326 episodes

Join Rachelle Hampton and Candice Lim twice a week as we gaze deep into the online abyss—and tell you what’s gazing back.

ICYMI Slate Podcasts

    • News
    • 4.0 • 580 Ratings

Listen on Apple Podcasts
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Join Rachelle Hampton and Candice Lim twice a week as we gaze deep into the online abyss—and tell you what’s gazing back.

Listen on Apple Podcasts
Requires subscription and macOS 11.4 or higher

    How a Chinese Glycine Manufacturer Took Over TikTok

    How a Chinese Glycine Manufacturer Took Over TikTok

    On today’s episode, Rachelle and Candice answer listener questions about the rapid rise of Donghua Jinlong, a Chinese company that manufactures glycine. Over the past few weeks, paradoxically deadpan and impassioned videos about the high quality of Donghua Jinlong’s products have taken over TikTok. Are teens actually consuming industrial grade chemicals? Or is something even weirder happening?
    This podcast is produced by Se’era Spragley Ricks, Daisy Rosario, Candice Lim and Rachelle Hampton.
    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    • 47 min
    Ann Maddox on Scandoval, Reddit and Grief

    Ann Maddox on Scandoval, Reddit and Grief

    Candice Lim is joined by We Signed An NDA co-host Ann Maddox, who you may know as Tom Sandoval’s former personal assistant. In March 2023, Maddox was teaching improv to a middle school in Japan when she found out Sandoval and his then-girlfriend Ariana Madix had split. At first, Maddox assumed this was simply routine tabloid fodder, which often plagued her employers as long-time cast members on Vanderpump Rules. But one specific photograph made her realize the rumors were true, which escalated into one of 2023’s biggest online watercooler moments: “Scandoval.” Maddox joins the show to discuss how she got into this line of work, what she knew when Scandoval went down, and what it’s like to have your personal and professional life dissected online.
    This podcast is produced by Se’era Spragley Ricks, Daisy Rosario, Candice Lim and Rachelle Hampton.
    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    • 35 min
    What “Quiet on Set” Leaves Out

    What “Quiet on Set” Leaves Out

    Candice Lim is joined by Slate culture writer Nadira Goffe to discuss their takeaways from Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV, a documentary series that details the toxic work environment, child abuse and disturbing events that occurred on the set of creator Dan Schneider’s shows. Schneider was the mind behind some of Nickelodeon's most-watched programming including All That, The Amanda Show and iCarly. But several dark truths were unearthed following the arrest of two child predators who worked on his sets, along with accusations of gender discrimination, sexual harassment and alleged sexual behavior by Schneider himself. Following the docuseries’ release, former child actors have used social media to make statements and speak about their experiences on Nickelodeon sets. But has the internet’s reaction from both viewers and former child actors helped or hurt the purpose and aim of the docuseries itself?
    This podcast is produced by Se’era Spragley Ricks, Daisy Rosario, Candice Lim and Rachelle Hampton with production assistance by Jared Downing.
    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    • 50 min
    What Next: TBD: Google’s Scam Obituary Problem

    What Next: TBD: Google’s Scam Obituary Problem

    Why scam obituaries are edging out earnest ones, with the help of artificial intelligence and an adept Google game.
    Guest: Mia Sato, reporter for The Verge.
    Want more What Next TBD? Subscribe to Slate Plus to access ad-free listening to the whole What Next family and across all your favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts by clicking “Try Free” at the top of our show page. Sign up now at slate.com/whatnextplus to get access wherever you listen.
    Podcast production by Evan Campbell, Patrick Fort, and Anna Phillips.
    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    • 28 min
    The Rise of Vine Star Casey Frey

    The Rise of Vine Star Casey Frey

    Candice Lim and Rachelle Hampton dive into the internet history of Casey Frey, a dancer, comedian and internet icon who recently appeared on a Twitter-trending episode of Abbott Elementary. Frey was a Vine star who managed to transfer his audience to YouTube and Instagram, where he posted his most popular video in 2019. It found a second life during the pandemic when stuck-at-home fans made parodies and deep analyses, but it reminded the internet of Frey’s impact on late-2010s internet comedy and the nonsensical nature of his undeniable talent.
    This podcast is produced by Se’era Spragley Ricks, Daisy Rosario, Candice Lim and Rachelle Hampton.
    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    • 47 min
    Rebecca Jennings on NYT Connections and Selling Out

    Rebecca Jennings on NYT Connections and Selling Out

    On today’s Internet Diary, Rachelle is joined by Rebecca Jennings, Vox’s senior correspondent covering social platforms and the creator economy. The two discuss Jennings’ recent pieces on why everyone loves NYT Connections and how self-promotion became the internet’s lingua franca.
    This podcast is produced by Se’era Spragley Ricks, Daisy Rosario, Candice Lim and Rachelle Hampton.
    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    • 37 min

Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5
580 Ratings

580 Ratings

PoppyPodcastListener ,

Not good like it used to be

I started listening to this show 15 months ago, when I found it really informative and with interesting takes on deep internet culture I don’t always know about. But it’s gone really down hill in the last 6 months. The hosts spend too much time making up obscure inside joke stories about each other, and it’s turned into more of a pop culture gossip show with no clear POV. Sadly, I’ll probably give up on this one soon.

Pischina ,

Great interviewer

Really enjoyed the interview with Ann Maddox.

notafanofnewlineup ,

No sources

I understand that a lot of this show is based on the hosts opinions. I don’t mind that, and I think Rachelle is really thoughtful. I think they should include sources in the show notes when they reference an article/news piece. I went to find out more on a topic they covered and the facts that they sighted were inaccurate (like enough that the conclusion they came to should have been…the opposite.) Yikes 😬

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