Be There in Five

I have listened to this podcast off and on for years, but more on than off. In such a saturated market, it’s a testament to Kate’s intelligence and realness that I keep coming back. She has a way of both validating my interests while also provoking deeper thoughts on these same things. Keep podcasting Kate!

I will never be able to express my gratitude enough for Kate Kennedy. I hadn’t heard of her until her book came out and I have never so instantly connected with someone’s perspective on life, pop culture, hardship, etc. Of course I binged the podcast and became a certified Beth (with the sweatshirt and all lol). Kate always seems to say exactly what I’m thinking but so much more humorously and succinctly. Her book and podcast are like a time capsule for millennial women but somehow also remain evergreen. Kate’s words have helped me through so many challenging times and provided a safe, soft space when the everything around me felt chaotic. Listening to her feels like sitting outside at a fire table, drinking a glass of wine with your best friend. That said, it absolutely pains me to say anything even remotely critical (Kate, please don’t hate me!), but the one thing I can’t get past is her unwavering support and lack of critical analysis when it comes to Taylor Swift. When she talks about her - I feel like I’m listening to a different person. TS behaves in a way and represents so many things that Kate has actively spoken out against and thoughtfully criticized. I wish there was a Patreon tier that would edit out all the TS eps and commentary because it is so hard to listen to someone I admire so, so much champion someone so (and I don’t use this word lightly) - problematic and unethical. Someone like Taylor should be learning from and admiring someone as authentic, observant, intelligent, and kind-hearted as Kate - not the other way around. I have a sneaking suspicion that most of us listen to this podcast in spite of the large amount of TS talk…not because of it. I wish Kate would admire and appreciate TS for what her music meant to her in her life, but realize that maybe TS is stuck in a state of arrested development and doing more harm than good at this point. I would just love to see Kate untether her brand from TS to a degree and let her own voice shine more. Bottom line though, Kate - no parasocial relationship is perfect am I right? ;) - and the joy and comfort you have brought me has made me a lifelong fan and champion of yours without a doubt! May your milk always be chocolate and your pizza be square :)

Like a great talk with your best girlfriend, diving in deep to fun topics, and some serious too. Wonderful perspective and has a unique gift!

I usually start my day with a BTIF podcast and it’s something I genuinely look forward to when I wake up. Kate has such an extensive catalog of a wide variety of topics of everything that peaks my interest ranging from all things girly pop, millennial Zeitgeist, lore, celeb gossip, motherhood, interesting takes on past and modern society impact of womanhood, all things Taylor swift, even fun things like diving into what makes a good chicken wrap—lol truly everything. She’s such a great deep diver and listening to her podcast is a 10/10 experience!!

I used to love this podcast, but over the past year the quality has noticeably declined. I usually don't mind a more stream-of-consciousness style, but the most recent episode was difficult to get through. I understand she's writing a book and likely has a lot on her plate, but the episodes have started to feel less prepared and more rushed. One of the things I originally loved about the podcast was the research and thoughtful analysis that went into each topic, and I really miss that element. I was also surprised by how much of the last episode focused on Olivia Rodrigo. While she's obviously a huge artist, her core fan base tends to skew younger, and I'm not sure that dedicating such a large portion of the episode to her resonates with many listeners in their 30s and 40s. Overall, I'd love to see a return to the deeper research and preparation that made the podcast stand out in the first place. It feels like there's already plenty of unfiltered, low-effort commentary on social media. What made this podcast special was that it offered something more thoughtful and informed.

I love the topics Kate covers, but sometimes her stream of consciousness is TOO much. In the Love Trapped episode, I actually had to slow down her interview intro and the intro made absolutely NO sense. Her intro to the topic made ZERO sense. Her interviews are so hard to follow and often give the listener little context. She also interrupts her guests. I want to like this podcast, but I can’t do it.