Scandal Queens

Interesting subjects, especially for millennials who grew up with so many of these celebrities presented as aspirational figures. I think she does a great job telling complex stories and weaving together historical similarities with just enough detail to not make the podcast tedious. She is conscientious in her discussions and also forthcoming with what is her theory vs fact. Good listen if you’re someone who likes examining pop culture and media narratives with a dash of history.

Enjoying hearing more of EB’s personality beyond the annoyed/passionate takes on social media. Appreciate the research and the connected dots

I started with the Kardashian series and it immediately had me going back through the catalogue. That series was genuinely well-researched, with real business deals, lawsuits, and documented facts covered in a way you don’t really hear anywhere else. That’s where this podcast shines and what sets it apart from your average pop culture gossip show. My only critique is that in the editorializing in earlier episodes can undercut that strength. When everything is described as the most shocking thing imaginable episode after episode, it loses its impact. There’s also a tendency to present personal opinions as conclusions drawn from research. There’s a genuinely great fact-based podcast in here, and since she’s clearly a fan of Last Podcast on the Left, she already knows what that can look like. The research and unique perspective are the real value. Leaning into that and easing up on the hyperbole would make this a must-listen. Keep the receipts front and center and this podcast is unbeatable.

I follow her on TT and she’s not only a talented artist and writer, but her delivery and depth of knowledge into her material is awesome! I just started listening to her episodes and love them. She educated, has life experience and says what a lot of people want to say and are thinking.

In a recent episode, the discussion turned to U.S. immigration history in the early 20th century. The claim was made that America broadly “only accepted white people” during this era, framing acceptance largely along racial lines with skin color as the primary divider. While the episode touched on real policy restrictions and prejudices, this generalization feels overly simplistic and historically incomplete — a point driven home by personal family stories like that of German immigrants who faced real persecution despite their European background. Early 20th-century U.S. immigration did favor certain European groups through quotas and cultural preferences, especially after the Immigration Act of 1924, which prioritized Northern and Western Europeans while restricting Southern and Eastern Europeans, Asians, and others.  However, painting this as straightforward “acceptance of white people” erases the ethnic, cultural, and wartime tensions that divided even European immigrant communities. “Whiteness” itself was not a monolithic shield; it was contested, with eugenics-influenced debates questioning the assimilability of various European subgroups. A striking counterexample is the experience of German-Americans. By the time of World War I, Germans were one of the largest immigrant groups in the U.S. Yet, once America entered the war against Germany in 1917, anti-German hysteria exploded. German-Americans were suspected of disloyalty, leading to widespread discrimination: • Cultural suppression: German-language newspapers closed or self-censored, German books were burned, and German classes were banned in many schools. In places like Iowa, speaking any language other than English in public was restricted.  • Name changes and boycotts: Sauerkraut became “liberty cabbage,” streets and towns with German names were renamed, and businesses faced boycotts.  • Violence and intimidation: Incidents included tarring and feathering, vandalism, and even the lynching of Robert Prager in Illinois. Families hid their heritage, stopped speaking German at home, and abandoned cultural practices to avoid demonization.  This wasn’t abstract prejudice — it was a rapid shift that forced rapid assimilation and erased visible German cultural institutions. German-Americans had previously been relatively integrated compared to other groups, but wartime nationalism made their ethnicity a liability.

I’ve been listening for a couple months and initially liked it but came back to update my review. I’ve stopped listening now. The host treats her listeners like we’re the problem. “It happened because you people are so obsessed with fame and making these evil people famous.” No, actually, if I’m listening to your podcast I’m not a celebrity sycophant, I’m on the host’s side. It just seemed like the host was always fussing at me like I caused these problems, not explaining how it happened.