Let’s examine two letters that exposed hidden truths, shifted alliances, and ultimately, started wars: the Zimmermann Telegram and the Jersey Shore Note. Secrets came to light in the harsh black and white of ink on paper, and it changed everything. We tried REALLY hard to understand what a telegram is for this one, but we just couldn’t get there.

How did these letters make their way into the hands of the affected parties? What ensued after? Will the US finally stop twiddling its thumbs and enter World War I? And will Sammi Sweatheart dump Ron’s cheating ass? Let’s find out together.

Plus: Updates from the Hulu “Get Real” event, a way to bring America together through shared reality programming, and ultimately, we accidentally invent religion.

A truce can be a beautiful thing, but it can also be fleeting. We explore two cases of short-lived truces: the WWI Christmas Truce in December of 1914, and Jelena’s brief rekindling in late 2017 before Justin’s engagement to Hailey Baldwin.

How do we find peace in the midst of so much pain? And God dammit, why can’t we stick to it? All this and more on this week’s Poppish.

Plus: Anneliese’s Brooklyn evolution continues as she joins a co-op, Ellie meets an angel, and we’re left out of the loop on Coachella AGAIN.

To celebrate one full year of absolute nonsense, we’re reflecting on the origins of the pod, taking listener questions, and reacting to some of your hot takes. It’s been such a fun year and we’re so grateful to everyone who’s come along for the ride! Here’s to another year of Poppish to come!

I think you guys might be doing unto others as you would have others do unto yourselves too much… This week we explore two codes by which you live one’s life: The Ten Commandments and Jemima Kirke’s Instagram Q&As. Both texts, handed down by God, give us a path to follow in an otherwise disordered and meaningless life.

This episode contains spoilers for the Old Testament of the Bible. Listener discretion is advised.

Plus: New York City dog discourse, rapture FOMO, and yoga class recognition.

Let’s look at two inventors who would go on to be tormented by their own creations: J. Robert Oppenheimer, father of the atomic bomb, and Dong Nguyen, creator of Flappy Bird.

Both men achieved great success and recognition in their field, only to regret bringing their ideas into the world. This would lead to Oppenheimer being banned from President Truman’s office and Nguyen pulling Flappy Bird from the app store with 22 hours notice.

What does it mean to achieve a dream? Why is everything computer now? And what’s next for Ciara Miller? We’ll unpack it all.

Put on your spelunking boots: we’re going underground. We’re telling two classic “trapped inside the bowels of the earth” stories: Baby Jessica and the Thai Cave Rescue. How did these children end up under the ground, and how the HELL are we gonna get them out?

Everyone shows up in this one: the guy with no collarbones, the Thai navy seals, even Elon Musk. Did someone say dream blunt rotation??

Plus: a review of Wicked on Broadway (bathroom access is key), checking in on the Mormon wives (info already out of date), and Ellie’s falling out with the IRS.

What does a girl have to do to get sent to an island around here?? We unpack two stories we’re deeply jealous of: prominent individuals who were sent away from society to heal/build and army. We’re learning all about the exiles of Napoleon (both of them!) and Pre-Reputation Taylor Swift.

One moment you’re placing a glorious crown on your head/Grammy in your hand, the next no one even fucks with you at all. Life is full of these ups and downs.

Plus: Falling for False Spring and spreading awareness for overfishing and bycatch.

What do Walt Disney and Tana Mongeau have in common? They both had a dream. One, to open a theme park that wasn’t gross and also had a fully functioning train, and the other, to introduce a competitor to VidCon with just weeks of planning and no frontal lobe.

These projects varied in their success, but both experienced similarly chaotic first days. In the Anaheim heat, ticket holders showed up to massive crowds, food and water shortages, and programming breakdowns. We get into the nitty gritty of these chaotic events and their aftermath.

Plus: Jim Carrey looks the same to us, and a good excuse to deprioritize self-actualization.