Most Popular

The portrayal of men in media has been fairly consistent. Take one part muscle (see Thor), one part pain tolerance (see, well, any Fast and Furious film), add a dash of handsomeness (again, Thor, but also anything with The Rock), and stir using a stick made out of the strongest metal in all the land. This recipe will bring you the manly-man, a person who is not just tough physically, but emotionally so strong that nothing will ever break him. Because he can't be broken! Or can he?

In this episode I am talking with Simon Rinne of the Australian organization Mindful Men which is dedicated to supporting men with mental illness and disability. We  discuss the role of pop culture in shaping societal perceptions of masculinity and Simon also discusses his personal journey dealing with undiagnosed mental health conditions, leading to his passion for mental health advocacy. The interview also touches on  how men struggle with loneliness, the power of social media in promoting mental health, and the positive impacts of openly discussing mental health issues, especially within the framework of masculinity.

Simon Rinne is a loving husband and father of two, mental health advocate and social worker. He is also the Founder of Mindful Men, a therapy practice that is dedicated to supporting men with mental illness and disability. Simon’s passion for mental health comes from living with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Depression, Anxiety, Burnout throughout the last 30 years. During this time, he struggled in silence; believing that boys and men can’t cry, all whilst using alcohol as a way to feel “normal”. At the age of 28, Simon finally reached out for help, and ever since has been on a journey of healing. By sharing his story, Simon hopes to inspire others to believe that they can turn their pain into purpose, and move from surviving to thriving.
https://www.mindful-men.com.au
https://linktr.ee/MindfulMen

Dr. Adrienne Trier-Bieniek is a gender and media scholar who has published books on gender and pop culture, Beyoncé's influence in music, Tori Amos's fandom, as well as publications focused on the ways pop culture can help heal from trauma. Dr. Adrienne has been featured in publications like The New York Times, The Washington Post, USA Today, and NBC News and can be found at www.adriennetrier-bieniek.com or on Instagram @dr.adriennetb Supplemental teaching resources and more info for instructors is shared monthly via Dr. Adrienne's newsletter. Sign up at www.adriennetrier-Bieniek.com. 

Support the show here.(Unless you are a current student. In that case, keep your money and remember, on Wednesday's we wear pink.)

Ever heard the phrase "Train like a beast, look like a beauty"? Or, "Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels." Or, "Eat it now, pay for it later." There are so many similar messages aimed at using shame or misinformation in order to convince people that they are one gym routine or diet away from the body that they are told is achievable, especially as we find ourselves scrolling through social media. Thankfully, people like Michael Ulloa exist.  Michael Ulloa is a personal trainer and nutritionist living in Edinburgh, Scotland. His message is that the fitness industry sets people up to seek out incorrect information and he's built an Instagram following using facts couched in funny videos that call out diet culture and the dangers it presents. It doesn't get much more pop culture-y than combining social media trends with real information about health!

In this conversation we talk about the truth behind diet trends, what misinformation is out there regarding the fitness industry, and how health should be presented on social media. I also fangirl over Michael's hilarious videos that expose the absurd nature of diet culture!

You can find more information about Michael via his website, www.michaelulloa.com or his Instagram @michaelulloapt

Dr. Adrienne Trier-Bieniek is a gender and media scholar who has published books on gender and pop culture, Beyoncé's influence in music, Tori Amos's fandom, as well as publications focused on the ways pop culture can help heal from trauma. Dr. Adrienne has been featured in publications like The New York Times, The Washington Post, USA Today, and NBC News and can be found at www.adriennetrier-bieniek.com or on Instagram @dr.adriennetb Supplemental teaching resources and more info for instructors is shared monthly via Dr. Adrienne's newsletter. Sign up at www.adriennetrier-Bieniek.com. 

Support the show here.(Unless you are a current student. In that case, keep your money and remember, on Wednesday's we wear pink.)

In this episode of Most Popular we are talking about the conversations that are hard to have! Joining Dr. Adrienne is the fantastic  Bruce Anthony of the "Unsolicited Perspectives." podcast. Bruce discusses his journey into podcasting, his experiences, and his approach towards discussing difficult but important topics, including learning from his past conversations about issues he thought he knew a lot about. Bruce highlights how being in diverse settings such as the restaurant industry allowed him to grow and evolve. Bruce also talks about the importance of expanding one's social circle to enrich one's understanding and worldview. He also delivers a shocker of a person that he would vote "most popular"-this choice cannot be missed! All said, this is an engaging discussion about the role of education, importance of continual learning, and the influence of podcasts as a medium for facilitating difficult conversations.

Bruce Anthony is the host of the Unsolicited Perspectives podcast where he delves into unique and authentic views on current events, social-political topics, race, class, and gender. Bruce believes that acquiring knowledge from diverse aspects of life helps us evolve as individuals and become more complete human beings. Bruce holds a degree in history from the University of Maryland, where he initially pursued a career in teaching, and the essence of being an educator remains at his core. Unsolicited Perspectives aspires to create a space where we can learn from one another, broaden our horizons, and gain a deeper understanding of the world around us. Find Bruce at www.unsolicitedperspectives.com and on Instagram@unsolicited_perspectives

Dr. Adrienne Trier-Bieniek is a gender and media scholar who has published books on gender and pop culture, Beyoncé's influence in music, Tori Amos's fandom, as well as publications focused on the ways pop culture can help heal from trauma. Dr. Adrienne has been featured in publications like The New York Times, The Washington Post, USA Today, and NBC News and can be found at www.adriennetrier-bieniek.com or on Instagram @dr.adriennetb Supplemental teaching resources and more info for instructors is shared monthly via Dr. Adrienne's newsletter. Sign up at www.adriennetrier-Bieniek.com. 

Support the show here.(Unless you are a current student. In that case, keep your money and remember, on Wednesday's we wear pink.)

This week we are talking about all things non-monogamy with Deanna Fierman,  a mental health therapist at All the Colors Counseling. The conversations ranges from the ways Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith revealed their relationship status (hint-they didn't do so in a super chill Facebook update), to Deanna's experience specializing in  polyamorous relationships. Dr. Adrienne learns a lot about the ways people are counseled when they express an interest in having a non-monogamous relations and  they discuss misconceptions related to polyamory, how counseling works for individuals or couples interested in such relationships, and societal views and acceptance of the same.

Deanna Fierman is a licensed professional counselor in Colorado who established All The Colors Counseling and Consulting to provide a welcoming space for non-monogamous and LGBTQ+ individuals, couples, and polycules seeking support.   Deanna has practiced psychotherapy in a wide variety of clinical settings since 2010, and has been an advocate, educator, consultant, and researcher in queer communities for decades.  You can learn more about Deanna and her work at https://www.allthecolorscounseling.com/

Dr. Adrienne Trier-Bieniek is a gender and media scholar who has published books on gender and pop culture, Beyoncé's influence in music, Tori Amos's fandom, as well as publications focused on the ways pop culture can help heal from trauma. Dr. Adrienne has been featured in publications like The New York Times, The Washington Post, USA Today, and NBC News and can be found at www.adriennetrier-bieniek.com or on Instagram @dr.adriennetb Supplemental teaching resources and more info for instructors is shared monthly via Dr. Adrienne's newsletter. Sign up at www.adriennetrier-Bieniek.com. 

Support the show here.(Unless you are a current student. In that case, keep your money and remember, on Wednesday's we wear pink.)

 Here's a quick dad joke: Why did the scarecrow go into home renovation? Because he was outstanding in his field! This episode of most popular is a home reno crossover between a realtor/podcaster and a professor/podcaster. My guest is Kristina Browning, a licensed realtor and home functionality coach. We talk about the impact of home improvement shows, how their existence affects the realistic nature of home buying and renovation costs, and the pressure to create the perfect home. We touch on the sustainability aspect of home renovations and the influence of HGTV on viewers' perceptions of home aesthetics.

Kristina Browning is a licensed Realtor in Portland Oregon and a Home Functionality Coach® nationwide. Allergic to stagnation, she combines these two home-centric professions in a Podcast called Home Space and Reason. www.spaceandreason.com

Dr. Adrienne Trier-Bieniek is a gender and media scholar who has published books on gender and pop culture, Beyoncé's influence in music, Tori Amos's fandom, as well as publications focused on the ways pop culture can help heal from trauma. Dr. Adrienne has been featured in publications like The New York Times, The Washington Post, USA Today, and NBC News and can be found at www.adriennetrier-bieniek.com or on Instagram @dr.adriennetb Supplemental teaching resources and more info for instructors is shared monthly via Dr. Adrienne's newsletter. Sign up at www.adriennetrier-Bieniek.com. 

Support the show here.(Unless you are a current student. In that case, keep your money and remember, on Wednesday's we wear pink.)

In this episode of Most Popular we talk about the history of queer representation in radio and what this looks like as podcasting has taken off. Dr. Bruce Drushel highlights , the impact of pop culture including how it influences  societal norms, and serves as a platform for marginalized voices to be heard. We dive into the historical context of LGBTQ representation in media, the evolution of radio and podcasting as mediums, and the power of pop culture to shape our understanding of the world. We also talk about some of our favorite old Hollywood stars who were misunderstood! (Hello the genius that was Hedy Lamarr!)

Dr. Bruce Drushel is  is Professor and Chair of the Department of Media, Journalism and Film at Miami University. His teaching and research interests are in the areas of media policy, audiences, media history, and LGBTQ representation in electronic media and film. He is founding co-editor of the journal Queer Studies in Media & Popular Culture and has served as guest-editor of special issues of Journal of Homosexuality, Journal of American Culture, and Reconstruction: Studies in Contemporary Culture. He has edited or co-edited five books including LGBTQ Culture: The Changing Landscape (Routledge, 2021) and Star Trek: Fan Phenomenon (Intellect Books, 2013).

Dr. Adrienne Trier-Bieniek is a gender and media scholar who has published books on gender and pop culture, Beyoncé's influence in music, Tori Amos's fandom, as well as publications focused on the ways pop culture can help heal from trauma. Dr. Adrienne has been featured in publications like The New York Times, The Washington Post, USA Today, and NBC News and can be found at www.adriennetrier-bieniek.com or on Instagram @dr.adriennetb Supplemental teaching resources and more info for instructors is shared monthly via Dr. Adrienne's newsletter. Sign up at www.adriennetrier-Bieniek.com.

Support the show here.(Unless you are a current student. In that case, keep your money and remember, on Wednesday's we wear pink.)

Welcome to the summer of ’23 trifeceta! We are talking about the economic impact of Barbie, Beyoncé, and Taylor Swift with Dr. Cecilia Rio, an economist with a focus on gender and race. The episode delves into the impact of pop culture on the economy, particularly Taylor Swift's Eras Tour, Beyonce's Renaissance Tour, and the film Barbie. Dr. Rio discusses the connection between women's empowerment and economic influence, emphasizing the changing roles of women in society and their increased purchasing power. We talk about what makes a feminist economy and the ways unpaid labor goes unrecognized. As the conversation moves to understanding the impact of technology on gender and society, we end with a brief discussion of the writers and actors strikes.

Dr. Cecilia Rio is a interdisciplinary scholar and an Associate Professor of Women's Studies from Towson University in Maryland. Dr. Rio is an economist who specializes in the political economy of race, class, and gender, as well as The U.S. political economy. Her research can be found in several journals including Critical Sociology where she talks about topics like race in feminist economics.

Dr. Adrienne Trier-Bieniek is a gender and media scholar who has published books on gender and pop culture, Beyoncé's influence in music, Tori Amos's fandom, as well as publications focused on the ways pop culture can help heal from trauma. Dr. Adrienne has been featured in publications like The New York Times, The Washington Post, USA Today, and NBC News and can be found at www.adriennetrier-bieniek.com or on Instagram @dr.adriennetb Supplemental teaching resources and more info for instructors is shared monthly via Dr. Adrienne's newsletter. Sign up at www.adriennetrier-Bieniek.com.

Support the show here.(Unless you are a current student. In that case, keep your money and remember, on Wednesday's we wear pink.)

In this episode of Most Popular, Dr. Adrienne Trier-Bieniek talks with researcher Steph Herold from Abortion Onscreen about the television series Little Fires Everywhere which premiered on Hulu in 2020. Steph's research in public health led to focus groups with multiple women where she asked them specifically about the teenage character of Lexie who, through a series of events, ends a pregnancy. While this alone is a significant twist for a character, Lexie also represents many of the troupes found in discussions of popular culture. We talk about those troupes and much more in this conversation.

Steph Herold, MPH, is a Research Analyst who studies the portrayal of abortion on television and in film with Abortion Onscreen team. With over fifteen years of experience in the reproductive health, rights, and justice fields, Steph has been the recipient of several awards, served on multiple boards related to health, and has published dozens of pieces of research in academic journals. Information on Steph Harold's research can be found at https://www.ansirh.org/about/staff/steph-herold-mph

Dr. Adrienne Trier-Bieniek is a gender and media scholar who has published books on gender and pop culture, Beyoncé's influence in music, Tori Amos's fandom, as well as publications focused on the ways pop culture can help heal from trauma. Dr. Adrienne has been featured in publications like The New York Times, The Washington Post, USA Today, and NBC News and can be found at www.adriennetrier-bieniek.com or on Instagram @dr.adriennetb Supplemental teaching resources and more info for instructors is shared monthly via Dr. Adrienne's newsletter. Sign up at www.adriennetrier-Bieniek.com.

Support the show here.(Unless you are a current student. In that case, keep your money and remember, on Wednesday's we wear pink.)

And I'm back! Most Popular has been on a bit of a hiatus while life took over. I've missed talking with people about the ways society is impacted by pop culture! New episodes will begin again on February 7th, because on Wednesday's we wear pink and learn some stuff! Take a few minutes to listen to my plans for this new season and, as always, if you rate, review and subscribe I would be most grateful!

About the host:
Dr. Adrienne Trier-Bieniek is a gender and media scholar who has published books on gender and pop culture, Beyoncé's influence in music, Tori Amos's fandom, as well as publications focused on the ways pop culture can help heal from trauma. Dr. Adrienne has been featured in publications like The New York Times, The Washington Post, USA Today, and NBC News and can be found at www.adriennetrier-bieniek.com or on Instagram @dr.adriennetb Supplemental teaching resources and more info for instructors is shared monthly via Dr. Adrienne's newsletter. Sign up at www.adriennetrier-Bieniek.com.