The Discourse

In what one host described as “the juiciest episode yet,” Court, Cecile, and guest-host-slash-armchair-psychologist Linnea regale listeners with tales from the trenches of modern dating. Featuring: The time Linnea got serenaded by a famous chef (in a bad way)The time Court was so awkward on a first date that she became the unwitting subject of a friend group betting poolThe time Cecile got wined, dined, and definitely NOT 69-ed by the sleaziest guy in BostonBut, before that...In true Discourse fashion, we can’t resist unpacking exactly how Silicon Valley nerds ruined romance. Court schools her co-hosts on the oft-forgotten role LGBTQ culture played in pioneering dating apps, and then we take a depressing look at what quantitative research says about how bad the swipe-dating landscape actually is.  We spend the latter half of the episode doling out advice to the less romantically fortunate (JOKE) while simultaneously debunking dating myths that have infiltrated modern discourse. For example, sometimes a breakup text IS, in fact, the best way to get rejected….take it from Court, who has twice suffered the brutal “dinner date breakup”. Also, ladies, please stop demanding comped Uber rides to first dates. It is not cute, and you’re ruining it for the rest of us! We promise some genuine advice hidden amongst the engagement bait (lol), including Linnea’s adorable “how we met” story and her passionate stance on having a “list” when dating. So, you swiping right? 

Another fun-sized installment of The Discourse...with some decidedly not-so-fun subject matter. Speaking off-the-cuff (read: no outline), C + C take on some of the month's hottest controversies, from the mothers suing their surrogates to the online communities spinning wild theories about Lindsay Clancy's husband. They also invent some controversies of their own: Court questions the ethics of cat-calling while Cecile brings light to the oft-ignored issue of reverse sexism (jk! I think?). Though it may be short, this one packs a punch—particularly for our listeners who delight in a good sisterly quarrel. Love ya! ;)

TL;DR: Dead internet theory is true, the influencer recession is upon us, OpenAI brand trip cringe, and the real meaning of AI psychosis. Courtenay consorts with Cousin Caroline, a friend of the pod and Bay Area native who currently resides in the belly of the AI beast—San Francisco. We discuss how a fringe message-board conspiracy theory became a mainstream talking point and what "dead internet theory" actually means for (human) internet users. While AI remains central to the theory, our discussion focuses more on some of the forces that brought us here: capitalism, greed, and enshittification (redundant?).The so-called “enshittification” of the internet is inextricably linked to the “dead internet" conversation. It’s not just that bots are flooding the internet; it’s also that the internet is becoming more and more unusable for HUMANS. Even the parts of the internet that emerged organically, like influencing, inevitably become tools of capitalism, hollowed of authenticity and used merely as vehicles to sell us more stuff. But we may have reached a tipping point. According to NY Mag, we’re in an influencer recession—and it’s causing some content creators to stoop to new lows in pursuit of engagement. From ridiculous ragebait to AI slop to insane brand partnerships (OpenAI brand trip, anyone?), we’re sharing the wild ways influencers are trying to make ends meet. We’ll even journey over to LinkedIn to stalk a corporate slop-fluencer trying to reclaim the term “AI psychosis” (and failing). Finally, we attempt to end on a hopeful note with a report on platforms such as Spotify, Substack, and LinkedIn rolling out AI spam filters and detection tools to curb the flood of low-quality content crowding our feeds. We discuss whether this signifies a larger move to combat enshittification, or if it’s just a blip that will soon be overshadowed by the rapid acceleration of AI. Sources (unpaywalled!): Dead internet theory Atlantic article from 2021: https://archive.is/20260527091626/https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2021/08/dead-internet-theory-wrong-but-feels-true/619937/#selection-927.0-930.0  Bots now make up over 50% of web traffic: https://www.removepaywall.com/search?url=https://fortune.com/2026/07/23/dead-internet-theory-bots-agents-majority-web-traffic/The “open internet” is at risk: https://www.techpolicy.press/the-open-internet-was-always-american-now-its-a-weapon/ AI model collapse: https://www.removepaywall.com/search?url=https://www.forbes.com.au/news/innovation/is-ai-quietly-killing-itself-and-the-internet/ The influencer recession: https://www.removepaywall.com/search?url=https://www.vulture.com/article/influencer-recession-audrey-peters-interview.html OpenAI brand trip: https://www.removepaywall.com/search?url=https://techcrunch.com/2026/08/03/influencers-draw-backlash-for-attending-openais-first-luxury-trip/#google_vignetteGrace McCarrick on “AI psychosis”: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/gracemccarrick_i-went-on-openais-first-ever-brand-trip-activity-7489983409877049344-4XSx?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAACKWuaQB90OwxN2aP2bUxbkbCnJMLg5s_Ew 

In the second edition of the Discourse Digest, C + C cover all the digital debates that are slightly too irrelevant to make their way into a full-length pod—but just juicy enough to bite into on a Sunday afternoon. (ETA: Wishful thinking; I was not done editing til 11pm on Sunday). You'll hear our hot takes on:The cultural commentators who Caroline Calloway thinks are "the fakest bitches in NYC"Being too honest about mental illness in your hinge profileAn AI startup's cruel, dystopian marketing gimmick: Free tattoosWhy the Central Park cheating video is emblematic of societal decayHow Tom Holland's Spider-Man can save us from MCU slop hell Take a bite—and tell us your thoughts on this week's hottest online discourse.

Andrew Tate, self-avowed misogynist and king of toxic masculinity, was arrested in Miami just last week after being hit with 38 new charges in his long-running battle with the law. He is facing life in prison for sex trafficking, kidnapping, abuse, child pornography, and crimes against fashion. (OK, that last one is fake—but come on, purple capri pants?)As Tate suffers from diarrhea in solitary confinement, women around the world rejoice. Tate’s arrest comes on the heels of a copycat incident: In June, investigators busted a sex trafficking ring in Bellevue, WA run by a 21-year-old Tate devotee, Nikita Tyukalo. The operation saw young girls pimped out in online chat rooms to the tune of millions of dollars—just not for the girls, of course. How did Tyukalo manage to build a trafficking empire with no industry connections and only a high school education? He didn’t have a college degree, but he did have his PHD—his Pimpin’ Hoes Degree, that is. In today’s episode, we retrace Andrew Tate’s journey from pro kickboxer to pimp professor, plus all the grifts in between. We’ll explore how his teachings have poisoned a new generation of men, encouraging them to take misogyny to its extremes in pursuit of power. This is not a topic we take lightly. We encourage you to listen with care! 

The rumors are true!!! Welcome to the first installment of our WEEKLY episode series, where we're bringing you a thoroughly digestible version of the online discourse. Today, Court and Cecile catch up on the summer gossip, from Robert Pattinson's leopard print underwear in The Odyssey to young Elle Woods' all-too-relatable experience with the Seattle Freeze. We also indulge in some sisterly catch-up about Ragnar Relays, Fourth Wing, and STDs (no, not that kind). If you miss our deep dive format, don't worry! We'll be back next Friday with a full-length episode. For now, take a bite out of the Discourse Digest and let us know how it tastes. :-)

What is the meaning behind the suddenly ubiquitous phrase “alpine divorce”? Romantically put, it is “a hike from which only the man returns.” More plainly put: Mountain murder.Courtenay tapped her fav climbing partner and fellow Everest summiteer, Hannah (@hannahclimbsstuff), to join her in unpacking the dark lore behind the mountain-murder discourse. Namely, the strange case of Thomas Plamberger and Kirsten Gertner. We’ll run through a detailed play-by-play of the deadly alpine divorce case that shook Austria, couched in the context of our own history as hashtag women who climb. If you’ve heard the story before, this version might still be worth a listen—Courtenay swears the YouTube video essays are getting it ALLLL wrong. This just in: A splitboard is a backcountry snowboard, and it's very normal to bring one on a tour! And Thomas didn’t have one because he had SKIS. Beyond clarifying the facts of the case, we’ll also discuss what this decision means for the climbing community, why victimizing women feels counterproductive, and how best to avoid being alpine divorced. Happy trails!

**NO VIDEO** After scouring the internet for the juiciest headlines, Courtenay, Cecile, and returning guest host Cousin Caroline play a riveting round of pop culture court where opinions are bared like teeth and knowledge gaps are ruthlessly exposed. This episode comes to you from deep in the Peruvian Andes, but you'd never guess! We remain plugged in to the continental topics du jour, from Taylor Swift's tacky MSG wedding to Taylor Frankie Paul's Bachelorette season—and all the Taylors in between. Pour yourself a pisco sour and settle in for a lively cultural discourse painstakingly uploaded on 1GB of wifi (hence the audio-only!!!)

C + C take on the buzziest release of the year in this special Book Club edition of The Discourse. Yesteryear is writer-cum-podcaster Caro Claire Burke's debut novel, a satirical portrayal of tradwife influencing taken to its extreme. Since its April release, Yesteryear's detestable protagonist and undeniably compelling premise have been the subject of much online discourse.  The book is told from the perspective of Natalie Heller-Mills, a popular “tradwife”-style influencer whose life and work revolves around her picture-perfect Idaho farm, aptly named “Yesteryear.” She and her husband Caleb—the spoiled youngest boy from an American political dynasty that appears to be part-Kennedy, part-Bush in its inspiration—have five kids between them (put a pin in that), and a sixth on the way. The crux of the novel arrives when Natalie wakes up one morning in 1850 and is forced to confront the harsh reality of the “traditional” life she claims to want. Bitter cold mornings, rock-hard bread, and a husband who is all-too-eager to slap her around for her misdeeds. Can she survive the real yesteryear ? Join C + C for yet another romp through the world of tradwifery, religious fundamentalism, and the subjugation of women—this time through the lens of our antihero narrator, Natalie Heller Mills. This far-ranging episode (our longest yet!) covers everything from the author's backstory—she was Court's fav podcaster before she was a bestselling author!—to jealous reviewers' many bad-faith critiques, to our pet theories about Natalie (gay?? autistic????? amish???). Whether you've already devoured the book and want to go deeper, OR you're sick of feeling left out of the conversation, this is one you'll want to tune in to.

Why don’t you just get your ass up and WORK? It seems like nobody wants to work anymore!!!! Clock in for today's episode to hear the discourse around remote work, corporate etiquette, Gen Z’s unconventional approach to workplace fashion, and the existential threat AI poses to white-collar careers. We’ll also ~circle back~ to past episodes via some listener feedback—of both the innocuous and hurtful variety. But let’s not boil the ocean here. We’ll give you some time back by keeping our description short and sweet. Ready to get the ball rolling?  

Courtenay’s engaged!!! And more importantly, we've got opinions about it:Lab-grown diamonds? Yes. Danielle Bernstein? No. Mountaintop proposals? Sometimes. Balloon arches on the beach? …Reluctantly. But we’re here for more than just hot takes. Two weeks of expertise in being a fiancée has emboldened Courtenay to take on the entire wedding industrial complex in an attempt to decide whether changing social norms around proposals represent newfound freedoms or the corruption of true intimacy. With the added perspective of an old, married, anti-feminist hag (Cecile*), this convo offers a truly comprehensive analysis of engagement culture in 2026—one you’ll be tempted to drop in the comments of every collabed Insta proposal post you see this summer. If you do, just make sure to tag @supremecourtenay for creds 😘 xoxo*Cecile would like it to be known that she is, in fact, 30 seconds YOUNGER than Courtenay

SOUND ISSUES FIXED! Mark Zuckerberg is evil. Social media is soul-destroying. Water is wet. Tell me something I don’t know! Despite our collective disdain for the careless and money-hungry antics of Meta and friends, the social media giants have enjoyed over two decades of near immunity from legal recourse thanks to a little legislative life preserver called Section 230. Last month, all that changed. After Meta was found guilty in TWO landmark lawsuits targeting the platform for its exploitative and addictive design, legal experts and tech execs across the country are reeling, wondering what comes next. The question on everyone’s lips: Is this big tech’s big tobacco moment? The jury’s still out. But who better to probe this unprecedented legal maelstrom than C + C? (Don’t answer that!)In addition to the minutiae of internet regulatory policy, we also cover: ➡️ What’s actually legal and illegal on the internet ➡️ The slot machine-ification of social media➡️ FMK: McKinsey, Meta, and Lockheed Martin ➡️ The book that made Courtenay concede to her lifelong opp➡️ Why social media addiction is NAWT your fault➡️ The new cast of SLOMW OC (somehow relevant)Buckle up! The Discourse is about to get… meta  ;) 

...But there might be a little bit in this episode. In Everest Part 1, we covered Courtenay's decision to climb Everest, her intense training regimen, her therapist's wisdom, and her acclimatization rotations. In this episode, we're taking you all the way to the top—29,029 feet up, to be exact! But first, Courtenay drops some "well, actually" truths about the mountain's biggest controversies, from trash to sherpa compensation to...baking soda insurance fraud?!Finally, we'll hear from Courtenay about the fraught nature of achieving your dreams—and the grief of remembering those climbers who never made it back down.

On May 23rd, 2024, your favorite pod host, Courtenay, summited Mt. Everest. Today, she finally entertains the question on everyone's lips: Why??! Short answer: She didn't want to go to grad school. Long answer: Well...you'll have to give it a listen!In part one of this two-part series, we'll dive into the discourse surrounding this highly controversial mountain, including how much it costs, how to train for it, the "luxurious" base camp amenities, and how dangerous it really is. Cecile will offer her perspective on the difficulty of supporting your loved ones' terrifying dreams, and how to resist any Tonya Harding-esque urges to play saboteur. Climb on!

Courtenay, Cecile, and guest host "Cousin Caroline" explore the bizarre and disturbing community of "Looksmaxers"—men who are obsessed with optimizing their appearance by any means necessary. In just under an hour, you'll get a survey of the manosphere, from meth injections to gigchads to Clavicular's wildly nonpartisan reasons for backing Gavin Newsom in the 2028 election. Snuggle into your red light mask and get ready for us to mog every other podcast on the internet.

This started as an episode about influencers and ended with a fight over the (debatable?) nazi tendencies of pronatalists. Buckle up—the discourse is about to get a little spicy 👀

Gen Z should be at the club...and we don't mean run club! In this week's episode, we dive into the Gen Z sobriety discourse: Alcohol consumption amongst young people is at an all-time low, and everybody is pointing fingers. The TikTok girlies say it's a health-conscious choice, the stoners say it's a substance preference, and Millennials say it's merely the sign of their young counterparts' social isolation.We dissect all these theories—but not before sharing our own very unusual relationship with alcohol in adolescence (lore drop).Follow us on Instagram!! @supremecourtenay & @cecilejackonis

As its compelling literary content has bled through the cracks of our cultural discourse, BookTok has transformed from merely an internet subculture to a powerful market force that has upended the publishing world as we know it, debatably revived the brick-and-mortar bookstore, and fueled the production of some of the most popular movies and TV shows of the last few years - including the hit new series "Heated Rivalry." What started as a benign TikTok subculture composed of (mostly) women who make and consume content about books has since become a cultural watershed: Is the TikTokification of literature a harbinger of intellectual decline, or a glimmer of hope for a dying medium? Before taking on the intellectual merits of smut, Courtenay & Cecile take a trip into the belly of the beast, starting with some delicious prose depicting a taboo dive bar hookup. We define some terms—"tropes," "spiciness," and "MCs" among them—and try our best to get acquainted with the source material. Next, we start in on the critiques: Is BookTok glorifying consumerism? Can you judge a writer by their number of Instagram followers? Is the publishing industry failing its readers by serving them unedited slop? We take a look at a few major scandals, including the discourse around "Lightlark," the viral video-turned-YA novel that divided the BookTok community. Finally, we look at what the experts have to say: Is there any inherent value in reading, or is it no better for your brain than bingeing the Secret Lives of Mormon Wives? (The answer—according to journalists and psychologists—might surprise you!)