You Can Call Me, Karen

About You Can Call Me, Karen

90s nostalgia. Early 2000s chaos. One of them is actually named Karen. You Can Call Me Karen is the pop culture podcast for anyone who grew up on reality TV, survived the early internet, and still has opinions about all of it.

Publisher

Manni, Steph, Karen

Category

society & culture · tv & film

Language

en

Explicit

Yes

First episode

4 Oct 2024

Latest episode

22 Sept 2026

Latest episodes

50 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   22 Sept 2026

   Who Really Gets to Be a DCC? Favoritism, Netflix, and the Reality TV Machine

   What really determines who gets picked for the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders? In this episode of You Can Call Me Karen, we're back together in person and diving into DCC, Netflix reality TV, casting, storytelling, and the way women's sports are portrayed online. We start with America's Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders and question some of the show's biggest storytelling choices. Why do incredibly talented dancers get cut? Is DCC judging based purely on dance ability, or are personality, appearance, media presence, and other factors part of the equation? We also discuss whether Netflix may be thinking beyond the current season when it decides which dancers become major characters on the show—and how reality TV can shape our perception of the people we're watching. From there, the conversation expands into women's sports and the WNBA, including the intense online debates surrounding women's basketball, social media reactions, and the way attention can sometimes overshadow the actual achievements of female athletes. It's a conversation about reality TV, fandom, women's sports, social media, media narratives, and who gets to control the story. And, as always, there are plenty of laughs, strong opinions, and a little chaos along the way. 🎧 New episodes of You Can Call Me Karen cover pop culture, nostalgia, reality TV, social commentary, and the things that make us ask: Are we the Karens? Timeline Chapters 00:00 We Finally Record Together Again 03:00 Karen Stories & Behind-the-Scenes Chaos 08:30 We're Talking DCC Again 16:00 Reality TV Spoilers & Why Timing Matters 22:00 Who Really Gets Picked for DCC? 29:00 Talent vs. Personality, Appearance & “The It Factor” 36:00 Is Netflix Creating the Next Season's Storylines? 44:00 DCC, Football & the Role of Women's Visibility 53:00 The WNBA, Online Controversy & Women's Sports 59:00 Why Can't Women Just Have Their Moment? Reference: Sports gossips Show / https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/americas-sweethearts-season-3-on-netflix-reveals-the/id1769969236?i=1000774171325 (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/americas-sweethearts-season-3-on-netflix-reveals-the/id1769969236?i=1000774171325) Follow Us Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/youcancallmekaren_pod/ (https://www.instagram.com/youcancallmekaren_pod/) YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@YouCanCallMeKaren (https://www.youtube.com/@YouCanCallMeKaren) Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/de/podcast/you-can-call-me-karen/id1772363740 (https://podcasts.apple.com/de/podcast/you-can-call-me-karen/id1772363740) Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0GQ4PcB1iIMxNpjlA1HfiZ (https://open.spotify.com/show/0GQ4PcB1iIMxNpjlA1HfiZ) TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@yccmkpod (https://www.tiktok.com/@yccmkpod) Substack: https://yccmk.substack.com/ (https://yccmk.substack.com/) Huge Thanks to: Steve Olszewski for the artwork and images William P. for the video editing Calid B and **SJ Fadeaway** for the musical mixing and production * **Malvina Reynolds** (writer) and **Schroder Music Co. (ASCAP)** (publisher) for the song *"Little Boxes"* Thank you for supporting independent podcasting and the You Can Call Me Karen community

2. 

   9 Sept 2026

   Dark Side of DCC Fame

   Who gets to decide who's a “real” Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader—and who's only there for fame We are back from our summer break!! In this episode of You Can Call Me Karen, we're diving back into Netflix's America's Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders and taking a closer look at Season 3's biggest themes. This time, the conversation goes far beyond dance and tryouts. We talk about influencer culture, social media fame, money, labor, beauty standards, and the show's obsession with whether the women are there “for the right reasons.” Why are dancers criticized for wanting to build their personal brands when professional athletes do the same thing? Why does the show seem suspicious of women who want to turn their visibility into financial opportunities? And if Netflix chooses which dancers become the stars of the series, how much control do the dancers really have over their own narrative? We also get into the economics of being a DCC, including the discussion around low pay, multiple jobs, brand deals, and the enormous amount of aesthetic and emotional labor expected from the cheerleaders. Then things get even deeper: cheerleading, patriarchy, “tradwife” culture, Reddit, Netflix's storytelling, and whether the real villain of the season might actually be the system itself. And, of course, we couldn't finish without making our predictions for next season—including who might return, who could become the next antagonist, and what happens when social media becomes part of the DCC machine. Reference: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/americas-sweethearts-season-3-on-netflix-reveals-the/id1769969236?i=1000774171325 (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/americas-sweethearts-season-3-on-netflix-reveals-the/id1769969236?i=1000774171325) Follow Us Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/youcancallmekaren_pod/ (https://www.instagram.com/youcancallmekaren_pod/) YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@YouCanCallMeKaren (https://www.youtube.com/@YouCanCallMeKaren) Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/de/podcast/you-can-call-me-karen/id1772363740 (https://podcasts.apple.com/de/podcast/you-can-call-me-karen/id1772363740) Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0GQ4PcB1iIMxNpjlA1HfiZ (https://open.spotify.com/show/0GQ4PcB1iIMxNpjlA1HfiZ) TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@yccmkpod (https://www.tiktok.com/@yccmkpod) Substack: https://yccmk.substack.com/ (https://yccmk.substack.com/) As always, a huge thank you to: Steve Olszewski for the artwork and images William P. for the video editing Calid B and SJ Fadeaway for the musical mixing and production * Malvina Reynolds (writer) and Schroder Music Co. (ASCAP) (publisher) for the song "Little Boxes" Thank you for supporting independent podcasting and the You Can Call Me Karen community.

3. 

   7 Aug 2026

   I Won a Trip to TRL?

   Before TikTok, YouTube, Spotify, and viral trends, there was TRL. In this episode of You Can Call Me Karen, we're taking a nostalgic trip back to MTV's Total Request Live (TRL)—the countdown show that defined an entire generation. Hosted by Carson Daly, TRL wasn't just a music show; it was a daily event that influenced pop culture, launched careers, and determined which artists dominated the charts. We revisit the unforgettable era of Britney Spears, NSYNC, Backstreet Boys, Christina Aguilera, Blink-182, Eminem, Limp Bizkit, Destiny's Child, and more, while sharing our favorite memories of rushing home after school to catch the latest countdown. Before diving into TRL nostalgia, we also share a hilarious Karen of the Week story about airport etiquette, boarding groups, and why traveling seems to bring out everyone's inner Karen. If you grew up in the late '90s or early 2000s, this episode is a nostalgic ride through one of MTV's greatest eras. YCCMK is covering 90s nostalgia, pop culture, movies, music, reality TV, and everything in between. + References The Punk Rock MBA - The Rise & Fall of TRL (From Korn to Britney Spears) https://youtu.be/MryKhN7KmDc (https://youtu.be/MryKhN7KmDc) Instagram - TRL Tuesday July 7, 2001 https://www.instagram.com/reel/DafQakIh-dw/?igsh=MWRheWQ4NGZ6M283ag== (https://www.instagram.com/reel/DafQakIh-dw/?igsh=MWRheWQ4NGZ6M283ag==) Destiny’s Child performs “Lose My Breath” - November 8, 2004 https://youtu.be/XiCd_cJzAao (https://youtu.be/XiCd_cJzAao) Destiny’s Child - Bonus performance “Soldier” https://youtu.be/tzBRWSW74F4 (https://youtu.be/tzBRWSW74F4) Follow Us Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/youcancallmekaren_pod/ (https://www.instagram.com/youcancallmekaren_pod/) YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@YouCanCallMeKaren (https://www.youtube.com/@YouCanCallMeKaren) Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/de/podcast/you-can-call-me-karen/id1772363740 (https://podcasts.apple.com/de/podcast/you-can-call-me-karen/id1772363740) Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0GQ4PcB1iIMxNpjlA1HfiZ (https://open.spotify.com/show/0GQ4PcB1iIMxNpjlA1HfiZ) TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@yccmkpod (https://www.tiktok.com/@yccmkpod) Substack: https://yccmk.substack.com/ (https://yccmk.substack.com/) Credits + CTA on socials follow us: on Instagram + Youtube (@youcancallmekaren) TikTok (@YCCMKPod) Substack @YCCMK As always - a big thank you to Steve Olszewski for the art and images, Calid B and SJ Fadeaway for the musical mixings, and huge credit to Malvina Reynolds (writer) and Schroder Music Co. (ASCAP) (publisher) of the song “Little Boxes

Reach and audience

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

YouTube views

59,701

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Apple Podcasts (US)

4.8 / 5

18 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

8 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 69 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

63

Social presence

94

YouTube

92

Engagement

51