Well Played

In the first ever episode of Well Played, presented by theSkimm, hosts Amanda Duberman and Blake Lew-Merwin preview the biggest Olympic stories dominating your feeds ahead of the opening ceremony kicking off the games tomorrow.   In this episode of Well Played, we cover:  Swimming in the river Seine: yay or nay?  Team USA denim outfits, and the singular reason Amanda is all about them  How the opening ceremony looks different this year (spoiler alert: it’s floating) What to expect from the US women’s soccer team with former USWNT member, Sam Mewis Why we’re hyped for the return of the GOAT, Simone Biles How the Olympics are becoming more inclusive for mom athletes with guest Allyson Felix Subscribe to Well Played on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you’re listening now.

Just in time for the 2024 Paris Olympics, theSkimm is launching a new podcast dedicated to treating the sports world like the bingeable reality TV it actually is. Well Played debuts Thursday, July 25th, just in time for the opening ceremonies of the 2024 Olympics. Be sure to subscribe now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you’re listening.

Sadly, we’re saying goodbye to Pop Cultured. In the last year, we’ve done some memorable pop culture deep dives (think: Queen Bey’s “Renaissance” and the history of house music) and broken down some of the biggest stories in the news (like: the Oscar’s slap and Serena retiring as the GOAT). We’ve also had some amazing conversations along the way.  So, it’s only right that we end the show the way it began: talking about why these stories matter. TV, movies, fashion, sports, and just about everything we consume can be pop culture, and looking at it can tell us a lot about what’s going on in society. Today, we take a look back at some of our favorite moments on the show — from Dwyane Wade totally flubbing questions about his wife Gabrielle Union to that time Bridget got an astrology reading that told her when she’ll find love. Then, we chat with some of our favorite show guests on why pop culture is important to them — and the world. You’ll hear from: Sabrina Razack, PhD candidate who studies and writes about the intersection of sports, gender, and race. Find Sabrina’s curriculum at teachbeyondaboundary.com.  Sharon Kwon, psychotherapist, social worker, writer, and mental health advocate. Learn more about Sharon’s practice at sharonkwon.com.   Daric L. Cottingham, freelance culture and entertainment journalist. Check out Daric’s work at dariccott.com. Bethonie Butler, TV and pop culture reporter for The Washington Post. Read Bethonie’s latest articles for washingtonpost.com.  Want more Skimm?  Sign up for our free daily newsletter Subscribe to theSkimm’s other podcasts (Skimm This and 9 to 5ish), and leave us reviews wherever you get your podcasts Skimm'd by Senior Producer and Host Bridget Armstrong. Produced by Alaisha Key. Engineered by Andrew Callaway and Elie McAfee-Hahn. TheSkimm’s senior director of audio is Graelyn Brashear.

Don’t know about you, but we’re still processing everything that went down at the VMAs — from that totally weird Johnny Depp appearance (can we call it that?) to Lizzo responding to haters. Again.  We’re also going to break down the Olivia Wilde–Shia LaBeouf beef, the Euphoria season three drama, and the latest thing to fall out of Chris Rock's mouth. And finally, with all eyes on NASA this week, we’re going back to one of our favorite episodes of this show, where we dug into our pop culture obsession with space.  You’ll hear from: Dr. Teasel Muir Harmony, curator of the Apollo Spacecraft Collection, professor at Georgetown University and author of  Apollo to the Moon: A History in 50 Objects.   Swapna Krishna, journalist covering space, tech, and pop culture at outlets such as Engadget, StarTrek.com, The Verge, and more. Co-host of the podcast Desi Geek Girls.  Eric Kohn, New York–based Executive Editor & Chief Critic at IndieWire.

We’re kicking it off this week with a rundown of a big win for HBO Max (House of the Dragon, we’re looking at you) and a whole lot of cringe. A plantation wedding, Bennifer? Really? Then, it’s a conversation with The Juggernaut’s Ishani Nath about Indian Matchmaking, and why she says the Netflix show about arranged marriages is still a hate watch. We get into what the series gets right, what it’s still getting wrong in season two, and why Sima from Mumbai fires up so many feelings.  And finally, the VMAs are right around the corner. But who even watches music videos any more? We talked to Rolling Stone writer Claire Shaffer about the rise, fall, and rebirth of the medium — from the big-budget heyday of Michael Jackson’s ’80s to the boy bound countdowns of TRL to today’s YouTube-ready viral sensations.  You’ll hear from:  Ishani Nath, culture editor for The Juggernaut Claire Shaffer, freelance writer for Rolling Stone Want more Skimm?  Sign up for our free daily newsletter Subscribe and leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts Skimm'd by Senior Producer and Host Bridget Armstrong and producer Alaisha Key. Additional production help from Blake Lew-Merwin. Engineered by Andrew Callaway and Elie McAfee-Hahn. TheSkimm’s senior director of audio is Graelyn Brashear.

First, it’s the Pop Five: Megan Thee Stallion’s new album “Traumazine” is just what the hot girls need as we transition into fall. Rihanna’s boo A$AP Rocky might be in big trouble, and Real Housewife Kathy Hilton is facing backlash from Lizzo fans. And we’re getting nostalgic over Brandy’s “Cinderella” turning 25.  Next, Jennette McCurdy’s new memoir is making us rethink some of our childhood faves. We Skimm (in under four minutes) what we’re learning about the era at Nickelodeon that brought us "iCarly." And since we’re looking back, we’re celebrating the GOAT: Serena Williams. The tennis phenom recently announced that she’s retiring, so we talked to a writer about Serena’s career, legacy, and lasting impact on women’s sports.  You’ll hear from: Sabrina Razack, PhD candidate who studies and writes about the intersection of sports, gender, and race                                             Want more Skimm?  Sign up for our free daily newsletter Subscribe and leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts Skimm'd by Senior Producer and Host Bridget Armstrong. Produced by Alaisha Key. Additional production help from Blake Lew-Merwin. Engineered by Andrew Callaway and Elie McAfee-Hahn. TheSkimm’s senior director of audio is Graelyn Brashear.

First up, say goodbye to #Kete, folks. Kim Kardashian and Pete Davidson called it quits after just nine months of dating. Get the rundown on the biggest breakup of the summer and Kanye’s reaction.  Plus, find out why Megan Thee Stallion’s boo Pardi seems a little upset with The Rock? And did a couple really find love in the Popeye’s parking lot? We quickly break it all down in this week’s Pop Five stories.  Then, we Skimm (in under four minutes) what the heck is going on with the Warner Bros. Discovery merger that killed "Batgirl" — and how this new marriage may affect your streaming options. And since we kinda have relationships on the brain, we’re diving deeper into dating app fatigue. (Yes, it’s a real thing!) We spoke with a reporter who’s done research on the topic to understand what it is, what the signs are, and what you can do if you’re tired of swiping. You’ll hear from: Jessica Klein, contributing reporter for the BBC                                                 Want more Skimm?  Sign up for our free daily newsletter Subscribe and leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts Skimm'd by Senior Producer and Host Bridget Armstrong. Produced by Alaisha Key. Additional production help from Blake Lew-Merwin. Engineered by Andrew Callaway and Elie McAfee-Hahn. TheSkimm’s senior director of audio is Graelyn Brashear.

All hail Queen Bey! The “Renaissance” is here, and the house listening party started last weekend along with the drama. But this act one wasn’t the only thing dominating pop culture news.  Did you hear that Taylor Swift’s is also topping the charts? But this time it isn’t for music. It’s for her terrible private jet CO2 emissions. And after eight weeks of not being able to turn away from Love Island UK, we finally have this seasons’ winners. What else is on our radar? Check out this week’s Pop Five stories.  Then, we dive into one of the biggest trends Millennials and Gen Z are obsessed with: astrology. We speak with a journalist to find out why. And we chatted with an astrologer to get the breakdown on what it’s all supposed to mean. Plus, don’t miss our host getting her chart read! You’ll hear from: Kirah Tabourn, creative, astrologer, and host of The Strology Show podcast                                       Elizabeth Gulino, senior writer at Refinery29                                                    Want more Skimm?  Sign up for our free daily newsletter Subscribe and leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts Skimm'd by Senior Producer and Host Bridget Armstrong. Produced by Alaisha Key. Additional production help from Blake Lew-Merwin. Engineered by Andrew Callaway and Elie McAfee-Hahn. TheSkimm’s senior director of audio is Graelyn Brashear.

From Kid Cudi walking off the stage at Rolling Loud to a weepy Bennifer in Paris, a lot has been going on in pop culture news. So we’re starting off by breaking down our Pop Five — the top five moments we can’t stop talking about. And after, we have convos with Angelica Ross, Tan France, and Christina Milian. So find out the reason Desus and Mero are calling it quits and why Sesame Place is being called out for racial discrimination.   Then, San Diego ComicCon gave “Black Panther” fans what they’ve been waiting for. The “Wakanda Forever” trailer dropped and everyone’s in their feelings. But what really had Twitter chirping? A viral tweet comparing the careers of Keke Palmer and Zendaya — and citing colorism. And the “Nope” star quickly shut the conversation down in a way only she could.   And keeping with stars that we stan, today, check out a few moments that didn’t make it on previous episodes — and some of our favorite interviews. You’ll hear from: Angelica Ross, actress, singer, and TransTech founder  Tan France, host of Netflix’s “Queer Eye”   Christina Milian, actress and singer Want more Skimm?  Sign up for our free daily newsletter Subscribe and leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts Skimm'd by Senior Producer and Host Bridget Armstrong. Produced by Alaisha Key. Engineered by Andrew Callaway and Elie McAfee-Hahn. TheSkimm’s senior director of audio is Graelyn Brashear.

Having a big butt hasn’t always been popular. But now, it seems like everyone wants to be a member of the big booty club. Kim Kardashian, Nicki Minaj, and even Madonna have all been suspected of having work done to make their backsides bigger. But it isn’t just famous people who are bending over backwards to get the derrière they desire. Regular women are also looking for ways to plump up their bottoms. While some are opting for butt implants or injections, many are turning to another surgical procedure: the Brazilian Butt Lift, aka the BBL. We talked to a board certified emergency physician and a reporter about the BBL: what it is, why it can be so dangerous — and why so many people are getting it anyway. You’ll hear from: Dr. Uché Blackstock, board certified emergency physician and founder and CEO of Advancing Health Equity Ruth Etiesit Samuel, culture reporter at HuffPost Want more Skimm?  Sign up for our free daily newsletter Subscribe and leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts Skimm'd by Senior Producer and Host Bridget Armstrong. Produced by Alaisha Key. Engineered by Andrew Callaway and Elie McAfee-Hahn. TheSkimm’s senior director of audio is Graelyn Brashear.