InstagramFor Her Next Trick, Kim Kardashian Will Be Cosplaying as a White Woman (Friday Things, Stacy Lee Kong)Kim Kardashian and I Analyzed Each Other's Faces (Allure, Danielle Pergament)I've Chosen Myself: Inside Kim Kardashian's New World (Vogue, Jen Wang)The Darkest Hue Instagramthe-internet-kim-kardashian-cover-1427450475.html">Break the Internet: Kim Kardashian (Paper, Amanda Fortini)"Money Always Matters": The Kardashians Tell All About Their New Reality TV Reign (Variety, Elizabeth Wagmeister)

Award-winning Canadian broadcaster Tamara Taggart joins the show! Former co-anchor of the evening news in Vancouver, Tamara has been a fixture in Canadian media for over 20 years. Like so many women, Tamara wears many hats; she's an outspoken advocate for people with disabilities, a mother, a cancer survivor, and recipient of the Order of BC. We cover so much ground, including the wild west that is working in the media (with some eye-opening inside baseball tea!),  her advocacy work, being okay with not being okay, and how to rebuild when you’ve unexpectedly found yourself in your second, or third, act. 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 MahsaHelpful references and links  / pop culture homework:Tedx Talk: Two Conversations that Have Changed My Life (Tamara Taggart)Down Syndrome BCFollow Tamara on Instagram and TwitterListen to Telus Talks with Tamara Taggart

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 MahsaHelpful 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 InstagramFollow the Podcast on InstagramSubscribe 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 @MahsaSaysIf 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 hereHelpful references and links  / pop culture homework:item.html">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 @MahsaSaysIf 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 hereHelpful references and links  / pop culture homework:Subscribe to Atoosa Unedited (Substack)Follow Atoosa on InstagramCould the Teen Mag Rise Again (The New Yorker, Kate Dwyer)rubenstein-ambition-interview.html">Returning to the Life You Blew Up (The Cut, Yasmin Gagne)rubenstein-comeback-newsletter-profile.html">XOXO, Atoosa (Slate, Heather Schwedel)Life at 28 with Atoosa Rubenstein (Bustle, Samantha Leach)