Podcast appearances and mentions of natalie brennan

Of all the potential effects of using smartphones, the one that seems to inspire the most anxiety is what scrolling could be doing to people's attention. On social media (ironically), many people express a desire to “heal” their attention spans from the damage they feel technology has done. They're picking up on something real. In one 2025 study, researchers found that blocking the internet on people's phones for two weeks led to improvements in sustained attention equivalent to reversing 10 years of cognitive decline. In this final episode of How to Touch Grass, host Julie Beck embarks on an experiment to see if she can heal her own attention span. Beck and co-host Natalie Brennan also hear from Jenny Odell, the author of How to Do Nothing and Saving Time, about how Odell's antagonism for her phone actually helped her make peace with it, and  how nature can teach us to pay deeper attention to the world around us. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Children still learn long division even though calculators exist, and many people continue to study languages even as AI translation becomes faster and more accurate. Is there a deeper purpose for learning that technology will never touch? In this episode of How to Touch Grass, hosts Natalie Brennan and Julie Beck hear from Michelle Miller, a cognitive psychologist at Northern Arizona University who studies technology and learning. She explains that although the changing tides of tech may shape what and how we learn, as humans we still have the autonomy to build the minds we want.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Gen Z has romanticized the technology of the '90s—or the era's lack of it. Young long for a time when people were looking at each other instead of their phones. But could that nostalgia for a smartphone-free society actually help guide the future? That's one of the driving questions from the latest season of How to Touch Grass, co-hosted by Julie Beck and Natalie Brennan. This week on Radio Atlantic, we're sharing the first episode, with an introduction by Hanna Rosin. --- Get more from your favorite Atlantic voices when you subscribe. You'll enjoy unlimited access to Pulitzer-winning journalism, from clear-eyed analysis and insight on breaking news to fascinating explorations of our world. Atlantic subscribers also get access to exclusive subscriber audio in Apple Podcasts. Subscribe today at TheAtlantic.com/Listener. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It wasn't that long ago that “body positivity” was all over the internet. Oppressive beauty standards hadn't gone away by any stretch, but many people on social media were pushing against limits on what an “ideal” body could look like. Now, things have swung in the opposite direction, with the rapid uptake of GLP-1s and the resurgence of a skinny ideal, combined with a new frankness about plastic surgery. The calls for “self-love” and “health at any size” can be harder to hear these days over the roar of looksmaxxers and influencers talking about weight loss and cosmetic procedures. In this episode of How to Touch Grass, hosts Natalie Brennan and Julie Beck talk with Atlantic staff writer Sophie Gilbert, the author of Girl on Girl: How Pop Culture Turned a Generation of Women Against Themselves, about how the culture of the internet got even more image-focused and the role that social-media algorithms play in distorting what people consider “normal.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Nothing sucks you in quite like the internet. It seems to have a way of figuring out what you're currently obsessed with and serving you more and more of it, whether that's cat videos, cookie recipes, or information about your most pervasive and seemingly unshakeable anxiety. (At this point, anyone who's never spent a late night Googling their worries should be studied by science for their willpower.) But with the rise of artificial intelligence, the internet may be fueling a different kind of engagement.  Elias Aboujaoude, a psychiatrist at Stanford University, and Ashleigh Golden, a psychologist at Stanford, recently wrote a paper arguing that the design of AI chatbots appears to encourage anxious behavior and keep people stuck in obsessive loops. One in six adults have turned to chatbots for mental-health information and advice, according to a KFF poll, and Golden cautions that “we may be encountering the perfect storm of avoidant coping behaviors and this tech that reinforces those tendencies and disorders.”  In this episode of How to Touch Grass, hosts Julie Beck and Natalie Brennan hear from Golden and Aboujaoude about how people who use AI looking for reassurance may instead find their symptoms getting worse, and what that means for an anxious nation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A common piece of advice for those who are chronically online is to “go touch grass.” This upcoming season of How To, co-hosts Natalie Brennan and Julie Beck will look more closely at the often-fraught, always-changing relationship people have with technology. They'll explore how people can be more intentional with their devices, rebuild their attention span, and find a way to thrive in this fast-paced, image-driven culture. Episodes will feature personal experimentation and conversations with experts in anxiety, education, and new technology. The first episode of How to Touch Grass publishes Monday, July 27, and new episodes are released every Monday for five weeks. Subscribe now. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How should we think about aging when the impacts of climate change can make the future feel so uncertain? That's a question Sarah Ray, professor and chair of environmental studies at Cal Poly Humboldt, has been helping her students consider. Though climate anxiety can cause some to feel overwhelmed, Ray has tips for how to minimize doom loops and inaction. How to Age Up co-hosts Yasmin Tayag and Natalie Brennan talk about how current climate concerns compare to the existential crises of previous generations, and how to practice hope during uncertain times. Here is a link to the full poem “The Low Road” by Marge Piercy. A passage is referenced in this episode.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Food trends are constantly changing, so can people commit to a long-term nutrition practice? Kera Nyemb-Diop says yes. She is a nutrition scientist focused on breaking down the “rules” of what people think they should eat and focusing instead on being responsive to how our needs change over the course of a life. Co-hosts Yasmin Tayag and Natalie Brennan reconsider their own food habits and which practices are worth hanging on to for the long haul.  How do you think about aging? Please leave us a voicemail (at 202-266-7701) with your name, your age, and your answers to the following questions: What aspects of aging are you nervous about? What are you looking forward to as you age? Who do you hope to be like when you are older? Is there someone in your life who has made you excited about getting older? Leaving a voicemail means that you are consenting to the possibility of The Atlantic using your audio in a future episode of How To. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our scientific understanding of the aging process may be expanding, but is our cultural thinking about aging keeping up? In the new season of The Atlantic's popular How To series, co-hosts Yasmin Tayag and Natalie Brennan explore the cultural gamification of aging, the obsession with defying this inevitable process, and how we might shift our understanding of aging to embrace the beauty of being mortal.  Just as “leveling up” is a positive notion, How to Age Up challenges listeners to consider how we all, regardless of our specific age, might live better.  How do you think about aging? Please send a voice memo to howtopodcast@theatlantic.com with your name, your age, and answers to the following questions: What aspects of aging are you nervous about? What are you looking forward to as you age? Who do you hope to be like when you are older? Is there someone in your life who has made you excited to get older? Sending in a voice note means that you are consenting to the possibility of The Atlantic using your audio in a future episode of How To. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the 18th century, women carried around pineapple-shaped purses as a status symbol, as a political statement, and, frankly, because it was adorable. For the last episode of Season 2, we dig into the sacred entity that is The Purse. And for The Accessory, we are joined by the queen of accessories herself, Susan Korn of Susan Alexandra! For links from today's episode, including shopping recommendations from the hosts and show notes, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠covered.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. ⁠Covered is hosted by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ruby Redstone⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Natalie Brennan⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Ruby Redstone is a writer and fashion historian. Her newsletter,⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Old Fashioned⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, examines the history of dress and personal style. Natalie Brennan is a writer and podcast producer, interested in the intersection of history and culture. Her newsletter,⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ISO⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, looks at style through the lens of yearning and desire.

Some years, Ray-Ban's Wayfarers are so popular that their sales figures are in the millions. Other years, the sunglasses are almost completely absent from popular culture. We're turning our lenses towards the reason that these specs have cycled in and out of style almost every decade since 1952.  In order to help us determine where the model fits in today's fashionable culture, we are joined by GQ's Samuel Hine. For links from today's episode, including shopping recommendations from the hosts and show notes, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠covered.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. ⁠Covered is hosted by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ruby Redstone⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Natalie Brennan⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Ruby Redstone is a writer and fashion historian. Her newsletter,⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Old Fashioned⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, examines the history of dress and personal style. Natalie Brennan is a writer and podcast producer, interested in the intersection of history and culture. Her newsletter,⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ISO⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, looks at style through the lens of yearning and desire.

Alexander McQueen's Spring 2010 runway show, Plato's Atlantis, is one of the most famous runway collections of all time. Despite being deeply beloved now, it was initially met with mixed reviews by critics. Today, we are also joined by Megan O'Sullivan and Gutes Guterman of Byline to discuss the lifestyle of a trend. For links from today's episode, including shopping recommendations from the hosts and show notes, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠covered.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. ⁠Covered is hosted by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ruby Redstone⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Natalie Brennan⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Ruby Redstone is a writer and fashion historian. Her newsletter,⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Old Fashioned⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, examines the history of dress and personal style. Natalie Brennan is a writer and podcast producer, interested in the intersection of history and culture. Her newsletter,⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ISO⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, looks at style through the lens of yearning and desire.

Games can serve as an escape from reality—but they can also shape our understanding of trust, collaboration, and what might be possible IRL. Megan Garber talks with C. Thi Nguyen, an associate philosophy professor at the University of Utah, to better understand how games can help us safely explore our current reality and shape new realities, too. Write to us at howtopodcast@theatlantic.com.  Music by Forever Sunset (“Spring Dance”), baegel (“Cyber Wham”), Etienne Roussel (“Twilight”), Dip Diet (“Sidelined”), Ben Elson (“Darkwave”), and Rob Smierciak (“Whistle Jazz”). How to Know What's Real is produced by Natalie Brennan. Our editors are Claudine Ebeid and Jocelyn Frank. Fact-check by Ena Alvarado. Our engineer is Rob Smierciak. The executive producer of audio is Claudine Ebeid, and the managing editor of audio is Andrea Valdez. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the 1850s, a crew of American women began wearing pantalettes to indicate themselves as forward-thinking ‘New Women.' How did these undergarments get the name bloomers? Amelia Bloomer, of course. But, they weren't really her invention at all. We also chat all things shorts: from our historical favourites to a new microtrend we're claiming to have named. For links from today's episode, including shopping recommendations from the hosts and show notes, visit ⁠⁠⁠covered.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠. ⁠Covered is hosted by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ruby Redstone⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Natalie Brennan⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Ruby Redstone is a writer and fashion historian. Her newsletter,⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Old Fashioned⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, examines the history of dress and personal style. Natalie Brennan is a writer and podcast producer, interested in the intersection of history and culture. Her newsletter,⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ISO⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, looks at style through the lens of yearning and desire.

Want to make a splash in the summer of 1946? Wear a bikini! Better yet, tell the whole beach about your bikini in skywriting! In today's episode, we investigate the bitter rivalry over the invention of the bikini and the massive impact made by one of humankind's smallest garments. We're also joined by outdoor stylist, producer and sister of the pod Lily Redstone for a debrief on the best bikinis for summer. For links from today's episode, including shopping recommendations from the hosts, visit ⁠⁠⁠covered.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠. ⁠Covered is hosted by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ruby Redstone⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Natalie Brennan⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Ruby Redstone is a writer and fashion historian. Her newsletter,⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Old Fashioned⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, examines the history of dress and personal style. Natalie Brennan is a writer and podcast producer, interested in the intersection of history and culture. Her newsletter,⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠ISO⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, looks at style through the lens of yearning and desire.

Today we get into some of the biggest sleeves of all time: the 1830s puff sleeves. But today's fashion history exploration is twofold — because the sleeves of the 1830s were referencing the girls of the past, too. It's time to look at the fashion history sleeve metaverse and the eternal pursuit of dressing absurdly. Plus, we theorize on the microtrends, Summer As Rebirth, and borough-specific dressing. For links from today's episode, including shopping recommendations from the hosts, visit ⁠⁠covered.substack.com⁠⁠⁠. ⁠Covered is hosted by ⁠⁠⁠⁠Ruby Redstone⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠Natalie Brennan⁠⁠⁠⁠. Ruby Redstone is a writer and fashion historian. Her newsletter,⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Old Fashioned⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, examines the history of dress and personal style. Natalie Brennan is a writer and podcast producer, interested in the intersection of history and culture. Her newsletter,⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠ISO⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, looks at style through the lens of yearning and desire.

In 1966 Yves Saint Laurent designed the first couture women's tuxedo: Le Smoking. Today we get into the significance of the suit as womenswear and the subversive women who helped to popularize it. Plus, we are joined by the hosts of ⁠Throwing Fit's ⁠James Harris and Lawrence Schlossman. The hosts of The Only (other) Podcast That Matters join us to talk about the suit's place in the sartorial zeitgeist, #Menswear, and styling tips for the everyday suit. For links from today's episode, including shopping recommendations from the hosts, visit ⁠covered.substack.com⁠⁠. ⁠Covered is hosted by ⁠⁠⁠Ruby Redstone⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠Natalie Brennan⁠⁠⁠. Ruby Redstone is a writer and fashion historian. Her newsletter,⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Old Fashioned⁠⁠⁠⁠, examines the history of dress and personal style. Natalie Brennan is a writer and podcast producer, interested in the intersection of history and culture. Her newsletter,⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ISO⁠⁠⁠⁠, looks at style through the lens of yearning and desire.

We are so back! And so are weddings. In 1953, Ann Lowe made a wedding dress for Jackie Kennedy's highly publicized wedding. However, it would be years before Ann Lowe was credited as the creator of the infamous dress. Today we explore how royalty affects bridal trends, why we wear white on our wedding days, and what "back tie optional" even means. To make things even better, today we are joined by ⁠Harling Ross ⁠to hear how the Gumshoe writer approaches wedding guest attire. For links from today's episode, including shopping recommendations from the hosts, visit covered.substack.com⁠. ⁠Covered is hosted by ⁠⁠Ruby Redstone⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠Natalie Brennan⁠⁠. Ruby Redstone is a writer and fashion historian. Her newsletter,⁠⁠ ⁠Old Fashioned⁠⁠⁠, examines the history of dress and personal style. Natalie Brennan is a writer and podcast producer, interested in the intersection of history and culture. Her newsletter,⁠⁠ ⁠ISO⁠⁠⁠, looks at style through the lens of yearning and desire.

In 1993, Kate Moss sported a Liza Bruce naked dress that immediately became iconic. But before the young starlet stepped out on the streets of London in a shimmery sheer slip, did the naked dress have its own history? And how can we use this as a lens to examine one of today's most popular trends? For more information on today's episode, including shopping recommendations from the hosts, visit ⁠patreon.com/CoveredPod.⁠ Covered is hosted by Ruby Redstone and Natalie Brennan. Ruby Redstone is a writer and fashion historian. Her newsletter, ⁠Old Fashioned⁠, examines both dress history and personal style. Natalie Brennan is a writer and podcast producer, fascinated by the intersection of history and culture. Her newsletter, ⁠ISO⁠, looks at style through the lens of yearning and desire.   

Everybody's familiar with food delivery by this point, and terms like ‘curbside' and ‘take-out' have been staples of the F&B industry throughout the pandemic. But for a brand like Muffin Break, which primarily serves low-cost baked food and hot drinks, how do you adapt to the widespread shutdown of brick-and-mortar locations?  The answer lies in the concept's adaptability, and the varied investment models that have taken the brand from shopping centers to train stations, soft play areas, and even extensions of existing QSR businesses.  It hasn't always worked – with Muffin Break failing to make waves in countries like India and Indonesia – but for Natalie Brennan, general manager, Muffin Break's versatility is its saving grace during these challenging times.  To keep your finger on the beating pulse of franchising, sign up to our newsletter at globalfranchisemagazine.com, subscribe to our definitive magazine, and join the conversation with our experts today on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook.

The Firestarter Youth Camp is 22 years old but it's fresher and brighter than ever - team leader Tommy Harrison and Natalie Brennan update us on this year's event - but be prepared for a VERY unexpected side to the story! Check out the festival, and book, via www.firestarter.im Simon Brown is a volunteer with London Zoo - and with the charity A Rocha. He's passionate about cherishing our world, and the people who live in it. He wants our places of worship to become Eco Churches - leading the way in caring with and for the community. Do the survey, and find out more at www.ecochurch.arocha.org.uk And we're keeping it topical with a biking story - but this one is from a MOST unusual source!

COMEDY: Chris Thompson (www.chroniclesofnonsense.com) Clip Titles: Artificial Intelligence: Baby Names: including guest Jane Ives Where in the World is Chris Thompson? Tort Reform Columbus Day / Indigenous People’s Day Fundraising Week 1 / New Toys Fundraising Week 3 / Want to Play a Game? Woody’s Birthday Black History Month Digging For the Truth! Decluttering Prehistoric Women Toxic Masculinity Malcolm’s Birthday / R. Kelly conviction   THE ALMOST TUESDAY CREW: Produced by Kara Maillie, Woody Battaglia, Malcolm Whitfield, Chris Thompson, Nicole Oliver, Irene Kannyo, Madeline Hubert, Kain McCall, Drea Bim, Zazie Welgin, Dan Kushner, Skylar Shaw, Natalie Brennan, John Mungovan Email almosttuesdaywayo@mail.com if you’d like to intern for us! Cover artwork by Arthur Bond. Addl. audio by Braden Stewart. FOLLOW: Almost Tuesday on Instagram and Twitter @Almost_Tuesday and like us at facebook.com/almosttuesday & check out all the other great programs and artists at wayofm.org

Muffin Break general manager Natalie Brennan recently copped a lot of flak for her comments about millennials being “entitled” and not prepared to work for free to gain workplace experience. This week on Amplify Your Business with Matt J Hanham I explore why I think you SHOULD work for free, and how the shift in mindset can lead to employment opportunities.

MUSICAL GUEST: Jon Lewis Band (www.whoisjonlewis.com) PRODUCTION CREW: Woody Battaglia, Malcolm Whitfield, Kara Maillie, Corey Raymer, Madeline Hubert, Natalie Brennan, Kain McCall, and Chris Thompson. UNEDITED VERSION AT: mixcloud.com/almosttuesday

With midterms around the corner, we want to bring you even more from the experts. Our bonus episodes are lightly edited interviews from thought leaders and people who are working tirelessly to get women elected in November. For our first, Host Jenny Kaplan talks with Emily Cain, executive director of EMILY's List. Special thanks to Natalie Brennan and to Moran Audio! www.wondermedianetwork.com