Las Culturistas: "We <3 Our Customers" (with Demi Lovato)

Podcast: Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang
Episode Date: October 22, 2025
Special Guest: Demi Lovato
Network: Big Money Players Network and iHeartPodcasts

Episode Overview

In this vibrant and deeply fun episode, culture consultants Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang welcome international pop icon Demi Lovato as their guest. The trio dives into Demi’s new dance-pop album "It’s Not That Deep," celebrating the freedom found in not taking oneself too seriously. They also cover pop music’s current golden era, Demi’s creative process, formative cultural touchstones like "American Idol," and the importance of vulnerability—both in music and real life. Laughter, iconic quotes, thoughtful insights, and pop culture dishing abound.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Fall, Food, and Upcoming Events

• The hosts riff on the arrival of fall and their plans for New Orleans gay Halloween weekend, blending personal anecdotes with cultural observations on food, music, and travel.
  (Timestamp: 03:14–07:01)

Pop Music and the Gay Adult Narrative

• Discussion about how certain Disney movies ("Ratatouille," "Soul") and icons like Demi Lovato have traversed from kids content to "for gay adults," illustrating the evolving relationship audiences have with pop culture.
• Matt admits he doesn’t really watch Disney movies anymore:
  • “I don’t do the Disney films. Or—I like to go on the rides!” (05:55)
• Bowen and Matt joke about the "Remy from Ratatouille narrative" applied to Demi’s career arc.
  (Timestamp: 07:00–08:09)

Celebrating Demi’s New Era

• Anticipation builds for Demi’s new album and how it could be a unifying moment for the community.
• Matt: "If we do right by this album as a culture, as a community, we will be okay. I genuinely believe that." (08:09)
• The hosts maintain authenticity, joking about ad reads and paid promotions, reinforcing their sincerity for the music.
  (Timestamp: 08:09–09:34)

Fall Fashion & Red Hook Flea

• A quick detour into fall fashion, succession cosplay, and the hosts’ recent fashionable outings, full of the duo’s signature playfulness.
• "You look like you're about to be a really handsome three episode arc on Succession if that show was still on." (11:21) —Matt
  (Timestamp: 10:51–12:00)

Bravo & Housewives Drama

• The hosts unpack the “Osefo scandal” on RHOP, discussing insurance fraud, cultural narratives on Housewives, and the tension between aspirational image and real life.
• "What makes me saddest is the children... I just think it’s really sad that people that are as smart as this... felt that they needed to do something like this." —Matt (22:26)
• Extended, empathetic analysis of how reality TV fame pressures its stars and spotlights personal struggles.
  (Timestamp: 21:11–29:44)

Pop Discourse (Taylor Swift, Olivia Dean & More)

• Extended breakdowns of recent pop albums, the evolution of Taylor Swift’s writing, and the importance of letting culture "congeal" before hot takes, with a strong focus on critical listening and the long game of pop impact.
• "It's just not why music exists—so that people can race to have a take on it." —Bowen (36:32) (Timestamp: 33:15–43:51)

Interview with Demi Lovato

(Begins ~48:36)

Opening Tributes & Demi’s Cultural Significance

• Matt and Bowen celebrate Demi’s impact:
  • "Our grandchildren will have 'Cool for the Summer.' It’s a rule of culture somewhere." (49:02)
• Demi reflects on hearing the podcast’s tributes and feeling the love.
  (Timestamp: 48:36–50:32)

"It’s Not That Deep" — The New Album

• Demi explains the album’s ethos:
  • "The album title, for me, 'It’s Not That Deep,' is all about, like, I’m not taking myself too seriously as an artist anymore. I’m just having fun... I wanted a body of work that’s really reflective of that." (51:58)
• Origins of the album:
  • Had started writing a rock album, but, "I was like, I can’t really... I’m running out of things to write about because I’m so happy right now." (53:05)
  • Creative shift came after hearing the track for "Frequency," made by producer Zone on the way to the studio.
• Demi credits Kesha for producer suggestion and cites her as inspiration:
  • "I was really inspired by Ke$ha for this album... She’s an incredible human being and she’s so great." (56:47)
• Collaborative, improvisational studio environment highlighted; the importance of “vocal moments”:
  • "One thing about me is when I’m in the studio, I’m like, where's my vocal moment?" (58:11)
• The goal: making "a very fun dance pop album" reflective of joy and freedom.
  (Timestamp: 51:58–59:09)

On Songwriting, Self-Doubt, and Healing

• Demi discusses early experiences having her songwriting confidence shaken:
  • "The confidence that I had went out the window for a period of time... Even today, sometimes I’ll go into the studio and I’m like, is this a good idea?" (80:32)
• Collaborative spirit—values having co-writers’ input, and how this current album project has been "healing" for her self-worth as a songwriter.
  • "I think it has been healing for me... recognizing my worth as a songwriter has shown through on this project." (83:00)
• Describes "flow state" in the studio:
  • "When I’m in my flow state? Absolutely. There’s something that comes over me..." (86:14)
  • Relates to the experience described in Pixar’s "Soul":
    • "It reminds me of the movie 'Soul.' That’s what I chase with music." (87:02) (Timestamp: 80:32–90:09)

Live Music & Fan Connection

• Demi expresses eagerness to tour:
  • "I haven’t toured in three years, so it’s time, and I definitely want to. I miss seeing the reactions." (84:26)
• Shares joy in performing songs like "Give Your Heart a Break" after years:
  • "When I performed that for the first time in years, the reaction was so great that I was like, wait, I love this." (85:02) (Timestamp: 84:19–85:51)

Vulnerability and Advocacy

• Demi discusses choosing to be public about her struggles to offer is role modeling for others:
  • "I didn’t have a role model at 13 that was speaking up about eating disorders... I need to be that role model for someone else." (74:16)
• On sharing personal experience:
  • "That’s kind of the catalyst for why I’ve been open about all of my struggles... I want to help people, and the best way that I know how is sharing my personal experience." (75:48) (Timestamp: 74:16–75:48)

Influences & "American Idol"

• Demi and Matt bond over Kelly Clarkson as their "number one"—and the cultural significance of "American Idol":
  • "She was my first idol. Yeah, I really think she was my first idol." (65:57)
• Reflects on learning about music history and dreaming bigger as a Texas kid. (Timestamp: 65:14–66:18)

Family, Fame & Support Systems

• Demi opens up about her younger sister’s experiences acting on "Desperate Housewives" and her own wish to have been more protective.
  • "There was a lot of scrutiny in the show about her body, and I hate that... I think I have an interesting perspective on it today." (72:13)
• Expresses deep gratitude for her real and chosen family, especially core best friends and her husband Jordan – "He is my person that... I would call in the middle of the night and be like, hey, I’m lonely... and he would be there for me." (96:03) (Timestamp: 71:09–97:46)

Pop Girl Solidarity & Stan Names

• Demi shows love for her fellow pop stars and lifts up "all the pop girlies" as inspiration and friends.
  • "I could keep going about how incredible these pop girlies are and so inspiring to me..." (109:21)
• On her fanbase name:
  • "I didn’t decide Lovatic... at first I was like, huh?... But I came out and everyone had a stan name and I was assigned one, and I was like, I’ll take it." (99:31) (Timestamp: 109:09–101:22)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On reinvention:

  • "Demi Lovato is like one of our great chameleons, musically." —Matt (54:39)

• On choosing creative direction:

  • "What inspires me at the time is what I chase. And that’s why I’ve fluctuated over the years with different genres." —Demi (55:47)

• On collective pop magic:

  • "You were being fed a feast that was nutritious, ethically made, gorgeously performed... and still you’re like, pushing your plate away..." —Bowen, in their “I Don’t Think So, Honey” rant, about people sleeping on “Fast” (108:08)

• On public vulnerability:

  • "I didn’t have a role model at 13 that was speaking up about eating disorders. I was like, I need to be that role model for someone else." —Demi (74:16)

• On the magic of music:

  • "It transcends language. Like, you don’t—I could be listening to a song that’s in a different language, but it’ll make me weep if it’s the right chords and the right emotion behind it." —Demi (87:47)

• On live performance:

  • "I really do miss that connection... I miss seeing the reactions of my fans’ faces when I play their favorite songs." —Demi (84:26)

• On tattoo regrets:

  • "I wish I had thought more about it rather than getting all these impulsive tattoos... I just feel like every time I’ve gotten a matching tattoo, it just didn’t end up well." —Demi (94:00)

Segment Timestamps

• Early Banter & Culture Catch-up: 03:14–47:36
• Demi Lovato Joins – Interview Begins: 48:36
• On the New Album & Creative Process: 51:58–59:09
• American Idol, Influences, and Family: 65:08–73:35
• Songwriting, Self-Doubt, and Healing: 80:32–90:09
• Flow State & Performance: 86:14–90:09
• Vulnerability, Advocacy, and Struggles: 74:16–75:48
• Pop Girl Solidarity & Stan Names: 109:09–101:22
• Bravo/Housewives Chat & Closing: 115:45–119:23

The “I Don’t Think So, Honey” Segment

(106:05–110:27)

• Matt tears into pumpkin spice haters; Demi fully agrees and reveals her own love for pumpkin spice.
• Bowen targets the lack of "Song of the Summer" credit for Demi’s "Fast", a theme echoed by Demi herself, who also shouts out the pop girls of 2025.

Final Thoughts

This is a must-listen episode for pop culture fans, featuring honest behind-the-scenes stories, openhearted vulnerability, and the kind of playful, rapid-fire wit that defines Las Culturistas. Demi Lovato shines both as an artist embracing a new joyous era and as a thoughtful, self-aware person. The surrounding pop talk—about Taylor, current music culture, and Bravo antics—makes this a packed and rewarding listen.

Notable Standout Quotes:

• "Our grandchildren will have 'Cool for the Summer.'"
• "What inspires me at the time is what I chase."
• "The album title, for me, 'It’s Not That Deep', is all about, like, I’m not taking myself too seriously as an artist anymore."
• "It reminds me of the movie 'Soul.' That’s what I chase with music."
• "If we do right by this album as a culture... we will be okay."
• "I need to be that role model for someone else."

For those who haven’t listened:
This episode encapsulates everything Las Culturistas does best: joyful interrogation of pop culture, honest star interviews, and a safe space for both stanning and realness. Demi’s presence is a treat; her reflections and wisdom resonate for fans, fellow artists, and anyone trying to find real joy—on or off the dance floor.