The wonderful Cate Blanchett took to the subway recently to air some grievances, as is wont for guests to do on beloved Instagram and TikTok series and now podcast series Subway Takes. Started by comedian Kareem Rahma, Subway Takes invites people from all walks of life to offer a hot take on the subway in often less than two minutes. Topics cover everything from DMs to haircuts to, as of Cate Blanchett’s recent episode, leaf blowers.
The Oscar-winning Blanchett has been making the rounds doing press for her new espionage film Black Bag, also starring Michael Fassbender and directed by Steven Soderbergh. The film, released on March 14, follows Kathryn Woodhouse, a potential spy and traitor played by Blanchett, and her husband, George, also an agent, who “faces the ultimate test of whether to be loyal to his marriage, or his country.”
Blanchett joined Rahma on the subway to discuss her hatred of leaf blowers. “Leaf blowers need to be eradicated from the face of the Earth,” she purrs from behind black-rimmed glasses. “It’s a metaphor for what’s wrong with us as a species,” she continues, always with a sense of humor. “We blow shit from one side of our lawn to the other side, and then the wind is just gonna blow it back.” But it doesn’t stop there–Blanchett continues to rage against the machines for the rest of her episode, and it’s a delightfully human moment for this person who’s such a lauded star.
@subwaytakes Episode 310: Leaf blowers need to be eradicated from the face of the earth!! Feat Cate Blanchett 🚋🚋🚋🚋🚋 Hosted by @KAREEM RAHMA Created by Kareem Rahma and Andrew Kuo Shot by @Anthony DiMieri and Thomas Kasem Edited by Tyler Christie Associate producer @Ramy #podcast #subway #hottakes #subwaytakes #interview #nyc #opinions #cateblanchett #movies #films #leafblowers
The beauty of Subway Takes lives here, with New Yorkers sharing some of their most controversial opinions alongside other high-profile guests like Tim Walz or Jane Goodall, John C. Reilly or A$AP Ferg. Because of the cheeky-unhinged-outrageous takes of so many guests and the affability of Rahma as a host, Subway Takes has expanded its once-cult following into a social media phenomenon. Rahma only started Subway Takes in 2023, but it quickly skyrocketed in popularity. It’s as down-to-earth as it is totally batty, maybe not unlike New York itself.
Blanchett is known for her glamour and her range of performances, whether it’s in the new spy thriller or in a Sparks music video, but her respected career has never stopped her from at least appearing relatable, which makes her take on leaf blowers all the more entertaining. And, frankly, informative–they cause a ton of environmental pollution, even according to research and policy center Environment America, largely through an excess of carbon dioxide, the primary cause of climate change.
“Not only are they ugly, they’re noise [pollution], your neighbors hate you…they’re really bad for your health, not only your ears,” says an extremely pro-rake Blanchett, who advocates for getting outside and getting some cardio with some good old-fashioned yard work instead. “Make your f*cking kids do it,” she jokes. “I’ll pay my kids two bucks an hour. Okay, three bucks an hour to rake the leaves and make sure their hearts are in good condition.”
It’s a sad day for leaf blower enthusiasts, but a great day for Blanchett, for Subway Takes, and, thereby, for us.
A group of young dancers line upCanva
A woman with a skin condition looks at her armCanva
Students at a table.Image via 
Cheerful group of mixed-age people.Image via 
Cool Boomer.Image via 
An envelope filled with cashCanva
A server takes an orderCanva
A wait staff hangs out between shiftsCanva
Grateful gif 
Father talks with son.Image via 
Dad and son sit on the floor flexing muscles.Image via 
"Now I'm intrigued." 
Celebrate the wins.Image via 
Surprised and happy mother.Image via 
A woman feeling under the weather lies in bedCanva
A Carbon monoxide alarmCanva
A happy woman sips from a coffee mugCanva
Woman applies deodorantCanva 
Newlywed leaving the receptionCanva 
A hand reaches out to touch a smart appliance on the wallCanva
A woman shows off her engagement ringCanva 
A wreath made of flowers sits on displayCanva
A collection of supplementsCanva
Problematic homework question
A student’s brilliant homework answer outsmarted her teacher's ridiculously sexist question
From an early age, children absorb societal norms—including gender stereotypes. But one sharp 8-year-old from Birmingham, England, challenged a sexist homework question designed to reinforce outdated ideas.
An English teacher created a word puzzle with clues containing “UR.” One prompt read “Hospital Lady,” expecting students to answer “nurse.”
While most did, Yasmine wrote “surgeon”—a perfectly valid answer. Her father, Robert Sutcliffe, shared the incident on X (formerly Twitter), revealing the teacher had scribbled “or nurse” beside Yasmine’s response, revealing the biased expectation.
For Yasmine, the answer was obvious: both her parents are surgeons. Her perspective proves how representation shapes ambition. If children only see women as nurses, they internalize limits. But when they witness diversity—like female surgeons—they envision broader possibilities.
As Rebecca Brand noted in The Guardian: “Their developing minds are that little bit more unquestioning about what they see and hear on their screens. What message are we giving those impressionable minds about women? And how might we be cutting the ambitions of little girls short before they've even had the chance to develop properly?”
X users praised Yasmine while critiquing the question. Such subtle conditioning reinforces stereotypes early. Research confirms this: a study found children as young as four associate jobs with gender, with girls choosing “feminine” roles (e.g., nursing) and boys opting for “masculine” ones (e.g., engineering).
Even preschoolers avoided careers misaligned with their gender, proving sexist conditioning begins startlingly young.
- YouTube www.youtube.com
The problem spans globally. Data from 50 countries reveals that by age 15, girls disproportionately abandon math and science, while boys avoid caregiving fields like teaching and nursing. This segregation perpetuates stereotypes—women are underrepresented in STEM, and men in caregiving roles—creating a cycle that limits both genders.
- YouTube www.youtube.com
This article originally appeared last year.