In December of 2020, soon-to-be internet sensations Julia Hava and Eliza McLamb began recording episodes of their cultural commentary podcast “Binchtopia,” which, at the time, was merely a passion project born in the comfort of their Los Angeles apartment while in lockdown during the COVID-19 pandemic. Hava and McLamb could have never predicted the viral success of their podcast in the coming months and years, now boasting an impressive 40,000 (and counting) weekly listeners.
The podcast’s cheeky, and bold, description tells it exactly as it is: “If Plato and Aristotle had internet addictions and knew what ‘gaslighting’ was, they’d probably make this podcast,” offering a promise that the hosts will guide listeners through “our current cultural hellscape, share sociological and psychological perspectives on pop culture, and deconstruct everything you’ve ever loved.”
“Binchtopia’s” unique, relaxed format and constant rotation of fascinating topics discussed in each episode quickly drew listeners in, hooked by irresistibly intriguing titles such as “Girlbossing too Close to the Sun,” “Ted Bundy was a Skims Baby,” “Corporations are People Too!” and “Astral Projecting in Whole Foods,” to name a few. In late 2020, when life was turned upside down by lockdowns in the height of the pandemic, the weekly episodes were a small but consistent comfort for many during a time that was anything but consistent, with many listeners writing in to express their gratitude and appreciation for the podcast.
The episodes are informal and conversational, yet still researched and nuanced.
Hava and McLamb kick off each episode of “Binchtopia” with what they have dubbed “Mailbox Moments” — a segment that features what listeners write into the show via email or through their Instagram story, and questions that they asked either in relation to the topic of the upcoming question or a previous one that had aired.
Each week, Hava and McLamb choose a few of their favorite Mailbox Moments to feature in the episode. They often post on their Instagram story asking listeners to write in if they have personal experiences with a specific topic that will be covered on an upcoming episode. This commitment to interacting and connecting with listeners is one of the many unique aspects of the podcast that keeps fans engaged and coming back for more. Not only do fans have the opportunity to interact with the show via personal stories, they even have the chance to choose the topic of some episodes.
The episodes are informal and conversational, yet still researched and nuanced, beginning with Hava and McLamb sharing whatever is on their mind each week —a funny story from their personal lives, their thoughts on a newly released album or TV show, thoughts on the latest internet phenomena or the breaking news of the week.
Hava and McLamb’s fresh takes, charisma and genuine passion for knowledge and conversation is what keeps fans coming back every week.
In their most recent episodes, a two-part series titled “Honey I Monetized the Kids Again” and “Baby’s First Simulacra,” the hosts went down the rabbit hole of “momfluencers,” exploring the often insidious world of family vlogging in which parents share — and even profit extensively from — content of their children online. The episodes feature testimonials from the now adult or teenaged children of family vloggers and influencers, raising the question — can children meaningfully consent to being shared online?
At its core, “Binchtopia” is objectively a feminist podcast, and gracefully walks the line between playfully existential, unscripted conversations that mirror those of classic college “after-the-dorm-party conversations”, and genuinely researched-backed political takes.
“We don’t want to be like, ‘We’re the trailblazers of the whatever wave feminist movement,’” Hava said in a November interview with The New York Times. “It’s just like, yeah, obviously we’re feminists. Everybody should be a feminist. It’s not something radical to label yourself as.”
Hava, 26, and McLamb, 23, took sociology and gender studies courses while in college. This knowledge is reflected most in their fanbase which consists of mostly college-age listeners. Their distinctly Gen Z–esque humor is not lost on older fans, who often express appreciation for their effortlessly intellectual wit.
The world of “Binchtopia” is ever–expanding, with Hava and McLamb embarking in summer 2023 on a series of live shows across the east coast and the American South. “The Godly Wife” Tour (a reference to a popular “Binchtopia” inside joke) made stops in New York City, Chicago, Boston and beyond, giving “Binchies” — as Hava and McLamb affectionately refer to their fans — the opportunity to meet and engage with the hosts in person.
Several exciting things continue to come for Hava and McLamb both in and outside of the “Binchtopia” universe. McLamb, a Los Angeles–based indie songwriter and recording artist, recently celebrated the release of her EP “Salt Circle,” and Hava is in the process of receiving her doctorate in psychology from.
As their individual careers develop, so does “Binchtopia”itself. Hava and McLamb’s fresh takes, charisma and genuine passion for knowledge and conversation is what keeps fans coming back every week.
You can listen to “Binchtopia” on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Patreon, where additional content and monthly subscriptions are available.