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Episodes
Writings on culture, identity, and a bunch of other things from Emily St. James.

Latest

Apr
26
Sabrina Carpenter in the "Espresso" video, all blonde hair and golden skin, holding sunscreen.

The glorious theater kid energy of the modern pop star

5 min read
Apr
19
Chilli and Bluey clasp hands as they sig on a park bench just outside a restroom.

How Bluey teaches kids there are no answers

7 min read
Apr
12
Elmo, the tiny, furry, red Muppet from Sesame Street, smiles. He's shrugging for some reason.

April mailbag!

7 min read
Apr
10
It's the distracted boyfriend meme! A guy looks at a girl in red as his girlfriend (in blue) looks disgusted with him.

Romance and the infidelity trap

Should more romance novels involve cheating? I say yes!
8 min read
Apr
08

Submit those April mailbag questions!

1 min read
Apr
05
Sydney Sweeney, hair done up in curls, hood around her head, tears up in extreme close-up.

Immaculate and horror's increasingly brazen death cults

5 min read
Apr
03
Hannibal (from the TV show) sits at a table covered in flowers, a skull, and other arcane symbols.

Repost: On Hannibal Lecter, transness, and creation through annihilation

What does it mean to change your body?
6 min read
Mar
29
Dot, played by Juno Temple, whisks something together in a ceramic mixing bowl.

Fargo Season 5 and the morality of fictional universes

8 min read
Mar
27
The headshots of the six bachelors and six bachelorettes from Stardew Valley

Stardew Valley bachelors and bachelorettes, ranked

Plus: An impassioned defense of Haley.
10 min read
Mar
23
Paul stands atop a rocky outcropping to address his throngs of followers in Dune: Part 2.

Dune: Part 2 and (trans)gender prophecies

5 min read