Sixteenth Minute (of Fame)

Cool Zone Media and iHeartPodcasts

Sixteenth Minute (of Fame) is a weekly show from Jamie Loftus that takes a closer look at the internet’s main characters – one part reported, one part interviews, and one part Jamie collapsing her permanently internet-damaged brain. Whether it’s an enduring meme or a dreaded Character of the Day distinction, it’s the kind of notoriety that often results in little money, unwarranted attention, and a confusing blurred line of consent. What do you do when you get more attention and judgement than any one person is built to handle? The Sixteenth Minute of Fame is the place where we figure that out, putting people in the context of the moment they've been frozen inside of.

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Our Editor's Take

Sixteenth Minute (of Fame) is a podcast by writer Jamie Loftus. It revisits some of the most famous moments from the early days of the internet. The people at the center of these stories experienced 15 minutes of fame. Jamie offers them a "16th minute of fame" through the podcast.

The host is no stranger to podcasting. She's the creator of Ghost Church by Jamie Loftus. The series investigates American spiritualism. Jamie also created My Year in Mensa, a podcast about the global high-IQ society.

One podcast episode focuses on the story of "The Dress." In 2015, a woman was shopping for an outfit for her daughter's wedding. She tried on a dress she found at a boutique and sent a photo to her daughter. The woman perceived the colors of the dress as blue and black. However, the woman's daughter saw the same colors as gold and yellow. Thanks to a BuzzFeed post about it, "The Dress" was all anyone could talk about. Friends, families, and colleagues worldwide compared and contrasted their perceptions of its colors.

Jamie explains how achieving 15 minutes of fame was possible in the early days of the internet. She points out that a story had to be popular on several social media platforms to "go viral." An example of this is the "bed intruder" saga of 2010.

Antoine Dodson became famous for his heartfelt interview on local news after an attempted attack on his sister. Jamie explains that the story began on YouTube and Reddit. It only became widespread when people started to share it on smaller platforms. An online group called The Gregory Brothers then remixed it into a song which became more famous than the original footage.

Sixteenth Minute (of Fame) is a fascinating examination of online fame. Listeners interested in internet history may appreciate this podcast. Fans of Jamie Loftus' other podcasts might also enjoy the show. New episodes are available weekly.

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Society & CultureSociety & Culture

Play Trailer

Introducing: Sixteenth Minute (of Fame)

Introducing: Sixteenth Minute (of Fame)

Sixteenth Minute (of Fame) is a weekly show that gives a sixteenth minute of fame to the Internet's most notorious characters of the day. Jamie Loftus talks to the characters themselves, and tries to get to the bottom of how they made it to the top of your feed for a fleeting moment -- and what that does to warp your brain.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episodes

ken bone, pt. 1

ken bone, pt. 1

In 2016, one man in a red sweater became the nation's sweetheart... until he didn't. Ken Bone became a celebrity overnight after a star turn at the height of an October 2016 political nightmare. Just two days after the infamous Access Hollywood tape made many think Trump's first run for president was a lost cause, after a year of "her emails" and what felt like an infinity war of an election cycle, the world took comfort in a normal midwestern man who worked at a power plant and loved anime. What made Ken so appealing, and -- apologies for taking us back to such a cursed period -- what shitstorm was he caught in the middle of? In part one, Jamie examines the media environment that made Ken a star, and the milkshake duck cycle and a Reddit scandal that made him one of the seminal internet main characters to this day. Next week... we talk to Ken. Donate to Ken's nonprofit of choice, the St. Patrick Center of St. Louis here: https://www.stpatrickcenter.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

overly attached girlfriend, pt. 2

overly attached girlfriend, pt. 2

In part two of our Overly Attached Girlfriend series, we talked to the OAG herself -- Laina Morris. She revisits the viral moment she didn't see coming in 2012, the weirdness of being in a Delta Airlines safety video, and navigating what a career online and at the mercy of the algorithm looks like while struggling with depression. Laina's been away from regular posting for the last five years as she navigated it all, and she and Jamie get into how to maintain your self-worth and share yourself safely. Slap on your scary eyes, baby, we're going in. Follow Laina on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/@laina Follow Laina on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laina Follow Laina on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@laina622 Sixteenth Minute Reddit! : https://www.reddit.com/r/SixteenthMinute/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

overly attached girlfriend, pt. 1

overly attached girlfriend, pt. 1

In the summer of 2012, Laina Morris became an overnight viral star as the Overly Attached Girlfriend, a parody of the rampant Justin Bieber "Beliebers" of the era. The week after, she had to decide if she'd drop out of college or pursue the life of a job that didn't quite exist yet -- a full-time YouTuber. In part 1, Jamie takes a look at Laina's ascent, and how the image of the YouTube star was first conjured from thin air by a bunch of Silicon Valley weirdos, and perfected by YouTubers themselves. Net week, Jamie speaks exclusively with Laina Morris in part two! For more on the history of the social media algorithm, check out "The Chaos Machine" by Max Fisher: https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-chaos-machine-the-inside-story-of-how-social-media-rewired-our-minds-and-our-world-max-fisher/18203720 For more on YouTube celebrity, check out "Extremely Online" by Taylor Lorenz: https://bookshop.org/p/books/extremely-online-the-untold-story-of-fame-influence-and-power-on-the-internet-taylor-lorenz/19718842?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwrp-3BhDgARIsAEWJ6SwYyF8sigAMNiXmi3fokHCkE2bzkcSOCaQ7nB0cdh3vmpjNcJS4rVAaAhV6EALw_wcB Follow Laina on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/@lainaSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

why are there so many mormon influencers? pt. 2

why are there so many mormon influencers? pt. 2

In part two of this definitely minisode series, Jamie talks with ex-Mormon YouTuber and author of How to Leave the Mormon Church: An Ex-Mormons Guide to Rebuilding After Religion Alyssa Grenfell about how the LDS may have found a back channel to bankroll its most powerful influencers, without leaving a paper trail. Alyssa walks Jamie through how she thinks it's done, and how the LDS has succeeded and fumbled its relationships with influencers in the past. Buy Alyssa's book!: https://www.howtoleavethemormonchurch.com/about Watch Alyssa's full theory here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGXggLIafrc Subscribe to Alyssa's channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@alyssadgrenfellSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

why are there so many mormon influencers? pt. 1

why are there so many mormon influencers? pt. 1

This week, Jamie takes a treacherous voyage into a complicated question -- why on Earth are there so many successful Mormon influencers? In this two-part series, she looks at how the origins and the values of the Mormon church deceptively align with the conservative "tradwife" influencing space of today... and yes, she will get into the tradwives. Contained herein: Joseph Smith shoving his face into a hat, a new Hulu reality series that is deceptively boring, Ballerina Farm, and the Mormons' early success in the conservative mommy blogging space. Tune in for part 2, where ex-Mormon Alyssa Grenfell poses a theory at how the Church of Latter Day Saints stays two steps ahead of it all.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sixteenth Minute exclusive! We’ve got the first in depth interview with Bryan Gaw, aka the Left Shark himself. This week, Jamie revisits the 2015 Super Bowl saga that was Left Shark — the costumed cartilaginous fish that went rogue in 2015 beside Katy Perry during a chorus of ‘Teenage Dream,’ capturing the world’s heart. The person inside is just as lovable, and Jamie takes the bus to West Hollywood to meet dancer-turned-celebrity-stylist Bryan Gaw to revisit one of the internet’s few wholesome moments. Plus… ELLLLLVIS PRESTOOOO Follow Bryan Gaw here: https://bryangaw.com/ And here: https://www.instagram.com/bryangawSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

i love my curvy wife, pt. 2

i love my curvy wife, pt. 2

This week, the curvy wife saga concludes. Jamie talks to Cate Navarrete of the Body Positivity Alliance and Tigress Osborn of the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance about where this moment falls in the decades-long history of fat activism, and how mainstream media narratives tend to depoliticize civil rights issues. Also, Jamie mumbles the lyrics to "Hot Wife" by curvy wife guy to herself. Also, Jamie learns what "hotwife" means. *airhorn* Learn about NAAFA here: https://naafa.org/ Follow Tigress here: https://www.instagram.com/iofthetigress/?hl=en Learn about the Body Positivity Alliance here: https://bodypositivealliance.org/ Learn about Cate here: https://bodypositivealliance.org/team-and-board/cate-navarrete Read Tigress's original essay here: https://naafa.org/blog-archive/black-history-always For more on the history of fat activism and body positivity, start here (curated by the amazing Aubrey Gordon of Maintenance Phase!): https://www.yourfatfriend.com/fat-reading-listSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

i love my curvy wife, pt. 1

i love my curvy wife, pt. 1

In 2017, Robbie Tripp posted about his "curvy wife" Sarah, inspiring months of discourse and a permanent internet turn of phrase. This week, Jamie revisits the saga and speaks to Curvy Wife Guy himself ahead of the release of his new single, which is obviously called "Hot Wife." How did a couple build a 'desert empire' on a controversial post, and what does that say about the internet economy? Tune in next week for part two, where Jamie takes a closer look at how this story resonated with women and fat activists -- featuring interviews with journalist Rebecca Jennings, Tigress Osborn of NAAFA (the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance), and Cate Navarrete of the Body Positivity Alliance. Stream Robbie's music here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

a fish fell from the sky

a fish fell from the sky

This summer, a fish named Alice fell from the sky and directly into the lawn of junior doctor Ben Beska. And so, of course, he tweeted about it... only to lose his newly beloved fish just a week later. What followed was what it looks like to go viral in 2024. Jamie speaks with Ben Beska over the course of two months to track the journey; plus, we talk to Stanford psychiatrist Dr. Elia Aboujaoude to learn what going viral has the potential to do to your mind. Follow Ben's fish adventures here: https://x.com/Beska Buy Dr. Aboujaoude's new book, A Leader's Destiny, here: https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/elias-aboujaoude/a-leaders-destiny/9781541703018/?lens=publicaffairs See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

grief, pt. whatever

grief, pt. whatever

This week, we're taking a tangent -- my dad, Mike Loftus, passed away two weeks ago, and this episode is twenty minutes about that. I've needed some extra time to get our upcoming episodes together, but I've wanted to share more about him and the last two weeks. I really miss him. We'll be back to regular episodes next week. As promised, the links: Obituary: https://www.waittfuneralhome.com/obituary/MichaelP-Loftus Patriot Ledger writer Eric McHugh wrote this really comprehensive, thoughtful piece about him: https://www.patriotledger.com/story/sports/2024/07/24/family-hockey-were-ledger-bruins-writer-mike-loftus-twin-passions/74518399007/ My dad's good friend Mick Colageo, another hockey writer, remembers him here: https://bostonhockeynow.com/2024/07/21/colageo-boston-bruins-reporter-mike-loftus-a-pros-pro/ And the podcast I pulled a clip from is from Pucks with Haggs with Joe Haggerty, featuring Mick and fellow hockey writer Steve Conroy from The Boston Herald: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HimCsyfw3Hk&t=590sSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

suck my dick and balls i work for nasa: the naomi h story

suck my dick and balls i work for nasa: the naomi h story

This week, Jamie solves an age-old internet mystery -- whatever happened to Naomi H, the Twitter furry who lost an internship after telling off a man she didn't realize was on the National Space Council to "suck my dick and balls?" After half a decade, Jamie speaks exclusively with Naomi H to get to the bottom of it, and talk about how the internet has shaped Naomi H's life for better and for worse. Follow Naomi H: https://x.com/NaomiH_Origins See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

hq trivia and the quiz daddy

hq trivia and the quiz daddy

In 2017, HQ Trivia was the app to rule them all, nearly the heir apparent to Jeopardy! Millions of people would stop what they were doing every day to answer trivia for absurdly small cash prizes, most often from "Quiz Daddy" Scott Rogowsky. Less than a year and a half later, it was over -- but not before a broadcast with The Rock, a weirdly specific salad-based threat from a founder, and a tragic death took place. So... what happened? Jamie takes the bus to Scott Rogowsky's storage unit in Marina Del Rey to find out. (Interview has been edited for length and clarity!) Shop at Quiz Daddy's here: https://quizdaddys.com/ Follow Scott Rogowsky: https://www.instagram.com/scottrogowsky/ https://twitter.com/ScottRogowsky Boom/Bust podcast: https://www.theringer.com/boom-bust-podcast Jamie's cursed leeches video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-ZZbBZW2es&t=453s Follow Sarah Prebis for her HQ TikTokumentary & more: https://www.tiktok.com/@sarahpribisSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

minisode: ai art, and why we are not robots feat jason koebler

minisode: ai art, and why we are not robots feat jason koebler

This week, a bonus interview from our 65-foot-hot-dog episode — 404 Media’s Jason Koebler talks to Jamie about how we need to remind people that writers aren’t robots. Then, Jamie reminds you she is not a robot. Listen to the 404 Media Podcast here: https://www.404media.co/the-404-media-podcast/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

the 65 foot hot dog in times square

the 65 foot hot dog in times square

What happens when public artwork becomes the main character? For the last two months, a culture war has raged around a gigantic sculpture of a hot dog in Times Square... and playing right into the artists' hands. Jamie goes to New York to talk about the secret agenda of the hot dog with creators Jen Catron and Paul Outlaw. Then, a talk with Carol Adams, the author of 'The Sexual Politics of Meat,' about why the hot dog is still a subversive symbol, why I needed to go vegan a decade ago, and how harassment has evolved from right wing radio into the internet era. (did you seriously think Jamie wasn't going to find an excuse to do a hot dog episode? gzet a grip) follow Jen and Paul: https://www.catronandoutlaw.com/ follow Carol Adams: https://caroljadams.com/ buy Raw Dog: The Naked Truth About Hot Dogs: https://bookshop.org/p/books/raw-dog-the-many-histories-of-hot-dogs-jamie-loftus/18785131?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwp4m0BhBAEiwAsdc4aOntkU4kENdIs91XZ-UKCNSxQ8nvIO1kakfzoI7ugVgqAWA1ABNkQBoCTtoQAvD_BwESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

30-50 feral hogs

30-50 feral hogs

Legit question for rural Americans - How do I kill the 30-50 feral hogs that run into my yard within 3-5 mins while my small kids play? This week, Jamie finds out from the 30-50 hogs asker himself -- Willie McNabb. Plus, we catch up with Professor John Tomacek about the VERY REAL issue of feral hogs, and Karl Kasarda of inRangeTV about how 30-50 feral hogs tied into a larger conversation about American gun laws. Follow Dion Green and the Fudge Foundation here: https://fudgefoundation.org/ Follow Willie McNabb: https://x.com/WillieMcNabb Follow John Tomacek: https://rwfm.tamu.edu/people/tomecek-john/ Follow inRangeTV: https://www.youtube.com/@InrangeTvSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

the Black TikTok strike of 2021

the Black TikTok strike of 2021

In the summer of 2021, hundreds of Black TikTokers went on strike and demanded proper credit and compensation for dances they made famous. Why? Because, the most famous TikTokers of the pandemic, white teens Charli D'Amelio and Addison Rae, had become extremely famous off of Black choreographers Jalaiah Harmon, Keara Wilson, and others' work -- a continuation of age-old appropriation and theft. Jamie talks with Savage dance creator Keara Wilson, commentator Amanda Bennett, and algorithmic scientist Meredith Broussard to take a closer look at the impact of this moment, and how social media is designed to amplify racism. Follow Keara Wilson here: https://www.tiktok.com/@keke.janajah?lang=en Follow Amanda Bennett here: https://defineandempower.com/our-team Buy Meredith's book here: https://meredithbroussard.com/books/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

guy who ate 40 rotisserie chickens in philadelphia

guy who ate 40 rotisserie chickens in philadelphia

In November 2022, one Philadelphia man took it upon himself to eat a rotisserie chicken every day for forty days. Why? Jamie flew across the country, went to his house, and interrogated him. Follow Alex here: https://x.com/AlexiconTom Get Raw Dog here while you're at it: https://bookshop.org/p/books/raw-dog-the-many-histories-of-hot-dogs-jamie-loftus/18785131?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwyJqzBhBaEiwAWDRJVD9r1z2NOcI0CT3yvq3h68RY6tW9BdoKm7dkRjMrcr7rLlCOYNwtsRoCks8QAvD_BwESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

coffee in the garden with my husband

coffee in the garden with my husband

If a tree falls in the garden where a woman enjoys drinking coffee with her husband and no one’s there to hear it, should the Internet harass her anyway? In 2022, Daisey sent one innocuous tweet that launched a thousand takes. Follow Taylor Lorenz: @TaylorLorenz on all platforms Follow Julia Claire: @ohJuliatweets / @juliaclairegramsFollow Bridget Todd: @BridgetMarie on twt / @bridgetmarieinc on insta See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

boston slide cop

boston slide cop

In the summer of 2023, a Boston cop humiliated himself by tumbling down a public slide in the most embarrassing way possible. This week, Jamie tries to find his pig ass, and admits her background as a Terminally Boston Woman. Interviews with Molly Conger and Jeff Raymond. Follow Molly: https://x.com/socialistdogmom Follow Jeff: https://www.masstransparency.org/author/jraymond/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 2015, the world was gripped by one question: is this dress black and blue, or white and gold? No, no, I refuse to argue with you about it — but the story of The Dress is the dying breath of a pre-algorithm driven social media, the peak of Buzzfeed, and contains some dark truths about the internet. Featuring interviews with Taylor Lorenz (@taylorlorenz), author of Extremely Online and Max Fisher (@maxfisher22), author of The Chaos Machine. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.