Best Eternal Debate Podcasts (2025)

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What Next: TBD | Is A.I. Taking Your Job? 31:03

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2d ago31:03

31:03

If you’re hunting for a job, the odds are increasingly likely you’ll have an interview with an artificial intelligence “recruiter.” And why not? It’s also increasingly likely you’ll be working with A.I. anyway. Guest: Danielle Abril, technology-in-the-workplace reporter for the Washington Post. Want more What Next TBD? Subscribe to Slate Plus to ac…

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ICYMI | Nobody Wants To Party Anymore 44:50

20m ago44:50

44:50

On today’s episode, host Kate Lindsay is joined by sociologist and content creator Josh Lora, who goes by @tellthebeees on TikTok and Substack. In his viral piece, “The Mainstreaming of Loserdom,” Lora explores how a generation of people is becoming proudly anti-social, often in favor of staying home on their phones. While less and less people may …

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What Next: TBD | A Very Online Shooter 35:58

9m ago35:58

35:58

As the Charlie Kirk murder demonstrated, law enforcement, the government, and media all need more internet fluency. But their reactions in the wake of the murder don’t seem to be moving towards a better understanding. Guest: Ryan Broderick, reporter on online culture, author of the newsletter Garbage Day. Want more What Next TBD? Subscribe to Slate…

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September 2025 Uncensored 1:48:00

1h ago1:48:00

1:48:00

This uncensored was a doozie! Today we reflect on our K-Drama watching tastes and how they've changed in the almost FOUR YEARS of the Afternoona Delight Podcast. We discuss how we keep our dramas we watch for the pod from feeling like homework. And we dive into our feelings on K-Dramas as adaptations of source material. And we touch on the age old …

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ICYMI | The Funniest Guy on Slate's Slack 49:21

6d ago49:21

49:21

On today’s episode, host Kate Lindsay is joined by Slate senior writer Ben Mathis-Lilley to say goodbye after eleven years at Slate. Ben was responsible for iconic stories like “Wouldn’t It Be Nice to Get Knocked Out Cold With a Shovel for Exactly Six Weeks and Five Days?”, and is known as the “funniest person in Slack” despite spending his days re…

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Slate Money | Money Talks: Battle of the AI Bots 37:17

11h ago37:17

37:17

In this Money Talks: Elizabeth Spiers is joined by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Gary Rivlin to discuss his book AI Valley, a deep dive into the Silicon Valley companies that are competing to create the best–and most profitable–AI model. Gary has been covering the tech world for decades and has seen the major players in this arms race evolve ov…

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What Next: TBD | Her Daughter Killed Herself. Then She Saw the ChatGPT logs. 34:37

3d ago34:37

34:37

After their daughter committed suicide, they found her ChatGPT log—and where artificial intelligence helped her write her suicide note. Guest: Laura Reiley, writer for the Cornell Chronicle. Want more What Next TBD? Subscribe to Slate Plus to access ad-free listening to the whole What Next family and all your favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe toda…

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ICYMI | Is #BodyPositivity Over? 51:17

10d ago51:17

51:17

On today’s episode, hosts Candice Lim and Kate Lindsay are joined by writer Virgie Tovar, whose latest podcast, GLP-1 Truth Serum, explores the predatory nature of GLP-1 marketing, and companies’ attempts to target plus-size creators. But #BodyPositivity was getting backlash long before these new weight loss drugs became trendy, and now social medi…

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What Next: TBD | You Can't Escape the Charlie Kirk VideoYou Can't Escape the Charlie Kirk Video 36:04

11d ago36:04

36:04

Graphic, violent videos like the shooting of right-wing pundit Charlie Kirk circulate across social media moments after they happen, finding an audience even among people who have made no effort to seek them out. Guest: Craig Silverman, journalist and cofounder of Indicator. Want more What Next TBD? Subscribe to Slate Plus to access ad-free listeni…

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Attraction in Kdramas 1:33:05

7d ago1:33:05

1:33:05

Piggybacking off an earlier episode about sexual tension, this week Megan and Lia delve into attraction in Kdramas. What makes a character attractive? Do we fall in love with emotionally available characters or swoon for the tortured hero... or both? Ready to download your first audiobook? Don't forget to click HERE for your free Audible trial. *Au…

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ICYMI | Does SNL Need Internet Comedians? 44:15

4m ago44:15

44:15

Kate Lindsay and Candice Lim dive into the online conversations surrounding recent Saturday Night Live cast announcements. With departing fan favorites (such as Heidi Gardner) come the arrival of new talent, and for the past few years, SNL has been sourcing their talent from your For You Page. From TikTok-prominent comedian Veronika Slowikowska to …

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TBD | End of an Electric Avenue 20:01

2d ago20:01

20:01

An Inflation Reduction Act subsidy for electric vehicles is being shut down by the Trump administration at the end of September, and automakers are preparing for sales of EVs to slow. Can this nascent industry survive? Guest: ⁠Ryan Felton⁠, reporter covering the automotive industry for the Wall Street Journal Learn more about your ad choices. Visit…

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ICYMI | The Gaylor Fandom Is Going Through It 51:37

13d ago51:37

51:37

On today’s episode, hosts Candice Lim and Kate Lindsay are joined by Spitfire News writer Kat Tenbarge, who came to the defense of the Gaylor fandom (people who believe Taylor Swift is secretly queer) after they were accused of “crashing out” in light of her engagement to Travis Kelce. But who are the Gaylors, really? And why are they always the bu…

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What Next: TBD | Is the A.I. Bubble Bursting? 35:05

11d ago35:05

35:05

We’ve been told that artificial intelligence can write, code, generate images—it can do everything…except feasibly turn a profit. But investing in A.I. has nevertheless become a pillar of the U.S. economy. Where is this leading us? Guest: Ed Zitron, author of the newsletter Where’s Your Ed At and host of the podcast Better Offline. Want more What N…

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Head Over Heels: Charming or a Mess? 1:21:29

20d ago1:21:29

1:21:29

It's just two of your noonas this week. Amy and Megan are here to discuss the Amazon Prime drama, Head Over Heels. This drama has some of our favorite tropes, a great blend of comedy and drama, and--yes--a bit of a messy ending. But guess what? We still loved it. Also, maybe you can help settle an argument. Does Megan actually like high school dram…

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ICYMI | Is $55K Enough To Work At Your Favorite Podcast? 43:23

10d ago43:23

43:23

Candice Lim and Kate Lindsay talk about the backlash surrounding The Cutting Room Floor, a fashion podcast you may know from its Leandra Medine Cohen episode or its viral Steve Madden interview. Last week, host and creator Recho Omondi went on TikTok to hire a full-time staffer who would be an office administrator, bookings coordinator, and persona…

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What Next: TBD | A24 Meets A.I. 26:23

9d ago26:23

26:23

A24 rose from “small budget indie movie studio” to “one of the most respected brands in cinema” on a reputation for treating filmmakers like auteurs. But as the studio is growing and exploring how to integrate artificial intelligence, it’s at odds with some of the very directors who helped A24 establish itself. Guest: Alex Barasch, culture editor a…

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Slate Money | Sycophantic Suck-Up Machines 57:06

10d ago57:06

57:06

This week: Fed governor Lisa Cook is suing the Trump administration over her dismissal. Felix Salmon, Elizabeth Spiers, and Emily Peck, along with guest Kashmir Hill of The New York Times, discuss the weak fraud case being used to oust the Biden-appointed Fed governor and its significance in the fight to preserve the independence of the Federal Res…

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ICYMI | Gavin Newsom’s Sh*tposting 46:00

10d ago46:00

46:00

On today’s episode, hosts Candice Lim and Kate Lindsay are joined by Slate staff writer Luke Winkie, whose piece “Is This What It Takes to Beat Trump?” examines Gavin Newsom’s latest social media strategy: shitposting. The California governor has started tweeting in the style of Donald Trump to ridicule the president and promote his new redistricti…

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What Next: TBD | The Great Celebrity Spotify Playlist Hack 27:15

25d ago27:15

27:15

The playlists of dozens of high-level government officials and tech executives were suddenly broadcast to the world on a website called “the Panama Playlists.” But the information wasn’t taken by sophisticated hackers infiltrating any mainframes—it was all already publicly available. Guest: Mike Isaac, New York Times Silicon Valley correspondent. W…

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What Next | Could Artificial Blood Save Lives? 27:01

25d ago27:01

27:01

Blood has a very short shelf life, even under the best of conditions—and you can picture the less-than-ideal conditions where blood is frequently needed—which is why scientists have been working on a blood alternative. The results are promising. Guest: Nicky Twilley, host of “Gastropod” podcast and author of Frostbite: How Refrigeration Changed Our…

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Sexual Tension in Kdramas: Is It a Vibe? 1:22:28

27d ago1:22:28

1:22:28

We pull from our romance writer roots in today's episode, and discuss everything from writing sexual tension in our own books to some of our favorite couples with the best sexual tension in Kdramas. K-Pop Rec of the Week: Smeraldo Garden Marching Band by Jimin Ready to download your first audiobook? Don't forget to click HERE for your free Audible …

301
What Next: TBD | Trump Vs. Cancer Research 30:18

17d ago30:18

30:18

President Trump has proposed cutting $2.5 billion from the National Cancer Institute, which in addition to cuts to the National Institutes of Health and research universities almost makes you wonder: whose side is he on in the fight against cancer? Guest: Angus Chen, cancer reporter for STAT news Want more What Next TBD? Subscribe to Slate Plus to …

301
ICYMI | ChatGPT Has Ruined the Em Dash 39:40

18d ago39:40

39:40

Candice Lim and Kate Lindsay get into the war between em dashes and artificial intelligence. Back in 2024, what started as a developer question became an all-out grammar war, with the use of em dashes becoming a possible indicator that something was written using ChatGPT. In the past week alone, several writers have published their defenses of the …

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What Next: TBD | The CDC Under Fire 24:36

26d ago24:36

24:36

Two weeks ago, a gunman fired over 500 bullets at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention building in Atlanta. Between the anti-public health rhetoric coming from Robert F. Kennedy Jr. at the top, personnel cuts and firings, and now a literal shooting, many employees are reaching their breaking point. Guest: Lauren Weber, health science acco…

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Better Late Than Single, Or Better An Eternal Single? 1:50:49

1M ago1:50:49

1:50:49

It's finally time to share our thoughts on the wildly popular Korean dating show, Better Late Than Single. We loved the concept and thought it had great promise in the early episodes. But we have some thoughts on how it all played out as well as some suggestions for the next season. Harper's Bazaar Singapore - Your Guide to Better Late Than Single …

351
ICYMI | Ethel Cain, Lana Del Rey, and the Lorax Girl 43:15

21d ago43:15

43:15

Candice Lim and Kate Lindsay explain what’s going on between the internet’s favorite sad girls, Ethel Cain and Lana Del Rey. Where did their beef start and why is Peter Griffin involved? Then, they dive into a new TikTokker who dresses up as the Lorax, does spot-on Ariana Grande impressions, and could be our next big comedian. But first, our favori…

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How To! | Declutter Your Digital Life 36:36

30d ago36:36

36:36

Safiya is one clumsy coffee spill away from catastrophe. A Gen Xer who hasn’t yet embraced the cloud, she stores thousands of digital files, documents, and photos on devices with maxed-out storage limits. On today’s episode, Carvell Wallace brings on Caitlin McGarry, senior editor at Wirecutter. Caitlin talks with Safiya about practical ways to del…

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What Next: TBD | Down the Text-Scam Rabbit Hole 33:19

27d ago33:19

33:19

The scam du jour arrives via a text message, offering you a job. What happens when you accept? Guest: Alex Sammon, Slate features writer. Want more What Next TBD? Subscribe to Slate Plus to access ad-free listening to the whole What Next family and all your favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts by clicking “Try Free” at the top…

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ICYMI | The Great Girlboss Comeback 51:37

28d ago51:37

51:37

On today’s episode, host Kate Lindsay is joined by Slate senior writer Scaachi Koul to talk about the return of the girlboss. Over five years after various exposes exposed their poor management and, in some cases, racism, former it-girls like The Wing’s Audrey Gelman and Outdoor Voice’s Ty Haney are back in the spotlight. Their new projects, howeve…

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What Next TBD | Trump Dips into NVIDIA’s Chips 26:45

29d ago26:45

26:45

Jensen Huang, cofounder of NVIDIA, finds himself president of a $4 trillion company, at the forefront of A.I. technology, and, consequently, something of an international diplomat, as he charms President Trump and negotiates to sell his powerful chips to China. Guest: Amrith Ramkumar, reporter for The Wall Street Journal in Washington covering tech…

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Painters, Snowmen, and Reapers: A Dear Hongrang Review 1:52:32

1M ago1:52:32

1:52:32

It's been a while since we reviewed a drama where we all don't agree, so thanks Dear Hongrang, for making Lia and Amy want to fight Megan. Just kidding, it's not that bad... or is it? Ready to download your first audiobook? Don't forget to click HERE for your free Audible trial. *Audible is a sponsor of Afternoona Delight Podcast* Are your family a…

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ICYMI | Kendra Fell In Love With Her Psychiatrist—Then She Met TikTok 41:03

1M ago41:03

41:03

On today’s episode, host Kate Lindsay is joined by senior supervising producer Daisy Rosario to talk about Kendra, the woman whose 25-part TikTok series about falling in love with her psychiatrist has captivated the internet. However, what viewers thought would be the next Reesa Teesa “Who The Fuck Did I Marry?” series turned out to be something mu…

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What Next: TBD | Here Comes the A.I. Music Slop 30:29

1M ago30:29

30:29

It’s hard to make money in the music industry. But if you could flood every streamer with hundreds of “original” songs without having to, you know, write or produce it yourself, there’s money there—and less for everyone else. Guests: Chris Molanphy, host of Slate’s Hit Parade podcast. Kate Knibbs, senior writer at Wired Want more What Next TBD? Sub…

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ICYMI | Viral Debates: Crossing the Aisle or Clickbait? 47:49

1M ago47:49

47:49

On today’s episode, hosts Candice Lim and Kate Lindsay are joined by Slate staff writer Aymann Ismail to discuss the controversial YouTube channel, Jubilee. A video of political commentator Mehdi Hasan debating 20 far-right republicans has gone viral, but as Ismail argues in his piece for Slate, it also crossed a line. When political disagreement b…

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What Next: TBD | What Happened After Meta Fired Its Fact-Checkers 28:57

2M ago28:57

28:57

In January, Mark Zuckerberg announced that Meta was moving from employing professional fact-checkers to letting its users fact-check each other. If you’ve heard that it’s going perfectly, then you, too, have been exposed to misinformation. Guest: Geoffrey Fowler, tech columnist with the Washington Post Want more What Next TBD? Subscribe to Slate Pl…

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Traveling in Korea: Seoul and Beyond 2:27:04

2M ago2:27:04

2:27:04

Join Lia Riley and her guest Un as they reflect on their summer journeys through Korea, sharing the quiet moments and unexpected discoveries that made their trips memorable. From BTS concerts, to witnessing a Squid Game parade in Seoul to wandering through Jeonju’s peaceful hanok villages, they talk about the experiences that lingered long after th…

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ICYMI | Your Next Favorite Book Will Be Fanfiction 45:45

1M ago45:45

45:45

Kate Lindsay and Candice Lim discuss the latest in Labubu-land, from a TikTok blackface controversy to leaving one on an iconic anti-capitalist’s grave. Then, they dive into the growing trend of fanfiction getting a big marketing push from the publishing world. From Ali Hazelwood’s The Love Hypothesis starting as Reylo fanfic to Julie Soto basing h…

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Slate Money | Money Travels: The Eternal Baggage Question 16:20

1M ago16:20

16:20

In this special episode of Slate Money Travels, Felix Salmon, Emily Peck and Elizabeth Spiers discuss the constant question on travelers’ minds: should you check your bag? They dig into how to make your carry-on count, the beauty of Air Tags, and Felix offers an alternative to checking a bag that isn’t a carry on. Want to hear that discussion and h…

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What Next: TBD | The A.I. Data Center Push That Wasn't 27:51

2M ago27:51

27:51

OpenAI’s Sam Altman, flanked by President Trump and Softbank’s Masayoshi Son, announced a hugely ambitious investment in data centers across America to support all the artificial intelligence we’re going to be using. Months in, the project has been scaled back to a single, power-hungry data center in Ohio. Guest: Berber Jin, reporter covering A.I. …

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ICYMI | Why Online Whisper Networks Never Work 43:36

2M ago43:36

43:36

Candice Lim and Kate Lindsay are joined by writer and senior editor at Playboy Magazine, Magdalene Taylor, to talk about Tea. The app for women to crowdsource any “red flags” about the men they’re dating was hacked shortly after it hit #1 on the Apple Lifestyle app chart. Now, the private information of thousands of women has been shared across 4Ch…

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What Next: TBD | The Death of an Online Whisper Network 28:54

1M ago28:54

28:54

A shadow app for the dating world had its data hacked and exposed, and it laid bare the perils of creating safe spaces for women online — and of relying on tech companies. Guest: Kate Lindsay, host of Slate’s ICYMI Want more What Next TBD? Subscribe to Slate Plus to access ad-free listening to the whole What Next family and all your favorite Slate …

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EXPOSED: Hidden CALVINIST Tactics (And How To STOP Them) 1:10:09

2M ago1:10:09

1:10:09

Drew responds to the very controversial topic of "Stealth Calvinism" with a clip at the Puritans Conference in 2022 with John Piper @desiringGod and the late John MacArthur of @gracetoyou where they talk about his "coming out" as a Calvinist at one of R.C. Sproul's Conferences with @ligonier. He also addresses a clip from Paul Washer @Heartcrymissi…

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Squid Game 3: Babies, VIPs, and Moral Complexities 1:54:53

2M ago1:54:53

1:54:53

The Squid Games are finished, and we're here to unpack it all with you -- the baby, the VIPs, the ending, and everything in between. Ready to download your first audiobook? Don't forget to click HERE for your free Audible trial. *Audible is a sponsor of Afternoona Delight Podcast* Are your family and friends sick of you talking about K-drama? We ge…

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ICYMI | Astronomer Updates, Jessie Murph, and Dubious Cults 43:31

2M ago43:31

43:31

Kate Lindsay and Candice Lim run through some updates following the Coldplay concert cheating scandal, and why Astronomer’s latest PR stunt is hitting them differently. Then, they surprise each other with two stories from different sides of the internet. First, what’s going on with this fake TikTok cult that possibly involves animal sacrifices, ski…

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What Next: TBD | Dupes! 33:24

2M ago33:24

33:24

There’s an entire economy devoted to seeing what products are trending—clothing, skin care, even Greek Islands—and delivering you a cheaper knock-off to buy. Guest: Mia Sato, reporter for The Verge Want more What Next TBD? Subscribe to Slate Plus to access ad-free listening to the whole What Next family and all your favorite Slate podcasts. Subscri…

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ICYMI | Calico Critters Are Beefing Thanks To TikTok 43:21

2M ago43:21

43:21

Candice Lim and Kate Lindsay investigate the disappearance of SylvanianDrama. The creator behind the account gained millions of followers for role-playing salacious narratives with the fuzzy Calico Critters children’s toys, but a copyright lawsuit from the brand itself has threatened the future of the account. Fans of SylvanianDrama are in an uproa…

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What Next: TBD | A Colbert Report 25:12

2M ago25:12

25:12

Was the Late Show too unprofitable, or too political? Guest: Eric Deggans, NPR TV critic and media analyst, Knight Chair, Journalism and Media Ethics, Washington & Lee University. Want more What Next TBD? Subscribe to Slate Plus to access ad-free listening to the whole What Next family and all your favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe today on Apple …

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ICYMI | The Astronomer CEO Coldplay Cheating Scandal 43:54

2M ago43:54

43:54

Kate Lindsay and Candice Lim break down everything that’s happened since a software CEO was caught in a suspicious position with his co-worker at a Coldplay concert. From Chris Martin’s viral dialogue to the dearth of content emerging from this story, they run through the tenets of a monocultural moment and debunk the misinformation that has transp…

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Afternoona Uncensored: July 1:43:47

2M ago1:43:47

1:43:47

Lia, Megan and Amy reunite after Lia's trip to Seoul (stand-alone trip pod forthcoming). You won't get erudite travel scholarship but she does talk about her armpit situation. Also, Megan and Amy are knee-deep in K-Pop Demon Hunters and want you to join them. Also what dramas are we looking forward to releasing? Ready to download your first audiobo…