This week, Kate reflects on 2025 for feeling depleting yet not defining, exhausting and sometimes forgettable; a year of endless micro-trends, political chaos, and moment sludge that somehow left very little to hold onto. Fun! She dives into "viral death cycle" and why nothing sticks anymore, explores the three stages of aging out of culture, explores why many of us feel our brains are broken, and processes the weird grief of realizing you're no longer "becoming" someone but existing deep in a routine, all while she grapples with her uncool taste in apples. TLDR: a contemplative, honest, sometimes vulnerable year-end reflection about culture, the internet, our interests, and Kate's job at the intersection, and how this is the first year she felt like she's officially getting old. Happy Holidays!

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This week, Kate welcomes back Sarah Chapelle (Taylor Swift Style) to discuss the first two episodes of Disney+'s The End of an Era docuseries. They dissect the emotional weight of episodes 1 and 2; from the devastating Vienna terror plot and Southport attack to Taylor's leadership style, bonus day generosity, and the physical toll of performing and beyond. Kate and Sarah analyze what the docuseries reveals about Taylor's collaborative process with her team, they predict future episodes (Miami costumes? Travis spotlight?), debate burning questions (Why no debut representation? Justice for YOYOK! What's the deal with the high-low ombre dress?), and explore whether the docuseries does a better job showing "the life of a showgirl" than the album itself. Overall, a thoughtful, detailed, and fun conversation about what makes this tour and this documentary still so compelling three years later. Enjoy!

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Order Kate's NYT Bestselling book, One in a Millennial here! Text or leave a voicemail for Kate at 775-HEY-BETH! For a limited time, save on the perfect gift by visiting AuraFrames.com to get $35 off Aura's best selling Carver Mat frames at AURAFrames.com promo code BETHEREINFIVE. Right now, Betterwild is offering our listeners up to 40% off your order at Betterwild.com/BETHEREINFIVE. That's Betterwild.com/BETHEREINFIVE for up to 40% off your order.

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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!

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. For a limited time, save on the perfect gift by visiting AuraFrames.com to get $35 off Aura's best-selling Carver Mat frames - named #1 by Wirecutter - by using promo code BETHEREINFIVE at checkout. That's AuraFrames.com promo code BETHEREINFIVE. .

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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

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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!

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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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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!

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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!

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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!

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