Episodes

  • We Will Never Recover From What Justin Did to Britney or: the End of 'Into It'

    We Will Never Recover From What Justin Did to Britney or: the End of 'Into It'
    Oct 27 2023
    In our final game of "Into It/Not Into It," comedians Naomi Ekperigin and Andy Beckerman, hosts of the Couples Therapy podcast, put their marriage on the line... for the sake of culture. Sam asks if they're into Michelle Williams' narration of the Britney Spears memoir The Woman in Me (thus completing our Holy Trinity run of Britney-themed episodes), strike-approved Halloween costumes, and a new study that shows Gen Z wants to see less sex on screen. We also hear about the culture that's haunting us. And Sam says goodbye. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    36 mins
  • Britney Was Always Trying to Tell Us Who She Was

    Britney Was Always Trying to Tell Us Who She Was
    Oct 24 2023
    Britney Spears' memoir The Woman in Me is out today. But we're taking this moment instead to revisit the songs we never stopped listening to — and what she was trying to tell us all along, through the music. Sam talks with writer and critic Maura Johnston about what Britney gave to her body of work, and how her voice and sound — augmented, auto-tuned, yet authentic — ushered in a new era of pop music and pop stardom. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    35 mins
  • What Britney Reveals, and What George Clooney Wants Resolved

    What Britney Reveals, and What George Clooney Wants Resolved
    Oct 20 2023
    Britney Spears’ memoir comes out next week, but details are already emerging. From snake-handling to Justin Timberlake (redundant?), Sam is processing it all with Into It’s BFF, comic and writer Jay Jurden. Speaking of problems, the actors still have one: their strike keeps going, and now George Clooney and Tyler Perry are putting on pressure to resolve it. Plus, are we Into or Not Into Netflix’s brick-and-mortar ambitions? And at the very end, Sam has some important news to share. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    29 mins
  • It’s Not Just Scorsese. Why Are Movies So Long?

    It’s Not Just Scorsese. Why Are Movies So Long?
    Oct 17 2023
    Long movies have often been associated with prestige, so it makes sense that Killers of the Flower Moon is three hours and 26 minutes. But Avengers: End Game clocking in at more than three hours? Come on. Vanity Fair’s Natalie Jarvey and Sam talk through all the factors skewing movies longer, from bidding wars between streamers that give directors more power and control, to IP franchises demonstrating that audiences will tolerate longer movies. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    28 mins
  • Jada & Will Deserve an Oscar for Their Marriage Performance

    Jada & Will Deserve an Oscar for Their Marriage Performance
    Oct 13 2023
    News came out this week that Jada Pinkett Smith and Will Smith have actually been separated since 2016... and we have so many questions. Did Will ruin his career for a roommate? What was the Red Table Talk for? Who is this family's live-in producer? Traci Thomas, host of The Stacks podcast, and Chelsea Devantez, writer, comedian, and host of Glamorous Trash, help break down the week in culture with Sam. We also ask if they're into a possible reboot of Seinfeld and dissect what is going on with Drake. Send us your culturegeist. Is there something in the culture that's been haunting you? Tell us about it. Record a short voice memo and send it to intoit@vulture.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    33 mins
  • Why Are Celebrities So Bad at PR?

    Why Are Celebrities So Bad at PR?
    Oct 10 2023
    Whether you’ve filmed your awkward apology video from the comfort of your own kitchen or a corner of your palatial backyard, you can bet Molly McPherson, aka “PR Lady,” will be analyzing it on TikTok. She brings her PR industry bona fides to the world of celebrity scandals, and there’s been a lot for her to talk about lately. She and Sam discuss Lizzo’s response to allegations she mistreated her dancers, Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis’s character letter about Danny Masterson, Drew Barrymore’s potential crossing a picket line, and the muddled messaging around Joe Jonas and Sophie Turner's divorce. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    48 mins
  • Are Bed Bugs and Katy Perry Out for Blood?

    Are Bed Bugs and Katy Perry Out for Blood?
    Oct 6 2023
    Bed bugs in Paris? Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom entangled in yet another real estate lawsuit? U2 at The Sphere? Sam wraps up the week in culture with comedians Dylan Adler and Sam Oh. Also, we're bringing back our culturegeist segment at the end of the month. Do you have a thing in the culture that's been haunting you? Tell us about it. Record a short voice memo and send it to intoit@vulture.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    33 mins
  • Tech Bros Laid the Foundation, But Women Built Social Media

    Tech Bros Laid the Foundation, But Women Built Social Media
    Oct 3 2023
    The story of social media has usually been told from the perspective of tech bros, set to a soundtrack by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross. Washington Post columnist Taylor Lorenz argues in her new book, Extremely Online, that the real protagonists of the story are actually the users, who figured out what these platforms were best at before the people who invented them did. “Venture capitalists act like Mr. Beast invented it all,” Taylor says. “It was mothers, women, marginalized people, LGBTQ people.” Taylor guides Sam through the under-reported history of social media, from mommy bloggers who pioneered content monetization to brands tweeting about Scandal. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    39 mins