It's Called Reality

The State of Reality TV

For our tenth episode, we're zooming out and reflecting on how making this show has changed how we watch reality TV, and then get into the current state of reality TV. Th

America's Sweethearts: Cowboys, Cults, and Performing Femininity

This week, we get into all three seasons of America's Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, from the audition process that breaks your heart, the five-year ceiling, t

Love Island USA Season 8: The Good, The Bad, and The Lustful

Love Island USA Season 8 ran for 32 episodes, set records on Peacock, and somehow still felt like something was missing. Will Willow feel this way about every new season

The Real Housewives of Rhode Island: A History of Women’s Stories

Rhode Island: it's the smallest state in the US, and it also just delivered one of the most compelling first seasons in Real Housewives history, and we are here for it!Th

Perspectives on Couples Therapy: What We're Really Fighting About

This week, we're getting on the therapist's couch -- specifically, Dr. Orna's couch -- to dig into what Couples Therapy is really about.We're breaking down the three coup

America’s Next Top Model: A History of Beauty Standards

America's Next Top Model ran for 24 cycles, launching a generation of girls into a modelling fantasy world. This week, we're digging into what ANTM was really selling: th

Disinformation, Bias, and Who Controls the Story: A Traitors Masterclass

This week, we're getting into the iconic hit reality franchise, The Traitors. We analyze the actual origins of the game (it started as a Soviet social psychology experime

The Reality TV Industrial Complex: Mormon Wives, The Bachelorette, and What We Owe the Women We Watch

This week, we get into the machine that made Taylor Frankie Paul, and what happened when it couldn't contain her anymore. From MomTok to The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives

Survivor 50: A Case Study in Narrative Control

This episode contains Survivor 50 spoilers! You've been warned.This week, we dig into Season 50 of Survivor: the twists that overshadowed the players, the fan participati

Intro to Reality TV: It’s Not Just A Guilty Pleasure

Welcome to It's Called Reality! In our inaugural episode, we get into our origin stories with reality TV, and the argument that's going to drive every episode of this sho

Introducing: It's Called Reality

Reality TV. You already watch it. You already have opinions. It's Called Reality gives you somewhere to take them seriously. Hosts Willow Beck and Briana Brown have been