ICYMI | Podcaster Theo Von Is A Manosphere Mystery

Slate Technology

Slate

Society & Culture, Technology, History

4.6 • 636 Ratings

🗓️ 11 October 2025

⏱️ 47 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

On today’s episode, hosts Candice Lim and Kate Lindsay are joined by culture writer Aja Romano to try to make sense of Theo Von. Von was one of the podcasters credited with helping Donald Trump win the election, but in recent months, he’s deviated from the administration when it comes to his views on ICE raids and the war in Gaza. Who is Theo Von, really? What does it mean that influencers like him are part of the future of politics? And what does it say about us if we find him…kinda funny? Get more of ICYMI with Slate Plus! Join for exclusive bonus episodes of ICYMI and ad-free listening on all your favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe from the ICYMI show page on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Or, visit slate.com/icymiplus for access wherever you listen. This podcast is produced by Daisy Rosario, Vic Whitley-Berry, Candice Lim, and Kate Lindsay. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Hey, I'm Candace Lam.
0:14.7	And I'm Kate Lindsay.
0:16.0	And you're listening to I see why my.
0:18.2	In case you missed it.
0:20.4	Slate's podcast about internet culture.
0:22.6	And Kate, quick question.
0:24.6	Have you ever seen someone bomb on stage?
0:27.6	I don't think I've ever seen anyone bombed, but I had a very short-lived, as in one-night-only attempt at doing my own stand-up.
0:38.2	Wow.
0:39.0	And I know what listeners are thinking,
0:41.4	how did you not immediately go viral and get a career?
0:43.6	You're so funny all the time.
0:44.8	I agree.
0:46.7	But, you know, the moment I got on stage,
0:48.9	I could just tell, I mean, there were some laughs,
0:51.9	but they were pity laughs.
0:56.3	You know, like they're the way I always laugh when, you know, anyone's on stage and seems nervous.
1:02.5	I just wanted to go well for them.
1:04.2	But it wasn't, you know, no one was uproarious.
1:06.8	So I would say I've experienced it and it's not fun.
1:11.1	Yeah.
1:11.6	Well, let me just say the good news is I googled the other day, Kate Lindsay stand-up bombs.
	...

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