Take It Personal is a weekly conversation where three friends say the quiet part out loud.
Hosted by Stephanie Bartlett (https://substack.com/@steph4sum), Will Austen (https://substack.com/@willtakesitpersonal), and Jamie Renell (https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1143549), and produced by Lindsay Abrams, the show combines hot takes, cultural commentary, and personal insights in a clever, hilarious, and relatable manner.
The podcast unpacks the complexities of the internet, pop culture, society, and their own lives. It’s a little messy, a little meaningful, and always personal.
Take It Personal invites listeners to join the conversation as it dives into trending topics and shares personal experiences behind the headlines.
Subscribe to the "Take It Personal" Substack (https://www.takeitpersonalpodcast.com/), as well as YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@TakeItPersonal_podcast) and TikTok (https://www.tiktok.com/@takeitpersonal_podcast)channels, to join the conversation as we dive into trending topics and share personal experiences behind the headlines.
Episode 15 | The System Became Visible: CBAs, Bam’s 83, and Why the NBA Feels Broken
This week on Take It Personal, we follow one idea all the way through:
What happens when the system becomes visible?
We start with a conversation about time after Will's article about how something as simple as the clock is actually a system someone chose (https://open.substack.com/pub/willtookitpersonal/p/whatever-happened-to-meet-me-at-high?utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&utm_medium=web) — and use that lens to unpack what’s happening across sports right now.
From there, we get into:
The MLB vs WNBA CBA and what players are really fighting over
Why Unrivaled is more than a league — it’s leverage
Bam Adebayo’s 83-point game and why the reaction split the internet
The bigger question: why the NBA feels harder to watch than it should
March Madness, NIL, and why college basketball feels different right now
This episode is about power, structure, and who gets to set the terms.
Subscribe + follow Take It Personal so you never miss an episode:
TIP Website (https://www.takeitpersonalpodcast.com/): Subscribe for full episodes, writing, video diaries, and updates
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TikTok: (https://www.tiktok.com/@takeitpersonal_podcast)Follow for highlights, hot takes, and between-episode moments
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1 Mar 2026
Episode 14 | Sinners, One Battle, BAFTA Winners, Broadcast Controversy, and a Hamnet Deep Dive
The BAFTAs were supposed to be calm — and then the night went sideways. We unpack the broadcast controversy, what accountability should look like with a tape delay, and what the winners signaled: Sinners, One Battle, plus why Hamnet hit so hard.
Subscribe + follow Take It Personal so you never miss an episode:
TIP Website (https://www.takeitpersonalpodcast.com/): Subscribe for full episodes, writing, video diaries, and updates
YouTube: (https://www.youtube.com/@TakeItPersonal_podcast) Subscribe for full episodes and clips.
TikTok: (https://www.tiktok.com/@takeitpersonal_podcast)Follow for highlights, hot takes, and between-episode moments
Wherever you listen to podcasts: Follow and turn on notifications so new episodes drop automatically
20 Feb 2026
Smoke Break Ep 2: JAŸ-Z and the Cost of Re-Entry
Jay-Z’s umlaut shows up again — JAŸ-Z — and Steph (https://substack.com/@steph4sum) and Will (https://substack.com/@willtakesitpersonal) treat it like an operator signal: a subtle, coordinated move across platforms that makes the ecosystem react. They connect that kind of “signal” behavior to Ye’s paid Wall Street Journal apology as a premium-room strategy: not optimized for the timeline, but for the financiers, insurers, and gatekeepers who decide what gets funded.
Then they bring in Travis Scott as connective tissue, including his proximity to Beyoncé via their 2023 collaboration, to explore how Lane 1 (Trending) and Lane 2 (Premium Rooms) interact when major cultural players are “activated.”
Start here if you haven’t yet: Smoke Break Episode 1 (our first processing session on Ye’s paid apology): https://www.takeitpersonalpodcast.com/p/processing-yes-paid-apology-not-a (https://www.takeitpersonalpodcast.com/p/processing-yes-paid-apology-not-a)
For more episodes, clips, & articles: https://www.takeitpersonalpodcast.com (https://www.takeitpersonalpodcast.com)
Follow @takeitpersonal_podcast on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@TakeItPersonal_podcast) & TikTok (https://www.tiktok.com/@takeitpersonal_podcast)
This week on Take It Personal, we’re breaking down Super Bowl night: the game (we’ll be quick), the commercials (why they felt oddly underwhelming), and the halftime show that had us fully locked in.
We talk the big ad themes (hello crypto/AI), the spots we actually remember, and the ones that mysteriously didn’t show up. Then we go full deep-dive on Bad Bunny’s halftime performance—sugar cane symbolism, a real on-field wedding twist, surprise appearances (yes, Lady Gaga in Spanish), and the flags finale that gave actual goosebumps.
After that, we pivot to the Winter Olympics opening ceremonies: why the celebrity choices felt confusing, Shaun White’s “infomercial energy” in the booth, and the Lindsey Vonn discourse—comeback mentality, risk, crash mechanics, and why the 40+ crowd felt seen.
More episodes, articles, and clips: www.takeitpersonalpodcast.com (http://www.takeitpersonalpodcast.com)
Follow us: @takeitpersonal_podcast on TikTok + YouTube
7 Feb 2026
Episode 12 | Are They OK? Grammys, Performances, and the Illusion of Consensus
We’re recording this episode 48 hours after the Grammys, and it’s clear none of us watched the same show.
Between the Recording Academy’s YouTube premiere ceremony, the red carpet, CBS, Paramount+, and the group chat, the Grammys felt less like one event and more like five stitched together.
In this episode, Steph, Will, and Jamie break down:
Why the pre-show and premiere ceremony felt more musically honest than the main broadcast
How the Recording Academy (https://www.recordingacademy.com/) actually works, and why music’s lack of a union still matters
Standout performances from the night, including the Ozzy Osbourne tribute, Lauryn Hill’s R&B legends moment, Reba McEntire, and Tyler, the Creator
Why the “New Artist” showcase exposed how strange Grammy categories have become
Fashion hits, misses, and Cam Newton cosplay
And our recurring question of the night: are they okay? — unpacking Bruno Mars, Lady Gaga, Justin Bieber, Billie Eilish, and more
For more from group chat, check us out at: https://www.takeitpersonalpodcast.com. (https://www.takeitpersonalpodcast.com/)
30 Jan 2026
Episode 11 | The Impact of Sports on Identity and Community
Sports aren’t just games—they’re emotional, social, and deeply personal. In this episode of Take It Personal crew, dig into the psychology of sports: why fandom becomes part of identity, how community turns wins and losses into shared experience, and why certain sports moments stay with us for life.
We talk about:
How sports shape identity across different phases of life
Why is community the multiplier that makes sports feel meaningful
Team-first vs athlete-first fandom—and the generational shift behind it
The Olympics as storytelling, politics, and national identity
Serena Williams’ dominance and the emotional challenge of “what comes next”
How modern media and streaming choices affect how we experience sports
Why wearing team gear after a loss still matters
If sports have ever made you feel something bigger than yourself, this episode is for you.
More from us at our new site on https://www.takeitpersonalpodcast.com (https://www.takeitpersonalpodcast.com)
Follow @takeitpersonal_podcast on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@TakeItPersonal_podcast) and TikTok (https://www.tiktok.com/@takeitpersonal_podcast)
28 Jan 2026
Smoke Break Ep 1: Processing Ye’s Paid Apology (Wall Street Journal)
In this short “Smoke Break” episode, Steph and Will process Ye’s decision to publish a long, paid apology as a national newspaper ad.
Recorded the same day the statement dropped, this conversation captures the immediate emotional, cultural, and strategic questions raised by the apology — without rushing to a verdict.
Topics include:
Why the apology feels unusually polished and strategic
The difference between explanation and accountability
How different communities were addressed — and what was missing
Why timing matters, including the drop landing just days before the Grammys
This episode is about processing, not concluding. What comes next matters more than what was said today.
For more episodes, articles, and videos, check us out at:
Take It Personal Website (https://www.takeitpersonalpodcast.com) | Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/take-it-personal/id1814938909) | Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/4mh0ZcLELZrp3RkF9OgZgi) | YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@TakeItPersonal_podcast) | TikTok | (https://www.tiktok.com/@takeitpersonal_podcast)RSS (https://rss.com/podcasts/take-it-personal/)
24 Jan 2026
Episode 10 | When a Finale Betrays You (HIMYM, GOT, Peak-End Rule)
Some shows don’t just end; they betray you, and suddenly the whole series becomes impossible to rewatch.
This episode started with Will’s Substack piece (https://www.takeitpersonalpodcast.com/p/why-great-tv-shows-become-impossible) on “unrewatchable TV,” and we take it from there: why How I Met Your Mother feels like a trust fall that never got caught, why Game of Thrones is still rewatchable for some people even after a rushed finale, and the three big ways a show becomes unrewatchable:
The ending breaks trust,
The show crosses a “trauma threshold,” or
It ages so poorly you can’t unsee it.
We also get into the peak-end rule (your brain remembers the emotional peak and the ending), why reboots like the upcoming Harry Potter series feel personal, and what we’ll always rewatch when life is doing the most.
Discussed: HIMYM, Game of Thrones, The Walking Dead, House of the Dragon, Cheers, Buffy, Firefly/Serenity, Succession, Schitt’s Creek, Steven Universe, Broad City. Plus a quick tease for a future Stranger Things episode.
Fo more check us out on our Take It Personal Substack (https://www.takeitpersonalpodcast.com/) | YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3GL1Wvfly45UGmg4PR-IQQ) | TikTok (https://www.tiktok.com/@takeitpersonal_podcast)
15 Jan 2026
Episode 9 | 'Sean Combs: The Reckoning' Didn’t Shock Us; It Explained Us
This week on Take It Personal (https://www.takeitpersonalpodcast.com), Steph, Will, and Jamie unpack Netflix’s Sean Combs: The Reckoning — and what it feels like to watch a documentary when you already know too much.
Steph comes in with a long memory (and a clipboard), Will is hit with visceral nostalgia and discomfort, and Jamie watches once as a bystander and again as a skeptic. Together, they trace how Bad Boy Records shaped an era — and how power, contracts, charisma, and silence shaped what came next.
The conversation moves from vanished artists and exploitative deals to damning Miami footage, jury bias, cult-leader dynamics, and the uncomfortable truth that celebrity doesn’t just distort justice — it can become the strategy.
This isn’t a recap. It’s a systems conversation about abuse, authorship, nostalgia, and what happens when the mythology finally collapses.
Related reading: Steph explores these themes in greater depth in her Substack essay, “No Way Out, No Way Back, (https://www.takeitpersonalpodcast.com/p/no-way-out-no-way-back)” which reflects on growing up during the Bad Boy era and reckoning with what that legacy means today:
More from us at our new site on https://www.takeitpersonalpodcast.com (https://www.takeitpersonalpodcast.com)
Follow @takeitpersonal_podcast on TikTok (https://www.tiktok.com/@takeitpersonal_podcast), Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/takeitpersonal_podcast), and YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@TakeItPersonal_podcast)
10 Oct 2025
Episode 8: | "YouTube"s Position in the Streaming Wars"
YouTube is the super-app that has already won the streaming wars. Jamie, Steph, and Wil dig into watch habits, Shorts vs. long-form, creator economies, live sports, policy risks, and why YouTube feels like “groceries” while prestige TV is dessert.
Segments
00:03:00 YouTube as a media “super app” (UGC + TV + music + rentals + podcasts)
00:10:00 Social detox → intentional YouTube viewing vs. doomscrolling
00:14:00 Modularity: Shorts, 10-min vids, 2-hr essays, and live streams
00:18:00 Are creators the new networks? (Terrell Grice, Hot Ones)
00:25:00 The live-sports moat; “Venue” bundle shoutout
00:27:00 Global scale: India, U.S., Brazil user bases
00:33:00 Money talk: asset-light payouts vs. studio risk; Alien Earth cost example
00:37:00 Policy & platform risk (FTC fines, FCC attention)
00:40:00 Public pressure & corporate modulation (Kimmel/Disney, Target)
00:49:00 Would-you-rather: Gen Z feed for a year vs. never rewatch again
00:51:00 Boycotts & ethical consumption (Nicki Minaj, MJ, R. Kelly feature control)
00:56:00 Beyoncé x Ivanka gala seating kerfuffle (light; meta branding chat)
00:58:45 Wrap + follows: @takeitpersonal_podcast
Links
The Terrell Show — channel home (https://www.youtube.com/@terrellgrice) | Coco Jones — comeback vlog | (https://www.youtube.com/live/B9Xn2RVOlcY?si=6NTpmR6MqyaxP5eH)Performances (https://youtu.be/HKTELD3oh6E?si=L3tXMgYT6RxvK_GX)
Youglish — youglish.com (https://youglish.com/)
YouTube Premium / Music overview (https://www.youtube.com/musicpremium)
YouTube TV — NFL Sunday Ticket (https://tv.youtube.com/learn/nflsundayticket)
3 Oct 2025
Episode 7 | Is ‘Life of a Showgirl’ the Endgame?
We’re kicking off our new one-topic deep-dive format with the obligatory (!) Taylor Swift episode. Will argues that much of Taylor’s catalog reads like fictional storytelling rather than diary pages, Steph pushes back (All Too Well hive, rise), and Jamie brings the generational context — from Harry Chapin to how upheaval fuels creative renaissances.
What we cover
The format change (single-topic episodes moving forward)
Taylor as a fiction writer: with nods to Dennis Linde’s “Lindeville” world-building
Folklore/Evermore, as explicitly fictional case studies, the ‘gym teacher/English teacher’ caption
Why the Eras Tour felt like a template for fan reinvention
Vegas residency speculation, The Sphere, and business tie-ins with Travis
Artist archetypes: Taylor’s approachability vs. Beyoncé’s aspirational mythos
Hot takes: a coming music renaissance; and why Cardi B can drop fewer albums and still eat
Chapter markers
00:00 — Intro: New one-topic format
00:38 — Icebreaker: Predictions that aged poorly
06:35 — Hot take: ‘Diary of a Showgirl’ as last album? + Vegas residency
09:20 — Main thesis: Taylor as a fiction writer
16:13 — Folklore/Evermore as fictional; engagement caption talk
22:15 — Eras Tour = fan reinvention template
31:32 — Vegas, The Sphere & business tie-ins
33:32 — Theater ‘release party’ discussion
45:40 — Jamie’s hot take: creative renaissance incoming
46:19 — Steph’s hot take: Cardi B’s quality cadence
48:41 — Wrap + where to follow
Folllow Us On
TikTok/IG/YouTube: @takeitpersonal_podcast / @takeitpersonal_podcast / youtube.com/@takeitpersonal_podcast (http://youtube.com/@takeitpersonal_podcast**)
Show hub: https://linktr.ee/takeitpersonal_podcast (https://linktr.ee/takeitpersonal_podcast)
Credits
Hosts: Steph, Will, Jamie | Producer: Lindsay
Notes
Opinions are our own. Not affiliated with or endorsed by the artists mentioned.
18 Aug 2025
Episode 6:| “Mics, Meaning & Midlife Math”
This week on Take It Personal, Steph, Will, and Jamie discuss the platforms they trust—and how podcasts have become the most influential mic in the room. From Taylor Swift’s 12th album release via Travis Kelce’s podcast to Marc Maron’s impact and the decline of traditional media, the hosts examine the cultural shift toward unfiltered voices.
Then, things get personal. Jamie shares about doing bedtime math and realizing he might be losing 200 days with his partner. Will reflects on his 40th birthday and Marcus Aurelius. Steph talks about how losing her parents early made her more direct—and more liberated. The group discusses physical changes, weight gain, old routines, and how mortality affects your mindset.
Finally, the episode ends with a local report from D.C., commentary on political theater, and the return of the Take It Personal “What We’re Looking Forward To” roundup.
For More From T.I.P. Crew, check us out on TikTok (https://www.tiktok.com/@takeitpersonal_podcast) & YouTube. (https://www.youtube.com/@TakeItPersonal_podcast)
https://linktr.ee/TakeItPersonalPod (https://linktr.ee/TakeItPersonalPod)
This week on Take It Personal, we’re talking about what real power looks like. From WNBA players rewriting the rules to a dead uncle’s cookbag going viral, we’re unpacking culture, chaos, and clarity. We break down the Stud Budz livestream, NIL power moves, why gas stoves are canceled (per Will), and why the new Clipse album might just be scripture for grown folks. Oh—and someone definitely got caught cheating on a kiss cam. It’s a little messy, a little meaningful, and always personal.
14 Jul 2025
Episode 4:| "Superman’s Woke, Beyoncé Spoke, and Jamie’s Colon Broke"
This week, we’re talking about change—when it’s freeing, fake, messy, or just weird. Steph unpacks two Beyoncé concerts, from pit seats to suite tears. Jamie’s colonoscopy prep collides with right-wing outrage over Superman’s immigration status. Will introduces us to “Chit,” a viral TikTok series that might be the future of sitcoms. We get personal about JoJo Siwa, Billie Eilish, queer identity, and how hard it is to figure yourself out online. Also: AI, NVIDIA, and wombats playing tennis. You know, just another episode of Take It Personal.
24 Jun 2025
Episode 3:| "Dogs, Doritos & Destiny's Daughters"
Hosts Steph, Jamie, and Will explore grief, animal souls, and trusting advice, while also discussing Tina Knowles' memoir and online gaming friendships in this episode dedicated to Mugsy.
7 Jun 2025
Episode 2 | "The Art, the Artist, and the Absurdity of It All""
Hosts Steph, Jaimie, and Will explore the NBA playoffs, ethics of separating art from the artist, reality TV, political corruption, and cultural accountability in a wide-ranging conversation about making sense of culture.
16 May 2025
Episode 1 | "Group Chat Goes Public"
Hosts Steph, Will, and Jamie launch "Take It Personal," discussing grief, Beyoncé's new album, and childhood movies, aiming to process life out loud in this debut episode.
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
5 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 42 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
71
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
32
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Guest appearances
Books guests
Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.
Questions about Take It Personal
Who hosts Take It Personal?
Steph and Will and Jamie host the show. Published by Steph, Will, and Jamie.
How often do new episodes come out?
The show publishes weekly, based on its RSS feed.
Does Take It Personal take guests?
Yes. Guests have been identified in episode analyses.
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