The group chat is officially in session.This week on The A Collective, Shannon, Stacey & LV tackle the chaos of summer in 2026: rising gas prices, expensive travel, grocery sticker shock, healthcare anxiety, vaccine conversations, and why hot girl summer may actually be cancelled by inflation.Plus, the internet gets weird. The hosts spiral into TikTok rabbit holes, Baby Reindeer comparisons, internet obsessions, and the kind of algorithm chaos that somehow becomes your whole personality for 48 hours.If your FYP is strange, your grocery bill hurts your feelings, and you’ve whispered “help us Lord” at least once this week… welcome home.✨ Subscribe for smart, funny conversations about politics, culture, internet chaos, women’s lives, health, and whatever fresh nonsense the timeline throws at us.In This Episode:“Help Us Lord” becomes the official vibe of 2026Ebola headlines & public health concernsVaccines, healthcare, insurance & medical anxietyWhy summer travel is looking expensiveGas prices, airline costs & “hot girl summer” in this economyGrocery sticker shock and outrage over soda pricesTikTok rabbit holes, Baby Reindeer comparisons & internet chaosWhy everyone’s algorithm is spiraling🎧 Listen on your favorite podcast platform📰 Subscribe to our Substack for bonus content & behind-the-scenes chaos📲 Follow along for clips, commentary & community Get full access to The A Collective Podcast’s Substack at theacollectivepod.substack.com/subscribe

This week on The A Collective, we somehow went from Mother’s Day memories to modern prom culture, parenting styles, latchkey childhoods, graduation inflation, and whether anybody under 18 actually needs Tom Ford heels.We talk:growing up as latchkey kidschildhood church memories“cool mom” culturegentle parenting vs consequencesprom dresses getting increasingly unhingedgraduation photo shoot pressuresocial media parenting expectationswhy everybody suddenly has a graduation ceremonyand the unexpected return of… the home phone.Also:LV accidentally begins negotiating with the Lord for a sugar daddy.As one does. Get full access to The A Collective Podcast’s Substack at theacollectivepod.substack.com/subscribe

We were supposed to talk about media… and accidentally proved why it’s changing in real time.In This Episode:Welcome back to The A Collective — where smart women talk real life, real news, and everything in between.This week, we’re diving into the shift in media power — from mainstream outlets to independent journalists, TikTok creators, and political “newsfluencers.”Is traditional media still necessary?Or are influencers becoming the new gatekeepers of information?We get into:The rise of independent media & Substack journalistsTikTok, X, and how social media is shaping political narrativesWhether “newsfluencers” can be trustedPaid influencers in politics (yes… it’s happening)Why candidates MUST have a social media strategy nowAnd how younger voters are changing the entire landscapeThis isn’t just about media… it’s about who controls the story now.👇 Stay connected with us everywhere:TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theacollectivepodSubstack: https://theacollectivepod.substack.com/Beacons: https://beacons.ai/theacollectivepod💬 Drop a comment:Where do YOU get your news right now? Get full access to The A Collective Podcast’s Substack at theacollectivepod.substack.com/subscribe

This week on The A Collective, we’re back breaking down the chaos… and trying to figure out if any of it is actually normal (spoiler: it’s not).We kick things off with a conversation about anxiety, overthinking, and being the friend who immediately assumes the worst—and shows up anyway.From there, it’s straight into the headlines:We unpack the Labor Secretary resignation and the growing list of questions surrounding it, including allegations, investigations, and the all-too-familiar pattern of “resigning” before accountability hits.Then we get into the Ka$h Patel lawsuit—including the now-infamous battering ram story—and what it means when legal strategy meets public chaos.We also talk about:Trump publicly arguing with the Pope (yes, really)Rising global tensions and the very real stakes behind the headlinesConcerns about leadership, decision-making, and what happens when people in power are clearly unfitAnd because we needed a break from… all of that, we shift into Coachella—where influencer culture, brand deals, and online backlash took center stage.We get into:The fallout surrounding creators attending CoachellaThe pressure placed on influencers to “take a stand”Where people draw the line when it comes to brands, politics, and personal valuesAnd whether any of it is actually consistentWe wrap things up with a lighter conversation about Cardi B’s tour, cultural moments, and why authenticity still matters.🎧In this episode:Labor Secretary resignation & ongoing investigationsKash Patel lawsuit + “battering ram” controversyTrump vs the PopeGlobal tensions and political instabilityCoachella backlash & influencer accountabilityCardi B’s tour and cultural impact💬Let’s talk:What part of this week made you stop and think… what is actually happening right now?🎁Bonus Content (Substack Subscribers):Before we even started recording, things got chaotic.Dog medication battles.Family stories.And a conversation that somehow escalated before we even hit “record.”🔗Follow + Connect:📺 Watch full episodes📝 Subscribe on Substack📱 Follow for clips and updates Get full access to The A Collective Podcast’s Substack at theacollectivepod.substack.com/subscribe

The circus rolled into another week and somehow the tent got bigger.This episode of The A Collective covers the unraveling ceasefire confusion, the Trump administration’s ongoing chaos, Melania’s surprise public statement, the Epstein file speculation, and the political merry-go-round that keeps spinning.From celebrity chaos and Chris Brown discourse to Middle East policy confusion, media scrambling, and what happens when nobody in charge seems to know the plan, we’re breaking down the week the only way we know how: sharp, honest, and just a little unhinged.🎧 Follow for weekly commentary on politics, culture, media, and whatever fresh disaster lands in the group chat next.📩 Join us on Substack for bonus clips, bloopers, and subscriber-only behind-the-scenes chaos:https://theacollectivepod.substack.com/📱 Find us everywhere:TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theacollectivepodBeacons: https://beacons.ai/theacollectivepod Get full access to The A Collective Podcast’s Substack at theacollectivepod.substack.com/subscribe

This week on The A Collective, LV, Stacey, and Shannon take us from the dark side of the moon straight into the chaos on Earth.We’re talking the Artemis mission and NASA’s incredible moon journey, the latest political and media chaos, the women’s NCAA controversy involving Coach Dawn Staley, and the return of Kanye West’s latest public spiral, celebrity support, and canceled festival drama.From sharp social commentary to the kind of group-chat chaos only this trio can deliver, this episode covers the headlines everyone is talking about.✨ Subscribe for new episodes and hot takes🎧 Follow The A Collective on all platforms💬 Drop your thoughts in the comments: would YOU go see Kanye?#TheACollective #Podcast #Politics #PopCulture #Artemis #NASA #DawnStaley #NCAA #KanyeWest Get full access to The A Collective Podcast’s Substack at theacollectivepod.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode of The A Collective, LV, Stacey, and Shannon break down the latest political chaos—from Trump’s weekend threats and market manipulation to rising gas prices, healthcare loss, and the controversial Save America Act.They also dive into ICE presence in airports, media silence, and what it all means for everyday Americans trying to make sense of it all.Smart, unfiltered, and a little unhinged—just how we like it.EDITING NOTE: LV’s video got stuck at 99.9% upload after recording and while Riverside swore we had the full HD footage… they clearly believe in Trump truths. Get full access to The A Collective Podcast’s Substack at theacollectivepod.substack.com/subscribe

This week on The A Collective, LV, Shannon, and Stacey are back navigating the absolute chaos that is… everything.From a literal meteor hitting Ohio to escalating tensions with Iran, the hosts unpack the growing concerns around war, media suppression, and what feels like a full-blown global identity crisis. Add in airline meltdowns, TSA chaos, economic anxiety, and whatever is happening in the Oval Office… and yeah, it’s a lot.They also dive into:The fear of “Vietnam 2.0” comparisonsMedia consolidation and what it means for truthThe economic ripple effects of oil, travel, and global instabilityTrump’s latest unfiltered moments (including… Trumpstrodamus??)Why the rest of the world is looking at the U.S. like 👀And the real question: are we watching an empire fall in real time?Plus: clown shoes, Target betrayal, and why the phrase “non-practicing white woman” might stick forever.Buckle up. This one spirals—in the best way. Get full access to The A Collective Podcast’s Substack at theacollectivepod.substack.com/subscribe

Another week, another political mess.In this episode of The A Collective, Shannon, Stacey, and LV break down the latest chaos unfolding in American politics and global affairs.This week’s conversation covers:• Rising tensions between the U.S. and Iran• Americans stranded abroad after escalating conflict• Gas prices surging after disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz• The fallout from Kristi Noem’s controversial hearings• Allegations of questionable government spending• Texas political primaries shaking up the House• The debate over Jasmine Crockett, Talarico, and the future of Democratic leadership• Why Black women leaders still face resistance in American politics• What the upcoming midterms could mean for CongressAs always, the hosts bring sharp commentary, humor, and a little sanity while trying to make sense of the week’s political chaos.Because somehow… every week the mess gets bigger. Get full access to The A Collective Podcast’s Substack at theacollectivepod.substack.com/subscribe

This week on The A Collective, Shannon, Stacey, and LV break down the absolute chaos surrounding the latest State of the Union and the political theater that came with it.From rapid-fire fact checks and viral moments to the surreal guest lineup and internet reactions, the episode dives into how political messaging, media spectacle, and billionaire influence continue shaping the American narrative.Also… somehow tonsil stones became part of the conversation.Because apparently that’s the timeline we’re living in.In this episode we discuss:• Reactions to the latest State of the Union• Viral moments and political theater in Washington• Fact-checking the speech and misinformation cycles• Billionaire influence in American politics• How social media shapes political perception• The internet’s weirdest moment of the weekIt’s equal parts political commentary, cultural analysis, and three friends trying to process the absurdity of modern news.Welcome to The A Collective. Get full access to The A Collective Podcast’s Substack at theacollectivepod.substack.com/subscribe