Pop Syllabus
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, she and an expert guest will unpack a buzzy topic, and help us understand the moment while going through it.
Episodes
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, Selena Go
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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