521. I’m Your Biggest Fan!

The world’s great museums are full of art and artifacts that were plundered during an era when plunder was the norm. Now there’s a push to return these works to their rightful owners. Sounds simple, right? It's not. (Part 2 of an updated series originally published in 2023.) SOUR ... Show More

When he joined the Del Fuegos, his big brother’s band, all Warren knew how to play was a record player. Things went great for a while — and then it all fell apart. So how did he wind up writing definitive books on Springsteen and Tom Petty? If you'd like to see the video version ... Show More

How did a freshly looted Egyptian antiquity end up in the Metropolitan Museum of Art? Why did it take Kim Kardashian to crack the case? And how much of what you see in any museum is stolen? (Part 1 of “Stealing Art Is Easy. Giving It Back Is Hard,” first published in 2023.) SOURC ... Show More

Zoe Strimpel reflects on the 'commercial exploitation' of fandom. From Swiftie 'friendship bracelets' to beauty products and sportswear, she argues that you can no longer be a true superfan, or a true popstar, without the merch. 'But it is striking,' writes Zoe, 'that rather than ... Show More

The girlies talk stan culture and come for all your faves. From the Directioners of the mid-2010s to Nicki Minaj's digital paramilitary, fandom has pushed the bounds of internet friendship, devotion, and doxxing. Digressions include a brief review of Jennette McCurdy's memoir, wh ... Show More

When you think of fangirls, what comes to mind: large swaths of fandom (usually for a boyband) whose feelings culminate in tears and joyful screams? Perhaps you grimace or roll your eyes at the thought. In this fun, lively talk, playwright Yve Blake asks us to reevaluate our reac ... Show More

Sierra Schultzzie, Riayn Christina, and Paloma Malfavon discuss how it’s cool to care about the things you love (whether it be concerts or sports)! As they declare their undying love for David Archuleta, we delve deeper into the differences & similarities between the arts & sport ... Show More

It's not a bird, or a plane, it's toxic fandom! It's not super, man. Bad jokes aside, SMNTY investigates what exactly is going on in DC fandom, and particularly, the Snyderverse.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. 

<p>As a culture, we are uncomfortably comfortable with mocking fangirls. Why is that? Spoiler alert, it's sexism. Anney and Samantha trace the history of fangirls and our dismissal of them, and discuss why fangirls run the world.</p><p> </p> Learn more about your ad-choices at <a ... Show More

Are artists responsible when their fan armies can be weaponized? Guests: Joe Coscarelli and Lindsay Zoladz. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can also subscribe via your favorite podcast app here https://www.nytimes.com/activate-access/ ... Show More

<p>Many Americans feel an obligation to keep up with political news. But maybe we should be focusing our energies elsewhere. In this episode from 2020, political scientist <a href="https://as.tufts.edu/politicalscience/people/faculty/hersh">Eitan Hersh</a> says there's been a ris ... Show More

Really love a TV show; a boyband; a sci fi movie; or a celebrity? We're often too embarrassed to admit adoring some things for fear that we'll be seen as frivolous or childish - but we may be missing out on the happiness benefits that geeking out can bring.    Dr Laurie Santos ex ... Show More

Is pop culture harmless fun or a total waste of brain cells? In this episode, we dive into the psychology of why some people love the “brain rot” of celebrity gossip, reality TV, and trending drama, while others crave intellectual stimulation and deeper conversations. From guilty ... Show More