AJ Willingham - Senior Writer, Culture
AJ Willingham
Senior Writer, Culture
AJ Willingham is a Senior Writer for CNN Digital in Atlanta. She covers internet subcultures, religion, positive news and various obsessions.
Latest
Food poisoning dangers are real after severe weather. Here’s how to protect yourself
Oct 6, 2024
Power outages after hurricanes can lead to spoiled food, which can lead to health problems. Here’s how to handle your food after severe weather strikes.
Some people hate Taylor Swift. Some people love her. I just don’t get her.
Sep 16, 2024
Taylor Swift is one of the world’s biggest stars. Is it possible to not have an opinion on her at all?
Ruth Westheimer, sex therapist known as ‘Dr. Ruth,’ dead at 96
Jul 13, 2024
Dr. Ruth Westheimer, the iconic sex therapist whose cheerful and disarming advice helped educate millions of Americans about sexual desires and practices, has died, her publicist Pierre Lehu told CNN on Saturday. She was 96.
AI pictures of Jesus on social media are suspiciously rugged — and we only have ourselves to blame
Jul 1, 2024
Handsome AI Jesus images are created from patterns a machine picks up from the information it is fed. What does that say about us, and how we view figures important to our cultural identities?
Meet the hobbyists who collect barf bags
Jun 19, 2024
Barf bags are disappearing from airplanes. But this tiny cult of collectors each own thousands of them, from simple white bags to colorful ones with elaborate designs. Together, the bags are a tiny window into aviation history. And yes, to collect them you need a sense of humor.
The history behind the controversial ‘Appeal to Heaven’ flag
May 31, 2024
The polarizing flag at the center of criticism against Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito has roots in the American Revolution and ties to far-right politics.
A deep-dive into a failed ‘Star Wars’ hotel is going viral
May 23, 2024
A viral longform video revisits Disney’s failed luxury ‘Star Wars’ hotel.
Backlash over NFL player Harrison Butker’s commencement speech has reached a new level
May 17, 2024
Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker railed against LGBTQ rights, diversity initiatives and President Joe Biden in a divisive speech at a small Catholic college in Kansas. Then he brought women — and Taylor Swift fans — into it, and they’re not taking it sitting down.
A little dog wins big at the Westminster Dog Show
May 15, 2024
“She gave a great performance for me. I’m proud of this dog and thank you very much,” Sage’s handler Kaz Hosaka said after the win.
Amish youth experience a rite of passage called Rumspringa. It’s not what you might think
May 10, 2024
For the Amish people, Rumspringa means something completely different than what you often see in popular media.
Man or bear? A viral question has spawned scary responses
May 6, 2024
The viral social media question, asked of women, seems simple: Would you rather be alone in the woods with a man or a bear? Many women have chosen the latter. The hypothetical question has sparked widespread discussion while shedding light on violence against women.
A couple lost their wedding rings during the ceremony. Two strangers found a fitting solution
Apr 19, 2024
Lost wedding rings led to a sweet memory for this newlywed couple in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico.
What putting up a bird feeder can lead to
Apr 9, 2024
One simple little feeder can change your relationship with nature forever.
What April Fools’ Day looks like around the world
Apr 1, 2024
The Scottish used to call it Huntigowk Day. The French use it as an excuse to prank people with fish. Iranians have a version tied to ancient customs. It seems nearly every culture is united by a desire to pull some silly, goofy tricks.
About
AJ Willingam is from Silver Spring, Maryland and attended Syracuse University. During her time at CNN she has won a National News & Documentary Emmy, an NABJ Salute to Excellence Award and multiple Webbys. She is the previous head writer of CNN’s 5 Things newsletter and the creator and current head writer of CNN’s The Good Stuff.
