What In The Zeitgeist?

About What In The Zeitgeist?

The podcast that dissects the aura of the now, one moment at a time

Publisher

Laura Barnes and Dimitra Tzerani

Category

society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

Yes

First episode

18 Dec 2025

Latest episode

22 Sept 2026

Latest episodes

11 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   22 Sept 2026

   Is skinny so back? And if yes, at what cost?

   GLP-1s, Ozempic, Mounjaro, and the new wave of peptides are changing how people lose weight, how they think about their bodies, and who gets access to life-changing treatment. If you care about the real story behind the thinness boom, this one is for you. On this episode of What in the Zeitgeist, we unpack the hype, the science, and the cultural fallout of appetite-suppressing drugs. We break down what GLP-1s actually are, how they work in the brain and body, why average weight loss can hit around 20 percent, and why FDA approval matters more than the internet wants you to think. We discuss: why GLP-1s are being called a breakthrough for diabetes, obesity, and beyond how these drugs affect hunger, reward, and even the ability to enjoy chocolate, wine, or sex why supply shortages and $1,000-a-month price tags make access a serious ethical issue how vanity use, muscle loss, and off-ramp problems complicate the “easy way out” narrative what the rise of grey-market peptides, compounding pharmacies, and influencer culture means for the future of body image and medicine Sources referenced: Your Brain on Ozempic — Your Brain On, featuring Dr. Aisha Shirazi and Dr. Dean Shirazi with Dr. Spencer Nadolsky ⁠https://open.spotify.com/episode/3ENUhVbtCcmavAtNMkhrNe?si=lLlM4gRmQz6XCQ0Y7qScpg⁠ (https://open.spotify.com/episode/3ENUhVbtCcmavAtNMkhrNe?si=lLlM4gRmQz6XCQ0Y7qScpg) The Peptide Boom Is Getting Out of Hand: Welcome to the Age of Grey-Market Drugs — The Atlantic, Nicholas Florko ⁠https://www.theatlantic.com/health/2026/03/peptides-compounded-drugs-underground-market/686398/⁠ (https://www.theatlantic.com/health/2026/03/peptides-compounded-drugs-underground-market/686398/) Americans Have Entered the Age of the Needle — Daniel Engber, The Atlantic ⁠https://www.theatlantic.com/health/2026/05/injection-age/687293/⁠ (https://www.theatlantic.com/health/2026/05/injection-age/687293/) Skinny Culture Is Back with a Vengeance. So Whatever Happened to Body Positivity? — ELLE Canada, Joanie Pietracupa ⁠https://www.ellecanada.com/beauty/health-and-fitness/skinny-culture-is-back-with-a-vengeance-so-whatever-happened-to-body-positivity⁠ (https://www.ellecanada.com/beauty/health-and-fitness/skinny-culture-is-back-with-a-vengeance-so-whatever-happened-to-body-positivity) Music licensed through Soundstripe. Code: 19VG2XIW8HGCHFEU

2. 

   6 Sept 2026

   Zeitgeist Digest: tradwives, Bell Burden's memoir of marriage and The Odyssey

   Welcome to this weeks Zeitgeist Digest episode, no exam question, just our musings on what has been going on in our worlds the past week. This week we're chatting about: - 'Tradwives' & THAT Nara Smith interview. - Bell Burden's book, Strangers, a memoir reflecting on the break down of her marriage amongst the challenging backdrop of being amongst New York's elite. - The Odyssey, Sterling Point and other tid bits!

3. 

   12 Jul 2026

   Silicon Valley & The Catholic Church, the worst bromance ever?

   This week we're deep diving the (10 year!!) dialogue between Silicon Valley & The Catholic Church, discussion includes: - is this really such an unlikely partnership? - the motivations from each side to form the partnership in the first place - the soul of anthropic's AI assistant, Claude, is written down on paper in a document called 'the soul doc' which we unpack - the ego and morality of rich super genius's, including a look into Jeff Bezos's annual retreat of millionaires and 'thought leaders' All sources linked below: ⁠https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/04/silicon-valley-catholicism-ai-leo/686948/⁠ (https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/04/silicon-valley-catholicism-ai-leo/686948/) ⁠https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/2026/05/billionaire-consequence-free-reality/686588/⁠ (https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/2026/05/billionaire-consequence-free-reality/686588/) ⁠https://www.vatican.va/content/leo-xiv/en/encyclicals/documents/20260515-magnifica-humanitas.html⁠ (https://www.vatican.va/content/leo-xiv/en/encyclicals/documents/20260515-magnifica-humanitas.html) Music licensed through Soundstripe. Code: I9VG2XIW8HGCHFEU

4. 

   7 Jun 2026

   Zeitgeist Digest: Devil Wears Prada 2, The Drama & The Met Gala

   Welcome to our Zeitgeist Digest episodes, no exam question, just our musings on what has been going on in our worlds over the past week. This week we're chatting about: - The Devil Wears Prada 2 - The Drama - The Met Gala

5. 

   19 May 2026

   Are we sharing third places or just wifi passwords?

   This we we discuss third places, the places we go to seek community and conversation with people from all walks of life. We discuss what the real definition of a third place is, the importance of them in knitting together the fibres of our community, the driving forces behind their decline and lastly, how we might reclaim them! All sources discussed linked below: https://www.businessinsider.com/loneliness-epidemic-decline-in-third-places-friends-parks-community-2023-9 (https://www.businessinsider.com/loneliness-epidemic-decline-in-third-places-friends-parks-community-2023-9) https://www.theatlantic.com/family/archive/2022/04/third-places-meet-new-people-pandemic/629468/ (https://www.theatlantic.com/family/archive/2022/04/third-places-meet-new-people-pandemic/629468/) https://austincharvey.medium.com/the-third-space-is-gone-and-we-havent-found-a-replacement-258f6576b7a3 (https://austincharvey.medium.com/the-third-space-is-gone-and-we-havent-found-a-replacement-258f6576b7a3)

6. 

   21 Apr 2026

   Zeitgeist Digest: Bieberchella, Alex v Alix, scamanda and coffee rave culture

   Welcome to our Zeitgeist Digest episodes, no exam question, just our musings on what has been going on in our worlds over the past week. This week we’re chatting about: - Coachella - Alix Earle and Alex Cooper fighting online - Bravo universe drama, “scamanda” - Coffee rave culture and fascism Links: Alex Cooper calling out Alix Earle https://vm.tiktok.com/ZNRq9xjQu/ (https://vm.tiktok.com/ZNRq9xjQu/) Coffee rave culture https://vm.tiktok.com/ZNRq9yBnJ/ (https://vm.tiktok.com/ZNRq9yBnJ/)

7. 

   14 Apr 2026

   Are genZ the least woke generation of all?

   This week we’re deep diving the manosphere and asking are genZ the least woke generation of all? We discuss the IPSOS and Kings College London survey of 29 countries on attitudes to gender roles and equality, and of course, the Louis Theroux documentary. We also unpack the psychology behind what drives young men to this type of ideology and how this might be impacting the dating landscape today. All sources discussed linked below: Louis Theroux documentary https://www.netflix.com/au/title/81920687 (https://www.netflix.com/au/title/81920687) IPSOS Survey https://www.kcl.ac.uk/assets/news/iwd-2026-global-charts-final.pdf (https://www.kcl.ac.uk/assets/news/iwd-2026-global-charts-final.pdf) WGEA - Gender Pay Gap Report https://www.wgea.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/WGEA-GPG-Report-24-25-FINALweb.pdf (https://www.wgea.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/WGEA-GPG-Report-24-25-FINALweb.pdf) FTSE Women’s leaders report https://ftsewomenleaders.com (https://ftsewomenleaders.com/)

8. 

   7 Mar 2026

   Are people opting for spirituality and alternative therapies in an increasingly secular and uncertain age?

   This week we're deep diving astrology, reiki, hypnotherapy and bringing in the personal experiences of some of our nearest and dearest. We discuss whether people turn to some of these things as an alternative to religion in an increasingly secular world, are they actually using them as a guide in big life decisions or do they just function as something to hold onto when they're really down bad! All sources discussed linked below: SubstackAstrology, Tarot & Manifestation: Why Gen Z is Obsessed with Spirituality | by Krish Maran | Medium (https://medium.com/@krishmaran/astrology-tarot-manifestation-why-gen-z-is-obsessed-with-spirituality-739a31c72f26) NYT articleOpinion | Forget Therapy. I’m Turning to Magic. - The New York Times⁠ (https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/30/opinion/tarot-astrology-divination-esoteric.html?searchResultPosition=1)

9. 

   13 Feb 2026

   Why is everyone yearning for the 'good old days'?

   We’re going to be thinking about the concept of late-stage capitalism in this episode and making the assumption that this is the economic phase we are currently living in, in the western world. We touch on what characterises late-stage capitalism, AI as it relates to creativity and falling back in love with the process. All sources discussed linked below: How millennial life became the perfect breeding ground for late-stage capitalism — Natalie Donback (https://nataliedonback.com/blog/how-millennial-life-became-the-perfect-breeding-ground-for-late-stage-capitalism)Opinion | The Starving Artist vs. A.I.: Guess Who Is Winning? - The New York Times (https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/16/opinion/artists-creative-work-ai.html?searchResultPosition=11) The Cost of Convenience: We have fallen out of love with the process (https://assataunfiltered.substack.com/p/the-cost-of-convenience-we-have-fallen)

10. 

    27 Jan 2026

    What was in our Zeitgeist in 2025?

    This week we took a moment to reflect on the best things we consumed in 2025 (and a little bit of 2026 because we couldn't possibly not mention Heated Rivalry) All sources discussed linked below: Books Heart the Lover - Lily King East of Eden - John Steinbeck TV shows Heated Rivalry (we watched on HBO) Moment from The Housewives of Beverly Hills https://www.tiktok.com/@virtualrealitea/video/7454622010249858346 Experiences Charli XCX @ Laneway Festival Sydney https://youtu.be/4HBBQPsJ1sY?si=vCooFG4fzJZMPoLN Podcasts: The Cutting Room Floor with Terrence O'Connor https://www.patreon.com/posts/s6-ep22-chat-148138017 Interesting times by Mark Douthat, How the IPhone Drove Men and Women Apart https://open.spotify.com/episode/361XzZ97dp0VtFrdEVgKwv Favourite creators Tik Tok, Ebony https://www.tiktok.com/@ebonymaybakess?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc Favourite purchases Beach recliner chair https://www.kmart.com.au/product/cushion-recliner-blue-stripe-43563654/?srsltid=AfmBOopx64eutzVnHUw_m-EnqUh3JI_6CthvRdAflzQv9ICReUy5Y4Ls

11. 

    18 Dec 2025

    Is marriage now a bad deal for women?

    All sources discussed linked below: Book: Femonomics, Corinne Lowe Femonomics: The Life-Changing, Data-Driven Guide to Making Better Choices at Home and at Work : Low, Corinne: Amazon.com.au: Books (https://www.amazon.com.au/Femonomics-Tells-About-Womens-Lives/dp/1399737619)*Also available as an audio book included with Spotify premium Vogue article: Is Having A Boyfriend Embarrassing Now? Chanté Joseph Is Having a Boyfriend Embarrassing Now? | Vogue (https://www.vogue.com/article/is-having-a-boyfriend-embarrassing-now) Movie: Materialists Materialists (https://www.amazon.com/Materialists-Celine-Song/dp/B0F9B4JGTY) Substack article: Men Aren't Wallets, Women Aren't Prizes Men Aren't Wallets, Women aren't Prizes (https://razkia.substack.com/p/men-arent-wallets-women-arent-prizes)

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Spotify

5.0 / 5

14 ratings