The Moment LIVE! Politics & Culture, Explained

Meredith Lynch and Rebecca Sananès are joined by V Spehar of Under the Desk News for a full Iran war update — NATO refused to escort oil ships, Trump asked China for help (China and Iran are allies), TSA agents are quitting mid-shutdown, and an Afghan asylum seeker who aided US Special Forces died in ICE custody less than 24 hours after being detained. Keep your eyes on ICE while the Iran war dominates the headlines. Plus: Meredith and Rebecca break down Louis Theroux's Inside the Manosphere — the teen boys idolizing these creators, the income inequality at the root of it, and what it says about men in 2026. Then the Oscars: Jessie Buckley's historic win, the best documentary speech nobody covered, celebrity political silence, and Conan's jokes rated by a comedian. And: is Tucker Carlson quietly positioning himself for 2028? Rebecca thinks yes — and makes a compelling case. The Moment LIVE is hosted by Meredith Lynch and Rebecca Sananès. New episodes every Tuesday and Friday. LINKS V Spehar Instagram V Spehar YouTube Follow The Moment LIVE YouTube Substack Instagram TikTok CHAPTERS 00:00 St. Patrick's Day, Freud & the Irish Psyche 01:22 Today's Rundown: Oscars, Manosphere, Iran & More 02:09 Oscars 2025: Jessie Buckley Wins, Hamnet & Best Picture Breakdown 05:47 Oscars Politics: Palestine, Celebrity Silence & Best Documentary Speech 10:55 Conan O'Brien's Oscars Jokes Rated 12:52 Inside the Manosphere: Louis Theroux Documentary Clip 15:51 Teen Boys, Toxic Masculinity & the Manosphere's Ripple Effects 23:07 Who Would Play Your Dog in a Movie? Welcoming V Spehar 23:41 Iran War Update: Propaganda, Supreme Leader Rumors & What's Real 26:15 NATO Refuses Trump: No Ships, No Insurance, No Help 30:38 China, Russia & Why Iran's Cheap Missiles Are Winning 34:04 Boots on the Ground: Is the US Heading Into Iraq? 35:28 ICE Detentions, Afghan Ally Dies in Custody & TSA Agents Quitting 42:54 Is Tucker Carlson Running in 2028? + TRL 1999 Is Having a Moment Topics: manosphere explained, Louis Theroux documentary, Oscars 2025, Jessie Buckley, Iran war update, NATO Iran, TSA shutdown, ICE deportations, Tucker Carlson 2028, V Spehar, Under The Desk News, toxic masculinity, current events, politics explained

Is social media actually designed to hook us? And who's legally responsible if it is? Journalist and author Fortesa Latifi joins to break down the landmark Section 230 trial, the dark reality of family vlogger culture, and what influencers told her on the record about monetizing their kids' worst moments. Her book Like, Follow Subscribe: Influencer Kids and the Cost of a Childhood Online is out April 7th. Plus: DOGE staffers couldn't define DEI under oath, because they used ChatGPT to cut over 1,400 humanities grants, including funding for a Holocaust documentary. We break it all down. Also: Iran cyber threats, why Joe Rogan feels betrayed by Trump, and Katherine Heigl's Mar-a-Lago moment. The Moment LIVE is hosted by Meredith Lynch and Rebecca Sananès. New episodes every Tuesday and Friday. LINKS Pre-order Like, Follow, Subscribe: Influencer Kids and the Cost of a Childhood Online, by Fortesa Latifi, out April 7, 2026 Follow The Moment LIVE YouTube Substack Instagram TikTok CHAPTERS 00:00 Cold Open Banter 00:33 Today’s Rundown Preview 01:29 COVID Anniversary Memories 02:04 Patient Zero and Swine Flu 05:14 Iran Cyber and Oscar Threats 07:46 Rogan Feels Betrayed 11:51 Doge Bros and ChatGPT Cuts 13:39 Deposition Clip DEI Confusion 17:58 Katherine Heigl at Mar-a-Lago 21:34 Introducing Fortessa Latif 23:41 COVID Fueled Creator Boom 24:24 Mom Influencers vs Family Vlogs 25:23 Exploitation Backlash and Views 28:26 Adoption and Political Pipelines 32:45 Who Watches and What Comes Next Topics: social media addiction, Section 230, family vloggers, kids and social media, DOGE cuts, ChatGPT in government, Joe Rogan Trump, Iran cyber attack, current events, politics explained

Is the Iran war over, or just beginning? Meredith Lynch and Rebecca Sananès are joined by actress Ashlie Atkinson (The Gilded Age, BlacKkKlansman) and Arkansas congressional candidate Dr. Chris Jones for a wide-ranging conversation on draft talk, the Save America Act, and why the House majority could hinge on a state most people fly over. Plus: why Timothée Chalamet declaring opera dead reveals something nobody's talking about — and what the AIDS crisis has to do with it. News decoded. Headlines dissected. Welcome to The Moment — what you’d get if your smartest group chat turned into a news show. Hosted by Rebecca Sananès and Meredith Lynch, the show brings smart commentary, sharp guests, and the context you need to make sense of the week’s chaos. Come for the internet vibes. Stay for the newsroom chops. New episodes every Tuesday and Friday at 11am ET / 8am PT. Follow The Moment: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheMoment_LIVE Substack: https://themomentshow.substack.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itsthemomentlive TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@themomentislive Credits Host: Rebecca Sananès Host: Meredith Lynch Producer: Vienna DeGiacomo

The news keeps rolling and so does The Moment! Comedian Carolina Montisqueieu is taking the NYC comedy scene by storm, but this morning, she is here to break down everything from Bad Bunny to Bill Clinton. Then Gen-Z icon and Fox News favorite, Hope Walz joins the chat to school our millennial asses on the next generation of the Democratic party and where she stands on matching friendship tattoos, spoiler alert, they are cringe. Need the video and our sources? We don't blame you, get them on our FREE Substack.

Should you show your kids online? What rules should you have in place if your child wants to start a YouTube? What have we learned so far about this mostly uncharted world of child influencing? Fan favorite journalist Fortesa Latifi (Rolling Stone, The Cut, etc) is back on the pod to break it all down. We get into the recent doc Bad Influence: The Dark Side of Kid Influencing to discuss what can go wrong when kids become influencers and what parents should be aware of. Pre-Order Fortesa's book here Follow Fortesa on social Join Meredith's Patreon

Our friends from the Private Equity Stakeholder Project are back to help us unpack what's at stake with the sale of Walgreens to private equity firm Sycamore Partners. Jim Baker, Executive Director of PESP joins us to get into Sycamore's track record and why that brings up concerns for their involvement in Walgreens. We also get into how Trump 2.0 has been responding to private equity and a few wins we have been seeing at the state level. It's an important episode of anyone who has ever needed to go to the pharmacy, so it's an important episode for basically everyone. Follow PESP on Instagram here Subscribe to the Patreon here

First things first, BOSTON we hope you have your tickets to come see us Wednesday, June 25th at Laugh Boston. Tix here! This week on the pod the King of Kansas City is here to discuss all the wild historical things that happened on the day we recorded this. Brace yourselves because it goes from Anne Frank to OJ Simpson FAST. We discuss some of our earliest attempts at being funny (don't cancel us), cursive writing, and the Christmas where every 14-year-old boy got a Structure sweater and a gold chain. AND I uncover why men become cops! PLUS a lil Taylor Swift. Follow Rob! Come see us live June 25th at Laugh Boston! Tix Here!

My cousin in Christ Molly McAleer is in the house to talk about the Revolutionary War, Karen Read, and if anyone is switching cell phone providers in 2025. We get into Turtle Boy, what happened when I discovered the fifth wave of Beatles fans, and I invite Molly to be a city planner. Come see us June 25th and June 26th in Boston! Tix here! Get this full conversation on Pateron. See the playground where it all went down. Follow Mollz

Road trips, cannibalism, and coming to terms with the stories we tell—this week on the pod, I welcome journalist and author E.A. Hanks to talk about her memoir The 10, a powerful deep dive into family, loss, and the messy contradictions of America. We covered everything from growing up with famous parents (yes, those Hanks) to the truths she uncovered while driving the full stretch of Interstate 10. E.A. opens up about writing through trauma, confronting history, and what she found at the intersection of identity, immigration, and myth-making. Spoiler: there’s World War I, evangelical poetry, and a gas station tiger. Obviously. We also talked about the writing process, creative burnout, and how making something real often takes a village. If you’re into memoirs that mix personal storytelling with sharp cultural critique, if you’ve ever lost a parent too young, or if you’ve ever wondered what America looks like when you actually go see it—this one’s for you. The 10 asks big questions about memory, meaning, and what we inherit, and EA was just as thoughtful, funny, and oddly specific as you’d hope. The 10 by EA Hanks Follow E.A. Hanks on Instagram: @EAHanks Learn more about Hardcore History's Blueprint for Armageddon: Dan Carlin's Hardcore History Book recommendation: This Republic of Suffering by Drew Gilpin Faust (on Civil War and grief) Book recommendation: Motherless Daughters by Hope Edelman Podcast: You Must Remember This (for the Manson series mentioned) Meredith’s Patreon Tickets for Boston Live Shows: Laugh Boston June 25 | City Winery June 26 Listen to past Oddly Specific episodes: Apple Podcasts | Spotify

Unions are on the line with the Trump Administration and we need to chat. This week on the pod I welcome Teacher Pay with K, a high school math teacher and president of her local union to discuss all the ways in which these structures support teachers, students, and well everyone. Digressions include my storied high school math career, phones in school, and Pete Davidson, union kid at heart? Come to my live shows!!! May 8th in LA and June 25th in Boston, tix here. Follow Teacher Pay with K on IG and TikTok Subscribe to my Patreon

Once upon a time you would toggle between MTV and VH1 they way we toggle between TikTok and Instagram. While much is said about the impact of MTV there is considerably less about her cool, older cousin VH1. This week on Oddly Specific my friends Emilie Begin and Margaux Poupard from the Old Millennials podcast stop by to talk about their new series that covers everything from Behind the Music to Best Week Ever. Digressions include, AOL, the Century City Mall, and where the hell are kids suppose to hang out?? Follow their podcast Follow Old Millennials on Instagram Follow Emilie and Margaux ALSO come to my live shows all tix are here For more fun, join my Patreon!

With tariffs on the rise and the stock market plummeting it's a precarious time for wallets. Most Americans are looking for deal but are dollar stores the solution or do they cause more pain then they are worth? This week on Oddly Specific Meredith welcomes Kennedy Smith, Senior Researcher at the Institute for Local Self-Reliance whose work on the impact of dollar stores on communities will blow your mind. We also look at some ways cities like Tulsa are curbing the practices of these stores along with what happens when we keep business within our cities and towns. Learn more about Kennedy and the Institute for Local Self-Reliance here! Subscribe to the Patreon Come see us live in LA or Boston

Subscribe to the Patreon Come see us live in LA or Boston Follow my pal Mary Mahoney on Substack and IG The incomparable historian Mary Mahoney (Dolls of Our Lives) is on the pod today to talk all things American Girl, Titanic, and using books as medicine (not in a MAHA way). We unpack how we reflect on national tragedies, the impact of spending your childhood with Greatest Gen grandparents, and why I'm still looking for some justice for my boy Carson Daly. PLUS why were Jane Austen novels labeled as dangerous in the 1800s and how it relates to book banning today.

Mia Chard, a TikTok content creator and mental health advocate joins me for an honest conversation about loneliness, dating, and the impact of social media on relationships. Together we chat about the cultural influences that make us who we are, personal growth, and the importance of authenticity in connecting with others. Mia's story resonates with many who have experienced similar feelings of loneliness and the pressure of societal expectations regarding relationships. Follow Mia Come to the Live Shows!!! LA: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/friends-only-tickets-1278304265469?aff=ebdssbdestsearch Boston: https://lilchuckboston.com/friends-only-live-with-meredith-lynch-molly-mcaleer-and-rob-schulte/

Show Notes: When wildfires, hurricanes, and other billion-dollar disasters strike, private equity firms aren’t just watching—they’re cashing in. From buying up disaster recovery companies to profiting off the fossil fuel investments that fuel climate change, these firms have turned catastrophe into a business model. But how does private equity work, and what exactly do private equity firms do? In this episode of Oddly Specific, we talk to Azani Creeks, senior research and campaign coordinator at the Private Equity Stakeholder Project, to break down the high-stakes world of private equity. From understanding the key differences between Blackstone vs. BlackRock to the ongoing debate of private equity versus investment banking, this episode exposes how these firms extract wealth, consolidate industries, and profit at multiple points in the same crisis. Azani explains how private equity plays a growing role in disaster recovery—both contributing to climate change through fossil fuel investments and cashing in on cleanup efforts. We also discuss private equity’s increasing control over industries like healthcare, housing, and education, and what can be done to push for greater transparency and accountability. Let’s keep the conversation going—follow Oddly Specific and tell a friend to tell a friend about private equity! Chapters and Markers 00:00 Welcome and Announcements 00:21 Live Show Dates and Social Media Workshops 01:35 Introduction to Private Equity Stakeholder Project 03:07 What is Private Equity? 03:55 Blackstone vs. BlackRock 07:41 Private Equity and Climate Disasters 14:42 Private Equity in Disaster Recovery 32:03 Conclusion and Thank You Resources & Links: Live Show - LA May 8: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/friends-only-tickets-1278304265469 Live Show- Boston June 25 & June 26: https://lilchuckboston.com/friends-only-live-with-meredith-lynch-molly-mcaleer-and-rob-schulte/ Sign Up for Social Media Workshops: Email me at meredithcollabs at gmail.com Private Equity Stakeholder Project (PESP): https://pestakeholder.org/ Private Equity Climate Risk Scorecard: https://peclimaterisks.org/2024scorecard/ Hospital Ownership Tracker: https://pestakeholder.org/private-equity-hospital-tracker/ PESP Report on Private Equity in Education & Childcare: https://pestakeholder.org/reports/making-the-grade-private-equity-privatization-and-the-future-of-american-education/ More Perfect Union + Meredith Lynch- When Private Equity Is Your Landlord: https://www.tiktok.com/@moreperfectunion/video/7471033140279053598 Gretchen Morganson’s Book These Are the Plunderers: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/These-Are-the-Plunderers/Gretchen-Morgenson/9781982191290 Meredith: Hi everyone, and welcome back to another episode of Oddly Specific. It's the podcast that covers everything from private equity to Pete Davidson. I'm your host Meredith Lynch, and while I actually do have a private equity episode for you today that I think is incredibly important, and I know you're gonna be interested in, I also have a few announcements. Meredith: Firstly, I have three live show dates. This is a live pod recording that I'm doing with my friends, Molly McAleer and Rob Schulte, and they're fantastic friends and so are all of you, which is why we're calling the show friends only. Meredith: It's an IRL night with your chronically online besties. We have special guests, we have hot takes. So many things that we can only say friends only. Okay, dates. Los Angeles on May 8th. We are at West Side Comedy doing the show and we can't wait to see you there. We have meet and greets available for that. Meredith: And then Boston, we are in your city, June 25th and June 26th at Little Chuck in the theater district. Ticket links are in all the bios of my social media platforms. I will also link them here in the show notes. Would love to see you there and stay tuned 'cause we're working on adding more cities to this little tour. Meredith: Also signups for my next round of social media workshops. That kickoff in late April are officially open. We are doing a Tuesday night and a Friday AM workshop, so shoot me an email if you want additional information on those. These are six week small group sessions that I love doing, and we work on a really personalized approach of how to grow your channels. Meredith: Now let's get into today's episode. This week I have on Azani Creeks, a senior research and campaign coordinator at the Private Equity Stakeholder Project where she has written about private equity's impact on workers, students, incarcerated people, and more. Azani is based in Brooklyn, New York, and if the Private Equity Stakeholder Project sounds familiar to you, it's because they are. They are a nonprofit watchdog organization focused on the growing private equity and broader private funds industry. Meredith: You might remember we've actually had on Azani's colleague, Michael Fenne, talking about veterinary care and prisons and healthcare in prev

Mads Mitch knows a thing or two about going viral on the internet. Her "How hard can it be boys do it" gained a life of its own during the 2024 election season catching the attention of the Harris campaign and spinning off a successful merch line. But there is SO much more that happens behind the scenes of content creation and together we break down what inspires Mads to create, how she navigates the misogyny, and what makes us both true oldest daughters/oldest sisters. Follow Mads Mitch Subscribe to the Patreon!! Buy tix to Friends Only with Molly McAleer and Rob Shulte for LA Buy tix to Friends Only with Molly McAleer and Rob Shulte in Boston Transcript Hey everyone, welcome back to another episode of oddly specific. It's the podcast that covers everything from private equity to Pete Davidson. I'm your host, Meredith Lynch, and I'm thrilled you're here for the intro because I have so many exciting things to tell you. Firstly, I have three live show dates. We are doing a live pod recording, I'm doing it with my friends, Molly Maclear and Rob Schultz, and they're great friends, but so are all of you. And that's why we're calling this show Friends Only, an IRL night with your chronically online besties. We have special guests, we have hot takes, we have so many things that we can only say friends only. So Los Angeles, on May 8th, we are at West Side Comedy doing the show, and Boston, we are in your city on June 25th and June 26th. That's two nights of fun at Little Chuck in the theater district. Ticket link will be in the show notes. The ticket link is in my Instagram bio. We have a few meet and greet tickets available. We would love to see you there and stay tuned because we are working on adding more cities to this little tour. Also. If you want to kick your social media up a notch, I have a few fun workshops and opportunities coming up. This Saturday, March 15th, my friend Stephanie Wilder Taylor and I are doing a workshop specifically for writers who want to grow their social media presence. That's the Saturday, March 15th from 1pm to 3pm PST. I will link that in the show notes. It's also on my Instagram profile linked in the bio. And still there are a few hot seat social media strategy sessions. If you want to grab a 45 minute session with my partner in content crime, Vienna and me, we would love to see you over there. Today's guest is an absolute legend on the apps. Mads Match created the viral phrase, how hard can it be boys do it? The phrase went global, catching the attention of the Harris campaign, launching Mads successful collection of merch and has been a springboard to bringing her empowering message to the world. She is the host of a pod that I love, Parked Car Combos. I loved having her on my pod and I know you will too. Without further ado, let's get Oddly Specific. Hey y'all. Welcome back to another episode of Oddly Specific. I'm your host, Meredith Lynch, and I have a very special guest today. Maddie Madds. I'm calling you Maddie Madds because she signed on and I was like, wait. It says Maddie, not Mads. Yeah, I just love to keep people on their toes. I just am constantly, it's constantly evolving. It's also, on some things, it's Mad, not Mads. Yes! Yeah, it's just a trifecta. It's the holy trinity. Mad, Mads, and Maddie. And you never know which one you're gonna get. But, today, I can be Maddie Mads. That's fine. I like it. Mad Dog. Well, welcome to the podcast. Yeah, I wear a lot of hats. Yeah. I'm really excited that you're here. I've been following your social media journey for so long now and I am so excited to get into what you have done, what you're up to, what's in the future. But first and foremost, You, like me, are not only an East Coast girl, because, listen, you guys, I'm just gonna talk, I want to talk about this for a second. Here in LA, Maddie, when I tell people that I moved here from the East Coast, Mm hmm. Their immediate thought is that I came here from New York. And so, like, it will be like, I'll be like, Oh, well, I moved here from the East Coast, like, four years ago. And they'll be like, Oh, New York. And I'm like, Uh, actually, no, Massachusetts. The light just, it just dims in their eyes. Like, I have fucking disappointed them. Like, like, like, I swear to God, people, people are like, Oh, you're, you, you're from there? I thought that's just a place that people went on field trips to. I'm like, no, no, no, no, no. People, people actually live there. Um. They do live there. And it's actually a great state all around. Look at the statistics, people. It's an honor. So you, did you grow up in Massachusetts? Mm hmm. Born and raised. Okay. What do you think makes being from Massachusetts? Or like Boston area because your Boston area so different than being from New York And like I know you're not gonna say like just sports teams, which is why I love you Yeah, which is it is part of it It I think growing up in like the tom brady era of new england instilled like a mass

I have got my friend and NYT bestseller Stefanie Wilder-Taylor is in the house for a FUN bonus episode. We talk about our bad ex-boyfriends, Stefanie's career in tv including working in reality tv, quitting drinking, and how this bad b changed my life before I even met her. PLUS we spill on an opportunity to work with us later this month. Follow Stefanie! Take our workshop, sign up here! Subscribe to the Patreon

This week we welcome our pop culture king Blakely Thornton to the pod to talk about Kimberly Noel's Criminal Justice Era. We discuss how the Kardashians have evolved, Kim's journey from Paris Hilton's closet to the White House, and of course a few moments with Kris. Together we unpack how celebrities impact social issues and the nearly impossible task of fixing deep problems in the justice system. Check out the episode on Private Equity in prisons with Bianca Tylek Follow Blakely!! on ig Follow Blakely!! on TikTok Join the Patreon and never miss the tea! Meredith Lynch (00:01) Hi everyone and welcome back to another episode of Oddly Specific. I'm your host, Meredith Lynch. And this is like kind of a groundbreaking episode y'all because I have billed this podcast as the only podcast that covers everything from private equity to Pete Davidson. And a lot of you have reached out and said, Meredith, you've never had an episode where you have ever mentioned Pete Davidson. And they would be right. But today I think we're gonna get Pete Davidson adjacent. I am so excited for this guest. Y'all are going to freak out. Y'all are going to say, Meredith, what if Oddly Specific was just hosted by this person and you just went away? And I would say, listen, I'm open to it. Blakely Thornton, welcome. Thank you. Thank you for being here. How are you doing? Blakely Thornton (00:41) Hello, thank you. Thank you. Welcome. Doing well, just got over the flu. We're good, but I feel human today. My body temperature is regulating as previously discussed and I'm ready to talk P.E. and Kimberly Noel, you know? Meredith Lynch (00:59) I love it, I'm so excited. Isn't it wild when you get sick as an adult too? Because you kind of forget, like when I was a kid, I would just throw up all the time. Blakely Thornton (01:09) Yeah. I just think you forget when like it sucks. Like I think because the primary directive as a child when you miss when you when you get sick is missing school or like getting to watch some TV. But it's like when you're an adult and you work for yourself and there's actually also like no one taking care of you specifically like I have to like go get the medicine feeling like this. There's just no purpose and also like sick days if we're just skipping work and like going to basketball games or like Meredith Lynch (01:20) RAID! Thanks. Blakely Thornton (01:38) They're like taking your vacation, you know, they're not for actually being ill. Meredith Lynch (01:42) Yes, exactly. When you were a little Blakely and you are homesick from school, what was the show of choice, the daytime show of choice? Blakely Thornton (01:51) I think it was a little Matlock. We'd have like a Matlock pizza party like the old school like I don't even know what that man's name was. But like that old white haired KFC like Colonel Sanders looking white man that Matlock and like a Domino's pizza, even though like I don't know why I think Domino's was better in the in 90s before now. But I remember Domino's pizza tasting really good. So Domino's, Matlock, Sally, Jesse Raphael on occasion. Yes, daytime smut. Meredith Lynch (02:17) Well, yes. Daytime smart. used to really like Lisa. There was a show called Lisa. Yeah, that was my girl. And I also really, you know, I was that was how I got into Jerry Springer originally was I think a lot of us via sick days. Blakely Thornton (02:23) Yeah, Lisa Gibbons. Right? I was actually thinking of like, I was actually talking to my friend the other day about like, need to bring back those shows to like rehabilitate like maga men. Like remember how you should like take kids away to those camps? Just like needs to be that but for like straight men with podcasts, like, oh, you have a podcast? You've never read a book? Oh no, you're going, you're going, know, we take them like to libraries. Meredith Lynch (02:56) my god, like the intros would be like, I don't care what my job says, I'm never getting vaccinated. Blakely Thornton (03:00) Yeah. I'm an alpha. I don't deal with we need more alphas. And it's like you don't have a job, Rob. You have a high school diploma and unemployment like like that. Like get go to library, read a book. Meredith Lynch (03:08) Right? my God, I love this. How do we pitch this? Anyway, I love this. I love what you do. And I would love if you could just sort of explain, you know, how you got to where you are because you are this sought after creator, speaker. You're an incredible host. You call yourself a pop culture anthropologist, which I love. And I would love to know what that means to you. Blakely Thornton (03:33) Yes. I just think we are in an attention based economy and there is no longer higher low culture. Like someone yesterday asked me, are you finding it hard to be interested in pop culture and music and fashion when we're like in a fascism right now? And I'm like, no, because it's all connected and we're actually currently a country run by a bankrupt game show host. like those thi

Fresh off the Eagles win I'm joined by journalist and New York Times best selling author Jo Piazza for a conversation about tradwives, mom influencers, and our changing media landscape. We dig into Jo's own stint as a mom influencer, her writing process, and the economy of internet content creation. Jo will be back for a special book club episode of her forthcoming book, Everyone Is Lying To You, pre-order it here. Follow Jo on social! Subscribe to my Patreon!

Since time immemorial we have documented our families lives, but over the years birth announcements have evolved from placing a note in the newspaper (we used to do that!!) to filming pregnancy announcements for your family vlog channel in a Target bathroom. But does family vlogging blur the lines on our children's privacy? What are the long term implications of making your daughter's first period into content? This week I welcome Fortesa Latifi, a journalist who is currently writing a book about family vloggers and influencer children for Simon & Schuster. She's written for places like Rolling Stone, The New York Times, and The Washington Post, among so many others. I think you will learn a lot about family vlogging culture in this insightful conversation. Follow Fortesa Read her latest piece for The Cut on MTV's Teen Mom Watch Tay and Kay at your own risk! IN MY OPINION!

What's the deal with TikTok? No seriously, what's the deal with it? This week I invite on social strategist and friend of the pod Vienna DeGiacomo from Good Story Branding to unpack the latest on the TikTok ban. We get into our predictions for the future of the app and what platforms and strategies we are recommending and implementing ourselves. It's a candid conversation on all the behind the scenes of content creation that unfortunately is often gatekept. If you're a creator, brand, or just creator curious this episode is for you! Follow Vienna: https://www.instagram.com/goodstorybranding/ Email Meredith to learn more about her workshops and consults, [email protected]

Welcome to 2025 and welcome back to Oddly Specific. This week we welcome Dr. JonPaul Higgins, Ed.D. Dr. JonPaul is an award winning educator, professor, national speaker, freelance journalist, thought leader and media critic who examines the intersections of identity, gender and race in entertainment. They share their experience growing up Jehovah Witness, and their path to leaving. We also spend time chatting about their upcoming book, Black Fat Femme: How to Love Yourself by Unveiling the Power of Visibly Queer Voices. We also discuss the challenges of inclusion and representation in the creative industry, and what might be done to move the needle. Plus who is actually moving it. And for good measure we spend some time discussing Goop! Follow Dr. JonPaul on Instagram Pre-order their book

Private Equity be damned! We need to talk about Christmas sometimes. Meredith welcomes Jenny Chalikian and Erin Judge to the pod this week to discuss their fantastic new comedy album (take that PETE DAVIDSON!!) and their monthly show at LA hot spot The Ripped Bodice. We then get to the meat of an unspoken Christmas tinged beef that Jenny and I have had without even knowing it. It takes us from the heart of Medford Square, to the California Gold Rush, to the southern streets of Savannah Georgia. You'll be laughing all the way, until you learn the truth about a beloved Christmas carol. Follow Erin: https://www.instagram.com/iamerinjudge/ Follow Jenny: https://www.instagram.com/jchalikian/ Buy the album: https://www.blondemedicine.com/bm139-romantic-comedy Learn the real story behind Jingle Bells https://www.bu.edu/articles/2016/jingle-bells-history/

Pets! If you don't have one you probably know one. In this episode of my podcast, I sit down with Michael Fenne from the Private Equity Stakeholder Project to unpack the growing trend of private equity in veterinary practices—how it affects costs, quality of care, and the future of independent vets. PLUS Michael breaks down what the upcoming Trump administration could mean for private equity regulations. Follow PESP https://www.instagram.com/pestakeholder/ Read Michael Fenne's research on PE in vet care, https://pestakeholder.org/news/antitrust-enforcement-and-consolidation-in-veterinary-medicine/ JAB holdings and Senators Warren and Blumenthal https://www.warren.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/warren_blumenthal_letter_to_jab_holdings_re_veterinary_clinics.pdf https://www.jabholco.com/documents/6/JAB_Letter_to_Sens__Warren_and_Blumenthal.pdf Also referenced: https://www.axios.com/2024/11/04/private-equity-preps-veterinary-merger https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/senate-bill/4804/text https://pocan.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/pocan-warren-lead-lawmakers-renewed-push-stop-private-equity-looting

It's a two for here at Oddly Specific, first my friend Rob Schulte of Vanderpump Robs joins us to discuss his new podcast about Laguna Beach, a Crocs ban that's SWEEPING the nation (read: 12 schools), and how despite limited internet access Rob and I both knew that weird rumor about Gwen Stefani and Moby in middle school. Then we welcome on Bianca Tylek, Founder and CEO of Worth Rises a leading organization dedicated to dismantling the prison industry. They discuss the $80 billion prison system, the exploitation of incarcerated individuals, and the push and progress for free communication in prison. Bianca shares her insights on how private equity firms profit from incarceration and the innovative strategies Worth Rises employs to challenge these practices. Follow Rob! Follow Worth Rises Listen to Rob's pod Check out Worth Rises, https://worthrises.org/

In this episode of Oddly Specific, I’m joined by fan favorite Kiki Monique, aka The Talk of Shame, to discuss the notorious Menendez brothers case. We explore the trial's historical context, the media's portrayal of Lyle and Erik, and the complexities of abuse and crime. Together, we delve into the justice system's role in their case, recent developments regarding their potential resentencing, and what their story reveals about broader societal issues. Kiki shares her insights on media influence, and the next steps of the case as the brothers await potential resentencing. Don't forget to follow the show and our lovely guest, https://www.tiktok.com/@thetalkofshame https://www.instagram.com/thetalkofshame

In this episode of Oddly Specific, I welcome personal stylist Jamie Lewis, founder of JBL Styles. We dive into Jamie's journey from luxury fashion to personal styling, discussing the challenges she faced while building her business during COVID-19 and the realities of entrepreneurship. Jamie shares valuable insights on common wardrobe mistakes, the pros and cons of fast fashion, and the importance of strategic shopping. We also explore post-COVID fashion trends and the significance of the 'third piece' in outfits, along with recommendations for both affordable and luxury brands. In the words of Michael Kors in the aughts of Project Runway, LIGHTEN UP, IT'S JUST FASHION!! Follow Jamie, https://www.instagram.com/jbl.styles/ https://www.tiktok.com/@jbl.styles Subscribe to the Patreon and support the next chapter of Oddly Specific xo https://www.patreon.com/MeredithLynch

There is something about New York Mayor Eric Adams. On this episode of Oddly Specific, Meredith is joined by the iconic Kiki Monique aka The Talk of Shame to delve into the complexities surrounding New York Mayor Eric Adams. They explore his background, political ambitions, and the controversies that have arisen during his tenure, including his recent indictments. The conversation also touches on cultural differences between New York and LA, the culinary landscape, and the nature of political corruption. Kiki shares her insights on the legal processes involved in indictments and the implications for Adams' future in politics. Follow Kiki!! https://www.instagram.com/thetalkofshame/?hl=en https://www.tiktok.com/@thetalkofshame?lang=en Watch the video Eric Adams made that will change your brain chemistry: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sk2Wc4Y5CxE

In this episode, I’m joined by Massachusetts Senator Ed Markey to address a crisis that’s been weighing heavily on my mind—how private equity is wreaking havoc on our healthcare system. We’ll explore the fallout from the collapse of Steward Healthcare, a private equity-backed hospital chain that’s left thousands of Massachusetts residents without essential care. Senator Markey and I discuss the heartbreaking stories of staff and patients caught in the crossfire, the urgent need for legislative action, and how Steward CEO Ralph de la Torre is evading Congress amid growing scrutiny. This is a conversation you won’t want to miss. Follow Senator Markey Hear the Steward Testimony from Ellen MacInnis Subscribe to the Patreon!

If you have ever watched tv Nell Scovell has made you laugh. The creator of Sabrina the Teenage Witch (TGIF HIVE!), and writer on The Simpsons, Late Night with David Letterman, Charmed, and SO many more Nell paved the way for women breaking into the male dominated world of Hollywood. This week on the pod Nell joins us to discuss her hilarious and honest memoir, Just the Funny Parts that chronicles her experiences in Hollywood, her best writing tips (you need these trust me! I needed them trust me!), and why Donald Trump (rarely) lands a good joke. Meredith Constant joins in on the fun for this special episode of Oddly Specific. Follow Nell, https://www.threads.net/@nellsco6 Buy Just The Funny Parts https://www.amazon.com/Just-Funny-Parts-Sneaking-Hollywood/dp/0062473484 Follow Meredith https://www.tiktok.com/@meredithconstant https://www.instagram.com/meredithconstant

You know Billie Lee from her breakout role in the hit Bravo tv series Vandepump Rules, but there is so much more to her than what you saw on the screen. Billie joins me today to chat about her fantastic new book, Why Are You So Sensitive? Navigating Everyday, Unintended Microaggressions. We discuss what microaggressions are and Billie shares how they impacted her experience in the reality tv world. We also admit to making them ourselves, because they happen, and how we can all do better to take accountability and call ourselves and others in. Digressions include the behind the scenes of being a woman in comedy, school yard bullies, and the Century City Mall. Billie's book is available for pre-order here Please make sure you follow Billie on social AND if you like this episode drop us a review, and as always don't forget to tell a friend to tell a friend about Oddly Specific!

Once upon a time Bob Costas arrived at the Olympic bright eyed and bushy tailed only to be faced with the reality of an eye infection that launched a million Facebook posts. We have Meredith Constant in the house to chat all things Bob, Blake Lively, and bad Royal Family PR. Digressions include the Medford Boat Club, Tim Walz, and Texas politics. We will be back real soon with a private equity episode but in the meantime enjoy two Merediths making it happen. Please consider leaving a review for the pod! Thank you for listening XOXOX Meredith Follow Meredith!! https://www.instagram.com/meredithconstant/ https://www.tiktok.com/@meredithconstant

It's a bonus episode at Oddly Specific with comedian Juli Polise. A Jersey princess by birth and LA queen by choice Juli is making her own damn box (Thomas Markle) in the HollyWEIRD comedy scene. Learn about life with a famous influncer mom, why I'm envious of her First Holy Communion fit, and why you should come see us THIS Saturday, August 17th at the Crow in Santa Monica. Buy tix to Laughaholics!! Follow Juli on TikTok and IG Juli

Once upon a time 55 land owning white guys decided how our country was going to vote and it wasn't a great plan. This week on Oddly Specific we welcome Kristin Foster and Jaylon Lambert from Get Loud Arkansas on to the podcast to talk about voting access in Arkansas and how their state has valuable lessons we should all be listening to. Digressions include, my Dad's fear of data mining (VALID), Jessica Simpson: Child Breadwinner, and would James Madison been allowed to rent a car? Linking ya up with: Donate to Get Loud Arksansas Follow Get Loud Arkansas Subscribe to the Patreon for more! Sources: https://pluralpolicy.com/blog/new-voting-laws-2024/ History of the Constitution https://www.carnegie.org/our-work/article/voting-rights-timeline/

One of the questions I often get is, what can we do to push back against private equity? My guest this week Brendan Ballou has more than a few concrete ideas. We discuss his book Plunder: Private Equity's Plan to Pillage America, the PE nursing home crisis, the waiver I had to get to pass college math, and SO much more. Follow Brendan on X Buy Plunder: Private Equity's Plan to Pillage America https://www.chicagobooth.edu/review/when-private-equity-takes-over-nursing-homes-mortality-rates-jump Follow my YouTube! Subscribe to the Patreon for exclusive bonus content!

There are two things that are hot this summer, the concerning temperatures bearing down on the United States, and the WNBA. Both things many have tried to tell you about for years. This week on a surprise drop of Oddly Specific I welcome Shanteona Keys, a WNBA analyst, and host of my new favorite podcast Genuinely Curious. We chat alllll things WNBA, the Olympic selection, the Cailtin Clark of it all, and sound off on the fantastic fashion that is happening. We will be back in about a week with a new private equity drop, in the meantime tell a friend to tell a friend about Oddly Specific! Follow Shanteona Keys https://www.instagram.com/shanteonakeys/?hl=en https://www.instagram.com/thegenuinelycuriouspodcast/ https://open.spotify.com/show/5dgdo5U6QXOs397Cismyow Video of Caitlin Clark and Aliyah Boston https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHRTEReGvHY

This is one for the ages, first I welcome Carrie Sun who worked in private equity and wrote the most compelling memoir about her experience. It's Devil Where's Prada meets Succession and we contemplate if unlimited yoga pants are worth not knowing peace. If you're dealing with burnout at work I think you will get a lot from this conversation. THEN we have Van from the Best Week Ever Podcast who joins me to discuss my first social media obsession, MYSPACE! It was a place for music, pretty advanced coding, and ranking your friends in a way that was pretty much guaranteed to make someone cry. Rate! Subscribe! Tell a friend to tell a friend about Oddly Specific. Carrie Sun Follow Van Celebrity MySpaces Justin Timberlake MySpace King

Ok you little ROCK lobsters, you asked for a Red Lobster private equity deep dive and you're getting it. I welcome journalist Amy McCarthy (eater.com) who gives us a fantastic download on pe in fast casual dining and the future of Red Lobster. I then welcome media critic and fellow Meredith, Meredith Constant to get oddly specific with the series premier of Sabrina the Teenage Witch. Digressions include, Hockey East, Candle in the Wind, and justice for Salem the cat. As always please subscribe, rate, and tell a friend to tell a friend about Oddly Specific! Follow Amy! Follow Meredith Constant! https://www.eater.com/24160929/red-lobster-bankruptcy-endless-shrimp-closing-locations https://vimeo.com/305827196 https://variety.com/1996/tv/reviews/sabrina-the-teenage-witch-1200446685/

We're back! Libraries, we love them, we need them, so why are they the source of so much debate? We welcome Huntington Beach City Councilor Rhonda Bolton to discuss the book censorship that is upending their library and the move to potentially privatize the library services to a private equity backed company. Then we welcome stand up comedian and writer Katy Flaherty @katyflahertycomin to get Oddly Specific about my favorite episode of the 1990 Scholastic Productions classic The Babysitters Club: Claudia and the Mystery of the Secret Passageway. https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/libraries/article/94699-proposed-changes-to-huntington-beach-public-library-draw-opposition.html https://www.latimes.com/socal/daily-pilot/news/story/2024-02-21/huntington-beach-city-council-votes-against-item-seeking-transparency-in-childrens-book-restriction https://inthepublicinterest.org/when-public-libraries-become-private-who-will-support-them/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MowsRIFdC90

Oh my goodness, oh my goodness! This week we have Senator Elizabeth Warren talking all things private equity in particular the role of PE in healthcare facilities, it's an important conversation you won't want to miss. Then we welcome Laura Tretter (American Girl Women) for a LIVELY conversation about the musical Annie and an oddly specific series of events from the late 90s. We also contemplate if Miss Hannigan was just a misunderstood girl boss. As always, thank you for listening and tell a friend to tell a friend about Private Equity!! Lawmakers zero in on private equity in health care amid Steward troubles What happens with private equity takes over a hospital? Turning Point: The Search for Annie Statement on Joanna's Firing

Join TikTok sensation Meredith Lynch for the first episode of Oddly Specific! We welcome Michael Fenne (Private Equity Stakeholder Project) to give us a crash course on why we need to care about private equity. Later we are joined by Christina Catucci to discuss why John Mayer is perhaps just as dangerous as corporate greed. Notice the pod is ad free? Subscribe to the Patreon and help us keep it that way. Follow Christina Catucci on TikTok and Instagram Private Equity Stakeholder Project Is your hospital owned by PE? Senator Warren letter to Wellpath From Dawn to Dusk Zine Justice for Jessica

Oddly Specific is your new pop culture podcast hosted by TikTok sensation Meredith Lynch. Covering everything from climate change to the Kardashians, you won't want to miss a moment of Oddly Specific.