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

We Will Never Recover From What Justin Did to Britney or: the End of 'Into It'

October 27, 2023·36 min·3 clips

Britney Spears drags Justin Timberlake in her memoir, revealing shocking details about their past.

This final episode of "Into It" features host Sam Sanders joined by comedians and married couple Naomi Ekperigin and Andy Beckerman, co-hosts of the "Couples Therapy" podcast. They play a game of "Into It or Not Into It" to discuss three major pop culture stories from the week. The first topic is Britney Spears' new memoir, "The Woman in Me," and the revelations about her past relationship with Justin Timberlake. Spears describes Timberlake using a "black scent" and attempting to console her after an abortion by playing guitar. The audiobook is narrated by actress Michelle Williams, who delivers a now-viral line reading of "Foshiz, foshiz, Jenuwine." Spears also reveals she had a two-week affair with Colin Farrell and auditioned for "The Notebook," with footage of that audition circulating online. The hosts debate whether Spears genuinely wanted to release the memoir or was influenced by outside forces, with Sanders arguing the pointed criticism of Timberlake feels authentically Britney. Ekperigin compares Spears' life journey to the epic quest in "The Lord of the Rings." The second topic is SAG-AFTRA's guidance for members to avoid Halloween costumes that promote struck studio work, like characters from "Barbie." Beckerman supports the move as a tactic to starve studios of licensing revenue and a chance to promote independent films like "Dicks: The Musical." Sanders and Ekperigin view the guidance as a petty distraction that hurts the union's strong public relations campaign during the strike. They note most actors are out of work and Halloween is a creative outlet, making the rule seem ineffective and tone-deaf. The final topic is a UCLA study finding Gen Z audiences want to see less sex and more platonic friendships, aromantic characters, and asexual representation on screen. Beckerman sarcastically endorses the idea to see how "dumb" culture can become, while Ekperigin initially critiques it but then acknowledges the value in moving beyond stories centered on romantic relationships. They reference problematic sexual content from their own youth, like "American Pie," and debate whether Gen Z's stance is a reaction to ubiquitous internet porn. The episode is conversational, comedic, and reflective, blending humor with cultural analysis. Listeners who enjoy witty, debate-style discussions about celebrity memoirs, industry news, and generational shifts in media will appreciate this episode. Those seeking a highly structured, serious news analysis might find the tone too casual.

As heard by us

A farewell episode that turns a costume-rule fight into a lively, joke-ready conversation about labor pressure.

Sam Sanders signs off on Into It with Naomi Ekperigin and Andy Beckerman in a farewell episode that stays loose, conversational, and genuinely playful.

Read the full review in PlayNext →

Why you'd press play

For the final Intuit episode, you get a brisk pop-culture sendoff that turns a SAG-AFTRA costume rule into a real argument.

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