Populism: Who Actually Speaks for "The People"?

Populism: Who Actually Speaks for "The People"?

Populism is one of the most talked-about ideas in modern politics, but what does it actually mean? In this episode of Fed Up, But Figuring It Out, we unpack the rise of populism, why politicians across the political spectrum claim to represent "the people," and how the term has evolved from a political movement into a powerful branding tool. We explore the relationship between populism and meritocracy, the tension between expertise and representation, and why so many self-proclaimed populist leaders come from the very elite institutions they claim to oppose. We examine what separates authentic representation from political performance. Most importantly, we ask a deeper question: Who gets included when politicians talk about "the people", and who gets left out? If you've ever wondered why every politician claims they're fighting for ordinary people, this episode is for you. Sources: BBC Ideas. (2019, February). Populism explained | A-Z of ISMs Episode 16 - BBC Ideas. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5U61HGQ-OQ [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5U61HGQ-OQ] Cole, T. A. (2025, November 13). To reform meritocracy, put character at the center. MIT Sloan Management Review. https://sloanreview.mit.edu/article/to-reform-meritocracy-put-character-at-the-center/ Cultural populism. ECPS. (n.d.). https://www.populismstudies.org/Vocabulary/cultural-populism/ [https://www.populismstudies.org/Vocabulary/cultural-populism/] Friedman, S., Ellersgaard, C., Reeves, A., & Larsen, A. G. (2023). The meaning of merit: Talent versus hard work legitimacy. Social Forces, 102(3), 861–879. https://doi.org/10.1093/sf/soad131 [https://doi.org/10.1093/sf/soad131] Kandpal, E. (2025, September). A Populism That’s Really of the People? Poverty, Protest, and Regime Collapse in South Asia. Center for Global Development. https://www.cgdev.org/blog/populism-thats-really-people-poverty-protest-and-regime-collapse-south-asia [https://www.cgdev.org/blog/populism-thats-really-people-poverty-protest-and-regime-collapse-south-asia] Laycock, D. (2019). Populism in Canada. The Canadian Encyclopedia. https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/populism [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/populism] Molloy, D. (2018, March 6). What is populism, and what does the term actually mean?. BBC News. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-43301423 [https://www.bbc.com/news/world-43301423] Sandel, M. J. (2021, January). The myth of meritocracy. Harvard Gazette. https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2021/01/the-myth-of-meritocracy-according-to-michael-sandel/ [https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2021/01/the-myth-of-meritocracy-according-to-michael-sandel/] York University. (2025, April 1). What is populism?. Observatory of Populism in Canada. https://www.yorku.ca/research/robarts/observatory-populism/what-is-populism/

Empathy: The Real Target of the War on "Woke"?

What if empathy isn’t weakness, but one of the bravest and most radical skills we can develop? In this episode of Fed Up, But Figuring It Out, we explore why empathy has become so controversial in modern culture and politics. From the rise of anti-“woke” rhetoric to burnout, vulnerability, leadership, capitalism, and social division, this episode explores how empathy challenges systems built on fear, hierarchy, and disconnection. Drawing on insights from Brené Brown and real-world political and cultural examples, this conversation breaks down the difference between empathy and sympathy, why vulnerability terrifies people, and how empathy can become a form of rebellion in a polarized world. If you’ve ever wondered why compassion is mocked, why empathy feels exhausting, or why caring about other people has become political, this episode is for you. Sources: The Canadian Press. (2025, April 23). Pierre Poilievre says he’ll end “woke ideology” - he isn’t saying what that means. CTV News. https://www.ctvnews.ca/federal-election-2025/article/pierre-poilievre-says-hell-end-woke-ideology-he-isnt-saying-what-that-means/ [https://www.ctvnews.ca/federal-election-2025/article/pierre-poilievre-says-hell-end-woke-ideology-he-isnt-saying-what-that-means/] Meechan , F., McCann , L., & Cooper , C. (2022). The importance of empathy and compassion in organizations: Why there is so little, and why we need more. Exploring the Connections between Critical and Contemporary Social Theory and the Sociology of Culture, 145–163. https://doi.org/10.4337/9781839103261.00017 [https://doi.org/10.4337/9781839103261.00017] The RSA. (2013, December 10). Brené Brown on Empathy. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Evwgu369Jw [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Evwgu369Jw] TED. (2011, January). The Power of Vulnerability | Brené Brown | TED. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCvmsMzlF7o [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCvmsMzlF7o] Tsang M. (2013). The importance of empathy--as I have studied and experienced it. Hawai'i journal of medicine & public health: a journal of Asia Pacific Medicine & Public Health, 72(9 Suppl 4), 79–80.

The Double Standard of Fantasy, Romance, and “Women’s Fiction”

Why are fantasy stories written by women treated like guilty pleasures while male-centered fantasy is praised as genius world-building? In this episode of Fed Up, But Figuring It Out, we dive into the double standards surrounding romance, fantasy, and “women’s literature.” From Harry Potter and Percy Jackson to Throne of Glass, this episode explores how the stories we grow up with shape empathy, emotional literacy, and whose perspectives are considered “universal.” We unpack why women’s fantasy is so often dismissed as “porn,” while violent or sexually explicit male fantasy rarely faces the same criticism. This conversation also examines the neuroscience and cultural impact of porn versus romance novels, the role of emotional intimacy in women’s storytelling, the patriarchy present in reading culture, and why reading female perspectives matters for everyone, not just women. Drawing on feminist thought, reading statistics, BookTok culture, and personal reflections as an avid fantasy reader, this episode asks a bigger question: what does it say about our society when stories centered on women’s emotions, safety, and desire are mocked instead of respected? Sources: Carroll, J. (2023, April 18). Porn Gap: Difference in men and women pornography patterns. Wheatley Institute. https://wheatley.byu.edu/family/porn-gap-difference-in-men-and-women-pornography-patterns [https://wheatley.byu.edu/family/porn-gap-difference-in-men-and-women-pornography-patterns] Iyengar, S. (2025, January). The Men-Women Split in Reading is Real—and Persists Amid Historical Rate Declines. National Endowment for the Arts. https://www.arts.gov/stories/blog/2025/men-women-split-reading-real-and-persists-amid-historical-rate-declines [https://www.arts.gov/stories/blog/2025/men-women-split-reading-real-and-persists-amid-historical-rate-declines] Snitow, A. B. (1994). Mass Market Romance: Pornography for Women Is Different. In Living With Contradictions (1st ed.). Chapter, Routledge. Tylka, T. L. (2015). No harm in looking, right? Men’s pornography consumption, body image, and well-being. Psychology of Men & Masculinity, 16(1), 97–107. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0035774

Why Queer Love Hits Harder: What That Says About Us, Storytelling, and Romance

Why do queer love stories on screen feel more emotional, more authentic, and sometimes even more powerful, regardless of your identity? In this episode of Fed Up, But Figuring It Out, we unpack the cultural, political, and emotional weight behind queer romance in media. From decades of tragic storytelling to the recent rise of soft, joyful representation, queer love has been shaped by resistance, vulnerability, and choice in ways that challenge traditional narratives of romance. We explore how heteronormative scripts have flattened straight relationships on screen, why audiences, queer or not, are drawn to stories that feel intentional, and how representation impacts not just visibility, but emotional depth. This isn’t about saying queer love is “better”, it’s about understanding why it often feels more real. This episode dives into media, culture, identity, and storytelling to ask a bigger question: what does the portrayal of love on screen say about power, norms, and who gets to be seen? Sources: Castellano, R. (2025, September 15). Why authenticity is the secret to stronger relationships. Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-humanistic-explorer/202509/why-authenticity-is-the-secret-to-stronger-relationships   Maimann , K. (2025, December 21). Why are women so into the man-on-man romance in heated rivalry?. CBC news. https://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/heated-rivalry-fandom-women-9.7020182   Queer Love and the rewriting of romantic norms. Daniel Dashnaw. (2025, March 21). https://danieldashnawcouplestherapy.com/blog/queer-love-and-the-rewriting-of-romantic-norms

Feminists Hate Men & Other Lies

Feminism isn’t anti-men, it’s anti-inequality. This episode unpacks the myths, the backlash, and the real meaning behind the movement. If you’ve ever questioned feminism, felt defensive in these conversations, or just want a clearer, more honest understanding of gender equality, this episode is for you. Sources: Elsesser, K. (2023). Feminists don’t hate men, according to New Research. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/kimelsesser/2023/11/27/feminists-dont-hate-men-according-to-new-research/   Feminism is for everybody. (2019). The Lancet, 393(10171).   Haysley, K. (2025). a classic Julia Sugarbaker moment, portrayed by icon, #Dixie Carter. #designingwomen #1980stv. Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/p/DPpk8aokWIN/   Hedges, T. (2024). Reclaiming misandry from misogynistic rhetoric. Feminist Review, 136(1), 84–99. https://doi.org/10.1177/01417789231223202   Hopkins-Doyle, A., Petterson, A. L., Leach, S., Zibell, H., Chobthamkit, P., Binti Abdul Rahim, S., Blake, J., Bosco, C., Cherrie-Rees, K., Beadle, A., Cock, V., Greer, H., Jankowska, A., Macdonald, K., Scott English, A., Wai Lan YEUNG, V., Asano, R., Beattie, P., Bernardo, A. B., … Sutton, R. M. (2023). The misandry myth: An inaccurate stereotype about feminists’ attitudes toward men. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 48(1), 8–37. https://doi.org/10.1177/03616843231202708   New study debunks myth that feminists hate men. University of Surrey. (2023). https://www.surrey.ac.uk/news/new-study-debunks-myth-feminists-hate-men   Prince, V. (2025). “Why don’t you trust men?” Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/p/DOxTHkqDt5g/