Intelligentsia

It’s no secret that Intelligentsia is a millennial podcast, so this week we are unpacking what it actually means to be a millennial - and we’re going to take our sweet time doing it! (It’s a long one.) We’re diving into the generation that grew up analog, came of age online, and somehow ended up burnt out, overeducated, and still splitting rent. From being told we could “have it all” (lol), we unpack the reality of millennial life—...

From a 15-minute dinner in 1929 to what has become Hollywood’s biggest night, the Intelligentsia crew is breaking down the history, drama, and chaos of the Academy Awards. We cover iconic wins (and losses), legendary Oscar champs like Katharine Hepburn and Jack Nicholson, and the milestones that changed the ceremony forever. And since we're not "movie people" we are going to dive into this year’s nominees with a spec...

From Martha Washington to modern power players, this week the Intelligentsia crew is diving deep into the history, influence, and pop-culture legacy of America’s First Ladies. We break down how the role evolved—from Dolley Madison setting the blueprint to Eleanor Roosevelt redefining it with advocacy and press power—plus the initiatives that shaped presidencies, from Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis’ White House restoration to Michelle O...

Love is in the air, Intelligentsia! Love it or hate it, Valentines Day is right around the corner, and we're going in deep this week with the help of some guest stars. For this very special occasion, we have our first ever panel of experts, Emily, Haley, and Janae, who will tell us all about how they "celebrate" the big day. And if you're looking for a little education, we've got a little history, some fun ...

The Super Bowl takes center stage this week as the Intelligentsia crew breaks down the biggest night in football and pop culture — from football basics to iconic halftime shows and unforgettable commercials. Tara and Joey lean on Ryan’s Straight Guy Perspective to unpack Super Bowl history, key players to watch, and game predictions. They also dive into Super Bowl parties and food, billion-dollar host city impact, and the rise of s...

We're baaaack! That's right, we have been renewed for season 2! After a short break, the Intelligentsia crew is back in your ears weekly, and we're starting with a  BANG: music we consider canon (get it?) Joey, Tara, and Ryan debate what makes an album legendary, break down the Rolling Stone Top 500, and share hot takes on classics like Rumours, Jagged Little Pill and more — plus spicy opinions on what is happening w...

Bonus Episode Alert! Apparently the end of the year is a time for reflection, so in this bonus ep, the Intelligentsia crew is reflecting on Variety's Best Comedy Movies of All Time. From Bridesmaids and Legally Blonde to Mrs. Doubtfire, When Harry Met Sally, Annie Hall, and more, we swap first-watch takeaways, debate hits vs. misses, weigh-in on some shocking omissions, and pick the next movie each of us is finally committing ...

It's a Christmas miracle - our gift to Intelligentsia, a bonus episode! The crew reunites for a lively debrief on Joey's recent nuptial celebration, featuring NYC's own Reverend Tara. Come relive the the food, the music, and the magic moments with us. It'll make those of you who were there wish you could do it all again, and those of you who weren't feel major FOMO. So come on, say "I do" to some ...

It’s our season finale, and what better way to go out than with a big wedding episode, just like all our favorite tv shows? Joey’s wedding is on the horizon, Tara’s officiating, Ryan, father, is here to dish on his experience from his own big day. We’re talking about our favorite wedding scenes in movies and TV, royal weddings, the outrageous costs, and ugh, the societal expectations of it all. Plus: a little Chappell Roan, a littl...

It’s September which can only mean one thing: back to school! This week, Intelligentsia heads back to high school. Joey and Tara swap stories about their very different high school experiences from underage clubbing to house parties, before diving into pop culture’s greatest takes on teen life—from Mean Girls and its cafeteria cliques to the cult classic Freaks and Geeks and the drama of Gossip Girl. We’re talking high school athle...

Okay hear us out, this one may sound a bit self-indulgent, but this week Intelligentsia is talking friendship - theirs, yours, and everything in between. Joey and Tara break down their top 3 must-haves in a friend, swap stories about their own friendship history, and dig into how television and music have shaped the way we see our closest bonds. From Broad City to Golden Girls, “Wannabe” to “You’ve Got a Friend,” and famous friend ...

We could lie and say this episode is your comprehensive guide to the history and lore of the Emmys—but really, it’s just an excuse for Joey and Tara to gush about their favorite big noms this year - which are, spoiler alert, Hacks and The Studio. Along the way, we drop some Emmy trivia, dish on record-breakers like Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Lorne Michaels, and debate the biggest snubs and play a round of love-or-hate: winners. Plus, ...

From Tiger Beat to full-blown college heartaches and work crush chaos, this week we’re talking crushes. Tara spills on her early Rider Strong obsession, Joey weighs in on growing up gay without a “traditional” crush culture, and together we revisit the heartthrobs of the 90s (Leo, Hanson, Freddie Prinze Jr., and the eternal JTT vs. CMM debate). We swap top celeb crushes, gush over favorite crush songs including our top 5 Taylor Swi...

Back and refreshed from our week off, Intelligentsia takes on the American presidency—from Tara’s history obsession and Joey’s childhood memorabilia to the bizarre history of presidential street names and fun facts (spoiler: Harvard really knows how to crank ‘em out). We dive into pop culture’s take on the Oval Office (we’re talking Veep, The West Wing, Air Force One and more), presidential dynasties, and the chaos of impeachment. ...

This week, on Intelligentsia we’re talking all things pets—from our childhood companions, Tara’s “brother” Tiger the hamster, Joey’s dog Diver, and Ryan’s whole menagerie, to Joey and Tara’s current furry friends and most perfect angels, Archie and Stevie. We’ll reminisce about presidential pets, iconic pets in pop culture, debate the merits of various TV and movie animal sidekicks, and discover Joey’s shocking lack of Air Bud know...

This week, the Intelligentsia go to a concert! We’re spilling everything from our first concerts, to Tara’s definitive take on the age-old question: does John Mayer wear boxers, briefs, or boxer-briefs? Joey shares his traumatic turn as a Spice Girl boyfriend, and we relive our favorite shows, not to mention counting down the top 5 sickest moments from our night at the Eras Tour. We unpack iconic concerts we missed (rude), the best...

Pack your bags—this week we’re talking travel (and seeing how many times you can tolerate Joey and Tara singing the Go-Go’s “Vacation”). From childhood trips to Disney, Myrtle Beach, and Maine to more recent—and occasionally regrettable—adventures, we cover it all: cruises (never again), the highs and lows of all-inclusives, and pop culture detours like vacation-movie trivia and a spoiler-filled deep dive into White Lotus. We wrap ...