Advertise on podcast: Here We Go Again With Kal Penn

It's been coined, "The Caitlin Clark Effect." For the WNBA's last few seasons, it's translated to a surge in popularity, viewership, and revenue, sparked by one extremely talented, ever-watchabale player. But are women's sports at large suddenly having a moment? Where was that attention two or three decades ago? And what does the future look like for female athletes? Sports journalist, former college athlete, and Good Game podcast host Sarah Spain chats with Kal about the Caitlin Clark Effect amidst all things women's sports. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Americans weren't always accepting of languages other than English. But nowadays, being bilingual is a huge asset. Kal talks to Patty Rodriguez, the founder of bilingual children's publishing company Lil' Libros, about transforming the narrative of multilingualism in the United States. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

AI is automating thousands of jobs. But humanity's fear of technology replacing us is nothing new. Journalist and podcaster Jacob Goldstein tells Kal the story of the original Luddites during the early 1800s Industrial Revolution. They talk about how technology changes, how those changes reshape our work, and who historically gets protected and who gets left behind. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lately, it seems like throuples and open relationships are all the rage. But for many individuals, this way of life is more than a trend. Is non-monogamy suddenly back in style? Or is it something biological? Something that never really went away? Sex educator and author Ruby Rare has a lot to say about it all. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kennedys, Clintons, Bushes, Trumps. For better of worse, their names are synonmous with American politics. We're rapidly approaching the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution. But if we openly revolted against the monarchy that long ago, then why does America continue to prop up dynasty families? Or are there signs the dynasty is finally on its way out? Presidential historian Alexis Coe guides us through America's history of powerful political families and what it all means. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As long as unions have existed, so has the effort to undermine them. But why does union busting keep making headlines? And how can workers, even if they're not in a union, use that power to fight back and remake the system? Sara Nelson, President of the Association of Flight Attendants, talks past, present, and future of union busting in America. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hollywood is all about remakes. So, it probably doesn't surprise you to hear that the 2018 film, "A Star Is Born," starring Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper, was its fourth -- yes, fourth! -- iteration. Why do we stick to stories that work? And what is it about this particular story that makes it so quintessential? Kal sits down with film critic, author, and You Must Remember This podcast host, Karina Longworth, to talk about why A Star Is Born... again and again and again. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Throughout history, certain moments have brought the fashion police and -- not to mention the acutal police -- around in full force. Why should schools, the government, our job, or anyone for that matter stay out of our closets? Kal talks to the poet, comedian, public speaker, and actor Alok Menon about the history of policing clothing as a way to control people's identity. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Voter turnout among young people is climbing, political affiliations are shifting, and the generation that grew up with social media is flexing their electoral muscle. Stacey Abrams is renowned for getting 800,000 people registered to vote in 2020. So, why is the youth vote so important? What's changed since 18 year olds gained the right to vote in 1971? And how have forces like Rock the Vote or TikTok shaped young people's POV on politics? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

These days, it can sometimes feel like the terms Democrat and Republican are confusing -- that they've lost meaning over time. Former Speechwriter and Pod Save America host, Jon Favreau, actually wrote his college thesis about a concept called "realignment." Or, the idea that political parties frequently reinvent themselves and their values. But why do the parties keep changing their identities? Is it as alarming as it sometimes feels to us as voters? And what does that mean for the future of our country? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Back in 2008, it seemed like everyone was talking about the financial crisis. And then came The Big Short, Michael Lewis' book-to-screen story that exposed the corrupt subprime mortgage industry and its impact on the 08 crash. Now, it seems like everyone's wondering: Are we heading towards another big recession? Who would you trust if you were that very man who exposed that broken system in the first place? Kal gets candid with journalist and author Michael Lewis about our financial future, who he trusts with his money, and why. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this joint episode of HERE WE GO AGAIN and SNAFU, Ed Helms tells Kal the story of a small town that decided to secede from America, only to realize a strong desire to buy beer and party would win out in the end. Then, Ed and Kal call up U.S. historian Richard Kreitner to learn about secession movements in America today, such as Calexit, Texit, and the Greater Idaho Movement. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“Content creator” is not a term they taught me in acting school, yet, the creator economy is turning Hollywood on its head. Internet content was once a springboard to the world of entertainment. It’s now its own billion-dollar industry. Is this just a phase, or are we headed for a future where Clooneys and Pitts are permanently replaced by Rizzlers and Beasts? To find out, we’re talking to the legendary entertainer, actress, writer, producer, and gender equality advocate, Lilly Singh. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As any indigenous community might tell you, many of this country’s newest trends — from Ayahuasca to hot yoga — are not so new after all. Taking other cultures’ traditions may be as American as baseball, apple pie, and light tax evasion, but where’s the line between borrowing, reinvention, and outright theft? Lakota writer, actress, and comedian Jana Schmieding has some thoughts. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The American Society for Civil Engineers gave the U.S. a C on its 2025 Infrastructure Report Card. From public transportation woes to bridge collapses and that pesky plane delays, why can't this country make the jump to straight-A infrastructure land? And will we ever be able to rely on the subway to not get stuck when we have to pee really bad?? Former Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg has some thoughts about how to break the cycle. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.