Matt Bernstein
5/21/202645 min
Matt Bernstein (aka @mattxiv) is a force to be reckoned with. A 27-year-old, progressive political commentator who has cultivated a 2M+ following by combining clear-eyed, heartfelt, sharp-witted cultural discourse with gorgeous glam and a calm, confident delivery. His video podcast, A Bit Fruity with Matt Bernstein, has become a touchstone in the digital landscape as a rational, ethical, and hilarious voice calling for political and social accountability and standing up for basic human rights for all. Ilana and Matt discuss right-wing grifting, his innate passion for politics, and the privilege and joy of simply getting to live as one’s true colorful self.
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Host: Ilana Glazer
Producers: David Rooklin, Annika Carlson, Madeline Kim, Kelsie Kiley, Glennis Meagher
Video Producers: Lexa Krebs, Louise Nessralla
Audio Producers: Nicole Maupin, Rachel Suffian, Rebecca O’Neill
Lighting Director: Kevin Deming
Editor: Tovah Leibowitz
Graphics: Raymo Ventura
Outro Music: Don Hur
All Things It’s Open: linktr.ee/itsopenpod
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itsopenpod
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@itsopenpod
Clips
Transcript preview
First 90 secondsIlana Glazer· Host0:00
Welcome to It's Open with Ilana Glazer. That's me. That's me. That's me. Um, why am I so happy? Because I just finished talking to a young person who made me realize, you know what? The kids are all right. They may be indoctrinated to the manosphere [laughs] and Club America, but honestly, like, our instincts are to have human rights for each other, honestly. This young person is a political commentator and also a podcast creator and host called It's a Bit Fruity. You can check it out on YouTube. Um, but damn, he gives me hope. I look to him for leadership to understand things the way old fogies sometimes need translation by younger people to understand shit. Um, and I fucking love him. I'm so proud of him. Today's episode is with Matt Bernstein, also known as MattXIV on Instagram. Um, so come on in. It's Open. [Instrumental music plays] MattXIV.
Matt Bernstein· Guest0:59
MattXIV, wow.
Ilana Glazer· Host1:00
It's Matt Bernstein, but MattXIV, I'm just learning where the, um, handle comes from. Tell us.
Matt Bernstein· Guest1:05
It was, like, Roman numerals- Which, like, Roman is cool culture ... like, moon phases. It was just a lot of, like- Yes, yes ... the, the hipster, the, like, 2010s hipster stuff. So when I made Instagram in 2012, is when I, like, set up my account, I just called it- Oh, my God ... MattXIV 'cause I was 14 years old, and I was, like, 14- 14 years old.
Ilana Glazer· Host1:21
So you were born in '98?
Matt Bernstein· Guest1:22
I was born in '98.
Ilana Glazer· Host1:23
Ah. [laughs] Because Matt, I am so, um, I am so moved by your work