Episode [497] - Pop Princesses- June 25, 2026

The podcast that's freaky-freaky-fresh. 

Participants

• Ian Karmel: plugging the AFE 10 year anniversary show at the Aladdin Theater in Portland on September 26th, also teased a new World Cup show he's doing with James Corden and Rio Ferdinand
• Sean Jordan: playing Sports Drink in New Orleans in August (exact date TBD) and headlining the Motor City Comedy Festival in Detroit on September 16th, though he'll be missing part of it since he's honeymooning in Tahiti
• David Gborie: no stand up dates, said he's lying low ahead of his upcoming wedding
• Sophie Buddle (guest, @sophbuds): playing Portland August 7th and 8th (her birthday weekend) and Indianapolis August 14th and 15th, joked that getting a nose job in June is really what she should be plugging

Draft Order: David, Sophie, Ian, Sean

Serpentine Explanation: "Catan style." 

Round 1

Pick 1.1 | David | Madonna

Pick 1.2 | Sophie Buddle | Mariah Carey

Pick 1.3 | Ian Karmel |  Britney Spears

Pick 1.4 | Sean Jordan | Christina Aguilera

Round 2

Pick 2.1 | Sean Jordan | Sabrina Carpenter

Pick 2.2 | Ian Karmel | Ariana Grande

Pick 2.3 | Sophie Buddle | Beyoncé

Pick 2.4 | David | Selena

Round 3

Pick 3.1 | David | Brandy

Pick 3.2 | Sophie Buddle | Rihanna

Pick 3.3 | Ian Karmel | Taylor Swift

Pick 3.4 | Sean Jordan | Selena Gomez

Round 4

Pick 4.1 | Sean Jordan | Avril Lavigne

Pick 4.2 | Ian Karmel | Katy Perry

Pick 4.3 | Sophie Buddle | Billie Eilish

Pick 4.4 | David | Whitney Houston

Round 5

Pick 5.1 | David | Shirley Temple

Pick 5.2 | Sophie Buddle | Hilary Duff

Pick 5.3 | Ian Karmel | Chappell Roan (after floating Ella Fitzgerald, which the group ruled out)

Pick 5.4 | Sean Jordan | Dua Lipa (after floating Haley Williams, which the group ruled out since she's in a band, not a solo pop princess)

Producer's Pick

Isaac | Olivia Rodrigo

Honorable Mentions: Adele came up explicitly as an "honorable mention," with the group debating whether her lack of dancing makes her more of a balladeer than a true pop princess. In the closing rundown of names people were surprised didn't get drafted: Miley Cyrus, Lady Gaga, Charli XCX (raised as a maybe), Shakira, and Kelly Clarkson.

Quotes From This Episode

• "I'm about 20 years clean of vacation braids." - Sean Jordan, on copying Christina Aguilera's look as a kid
• "My blood pressure is going up over here." - David, on learning new Selena trivia mid-draft
• "I'm thinking of Betty Boop." - Ian Karmel, mixing up Shirley Temple with a cartoon character
• "It's provocative, and that's all that matters." - Sophie Buddle, on Rihanna stealing wine glasses from restaurants