Be There in Five Kate Kennedy

This week, Kate is joined by Hannah Berner, comedian and host of the popular podcasts Giggly Squad and Berner Phone, and the star of her new Netflix special, We Ride at Dawn. Broadcasting from a studio in NYC, Kate asks about her trajectory since reality TV, the flawless burnt amber matching set outfit choice, navigating the male-dominated stand-up scene, and the importance of centering niche female humor in mainstream spaces. They also discuss the pressure women face in their 30s, the ever-present dilemma of having kids, and how Hannah feels that tennis is now an aesthetic, among other things. Enjoy!

This week, Kate's joined by two friends of the pod, Sami Sage (Betches Co-Founder) and Emily Amick (@emilyinyourphone) about their book Democracy in Retrograde (released 7/9). The discussion focuses on how to spark civic engagement amid increased societal polarization, challenges in public civic life, the importance of making civic duties enjoyable, and how digital lives influence political participation. From pivotal issues like minority rule to voter suppression, Sami and Emily offer practical advice and their real-life experience to help us all feel a little better about being more civics-minded and involved. Enjoy!

This week, Kate is deep-diving into America's Sweethearts, a docu-series about the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, which recently debuted on the heels of a canceled reality show Kate had a love/hate relationship with (but watched for 16 seasons): Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders: Making The Team.

Victoria's interview starts at ~57:00
For video, check back on YouTube later this week (if we can get the video fixed) or head to Kate's Patreon where we'll upload what we have and share more bonus/cut footage! patreon.com/bethereinfive

In the first hour, Kate reviews the docuseries solo and gives her lukewarm takes about their choice to give up production control, her deep-seated fear of Kelli McGonagill Finglass, the immense talent of the women and impressive legacy of the brand, and DCC being the last frontier of a place that seems to openly discriminates based on body type while asking you to do the most and get paid the least. Additionally, the challenges of professional cheerleading, including mental health struggles, relationship dynamics, body image pressures, compensation issues, and the support systems necessary for the harassment they're vulnerable to.

In the second hour, Kate is honored to be joined by one of the stars of the docuseries, former 4-year veteran Victoria Kalina, who captivated audiences with her candor about the challenges of a life spent chasing the DCC dream and what navigating sisterhood, mental health, and body image really looks like behind the scenes. She answers all your questions, from who she keeps in touch with, who was really invited to her Tiktok party, the infamous twin bed, the final meeting with Kelli and Judy, finding purpose in sharing about her mental health, the pressure involved with being a legacy, while sharing what she's up to now that she's chosen to build a legacy for herself. Enjoy!

This week, we’ve got a highly anticipated podcast crossover—Jac Vanek, Becca Tobin, and Keltie Knight from LadyGang join Be There in Five! The discussion journeys through their early days of rebranding (IYKYK) to classic millennial nostalgia and the not-so-hidden issues that accompanied some of our favorite pastimes. They discuss dance culture's economic and cultural challenges, the problematic nature of early internet culture (looking at you, AIM chat rooms), and interactions with celebrities from red carpets to IRL sightings. Enjoy!

This week, Kate is answering listener voicemails, like dishing on the culinary delight of buffalo chicken wraps while exploring the dynamics of grilled vs. breaded chicken. Then, she discusses how she thinks people conflate data about screen time overuse with general screen time use and rants about not buying into the “mom guilt.” She also delves into hot pop culture topics, including Taylor Swift's chart strategies against artists like Billie Eilish and Charli XCX, and revisits Olivia Rodrigo’s song “The Grudge.” She also discusses the new “It girls” of pop, like Chappell Roan, Sabrina Carpenter, and Renee Rapp, and finishes answering a question about her plans for Teddy to have siblings. Enjoy!

03:18 Musings of a Buffalo Chicken Wrap Enthusiast

05:14 I don't care what I'm getting; I demand breading

16:21 Screen Time and Parenting

38:11 New Pop "It Girls" - Renee Rapp, Chapelle Roan, Sabrina Carpenter

53:07 Charli XCX and the Taylor Swift Chart Controversy

01:30:57 Personal Reflections: Siblings and Parenthood

This week, Kate critiques the stagnant nature of traditional Father's Day gift guides and compares them to the rapidly changing trends for women like “office siren,” which leads her to snorkel through the current male microtrend: having a “rat boy summer” or taking on a “rodent boyfriend.” She also discusses how aggressive the gals on TikTok are getting about items being on sale and reflects upon why she’s being followed by a product called Bovine colostrum. Then, after a detour about irreverent bumper stickers, she formally responds to a clip she heard on New Heights where some of the Kelce’s takes about D-COMs were just plain D-wrong, and provides a framework involving DCOM cinema that will help you determine if you’re an old or young millennial. She also talks about TV ratings and how naive we can be about what we think is popular versus what’s truly mainstream and complains about the Curse of Oak Island doing the least but getting the most ratings relative to ladies like the Housewives whose lives implode on television for meager hype. The conversation also touches on reproductive rights, the volume of IVF-related news this week, and, lastly, celebrates millennial dads breaking traditional molds amid reflections on her own motherhood journey. Kate wraps up by inviting audience feedback for the podcast's future direction in a shifting industry landscape. Can you tell this was AI-generated? Enjoy!

00:37 The Eternal Struggle of Men's Gift Guides

04:06 Micro Trends and Aesthetics for Women

08:35 The Rise of 'Rat Boy Summer' and Male Aesthetics

11:16 The Impact of TikTok Ads and Shopping Trends

30:05 Nostalgic Dive into Disney Channel Original Movies

36:24 Millennial Disney Channel Divides

37:28 High School Musical: A Cultural Shift

44:00 Bumper Stickers That Must Be Stopped

48:09 The Curse of Oak Island: A TV Phenomenon

49:05 TV Ratings and Reality Shows

54:21 Diving into Reproductive Rights

55:50 Navigating Infertility and IVF

01:16:59 The Reality of Parenting and Partnerships

01:17:26 Celebrating Millennial Dads

01:29:13 Podcast Future and Listener Feedback