Well-Informed Girlfriends

Tiege Dooley-Panko and Samantha Kubota
  • 5.0 (24)
  • NEWS COMMENTARY
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Well-Informed Girlfriends breaks down today's news, gossip and unsolicited hot takes weekly. Hosted by former Today Show journalist Sam Kubota and author and host, Tiege Dooley-Panko, this podcast breaks down everything you need to know to stay informed and in the loop each week - with a smart, entertaining twist.

  1. 6D AGO

    Epstein Files, AI Lawsuits and the End of Retirement?

    This week on Well Informed Girlfriends, Sam and Tiege break down why major news outlets aren’t repeating viral Epstein accusations and what responsible journalism actually requires. We also dig into a new lawsuit challenging the “black box” of AI hiring tools, a landmark social media addiction trial and why weight-loss drugs could quietly reshape air travel.Plus: a disturbing IVF mix-up raising ethical questions, Elon Musk’s claim that saving for retirement may soon be pointless, the rise of “shift sulking,” film students who can’t finish movies and two brutal new dating terms... Banksying and roaching. And finally, we debate whether the Harry Potter generation needs to grow up.

    33 min

  2. JAN 26

    TikTok’s Power Shift, AI Swarms, and "Humiliationships"

    This week’s episode is packed. Sam and Tiege break down what TikTok’s ownership change really means for U.S. users, dive into the rise of AI-powered disinformation swarms (and why they’re so hard to detect), and talk about why people are suddenly feeling hopeful about money again in what’s being called a “financial resolution rebound.”Plus:• Why everyone’s craving “competency porn” TV right now• The friend group fallacy and why most adults don’t actually have a crew• The newest dating term you’ll wish you didn’t relate to: humiliationship• Talking to your water (yes… really)• “Burping” your home for better healthThere’s also… a lot going on in the world right now. If you’re feeling anxious, we share science-backed ways to calm your nervous system, limit information overload, and ground yourself.🎧 Listen now and let us know your thoughts in the comments.

    29 min

  3. JAN 19

    Is 2016 Back? The Return of Millennial Optimism and the Push to Feel Human Online

    This week, Sam and Tiege break down why 2016-style optimism is suddenly cool again and why everyone wants to just log off the internet. They unpack Gen Z's "Great Meme Reset" and so-called empathy perception gap. Plus, how more men are getting "brotox," the rise of rejection therapy and the latest red-flag dating trend: "future faking."

    31 min

  4. JAN 12

    New Food Pyramid and Friend-Influenced Dating – Here’s What’s Shaping Health, Money and Middle Age Now

    This week, Tiege and Sam break down the U.S.’s revamped food pyramid and looser alcohol guidance, California’s new IVF coverage mandate, Trump’s proposed cap on credit card interest and why more millennials are getting cancer earlier. They also unpack Hollywood’s growing AI backlash and reveal the new name that’s replacing “Karen.” Plus, a fun trend called “friendfluence” is changing how people are dating.

    25 min

  5. JAN 6

    Officially deleting your Internet data, how Ozempic’s changing menus and the best time to join the dating apps

    This week, Sam and Tiege break down the latest U.S. jobs report and why economists say high interest rates — not AI — may be driving the white-collar hiring slowdown. They also talk about California’s new "data delete button" and how restaurants are shrinking menus for the Ozempic era. Plus, it’s officially Dating Sunday… right as new data suggests many women are emotionally checking out of modern dating just as the apps hit peak traffic.

    23 min

  6. 12/21/2025

    Teen Social Media Bans and Quiet Quitting Marriage: Trends Reshaping How We Live, Love and Work

    This week's special holiday episode breaks down a wave of cultural shifts, from Australia’s under-16 social media ban and rising pressure to looking “hot” at work. Sam and Tiege also discuss a slightly toxic new dating trend called “sledging” and women quietly quitting marriages rather than divorcing. The girls also dig into why so many women want to leave the U.S., how “admin nights” and how doctor's prescriptions for social activities signal deeper economic and loneliness crises.

    29 min

  7. 11/17/2025

    The Epstein Files, Food Stamps and Lame Main Characters

    This week, the girls discuss the latest on the government re-opening, Epstein emails and how SNAP benefits could be permanently changing soon. They also chat about pennies being cancelled, the myths men tell themselves that keep them single and why so many main characters on TV just feel lackluster these days. All that and so much more on this week's episode of Well-Informed Girlfriends!

    33 min

  8. 11/10/2025

    Ozempic for All, Women in the Workforce & Stack Dating

    UPDATE: Since recording this episode, the U.S. government is *much* closer to reopening. Late Sunday, a group of Senate Democrats voted with Republicans to reopen the government and fund most federal agencies through January. That said, the short-term spending agreement will not become law until it is debated and passed by the Senate, approved in the House and signed by President Trump. ---This week, Sam and Tiege break down the latest in the government shutdown, airline delays and GLP-1 access for all. They also break down a controversial op-ed from the New York Times about the effects of feminism in the workforce, a new social media trend and stack dating. All that and so much more on this week's episode of Well-Informed Girlfriends xx

    34 min
See All (74)

5
out of 5
24 Ratings

About

Well-Informed Girlfriends breaks down today's news, gossip and unsolicited hot takes weekly. Hosted by former Today Show journalist Sam Kubota and author and host, Tiege Dooley-Panko, this podcast breaks down everything you need to know to stay informed and in the loop each week - with a smart, entertaining twist.

Information

  • Creator
    Tiege Dooley-Panko and Samantha Kubota
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    74
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Tiege Dooley-Panko and Samantha Kubota
  • Show Website
    Well-Informed Girlfriends

You Might Also Like