In our first teaser episode, the day after Kamala Harris lost, we briefly discussed our feelings on the November 2024 elections. It’s been a while since that initial talk and a lot has happened.

Now, six months into Trump’s second term, we wanted to check in to see how we’re feeling.

FURTHER READING:

Elaine’s Political Newsletter: Seeking Democracy

First Teaser Episode: "But first," A Quick Election Debrief...(Teaser Episode)

Theme Music: “Banjo Beat” - Will Records

Carlyn recently went to her 20th high school reunion. Elaine is still on the fence about hers.

According to multiple sources, statistically only about 30% of a graduating class shows up to a reunion. Which makes you wonder: why do some people go, and others don’t? What are reunions really for in a world where we now see everyone’s life updates online?

In this episode, C & E unpack that exact tension—starting with a simple question:What do you picture when you hear the words “high school reunion”?

Then we get into it: who we were back in high school, what parts of us still linger (or grate), and whether reunions still hold meaning…or if they’re just a relic of the pre-social media past.

FURTHER READING:

Remember me from yesterday? (New York Times)

Why are class reunions so terrifying? (The Guardian)

Is the high school reunion dead? (The Walrus)

Embracing my 40-year high school reunion (Psychology Today)

Why you should consider going to that high school reunion (San Diego Tribune)

Elaine (at 36) and Carlyn (at 38) talk about the beauty standards surrounding aging. As women, we are subjected to standards of beauty that are aimed at selling us solutions long before we hit puberty, but we’ve noticed that the market has changed – no longer is it offering simple beautification but now offers include anti-aging serums and supplements. Not to mention the uptick in cosmetic procedures, like botox and plastic surgery.

In this episode, we explore our awareness of superficially aging.

Further Reading:

* Vanity Is Not a Deadly Sin. It’s One of Life’s Last Vital Signs (The New York Times)

* Appreciating the Difference Between Pride and Vanity (Psychology Today)

* It’s OK to care about your looks: Women shouldn't be embarrassed by — or shamed into — decisions of personal style (Salon.com)

* The Never-Ending Scrutiny of Being in an Aging Body (The Walrus)

* The Psychology of Appearance and Aging: This is not about vanity - It's about your identity (Positive Aging Community)

* The Psychology of Vanity (Psychology Today)

* Kris Jenner's Shocking New Look Went Viral. Now the Plastic Surgeon Responsible Has Been Revealed (People.com)

* It Doesn’t Matter If the Kardashians Are Honest About Their Plastic Surgery (Allure)

Theme Music: “Banjo Beat” - Will Records

According to research, women are increasingly interested in going on solo adventures - both domestic and international. One report states that 40% of all female travelers have voiced desire to travel alone in 2025 – up 8 percentage points from last year.

There are over 60K women in the “Solo Female Travel” reddit group, and there are an increasing amount of tours, travel apps, accommodation that are targeted towards women only.

In this episode, we explore why more women might be opting for solo travel through the lens of our own personal solo travel experiences.

Further Reading:

* NBC News: Women Are Planning Vacation Alone

* Afar Magazine: As a Solo Female Traveler, Here’s What to Know & Where to Go

* Reddit: /FemaleTravels

Kendrick Lamar made waves when he performed at the Super Bowl, the climax of a beef between him and the rapper Drake that started in the spring of 2024. One of the songs he performed was “Not Like Us”, arguably the most well-known song of last year and the diss track that solidified Lamar’s victory in the battle.

Though Lamar did not attacked Drake’s biracial heritage directly, many of the reviews of the work have drawn a strong connection to race and suggested that Drake’s career is built on cultural appropriation.

Carlyn and Elaine use the song as a starting point for their own discussion of biracial identity.

Further Reading:

* Music Video: Kendrick Lamar - Not Like Us

* Superbowl Performance: Kendrick Lamar’s Apple Music Super Bowl Halftime Show

* Kendrick Lamar "Not Like Us" Lyrical Breakdown (notnewhiphop)

* A complete break down of Kendrick Lamar's fifth diss track 'Not Like Us' (SportsSkeeda)

* Who’s Afraid of Being Black? Not Kamala, Beyoncé or Kendrick. (The New York Times)

* The Number One Song in the Country Is a Diss Track. Is That a Good Thing?(Rolling Stone)

* COMMENTARY: Kendrick Lamar’s ‘Not Like Us’ reminds us that culture vultures like Akademiks and DJ Vlad built their platforms by exploiting Black trauma (The TRiiBE)

* Kendrick Lamar’s Wife’s Ethnicity Is a Hot Topic Amid His Feud With Drake (Blavity)

Theme Music: “Banjo Beat” - Will Records

Purchasing products is a reality of our lives; and the associated branding is becoming increasingly omnipresent.

In this episode, Carlyn and Elaine examine how companies use product branding to appeal to customers like them by looking at two emerging terms: “yassificiation” and “enshittification”, which both describe the relationship between an actual product and how they present to a potential consumer.

At a time of increasing economic unsurety and instability, Carlyn and Elaine sit down to talk about these themes and how they shape their own habits.

Further Reading:

* What Does ‘Yassification’ Mean? A Brief History Of The Queer Term (Refinery29)

* What Does It Mean to 'Yassify' Anything? (The New York Times)

* YASSification Is The Biggest Trend Sweeping The Internet (HighSnobiety)

* Your stuff is actually worse now (Vox)

* The ‘Enshittification’ of TikTok (Wired)

* There’s a reason why it feels like the internet has gone bad (MSN)

* Millennial Rebrand Syndrome (Blog Post, Blackbird Spyplane)

* Why does everything look infantilized? (Blog Post, Maryah)

Theme Music: “Banjo Beat” - Will Records

AI is everywhere—from chatbots to self-driving cars—and while some embrace it as an essential tool, others remain skeptical.

In this episode, Carlyn and Elaine explore the ways AI and technology are reshaping personal relationships and social interactions. Carlyn, deeply embedded in the tech world, uses AI regularly, while Elaine has intentionally distanced herself from social media and digital tools, favoring more manual, real-world processes. Together, they examine the growing tension between convenience and authenticity, questioning whether AI is enhancing or eroding human connection.

What does it mean to truly be a friend in the digital age? And as technology continues to evolve, how can we maintain meaningful relationships? Tune in for a thoughtful conversation on the trade-offs of an increasingly AI-driven world.

Further Reading:

* MIT sociologist Sherry Turkle on the psychological impacts of bot relationships (TED)

* She Fell in Love With ChatGPT. Like, Actual Love. With Sex. (NYT)

* Esther Perel on New AI - Artificial Intimacy (Brene Brown)

* “I’m afraid we’re automating this work without really understanding it.” (HBR)

* Meet My AI Friends (NYT)

Theme Music: “Banjo Beat” - Will Records

After our episode on the 4B movement, we wanted to have an additional conversation pertaining to how men might be viewing their own places in society. The Manosphere, which first coalesced on the internet, but has spread beyond, is an anti-feminist movement that has the potential to radicalize men.

How do we understand the appeal of such a space? Join us, and our brother, as we explore the Manosphere.

Further Reading:

* Swallowing the Red Pill: a journey to the heart of modern misogyny (The Guardian)

* How positive male role models are detoxifying the social media ‘manosphere’ (The Guardian)

* Welcome to the femosphere, the latest dark, toxic corner of the internet… for women (The Guardian)

* Join or Die (Film)

* Are Young Men Really Becoming More Sexist? (Podcast, Good on Paper)

* How social media is luring men into the Manosphere (Podcast, The Guardian)

Theme Music: “Banjo Beat” - Will Records

As we approached Valentine's Day this year, we found ourselves reflecting on a movement that's reshaping how many women view love, relationships, and their place in society. The 4B movement, which emerged in South Korea during the mid-2010s as a reaction to persistent gender inequality, represents four deliberate choices – the four “nos”: bihon "bee-hon" (no marriage), bichulsan (no childbirth), biyeonae (no dating), and bisex (no sex).

4B has started to build momentum in the US following the Trump’s re-election and the overturning of Roe vs. Wade, and it’s not without its complexities and concerns.

Join us as we explore both 4B itself and relate it back to our own experiences with modern love and womanhood.

Futher Reading:

* 4B Movement: What is It and How Did it Start? (The Week)

* As 4B takes the world by storm, South Korea is grappling with a backlash against feminism (The Guardian)

* Here’s What Korean Women Think of the 4B Movement Spreading to the US (Rolling Stone)

* 4B Isn’t Breaking Up With Men — It’s Breaking Up With the System (34 St)

* 4B Movement Reddit Group

Theme Music: “Banjo Beat” - Will Records

2024 was a year! In Elaine’s words: “it was a looong year…” 😂. In today’s episode, we reflect on 2024 and look forward towards 2025. Featuring: Pantone's Color of the Year - Mocha Mousse (Carlyn = "yay", Elaine = "nay"), a brief Chappell Roan discussion, Elaine’s love of trains, our personal highs and lows, a new “Stranger Shout-Out” segment, and more.

Further Reading:

Our respective favorite reads: Not the End of the World by Hannah Ritchie | Playground by Richard Powers

Our respective favorite songs: “Make Your Own Kind of Music” (Cover) - Paloma Faith | “Pink Pony Club” - Chappell Roan

Our favorite TV shows: Flex X Cop (Hulu, Disney+), Happiness (Netflix), Industry (HBO), Love Island USA (Peacock), Traitors USA (Peacock)

Our favorite movies: Will & Harper (Netflix), Wicked

Pantone Color of the Year: https://www.pantone.com/color-of-the-year/2025

Pommel Horse Guy: https://www.npr.org/2024/08/03/g-s1-15241/stephen-nedoroscik-pommel-horse-guy-olympic-bronze

United Healthcare: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/most-americans-blame-insurance-profits-and-coverage-denials-alongside-killer-in-unitedhealthcare-ceo-death-poll-finds

Theme Music: “Banjo Beat” - Will Records; “Maiden Voyage” - Helmet Schenker