Ready or not (some of us are, some of us are not) this week Intelligentsia revisits the COVID era and the strange, surreal experience we all shared. From wiping down groceries to Zoom happy hours, sourdough starters, and an empty Times Square, we relive the lockdowns, viral TV moments, vaccine rollout, and pandemic trends before talking with friend of the pod Dr. Joe about the medical realities on the front lines. Plus, we unpack what permanently changed—from work and socializing to how we live our everyday lives.

Happy Election Day, Intelligentsia! In honor of the big day, we're spending the hour breaking down the history of America’s two-party system, from Hamilton and Jefferson to today’s gnarly political divide. We get into party realignments, third-party wild cards, political dynasties, celebrity endorsements. Plus, we make our cases: is the two-party system still working—or is it time for a new political playbook? Hear from Tara, Joey, and our surprise special guest and let us know who you align with!

It's Intelligentsia holiday episode week! From ancient Celtic rituals to Spirit Halloween taking over every vacant storefront, we’re diving into the history, nostalgia, and capitalist chaos of Halloween. Tara and Joey revisit childhood costumes, trick-or-treating, and the best Halloween movie, before getting into some real talk on haunted houses and fright night, slutty costumes, and the pressure to deliver a truly iconic look. Plus, we debate what actually counts as a Halloween movie. Spooky season, let's go!

From Jonestown to Scientology to SoulCycle, this week Intelligensia asks when does devotion cross the line into cult territory? Tara and Joey dive into infamous cults, their charismatic leaders, and Bravo’s own cult allegations before asking the bigger question: Are we all in a cult—whether it’s religion, politics, wellness, or the brands we worship? Come for the dark history, stay for the Housewives, and decide for yourself: cult or nah?

Sleep: we all need it, apparently most of us aren’t getting enough of it, and there’s an entire industry dedicated to helping us do it better. This week Tara and Joey get into sleep rituals, sleep science, weird disorders, and the booming sleep economy, and there may or may not be some light dream interpretation.

This week we're talking breakfast - not lunch, not dinner, and certainly not brunch. The most important meal of the day - or is it? This ep is little silly, a little educational, and very much culturally relevant. everything you never wanted to know about breakfast awaits.

The title says it all on this one: the long awaited Fleetwood Mac fangirl episode is here. Tara and Joey unpack the lore behind one of the most beloved rock bands in history, and their personal favorite. So queue up Rumours for background listening and let's dive in!

This week Intelligentsia is bringing you something brand new- VERSUS: a five-round battle of generations. Tara and Joey and their completely unbiased millenial point of view answer the question who comes out on top across the topics of growing up, music, movies, workplace culture, and social relationships. Who will win? Spoiler alert: it's not a clean sweep like you might expect.