This week, Kate investigates Elf on the Shelf: cute Christmas tradition or late-capitalist nightmare? After a simple Instagram question turned into hundreds of responses about surveillance capitalism, invisible labor, and performative parenting, she started to unpack what this manufactured tradition reveals about millennial parenting, Christmas magic, and the mental load of the holidays. Can it just be holly-jolly casual for those of us who like light whimsy labor, or does it have to match its corresponding oppressive, mischievous Christmas elf canon? Plus, the suspicious origin story of Christopher Pop-in-kins and whether Elf on the Shelf's biggest crime isn't the ziplining across the kitchen on dental floss, but intellectual property theft. Enjoy!

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Give the gift of everyday luxury this holiday season. Head to cozyearth.com and use my code BETHEREINFIVE for up to 40% off — just be sure to place your order by December 12th for guaranteed Christmas delivery. Listening after the 12th? Don't worry — my code still works year-round for 20% off.

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This week, Kate's peer pressuring you to listen to an episode about the DARE program in the 90s and how it made every fifth grader in America incredibly wary of adults wearing trench coats. From winning essay contests and meeting Darren the Lion to interpretive dance performances and questionable field trips, listeners' stories did not disappoint. This episode also explores the program's history, why DARE may have worked to spook many of us but was statistically ineffective, the surprisingly dark surveillance tactics involving kids as informants, and the wild MLM-adjacent structures behind the program's expansion. Enjoy!

Works Cited

https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/modern-american-history/article/dare-to-say-no-police-and-the-cultural-politics-of-prevention-in-the-war-on-drugs/2DF294BFCC638BFC0CC7744742401937

https://www.cerd.org/d-a-r-e-s-programs-cost-soars-past-1-billion-with-little-accounting/

https://slate.com/human-interest/2023/09/dare-history-police-surveillance-schools.html

Order Kate's NYT Bestselling book, One in a Millennial here! Text or leave a voicemail for Kate at 775-HEY-BETH! Right now, Baked by Melissa is offering our listeners 20% off your order at Bakedbymelissa.com/BETHEREINFIVE. That's Bakedbymelissa.com/BETHEREINFIVE for 20% off your order. Get 30% off sitewide with code BETHEREINFIVE at CHEFIQ.com. That's CHEFIQ.com, promo code BETHEREINFIVE . Give the gift of comfort that lasts beyond the holidays. This weekend only! From Thanksgiving Day through Cyber Monday, get 40% off at cozyearth.com with code BETHEREINFIVE.

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This week, Kate has Nora McInerny back for their tradition of poorly recapping The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives. They do a better job this time of actually talking about the show, and after catching up on Nora's Groupons, they go through the main SLOMW storylines while drawing parallels with the current legendary season of Real Housewives of Salt Lake City. Enjoy!

Order Kate's NYT Bestselling book, One in a Millennial here!

Text or leave a voicemail for Kate at 775-HEY-BETH!

Take advantage of this exclusive offer: For a limited time get 40% off your first box PLUS get a free item in every box for life. Go to Hungryroot.com/bethereinfive and use code bethereinfive.

Whether it's a weekend away, a big night out, or just a little style refresh – your dream wardrobe is just one click away. Head to REVOLVE.com/BETHEREINFIVE, shop my edit, and take 15% off your first order with code BETHEREINFIVE. Fast two-day shipping, easy returns – it's literally the only place you need to shop from.

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A casual late night monologue, gabbing about things on Kate's mind, including but not limited to:

Hilary Duff's new single "Mature"

Speaking of age gaps, Kat Stickler and John Mayer dating??

Celeb plastic surgery content

Danielle Bernstein's wedding, which turned out was the engagement party

Shay Mitchell's new company selling SHEET MASKS TO THE CHILDREN

Performing beauty rituals in front of young kids

What Kate, an adult, used on her face/skin in that pope video

One month of Life of a Showgirl

Rosalia's Lux and the joy of a creative risk that challenges your attention span

Lily Allen's West End Girl and discourse about the discourse

ENJOY!

links -- https://shopmy.us/shop/collections/2810333

Order Kate's NYT Bestselling book, One in a Millennial here! Text or leave a voicemail for Kate at 775-HEY-BETH! Black Friday has come early at Cozy Earth! Right now, you can stack my code BETHEREINFIVE on top of their sitewide sale at cozyearth.com— giving you up to 40% off in savings. These deals won't last, so start your holiday shopping today! And if you get a Post-Purchase Survey, be sure to mention you heard about Cozy Earth right here! Wrap the Ones You Love in Luxury with Cozy Earth. Go to helixsleep.com/bethereinfive for their Black Friday Sale: the Best of the Web. From November 3 - Dec 1 it's 27% Off Sitewide exclusively for listeners of Be There in Five. That's helixsleep.com/bethereinfive for their Black Friday Sale November 3 - Dec 1 for 27% Off Sitewide. Make sure you enter our show name into the post-purchase survey so they know we sent you! Give the gift of glow this holiday with our listener discount on OSEA's clean, clinically tested skincare. Just use code BETHEREINFIVE for 10% off your first order sitewide at OSEAMalibu.com. That's 10% your first order with code BETHEREINFIVE at OSEAMalibu.com. Instead of striving for perfect health, aim for supporting foundational health. My listeners get early access to their Black Friday sale for 40% off your first month at Ritual.com/BETHEREINFIVE. That's Ritual.com/BETHEREINFIVE for 40% off your first month. Don't miss out on their best sale of the season.

This week, Kate's trying something new during her off week: a Fall/Halloween-themed mashup episode pulling together some of her favorite topically adjacent clips from the past 7+ years of Be There in Five. Includes segments from Make Your Christian Brothers Autumnal, Ween Pics, Spooky Snorkel, and Wicked Witch of the Midwest, covering foliage conspiracies, cozy chasing, how Claire ate the muffins, Now & Then-style seances and sleepover occult rituals, ghost fashions, the historical context of witches, why millennials are attached to fall, and so much more. Enjoy!

Order Kate's NYT Bestselling book, One in a Millennial here!

Text or leave a voicemail for Kate at 775-HEY-BETH!

Hey Beths, did you know all of your favorite podcasts, including Be There in Five are on Amazon Music? We all know finding the best listening platform can be a challenge, but Amazon Music does it right. They make the process seamless from start to finish. You can even listen on any Alexa-powered devices you have. All you have to say is 'Alexa, play the podcast Be There In Five on Amazon Music.' Or if you're listening on your phone, just download the Amazon Music app, search for "Be There In Five" and click "Follow."

This week, Kate is joined by friends of the pod (Nora McInerny and Caroline Moss) for a delightfully chaotic convo about DWTS that starts with Groupons, the jewelry heist, millennial dentures, car shopping, and more. Then, the second half of the episode, seasoned fans Kate and Caroline share their favorite DWTS lore and celeb gossip with newcomer Nora, and they dissect the current season: who could win, who should win, who should be sent home, and what they believe to be the heart and soul of the show. Fun for watchers of DWTS and newcomers alike! Enjoy.

Timestamps

00:00:00 Intro chit chat, Groupon needles in your face, jewelry heist, car shopping

00:35:20 Kate's solo thoughts on this DWTS season's success and how the internet is changing the experience

00:52:47 Group DWTS discussion

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Order Kate's NYT Bestselling book, One in a Millennial here!

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Right now, Baked by Melissa is offering our listeners 20% off your order at Bakedbymelissa.com/BETHEREINFIVE.

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Take advantage of this exclusive offer: For a limited time get 40% off your first box PLUS get a free item in every box for life. Go to Hungryroot.com/bethereinfive and use code bethereinfive. That's Hungryroot.com/bethereinfive, code bethereinfive to get 40% off your first box and a free item of your choice for life.

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This week, for part 2 of our hobbies series, Kate reads listener emails about pursuing new hobbies as an adult and their profound impact on personal fulfillment, mental health, and community building. Ranging from arts & crafts to whale watching, canine nosework to online sleuthing and beyond, the Beths share heartfelt anecdotes about the simple pleasures and unexpected connections they've found through prioritizing joy and leisure. Enjoy!

SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS

Order Kate's NYT Bestselling book, One in a Millennial here! Text or leave a voicemail for Kate at 775-HEY-BETH! Head to cozyearth.com and use my code BETHEREINFIVE for up to 20% off! And if you get a Post-Purchase Survey, make sure to let them know you heard about Cozy Earth right here on Be There in Five! Take advantage of this exclusive offer: For a limited time get 40% off your first box PLUS get a free item in every box for life. Go to Hungryroot.com/bethereinfive, code bethereinfive to get 40% off your first box and a free item of your choice for life. Reboot your fall wardrobe with elevated essentials from Marc Fisher. Shop the new collection and receive 10% off your purchase with my new code BETHEREINFIVE10 at marcfisherfootwear.com. Whether it's a weekend away, a big night out, or just a little style refresh – your dream wardrobe is just one click away. Head to REVOLVE.com/BETHEREINFIVE, shop my edit, and take 15% off your first order with code BETHEREINFIVE. Fast two-day shipping, easy returns – it's literally the only place you need to shop from. Offer ends October 24th, so happy shopping!

A stream of consciousness about TS12 with Kate after she had a couple days to let it marinate. Back to hobbies next week. :) Enjoy!

SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS

Order Kate's NYT Bestselling book, One in a Millennial here! Text or leave a voicemail for Kate at 775-HEY-BETH! Head to cozyearth.com and use my code BETHEREINFIVE for up to 20% off! And if you get a Post-Purchase Survey, make sure to let them know you heard about Cozy Earth right here! Go to helixsleep.com/bethereinfive for their Fall Savings Event from October 1 2025 →October 6th, 2025 for 20% off site wide. That's helixsleep.com/bethereinfive for their Fall Savings Event from October 1 2025 → October 6th, 2025 for 20% off site wide. Make sure you enter our show name after checkout so they know we sent you!

Get healthy, glowing skin for fall with clean, vegan skin and body care from OSEA. Get 10% off your first order sitewide with code BETHEREINFIVE at OSEAMalibu.com. You'll get free samples with every order, and free shipping on orders over $50.

Instead of striving for perfect health, aim for supporting foundational health.* Get 25% off your first month, only at ritual.com/BETHEREINFIVE. Start Ritual or add Essential For Women 18+ to your subscription today.

This week, Kate and her guest Carmen James (@thegoodcarmablog) chat about all things related to adult hobbies. The first half is Kate musing about nostalgic hobbies, sharing her own recent ventures, and the importance of finding identity and joy in leisurely activities. Then, Kate and Carmen discuss a variety of topics, e.g., finding community through crafting, why hobbies feel fraught for millennials, the joy of getting lost in creative flow, and why domestic arts shouldn't require feminist disclaimers. Enjoy!

A nostalgic deep-dive into the last era of millennial optimism, when we got to figure out who we wanted to be before the algorithm told us who we already were.

Order Kate's NYT Bestselling book, One in a Millennial here!

Text or leave a voicemail for Kate at 775-HEY-BETH!

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS who make producing an independent show possible.

Whether it's a weekend away, a big night out, or just a little style refresh – your dream wardrobe is just one click away. Head to REVOLVE.com/BETHEREINFIVE, shop my edit, and take 15% off your first order with code BETHEREINFIVE. Fast two-day shipping, easy returns – it's literally the only place you need to shop from. Offer ends September 28th, so happy shopping!

Reboot your fall wardrobe with elevated essentials from Marc Fisher. Shop the new collection and receive 10% off your purchase with my new code BETHEREINFIVE10 at marcfisherfootwear.com.

Head to cozyearth.com and use my code BETHEREINFIVE for 40% off! And if you get a Post-Purchase Survey, make sure to let them know you heard about Cozy Earth right here!

Go to Helixsleep.com/bethereinfive for 25% Off Sitewide during the Extended Labor Day Sale.

Take advantage of this exclusive offer: For a limited time get 40% off your first box PLUS get a free item in every box for life. Go to Hungryroot.com/bethereinfive and use code bethereinfive.