Nymphet Alumni

Course Materials 049

Nymphet Alumni — Fri, 08 May 2026 13:03:47 GMT

From now on, we’ll be sharing the best of our cultural diets for paid subscribers every Friday.

A little reminder: if you haven’t added your payment info into Substack following our move from Patreon, your comped subscription to our exclusive episodes and newsletters has now expired.

To remain subscribed to exclusive episodes and all the glamour of our premium content, including Course Materials, you’ll need to add your payment information at this link.

Without further ado, here are our personal picks for the week of May 4th:

Ep. 156: #SWAG Dadaism

Nymphet Alumni — Wed, 06 May 2026 14:22:24 GMT

In this episode, we coin a new term for one of the most interesting creative impulses of our generation: #SWAG Dadaism. Like the original Dadaists responding to the whiplash of industrialization and WWI, a certain subset of young creatives are responding to the vertigo of global instability and breathless technological futurism through fashion assemblage, IP maximalism, and a fearless embrace of all things chopped and random. We conduct a historical survey from Clement Greenberg’s theory of kitsch and the avant-garde to the early days of meme culture to explore page fashion parodists of the past decade. We also get into Justin Bieber and Timothée Chalamet’s parallel #SWAG rebrands, the collapse of the secondhand market and its unexpected creative upside, and how #SWAG exists as the antithesis of refinement culture.

Links:

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Dada Manifesto by Tristan Tzara (1918)

“Avant-Garde and Kitsch” by Clement Greenberg from The Partisan Review (1939)

“The First Meme of 2026 Is About Not Explaining Yourself. And Buttons.” by Madison Malone Kircher for The New York Times

Chase Rutherford on Instagram (referenced posts one, two, three)

Chase Rutherford interview for Perfectly Imperfect

@okniceok on Instagram

@kalebphobic on TikTok re: digicore sampling

Canal Street Research Association and Shanzhai Lyric on Instagram

“Bags, Bootlegs and Art: A Quirky Communion on Canal Street” by Siddhartha Mitter in The New York Times

Ava Nirui / @avanope interview in Office magazine (2017)

“Meet Ava Nirui, The Creative Force Behind Marc Jacobs’ Heaven Line” by Eni Subair in Vogue (2020)

“Go To The Thrift Store That’s Where The Heat Is” on Know Your Meme

@harmonytividad “filet minion” post on Instagram

Middle school boy bar crawl on TikTok

Tung Tung Tung Sahur boxers outfit on TikTok

@twylatoktok on TikTok (referenced posts one, two, three)

@turtlewithhat_ / Izzy and Emma pink leggings outfits

Course Materials 048

Alexi Alario — Fri, 01 May 2026 12:01:57 GMT

Welcome to week forty-eight of Course Materials, our revamped recommendations column!

From now on, we’ll be sharing the best of our cultural diets for paid subscribers every Friday (coming in on Sunday, back to our regularly scheduled programming next week.)

A little reminder: if you haven’t added your payment info into Substack following our move from Patreon, your comped subscription to our exclusive episodes and newsletters has now expired.

To remain subscribed to exclusive episodes and all the glamour of our premium content, including Course Materials, you’ll need to add your payment information at this link.

Without further ado, here are our personal picks for the week of April 27th:

Course Materials 047

Sam Cummins — Sun, 19 Apr 2026 22:13:18 GMT

Welcome to week forty-seven of Course Materials, our revamped recommendations column!

From now on, we’ll be sharing the best of our cultural diets for paid subscribers every Friday (coming in on Sunday, back to our regularly scheduled programming next week.)

A little reminder: if you haven’t added your payment info into Substack following our move from Patreon, your comped subscription to our exclusive episodes and newsletters has now expired.

To remain subscribed to exclusive episodes and all the glamour of our premium content, including Course Materials, you’ll need to add your payment information at this link.

Without further ado, here are our personal picks for the week of April 13th:

Course Materials 046

Sam Cummins — Fri, 10 Apr 2026 20:26:35 GMT

Welcome to week forty-six of Course Materials, our revamped recommendations column!

From now on, we’ll be sharing the best of our cultural diets for paid subscribers every Friday.

A little reminder: if you haven’t added your payment info into Substack following our move from Patreon, your comped subscription to our exclusive episodes and newsletters has now expired.

To remain subscribed to exclusive episodes and all the glamour of our premium content, including Course Materials, you’ll need to add your payment information at this link.

Without further ado, here are our personal picks for the week of April 6th:

Ep. 155: The Life of a Bravolebrity w/ Mia Alario

Alexi Alario — Sun, 05 Apr 2026 15:04:19 GMT

In this exclusive solo episode, I interview Mia Alario, the star of Bravo’s Charleston-based nightlife reality show Southern Hospitality … who also happens to be my older sister. We discuss how her reign of terror as a juvenile delinquent led to a successful career in television, the challenges of casting for TV in the digital age, the cornerstones of B…

Course Materials 045

Nymphet Alumni — Fri, 03 Apr 2026 19:32:20 GMT

Welcome to week forty-five of Course Materials, our revamped recommendations column!

From now on, we’ll be sharing the best of our cultural diets for paid subscribers every Friday.

A little reminder: if you haven’t added your payment info into Substack following our move from Patreon, your comped subscription to our exclusive episodes and newsletters has now expired.

To remain subscribed to exclusive episodes and all the glamour of our premium content, including Course Materials, you’ll need to add your payment information at this link.

Without further ado, here are our personal picks for the week of March 30th:

Ep. 154: God's Country Regional Warfare (Emergency Roundtable)

Nymphet Alumni — Tue, 31 Mar 2026 20:58:43 GMT

In this Emergency Roundtable, we survey the creative battle for the heart of America, discussing how pop stars, auteurs, and creative directors can’t seem to quit the American interior, with varying results from campy kitschy country-pop to anxietycore political absurdism. We dissect the Lana del Rey vs. Ethel Cain conflict as a generational allegory, the Chappell Roan smear campaign and the contradictions of her Midwest Princess persona, Taylor Sheridan's neo-Western empire and the fantasy of heartland wealth, and the Texas vs. California showdown over the soul of the American economy. We also review the viral Dinergoth prospectus, and Alexi and Sam report back from a Texas road trip with new personal stakes in all of the above.

Links:

Course Materials 044

Sam Cummins — Fri, 27 Mar 2026 13:01:18 GMT

Welcome to week forty-four of Course Materials, our revamped recommendations column!

From now on, we’ll be sharing the best of our cultural diets for paid subscribers every Friday.

A little reminder: if you haven’t added your payment info into Substack following our move from Patreon, your comped subscription to our exclusive episodes and newsletters has now expired.

To remain subscribed to exclusive episodes and all the glamour of our premium content, including Course Materials, you’ll need to add your payment information at this link.

Without further ado, here are our personal picks for the week of March 23rd:

Course Materials 043

Sam Cummins — Mon, 23 Mar 2026 23:18:30 GMT

Note: We’re posting this on Monday as we missed last Friday, but regular Friday programming resumes this week <3

Welcome to week forty-three of Course Materials, our revamped recommendations column!

From now on, we’ll be sharing the best of our cultural diets for paid subscribers every Friday.

A little reminder: if you haven’t added your payment info into Substack following our move from Patreon, your comped subscription to our exclusive episodes and newsletters has now expired.

To remain subscribed to exclusive episodes and all the glamour of our premium content, including Course Materials, you’ll need to add your payment information at this link.

Without further ado, here are our personal picks for the week of March 9th:

Ep. 153: Catalan Chicslop w/ Clairolime

Alexi Alario — Wed, 18 Mar 2026 22:06:36 GMT

In this week’s episode, we’re joined by critical mastermind Caroline Cai (aka Clairolime) to unpack what we’re calling Catalan Chicslop, the downtempo, sophisticated, quietly freaky aesthetic championed by brands like Paloma Wool and Gimaguas. We discuss how this look evolved from avant-basic dopamine dressing, its influences from ‘90s minimalism to early 20th century experimental couture, Barcelona’s history as a modernist aura farm, post-Phoebe Philo feminist-lite brand mythos, and strategies to transcend the tyranny of chicness. We also analyze the aesthetic’s appeal to women across successive life stages, from 13-year-old Penelope Dissick to microinfluencer gallerinas to mysterious pregnant brunettes.

Links:

@clairolime on Instagram

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Relevant brands: Paloma Wool, Gimaguas, Susmie’s Collection, Belle Anna, Deiji Studios, Buci, Geel, DémodéMODÉ

“How Spain’s Indie Fashion Scene Nailed Global Growth” in Business of Fashion

“These Brands are Putting Spanish Style on the Map” by Zoe Suen in W

“Paloma Wool: From Cool to Basic and Back Again” by Yola Mzizi in The New York Times

Paintings by Ramon Casas (Ex. 1, Ex. 2, Ex. 3, Ex. 4)

Paloma Wool’s “San Sebastián 2025” campaign featuring Carlotta Baan

“Studio Visit: Paloma Wool” in Sleek magazine (2023)

“Where Are All the Women Designers?” by Emma Childs in Marie Claire

Chicslop runoff examples from Miaou, Frankie’s Bikinis, Guizio, Jaded London, Revolve house brands Lioness and Lovers and Friends, With Jean, UNIF

HAIM - Relationships (Official Music Video)

Crumbs from Penelope Dissick’s deleted TikTok photo dump

Emma Chamberlain’s “i got rid of (almost) everything” closet video

“T-boy swag: Claiming space where trans people feel we don’t inherently belong” by Reanna Cruz in NPR

Note from Alexi: I’m sorry I mispronounced Phoebe Philo omg put your chic pewter pitchforks down!!

Ep. 152: Fake Minkhia Asylum | Study Break

Nymphet Alumni — Wed, 11 Mar 2026 21:42:08 GMT

In this edition of Study Break, the girls review the latest cultural dispatches, including the newest wave of attention-seeking fashion week stunts (from Fakemink at Balenciaga to Bryan Johnson lurking at Matières Fécales), the Buffalo Bill realness of Robert Pattinson and Zendaya’s Interview Magazine cover, Tyra Banks’s wacky legacy, Hillary Clinton’s bleach-and-tone, the rise of Wuthering Heights womanslop, and more!

Links:

Fakemink for Dazed

Brian Johnson for Fecal Matter in Paris

Robert Pattinson and Zendaya for Interview Magazine

Jim Carrey Clone Allegations

Alexis Stone Jim Carrey Prank

Punch the Monkey

Course Materials 042

Sam Cummins — Fri, 06 Mar 2026 20:20:34 GMT

Welcome to week forty-two of Course Materials, our revamped recommendations column!

From now on, we’ll be sharing the best of our cultural diets for paid subscribers every Friday.

A little reminder: if you haven’t added your payment info into Substack following our move from Patreon, your comped subscription to our exclusive episodes and newsletters has now expired.

To remain subscribed to exclusive episodes and all the glamour of our premium content, including Course Materials, you’ll need to add your payment information at this link.

Without further ado, here are our personal picks for the week of March 2nd:

Ep. 151: Romantasy

Alexi Alario — Thu, 05 Mar 2026 01:12:59 GMT

In this week’s episode, we discuss Romantasy, the Franken-genre that has conquered the publishing world and defined the libidinal landscapes of a generation of women. We decode the genre’s DNA from dimestore bodice-rippers to high fantasy epics, examine the sociological profile of its authors and audiences, and explore how it’s mutated in the digital age via AI visualizers and high-budget audio erotica. We also talk about Renaissance faires, fujoshi discourse, the mirror image of male vs. female gooning in popular culture, Emerald Fennell’s Wuthering Heights as the BookTok movie of the century, and more.

Links:
Image board

Sam’s Romantasy Spotify Playlist

“Did a Best-Selling Romantasy Author Steal Another Writer’s Story?” by Katy Waldman in The New Yorker

“She Fell in Love With ChatGPT. Then She Ghosted It.” (r/MyBoyfriendIsAI profile) by Kashmir Hill in The New York Times

“Gender difference in brain activation to audio-visual sexual stimulation” by Chung et. al. in PubMed

“Sexual Scripts: Permanence and Change” by William Simon and John H. Gagnon in Archives of Sexual Behavior, Vol. 15, No. 2

“How the Renaissance Fair became America’s favorite fantasy” by Kelly Faircloth in National Geographic

r/AskAHistorian discussions about medievalism and high fantasy (one, two, three)

The Oxford Handbook of Victorian Medievalism ed. Joanne Parker and Corinna Wagner

Hard to Be a God (2013) dir. Aleksei German

Candlelight Ecstasy Romance Guidelines c. 1980

Love Story magazine ed. Daisy Bacon (1921–1947) (see covers here)

“The Uses of Reading Mass-Produced Romance Fiction” (Harlequin study) by Susan B. Neuman (1985)

History of the “sex and shopping” genre by Pascal Tréguer

“Girls Who Love Boys Who Love Boys” by E. Alex Jung in Vulture

Interview with Quinn founder and CEO Caroline Spiegel in Refinery29

“Aural Fixation: Celebrity Audio Erotica Is 2025’s Answer to the Centerfold” by Hannah Jackson in Vogue

“The Importance of Critical Thinking in a Zombiefied World” (Why romantasy is crucial to understanding Apple TV’s hit show Pluribus) by Maris Kreizman in The Atlantic

“Liking Books is Not a Personality” by Hannah McGregor in Electric Literature

@shauna_the_author on Instagram

Course Materials 041

Alexi Alario — Fri, 27 Feb 2026 20:42:06 GMT

Welcome to week forty-one of Course Materials, our revamped recommendations column!

From now on, we’ll be sharing the best of our cultural diets for paid subscribers every Friday.

A little reminder: if you haven’t added your payment info into Substack following our move from Patreon, your comped subscription to our exclusive episodes and newsletters has now expired.

To remain subscribed to exclusive episodes and all the glamour of our premium content, including Course Materials, you’ll need to add your payment information at this link.

Without further ado, here are our personal picks for the week of February 23rd:

Course Materials 040

Sam Cummins — Sat, 21 Feb 2026 00:23:28 GMT

Welcome to week forty of Course Materials, our revamped recommendations column!

From now on, we’ll be sharing the best of our cultural diets for paid subscribers every Friday.

A little reminder: if you haven’t added your payment info into Substack following our move from Patreon, your comped subscription to our exclusive episodes and newsletters has now expired.

To remain subscribed to exclusive episodes and all the glamour of our premium content, including Course Materials, you’ll need to add your payment information at this link.

Without further ado, here are our personal picks for the week of February 16th:

Ep. 150: Wolk Mind Virus w/ Ivy Wolk

Alexi Alario — Wed, 18 Feb 2026 20:21:00 GMT

In this week’s episode, we’re joined by actress and generational internet phenomenon Ivy Wolk (Anora, The English Teacher) to discuss her sartorial origins from roller derby to riot grrl to rockabilly, the sorry state of the Theatre, the evolving identity of the character actor, the cult mystique of a volatile decade-long online presence, and why cultural curiosity may be the closest thing we have to world peace. Ivy also weighs in on the uncanny e-girl invasion of the latest Guess campaign and reflects on the spirit of authentic Angeleno style.

Links:

Ivy Wolk on Instagram

Theatre and Film on Tape Archive at NYPL for the Performing Arts

Mike Tyson’s “fat and nasty” MAHA Super Bowl ad

Peloton’s Kendall Toole in viral “get ‘em banned” clip

Guess girl Instagam campaign

Course Materials 039

Alexi Alario — Fri, 13 Feb 2026 14:30:29 GMT

Welcome to week thirty-nine of Course Materials, our revamped recommendations column!

From now on, we’ll be sharing the best of our cultural diets for paid subscribers every Friday.

A little reminder: if you haven’t added your payment info into Substack following our move from Patreon, your comped subscription to our exclusive episodes and newsletters has now expired.

To remain subscribed to exclusive episodes and all the glamour of our premium content, including Course Materials, you’ll need to add your payment information at this link.

Without further ado, here are our personal picks for the week of February 9th:

Ep. 149: The Horn of Plenty Honky Tonk | Study Break

Sam Cummins — Wed, 11 Feb 2026 17:10:47 GMT

In this edition of Study Break, we survey the triumph and tragedy of the 2026 Grammys and deliver our official assessment of the Momania (The Moment + Melania) double feature. The declaration of war on Sombr is formally expanded to include newcomer Olivia Dean, and the strange theater of Latino representation in Hollywood comes under review. Elsewhere, several urgent notes are issued to the pop music PR puppeteers who seem to have lost motor control of talents like Jelly Roll and Billie Eilish. We also unpack the honky tonk heartbreak of Bella Hadid and Adan Banuelos, Gaga’s McQueen resurrection, Justin Bieber’s soulful Captain Underpants realness, the newest wave of Windrush Generation excellence, and more!

Links:

Sacheen Littlefeather accepting an Oscar on behalf of Marlon Brando

Adan Banuelos Arrested for Public Intoxication

Bella Hadid dancing in a Honky Tonk with Adan Banuelos

Theo Von on Jelly Roll Acceptance Speeches

Zillennial Cozy Funk Wedding

Course Materials 038

Nymphet Alumni — Fri, 06 Feb 2026 16:10:02 GMT

Welcome to week thirty-eight of Course Materials, our revamped recommendations column!

From now on, we’ll be sharing the best of our cultural diets for paid subscribers every Friday.

A little reminder: if you haven’t added your payment info into Substack following our move from Patreon, your comped subscription to our exclusive episodes and newsletters has now expired.

To remain subscribed to exclusive episodes and all the glamour of our premium content, including Course Materials, you’ll need to add your payment information at this link.

Without further ado, here are our personal picks for the week of February 2nd: