Rae Votta
As seen in:
You Can't Make This Up Podcast,
Myspace,
Rolling Stone,
Bustle,
The Daily Dot,
Out Magazine,
VideoInk
Not here just holding space. Podcasts + Audio @Netflix
Is this you? As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.
Claim your profile
Articles by Rae Votta
Stop hoarding your airline points and fly again
As many Americans complete their vaccinations, a summer of travel looks more realistic for many. If you’re choosing to vacation or visit family you haven’t seen in a year, the travel industry is pushing perks to get people moving again. This week, we’re running down some current (April 2021) tips and tricks for travel based on current bonus programs aimed at getting you back on the road. Warning, this week is not as novice as some of my other letters.
It's time to make a plan for your parents' old age
As we tumble further into adulthood, we start to get our own world in order — savings accounts, retirement accounts, buying our own first houses, and so much more. But when we feel like our life is coming into focus, for many of us, the realization hits that our parents are aging and will likely require our support as they move into their later years.
How to get debt-free as fast as possible
When faced with getting your finances in order, the number one piece of advice you’ll hear is to pay down your outstanding debt as soon as you’re able. So, what is the most efficient way to achieve a debt-free existence? The simple answer: pay more money to your debt each month. Now, before you run away screaming from the prospect of doling out more hard-earned cash to what might feel like neverending debt, remember that the more you pay now, the less you pay over time.
How to start saving money this year and stick to it
But how?! The straightforward answer for saving is taking some of your money every week and putting it anywhere you will not touch. Easier said than done, I know, especially with the ups and downs of life and the fact that many live paycheck-to-paycheck or have hit significantly worse hardships over the past ten months of pandemic and quarantine.
Is a travel-based credit card worthwhile in 2021?
Travel credit cards are often the most recommended cards for those getting into the points game. The allure of doing all your everyday spending and walking away with a free vacation or two is just too strong. But what of these cards amid an ever-stretching global pandemic that’s shut down leisure and business travel? This week we’ll talk about the pros and cons of travel-based credit cards in 2021 and some alternatives to add to your wallet.
Three Things To Do At The Start Of A New Year
Welcome Back! First, thank you to everyone who stuck around for this newsletter. When I started in 2016, I had a very different assumption about my life trajectory that year. I was and working as a journalist full time with no plans to stop. By the end of that year, I was shipping a successfully funded board game worldwide and working at a crazy new full-time marketing job. And in the four years since, well, I will tell you all about it in due time.
Why LGBT Performers Never Won 'American Idol'
Gay, lesbian and transgender performers have won Grammys, Oscars and topped the charts, but they will never win American Idol. The singing competition show first broadcast just a year before Massachusetts became the first state with marriage equality, and it finishes its run in the first full year of marriage equality country-wide. The 15 years of Idol‘s tenure are a microcosm of what America wanted to be and wanted from its culture for a decade and a half.
Leave it to Denny's to make a webseries starring bacon
Denny’s is a social media powerhouse, especially Tumblr and Twitter, where it has inspired a fanbase that rivals some of the biggest media-based fandoms. So it’s only natural that the diner would turn to YouTube for its next wave of digital domination. This month, Denny’s will unveil a webseries inspired by its iconic Grand Slam breakfast, teaming up with Seth Green’s production company Stoopid Buddy Stoodios.
Internet protests pickup artist after video of him assaulting women in Tokyo surfaces
Professional creep Julien Blanc is getting the cold shoulder for his dating seminars in Australia. His ice-out is thanks to an Internet movement to stop him from preaching his pickup artist techniques exploded after a video went viral in Japan of him assaulting women.
What it's really like to live with narcolepsy
Narcolepsy is often a misunderstood punchline, but one YouTuber is helping combat that stereotype by turning a serendipitous moment into a teaching tool. Sarah Elizabeth, who has narcolepsy with cataplexy—sudden muscle weakness and collapse—accidentally caught a narcoleptic episode on camera while she was filming an instructional dance video.
Vanilla Ice surprises the TMNT premiere audience with a 'Ninja Rap' performance
The rapper’s iconic appearance in 1991’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze included a performance of the “Ninja Rap,” featuring the lines “go ninja, go ninja, go,” and some very early-90s style dancing and lyrics.
Sunday's Streamys honored the best and brightest of YouTube and Vine
From video games to vloggers, digital video celebrated its biggest night Sunday when the 2014 Streamy Awards were handed out in Beverly Hills. The ceremony took place in the same room in the Beverly Hilton where Hollywood annually throws the Golden Globes, giving the fourth annual awards a shine of legitimacy as digital video finds its place in the greater world of entertainment media.
Troye Sivan's debut album 'TRXYE' lands at No. 5 on Billboard chart in first week
With 30,000 albums sold, Troye Sivan‘s debut TRXYE made a top 5 premiere on the Billboard 200 chart this week, making him the second-highest debut of the week and breaking new ground for YouTube stars turned musicians. The 19-year-old Australian had a much shorter week of sales than other albums, as the album came out on on a Friday to facillitate a global release.
EVERYBODY LOVES A LIST!—All 99 ‘Glee’ Episodes, Obsessively Ranked | Myspace
Over the years, Fox’s Glee hasn’t just been a show—it’s become a cultural force. Since airing its pilot on May 19, 2009, the Ryan Murphy creation has grown from a little-series-that-could into a cultural institution, spawning hit after hit on the charts, nationwide tours, Hollywood careers and, most importantly, a loyal legion of followers.
Netflix Enhancer means you can multitask and binge watch at the same time
For those of us who want to binge-watch Orange Is the New Black on our laptops while trolling the Internet, Netflix Enhancer is the Chrome extension we’ve been waiting for. The useful new tool adds much-needed features to the browser-based Netflix streaming experience—most importantly, a way to view your content while jumping between multiple windows.
Daniel Franzese Critiques Kendall Jenner's Mean Girls Burn Book Parody
Over the weekend, Kendall Jenner got back at her haters in the best way possible: by posting a Mean Girlsparody in which she reads some of their nasty messages out of a Burn Book. To celebrate her perfect response (created with Dazed), Cosmopolitan.com called up Mean Girls alum Daniel Franzese (aka Damian), who happily took a few minutes out of his Disney day trip to give an honest critique of Kendall's performance. He also explained why he wasn't part of Entertainment Weekly's reunion issue.
20 incredible documentaries on YouTube that will rock your world
Fall down the rabbit hole of YouTube documentaries and you’ll find a goldmine of fascinating, heartwarming, and good documentaries available in their entirety for free. Clicking on one can lead to hours of binge-viewing, stumbling from one true story to the next, the subjects ranging from unsettling conspiracy theories to supernatural possibilities that will blow your mind. Some are scary, some are sweet. Either way, they’re epic time-wasters available for free online.
Behind 'Single by 30,' YouTube Red's relatable new rom-com
Peter and Joanna have a backup plan, one that will sound familiar to anyone who once thought 30 was “too old” to be alone back in high school. The duo, played by Harry Shum Jr. and Kinna Grannis, pledge to marry each other if they haven't settled down by 30. The new YouTube Red show, succinctly named Single by 30, imagines a reality where the two meet up years after making their promise and have to negotiate the possibility of making good on it.
After covering YouTube for 2 years, this is my favorite video
After covering the world of YouTube for two years at the Daily Dot, I have finally found my favorite video, and it's Spencer Olson's "The Spider." It's from last year—and not many people have seen it. But don't let that stop you. The clip starts out as a seemingly political gag and turns on its head with the death of a spider, and a deep dive into the miniature world of said spider. It's nothing short of genius.
'Fight of the Living Dead' Puts YouTubers in a Real-World Zombie Escape Experience
YouTubers trapped in a life or death battle with a horde of zombies isn’t a metaphor for the current state of the comments section, but a new show from YouTube Red and BlackBoxTV. Fight of the Living Dead: Experiment 88 takes 10 YouTubers—including stars like FouseyTube, Jc Caylen, and Tré Melvin—into a quest for survival under a mysterious experiment. They’re taken from YouTube Space in Los Angeles to an abandoned hospital and locked up with no means of escape.
YouTube sensation Todrick Hall puts on his 'Kinky Boots' for Broadway
The YouTuber will take on the role of Lola in the Tony Award-winning Kinky Boots starting in November, and announced the move with a clip showing him strutting his stuff through New York City before putting on Lola's face.
Is North Korea Tapping YouTube Stars for Propaganda?
Vlogging has come to North Korea. The country may curb its citizens' internet access, but it seems to understand how important the web is. That's why the Democratic People's Republic of Korea allowed YouTube stars in for a visit. One of the biggest stars who visited is British adventure vlogger Louis Cole, who is uploading a series of videos from a trip to North Korea to his 1.8 million fans.
Jim Gaffigan, Mike O'Brien Go Head to Head in Newest '7 Minutes in Heaven'
Usually Mike O'Brien has success locking lips with his celebrity guests on the webseries 7 Minutes in Heaven, but comedian Jim Gaffigan proved elusive. O'Brien hosted Gaffigan in the closet for a chat about Gaffigan sleeping with O'Brien's mother, unverifiable high school teacher impressions, and jokes about Girl Scouts. But when it came time for the exit moment, Gaffigan put up a fight. "You did play football, I could tell from that push," laughed O'Brien in the clip as Gaffigan kept him at bay.
YouTube star denied entry to Dubai for being transgender
Gigi Gorgeous was detained for five hours in Dubai because she is transgender, according to the YouTube star's social media posts. While it's unclear why the lifestyle vlogger was headed to the region, according to TMZ, Gorgeous, who was born Gregory Lazzarato, said her passport was changed to reflect her gender identity, but Dubai officials disagreed. After being held and separated from her passport, Gorgeous described the experiences as "one of the scariest moments" in her entire life.
'Honest Trailers' Roasts the Nominees with Emmys Edition
It's Emmy season, which means the Screen Junkies are going outside their comfort zone of film to give an honest assessment of the TV shows up for the big prizes this year. The Emmy-nominated Honest Trailers series switched gears to poke fun the comedy and drama nominees for this year's awards.
Comedy Central's 'Junketeers' Webseries Puts the Drama in Interviewing Celebrities
While meeting celebrities may sound like a dream, for the cast of Comedy Central's latest webseries Junketeers, it's just a way to get a paycheck and maybe a bit of fame for themselves. Junkets are the cattle-call of the entertainment reporting world, where beleaguered journalists get a few moments with exhausted stars who are plugging their latest project.
YouTube Red Announces Sequel To 'Lazer Team'
The Lazer Team will be back in action on YouTube Red, with a sequel to the platform's first narrative feature coming "soon." "We don't know when you can see it," says Lazer Team star Gavin Free in a promotional clip. Adds fellow star Burnie Burns, "Movies do take a little while." The original Lazer Team came from a successful Indiegogo campaign by the Rooster Teeth gang.
Hank Green Release YouTube Series on How to Vote in Every State
If you're a U.S. citizen and a YouTube fan confused by the voting process, Hank Green has published the ultimate collection of voting videos to help, leaving no stone unturned. The VidCon co-founder and one half of the Vlogbrothers channel has published a massive collection of 54 videos that explain how to vote in every state.
Should the Olympics allow doping?
With the Rio Olympics upon us, PBS Digital Studios wonders if the ban on doping should be relaxed in its latest BrainCraft video. Doping, or the practice of using drugs or other techniques to improve sport performance, has led to the disgrace of international athletes like Lance Armstrong, but BrainCraft host Vanessa Hill points out that the complexities of doping practices and detection makes getting caught a rarity.
Can Vessel change course before the subscription service goes under?
Although Vessel has not confirmed, VideoInk reports that the company has terminated partnership contracts for any deals outside of its sweet spots of geek, gaming, and tech. Upon launch, contracts offering multimillion-dollar fees for 72-hour exclusively deals with top digital talent were the norm, but Vessel hasn't seen much return on investment in a marketplace with increasing competition.
The 28 Best Kids Movies on Netflix the Whole Family Can Enjoy
For parents looking for kid-friendly entertainment that won’t make them pull out their hair, Netflix supplies a wealth of new kids movies and quality family selections. From animated classics to live-action laugh fests, there’s plenty for the whole family to enjoy. The best kids movies on Netflix 1) Moana Rated: PG Screengrab via Walt Disney Animation Studios/YouTube If you have a kid and have somehow haven’t had to buy Moana yet, I’m amazed and deeply envious.
Us the Duo asks fans to collaborate on new EP 'Public Record'
Us the Duo wants to open up musical collaboration to the whole world. The husband-and-wife team of Michael and Carissa Alvarado are partnering with AT&T Hello Lab for their latest EP, Public Record, which will be written based on stories submitted by fans. "This is unlike anything that we have ever done before," Michael Alvarado said in a statement. "Since we started making music together, all of our songs have been the puzzle pieces to our story.
Lilly Singh to debut first book 'How to Be a Bawse' in 2017
YouTuber Lilly Singh is going literary with her first book, How to Be a Bawse: A Guide to Conquering Life, set for 2017. Singh announced the book on The Tonight Show, and followed up with a video on her channel that depicts Singh as a boxer struggling to get back up, a parallel to her evolution from depression to YouTube stardom. The video ends with Singh as a warrior, before emerging from the flames with a book in hand, which has been in a fan's hands all along.
'Supernatural' SDCC panel includes casting announcement, fan engagement
Supernatural is welcoming a new Lucifer at the start of season 12, in the form of "Jessie's Girl" rocker Rick Springfield. In a Hall H presentation, executive producers Bob Singer and Andrew Dabb revealed the Springfield will play Lucifer's vessel in the form of a rockstar named Vince Vicente.
No legendary Pokémon released at Pokémon Go SDCC panel
Despite a rumor that Niantic would drop a legendary character for Pokémon Go players during its Hall H panel at Comic Con, founder John Hanke said those kinds of special event drops will come later. In addition to the fact that Niantic is still dealing with server outages, they are also still working to release the game globally. People in countries without the app haven't been able to start collecting Pokémon, let alone collect rare ones.
Verizon reportedly purchasing Yahoo for $5 billion
Verizon might soon own your Tumblr. That is, if a proposed $5 billion deal for the wireless giant to purchase Yahoo goes through. According to recode reports, the company is set to announce the purchase. Last year Verizon purchased AOL for $4.4 billion, and the new Yahoo purchased could prompt a consolidation of Yahoo and AOL under the leadership of AOL's Tim Armstrong, something he's tried for in the past with no success.
Michelle Obama returns to Tyler Oakley's YouTube channel-and this time she brings puppies
"Tyler's not flustered about me or the president," joked Obama, even saying that the dogs got all brushed up just for Oakley. After seeing if the dogs can do tricks (they can at least roll over), the duo got back to business talking about higher education. "It gives you the confidence and skills you need to go on and do whatever you want in life," said Obama of a college education.
How the Episode app created a new class of internet-famous storytellers
Instead of Lindsay Lohan, Janis and Damien from Mean Girls are explaining the social hierarchy of North Shore High School cafeteria to you, right in the palm of your hand. It’s a cartoon version of Janis and Damien, and you’re an avatar of yourself, weaving your way through a mobile storytelling experience.
Troye Sivan sends fans on a global scavenger hunt for VHS tapes
In anticipation of the new video, the YouTube star turned music sensation sent his fans on a #wildhunt worldwide for VHS copies left at various landmarks, tracked online. Once found, the package instructed his millennial audience to "work with your friends to figure out how to play this VHS" and to "document (their) viewing online." Most tapes were found in the U.S., which had fans complaining about a lack of options for Asian or African fans.
Donald Trump thanks the wrong Scott Walker on Twitter after RNC speech
Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker got a primetime speaking slot at the Republican National Convention on Wednesday, standing in front of a backdrop showing a farmhouse, endorsing Donald Trump, and blasting presumptive Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton. Walked yelled into the microphone and led the RNC crowd in chants, and afterward, he got personal Twitter congratulations from Trump. Well, some dude named Scott Walker did. But not the Scott Walker that was in Cleveland on Wednesday.
My Chemical Romance releases vague video and the Internet freaks out
Three years after disbanding, My Chemical Romance released a video Wednesday that has fans excited for a potential reunion. The clip shows a fluttering flag, music from its The Black Parade album, and the date Sept. 23, 2016. That date is one month before the 10-year anniversary of The Black Parade album. The post was the band's first tweet in a year, and its most recent Facebook posts were in February about Funko Dolls in the band's likeness . But what does it all mean?
New Form Digital's 'Algorhythm' mixes matters of the heart with the perfect pop tune
Can love and music, be as calculated as a perfect computer program? That's the premise of Algorhythm, New Form Digital's upcoming go90 program. The six-episode series stars Craig Benzine, better known as WheezyWaiter on YouTube, as a computer programmer trying to keep his job by perfecting a musical algorithm. Jesse Pepe plays a musician who needs a hit to win back his girlfriend.
Hillary Clinton's interns read all of Donald Trump's lawsuits on Facebook Live
If you haven't checked Hillary Clinton's Facebook page recently, you're missing out. On Tuesday afternoon, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee had her staffers read the alleged 5,500 lawsuits that Donald Trump has been involved in—all in less than four hours. The video—which was streamed via Facebook Live—shows staffers taking turns reading the names of each lawsuit while another person keeps tally.
Review: I Am Setsuna is the adventure RPG fans have been waiting for
If you eavesdrop on the conversation of any group of role-playing game fans over the age of 30, there are a few key phrases that you're bound to hear. "RPGs just aren't what they used to be," one will undoubtedly lament. "I just replay my favorites over and over," another will chime in. Eventually talk will turn to the classics of old, where games like Final Fantasy VII and Chrono Trigger are oft mentioned.
'Super Fan Builds' brings new season to go90 with DeLorean hot tub
While you can't get a DeLorean to travel through time (yet), thanks to Super Fan Builds one lucky fan has one that doubles as a hot tub. The series aims to create one-of-a-kind items for fans, from Lego die-hards to Batman aficionados. On the most recent episode of Super Fan Builds, the gang surprises a Back to the Future fan with a tricked-out DeLorean ready for the most epic of parties.
New season of 'Super Fan Builds' features this epic DeLorean hot tub
While you can't get a DeLorean to travel through time (yet), thanks to Super Fan Builds one lucky fan has one that doubles as a hot tub.— The series aims to create one-of-a-kind items for fans, from Lego die-hards to Batman aficionados. On the most recent episode of Super Fan Builds, the gang surprises a Back to the Future fan with a tricked-out DeLorean ready for the most epic of parties.
'Lip Sync Battle' launches app for upcoming season
Lip Sync Battle is looking to let more than just celebrities participate this season, with a new app set to launch in conjunction with season 3 this fall. Instead of just a repository for content, the Spike show's app will allow users to create lip-sync videos and "battle" friends in the form of social media likes that advance them on a leaderboard.
Dwayne 'the Rock' Johnson is officially a YouTube star
OK, it's a joke, but the Rock is able to cull a ton of YouTube star power in his much anticipated debut with cameos from Roman Atwood, Flula, and Grace Helbig, among others. The video follows Johnson on a tour of the secret island facility where all the YouTube videos are actually made, according to tour guide and ultimate Rock fan Lilly Singh.
Smash player loses sponsorship after allegations of sexual assault at Evo
A Super Smash Bros 4 player has lost his team sponsorship after being accused of groping a fellow Evo attendee on Saturday night. Cristian “Hyuga” Medina, who was signed by VGBootcamp just two days prior, allegedly touched Victoria “VikkiKitty” Perez inappropriately while she slept after being allowed to stay in a hotel room with her and boyfriend "DJ Jack." Hyuga was, by his own admission in messages to fellow Smasher Nick Riddle who was present for the incident, heavily intoxicated.
Phantoml0rd latest big-name personality to be embroiled in CS:GO gambling controversy
As the controversial world of Counter-Strike skin betting continues to unravel, another personality has been accused of failing to disclose ownership of a site. James "PhantomL0rd" Varga, a YouTuber and Twitch streamer with a combined audience of almost two million, allegedly owns the site CSGO Shuffle—something he didn't reveal even as he bet on the site in videos. Richard Lewis broke the story on July 16.
Show More
loading
Actions
Is this you?
As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.Get in touch with Rae
Contact Rae, search articles and posts on X, monitor coverage, and track replies from one place.
Learn more about Muck Rack