The lavender marriage is back (did it ever really leave?)

Are straight men allowed to like "Heated Rivalry"?

SPOILERS AHEAD! Elaine and Carlyn discuss a little Canadian show that has people talking. From our own impressions of the series, to who makes up the intended audience, to what the wave of popularity says about our world at the turn of this new year… its time to talk Heated Rivalry. Further Reading: * Heated Rivalry [https://play.hbomax.com/show/50cd4e99-04ee-427b-a3b4-da721ed05d9c] on HBOMax [https://play.hbomax.com/show/50cd4e99-04ee-427b-a3b4-da721ed05d9c] * South Park Clip [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Afetnw70S04] Theme Music: “Banjo Beat” - Will Records This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit relatedpodcast.substack.com [https://relatedpodcast.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Do you have the Christmas Spirit(uality)?

Elaine and Carlyn talk about their religious upbringing and the importance of community in this holiday season. Theme Music: “Banjo Beat” - Will Records; Handel’s Messiah: Part II, Hallelujah Chorus (Sargent 1958) [https://archive.org/details/218ChorusHallelujah_201810] This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit relatedpodcast.substack.com [https://relatedpodcast.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

The lavender marriage is back (did it ever really leave?)

As romance culture wobbles and capitalism keeps capitalism-ing, a century-old idea has reentered the group chat: marrying a best friend for the benefits, not the butterflies. We explore why lavender marriages are resurfacing now, what they reveal about modern adulthood, and how people are redesigning partnership to fit the lives they actually have. It’s marriage, but make it pragmatic. Further Reading: The lavendar marriage is back — but why? [https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/oct/19/the-lavender-marriage-is-back-but-why] (The Guardian) What is a lavender marriage? [https://www.cosmopolitan.com/relationships/a69220716/lavender-marriage/] (Cosmopolitan) The uncomfortable truth behind the lavender marriage trend [https://mashable.com/article/lavender-marriage-trend] (Mashable) Theme Music: “Banjo Beat” - Will Records This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit relatedpodcast.substack.com [https://relatedpodcast.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Millennials Killed...?

“Millennials killed” have become the first two words of a countless number of articles blaming our generation for the death of fads, traditions, and even industries. Today, we talk about the attention-grabbing trend and whether or not this naming convention is something too that millennials should kill. Further Reading: * The decade of ‘millennials killing’ things has come to an end, but it wasn’t the generation’s fault in the first place [https://www.businessinsider.com/millennials-killing-industries-decade-wealth-2020-1] (Business Insider) * I Did All the Things Millennials Are Accused of Killing [https://www.vice.com/en/article/i-did-everything-millennials-accused-killing/] (Vice.com) * 5 Industries Millennials Are ‘Killing’ (And Why) [https://www.forbes.com/sites/andrewjosuweit/2017/10/22/5-industries-millennials-are-killing-and-why/] (Forbes) * Things we’ve killed: * 18 Things Millennials Have Been Killing Off in the Last Decade [https://www.rd.com/list/things-millennials-have-killed/] (Reader’s Digest) * RIP: Here are 70 things millennials have killed [https://mashable.com/article/things-millennials-have-killed](Mashable) * Here Are All The Things Millennials Are Killing, According To Olds [https://www.ranker.com/list/everything-millennials-ruin/mariel-loveland] (Ranker) Theme Music: “Banjo Beat” - Will Records This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit relatedpodcast.substack.com [https://relatedpodcast.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

"What IS it about hobbies??"

Rollerskating. Gardening. Knitting. Rock tumbling. Hiking. Palm reading. Fly fishing. Birdwatching. Hobbies are making a comeback among the Gen Z and Millennial generations…In this episode we dig into our own hobbies and simultaneously unpack this rising trend. FURTHER READING: Why Gen Z says ‘hotties need hobbies’ [https://www.wbur.org/onpoint/2025/10/13/gen-z-craft-hobbies] (WBUR) What is Millennial Hobby Energy? [https://annehelen.substack.com/p/what-is-millennial-hobby-energy] (Culture Study) From hiking to birdwatching to early nights - gen Z are coming for my hobbies, and they’re much better at them [https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/apr/29/from-hiking-to-birdwatching-to-early-nights-gen-z-are-coming-for-my-hobbies-and-theyre-much-better-at-them] (The Guardian) This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit relatedpodcast.substack.com [https://relatedpodcast.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]