When AI Came For Novels, Authors Struck Back

Support #Millennial! Pledge on Patreon and receive lots of perks: https://patreon.com/millennial Visit our merch store: https://shop.millennialshow.com Watch episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@millennialpodcast This week: It's been... quite a week. We check in on the latest breaking headlines, including Trump's (alleged) face drooping during last week's 9/11 memorial. We're also breaking down Anthropic’s $1.5 billion settlement with authors after a judge ruled the AI giant trained its chatbot on pirated books. Is this the “Napster moment” for AI, and what does it mean for the future of copyright battles in tech? We also reflect on the decline of reading for fun, and some of us get to humblebrag on the number of books we've read so far in 2025. From social media distractions to BookTok trends, we account for what makes reading difficult, and what inspires us to pick up new reading.  We love a theme, so this week we've got book recommendations on board for y'all! Dare to Lead by Brené Brown (Andrew), This Book Will Bury Me by Ashley Winstead (Laura), and The Third Gilmore Girl: A Memoir by Kelly Bishop (Pam). And in this week's installment of After Dark, we're talking about the aftermath of the Charlie Kirk assassination. How are we faring after the events of last week, and how are we navigating the constantly shifting details as they emerge? How are we dealing with friends on social media who latch onto single headlines and proceed to double down on a narrative? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Support #Millennial! Pledge on Patreon and receive lots of perks: https://patreon.com/millennial Visit our merch store: https://shop.millennialshow.com Watch episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@millennialpodcast This week: The Supreme Court has once again reminded us whose rights really matter: profiling is officially A-OK according to SCOTUS (are we winning yet?). We unpack what this ruling means, why it’s so dangerous, and yes, whether we can finally start profiling white dudes with bad haircuts trying to buy guns. Plus, we’re talking about the new Biggest Loser documentary and the long list of TV shows that aged like spoiled milk (What Not to Wear, America’s Next Top Model, The Swan, and more). What current shows will make us cringe in a decade? We’ve got thoughts on Love on the Spectrum and MILF Manor. As always, we've got recommendations (Netflix edition) ready to go: 'Fit for TV: The Reality of The Biggest Loser' (Andrew), 'Wednesday' season 2 (Laura), and 'The Great British Bake Off' (Pam). And in this week's installment of After Dark: We're sharing some updates on some spicy drama we plugged a couple of weeks ago. But it's not all updates - there is new drama too. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Support #Millennial! Pledge on Patreon and receive lots of perks: https://patreon.com/millennial Visit our merch store: https://shop.millennialshow.com Watch episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@millennialpodcast We’re serving up real talk (WTF-style) about some of the latest weird health stories hitting the airwaves . From ticks that turn people vegan to whether owning a dog is bad for the planet, we’re digging into the bizarre headlines of the week. Andrew reveals his latest (real cause he's not a poser) collectible, and we unpack Vox’s list of the 25 pieces of culture that define the last 25 years. Does Harry Potter, Drag Race, Ramen, or The Eras Tour deserve the top spot? Plus, we add our own picks to the list, and debate listeners’ favorites. As always, we've got the best recommendations covered for you: BarProducts.com (Andrew), South Park season 27 (Laura), and creative reuse centers for all you crafters (Pam).  And in this week's installment of After Dark: we've got some piping hot tea that can only live behind the paywall. How to approach a friend or family member who has their priorities waaaaaay out of whack. We're not therapists, but you know we have opinions! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Support #Millennial! Pledge on Patreon and receive lots of perks: https://patreon.com/millennial Visit our merch store: https://shop.millennialshow.com Watch episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@millennialpodcast This week we’re unpacking the political drama swirling around Newsom’s latest moves, Trump’s House seat strategy, and what the gerrymandering tug-of-war could mean for key states ahead of the 2026 midterms. Are Newsom’s GCN-signed tweets winning us over, or just adding fuel to the fire? Then, we dive into the bizarrely cute world of Labubu, the creepy, bunny-eared collectible that’s taken over TikTok, shot Pop Mart into Disney-level territory, and even sold for $200K at auction. Why are these “ugly cute” figurines so addictive, and what does it take for us to buy into a craze? As always, we have recommendations for y'all! Flip 7 card game (Andrew), checking your voter registration status (Laura), and Nescafe Gold Espresso (Pam). And in this week's installment of After Dark, Andrew relives the infamous Great Vegas Flood and SHARES HIS TRUTH! Do grudges ever really expire, and what is the statute of limitations for being pissed at someone for making a genuine mistake? Opinions and messiness abound... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Support #Millennial! Pledge on Patreon and receive lots of perks: https://patreon.com/millennial Visit our merch store: https://shop.millennialshow.com Watch episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@millennialpodcast Real talk y'all: this week we're busting the myth about Instagram's new Map feature. No, it's not sharing your live location by default, so take a rest from those social media chain letters. We're also pouring one out for AOL Dial-Up: believe it or not, 1% of US internet users were still relying on this! Plus: Trump’s authoritarian move to federalize the police force in D.C., and the implications that move has for first amendment rights. We also tackle the latest CDC data showing the U.S. fertility rate has hit a historic low. What’s behind the drop, and why are politicians and pronatalists freaking out? We unpack the cultural, economic, and personal reasons more people are choosing to go child-free, and the absurdity of thinking. that restricting access to healthcare and a bigger tax credit can fix it all. It's a TV-centric recommendations kinda week: ABC Summer Games (Andrew), 'Hurricane Katrina: Race Against Time' on Hulu/Disney+ (Laura), and 'Outlander: Blood of My Blood' on Starz (Pam). And in this week's installment of After Dark: Inspired by our findings in the main show that Instagram's new Maps feature is not sharing your location by default, we're asking ourselves... how much info is TOO much info to share? Location sharing may be a modern convenience, but it's also inspiring friend group drama and a ton of privacy fails. Should we be more deeply concerned about how much we're willing to share (and stalk) via location apps? And right on cue, a revelation is made on air that creates jealousy on the panel re: location sharing. Oops! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on Millennial, we’re diving into the Sydney Sweeney/American Eagle controversy- did the internet overreact to a cheeky jeans pun, or was there something deeper at play rooted in eugenics? We unpack the backlash, AE’s response, and Trump’s weirdly horny support (is that why he was sundowning on the White House roof?). Are brands like American Eagle even relevant anymore, or are we just getting old? Per usual, we have some great recs on tap:  TrumpsTruth.org to peek in on President poopy pants without needing a Truth Social account (Andrew), ‘Sinners’ on HBO Max (Laura), and ‘The Summer I Turned Pretty’ on Netflix (Pam). In After Dark, we’re digging into what millennials say they waste the most money on: plants, tech, booze, even… cocaine?Plus we debate whether these spends are truly wasteful or just misunderstood. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Support #Millennial! Pledge on Patreon and receive lots of perks: https://patreon.com/millennial Visit our merch store: https://shop.millennialshow.com Watch episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@millennialpodcast We're kicking off the show this week by celebrating satire (we see you Trey and Matt Parker) and exploring the tea behind the new Tea app, which allows women to anonymously review their exes. Is it genius or going too far?  We talk about its safety features, its recent data breaches, and whether public reviews of your ex should really be a thing. Plus, Laura unpacks the deadpan 'Gen Z stare' that's freaking anyone over the age of 30 out. Is it apathy, anxiety, or just boundaries? And speaking of generational clashes, we tackle the phone etiquette war: Gen Z doesn't say “hello” anymore... should we be offended by the deadpan stares and awkward breathing on the other end of a phone call? And we're never gonna leave you hanging on the recommendations front: Donkey Kong Bananza on Switch 2 (Andrew), 'Fantastic Four: First Steps' (Laura), and Netflix's 'Building the Band' (Pam). In this week's installment of After Dark, we're diving into Uber’s new feature letting women match only with women drivers, plus sharing our wildest Uber horror stories. From drivers taking alternate routes (creepy) to trying to pressure riders into hook ups, our panel (and our Patrons) have seen it all. But Andrew may be the only one of us to ever receive a shoulder massage from an Uber passenger... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Support #Millennial! Pledge on Patreon and receive lots of perks: https://patreon.com/millennial Visit our merch store: https://shop.millennialshow.com Watch episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@millennialpodcast This week, we're celebrating Pam's recent birthday, and oops, Laura forgot to send birthday greetings on the actual day. How much value we place on birthday wishes from friends? Do they actually matter, or is it the thought (or the public shoutout) that counts? From there, we dive into a new study revealing a generational shift in how success is defined: younger folks are prioritizing mental and physical health above wealth, status, or career, with relationships, personal growth, and flexibility ranking higher than ever before. We open up about how our priorities have shifted over time, and a common link is when our mental health wasn't in a good place, we knew we needed to make lifestyle changes and have better boundaries with work. What is with the American cultural obsession with upward mobility? We discuss a few examples of other countries where it seems like work/life balance is much healthier. This week's recommendations are Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid (Andrew), The Weekly Show with Jon Stewart (Laura), and Color Wow Dream Coat (Pam).  And in this week's installment of After Dark, we're inspired by that cheating CEO/HR director pair at the Coldplay concert to spill some juicy deets about cheating couples we've known who also told on themselves. From getting tagged during a night out after lying about working to backroom hookups caught on camera, we live for the tea. Social media has made it easier than ever to catch people in a lie, and we share personal stories (and a few laughs) about how the truth always seems to come out... sometimes thanks to LinkedIn, Snapchat, or a poorly timed tag. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Support #Millennial! Pledge on Patreon and receive lots of perks: https://patreon.com/millennial Visit our merch store: https://shop.millennialshow.com Watch episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@millennialpodcast This week's episode is alllll about the listener feedback! From TSA’s new shoe-free policy (PreCheck veterans, this one’s for you) to the unfolding drama around the unreleased Epstein files and MAGA’s internal meltdowns, we break down what’s real, what’s performative, and what it all might mean. Listeners weigh in on everything from NASA budget cuts buried in the Big Ugly Bill, to revenge spells, "buy the bride/birthday boy a drink" Venmo culture, the difference between friends made in school versus friends later in life, and headphone etiquette in public places. Plus, we cover feedback around bookstore protests of a certain children's book author and ICE’s impact on one teacher's students. As always, we've got you covered with our best recommendations: "Somebody Feed Phil" on Netflix (Andrew), Naturium's Glow Getter oil-based body wash (Laura), and ‘Nickle and Dimed: On (Not) Getting by in America’ by Barbara Ehrenreich (Pam).  In After Dark, it’s your wildest travel horror stories: pickpockets, $1K flight rebooks, food poisoning, cursed buses, lost luggage, and one especially awkward airport fight. It’s a chaotic ride, but at least you can keep your shoes on now... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Support #Millennial! Pledge on Patreon and receive lots of perks: https://patreon.com/millennial Visit our merch store: https://shop.millennialshow.com Watch episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@millennialpodcast This week, we dedicate a few minutes to breaking down what’s actually in the so-called “Big Beautiful Bill” and when it all goes into effect, because spoiler alert: not everything is happening right away, and some of the so-called perks have built-in expiration dates. From SNAP changes and new work requirements to the temporary "no tax on tips and OT" provision (yes, there’s a cap and it won’t hit your wallet until tax season), we lay out what starts now, what kicks in later, and what quietly sunsets by 2028. But when we're not thinking about healthcare, we're thinking about the things we can do to keep ourselves sane, like going to concerts! Sabrina Carpenter got some attention recently for her thoughts about banning phones at concerts. Could this be the future of live music? We’re not so sure. And Andrew unpacks a viral story about a San Francisco bookstore pulling Harry Potter from its shelves over JK Rowling being, you know, shitty. Is this an extension of the banned books movement—or something else entirely? And in this week's installment of After Dark: Andrew overcame his fear and did something his past self would have n.e.v.e.r done! What do to about neighbors who don't take responsibility for shared property? We all have some personal gripes about neighbors - is Laura weird for not welcoming new neighbors when they move in? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices