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We Are Spiraling

by Priya Anand

Chart positions today · Australia

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Latest episodes

  • How The Word Frizz Was Weaponized Against Curly People

    October 1, 2026 · 9 min

    The word “frizz” actually has a benign definition. Priya investigates the history of how this term was co-opted against us, first by a writer in colonial times and later (even now) by legacy beauty brands. She explains her philosophy…

  • From Rumi To Today, Curly Hair Has Always Been Poetry

    September 17, 2026 · 6 min

    Throughout history, poets have, like me, been inspired to make curly hair a focus of their work. Curls have been used as a symbol of romance, charm and beauty. I share verses from Hafez, Rumi and Ovid, along with works by modern poets that…

  • Hair Is Political: Meet the Lawmaker Putting Hair on the Agenda

    August 27, 2026 · 24 min

    New York state implemented a law this year requiring cosmetology schools to teach students how to work with textured hair. We speak with state assemblywoman Michaelle C. Solages, who pushed to make it happen. She explains why hair is a key…

  • How'd You Find This Podcast?

    August 13, 2026 · 8 min

    Today’s minisode dives into how we think about making and growing this show with an audio version of a behind-the-scenes story originally shared on WeAreSpiraling.com. I break down what actually happens when you get media coverage, and why…

  • Why Are So Many People Secretly Curly: Part 2: Office Edition

    July 31, 2026 · 7 min

    There’s an unwritten dress code across corporate America: everywhere you go, there are secret curlies. We unpack why this isn’t just happenstance, just like how it’s not a coincidence that a disproportionate number of CEOs are white men…

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  • How Your Hair Changes With Your Hormones

    July 23, 2026 · 37 min

    We unpack the powerful connection between your hormones and your hair through different stages of life with Dr. Jordan Emont, a board certified obstetrician-gynecologist. From testosterone to iron levels, thyroid shifts, pregnancy…

  • 'The Odyssey" Got Hair Wrong Vs Greek Mythology

    July 16, 2026 · 6 min

    We dig into Christopher Nolan's "The Odyssey," exploring Matt Damon's representation of Odysseus and Zendaya's Athena, and consider the role of hair in Greek literature and mythology. Subscribe to our Substack for behind-the-scenes…

  • The Problem With Disney Erasing Moana’s Curls

    July 9, 2026 · 6 min

    Disney releases its live action Moana remake this week. And while Catherine Laga'aia has natural curls that match the animated Moana’s perfectly, the film puts her in wigs with…not as curly hair at all. And yet the Rock was given a curly…

  • Why Are Some Animals Curly?

    July 2, 2026 · 21 min

    Why do some animals -- poodles, alpacas etc -- have curly hair and others don’t? We investigate how hair types help animals do their jobs, from swimming to mating and keeping warm in harsh winters. This episode features poodles, alpacas…

  • Dirty Secrets The Beauty Industry Doesnt Want You To Know

    June 25, 2026 · 20 min

    I spent months investigating how haircare products are made — interviewing cosmetic chemists, testing formulas, and learning what it really takes to create a product I’d actually want to use. Here's what I learned. Subscribe to our…

  • I'll Never Forgive The Princess Diaries: Why Hollywood Straightens Curly Hair

    May 29, 2026 · 7 min

    With rumors of a third Princess Diaries, we unpack why the original was so damaging for women, and why Anne Hathaway's recent explanation falls flat. This is our first minisode: a shorter, more frequent format we're introducing alongside…

  • For Black Women, Hair Has Always Been the Story

    May 1, 2026 · 20 min

    Two listeners of this show share how their hair has been a key part of their stories as Black women. We also discuss why Coco Gauff’s hair became something she had to defend, and what happens when media tries to erase Black…

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About the show

We talk about curly hair to learn more about our culture — from how we perceive ourselves to how the world sees us.  Priya Anand, an award-winning journalist whose work has been featured in Bloomberg, Businessweek, the Wall Street Journal, Buzzfeed and Politico, turns her investigative eye to her lifelong obsession: curly hair.  You might think: curly hair, how much is there to say? A whole podcast dedicated to this? I don’t want to hear someone ramble about all their hair lotions and potions!  But there is so much to unravel about why so many people hide their ringlets as secret curlies, how politicians who wear their hair curly are vilified and what Hollywood's hostility toward curls means for our society.