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That's a Thing?!

by Karen Unland and Elizabeth Spencer

A sometimes belated, already outdated guide to your teens, tweens and everything under 20. In each episode, Elizabeth, a teenager, explains a thing to Karen, her mother. And Karen tells Elizabeth how that thing relates to something she knows. Maybe.

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Episodes

  1. Well, that was a thing

    Here are some of the things we mentioned: We launched in December 2017, when Elizabeth was 15 Y2K fashion is back? Zine culture Lilly Singh went from relatable YouTuber to out of touch late show host The painful “Gen Z slang” SNL skit David Foot and Douglas Coupland contributed to a…

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  2. CensorSHIP

    Here are some of the things we mentioned in this episode: Susan Sontag’s Notes On “Camp” Or a six-minute explainer if you don’t have the time The shortcomings of CinemaSins The even-shorter-comings of Nostalgia Critic About KiwiFarms, one of the most unpleasant sites on the surface web Interview...

  3. New ways to own and be owned

    Here are some of the things we mentioned in this episode: We are not actually an NFT Roblox Watch these videos from PeopleMakeGames on Roblox: Investigation: How Roblox Is Exploiting Young Game Developers Roblox Pressured Us to Delete Our Video. So We Dug Deeper. Gig economy Callback to our MLM...

  4. Conzoomerism

    Here are some of the things we talk about or at least gesture at in this episode: How Bad Can I Be from The Lorax (2012) (in case you forget what a thneed is) Shein’s about us page Shein’s social responsibility page Reuters article about Shein’s lack of disclosure Vox article on Shein Callback to...

  5. Poltergeist schmoltergeist

    For more fears and jeers, consider the following: Callback to our episode on Inside Callback to our episode on analog horror A needlessly thorough Wikipedia synopsis A list of other Bechdel Test passing movies Bathtubs Over Broadway and the consequences of comedy damage Check out Nyx Fears if you...

  6. Bury me in analog

    Here are some of the things we mentioned in this episode: Black Mirror, a crowning jewel of “phones bad” cinema VCR versus VHS, a distinction that was lost on Elizabeth Land of the Giants episode on the iPhone The TV Tropes page on Analog Horror Aidan’s analog horror video An analysis of...

  7. POV: You're listening to a podcast

    Here are some of the things we mentioned in this episode: Elizabeth’s choose-your-own-adventure flowchart Lip-sync style @noahjaywood @saramariecarstens @arxcelix One- or two-part cliffhanger @jezellecatherine @baileyspinn @joe_masini @devincaherly One-shot or character pieces @ianboggz...

  8. Watch out! Beware! Buy this!

    Here are some of the things we mentioned in this episode: Flare on TikTok and Instagram Mom Friend on TikTok The best slash proof bags can cost $169, and still might not meet your standards SafetyDrip on TikTok The Sarah Everard story The quest to de-hair the female body continues This episode is...

  9. (Bo)nus episode: Inside

    Here are some of the things that came up in our discussion: Content warnings: Adult themes, mature language, suicide, “content” Bo Burnham: Inside On Netflix On Spotify Who is Bo Burnham: Wikipedia entry YouTube channel Left Brain Right Brain animatic Lola Sebastian Lolita Podcast (not for kids…

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  10. Do you read me?

    Here are links to some of the things we mention in the show: Lore episode featuring Moll Pitcher (timestamp 25:15) Couldn’t find a working version of a Buzzfeedesque Journal quiz, but it was like this Go Out To Brunch To See Which Sex And The City Character You Are JK Rowling, famously an...

  11. The cake is a lie

    Here are some of the things we mentioned: Eric Carle and The Very Hungry Caterpillar Eric Carle didn’t say that The Paris Review for Young Readers Rage-bait cooking videos - eg no-melt nachos, spaghetti in cold sauce Bronies We were going to link to a problematic image about 4chan sharing things…

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  12. Yahoo Answers — super bad and sorely missed

    Here are some of the things we mentioned: More information about the Yahoo Answers shutdown Pregnancy questions video (NSFW) ICYMI episode on end of Yahoo Answers Quora There’s a subreddit for every question you could possibly have r/relationships Sarah Z video about where fake stories fit into...

  13. Don't play me like that

    Here are some of the things we mentioned: We got to try out at home VR thanks to Laser City Flash games were part of the browser game genre Here’s a snapshot from Elizabeth’s earliest gaming days Super Mario World Lunar Magic, a Super Mario World level editor Find out what stuff Karen likes on...

  14. We love you (but not like that)

    Here are the things we mentioned in the episode: Triple H: The counterculture-to-corporate pipeline Some influencers use their power for good — e.g. Linda Hoang Karen doesn’t fangirl about podcasts, but she does recommend them on CBC Radio Active on the first Monday of the month, or on Fridays in...

  15. Mysteries of the modern age

    Here are some of the things we mentioned in the episode: We talked about music last time, but then drivers license by Olivia Rodrigo happened Bizaardvark High School Musical: The Musical - The Series “Real life” drama among Disney kids drivers license “fan” videos on TikTok Pogs Poggers The...

  16. TikTok bops and the transformation of pop

    Here are links to the things we mentioned: It’s been a long time since we talked about pop music RIP CJYR, radio station of Karen’s youth Also RIP Video Hits and Good Rockin’ Tonite Billboard Hot 100 Hit Parade on one-hit wonders One Hit Wonderland by Todd in the Shadows Mothica Mothica’s duck...

  17. New life for Clone High, fake life for VTubers

    Here are links to the things we mentioned: Clone High on YouTube’s Retro Rerun (it’s a cartoon, but not for little kids) JFK compilation Nothing bad ever happens to the Kennedys Episode 9: Raisin the Stakes: A Rock Opera in 3 Acts Vincent Van Gogh TikToks Definitions: Bitmoji and Memoji VTuber…

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  18. Who's the impostor here?

    Here are links to the things we mentioned: Defining creepypasta The costumes we saw will be on Karen’s Instagram Jeff the Killer Zalgo What’s a screamer? What’s an Eboy? Laughing Jack Callback to when Elizabeth said stealing was OK Elizabeth’s Drawtober project Slender Man Slender Man’s copyright...

  19. Nostalgia, for kids!

    Here are links to things we mentioned: DashCon Call back to our Quibi episode Chan boards Rage Comics Wojak Comics Call back to our cottagecore episode NPC and its politicization Reply All episode on the origins of QAnon Call back to our Karens episode Call back to our memes episode with Steamed...

  20. Is stealing wrong? (Or, The internet, Part 2)

    This episode will sort of make sense on its own, but it will be even more satisfying if you first listen to Part 1. Here are links to the things we mentioned: Steal Like an Artist For a refresher on praxis, listen to Episode 20 Examples of meme accounts and bots bringing one platform to another:...

  21. Why is the internet like this?

    Here are links to the things we mentioned: Tom Eastman’s tweet that perfectly encapsulates what this episode is about How the blogosphere used to work This new rating thing YouTube seems to be trying out Video on Worlds Online, an early chat room with avatars What we mean by walled garden Anil...

  22. But make it fashion

    Here are links to the things we mentioned, plus some extras that were in our heart: Article about the moon incident Wikipedia, a reliable resource for research The Twitter thread in question Urban dictionary entries for speedcore, nightcore and hardcore Don’t forget mumblecore (Karen didn’t) The...

  23. An exit interview with the grads

    Here are links to the things we mentioned: The kids were not into celebrity grad ceremonies. Elizabeth got Jon to read American Gods. We read Frankenstein out loud after reading Welcome to Night Vale. Alberta Ballet’s Frankenstein was really good. There is a movement afoot to rename the Oliver...

  24. Four 'quick bites' on modern media

    Here are links to the things we mentioned: Bite 1: Quibi Jeffrey Katzenberg Blames Pandemic for Quibi’s Rough Start (NYT) Some More News on Quibi Peter Kafka’s interview with Katzenberg on Recode Media Bite 2 (9:46): Some Good News Equals 3 (we said Less Than 3), Cute Win Fail, Philip DeFranco…

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  25. What’s so funny anyway?

    Here are links to the things we mentioned: Sour Grapes (the wine fraud movie Elizabeth mentions) For a refresher on praxis, see Episode 20 John Oliver’s Last Week Tonight David Letterman and Johnny Carson Elizabeth’s Letterman knowledge has not grown Some More News Big Joel’s tweet about John...

  26. QuaranTEEN tips

    Here are links to the things we mentioned: Remember when we were going to see Hamilton in San Francisco? Yeah, about that… Elizabeth’s intro is a homage to Sawbones. School was not cancelled, then it was cancelled, and now it’s going to be from home. If you’re in Edmonton Public Schools, get your...

  27. Broadway babies, Act 1

    Here are links to the things we mentioned: We won the 2020 Canadian Podcast Award for Outstanding Kids & Family Series Other Alberta Podcast Network winners Sports: Tight Ends Technology: Press Start to Join News and Current Affairs: The Daveberta Podcast Television and Film: Emily Missed Out...

  28. A musical interlude

    Here are links to the things we mentioned: Putting It Together — he’s now in the middle of Company, and it’s so good! Canadian Podcast Awards Putting It Together is nominated in Arts and Music That’s a Thing?! is nominated in Kids & Family Find all of the Alberta Podcast Network nominees Our…

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  29. Trailer: That's a Thing?!

    Here's what you can expect from our sometimes belated, already outdated guide to your teens, tweens and everything under 20.

  30. Unraveling YouTube Rewind

    Here are links to the things we mentioned: YouTube usage and revenue stats Unraveled, especially The Perfect PokéRap Hank Green science videos You Suck at Cooking, who was nice on Instagram Copyright suit hits Canadian schools Audacity tutorials are the best KSI vs Logan Paul December’s YouTube...

  31. OK Boomer, but #NotAllKarens

    Here are links to the things we mentioned: The Taylor Lorenz article that started it all The triple meme Instagram post You Know I Had to Do It to Em meme Some highlights of the backlash Definition of boomer (Thanks DankMemeOS) Generation X, as defined by Douglas Coupland Buzzfeed article full of...

  32. Things that disappear: Horror in the Information Age

    Here are links to the things we mentioned: Usually Jon talks about memes Lost Media Wiki r/lostmedia on Reddit Three reasons lost media is scary Existential dread — stuff can just disappear, and not even be findable on Internet Archive’s Wayback Machine Haunting nostalgia — goodbye weird games on...

  33. Memes, praxis, the raid and the strike

    Here are links to the things we mentioned: Storm Area 51 on Know Your Meme Naruto runner video What is a Kyle? What is a Karen? The Lies Behind Area 51 #ThingsIFoundInArea51 What is praxis? Alice Isn’t Dead Our episode on shady recruitment to MLMs and the like Exposing Instagram Scams Greta...

  34. Have I got a deal for you?

    Here are links to some of the things we mentioned: Defining MLM — multilevel marketing Defining pyramid scheme Notwithstanding Elizabeth’s joke, Girl Guides of Canada is good! Buy cookies. Vector Marketing, seller of Cutco products The history of Vector and Cutco The copy-paste recruitment text...

  35. Me and the boy talk memes

    As Jon points out in the episode, memes are a visual medium, so here are some references in case our descriptions leave something to be desired. (Also, we had some sound difficulties, which get a bit better after the seventh minute or so.) Karen is not a Boomer (but she did get the intro wrong)...

  36. Can CanCon continue?

    Here’s more on what we mentioned during this Canada Day nostalgia-fest (most of these are Canadian but some are American things we mentioned in passing): What is Canadian content? One-hit wonders, like Snow CJYR Radio in Edson (which appears to have died in 2005) Anne Murray Shania Twain Loverboy...

  37. Marketing by meme — could it be a thing?

    Here are some things we mentioned or drew from: Please fill out the Alberta Podcast Network listener survey We missed last month because of The Drowsy Chaperone That time when Arby’s tweeted about its waifu Fast food Twitter accounts sassing each other over and over Todd in the Shadows…

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  38. That’s a Thing?! Live: The Internet is my GSA

    Here’s more information on some of the things we mention: N.B. The excerpt from Poly Queer Love Ballad (18:05 to 22:15) is amazing, but also quite explicit, so be forewarned. Special thanks to Sara Vickruck and Anais West for performing the song and letting us include it in this recording....

  39. The Holy Trinity of YouTube Gaming

    Here are some of the things we talk about: Ahrefs top YouTube searches What is a Let’s Play? Our indie video games episode Our Fortnite episode How Minecraft broke YouTube The trinity: Markiplier, Jacksepticeye and PewDiePie Our memes episode, which mentions Markiplier E SocialBlade’s YouTube…

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  40. TikTok: Performance art or stranger danger? Yes.

    Here are some of the things we talk about: (N.B. We recorded part of this in 2018, part of it in 2019, so there are a few references to “this year” that may be slightly confusing. What is time, anyway?) TikTok What I’m already Tracer means What Hit or Miss means History of Musical.ly History of...

  41. The fatal flaws of YouTube

    Here are some of the things we talk about: Part 1 - The cons and cons of YouTube Timeline: 2002: Elizabeth is born. 2005: YouTube is born. 2006: Google buys YouTube. Flaw 1 - Copyright confusion YouTube copyright strikes Somehow, Leprechaun 4: In Space is still available Flaw 2 - Demonetization...

  42. Tweetable terrors and digital dread

    Here are links to the things we referred to. Elizabeth’s spooky inspiration Karen’s spooky inspiration Episode 1: Creepypasta The SCP Foundation Creepy art on Twitter: 41Strange, Toilets with Threatening Auras The Sun Vanished on Twitter Crypt TV The Little Mermaid on Crypt TV Salad Fingers Don’t...

  43. The cons and cons of YouTube

    Here are links to things we referred to: VidCon, the YouTube conference Our guest Kyle Marshall’s YouTube channel Kyle also owns Media Lab YYC, and has three podcasts in the Alberta Podcast Network: Assumptions, Putting It Together and Creative Block Hank Green’s vlogbrothers, Crash Course and...

  44. What do you meme by that?

    Here are links to things we mentioned and other things that seem relevant in hindsight: The meaning of “meme” The inciting tweet from Jason of The Young Gaffers The Markiplier E meme The Hey Beter meme The original Hey Peter video Suicide Mouse video Despacito, the original The Despacito 2 meme…

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  45. Don't forget to floss (or do)

    Elizabeth made a Spotify playlist of songs we refer to, for your listening/cringing pleasure. Here are links to some of the other things we talked about: Not this kind of flossing This kind of flossing We keep talking about Fortnite Edmonton Podcasting Meetup, where Mack Male of Taproot Edmonton...

  46. How K-Pop's BTS became a thing

    Here are the links to a bunch of things we mentioned: K-Poparazzi on Radiolab The Monkees H.O.T. Our episode on fan fiction, which mentions K-Pop a lot Gangnam Style (as if you haven't seen it) BTS BTS at the Pyeongchang Olympics BTS at Billboard Music Awards BTS on The Ellen Show in 2017 and…

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  47. Episode 6: I'll meet you in a Fortnite

    That's a Thing?! is a member of the Alberta Podcast Network (https://albertapodcastnetwork.com), powered by ATB (https://atb.com). It is sponsored this month by YESS Painting (https://yesspainting.com) Find full show notes at thatsathing.transistor.fm/6 Fortnite on Twitch Brace for Impact, the...

  48. Episode 5: Fanfictionary

    Some links to things we talked about: Definition of fan fiction Hamilton shipping, like Lams Sherlock shipping Sarah Marshall’s piece in The Baffler: The Afterlife of Newsies Original Character Do Not Steal meme Urban Dictionary definition of Mary Sue Places to find fan fiction: Tumblr…

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  49. Episode 4: Indie video games

    Elizabeth dives into the world of indie video games, introducing some that her mother would really rather not know about (hi, FNAF), and some that she's kind of looking forward to trying. Plus, #PaulWatch and the meaning of THOT. Some links to things we talked about: Getting Over It with Bennett...

  50. Episode 3: Eating Tide Pods

    Elizabeth explains how eating Tide Pods became a thing, and analyzes media coverage of the phenomenon. This leads to a discussion of challenges past and present, and the ensuing freakouts. Links to some of the things we referred to: Tide Pods official webpage Washington Post article on eating…

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ABOUT THIS SHOW

A sometimes belated, already outdated guide to your teens, tweens and everything under 20. In each episode, Elizabeth, a teenager, explains a thing to Karen, her mother. And Karen tells Elizabeth how that thing relates to something she knows. Maybe.

HOSTED BY

Karen Unland and Elizabeth Spencer

Produced by Karen Unland

CATEGORIES

arts kids family

Frequently Asked Questions

How many episodes does That's a Thing?! have?

That's a Thing?! currently has 52 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.

What is That's a Thing?! about?

A sometimes belated, already outdated guide to your teens, tweens and everything under 20. In each episode, Elizabeth, a teenager, explains a thing to Karen, her mother. And Karen tells Elizabeth how that thing relates to something she knows. Maybe.

How often does That's a Thing?! release new episodes?

That's a Thing?! has 52 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.

Where can I listen to That's a Thing?!?

You can listen to That's a Thing?! on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.

Who hosts That's a Thing?!?

That's a Thing?! is created and hosted by Karen Unland and Elizabeth Spencer.
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