Pop Culture with Chanté Joseph
Every week, Pop Culture with Chanté Joseph digs deep into the stories we can’t stop talking about. If you love pop and internet culture, and want to get into how it's shaping and impacting our lives, then subscribe to this show. We talk about things like: funny memes, showbiz stories, internet culture, celebrity news, gossip, Tiktok, Twitter, X, true crime stories, beauty, relationships, dating, hit TV shows, films, movies, Netflix, entertainment, American culture, AI, social media, Black British culture, influencers, content creators, fashion, UK and US music, reality TV, Harry and Meghan, royals, Love Island, politics (with a small p), Hollywood, society, ethics, Disney, new ideas and themes, trends and trending stories, hot takes, and trends in music, fashion, TV and film. Pop Culture with Chante Joseph is funny, chatty and opinionated. Expect to hear: good conversations, clever takes on popular stories, the ‘why’ behind big pop culture stories, why is everyone talking about…, what pop culture gets right and wrong, in conversation with…, reviews of the year, moments of the week, controversy… New episodes drop every Thursday.
Episodes
The Pop Culture summer wrap-up
For our final episode of the season, Chanté sits down with podcasters Rose Frimpong and Temi Oladimeji to chat through a summer of music feuds, dramatic TV and oversharing on TikTok
08/08/24•26m 0s
The OC star Ben McKenzie on how crypto took over Hollywood
What’s the deal with celebrities promoting cryptocurrencies? This week, Chanté chats to actor and crypto-skeptic Ben McKenzie, star of The OC and Gotham, about how cryptocurrencies infiltrated Hollywood and his transition from actor to investigative journalist
01/08/24•26m 19s
Can Strictly survive its biggest scandal?
This week, Chanté sits down with pop culture writer and Strictly Come Dancing fan Michael Hogan to discuss the latest Strictly scandal and why the show is such a big deal in the UK
25/07/24•25m 17s
Writer-director Rapman on creating Netflix’s global smash hit Supacell
This week, Chanté Joseph meets Rapman, the writer and director of Supacell, one of the most watched shows on Netflix, to discuss what it takes to make a hit series, how he’s redefining the superhero genre and what he plans to do next
18/07/24•26m 40s
The ‘Hawk Tuah’ girl and the making of TikTok stars
Hailey Welch, AKA the ‘Hawk Tuah’ girl, is everywhere after her viral street interview. Chanté Joseph talks to the journalists Alaina Demopoulos and Cat Zhang about Welch’s overnight celebrity, the proliferation of street interviews on the platform and what this means for ‘virality’ in 2024
11/07/24•24m 1s
The summer of green music festivals
It’s festival season! But are festivals any good for the environment? This week Chanté chats to Lewis Jamieson of Music Declares Emergency and the Grammy-nominated House DJ Jayda G about how festivals can become more sustainable and why the music industry can be an important voice in the fight for climate justice. Jayda G’s documentary Blue Carbon can be watched here
04/07/24•28m 10s
Are we experiencing Gamergate 2.0?
Ten years ago, misogyny in gaming reached new heights with Gamergate - an online harassment campaign and a right-wing backlash against female journalists and developers in the gaming industry. A decade later, Chanté Joseph talks to the Guardian’s video game editor Keza McDonald and Ash Parrish, a video game reporter for The Verge about what’s changed in the industry and why some believe we’re seeing a resurgence of this online hate campaign
27/06/24•26m 38s
Are we in a new era of queer female pop?
With Billie Eilish’s Lunch in the charts and queer female artists winning big at this year’s Grammy awards, Chanté Joseph speaks to the queer music writers Charis McGowan and Sean B O’Neill about the trend for authentic and sexually explicit queer female pop music, and how we got here
20/06/24•29m 41s
Love Island and looksmaxxing: how are male beauty standards changing?
As Love Island returns, Chanté Joseph speaks to former contestant Nas Majeed and Guardian writer Simon Usborne, about the increasing pressure to achieve the perfect male body
13/06/24•23m 21s
Taylor Swift: cultural icon or turbo-capitalist?
As Swift’s economy-shifting Eras tour comes to the UK, Chanté speaks to journalist and fan (but not ‘Swiftie’) Elle Hunt about the singer’s journey from country star to billionaire and asks whether her world domination is good for the music industry
06/06/24•23m 38s
Matthew Perry death, and Britney’s memoir – Pop Culture with Chanté Joseph
Following the shocking news of Matthew Perry’s death, Chanté speaks to the Guardian’s Zoe Williams about how he captured the spirit of a generation. Plus, music journalist Alim Kheraj on Britney Spears’s memoir.
02/11/23•31m 22s
Black History Month with DJ Target and Henrie Kwushue – Pop Culture with Chanté Joseph
DJ Target joins Chanté to talk about his career in grime and the new series of The Rap Game UK on BBC3. Plus Kiss FM’s Henrie Kwushue’s iconic black British pop culture moments
26/10/23•26m 19s
When celebs get political – Pop Culture with Chanté Joseph
Over the past week celebrities have been showing support for those suffering on both sides of the conflict. But do we want stars to speak out on complex political issues, and if so how can they do it authentically?
19/10/23•25m 7s
Big Brother, the OG reality show – Pop Culture with Chanté Joseph
Oh brother! The seminal reality programme is back on our screens for a 20th series. What made it so popular and how has it influenced British TV and pop culture since its debut in 2000? Chanté speaks to former task producer Daniel Nettleton
12/10/23•22m 55s
Beyoncé on the big screen and Mahalia – Pop Culture with Chanté Joseph
Beyoncé has announced the film of her Renaissance tour will hit cinemas soon, following hot on the heels of Taylor Swift’s Eras movie. Is this all about making money? Plus, Chanté speaks to multi-award-winning R&B singer Mahalia ahead of her UK tour
05/10/23•30m 9s
Franchesca Ramsey on the WGA and Hollywood strikes – Pop Culture with Chanté Joseph
Actress and writer Franchesca Ramsey joins Chanté this week to talk about the deal the Writer’s Guild of America has struck with Hollywood studios and what life has really been like on the picket line
28/09/23•25m 49s
Russell Brand and the noughties culture – Pop Culture with Chanté Joseph
Russell Brand faces allegations of sexual assault, rape and emotional abuse by four women, which he denies. This week Chanté looks back at the noughties and asks why the culture around comedy and women was so different back then
21/09/23•24m 40s
Naomi Campbell, PLT and fast fashion – Pop Culture with Chanté Joseph podcast
It’s Fashion Week season. After animal rights protests on the Coach runway and Naomi Campbell’s controversial collaboration with fast fashion giant PrettyLittleThing, does sustainability have a future in fashion?
14/09/23•19m 45s
Come see me live at the London Podcast Festival – Pop Culture with Chanté Joseph
Chanté will be joined by the matchmaking expert, author, entrepreneur and television host, Paul C Brunson (Married at First Sight UK and Celebs Go Dating). Together they will go behind the scenes to discuss the dynamics of TV dating, the key to a successful relationship and how pop culture plays a significant role in our love lives – whether we want it to or not
11/09/23•44s
Pop Culture with Chanté Joseph is back!
If it’s got you talking, Chanté’s got it covered. We’ll be going beyond the gossip with smart takes on the latest pop and internet culture. Catch Pop Culture with Chanté Joseph every Thursday from 14 September
07/09/23•29s
Shon Faye on Elliot Page & trans in pop culture – Pop Culture with Chanté Joseph
The writer and presenter talks to Chanté about her Q&A with Elliot Page and how trans people have been represented in pop culture
29/06/23•32m 11s
Windrush at 75: How Caribbean culture dominated British music – Pop Culture with Chanté Joseph
Today, Britain celebrates Windrush Day. Chanté speaks to music journalist Lloyd Bradley, ‘Queen of Lover’s Rock’ Sandra Cross and grime MC D Double E about the influence of Caribbean culture on British music
22/06/23•27m 18s
Black Mirror is back. Why is it so creepily good? Pop Culture with Chanté Joseph
As the sixth series starts, we ask what makes science fiction so popular and are we still looking to the far future for our dystopia?
15/06/23•29m 40s
Match-making on reality TV: does it work? Pop Culture with Chanté Joseph
This week Chanté talks to Paul C Brunson from Married at First Sight UK about what goes into pairing couples and he spills the tea on the forthcoming series
08/06/23•24m 48s
Will party holidays live forever? Pop Culture with Chanté Joseph
This week Chanté reflects on the history of party holidays. As she gears up to go to Days Like This in Malta, she talks to Ant and MK who created DLT. And she chats to DJ S, founder of legendary garage night Pure Silk, about taking over Ayia Napa in the mid-1990s
01/06/23•26m 55s
Martha Stewart on Sports Illustrated: a win for women? Pop Culture with Chanté Joseph
Eighty-one-year-old Martha Stewart has made history by becoming the oldest woman to grace the cover of Sports Illustrated. Chanté talks to model Nicola Griffin, who appeared in Sports Illustrated in her 50s, and speaks with journalist Poorna Bell about the different expectations for older women of colour.
25/05/23•24m 45s
Why are influencers taking feuds to the boxing ring? Pop Culture with Chanté Joseph
Social media influencers and YouTubers including KSI and Jake and Logan Paul are making millions by taking their internet feuds into the boxing ring. How did the world of boxing become the arena for social media beef?
18/05/23•27m 5s
Why are so many publications in trouble? Pop Culture with Chanté Joseph
Gal-dem, Buzzfeed News and Vice have all hit financial trouble and are either shutting down or close to it. Chanté talks to the Guardian’s media editor Jim Waterson and Gal-dem’s former politics editor Moya Lothian-McLean about where it is all going wrong.
11/05/23•27m 5s
Is the US better at TV chat than Britain? Pop Culture with Chanté Joseph
As the US pays tribute to Jerry Springer and the internet continues to delight in Drew Barrymore’s confessionals, Chanté talks to Trisha Goddard about the art of a good conversation. And she talks to journalist Michael Hogan about why the British struggle with late-night chatshows
04/05/23•27m 50s
Are queer characters finally getting the spotlight? Pop Culture with Chanté Joseph
Dr Who has announced drag queen Jinkx Monsoon as the next villain on the show. Is it problematic that they are cast as a villain or is this an iconic moment for the queer community?
27/04/23•27m 0s
Why are big gigs so expensive now? Pop Culture with Chanté Joseph
Music fans are battling long queues, technical issues and huge prices in order to see their favourite artists perform. Why has it become such a struggle? Chanté speaks to the Guardian’s deputy music editor Laura Snapes and Emma Reid from Outlier Artists
20/04/23•25m 12s
Will AI ruin music as we know it? Pop Culture with Chanté Joseph
From David Guetta using an AI Eminem in a set, to an entire AI-generated Kanye West verse going viral. Is artificial intelligence making music better or is the industry under threat?
13/04/23•29m 44s
Why has gaming taken over? – Pop Culture with Chanté Joseph
You don’t need to look far to see that gaming is everywhere with film versions of Tetris, Super Mario Bros and Dungeons & Dragons in cinemas this week. Chanté talks to Rhianna Pratchett, video game writer on Tomb Raider, Timi and Joey from The Nerd Council podcast and the Guardian’s video games editor Keza MacDonald about why it is dominating
06/04/23•28m 10s
Succession: why do we love watching the super-rich? Pop Culture with Chanté Joseph
The fourth and final season of Succession has arrived. Buckle up for more luxury yachts, holiday homes, helicopters and Machiavellian storylines. But why does Succession make us want to watch the lives of the super-rich? Chanté talks to writer Michael Hogan, and Mickey Down the co-creator of the TV series Industry
30/03/23•26m 51s
Can pop culture do ADHD? (Spoiler: no) – Pop Culture with Chanté Joseph
This week Chanté looks at whether pop culture can get the portrayal of neurodiversity right – from Bart in The Simpsons to Phil Dunphy in Modern Family. And why people self-diagnosing on TikTok can be problematic
23/03/23•28m 45s
Are we over the Oscars? Pop Culture with Chanté Joseph
Awards season reached its climax with the Oscars this week. Despite being the biggest event in Hollywood, are viewers really that bothered any more? Chanté speaks to Michael Schulman, author of Oscar Wars: A History of Hollywood in Gold, Sweat and Tears
16/03/23•27m 6s
Pop Culture with Chanté Joseph is back!
Pop Culture with Chanté Joseph is back for series 2 with more deep dives into the week’s biggest stories in popular culture. Join her every Thursday from 16 March
09/03/23•47s
There’s something about … astrology – Pop Culture with Chanté Joseph
As we enter 2023, astrological predictions for the year have already started to appear on social media. But it’s not only TikTokers who love astrology. Chanté talks to Clara Amfo, host of Written in the Stars, a reality TV dating show that matches people based on their natal charts
05/01/23•25m 33s
Review of the year 2022 – Pop Culture with Chanté Joseph
Chanté is joined by TV critic Scott Bryan and producer Yasmin Philgence to talk through the biggest pop culture moments of 2022
29/12/22•40m 1s
Candice Brathwaite on dating in 2022 – Pop Culture with Chanté Joseph
You’ve heard of Spotify Wrapped, now get ready for dating wrapped on Tiktok. Chanté talks dating disasters, situationships and (not) finding love in 2022 with her personal agony aunt Candice Brathwaite
22/12/22•30m 36s
Harry and Meghan – do we really need more of them? Pop Culture with Chanté Joseph
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s Netflix docuseries has racked up more than 81m viewing hours, and that is only for volume one. As the second volume drops today, we ask: do we really need more of their story?
15/12/22•27m 25s
Is going on reality TV worth it? Pop Culture with Chanté Joseph
The writer and host talks to former Love Island contestant Tyler Cruickshank about the challenges of returning to normality after being on reality TV, and what impact appearing on a show can have on a person’s career prospects
08/12/22•26m 1s
Why has British comedy got a problem with race? Pop Culture with Chanté Joseph
Last week, Bo’ Selecta creator Leigh Francis risked reigniting his feud with Craig David saying the singer should stop talking about being mocked on the programme because it was 20 years ago. Chanté talks to comedian Dane Baptiste about why British comedy has a problem with depictions of race.
01/12/22•26m 30s
Heroin chic? Jameela Jamil says no! – Pop Culture with Chanté Joseph
Chanté talks to Jameela Jamil, creator of the I Weigh platform, about why the term ‘heroin chic’ is so dangerous and asks why women’s bodies are always under scrutiny
24/11/22•28m 20s
Matt Hancock on I’m a Celebrity … what was he thinking?! Pop Culture with Chanté Joseph
Matt Hancock has been on our TV screens night after night eating sheep’s vagina, fish eyes and getting covered in gunk. This week Chanté speaks to someone who has known him for 15 years and asks what was his plan when he decided to go on the show?
17/11/22•27m 1s
Has The Crown lost its way? Pop Culture with Chanté Joseph
The Crown season five has arrived, and with it a whole load of controversy. Politicians, actors and royal commentators have all thrown criticism at the Netflix series, accusing it of exploiting the royal family and sensationalising real-life events. This week Chanté Joseph is joined by the writer of the Emmy-award winning TV series The Tudors, Michael Hirst, to find out if The Crown has lost its shine
10/11/22•24m 27s
Rihanna’s back … what makes her such an icon? – Pop culture with Chanté Joseph
Rihanna fans have been waiting for this moment for six years. The singer has released Lift Me Up, a single on the soundtrack for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. It’s her first release since she launched her Fenty Beauty empire, became a billionaire and a mother. As she storms back into our lives, we ask – what makes Rihanna such an icon?
03/11/22•25m 4s
Coming soon: a new Pop Culture podcast with Chanté Joseph
Every week, Pop Culture with Chanté Joseph digs deep into the stories we can’t stop talking about. If you love pop and internet culture, and want to get into how it’s shaping and impacting our lives, then subscribe to this show. New episodes drop every Thursday – launching on 3 November. Search, subscribe and listen wherever you get your podcasts.
19/10/22•30s
