Description:In this episode, we dive deep into the complicated, emotional world of parasocial relationships—those one-sided bonds we form with celebrities, fictional characters, and influencers who don’t even know we exist. From the tragic legacy of Selena and the fan devotion that followed, to the backlash Abby faced in The Last of Us Part II, we explore how these attachments can both comfort and distort. We get no to bizarre celebrity culture and talk about the strange case of Ariana Grande and her viral lookalike, and what it means when fans blur the line between imitation and identity. Plus, we get personal—sharing our own parasocial connections, the ones that shaped us, and the ones we’re still reckoning with.

Listen now for a conversation that’s as real as your imaginary friendship with your favorite pop star.

Bonus: We end this episode with a quick pop quiz segment to test all our trivia knowledge.