Millennial: Pretend Adulting, Real Talk

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**Millennial: Pretend Adulting, Real Talk**

Millennial podcast is a weekly roundtable about our Generation Y experience. From news to politics and pop culture, a panel of friends digs in on why these stories matter and how they affect millennials. If you’ve ever wondered how to maneuver student loan debt, voting, relationships, careers, or just life in general, we feel that SO. HARD. And we’re here to share our stories, along with our greatest challenges and wins, along the way. Millennial podcast is about journeying through young adulthood together.

Latest Episodes:

Should Artists Cancel Concerts?, GOP Stuck in Electoral Corner, Hollywood Strike Has Big Implications Apr 19, 2023

Show notes

Is Andrew uncanceled this week? Only time will tell.
It's protest week here at the show! What kinds of resistance are we seeing across the country and across industries?
One of Andrew's faves, Orville Peck, recently announced that he would not be canceling shows in Tennessee due to current legislation restricting gender affirming care and drag shows. "You are not sticking it to these governments by not showing up, you are only hurting the communities.”
Orville Peck isn't the only artist to be confronted with sociopolitical conflicts of interest: KORN, My Chemical Romance, Iron Maiden, Green Day, and The Killers have canceled shows in Russia over the last year in protest of Putin’s war.
Should artists take a firm stance and NOT perform in states pushing anti-LGBTQ agendas?
Republicans are finding themselves painted into an electoral corner after recent moves from a federal judge to retract FDA approval for the abortion pill, mifepristone. In the meantime, what can people who live in states with restricted access to abortion do?
Does protesting make a difference in America? What does the act of protesting do for the cause and for the individual?
People in affected states can consider community support opportunities, supporting organizations expanding access to contraceptives, consider employment opportunities with companies that have pledged to help their employees circumvent anti-abortion laws in their states, pursue obtaining a vasectomy, or if all else fails, look into moving.
The resistance doesn't end there, y'all! The Writers Guild of America voted to authorize a strike this week, and the effects in the coming weeks and months could heavily impact our entertainment options.
If such concerns as minimum pay, better residuals, and contributions to health and pension plans aren't addressed satisfactorily by May 1st, the writers strike will officially kick off.
We reminisce about the last writers strike in 2007, when it felt like reality TV was the only TV. There's a reason for that!
If the strike happens, viewers will feel the first impacts on late night talk shows, but scripted television will also suffer once it runs out of scripted content to shoot.
This week's recommendations will keep you entertained and looking fly: Greta Van Fleet (Andrew), Resident Evil 4 Remake (Laura), and Wet N Wild breakup proof liner (Pam).

And in this week's installment of After Dark, available on Patreon and Apple Podcasts:

Trigger Warnings. After Cornell University recently vetoed efforts from the student body to require trigger warnings on course syllabi, we discuss the pros and cons of trigger warnings, and whether we think they are useful.
Do trigger warnings infantilize students in an academic context? How can college professors exercise better sensitivity in the classroom?
Are we now the olds that the kids talk about being out of touch?

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'Barbie' is Hitting Us Right in the Nostalgia, Artemis II Moon Mission Apr 13, 2023

Show notes

Welcome to #Millennial, the home of pretend adulting and real talk!
We're Andrew-less this week, but it's ok, Pam and Laura canceled him temporarily.
We chat about the new Barbie trailer that took the world by storm, and use this as a jumping off point to talk childhood nostalgia and what it means to see it represented on the big screen.
But first, some men are triggered by the viral marketing highlighting all the Barbies' high-profile jobs and noting that all the Kens are "just Ken." Cry about it!
How did we play with Barbies as kids? Confessions of orchestrating Barbie sexy time.
Everyone had a jank Barbie they colored on and gave haircuts to, right?
In light of our girls' episode this week, we host an AMA for our Patreon supporters, and answer questions about best and worst dating experiences, favorite makeup and clothing brands, and how we feel about aging (spoiler: we're leaning into it).
How have Pam and Laura handled workplace misogyny?
We're also hype about the crew announcement for the upcoming Artemis II mission - the first woman and black man will be making a trip around the moon in 2024!
This inspires us to chat about our first childhood dream jobs.
This week's recommendations will keep you fresh! Lume Deodorant (Laura) and Raw Sugar's multi-miracle leave-in conditioner & heat protectant (Pam).

And in this week's installment of After Dark:

Spoiler warning! Love is Blind season 4 finale predictions and reactions to the current season's cast. (Mostly trash.)
And we've got some questions from our AMA we saved to cover because they're a little ~spicy~ for primetime.
If Andrew were straight, would we date him?!

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Listeners Confess Their Secrets, Trump (Finally) Gets Indicted Apr 05, 2023

Show notes

Uncork the champagne: we have a Trump indictment just in time for this week's show!
Time to CONFESS! Listeners write in for this week's episode using our anonymous Confessional to detail their deep, dark, dirty secrets!
Is there a nuanced interpretation to the ongoing debate about the national security risks Tiktok presents?
It's ok to not love everything about Joe Biden - we don't believe in turning politicians into our entire personality.
How do the hosts approach diet and fitness from a sustainable, healthy perspective?
Is it normal for our sex drive to reduce as we get older?
Managing expectations with family can be hard, especially when coming out.
Should people feel guilty about taking advantage of working from home to sneak in a quick nap?
We receive an update about a previous Confessional submission!
This week's recommendations are practical with a side of entertainment: 'Did you know' that alarm clocks only snooze for 9 minutes because original clocks mechanically couldn't snooze for 10? (Andrew), don't forget your sunscreen! (Laura), and Showtime's 'Yellowjackets' (Pam).

And in this week's installment of After Dark, available on Patreon:

A new poll conducted by real estate advice website Home Bay inspires us to talk about our respective cities, and why people may (or may not) want to live there.
It's "Atlanna" not "Atlanta."
Dallas being in the top list of cities people want to move to seems wild.
Why don't people want to move to Pam's home city of San Francisco?!

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The Best Ways to Protect Yourself Online, From 2FA to Deleting Public Info Mar 29, 2023

Show notes

Welcome to #Millennial, the home of pretend adulting and real cybersecurity talk!
On this week's episode, we are joined by cybersecurity professional Voldimmoral!
If you're looking for tips to remove your personal information from the internet, check out her Medium article!
Your digital footprint can be left even if you're not intentionally disclosing information. Voldimmoral details how in her line of work, digital footprints have enabled her to help solve crimes!
Even the most security conscious among us can be vulnerable to personal information getting out online: this is why it's particularly important to help the less web savvy in your life be protected online.
On a related note, 2-factor authentication has been in the news a lot lately, with Twitter announcing they would no longer support SMS (text message) 2-factor. What are some more secure 2-factor authentication options? We recommend Google Authenticator or using a Yubikey.
Voldimmoral also chats with us about the pros and cons of password manager apps - and the upcoming Passkeys authentication method.
This week's recommendations are a real grab bag! Cut resistant gloves (Andrew), Making a donation to Everytown for gun safety (Laura), and Lazarus Naturals (Voldimmoral).

And in this week's installment of After Dark, available on Patreon and Apple Podcasts:

Voldimmoral hangs out with us to talk cybersecurity fails!
We love our parents, but the boomer really does show sometimes...
How to dupe Nextdoor into sending hundreds of invitations to an ever expanding radius of neighbors.
How to spot a phishing or social engineering scheme.

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Could Americans Really Lose TikTok?, Voice AI Takes Big Leaps Forward, Hollywood's Video Game Adaptations Mar 22, 2023

Show notes

Are the rumors of an impending Trump arrest fake news? Either way, we're ready to pop open the champagne! Here's some AI artwork of Trump being dragged away, in case you can't wait to see the real thing.
Are Americans prepared for a potential national ban on TikTok? And could this actually happen?!
Since Pam and Laura swipe so many of their hours away on TikTok, where will they turn if it's no longer available?
Shameless plugs for our TikToks while they still exist: @AndrewInTheAir, @PamelaG, @BasilyBoy, and of course @MillennialPod!
Are most of us fatalistic about our online privacy at this point? Is it valid to not care that the Chinese and U.S. governments are spying on us?
Following the enormous success of HBO's 'Last of Us' video game to show adaptation, we explore other game titles and the opportunities for studios to cash in on more GOOD content.
Accessibility in gaming is still an area where there is a ton of room for growth, and we argue that good adaptations make these stories more accessible for everyone.
Gatekeeping ain't it though y'all: stop the game fan/show fan wars!
If your social media has been taken over by videos of AI President voices, you're not alone.
These are a riot to listen to, but some of the AI voices are so spot on there is potential for fake scandals during elections.
A special guest joins #Millennial to give us his endorsement. Get it together and listen to #Millennial!
This week's recommendations will keep you organized and calm: Dot Card for networking (Andrew), remember to get your fur kids in for their annual wellness checks (Laura), and Legacy Box for digitizing your old home movies and photos (Pam).

And in this week's installment of After Dark, available on Patreon and for Apple Podcast subscribers:

MuggleSuck is back: this time we confront our moody email alter-egos from the early 2k's.
Why did we use email as a primary form of communication? Were other teens doing this, or were we just weird?
WE HAD SO MANY FIGHTS OVER EMAIL OMG.

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The Stanley Quencher Is So Popular Yet So Ugly (And More on Brand Loyalty) Mar 15, 2023

Show notes

We unexpectedly had to take off from providing you with a full episode this week, so instead we're sharing this installment of After Dark! We discuss the popularity around the Stanley Quencher water bottle -- that thing is so big and ugly, yet people can't help but buy it. We use it's popularity to discuss brand loyalty, and the brands that we are hot and heavy for.

Reminder: Stay hydrated! But maybe use a less ugly water bottle.

Patrons and Apple Podcast subscribers have access to a new After Dark installment this week where Andrew and Pam answer questions from listeners about podcast drama. Visit Patreon.com/millennial to receive instant access to that and many more After Dark installments!

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Paid 'Blue Checks' Head to Instagram For Suckers Like Andrew Mar 08, 2023

Show notes

Welcome to #Millennial, the home of pretend adulting and real talk!
In some airline news, the Justice Department is suing to stop the planned Jet Blue/Spirit Airlines merger, and multiple airlines are ditching fees charged for families trying to sit together.
Seemingly inspired by Elon Musk's moves at Twitter, Meta will soon be offering "Meta Verified:" aka paying $15 a month for the coveted Blue Check.
Why is the Blue Check so desirable for some? Are there any cases where wanting one is warranted?
If everyone can pay a monthly fee to be verified, does being verified lose its meaning?
It's time for some unpopular opinions: we're inspired by a (now deleted) tweet, which asserts that most nonfiction books are unreadable.
We have some hot takes of our own: your phone should be silent most of the time, being an "empath" isn't a thing, and airlines should get rid of the reclining functionality on all economy seats.
In light (lol) of Daylight Savings Time returning in a few short days, Laura delivers her yearly gripe about how stupid changing the clocks 2x a year is.
Will attempts at a permanent DST bill die in the House again this year? Probably.
Though some of us would love a little more sunlight in the evenings, experts warn that a permanent switch to Standard time would likely be better for our health.
This week's recommendations are mostly practical, with a little entertainment sprinkled in: Digital temperature readers (Andrew), 'Bass Reeves: No Master But Duty’ (Laura), and AHC Natural Perfection Sunscreen Stick (Pam).

And in this week's installment of After Dark, available on Patreon:

What tragic event were we all obsessed with as kids? Titanic is the obvious answer for many millennials, but we have a treasure trove of morbid interests.
The history, politics, and horrific assassination of the Romanov family, and subsequent mystery of Anastasia.
How an interest in the Oregon Trail led Pam to an obsession with the Donner Party.
Andrew has always been obsessed with water: the Johnstown Flood of 1889.

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Why The Romance Genre Has Risen in Popularity (w/ Christine Riccio, Natasha Polis) Mar 01, 2023

Show notes

Welcome to #Millennial, the home of pretend adulting and real talk!
We are joined this week by Christine Riccio and Natasha Polis from Those Forking Fangirls to discuss the significant uptick in interest (and sales) of literary romance and YA novels.
Today's conversation was inspired by this NPR article:From meet-cutes to happy endings, romance readers feel the love as sales heat up.
Christine and Natasha help us dig in on the pipeline from Young Adult to Romance, how the genres somewhat overlap, and how the culture has shifted to make open enjoyment of the Romance genre more socially accepted.
Might some of the shifts in cover art portrayals have made the genre more comfortable and accessible to readers? Are there any cases where the cute, cartoony covers fail to communicate the spicy, smutty passages between the covers?
Fan Fiction seems to have played a major role in these developments, with more people participating in online fan spaces to create new content. There are even recent examples of very successful fan fic authors going on to become published, like Christina Lauren, EL James, Alice Clayton, and Ali Hazelwood.
Is there any direct correlation between the rise in interest for romance novels as a genre and the uptick in romance-based reality TV shows? What sort of escapism do they provide?
What recommendations do Christine and Natasha have for current romance readers, or those hoping to get started? "From Blood and Ash" by Jennifer L Aremntrout, "Spoiler Alert" by Olivia Dade, "A Court of Silver Flames" by Sarah J Maas, "Part of Your World" by Abby Jimenez, "Verity" by Colleen Hoover, "Anna & the French Kiss" by Stephanie Perkins, "The Soulmate Equation" by Christina Lauren, "The Hating Game" by Sally Thorne, "A Court of Thorns and Roses" by Sarah J. Maas. And of COURSE - "Twilight" by Stephenie Meyer.
This week's recommendations are all over the map: Andrew's shameless plug to use his Visible by Verizon referral code to get $20 off your first month, "Sons of the Forest" (Laura), 'Daisy Jones & The Six' on Prime Video (Pam), "Ninth House" (Christine), and "Sanditon" on Masterpiece airing 3/19/23 (Natasha).

And in this week's installment of After Dark, available on Patreon:

Last week we revealed all the bad things we did as kids and teens, but this week we're revealing the much more scandalous escapades our parents thought we were into.
Weed orgies, illicit drug use on a church playground, underage sex, and all sorts of really interesting things none of us were actually cool enough to be doing.

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The State of Podcasts, Lucky Girl Syndrome, Hacks to Escape From Caregiving Feb 22, 2023

Show notes

Welcome to #Millennial, the home of pretend adulting and real talk!
After a few years of explosive growth, the podcast world seems to be cooling off. What does this mean for indie podcasters?
As big corporations come to grips with the reality that podcasting isn't just an easy way to print money, layoffs, budget cuts, and canceled projects are making headlines.
What do we look for in the podcasts we listen to as podcasters ourselves? If there's passion behind the project, it shows.
Lucky Girl Syndrome is the new manifesting. Who knew when boomers were simping over 'The Secret' that the youths would revive the concept.
Is there some validity to the idea of manifesting positivity? How has Andrew done this to keep himself from assuming the worst possible thing will happen?
The Confessional makes its triumphant return this week with a listener who is playing hooky from work to get some much-needed self-care time.
The hosts and listeners share some great tips for helping to carve out some time to prioritize yourself during your regular day-to-day: give yourself an easy "out" for certain social situations, stop saying yes to everything, and pad time in your calendar around busy events to give yourself some breathing room! Don't forget to check out our Facebook group for more great conversations like this.
This week's recommendations will make life easier, more fun, and enriching! The Plates by Splitwise app, and the parent Splitwise app (Listener Beth and Andrew), Golf With Friends (Laura), and "Sorrow and Bliss" by Meg Mason (Pam).

And in this week's installment of After Dark, available on Patreon and Apple Podcasts:

The Hill reports that parents pay at least one monthly bill for 40% of millennials, prompting us to explore how our parents helped us in early adulthood.
How all three of the hosts got booted off their parents' car insurance - should people be worried about us on the road?
Andrew recalls his "Most Expensive Date Ever"
We also revisit some cringe moments from our adolescent years. Awkward!

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Never Answer a Compliment With a Compliment, and More Etiquette Rules To Follow Feb 15, 2023

Show notes

Welcome to #Millennial, the home of pretend adulting and real talk!
Happy Valentine's Day! The wine will be flowing this week!
Just in time to prepare for your romantic activities around Love day, we're talking etiquette rules that we believe will help you avoid annoying friends and prospective romantic partners. See this article from The Cut for our inspiration to discuss etiquette rules.
STFU and give your friends or partners a chance to talk, don't make splitting the bill so damn complicated, and strip the bed linens after staying at someone else's house!
"You'll float too:" Forget Tiktok, surveillance balloons are all the rage for international spy activities!
Why didn't the US military shoot down the balloon sooner? Cause it weighed over 2,000 pounds and was taller than the Statue of Liberty. Has anyone told Congressional Republicans this wasn't a Party City balloon?
BUT ALSO: The U.S. shot down three additional unidentified flying objects, but assures us they definitely weren't aliens. Suuuuuure Jan.
Netflix and AMC are trying to redefine experiences their brands helped build: just in time for Valentine's Day, love is no longer sharing a password. And going to the movies is equivalent to going to a concert or other event!
Will people accept Netflix up-charging for sharing an account or AMC trying to rebrand the theater-going experience? Naaaaah. Apathy will probably kick in though.
This week's recommendations are all over the map: Americans, find out how much you will get in Social Security payments in retirement by going to SSA.gov (Andrew), Rare Beauty's Illuminating Primer (Laura), and StoryGraph (Pam).
This week's show is sponsored by Hello Fresh (link here). Support #Millennial by supporting our sponsors!

And in this week's installment of After Dark, available on Patreon and Apple Podcasts:

We're going on a three-way polygamous date to find out if these 36 questions can help us fall in love (even more) with each other.
Why is Andrew asking so many questions about death on a first date? Seems sus.
Things get pretty vulnerable and deep. We're gonna take this to second base later.

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