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How “Millennial Cringe” Became “Millennial Optimism” episode artwork

Dec 13, 2025 35 min

How “Millennial Cringe” Became “Millennial Optimism”

from ICYMI

On today’s episode, host Kate Lindsay is joined by Gen Z expert and After School writer Casey Lewis to talk about how Gen Z TikTok users are switching up on Millennials. After years of mocking the generation for being “cringe” online, now people are longing to return to the 2010s and the culture that came with it. But were Millennials really as “optimistic” as the fancams make it seem? And what does Gen Z have, if anything, to be nostalgic about? This podcast is produced by Vic Whitley-Berry, Daisy Rosario, and Kate Lindsay. Need to set up your Slate Plus feed? If you subscribed through Slate.com, check out our FAQ at slate.com/podcastfaqs for easy instructions. Members subscribed via Apple Podcasts get automatic access—no setup required.

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How “Millennial Cringe” Became “Millennial Optimism”

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This episode was published on December 13, 2025.

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