Rephonic
Artwork for Pop Syllabus
Astrology
Wellness Industry
Space Racism
Disney
Disney Adults
Disneyland
Zodiac Era
Cultural Norms
Pop Culture
Walt Disney Company
Self-Care
Western Astrology
Eastern Astrology
LGBTQ Community
Beauty Standards
Cultural Criticism
Disney Plus
Marvel
Black Panther
Epcot

Pop Syllabus is a show where host Christiana Mbakwe Medina deconstructs the zeitgeist and answers the big cultural questions. How did we swing from body positivity to thin-being-in? Why do so many people trust wellness influencers over medical doctors? And how did tech oligarchs become the new celebrities? Think of Christiana as a cross between a messy news anchor and guerilla academic. Each week,... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes36Founded8 months ago
Number of ListenersCategories
ArtsSociety & Culture

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Pop Syllabus

Latest Episodes

Forget the stereotypical image of ADHD. For many women, it looks a lot different.

This week, Christiana sits down with Corinne the Coach to explore why women and girls are so often overlooked, why women of color face even greater barriers to diagnos... more

YouTube

We love to talk about motherhood like there’s a right way to do it. But the rules have never been as simple as they seem.

This week, Christiana sits down with WIRED senior culture writer and author of One Bad Mother Ej Dickson to explore the cultur... more

YouTube

Botox, filler, beauty trends, and the pressure to keep up with it all. This week, Christiana sits down with NYT columnist and UNC Chapel Hill professor Dr. Tressie McMillan Cottom to explore how beauty culture is changing around the world, why our ap... more

YouTube

Divas! We all love them, and we all have very strong opinions about who deserves a spot in our personal top 3. So this week, Christiana sits down with journalist, culture critic, and the NFL’s first LGBTQ+ brand ambassador Ryan Mitchell to bring back... more

YouTube

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Vibe Check
Vibe CheckZach Stafford, Saeed Jones
The Stacks
The StacksTraci Thomas
The Sam Sanders Show
The Sam Sanders ShowKCRW & Sam Sanders

Recent Guests

Tressie McMillan Cottom
Professor, sociologist, MacArthur Fellow; New York Times columnist
University; New York Times
Episode: The State of Beauty Politics and What It All Means with Tressie McMillan Cottom
Ryan Mitchell
Journalist, culture critic, co-host of High Key
High Key / NFL's first LGBTQ+ brand ambassador
Episode: Ranking the 2020s Pop Culture Divas with Ryan Mitchell
Sarah Mesle
Professor at USC and author of Tangled, Seven Iconic Moments in White Women's Hair and What They Tell Us About Power, Pleasure, and Complicity
University of Southern California
Episode: Power, Pleasure, and White Women’s Hair with Sarah Mesle
Blue Telusma
Writer, cultural commentator and YouTuber
Episode: Pioneers, Builders, and Innovators: a new Pop Syllabus rubric with Blue Telusma
Omid Scobie
New York Times bestselling author, TV writer and producer who covered the Royal Family for over a decade
Author/Journalist
Episode: Pop Culture and The Royal Family: Past, Present, and Future with Omid Scobie
Candiace Dillard Bassett
Iconic Real Housewives of Potomac star discussing her career and life
The Real Housewives of Potomac (former cast member)
Episode: The Anatomy of a Real Housewife with Candiace Dillard Bassett
Janet Tomiyama
Health psychologist, director of the Diet, Stigma and Health Lab (DISH)
DISH Lab, UCLA
Episode: GLP-1s and The Death of Body Positivity with Dr. A. Janet Tomiyama
Zuri Hall
Emmy-winning TV host known for Access Hollywood and E! red carpet coverage
Access Hollywood; E!
Episode: Are They a Star, Celebrity or Famous Person? with Zuri Hall
Jesse Golden
Entrepreneur and infertility/holistic-health advocate, founder of skincare line
Jesse Golden skincare
Episode: IVF, Pregnancy, and Home Birth at 45 with Jesse Golden

Host

Christiana Mbakwe Medina
Host of the show, introduces topics and guides interview

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 239 ratings
  • Editing

    A recent episode was supposed to be about celebrity couples and the first 20 minutes was unnecessarily detailed background information about the guest, down to every nuance of her work locations. Focus on the celebs, that’s why we’re here.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    wka940
    United States3 months ago
  • Started strong, been somewhat meh as of late

    I was really enjoying the episodes at first but as the weeks go I am less and less impressed. Like this felt almost academic in its analysis of pop culture but lately it’s feeling very superficial. Still trying though.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Okayyyyysure
    United States3 months ago
  • So fun

    I’m loving these episodes. They’re so fun & informative in ways I didn’t imagine from a pop culture podcast. Just so enjoyable to listen to.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Tif_723
    United States4 months ago
  • New fave!

    I loved the solo episode!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Paris Geller
    United States4 months ago
  • Must have in my rotation

    Very few people ask thoughtful interview questions and Christiana is one of the few. She pushes conversations and really shows how she is valuing the topic and wanting to learn and not just using the topics as clickbait. Also, she’s hilarious! Love her candor.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Alpha Mary
    United States5 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Thoughtful, engaging critique that still feels accessible and entertaining.
Some episodes feel academic or lengthy, but many praise the rigorous analysis and guest variety.
Listeners appreciate the host's sharp questions and depth of knowledge.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#66
United States/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#68
Canada/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#227
United Kingdom/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#210
Germany/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#104
South Africa/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#201
Taiwan/Arts

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Ranking Pop Culture Divas with Gerrick Kennedy
Q: What makes a diva have patriarchal control as central to their narrative, and how does that shape their career?
Kennedy explains that many divas are linked to battles against controlling systems—managers, labels, or partners—that shape their agency, song choices, and public narratives, making such struggles a core part of their legacy.
Deconstructing the Kardashians with MJ Corey
Q: Who is the breakout star among the Kar-Jenner grandchildren likely to emerge next?
North is positioned as the front-runner for breakout status, with potential surprises from other siblings; the family is anticipated to continue an intergenerational dynasty with a more fractured, platform-based future.
Deconstructing the Kardashians with MJ Corey
Q: What year is Kim most likely to run for office, and what position might she pursue?
Kim is likely to pursue a long game strategy, potentially starting with a governor-like role and then moving toward the presidency, using a pathway similar to other celebrity-turned-politician trajectories, while leveraging media machinery to build legitimacy.
The Conversation We Need About Womb Health With Dr. Kemi Doll
Q: What is womb suffering and how do you define the four types?
Womb suffering is described as the harmful inheritance of normalized severe gynecologic disease among Black women, amplified by a biased medical system; the four types covered are heavy menstrual bleeding, endometriosis, fibroids, and endometrial cancer, each with diagnostic and treatment pathways.
The Conversation We Need About Womb Health With Dr. Kemi Doll
Q: What led you to this work and this specialty?
Dr. Doll explains a passion for caring for women, including men and their behavior, and a draw to gynecologic oncology due to the intensity and mortality aspects of some cases, which makes the work both meaningful and urgent.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Pop Syllabus

What is Pop Syllabus about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show consistently traces the cultural moment through a sharp, informed lens that blends pop culture analysis with social science perspectives. Episodes frequently tackle body image, weight stigma, fame dynamics, feminism, and how media and technology shape public discourse. Guests span psychologists, journalists, actors, doctors, and researchers, all brought in to unpack big questions about culture, identity, and the business of attention. Noteworthy strengths include a rigorous approach paired with accessible storytelling, and a willingness to tackle controversial topics with nuance. Potential listeners who enjoy thoughtful critique of wellness culture, celebrity culture, and the politics of media will likely find it compelling, with ... more

Where can I find podcast stats for Pop Syllabus?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Pop Syllabus. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Pop Syllabus and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Pop Syllabus get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for four million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Pop Syllabus, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for Pop Syllabus?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Pop Syllabus, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does Pop Syllabus have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Pop Syllabus has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Pop Syllabus?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Pop Syllabus:

1. Vibe Check
2. The Stacks
3. It's Been a Minute
4. The Sam Sanders Show
5. Code Switch

How many episodes of Pop Syllabus are there?

Pop Syllabus launched 8 months ago and published 36 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Pop Syllabus?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Pop Syllabus?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Pop Syllabus from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Pop Syllabus?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Pop Syllabus. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on Pop Syllabus?

Recent guests on Pop Syllabus include:

1. Tressie McMillan Cottom
2. Ryan Mitchell
3. Sarah Mesle
4. Blue Telusma
5. Omid Scobie
6. Candiace Dillard Bassett
7. Janet Tomiyama
8. Zuri Hall

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days