Let's Process This!

The Smithsonian is “too woke” — apparently teaching actual history is now a partisan act. Plus, the FCC Chair is threatening ABC because Jimmy Kimmel said something mean about the president. On a comedy show. Chris is joined by Susan Bird (@onlysusanbird) and KiDané Kelati (@kidanekelati) to process the headlines from six months ago that somehow got worse with age.

Let’s Process This! — because the news doesn’t make sense, but at least we can laugh about it.

🔗 patreon.com/LetsProcessChris​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

This week on Let's Process This!, we welcome Drew Droege and Natalia Soto and we're getting into two stories about who controls information, and what happens when that control slips.

First up: Thomas Massie files a discharge petition to force a vote on releasing the Jeffrey Epstein documents. Is this a real transparency move, a political play, or honestly kind of both?

Then New York (and other large cities) are losing art critics. Legacy outlets are gutting cultural coverage and laying off the people paid to actually think about art for a living. What do we lose when the critics are gone?

Join us this week on Let's Process This!

Follow our guests:

Natalia Soto: @Nnataliasotoo

Drew Droege: @Drew_droege

Support "Let’s Process This!"
Love the laughs and the headlines? Help keep the pod weird, independent, and slightly over-caffeinated by joining our Patreon: Club Process 💌

We’ve even got a free tier — so if you just want to follow along (and maybe get your own Tournament of Headlines bracket), you’re more than welcome.

👉 Join Club Process on Patreon

Let’s Connect!
Got hot takes? Guest ideas? Want to yell about a headline? Email us: [email protected]

Follow Us on Social Media
🎙 Instagram

• The Podcast → @letsprocessthispod
• Chris → @XopherPappas
• Lex → @YetCharming

🎬 TikTok

• Chris → @LetProcessChris

📺 YouTube

• @LetsProcessThisPod

This week on Let’s Process This!, we’re joined by Dian Cathal and Neeloy Banerjee for a look back at two very different culture-war flashpoints from six months ago.

First, we unpack the internal Democratic debate over language and messaging after a Third Way memo circulated a so-called “blacklist” of 45 phrases deemed alienating to voters. Is this smart political strategy—or a sign of deeper anxiety about how to talk to the electorate?

Then, we revisit August 20th: the day Cracker Barrel announced a brand refresh and accidentally ignited a full-blown backlash. What was it about _this_ logo update that struck such a nerve, and why do corporate branding decisions so often become proxies for cultural identity fights?

Politics, pop culture, messaging panic, and nostalgia as ideology—six months later, does any of this still matter?

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Find Our Guests Online

Dian Cathal

Website & tour info: diancathal.com

Instagram: @DianCathal

TikTok: @DianCathalComedy

(Trans*Atlantic tour now on sale — email to request a stop in your city!)

Neeloy Banerjee

Instagram: @neeloytellsjokes

Support "Let’s Process This!"

Love the laughs and the headlines? Help keep the pod weird, independent, and slightly over-caffeinated by joining our Patreon: Club Process 💌

We’ve even got a **free tier** — so if you just want to follow along (and maybe get your own Tournament of Headlines bracket), you’re more than welcome.

👉 [Join Club Process on Patreon](https://www.patreon.com/LetsProcessChris)

**Let’s Connect!**

Got hot takes? Guest ideas? Want to yell about a headline? Email us: [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])

**Follow Us on Social Media**

🎙 **Instagram**

- The Podcast → [@letsprocessthispod](https://www.instagram.com/letsprocessthispod/)

- Chris → [@XopherPappas](https://www.instagram.com/xopherpappas/?hl=en)

- Lex → [@YetCharming](https://www.instagram.com/yetcharming/)

🎬 **TikTok**

- Chris → @LetProcessChris

📺 **YouTube**

- @LetsProcessThisPod

Let’s Process This! is back from winter break with a new episode featuring Kevin Gilligan (Geeks OUT) and Kenice Mobley (Comedy Central).

This week, we revisit two headlines from six months ago to ask our favorite question: does any of this still matter?

First, we break down the origins of the Texas redistricting fight and how it set the stage for ongoing political battles over voting power and representation.

Then, we turn to pop culture with a controversial jeans advertisement that claimed to be about fashion, but sparked backlash for what many saw as messaging about genetics and identity.

Find Our Guests Online

Kevin Gilligan

Instagram: @gilligan_mcjew

Geeks OUT Podcast: geeksout.org/podcast

Flame Con: flamecon.org

Kenice Mobley

Website: kenicemobley.com

Instagram: @kenicemobley

Hot Guy Draft: @hotguydraft

Support "Let’s Process This!"

Love the laughs and the headlines? Help keep the pod weird, independent, and slightly over-caffeinated by joining our Patreon: **Club Process** 💌

We’ve even got a **free tier** — so if you just want to follow along (and maybe get your own Tournament of Headlines bracket), you’re more than welcome.

👉 [Join Club Process on Patreon](https://www.patreon.com/LetsProcessChris)

**Let’s Connect!**

Got hot takes? Guest ideas? Want to yell about a headline? Email us: [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])

**Follow Us on Social Media**

🎙 **Instagram**

- The Podcast → [@letsprocessthispod](https://www.instagram.com/letsprocessthispod/)

- Chris → [@XopherPappas](https://www.instagram.com/xopherpappas/?hl=en)

- Lex → [@YetCharming](https://www.instagram.com/yetcharming/)

🎬 **TikTok**

- Chris → @LetProcessChris

📺 **YouTube**

- @LetsProcessThisPod

Heated Rivalry! And now that I have your attention....

This week on Let’s Process This!, Chris is joined by comedians Cole Steffensen and Ai Vy to look back at some headlines that have only gotten weirder with time.

We talk about pastors being allowed to endorse political candidates, the rise of the so-called “Steroid Olympics."

Plus, for this episode’s Super Secret Topic, we check in on a big promise: cellphones made in America. It was announced. It was hyped. But did it actually happen?

As always, we process it with jokes, hindsight, and just enough concern.

🎙️ Guests
Cole Steffensen — Instagram: @coleorwhatever | TikTok: @cole_steffensen
Ai Vy — Instagram & TikTok: @poisonaivy69

🎧 Listen now, and support the show by joining Club Process on Patreon.

**Support "Let’s Process This!"**

Love the laughs and the headlines? Help keep the pod weird, independent, and slightly over-caffeinated by joining our Patreon: **Club Process** 💌

We’ve even got a **free tier** — so if you just want to follow along (and maybe get your own Tournament of Headlines bracket), you’re more than welcome.

👉 [Join Club Process on Patreon](https://www.patreon.com/LetsProcessChris)

**Let’s Connect!**

Got hot takes? Guest ideas? Want to yell about a headline? Email us: [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])

**Follow Us on Social Media**

🎙 **Instagram**

- The Podcast → [@letsprocessthispod](https://www.instagram.com/letsprocessthispod/)

- Chris → [@XopherPappas](https://www.instagram.com/xopherpappas/?hl=en)

- Lex → [@YetCharming](https://www.instagram.com/yetcharming/)

🎬 **TikTok**

- Chris → @LetProcessChris

📺 **YouTube**

- @LetsProcessThisPod

We’re diving into some of the biggest, weirdest, and most delightfully chaotic headlines from six months ago. This week, Chris is joined by two incredible guests:🎙️ Joan Flaherty — Instagram @oatlybaristablend | TikTok @justpeers🎙️ Lindsey Simmons — Instagram @linda.in.hr | TikTok @childlessdogmommusings Together, we break down what mattered then, what still matters now, and what absolutely did not need to trend as hard as it did. In this episode, we revisit The Big Beautiful Bill, a piece of legislation that sparked massive debate — from early optimism to full-blown public outrage. We break down what the bill actually did, what it didn’t, and why everyone seemed to be yelling about it. Then we dive into the Grok Meltdown, the moment when an AI system went off the rails and the internet responded with panic, memes, and misinformation. Six months later, we sort out what was real and what was just tech-world chaos. And for our Super Secret Topic, we unpack a wildly unhinged Gen Z summer trend that completely took over social feeds.

*Let’s Connect!*

Got hot takes? Guest ideas? Want to yell about a headline? Email us: [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])

*Follow Us on Social Media*

🎙 *Instagram*

- The Podcast → [@letsprocessthispod](https://www.instagram.com/letsprocessthispod/)

- Chris → [@XopherPappas](https://www.instagram.com/xopherpappas/?hl=en)

- Lex → [@YetCharming](https://www.instagram.com/yetcharming/)

🎬 *TikTok*

- Chris → @LetProcessChris

📺 *YouTube*

- @LetsProcessThisPod

Season 5, Episode 2 — The Tournament of Headlines (Part 2)

The bracket continues — and it only gets more unhinged.

How many stories will be in the final round? Only time will tell.

In Part 2 of our Season 5 premiere, we wrap up the Tournament of Headlines, narrowing down the biggest, weirdest, and most chaotic stories from the first 100 days of the new administration.

Same guests, more hot takes:
🎙️ Jaydan Heather Malsky — @GayMalsky

🎙️ Tyson Wrensch — linktree.com/tysonsf

👀 Want early access, bonus clips, and your own bracket?
Join Club Process → patreon.com/LetsProcessChris

**Support "Let’s Process This!"**

Love the laughs and the headlines? Help keep the pod weird, independent, and slightly over-caffeinated by joining our Patreon: Club Process 💌

We’ve even got a **free tier** — so if you just want to follow along (and maybe get your own Tournament of Headlines bracket), you’re more than welcome.

👉 [Join Club Process on Patreon](https://www.patreon.com/LetsProcessChris)

**Let’s Connect!**

Got hot takes?

Guest ideas?

Want to yell about a headline?

Email us: [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])

**Follow Us on Social Media**

🎙 Instagram

- The Podcast → [@letsprocessthispod](https://www.instagram.com/letsprocessthispod/)

- Chris → [@XopherPappas](https://www.instagram.com/xopherpappas/?hl=en)

- Lex → [@YetCharming](https://www.instagram.com/yetcharming/)

🎬 **TikTok**

- Chris → @LetProcessChris

📺 **YouTube**

- @LetsProcessThisPod

🎧 Season 5, Episode 1 — The Tournament of Headlines (Part 1)

Welcome to Season 5 of Let’s Process This! 💥
We’re kicking things off with something big: The Tournament of Headlines.

The first 100 days of the new administration gave us a lot to process — so we’re turning it into a two-part bracket showdown. From executive orders to chaotic moments you already forgot about, we’re making them battle it out for headline supremacy.

Joining us for the ride are:
🎙️ Jaydan Heather Malsky — @GayMalsky

🎙️ Tyson Wrensch — linktree.com/tysonsf

🗳️ Want to play along?
Get your bracket at patreon.com/LetsProcessChris

**Support "Let’s Process This!"**

Love the laughs and the headlines? Help keep the pod weird, independent, and slightly over-caffeinated by joining our Patreon: Club Process 💌

We’ve even got a **free tier** — so if you just want to follow along (and maybe get your own Tournament of Headlines bracket), you’re more than welcome.

👉 [Join Club Process on Patreon](https://www.patreon.com/LetsProcessChris)

**Let’s Connect!**

Got hot takes?

Guest ideas?

Want to yell about a headline?

Email us: [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])

**Follow Us on Social Media**

🎙 Instagram

- The Podcast → [@letsprocessthispod](https://www.instagram.com/letsprocessthispod/)

- Chris → [@XopherPappas](https://www.instagram.com/xopherpappas/?hl=en)

- Lex → [@YetCharming](https://www.instagram.com/yetcharming/)

🎬 **TikTok**

- Chris → @LetProcessChris

📺 **YouTube**

- @LetsProcessThisPod

Season 5 is here.

New stories. New guests.

Same old screaming into the void.

Let’s Process This (season 5!) starting November 19 wherever you get your podcasts.

🎙️ Rod Thomas (Bright Light Bright Light) & Aaron Porchia Join the Pod!

In this season finale of Let’s Process This!, we’re joined by synth-pop icon Rod Thomas (aka Bright Light Bright Light) and comedian Aaron Porchia for a conversation that’s as thoughtful as it is hilarious. We look back at Luigi yes that Luigi, unpack the rise of Bluesky vs. Twitter, and dive into our Super Secret Topic: What is art, exactly?

This is our last full episode of the season — but don’t worry, we’ll be back this fall with more pop culture deep dives, internet absurdities, and critical hindsight. Until then, keep looking back to look forward.

👉 Don’t forget to rate, review, and follow the show so you don’t miss what’s next!

#BrightLightBrightLight #RodThomas #AaronPorchia #LetsProcessThis #PodcastFinale #Luigi #Bluesky #WhatIsArt #PopCulturePodcast #SeasonFinale