Of all the aunt tropes in pop culture–spinster aunts, sinister aunts, weird aunts, witchy aunts–why is The Cool Aunt so popular these days? More importantly, who is she really, beyond (alleged) disposible income and TikTok aesthetics? Los Angeles Times art and design columnist Carolina Miranda appraises the figure as a timely foil to tradwives, as well as an underappreciated part of the family. Highlights include: Cristen's formative fictional cool aunt, Fresh Prince's Aunt Viv, Empire's Cookie Lyon and the invention of PANK (professional aunt, no kids).

*Read Carolina's LA Times piece that inspired this episode: How the cool aunties of pop culture flout, the growing restrictions imposed on women*

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