HIVEMIND: A Pop Culture Podcast

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Critically exploring current and beloved pop culture in an effort to generate questions, rather than answers.

Erin G.


    • Dec 19, 2024 LATEST EPISODE
    • infrequent NEW EPISODES
    • 45m AVG DURATION
    • 34 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from HIVEMIND: A Pop Culture Podcast

    Episode 33: Brat Forever

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 19, 2024 34:47


    *REUPLOAD* Sorry if you've already heard this! It got removed for some reason. The 3rd Annual Hivemind Awards are coming later this week.

    Episode 32: Elite Gymnastics is Changing

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 4, 2024 29:32


    Earlier this week, the U.S. Women's Gymnastics Team was announced ahead of the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. I unpack how Simone Biles and her peers have pushed boundaries in the sport that have rippled outward.

    Episode 31: Miley Cyrus Gets Her Flowers

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 21, 2024 34:01


    Miley Cyrus started touring in middle school. Just last month, she won her first Grammy. Let's do a career deep-dive on one of the most interesting artists of our generation.

    Episode 30: GRWM

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 17, 2024 21:24


    I explore why middle school girls have become obsessed with high-end skincare and yell at people my age for being annoying about it. IG: @hivemindpopculture X: @hivemindthepod

    Episode 29: The 2nd Annual Hivemind Awards

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 2, 2023 70:48


    I celebrate the best and brightest pop music of 2023 in this end-of-year episode. Sit back, relax, and enjoy!

    Episode 28: Escorted Out of IB English

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 9, 2023 21:34


    Last night, Olivia Rodrigo released her sophomore album, GUTS. I share some of my favorite tracks and dissect why it works. IG: @hivemindpopculture X: @hivemindthepod

    Episode 27: Chronic Lyme

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 12, 2023 22:54


    Model Bella Hadid and Actress Riley Keough are the latest celebrities to publicly speak about the treatment they undergo for Chronic Lyme Disease. The weird part? Chronic Lyme is not recognized as an actual illness by the CDC and most doctors believe it's part of a pseudoscience scam. I go down the rabbit hole so you don't have to. Let's talk about pain, privilege, and having a body. IG: @hivemindpopculture X: @hivemindthepod

    Episode 26: I'm Just a Freak, Yeah

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 2, 2023 21:53


    I go to bat for the HBO's The Idol, a series I believe is getting unwarranted criticism. Lily Rose Depp and The Weeknd star. instagram: @hivemindpopculture twitter: @hivemindthepod

    Episode 25: The Absurdist World of Hyperpop

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 17, 2023 40:13


    Exploring the roots of this zany, super inclusive, internet-driven music genre. @hivemindpopculture

    Episode 25: The Absurdist World of Hyperpop

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 12, 2023 40:13


    Inspired by a recent wave of "sped up remixes" going viral on TikTok, I look into the genre recently dubbed Hyperpop - from its early roots in 90s European dance music to its current iteration, where trans performers make all the rules. instagram: @hivemindpopculture twitter: @hivemindthepod

    Episode 24: Gen Z Takes Concerts

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 14, 2023 47:54


    Ticketmaster is jacking up prices. Teens are camping out all day in the freezing cold. Everyone is fainting. Artists pause mid-show to take BeReals on their fans' phones. What's going on?!? Let's take a look at the changing face of big-budget pop concerts as a new generation attends them for the first time.

    Episode 23: Recipe of a Love Song

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 22, 2023 31:36


    Love songs are part of the skeleton of pop music. Why do some resonate more than others? Together, let's take a look behind the curtain. instagram: @hivemindpopculture twitter: @hivemindthepod

    Episode 22: Is Rihanna ready for the Super Bowl?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 15, 2023 47:36


    I tour through Rihanna's prolific career, which lacks musical identity but boasts hits, vibes, and reinvention. After being on hiatus for the past 7 years, does she have what it takes to headline the 2023 Super Bowl Halftime Show? Debatable! Instagram: @hivemindpopculture Twitter: @hivemindthepod

    Episode 21: The Hivemind Awards

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 11, 2022 53:24


    As 2022 comes to a close, I celebrate the year's best music by awarding songs in the following five categories: "Best Songwriting," "Most Creative," "Pop Perfection," "Bound to Blow Up," and "Blast From The Past." Also - Hivemind's first listener mailbag :)

    Episode 20: No one Wanted to Play With Me as a Little Kid

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 22, 2022 58:50


    Join me in a track-by-track analysis of Taylor Swift's Midnights, a spotty record with both high and low points. I discuss its themes of self-loathing and manipulation, Swift's downfall of being a corny millennial, and wonder about the effectiveness of its sparkly, synth-driven production.

    Episode 19: Mysterious Girls are Cool

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 24, 2022 42:45


    I discuss ironic Catholicism, tacky Americana, and fetishwear -- fashion/style trends emerging as we enter into the Fall 2022 season.

    Episode 18: In Defense of Solar Power

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 16, 2022 49:33


    On its one-year anniversary, I revisit Lorde's third studio album, Solar Power, which is regarded as a flop and blemish on her discography. I make the argument that Solar Power is not only poignant and spacious, but gels conceptually with the rest of her work.

    Episode 17: Public Domain Gossip

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 9, 2022 42:20


    Pete Davidson and Kim Kardashian call it quits after a whirlwind 9 month romance. I look at the messy web their relationship existed in -- Kanye, Ariana, Mac Miller -- and wonder what to make of it all.

    Episode 16: They Hate Me Because They Want Me

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 3, 2022 69:22


    I do a track-by-track close reading of Beyoncé's 7th studio album Renaissance, a tantalizing bait-and-switch that forces listeners to confront their most carnal desires and become high off the feminine, however it may look: ugly, dominant, trans, "glitchy." IG: @hivemindpopculture Twitter: @hivemindthepod

    Episode 15: Kids Online

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 26, 2022 54:42


    After coming across an interesting Twitter thread (s/o: @punished_cait), I felt compelled to contemplate the experiences of kids online. I recall virtual hangout spaces I frequented as a child (Club Penguin, Neopets, Webkinz, etc.), survey the current landscape, and wonder what's changed. How can we help children curtail digital traumas? What do idyllic online playgrounds look like and feel like?

    Episode 14: Lizzo and The Facade of Empowerment

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 19, 2022 44:30


    I criticize Lizzo's sophomore album "Special," a record I found vacant and delusional. Its hypocritical messaging about empowerment, body positivity, wellness, and healing bring to mind "self care" scams like Gwenyth Paltrow's Goop and the lifeless corporate advertising of 2022 Victoria's Secret. IG: @hivemindpopculture Twitter: @hivemindthepod

    Episode 13: Emmy Nominations

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 12, 2022 58:48


    This morning, the 2022 Emmy Nominations were announced, recognizing the best on television and streaming. I discuss some of the year's most-nominated shows, including The White Lotus, Hacks, Euphoria, and Yellowjackets. Unfortunately, I also wrestle with some pretty disappointing snubs. ig: @hivemindpopculture twitter: @hivemindthepod

    Episode 12: Gentleminions

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 5, 2022 45:00


    The latest installment in the Despicable Me franchise has a record-breaking weekend at the box office. What's behind the craze? Teen boys dressing up in formal attire (suits, bow ties) to attend screenings of the film as part of a TikTok challenge. Join me in exploring "Minions: Rise of Gru," a fascinating microcosm of irony culture, meme marketing, and nostalgia entertainment.

    Episode 11: The Girlbossification of Protest Music

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 28, 2022 48:59


    Several musicians at last weekend's Glastonbury Festival used the stage to comment on the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. Is performance activism the new standard? Instagram: @hivemindpopculture Twitter: @hivemindthepod

    Episode 10: Beyoncé Wants You To Quit Your Job

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 22, 2022 50:43


    I dive into the musical lineages of Beyoncé's new single "Break My Soul" (late 80s house, NOLA bounce) and try to pinpoint what exactly she's trying to say about work, capitalism, and freedom.

    Episode 9: What's Trendy Right Now?

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 30, 2021 49:48


    I survey the state of fashion heading into the new year. In segments separated by stylish music, I talk tech, sustainability, gen z it-girls, and our growing obsession with comfort.

    Episode 8: Rethinking #FreeBritney

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 29, 2021 52:34


    Pop icon Britney Spears has finally been able to speak out about her conservatorship in court. I look closely at her statement to determine how we, as fans, can support her more ethically. Then, I analyze larger connections between Spears' case and the Disability Justice Movement.

    Episode 7: 2020 Favorites

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 26, 2020 68:51


    I compile a "best-of" list, featuring music, films, tv, and more, to recap this unique, eventful year in media. I also introduce some up-and-coming stars--ones to watch--that should be on your radar going into 2021. Happy New Year!

    Episode 6: Women in Hip Hop

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 21, 2020 59:02


    Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion score a number 1 hit with their raunchy collaboration, “WAP.” I break down the storied history of sexual expression, empowerment, feminism, and moral panic in the female rap game.

    Episode 5: How Did We Arrive at TikTok?

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 13, 2020 44:01


    TikTok, a generation-defining social media app that's recently gained the attention of the Trump administration, is home to a melting-pot of stars, styles, and trends. While TikTok is littered with the remnants of now-defunct Internet gathering places (Musical.ly, Vine, Tumblr, Jenna Marbles-era YouTube), the app's design uniquely caters to today's youth.

    Episode 4: Taylor Swift and The Violence of Storytelling

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 29, 2020 48:49


    I do a track-by-track reading of Taylor Swift's 8th studio album, Folklore, in which the artist uses an indie-rock playground to explore her anxious attachments to attention, memoir, and permanence.

    Episode 3: Song of The (Weirdest) Summer (Ever!)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 23, 2020 40:08


    Remember "California Gurls" and "Party Rock Anthem?" Each summer, Billboard awards the track that's most inescapable at beaches, amusement parks, and BBQs with its prestigious "Song of The Summer" title. Amidst our global health crisis, this year's "Song of The Summer" race feels different. Which songs are shaking out on top?

    Episode 2: The Santana Lopez Blueprint

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 15, 2020 36:23


    In the wake of actress Naya Rivera's passing, I look back at her groundbreaking character on the 2009 comedy series, Glee. How did Santana Lopez create language, levity, and a lifeline for a generation of LGBTQ+ teens? Why is representation so meaningful?

    Episode 1: Kanye West's Spaceship

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 9, 2020 53:53


    Kanye West has announced he will be running in the 2020 Presidential Election. What can we learn about fame, wealth, mental illness, and genius from this polarizing, controversial artist? More importantly: who is Kanye's futurism leaving behind?

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