Podcast
Parasocial Social Club
Hosted by Parasocial Social Club · EN
Parasocial Social Club: For those obsessed with the power of fame, fandom, and being over-invested in total strangers. Hosts Charlie James and Jewell Karinen interview the people we all have parasocial relationships with. What’s it really like on the other side?
10episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Jewell, Charlie, and Whales Several Times
Dec 17, 202401:08:36Tap to summarizeFor their season finale, Jewell and Charlie review their parasocial resumes, discuss soft-launching new looks, and talk whales. Like several times we talk about whales.This is the season finale BUT we want to stay in touch! Subscribe to our email newsletter for updates about our next season: https://parasocialsocialclub.substack.com/Scholarly References:Charlie's selfie tweetJewell's birthday grid postLuna (the orca that got separated from his mom and acts weird now) hanging out with humansStyle icon Lewis HamiltonPopCrave's insidious tweet about Ellen DeGeneres' hair colorAmanda Seyfried's Architectural Digest home tourThe clip we posted about House wherein Charlie exhibits being in the "interrupting women phase of transition"Jewell's Recommendation: The Good Whale podcastCharlies' Recommendation: Human vs. Hamster on HBODeepen the relationship on social media:TikTokInstagramTwitterYouTubeHosted by Jewell Karinen and Charlie James.Produced by Garrett La Bonte. Theme by Bridey Hicks.
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Akilah Hughes
Dec 10, 202401:21:09Tap to summarizeAkilah Hughes is a writer, comedian, and podcaster. She began her career with the "Akilah, Obviously!" YouTube channel and went on to co-host the Crooked Media podcast What a Day. She has been a digital correspondent for MTV, HBO, Fusion TV, and Comedy Central. Check out her newest podcast, Rebel Spirit with Akilah Hughes, where she attempts to convince her high school, Boone County High School, to change its confederate general mascot.Scholarly References:A brief history of lookalike contestsTiger King (2020) on Netflix"Meet Your First Black Girlfriend" on Akilah's YouTubeAkilah’s dog Fauci on InstagramRebel Spirit Podcast on Apple, Spotify, and moreAkilah recommends playing The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (Gerudo Caves mentioned.)Follow Akilah:InstagramTikTokBlueSkyTwitterWebsiteDeepen the relationship:TikTokInstagramTwitterYouTubeSubscribe to our email newsletter! parasocialsocialclub.substack.comHosted by Jewell Karinen and Charlie James.Produced by Garrett La Bonte. Theme by Bridey Hicks.
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Jewell & Charlie & Dads & Secret Tumblr
Dec 3, 202400:49:40Tap to summarizeJewell and Charlie discuss which sports teams their dads are gay for, public celebrity Tumblrs, and Oscar hosts. Subscribe to our email newsletter! parasocialsocialclub.substack.comScholarly References: Gay TV show Killing Eve starring Sandra Oh "Untitled (You Construct Intricate Rituals)" (1981) by Barbara KrugerConan O’Brien is tall and hosting the OscarsJewell thinks this is Amandla Stenberg’s Tumblr (but she could be wrong) Covers of “Teenage Dirtbag” by Cat Burns and another one by Dorian Electra and Sega BodegaDeepen the relationship on socials:TikTokInstagramTwitterYouTubeHosted by Jewell Karinen and Charlie JamesProduced by Garrett La Bonte. Theme by Bridey Hicks.
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Garrett Palm
Nov 26, 202401:39:40Tap to summarizeGarrett Palm is a super talented producer, director, and actor, known for his work as host and show-runner of the hit show Eat It or Yeet It!, which ran for 5 years on Smosh on Youtube. Garrett also ran the writer’s room as lead writer for Tabletop News, and co-hosts the Agents of Travel podcast!Scholarly ReferencesRainbow Kitten Surprise band breakup Instagram postGarrett’s show Eet It or Yeet It! on SmoshGarrett’s friend Brad's invention: LiveJournalFaerie romance novel series A Court of Thorns and RosesVegan burrito at Tierra Taco pop-upFun game Prey Another DayCastle Combo GameGarrett's podcast Agents of Travel on Spotify & Apple PodcastsGarrett's Instagram, IMDB, and websiteDeepen the relationship on socials:TikTokInstagramTwitterYouTubeHosted by Jewell Karinen and Charlie JamesProduced by Garrett La Bonte. Theme by Bridey Hicks.
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Charlie & Jewell plus Fandom Group Chats
Nov 19, 202401:17:29Tap to summarizeJewell & Charlie talk about appearances. Plus fandom group chats, a Bill Burr surprise, Maria from The Bachelor, Kieran Culkin, and so much more. Subscribe to our email newsletter! parasocialsocialclub.substack.comScholarly References: - New song from rock musician/group-chat participant Briston Maroney- Famous comedian John Mulaney- Writer and former Great British Bake Off contestant Ruby Tandoh on Instagram - We are so sorry Niamh Adkins if we pronounced your name wrong- Amelia Dimoldenberg’s Chicken Shop Date episode with Andrew Garfield, star of America’s great fable The Social Network- Jewell’s Instagram post that Alexa Chung liked (I un-archived this for you guys)- Charlie’s movie recommendation A Different Man - Garrett’s life recommendation of getting involved with your local Mutual Aid org! Mutual Aid LA on InstagramDeepen the relationship on socials:TikTokInstagramTwitterYouTubeHosted by Jewell Karinen and Charlie JamesProduced by Garrett La Bonte. Theme by Bridey Hicks.
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Charlie & Jewell vs. Ellen DeGeneres
Nov 12, 202401:08:07Tap to summarizeJewell and Charlie discuss Great British Bake Off's Nelly Ghafar, Charlie's personal beef with Ellen Degeneres, and a place you can watch oversized vehicles slam into a low bridge.Scholarly References:1. Jewell's "wonderful D&D web series" The Party2. Charlie's "comedy online"3. Subscribe to our email newsletter on Substack!!!!!https://parasocialsocialclub.substack.com4. To catch up on our "bad charismatic man" lore: Episode 1 of this podcast5. The best Dress to Impress TikToker @66viperz996. The girl who burned her hair off with a curling iron on the Ellen Degeneres show7. Absolute icon Nelly Ghafar from Great British Bake Off8. The MUNA podcast Jewell can't listen to for parasocial reasons: Gayotic9. Caroline Calloway's comments on our Instagram post10. YouTube channel about trucks crashing into an overpass: 11foot8+8 bridgeDeepen the relationship on socials:TikTokInstagramTwitterYouTubeParasocial Social Club podcast is hosted by Jewell Karinen and Charlie James. Produced by Garrett La Bonte. Theme by Bridey Hicks.
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Vinny Thomas
Nov 5, 202401:35:42Tap to summarizeVinny Thomas is an actor, writer, and comedian who you might know as OMAR in Platonic on Apple TV. He consistently blesses our For You and Explore pages with his comedy content, thank you Vinny. True Star Wars fans will recognize Vinny as Senator Jai Kell from Ashoka on Disney Plus and true NPR fans will recognize him as a writer for Wait, Wait...Don't Tell Me.Vinny's Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter.Scholarly References:Chappell Roan’s VMA performance of “Good Luck, Babe!”Jewell’s rendition of Chappell Roan’s rendition of Joan of ArcThe eel pit guy on Instagram and TikTokVinny’s controversial tweet about Jimmy CarterVinny’s well-cited but sometimes inaccurate Wikipedia articleThe trailer for Vinny’s new movie “You’re Cordially Invited” coming out in 2025!Deepen the relationship on socials:TikTokInstagramTwitterYouTubeHosted by Jewell Karinen and Charlie JamesProduced by Garrett La Bonte. Theme by Bridey Hicks.
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Jewell, Charlie, and a Flour Tortilla
Oct 29, 202400:50:57Tap to summarizeJewell & Charlie get their ten thousand steps, spot celebrities, dive deep into the social dynamics of several random Disney adults, and fight about flour tortillas. Scholarly references:HomeState Tortilla Awards and AccoladesDeepen the relationship on socials:TikTokInstagramTwitterYouTubeHosted by Jewell Karinen and Charlie JamesProduced by Garrett La Bonte. Theme by Bridey Hicks.
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Skye Smith
Oct 22, 202401:24:36Tap to summarizeSkye Smith is an extremely talented writer and creative, known for their work as the official Lorekeeper and Story Editor for Dimension 20 on Dropout, (the streaming network formerly known as CollegeHumor).Skye has a REALLY interesting take on the parasocial phenomenon as they have experienced it from MANY angles—as a fan, as a neutral observer to colleagues and friends who have rabid fanbases, and as an object of parasocial love and fascination themself.Skye's Instagram, TikTok, and TwitterHosted by Jewell Karinen and Charlie JamesProduced by Garrett La Bonte. Theme by Bridey Hicks.Scholarly references:Extremely low quality video of Zac Efron singing "Good Morning" on setSkye flips off Brennan Lee Mulligan in Dimension 20's Adventuring Party (Season 18, Episode 2, timestamp 11:20)Movie parody creator Caroline Klidonas on TikTok and InstagramFake restaurant creator Drew Talbert on TikTok and InstagramHayley Kiyoko's "Girls Like Girls" music video (prehistoric gay media)"Number One Fan" by MUNA
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Charlie & Jewell Fight
Oct 15, 202400:41:43Tap to summarizeJewell & Charlie mourn their favorite TikTok couple's relationship, fight about The Strokes, and whine about Mitski. Plus parasocial ethics and the latest installment of "Oops I Googled Myself." Scholarly references: TikTok icons Niamh Adkins and Joe AndoInterview with Passion Pit frontman Michael Angelakos (bi icon)Celebrity Memoir Book Club's review of Men Have Called Her CrazyE-commerce website that stole Jewell's face for a shower curtain (visit at your own risk)HBO docu-series Ren FaireDeepen the relationship on socials: TikTokInstagramTwitterYouTubeParasocial Social Club podcast is hosted by Jewell Karinen and Charlie James. Produced by Garrett La Bonte. Theme by Bridey Hicks.
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