
Advertise on podcast: Pop Syllabus
Rating
4.7from
This podcast has
37 episodes
Language
EnglishExplicit
No
Date created
2026/01/06
Latest episode
2026/09/23
Average duration
69 min.
Release period
8 days
Description
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 through it.
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Check latest episodes from Pop Syllabus podcast
The Pop Culture Debrief Season Finale: Breaking Down September Issue covers
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 about pop culture right now.
Thanks to our sponsor, Bilt Rewards, for supporting today's episode: https://joinbilt.com/popsyllabus
Follow Pop Syllabus: YouTube | Instagram | TikTok | Substack
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01:30 Kaia Gerber and Homer Gere on the cover of US Vogue
02:42 Regime change at Vogue
03:30 Nepo babies
06:00 US Vogue cover
07:16 Rihanna on the cover of Elle
09:35 Rihanna’s relationship with Dior
10:47 Elle editorial with Rihanna
12:08 Jermey Strong on the cover of GQ
14:21 GQ editorial with Jeremy strong
16:33 Nicole Kidman on the cover of British Vogue
18:43 Brad Pitt on the cover of Esquire
20:04 Esquire editorial with Brad Pitt
26:18 Sanaa Lathan, Nina Compton, Mara Brock Akil and Nikole Hannah-Jones on the front cover of Essence
27:50 Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson on the back cover of Essence
28:09 America at 250
30:00 Seeing Black women with mature skin and gray hair
31:30 Isan Elba
32:01 Hair styles and product recommendations in Essence
35:38 Mardi Gras
36:00 Essence editorial with Sanaa Lathan, Nina Compton, Mara Brock Akil and Nikole Hannah-Jones
37:19 Terrence Jenkins and Mikalah Sultan
39:12 Essence editorial with Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson
40:57 “Letters to America” in Essence
41:30 Afro-optimism
41:52 The American flag and who gets to own it
44:20 Christiana’s relationship with England and the English flag
46:19 Black women and reproductive health in Essence
46:42 Usher on the cover of Architectural Digest
49:25 A feature on decorative plates in Architectural Digest
49:58 Usher’s Architectural Digest feature
52:58 Charli XCX on the cover of Rolling Stone
54:40 George Michael feature in Rolling Stone
55:00 Comparing Rolling Stone to other magazines
55:13 Shaboozey in Rolling Stone
55:40 James Comey profile in Rolling Stone
57:00 Charli XCX editorial in Rolling Stone
57:40 Afroman in Rolling Stone
59:00 Keke Palmer editorial in Rolling Stone
01:00:18 Adam Friedland in Rolling Stone
01:00:42 The Legend of the Plaster Caster in Rolling Stone
01:02:16 A man who wants to help people print guns in Rolling Stone
01:02:30 Assessing Rolling Stone
01:03:12 Star Magazine
01:10:00 How to keep up with Christiana
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Understanding Women with ADHD with Corinne the Coach
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: https://corinnethecoach.life/
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01:43 Corinne’s ADHD diagnosis
06:45 Why it takes longer for girls and women to get diagnosed with ADHD
11:30 Different types of ADHD
16:30 Underdiagnosis among girls and women of color
22:15 How ADHD can be related to eating disorders and substance abuse
26:58 Skepticism around women of color having ADHD
29:30 Signs that a woman may be struggling with mental health challenges
31:45 How women hide their shame
35:12 Strains on mothers
38:58 How Corinne started her business while being neurodivergent
39:50 How ADHD keeps people impoverished
41:04 Taking medication for ADHD
48:00 Corinne’s experiences with ADHD medication
54:45 How we can support the people in our lives who might have ADHD
01:08:21 How you can find Corinne the Coach
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Bad Moms in Pop Culture with Ej Dickson
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 motherhood became one of our favorite ways to police women.
Follow Ej: Instagram
Ej’s website: https://www.ejdickson.com/
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The State of Beauty Politics and What It All Means with Tressie McMillan Cottom
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
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01:37 Meet Dr. Tressie McMillan Cottom
03:45 Sculpt and how beauty norms became what they are right now
06:12 The democratization of plastic surgery and injectibles
09:06 Beauty and ugliness as structural concepts
13:14 The end of body positivity a return to whiteness
15:13 How technology has changed time, our attention, and beauty norms
16:55 Peptides
19:45 How what is seen as beautiful has changed
21:00 Thinking of ourselves as scientific compositions
22:05 Grappling for community
22:39 Discourse around “the Black community”
24:15 Ethnic rhinoplasty
25:51 The death of the natural hair movement
26:30 What is Black beauty now?
27:10 The homogeneity of beauty
30:14 How the formula we were taught for a good life isn’t working and cruel optimism
35:26 Observing neutrally and knowing our choices aren’t neutral
39:10 The cost of resistance and choosing our defeats
42:49 Bracing for impact
45:00 Black women being punished
45:40 Conservative movements among white women and where white women go next
49:55 “One Household, One Vote” and women retreating from the workplace
52:30 Late-stage capitalism and AI will come for everyone, including men
54:00 Men committing Interpersonal violence
55:30 Going analog
56:38 How Tressie approaches reading and engaging with ideas
01:01:22 What Tressie is turning to for nourishment and delight
01:06:25 What Tressie is working on now
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Ranking the 2020s Pop Culture Divas with Ryan Mitchell
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.
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00:00 Intro
00:13 Meet Ryan
05:00 Showing up as a Black queer fat person
07:20 Growing up in the South
08:22 Ryan’s role as the NFL’s first queer ambassador
12:12 Navigating the current conservative backlash
15:02 How to show up for queer folks right now
19:02 How pop culture brings people together
22:20 The definition of a “Diva”
27:20 How Christiana made this 2020s diva list
29:17 The “general population” category for 2020s divas
30:10 The “technicalities” category for 2020s divas
30:48 The “sleeper divas” category for 2020s divas
32:50 Attitude as part of the criteria
36:00 Ariana Grande
47:27 Billie Eilish
55:14 Chappell Roan
59:00 Celebrities are still humans
01:00:35 Olivia Rodrigo
01:02:50 Sabrina Carpenter
01:04:43 Olivia Rodrigo
01:05:55 Beyoncé
01:12:26 Charli xcx
01:19:29 Cleo Sol and Syd
01:19:37 Yebba
01:20:40 PinkPantheress
01:20:54 SZA
01:20:59 Doechii
01:21:03 Where you can find Ryan Mitchell
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Power, Pleasure, and White Women’s Hair with Sarah Mesle
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 hair reveals the complicated relationship between beauty, identity, and power.
Sarah’s website: https://sarahmesle.com/
Follow Sarah: Instagram
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1:26 Meet Sarah
1:47 Hair and white feminine power
3:50 Sarah’s interest in hair
5:08 White visual performances and whiteness as a currency
8:50 January 6th uprising
10:40 Partisan aesthetics
13:50 Princess Diana and women with short hair
18:43 Blonde hair
20:58 JoJo Siwa
21:33 Maternal love and white resource hoarding
22:40 White mothers giving their daughters elaborate hair styles
25:00 Blonde privilege and the value of the currency of whiteness
27:47 How Black women are treated depending on their hair styles
29:30 Class and white women’s fear of “trashiness”
32:40 Relationship between white women’s hair and thighs
33:30 Thin hair
35:17 Long hair and the women surrounding Trump
36:06 Picking white women to focus on in “Tangled”
40:32 Britney Spears
45:50 Complicating the idea that there are victims and villains
47:00 Cruel optimism
48:10 Gwyneth Paltrow
51:00 Opting out and diverging from the norm
54:30 The game is rigged
55:20 What’s next?
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Pioneers, Builders, and Innovators: a new Pop Syllabus rubric with Blue Telusma
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 Kris Jenner.
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1:18 Meet Blue Telusma
5:28 The Diaspora Wars Explained
6:10 Dating Nigerian Men and Blue's Dating Experience
10:16 "Good Women Aren't Having Babies Anymore"
15:45 Partnership vs. Companionship
22:05 Dating as an Unambiguous Woman
27:37 What Love Island Gets Wrong About Race
36:20 Calling Out Women vs. Challenging the System
38:55 The Ego Tantrums Taking Over Love Island
40:38 Has Reality TV Normalized Dysfunction?
45:45 Pioneers, Builders & Innovators Game
52:12 Joe Rogan: Pioneer, Builder, or Innovator?
57:18 Tyra Banks: Pioneer, Builder, or Innovator?
1:07:13 Jay Z: Pioneer, Builder, or Innovator?
1:11:45 Madonna: Pioneer, Builder, or Innovator?
1:15:58 Kim Kardashian & Kris Jenner: Pioneers, Builders, or Innovators?
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Pop Culture and The Royal Family: Past, Present, and Future with Omid Scobie
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 the royal beat, Omid shares what he’s learned about the institution, the media machine behind it, the scandals that shaped public opinion, and why the world remains obsessed with the royals.
Follow Omid: Instagram
Explore Omid Scobie’s Books on the Royal Family
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1:14 Meet Omid Scobie
3:40 Inside the Royal Beat
5:54 Why Britain Created WAG Culture
6:50 Meghan, Harry & the Palace
13:28 How the Press Built Meghan's Narrative
17:46 Why Americans See the Royals Differently
19:46 What Makes Someone a Royalist?
21:21 Kate's Cancer Announcement
23:28 Why Royal Women Face More Scrutiny
26:31 Why Meghan & Harry Became Easy Targets
30:08 Writing Endgame
36:17 Inside the Royal Feuds
39:32 America's "Royal Families"
43:49 Can the Monarchy Ever Change?
46:13 Prince Andrew & the Epstein Scandal
52:14 King Charles, Trump & Politics
55:27 Harry vs. William
58:17 Behind Palace Dynamics
1:04:51 The Monarchy's Diversity Problem
1:09:24 The Royals in 2027: What's Next?
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The Anatomy of a Real Housewife with Candiace Dillard Bassett
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 deserve:
https://popsyllabus.substack.com/p/why-the-real-housewives-is-the-dark
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01:16 Meet Candiace Dillard Bassett
02:17 Why Candiace became a Real Housewife
03:30 Candiace’s familial privilege
05:20 Black American Princess (BAP) culture
06:00 Feeling shame about growing up privileged
10:00 From beauty pageants to Real Housewives
13:38 Crying as a Black woman on reality TV
18:49 Candiace and Monique Samuels’ friendship breakup
20:45 Drew Sidora’s salary leak and the economics of being a Real Housewife
29:44 The psychological toll of being on Real Housewives
33:00 Going through IVF
37:08 On returning to Real Housewives
39:14 Colorism on reality TV
43:44 Candiace’s first test scene
45:10 Candiace’s longstanding relationships from the show
45:30 The Traitors season 4
48:08 What’s next for Candiace
54:20 Candiace’s marriage with Chris Bassett
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GLP-1s and The Death of Body Positivity with Dr. A. Janet Tomiyama
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 episode: joinbilt.com/popsyllabus
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1:25 Meet Janet
3:53 What Japan and Nigeria Reveal About Weight Stigma
5:55 Is Weight Really About Willpower? The Science of Genetics & Dieting
7:56 Should Governments Pay for Weight Loss?
9:37 Why Most Diets Don't Work Long-Term
15:41 How Culture Shapes the Way We Eat
20:21 Why Bigger Bodies Once Represented Wealth
24:29 What Is "Food Noise"?
29:01 The Hidden Reality of Eating Disorders in Black Women
32:14 GLP-1s, Grief, and the Identity Shift No One Talks About
36:41 Who Gets Access to GLP-1s?
42:21 The Risks and Unknowns of GLP-1 Medications
49:03 Are GLP-1s a Lifetime Commitment?
51:28 Raising a Family in a Weight-Obsessed World
56:14 Should Parents Put Their Kids on GLP-1s?
1:01:21 Why Body Neutrality May Be More Realistic Than Body Positivity
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Are They a Star, Celebrity or Famous Person? with Zuri Hall
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 star. Ready to play?
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Zuri’s Substack
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Email: [email protected] 1:36 Meet Zuri Hall
3:35 Zuri’s exit plan from Access Hollywood
9:36 The game begins
12:33 Angel Reese enters the chat
13:30 Angel Reese vs Caitlin Clark rivalry breakdown
15:41 Timothée Chalamet, Leonardo DiCaprio & Daniel Day-Lewis energy
18:03 Anna Wintour: the “mean boss” myth
19:41 Charli D'Amelio family drama
20:37 Celebrities vs influencers: who runs culture now?
26:44 Cardi B chaos & charisma
34:14 Dua Lipa wedding watch + love life
37:47 Billie Eilish era check
40:03 Bad Bunny takeover
41:43 The Weeknd enters the conversation
47:23 Zohran Mamdani surprise finale
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IVF, Pregnancy, and Home Birth at 45 with Jesse Golden
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.
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1:09 Meet Jesse Golden
2:53 Trying for motherhood again at 45
4:09 What it’s really like trying to get pregnant in your 40s
6:15 Navigating miscarriage and loss
10:04 Inside Jesse’s IVF journey
14:43 The real cost of IVF (financial and emotional)
19:44 Finding community as a woman giving birth after 40
22:14 What actually helps improve your chances of pregnancy
27:22 Is IVF the right path for you?
32:53 Egg freezing and what the future of IVF looks like
36:21 Exploring home birth later in life
40:13 Jesse’s home birth story
43:36 Staying grounded in your choices and your body
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The Pop Culture Debrief: Deconstructing Magazines
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.
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0:39 Rita Ora’s wellness era
3:12Inside Rita’s new look
7:00 The millennial facelift boom
13:55 Meghan & Harry tabloid drama
17:30 Ryan Seacrest’s face fears
19:17 Paris Hilton, theme queen
21:40 Crosswords: hot or not?
23:04 Jay-Z’s GQ takeover
23:39 Is Jay-Z channeling Basquiat?
28:12 Luxury ads everywhere
29:02 Pop culture’s iconic watches
32:22 Sketchers sketchy ads
34:06 GQ’s wedding rulebook
36:22 The life of Jay-Z
38:44 The Horology of HOV
45:38 Anne Hathaway’s Harper’s Bazaar moment
49:35 Chanel’s star-studded campaign
54:10 Bobbi Brown & beauty businesses
57:18 Ariana’s Swarovski sparkle
59:03 Inside Lulu Guinness’ whimsical home
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Manthropology with Holly Solem
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
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01:19 Meet Holly Solem
06:20 Holly’s move back to LA
07:14 Creating “Manthropology”
11:28 What Holly has learned about men while making “Manthropology”
13:34 How men in LA compare to men in NY
14:45 How women absorb the shame of men
16:09 Misogyny in 2026
18:02 Platonic relationships between straight men and women
22:20 How Holly reacts during Manthropology interviews
23:20 White girlhood vs. Black girlhood
25:51 Fictional pop-culture men game
27:14 Chandler Bing from “Friends”
28:58 Ross Geller from “Friends”
29:39 Batman
30:50 Superman
32:24 Homer Simpson
34:10 Lawrence from “Insecure”
35:13 Big from “Sex and the City”
37:13 Don Draper from “Mad Men”
38:18 Walter White from “Breaking Bad”
40:13 Nick Young from “Crazy Rich Asians”
41:35 Prince Akeem from “Coming to America”
42:46 Austin Powers
43:37 James Bond
46:40 Wolverine
48:13 Adam Sackler from “Girls”
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Ranking Pop Culture Divas with Gerrick Kennedy
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, Taylor Swift, and Lady Gaga, while making the case for a few overlooked sleeper divas along the way. By the end, it becomes clear that defining a diva is a lot harder than it sounds.
Gerrick’s book with Brandy: https://www.harpercollins.com/products/phases-brandy?variant=44324080779298
Gerrick’s book on Whitney Houston: https://gerrickkennedy.com/whitneyhouston
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01:18 Meet Gerrick Kennedy
03:20 How Gerrick Built a Career in Music Journalism
06:33 The Time Gerrick Met Joe Jackson
11:18 Diva Ranking Game
13:19 Defining a “diva”
16:46 Ranking 90s divas
18:50 Brandy
27:07 Janet Jackson
29:22 Mariah Carey
34:07 Gerrick on Working With Brandy on Phases
36:16 The Patriarchal Control Behind Pop Divas
40:59 Ranking 2000s divas
42:11 Why Divas Have to Go Solo
48:59 Jennifer Lopez
55:59 Britney Spears
1:00:37 Amy Winehouse
1:05:01 Ranking 2010s divas
1:06:03 Lady Gaga
1:12:54 Rihanna
1:16:29 Tinashe
1:17:52 Beyoncé
1:23:56 Taylor Swift
1:25:39 The Next Generation of Pop Stars
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Podcast reviews
Read Pop Syllabus podcast reviews
blurrykid28 2026/08/19
My new fav
Just started listening and I love it! Great topics, love Christiana and the guest speakers, and thoughtful, nuanced commentary. Adding to my regular r...
Jazz513 2026/08/18
Love this!
I could listen to her talk about any topic all day. So thoughtful about subjects people always want to dismiss!
wka940 2026/06/11
Editing
A recent episode was supposed to be about celebrity couples and the first 20 minutes was unnecessarily detailed background information about the guest...
Okayyyyysure 2026/06/04
Started strong, been somewhat meh as of late
I was really enjoying the episodes at first but as the weeks go I am less and less impressed. Like this felt almost academic in its analysis of pop cu...
Tif_723 2026/05/17
So fun
I’m loving these episodes. They’re so fun & informative in ways I didn’t imagine from a pop culture podcast. Just so enjoyable to listen to.
Paris Geller 2026/05/13
New fave!
I loved the solo episode!
Alpha Mary 2026/05/02
Must have in my rotation
Very few people ask thoughtful interview questions and Christiana is one of the few. She pushes conversations and really shows how she is valuing the ...
Kaitlin KT 2026/04/29
The day pop syllabus drops is always a good day
Christiana is one of the best interviewers around. The way she balances careful pop culture analysis with excellent questions is just chefs kiss. She’...
clearseas1949 2026/04/19
Fantastic
Christiana is the best in the biz!
karlie hustle 2026/03/15
Do It Lady
Christiana touches on all the things I think and wonder about on the regular. This podcast is my playground. Thank you and keep going!
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