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PODCAST

Pop Syllabus

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, she and an expert guest will unpack a buzzy topic, and help us understand the moment while going

arts social sciences

All Episodes

74:22

The Pop Culture Debrief Season Finale: Breaking Down...

Pop Syllabus ·

2026/09/23

September is for back-to-school, changing weather, and apparently a LOT of celebrity magazine covers.For the Season 1 finale of Pop Syllabus, Christiana picks up the September issues and takes us inside their biggest covers and most interesting stories. From Kaia Gerber and Homer Gere on Vogue to Rihanna, Usher, Charli XCX, and a powerful Essence cover celebrating Black women, she explores what these magazines choose to put on their covers, what they leave inside the pages, and what it all says

en

71:59

Understanding Women with ADHD with Corinne the Coach

Pop Syllabus ·

2026/09/16

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 diagnosis, navigating medication, and building a business while neurodivergent. Corinne’s website:

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43:42

Bad Moms in Pop Culture with Ej Dickson

Pop Syllabus ·

2026/09/09

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 the “good mother” has always been complicated, why dads seem to get a much easier assignment, and how

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74:18

The State of Beauty Politics and What It All Means...

Pop Syllabus ·

2026/09/02

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.Follow Tressie: Instagram Thanks to our sponsor, Bilt Rewards, for supporting today's episode: https://joinbilt.com/popsyllabus Follow Pop Syllabus: YouTube

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81:29

Ranking the 2020s Pop Culture Divas with Ryan Mitchell

Pop Syllabus ·

2026/08/26

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.Follow Ryan: Instagram Follow Pop Syllabus: YouTube | Instagram | TikTok | Substack Merch available now! Sponsor

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61:22

Power, Pleasure, and White Women’s Hair with Sarah Mesle

Pop Syllabus ·

2026/08/19

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 women’s hair. Through stories of blonde privilege, Britney Spears, and Princess Diana, Sarah explains how

en

93:45

Pioneers, Builders, and Innovators: a new Pop...

Pop Syllabus ·

2026/08/12

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 game, weighing in on cultural figures from Joe Rogan and Tyra Banks to Jay-Z, Madonna, Kim Kardashian, and

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74:52

Pop Culture and The Royal Family: Past, Present, and...

Pop Syllabus ·

2026/08/05

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 Omid Scobie to break down the monarchy as the ultimate pop culture phenomenon. After 13 years covering

en

61:27

The Anatomy of a Real Housewife with Candiace Dillard...

Pop Syllabus ·

2026/07/22

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: Instagram Read Christiana’s Substack essay on why The Real Housewives is the dark mirror we

en

68:29

GLP-1s and The Death of Body Positivity with Dr. A....

Pop Syllabus ·

2026/07/16

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 questions about who gets to be accepted and why. Thanks to our sponsor, Bilt Rewards, for supporting today's

en

55:06

Are They a Star, Celebrity or Famous Person? with...

Pop Syllabus ·

2026/07/08

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 into the rise of influencer culture, the business of celebrity, and who has the staying power to become a true

en

49:42

IVF, Pregnancy, and Home Birth at 45 with Jesse Golden

Pop Syllabus ·

2026/07/01

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 means to redefine motherhood on your own terms. Follow Jesse on Instagram Follow Pop Syllabus:

en

64:55

The Pop Culture Debrief: Deconstructing Magazines

Pop Syllabus ·

2026/06/24

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 really saying about pop culture. Follow Pop Syllabus: YouTube | Instagram | TikTok | Substack Merch

en

51:04

Manthropology with Holly Solem

Pop Syllabus ·

2026/06/17

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 shaped millennial women’s understanding of love and relationships. Holly’s Vogue essay Follow Holly on

en

90:25

Ranking Pop Culture Divas with Gerrick Kennedy

Pop Syllabus ·

2026/06/10

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 diva status of icons like Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, Janet Jackson, Beyoncé, Britney Spears, Rihanna,

en

55:46

Deconstructing the Kardashians with MJ Corey

Pop Syllabus ·

2026/06/03

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 Manifesto and trace the evolution of the Kardashians and what their success really says about them. Together,

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56:15

The Celebrity Couples Game with Erin Lim Rhodes

Pop Syllabus ·

2026/05/27

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 Gomez and Benny Blanco, and more. Expect hot takes, chaotic rankings, and a few moments that will

en

75:02

The Conversation We Need About Womb Health With Dr....

Pop Syllabus ·

2026/05/20

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 about care and diagnosis. Dr. Kemi’s website Follow Dr. Kemi Doll: Instagram Follow Pop

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45:58

The Pop Culture Debrief: Mess, Drama & Headlines...

Pop Syllabus ·

2026/05/13

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 shares her hot takes on what’s worth the hype and what’s just noise. Follow Pop Syllabus: YouTube |

en

52:25

Inside Hollywood’s Obsession With “Perfect” Faces...

Pop Syllabus ·

2026/05/06

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 surgery, from subtle lifts to revision procedures, as well as how cosmetic work among men and AI are

en

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