Culture Changers with Allison Hare

Allison Hare

Culture Changers is a smart, irreverent look at what’s shaping the culture and how we shape it back. Unfiltered conversations about power, cults, politics, money, microtrends, pop culture, technology, faith, and being human in this moment. Could you actually change the world? Listen - I know your group chats are unhinged. The world around us is chaotic. The group chat is unhinged. The headlines are exhausting. So let’s figure out how to get through it. Culture Changers is a smart, funny, and unapologetically honest podcast about what’s shaping our culture right now and what we’re doing about it. Think pop culture as the entry point, with real conversations underneath about power, money, politics, religion, technology, identity, influence, and human behavior. I’m Allison Hare, an award-winning podcast host and strategist behind some of the world’s top-performing shows. This podcast is where I bring curiosity, humor, and sharp instincts to the cultural moments we’re all reacting to but rarely get to unpack out loud. We use pop culture as the mirror. The shows we binge. The headlines we can’t ignore. The microtrends, scandals, shifts, and systems shaping how we think, vote, buy, believe, and show up. Hot takes are welcome here. So is nuance. It’s a space for smart, irreverent conversations that make you laugh first and think deeper right after. No toxic positivity. No performative outrage. Just real talk about real power and how to use it well. Every episode is designed to help you understand the cultural moment more clearly and feel more grounded inside it. You’ll leave with perspective, language for the conversations you’re already having, and ideas you can actually apply in your own life, leadership, and community. Culture Changers is about agency. We don't sit back and bury our heads in the sand. Oh no. We shape it with our voices, choices, attention, and actions, whether we mean to or not. If you care about what’s happening in the world, love a sharp point of view, and want conversations that are equal parts entertaining and meaningful, press play. Let’s f*ck shit up together!

  1. Breaking News is Breaking Us w/Brooke Baldwin, formerly of CNN

    3D AGO

    Breaking News is Breaking Us w/Brooke Baldwin, formerly of CNN

    Ever wonder what really goes down behind the scenes in American journalism, and what it costs to speak your truth? Recently I sat down with powerhouse journalist THE AMAZING Brooke Baldwin: Emmy-nominated former CNN anchor, bestselling author, and creator of the viral Substack, Unraveling. Together, we get straight into the seismic shifts ripping through newsrooms and society right now, from the headline-grabbing arrest of Don Lemon (she goes OFF on this!) and the future of independent journalism, to the toxic aftermath of power dynamics in the media. Brooke brings her signature compassion and grit, sharing unfiltered stories about healing after her unceremonious CNN exit, reclaiming her voice, and what it actually means to cover humanity at the breakneck pace of breaking news. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by the daily news cycle, struggled to find trustworthy sources, or wondered how to make a difference when it feels risky, this episode is for you. We talk about nervous system overload, why media literacy matters, and the messy, beautiful process of personal and cultural unraveling. This conversation isn’t afraid to call out BS, laugh through the chaos, and empower you to find connection in the middle of it all. We talk about: Don Lemon’s Arrest and Freedom of the PressThe Evolution and Future of News NetworksHumanity-Centered Storytelling in Breaking NewsMisogyny and Power Dynamics in MediaPersonal Identity, Rebirth, and HealingNavigating Media Trust and MisinformationSelf-Compassion, Resilience, and ConnectionTimestamps: 00:00 Don Lemon Arrested04:28 Rebuilding and Rediscovering Purpose07:49 Humanity in Fast-Paced Journalism12:31 Defining Moment: Finding My Voice14:07 Destined for Greater Purpose18:04 Kaitlin Collins: journalism21:46 Lessons from Leaving CNN24:03 Trust, Safety, and Politics27:34 Social Media: Break or Stay?34:42 Balancing News and Wellbeing41:23 Listening to Your Higher Self44:50 Gratitude for Vulnerability and ConnectionRather watch on YouTube? https://youtu.be/jKCFj70dUgU —--------------------------------------------------------- To Connect With Brooke: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brooke_baldwin/?hl=en Substack: https://unravelingwithbrooke.substack.com/ To Connect With Me: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allison__hare LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allisonhare/ Website: https://allisonhare.com Free Clarity Call with Allison: https://allisonhare.com/freecall   Be sure to rate, review, and follow this podcast on your player and also, connect with me IRL for more goodness and life-changing stuff. Schedule a FREE podcast clarity call with me - Your future audience is out there. Talk to them!Sign up for the free weekly emailAllisonHare.comFollow me on Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, and YouTube.DOWNLOAD the free podcast equipment guide- No guesswork, no google rabbit holes, start recording todayReb3l Dance Fitness - Try it at home! Free month with this link.Feedback and Contact:: allison@allisonhare.com

    51 min
  2. Channel that crazy energy better with Josh Pais

    JAN 29

    Channel that crazy energy better with Josh Pais

    Ever wish you could flip your anxiety, stress, or even full-on rage into superpowers? That’s exactly what we’re unpacking in this episode of Culture Changers with the wildly insightful Josh Pais, actor, New York Times bestselling author of Lose Your Mind: The Path to Creative Invincibility, and the guy who literally played Raphael in the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles! I get vulnerable about what it feels like to live with a fried nervous system and nagging self-doubt, and Josh takes us on a journey to transform those so-called bad emotions into fuel for creativity, confidence, and genuine presence. We talk about why the self-help industry’s obsession with feeling better often keeps us stuck (spoiler: your mind can be a real a*****e), and how welcoming every messy feeling, no matter how uncomfortable, can be your gateway to creative invincibility. Josh shares radical, body-centered strategies you can use on the spot, including his four access points to shift from mental drama to full-body aliveness. If you’re over toxic positivity, exhausted by faking it, or just want to stop fighting yourself, this one’s for you. We get vulnerable, irreverent, and, dare I say, pretty damn actionable. In this episode we get into: Embracing all emotions without judgmentTransforming anxiety and stress into creative fuelThe harm of suppressing feelingsThe self-help industry's narrativeThe myth of good and bad emotionsAuthenticity and removing the emotional maskPlayfulness and creativity as healing toolsNotable Quotables: “As the breath decreases, the shit talk increases.” (17:29)“Anxiety is just an energetic pattern.” (15:16)“Ride it, don’t hide it.” (30:41)“Everybody’s mind is mean.” (15:38)“When there’s truth, you can’t look away.” (39:24)Timestamps: 0:00 Channeling emotional energy4:00 Processing heavy moments in real time11:00 Why emotions aren’t good or bad15:00 Anxiety as energy19:00 Feeling emotions in the body24:00 Turning nervousness into fuel30:00 Why suppression backfires38:00 Truth, trust, and presence45:00 Playfulness and creativityResources & Links Mentioned: Lose Your Mind: The Path to Creative Invincibility by Josh Paishttps://committedimpulse.comhttps://www.instagram.com/joshpaishttps://www.instagram.com/allison__harehttps://www.linkedin.com/in/allisonhare/https://allisonhare.comBook a free clarity call: https://allisonhare.com/freecall Be sure to rate, review, and follow this podcast on your player and also, connect with me IRL for more goodness and life-changing stuff. Schedule a FREE podcast clarity call with me - Your future audience is out there. Talk to them!Sign up for the free weekly emailAllisonHare.comFollow me on Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, and YouTube.DOWNLOAD the free podcast equipment guide- No guesswork, no google rabbit holes, start recording todayReb3l Dance Fitness - Try it at home! Free month with this link.Feedback and Contact:: allison@allisonhare.com

    50 min
  3. Is Everything A Cult? Amanda Montell Unpacks Our Obsession.

    JAN 22

    Is Everything A Cult? Amanda Montell Unpacks Our Obsession.

    Is everything a cult? Or are we just finally noticing how belief actually works? This conversation cracked something open for me around why we get pulled into certain ideas, identities, and systems and why leaving them can feel way harder than joining. I’m sitting down with Amanda Montell, whose work sits at the intersection of cult psychology, language, and cultural influence. We talk about how words shape belief, how cognitive biases sneak into everyday life, and why so many of us are obsessed with cult stories right now. Fair warning: after this episode, you may start seeing cultish dynamics everywhere. Amanda is a linguist, New York Times bestselling author, and the voice behind Sounds Like a Cult and Magical Overthinkers. She has a rare gift for making complex psychological ideas feel accessible, funny, and deeply human without making anyone feel stupid for falling for them. In this episode, we talk about:: Why we’re so captivated by cult stories and what we’re actually looking forHow language influences belief systems more than facts doWhat “thought-terminating clichés” sound like in real lifeWhy smart people stay in systems they’ve outgrownHow the sunk cost fallacy shows up in careers, relationships, and identityWhen something crosses from harmless into “watch your back”Why pop culture, wellness, and even work can feel culty without looking extremeTimestamps: 0:00 Is everything a cult?2:45 Why we’re obsessed with cult stories6:30 How language pulls us in10:00 What cult psychology actually looks like16:00 When the word ‘cult’ helps or hurts26:30 Thought-terminating clichés explained37:45 Sunk cost fallacy and reinvention41:00 Lightning round: harmless vs culty45:00 Final takeawaysKey Takeaways: Cult psychology relies more on language than logicCognitive biases reward familiarity over truthLeaving a belief system is often harder than joining one and that’s normalDig Deeper into Amanda Montell's world: Podcasts: Sounds Like a Cult, Magical OverthinkersBooks: Wordslut, Cultish, The Age of Magical Overthinking Follow Amanda on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amanda_montellGet into Allison Hare's world and be a culture changer: Book a free podcast clarity call: https://allisonhare.com/freecall For info on joining the podcast coaching cohort, send an email: allison@allisonhare.com   Be sure to rate, review, and follow this podcast on your player and also, connect with me IRL for more goodness and life-changing stuff. Schedule a FREE podcast clarity call with me - Your future audience is out there. Talk to them!Sign up for the free weekly emailAllisonHare.comFollow me on Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, and YouTube.DOWNLOAD the free podcast equipment guide- No guesswork, no google rabbit holes, start recording todayReb3l Dance Fitness - Try it at home! Free month with this link.Feedback and Contact:: allison@allisonhare.com

    51 min
  4. "I've Had It" Podcast: Review! Humor, Rage, and the Power of Point of View

    JAN 15

    "I've Had It" Podcast: Review! Humor, Rage, and the Power of Point of View

    Welcome back, Culture Changers! In this episode, I’m breaking down the runaway hit, "I've Had It" podcast, as part of a new series, Pod Phenom Playbook where I break down some of the top podcasts. If you’ve ever wondered why certain podcasts blow up and become cultural juggernauts seemingly overnight, this episode digs into the structure, psychology, and stickiness that make a show impossible to ignore. I break down how best friends Jennifer Welch and Angie “Pumps” Sullivan catapulted "I've Had It" to the top 0.01% of global podcasts with their unfiltered, outrageously funny, and profoundly political take on modern grievances. This review explains how their bold, often shocking language, political savvy, and unique in-group vernacular have created a loyal, outspoken fanbase. You’ll learn about their meteoric rise, why their unapologetic progressive stance and visceral humor resonate in today’s media landscape, and how their approach can empower everyday listeners to find their own voice and point of view. We discuss: Podcast Growth and Virality FactorsStructure and Psychology of Popular PodcastsOutrage, Humor, and Political CommentaryPoint of View vs. Playing It SafeIn-group Language and StickinessProfanity, Nicknames, and Emotional ReleaseEmpowerment Through Honest Cultural AnalysisTimestamps: 00:00 Pod Phenom Playbook06:45 Creating In-Group Language08:37 Podcast Blending Politics and Community11:40 Nicknames, Insults, and Impact15:04 Media Overload and Frustration19:34 Protesting and the 3.5% Rule22:27 Understanding Divided Perspectives24:34 The Power of Perspective28:17 Breaking Status Quo TogetherRather watch on YouTube? Links & Resources Mentioned: I’ve Had It PodcastIHIP NewsKara Swisher podcast interview with Jennifer WelchRolling Stone coverageNew York Times feature on Jennifer WelchCulture Changers Podmail: culturechangerspodmail.com (submit your favorite pod shows for me to review)Want your podcast to be amazing? Book a free clarity call here: https://allisonhare.com/freecall Be sure to rate, review, and follow this podcast on your player and also, connect with me IRL for more goodness and life-changing stuff. Schedule a FREE podcast clarity call with me - Your future audience is out there. Talk to them!Sign up for the free weekly emailAllisonHare.comFollow me on Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, and YouTube.DOWNLOAD the free podcast equipment guide- No guesswork, no google rabbit holes, start recording todayReb3l Dance Fitness - Try it at home! Free month with this link.Feedback and Contact:: allison@allisonhare.com

    31 min
  5. Are you being radicalized by the news? Your aunt Peggy thinks so

    JAN 8

    Are you being radicalized by the news? Your aunt Peggy thinks so

    Something big is shifting in how we get our news, and you can feel it in your body. You want to stay informed, but you also kind of want to throw your phone across the room. I asked a simple question on Facebook. Where do you get your news? What came back wasn’t a list of outlets. It was a list of survival strategies. And once I started digging into the data, it became very clear why so many smart, thoughtful people feel unsettled right now. This episode is about where Americans get their news, why trust feels so shaky, and what’s actually changing beneath the surface as we head into 2026. We are talking about: Why almost no one trusts a single news source anymoreHow social media officially replaced TV as the main way Americans get newsWhy independent journalists and news influencers are explodingWhat’s really happening with political polarization and platform trustThe influence of AI and DeepfakesHow to stay informed without burning yourself out or getting dupedKey Timestamps: 0:38 Are you being radicalized by the news?1:35 What people actually said when asked where they get news3:51 Social media overtakes TV as the main news source7:41 Why mainstream news feels like WWE12:01 Personality trust vs platform trust14:36 Video platforms as the new TV18:58 The rise of independent journalists22:35 Why newsletters and community matter25:04 Why local news still has an edge27:26 Political affiliation and platform behavior28:29 Flooding the zone and source confusion33:25 Why conversations change cultureLinks and Resources: Schedule a free podcast clarity call with me Allison's IG: https://instagram.com/allison__hare Be sure to rate, review, and follow this podcast on your player and also, connect with me IRL for more goodness and life-changing stuff. Schedule a FREE podcast clarity call with me - Your future audience is out there. Talk to them!Sign up for the free weekly emailAllisonHare.comFollow me on Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, and YouTube.DOWNLOAD the free podcast equipment guide- No guesswork, no google rabbit holes, start recording todayReb3l Dance Fitness - Try it at home! Free month with this link.Feedback and Contact:: allison@allisonhare.com

    39 min
  6. Culture Changers Is Back! Why It Matters Now

    JAN 1

    Culture Changers Is Back! Why It Matters Now

    Something big is shifting, and you can feel it. I’ve spent the last year stripping things down, walking away from what looked good on paper, and telling the truth about what actually works, what doesn’t, and what I refuse to carry into 2026. This episode is me coming back home to Culture Changers and explaining why I left, what broke, and what finally clicked. No polish. No performance. Just clarity, courage, and a mic. If you’ve ever felt like you outgrew something you built, this one’s for you. In this episode, I talk about: Why I’ve renamed this show five times (UGH!) and what that taught meHow pop culture reflects our values, fears, and blind spotsThe moment I realized I was abandoning myself for “success” (Alignment over Approval)Why self-help culture stopped working for meWhat Culture Changers is becoming next and how you’re part of itRather watch on Youtube? https://youtu.be/ukcjGrrQtbo Links + Resources MentionedEmail the show (What pods do you love or love to hate? for Pod Phenom Playbook): culturechangerspod@gmail.com NOTABLE QUOTABLES:“I didn’t want to take Reinvention Room into the new year.” (01:04)“I was abandoning myself in service of commercial success.” (08:11)“I’m so deeply sick of self-help.” (26:06)“I’ve created such a wall around me.” (40:45)“How do we ground down on what is true when so much is uncertain?” (46:14)KEY TIMESTAMPS0:00 Why Culture Changers exists1:04 Why I ended Reinvention Room3:20 The origin story of the show8:05 The identity crisis moment12:52 Why podcast conferences broke my confidence20:06 Why reinvention stopped working26:06 Why self-help culture lost me31:15 Anxiety, control, and truth38:10 The friendship realization46:14 What this podcast is actually for56:08 Pop culture as empathy58:30 Pod Phenom Playbook explained3 TIPS / TAKEAWAYSIf you can’t explain what you do clearly, something is misalignedPop culture isn’t fluff. It’s a mirrorWhen things feel heavy, honesty creates momentum Be sure to rate, review, and follow this podcast on your player and also, connect with me IRL for more goodness and life-changing stuff. Schedule a FREE podcast clarity call with me - Your future audience is out there. Talk to them!Sign up for the free weekly emailAllisonHare.comFollow me on Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, and YouTube.DOWNLOAD the free podcast equipment guide- No guesswork, no google rabbit holes, start recording todayReb3l Dance Fitness - Try it at home! Free month with this link.Feedback and Contact:: allison@allisonhare.com

    1h 1m
  7. What is happening to Christianity in America?

    12/04/2025

    What is happening to Christianity in America?

    Christianity has taken on a totally different meaning these days.. It is in the oversized cross necklaces, the trad-wife hair, the school board fights, the subtle “illegal aliens vs immigrants” language, and the way a MAGA hat or a Pride flag can tell people your entire belief system before you say a word. In this episode, I pull together the data, the history, and my own messy spiritual story to ask whether we’re slipping into a full-blown religious dystopia or just finally seeing what was there all along. We’ll talk about why Christian fundamentalism feels more mainstream than ever, why so many of us are “Cafeteria Christians” or spiritual but not religious, and why Gen Z is both walking away from church and walking right back in through a different door. You will not walk away from this one neutral. In this episode, you’ll hear: How Christian nationalism and partisan politics got so tangled up you can’t tell where one ends and the other startsWhy Christianity has dropped to around 62% of Americans while the “nones” and spiritual-but-not-religious crowd keep risingThe two emerging “Americas”: the remixers (Cafeteria Christians, astrology, crystals, human design) and the revivalists (fundamentalism, trad-wife aesthetics, purity culture)What Gen Z is actually doing with faith, and why some young adults are returning to church for structure while others are done with institutions for goodHow thought-terminating clichés like “God works in mysterious ways” and “everything happens for a reason” shut down real emotions and critical thinkingWhy belief in Satan, demons, and “spiritual warfare” is dropping overall, even as some conservative spaces turn it into a 24/7 fear channelThe difference between inherited faith and adult reality, and how to spot when “community” is tipping into control or culty dynamicsWhat it might look like to be human first and let belief and identity come second, without abandoning the possibility of God altogetherTimestamps: 00:00 Welcome to the Reinvention Room + why this one will piss people off or make you feel seen02:28 Christian fundamentalism goes mainstream and hides inside politics05:50 Growing up Protestant, “born-again” neighbors, and never feeling Christian enough16:51 Mega-churches, mentors, and trying to find a faith home that isn’t culty23:51 The long hair, oversized crosses, trad-wife aesthetic, and what they’re signaling30:54 Deep research: declining Christianity, rising “nones,” and spiritual-but-not-religious trends35:42 Crystals, tarot, human design and why the metaphysical often feels more helpful than church40:08 Thought-terminating clichés and how they shut down real emotion and questions51:13 Spiritual warfare, “the enemy,” and why demon talk feels like an abusive boyfriend53:18 Christian nationalism, school boards, book bans, and politics dressed up as religion58:23 Trump, media bubbles, and trying to stay human first in mixed-politics families1:09:57 Burnout, belonging, and why everyone’s exhausted and spiritually unsettled1:21:10 “Why are you letting assholes get in the way of your relationship with God?”1:23:30 Are we already in a religious dystopia, and what happens next?Links & Resources Mentioned: Previous episode: Psychology of How Minds Change with David McRaney (on why people double down or actually shift) Previous episode: Dr. Jay Van Bavel on social identity and tribal brains: EP108: Social identities My weekly personal email: https://allisonhare.com/email Work with me on your podcast: https://allisonhare.com/freecall Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allison__hare LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allisonhare/ Website: https://allisonhare.com Notable Quotables: [00:02:28] “Christian fundamentalism has gone from really kind of a fringe thing to totally mainstream. But now it’s wrapped in politics.”[00:03:35] “Meanwhile, most Americans are building their own version of faith from scraps, like a cafeteria Christian.”[00:33:18] “It really made me wonder, are people ditching belief, or are they ditching institutions?”[00:40:08] “These phrases don’t comfort people. They shut off critical thought and shut down your actual feelings.”[01:21:10] “Why are you letting assholes get in the way of your relationship with God?”3 Top Takeaways: Belonging often beats belief. People will choose social safety and their group over “getting the theology right,” especially when everything feels uncertain. Two spiritual Americas are forming. Remix spirituality (Cafeteria Christians, crystals, human design) is growing at the same time as Christian nationalism and fundamentalism push for legal power. PRRI+3Pew Research Center+3Pew Research Center+3 You’re allowed to question. One of the healthiest spiritual moves you can make is asking, “Can I doubt here without being punished?” If the answer is no, that’s a data point. Be sure to rate, review, and follow this podcast on your player and also, connect with me IRL for more goodness and life-changing stuff. Schedule a FREE podcast clarity call with me - Your future audience is out there. Talk to them!Sign up for the free weekly emailAllisonHare.comFollow me on Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, and YouTube.DOWNLOAD the free podcast equipment guide- No guesswork, no google rabbit holes, start recording todayReb3l Dance Fitness - Try it at home! Free month with this link.Feedback and Contact:: allison@allisonhare.com

    1h 28m

Trailers

4.9
out of 5
101 Ratings

About

Culture Changers is a smart, irreverent look at what’s shaping the culture and how we shape it back. Unfiltered conversations about power, cults, politics, money, microtrends, pop culture, technology, faith, and being human in this moment. Could you actually change the world? Listen - I know your group chats are unhinged. The world around us is chaotic. The group chat is unhinged. The headlines are exhausting. So let’s figure out how to get through it. Culture Changers is a smart, funny, and unapologetically honest podcast about what’s shaping our culture right now and what we’re doing about it. Think pop culture as the entry point, with real conversations underneath about power, money, politics, religion, technology, identity, influence, and human behavior. I’m Allison Hare, an award-winning podcast host and strategist behind some of the world’s top-performing shows. This podcast is where I bring curiosity, humor, and sharp instincts to the cultural moments we’re all reacting to but rarely get to unpack out loud. We use pop culture as the mirror. The shows we binge. The headlines we can’t ignore. The microtrends, scandals, shifts, and systems shaping how we think, vote, buy, believe, and show up. Hot takes are welcome here. So is nuance. It’s a space for smart, irreverent conversations that make you laugh first and think deeper right after. No toxic positivity. No performative outrage. Just real talk about real power and how to use it well. Every episode is designed to help you understand the cultural moment more clearly and feel more grounded inside it. You’ll leave with perspective, language for the conversations you’re already having, and ideas you can actually apply in your own life, leadership, and community. Culture Changers is about agency. We don't sit back and bury our heads in the sand. Oh no. We shape it with our voices, choices, attention, and actions, whether we mean to or not. If you care about what’s happening in the world, love a sharp point of view, and want conversations that are equal parts entertaining and meaningful, press play. Let’s f*ck shit up together!

You Might Also Like