What if the pop culture you loved growing up was quietly teaching you to shrink, perform and turn on other women?

In this episode, Pulitzer Prize–nominated journalist Sophie Gilbert joins me to revisit the legacy of the 90s and 2000s — a time that likely shaped how you see yourself & other women.

We talk about the toxic version of 'empowerment' that dominated the era, why so many of us still feel stuck in competition mode and how we can start untangling the stories we were sold.

💡 You'll hear: – How porn and pop culture collided to redefine girlhood – Why so many women still struggle with internalised competition – What's changed in how women are portrayed — and what hasn't – How to start spotting (and unlearning) the cultural scripts you didn't choose – And what reclaiming your story can actually look like

📖 Chapters00:00 Nostalgia and Reflection on the 90s 03:08 The Power of Pop Culture 05:57 Reality TV and Intersectionality 08:57 Sexualization and Female Power 11:57 The Influence of Porn on Culture 14:55 Empowerment and Its Implications 17:46 Crisis of Female Identity in the 2000s 22:10 The Shift in Celebrity Culture 28:43 Cruelty and Compassion in Pop Culture 29:05 Progress in Women's Representation 31:33 The Impact of Technology on Self-Perception 34:56 Revisiting the Past for a Better Future

🔗 Mentioned: Girl on Girl by Sophie Gilbert Sophie's writing at The Atlantic Ed's Doco Series on what led to Britney's conservatorship 💌 More from That's Helpful: Subscribe to my Substack Watch the podcast on YouTube Follow That's Helpful on Instagram

📬 Got thoughts or guest suggestions? Email me at: thatshelpful @ edstott.com