Have You Heard About...

The podcast episode we've been wanting to do forever; the definitive guide to Caroline Calloway's rise to fame, subsequent fallout, and iconic place in pop culture as an OG social media scammer is here!
Guest-host Maggie Patterson, fellow podcaster and expert in online scams in business, joins the discussion. We cover so much ground, starting from the beginning; how Caroline's ivy-league fueled childhood led her to Cambridge, where her idyllic 'American abroad at a storied Ivy League Institution' aesthetic combined with long form narrative captions on Instagram gained her followers, fame, and a lucrative book deal.
Like many things we see on social media, all was not as it appears. After losing her book deal, she launches creativity workshops that promise social media branding tutorials, flower crowns, and artisanal salad. If you didn't know who she was yet, this is the point she pinged your cultural radar as journalist Kayleigh Donaldson outs her event as being a total scam in a Twitter thread and subsequent viral article.
We deep dive what the optics of her life looked like to her 800k followers, versus reality, as explored in The Cut's damaging article titled 'I Was Caroline Calloway,' written by former best friend (and as it turns out, writer of much of Caroline's words), Natalie Beach.
While Caroline's story could serve as a cautionary tale to influencers everywhere, we find ourselves wondering...is anyone on social media truly authentic? Whether they are aspirational influencers or relatable best-friend type influencers, they're all trying to sell you something. Caroline's story isn't unique, but leaning into her insta-scam persona and making the grift part of her narrative, is what makes her compelling. We debate whether she's the writer she claims to be, or a cunning performance artist.
Obsessions include Mindy Kaling's brilliant new show 'The Sex Lives of College Girls,' and Sex and the City reboot 'And Just Like That.' Will you ever look at a Peloton the same way?
So much to unpack in this show, buckle up!

We love engaging with listeners, so follow along and let us know what you think on Instagram @haveyouheardpodcast. If you like the podcast, be sure to subscribe and leave 5 stars, it goes a long way for independent podcasts like this one.
If you'd like to contribute to our 'Buy Me a Coffee' page to show your support, you can find that here.

Helpful links we reference during the show / pop culture homework:

I was Caroline Calloway (Natalie Beach, The Cut)
The Case of Caroline Calloway and her Creativity Workshop Tour (Kayleigh Donaldson, Pajiba)
Caroline Calloway, her "one-woman Fyre Fest," and her ex-best friend Natalie, explained (Constance Grady, Vox)
"I Love Fame": How Caroline Calloway Survived Being Cancelled (Elle Hunt, The Guardian)
Caroline Calloway Isn't a Scammer (Caitlin Flanagan, The Atlantic)
Caroline Calloway Website

Listen to Maggie's Podcasts:
The BS-Free Service Business
Duped: The Dark Side of Online Business

Such a pleasure to have culture writer and author, Anne Helen Petersen, on the show. A former senior writer at Buzzfeed News, she now pens her own newsletter all about the culture that surrounds us, 'Culture Study' on Substack. She's also written several books; Too Fat, Too Slutty, Too Loud: The Rise and Reign of the Unruly Woman; Can't Even: How Millennials Became the Burnout Generation; and coming out on Dec. 7th, Out of Office: The Big Problem and Bigger Promise of Working from Home.
A prolific writer of pop culture, Anne Helen is a true storyteller that has a very special talent for putting into words things you may be thinking or feeling, but not totally recognizing until you read it in an article she's published. Case in point: Millennials everywhere were nodding  as they read along to her viral article covering Millennial Burnout, which people had so many feelings about, it later became a book!
We cover tons of ground in 60 minutes. Her career and what led to writing her dissertation on celebrity gossip--yes, she is a legit doctor of celebrity (how cool is that!?)  Making the leap from Buzzfeed to Substack and the perks that come with that for readers, her new book coming out on the future of work in a post-covid world, plus we get into some of her noteworthy articles including the Peloton series, What got left out of the LulaRich Documentary, The Subtle Ways Misogyny Surrounds us, and lots more.
As usual we cover Obsessions-- Anne Helen is super into twin influencers the Baylor Twins, and I'm knee deep into Yellowstone. And do I try to pitch a VC Andrews article to Anne Helen? You bet. Special thanks to Anne Helen Petersen for being a guest and her time.
We love engaging with listeners, so follow along and let us know what you think on Instagram @haveyouheardpodcast. If you like the podcast, be sure to subscribe and leave 5 stars, it goes a long way for independent podcasts like this one.
If you'd like to contribute to our 'Buy Me a Coffee' page to show your support, you can find that here.

Helpful links we reference during the show / pop culture homework:

Culture Study on Substack
Peloton Series
What Got Left Out of LulaRich
The Subtle Look and Overwhelming Feel of Today's Misogyny
How Millennials Became the Burnout Generation
Preorder 'Out of Office: The Big Problem and Bigger Promise of Working from Home'
The Baylor Twins IG incase you're curious (I was!)

We're back at it in part two of the Rachel Hollis deep dive/takedown!
We explore the hot mess that is 'Girl, Wash Your Face,' and wonder about the world we live in when a book like this not only gets published, but finds a devoted set of fans. Highlights (really, lowlights), include: marriage problems can be solved through daily sex (even if you don't want to), if you're unhappy that's your fault (no matter what!), and being very hydrated is a cure-all. Spoiler alert, we really, really dislike this book.
Bigger discussions include Rachel Hollis adopting Tony Robbins as her persona (as if one Tony Robbins wasn't enough), her blatantly plagiarising cinematic masterpiece 'Clueless' (because plagiarizing seems to be her thing), why 'competition' needs to stop being a dirty word, and the alignment between the aspirational MLM culture and the success of the Hollis Co. Rise conferences. So much to unpack, it's a good one.
Obsessions include Seth Rogen's new book 'Yearbook,' partly because it's a love letter to our hometown of Vancouver.
Follow along and let us know what you think on Instagram @haveyouheardpodcast.  Be sure to subscribe and write a review, it's greatly appreciated!
If you'd like to contribute to our 'Buy Me a Coffee' page to show your support, you can find that here.

The podcast is back after a short break! And we come back with a vengeance as we take on Christian mommy blogger/entrepreneur/author/Tony Robbins wannabe/no stranger to controversy Rachel Hollis.
In Part 1 of 2, Mahsa and guest co-host Rachel do a deep dive/takedown, breaking down the controversy that surrounds Rachel Hollis, past and present. And yes, we dissect every bit of that TikTok video and subsequent non-apologies. Yes, apologies plural because to the shock of no one, she had to apologize for her apology.
Things get divisive when the subject of influencer and fellow mommy blogger/entrepreneur Jillian Harris comes up. She somehow finds herself roped into the Rachel Hollis drama, and we have very differing points of view on where we stand on her.
Along the way we try our best to answer the bigger questions: What makes someone worthy of a follow/unfollow, how much do we expect influencers to speak up about what's happening outside their perfect little insta squares, what makes Rachel Hollis such an aspirational figure to so many (particularly in the mlm set), and can we and should we be doing better by the people whose accounts we are following?
Special mention to Ben and Jen the remix who are our obsessions this week, Chrissy Teigen's reckoning continues, and we try to rebrand cancel culture as accountability culture.
Stay tuned for Part 2 next week.
Follow along and let us know what you think on Instagram @haveyouheardpodcast.  Be sure to subscribe and write a review, it's greatly appreciated!
If you'd like to contribute to our 'Buy Me a Coffee' page to show your support, you can find that here.

Sources:
Rachel Hollis TikTok Video

The minisode series tackles some of the stories/movies/books/tv shows I'm currently following in a snazzy roundup way-- you brush up on current pop culture all in about 20 minutes (hooray!)
This week, I explore Chrissy Teigen's complicated relationship with Twitter. Why did she leave the social media app of which she's dubbed the informal 'Mayor of Twitter,' why is she back, and what does the Twitterverse think? I break it down.
Colton Underwood comes out as gay on Good Morning America and reveals he has a reality show in the works with Netflix. The interview with Robin Roberts conveniently brushes past his harassment of ex Cassie Randolph as he tries to control the narrative. I found both news of the reality show and interview disappointing, and wonder when the Bachelor franchise will get it together.
Prince Philip passed away at the age of 99 at his home in Windsor Castle last week. His funeral was overshadowed by the palace PR machine and the dynamics between Harry/Meghan and Kate/William. But the real story right now is Queen Elizabeth losing her rock and the person who has been by her side from the beginning. There's a lot of work to do cleaning up the Royal Family's image prior to Charles taking the reigns, but right now their sole focus seems to be positioning Kate as the glue that holds them all together.
Lastly, the celebrity friendship we didn't know we needed--eternal cool girls Natasha Lyonne & Chloe Sevigny. Maybe I'm friendship starved in a COVID world but this read was my favorite profile of the week.
Follow along and let us know what you think on Instagram @haveyouheardpodcast.  Be sure to subscribe and write a review, it's greatly appreciated!
If you'd like to contribute to our 'Buy Me a Coffee' page to show your support, you can find that here.
Sources:
Chrissy Teigen is Back On Twitter (Paper Magazine)
A Former Bachelor Star Came Out as Gay. The Announcement Was as Messy as his Season (Emily Stewart, Vox)
Prince Philip, Husband of Queen Elizabeth II, Is Dead at 99 (Marilyn Berger, New York Times)
Best Friends (Laia Garcia-Furtado, The New York Times)

Join Mahsa and guest host Mary as they explore the illicit and wild world of VC Andrews novels, with a synopsis of cult classic 'Flowers in Attic.'
We discuss transitioning from the coming of age books of our Gen X/Millennial generation (the classics- Judy Blume, Goosebumps, Sweet Valley Twins, Babysitters Club, Christopher Pike); to the scandalous world of VC Andrews novels, where we hoped our parents didn't read the back cover (spoiler alert, they did and were mad).
We chat about what made these books so compelling as teens, their enduring cult legacy, the added mystery of a ghostwriter, and more. This episode is high on nostalgia, the special brand of parental neglect in the eighties, and the literary secrets we kept as twelve year old girls.
Also--rapid fire questions eighties edition--play along and see if you can go 6/6.
Follow along and let us know what you think on Instagram @haveyouheardpodcast.  Be sure to subscribe and write a review, it's greatly appreciated!
If you'd like to contribute to our 'Buy Me a Coffee' page to show your support, you can find that here.

Show Notes & Sources:
Flowers in the Attic (VC Andrews)
'Top That' Rap (Teen Witch)
Unfollow Every Celebrity Except January Jones (Taylor Roberts, Paper)

The new minisode series will tackle some of the stories/movies/books/tv shows I'm currently following in a snazzy roundup way-- you brush up on current pop culture all in about 20 minutes (hooray!)
This week I breakdown that very problematic Rachel Hollis post (she's always been problematic this is yet just another example), parallels with Sharon Osbourne exiting The Talk, the mystery that is Chet Hanks, and a new Q Anon documentary I'm been watching (with many breaks because it's not for the faint of heart); Q: Into the Storm.
Follow along and let us know what you think on Instagram @haveyouheardpodcast.  Be sure to subscribe and write a review, it's greatly appreciated!
If you'd like to contribute to our 'Buy Me a Coffee' page to show your support, you can find that here.
Sources:
Here's What You Need to Know About the Latest Rachel Hollis Backlash (Cassandra Stone, Motherly)
Support Luvvie and buy her books 'Professional Troublemaker: The Fear Fighter Manual' and 'I'm Judging You: The Do-Better Manual'
Sharon Osbourne Exits 'The Talk' After Allegations of Misconduct and Racist Remarks (Deadline, Dominic Patten)
The Squandered Promise of Chet Hanks White Boy Summer (Naomi Fry, The New Yorker)
Q: Into The Storm - Watch on HBO or Crave

We chat with our favorite TikTok comedian Mary-Alice Farina, whose spot-on impression of Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep doing a riff on Anna Wintour in 'The Devil Wears Prada,)' went viral in the summer of 2020.
We talk the rise of comedy on social media in a COVID world, the value and role of social activism in comedy, dealing with trolls, and the new school of funny influencers who have provided some much needed levity in these strange times.
The ways in which we get our news has changed, as I also get schooled on what exactly happened in Texas during the recent fluke snow storm, with Mary-Alice traveling cross country at the time, sharing via social media the unsettling experience of bouncing from hotel to hotel trying to find safety and food.
We share our current obsessions that include the amazing Issa Rae and podcast fave, 'You're Wrong About.' Like the cool kids, I also finally 'get' TikTok.
Special thanks to Mary-Alice Farina for use of her audio comedy clips in this show. You can follow Mary-Alice on Instagram @mafarina and TikTok at @itsmemaf
Follow along and let us know what you think on Instagram @haveyouheardpodcast. Agree, disagree, or agree to disagree--we want to hear from you. Be sure to subscribe and write a review, it's greatly appreciated!
If you'd like to contribute to our 'Buy Me a Coffee' page to show your support, you can find that here.
Sources
Meryl Streep in the 'Devil Wears Prada' Impression (YouTube, Mary-Alice Farina)
Harvard Mom Impression (YouTube, Mary-Alice Farina)
White Liberal Women Talk About Race in 2020 (YouTube, Mary-Alice Farina)
JK Rowling Responds to Rumours of Transphobia (YouTube, Mary-Alice Farina)

This is the real-life story of the College Admissions Scandal that took the US by storm in 2019. Rick Singer, an elite 'college counsellor,' worked with some of the wealthiest American families to secure their kids a spot in the Nation's most coveted schools, through hefty donations and an elusive side door.
Eventually, he gets caught, and works with authorities to indict over 50 parents, including Lori Loughlin and Mossimo Giannulli (parents of influencer Olivia Jade), and celebrated actress Felicity Huffman,
We deep-dive all the sordid details of this Netflix documentary as we attempt to answer the big question-- why the wealthiest families with all the access and resources afforded to them ultimately resort to cheating.
Follow along and let us know what you think on Instagram @haveyouheardpodcast. Agree, disagree, or agree to disagree--we want to hear from you. Be sure to subscribe and write a review, it's greatly appreciated!
If you'd like to contribute to our 'Buy Me a Coffee' page to show your support, you can find that here.

Sources
Operation Varsity Blues: College Admissions Scandal (Netflix)
Private Schools Have Become Truly Obscene (Caitlin Flanagan, The Atlantic)

Were you silent, or were you silenced? We dissect the television event of the year: Oprah sits down with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Harry and Meghan, to chat about their lives post leaving their positions as senior royals in the British Royal Family. As Oprah said, 'nothing is off limits,' and it wasn't--they all delivered.
From the how and why they left the Royal Family, the racially charged press implications, navigating tricky family dynamics, Princess Diana's last gift, and the aftermath-- Mahsa and guest co-host Amy break it all down.
Follow along and let us know what you think on Instagram @haveyouheardpodcast. Agree, disagree, or agree to disagree--we want to hear from you. Be sure to subscribe and write a review.
If you'd like to contribute to our 'Buy Me a Coffee' page to show your support, you can find that here.

Sources:
Oprah Interview (CBS and CBS This Morning)
A Royal Instagram Mystery (Caity Weaver, The New York Times)