Best PJ Ellis Podcasts (2025)

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BONUS: The secret plan to outlaw porn in the US (is working) 1:12:47

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14m ago1:12:47

1:12:47

This is a rerun from February this year, when 17 states in the US had banned PornHub. The tally now stands at 21, and both Mike Johnson and the Supreme Court don't seem fussed to stop there. Have a listen, especially if you haven't already, before we come back with new episodes next Wednesday, September 3. --- As of this recording, 17 states don’t …

1
If You’re Good Enough, You’re Old Enough - Resilience, Confidence and Opportunity with Paul Faulkner. 39:08

2d ago39:08

39:08

In this episode, we dive into the world of business and education with Paul Faulkner, co-founder of Element 45. We explore the evolving landscape of business in 2025, the innovative approach of Alpha Schools in the U.S., and the importance of resilience and adaptability in today's workforce. Paul shares insights from his eclectic career, emphasisin…

1
Does Mark Zuckerberg Care Anymore? (How Is This Better?) 27:36

1d ago27:36

27:36

Hi, everyone! We're out this week, but we wanted to share an episode of How Is This Better? featuring our very own, Ryan Broderick. The episode covers the evolution of everyone's favorite: Mark Zuckerberg. We'll be back next week with an all new Panic World, but for now – make sure you follow/subscribe to How Is This Better? wherever you get your p…

1
Catch-up: Andy and PJ on Bookshops, Balance, and Being Real. 42:53

9d ago42:53

42:53

Join us as we dive into a conversation about the realities of success, the importance of authenticity, and the power of storytelling. From personal anecdotes about career choices to reflections on parenting in a digital age, this episode offers insights into finding balance in life and work. Key Topics: Andy's love for bookshops and his guilty plea…

1
Is the ghost of Epstein breaking MAGA? 1:11:33

8d ago1:11:33

1:11:33

We made it nearly a year without having to cover Epstein, but with Trump and his allies consistently committing own-goals and bringing him up, the day has come. Today we’re talking about the Epstein files and what appears to be Trump’s most consequential weakness so far. Josie Duffy Rice joins us to talk about how and why Epstein became so central …

1
The Creative Equation: Andy Wilkinson on Technology and Imagination 37:01

14d ago37:01

37:01

In this episode we discuss the evolution of communication and marketing over the past 25 years, highlighting the importance of personal connections in business, the skills gap in the workforce, and the impact of AI and technology on the industry. Andy shares insights from his experience as the founder of OWB Creative Comms and emphasises the need f…

1
Investigating a cult inspired by a cartoon mouse (w/ PJ Vogt) 1:11:36

18d ago1:11:36

1:11:36

If a fandom exists long enough in isolation, does it inevitably become toxic or at least, very strange? This is the main question we’ll be exploring today, through a story that begins in 1989. That’s the year that Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers premiered. More importantly, it’s when the world was introduced to a sweet little mouse girl, Gadget Hackwr…

1
BONUS: Sydney Sweeney and rage bait 23:05

20d ago23:05

23:05

Ryan and Grant discuss that American Eagle ad and why everyone is arguing about Sydney Sweeney's "good jeans." Want to hear the rest of their conversation, and enjoy other cool stuff like ad-free episodes, bonus episodes, and access to our Discord? Sign up for just five bucks a month at: https://www.patreon.com/PanicWorld. Learn more about your ad …

1
Opening Doors: Ad Davies' Journey from Coaching to Leadership 40:13

22d ago40:13

40:13

In this episode, we delve into the inspiring journey of Ad Davies, a cultural architect who transitioned from sports coaching to business leadership. Ad shares his experiences from the football field to the boardroom, highlighting the power of storytelling and the importance of opportunity in shaping company identity. Tune in to hear how Ad's uniqu…

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Why eating disorder content is all over the internet 1:05:14

22d ago1:05:14

1:05:14

Eating disorder content has been a problem on the internet since as early as 2001, but it accelerated with the advent of social media. Today we’re examining why it’s become more prevalent than perhaps at any other time. EJ Dickson, a writer who investigated the #SkinnyTok community for The Cut, joins us to talk about the introduction of eating diso…

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The cult using Minecraft to recruit 1:09:48

1M ago1:09:48

1:09:48

Often, like in the case of the Momo Challenge, when parents freak out about a thing online, it’s probably not really a thing. But, today we are talking about one panic that is real — “764,” the comm-network that is gamifying committing crimes and abuse. Joining us is Marcus Parks of The Last Podcast on the Left, to dive into this conspiracy that’s …

1
Mentorship and Innovation: Bridging Generations with Abbie Vlahakis 37:12

30d ago37:12

37:12

Abbie Vlahakis, CEO of Millennium Point and Deputy Lieutenant, discusses her journey from the private sector to the charity sector, emphasising the importance of community engagement and mentorship for young people. She highlights the mission of Millennium Point in inspiring education and careers in STEM fields, addressing the skills gap and youth …

1
Why Slenderman became a moral panic 1:07:05

1M ago1:07:05

1:07:05

What is the creepiest thing you’ve ever seen on the internet? For many people, it was Slenderman. This particularly lithe fellow started off as kind of a fun, spooky thing, and then of course got out of hand and caused a panic both on- and offline. We’re joined by Kaelyn Moore of Heart Starts Pounding to talk about his role taking creepypasta mains…

1
Empowering Youth: Tom Clarke-Forrest on Sport, Skills, and Social Change 40:11

1M ago40:11

40:11

In this engaging conversation, Tom Clarke-Forrest, founder and CEO of Sport 4 Life UK, shares insights into the challenges and opportunities facing young people today. He discusses the importance of mentorship, the essential life skills needed for success, and the impact of sports on personal development. The conversation also touches on the role o…

1
What happened to JK Rowling? 1:04:30

1M ago1:04:30

1:04:30

In April this year the UK Supreme Court ruled that the legal definition of a “woman” excludes trans women. Then — apparently celebrating her years-long TERFdom — JK Rowling tweeted an image of herself on a yacht, smoking a cigar, and captioned it with “I love it when a plan comes together.” The question we’re looking at today is: was it Rowling who…

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Tech, Ethics, and Misogyny: Tracy Westall OBE on Building Better Futures 40:22

2M ago40:22

40:22

In this engaging conversation, Tracy Westall OBE shares her journey from a successful corporate career to a portfolio career, emphasising the importance of ethics, technology, and the ongoing challenges of misogyny and sexism in the workplace. The discussion highlights generational differences in attitudes towards these issues, the role of AI in sh…

1
Live from Meet Cute Festival - with PJ Ellis 26:56

2M ago26:56

26:56

Rosie chats to author PJ Ellis about his book We Could Be Heroes, Birmingham, film stars, drag queens, meet cute scenes, happy endings, rom coms, mistaken identities, bumping into an ex with their new partner, good and bad sex, the truth behind queer stereotypes and more. Recorded at Meet Cute Festival at Home Farm Glamping on 28 June 2025. You can…

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The plot to ruin the new Superman movie 57:54

2M ago57:54

57:54

When did fandom become so zealous? Today we’re looking back at the release of the “Snyder Cut” and the people who still think that Zack Snyder should make all of the DC movies. Open Mike Eagle joins us to talk about where the world of fandom in entertainment is and why we’re so desperate to root ourselves in pop culture that it can become like a re…

1
Some big news in Panic World 7:19

2M ago7:19

7:19

We've got a (good) announcement about the future of the show. We'll be back with your regularly scheduled panic next week. Enjoy the Fourth! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesBy COURIER

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A quick welcome to Wit + Grit. 6:30

2M ago6:30

6:30

In this conversation, Andy Dawson and PJ Ellis explore the themes of wit and grit, focusing on the challenges and opportunities facing future generations in a rapidly changing world. They discuss the impact of technology, particularly AI, on work and interpersonal relationships, emphasising the importance of emotional intelligence and honest conver…

1
We are living in a casino 54:08

2M ago54:08

54:08

First they came for our mobile apps, then they came for our videogames, and now, it seems pretty much every aspect of our lives is being re-oriented around gambling. Who are the players — inside and outside of tech — that have spent the past decade building out “Casino World”? Edward Ongweso, Jr. joins us to talk about why we should be panicking ab…

1
Why were cops fainting from fentanyl? 1:03:26

2M ago1:03:26

1:03:26

Some urban legends are just for fun, like the “Pacific Northwest Tree Octopus,” while others are not. Today we’re investigating the claim that while busting drug dealers, police can accidentally “absorb” fentanyl through their skin, causing them to suffer a whole bevy of health problems — starting with fainting. Years later, it’s still impacting le…

1
Your conspiracy families 1:06:27

3M ago1:06:27

1:06:27

When Grant talked to his friend whose dad had become a Holocaust denier, we got a huge response from folks who had family members with other… interesting ideas. Today, we’re answering some of your questions. Like: what do you do when you have your own kids and had counted on your (now conspiracy-pilled) parents to help care for them? What about whe…

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The man behind Trump's Salvadoran gulags 56:38

3M ago56:38

56:38

This week we’re asking an important question: Who is really inspiring the “vibe” of Trump 2.0? No, it's not Elon Musk. We’re talking about President Nayib Bukele of El Salvador. Joining us is Ricardo Avelar, to explain how this club promoter, hustle bro, and LinkedIn influencer grew up to become a dictator whose playbook President Trump is now stea…

1
What happened to Kanye? 1:05:16

3M ago1:05:16

1:05:16

America’s not doing so hot right now. Kanye West, on the other hand, hasn’t been well for quite some time. Akilah Hughes joins us again to discuss the idea that Kanye has always been a mirror for the American zeitgeist. What is about him, and about us, that makes that theory true? And, are we — both Kanye and the United States — totally doomed, or …

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BONUS: AI therapy slop 38:58

4M ago38:58

38:58

Ryan wrote about using ChatGPT for therapy, and a lot of responses to that announcement involved calling him an idiot. This week, he sits down with Grant to talk about what he learned over experimenting with AI therapy for a few months, and a broader chat about the birth of the AI world — and how it’s pretty much involved in everything already (in …

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How long will Trump's base support him? 1:04:56

4M ago1:04:56

1:04:56

Last time we had Charlie Warzel on, it was to determine whether the insurrection had been a political success. Now, 100+ days into Trump 2.0, he joins us again to answer some simple questions: Should we be worrying about the survival of American democracy now? And also, with the fallout from tariffs revealing the first cracks in Trump’s base, is th…

1
Live from Rosie's garden - with Lauren Bravo 37:03

4M ago37:03

37:03

Rosie chats to author Lauren Bravo about her book Probably Nothing, people pleasing, the ick, falling in love with someone’s family, dating disasters, dating men of different nationalities, couple dates, concealing real life experiences under the cloak of fiction and more. Recorded in Rosie’s back garden on 27 April 2025. You can now follow The Bre…

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The effects of true crime brain rot 1:00:51

4M ago1:00:51

1:00:51

In the past decade, true crime has gone from a niche and somewhat disparaged genre to one of entertainment’s most prolific. What is it about true crime that’s made it become such a huge part of popular culture? Through the lens of the mysterious disappearance (and reappearance) of Hannah Kobayashi, journalist Jennifer Swann joins us to talk about h…

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That time a 4chan user got thrown in a Taliban prison 59:20

4M ago59:20

59:20

Today, we’re telling a story of human ingenuity. Except, in a dumb way. It’s one of the craziest things that has happened in a long time — which is really saying something — when some bro on 4chan ended up in a Taliban prison. Arturo Castro joins us to talk about a British guy named Miles Rutledge. Our guest Arturo Castro is an actor and currently …

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Netflix's "Adolescence" and the masculinity crisis 1:04:47

5M ago1:04:47

1:04:47

On March 13, 2025, Netflix released Adolescence, and ever since, parents have been learning that Andrew Tate is bad. What are we to do? Ryan talks to Grant about how the problems we have on the internet now are not dramatically new, it’s just that everyone has the internet in their pocket all the time — and, to borrow a 2010s phrase, the solution t…

1
Has China already won the internet? 1:02:17

5M ago1:02:17

1:02:17

Today we’re talking about a panic that’s been simmering for a while but has, in the past couple of years, become a full-blown panic. And that’s the technological Cold War that the US is waging with China. (Okay, and now also the tariff war, but that’s with pretty much everyone.) Are the Chinese really so radically different from us, or — at least w…

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My friend's dad is a Holocaust denier now 42:20

5M ago42:20

42:20

Today, we’re doing something a little different. Grant asks Ryan to step back from being host, and instead to step in as a social worker for people who fall for conspiracy theories. The person in question is Grant’s friend’s dad, who read a recent “report” saying that the Holocaust “actually wasn’t as bad as they say,” and it’s tearing his family a…

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Here's who killed the #MeToo movement (with Kat Tenbarge) 1:08:27

5M ago1:08:27

1:08:27

Are we in the post-MeToo era? In this episode, we’re reconciling with not only how society at large has adapted to its rise and fall, but also how Hollywood and social media have adapted as well. Spitfire News’s Kat Tenbarge joins us to discuss that — and just who it is that killed #MeToo. Our guest Kat Tenbarge is an independent journalist, and pu…

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Who turned Gen Z fascist? (With Felix Biederman) 1:01:44

6M ago1:01:44

1:01:44

Every four years America suffers through a national election, with its own distinct collection of far-right freaks. Yet against the trend, in 2024 many of the youngest voters started finding them appealing. So who or what turned Gen Z fascist? Felix Biederman of Chapo Trap House joins us to discuss the main players in the right-wing (mano)sphere, a…

1
Who orders hitmen online? (With Carl Miller) 1:02:45

6M ago1:02:45

1:02:45

Right now, you might be thinking someone, somewhere, is on the internet doing something for money that’s really awful. That’s probably true, and has been in the past. Although, plenty of times it’s not — take Bonsai Kittens — but what about Red Rooms, where you can supposedly pay for assassinations or watch live torture? Today journalist Carl Mille…

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Live from The Poodle Club - with Julie Cohen and Hatty Ashdown 39:05

6M ago39:05

39:05

In the second half of our live double bill recorded at The Poodle Club on Galentine’s Day, Rosie chats to comedian Hatty Ashdown and million-selling author Julie Cohen about bisexuality, divorcing during a pandemic, staying friends with an ex, separating when you have kids, how to flirt with a lesbian, how women should go about letting each other k…

1
You’re panicking wrong about AI (with Casey Newton) 1:08:59

6M ago1:08:59

1:08:59

On the bad side, we have copyright infringement, exploitation, and misinformation; on the good side, we have its uses for brainstorming, editing work, and combating loneliness. On both sides, everyone is freaking out about AI — but are we freaking out about it for the right reasons? Casey Newton joins us to make the pitch that whatever you think, A…

1
Here's why everyone's fighting about delivery apps (with Allegra Rosenberg) 58:39

6M ago58:39

58:39

Perhaps you’ve seen someone pop off online about a delivery order going wrong, or it being too expensive. Maybe you’ve been one of those people. Some call them “Treatlerites” — “treat” + “Hitler,” of course — and it’s when general panic ensues after someone acts selfishly dictatorial about their delivery app output, and foolishly decides to rant ab…

1
BONUS: One month of DOGE shit 34:24

6M ago34:24

34:24

Ryan and Grant discuss what we've seen one month into the second Trump Administration, and what it means. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesBy COURIER

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Live from The Poodle Club - with Kate Martin and Nicola Dinan 37:08

6M ago37:08

37:08

In a live conversation recorded at The Poodle Club on Galentine’s Day, Rosie chats to comedian Kate Martin and author Nicola Dinan about queer women staying friends after a breakup, crushes on teachers, writing fiction that draws on real-life experiences, choosing someone nice as opposed to just superficially attractive, recognising people you’ve r…

1
Is dating worse than ever? (With Magdalene Taylor) 1:06:28

6M ago1:06:28

1:06:28

When it comes to modern relationships, most reporting has three main points: Gen Z is sexless and puritan, Millennials are scared about their inevitable doom, and Boomers are boozers who are going down swinging — literally. In this age of social media and apps, we couldn’t help but wonder: has technology made dating worse? Magdalene Taylor joins us…

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The secret plan to outlaw porn in the US (with Junlper) 1:13:01

7M ago1:13:01

1:13:01

As of this recording, 17 states don’t have access to PornHub. You might assume that’s because of very normal people like Speaker of the House Mike Johnson needing to monitor his son’s masturbation habits, but was it conservatives’ fault? Or… was it well-meaning liberals? Junlper joins us to discuss who is behind this new and extreme porn ban, and i…

1
What Area 51 can teach us about the drones in NJ (with Dylan Thuras) 1:06:48

7M ago1:06:48

1:06:48

Americans love not believing anything the government tells us, and it seems likely we’ll just keep coming up with stories to explain what is probably really boring in real life. The latest of these is the mysterious drones that descended upon New Jersey and then vanished without a trace. Dylan Thuras joins us to shed light on Americans’ love of con…

1
Are online "suicide games" real? (With Alex Goldman) 1:27:13

7M ago1:27:13

1:27:13

Momo and the Blue Whale Challenge are two trends that targeted young social media users, supposedly challenging them to an escalating series of dares. Were these viral “challenges” actually causing kids to kill themselves, or was it all a hoax? Alex Goldman joins us to trace the origins of these “suicide games,” as well as the fallout that resulted…

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How bin Laden killed TikTok (with Rachel Gilmore) 1:16:21

7M ago1:16:21

1:16:21

America is in a “will they or won’t they” situation with TikTok, but it’s not cute. As of last week, the app was finally set to get banned, but over the weekend Trump stayed its execution. Because we don’t really know if/when the app will get deleted, instead, let’s look back at how we got to this dark and dumb moment in the first place. Rachel Gil…

1
BONUS: Meta doesn't care anymore 26:15

8M ago26:15

26:15

Producer Grant joins Ryan to talk about how Mark Zuckerberg went from looking and acting like “Every Guy Walking Down the Street in Boston in the Mid-2000s” to his current era, “I Work in the Financial District and I’m Dating A Girl from Bushwick,” and said man’s recent announcement that Meta would no longer be employing fact checkers, instead rely…

1
How Facebook caused January 6th (with Charlie Warzel) 1:12:20

8M ago1:12:20

1:12:20

On January 7, 2021, did you think the storming of the capitol would be politically successful? Charlie Warzel joins us on the eve of Donald Trump retaking the White House to weigh that question as he and Ryan trace the origins of the insurrection and its ultimate impact on US politics. Our guest Charlie Warzel is a writer for The Atlantic and for h…

1
BONUS: Does the left really need a Kyle Rittenhouse? 28:40

8M ago28:40

28:40

Ryan and Grant talk about the fallout from Luigi Mangione's alleged assassination of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, and whether or not it will have ripple effects in this political climate. Want to hear the full episode? Sign up for a membership at: https://www.patreon.com/PanicWorld Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoi…

1
The Top 10 Panics of 2024 (with Katie Notopoulos, Luke Bailey, & Adam Bumas) 1:06:46

9M ago1:06:46

1:06:46

It’s the end of the year episode, so we’re talking about some of the best — and worst — things on the internet for 2024. Joining us are friends of the pod Katie Notopoulos and Luke Bailey, plus our producer Grant Irving and the big on-air debut of our researcher, Adam Bumas. Happy holidays, panickers! Make sure to touch grass this holiday season. F…