Culture Couch: A Pop Culture Podcast

Hello! We're coming back at you with our thoughts on season 2 of the House of the Dragon, the recent announcements made regarding the MCU, Deadpool 3 and we had to throw in some discussion about Longlegs. Skyler got Andrew to willingly got a theater to watch a horror movie! He's winning! We apologize for the inconsistent upload schedule. Life has a tendency to get away from us but we will keep at it when we can. Much love and, as always, thanks for listening! 

Happy Pride Month! We hope you all had a fun and loving Pride month and were able to celebrate in all the best ways! We were super busy this month and only managed to record one episode but it's a special one! This week we are joined by EJ Michels! Singer for the Pop-Alternative band, Foreign Figures! EJ is a local musician from our home state and we had the privilege of sitting down with him to ask him about his music career, his band, his time on The Voice and his journey and experience of coming out as a gay man. Come have a seat on the Culture Couch with us all and chat!  

What's up, Couch Potatoes?   This week we discuss the new release of Billie Eilish's latest album, Hit Me Hard and Soft. We spill our thoughts, likes and dislikes of the album and we chat a bit about her success and talent.   In other news, Harris Butker, kicker of the Kansas City Chiefs, made headlines as he proceeded to spew his vitriol and hate speech about the LGBT community and women from his big mouth. So, naturally, we had to take some time to sh*t talk a bit and discuss our thoughts on these bogus "gender norms" that society likes to force us into. Come have a seat on the Culture Couch and chat! 

Hello, Couch Potatoes! This week we decided to discuss something none of us would have expected Andrew to want to talk about. Yep. That's right. Taylor Swift. Her success is unmatched. Her talent is undeniable. And we're here to tell you that she's winning us over. We discuss her latest album The Tortured Poets Department and her massive success with her Eras Tour. And yes, we threw in our review of the new film by Alex Garland, Civil War. Starring Kirsten Dunst. Come have a seat on the Culture Couch and chat! 

Hey, Couch Potatoes. This week is going to be a doozy of an episode. We are discussing the documentary Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV. There has been a ton of horrible information that has come out to the light these last few weeks. News that tarnishes the shows we loved to watch as kids in the 90's and early 2000's. But nothing comes close to the trauma cause to some of the child stars who were apart of the cast. This is a very heavy topic and we understand if you don't want to listen. We discuss some things that can be hard to hear. If you are a victim of sexual assault, please call the hotline belowRAINN800-656-4673https://www.rainn.org/resources

**SPOILERS AHEAD**What's up, Couch Potatoes! It's that time of year again where we get to celebrate film in all of its glory and see who comes out on top! The Oscars 2024 was a good one, with loads of great films running for Best Picture. We discuss the highlights of the ceremony and our thoughts on some of the winners. We also discuss our thoughts on the outstanding DUNE part 2, directed by Denis Villenueve. Is this going to be the best film of the year? We kinda think so... Come have a seat on the Culture Couch and let's chat! 

Yip-yip! That's right! The Avatar: The Last Airbender live action remake is officially out on Netflix and we are here to chat about our thoughts on the first episode. We are both huge fans of the animated series that is arguably one of the best television series ever made. Feelings are mixed are episode 1 and after we have both watched season 1 in its entirety, we will record a second part to follow up with our thoughts. Come have a seat on the Culture Couch and chat! 

Hey, look! We are capable of getting an episode out on Tuesday like normal! This week we wanted to discuss the Super Bowl. The commercials, the movie trailers, the halftime performance, the boring game, and yes. Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift. Grab a snack and come have a seat on the Culture Couch and chat! 

**SPOILER WARNING**Yes. It's happening. We're going to Saltburn. Andrew finally watched it and we had to come on the podcast and give our thoughts on the movie. It's a wild, bright, colorful, uncomfortable, disturbing ride and a ton of fun. Surely by now most of the world has heard of the movie and the infamous "bath tub scene". But the movie also has a little more to say than just shock value. Come have a seat on the Culture Couch and let's chat about it! 

It's now 2024. And with the start of a new year comes the desire to change and set goals for ourselves. Some people hate them, some people live by them. We have mixed feelings about them but mostly because the societal pressure that comes along with New Year resolutions. Come have a seat on the Culture Couch and we'll chat about it! ...But really, let us know how you feel about them! 

Happy New Year! We hope you have all had a great 2023! We have missed you all so much and we apologize we have been gone so long. BUT we are back and ready to rock 2024! With the release of the film, Wonka, we wanted to share our thoughts on the new movie as well as make a side-by-side comparison to the 1971 and 2005 film adaptations of the story of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory written by Roald Dahl. Wonka is a prequel that explores the story of Willy Wonka, played by Timotheé Chalamet, and his uprising as the amazing chocolatier we know and love. Come have a seat on the Culture Couch! We're brushed off the dust! 

Hello! We know... it's been far too long since we put out an episode. Life has been incredible busy for the both of us but we thank you all for your patience. This week, we actually have a very special guest filling in for Andrew. He was unable to join us. But we have Skyler's dear friend Mariah taking a seat on the Culture Couch to chat horror and all the things they love about it. We figured since Andrew is out, Skyler and Mariah can geek about horror and discuss the wild ride that was Ari Aster's Beau is Afraid. Come have a seat on the Culture Couch and chat!

We're back at it after Skyler had to take some time off from being sick! This week we wanted to discuss a topic that's a bit random. Thrifting has become such a trendy activity now. But it wasn't always that way. The concept of "thrift stores" started quite a while back. Which was surprising to both of us. Come have a seat on the Culture Couch and chat! Link to TIME article discussed in episode below. Article written by Olivia B. Waxmanhttps://time.com/5364170/thrift-store-history/

NERD ALERT!! As you all know by now, we are both very much into Dungeons and Dragons. If you aren't aware, go ahead and give our past episode on the matter a listen! This week we thought it would be fun to have our Dungeon Master from our campaign come on the podcast and share all things DnD and what it takes to be a DM. He offers some really great insight for those considering playing or DMing. Come have a seat on the Culture Couch and chat! 

Comin' back atcha with with another cryptid! This episode starts with a bit of a rant about a few pop culture current events so if you're here for the mermaids, feel free to skip ahead to the 30 minute mark. :) This week, we decided to take a dive under the see and discuss one of the most popular pieces of folklore. Mermaids. There are many variations of mermaids in folklore from different parts of the world and we discuss some of those different variations as well as some films that feature the mystical creatures. Come have a seat on the Culture Couch and chat! 

**SPOILER WARNING** The time has come. The last of The Last of Us (see what we did there?) has come and gone and with it ares some heavy feelings. Still going down as possibly the best film adaption of a video game, we get together to share our thoughts on the scariest conflict Joel and Ellie encounter as well as that controversial decision that Joel has to make at the climax of the finale. Come have a seat on the Culture Couch to hear out thoughts on how season 1 played out and what we hope to see in season 2! 

Happy Anniversary to Culture Couch! It's been 2 great years of giving you guys fun content and we couldn't be happier with how far we've come. This week we have a few guests who all share a liking for the social partaking of cocktails and various spirits. We discuss some of favorite memories we've all share together and out thoughts on the drinking culture of Utah as well as some of the wacky laws and restrictions we have on alcohol. Come have seat on the Culture Couch! And please, for the love of God, drink responsibly. 

When you're lost in the darkness, look for the light...In this episode we discuss our thoughts and feelings on the last 3 episodes of HBO's The Last of Us. The emotions and stakes are high as Joel and Ellie venture across country. Many events unfold and obstacles get thrown in their way left and right. So far, this has been the best adaption of a video game of all time and quite frankly, one of HBO's best series to date. Come have a seat on the Culture Couch and chat!

Hey! Hope everyone is having a great winter! This week, in light of The Last of Us, we thought it would be fun to discuss zombie movies. They took Pop Culture by storm and held them in a chokehold for a good part of the 2000's and we discuss what we like about them and what we dislike. We go over where they started and how far they've come. We also talk about our favorites and least favorites. We also discuss episodes 3 and 4 of The Last of Us. This show is getting increasingly more intense and intriguing and we can't wait for more! Come have a seat on the Culture Couch and chat! 

Guys... if you feel like there will never be a day where a video game-to-film adaptation will be made and it'll actually be good, worry no more. The Last of Us has completely revitalized our hopes for great adaptations. Which sparked our idea to discuss all the really bad movies we've seen that are based on some beloved video games. At the end of the episode we also give a review on the first 2 episodes of HBO's The Last of Us. Come have a seat on the Culture Couch and chat!

Happy New Year!! We're finally back after a long, much-needed break. We hope you all had a wonderful holiday season and ready to begin your 2023! This week we're coming at you with our annual review of the current Hot Ones sauce lineup where we have also asked you guys to send us some questions and boy, did you all deliver! We answer some good questions and wreck our mouths with these wickedly spicy - but also delicious - sauces! Come have a seat on the Culture Couch and catch up with us! We've missed you! 

Hello! We're back after another weird break! We apologize that we have been pretty inconsistent with uploading lately but life has gotten significantly busier for both of us. But we are back this week with a fun topic and a special guest! This week we wanted to discuss what it's like navigating through media as a parent and trying to monitor what kids get to watch. So, what better way than to discuss with an actual parent of children? We brought on Skyler's brother to pick his brain about what kind of content he allows his kids to watch and how it is now that the world is becoming way more progressive. Come have a seat on the Culture Couch to chat! 

We're comin' atcha with another cryptid! Since it's been so bloody cold out, we thought it seemed appropriate that we cover the Abominable Snowman AKA the yeti. There have been quite a few sightings of this beast in Asia and some parts of Russia. But can it all just be a big hoax and the footprints that have been found just be that of bears? These guys have also made their way into pop culture in a few ways and even into the magical land of Disney! Come have a seat on the Culture Couch and chat!

Slowly but surely, we are getting caught up on all the biggest shows. This week we wanted to discuss The Rings of Power and our thoughts on it. There were many great things about this series. The cast was great. visuals were stunning and the story was intriguing. There were also a few things that fell a little flat for us. Come have a seat on the Culture Couch as we discuss our thoughts and what we want to see in the next season! 

Dungeons and dragons... we've all heard of it. We've all been curious about it. And sadly, we've probably all made fun of it. The table-top game has drastically grown in popularity and has become quite the trend now that it's cool to be a nerd. (I typed that sentence with slight bitterness) This week we decided we wanted to discuss D&D since we are both new to the game and have developed a love for it. We talk about the origin of the game, the influences it has had on pop culture and we discuss our thoughts and feelings now that we've both jumped into this fun community. Come have a seat on the Culture Couch and chat! 

War is upon us... And so is an incredibly long and rude wait. Season one of House of the Dragon has come to a close and with it are A LOT of thoughts. We have come to really love this show and we feel is a more than worthy followup to Game of Thrones. Even though we were both still quite bitter about how GoT ended. This show was so well-written, well-acted and BEAUTIFULLY shot. And so many dragons! What more could you want?! Come have a seat on the Culture Couch and let's discuss! 

We are back! Our lives have gotten very busy and has made recording very difficult but we have FINALLY locked down our schedules now that Skyler has officially started school! We'll be coming at you every week! This week we are covering the last 3 episodes of She-Hulk: Attorney at Law! It's the MCU's final tv show for the rest of the year and the penultimate close to Phase 4! It has truly been a fun journey and a very different project than what Marvel Studios has put out in the past. It's one of the funniest installments we've seen to date and we have a lot of thoughts on the ending. Come have a seat on the Culture Couch! 

Spooky Season week 2 is upon us! So, we decided to jump right into the spooky. This week we discuss Andrew's horror movie of the week and our topic, demonic possession and exorcism. Something that Hollywood has latched onto and made countless movies about. Demonic possession and exorcism, or some variation of both, have been a part of many religions since they began. And they more or less point to the same thing - the existence of demons and how to banish them when they possess and take hold of an individual. Unfortunately, there have been cases where exorcism ends in tragedy. Much like the case of Annelisse Michel. A horrific case of demonic possession that inspired the film The Exorcism of Emily Rose. Come have a seat on the Culture Couch and chat! Story of Annelisse Michel read from allthatisinteresting.comhttps://allthatsinteresting.com/anneliese-michel-exorcism

Boo! It's Spooky Season! You know what that means! Scary movies, monsters, candy, and cool weather galore! This week we are starting off the season with another cryptid. The Skinwalker. These feared creatures have been apart of Native American folklore for generations. They are described to be some of the most evil beings to walk the earth. But... why is there almost no mention of them in Hollywood and pop culture? Come have a seat on the Culture Couch and chat!

**SPOILER ALERT** House of the Dragon is the biggest show on TV right now. So, we had to stop and give our thoughts on the first half of the season. It's so much fun to visit Westeros on a weekly basis again. This show is just too good to wait and keep all of our thoughts to ourselves until the end so we thought we'd break down the first half and give you our thoughts, our concerns and our predictions! Come have a seat on the Culture Couch!

We are finally back after our trip to Ireland. We fell behind with recording while we were traveling and Andrew also got sick so we tried to focus on enjoying our vacation rather than stressing about recording. But She-Hulk minis are back and the show is just getting more and more exciting! Titania makes her return and we see even more problems open up for Jen as she navigates her way through life as a Hulk. Come have a seat on the Culture Couch and chat! 

In this episode, we discuss why reading was such an important part in our childhoods. We each have a VERY different experience when it comes to reading but they both shaped our interests we have as adults today. We discuss some of our favorite books as children vs. our favorite books now. Come have a seat on the Culture Couch and chat! 

Episode 4 is here and with it comes some court cases, a portal to a hell dimension and the return of Titania! Things are getting spicy for Jen Walters and the show keeps getting better and better. Come have a seat on the Culture Couch and chat! 

It's an interesting time for movies and TV. It seems that everyone on the internet has an opinion about everything and that no matter how good the show or movie is, there are droves of people online that live to tear them down and talk about how awful they are. Which sometimes leaves those of us who enjoy said shows and movies feeling weird simply because we enjoyed something. Come have a seat on the Culture Couch to discuss!

Episode 3 is here! Jen Walters is finally starting to get her life back together and she's learned to live with being a Hulk. This episode was filled to the brim with comedy and a very unexpected cameo! Come have a seat on the Culture Couch and chat! 

Cryptids have been a part of pop culture for a very long time. From Bigfoot, to mermaids, moth men... All sorts of them. The folklore behind them all has intrigued since we were kids and we thought it was time to start jumping into where these stories come from and where they've popped up in pop culture. Come have a seat on the Culture Couch as we discuss the first of many other cryptids to come - The Wendigo. 

Episode 2 is here! Jen has to face some real-world conflict and we get to see a familiar face! She-Hulk's placement in the timeline was also confirmed! This series has surprised us each week so far with how much we're enjoying it. Come have a seat on the Culture Couch and chat!

This week we jump into music videos. We talk about when they started becoming a popular part of pop culture and how they've changed. We also discuss some of our favorites as well as a few of the most controversial music videos. Come have a seat on the Culture Couch!

Jennifer Walters has finally made her way into the MCU! Both of us were surprised by how much we enjoyed this first episode! It's got a lot of charm, wit and nostalgia that make for an enjoyable experience and Tatiana Maslany is incredible! Come have a seat on the Culture Couch as we discuss the MCU's latest addition to the roster! 

We know... We're late to the game. But the Ms. Marvel mini is finally here! Kamala Khan is quite an influential character and it's exciting to see her finally hit the screen! Her show brings up a lot of questions for the future of the MCU. Come have a seat on the Culture Couch and let's chat about it! 

This week we dive in and discuss some of our favorite and least favorite TV series finales we've had the pleasure - or displeasure - seeing. Finales can be hit or miss. They have potential to wrap the shows we love up in a nice little bow and send off with a nice farewell. But they also have the potential to take everything we've loved from the beginning and throw it all out the window and burn it with dragon fire... We're looking at you, D & D... Come have a seat on the Culture Couch and chat!

We're back! After our unintended break... Life happens and Andrew got COVID. But he is all better now and we are back on track! This week we discuss the trends we see on a regular basis on social media and the impact they can have for better or worse. Not all of the trends are terrible though! Some of them can be really fun. Stick around for the anonymous questions we received from you! come have a seat on the Culture Couch!

San Diego Comic Con has come and with it, a whole bunch of announcements! The most talked about being those from the Marvel Studios panel. So much was revealed for the behemoth franchise and it's only getting bigger! This week we discuss all the big announcements and we talk about conventions as a whole. Are they doing good for Pop Culture? Are they the result as to why there is so much fan service that comprises good story telling and plot? Come have a seat on the Culture Couch and chat!

We're going on three years since the COVID 19 pandemic struck. It has affected pop culture and the way we consume media in so many ways. It has also completely changed the way we interact with each other as a society. Come have a seat on the Culture Couch and chat! 

SPOILER WARNING!! TV and movies have been popping off lately. We had to discuss the crazy ride that was The Boys season 3 and of course, had to discuss our thoughts and feelings on the latest installment in the Thor franchise, Thor Love & Thunder. We have a lot of thoughts about both so come have a seat on the Culture Couch and chat! 

We have been watching a ton of shows lately and instead of dragging them out across the course of a few weeks, we wanted to talk about some of our favorites that we've seen in the last little bit all in one episode because it's a good year for TV! Come have a seat on the Culture Couch and chat!

The finale has finally come! We gave you all a week to catch up and watch it before we recorded our thoughts but the time is now! Come have a seat on the Culture Couch and chat!

Pride Month has come to a close but that doesn't mean that we can't continue to celebrate being proud of the beautiful human beings that LGBTQ+ people are. This week we discuss coming out and what that means for us. We also have 3 very special guests. 2 coming out stories from the mouths of gay men and then we have the perspective from a parent which is something we don't think about often. Come have a seat on the Culture Couch!

It's still Pride Month so we are coming at you with some of the most iconic and notable members of the LGBTQ+ community in pop culture. They are trail blazers who have fought tooth and nail for human rights and have brought LGBTQ+ identity to the forefront of the entertainment and political industries. Come have a seat on the Culture Couch!

The penultimate episode is here! Things are heating up and tensions are rising for Obi-Wan. We got a lot of questions answered this week but a few new questions arose out of the events of this episode. Come have a seat on the Culture Couch! 

Happy Pride Month! We are finally back after Skyler has recovered from Covid and we're coming at you with an episode all about Pride! We had the opportunity to volunteer in the Utah Pride Festival as stage managers and it was a wonderful experience for both of us. We discuss the origins of Pride and what it means for us and why it's important that we celebrate it. Come have a seat on the Culture Couch and chat!