This one’s for the girls who grew up on TRL, cried to Fearless, and low-key still know all the words to “He Could Be the One.” Nora Princiotti joins Lauren and Chanler to talk about the evolution of authenticity in pop, Miley’s totally unfiltered bombshells, and whether Taylor Swift might be pulling off the greatest long game in music history.

Check out Nora’s book and podcast here:

📖 Hit Girls by Nora Princiotti

🎧 Every Single Album

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(00:00) 🎤 Introduction — Meet Nora Princiotti and the book that rewrites pop history: Hit Girls.

(04:58) 👩‍🎤 Authenticity in Pop — Ashlee Simpson, Avril Lavigne, and why being “real” became a trap.

(10:22) 🎧 Poptimism vs Rockism — What’s “real music” anyway? We dive into the early 2000s’ biggest culture war.

(19:00) 🌸 Interviewing Miley Cyrus — Nora’s interview with Miley, unfiltered stories, and emotional honesty from the popstar.

(26:00) 💿 Miley Album Recs — Where to start if you’ve only heard “Flowers” and “Party in the U.S.A.”

(36:10) 🎶 “Since U Been Gone” — The story behind Kelly Clarkson’s scream-your-heart-out hit and the pop comeback no one saw coming.

(43:56) 🪩 Taylor Swift — The rerecords, the rage, and her business plays... Did she devalue her own masters on purpose?

(47:58) 👑 Brat Summer & Cowboy Carter — Cultural saturation, chart performance, and what we’re actually listening to.

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If you like chaos, congratulations, this episode is tailor-made for you. We’ve got major courtroom drama in the Blake Lively vs Justin Baldoni case, Taylor Swift blending into Travis Kelce’s family wedding, Meghan Markle twerking (?), and a manifestation debate no one asked for. Plus, the woo-woo polyamory breakdown that needs to be studied.

(00:00) 👩🏼‍⚖️ Blake Lively vs. Justin Baldoni - Court bombshells, conspiracy theories, and one very shady filing.

(12:59) 💍 Taylor Swift at Travis Kelce’s Family Wedding - We’re talking dresses, dancing, and… was that a Swiftie infiltration?

(19:46) 👑 Meghan Markle’s Hospital Dance Video - Is it cute or is it cringe? Discuss.

(26:13) 🌻 Hailey Bieber’s Therapeutic Summer - Instagram captions don’t lie. We decode.

(31:59) 🍼 Lauren Bostick Manifested Motherhood - What she said about fertility broke the internet. Let’s unpack.

(42:28) 🔥 Expanded Monogamy, Burning Man, and The Goddess Pipeline - Truly one of the craziest things we’ve ever covered. Brandy Melville models involved.

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Chanler’s back from the flight from hell—complete with zero legroom, tarmac heat, and a bralette breakdown. Lauren lands from St. Barth and immediately roasts the snack box struggle. The sisters debrief their Juicy Scoop appearance, dish on Brooklyn upgrades, and dive into the latest Karen Read courtroom twists. Then it’s The Valley's most overblown scandal (a pantry tequila swig??), Blake Lively’s legal backpedaling, Taylor Swift’s mini dress moment, and why Ubah’s fiancé might be the hottest man in Bravo history.

Timestamps:

[00:00] ✈️ Flight from Hell — Chanler barely survives United's final row with no AC, no food, and full claustrophobia. She strips. Literally.

[10:00] 🎤 Juicy Scoop & Jet Lag — Post-interview blackout and a proud sister moment over their Heather McDonald appearance.

[11:30] 🏡 Brooklyn Era Incoming — Chanler shares details on her dreamy new apartment: double square footage and heated bathroom floors.

[15:00] ⚖️ Karen Read Trial Gets Messier — FBI investigations, hostile witnesses, and a town with collective amnesia. It’s getting wild.

[20:00] 🍾 Pantrygate on The Valley — Did a secret tequila swig mean more? Janet stirs the pot hard and the girls call BS on the drinking drama.

[25:00] 💔 Jesse & Michelle Meltdown — Jesse’s verbal abuse, Michelle’s glow-up, and why divorce might’ve saved her personality.

[28:00] 🧾 Blake Lively's Legal Retreat — She’s trying to drop the emotional distress claim—but keep her options open? We see you, Blake.

[33:00] 🎭 Sutton Foster Steps Out (Silently) — Hugh Jackman’s girlfriend skips the press line while Deborra-Lee Furness drops spiritual shade.

[36:00] 👠 Taylor Swift at Monkey Bar — Black mini dress, diamond tennis bracelet, and... platform heels? The girls weigh in on the look.

[40:00] 👙 Bethenny’s Bikini Clapback — Bethenny hits the swimwear runway and defends her “cute tush.” The sisters are divided.

[45:00] 🩻 Kylie’s Boob Job Details — 450cc, moderate profile, under the muscle. Kylie finally shares her plastic surgery specs.

[50:00] 💍 Ubah Gets Her Man — Ubah Hassan’s new fiancé is hot, tall, and rich. Chanler is unwell. Jill Zarin thinks it’s divine intervention.

[55:00] 💔 Lauren Sanchez Grace Clause — Why does Sutton get heat but Lauren Sanchez gets worshipped? The girls make their case.

Please note this episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct or indirect financial interest in products or services referred to in this episode.

For more Pop Apologists, follow along at:

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To support the show, consider subscribing on Patreon or anywhere you listen to podcasts, where you can get bonus episodes of Pop Apologists every Monday and Friday!

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.