ICYMI - Our Year of Brain Rot and Tech Dystopia
ICYMI
Slate Podcasts
3.9 • 800 Ratings
🗓️ 27 December 2025
⏱️ 60 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
On today’s episode, host Kate Lindsay is joined by internet culture writer Kat Tenbarge to break down the most important internet moments of 2025. But not just any internet moments—specifically, the moments that fall under the three key themes that emerged in online culture over the past twelve months: brain rot, surveillance, and big tech dystopia. These themes not only defined how we lived life online in 2025, but have set the stage for what to expect in 2026. Were we wrong about the Astronomer CEO debacle? Will TikTok ever get banned? Is 6-7 finally over?
This podcast is produced by Vic Whitley-Berry, Daisy Rosario, and Kate Lindsay, with help from AC Valdez.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | There's a reason we re-watch Home Alone every year. |
| 0:03.0 | Merry Christmas, you filthy animal. |
| 0:05.0 | It's because the best stories stay with you. |
| 0:08.0 | And Disney Plus is where you'll find your next great story. |
| 0:12.0 | Whether it's Fantastic Four First Steps. |
| 0:15.0 | We will protect you. |
| 0:16.0 | High-power drama, All's Fair. |
| 0:18.0 | Tell us your story. |
| 0:19.0 | Or brand new Percy Jackson. |
| 0:22.0 | That was just the beginning. |
| 0:26.1 | A lifetime of great stories awaits on Disney Plus. Now streaming 18 plus. |
| 0:27.8 | Subscription required. |
| 0:29.0 | T's and Cs apply. Hey, I'm Kate Lindsay, and you're listening to I-C-Y-M-I, or in case you missed it, |
| 0:49.0 | Slate's podcast about internet culture. |
| 0:51.7 | And today, on sort of our final, it is our final, our final show of 2025, we are welcoming |
| 0:58.8 | back internet culture reporter Kat Tenbarge. |
| 1:01.7 | Hello, Kat, welcome. |
| 1:03.1 | Hey, it's such an honor to be here for the end of the year roundup. |
| 1:07.1 | Can't wait to talk about all of the crazy stuff that happened on the internet. |
| 1:10.7 | Calling in live from the internet capital of the world, Ohio. |
| 1:14.5 | Yes, exactly. Is everything Ohio, it always has been. |
| 1:23.5 | Now, before we talk to Kat, I want to say something. I know you hear from us a lot about subscribing to Slate Plus. And no, do not hit that skip 30 seconds button that I know some of you are very familiar with because this is different. Right now, through the end of the year, Slate Plus is 50% off. And if you want to know why that's such a good deal, then let me remind you. Over on our |
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