This week, we're deep diving PepsiCo's $1.95 billion acquisition of the prebiotic soda brand Poppi, discussing the shift towards health-conscious beverages and their potentially misleading claims, and digging into influencer-adjacent beverage drama like cheater brands, "vending machine gate" and rumors about if the investments of Alex Cooper and Alix Earle in beverage companies have something to do with their public falling out (and Alix being "dropped" from the Unwell network). This deep dive touches on many topics: the broader trends in the beverage industry, influencer culture, the "Health Halo Effect" of unregulated better-for-you sodas, and, most importantly, the power of branding. Enjoy!

00:00 Intro

03:27 The Evolution of Poppi's Branding

06:00 The Rise and Valuation of Poppi

30:50 The Health Halo Effect

38:38 The Rise of Functional Beverages

41:22 The OliPop and Poppi Rivalry

48:05 Vending Machine Gate

01:03:16 Celebrity Investors in Poppi and Other Bevs

01:16:35 Alex/Alix, Unwell Network, and Influencer Podcasts

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This week, Kate reviews Meghan Markle (Sussex?)'s new show: With Love, Meghan.

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This week, Kate is joined by the Pop Apologists, sisters Lauren Atkinson and Chandler Bledsoe to discuss a variety of pop culture-adjacent topics, e.g., their fascination with Mormonism in media, the Lisa Barlow paradox, the rise of Salt Lake City as a cultural moment, and how growing up in a conservative environment shaped their reality TV obsession. After that, the trio unpacks the Meghan Markle discourse, the internet's obsession with Kate Middleton’s whereabouts in 2024, and what really went down during the height of the royal conspiracy rabbit hole that briefly took over their life. Plus, the moral dilemma of running a gossip podcast in the digital age, Taylor Swift’s style choices, and why every millennial woman’s 2008 iPod playlist was basically a personality test. Somewhere in there, they also reminisce about their most unhinged heartbreak antics, from fake Facebook boyfriends to the universal fantasy of running into your ex looking hotter than ever. Enjoy!

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This week, Kate welcomes Chelsea Anderson, the creator behind viral Instagram and TikTok accounts (@chelsea_explains and @chelseaexplainsitall, respectively). Chelsea shares some of the tips that contributed to her meteoric rise, like clever hacks and insights for parents and babysitters alike—and how this is actually not all that related to her day job. They delve into her unique ability to remember childhood thoughts and feelings, which helps her create engaging content for kids. She shares some of her hacks on air, including dealing with bedtime routines and how to soothe kids' tantrums. They also talk shop as crafters, rank TS albums, and other classic millennial childhood nostalgia that helps shape Chelsea’s outlook, and how her intentional yet easy ideas come to life, from her babysitting hacks to gift-giving and party-hosting. Enjoy!

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You’re going to love Hungryroot as much as I do. 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.

Embrace your ritual with extraordinary hydration from Liquid I.V. Get 20% off your first order of Liquid I.V. when you go to LIQUID-IV.COM and use code BETHEREINFIVE at checkout. That’s 20% off your first order when you shop better hydration today using promo code BETHEREINFIVE at LIQUID-IV.COM.

Treat yourself to clean, clinically tested skincare from OSEA. And right now we have a special discount just for our listeners. Get 10% off your first order sitewide with code BETHEREINFIVE at OSEAMalibu.com.

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This week (in honor of Galentine's Day), Kate reflects on the sentimental and chaotic rituals of getting ready with girlfriends before going out (or out-out). She explores the excitement and economics of the going-out top/designer denim combo, the deeper connections forged at pregames, the cultural pressures and beauty standards of the mid-2000s, and shares memories of bonding over makeup, clothes, and shared anticipation. In the second half, listeners sent in their going out anecdotes, revealing how these pre-games were often more meaningful than the nights that followed. Enjoy!

Order Kate's NYT Bestselling book, One in a Millennial here (now in paperback!)

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

Take control of your hormonal health with Allara Health and get 25% off your first month of personalized, expert care by visiting allarahealth.com/BETHEREINFIVE today. Allara is redefining women’s health with expert care for your unique journey. Get started with Allara Health’s compassion-first expert care today with 25% off your first month when you go to allarahealth.com/BETHEREINFIVE.

Because amika loves Be There in Five listeners as much as we love them, they’re giving you a one-time use code for 20% off your first order. Just go to loveamika.com/bethereinfive and use code BETHEREINFIVE at checkout. 

Go to helixsleep.com/bethereinfive for 27% Off Sitewide + 2 Free Dream Pillows with Mattress Purchase + Free Bedding Bundle (2 Dream Pillows, Sheet Set, and Mattress Protector) with any Luxe or Elite Mattress Order.

Start HyaCera to support your glow without compromising on clean science. HyaCera from Ritual is a clinically-proven skin supplement you can actually trust. Get 25% off your first month for a limited time at ritual.com/BETHEREINFIVE.

Cancel your unwanted subscriptions and reach your financial goals faster with Rocket Money. Go to RocketMoney.com/BETHEREINFIVE today.

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This week, Kate and her sister give One in a Millennial one last hurrah in honor of its paperback release by sharing some more behind-the-scenes nostalgia and adding context from their two millennial lives that shaped how the book came to be. Kelly asks Kate questions relating to lots of never-before-shared details, e.g. the metaphorical significance of opening the book inside a shopping mall, examples of cut chapters and concepts, honoring their mutual experiences being routinely friend-zoned, revisiting her tendency to sob through Back in the Daybed, opening up about the haunting irony of her audiobook recording experience, and so much more! Enjoy :)

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

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Because Amika loves Be There in Five listeners as much as we love them, they’re giving you a one-time use code for 20% off your first order. Just go to loveamika.com/bethereinfive and use code BETHEREINFIVE at checkout. That’s LOVE a-m-i-k-a DOT com SLASH bethereinfive, code BETHEREINFIVE to get 20% off your first order.

This week, Kate’s sisters-in-law are back on the pod for a lighthearted convo about a variety of topics in the second half of the episode, like following up on some One Hit Mumbler news, discussing golf course misogyny, what we’d choose as our grift of choice if we lean into the swindler’s economy, the dark side of chocolate, trend fatigue, 90s chain letters, etc. Kate opens by touching on a topic that they discuss later in the ep, in terms of struggling to navigate parenting and self-care in the Information Age when you can find a strong opinion arguing for or against anything ever at a given time, making it hard to know what to prioritize, what’s a legitimate problem, and what’s just the algorithm fear-mongering. She also reviews some things she’s tried in a quest for self-care in the New Year, from a standing desk to neck ‘tox to investigating the influencer-beloved PreNuvo scan. She also briefly rants about feeling slightly trolled by “75 Hard” New Year’s resolutions and questions why we’re supposed to admire people overcoming elective adversity, which likely won’t go over well. Enjoy!

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Order Kate's NYT Bestselling book (available in paperback Tues 1.28), One in a Millennial here!

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Stress less, sleep more, and live better with Calm. For listeners of our show, Calm is offering an exclusive offer of 40% off a Calm Premium Subscription at calm.com/BETHEREINFIVE.

You’re going to love Hungryroot as much as I do. 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. 

Show off new sides of yourself this year. Go to paireyewear.com and use code BTIF for 15% off your first pair. And support the show by mentioning that Be There in Five sent you in your post-checkout survey!

Cancel your unwanted subscriptions and reach your financial goals faster with Rocket Money. Go to

RocketMoney.com/BETHEREINFIVE today.

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This week, Kate reviews the PR “smear campaign” half of the complex legal battle between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni, delving into the concept of astroturfing, its relevance to Amber Heard and Meghan Markle, and details the “he said/she said” of the PR warfare detailed in the lawsuits. Then, Kate interviews attorney/former litigator Alex Mack for some legal insights/clarifications about the case to ensure she’s not entirely off base when reading through so much legal paperwork. Tune in to thoroughly examine text exchanges, press strategies, and discussions about the potential implications of sophisticated systems that manipulate online sentiment. Enjoy!

Alex interview starts at 1:07

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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!

Thank you to AllModern for furnishing Kate's Season 2 Studio! AllModern has the best of modern furniture and decor all in one place. With styles from Scandi and mid-century, to minimalist and maximalist, every design is hand-vetted for quality by their team of experts. Plus they have fast + free shipping! Check out allmodern.com; you'll find Kate's bookshelves here and her new rug here!

Take control of your hormonal health with Allara Health and get 25% off your first month of personalized, expert care by visiting allarahealth.com/BETHEREINFIVE today. Allara is redefining women’s health with expert care for your unique journey. Get started with Allara Health’s compassion-first expert care today with 25% off your first month when you go to allarahealth.com/BETHEREINFIVE. 

We have a special deal for our audience: Get your first visit for only five dollars at Apostrophe.com/BETHEREINFIVE when you use our code: BETHEREINFIVE. That’s a savings of fifteen dollars! This code is only available to our listeners. To get started, just go to Apostrophe.com/BETHEREINFIVE and click Get Started, then use our code BETHEREINFIVE at sign up and you’ll get your first visit for only five dollars! Thank you Apostrophe for sponsoring this episode.

Reset your routine with convenient, mouthwatering meals crafted with local ingredients by award-winning chefs. Go to cookunity.com/BETHEREINFIVE or enter code BETHEREINFIVE before checkout for 50% off your first week. That’s 50% off your first week by using code BETHEREINFIVE or going to COOKUNITY.COM/BETHEREINFIVE.

Embrace your ritual with extraordinary hydration from Liquid I.V. Get 20% off your first order of Liquid I.V. when you go to LIQUID-IV.COM and use code BETHEREINFIVE at checkout. That’s 20% off your first order when you shop better hydration today using promo code BETHEREINFIVE at LIQUID-IV.COM.

Cancel your unwanted subscriptions and reach your financial goals faster with Rocket Money. Go to RocketMoney.com/BETHEREINFIVE today.

This week, we kick off 2025 with a classic BTI5 deep dive, investigating the Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni controversy surrounding the film It Ends with Us. Kate unravels layers of legal filings, allegations of workplace harassment, and claims of PR warfare, and examines the charges from both sides. She also delves into the intricacies of their respective lawsuits, the timeline, and the broader issues at stake with media manipulation and astroturfing. Come back for part 2 when she dives more into the PR side. Enjoy!

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 AllModern for furnishing Kate's Season 2 Studio! AllModern has the best of modern furniture and decor all in one place. With styles from Scandi and mid-century, to minimalist and maximalist, every design is hand-vetted for quality by their team of experts. Plus they have fast + free shipping! Check out allmodern.com; you'll find Kate's bookshelves here and her new rug here!

Visit cozyearth.com and use my exclusive 40% off code BETHEREINFIVE. If you get a post purchase survey, say that you heard about Cozy Earth from this podcast! A better year starts with better sleep—wrap yourself in Cozy Earth.

Stress less, sleep more, and live better with Calm. For listeners of our show, Calm is offering an exclusive offer of 40% off a Calm Premium Subscription at calm.com/BETHEREINFIVE. Go to calm.com/BETHEREINFIVE for 40% off unlimited access to Calm’s entire library.

Go to helixsleep.com/bethereinfive for 25% Off Sitewide + 2 Free Dream Pillows with Mattress Purchase + Free Bedding Bundle (2 Dream Pillows, Sheet Set, and Mattress Protector) with any Luxe or Elite Mattress Order.

You’re going to love Hungryroot as much as I do. 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.

Give your skin a New Year glow-up with clean, clinically tested skincare from OSEA. And right now we have a special discount just for our listeners. Get 10% off your first order sitewide with code BETHEREINFIVE at OSEAMalibu.com.

Start HyaCera to support your glow without compromising on clean science. HyaCera from Ritual is a clinically-proven skin supplement you can actually trust. Get 25% off your first month for a limited time at ritual.com/BETHEREINFIVE.

This week, Kate recaps some of 2024’s least notable micro-trends, goes through her embarrassing purchases from the Tiktok shop, admits some of her shameful habits in the spirit of the “we listen and we don’t judge” trend, contemplates the vibe of Taylor Swift being thrown a Taylor Swift-themed party, discusses her concern for when lyrics about someone being blue border on a HIPAA violation, then reviews Pinterest Predicts for 2025’s forecasted trends, but not before taking United Airlines and Nabisco to task in the name of spreadable cheese. Happiest Holidays to you and yours, we’ll be back and Beth-er than ever in 2025!

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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!

Thank you to AllModern for furnishing Kate's Season 2 Studio! AllModern has the best of modern furniture and decor all in one place. With styles from Scandi and mid-century, to minimalist and maximalist, every design is hand-vetted for quality by their team of experts. Plus they have fast + free shipping! Check out allmodern.com; you'll find Kate's bookshelves here and her new rug here!

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