That's a Thing?!

Karen Unland and Elizabeth Spencer

A sometimes belated, already outdated guide to your teens, tweens and everything under 20. In each episode, Elizabeth, a teenager, explains a thing to Karen, her mother. And Karen tells Elizabeth how that thing relates to something she knows. Maybe.

  1. 2022-03-01

    Well, that was a thing

    Here are some of the things we mentioned: We launched in December 2017, when Elizabeth was 15Y2K fashion is back?Zine cultureLilly Singh went from relatable YouTuber to out of touch late show hostThe painful “Gen Z slang” SNL skitDavid Foot and Douglas Coupland contributed to a hyper-awareness of generationStyleLikeU interview with an elder gay couple to start you offContent notice: mentions of sex, homophobia, addiction and violenceBut it’s really sweet we promise 3Harold Innis and Marshall McLuhan – still pretty helpful guys for understanding what’s going onIf you aren’t sold on wrestling, watch these videosYou can find Karen’s work at Taproot Edmonton and Taproot PublishingShout-out to our colleagues at the Alberta Podcast NetworkThe first pages of Elizabeth’s comic projectYou might hear us some time on I Don’t Get ItWe recommend Transistor for hosting and Castria for editingMany thanks to our sponsors: BGCBigsVirtual Open House Season from Edmonton Public SchoolsThat's a Thing?! is a proud member of the Alberta Podcast Network. Locally grown. Community supported. We’re done now, but you can still email us at thatsathingyeg@gmail.com or tweet at us: @thatsathingyeg. Do you want a That’s a Thing?! button? Send us your address by Twitter DM or email and we will send you one.  Our theme music is Ragtime Dance by Scott Joplin, from Free Music Archive.

    1h 19m

  2. 2022-02-01

    CensorSHIP

    Here are some of the things we mentioned in this episode:   Susan Sontag’s Notes On “Camp”Or a six-minute explainer if you don’t have the timeThe shortcomings of CinemaSinsThe even-shorter-comings of Nostalgia CriticAbout KiwiFarms, one of the most unpleasant sites on the surface webInterview with the creator of Leave Britney AloneA case study for toxic anti-fandom behaviour: gamergateCallback to a long-ago episode where we talked about shippingA look at both sides of the shipping warAnd a look at the history of purity culture in fandomTwitter thread on disinterpretation And a video on Ship of Theseus The history of the “touch grass” memeTennessee school board bans Holocaust comic 'Maus' by Art SpiegelmanA more sympathetic analysis of Why the Curtains are BlueFortunately, we have entered a boom period for criticism online. Here are five excellent videos expanding on what we discussed this episode. we need to talk about Call Me By Your Name by Lola SebastianShould you let Gen Z "save us"? Youth Liberation explained by Khadija Mbowe and Saint AndrewismIgnorance & Censorship by Philosophy TubeOutsiders: How To Adapt H.P. Lovecraft In the 21st Century by hbomberguyWho’s Afraid of Modern Art: Vandalism, Video Games, and Fascism by Jacob GellerMany thanks to our sponsors: BGCBigsVirtual Open House Season from Edmonton Public SchoolsThat's a Thing?! is a proud member of the Alberta Podcast Network — Locally grown. Community supported. You can follow us in all the places, and most of them let you rate and review, too, which would be lovely. Questions? Comments? Email us at thatsathingyeg@gmail.com or tweet at us: @thatsathingyeg. Do you want a That’s a Thing?! button? Send us your address by Twitter DM or email and we will send you one.  Many thanks to Transistor for hosting our show. Our theme music is Ragtime Dance by Scott Joplin, from Free Music Archive.

    57 min

  3. 2022-01-01

    New ways to own and be owned

    Here are some of the things we mentioned in this episode: We are not actually an NFT RobloxWatch these videos from PeopleMakeGames on Roblox:Investigation: How Roblox Is Exploiting Young Game DevelopersRoblox Pressured Us to Delete Our Video. So We Dug Deeper.Gig economyCallback to our MLM episode: Have I got a deal for you?Company scrip Roblox on the stock market Wattpad’s deal with Paramount+Archive of Our Own (AO3)Callback to our fan fiction episode: Episode 5: FanfictionaryOpenSea, an NFT marketplaceEthereumTwitter account dedicated to sniffing out art theftDeviantArtExample of the right-click movement against NFT artFUDSome more anti-NFT content for youThe NFT NightmareNFTs Are Getting Worse. Like WAY Worse.Dan Olson’s NFT scam megathreadlaughing at crypto bros, a deceptively educational livestreamMany thanks to our sponsors: Alberta Association of OptometristsPark PowerThat's a Thing?! is a proud member of the Alberta Podcast Network — Locally grown. Community supported. You can follow us in all the places, and most of them let you rate and review, too, which would be lovely. Questions? Comments? Email us at thatsathingyeg@gmail.com or tweet at us: @thatsathingyeg. Do you want a That’s a Thing?! button? Send us your address by Twitter DM or email and we will send you one.  Many thanks to Transistor for hosting our show. Our theme music is Ragtime Dance by Scott Joplin, from Free Music Archive.

    1h 2m

  4. 2021-12-02

    Conzoomerism

    Here are some of the things we talk about or at least gesture at in this episode: How Bad Can I Be from The Lorax (2012) (in case you forget what a thneed is)Shein’s about us pageShein’s social responsibility pageReuters article about Shein’s lack of disclosureVox article on SheinCallback to our MLM episode (though Shein’s not an MLM)Articles of Interest episode on knockoffsA TikTok featuring the strawberry dressCallback to our cottagecore episodeThe Bangladesh garment factory collapseThe pet-pictures-for-trees fiascoSome anti-Shein TikTokshttps://www.tiktok.com/@ssiiena/video/6993034600368884997?is_copy_url=1&is_from_webapp=v1&q=thrift%20shein&t=1638234869380 https://www.tiktok.com/@milkbite/video/6997215512925097221?is_copy_url=1&is_from_webapp=v1&q=thrift%20shein&t=1638234869380 https://www.tiktok.com/@haleyivers/video/6972647481569971462?is_copy_url=1&is_from_webapp=v1&q=thrift%20shein&t=1638234869380 https://www.tiktok.com/@maddypageknitwear/video/6977324167226084613?is_copy_url=1&is_from_webapp=v1&q=thrift%20shein&t=1638234869380 https://www.tiktok.com/@cuteshitbylili/video/6952699186299047174?is_copy_url=1&is_from_webapp=v1&q=thrift%20shein&t=1638234869380 The Sam Vimes "Boots" Theory of Economic Injustice, per Terry PratchettIt’s Expensive to Be Poor, by Barbara EhrenreichCora Harrington has a very balanced approach to affordability, sustainability and careEdmonton RepairathonClothes DoctorFashion RevolutionMany thanks to our sponsors: Edmonton Community Foundation, partner on the Vital Signs report on Making Ends Meet in EdmontonPark PowerThat's a Thing?! is a proud member of the Alberta Podcast Network — Locally grown. Community-supported.  You can follow us in all the places, and most of them let you rate and review, too, which would be lovely. Questions? Comments? Email us at thatsathingyeg@gmail.com or tweet at us: @thatsathingyeg. Do you want a That’s a Thing?! button? Send us your address by Twitter DM or email and we will send you one.  Many thanks to Transistor for hosting our show. Our theme music is Ragtime Dance by Scott Joplin, from Free Music Archive.

    1h 4m

  5. 2021-10-28

    Poltergeist schmoltergeist

    For more fears and jeers, consider the following: Callback to our episode on InsideCallback to our episode on analog horrorA needlessly thorough Wikipedia synopsis A list of other Bechdel Test passing moviesBathtubs Over Broadway and the consequences of comedy damageCheck out Nyx Fears if you want to be upset/fascinated by scary movies A thread on the pitfalls of smarty pants protagonistsIf you didn’t watch Contingency after last episode, go watch it now!Pauline Kael was even harsher to this movie than Elizabeth wasThe rating debatePoltergeist was fine, but here’s some movies we actively recommendThe Cabinet of Doctor Caligari (1920, 100% mom safe)What We Do in the Shadows (2014, comedic gore/violence)The Lighthouse (2019, gore/violence/sexual content/psychological horror)House on Haunted Hill (1959, campy and delightful)Night of the Living Dead (1968, gory and violent, mitigated by its age and budget)The Girl with all the Gifts (2016, violent and gory, but strangely uplifting)Music is Now or Never by Myuu, who is a fantastic royalty-free composerSound clips from our special feature courtesy of:Joe DeShonpfranzen gear_clinkzowly-beeMany thanks to our sponsors: Alberta Association of OptometristsAPN itself, in particular Speaking Municipally and I Love This, You Should TooThat's a Thing?! is a proud member of the Alberta Podcast Network: Locally grown. Community supported.  You can follow us in all the places, and most of them let you rate and review, too, which would be lovely. Questions? Comments? Email us at thatsathingyeg@gmail.com or tweet at us: @thatsathingyeg. Do you want a That’s a Thing?! button? Send us your address by Twitter DM or email and we will send you one.  Many thanks to Transistor for hosting our show. Our theme music is Ragtime Dance by Scott Joplin, from Free Music Archive.

    1h 19m

  6. 2021-10-01

    Bury me in analog

    Here are some of the things we mentioned in this episode: Black Mirror, a crowning jewel of “phones bad” cinemaVCR versus VHS, a distinction that was lost on ElizabethLand of the Giants episode on the iPhoneThe TV Tropes page on Analog HorrorAidan’s analog horror videoAn analysis of Lovecraft’s Eldritch HorrorAnd some more analysis The SCP foundation Local 58Mothman, the best boyRemember Professor Kitzel?Public/Community access TVThe Walten Files Episode 1(NOT “The Waltons”, no matter what autocorrect says)The deeply unsettling jumpscare face a la screamers How the original FNAF uses sound to terrifyBen Drowned, the story of a haunted game cartridgeCassette, an early Welcome to Night Vale episodeAn important message from Omega MartMakeshift StoriesAn episode of Paranormal Paranoids (complete with earwormy theme song)The Power of VHS by hbomberguyThe cinematic potential of cave artControl, Anatomy and the Legacy of the Haunted House by Jacob GellerTsukumogami and MokumokurenDo not adjust your podcast feed because next month we’ll be tuning in to another piece of art with opinions about technology, Steven Spielberg and Tobe Hooper’s PG powerhouse, Poltergeist. Many thanks to our sponsors: Edmonton Community Foundation, presenting sponsor of YEGPodfest Alberta Association of OptometristsAlso, if you live in Edmonton and are listening to this before Oct. 18, 2021, fill out the Taproot Survey.   That's a Thing?! is a proud member of the Alberta Podcast Network — Locally grown. Community supported. (Shout-out to fellow member I Love This, You Should Too!)  You can follow us in all the places, and most of them let you rate and review, too, which would be lovely. Questions? Comments? Email us at thatsathingyeg@gmail.com or tweet at us: @thatsathingyeg. Do you want a That’s a Thing?! button? Send us your address by Twitter DM or email and we will send you one.  Many thanks to Transistor for hosting our show. Our theme music is Ragtime Dance by Scott Joplin, from Free Music Archive.

    1h 14m

  7. 2021-09-01

    POV: You're listening to a podcast

    Here are some of the things we mentioned in this episode: Elizabeth’s choose-your-own-adventure flowchartLip-sync style@noahjaywood@saramariecarstens@arxcelixOne- or two-part cliffhanger@jezellecatherine@baileyspinn@joe_masini@devincaherlyOne-shot or character pieces@ianboggz@hannah.montoyaLongform or fully acted@eliana_ghen@thechrisbarnettCallback to our fanfic episodeNight is the show we watched at a drive-in performance (the bird poop on the windshield was our fault, not theirs)Sarah Z video on pick-me girlsOrigin of Love from Hedwig and the Angry InchCallback to our astrology episode ABO (don’t Google it, says Jon) Time Princess and Project MakeoverRedecor EpisodeMany thanks to our sponsors: Alberta Association of OptometristsThe Well Endowed Podcast from the Edmonton Community Foundation That's a Thing?! is a proud member of the Alberta Podcast Network — Locally grown. Community supported. You can follow us in all the places, and most of them let you rate and review, too, which would be lovely. Questions? Comments? Email us at thatsathingyeg@gmail.com or tweet at us: @thatsathingyeg. Do you want a That’s a Thing?! button? Send us your address by Twitter DM or email and we will send you one.  Many thanks to Transistor for hosting our show. Our theme music is Ragtime Dance by Scott Joplin, from Free Music Archive.

    1h 2m

  8. 2021-08-01

    Watch out! Beware! Buy this!

    Here are some of the things we mentioned in this episode: Flare on TikTok and InstagramMom Friend on TikTokThe best slash proof bags can cost $169, and still might not meet your standardsSafetyDrip on TikTokThe Sarah Everard storyThe quest to de-hair the female body continuesThis episode is not brought to you by Creep-B-Gone, because we would never (and it doesn’t exist… yet). Many thanks to our actual sponsors: Alberta Association of OptometristsPod Power shout-out to What’s the Tsismis?, courtesy of the Edmonton Community Foundation   That's a Thing?! is a proud member of the Alberta Podcast Network — Locally grown. Community supported. You can follow us in all the places, and most of them let you rate and review, too, which would be lovely. Questions? Comments? Email us at thatsathingyeg@gmail.com or tweet at us: @thatsathingyeg. Do you want a That’s a Thing?! button? Send us your address by Twitter DM or email and we will send you one.  Many thanks to Transistor for hosting our show. Our theme music is Ragtime Dance by Scott Joplin, from Free Music Archive.

    1h 3m
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Trailer

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About

A sometimes belated, already outdated guide to your teens, tweens and everything under 20. In each episode, Elizabeth, a teenager, explains a thing to Karen, her mother. And Karen tells Elizabeth how that thing relates to something she knows. Maybe.

Information

  • Creator
    Karen Unland and Elizabeth Spencer
  • Years Active
    2017 - 2022
  • Episodes
    52
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2019 Unland Media Consulting Inc.
  • Show Website
    That's a Thing?!