Today we're joined by Sam Cummins of Nymphet Alumni to discuss the timeless American novelist Willa Cather. We talk about the needless politicization of Cather, why Nature is the ultimate identity cleansing force, and how frontier literature has evolved today.

Discussed:

Cather novels:

• O, Pioneers
• One of Ours
• My Ántonia 
• Death Comes for the Archbishop

Willa Cather and the Politics of Criticism, Joan Acocella (2000)

The Kingdom of Art, early Cather essays collected by Bernice Slote (1966)

“Becoming Noncanonical: The Case Against Willa Cather,” Sharon O’Brien (1988)

(Homework!: “Getting the Pump,” Jordan Castro in Harper’s)

Follow Sam and subscribe to Nymphet Alumni!

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Happy New Year! Today we take the opportunity to look back at how Gwyneth and Goop defined Wellness in the 2010s. I argue that while Goop lacked a soulful center, Gwyneth is working in the grand Esoteric tradition of seeking the sublime through one's relationship to the body. I look at the current aesthetic detritus of exercise culture, challenge the bad rap on “self-optimization,” and meet Gwyn in her New Age quest for Something Beyond.

Discussed:

“How Goop’s Haters Made Gwyneth Paltrow’s Company Worth $250 Million,” Taffy in NYT Magazine

Lauren Oyler on the Goop Cruise for Harper’s

“Gwyneth Paltrow Looks Back at 15 Years of Goop and More,” Marisa Meltzer in NYT

Outlive by Peter Attia

My fave episodes of the Goop podcast:

• with Michael Pollan

• with Peter Attia

• with Monique Melton

• 15th Anniversary Special Episode

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Today we use Kim Kardashian and Skims to close out many open conversations of the year: the body, motherhood and domesticity, women megalomaniacs, athleticism as an editorial trend, and so much more. I argue that Skims is the most exciting, subversive contemporary *beauty brand* and *grand editorial project* of 2023, commend Kim for her commitment to her own point of view, knight her as a Free Thinker, and formally retire our paranoia around “Girl Culture.” 

Plus! A deep dive into Tate McRae: her revival of White Girl Hairography, confused visual identity, and the renewed thirst for pop stars who can seriously freaking dance 😻😻😻

P.S. Addison walked so Tate McRae could run… missing her always… see u in 2024  💫 

Discussed: 

Kim on the goop podcast

Jens Grede on the BoF podcast

Skims nipple bra ad

Rachel Tashjian on the Skims nipple bra in the Washington Post

“Nothing Lasts Forever” music video, Sevdaliza

“Mel Ottenberg Gets Ripped for Rick Owens” in Interview

“Woman in Retrograde” by Isabel Cristo in the Cut

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Bianca Giaever was a local legend, a mythic figure whose forest nymph-like presence lingered in the walls of Garfield High School long after she graduated. I learned about her—her confidence, adventurousness, cleverness, and drive—within the first month of my freshman year, and witnessed hoards of girls (and myself) debase themselves to try to emulate her vibes. I kept tabs on Bianca well after high school, too, and, for a few key years in the 2010s, used her viral Vimeo videos to guide me down a vague path toward what I thought I might want to someday get up to.

This episode explores the charm and tyranny of my highschool’s outdoors club, Bianca’s artful devotion to The Mundane, and why it’s a lot easier to get over the excruciating disappointment of being yourself if you have a role model. 

Discussed:

GQ names Kim Kardashian “Man of the Year”

“The Scared is scared,” Bianca Giaever, 2013

“Holy Cow Lisa” 2012

“CRUSH” campaign for Rachel Antonoff’s SS14 line

Constellation Prize, Bianca’s new podcast
Tape podcast interview with Bianca, 2020

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Today we welcome YouTuber and general internet darling Sally Darr Griffin to tackle Taylor Swift. Discussed: Taylor's insidious creep toward total world domination, the Dream/Threat of a Girls' Girl, power hungry female celebrities, songwriting vs. performance value, the Swiftie microeconomy, Taylor's relentlessly out-of-step visual identity, and so much more. I also let SDG nerd out on her favorite fan theories... buckle up!

Follow Sally Darr everywhere:

YouTube

TikTok

Instagram

Twitter

Letterboxd

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This week we welcome K-pop expert and fanatic Alexi Alario, the co-host of Nymphet Alumni, to analyze Miss Jennie Kim ♡ We discuss how Jennie sets herself apart from her BLACKPINK peers, her craving for multi-hyphenate Western relevance, and why the “lazy Jennie” narrative makes her even more stannable. We also dissect her perfect neotenous face, Calvin Klein billboards, and incoherent budding solo career.

Mentioned:

Alexi’s episode of Stan Accounts, the MTV-produced docuseries on K-pop fans

“Lazy Jennie”

DDU-DU DDU-DU music video

You & Me performance video

Picnic at Hanging Rock

Video of Wonyoung and Sydney Sweeney…

K-Pop Masterclass, Nymphet Alumni episode

Follow Alexi <3

Listen and subscribe to Nymphet Alumni 0:-)

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Welcome back! Today we discuss Zendaya, arguably the most celebrated Face of Young Hollywood and one of my favorite people to watch move. We discuss all that's demanded of her liminal space of race, her incredible lankiness, the attempted "queering" of her relationship with Tom Holland, and what's beneath the understanding of her as a "safe" celebrity.

Mentioned:

"Zendaya Holds Court" ELLE magazine shoot

Euphoria deleted scene w/ Angus Cloud

BTS video w/ Storm Reid

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This week I'm joined by Marisa Meltzer, longtime beauty industry chronicler and the author of the new book Glossy: Beauty, Ambition, and the Inside Story of Emily Weiss's Glossier. We make the case for Glossier as *the* millennial brand, and discuss Emily's guarded, cipher-esque persona, and chat about how the "girlboss" tag is more apt than modern feminist criticisms give it credit for.

Mentioned:

Glossy, Marisa's new book on the subject

"The Story Behind Glossier" Marisa on The Run Through with Vogue

"Milky Jelly Hotline Special ft. Marisa Meltzer" Every Outfit podcast

"The Real Story Behind Glossier with Marisa Meltzer," Forever35 podcast

"Where Have All the Girlbosses Gone?" Marisa in Vanity Fair

NYT review of Glossy

Washington Post review of Glossy

The Guardian review of Glossy

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