'I'm Afraid of Americans' | 6.20.25 Newsletter

Raging like it's 2003, Meghan x Emma Grede Pod, America's Sweethearts Season 2, The Royal Appointment, and more

Happy Summer Solstice!

This weekend I have a glorious date with my boyfriend that so stereotypically and delightfully Denver. It’s a journal/drawing workshop set to spins from a local DJ. Plus, it’s deliciously tech-free.

I’m yearning for a new creative endeavor. My book proposal is off in submission land. The podcast is doing her thang. I want something off the beaten path, more pen to paper, less face to camera.

Will I find it in a lounge space with a steaming cup of free coffee? Will an inspired spin snap my synapses into creative action? Maybe. Either way, it sounds like a fabulous way to ease into summer.

Keeping Up with Megs

Earlier this week, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, popped up on Emma Grede’s podcast, Aspire with Emma Grede, to talk shop. (Grede is the co-founder and CEO of Good American (Khloe Kardashian), founding partner of SKIMMS (Kim Kardashian), and serves on the board of directors for the Obama Foundation and Baby2Baby.)

Her background, coupled with the fact that it doesn’t appear she has an existing friendship with Meghan, made for one of the best interviews I’ve personally heard on her business ventures. For all the royal reports claiming she doesn’t have close friends, Meghan’s interviews with friends or the instances where friends were on her first season of With Love, Meghan, prove that wrong. They are fiercely protective of her, which is great. It doesn’t make for a compelling interview or 24 minutes of TV.

Emma’s conversation with Meghan reminded me of my favorite episode of With Love, Meghan with Roy Choi.

Roy Choi and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex. IMAGE CREDIT: Netflix

They weren’t besties, but they respected each other. They were comfortable enough to lovingly clown with Meghan a bit. For example, in the interview, Meghan discusses a global rollout of As Ever products in the future because she wants to share them with everyone. As marketing jargon goes, it’s brill. Emma Grede quickly replies, in a warm, yet ‘come on girl’ tone, something along the lines of, it’s also about that PnL (Profits and Losses). Meghan laughs, agrees, and reiterates the sharing bit. Because YES, of course it’s about sharing, joy, the brand ethos, but it’s also a business, and from business woman to business woman, that’s OK!

I recommend the pod as a good long car ride play or for cleaning the house/folding laundry listen. The part that’s making headlines is about “wishing people would tell the truth about her”, which is a blip in the 80-something-minute convo.

America’s Sweethearts Season 2 is Way Darker, Just As Addicting

In season two of the hit docuseries, America’s Sweethearts, it was time for the show to stop being polite (ish) and start getting real…as possible without getting booted from the sisterhood.

While the sophomore season couldn’t possibly sparkle as brightly as season 1, there’s a meta element—and encouragement from fans of the show—that inspires some veteran cheerleaders to take collective action over their contracts.

Reece married on 4/20 and didn’t know what the date meant. She’s a national treasure.

We catch up with familiar faces, although not nearly enough Reece. There’s an update on Victoria, who thankfully escaped the clutches of her childhood bedroom with that twin bed and the framed portrait of ballet slippers in the shape of a heart to take a bite out of the Big Apple.

I’ll get into more of my thoughts next week.

Royal Appointment

Subject Line: Inside the most royal event of the year

The piece opens up with the King and Queen leading the royal procession, quickly pivoting to Catherine’s absence.

The Princess, who was on the list of the guests attending, didn’t make it – another reminder, we’re told, of the need to carefully manage her return to public life.

Not so long ago, during her chemotherapy, an event like this would have been impossible for the Princess, so it is a sobering reminder that there is no magic wand for cancer or its treatment.

What does she know about Kate’s treatment that we don’t, or is this purely speculation? A lot of chatter online bizarrely jumped to a possible horse allergy as the reason for the absence. This was news to me for all of 90 seconds until

Amanda Matta

referred me to a 2011 article disproving that rumor.

Okayyyy then

Other than that, not much to write home about. Yikes.

Bring Back Y2K, Hold the Middle East War

I don’t know about you, but I’m feeling tw——elve ish + 2, listening to In the Zone, flipping through the latest dELiA*s catalogue, with the sinking feeling that we are being led into a war under false pretenses, jacked up on a lethal tonic of patriotism that’s been running through the veins of war hawks for years. Or, I might be sinking because my inflatable pink chair from Limited Too has a small leak.

In lighter moments, it feels almost quaint that George W. Bush seemed like the most psychotic person to have at the helm during 9/11 and our entry into the Iraq War. More soberly, we now find ourselves on the brink of being pulled into another Middle East war, this time with Israel against Iran, with an alleged drunk former TV personality as our Secretary of Defense.

What do I do in moments like these? I start spitballing the best anti-establishment, rage music created for other moments in history that totally work here. Some Capital G that works for the Capital D (works for Donald or dumbass) that we have now. David Bowie repeating “I’m afraid of Americans” again and again till it becomes almost meditative? Me too dude. Here’s a short (let’s call it bespoke) playlist if you feel like rage walking/cleaning/eating snacks in the bathroom away from the prying eyes of your children.

We’re Doing This Again, Huh? Playlist

Have a good weekend!

-Meredith