Be There in Five

This week, Kate dives into the unexpected resurgence of millennial optimism following the 2026 midterms, and the strange experience of watching a generation once mocked for its earnestness, entitlement, and cringe suddenly become a source of nostalgia for Gen Z. From the millennial whoop and the dance-floor exceptionalism of early 2010s pop music to generational tropes and Toms, Kate revisits what made millennials so hopeful during an era when the economy was giving them very little reason to be, like the simultaneous collapse of traditional economic opportunity and explosion of seemingly limitless alternatives. Blogs, startups, Etsy shops, crowdfunding, flash sales, and the promise of cutting out the middleman made the future feel wide open, but the past decade hasn't been anywhere close to what this limited-time offer promised. More importantly, a meditation on what it means to rediscover hope and realize the future can still surprise you. Enjoy!
PRE-ORDER Kate's upcoming book, She's Let Herself Go, out 4/27/27! And, if you haven't picked up her first book, the NYT Bestselling book, One in a Millennial, check it out here!
Text or leave a voicemail for Kate at 775-HEY-BETH!
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This week, Kate is once again joined by Courtney for pop culture chatter, spooky stories, and some post-nut clarifications following her revelation a couple of weeks ago. They catch up on the increasingly bizarre corners of their algorithms, the exhausting logistics of influencer morning routines, celebrity brand fatigue and the upper bleph discourse, taffeta's comeback, and more. Then, a mysterious family heirloom sends Kate down a rabbit hole of Victorian spiritualism, table tipping, witchcraft, and the surprising ways women found independence and influence in the 19th century and how it connects to millennial sleepover culture. Enjoy!
Jones Road Beauty: Modern-day makeup that's clean, strategic, and multifunctional for effortless routines. For a limited time, our listeners are getting a FREE full-sized Mascara on their first purchase when they use code BETHEREINFIVE at checkout. Just head to Jonesroadbeauty.com and use code BETHEREINFIVE at checkout. After you purchase, they'll ask where you heard about them. Please support our show and tell them our show sent you!
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PRE-ORDER Kate's upcoming book, She's Let Herself Go, out 4/27/27! And, if you haven't picked up her first book, the NYT Bestselling book, One in a Millennial, check it out here!

Text or leave a voicemail for Kate at 775-HEY-BETH!

Modern-day makeup that's clean, strategic, and multifunctional for effortless routines. For a limited time our listeners are getting a FREE full sized Mascara on their first purchase when they use code BETHEREINFIVE  at checkout. Just head to Jonesroadbeauty.com and use code BETHEREINFIVE  at checkout. After you purchase, they will ask you where you heard about them. PLEASE support our show and tell them our show sent you.

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This week, Kate is back with a solo pop culture snorkel, kicking things off with porch pumpkins, tiny pieces, and the mystifying minutiae of motherhood before diving into listener-requested topics, including the potential Glee reboot, Barbara Palvin walking the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show six weeks postpartum, and the complicated messaging of "bounce-back" culture. Then, she provides a primer on the cast of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives: Orange County, including Aspyn Ovard's journey from Mormon-adjacent mommy vlogger to openly throupled reality star. Plus: the disappearance of party subs, a throuple car museum that doubles as a dinosaur park and Titanic exhibit, and a Dancing with the Stars Dedication Night recap featuring Connor Wood's TikTok fandom, Tyler C.'s emotional warfare, and a 10 Things I Hate About You reunion that had Kate in tears. Enjoy!
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PRE-ORDER Kate's upcoming book, She's Let Herself Go, out 4/27/27! And, if you haven't picked up her first book, the NYT Bestselling book, One in a Millennial, check it out here!
Text or leave a voicemail for Kate at 775-HEY-BETH!
Go to cozyearth.com and use code BETHEREINFIVE for up to 20% off home and sleepwear. That's cozyearth.com, code BETHEREINFIVE. And when they ask where you heard about them at checkout, let them know you heard about them right here on Be There in Five.
Find the fall pieces you'll reach for most at Quince. Download the Quince app for app-exclusive offers, or go to Quince.com. Get free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada and the UK, too. And when Quince asks where you heard about them, let them know it was Be There in Five. It's the best way to support the show.
Go to LagoonSleep.com/bethereinfive and take the 60-second sleep quiz to find your match. Use code BETHEREINFIVE for 15% off your first order, and every pillow comes with a 100-night trial.
Write your own money story with Monarch. Use code FIVE at Monarch.com to get your first year of Monarch Core half off at just $50. That's 50% off your first year at Monarch.com with code FIVE.
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This week, Kate tests out a new format with Courtney sitting in as a "body double" to keep her on track, and it quickly goes off the rails: Kelly Clarkson vs. Dragons Love Tacos, Teddy's brutally honest observations, a coffee shop Pretty Woman moment, why Courtney hates magicians, Shane Gillis' gas station sunglasses energy, and a mysterious Chicago conspiracy involving a billionaire, dark money, rats, and a luxury melange of nuts that leads to a truly shocking revelation Kate never saw coming. She closes with how this week's accidental theme of deception connects to the new Elizabeth Holmes documentary You Can See Everything and gives a high-level, spoiler-free review. For a deeper dive, go to patreon.com/bethereinfive. Enjoy!
PRE-ORDER Kate's upcoming book, She's Let Herself Go, out 4/27/27! And, if you haven't picked up her first book, the NYT Bestselling book, One in a Millennial, check it out here!

Text or leave a voicemail for Kate at 775-HEY-BETH!

Wake up with clearer skin, smoother hair, and cooler sleep. Use code BETHEREINFIVE for an extra 30% off at blissy.com/BETHEREINFIVE.

Go to helixsleep.com/bethereinfive for 20% off sitewide through October 29. Make sure you enter our show name after checkout, so they know we sent you! 

Modern-day makeup that's clean, strategic, and multifunctional for effortless routines. For a limited time our listeners are getting a FREE full sized Mascara on their first purchase when they use code BETHEREINFIVE  at checkout. Just head to Jonesroadbeauty.com and use code BETHEREINFIVE  at checkout. After you purchase, they will ask you where you heard about them. PLEASE support our show and tell them our show sent you.

The RealReal is the most trusted name in authenticated luxury resale, With over ten thousand new arrivals daily, no one does resale like The RealReal. And now, get $25 off your first purchase when you go to TheRealReal.com/BETHEREINFIVE. Start shopping now at TheRealReal.com/BETHEREINFIVE.

Find the fall pieces you'll reach for most at Quince. Download the Quince app for app-exclusive offers, or go to Quince.com. Get free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada and the UK, too. And when Quince asks where you heard about them,

This week, Kate is joined by fellow Chicagoan Katie Shober, founder of Beach Reads & Bubbly, the beloved book community that started as recommendations on her personal Instagram and grew into roughly 300 book clubs around the world. First, Kate introduces her new book's title and concept and shares more context for what she's been working on the past three years (feel free to skip to the interview!) Then, Kate and Katie get into Goodreads finally adding half stars, the Alix Earle "Dr. Seuss" discourse, the chili pepper spice economy, why romance keeps publishing afloat while getting none of the respect, and the Edward Cullen to mob boss pipeline. They also talk about how anyone with small kids actually finds time to read, the Yesteryear backlash, and how reading got swept up in optimization culture. Plus, Katie brings a stack of recs: reading-rut breakers, a Halloween murder mystery, an entry-level "Brad," and an underrated book she thinks everyone should be talking about. Enjoy!
Pre-order Kate's new book here!!!
 
Order Kate's NYT Bestselling book, One in a Millennial here!
 
Text or leave a voicemail for Kate at 775-HEY-BETH!
 
Give your skin the affordable, luxurious glow up it deserves. Go to Naturium.com/BETHEREINFIVE for 10% off your first purchase today. That's Naturium.com/BETHEREINFIVE. 
 
Find the fall pieces you'll reach for most at Quince. Download the Quince app for app-exclusive offers, or go to Quince.com. Get free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada and the UK, too. And when Quince asks where you heard about them, let them know it was Be There in Five. It's the best way to support the show.
 
Cozy Earth almost never does 30% off, and they're doing it right now through October 11. Go to
cozyearth.com, use code BETHEREINFIVE, and get 30% off home and sleepwear. After October 11 you can still go to cozyearth.com and use code BETHEREINFIVE for up to 20% off home and sleepwear. And when they ask where you heard about them at checkout, let them know you heard about them right here on Be There in Five.
 
Instead of striving for perfect health, support your foundational health. Save 25% on your first month at Ritual.com/BETHEREINFIVE. That's Ritual.com/BETHEREINFIVE for 25% off your first month.