Into It: A Vulture Podcast with Sam Sanders · Vulture & New York Magazine

Did Taylor Swift Curse Scooter Braun? And Will Fyre Fest Fool Us Twyce?

August 25, 2023·33 min·3 clips

Jay Jordan imagines Scooter Braun taking over K-pop, warning he'll be evil in two different languages.

Sam Sanders and guest host Jay Jordan discuss major pop culture stories, including Scooter Braun's client losses and the return of Fyre Festival. Sanders hosts the Vulture podcast "Into It," and Jordan is a comedian and TV writer. The episode covers Scooter Braun reportedly losing major clients like Ariana Grande, Demi Lovato, and Justin Bieber within a week. Braun is shifting to a larger role at Hybe America, the South Korean company behind K-pop, leading to jokes about a "K-pop Justin Bieber." They recount how Braun's 2019 purchase of Taylor Swift's former label sparked her re-recording project and public feud with him. Sanders and Jordan analyze the surprise streaming success of the USA Network drama "Suits," noting its 22-episode seasons contrast with modern short-order series. They cite Vulture research showing such catalog titles retain subscribers more than flashy new releases. The conversation highlights how residuals from streaming hits often don't benefit writers as traditional TV would. The hosts express disbelief that Fyre Festival founder Billy McFarland is launching a new version after serving jail time, with tickets priced up to $7,999. They recall the original festival's disastrous conditions, including stranded attendees and FEMA tents, which inspired two documentaries. Jordan suggests anyone buying tickets deserves to be "punched in the face" by Ja Rule. They critique the viral country song "Richmond North of Richmond" by Oliver Anthony Music, noting its lyrics about welfare and politicians resonate in culture wars. Jordan mocks its wordplay and fat-shaming lines, while Sanders explains how strategic iTunes purchases boost such songs. They reveal the artist's right-wing fans turned on him after he called America a "melting pot." The tone is conversational and humorous, filled with witty banter and pop culture references. Sanders and Jordan blend comedy with media analysis, creating an engaging and informal discussion. Fans of pop culture deep dives and industry gossip will enjoy this episode's mix of news and humor. Listeners seeking serious, straightforward journalism might find the comedic tangents distracting.

As heard by us

A brisk, funny look at why Fyre Fest and Suits keep finding new life.

This episode moves fast through pop-culture headlines, with Fyre Festival's return and Suits' surprise run as the main points of interest. Sam keeps the conversation pointed and alert, which gives the segment a steady rhythm even when the jokes start to run ahead of the argument.

Read the full review in PlayNext →

Why you'd press play

For when you want pop-culture chaos that still makes a point.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

Listen to the show on

Apple Podcasts Spotify

Play clips from this episode More from Into It: A Vulture Podcast with Sam Sanders