Vibe Check

America Has Abandoned Women (with Jessica Valenti)

On this episode of Vibe Check, Zach talks with writer and activist Jessica Valenti about the state of reproductive rights in America, how women’s rights shape the politic

Everybody Wants a Revolution Until It's Black

On this episode of Vibe Check, Saeed and Zach unpack the double standards in how Americans view political protest, romanticizing resistance in France while condemning it

The Ancient Greeks Would Have Loved WAP (with Emily Wilson)

On this episode of Vibe Check, Saeed and Zach talk with classicist and translator Emily Wilson about her book Crossing the Wine-Dark Sea, the “Roman Empire” trend, and th

America's Death Cult (with Ari Shapiro)

On this episode of Vibe Check, Zach talks with journalist Ari Shapiro about America’s relationship with death, the politics of public executions, and how to balance a thr

An Autumn Witchual

On this episode of Vibe Check, Saeed and Zach sit down with Pam Grossman—writer, curator, and teacher of magical practice and history—to explore what it means to be a wit

Nobody Likes These People

On this episode of Vibe Check, Saeed and Zach discuss who gets to define power, and what that says about our culture. They discuss Vanity Fair’s “New Establishment” list,

The World Was Never Straight

On this episode of Vibe Check, Zach sits down with award-winning playwright and performance artist Taylor Mac to talk about their new book, Bark of Millions, why art is p

Rape Culture Has a Group Chat

On this episode of Vibe Check, Saeed and Zach unpack Cornell University gang rape case. Then, they get into the viral Massachusetts lesbian bar story. Plus, they share th

Wait, Are All Movies About Grief?

On this episode of Vibe Check, Saeed and Zach put a theory to the test: Is every great movie and TV show really about grief? --------------------------------------------

The Hasan Piker Problem

On this episode of Vibe Check, Saeed and Zach unpack the recent backlash against popular progressive streamer Hasan Piker. Then, in light of the Ed Sheeran controversy, t

The Skies Are Not So Friendly

On this episode of Vibe Check, Saeed and Zach swap their best and worst travel stories, reflect on how 9/11 permanently changed the experience of flying, and share two un

The AI Apocalypse Is a Distraction

On this episode of Vibe Check, Saeed and Zach are joined by computer scientist and AI expert Timnit Gebru to talk about AI and why the future doesn't have to end in human

Everybody Can’t Be a Star

On this episode of Vibe Check, Saeed and Zach are joined by Christiana Mbakwe Medina, host of Pop Culture Syllabus. They talk about why gossip is a social technology, the

Rivals Make Better Lovers (featuring Rachel Reid)

On this special live episode of Vibe Check, Saeed and Zach sit down with New York Times Best-Selling author Rachel Reid, author of the Game Changers series and creator of

When Did Eating Get So Complicated?

On this episode of Vibe Check, Zach sits down with registered dietitian Jessica Wilson to discuss food culture, the "MAHA" movement, peptides, and the conversations shapi

The Wheels Are Falling Off

On this episode of Vibe Check, Saeed and Zach unpack the recent wave of food recalls and food safety scares. Then, they dive into the conversation around John Galliano an

We Love You, Dolly

On this episode of Vibe Check, Saeed and Zach are joined by special guest Brittany Luse, host of the It's Been a Minute podcast, to discuss the life, legacy, and politics

Play That Harp!

On this episode of Vibe Check, Saeed and Zach discuss the allegations surrounding Trump and White House aide Natalie Harp. Then, they talk about the nationwide protest an

The Vibes Are Open

On this episode of Vibe Check, Saeed and Zach dive into the growing fascination with polyamory and swinging. Plus, they share their latest picks for “the vibes are on” an

Summertime Sadness

On this episode of Vibe Check, Saeed and Zach discuss the death of Jason Arday and the complicated realities of being “the first” in elite spaces. Plus, they share their