What Amanda Kehrberg is bringing into 2026: Mustard, celebration culture and dining tables

At various points over the last decade or so, it’s been impossible to turn on the TV or the radio and not hear the phrase “cancel culture.” It’s one of those phrases that’s been discussed and litigated so much it’s practically lost all meaning.

But Amanda Kehrberg, a Ph.D. candidate at Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism, says it’s time to revisit the idea with a radical new perspective.

Full conversation

SAM DINGMAN: Amanda, welcome back. Happy New Year.

AMANDA KEHRBERG: Happy New Year.

DINGMAN: So the key to understanding this, you say, is, of all people, Paul Dano.

KEHRBERG: Yes, yes. Paul Dano. OK, so this really exciting thing happened in December that was just like, oh, my gosh, this waited until the end of the year, of course, where there was this interview with Quentin Tarantino, and for some reason, he just goes off on how much he hates Paul Dano's work. I mean, just calls him the worst actor in SAG and weak sauce.

And for some reason, instead of everybody jumping down Quentin Tarantino's throat and talking about how much they hate Tarantino or canceling Tarantino, it becomes this really structural, viral moment of just celebration of Paul Dano. I mean, width, breadth, just everybody talking about it.

I mean, all kinds of celebrities coming out. Simu Liu, Ben Stiller, Reese Witherspoon, Paul Rudd. Just like, hey, I actually love Paul Dano's work. He was really good in this movie and this movie and this movie. So instead of, like, I think we've seen other times that were sort of slow burns, where, say, a generation kind of reclaims someone that they loved, maybe when they're just kind of starting to see them again.

Like Brendan Fraser. We saw that. Yes, right. It makes, you know, indie darling performance. And all of a sudden, everyone comes out kind of over time saying, you know, what? Super important to my childhood.

DINGMAN: Yes.

KEHRBERG: But this Paul Dano thing, this was just, like, sudden.

SAM DINGMAN: Yes. It was the inverse of what the Internet usually does. This, like, grand public affirmation of why something is actually good and we should all enjoy it.

KEHRBERG: Yes, exactly. So it was so wholesome, so they said, like, structurally and kind of how it felt. This might be what we would call our first reverse cancelation. Which isn't to say that Dano was ever canceled.

DINGMAN: Right, right.

KEHRBERG: Just that, you know, we needed to celebrate him in an exciting new way.

DINGMAN: Yes. A celebration culture instead of a cancel culture. Well, Amanda, this has led you to make a list of things that you argue are due for a reconsideration. And I want to go through some of them. Because this is a fantastic list. First up, we have here dining tables.

KEHRBERG: Dining tables. OK. So the dining table has really started to take a back seat. Because we tend to multitask a lot more. We might bring our phones to it, which kind of ruins the experience.

And it just I think people consider it as something that takes up so much space that you're just not adequately using. So we might see people more likely to allot space to, like, you know, a rectangular sofa, a some bar stools at the counter. Like, that's the kind of stuff that fits into the way we think of interior design now.

So I think it's time to really hone in on that dining table experience. That's the daily ritual that connects you to the people you care about most. That gives you the chance to talk through your day, get feedback. So sort of like social media, but it's at a table in real life.

DINGMAN: Some would call it the original social physical media.

KEHRBERG: Physical media, yeah.

DINGMAN: OK. So somewhat related to this, you also say it's time for a return to single screen viewing. Tell us what you mean by this.

KEHRBERG: Yes. So that's one of the things that also came out last year. That second screen viewing had gotten so popular, which is means that we were watching television, but we also say have our phone in our hands.

So we're looking at at least two screens at the same time, to the point where Netflix had taught their screenwriters, like, hey, you're gonna wanna give them a little more information audio only so that they know what's going on. Like, hey, I'm walking to the mountain now. This is so great. So it's like exposition clunkily taken to its worst possible point. What?

DINGMAN: My sister, I haven't seen you since that terrible argument with Uncle Joe.

KEHRBERG: Yeah, isn't it great? We ran into each other at the park where we're playing basketball.

DINGMAN: If only that wasn't like actual dialogue.

KEHRBERG: "Emily in Paris," shut up. So, yeah, I think single screen viewing. It's time. It sounds like the funniest thing to celebrate that. Or like, no, go back to the wholesome days where you used to watch television, but truly get immersed.

DINGMAN: So there's two more here that I imagine are perhaps gonna be your most controversial choices. So let's see if we can get them both in.

KEHRBERG: I'm ready.

DINGMAN: One is, you say it's time for a return to adults sleeping with stuffed animals.

KEHRBERG: Yes. This one blew my mind because according to a study from a few years ago, 40% of adults say they sleep with a stuffed animal.

DINGMAN: 40%.

KEHRBERG: No one has told me they sleep with stuffed animal.

DINGMAN: Would not have guessed it was that high.

KEHRBERG: I don't. I mean, I don't. I have a Teddy next to the bed, but apparently this is really good for your stress levels. And all of us are experiencing the stress of our just, you know, chaotic, multitasking lives. So, you know what? Bring Teddy into the bed.

DINGMAN: Well, speaking of screens, you know, I mean, we have talked, I think, on the show before even about the phenomenon of people taking the phone to bed aimlessly, kind of scrolling as a way to fall asleep, which, spoiler alert, doesn't work very well.

KEHRBERG: No, it doesn't.

DINGMAN: So perhaps Teddy would be a better companion.

KEHRBERG: Yeah. Even, like, single screen viewing. No screen bedtime.

DINGMAN: I love it. I love it. OK, this might be a hot button. One you, Amanda, are arguing for the return of mustard.

KEHRBERG: OK. I feel so strongly about this. So millennials. Millennials were blamed for, you know, at least 10 years now for killing mayonnaise, right? And we do still have it as aioli all the time. We're terrible hypocrites.

But please, Gen Z, hear me out. Mustard is amazing. And in studies, it's not rating in the top four condiments. Gen Z's all into hot ones. Chili crisps. Mustard can go so many different directions. You know, get into the small batch mustards. Get your spicy mustards, your honey mustards. Mustard is so good if you like.

DINGMAN: If you like hot ones, because it's a food that makes people cry ...

KEHRBERG: Yes.

DINGMAN: I would love to introduce you to some spicy mustards.

KEHRBERG: Yes. Oh, my gosh, no. Look out for my new podcast where we eat mustard and talk about our childhood.

DINGMAN: Honestly would listen. All right, well, you've got your list, folks. Things to reconsider in 2026, brought to you by the show's distinguished expert on digital culture, Amanda Kehrberg. Amanda, thank you. As always.

KEHRBERG: Thank you so much.