Second Thought

The Free Press

Second Thought is a new podcast from The Free Press tackling pop culture with a sharp, open-minded, and funny point of view. Hosted by Free Press co-founder Suzy Weiss and comedian Dan Ahdoot (Cobra Kai, Undercooked), the show cuts through the noise to explain what everyone is watching, talking about, arguing over, and quietly obsessed with—or will be soon. Expect cutting commentary, unexpected guests, and cultural translating for Gen Xers who want to understand their kids, millennials who are starting to feel like boomers, and everyone in between.

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27 episodes
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Avg 53 min
English

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Friday · 42 min
The Wrath of Kelly Clarkson, with Michael Moynihan
This week, there’s one major conflict dominating the news—and it’s not the diesel debate, or the tense midterm races, or the war in Ukraine. Instead, the world has its eyes on the smackdown between pop star Kelly Clarkson, and a Brooklyn curiosity shop called Art of Play. On Saturday, Clarkson made a viral post claiming that she walked into the store and tried to buy a $15,000 automaton bird off the wall—only to be rejected and “looked at as if I couldn’t afford it.” Art of Play responded saying the item simply wasn’t for sale, and accused Clarkson of using her platform to launch "asymmetric social warfare” against their small business. Who’s the true victim here—and why can’t we look away from this strange celebrity scandal? This week on Second Thought, Michael Moynihan, host of The Fifth Column and The Moynihan Report, joins Suzy and Dan to break down the story. Plus: Why The Social Reckoning sucks, Tobey Maguire weds his ex-wife to a real-life Nigerian billionaire, how modern restaurants became surveillance states, and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
October 9 · 37 min
Elon’s Harem, Russian Plague, and Dolly Parton’s Arms-Dealing Nephew
Last week, social media influencer Alix Earle went viral for admitting that she’s never read a book—despite graduating from the University of Miami with a business degree . Predictably, the internet pounced on her, but Suzy and Dan disagree. In this week’s episode of Second Thought, the two break down the virtue of staying in your lane, and explain why Alix’s time is better spent filming makeup tutorials than slogging her way through Faulkner. Then, they move on to some of the biggest scandals overseas this week—like the Russian lab that may have just restarted the plague, the Los Angeles real estate agent caught spying for China, and why Dolly Parton’s nephew is arming militias in Haiti. Plus: Gillian Anderson scolds her fans. Elon Musk’s harem seeks revenge. And so much more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
October 2 · 48 min
Taylor Swift Got Her Happy Ending. It May Have Killed Her Music.
Last week, Taylor Swift released four brand-new songs—and the public immediately panned them. What happened to the world’s biggest pop star, and what are we to make of her latest pivot? This week on Second Thought, Swift expert Matthew Jordan sits down with Suzy Weiss and Dan Ahdoot to break down all you need to know about The Life of a Showgirl: Encore Edition, and what the response reveals about her fandom. Then, Suzy and Dan move on to another groundbreaking pivot in popular culture—this time from Sydney Sweeney, who may soon be converting to Judaism. Suzy explains why the bodacious actress would make a fine Jew, and why her conversion would mark the tribe’s greatest acquisition since Ruth. Plus: a rogue Waymo hits the farmers market. Barbie’s big-nose scandal. And a dose of tough love for the mask-wearing lesbians in Massachusetts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
September 25 · 57 min
Dating is Broken. Serena Kerrigan Knows How to Fix It.
We all know dating is broken. Or at the very least, brutal. From endless swiping on dating apps to scrolling social media, modern courtship looks nothing like it used to—and our relationships, or lack thereof, are suffering for it. But how do we get things back on track? Serena Kerrigan has gone on over 50 virtual first dates to find out—and she’s just written a book called Let’s F*cking Date that lays out all the answers. Her thesis is simple: Banish cynicism; keep dating. Today, she joins Suzy and Dan to talk about what went wrong with our love lives, and how to win the dating game. Her advice? Become “the prize.” Whether you’re looking for your soul mate or simply trying to preserve your relationship, Serena’s advice is a fresh dose of the tough love you need. Then, Serena, Suzy, and Dan weigh in on the dating stories of the season—like the women mothering their boyfriends, the techies using an AI assistant to help them flirt at the bar, the rise in divorce rings, and more. Plus: engagement rings with lab-grown diamonds, who should pay for dinner, and Serena’s one-sentence solution to Suzy’s and Dan’s dating dilemmas. *** The Free Press earns a commission from any purchases made through all book links in this article. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
September 18 · 40 min
The Real Victims of Sydney Sweeney’s Scandal
This week—and every week–America can’t take its eyes off Sydney Sweeney. In the latest controversy, she poses nearly nude while advertising for the sports gambling platform Novig, and female athletes aren’t happy about it. In today’s episode of Second Thought, Suzy and Dan break down her salacious scandal and explain why the real victims are too smitten to know it. Then the two dive into the other biggest stories onscreen—like why an Apple TV show you’ve never heard of swept the Emmys and Dan’s shirtless cameo in It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia that rivaled Sydney Sweeney’s. Plus: What happens when AI solves your life’s work? An airline smackdown over chivalry. And why New Yorkers are filing into bread lines—for a $60 loaf of rye. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
September 11 · 39 min
Millennials Love Mommy’s Money, with Jared Freid
Are you still on the family phone plan? In his new comedy special “The Family Plan,” Jared Freid breaks down the messy truth of life as a millennial son–from his mom monitoring his martinis to his dad shouting about his weight at the beach. This week on Second Thought, he joins Suzy and Dan for a deep dive on boomer parents–and explains why, beyond all the eye rolls, they’re the best gift you can get. Then, the three move onto some of the biggest stories in popular culture this week–like how Prince Harry and Megan couldn’t hack it in Montecito, the 2026 Burning Man death count, and Hunter Biden’s latest act: a meme coin named after his laptop. Plus: Girl Scouts are making dog treats, and Al Roker’s eating them. American Airlines takes up duct-tape discipline. And more of the week’s oddest moments that you may have missed this week. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
September 4 · 37 min
The Gall(iano) of Anna Wintour
Is cancel culture making a comeback? This week, fashion designer John Galliano stepped down from his post as honoree at the 2027 Met Gala after public backlash over his history of antisemitism. Today on Second Thought, Suzy and Dan break down the merits of his punishment—and why the real villain of this story is hiding in plain sight. Then, Suzy and Dan cover the cancellations you might’ve missed—like Waffle House’s fallen poet, Rockstar Riley, who was fired from his cooking job after his rap in praise of the company went viral; and former congressman George Santos, who just received a lifelong ban from betting on Kalshi. Plus: The man who confessed to murder on a podcast. The scourge of “luxury strawberries.” And, not one, but two unexpected callers dial in live to set the record straight. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
August 28 · 51 min
Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous: A Summer Special
The rich have never been richer–and us normal people simply can’t look away. From influencers posting about their vacations, to the cottage industries that pop up to help with everything from private school admissions to naming a yacht, there’s never been a better time to gawk at the decisions of the moneybags among us. At the dawn of the A-age, we’re living through a moment with over 3,000 billionaires, and for a short time, the world’s first trillionaire, Elon Musk was minted. His net worth has since dropped below the trillion dollar mark. Whether you are a rich person, aspire to be one, or protest them entirely, we’ve all got billionaires on the brain–and no one knows them better than Carson Griffith, a veteran wealth and power reporter and author of the newsletter Rich People Shit. This week, she joins Suzy and Dan to look back at all the craziest rich people stories this summer. They tackle Nantucket’s influencer ban, Ray Dalio’s 77th birthday in Ibiza, a record-breaking divorce in New Jersey, how peptides became all the rage, and more. Plus, Carson gives an inside scoop at the powerful’s private private habits–like the billionaire who ships his mattress overseas, the trainers teaching puppies to walk on yachts, and why the kids all want to go to Forte dei Marmi. Subscribe to Carson’s Substack: https://www.readrps.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
August 21 · 39 min
Is Lindsay Clancy the O.J. of White Women?
It’s a banner week for crazy women. Suzy and Dan dive into the conspiracy theories surrounding Lindsay Clancy, the Massachusetts mother on trial for strangling her three children and Real Housewife Lisa Rinna’s therapist-assisted attempt to crack the case. Then, Natalie Harp, Donald Trump’s fiercely devoted aide, managed to turn her longtime obsession with presidents into the ultimate fantasy: becoming virtually inseparable from one. And Cami Clark, wife of Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei, has a résumé that includes co-founding a women-focused luxury porn company she once tried—and failed—to get Jeffrey Epstein to invest in. Plus: the Pope gets the honor of meeting Matthew McConaughey, the surprising similarities between Trump and Muammar Gaddafi, and Dan celebrates his new comedy special, Yes, I Am Falafel Phil. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
August 14 · 40 min
Brad Pitt is Drinking Again
In this episode, Suzy Weiss and Dan Ahdoot unpack this week's very important culture news and spotlight the bizarre stories you probably missed. They celebrate Brad Pitt’s return to drinking “in a more restrained manner” after seven years of sobriety. They explore the Tokyo government’s decision to let men wear shorts to the office—and the resulting concern over “leg hair harassment” from the women forced to look at their hairy shins. And they investigate the extraordinary case of former Cambridge professor Jason Arday, whose alleged fabrications include being mute until age 11, illiterate until 18, running 600 miles in six days, and surviving a monthslong coma. Plus: Jussie Smollett and Karamo Brown’s blossoming relationship, what Olivia Rodrigo dating a finance guy means for Suzy’s romantic prospects, and why Bumble is giving up on women making the first move. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
August 7 · 47 min
Jared Leto, Ariana Grande, and Naked Steakhouses 
In this episode, Suzy Weiss and Dan Ahdoot unpack this week’s very important culture news and spotlight the bizarre stories you probably missed. They discuss the sexual misconduct allegations against Jared Leto, Ariana Grande’s decision to step back from public life amid growing concern over the pop star’s health, and whether modern culture has forgotten the value of keeping things separate: therapy from the workplace, homes from restaurants, and steak from nudity. They break down the former Netflix executive suing after he was fired for revealing his ketamine use during a corporate trust exercise, the booming underground economy of home-cooked meals on Facebook Marketplace, and why a Florida steakhouse now wants you to eat your ribeye completely naked. Second Thought is supported by Cozy Earth. Experience ultimate comfort with Cozy Earth’s award-winning bamboo sheets, unbelievably soft and naturally cooling. Visit CozyEarth.com and use code SUZY for 20% off. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
July 31 · 47 min
The Dark Side of Motherhood
In this episode Suzy Weiss sits down with journalist Amy Chozick, who has spent her career covering some of America’s most polarizing women—from Hillary Clinton and Stormy Daniels to Elizabeth Holmes and Lauren Sánchez Bezos. They explore what these wildly different women have in common, why they’re judged so harshly, and what the public gets wrong about them. Then they turn to Chozick’s new novel and the growing wave of books exposing the darker side of motherhood and why it feels like part of you dies when you have children. Plus: a stirring defense of Lorena Bobbitt. Second Thought is supported by Cozy Earth. Experience ultimate comfort with Cozy Earth’s award-winning bamboo sheets, unbelievably soft and naturally cooling. Visit CozyEarth.com and use code SUZY for 20% off. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
July 24 · 47 min
Tom Brady’s Midlife Crisis
In this episode, Suzy Weiss and Dan Ahdoot unpack this week's very important culture news and spotlight the bizarre stories you probably missed. They examine Tom Brady’s increasingly strange post-divorce reinvention and his latest publicity stunt with Logan Paul, asking whether the GOAT is in the throes of a midlife crisis. They dig into the legal challenge to South Carolina’s face tattoo ban and debate whether face tattoos are really an expression of free speech. Then they ask the only question that really matters: Would you buy parasite-contaminated lettuce for 50 percent off and play “lettuce roulette” with a few days of explosive diarrhea? Plus: Why the outrage over Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey is aimed at all the wrong things, the viral deformed raccoon uniting Seattle, and why Scientologists may deserve a little more respect than they usually get. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
July 17 · 55 min
Inside the Golden Age of Porn
Is porn empowering? Is it a scourge? And either way: Was it better in the ’80s? In this episode, Suzy Weiss and Dan Ahdoot sit down with writer Allie Rowbottom to dig into her new novel, Lovers XXX, set in the cocaine-fueled “golden age” of Los Angeles’ adult film industry. They discuss the evolution of pornography from VHS tapes to OnlyFans and why feminists remain deeply divided over whether porn liberates women or exploits them. Plus: the dark side of Los Angeles, the differences between East and West Coast strip clubs, and the enduring American greatness of Jell-O. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
July 10 · 43 min
All the Details on Taylor Swift’s Gaudy Wedding
In this episode, Suzy Weiss and Dan Ahdoot unpack this week’s *very* important culture news and highlight the bizarre, fascinating stories that you probably missed. They dissect Taylor Swift’s unhinged Madison Square Garden wedding, from the “schizophrenic” buffet menu and Chanel bag raffle to the bizarre guest list (why was George Stephanopoulos there?)—plus how one artist made money by selling cubes of trash collected outside the venue. They break down how AI is helping people talk to dead relatives, raising the question: Can your dead grandfather finally tell you he’s okay with the fact that you skipped law school? Plus: Paris Hilton’s surprisingly effective crusade against abusive “troubled teen” schools, why only Japanese people should ask guests to take off their shoes, and an airtight theory for why America will never dominate soccer: We have too much dignity to fake injuries like socialist European players do. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
June 26 · 1 hr 28 min
Child Star, Neuroscientist, Crunchy Mom: The Many Sides of Mayim Bialik
Few public figures have a résumé as eclectic as Mayim Bialik’s: child star, sitcom icon, neuroscientist, Jeopardy! host, “crotchety” feminist, and unapologetic Zionist. On this episode of Second Thought, she joins Suzy Weiss for a conversation about growing up as a child actress, finding fame on Blossom, spending a decade on The Big Bang Theory, and why Hollywood has never quite felt like home. Plus: feminism, GLP-1s, abortion, plastic surgery, “naturalistic” parenting, generational trauma, whether toxic shock syndrome is real, being labeled both an out-of-touch liberal and a secret Republican, trying to raise “normal” kids in Los Angeles, and being a proudly Jewish actress in a post–October 7 world. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
June 19 · 1 hr 15 min
How Our Culture Became ‘Cult-Like’
According to Luke Burgis, our biggest social problem isn’t loneliness or polarization or the decline of trust in institutions. Our problem is that most of us don’t even really understand ourselves. We dress dress alike, flock to the same restaurants, and chase the same goals not because we’re adjusting our behavior to fit in, but because the people around us have fundamentally transformed our inner desires and flattened our personalities That’s the subject of Burgis’s new book, The One and the Ninety-Nine, which explores how to build a “solid self” in a world of mimetic desire, social contagion, and intoxicating group dynamics. In this episode, Suzy Weiss and Dan Ahdoot cover all of this with him, plus Knicks mania, Cacio e Pepe, voice notes, and the unwritten rules of “dude-on-dude” phone calls. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
June 12 · 1 hr 13 min
Jeff Ross on Tom Brady, Trump, and the Roast of Kevin Hart
Roast comedy is one of the last places where truly unfiltered commentary still lands in public, says “Roastmaster General” Jeff Ross. Few people understand the art of the insult better than Ross, who has presided over the brutal, hilarious takedowns of everyone from Joan Rivers and Justin Bieber to Charlie Sheen. Today, he joins Suzy Weiss to break down his new Netflix special, Take a Banana for the Ride, which manages to be both hilarious and serious—addressing the loss of both of his parents as a teenager, the grief that shaped him, and how comedy became a way to build resilience and develop a thicker skin. In their conversation, they also discuss why the Tom Brady roast unexpectedly helped thaw old tensions between Brady, his former team, and Bill Belichick, how Ross persuaded Brady to step back onto the dais for the roast of Kevin Hart, the resurgence of the word retarded in public use, Ross’s relationship with Donald Trump, why he adopted a geriatric dog during the pandemic, and much more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
June 5 · 1 hr 13 min
I Am Not a Robot (but My Boyfriend Was)
For a year, tech writer Joanna Stern turned herself into an AI guinea pig. She let artificial intelligence into every corner of her life: testing robot assistants, commuting in autonomous vehicles, reading AI bedtime stories to her children, and even going on a road trip with her AI boyfriend, Evan. That experiment became her new book, I Am Not a Robot. In this episode, Joanna breaks down what we can expect from the next wave of AI technology. One question hangs over the episode: When the podcast host bots of the future are interviewing AI guest bots for the listening audience bots, who exactly will buy the mattresses? Plus: “rizz camming,” Dua Lipa’s restaurant recommendations, Backrooms, why online reviews are useless, Gen-Z jeans, and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 28 · 1 hr 25 min
Scooter Braun on Taylor Swift, Kanye West, and Becoming the Internet’s Villain
Scooter Braun reflects on how he became one of pop music’s most powerful kingmakers, helping to engineer the careers of Justin Bieber and Ariana Grande—and the controversies that reshaped his public image, from Kanye West’s antisemitic spiral, which ended their relationship, to the Taylor Swift masters dispute that turned Braun into one of the internet’s biggest villains. Braun says he barely knew Swift personally and argues the feud was flattened into a simplified tale that painted him as an exploiter in a story far more complicated than the public understood. He opens up about the intensity of the backlash—and how the online fury pushed him into a suicidal low point. They also discuss the changing economics of music, celebrity, fandom, and power in the social media era. Plus: why Braun thinks Spencer Pratt could actually become mayor of Los Angeles, and how he felt watching most of the music industry stay silent after Hamas’s October 7 attacks on Israel. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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