The Smell Test Podcast

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Do your beloved childhood films past the smell test for you as an adult? Hosts Jessica and Diane revisit old favorites and discuss whether or not they still hold up culturally in the 2020s.

Jessica Homer & Diane Odeh


    • May 29, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • every other week NEW EPISODES
    • 1h 7m AVG DURATION
    • 78 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from The Smell Test Podcast

    Smell Test Episode 78: Ferngully

    Play Episode Listen Later May 29, 2025 70:25


    Join us to discuss Ferngully (1992), a movie dedicated to future generations. Tune in to hear how it brainwashed Jessica and our guest, Kelly!

    Smell Test Episode 77: Juno

    Play Episode Listen Later May 19, 2025 67:40


    Juno (2007) is about an unplanned teen pregnancy and was released at the peak of millennial core indie films. Does it pass the smell test?

    Smell Test Episode 76: Final Destination

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 27, 2025 49:29


    This week, we're talking about Final Destination (2000). With death as the primary villain, does it stand the test of time?

    Smell Test Episode 75: Big Daddy

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 14, 2025 47:30


    Big Daddy (1999) was a turn-of-the-century Adam Sandler film. Does it hold up 26 years later?

    Smell Test Episode 74: Office Space

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 11, 2025 68:19


    Tune in to hear why Diane kind of thinks the Bobs had a good point as we unpack Office Space (1999).

    Smell Test Episode 73: Little Giants

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 24, 2025 53:54


    Who doesn't love a good David v. Goliath story? Tune in as we debrief on Diane's pick, Little Giants (1994).

    Smell Test Episode 72: Set It Off

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 3, 2025 70:58


    Set It Off (1996) stars an ensemble cast of black female actresses. Lorick joins us to discuss the influence this film had on her as a young women.

    Smell Test Episode 71: Bring It On

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 24, 2025 63:39


    Bring It On (2000) is referenced often on social media in 2025. Tune in as we discuss cultural appropriation, teenaged snark, and which of the film's actors are no longer with us.

    Smell Test Episode 70: Tank Girl

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 19, 2025 60:10


    Tank Girl (1995) takes place 8 years from now. Join us as we debrief on how accurately it predicted the future.

    Smell Test Episode 69: Mean Girls

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 10, 2025 59:45


    Join us for this nice episode where we discussMean Girls (2004). Tune in to find out why Jess thinks Janis Ian is the worst; and to hear what we think the characters would be up to today.

    Smell Test Episode 68: Revenge of the Nerds

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 21, 2025 64:00


    Buckle up as we hate-watch Revenge of the Nerds (1984) and discuss why it planted the seeds of where contemporary society is at today.

    Smell Test Episode 67: Varsity Blues

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 13, 2025 62:13


    Varsity Blues (1999) tells the story of small town football life and is the first rated R film Diane watched in the movie theater. Tune in as we determine if a movie about a sport we dislike passes the smell test.

    Smell Test Episode 66: Trading Places

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 24, 2024 105:37


    Eddie joins us for our last holiday season episode to discuss Trading Places (1983). We made this extra long to tide you over until 2025!

    Smell Test Episode 65: Die Hard

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 16, 2024 58:16


    Die Hard (1988) is arguably a Christmas movie, so we're covering it this week! Join us as debrief on the hidden politics in this film as we also try to figure out what the Nakatomi Corporation actually does.

    christmas die hard smell test nakatomi corporation
    Smell Test Episode 64: The Family Stone

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 9, 2024 55:25


    The Family Stone (2005) has been watched many time by Diane on accident and features many locations from Jess's old stomping grounds. Tune in to hear why we think Meredith wasn't the only problem.

    Smell Test Episode 63: Bad Santa

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 2, 2024 56:16


    We kick off this year's holiday season with Bad Santa (2003). Tune in to hear us be perpetually confounded at Billy Bob Thornton's attractiveness.

    Smell Test Episode 62: Idiocracy

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 25, 2024 71:28


    Idiocracy (2006) is set in 2505, but we're well on our way to it becoming a reality. Does a movie that uses so many slurs pass the smell test?

    Smell Test Episode 61: Legally Blonde

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 18, 2024 73:27


    Legally Blonde (2001) is based on a true story of woman's experience in law school. Tune in to hear us share our grad school experiences, and what we think Warner is up to today!

    Smell Test Episode 60: Honey, I Shrunk The Kids

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 12, 2024 60:20


    Time for a November palate cleanser! Jess has seen Honey, I Shrunk The Kids (1989). Once again, Diane saw the sequel before the original. Tune in to learn why we think Rick Moranis is the best, and why we feel bad for the only daughter in the film.

    Smell Test Episode 59: Poltergeist

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 28, 2024 63:28


    Join us for our final episode of spooky season where we discuss the classic Poltergeist (1982). This film still serves as an archetype for spooky movies today, but does it pass the smell test?

    Smell Test Episode 58: The Blair Witch Project

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 21, 2024 74:43


    The final sibling of the Homer brood, Aubrey, joins us to debrief onThe Blair Witch Project (1999). This podcast does not stand with all the witch slander of this film.

    Smell Test Episode 57: The Shining

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 14, 2024 104:55


    Diane's high school best friend Jessica joins us to discuss The Shining (1980). Buckle up, because we have a LOT of things to say about Jack Torrance. Be aware, this episode contains frank discussions of abuse.

    Smell Test Episode 56: Ernest Scared Stupid

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 7, 2024 80:32


    Dr. Joe joins us to debrief on Ernest Scared Stupid (1991). Was Jim Varney one of the most prolific propagandists of the 1990s? Does Ernest hate colonialism? Tune in to find out what we think!

    Smell Test Episode 55: Rosemary's Baby

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 23, 2024 67:24


    Rosemary's Baby (1968) was released during a tumultuous time in America and directed by a confirmed (alleged) creep. Does this iconic film pass the smell test?

    Smell Test Episode 54: Scream

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 16, 2024 66:26


    Join us we debrief on Scream (1996) with our first return guest, Matt. Is Gale Weathers the worst? Was Stu in love with Billy? Tune in to hear what we think.

    Smell Test Episode 53: Hocus Pocus

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 9, 2024 91:13


    Special guest Cara joins us to discuss one of her all-time favorites, Hocus Pocus (1993). Does a film that starts with child murder pass the smell test?

    Smell Test Episode 52: Addams Family Values

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 2, 2024 71:08


    Guest co-host Eric (@docsrants) joins us to discuss Addams Family Values (1993). Does this black comedy pass the smell test thirty-one years later?

    Smell Test Episode 51: Romy and Michele's High School Reunion

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 26, 2024 56:52


    This week, Jess and Diane revisit Romy and Michele's High School Reunion (1997). Tune in to find out what it shows us about diet culture and the way people with disabilities were treated at the time.

    Smell Test Episode 50: Beetlejuice

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 19, 2024 79:23


    It's our 50th episode, which seems important somehow! Join us as we reflect on the past 49 episodes and determine whether Beetlejuice (1988) passes the smell test or not. As a FYI, this episode contains discussions of death and self-harm.

    Smell Test Episode 49: Billy Madison

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 5, 2024 72:27


    Join us for our first Adam Sandler film where we discuss Billy Madison (1995). Tune in to hear how this episode turned into a skin cancer PSA.

    Smell Test Episode 48: Kindergarten Cop

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 29, 2024 77:46


    This week, Diane chose to give Kindergarten Cop (1990) a rewatch. How does it hold up in a time when cops aren't so uncommon in schools?

    Smell Test Episode 47: The Birdcage

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 22, 2024 79:53


    The final Homer sibling, Pat, joins us to discuss The Birdcage (1996). Does a movie that features homophobia, anti-semitism, and underaged relationships pass the smell test in 2024?

    Smell Test Episode 46: Back to the Future

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 15, 2024 70:04


    Back to the Future (1985) is an iconic film filled with assault, incest, and good ol' fashioned racism. Does it pass the smell test?

    Smell Test Episode 45: Old School

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 8, 2024 82:20


    Old School (2003) was one of Diane's favorites. Now that she works with college students, does she feel the same way in 2024?

    Smell Test Episode 44: Hot Fuzz

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 24, 2024 76:59


    Hot Fuzz (2007) is part of a trilogy of films starring Simon Pegg and Nick Frost. It's one of Jess's all-time faves. Does it pass the smell test?

    Smell Test Episode 43: Mrs. Doubtfire

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 18, 2024 56:40


    Mrs. Doubtfire (1993) stars Robin Williams and Sally Field; and is about a divorced father who dresses in drag to trick his ex-wife into paying him to watch his own kids. With a description like that, can it pass the smell test?

    Smell Test Episode 42: The Goonies

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 10, 2024 89:11


    The Goonies (1985) follows the 80s trope of a group of folks trying to fight capitalism. It's in the National Film Registry, but does it pass the smell test?

    Smell Test Episode 41: Three Men and a Baby

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 3, 2024 71:40


    Join us for our Season 3 premiere as we discuss Three Men and a Baby (1987). Does a movie about perpetual bachelors raising an abandoned little girl pass the smell test? Tune in to find out!

    Smell Test Episode 40: Hook

    Play Episode Listen Later May 20, 2024 86:17


    Join us for our Season 2 finale where we discuss Hook (1991). Kelly, another member of the Homer household, joins us to debrief on whether or not the film passes the smell test. As a FYI, this episode contains discussion of abuse and suicide, so if you need to skip this one, we'll see you next time!

    Smell Test Episode 39: Wayne's World

    Play Episode Listen Later May 13, 2024 73:55


    Party time, excellent! Join us as we debrief on Wayne's World (1992), which somehow turned into a discussion about age of consent laws in the United States.

    Smell Test 38: Princess Bride

    Play Episode Listen Later May 7, 2024 55:20


    Gueesssssss whoooooooooo's baaaaaaaaack? We have returned from spring break and can't wait to talk to you about Princess Bride (1987), including how this film perpetuated an irrational fear of quicksand that all Millennials have.

    Smell Test Episode 37: Superbad

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 8, 2024 55:03


    Superbad (2007) is yet another coming-of-age film that Diane loved. Does it pass the smell test 17 years later? Join us for our last episode before we go on spring break through the end of April!

    Smell Test Episode 36: Sister Act

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 1, 2024 74:00


    Sister Act (1992) was one Jessica's staples from the video store. Join us as we talk religion, urban design, and why you should never trust a man who said he's leaving his wife.

    Smell Test Episode 35: Who Framed Roger Rabbit?

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 25, 2024 62:20


    Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988) was a staple in the Homer household. Join us as guest co-host and internationally-featured librarian Jay joins us to talk about this film that ends up being a thinly veiled critique of capitalism.

    Smell Test Episode 34: Grandma's Boy

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 18, 2024 70:06


    Grandma's Boy (2006) stars Adam Sandler's best friends and has been a favorite of both hosts. Does this raunchy comedy pass the smell test?

    Smell Test Episode 33: She's All That

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 11, 2024 75:14


    She's All That (1999) was a favorite of Diane's as a young adolescent; and a film that's been parodied several times. Does it pass the smell test 25 years later?

    Smell Test Episode 32: Jurassic Park

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 5, 2024 65:58


    Jurassic Park (1993) is a film both Diane and Jess saw in the theaters. Join us as we discuss women in STEM, capitalism, and the ethics of de-extinction.

    Smell Test Episode 31: Cruel Intentions

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 26, 2024 53:14


    Diane knew Cruel Intentions (1999) so well she could recite lines from it. Does it pass the smell test 25 years later?

    Smell Test Episode 30: Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 19, 2024 57:06


    Join us as we celebrate the 35th anniversary of Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure (1989) by discussing whether it's bodacious or bogus in the context of our current culture.

    Smell Test Episode 29: Bio-Dome

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 12, 2024 65:51


    Bio-Dome (1996) is widely panned as one of the worst films of all time. Does that mean it doesn't pass the smell test? Tune in as we talk environmentalism, himbos, and purple sticky punch.

    Smell Test Episode 28: Camp Nowhere

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 5, 2024 53:57


    Join us for our first in-person podcast recording! This week we reviewed Camp Nowhere (1994), a childhood favorite for both of us, and the root of our crush on Andrew Keegan--does it hold up, though?

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