#millennial

#Millennial is back in time for PRIDE month y'all! Time for some pretend adulting, gay talk. To kick off Pride Month, we speak with Kacen Callender, author of bestselling novel 'Felix Ever After.' Kacen tells us how they got started as a writer, and we chat about the increase in popularity of LGBTQ romance in mainstream media. Kacen's new book is titled Lark & Kasim Start a Revolution and will be released this September! Follow Kacen on Twitter and check out their website here! It's time to talk gun safety reform... again. In the space of two weeks, mass shootings in a Buffalo supermarket and a Texas grade school left dozens dead. We've heard the same rhetoric around this gun debate for our entire lives - why does this keep happening? We look at some data to explain how our state legislatures respond. The upshot is this: Republican controlled state legislatures respond by loosening gun laws 120% in the year following a mass shooting. Why? The NRA continues to be better funded, and gun fanatics are simpl

It's the end of an era: Apple has announced it is discontinuing the iPod, and we pour one out for "1,000 songs in your pocket." Can the iPhone ever match the level of escapism an iPod provides? What's your rate of inflation? We take the quiz together and compare where we're feeling the most strain when we're paying bills. Andrew's doomsday prepping has him stockpiling Dunkin' Coffee from Costco, and Pam is about to walk away from a business she's frequented for years due to its price increases. Related: the latest casualty of supply chain shortages is baby formula, and some "pro-lifers" want to gate keep formula on the basis of citizenship. How many friends do we need? The New York Times has some helpful data, and we share our own "friendship numbers." Have some friendships grown closer during the pandemic? More distant? 'Buy now, pay later' trends are sending some millennials and Gen Z'ers spiraling into debt. When is it worth financing a purchase, and when is it better to pay in full? With over a

This week, our social media manager Chloé joins us, and we GO OFF about the upcoming decision on Roe vs Wade from the Supreme Court. What other 'settled law' could be next? The right to privacy and bodily autonomy is on the chopping block. Chloé expands on how it feels like religious liberty is only valued in the US if you're a white, cis male Christian. As discussed in 7x22, a number of states have been lying in wait with trigger laws for the moment Roe vs. Wade is overturned. Shifting gears, we are joined by listener of the show, Rex, who is a speech pathologist! We chat about hearing and speech, pediatric feeding disorders, and stuttering, all of which Rex has professional experience working with. Since 5% of school age children have an articulation disorder, how long does it take to address these issues through speech therapy? For all the parents listening, Rex details some of the common signs you may want to consider finding a speech pathologist to work with your child. What are some good gifts o

Note: The news of the Supreme Court's Roe v Wade ruling broke as we were approaching the end of the episode recording, so our reactions are found at that point. Laura begins the show with an update that has Andrew and Pam on the edge of their seats. A new feature in The Atlantic details the rise of the "workcation" as a result of many companies moving to a work from home model during the pandemic. Have we ever "workcationed?" What are the pros and cons? Does working on vacation further blur the lines between work and life in a post-pandemic world? President Biden is finally considering some amount of student debt forgiveness. We'll hear more in the next couple of months, but borrowers are anxious for details.  Our listeners sound off about their student loan debt, and we commiserate about the predatory lending student loan borrowers are subjected to. What do we think of the argument that student debt forgiveness is unfair to those who paid their loans off? WTF News: He was 5’7”. After surgery he’ll be

Why are CD sales on the rise? What year is it?! Fake philanthropist Elon Musk has secured the funding to purchase Twitter for $44 billion. Do we think Twitter will change much under his leadership? Are we leaving? It's like Netflix wants to lose subscribers: too many choices, canceling hits, and doing an about face on password sharing. Since they anticipate losing 2 million subscribers in the next quarter or so, why are they proceeding with these unpopular decisions? Speaking of, Netflix is considering implementing ads and other sponsored content in an ad-supported tier. A Nielson survey shows that consumers are overwhelmed by the sheer volume of streaming services. It also seems like Florida wants to take a tourism hit: Governor Ron DeSantis signed a bill last week that would dissolve the special Reedy Creek District, which has allowed Disney to self-govern for over 50 years. In addition to hurting business, tourism, and taxpayers, we think it's highly unlikely that this will actually come to pass. La

Our social media manager Chloé returns to #Millennial and she's once again bringing the "fire" as millennials may say! A Trump-appointed federal judge has struck down the public transportation mask mandate, and airlines were quick to allow everyone to go maskless. We react to the responses on both sides of the mask debate. What are the current Gen Z trends that we older people need to be aware of? Chloé walks us through some new phrases and the specifics of the "Hot Girl Walk". What are the most millennial things each of the panelists do? We turn the tables on Chloé and ask her some things most Gen Zers might not know Spam calls and texts continue to come in more frequently than ever, it seems. What can you do to stop the spam calls and texts? Andrew wonders if he should get a new phone number entirely Pam and Andrew both received a text from the same girl/bot, and one of them took the sexy convo further (Guess who) Face filtering and touch ups are very popular thanks to Snapchat and the other social m

Ezra Miller is creating yet another headache for Warner Bros. and its major franchises - do we agree Fantastic Beasts is cursed at this point? We've got a single recommendation across the panel this week: check out the new Marvel show on Disney+, 'Moon Knight.' Our resident Marvel expert Marc makes a 'surprise' appearance on the show to review Moon Knight with us, and sheds some light on why Marvel is debuting lesser-known characters in its shows now. How is Marvel doing updating its properties for the big and small screen? What lessons can other franchises take from their success? We also review Time's 100 Most Influential Companies of 2022. While there is plenty to be celebrated in this list, there are a few head scratchers... *cough*NEXTDOOR*cough* Amazon and Disney both made the Time 100 list, which presents a perfect opportunity for us to mention some other ways these giants have been making headlines in recent weeks. Amazon warehouse employees in Staten Island voted to unionize - a first for Amazo

In light of the upcoming releasing of "The Secrets of Dumbledore" we're  discussing how Harry Potter fans are grappling with a very problematic author, and how to balance loving the Wizarding World with the knowledge that the author continues to spew harmful rhetoric.  We're joined by friend of the show Karen, a longtime "Buffy The Vampire Slayer" fan to talk about how fandoms grapple with the realization that their series creators... suck. We speak about 'The Death of the Author', a 1967 essay by Roland Barthes, who argues that an authors' politics, religion, and other biographical facts that shape who they are shouldn’t dictate how one interprets their writing. We talk about what happens as a fan when your hero turns out not to be the person you thought they were, and the adjustment process it requires.  What degree of privilege comes with being a fan who isn't the target of harmful rhetoric by the creator?  As fans of Harry and Buffy, how do we continue loving these works while also working to rebut t

Cities lost population in 2021, leading to the slowest year in growth in U.S. history. We've all had the experience of living in and subsequently leaving a major city. What were our motivations for doing so? Conversely, what are the reasons we chose to move to New York and L.A. in the first place? On a related note, the U.S. is also experiencing doctor shortages. The recently canceled 'The Baby-Sitters Club' Netflix show runner gave a very candid interview about the metrics Netflix uses to decide whether or not a show will be canceled. Why isn't Netflix evolving with the times? People are clearly enjoying weekly episode drops - are the days of binging over? In an about-face, Netflix is testing cracking down on password sharing in a few markets. If the test is deemed a success, we could be paying an extra $2.99 per month for every person we share our credentials with. Jeff Foxworthy had an 'ok boomer' moment in his latest stand-up special in which he poked fun at participation trophies. How is comedy l

Laura kicks off the show with an update about her screen time - has she been successful in spending less time staring at her phone? We chat briefly about how the current chip shortage may be extended due to the war in Ukraine. Pixar is adding back a lesbian kiss to the upcoming Buzz Lightyear movie in the wake of the 'Don't Say Gay' backlash against Disney. Professor Sims has an exciting announcement: his new Patreon course is available NOW! Listeners of this show can get $25 off with code MILLENNIAL. Apple's new iOS update comes with 37 new emojis... but will we use all of them? There are one or two that make us feel ~uncomfortable~. In other news, Twitter is introducing a downvote feature. Will this help combat internet trolls, or further drive people into their own echo chambers? Twitter's also coming for Instagram's close friends feature. Now we don't need to maintain private accounts to be petty! (But also, is anyone else feeling overwhelmed by social media platforms constantly copying each other?)

Is Daylight Savings Time about to become permanent? Does this mean Laura will stop bitching twice a year about the time change? As part of our biweekly check in on the war in Ukraine, we touch on some of the lesser acknowledged stories of racial and ethnic minorities in Ukraine, and how this crisis has unfolded for them. In response to the continued conflict, Disney, Sony, Warner Bros, and Paramount all announced that they were halting future theatrical film releases in Russia.  Despite Disney being quick to take a position on the current Russian invasion of Ukraine, their response to Florida's 'Don't Say Gay' bill has left a lot to be desired. #Millennial shares EXCLUSIVE audio clips of Disney's official response to the controversy. A new report out of Pew Research Center indicates that an increasing number of Americans view single-motherhood and unmarried cohabitation has 'bad for society.' We respond, and wonder why these viewpoints are increasing despite single-motherhood remaining stable and cohabita

Who's feeling the crunch at the gas pump these days? We know this sucks, but we're here to provide y'all with some much-needed escapism! A PSA Andrew saw prompts a discussion for our panel - how do we manage the pressure to have a hot take on every global crisis? As podcasters we feel this pressure a lot, and we know everyone experiences some level of pressure through social media. Where do we draw the line when deciding when or when not to talk about a particular event? RIP Pam and Laura's love of Tiktok: the social platform announced last week it will be introducing a 10-minute video limit. Is this the Youtubification of Vine 2.0?? We revisit our personal screen time stats from pre-2020 and some of us are wearing the cone of shame due to our increases. Is it cheating if your phone's screen time is lower due to most of your screen time happening at the computer?

Before we get into the main show, we're giving the latest updates on the unprovoked, unconscionable invasion of Ukraine by Russia. #Millennial stands with Ukraine! Are you familiar with the term 'bucket list'? We've got some shocking Mandela Effects to break your brains with this episode. Will #Millennial start a Mandela Effect? Maybe, we like some light trolling here and there. Why does it seem like average move run times are getting closer and closer to 3 hours? Because they are. Can a long runtime cause us to pass on seeing a movie in theaters? Would intermissions make a difference for the viewing experience? President Biden has announced Ketanji Brown Jackson has his nominee to fill the vacancy on the US Supreme Court. Not only is she extremely qualified, but if seated she would be the first black woman to sit on SCOTUS. What could happen procedurally during Jackson's confirmation? Do we need to worry about Manchin and Sinema? We're a little shook at how prophetic this week's #Millennial Make a Com

At the top of the show. we have an update on the developing situation with Russia and Ukraine. Check out our latest BREAKING NEWS benefit to hear more of our analysis! Looking to shell out $200 for an 8 gig piece of trash? Yeezy's got a deal for you! Speaking of cash grabs, can we agree as a culture that split "final seasons" are so out? Give us weekly episode releases so we have something to look forward to in our miserable lives, Netflix! Has Amazon Prime 2-day shipping turned us into brats? A new Confessional sees an anonymous listener pursuing a debt relief service to get their credit card debt under control. One of our panelists also had to dig themselves out of credit card debt. What are the options? If you're seeking financial help, Laura recommends checking out the Foundation for Financial Planning, The National Foundation for Credit Counseling, and the US Department of Justice's search tool for finding a credit counseling agency. Listener Kira joins us to speak about her profession, genetic co

UPDATE: Apple has announced plans to address AirTag stalking issues. We are LIVING for the 2022 Super Bowl half-time show. LIVING. FOR. IT. The Entertainment Weekly and InStyle publications will no longer produce magazines - when do we think they'll start blaming millennials for this? We're joined this week by Lena of @LenaCleansUp to talk about how to lead a cleaner and more organized life! (Instagram | Tiktok) Why did the interest in cleaning and organization see an uptick during the pandemic? Lena shares what the most common cleaning challenges are for people, as well as her must-have cleaning products. This week's Confessional features a listener who is considering starting an OnlyFans to make ends meet. She asks... is this a fireable offense if my employer finds out? We have some resources available for our Confessional writer: Job fired me due to my OnlyFans account (Reddit) | Colorado deputy with OnlyFans page retires with $30,000 settlement | Employment at-will Thank you to #Millennial listen

It has finally happened: Pam was mask shamed in public. We're shook that this happened in liberal California! We're joined this week by Kara, founder of Bravely Go, an award-winning financial education company. Kara is here to explain inflation like we're 5, and dispel some common misinformation. Check Bravely Go out on Instagram, Tiktok, and Twitter! What is inflation, who is Grandpa Money Bags, and who is Grandma glass breaker?! Why does the federal government increase interest rates, and are there any silver linings to it for consumers? Corporations, just like people, love blaming the government for the increased cost of goods. But is it more complicated than that? Kara recommends checking out these episodes of Planet Money to learn more about inflation: Uncle Sam wants YOU to fight inflation and The Great Inflation. The push to ban books is on the rise across the country– but Texas really takes the cake here: community members across 100 school districts made 75 formal requests to ban books from lib

As usual, Laura starts out the episode complaining. Neil Young and Joni Mitchell have officially pulled their music off Spotify in response to Joe Rogan's vaccine misinformation. Are we going to leave Spotify? Were you enjoying the early-days-of-the-web feels that came with Wordle? The New York Times has already acquired everyone's favorite word game mere weeks after it gained popularity online. SAY HER NAME: Lauren Smith-Fields went on a Bumble date and was found dead in her apartment the next day. The lack of attention this case got in the early weeks from authorities and media has reignited conversations around how missing and murdered white women will dominate headlines, while similar cases involving women of color are all too often forgotten and ignored. Why wasn't a criminal investigation opened sooner? And we share some of our own anecdotes about dating safety. There's a huge issue with the way TikTok is paying its creators according to Hank Green. In a video posted to his YouTube channel, he deta

Exciting news! We've got a BIG panel this week - Chloe and Micah join us, and by the end of the recording, we decide we're having an emo party in Andrew's house?? More exciting news - #Millennial is on Tiktok! LiveNation announced the When We Were Young festival, tugging the heartstrings of geriatric emo kids everywhere. Will we go? Is it safe? Can everyone crash at Andrew's? In the wake of the hostage situation at the Congregation Beth Israel synagogue in Colleyville, Texas, Chloe and Micah speak to their experiences being Jewish in 2022. Why is antisemitism so pervasive? Jewish people make up 2% of the US population, yet are targeted in 55% of religious hate crimes. In the wake of these atrocities, why aren't more allies speaking up? The perception that Jewish people "rule the world" is alive and well with many people, which perpetuates antisemitism. How do we break this cycle? What can allies do? Speaking up is a great first step! Neil Young is asking Spotify to kick Joe Rogan off its platform over

A new study has found that CBD users have a statistically lower rate of COVID infection. None of us have had COVID... JUST SAYIN' This week, all eyes are on the Senate as it debates voting rights and (likely) filibuster rules. Ghislaine Maxwell, confidant of Jeffrey Epstein, was found guilty of sex trafficking a minor last month. We dig into the latest news about 8 "John Does" named in a 2015 defamation suit against Maxwell. Prince Andrew has also returned his royal patronages and military affiliations to the Queen in light of his affiliation with Epstein and alleged misconduct. The fate of the CW is up in the air as corporate owners ViacomCBS and WarnerMedia are looking to sell the network. Given the strong fanbase of CW's lineup, are we surprised to learn that the network was never profitable? Netflix is hiking its prices again, which forces us to examine exactly how much we watch Netflix these days. The answer? Not much. Be smart, be safe: Apple's new AirTags are being used by some nefarious individu

Welcome back! #Millennial begins its 8th season (Andrew still doesn't like using the term "seasons" for a podcast, but too late now!) What happened while we were gone? Elmo got into a fight with a rock, a new word game took over Twitter, and Betty White died EVEN THOUGH PAM TOLD US SHE'D LIVE TO SEE 2023. #SCANDAL We break down the latest CDC guidance around a shortened quarantine period for those who test positive for covid. In honor of the new year, we've got some resolutions to share... and we want to hear yours! To share your New Year's Resolution with us, click here! With a new year comes new rules: we discuss some of the new laws going into effect locally and nationally. Will Nevada eclipse Iowa and New Hampshire by leading off primary season? Will Pam get used to composting? Do kites present a danger to airplanes? A chartered flight of influencers from Montreal turned into a party bus when flight crew lost control of the cabin due to the rave the passengers were having on board. A woman is caught