Power User with Taylor Lorenz

3.8 (131)
TECHNOLOGY
UPDATED WEEKLY

Power User explores how technology and the internet are upending our lives and the world around us. Each week, tech journalist Taylor Lorenz explores everything from online fame to emerging platforms, viral phenomena to the creator economy, and much more. Tune in on Thursdays for the most influential stories that Silicon Valley often ignores. From the Vox Media Podcast Network.

1 HR. AGO

Could the 4B movement ever happen in America?

Are women abstaining from sex to protest Donald Trump’s re-election? That’s the impression you’d get if you spent time reading the media over the past few weeks. Since the election, the “4B Movement” has been gaining traction online. But where did it come from, how does it work, and could something like this really take off in America? The Cut’s EJ Dickson joins Taylor to discuss. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

16 min
NOV 14

Why Democrats won't create a left-wing Joe Rogan

Since the election, Democrats and the media have been in panic mode, trying to figure out “the manosphere.” It’s a vast network of influencers, podcasters and streamers who speak to young men in a way traditional media has failed to. Many of its personalities are Trump supporters, including Joe Rogan. The left has been asking itself how it can win back young men without radicalizing them further. Is there a left-wing Joe Rogan? To help crack the manosphere, Taylor talks to Josh Citarella, host of the podcast “Doomscroll.” He’s been studying the radicalization of young men online for a decade. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

27 min
NOV 7

AI’s destroying seasonal content

This year, pumpkin spice lattes are being served with a side of AI slop. Autumn vistas generated by artificial intelligence tools are clogging up Pinterest and Instagram. Taylor talks to Vox’s senior correspondent Rebecca Jennings about how AI is warping our perspective of what nature actually looks like. They also discuss Rebecca's recent reporting on “The cultural power of the anti-woke tech bro" and “The Carrie Bradshaws of TikTok." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

28 min
OCT 31

The mastermind behind the Timothée Chalamet lookalike contest

Anthony Po is a creative genius who has a knack for organizing viral events in New York. This past weekend, he was responsible for a Timothée Chalamet lookalike contest attended by the actor himself. In April, he went viral after he assembled a crowd to watch him eat an entire jug of cheeseballs in the disguise as “Cheese Ball Man.” He's infiltrated a cult, hosted a dating show, faked an alien invasion and more. Taylor talks to Anthony about making things that matter in culture and bringing back 2014 internet. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

24 min
OCT 24

Into the Costcoverse with AJ Befumo

Over the past few months, a father-son duo known as the Costco guys has become inescapable online. Their family-friendly videos about the grocery chain's chicken bakes and double-chunk chocolate cookies have earned them over 62 million likes on TikTok. This week, AJ Befumo joins Taylor to discuss how he went from former pro wrestler to king of the Costcoverse. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

34 min
OCT 17

Are Jubilee videos healing or polarizing?

This week Taylor Lorenz dives into the charged content world of Jubilee Media with its founder Jason Y Lee. Jubilee is quickly becoming a YouTube behemoth. It’s amassed 9.2 million subscribers on its main channel alone by producing social experiments and debates over polarizing questions such as ‘is being fat is a choice?’, or ‘can someone stop being gay?’ and other hot-button topics. The company's stated goal is to spark conversations that matter and help us all come together more around our shared humanity. Is their model working? And how is Jubilee expanding its empire outside of YouTube? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

39 min
OCT 10

Inside the strange world of corporate influencers

Taylor explores the inner workings of modern office life through the world of corporate influencers. She’s joined by Ross Pomerantz aka ‘Corporate Bro’, a successful corporate influencer who simultaneously parodies the entire genre. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

33 min
OCT 3

How nostalgia accounts are destroying pop culture history

This week Taylor Lorenz talks about going independent and launching her new online culture newsletter, User Mag! Later, Taylor is joined by entertainment culture critic Coleman Spilde to explore how nostalgia accounts are rewriting pop culture history. Subscribe to User Mag here! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

30 min

See All (36)

TRAILER

Introducing Power User with Taylor Lorenz

Power User explores how technology and the internet are upending our lives and the world around us. Each week, host Taylor Lorenz explores the most influential stories that Silicon Valley often ignores. New episodes drop every Thursday starting March 21. From the Vox Media Podcast Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Feb 28

•

1 min

3.8

out of 5

131 Ratings

Great!

Aug 17

oldbluetshirt

Very good show.
The format change isn’t work as well

Nov 9

Ari.

The format for this podcast appears to have shifted to only interview Internet personalities. This works when someone is engaging and interesting, but some of these folks bring little insight into their own influence and the interview serves no purpose. I miss Taylor sharing the things online that are catching her eye, and her commentary about the cultural influence of the Internet. She offers this in her sub stack, but would love to see it here too. Will still listen, but I’m getting less from every episode.
Started strong but…

Oct 26

Sigrid710

It has devolved into just PR for random influencers
TikTok brainrot in a podcast

Sep 2

Triggers disordered eating

Just listened to the summer trend episode and felt compelled to write a review. Oil paintings in refrigerators as an “aesthetic” trend? Is she kidding? Would be beneficial if Taylor maybe had a permanent cohost to balance out her views which clearly seem to just cling to whatever stupid thing is trending at the moment. This podcast is why people need to spend less time on the internet.

Power User explores how technology and the internet are upending our lives and the world around us. Each week, tech journalist Taylor Lorenz explores everything from online fame to emerging platforms, viral phenomena to the creator economy, and much more. Tune in on Thursdays for the most influential stories that Silicon Valley often ignores. From the Vox Media Podcast Network.