Watch Live

© 2026 Western New York Public Broadcasting Association

140 Lower Terrace St.
Buffalo, NY 14202

Toronto Address:
130 Queens Quay E.
Suite 903
Toronto, ON M5A 0P6

Mailing Address:
Horizons Plaza P.O. Box 1263
Buffalo, NY 14240-1263

Buffalo Toronto Public Media | Phone 716-845-7000
BTPM NPR Newsroom | Phone: 716-845-7040

Differing shades of blue wavering throughout the image

Watch Live

Give Now

Play Live Radio

Next Up:

0:00

0:00 0:00

Available On Air Stations

Group Chat

How Wrestling Shaped Pop Culture

Published April 10, 2026 at 11:00 AM EDT

Ways To Subscribe

Professional wrestling has always been labeled “scripted” but its impact on culture is anything but fake. This week on Group Chat, we dive into the world of wrestling and its undeniable influence on pop culture. From storytelling and larger than life characters to music, fashion, and mainstream media, wrestling has shaped how we experience entrainment in ways people often overlook. We break down the art of the promo, the power of character development, and why fans stay emotionally invested in stories that blur the line between reality and performance. Is wrestling just entertainment, or is it one the most influential storytelling platforms in modern culture?

Group Chat 2026

Latest Episodes

Are We in A Recession or Just Paying More for Vibes?

This week, we’re looking at the everyday signs that summer fun is getting more expensive.
How Has Pride Shaped the Pop Culture We Love Today?

This week on Group Chat, we’re exploring the lasting impact of LGBTQ+ culture on music, fashion, nightlife, television, and entertainment.
Is Fame Destroying Mental Health in Pop Culture?

This week on Group Chat, we’re having a real conversation about mental health, burnout, pressure, and the emotional toll behind fame, success, and public life.
Is Comedy Changing? Colbert’s Exit, Viral Roast and Media Pressure

On this episode of Group Chat, we explore what feels like a turning point in entertainment culture with the end of Stephen Colbert late night show.
How Did Festivals Become A Cultural Moment?

This week, we dive into the evolution of festival culture, from Coachella and Rolling Loud to Borderland, Porchfest and more.
Is Social Media Creating Unrealistic Parenting Standards?

In this episode, we have an honest conversation about identity, pressure, perfection, the mental load mothers carry, and how modern women are redefining what it means to be a “good mother.”
Are We Sleeping on Buffalo's Spoken Word Scene?

April is National Poetry Month, and here in Buffalo, we’re closing it out by celebrating the voices and stories behind the poetry. This week on Group Chat, we sit down with local poets for a real conversation about their journey, what inspired them to start writing, and how poetry became their outlet.
Is This Buffalo Sabres Playoff Run Bigger than Hockey?

Buffalo is alive right now. From the viral moment of Kurt & Wyatt Russell to the crowds outside the arena, to the electric atmosphere inside, this playoff run has turned into something bigger than hockey. This week, we break down the hype surrounding the Buffalo Sabres and why this moment feels different.
The State of Media, Ownership, Nostalgia and Streaming

This week on Group Chat, we break down the State of Media: the return of physical media, the truth about digital ownership, and why so many people are rethinking streaming culture.
From Snow to Celebration Buffalo Spring Traditions and Dyngus Day

This week on Group Chat we get into everything that makes Buffalo spring special how the city celebrates the traditions that bring people together and why Dyngus Day remains one of the most unique and lively events of the season. It is a conversation about community culture and the moments that signal winter is finally behind us.