Pop Cultured with theSkimm

theSkimm

  • 55 minutes 46 seconds
    Moms Win at the Olympics, Taylor Swift Intro's “Blade Angels”, and the Canadian Curling Scandal

    (Almost) the entire pod is about the Olympics this week. Sorry, not sorry. Caroline and Blake beg the question: why are winter Olympic athletes so much more unhinged than the summer ones? From a Norwegian biathlete’s very public cheating confession to a gold medalist’s credit card fraud conviction, we dive deep into the most wild stories from the week.

    In this episode, we also cover:

    • Why the NFLPA can no longer publish its report cards publicly – and why that’s a loss for the league

    • What Joe Judge gets wrong about fatherhood in Trinidad Chambliss’ eligibility testimony

    • What Breanna Stewart’s off-season move to play in Turkey could mean for the WNBA season

    • A Canadian curling scandal ft. the Swedish…surveillance state? 

    Going for the Golds: 

    Follow Well Played on IG: @wellplayedbytheskimm 

    Blake on IG: @blaaakkkke

    Caroline on IG: @cghendy

    theSkimm on IG: @theskimm


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    18 February 2026, 6:22 pm
  • 1 hour 2 minutes
    Lindsay Vonn’s Controversial Call, Stefon Fumbles Cardi B, and Why Bad Bunny Had Bush People

    After spending eight straight days together, Blake and Caroline are back in NYC with another episode of “Well Played.” We recap our Super Bowl experience with some exclusive intel on the Cardi B and Stefon Diggs break up, say goodnight to the NFL season, and send it to the Winter Olympics which is our collective fixation. 

    In this episode, we also cover:

    • A special giveaway for one new follower of @wellplayedbytheskimm on IG
    • How Lindsay Vonn shut down armchair experts around her recent leg fracture
    • Who Surya Bonaly is, and why she’s getting her flowers in the wake of Ilia Malinin’s backflip
    • The extremely practical backstory of Bad Bunny’s bush people 
    • The Dyson Air Wrap’s missed opportunity at the Winter Olympics

    Going for the Golds: 

    Follow Well Played on IG: @wellplayedbytheskimm 

    Blake on IG: @blaaakkkke

    Caroline on IG: @cghendy

    theSkimm on IG: @theskimm


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    11 February 2026, 5:44 pm
  • 23 minutes 22 seconds
    Super Bowl Special: Eli Manning Sightings and Game Day Predictions ft. Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone

    Team Well Played went West to cover this year's Super Bowl LX. Featuring special guest and Gatorade athlete and Olympian Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, Blake and Caroline are breaking down the weekend's celeb sightings (hi Mr. Eli), game day predictions, and the some mind blowing stats around women's health research.

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    7 February 2026, 8:07 pm
  • 59 minutes 49 seconds
    Bravo Meets Winter Olympics, Tom Brady’s Sad Girl Era, and Listener Questions on Super Bowl LX

    Tom Brady showed us just how much of a teen girl at heart he is with a recent series of Instagram stories. Did Gisele have anything to do with it? Caroline has thoughts. We also answer listener questions around the Super Bowl, like what “game odds” even mean and a vibe-check of the Seahawks and Patriots O & D-lines. 

    In this episode, we also cover:

    • What our Bravo taglines would be as podcasters 
    • Carlos Alcaraz proving “if he wanted to, he would” after his Australian Open win 

    • A convo with Nordic combined skier, Annika Malacinski, on why her brother can compete at the Olympics but she can’t 

    • Whether Lewis Hamilton is next on the “Kardashian kurse” list 

    • How to tune into the Winter Olympics opening ceremony this Friday 

    Fun Stuff that aren’t Send Its: 

    Annika Malacinski: @annika.malacinski

    Blake on IG: @blaaakkkke

    Caroline on IG: @cghendy

    theSkimm on IG: @theskimm


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    4 February 2026, 5:59 pm
  • 1 hour 1 minute
    Trinity’s Pay Day, the NBA’s Kardashian Kurse, and Coco’s Relatable Crashout ft. Cameron Brink

    Sorry boys, but Kendall Jenner’s getting the last laugh around the “Kardashian Kurse". Well, at least she did in her Super Bowl ad with Fanatics Sportsbook. WNBA star Cameron Brink joins Well Played to talk about why she wants Alex Consani on her pod, the most “big brother” thing about Steph Curry, and the biggest difference in her routine since her ACL injury. Finally — we have big news surrounding Well Played and Super Bowl LX. If you see us in the Bay, say hey.













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    28 January 2026, 7:06 pm
  • 1 hour 11 minutes
    Heated Rivalry Meets the NFL, Noami Stuns the Open, and the Beckhams are Beefing ft. Jeanie Buss

    The NFL postseason is in full chaos mode, and this week Blake and Caroline are breaking down the Chicago Bears game that put fans through an emotional roller coaster. From pivotal play calls to high-pressure moments, they dig into what went wrong, what worked, and what Caleb Williams’ performance reveals about the road ahead. Plus, Caroline is making sure we all know who to root for in the NFL playoffs based on the characters in “Heated Rivalry.” In this episode of “Well Played”, we also cover: -Why the Beckham beef is back in the spotlight -Which WNBA star is joining “Hunting Wives” -Why Chloe Kim is spending so much time in the pedicure chair -The reason Fernando Mendoza’s story has us in our feels -What it was like for former Laker’s owner Jeannie Buss as a woman in a male-domited industry (hint: not easy) Plus Caroline and Blake conduct a sniff test with Literie’s new 2026 FIFA World Cup collection candles. Use code SKIMM10 for 10% off your order at https://literiecandle.com. Editor's note: In this episode Blake and Caroline discuss a NHL hockey team selling jerseys to support Pride. The correct team was the Ottawa Senators. Jeanie Buss on IG: @jeaniebuss Blake on IG: @blaaakkkke Caroline on IG: @cghendy theSkimm on IG: @theskimm

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    21 January 2026, 7:50 pm
  • 1 hour 18 minutes
    Heated Rivalry’s Hollywood Takeover, Ilona Maher’s Lesson in Clapbacks and Playoff Josh Returns ft. Ali Truwit

    The “Heated Rivalry” craze that started in 2025 spilled into the new year, with everyone (us) foaming at the mouth over the Heated Rivalry boys. Hollanov/ HudCon/our boyfriends dominated the Golden Globes, where Julia Roberts revealed her football fandom, Hailee Steinfeld debuted her bump on the red carpet, and Timothée Chalamet took home the gold statue for Best Actor for playing the insufferable lead in “Marty Supreme”. Plus, Caroline breaks down everything you need to know about last weekend’s wild card round – and what’s to come in the no-man’s-land of the NFL post-season.

    In this episode of Well Played, we also cover: 

    • Ali Truwit’s journey from losing her foot in a shark attack to medaling at the Paris Paralympics

    • The unprecedented matchup between Indiana-Miami in the college football finals – and how much it’ll cost to watch the game IRL 

    • George Kittle’s relatable request post-Achilles tear 

    • How Alysa Liu made the Olympic figure skating squad, despite retiring at 16

    • Our takeaway from Ilona Maher’s response to a body-shaming troll 

    Check out Ali's work with "Love, Your Mind" and find mental health resources at LoveYourMindPlaybook.org.

    Ali Truwit on IG: @alitruwit

    Love, Your Mind IG: @love_yourmind

    Blake on IG: @blaaakkkke

    Caroline on IG: @cghendy

    theSkimm on IG: @theskimm

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    14 January 2026, 8:17 pm
  • 1 hour 18 minutes
    Josh & Hailee Are Having a Baby, the Chiefs Dynasty is Dead, and End of Year Awards ft. Olivia Culpo

    Josh Allen and Hailee Steinfeld are expecting their first child together. Hailee shared the news in her “Beau Society” newsletter. But Josh Allen kinda gave it away with his empathic morning sickness on the sidelines. We wrap the last episode of the year with our annual Wellies, including categories like “Most Exhausted PR Team” and “Diva of the Year.” Disagree with the nominees? Sound off in the comments.


    In this episode of Well Played, we also cover: 

    • An update on the Sherrone Moore case out of the University of Michigan 
    • Why motherhood made Olivia Culpo mourn who she was before having her baby
    • How Ann Michael Maye’s “Bakemas” killed Drake Maye’s win
    • Why we’re not surprised A’ja Wilson is a co-chair for the Met Gala’s host committee 
    • Introducing the greenest flag in college football, Fernando Mendoza

    Thanks to our presenting sponsor Capital One Venture X Business Card! Visit ⁠⁠https://skimmth.is/48YzMGy⁠⁠ to learn more.


    Well Played will be on winter break for the next few weeks. Until then – thank you for all of the support in 2025. This show would be nothing without you! See you in the New Year, love you mean it byeeeeeeee! - Blake & Caroline


    Follow Olivia Culpo on IG: @oliviaculpo 

    Follow Olivia Culpo on TikTok: @oliviadangerculpo

    Follow Blake on IG: @blaaakkkke

    Follow Caroline on IG: @cghendy

    Follow theSkimm on IG: @theskimm


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    17 December 2025, 8:54 pm
  • 1 hour 9 minutes
    Alix's Breakup, Heated Rivalry Recap, and the Regina George of College Football ft. Amanda Anisimova

    The hottest show in sports right now has nothing to do with quarterbacks or point guards, but it has everything to do with gay guys who play pro-hockey – and we’re into it. Blake recaps the hockey smut show, Heated Rivalry, while Caroline breaks down the Notre Dame college football playoff drama, à la Regina George and the Plastics. Plus, the WTA’s no. 4 tennis player, Amanda Anisimova, drops by the studio to chat about going pro at 15, what happened when she prioritized her mental health, and more. In this episode, we also cover: -The Chiefs sh*tting the bed in front of the girl gang, aka: Taylor Swift, Selena Gomez, and Lena Dunham -Alix Earle and Braxton Berrios calling it quits -Kylie and Timmy going pro at the Marty Supreme Premier -The effectiveness of the positive vibes bunny in the Eagles locker room Which game NFL fans dubbed “Pookie Bowl” SEND ITS: Tampa Bay Bucs support women in sports: https://www.instagram.com/p/DR-BirwDvCT/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== The auntie who loved up on AJ Brown: https://www.instagram.com/p/DR0Q2khkbId/?img_index=1&igsh=MXJ6OTQzYW9jZG40Yw%3D%3D Angel Reese x Paige Bueckers collab when??? Right now: https://www.si.com/wnba/sky/news/sky-star-angel-reese-paige-bueckers-unite-marketing-campaign Lando Norris becomes the F1 World Championship with McLaren: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DR-J9mYCUU-/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ== Follow Blake on IG: @blaaakkkke Follow Caroline on IG: @cghendy Follow theSkimm on IG: @theskimm

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    10 December 2025, 7:45 pm
  • 58 minutes
    Conrad and Steven’s Kiss Cam, Kiffin’s Messy (CFB) Divorce, and a Silent Struggle in Women Sports

    Caroline breaks down the soap opera drama of Lane Kiffin’s recent divorce from Ole Miss for the younger, hotter LSU. Who knew a middle-aged white guy would occupy so much of our brain space? It’s also high-season for celeb-watch on the NBA sidelines, from Benny Blanco and Selena Gomez cuddling up to Conrad and Steven giving us an alternate ending for “The Summer I Turned Pretty” on the kiss cam.


    In this episode, we also cover: 

    • The NWSL’s Sydney Leroux reveals how her silent health struggle is more prevalent in women’s sports than we believe
    • Recapping DWTS season 13, plus Alix Earle shutting down rumors about her boyfriend, Braxton Berrios
    • Why Ben Johnson went shirtless for the city of Chicago 
    • How Post Malone’s Cowboys fandom goes beyond hometown loyalty 
    • Petty Boys of the NFL week 13 edition, ft. Aaron Rodgers, Shelby Harris, and Cam Heyward


    SEND IT: 

    Follow Blake on IG: @blaaakkkke

    Follow Caroline on IG: @cghendy


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    3 December 2025, 5:18 pm
  • 32 minutes 2 seconds
    Well Played LIVE at the National Women's Soccer League Championship

    Well Played headed to the West Coast for a LIVE podcast recording at the NWSL Championship weekend. Joined by special guests Sarah Spain, we recapped the NWSL awards, handed out a few of our own (hi, Midge Purce), and set the scene for the title match, including alll the drama the led to the big game. Plus, we mentioned our favorite storylines from a season that proved — yet again — that women’s soccer is operating on another level.

    theSkimm’s IG: @theskimm Blake’s IG: @blaaakkkke Caroline’s IG: @cghendy Sarah's IG: spain2323 Want more sports? Sign up for theSkimm’s sports newsletter at theskimm.com/sports.

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    24 November 2025, 7:31 pm
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