Much to Discuss

Steph talks through why we’re seeing so many people crying online and how advice from strangers can provide a sense of comfort in tough times. Kelly mourns Flaco the Owl and talks about why his death is hitting people (ahem… her) so hard. We also talk about which of us would be a better cult leader vs. follower (take a wild guess).We discuss the rise of Sephora Tweens and why teenagers are so obsessed with skincare and anti-aging. We also break down the incredible investigative reporting on parent-run child influencer accounts from the NYT.We wrap with a trio of great recommendations: a very giftable book on all kinds of love, an article on the endangered languages living in NYC, and a podcast episode with a stress-expert.Pop Culture:Mourning Flaco, the Owl Who Escaped, by Naaman Zhou for the New YorkerThe Internet Has Theories About Kate Middleton’s Whereabouts by Jennifer Zhan for Vulture$1bn donation means students at New York medical school will pay no tuition by Gloria Oladipo for The GuardianNews:The Irony of the Sephora Tweens by Elise Hu for The Atlantic'Sephora kids' and the booming business of beauty products for children by Mia Taylor for the BBCA Marketplace of Girl Influencers Managed by Moms and Stalked by Men by Jennifer Valentino-DeVries and Michael H. KellerThe Influencer Report by The Morning ConsultContent: Conversations on Love, book by Natasha LunnThe World Capital of Endangered Languages by Alex Carp for the NYT MagazineBecoming experts on our own stress with stress expert Dr. Aditi Nerurkar by So Into That with Caro Chambers This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit muchtodiscuss.substack.com

Should it be illegal for dating apps to waste our time? We dig into a lawsuit claiming dating apps are fueling addiction and discuss how they’re designed to encourage compulsive use and whether they should be obligated to surface better matches sooner. We also chat on what research is saying about Gen Alpha (iPad kids, grown up), based on the life events they’ve lived through so far.In culture, we gab about Dakota Johnson’s “I love limes” to “The Goblet of Spiderman” press-interview-pipeline and what could possibly be going on in Tom Sandoval’s brain amidst some shocking comments from his profile with the New York Times Magazine. We wrap up with some stellar recs, including a rollercoaster of a long-read in the Cut from their financial-advice columnist on how she got scammed out of $50,000 cash.Pop Culture:Woman’s Divorce From ‘Pathological Liar’ Inspires 50-Part ‘Who TF Did I Marry?’ Series That’s Taking Over TikTok by Tara Mahadevan for ComplexBeyoncé Is the First Black Woman to Top the Country Charts by Emily Leibert for The CutBlack Artists Helped Build Country Music—And Then It Left Them Behind by Andrew R. Chow for TimeDisney star turned space CEO: Bridgit Mendler launches satellite data startup backed by major VCs by Michael Sheetz for CNBCWhat is Happening in Tom Sandoval’s Brain? By Tariro Mzezewa for The Cut‘Madame Web’ at $26 Million Spells Trouble for Sony Superheroes by Thomas Buckley for BloombergNews:Are dating apps fuelling addiction? Lawsuit against Tinder, Hinge and Match claims so by Rachel Hall for The GuardianThe future of work depends on understanding Gen Alpha now by Lucy Maber for Fast Company"A landmark generation": Introducing Gen Alpha by April Rubin for AxiosContent: Jon Stewart on Tucker Carlson’s interview with Putin: ‘An ally to the right’ by The GuardianOne Day, Series on NetflixThe Day I Put $50,000 in a Shoe Box and Handed It to a Stranger Article by Charlotte Cowles for the CutMr. and Mrs. Smith, Series on Prime This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit muchtodiscuss.substack.com

Today’s episode includes a sweet lil storytime on how Valentine’s Day is the reason why we became friends! We unpack how important protected nonworking time is for mental health, following Australia’s new legislation protecting workers’ right to disconnect, and are chatting through the trade-offs present in Biden's decision to join TikTok.We also discuss the accouterments and best bits of Super Bowl Sunday: Usher’s roller skates, Beyoncé’s new music, a surprise celeb MARRIAGE after the big game, and more. We wrap up ranking some recent rom-commy content (P.S. are good romcoms finally making the comeback we all deserve??) and continue to unabashedly fawn over Cillian Murphy following his profile in GQ.Pop Culture:Why Don’t We Hang Out Anymore? by Jancee Dunn for the NYTSuper Bowl 2024 was most watched US TV broadcast since 1969 Moon landing by Emma Saunders for the BBCBeyoncé releases two new songs during the Super Bowl, teasing more to come by Rachel Treisman for NPRUsher and Jennifer Goicoechea marry in Las Vegas wedding ceremony during Super Bowl weekend by Francesca Bacardi and Desiree Murphy for Page SixNews:Australia Introduces Workers’ ‘Right to Disconnect’ by Natasha Frost and Isabella Kwai for the NYTBiden’s First TikTok Post Jokes About Super Bowl Conspiracy Theory by Reid J. Epstein and Sapna Maheshwari for the NYTJoe Biden’s first TikTok, by bidenhq on TikTokContent: "you didn't read that, you saw it on TikTok" by Luce for shityoushouldcareaboutOne Day, Series on NetflixAnyone but You, Movie in TheatersUpgraded, Movie on PrimeCillian Murphy Is the Man of the Moment, Profile by Daniel Riley for GQInstagram: muchtodiscusspodcast This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit muchtodiscuss.substack.com

Steph is moved into her new home (!!!) and Kelly is officially 30 (add-ons of flirty and thriving are TBD). We’re mostly grappling with whether professional color analysis would transform us into the most beautiful girls of our respective continents. If you’ve done it: please report back ASAP.In today’s episode, we talk about thank yous from women to their female friends that pull at our heartstrings: from Taylor Swift at the Grammys to Dolly Alderton in the acknowledgements of her new stunner of a book, Good Material. We also discuss our weariness towards Apple’s IR/VR VisionPro… don’t we all want to be more offline?? In news, we take a dive into 2 topical public announcements: 1. What was included and left out of Buckingham Palace’s announcement that King Charles has been diagnosed with cancer and 2. What the UMG/TikTok feud means - for artists and TikTok users.Pop Culture:My Professional Color Analysis Told Me I Can Still Wear All Black by Hanna Flanagan for The CutTaylor Swift Makes History, Miley Cyrus and SZA Clean Up: The Grammys Were for the Girls by Jon Blistein for Rolling Stone‘Bachelor’ Joey Graziadei confuses Gypsy Rose Blanchard for Ruth Bader Ginsburg by Nicki Cox for Page SixThe Best Superbowl Ads… So Far by Olivia Craighead for The CutPeople Are Doing Some Interesting Things With the Apple Vision Pro by Chas Danner for IntelligencerNews:King Charles Has Cancer. Here’s What to Know. by Mark Landler for the NYTWhat King Charles’ Cancer Diagnosis Means for the Royal Family by Armani Syed for TimeUniversal Music Group Warns It Will Pull Songs From TikTok After Deal Expiration by Todd Spangler for VarietyTikTok’s fallout with Universal Music Group is ruining viral trends and thirsty fancams by Jess Weatherbed for The VergeContent: Good Material, Book by Dolly AldertonSentimental Garbage, Podcast by Caroline O’DonogueSeb’s Taylor Swift Crossword for Kelly’s Birthday (find in our IG stories)Instagram: muchtodiscusspodcast This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit muchtodiscuss.substack.com

Lots of great convos in today’s episode: the consistent desire to fit in during middle-school (we present: Livestrong bracelets), conflicting opinions on the viral Pookie/Jett videos and when #TradWives-esque content can turn harmful, how deepfakes work and are being used, and why continued layoffs in the news industry give us a sinking feeling.In more “woo-woo” chatter, we explore our astrological compatibility and talk about what our approaches to haunting would be if we were ghosts.Pop Culture:The Stanley Cup: A 40 ounce bully? By Julia Reinstein for The CutTravis Kelce’s Chiefs (and Likely Taylor Swift) Are Going to the Super Bowl by Althea Legaspi for Rolling StoneSofia Richie Shares Video of Moment She Learned She Is Expecting a Baby Girl: 'I'm So Excited' by Esme Mazzeo for PeoplePookie Is Looking Absolutely Fire Today by Alexis Morillo and Sarah Ellis for Bustle#TradWife Life as Self-Annihilation by Anne Helen Petersen for Culture StudyNews:Explicit Deepfake Images of Taylor Swift Elude Safeguards and Swamp Social Media by Kate Conger and John Yoon for the NYTMaking Deepfakes Gets Cheaper and Easier Thanks to A.I. by Stuart A. Thompson for the NYTA look at the wave of layoffs hitting the news industry by David Folkenflik for NPRNews industry off to brutal 2024 start as mass layoffs devastate publishers, raising questions about the future of journalism by Oliver Darcy and Jon Passantino for CNNContent: Strife, Series on Apple TV (AU)Ghost Story, Podcast by Tristan Redman for Wondery and Pineapple Street StudiosChicken Shop Date with Paul Mescal, YouTube Series by Amelia DimoldenbergPast Lives, Movie by A24 This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit muchtodiscuss.substack.com