Pop Syllabus
Pop Syllabus is a show where host Christiana Mbakwe Medina deconstructs the zeitgeist and answers big cultural questions. Each week, she and an expert guest unpack a buzzy topic, helping listeners understand the moment while going through it. Topics range from body positivity to wellness influencers and tech oligarchs.
Episodes
Understanding Women with ADHD with Corinne the Coach
Forget the stereotypical image of ADHD. For many women, it looks a lot different.
This week, Christiana sits down with Corinne the Coach to explore why women and girls are so often overlooked, why women of color face even greater barriers to diagnosis, and how ADHD can impact everything from mental health and shame to motherhood, money, and work. Corinne also opens up about her own diagno
Bad Moms in Pop Culture with Ej Dickson
We love to talk about motherhood like there’s a right way to do it. But the rules have never been as simple as they seem.
This week, Christiana sits down with WIRED senior culture writer and author of One Bad Mother Ej Dickson to explore the cultural history of the “bad mom,” from the “welfare queen” to today’s MAHA moms, momfluencers, tradwives, and stage moms. They unpack why the ideal of th
The State of Beauty Politics and What It All Means with Tressie McMillan Cottom
Botox, filler, beauty trends, and the pressure to keep up with it all. This week, Christiana sits down with NYT columnist and UNC Chapel Hill professor Dr. Tressie McMillan Cottom to explore how beauty culture is changing around the world, why our appearances carry so much power, and what happens when the rules of beauty keep changing.
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Ranking the 2020s Pop Culture Divas with Ryan Mitchell
Divas! We all love them, and we all have very strong opinions about who deserves a spot in our personal top 3. So this week, Christiana sits down with journalist, culture critic, and the NFL’s first LGBTQ+ brand ambassador Ryan Mitchell to bring back our signature pop culture rubric and rank the biggest divas of the 2020s. But who will take the crown? Listen in to find out.
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Power, Pleasure, and White Women’s Hair with Sarah Mesle
Only a small percentage of women are naturally blonde, yet blonde hair has become one of the most powerful symbols of beauty and privilege in American culture.
This week, Christiana sits down with Sarah Mesle, USC professor and author of Tangled: Seven Iconic Moments in White Women's Hair and What They Tell Us About Power, Pleasure, and Complicity, to examine the cultural politics of white wome
Pioneers, Builders, and Innovators: a new Pop Syllabus rubric with Blue Telusma
This week, writer and YouTuber Blue Telusma joins Pop Syllabus for a wide-ranging conversation on modern relationships, gender dynamics, and what Love Island reveals about our culture. Best known for her sharp commentary on the hit reality series, Blue and Christiana explore everything from dating and accountability to race and media. Then, the two debut our new Pioneers, Builders & Innovators gam
Pop Culture and The Royal Family: Past, Present, and Future with Omid Scobie
The royal family has mastered the art of staying in the spotlight. For generations, they’ve been a source of fascination, controversy, and endless conversation. But why do we keep coming back to the Crown?
In this episode, Christiana sits down with NY Times bestselling author of Endgame: Inside the Royal Family and the Monarchy’s Fight for Survival, TV writer, producer, and royal commentator Om
The Anatomy of a Real Housewife with Candiace Dillard Bassett
Millions of people watch The Real Housewives, but few know what it's really like to be one.
In this episode, Christiana sits down with former Real Housewives of Potomac star and Miss USA 2013, Candiace Dillard Bassett, for an honest conversation about fame, friendship, IVF, marriage, and what it actually takes to survive one of television's biggest franchises.
Follow Candiace: Instagra
GLP-1s and The Death of Body Positivity with Dr. A. Janet Tomiyama
Are GLP-1s changing our relationship with our bodies? The science says yes, but not in the ways you might think.
In this episode, Christiana sits down with Dr. A. Janet Tomiyama, health psychologist, UCLA professor, and director of the Diet, Stigma, and Health (DiSH) Lab, to examine how GLP-1s are redefining body positivity, exposing the persistence of weight stigma, and raising bigger question
Are They a Star, Celebrity or Famous Person? with Zuri Hall
We're back with another round of our signature pop culture game, Are They a Star, Celebrity, or Famous Person?
This week, Christiana is joined by Emmy Award-winning TV host, Zuri Hall, to pull names from the bowl and weigh in on everyone from Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark to Cardi B, Dua Lipa, Timothée Chalamet, Anna Wintour, Billie Eilish, Bad Bunny, The Weeknd, and more. They also get i
IVF, Pregnancy, and Home Birth at 45 with Jesse Golden
More women are having children after 40, but what does that actually look like when you are in it?
In this episode, Christiana sits down with Jesse Golden, CEO and founder of The Golden Secrets, to talk about her journey of trying for motherhood at 45, including IVF, miscarriage, and starting over later in life. She also opens up about home birth, treatment costs, community, and what it really
The Pop Culture Debrief: Deconstructing Magazines
This week’s pop culture syllabus comes straight from the magazine rack!
In this solo episode, Christiana sits down to talk us through the latest from Women's Health, GQ, Harper's Bazaar, and the juiciest tabloids, breaking down celebrity glow-ups, style statements, and luxury obsessions from names like Jay-Z, Anne Hathaway, Rita Ora, and more while unpacking what this month’s magazines are rea
Manthropology with Holly Solem
Women spend a lot of time wondering what men really think about love and relationships.
In this episode, Christiana sits down with Holly Solem, advice columnist and creator of the social media series Manthropology, to discuss what she’s learned from interviewing men about dating, masculinity, and loneliness. They also play a game revisiting iconic fictional men in pop culture and how they shap
Ranking Pop Culture Divas with Gerrick Kennedy
We’ve been calling women divas for years, but we still can’t agree on what the word actually means or who qualifies.
In this episode, Christiana sits down with music journalist Gerrick Kennedy, co-author of Brandy's new memoir, Phases, to do the impossible: rank the greatest divas across the 90s, 2000s, and 2010s and unpack what really earns someone the title.
Together, they debate the div
Deconstructing the Kardashians with MJ Corey
Whether you love them or hate them, it’s hard to argue the Kardashians didn’t completely change the way we think about fame. So how did this family go from reality TV to becoming the blueprint for modern celebrity and one of the most powerful forces in pop culture?
In this episode, Christiana sits down with author MJ Corey to talk about her book Deconstructing the Kardashians: A New Media Manif
The Celebrity Couples Game with Erin Lim Rhodes
Celebrity couples today don’t just date, they trend, and every move instantly becomes part of the cultural conversation online.
In this episode, Christiana sits down with E! Entertainment host Erin Lim Rhodes to play our signature Celebrity Couples Game and debate some of pop culture’s most talked-about pairs, from Kylie Jenner and Timothée Chalamet to Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck, Sele
The Conversation We Need About Womb Health With Dr. Kemi Doll
Womb health is still one of the most misunderstood areas of women’s care, especially for Black women.
In today’s episode, Christiana sits down with gynecologic oncologist and author of A Terrible Strength: The Hidden Crisis of the Black Womb and Your Survival Guide to Healing to walk us through fibroids, endometriosis, and the symptoms that are often dismissed, plus what women should be asking
The Pop Culture Debrief: Mess, Drama & Headlines (Christiana Solo Episode)
Welcome to another week in pop culture, where nothing is calm and everything is a headline.
In this episode, Christiana flips through the latest tabloids and magazines, breaking down celebrity chaos, unhinged headlines, and the editorials everyone can’t stop talking about.
Sydney Sweeney, Doja Cat, Timothée Chalamet, Anne Hathaway, and more all show up in this week’s rundown as Christiana sh
Inside Hollywood’s Obsession With “Perfect” Faces With Dr. Carl Truesdale
In Hollywood, everyone wants a “perfect” face, but the goal now is to make it look like nothing was ever done. But behind that natural look is a growing set of procedures most people would never recognize.
Today, Christiana sits down with Double Board Certified Facial & Reconstructive Plastic Surgeon Dr. Carl Truesdale to understand what’s driving Hollywood’s obsession with undetectable plastic
Why Open Relationships Are More Common Than You Think With Dr. Amy Moors
Non-monogamy is everywhere right now, and so are the opinions about it.
In today’s episode, Christiana sits down with psychologist and Chapman University Professor Dr. Amy Moors to unpack open relationships, ethical non-monogamy, and why more people are exploring love outside the traditional mold.
Dr. Amy Moors research
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Are They a Star, Celebrity or Famous Person? with Sam Sanders
No matter where you find yourself on the internet, celebrities’ lives are constantly in front of us, but who’s actually a star and who’s just famous?
From icons like Beyoncé to rising names like Sabrina Carpenter and Sydney Sweeney, Christiana sits down with award-winning reporter and podcaster Sam Sanders to play “star, celebrity, or famous person” and break down what really makes someone last
Hypergamy & Sugar Dating With Dr. Megan Sawey
#SugarBaby culture is everywhere online. But why is it making such a big comeback now?
As money gets tighter and “SugarTok” gains traction, conversations around sugar dating and hypergamy are becoming more mainstream.
Christiana sits down with Cornell lecturer Dr. Megan Sawey to examine what’s driving the trend and what it means for modern dating.
Megan’s research on sugar dating
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A Sexual History of the Internet With Mindy Seu
The internet didn’t just change sex. Sex built the internet. So who actually gets credit for shaping the digital world?
Today, Christiana speaks with Mindy Seu, author of A Sexual History of the Internet, to unpack how sex, desire, and the labor of sex workers quietly built the foundations of the internet, and why that history is still left out of the conversation.
Follow Mindy on Instagram
Taylor Swift & Swiftynomics With Misty Heggeness
If you’re a Swiftie, this episode is for you.
Today, Christiana sits down with professor and author Misty Heggeness to break down her book Swiftnomics and how Taylor Swift turned fandom into a $4 billion touring empire, and what it reveals about consumption, influence, and the rise of a new economic model led by women.
Misty’s website: https://www.mistyheggeness.com/
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Why “Valley Girls” Are Totally Misunderstood With Koa Beck
Like, why did the “Valley Girl” become America’s favorite punchline?
Today, Christiana sits down with journalist and author, Koa Beck, to talk about how the Valley Girl stereotype took off in pop culture, why it has been so misunderstood, and how it reflects America’s bigger anxieties about young women and femininity that still shape how we see them today.
Follow Koa: Instagram
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Hollywood’s Colorism Curse With Dr. Yaba Blay
Colorism isn’t new. It’s the curse embedded in Hollywood’s DNA.
Today, Christiana sits down with scholar-activist Dr. Yaba Blay to unpack how colorism operates behind the scenes of pop culture, why lighter skin is still centered, and how these hierarchies shape everything from stardom to self-worth.
Follow Dr. Yaba Blay: Instagram
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The Dangers of Looksmaxxing With Dr. Michael Halpin
Looksmaxxing is the internet’s latest male self-improvement trend — where your jawline is a strategy and your face is a project.
Today, Christiana sits down with Associate Professor of Sociology at Dalhousie University, Dr. Michael Halpin, to explain what looksmaxxing really is, why cosmetic surgeries are on the rise, and how this corner of the Manosphere is reshaping masculinity and the way me
The Power of “Sinners” With Wunmi Mosaku
Almost a year later, Sinners is still unforgettable, and Wunmi Mosaku’s Annie stole our hearts. But behind the performance was a woman navigating first-time motherhood, career crossroads, and big life choices.
On today’s episode, Christiana talks to Oscar-nominated Wunmi about her maternity brand Iyadé, self care, and lessons from a career-defining role.
Wunmi’s maternity brand’s website:.i
Space Racism & Astrology With Margaret Gaida
Astrology is everywhere, blending spirituality, social media, and even AI apps that promise to read your future.
Today, Christiana speaks with astrology historian, Margaret Gaida, to understand how astrology shapes love, culture, and the hidden inequalities of the cosmic world.
Margaret’s website: mghsci.wordpress.com/dissertation
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Paying Homage to Black Women in Reality TV With Rachel Lindsay
When Rachel Lindsay said yes to being on The Bachelor, she had no clue what she was getting herself into. Since then, she has gone from practicing lawyer, to The First Black Bachelorette, to media personality and author.
Today, Christiana and Rachel talk about Black women on reality TV and how she helped change the genre.
Follow Rachel: Instagram
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The Myth of an “Overnight Success” With Jeff Hiller
Jeff Hiller was 49 when he won his first Emmy but, despite what many people think, he didn’t just come out of nowhere. He was a working comedian and actor for years before landing his breakout role on HBO’s Somebody Somewhere.
On today’s episode, Christiana talks to Jeff about his book “Actress of a Certain Age: My Twenty-Year Trail to Overnight Success” and why none of us seem to feel like we
The World of Disney Adults With Robbie Whelan
Disney Adults are some of the most fascinating, layered, and hated subcultures in contemporary American life.
Today, Christiana speaks with Robbie Whelan, author of the forthcoming book House of Mouse, to understand the world of Disney Adults.
Follow Robbie: X
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How K-Beauty Took Over the World with Elise Hu | Pop Syllabus
Glass skin, a 10-step-skincare routine and one of the fastest growing beauty categories in the world. Welcome to the church of K-Beauty!
Today, Christiana speaks with Elise Hu, author of Flawless: Lessons in Looks and Culture from the K-Beauty Capital, the definitive book on how K-Beauty took over the world.
Follow Elise: Instagram | TikTok
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The Dark Side of Wellness | Pop Syllabus
Today, we’re talking about “Big Wellness” - the business, its benefits, the grift? Whether we think it’s all a scam, or can’t wake up without a gorgeous green cup of matcha, wellness culture has changed our world forever.
To help us understand this phenomenon, Christiana speaks to Amy Larocca, journalist and author of How to Be Well: Navigating Our Self-Care Epidemic, One Dubious Cure at a Time.
Introducing: Pop Syllabus with Christiana Mbakwe Medina
Pop Syllabus is a show where host Christiana Mbakwe Medina deconstructs the zeitgeist and answers the big cultural questions. How did we swing from body positivity to thin-being-in? Why do so many people trust wellness influencers over medical doctors? And how did tech oligarchs become the new celebrities? Think of Christiana as a cross between a messy news anchor and guerilla academic. Each week,
Introducing: Pop Syllabus with Christiana Mbakwe Medina
Pop Syllabus is a show where host Christiana Mbakwe Medina deconstructs the zeitgeist and answers the big cultural questions. How did we swing from body positivity to thin-being-in? Why do so many people trust wellness influencers over medical doctors? And how did tech oligarchs become the new celebrities? Think of Christiana as a cross between a messy news anchor and guerilla academic. Each week,
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