Nymphet Alumni

Episoder

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  Ep. 169: Giallobrutalism w/ Ella Dorn 19.08.2026 1t 35min

  This week, Alexi is joined by music critic and columnist Ella Dorn to unpack her viral essay declaring Giallobrutalism as the defining visual language of mid-2020s pop, informed by the stylish delirium of Italian giallo cinema and a pervasive unease about surveillance and stardom. We discuss the aesthetic’s formal signatures—cool temperatures, split diopters, painterly tableaux, and more— as well as the rise of early-onset popstar histrionics, the existential glamour of centripetal girls in centrifugal settings, and the decade’s watershed fashion moments so far, from Miu Miu micro-minis to Sandy Liang mega-bows. We also challenge the default Y2K reading of modern pop aesthetics, arguing for a closer look at their 20th-century antecedents, and reflect on our shared past as stans of doomed K-pop girl groups. Links:“‘Giallobrutalism,’ or why everything looks like that” by Ella Dorn on Fairyland!Ella Dorn on TwitterFairyland! on InstagramK-Pop Music Video Analysis w/ Alexi One on Top of the Other (1969) dir. Lucio FulciA Lizard in a Woman’s Skin (1971) dir. Lucio Fulci“Music, Fashion, Film is Charli xcx at her subversive best” by Ella Dorn in The New StatesmanBalenciaga F/W 2024Film Noir and the Spaces of Modernity by Edward Dimendberg“The realities of being a pop star” by Charli xcx on charli’s substackEp. 162: Crayola CasualEp. 102: Just Dance w/ Lexee SmithNicole Kidman wearing Miu Miu S/S 2022 for Vanity Fair’s 2022 Hollywood Issue coverSandy Liang S/S 2024Our Aesthetic Categories: Zany, Cute, Interesting by Sianne Ngai“In Defense of the Leopard Print Midi Skirt” in Paper magazine (the original @leopardmidiskirt Instagram account is GONE omg)New Giallobrutalist canon entries we discuss: YENA (최예나) – “캐치 캐치 (Catch Catch)”, aespa 에스파 – “Switchblade (Feat. Ty Dolla $ign)”, Gracie Abrams – “Look at My Life”, ifeye (이프아이) – “r u ok?” , aespa エスパ – “KISS N TELL”Bang Jae Yeob LOONA/ODD EYE CIRCLE – “Sweet Crazy Love” (Official Music Video)LOONA/Kim Lip – “Eclipse” (Official Music Video)The iconic abandoned Brutalist building from every K-pop MVGhosts of My Life: Writings on Depression, Hauntology and Lost Futures by Mark FisherFederico Fellini: Painting in Film, Painting on Film by Hava Aldoubyno na - “honk!” (Official Music Video)no na - “superstitious” (Official Music Video)Elliot Shields on Instagram (creative consultant on Aespa’s “Kiss N Tell”) Magic by Jolin Tsai 蔡依林但是又何奈 by Louise Tsuei 崔苔菁 Rocket Girls 101 (火箭少女101) K-pop plagiarism overviewKiiiKiii on Instagram This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.nymphetalumni.com/subscribe
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  Ep. 167: Situational Awareness | Study Break 05.08.2026 1t 12min

  In this edition of Study Break, we discuss the questionable decisions behind the scenes of the Possession remake, the historical accuracy cottage industry reactivated by the release of The Odyssey, the latest in infidelity surveillance via Jay Guapo, and new releases from Adela, Tyla, and KATSEYE. We also highlight a recent cornucopia of Euroweird excellence from the Depardieu family’s blissful film festival outing to the fabulous brainrot opera debut of Beata Mona-Lisa, Greta Thunberg’s perplexingly buxom sister— plus we react to fashion announcements including Marine Serre’s bankruptcy and the upcoming John Galliano–themed Met Gala.Links: Margaret Qualley and Callum Turner on the set of the Possession remake in New JerseyJulie Depardieu and Philippe Katerine pose with their 2 sons Billy and Alfred at the Monte Carlo Television Festival (Alexi’s viral QRT)Billy Blanchard at Jean-Paul Gaultier F/W 2026 Couture via Lyas“EXCLUSIVE: Marine Serre Seeks Investor Amid Financial Restructuring” in WWDThe Met Announces the Spring 2027 Costume Institute Exhibition, John Galliano: Horizons“John Galliano Returns to Fashion Via a Creative Partnership with Zara” in Vogue“An Uncomplicated Man” (review of Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey) by Emily Wilson in The London Review of BooksMillie Bobby Brown responds to bad wig accusations on BBC Radio 1@chthonicthorn on TikTok (Hellenistic practicioner?) “Greta Thunberg’s Sister Beata Mona-Lisa Does the Splits” by Billy Parker in InterviewBeata Mona-Lisa on InstagramPianist Yuja WangNymphet Alumni Ep. 114: Grisch“The Folk Singer Linda Perhacs Is Found and Is Safe, Authorities Confirm” in The New York TimesTyla - “THAT GIRL” (Official Music Video)Nymphet Alumni Ep. 147: Cherry Emoji Dark FeminineTyla in custom Phoebe Pendergast polka dot hair clip at Disney with Kai Cenat“Valley of the Marc Jacobs Dolls” by Carwyn McIntyre in ToBe“The Surreal, Sublime Worlds of Szilveszter Makó” by Lauren Jackson in The New York TimesAdam Green’s Aladdin - Full Movie (Official) on YouTubeKATSEYE (캣츠아이) - “Animal” (Official Music Video)KATSEYE EP 3 ‘WILD’ (Wild heart ver.) teaser images on InstagramADÉLA - “Ain’t In LA” (Official Music Video)Gabbriette in custom Matières Fécales bridalAndrea Mauri @babedrea33 on Instagram“Married elite NYC lawyer, 45, is caught red-handed with underling, 29, in passionate Central Park rendezvous” in The Daily Mail“How Leopold Aschenbrenner, the ‘golden child’ of the AI trade, was laid low” in The Financial Times This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.nymphetalumni.com/subscribe
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  Ep. 166: Feng Shgay w/ Ben Mora 31.07.2026 1t 17min

  In this episode, the ladies welcome America’s favorite game show host Ben Mora for a survey of the interior design landscape among Millennials and Gen Z. They discuss how bedroom stratigraphy reveals the history of interior design fads, the never-ending influence of the long ‘90s, the tyranny of mid-century modern, blackout curtain pleasure caves, Pinterest boards, the housing crisis, various gay predispositions, and more! Interior MotivesSeeking Derangements Ben’s profile in New York magazine!!Printed out Pinterest Moodboard TikToks$4,300 in missing rugs, online shame, 7 hours in NYPD custody: A stooping storySamantha Wynn Greenstone (girl who married a gay guy and had a baby)BBL Arab Gays Tasteslop by Nemesis This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.nymphetalumni.com/subscribe
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  Ep. 164: My Forehead Isn't Ready | Study Break 09.07.2026 1t 3min

  In this edition of Study Break, we go deep on Sombr’s ED summer track “My Body Isn’t Ready,” make the case for Obsession star Inde Navarette as this generation’s Dead Wife Montage Stacy, and extol Erling Haaland’s universal Homo Erectus charm. We also assess Olivia Rodrigo’s and Gracie Abrams’ claims to girl-loserdom and the influence of children’s literature on men’s fashion week.Links:sombr - My Body Isn’t Ready (official video)James Blunt - You’re Beautiful (official video)James Blunt’s 13 most savage tweetsOlivia Rodrigo - honeybeeOlivia Rodrigo addresses the “baby boy, honeybee” allegationsOlivia Rodrigo - the cure (official video)Gracie Abrams - Look at My Life (official video)Gracie Abrams - Daughter From Hell album artGrace Abrams - The Secret of Us album artDior Men’s Spring 2027 Ready-to-Wear CollectionCeline Men’s Spring 2027 Ready-to-Wear CollectionPrada Men’s Spring 2027 Ready-to-Wear CollectionWorldpeace DMT - Love Yourself (official video) This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.nymphetalumni.com/subscribe
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  Ep. 163: The Man and The Mirror 02.07.2026 48min

  In this solo minisode, Sam enters the wilderness of mirrors to unpack Michael Jackson: child star, King of Pop, fairy-tale monster, walking logo, and one of the strangest cultural phenomena of the 20th century. Using Margo Jefferson, Wendy Lesser, Mark Fisher, Foucault, Bakhtin, Peter Pan, The Little Prince, Shirley Temple, Diana Ross, Elizabeth Taylor, Bob Fosse, P.T. Barnum, Neverland Ranch, pork pie hats, patent leather shoes, and white spats, Sam pursues Michael as a figure of inversion: the child who was an adult, the adult who became a child, the Black man who became white, the man who became a woman, the innocent who became the guilty. Along the way, she considers the glamour and horror of child stardom, the maternal diva archive, the carnivalesque body, the freakshow of Wacko Jacko, and why Michael’s legacy remains endlessly unresolved.Stargirl’s 100th episode, we love you Emma
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  Ep. 162: Crayola Casual 24.06.2026 1t 30min

  In this episode, we kick off the summer by denominating a colorful attitude toward dress manifesting bicoastally. Epitomized by brands like Emily Dawn Long, Brooke Callahan, and Cleo Camp, Crayola Casual is the funky counterpart to freaky minimalism— accessory agnostic, anti-synthetic, built around hot saturated colors and the art of the easy-on easy-off. We review this aesthetic’s historical antecedents, from fluid disco formalwear of the 70s (Halston, Stephen Burrows) to globalist chic sportswear of the 80s (Esprit, United Colors of Benetton). We also discuss Downtown New York’s Maryam Nassir Zadeh as the missing link, classics of rainbow urbanism including Sesame Street and the Vignelli Subway Map, our predictions for an aerobics renaissance, and the creative exuberance of a season of parades, pop-ups, and pennants.Links: Image boardCleo CampBrooke CallahanEmily Dawn LongRummage Stretch“Vintage Sportswear Will Crush Your Alo Yoga Sets” by Liana Satenstein for NeverwornsAllegra Samsen on InstagramVentriloquist Sophie Becker for Paloma Wool“The Accidental Trendsetter” by Emilia Petrarca in The New York Times (Emily Dawn Long profile)“The Sisterhood of the Unraveling Pants” by Sarah Shapiro in Puck (on the rise of the easy pant)“The Sexy Sincerity of Maryam Nassir Zadeh” by Rachel Tashjian in Harper’s Bazaar“How Does Maryam Nassir Zadeh Stay in Business?” by Madeline Leung Coleman in The Cut“1970–1979” from FIT’s Fashion History Timeline“A 1970s Fashion History Lesson: Disco, Designer Denim, and the Liberated Woman” by Lilah Ramzi in Vogue“The Halstonettes” by The Museum at FIT from the 2015 exhibit Yves Saint Laurent + Halston: Fashioning the 70s“Stephen Burrows, the CFDA’s 2024 Lifetime Achievement Winner, in the Words of 7 of His Closest Collaborators” by Laird Borrelli-Persson in Vogue“The Radical History of Sesame Street” by Figgy Guyver in Frieze“The Quintessential Urban Design of Sesame Street” by Anna Kodé in The New York Times“Towards a Better Way: The “Vignelli” Map at 50” (Digital Exhibit) – New York Transit MuseumSupergraphic Ultramodern – Consumer Aesthetics Research Institute“The rise and fall of Esprit, San Francisco’s coolest clothing brand” by Joshua Bote in SFGATE“opening ceremony’s founders on how esprit changed fashion (and the world)” – i-D “Esprit’s Brand Books” by Jill Singer in Sight Unseen (on Esprit: The Comprehensive Design Principle from 1989)“From Plain Jane to Esprit: The Making of a California Icon” by Bertrand Pellegrin“Benetton: Celebrating a Colorful History” by Amanda Kaiser in WWD“History” – Gap, Inc.“Khaki Swing” – 1998 Gap Commercial on YouTubeSomething Wild (1986) dir. Jonathan Demme – Official TrailerExcerpt from Bobos in Paradise: The New Upper Class and How They Got There by David Brooks“Everything You Need to Know About the Battle of Versailles on the 50th Anniversary of the Event” by Laird Borrelli-Persson in Vogue“Fashion” - The 1973 World Book Year Book“Yanks Pull Off Paris Fashion Heist” by Eugenia Sheppard in The Los Angeles TimesBig Bad Wolf workout class on TikTokAerobics by Kenneth H. Cooperエアロピクルス｜Aeropickles on YouTube“1988 Crystal Light National Aerobic Championship Opening” on YouTubeAudrey Hobert live performances: trenchcoat reveal, mini trampolineAudrey Hobert x Fishwife Tinned Fish Bundle“Forget Euro Summer. Brands Are Having a Wet, Hot American Summer” by Madeleine Schulz in Vogue (pop-up economy write-up) This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.nymphetalumni.com/subscribe
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  Ep. 161: The Paranoid Style w/ Anika Jade Levy 17.06.2026 1t 29min

  In this episode, Sam is joined by friend of the pod Anika Jade Levy, author of Flat Earth and founding editor of Forever Magazine, for a sprawling investigation into the paranoid spirit of the United States of America. Beginning with the America’s founding fantasy of paradise, Anika and Sam trace how the country’s utopian dream soured into a national aesthetic of suspicion: from Puritan invisible enemies and the feminized conspiracy of the Salem Witch Trials, to the pastoral terror of data centers humming in the American wilderness, to cyberpunk stealthwear, urban camouflage, hollow earths, Atlantis, visions of a lost world, and much, much more. Drawing from Leo Marx, Richard Hofstadter, Adam Curtis, Cotton Mather, Anette Kolodny, Silvia Federici, and Anika’s own novel, the girls move through history, politics, media, and fashion to uncover what conspiracy reveals about American self-invention. Links: Anika’s InstagramFlat Earth by Anika Jade LevyForever MagazineAgens Denis’s A Confrontation: Battery Park LandfilThe Machine in the Garden by Leo Marx The Paranoid Style in American Politics by Richard Hofstadter The Lay of the Land by Annette Kolodny Caliban and the Witch by Silvia Federici The Significance of the Frontier in American History by Fredrick Jackson TurnerWonders of the Invisible World by Cotton MatherThe Cultural Cold War by Frances Stonor SaundersCV DazzleBalenciaga Panic of 2022Lotta Volkova ConspiracyData Center Hum on TikTokMr. Bean/Princess Diana ReelThe Century of the Self by Adam CurtisMAGA as Fan Fiction by Gideon JacobsPlayer One and Main Character by Gideon JacobsNew Models: The Online Marketplace of Ideas with Joshua CitarellaThe Gurdjieff MovementsThe New Age Bible by Sheila Heiti This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.nymphetalumni.com/subscribe
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  Ep. 159: I Know Dada w/ Chase Rutherford 03.06.2026 59min

  In this episode, we’re joined by legendary TikTok creator, Slushy Noobz creative director, and certified #SWAG Dadaism pioneer Chase Rutherford to further interrogate the ideas introduced in our previous episode. We discuss the freedom of default aesthetics and the legacy of normcore, the provocative power of readymades over a century after Fountain, how Kanye anchored the preppy misfit years of Chase’s youth, and how Chase resisted the siren song of LA influencer culture in favor of creative autonomy. We also discuss the art historical impact of Beyoncé and Jay-Z at the Louvre, how Sombr’s personal brand might still be salvaged, and the importance of reframing transient microtrends—from clout goggles to Brazil baby tee—as the significant cultural artifacts of our time.Links: Chase Rutherford on InstagramChase Rutherford on TikTokSlushy Noobz on PatreonSlushy Noobz official merchandise This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.nymphetalumni.com/subscribe
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  Ep. 157: American Freakshow | Study Break 13.05.2026 1t 20min

  In this edition of Study Break, we discuss the less-than-triumphant return of Euphoria and Sam Levinson’s pivot to everythingsplotation Western, Michael Jackson’s new hagiography and the grotesque legacy that transcends it, and recent fashioncore highlights from the literalism of the Met Gala to the nostalgia of The Devil Wears Prada 2. We also discuss the Substack truth nuke that rocked the indie music scene, Olivia Rodrigo’s coquette comeback, The Drama’s fresh take on the tribulations of female adolescence, and more. Links: Suga Free the Pimp on InstagramPimp: The Story of My Life by Iceberg Slim“Why Is Everything So Ugly?” in Issue 44 of n+1“Fashion Is Not Art (And That’s OK)” by Valerie Steele in Someone Else“See Every Look from the Met Gala 2026 Red Carpet” in Vogue Hudson Williams MUA Aika Flores Pinterest board leakHudson Williams heading home at 7am following the Met Gala after party“Abnormals, Freaks, and Michael Jackson: Foucault, Baldwin, and the Truth of the Grotesque” by Brad Elliott Stone“Freaks and the American Ideal of Manhood (Here Be Dragons)” by James Baldwin, originally published in Playboy, January 1985Rabelais and His World by Mikhail Bakhtin Michael Jackson describes his first sexual encounter with Tatum O’Neal (2003)Telephone Stories: The Trials of Michael Jackson on SpotifyOn Michael Jackson by Margo Jefferson“Meryl Streep and Anna Wintour on Power, Fashion, and Acting the Part” (April 2026 cover story) by Chloe Malle in VogueSynopsis: Innocence by Kaija Saariaho from the Metropolitan OperaOlivia Rodrigo – drop dead (Official Music Video)Olivia Rodrigo – begged (Live) on Saturday Night Live“Fake Fans” by Eliza McLamb in words from eliza on SubstackNancy Pelosi Endorses Jack Schlossberg For CongressAcquired Style x Swan Beauty Viral Bachelorette Party This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.nymphetalumni.com/subscribe
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  Ep. 156: #SWAG Dadaism 06.05.2026 1t 2min

  In this episode, we coin a new term for one of the most interesting creative impulses of our generation: #SWAG Dadaism. Like the original Dadaists responding to the whiplash of industrialization and WWI, a certain subset of young creatives are responding to the vertigo of global instability and breathless technological futurism through fashion assemblage, IP maximalism, and a fearless embrace of all things chopped and random. We conduct a historical survey from Clement Greenberg’s theory of kitsch and the avant-garde to the early days of meme culture to explore page fashion parodists of the past decade. We also get into Justin Bieber and Timothée Chalamet’s parallel #SWAG rebrands, the collapse of the secondhand market and its unexpected creative upside, and how #SWAG exists as the antithesis of refinement culture. Links: Image boardDada Manifesto by Tristan Tzara (1918)“Avant-Garde and Kitsch” by Clement Greenberg from The Partisan Review (1939)“The First Meme of 2026 Is About Not Explaining Yourself. And Buttons.” by Madison Malone Kircher for The New York TimesChase Rutherford on Instagram (referenced posts one, two, three)Chase Rutherford interview for Perfectly Imperfect@okniceok on Instagram @kalebphobic on TikTok re: digicore sampling Canal Street Research Association and Shanzhai Lyric on Instagram“Bags, Bootlegs and Art: A Quirky Communion on Canal Street” by Siddhartha Mitter in The New York TimesAva Nirui / @avanope interview in Office magazine (2017)“Meet Ava Nirui, The Creative Force Behind Marc Jacobs’ Heaven Line” by Eni Subair in Vogue (2020) “Go To The Thrift Store That’s Where The Heat Is” on Know Your Meme @harmonytividad “filet minion” post on InstagramMiddle school boy bar crawl on TikTokTung Tung Tung Sahur boxers outfit on TikTok@twylatoktok on TikTok (referenced posts one, two, three)@turtlewithhat_ / Izzy and Emma pink leggings outfits This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.nymphetalumni.com/subscribe
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  Ep. 153: Catalan Chicslop w/ Clairolime 18.03.2026 1t 21min

  In this week’s episode, we’re joined by critical mastermind Caroline Cai (aka Clairolime) to unpack what we’re calling Catalan Chicslop, the downtempo, sophisticated, quietly freaky aesthetic championed by brands like Paloma Wool and Gimaguas. We discuss how this look evolved from avant-basic dopamine dressing, its influences from ‘90s minimalism to early 20th century experimental couture, Barcelona’s history as a modernist aura farm, post-Phoebe Philo feminist-lite brand mythos, and strategies to transcend the tyranny of chicness. We also analyze the aesthetic’s appeal to women across successive life stages, from 13-year-old Penelope Dissick to microinfluencer gallerinas to mysterious pregnant brunettes. Links:@clairolime on InstagramImage boardRelevant brands: Paloma Wool, Gimaguas, Susmie’s Collection, Belle Anna, Deiji Studios, Buci, Geel, DémodéMODÉ“How Spain’s Indie Fashion Scene Nailed Global Growth” in Business of Fashion“These Brands are Putting Spanish Style on the Map” by Zoe Suen in W“Paloma Wool: From Cool to Basic and Back Again” by Yola Mzizi in The New York TimesPaintings by Ramon Casas (Ex. 1, Ex. 2, Ex. 3, Ex. 4) Paloma Wool’s “San Sebastián 2025” campaign featuring Carlotta Baan“Studio Visit: Paloma Wool” in Sleek magazine (2023)“Where Are All the Women Designers?” by Emma Childs in Marie ClaireChicslop runoff examples from Miaou, Frankie’s Bikinis, Guizio, Jaded London, Revolve house brands Lioness and Lovers and Friends, With Jean, UNIFHAIM - Relationships (Official Music Video)Crumbs from Penelope Dissick’s deleted TikTok photo dumpEmma Chamberlain’s “i got rid of (almost) everything” closet video“T-boy swag: Claiming space where trans people feel we don’t inherently belong” by Reanna Cruz in NPRNote from Alexi: I’m sorry I mispronounced Phoebe Philo omg put your chic pewter pitchforks down!! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.nymphetalumni.com/subscribe
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  Ep. 152: Fake Minkhia Asylum | Study Break 11.03.2026 1t 17min

  In this edition of Study Break, the girls review the latest cultural dispatches, including the newest wave of attention-seeking fashion week stunts (from Fakemink at Balenciaga to Bryan Johnson lurking at Matières Fécales), the Buffalo Bill realness of Robert Pattinson and Zendaya’s Interview Magazine cover, Tyra Banks’s wacky legacy, Hillary Clinton’s bleach-and-tone, the rise of Wuthering Heights womanslop, and more!Links:Fakemink for DazedBrian Johnson for Fecal Matter in ParisRobert Pattinson and Zendaya for Interview MagazineJim Carrey Clone AllegationsAlexis Stone Jim Carrey PrankPunch the Monkey This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.nymphetalumni.com/subscribe
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  Ep. 151: Romantasy 05.03.2026 1t 9min

  In this week’s episode, we discuss Romantasy, the Franken-genre that has conquered the publishing world and defined the libidinal landscapes of a generation of women. We decode the genre’s DNA from dimestore bodice-rippers to high fantasy epics, examine the sociological profile of its authors and audiences, and explore how it’s mutated in the digital age via AI visualizers and high-budget audio erotica. We also talk about Renaissance faires, fujoshi discourse, the mirror image of male vs. female gooning in popular culture, Emerald Fennell’s Wuthering Heights as the BookTok movie of the century, and more. Links: Image boardSam’s Romantasy Spotify Playlist“Did a Best-Selling Romantasy Author Steal Another Writer’s Story?” by Katy Waldman in The New Yorker“She Fell in Love With ChatGPT. Then She Ghosted It.” (r/MyBoyfriendIsAI profile) by Kashmir Hill in The New York Times“Gender difference in brain activation to audio-visual sexual stimulation” by Chung et. al. in PubMed“Sexual Scripts: Permanence and Change” by William Simon and John H. Gagnon in Archives of Sexual Behavior, Vol. 15, No. 2“How the Renaissance Fair became America’s favorite fantasy” by Kelly Faircloth in National Geographicr/AskAHistorian discussions about medievalism and high fantasy (one, two, three)The Oxford Handbook of Victorian Medievalism ed. Joanne Parker and Corinna WagnerHard to Be a God (2013) dir. Aleksei GermanCandlelight Ecstasy Romance Guidelines c. 1980Love Story magazine ed. Daisy Bacon (1921–1947) (see covers here) “The Uses of Reading Mass-Produced Romance Fiction” (Harlequin study) by Susan B. Neuman (1985) History of the “sex and shopping” genre by Pascal Tréguer“Girls Who Love Boys Who Love Boys” by E. Alex Jung in VultureInterview with Quinn founder and CEO Caroline Spiegel in Refinery29“Aural Fixation: Celebrity Audio Erotica Is 2025’s Answer to the Centerfold” by Hannah Jackson in Vogue“The Importance of Critical Thinking in a Zombiefied World” (Why romantasy is crucial to understanding Apple TV’s hit show Pluribus) by Maris Kreizman in The Atlantic“Liking Books is Not a Personality” by Hannah McGregor in Electric Literature@shauna_the_author on Instagram This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.nymphetalumni.com/subscribe
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  Ep. 150: Wolk Mind Virus w/ Ivy Wolk 18.02.2026 1t 19min

  In this week’s episode, we’re joined by actress and generational internet phenomenon Ivy Wolk (Anora, The English Teacher) to discuss her sartorial origins from roller derby to riot grrl to rockabilly, the sorry state of the Theatre, the evolving identity of the character actor, the cult mystique of a volatile decade-long online presence, and why cultural curiosity may be the closest thing we have to world peace. Ivy also weighs in on the uncanny e-girl invasion of the latest Guess campaign and reflects on the spirit of authentic Angeleno style.Links: Ivy Wolk on InstagramTheatre and Film on Tape Archive at NYPL for the Performing ArtsMike Tyson’s “fat and nasty” MAHA Super Bowl adPeloton’s Kendall Toole in viral “get ‘em banned” clipGuess girl Instagam campaign This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.nymphetalumni.com/subscribe
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  Ep. 149: The Horn of Plenty Honky Tonk | Study Break 11.02.2026 1t 6min

  In this edition of Study Break, we survey the triumph and tragedy of the 2026 Grammys and deliver our official assessment of the Momania (The Moment + Melania) double feature. The declaration of war on Sombr is formally expanded to include newcomer Olivia Dean, and the strange theater of Latino representation in Hollywood comes under review. Elsewhere, several urgent notes are issued to the pop music PR puppeteers who seem to have lost motor control of talents like Jelly Roll and Billie Eilish. We also unpack the honky tonk heartbreak of Bella Hadid and Adan Banuelos, Gaga’s McQueen resurrection, Justin Bieber’s soulful Captain Underpants realness, the newest wave of Windrush Generation excellence, and more!Links:Sacheen Littlefeather accepting an Oscar on behalf of Marlon BrandoAdan Banuelos Arrested for Public IntoxicationBella Hadid dancing in a Honky Tonk with Adan BanuelosTheo Von on Jelly Roll Acceptance SpeechesZillennial Cozy Funk Wedding This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.nymphetalumni.com/subscribe
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  Ep. 147: Cherry Emoji Dark Feminine 28.01.2026 1t 14min

  In this week's episode, we examine a specific brand of dark femininity that feels like a vestige of 2016, embodied through dramatic imagery of luxury accessories, cartoon vixens, and predatory wildlife, and expressed through a paradoxical strain of man-hating male centrism. We discuss this aesthetic’s positioning in opposition to the Clean Girl and how interpersonal dynamics popularized by sex work inform its understanding of power and money. We also investigate why the dark feminine resonates so deeply among women of the so-called “Latina belt,” drawing connections to chola culture and Arabic literary traditions to explore how this affect functions as a negotiation between patriarchal tradition and Western ideas about female sexuality and autonomy. Finally, we identify the aesthetic’s greatest arbiters and muses, from Helmut Newton and Riccardo Tisci to Maddy Perez and BLACKPINK’s Lisa.Links: Image board Examples on Instagram, TikTokRalph Bakshi: A Forgotten PioneerRihanna - B***h Better Have My Money (Explicit) (Official Music Video)BbyMutha - RULES (Official Music Video)Why Men Love B*****s: From Doormat to Dreamgirl by Sherry Argov“How the Cholo Clown Became the Face of L.A.” by Frank Rojas for LA Times (“Smile Now, Cry Later” history)Viral Alexa Demie Yo Voy clip Ghazal History – Encyclopaedia IranicaBLACKPINK’s Lisa introduces “Vixi” @shopnou_ on Instagram“The Wild World of Chris von Wangenheim” by Daisy Woodward for AnOtherChris von Wanghenheim on TheFashionSpot“Pomellato Revives Helmut Newton’s Daring ’80s Campaigns in a New Show” by Annie Davidson Watson for WRicardo Tisci by Donatella Versace for InterviewGivenchy Fall 2011 Menswear on Vogue RunwayGivenchy Spring 2011 Ready-to-Wear on Vogue RunwayGivenchy Fall 2011 Ready-to-Wear on Vogue Runway This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.nymphetalumni.com/subscribe
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  Ep. 146: Blonde Hair and Black Gold | Study Break 14.01.2026 1t 5min

  In the first Study Break of the year, Biz and Sam survey the state of the world refracted through the prism of pop culture. They discuss Odessa A’Zion’s wig allegations, the hypernormal clownery of Nicolas Maduro’s kidnapping, Bella Hadid’s blonde hair omen, and the pop-princess perfection of Zara Larsson. Plus: a meditation on time in the second quarter of the 21st century, viewed through the anamorphic looking glass of Hollister’s 2016 anachronism, Cameron Winter’s Dorian Grey agelessness, and North West’s prodigious beat-making potential.Links:Hollister’s Tumblr Drop2016 RevisionismStateside + Zara Larsson by Pink PanthressNorth West’s Beatmaking SampleCameron Winter at Carnegie HallBella Hadid for Dazed MENA@shop_reallifeaslivCarnival Time, Hardness, and the Machines That Process Excess by Sachin on SubstackWork-Hardened Archetypes by Sachin on SubstackVenezuelan Oil Explainer in The GuardianEnhanced Oil Recovery TechniquesOil Company Pushback in The GuardianWho is Zach Bryan’s Wife?Rama Duwaji Profile in The CutPrevious Episodes Referenced:Ep. 76: Get SillyEp. 24: The SnapocalypseEp. 25: America (with Light Townsend Cummins) This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.nymphetalumni.com/subscribe
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  Ep. 145: Pastel Grunge Revival 31.12.2025 1t 6min

  This week, we herald the coming of the Pastel Grunge Revival, a new wave of candy-colored femininity characterized by an eclectic and deliberately unsettling fusion of childlike innocence and overt sensuality. We discuss the style’s influences— soft grunge Tumblr imagery, cartoon nostalgia, Harajuku fashion, sex worker style, and more— and unpack the social functions of age regression, self-objectification, and homosocial fantasy that resonate with young women online. We also provide a brief overview of pastels in visual culture from the 1950s to present, and we explore the myriad reasons why this aesthetic emerged from Los Angeles in particular. Special thank you to Monica @finalformfemale for this episode idea!!Links:Image boardAshley Williams – Vogue Runwayf5ve – I Choose You (Official MV)PGR It Girls and Creative Forces Masterlist: Mazzy Joya, Savannah Hudson, Miss Madeline and Chase Icon, Cannelle, ADÉLA, Manon Macasaet, Lexi Kingery, Kennedy Dechet, Natasha Somerville, Aerin MorenoShopbluedream.us and @shopbluedream on Instagram for an inspired selection of PGR clothingMisc. PGR brands: Lovett, OGBFF, OMIGHTY, Poster Girl, I.AM.GIA, Poison Candy Apple, WeedSlutTikToks of girls posting their younger selves to sad songs Accidentally getting a job as a stripper in Japan TikTok storytimefakemink - Easter Pink (Prod Suzy Sheer) (Official MV)Rhode remakes Richard Avedon’s iconic Versace 1994 campaignOG Soft Grunge It Girls: Joanna Kuchta, Shelby Hamilton aka meowshelbs, Erika Kamano fka Erika BowesGwen Stefani and the Harajuku Girls (2005)Nicki Minaj explains Harajuku Barbie (2009) (+ Nicki’s iconic pastel necklaces by ONCH)Rapper CeeChynaa shows off her vintage doll collection This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.nymphetalumni.com/subscribe
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  Ep. 144: The 2025 Nymphies Awards 18.12.2025 57min

  After a brief hiatus, the Nymphies are BACK!! In this annual ceremony, we honor 2025’s greatest achievements in fashion and culture with awards from us at the Nymphet Alumni Academy of Arts and Sciences, including categories such as Best and Worst Rebrand, Outfit of the Year, Best Sillyboy, and Best Brainrot Trend, featuring exclusive access to our careful deliberation process. We lay to rest dearly departed aesthetics of years past, and we end the evening by announcing the winner of the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award, immortalizing one true legend in the Nymphet Alumni canon. For the first time, we’ve also tallied up your votes for the Reader’s Choice Awards! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.nymphetalumni.com/subscribe
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  Ep. 142: Gearing Up w/ Avery Trufelman 05.12.2025 1t 6min

  In this episode, we’re joined (again!!) by Avery Trufelman, the grand dame of fashion podcasting, to discuss the latest installment of her podcast, Articles of Interest, titled Gear. In this meticulously researched series, Avery dives deep into the history of tactical/outdoor fashion and the ways in which the United States Military and the world of high-tech performance wear continuously influence each other. She answers our pressing questions about American frontier cosplay, the symbolism of the modern field jacket, the innovations behind lightweight tech, and why gear has reemerged as a major fashion language. We also touch on the future of patriotism ahead of the country’s 250th anniversary and the rise of meme-ified military archetypes among Gen Z. Links: Articles of Interest on Substack This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.nymphetalumni.com/subscribe