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Latest Episodes:

"Buffy," "Angel" and the Unraveling of Joss Whedon Jan 25, 2022

Show notes

We’re all a little obsessed with “Buffy.” The demon-hunting, vampire-slaying heroine captured our attention in the late 90s — along with the man behind the series, Joss Whedon. His Whedonverse of hits includes everything from “Angel,” “Firefly” and “Dollhouse” to the DC and Marvel universes. But in recent years, the person we thought of as a feminist icon in Hollywood has been accused of toxic and inappropriate behavior.

Recently, he addressed the various allegations in a Vulture article, and he admitted many things that we can’t unread. Now that we know what we know, should we look at the Whedonverse differently?

Then, we remember Andre Leon Talley, the cape-wearing fashion icon who taught us about style.

You’ll hear from:

Caroline Framke, chief TV critic for Variety.

Robin Givhan, senior critic at large for the Washington Post.

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Skimm'd by Senior Producer and Host Bridget Armstrong. Produced by Alaisha Key. Engineered by Andrew Callaway. TheSkimm’s senior director of audio is Graelyn Brashear.

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“Euphoria” is Our Latest Teen TV Show Obsession Jan 18, 2022

Show notes

Season two of “Euphoria” is here, and episode one broke HBO records with 2.4 million viewers tuning in to watch. So, yeah — we’re obsessed with the high school drama, which stars actress and Disney alum Zendaya as teen addict Rue.

Known for its gritty — and often uncomfortable — storylines portraying drugs, sex and addiction, “Euphoria” is the latest in a long list of shows pushing the boundaries of what's acceptable to see when watching teenage characters. And that has us asking the question: who are teen dramas actually for?

You’ll hear from:

Bethonie Butler, TV and pop culture reporter for the Washington Post.

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Skimm'd by Senior Producer and Host Bridget Armstrong. Produced by Alaisha Key. Engineered by Andrew Callaway. TheSkimm’s senior director of audio is Graelyn Brashear.

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A Brief History of Drag with Shangela Jan 11, 2022

Show notes

Last week, a new season of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” kicked off. The show has opened doors for many drag performers to sashay their way into mainstream culture and educate us on the art of drag. One of the most famous queens to grace the show’s stage: Shangela Laquifah Wadley (aka D.J. Pierce, when out of drag) — after RuPaul, one of the most influential drag performers in America.

We talk with Shangela about the history of drag, how it’s evolved, and how she’s using her spotlight — and her HBO show, “We’re Here” — to expand our ideas about who does drag and who it’s for.

You’ll hear from:

Shangela (aka D.J. Pierce), American drag Queen, reality TV star and actor

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Skimm'd by Senior Producer and Host Bridget Armstrong. Produced by Alaisha Key. Engineered by Andrew Callaway. TheSkimm’s senior director of audio is Graelyn Brashear.

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Cynthia Erivo Guesses our 2022 Workout Playlist Jan 04, 2022

Show notes

We're kicking off 2022 right with a mini episode! We chatted with the one and only Cynthia Erivo. You know her as an award-winning actress and singer, but one thing you may not know is that she’s super serious about her wellness and exercise routine (she’s even part owner of a new workout wear line).

And we play a little musical game that's all about getting pumped up! Can you guess what’s on our workout playlist?

And speaking of wellness, check out the How to Skimm Your Life Challenge. It’s all about getting happy, and each day you’ll get a prompt that aims to help you get joy out of your daily routine.

You’ll hear from:

Cynthia Erivo, award-winning actress, singer and part-owner of Omorpho

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Skimm'd by Senior Producer and Host Bridget Armstrong. Produced by Alaisha Key. Engineered by Andrew Callaway. TheSkimm’s senior director of audio is Graelyn Brashear.

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The Pop Culture Moments that Made 2021 Dec 28, 2021

Show notes

It’s hard to believe that 2021 is almost over. But before we ring in the new year, let’s take a look back at all of the stories that entertained us — the things we watched, the celeb moments we couldn’t stop talking about, the music that topped our Spotify Wrapped lists and the industry shakeups that we’ll still be talking about next year. Can you guess what made our list?

And stay tuned, because we also talk with Tan France from “Queer Eye” about fashion, his fave iconic style moments and the Now Me campaign he’s working on.

You’ll hear from:

Tan France of Netflix’s “Queer Eye”

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Skimm'd by Senior Producer and Host Bridget Armstrong. Produced by Alaisha Key. Engineered by Andrew Callaway. TheSkimm’s senior director of audio is Graelyn Brashear. Special thanks to Alex Carr and Ciara Long.

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How Issa Rae and "Insecure" Changed TV Dec 21, 2021

Show notes

“Insecure” made us laugh, cry, yell and argue with strangers on Twitter for five years, but now it's time to say goodbye. Issa Rae’s award-winning series broke the mold and portrayed young Black people as more than stereotypes — signaling to Hollywood that creators can tell their authentic stories and be successful. But what will the show's cultural impact mean for the next generation of creatives?

You’ll hear from:

Taryn Finley, editor HuffPost Black Voices and senior culture reporter who contributed to “Inside the ‘Insecure’ World"

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Skimm'd by Senior Producer and Host Bridget Armstrong. Produced by Alaisha Key.

Engineered by Andrew Callaway. TheSkimm’s senior director of audio is Graelyn Brashear.

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Reality Dating Shows Are Bad. Why Do We Love Them? Dec 14, 2021

Show notes

"The Bachelorette’s" Michelle Young is making "Bachelor" nation history. For the first time since the franchise premiered in 2002, the man who'll soon be handed that final rose is guaranteed to be a man of color. It may seem like reality dating shows are making some slow progress on diversity. But why aren’t they keeping up with our IRL views on love and relationships?

You’ll hear from:

Bethonie Butler, TV and pop culture reporter for the Washington Post.

Joanna Weiss, Editor-in-Chief of Experience magazine and contributing editor to POLITICO Magazine

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Skimm'd by Senior Producer and Host Bridget Armstrong. Produced by Alaisha Key.

Engineered by Andrew Callaway. TheSkimm’s senior director of audio is Graelyn Brashear.

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Meghan Markle's Tabloid Victory and Remembering Virgil Abloh Dec 07, 2021

Show notes

Meghan Markle won the latest battle in her privacy lawsuit with British tabloid The Mail on Sunday over its printing a private letter written to her father back in 2019. And the Duchess of Sussex is calling for changes to the tabloid industry. But could this ruling in the UK courts affect how the media covers celebrities?

Then, we remember famed designer and style icon Virgil Abloh, and explore the impact of his life and death.

You’ll hear from:

K.J. Yossman, international correspondent at Variety and former entertainment lawyer

David Dennis Jr., senior writer at The Undefeated

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Skimm'd by Senior Producer and Host Bridget Armstrong. Produced by Alaisha Key. Engineered by Andrew Callaway. TheSkimm’s senior director of audio is Graelyn Brashear.

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Sports, Racism, and the Colin Kaepernick Series Nov 30, 2021

Show notes

The Colin Kaepernick Netflix series "Colin in Black & White" opened with a controversial scene comparing NFL tryouts to chattel slavery. It upset some people. For others, it sparked a conversation about systemic racism within the NFL. But the Kaepernick series also highlights racism present in three major American sports — football, baseball, and basketball. So we’re digging into the series’ big question: Why are sports so racist?

You’ll hear from:

Rhiannon Walker, sports journalist who's written for ESPN’s The Undefeated and covers the Washington football team for The Athletic

Sabrina Razack, PhD candidate who studies and writes about the intersection of sports, gender, and race

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Skimm'd by Senior Producer and Host Bridget Armstrong. Produced by Alaisha Key.

Engineered by Andrew Callaway. TheSkimm’s senior director of audio is Graelyn Brashear.

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Shein, Zara, and the Fast Fashion Trap Nov 23, 2021

Show notes

From Black Friday deals and Cyber Monday to after-Christmas sales, more and more brands are selling fast fashion. And social media has been huge in helping brands like SHEIN, Zara and other online retailers show up in your Instagram, Facebook and TikTok feeds. But before you hit check out on your cart, learn the three questions you should be asking yourself to see if it’s really worth the cost.

Plus, we talk with basketball legend Dwyane Wade about his latest memoir — and we quiz him on his style knowledge.

You’ll hear from:

Aja Barber, writer, stylist, fashion consultant and author of “Consumed: The Need for Collective Change”

Dwyane Wade, NBA megastar, author and businessman

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Skimm'd by Senior Producer and Host Bridget Armstrong. Produced by Alaisha Key. Engineered by Andrew Callaway. TheSkimm’s senior director of audio is Graelyn Brashear.

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