ICYMI - Our Year of Brain Rot and Tech Dystopia
Slate Technology
Slate
4.6 • 636 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. That is just the beginning. A lifetime of great stories awaits on Disney Plus. Now streaming 18 plus. Subscription required. Teas and Cs apply. Hi, just leave on work now. Sorry, it's a bit loud. Um, basically, so I was thinking we could get Mackey's tonight. Had a big Mac on my mind all day, and delivery fee on the app is now from 99P. |
| 0:39.9 | So, you win? |
| 0:41.1 | Of course you are. |
| 0:41.6 | Love you. |
| 0:42.2 | Bye! |
| 0:43.2 | Exclusively on the McDonald's app. |
| 0:46.1 | 18 plus, service fee and small order fee may apply. |
| 0:48.2 | Participating restaurants. |
| 0:49.1 | Serving times and teas and seas apply. Hi. |
| 1:09.5 | Hey, I'm Kate Lindsay, and you're listening to I-C-Y-M-I, or in case you missed it, Slate's podcast about internet culture. And today, on sort of our final, |
| 1:14.4 | it is our final, our final show of 2025, we are welcoming back internet culture reporter, |
| 1:20.7 | Kat Tenbarge. Hello, Kat, welcome. Hey, it's such an honor to be here for the end of the year |
| 1:26.4 | roundup. Can't wait to talk about all of the crazy stuff that happened on the internet. |
| 1:30.8 | Calling in live from the internet capital of the world, Ohio. |
... |
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