Good Is In The Details for your podcast playlist. Philosophy, critical thinking, and learning what we didn’t know we didn’t know. #philsky #booksky We’re setting up our 2026 schedule. Get in touch if you have a book to promote or a topic to suggest.

I was recently interviewed by USA Today about the connection between reality TV and politics. You can check out the piece here! @usatoday.com www.usatoday.com/story/news/p...

It's the most wonderful time of the year! I'm VERY excited about the slate of final presentations for my "Sex & Gender in Reality TV" class.

Today I asked my Princeton students if DJ Bob still comes to the eating clubs, and they looked at me uncomprehendingly, with no idea who that was. Then I shriveled up into a ball of ash. @princeton.edu

It was a pleasure speaking to the folks on the Mental Health Supra Omnia podcast (including my childhood friend Erika Kawamura!) about America's obsession with reality TV. open.spotify.com/episode/11rR...

How come my toddler turns into Elton from Clueless every night at bedtime? "I need another glass of water." "My foot hurts." "I can't find my Cranberries CD. I have to go to the quad before somebody snags it."

Me: Okay, it's time to turn off the TV and brush your teeth. 4-year-old: You're hurting my feelings right now. 🤷‍♀️🤔

I've been interviewed a few times in my career, but having a production crew in my house today was definitely a first! 😬

Cool to see my students' Real Housewives taglines make it onto the Princeton University social media feed!

Once again, I put an Easter egg on my syllabus asking folks to send me their Real Housewives taglines, and these Princeton students did not disappoint! They were all great, but here are some of my favorites.

Does anyone else remember the movie "Dave"? What a feel-good film, and Kevin Kline is of course delightful in every role he takes on. I've been thinking about that film a lot lately for some reason.

I had such a blast on @2BlkGirls1Rose the other day, talking about everything from Nicolandria to the intersection of capitalism and Feminism. Big thanks to @alieward for introducing us! podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/2...

I'm in the BBC again today, talking about The Osbornes in the wake of Ozzy's death. www.bbc.com/news/article...

I recently spoke to the @BBC about the positive dimensions of reality TV (yes, there are some!). You can check out the piece here: www.bbc.com/news/article...

If you missed me on The Colin McEnroe show today, talking about reality TV and politics, you can catch up on the interview here! www.ctpublic.org/show/the-col...

I'll be on air LIVE on the Colin McEnroe show on Connecticut Public Radio today from 1:06-1:26pm, talking about the link between reality TV and contemporary politics. www.ctpublic.org/show/the-col...

Almost missed this neat shout-out to my book in the Sunday @nytimes!

I'm in The NY Times today, talking about MTV's "Road Rules" (remember that?!) and the rise of the political right. www.nytimes.com/2025/07/16/s...

I recently spoke to @GQMagazine about why men watch #LoveIslandUSA. Here's the piece! www.gq.com/story/the-bo...

Are you Team Chelley or Team Huda? I recently spoke to The New York Times about our cultural obsession with the show Love Island. You can check out the piece here: www.nytimes.com/2025/07/07/s...

Why DO so many reality TV stars get in trouble with the IRS? I had so much fun participating in this melding of the minds for sociologist and tax expert (taxpert?) @ruthbraunstein.bsky.social’s Substack! ruthbraunstein.substack.com/p/why-are-so...

You know what’s great for your fashion confidence? When you’re trying on summer outfits and your tween keeps saying, “Umm, I think you could wear that to sleep in.”

Preschool teacher: You’re back! What did you do on your vacation? My 4-year-old: I rided escalators! CLASSIC.

You know you’re raising a Jersey girl when you ask her how she’s doing with her homework, she says “I’m halfway there!” and without looking at each other you both sing “Whoaaah livin’ on a prayer.”

Is there a term for feeling like you’re being gaslit because you’re the only one who knows the correct rules at a 4-way stop?

Nobody ever talks about the dark side of monitoring your tween’s group chats, which is that you have to wade through pages of comments about Roblox and kids just saying “GM”, “GN”, and “Bruuuuuh” to each other for eternity.

I’m convinced that 70% of contemporary parenting is just walking around the house, looking at things, and saying, “Why is this HERE?”

When the @globeandmail asked me to write something on the 25th anniversary of #Survivor 1) I felt very old and 2) I jumped at the chance. The piece is out today! www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/arti...

In case you’re overwhelmed by life and feeling like you’re always falling behind, I want you to know this: somebody in my neighborhood just put their Christmas tree at the curb today.

Me: “Did you know I share a birthday with Bob Dylan?” 11-year-old: “The guy who paints trees on TV?!” #thisis45 #JesusWept

The middle school forms have already begun, and they’re every bit as easy-breezy as you’d expect.

I recently spoke to the Associated Press about reality TV… and the Pope?! @apnews.com @anthonyted.bsky.social apnews.com/article/pope...

I’ve uploaded many letters of recommendation for students over the years, and I thought I’d seen it all. But I just got one that wants me to upload videos of myself answering questions about the student. *RUNS SCREAMING INTO THE SEA*

Me: “You pulled all of these craft supplies out, so now you have to help me put them back.” Four-year-old:

The wild thing about raising a four-year-old is that one minute she is giving you a word-for-word recounting of an entire episode of Bluey and you’re wondering if she might be a genius, and the next minute she’s trying to lick a mud puddle. 🧐

Not me wearing a white tshirt to make banana chocolate chip pancakes with my toddler, like I’m new to this rodeo. #momlife #parenting

I’m thrilled to announce that I’ll be continuing at Princeton for the 2025-2026 academic year, as a Stanley Kelley Jr. Visiting Professor of Distinguished Teaching in Gender & Sexuality Studies.

Uber driver: “Happy Mother’s Day!” Me: “Thanks! …[long pause] How did you know I’m a mom?” Uber driver: “You have that look about you.” 🧐 😭😬 HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY to all who celebrate!

Toddler soccer checklist: -Child moves to different area of field from where game is happening. Sits down and picks grass. -“No, the *other* way!” -Child flings self on ground. Cries. -“You’re on the same team!” -“The ball touched my leg!” Tears. -3+ children tending goal.

Pop quiz: when you ask your child to tell their sibling that dinner is ready, in what % of cases will that child simply yell “DINNER’S READY!!” (as you could have done yourself) while continuing to stand next to you? And why is it 100?

Things I’ve said to my kids this morning: “Nobody should be clucking at anybody right now!” “None of us knows how long a cat’s tongue is, so let’s all stop yelling.” #momlife

I recently spoke to @usatoday.com about the Trump presidency’s intersection with reality TV. You can check out the piece here: www.usatoday.com/story/news/p...

For their final presentations in my reality TV class this semester, I’m having each student do a Feminist critique AND a Feminist defense of a show of their choice. Here’s the final roster and it is 🔥 🔥 🔥. So excited for these!

Me: I think that ice cream might be a little big for you, and I don’t want you to get sick. You can just eat part of it. 4-year-old: But if I eat some, it will get smaller! #toddlerphilosophy

Oops, somehow I missed my appearance in VICE’s “The Dark Side of Reality TV” docuseries. I’m in the episode about “The Surreal Life”!

Happy Tuesday to everyone except the person who thought it was a good idea to put glitter on a bath bomb.

The field hockey coach is calling out to one of the girls “You’re mid! You’re mid!” and wow I’ve been exposed to too much Gen Alpha lingo because my first thought was that she was hurling insults.

When Gen Alpha makes friendship bracelets

Sometimes you worry you’ll never be able to teach your children everything they need to know. But then you’re watching reality TV and your kid turns to you and says “They’re showing her calling her family, so she’ll probably be eliminated this episode.” And you realize they’ll probably be okay.