In the first episode of Hoodwinked with Dr. Mara Einstein, I chat with Yale religion and history scholar Katie Lofton—a leading voice on religion and consumer culture—to unpack how our deepest systems of belief shape what we buy, who we follow, and how we build community online.

My new podcast, Hoodwinked with Dr. Mara Einstein launches October 30th.

We’re talking scams—consumer, religious, and political—with academics, ex-cult members, marketing practitioners, and more.

Check my website (drmaraeinstein.com) for updates.

Some people are saying the American Eagle ad is simply an homage to Calvin Klein and Brooke Shields in the 80s.

Here’s the ad:

It is rare to say smart college marketing but this is some of the best I’ve seen. Bravo to Harvard. For too long higher ed has let media drive the narrative around debt and the high cost of tuition. I hope this becomes a call for colleges to talk about the value we bring to society.
#academicsky

My PR advice to the Vatican. Don’t rush. Use this opportunity to explain that the faith JD Vance practices is not any kind of Catholicism that would be recognized by Rome.