Maybe it’s because I have a distaste for propaganda, hypocrisy, and opportunistic retread opinion, but over the past year, I’ve watched with bemusement, wonder, and mild annoyance the rise of Oklahoma podcast superstars Jennifer “Coyne” Welch and Angie “Toots-Pumps” Sullivan.
Well, I guess former Oklahoma podcast superstars.
In case you weren’t aware, the two opinionated elder Gen Xers who equally prove and disprove parts of the Dead Internet Theory—and have somehow become the darlings of network producers, social media algorithms, and bots alike—recently fled the Sooner State faster than Tom Joad and a pack of Okies for the Democratic Socialist safe haven of New York City.
Jennifer – a former Wayne and Michelle Coyne groupie who heavily used the connections she made to become the Pioneer Woman of affluent liberal moms who day-drink – talked about her decision to flee Oklahoma while attending a watch party for Zohran Mamdani.
Check this out:
@nymag Jennifer Welch moved to New York City at the perfect time. We caught up with the @ivehaditpodcast co-host at the Mamdani victory party.
♬ original sound - New York Magazine - New York Magazine
Yep, “What am I doing here?” Oddly enough, that’s the same thing that I say whenever I hear Jennifer speak for more than 30 seconds!
Seriously, there are people out there who voluntarily click and watch this stuff? Why?
I’ll admit I’m not in their target market, haven’t listened to more than a few minutes of their stuff, and am still damaged from having to suffer through their reality show—but what’s appealing about Jennifer and Toots?
I mean, if I want to listen to two middle-aged ladies cuss and bicker about politics, I’ll just FaceTime my mom and aunt. They do it just as well — the only difference is that my mom and aunt don’t crave money, attention, and influence above all else!
“Wow Patrick. You sound pretty bitter. Everything okay there?”
Yes I am and No I'm not.
When I first wrote about their rise, Jennifer mentioned the article on her podcast but didn’t mention TLO by name. Instead, she referred to it as a “hobby blog.” That’s not only an insult to most well-respected hobbies but totally ignores my accomplishments as a bar trivia host. Screw her!
In addition to the petty personal grievance, I’ve also had it with the propagandic reality-ification of the national podcast media.
Podcasts used to be a place for informative discussion and learning – and I think those podcasts still exist – but the entire field has been overwhelmed by the celebrity influencer reality genre, where algorithms reward whoever can yell the loudest, cry the fakest, or brand the bestest.
“Really, Patrick? You’re calling out someone else for sharing controversial opinions about money on the internet? Did you go to Ryan Walters’ School of Internet Hypocrisy? What in the name of NonDoc is going on here?”
Yeah, I’ll admit I’m a bit of a hypocrite on this.
Not only do I kind of do the same thing Jennifer and Toots do, but if I were a rich and successful gabber who parlayed the business, wealth, and media connections my ex-husband and I made while working for Wayne and Michelle Coyne into a successful interior design and podcast career, I’d also probably leave for one of the coasts.
The thing is, I’m not.
Unlike rich people who can pretend to be socialist and live in an overpriced, unaffordable city while keeping their Bible Belt tax residency, I have to stick around here and fight the good fight. So, on behalf of all those Oklahomans who didn’t sell out for the coasts and then gloat about it on social media to look cool and hip to their new NYC buddies—don’t let the door hit you on the way out.
Stay with The Lost Ogle. We’ll keep you advised.
