Class of '03

08. The Simple Life

Do you loves it? 2003 was a monumental and genre-defining year for reality television, but there was one show that stood out from the rest: The Simple Life, starring Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie. The two socialites lived in...

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Welcome to Class of '03, a podcast about the year 2003 and all the ways it has shaped our world.

There's really no denying it: 2003 was an exceptional year in its cultural, political, and even scientific events. From the beginning of the Iraq War to the election of Arnold Schwarzenegger, the SARS epidemic, to America's Next Top Model, Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, the OC, The Da Vinci Code, Beyonce and Justin Timberlake both releasing solo records, indie rock coming out of the shadows to the founding of Myspace and the Supreme Court declaring sodomy statutes unconstitutional. The list goes on and on, all pointing at the same, glaring MISSION ACCOMPLISHED sign: there's a lot to unpack about 2003. Which is what we're doing on this podcast.

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08. The Simple Life
Aug. 10, 2023

08. The Simple Life

Do you loves it? 2003 was a monumental and genre-defining year for reality television, but there was one show that stood out from the rest: The Simple Life, starring Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie. The two socialites lived i…
07. Rich Girls with Hannah Becker
July 27, 2023

07. Rich Girls with Hannah Becker

Is it a coincidence that in the fall/winter of 2003 two shows aired about pairs of wealthy heiress best friends? In our first episode of the two part series on Eat The Rich television, Helen and guest Hannah Becker discuss M…
06. Myspace with Tiffany Kwak
July 13, 2023

06. Myspace with Tiffany Kwak

One of the TOP 8 inventions of 2003 was undoubtedly Myspace, which launched in August of ’03 and quickly became one of the most important social networking and music discovery platforms of the aughts. Helen speaks with Tiffa…
05. Lawrence v. Texas with Professor Wes Phelps
June 29, 2023

05. Lawrence v. Texas with Professor Wes Phelps

Twenty years ago this week, the Supreme Court released their landmark decision Lawrence v. Texas, which declared sodomy laws unconstitutional. Professor Wes Phelps of University of Northern Texas joins to discuss the Texas s…
04. America's Next Top Model with Zoë Klar
June 22, 2023

04. America's Next Top Model with Zoë Klar

WANNA BE ON TOP? Helen and guest Zoë Klar discuss Cycle 1 of one of the most important, genre-defining shows in reality television: America's Next Top Model. LINKS! Song of the week: In Da Club by 50 Cent https://www.youtube…
03. Howard Dean with Heath Eiden
June 8, 2023

03. Howard Dean with Heath Eiden

During the summer and fall of '03, leading up to the 2004 presidential race, there was one candidate who emerged as the unlikely frontrunner: Vermont governor Howard Dean. Dean is remembered today for an unfortunate audio ga…
01. It's Raining Teens with Aliza Kelly
June 1, 2023

01. It's Raining Teens with Aliza Kelly

July 2003. Vanity Fair releases an issue with ten shimmery starlets on its cover and declares "It's Totally Raining Teens!" Inside, 28 of Hollywood's youngest up and comers are each given a pop quiz, subjected to the gaze of…
02. Pirates of the Caribbean with RJ Aguiar
June 1, 2023

02. Pirates of the Caribbean with RJ Aguiar

Helen and guest RJ Aguiar discuss one of the most influential films from the early 2000s: Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl. But Jack Sparrow wasn't the only pirate who made headlines in 2003. NOTE: Disc…
Class of '03 Trailer
May 29, 2023

Class of '03 Trailer

Welcome to the Class of '03 Podcast, a show about the year 2003 and the ways it still affects us today, 20 years later. Each week on the show, we discuss one or more subjects from that year — anything from politics to pop cu…
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About the Host

Helen GrossmanProfile Photo

Helen Grossman

Creator and Host

Helen Grossman is the creator and host of Class of '03. She is a creative / communications strategist for experiential marketing activations (and an experimental immersive theatre mobile game). She also co-founded Align, the first astrology dating app. In 2003, she was 13 and dyed the tips of her hair pink just in time for her Bat Mitzvah.

If she's not editing, writing, or crafting an episode of the show, she's roaming her canyon, arranging flowers, or playing with her two cats Bonita and Squiggy. Find her on IG for very periodic cat photos @helenisaghost.