SNL Auditions, Outdated Mascots & Internet Outrage | Akilah Hughes

Matt Buechele talks about influencer culture, a corgi who became internet-famous from inside a backpack, and the strange ways the internet shapes how we see ourselves and each other.

Then Matt sits down with comedian, writer, and podcast host Akilah Hughes to talk about her podcast, Rebel Spirit, which follows her return to her Kentucky high school to push for replacing its Confederate mascot with a biscuit. They discuss why people hold onto Confederate symbols, and the challenge of changing traditions. They also reminisce about their Saturday Night Live auditions and talk about internet outrage, parasocial relationships, and when to stop taking the internet’s bait.

Chapters:

00:00:00 Akilah Hughes, What a Day podcast, career pivots

00:04:14 Discussing Rebel Spirit and historical mascot debates

00:08:03 Examining public reactions to monument removal and social change

00:13:19 Navigating life in New York versus California

00:17:06 Reflecting on hosting news podcasts during turbulent times

00:22:50 Auditioning for Saturday Night Live during the pandemic

00:31:58 Facing the challenges of acting auditions and industry dynamics

00:36:24 Unpacking internet outrage and online commentary

00:41:29 Debating parasocial obsession and body image in social media

00:46:25 Playing small D energy with political tropes

00:51:41 Predicting the next viral internet animal

00:55:08 Guessing future video game characters and political figures

Topics:

Akilah Hughes: comedy and podcasting

The pandemic SNL audition process on Zoom

Changing the rebel high school mascot

Auditioning for Colin Jost & Michael Che

Hollywood’s struggle with podcasting

Impact of southern history & statues

Ariana grande, body image culture, media gaslighting

Work life in NYC vs. Los Angeles

Predicting the next viral character on Fortnite

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