Shows
Related.Calling all curly girls: 'What does it mean to embrace your hair?'Today, we’re talking about hair! Specifically: curly, mixed, natural hair. As biracial women with naturally curly hair ourselves, our relationship with our hair has been…complicated. And in recent years, the conversation around curls/natural hair has become more pronounced — with the rise of curly brands and products like Pattern by Tracee Ellis Ross, hairstyle trends like ‘cloud curls’, and increased representation of curls on film & tv. In this episode, Elaine and Carlyn dig into their own hair stories and asking: what does it really mean to embrace your hair? Further ReadingIn Fi...2025-07-2837 min
Related."Would you call yourself political?"In our first teaser episode, the day after Kamala Harris lost, we briefly discussed our feelings on the November 2024 elections. It’s been a while since that initial talk and a lot has happened. Now, six months into Trump’s second term, we wanted to check in to see how we’re feeling.FURTHER READING:Elaine’s Political Newsletter: Seeking DemocracyFirst Teaser Episode: "But first," A Quick Election Debrief...(Teaser Episode)Theme Music: “Banjo Beat” - Will Records This is a public episode. If you would like t...2025-07-1437 min
Related."Are you going to your high school reunion?"Carlyn recently went to her 20th high school reunion. Elaine is still on the fence about hers. According to multiple sources, statistically only about 30% of a graduating class shows up to a reunion. Which makes you wonder: why do some people go, and others don’t? What are reunions really for in a world where we now see everyone’s life updates online?In this episode, C & E unpack that exact tension—starting with a simple question:What do you picture when you hear the words “high school reunion”?Then we get into it: who we...2025-06-3034 min
Related."Do you hide the appearance of aging?"Elaine (at 36) and Carlyn (at 38) talk about the beauty standards surrounding aging. As women, we are subjected to standards of beauty that are aimed at selling us solutions long before we hit puberty, but we’ve noticed that the market has changed – no longer is it offering simple beautification but now offers include anti-aging serums and supplements. Not to mention the uptick in cosmetic procedures, like botox and plastic surgery.In this episode, we explore our awareness of superficially aging. Further Reading:* Vanity Is Not a Deadly Sin. It’s One of Life’s Last V...2025-06-1734 min
Related."More women are solo traveling...why?"According to research, women are increasingly interested in going on solo adventures - both domestic and international. One report states that 40% of all female travelers have voiced desire to travel alone in 2025 – up 8 percentage points from last year.There are over 60K women in the “Solo Female Travel” reddit group, and there are an increasing amount of tours, travel apps, accommodation that are targeted towards women only.In this episode, we explore why more women might be opting for solo travel through the lens of our own personal solo travel experiences. Furthe...2025-06-0336 min
Related."Are we 'Not Like Us'?"Kendrick Lamar made waves when he performed at the Super Bowl, the climax of a beef between him and the rapper Drake that started in the spring of 2024. One of the songs he performed was “Not Like Us”, arguably the most well-known song of last year and the diss track that solidified Lamar’s victory in the battle.Though Lamar did not attacked Drake’s biracial heritage directly, many of the reviews of the work have drawn a strong connection to race and suggested that Drake’s career is built on cultural appropriation. Carlyn and Elaine use...2025-05-1937 min
Related."The themes of 'Yassification' and 'Enshittification'"Purchasing products is a reality of our lives; and the associated branding is becoming increasingly omnipresent. In this episode, Carlyn and Elaine examine how companies use product branding to appeal to customers like them by looking at two emerging terms: “yassificiation” and “enshittification”, which both describe the relationship between an actual product and how they present to a potential consumer. At a time of increasing economic unsurety and instability, Carlyn and Elaine sit down to talk about these themes and how they shape their own habits.Further Reading:* What Does ‘Yassification’ Mean? A Brie...2025-04-2135 min
Related."What does it truly mean to be a friend in the digital age?"AI is everywhere—from chatbots to self-driving cars—and while some embrace it as an essential tool, others remain skeptical. In this episode, Carlyn and Elaine explore the ways AI and technology are reshaping personal relationships and social interactions. Carlyn, deeply embedded in the tech world, uses AI regularly, while Elaine has intentionally distanced herself from social media and digital tools, favoring more manual, real-world processes. Together, they examine the growing tension between convenience and authenticity, questioning whether AI is enhancing or eroding human connection. What does it mean to truly be a friend in the...2025-03-2432 min
Related."What are your views on the Manosphere?"After our episode on the 4B movement, we wanted to have an additional conversation pertaining to how men might be viewing their own places in society. The Manosphere, which first coalesced on the internet, but has spread beyond, is an anti-feminist movement that has the potential to radicalize men.How do we understand the appeal of such a space? Join us, and our brother, as we explore the Manosphere.Further Reading:* Swallowing the Red Pill: a journey to the heart of modern misogyny (The Guardian)* How positive male role models are...2025-03-1336 min
Related."Would you 4B?"As we approached Valentine's Day this year, we found ourselves reflecting on a movement that's reshaping how many women view love, relationships, and their place in society. The 4B movement, which emerged in South Korea during the mid-2010s as a reaction to persistent gender inequality, represents four deliberate choices – the four “nos”: bihon "bee-hon" (no marriage), bichulsan (no childbirth), biyeonae (no dating), and bisex (no sex). 4B has started to build momentum in the US following the Trump’s re-election and the overturning of Roe vs. Wade, and it’s not without its complexities and concerns. Join...2025-02-2436 min
Related."Life is too short for Mocha Mousse!"2024 was a year! In Elaine’s words: “it was a looong year…” 😂. In today’s episode, we reflect on 2024 and look forward towards 2025. Featuring: Pantone's Color of the Year - Mocha Mousse (Carlyn = "yay", Elaine = "nay"), a brief Chappell Roan discussion, Elaine’s love of trains, our personal highs and lows, a new “Stranger Shout-Out” segment, and more. Further Reading:Our respective favorite reads: Not the End of the World by Hannah Ritchie | Playground by Richard PowersOur respective favorite songs: “Make Your Own Kind of Music” (Cover) - Paloma Faith | “Pink Pony Club” - Chappel...2024-12-3035 min
Related.“How do you think about #TradWives in the context of a Hallmark protagonist?”‘Tis the season… for Hallmark movies! At this most special time of the year, we talk about the growing holiday movie phenomenon. What defines a “Hallmark Movie”, why are they so appealing to our demographic, and does their rising popularity say anything about the TradWife trend?Further Reading:Tis The Season: A Hallmark Christmas Movie Outrated Everything On Cable News Last Week, Forbes.com (https://www.forbes.com/sites/maryroeloffs/2023/11/22/tis-the-season-a-hallmark-christmas-movie-outrated-everything-on-cable-news-last-week/)Just How Formulaic Are Hallmark and Lifetime Holiday Movies? We (Over)analyzed 424 of Them, nytimes.com (https://www.nytimes.com/interact...2024-12-1638 min
Related."What even is a 'Career Break' anyway?"Introducing our first full RELATED podcast episode. We both recently took so-called "career breaks", and as we near the end of our respective time away from 9-5 corporate, we reflect on what we've learned, general observations and thoughts regarding taking time off, millennial life/work trends, and more. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit relatedpodcast.substack.com2024-12-0247 min
Related."But first," A Quick Election Debrief...(Teaser Episode)We're still in the studio recording our first proper episode (launching after Thanksgiving!), but we wanted to take a moment to talk through our initial post-election reactions -- from election TikToks, to the role of black women in the Democratic Party. Recorded November 7, 2024. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit relatedpodcast.substack.com2024-11-1812 min