Podcasts about pop rocket

This week we present our second "best of" episode featuring a collection of the lovely guests we've had over the years. You'll hear Guy Branham & Margaret Wappler make their first appearance since the end of Pop Rocket (3:28), Kathy Valentine talk about the L.A. punk scene and feminism (15:27), Kevin Smith talk about working with his daughter (24:37), June Diane Raphael give her take on Clueless (34:09), Bob Odenkirk talk about Mr. Show and using comedy to expose homophobia (49:21), Renee Bever and Tavia Nyong'o talk about blackness in horror cinema (55:48) and Sandra Bernhard gives her thoughts about fighting on the internet.    To get early access to releases and bonus content weekly, please subscribe to our patreon at patreon.com/waitingtoxhale  

The Two Gay Geeks

Billy & Dom talk about whether Merry and Pippin could have made Frodo's journey and their favorite animation movies before having comedian/writer Guy Branum on show. They talk about Guy's new book My Life as a Goddess, getting started as a stand up comedian, working in a writer's room, and offers his homemade peach cobbler for Eat the World! Guy Branum is an American comedian, writer, and actor best known as the head writer of, and a sketch performer on, X-Play on the G4 network and as a regular panelist on Chelsea Lately on the E! network. He used to host the podcast Pop Rocket on the Maximum Fun network, and hosted TruTV's Talk Show the Game Show. Check below for other LIVE Friendship Onion recordings! Boston (August 12th) Toronto (August 26th) Get your Friendship Onion merchandise at https://www.thefriendshiponionpodcast.com! Tune in every Tuesday for new episodes and please be sure to rate, subscribe, and leave a comment/review! And be sure to follow and add your favorite funky jams to our Spotify playlist "The Friendship Onion." Feel free to leave Billy and Dom a message with your comments, questions, or just to say hello at https://www.speakpipe.com/thefriendshiponion or write us an email at thefriendshiponion@kastmedia.com TFO's IG - @thefriendshiponion Billy's IG - @boydbilly Dom's IG - @dom_monaghan_ Guy Branum Twitter Guy Branum Instagram My Life as a Goddess Produced by Jon Cvack - IG: @jcvack To score 15% off your Blenders purchase, visit blenderseyewear.com and enter promo code onionvip. Go to wren.co/ONION, sign up, and they'll plant 10 extra trees in your name! The Conqueror app can be found at theconqueror.events/onion See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Guy Branum is back, this time joined by his former Pop Rocket co-host Wynter Mitchell (Waiting to X-Hale), to competitively rank the 7 best films starring everyone's favorite floppy-haired Brit, Hugh Grant!

If you were to be cut off from the bulk of your music library — stranded on a desert island, say — what are the eight discs that might sustain you? Join Vassar professor and New Yorker staff writer Hua Hsu, and CSULB professor, DJ, and podcast host Oliver Wang, for a conversation about the long-running BBC Radio program “Desert Island Discs” (about which Hsu wrote for the New Yorker in March). Hsu and Wang will discuss the BBC series and talk about a few of their own “must-have” tracks as well. Hua Hsu is associate professor of English at Vassar College. He is the author of A Floating Chinaman: Fantasy and Failure Across the Pacific (Harvard University Press) and has been a staff writer at the New Yorker since 2017, where he writes about culture and ideas. Oliver Wang is associate professor of sociology at California State University, Long Beach. For more than 25 years he’s been an active DJ; his popular music criticism is available both in scholarly venues (Legions of Boom, Duke University Press) and more popular outlets, such as his work for NPR Music and his years of hosting podcasts — first “Pop Rocket” and, since 2017, “Heat Rocks.”

Wynter and Karen reunite with their former podmates Guy Branum and Margaret Wappler in this supersized episode fundraising for G.L.I.T.S and SummaEverything! The fierce foursome indulge in a deep catch-up about everything from the demise of the “girl boss,” to 90 Day Fiance and Top Chef All Stars (Margaret even cameos at a boozy brunch in one of the episodes), all while processing the pop culture in the last year that they’ve missed talking to each other about since they wrapped Pop Rocket in May 2019. The gang puts their Gen X heads together for an analysis of Generation Z, who are revved and ready to lead the revolution. Plus,  Nuo Lingo tips us off to what’s become of the influencer class, and our beloved guests bring us home with two radiant songs of the week. Instead of another plea to contribute to us this week, we ask that you contribute to the social justice organizations of your choice, especially those promoting peace, and racial, gender and sexual equality. We, and our guests this week  recommend the following:  G.L.I.T.S. - https://www.glitsinc.org/donations SummaEverythang - https://summaeverythang.org/

Join your host Jaime Harker as she sips the tea with Karen Tongson and Wynter Mitchell-Rohrbaugh in a tell-all session about the life, legacy, and demise of their beloved Podcast, Pop Rocket. Karen and Wynter delve into the gendered and racial dynamics of their parent company’s decision to disband the production of Pop Rocket and share how they created a strong bond and resolve to forge on with their own iteration of the show. Karen and Wynter are now hosts of their own Podcast, Waiting to X-Hale, a show dedicated to fleshing out some of the most influential cultural and social movements that defined Generation-X. Karen and Wynter are veteran podcasters with a loyal following and a fresh take on the importance of popular culture in shaping identity. Their strong cultural analysis is rooted from a queer and woman of color experience. Join us for a riveting discussion about race, power, and podcasting!_______Check out Karen & Wynter's podcast: Waiting to X-Hale Follow Wynter on Twitter and find Karen's works here

The Album: Ani DiFranco: Little Plastic Castle (1998) Ani DiFranco has never been a pop star by conventional measure but Little Plastic Castle was her dealing with the costs of stardom within her niche of alternative pop/rock world. The result is what's considered one of her best albums ever — it ended up being her best-selling at the very least — one where she tries to work through what happens when public scrutiny and fan indignity begin to feel invasive and you wonder what it's all for. For DiFranco though, she reminds us: she's got better things to do than survive.   Little Plastic Castle was the pick of our guest, comedian Guy Branum who, until very recently, was the host of the Maximum Fun pop culture panel podcast Pop Rocket (alas, recently cancelled, RIP!). Pre-Heat Rocks, Oliver was on Pop Rocket for two years and got to see, first hand, Guy's pop polymath skills in action. Taped earlier in the spring, live in front of an audience as part of the Voyager Institute series, the three of us discussed DiFranco's album within the context of Lilith Fair-era female artists, the politics of queer authenticity and how her invocation of cherry bombs probably doesn't refer to firecrackers.   More on Guy Branum Guy's 2018 memoir, My Life as a Goddess Interview on NPR's It's Been a Minute Twitter | Website More on Little Plastic Castle AV Music review Theory for Turntables podcast episode about the album "Ani DiFranco Takes Chances on 'Little Plastic Castle'" (MTV News) Show Tracklisting (all songs from Little Plastic Castle unless indicated otherwise): Little Plastic Castle Swan Dive Ani DiFranco: 32 Flavors Two Little Girls Glass House Fuel Swan Dive Gravel Independence Day Dizraeli: Bomb Tesco Pulse Here is the Spotify playlist of as many songs as we can find there If you're not already subscribed to Heat Rocks in Apple Podcasts, do it here!

**Warning - this episode contains lots of tears** For the final episode of Pop Rocket, the panel convene to give listeners one last All About, one last Jam, and they look back at the past four and a half years, and all the various milestones they’ve shared with one another and their listeners while doing the show--marriages, deaths, birth, book deals, finding a new home, and so many other memories. It’s raw. It’s wonderful. In addition, we’ll hear phone calls from listeners and friends of the show about what Pop Rocket meant to them. Plus, Guy shares the best abortion joke he’s ever heard. Lastly, Wynter and Karen reveal their new, upcoming podcast, and how you can stay in touch with them beyond Pop Rocket. ALL ABOUTS Margaret: Broad City series finale Karen: Gentleman Jack Wynter Veep Guy: Long Shot That's My Jam Margaret: George Harrison-If Not for You Karen: The Postal Service - Such Great Heights Guy: Christine Anu, David Hobson - Now Until the Break of Day Wynter: Sid Vicious - My Way   Announcement Karen Tongson and Wynter Mitchell-Rohrbaugh have a new podcast in the works called Waiting to X-hale     Waiting to X-hale Podcast   Waiting to X-hale is a brand new woman-of-color driven podcast hosted by Wynter Mitchell-Rohrbaugh, and Karen Tongson, revisiting the pop culture and transformative social issues that defined Generation X. Our discussions, debates, and instructional interludes will let you see your favorite (and least favorite) aspects of GenX culture in a way that sheds new light on both then, and now. A special preview episode is dropping in early June with regular episodes recurring after Karen returns from her book tour in July. For more information, sign up for the Waiting to X-hale newsletter, and follow the show on Twitter: @waiting2xhalepd With Guy Branum, Karen Tongson, Margaret Wappler, Wynter Mitchell-Rohrbaugh Produced and edited by Laura Swisher for MaximumFun.org.  

**Angelenos: Tonight (May 17th) at 7pm Guy and Karen will have a conversation about Why Karen Carpenter Matters at Book Soup in West Hollywood.** In this penultimate episode, the Pop Rocket panel seeks guidance from The Oracle of LA, Amanda Yates Garcia. Each panelist pulls a card from the Oracle’s tarot deck, and gets an individual reading. What’s next for everyone? The answer’s in the cards. Also, Karen Tongson tells us about her phone call with Elizabeth Warren this week. Presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren called Karen Tongson on the phone. Personally. Listen to hear how it went down. If you were as impressed with Amanda’s reading as the panel was, you can subscribe to her podcast Strange Magic. Lastly, if anyone wants to ask the panelists for advice--about anything!--you’ve got less than 24 hours to call and leave a message with Guy’s mom: (530) 237-4108 That's My Jam Margaret: Weyes Blood (Natalie Mering) -A Lot’s Gonna Change Guy: Carly Rae Jepsen - Cut to the Feeling Karen: Vampire Weekend (wth Danielle Haim) - We Belong Together Song: IN: 1:38 - Fade 2:19 Amanda: Alice Coltrane -Govinda Jai Jai With Guy Branum, Karen Tongson, Margaret Wappler, Wynter Mitchell-Rohrbaugh, Amanda Yates Garcia, The Oracle of LA Produced and edited by Laura Swisher for MaximumFun.org.

This is the first of our three final episodes, and we’re joined by screenwriter Guinevere Turner (American Psycho,Go Fish) whose latest film Charlie Says just came out today, May 10th. As “budding cult-ologist” MagWaps notes, “if you think you’ve heard everything on the Mansons, trust me, this movie takes a different view.” Having grown up in a cult, Guinevere was able to draw from her experiences and insight to tell the story from the point of view of the women who were targeted and groomed by Manson, and killed for him. It’s a fascinating discussion. Plus, the panel convened once again to vote on another Pop Rocket Seal of Approval. The final three nominees were Sandra Oh, Toni Collette and Catherine O’Hara. There are two more Pop Rocket episodes to go in its nearly five-year run. If you’d like to share with the panelists what this show meant to you, or tell them about your favorite episodes, you can call Guy’s mom and leave a message at: (530) 237-4108 You can also email poprocketpodcast@gmail.com a recording of your message made with your phone’s voice memo app. If you haven’t already, please make sure to follow all four panelists on social media. You can find their Twitter handles below. That's My Jam Margaret: Fleet Foxes - Helplessness Blues Guy: John Cale - Paris 1919 Karen: Heart - Never Wynter: Tame Impala - Borderline Guinevere: King Princess - 1950 With Guy Branum, Karen Tongson, Margaret Wappler, Wynter Mitchell-Rohrbaugh, Guinevere Turner Produced and edited by Laura Swisher for MaximumFun.org.

First off, you're welcome Game of Thrones fans. This is a super-sized Pop Rocket loaded with theories, speculation, and yes, even love. While Wynter and Karen were away, Margaret and Guy tapped two die-hard fans for a full-on discussion of the series and their thoughts now that the first two of the last six episodes have aired. Assembled in the studio this week: Guy "I've read all the George R.R. Martin books in the series" Branum Sarah "I'm in a viewing group with a gaggle of lesbians and their gaybies" Kessler Laura "I prepared delicious direwolf-shaped crackers" Krafft Margaret "I host GoT viewing parties at my house" Wappler This episode will reveal which Game of Thrones character Guy has dressed up for--TWICE!--for Halloween. Sarah finds one GoT character extremely annoying, and it's not Bran. Laura pines for a Winterfell man she fears will die in the next episode, and Margaret is pretty sure she knows who will take the throne. This was a raucous, expansive conversation that will both delight and frustrate Game of Thrones fans. All Abouts Margaret: The podcast Going Through It hosted by Ann Friedman Guy: Chasten Buttigieg’s Twitter account Sarah: Dr. Pimple Popper, now on Hulu Laura: The FX show What We Do in the Shadows That's My Jam Guy: Lizzo - Better in Color Margaret: FKA Twigs - Cellophane Sarah: Rusted Root - Send Me on My Way Laura: Stone Roses - Fool’s Gold With Guy Branum, Margaret Wappler, Sarah Kessler, Laura Krafft Did you know that you can now call and leave voicemails for the show? You can! If you want to comment on an episode, give us any feedback or just call to get advice from a panel member, the number is: (530) 237-4108 You can let us know what you think of Pop Rocket and suggest topics in our Facebook group or via @PopRocket on Twitter. If you haven't already, follow us on Instagram. Produced and edited by Laura Swisher for MaximumFun.org.

The Album: The Carpenters' A Song For You (1972) dulcet (adjective) used to describe a sound that is soothing and soft, like the dulcet harmonies in a 70s pop song or the dulcet tones of a harp. It seems like Karen Carpenter invented dulcet tones. Her velvet buttery vocals floated and soared on songs like "We've Only Just Begun", "Top Of The World", "Close To You". Alongside her brother Richard, she created a signature sound built around layered arrangements and harmonies. Our guest, Pop Rocket's own Karen Tongson, sat with us on Heat Rocks to deep dive into the Carpenters seminal, Close To You, their second studio album released on August 19th, 1970. We talked about what made Karen Carpenter's voice inimitable and extraordinary, how the Carpenters invented the power ballad, Karen's enunciations and lower register, and listened to acapellas that made us all swoon. Karen's book "Why Karen Carpenter" makes its debut on June 1st and will cover all the ground we didn't in this episode, sans music, but Heat Rocks recommends that you listen to music of The Carpenters in prep! More on Karen Tongson Karen Tongson on Why Karen Carpenter Matters (UTexas Press) Preorder Karen's book here Twitter | Instagram More on A Song For You Karen Carpenter's tragic story (The Guardian) Remembering Karen Carpenter, 30 Years Later" (NPR) Flashback: Karen Carpenter Takes Country Music to the White House (Rolling Stone) Show Tracklisting (all songs from A Song For You unless indicated otherwise): Hurting Each Other Goodbye to Love The Carpenters: We've Only Just Begun Donny Hathaway: A Song For You A Song For You Piano Picker Crystal Lullaby I Won't Last A Day Without You Diana Ross: I Won't Last A Day Without You I Won't Last A Day Without You Intermission The Carpenters: Rainy Days and Mondays (isolated vocals) Goodbye to Love Road Ode I Won't Last A Day Without You Top of the World If you're not already subscribed to Heat Rocks in Apple Podcasts, do it here!

This week Wynter and Karen chat with Ellington Wells, a comedian and writer on Comedy Central’s brand new sketch show The New Negroes with Open Mike Eagle and Baron Vaughn. The panel takes a look at how black sketch comedy has involved and Wells tell us what Robert Townsend TV special inspired Vaughn to create a show with a similar sensibility. All Abouts Wynter: No Good Nick Karen: Season 4 of Crazy Ex-Girlfriend Ellington: Britney's Gram podcast special episode That's My Jam Ellington: Ava Max - Sweet But Psycho Guy: BTS (방탄소년단) IDOL (Feat. Nicki Minaj) Wynter: Nat King Cole - Harlem Blues Karen: An Luu - Pourquoi tu me fous plus des coups? With Karen Tongson, Ellington Wells, Wynter Mitchell-Rohrbaugh Did you know that you can now call and leave voicemails for the show? You can! If you want to comment on an episode, give us any feedback or just call to get advice from a panel member, the number is: (530) 237-4108 You can let us know what you think of Pop Rocket and suggest topics in our Facebook group or via @PopRocket on Twitter. If you haven't already, follow us on Instagram. Produced and edited by Laura Swisher for MaximumFun.org.

**ANNOUNCEMENT: The nomination process is now open for the next Pop Rocket Seal of Approval. This quarter we’re looking for veterans with a large body of work who have been underappreciated and haven’t received the acclaim that their body of work and stellar character deserve. If you want to submit a name, you must call and leave a message on Guy’s mom’s voicemail to tell us who you’d like to nominate and why. That number is: 530-237-4108** This week we’re joined by food writer Tien Nguyen whose love of food is only rivaled by her admiration of Sandra Oh, an Asian woman with amazing hair. We talk about Oh, her hair and why Killing Eve is killing it for the panel. Why is this show unlike any other in the spy genre? The panel has a lot of insight on this. Also, Wynter admits she was wrong for not embracing the show sooner. All Abouts Karen: Survivor Season 38: Edge of Extinction Wynter: Wynter is all about Joe Bob Brigg’s show The Last Drive-In on Shudder Tien: Kim-Joy’s new cookbook Baking with Kim-Joy   That's My Jam Karen: Weyes Blood’s “A Lot’s Gonna Change” Wynter: Moon Boots - Keep the Faith Tien: Aretha Franklin - Jumpin’ Jack Flash With Karen Tongson, , Wynter Mitchell-Rohrbaugh, Tien Nguyen Did you know that you can now call and leave voicemails for the show? You can! If you want to comment on an episode, give us any feedback or just call to get advice from a panel member, the number is: (530) 237-4108 You can let us know what you think of Pop Rocket and suggest topics in our Facebook group or via @PopRocket on Twitter. If you haven't already, follow us on Instagram. Produced and edited by Laura Swisher for MaximumFun.org.

Take a trip down memory lane with Wynter, Karen and Margaret as they revisit 1991 in music. If you’ve ever been curious what song was playing when Karen experienced her first same sex kiss, tune in. If you grew up in the nineties, this episode will bring you back to that moment in time. If you spent your formative years in the aughts, and want to experience the 90s vicariously through Pop Rocket, the panel goes into great detail about what makes 1991 such a pivotal epoch, giving us grunge, new jack swing, schmaltzy ballads and music fans that could embrace Nirvana, Boys II Men, C+C Music Factory and REM at once. As an added bonus, we created a Pop Rocket 1991 Mixtape that you can listen to on Spotify. All Abouts Margaret is on thatPen15 tip, and reliving those awkward middle school years via Maya and Anna Karen is all about the season three episode of This Is Us, entitled R & B Wynter has fallen hard for Celine Dion after attending an event with the Québécoise chanteuse to promote her new album and tour That's My Jam Karen: Cathy Dennis - Too Many Walls Wynter: Tame Impala - Patience Margaret: Billie Eilish - Bad Guy Karen Tongson, Margaret Wappler, Wynter Mitchell-Rohrbaugh Did you know that you can now call and leave voicemails for the show? You can! If you want to comment on an episode, give us any feedback or just call to get advice from a panel member, the number is: (530) 237-4108 You can let us know what you think of Pop Rocket and suggest topics in our Facebook group or via @PopRocket on Twitter. If you haven't already, follow us on Instagram. Produced and edited by Laura Swisher for MaximumFun.org.

Pop Rocket’s come early this week! Alonso Duralde guest hosts for this, our second week of the MaxFunDrive. The deadline for supporting this show is fast upon us, so if you haven’t yet become a new or upgrading member, do it now! Go to our donation page. You can donate while listening to this special Thursday edition of the show. This episode has something for everyone--sapphic sisters, metal heads, Hallmark Channel enthusiasts and, of course, horror buffs. One note of caution: There are spoilers, so if you haven’t yet seen Us, and you want to see it before learning about any of its twists and turns, you should skip the discussion. If you HAVE seen it, brace yourself for the in-depth discussion. Does this movie live up to its hype? Is the symbolism in the movie effective? Why does Wynter think she has to watch it again? These questions, and more, will be answered. All Abouts Margaret is all about Amanda Deibert's defense of Alanis Morissette's Jagged Little Pill, in response to a negative article in Jezebel Karen is all about Scary Spice Mel B's confession that she hooked up with Ginger Spice, Geri Halliwell Alonso is all about Hallmark hiring the hosts of the Hallmark podcast The Bubbly Sesh Wynter is all about the Netflix Mötley Crüe biopic The Dirt That's My Jam Margaret: James Blake - Power On Karen: Mel C. and Northern Star (feat. Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes) - Never Be the Same Again Alonso: XTC - The Wheel and the Maypole Wynter: Lil Nas X - Old Town Road

In honor of the #MaxFunDrive, Go Fact Yourself presents a special network crossover! Guy Branum is a comedian and host of the podcast "Pop Rocket". He's also a pop culture savant, as detailed in his book My Life as a Goddess. If you want to know more about the pop culture he loves, you'll have to read the book… but he's happy to provide a glimpse through some of his answers today. His opponent is a fellow comedian for whom he has a lot of respect (and fear): Emily Heller! You can hear her as the host of the podcast "Baby Geniuses". Her show is all about explaining things. Today she’ll key in on a very important topic: Martha Stewart's barnyard animals. From personal heroes to classic television to the subtleties of regional coffee pot designs, this episode has it all. This show is directly funded by our Maximum Fun Members. As part of our annual #MaxFunDrive, you can sign up for as little as $5 a month at maximumfun.org/donate to help support this and other Max Fun shows you listen to AND earn great gifts in the process! What’s the difference: Coffee/Coughy What’s the difference between a teapot and a coffee pot? What’s the difference between phlegm and mucus? Areas of Expertise Emily Heller: The TV show "Frasier", the musical group Indigo Girls and how to have a good time at Disneyland. Guy Branum: Academy Award nominees for best actress, the TV show "30 Rock" and grains. Appearing in this episode: J. Keith van Straaten Helen Hong Guy Branum Emily Heller With guest experts: Emily Saliers, Grammy Award winning musician and one-half of Indigo Girls. Margaret Cho, comedian and actress. Go Fact Yourself was devised by Jim Newman and J. Keith van Straaten, and produced in collaboration with Maximum Fun. The show was recorded at The Angel City Brewery in Los Angeles. Theme Song by Jonathan Green. Maximum Fun's Senior Producer is Laura Swisher. The show is edited by Julian Burrell.

It’s the first live episode of Pop Rocket. Professor Karen Tongson invited the panel to give a lesson on why pop culture matters, with a focus on the past decade. You’ll learn what pop culture of the 2010s will last, and what culture won’t be remembered. Plus we’ll hear from some of Karen’s students, including a special jam brought to the show by Clayton. You won’t want to miss this must-listen episode! All Abouts Margaret: Out for Blood Karen: Shrill Wynter: The Fox-Disney merger That's My Jam Margaret: Lizzo - Cuz I Luv You Clayton: 4 Non Blondes - What’s Up Wynter: Beyonce feat. Frank Ocean - Superpower Karen: Guy Branum, Karen Tongson, Margaret Wappler, Wynter Mitchell-Rohrbaugh Did you know that you can now call and leave voicemails for the show? You can! If you want to comment on an episode, give us any feedback or just call to get advice from a panel member, the number is: (530) 237-4108 You can let us know what you think of Pop Rocket and suggest topics in our Facebook group or via @PopRocket on Twitter. If you haven't already, follow us on Instagram. Produced by Laura Swisher for MaximumFun.org.

In honor of Women’s History Month, the panel lives vicariously through women who sought revenge, from Lorena Gallo (formerly Bobbit), to Thelma & Louise. They touch on their favorite films centered around women seeking revenge...or, perhaps more accurately, justice. All Abouts Margaret: Uncover: Escaping NXIVM Karen: “Operation Varsity Blues”, aka the college admissions scandal Wynter: Free Solo Guy: Zumbo’s Just Desserts That's My Jam Margaret: Pistol Annies - Got My Name Changed Back Guy: Carly Rae Jepsen - Now That I Found You Wynter: Work - Charlotte Day Wilson Karen: Cate le Bon’s - I Just Wanna Be Good With Guy Branum, Karen Tongson, Margaret Wappler, Wynter Mitchell-Rohrbaugh Did you know that you can now call and leave voicemails for the show? You can! If you want to comment on an episode, give us any feedback or just call to get advice from a panel member, the number is: (530) 237-4108 You can let us know what you think of Pop Rocket and suggest topics in our Facebook group or via @PopRocket on Twitter. If you haven't already, follow us on Instagram. Produced by Laura Swisher for MaximumFun.org.

When she was 17, Dame Angela Lansbury quit her job at a department store to take a part in a movie, as 17-year-olds are wont to do. She played a young maid to Ingrid Bergman’s character in Gaslight, a film that garnered seven Oscar nominations and two wins, including one for Best Actress for Bergman. It’s the typical tale of a young actress trying to make it big and having to struggle, role after role after role after role, to hold her own on screen with the most celebrated actors in the world, on Oscar-winning film after Oscar-winning film. She’s now 93 years old and has been in the business for nearly eight decades, dominating the big screen, the small screen and the stage. For this episode of Pop Rocket, we felt it important to give Dame Lansbury’s career a discussion worthy of the legend that she is, and we couldn’t do it by ourselves. We needed to bring in the biggest Fangelas we could find outside of her immediate family: April Wolfe and S.A. Smythe, two individuals that get positively giddy noting which Murder She Wrote episodes comment on on colonialism and the prison industrial complex. You guys, this is such a great episode, and that’s not even including everyone’s All Abouts!

Matt Rogers joins us to help tidy up the Oscars. The 91-year-old institution has gotten a bit cluttered, so the Pop Rocket panel applies the KonMari Method to the Academy Awards. We’ll keep everything that sparks joy, and the rest will be dropped off at an Out of the Closet in a Hefty bag. Will the short film and animated short categories survive? What about song and dance numbers? Find out. Let us know if you agree with the panel, or take issue by sharing your thoughts in the comments section below. All Abouts Guy remembers his friend and beloved comedian Brody Stevens, who died by suicide last week. Wynter is all about Kind Hearts & Coronets. Margaret wants everyone to take a moment to appreciate actress and wordsmith Dame Emma Thompson for her recent letter to Skydance detailing why she will not work with John Lasseter. Karen Tongson is NOT about the speculation that Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga are boffing. And for everyone going gaga over their duet, she reminds us of another live performance with off the charts chemistry, Barbra Streisand and Neil Diamond at the 1980 Grammys singing You Don't Bring Me Flowers Matt Rogers, the self-described “roller coaster bitch” is all about Hagrid Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure ride that’s coming to Disneyworld.

We’ve got a SCREAMINGLY great episode this week as the wonderful Tananarive Due joins us in studio for a deep cinematic dive into the world of black horror. Tananarive Due is the UCLA lecturer whose class on Get Out--The Sunken Place--was crashed by non-student Jordan Peele . She is also the executive producer of Shudder’s very first original documentary Horror Noire: A History of Black Horror. The panel cover A LOT of ground. For horror buffs and cinephiles alike, this episode is a MUST-LISTEN. All Abouts Margaret Wappler - The Bodyguard on Netflix Karen Tongson -https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RLkEpO3k514 on Hulu Wynter Mitchell-Rohrbaugh - Lorena on Amazon Prime 14:00 Tananarive Due - The Passage on Fox Jams Karen - Lion - You've Got a Woman Tananarive - Rob Base & DJ EZ Rock - It Takes Two Wynter - James Brown - Living In America Margaret - Orion Sun - Stretch With  Wynter Mitchell-Rohrbaugh Karen Tongson Margaret Wappler Tananarive Due Did you know that you can now call and leave voicemails for the show? You can! If you want to comment on an episode, give us any feedback or just call to get advice from a panel member, the number is: (530) 237-4108. You can let us know what you think of Pop Rocket and suggest topics in our Facebook group or via @PopRocket on Twitter. If you haven't already, follow us on Instagram. Produced by Laura Swisher for MaximumFun.org.

Will Terry Crews receive the second-ever Pop Rocket Seal of Approval? Why wasn't Margaret on this week's show? Is Adam McKay a craftsman or an artist? These questions and more will be answered on this week's Pop Rocket! Plus, in the wake of the PRSOA "Bloom backlash", the voting process has been amended. Tune in to find out how, and when there will be another nomination period. That's My Jam Wynter: Summer Walker - Girls Need Love Karen: James Ingram - Just Once Guy: RuPaul (feat. Myah Marie) - Adrenaline With Guy Branum, Karen Tongson, and Wynter Mitchell-Rohrbaugh Did you know that you can now call and leave voicemails for the show? You can! If you want to comment on an episode, give us any feedback or just call to get advice from a panel member, the number is: (530) 237-4108 You can let us know what you think of Pop Rocket and suggest topics in our Facebook group or via @PopRocket on Twitter. If you haven't already, follow us on Instagram. Produced by Laura Swisher for MaximumFun.org. Edited by Shana Daloria.

This week's show is a double dose of schadenfreude! The gang compares the dueling documentaries Hulu's "Fyre Fraud" and Netflix's "Fyre," which tell different versions of the tropical shit show that landed its mastermind Billy McFarland behind bars. All Abouts Wynter is all about Crashing and True Detective. Margaret is all about the memoir Love and Trouble: A Midlife Reckoning by Claire Dederer, who you may recognize from her article in the Paris Review What Do We Do with the Art of Monstrous Men. Karen is all about CATWALK: Tales from the Cat Show Circuit on Netflix, and the rivalry between a “well-muscled” Turkish Angora named Bobby, and a voluminous Red Persian named Oh La La . Guy is all about Sex Education on Netflix. That's My Jam Wynter: Phil Collins - I'm Not Moving (Idjut Boys remix) Karen: Queen - Play the Game Margaret: ROSALÍA - MALAMENTE Guy: Mark Ronson (feat. Miley Cyrus - Nothing Breaks Like a Heart With Guy Branum, Karen Tongson, Margaret Wappler, Wynter Mitchell-Rohrbaugh Did you know that you can now call and leave voicemails for the show? You can! If you want to comment on an episode, give us any feedback or just call to get advice from a panel member, the number is: (530) 237-4108. You can let us know what you think of Pop Rocket and suggest topics in our Facebook group or via @PopRocket on Twitter. If you haven't already, follow us on Instagram. Produced by Laura Swisher for MaximumFun.org. Edited by Shana Daloria.

Once again we’re firing on all cylinders this week! It’s an ultra-packed show covering everything from The Masked Singer, Surviving R. Kelly, MATANGI / MAYA / M.I.A. and the need to move beyond moralistic posturing in critiquing comedy. The panel get into a lively discussion of Marie Kondo’s Tidying Up on Netflix show. One panelist loves it, one panelist thinks it’s “sinister”, and a panelist named Guy is so obsessed with one of the families featured on the show he couldn’t stop talking about them. All Abouts Margaret shares her thoughts on the heartbreaking and disturbing six-part series Surviving R. Kelly Guy is all about the 1998 film The Opposite of Sex, and explains how Terry Gross’ recent conversation with Kevin Hart made him appreciate it more. Wynter is all about the M.I.A. documentary. And Karen loves the new reality singing competition show The Masked Singer.

The ENTIRE PANEL is back together for a jam-packed episode! They talk Golden Globes, Bandersnatch and react to some of the commercial jingles you beautiful listeners sang to us on the Pop Rocket voicemail line. All Abouts Wynter, fresh off a romantic holiday trip to Paris, is all about the Louis Vuitton Foundation's Basquiat exhibition Guy is all about Can You Ever Forgive Me Margaret is all about Regina King's Golden Globes speech Karen thinks everyone should check out the new Aussie show Instant Hotel on Netflix That's My Jam Margaret: Sleater Kinney - Oh! Guy: Lizzo - Juice Karen: Mitski - Nobody Wynter: Listener Temple’s rendition of Attorney Hal Cook’s commercial jingle from Little Rock, Arkansas With Guy Branum, Karen Tongson, Margaret Wappler, Wynter Mitchell-Rohrbaugh Did you know that you can now call and leave voicemails for the show? You can! If you want to comment on an episode, give us any feedback or just call to get advice from a panel member, the number is: (530) 237-4108 You can let us know what you think of Pop Rocket and suggest topics in our Facebook group or via @PopRocket on Twitter. If you haven't already, follow us on Instagram. Produced by Laura Swisher for MaximumFun.org. Edited by Shana Daloria.

Guy Branum (Talk Show The Game Show, Chelsea Lately, Pop Rocket) is a wannabe witch and a dance music lover. We talked about Dutch discos, business witches, and straight girl gay club etiquette - and made a playlist for a Coven Dance Party. Follow @CoolPlaylistPod and @ElizaSkinner on twitter! Check out coolplaylistpod.com to find today's playlist and more! Become a patron at patreon.com/CoolPlaylistPod!

Guy Branum is back for our first episode of 2019! Sadly, Margaret couldn’t join us because #health and Wynter was busy being a jet setter. This week, the panelists share their pop culture resolutions for 2019, and own up to resolution fails from the past year. Writer and comedian Tara Jepsen joins us in studio and Guy is awed by the combined power of her and Karen’s “lesbian efficiency.” If you're curious about what Guy has been up to these past couple months, he catches us up. Spoiler alert (though not really): He consumed a lot of theater. In particular, he saw Matthew Lopez’s seven-hour, two-night play The Inheritance, and had LOTS of opinions about it. From “learn more commercial jingles” to “master a new recipe a month,” the panel reveals an ambitious list of resolutions they may or may not be able to stick with for an entire year. All Abouts Karen is all about Bird Box the new Netflix thriller starring Sandra Bullocks. Tara is all about hating a bootleg recording of a recent standup set by disgraced comedian Louis C.K.. Guy is all about The Inheritance by Matthew Lopez, which is loosely based on Howard's End. Call to Action Inspired by one panelist’s resolution to learn more commercial jingles, we are asking Rocketeers to call in and sing their favorite jingles on the Pop Rocket voicemail. We want to hear those jingles that will forever be lodged in your brain. That's My Jam Guy: Janet Jackson -Together Again Tara: Hey Jellie - Going Back Karen: Labi Siffre - Watch Me With Guy Branum, Karen Tongson, and Tara Jepsen. Did you know that you can now call and leave voicemails for the show? You can! If you want to comment on an episode, give us any feedback or just call to get advice from a panel member, the number is: (530) 237-4108 You can let us know what you think of Pop Rocket and suggest topics in our Facebook group or via @PopRocket on Twitter. If you haven't already, follow us on Instagram. Produced by Laura Swisher for MaximumFun.org. Edited by Shana Daloria.

Happy Holidays, everyone! Wynter and Karen are joined by special guest panelists Tre’Vell Anderson (Director of Culture and Entertainment at Out Magazine) and 'Who Shot Ya?'s' Alonso Duralde to create the ultimate holiday playlist. Each panelist created a top ten list of their favorite holiday songs, out of which they’d select twenty for inclusion in the official Pop Rocket Holiday Playlist. Well, that was the plan, anyway. In practice, when faced with making the tough choices, they flopped. Whose version of "Sleigh Ride" should be on the playlist: Andy Williams’s, Ella Fitzgerald’s or TLC’s? Spoiler alert: They couldn’t decide. Plus, the panelists describe their holiday family traditions, and if you’ve ever been curious what the most popular Philippine Christmas song is, resident scholar Karen Tongson reveals the answer. From Ella Fitzgerald to Donny Hathaway, from the Morehouse Glee Club to Quad City DJs, the variety of musical stylings in this episode will get your feet tappin'. All Abouts For the last All Abouts of the year, each panelist picked one thing in 2018, that they could watch, listen to, read, or consume, OVER & OVER again. Alonso is all about the Amber Ruffin segment on Late Night With Seth Meyers - 'Amber Says Why' Karen is still all about the series finale of The Americans. Tre’Vell is awed by EVERYTHING about Cardi B, but especially her recent appearance with James Corden in Carpool Karaoke. Wynter can’t stop watching Mission Impossible: Fallout.   That's My Jam For this week’s jams, each panelist picked a song that best summed up the year that was 2018. Karen: Sound of Music Soundtrack - So Long, Farewell Tre’vell: Fantasia - Lose to Win Alonso: Lizzo - Good as Hell Wynter: Drake - Nice for What Did you know that you can now call and leave voicemails for the show? You can! If you want to comment on an episode, give us any feedback, or just call to get advice from a panel member, the number is: (530) 237-4108 You can let us know what you think of Pop Rocket and suggest topics in our Facebook group or via @PopRocket on Twitter. If you haven't already, follow us on Instagram. Produced by Laura Swisher for MaximumFun.org. Edited by Shana Daloria.

How right, but mostly how wrong, does Hollywood get it when it comes to capturing artists in film? Margaret Wappler asks these very questions of her esteemed panel. And this, the panel is comprised of LA Times staff writer Carolina Miranda, who covers visual arts, culture and architecture, media scholar and TV critic Sarah Kessler--filling in for her under-the-weather wife Karen Tongson--and Cal Arts professor and visual artist David P Earle, who is better known to Pop Rocket listeners as father to Silas and husband to our very own Margaret Wappler. From Mike Leigh's Mr. Turner to Antonio Banderas's Golden Globe-nominated performance in Genius: Picasso, the crew highlights all the tired tropes Hollywood can’t resist when depicting artists. They’ll tell you about the films that get it right, and the films that get it deliciously wrong. Plus, why are all the portrayals of Andy Warhol on the big screen so...different? Was the real Andy Warhol more like Crispin Glover in The Doors or David Bowie in Julian Schnabel's Basquiat? Does Salma Hayek really do Frida justice? And which actress nails the stereotype of the insufferable, pretentious artist on the head? Join us as we try to suss out: is art about art art, or t-shirt at the giftshop bullshit? All Abouts Sarah is all about Valerie Solanas's SCUM Manifesto with forward by Michelle Tea. Carolina is all about narco-novelas, in particular Netflix's Narcos: Mexico starring Diego Luna. David is all about his algorithmically generated list of top songs of 2018 from Spotify. Margaret is all about the 18th century period piece The Favourite, a feminist reimagining of Queen Anne's court starring Rachel Weisz, Emma Stone, and Olivia Colman. That's My Jam Sarah - Laura Branigan - Gloria David - Saba - LOGOUT Carolina - The Bucketheads - The Bomb! (These Sounds Fall into My Mind) Margaret- Katzù Oso - Crazy4luvinU With Margaret Wappler, David Earle, Carolina Miranda, and Sarah Rebecca Kessler. Did you know that you can now call and leave voicemails for the show? You can! If you want to comment on an episode, give us any feedback or just call to get advice from a panel member, the number is: (530) 237-4108 You can let us know what you think of Pop Rocket and suggest topics in our Facebook group or via @PopRocket on Twitter. If you haven't already, follow us on Instagram. Produced by Laura Swisher for MaximumFun.org. Edited by Shana Daloria.

Guests:     Karen Tongson    Wynter Mitchell-Rohrbaugh    Sarah Kessler We're getting down into the down and dirty story Dirty John, the new Bravo show based on the LA Times and Wondery podcast of the same name. Joining us in the discussion this week is media scholar and TV critic Sarah Kessler who happens to also be married to our very own Karen Tongson. Dirty John is the true crime story about Debra Newell, a successful Orange County businesswoman who seemed to have everything going for her except when it came to love. In her middle age, she began online dating and met this guy who her two daughters found extremely shady. Obviously, throughout the course of the limited series starring Connie Britton and Eric Bana, she and we find out why. We take a deep dive into what it is that titillates and draws us into the dark and disturbing world of true crime. The panel takes a look at podcasts like Teacher's Pet, Serial and Bear Brook, among others, as well as shows such as Making a Murderer, Lifetime’s A Woman Scorned and the sensational, made-for-tv accounts of the most notorious serial killers. What does true crime tell us about women and what does it tell women to watch out for? Find out! List of All the True Crimes Stories Referenced in the Episode Serial Bear Brook Teacher's Pet Atlanta Monster Star 80 Fall of a Titan: The Steve McNair Story In the Dark Crime & Scandal: Chris Watts All Abouts Wynter Mitchell-Rohrbaugh is all about the interpersonal dynamics at play at H.W. Bush’s funeral. Sarah Kessler is all about My Brilliant Friend on HBO based on the bestselling series by Elena Ferrante. Karen Tongson is all about a recent stand-up set she saw of Aparna Nancherla. That's My Jam Sarah Kessler - Stereolab - Outer Accelerator Wynter - Grace Jones - Slave to the Rhythm Karen Tongson - Juliana Hatfield - A Little More Love With Karen Tongson, Wynter Mitchell-Rohrbaugh, and Sarah Rebecca Kessler. Did you know that you can now call and leave voicemails for the show? You can! If you want to comment on an episode, give us any feedback or just call to get advice from a panel member, the number is: (530) 237-4108 You can let us know what you think of Pop Rocket and suggest topics in our Facebook group or via @PopRocket on Twitter. If you haven't already, follow us on Instagram. Produced by Laura Swisher for MaximumFun.org. Edited by Shana Daloria.

It's well known in the Rocketeer community that our host this week, Wynter Mitchell-Ragnarok, is a huge horror buff. She watches two to three a week, and she is running out of horror flicks to watch on all the streaming services. Send her your recommendations! In the meantime, Wynter forced Karen, Margaret and Who Shot Ya?’s Ricky Carmona to subject themselves to some of her favorite movies from the holiday genre, such as Black Christmas, Silent Night, Deadly Night, and their sequels. Our special guest this week is the hilarious Ricky Carmona, the host of the Maximum Fun movie podcast Who Shot Ya? and he's also a staff writer on the Comedy Central TV series Tosh.0. All Abouts Margaret is all about ROMA, a new film by acclaimed director Alfonso Cuarón. The movie is heavily based on his childhood in Mexico City in the 1970s and his family's live-in housekeeper. Karen has a backhanded All About on Netflix's bro-y, new food competition show The Final Table. Ricky is all about Adam Sandler's latest stand-up comedy special also on Netflix called 100% Fresh. Wynter is all about season 1 of the USA Network crime drama The Sinner starring Jessica Biel and Bill Pullman. That's My Jam Margaret - Phosphorescent - New Birth in New England. Karen - This Is Me (Reimagined Remix) - Keala Settle, Kesha & Missy Elliott Ricky - Sounds of Blackness - Optimistic Wynter - Bacao Rhythm & Steel Band - Great to Be Here With Wynter Mitchell-Rohrbaugh, Karen Tongson, Margaret Wappler , and Ricky Carmona/a>. Did you know that you can now call and leave voicemails for the show? You can! If you want to comment on an episode, give us any feedback or just call to get advice from a panel member, the number is: (530) 237-4108 You can let us know what you think of Pop Rocket and suggest topics in our Facebook group or via @PopRocket on Twitter. If you haven't already, follow us on Instagram. Produced by Laura Swisher for MaximumFun.org. Edited by Shana Daloria.

Happy Thanksgiving, Rocketeers! We at Pop Rocket are thankful for you, our listeners. For the purposes of this episode, Wynter will be playing the role of Margaret’s sister who always criticizes her stuffing recipe, while Karen is the gay aunt who sold Wappler a bunk Subaru. There was a lot of tension in the studio, and everyone was walking on eggshells. Will our panelists be able to make it through a discussion of awkward family gatherings without bursting into tears? Will Wynter be triggered by a clip of The Family Stone? Will Margaret angrily scream, “Eat the fish, b***h!”? The panel dissects some of their favorite awkward moments--on screen and off--and try to figure out why we’re so captivated by angry, obnoxious relatives. If any of you out there have concerns about fraught dinner conversations over turkey, stuffing, and sides, the panelists are here for you! All Abouts Margaret alerted us to a fine piece of writing from New York Times critic Amanda Hess, who laments, “nothing ever ends anymore and it’s driving me insane.” If you’re overwhelmed by sequels, prequels, reboots, and overlapping universes, she’s a kindred spirit. If no one spots Wynter out in the wild over the next two weeks, it’s probably because she’s playing her newest video game obsession Red Dead Redemption II. Karen recently discovered the new ABC sitcom Single Parents starring Taran Killam, Leighton Meester and Jake Choi. That's My Jam Wynter - Michelle Obama - Becoming Karen - Shawn Mendes - Lost in Japan Margaret - Barrie - Michigan With Karen Tongson, Wynter Mitchell-Rohrbaugh, and Margaret Wappler. Did you know that you can now call and leave voicemails for the show? You can! If you want to comment on an episode, give us any feedback or just call to get advice from a panel member, the number is: (530) 237-4108 You can let us know what you think of Pop Rocket and suggest topics in our Facebook group or via @PopRocket on Twitter. If you haven't already, follow us on Instagram. Produced by Laura Swisher for MaximumFun.org. Edited by Shana Daloria.

This week Pop Rocket celebrates its 200th episode!!! To commemorate this auspicious occasion, Karen, Margaret and Wynter take a look at how each of them has evolved from the quaint, carefree days of 2015 to the unrelenting hellscape that is 2018. Remember the blue dress? Sorry, remember the white dress? They'll reminisce about that fun moment in pop culture, talk Taylor Swift then and now, and how much things have changed in terms of trans visibility from back in 2015 when Caitlyn Jenner sat down for an interview with Diane Sawyer on 20/20, and the strides we've made since then. In addition, Guy takes us with him to the seaside town of Mendocino and lets us eavesdrop as he attempts to talk to his mother Deb and his niece Olivia about the pop culture they are currently consuming. All Abouts Margaret highly recommends There There: A Novel by Tommy Orange. Wynter is all about Michelle Obama’s new book Becoming, but in audiobook format. Karen’s into Survivor 37: David vs Goliath. That's My Jam Wynter - Rihanna - Bitch Better Have My Money Karen - Carly Rae Jepsen - Party for One Margaret - Lower Dens - To Die in L.A. With Karen Tongson, Wynter Mitchell-Rohrbaugh, and Margaret Wappler. Did you know that you can now call and leave voicemails for the show? You can! If you want to comment on an episode, give us any feedback or just call to get advice from a panel member, the number is: (530) 237-4108 You can let us know what you think of Pop Rocket and suggest topics in our Facebook group or via @PopRocket on Twitter. If you haven't already, follow us on Instagram. Produced by Laura Swisher for MaximumFun.org. Edited by Shana Daloria.

フィリーチーズステーキ、アーティストが集まるバー、ヴィーガンカフェ、グルービーなディスコ音楽で踊りまくる、”Jawn”とは？、など。   Tattooed Mom   フィラデルフィアのアーティストたちが集まるバー。 どんな人でも温かく迎えてくれるバー。様々なバックグラウンドの人がハングアウトする。 Pop Rocket というドリンクがおすすめ！   Ishkabibble’s http://bit.ly/2OC4NoJ 他のお店と比べて行列もあんまりない。 値段も安い。 Gremllin (グレムリン）   Grindcore House https://www.grindcorehouse.com/ Vegan Cafe ビーガンのスイーツがたくさんある。 Grindcoreという音楽のジャンルからきている。 近くに公園があるので、テイクアウトでそこで飲むのもいいかも。   The Trestle Inn http://bit.ly/2PtJDyo 若い人から年配の人まで、様々な人が純粋にダンスを楽しめるバー。 ダンサーがいて、みんなを盛り上げる。 70’s 80’s のグルービーな音楽が流れる。 ドレスコードもない。   Philly Slang….?   Jawn - もの、あれ、いろんなものに使われる。 Wa wa - フィラデルフィア、東海岸によくあるチェーンのショッピングモール。     Follow Jess on Instagram Jess (mc_batcommander)  

Kanye West’s rambling, pro-Trump speech on SNL late September may have surprised casual observers, but by that point, his fans had heard both his outrageous statements and his frank talk about mental health for months. Charlagmane tha God lamented his canceled TimesTalk with Kanye on Instagram as a missed opportunity, writing, "Normalizing being mentally healthy is a conversation that I really wanted to have with Kanye because he's been so vocal about his own mental health struggles. Unfortunately, I think to have that conversation with him right now would not be productive and a total distraction from the point of the convo which is to eradicate the stigma of mental health especially in the black community." Well, we’re going to have that conversation today and we're joined by Clarkisha Kent, film and pop culture critic- known to some as a "professional hater." The panelists discuss rapper Mac Miller's death, Chris Brown's history of domestic violence, and Jay-Z's openness about lacking the necessary emotional tools for marriage, among other things. To be clear, we are not medical professionals. All Abouts Margaret is all about Lucy McBath. Lucy is the newly elected Representative of Georgia's 6th Congressional district. She is a national spokeswoman for Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, which she joined after her son, Jordan Davis, was shot and killed in what is believed to be a hate crime. Karen is all about Sharice Davids. She's one of the two Native American women elected to Congress in the midterm election and represents Kansas's 3rd district. Clarkisha is all about the Twitter beef between herself and other black critics and Rebel Wilson over Rebel's claim that she is the first plus-sized woman to lead a romantic comedy. Wynter is all about Season 4: The Dream Door of the Syfy channel's horror anthology TV show "Channel Zero." That's My Jam Margaret - Jamie Isaac - Doing Better Karen - Ariana Grande - thank u, next Clarkisha - The New Respects - Something to Believe In Wynter - Tori Amos - Cornflake Girl With Wynter Mitchell-Rohrbaugh, Karen Tongson, Margaret Wappler, and Clarkisha Kent. Did you know that you can now call and leave voicemails for the show? You can! If you want to comment on an episode, give us any feedback or just call to get advice from a panel member, the number is: (530) 237-4108 You can let us know what you think of Pop Rocket and suggest topics in our Facebook group or via @PopRocket on Twitter. If you haven't already, follow us on Instagram. Produced by Laura Swisher for MaximumFun.org. Edited by Shana Daloria. This episode was engineered by Christian Dueñas.

The Pop Rocket Seal of Approval Before registered parliamentarian Guy Branum takes an extended leave for some much-needed relaxation at home and abroad, the panelists came together to consider, once again, whether they would be able to award the first-ever Pop Rocket Seal of Approval. Without an acting Nominating Committee Head to sift through listener suggestions on Facebook and Twitter, this time the panel decided to consider the names of only the most committed Pop Rocket listeners--those who cared enough about voting that they called in to make their case. One listener even called TWICE. Special thanks must go to everyone who called in. Your grassroots efforts to influence the panelists worked. Names that might have been dismissed out of hand if merely tweeted, were taken much more seriously. So, who will get to update their IMDB page awards section with a Pop Rocket Seal of Approval win? And might this episode feature a DOUBLE nomination? It might! Here is the full list of names submitted to the panel for consideration. They are listed in the order their calls were received: Tina Turner, Kristen Bell, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Kelly Clarkson, Robyn, Carly Rae Jepsen, Angela Lansbury, and Terry Crews. So who is the first-ever PRSOA recipient? You’ll find out. Jam Abouts = All Abouts + That's My Jam Karen - Les Misérables: New York 1987 Original Broadway Cast - One Day More Wynter - Michael Jackson - Leave Me Alone Margaret - Willie Nelson - Vote 'Em Out. Guy is all about the new Chilling Adventures of Sabrina on Netflix, which is darker and sexier than the original show about the half-mortal, half-witch teen Sabrina Spellman. With Guy Branum, Karen Tongson, Wynter Mitchell-Rohrbaugh, and Margaret Wappler. Did you know that you can now call and leave voicemails for the show? You can! If you want to comment on an episode, give us any feedback or just call to get advice from a panel member, the number is: (530) 237-4108 You can let us know what you think of Pop Rocket and suggest topics in our Facebook group or via @PopRocket on Twitter. If you haven't already, follow us on Instagram. Produced by Laura Swisher for MaximumFun.org. Edited by Shana Daloria.

**Note: Next week the panel will cast their votes to award--or not--The Pop Rocket Seal of Approval. You still have an opportunity to influence the panelists. If you want your voice to be heard, literally, call the Pop Rocket hotline and make a case for the person you want to win, and why. Call: (530) 237-4108** Jamie Lee Curtis is smashing box office records, and the Pop Rocket panel APPROVES. In this episode, Guy, Wynter, Karen, and Margaret share their favorite scares, from new shows like The Haunting of Hill House on Netflix and the CW's Charmed, to the latest season of American Horror Story: Apocalypse. Plus, they tackle the important questions, such as, “What Stephen King movie is the best?” and “What is it really going to take for Jamie Lee Curtis to kill Mike Myers?” And they lament that we are still awaiting a Halloween novelty song to top Michael Jackson's Thriller. All Abouts Wynter is all about the Lifetime TV psychological thriller/romance You, which stars Penn Badgley and delves into themes of stalking, obsession, social media, and sociopathic detachment. Margaret is all about Girl Talk's 2010 album All Day, which is the only album that will get Silas to sleep these days. Karen is all about an impassioned voicemail she received from Tina Turner devotee Nick White, who made an exceptionally strong case to award the very first Pop Rocket Seal of Approval to Tina Turner. Guy is all about food writer Samin Nosrat's Netflix show Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat. That's My Jam Karen - ANOHNI - Hopelessness Wynter - Chaka Khan - Like Sugar Margaret - Wendy Carlos and Rachel Elkind - The Shining Main Title Theme. Guy - The Go-Go's - Vacation With Guy Branum, Karen Tongson, Wynter Mitchell-Rohrbaugh, and Margaret Wappler. Did you know that you can now call and leave voicemails for the show? You can! If you want to let us know who you think should receive the first Pop Rocket Seal of Approval, or just call to get advice, the number is: (530) 237-4108 You can let us know what you think of Pop Rocket and suggest topics in our Facebook group or via @PopRocket on Twitter. If you haven't already, follow us on Instagram. Produced by Laura Swisher for MaximumFun.org. Edited by Shana Daloria.

It’s 1969. Four guests check into the El Royale Hotel: a priest (Jeff Bridges), a vacuum salesman (Jon Hamm), a singer (Cynthia Erivo), and a hippie (Dakota Johnson). They all - save one - have something mysterious going on behind the scenes and the hotel itself is not what it appears to be. When they check in, there’s a storm a-brewin'. Join Guy, Karen, Margaret, and producer/film festival programmer/Who Shot Ya contributor and now Pop Rocket guest Drea Clark as they pick apart Drew Goddard’s neo-noir ensemble Bad Times at The El Royale. They get into the movie's twists, turns, non-linear construction, Cynthia Erivo's breakout performance, and how it's kind of likeQuentin Tarantino's Pulp Fiction, but not nearly as macho. All Abouts Drea is all about a long read article from The Texas Monthly called The Love Story that Upended the Texas Prison System about the alliance and romantic relationship between a lawyer and an inmate that ultimately brought attention to a nationwide scandal and disrupted the system of abuse of prisoners in Texas. Margaret is all about the second season of the Slate podcast Slow Burn, which covers the impeachment of former president Bill Clinton. Karen is all about The LA Dodgers pulling ahead of the Milwaukee Brewers (as of last Wednesday) in the National League Championship Series. Guy is all about Glenn Close's performance in her new movie The Wife. That's My Jam Karen - Trashcan Sinatras - All Night Margaret - Alvvays - In Undertow. Drea - Tierra Whack - MUMBO JUMBO With Guy Branum, Karen Tongson, Drea Clark, and Margaret Wappler. You can let us know what you think of Pop Rocket and suggest topics in our Facebook group or via @PopRocket on Twitter. If you haven't already, follow us on Instagram. Produced by Laura Swisher for MaximumFun.org. Edited by Shana Daloria.

This week gay America received so much, but in particular, A Star is Born starring Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper, who also directed the movie. Guy, Wynter, Karen & Margaret--aka the full panel--got a chance to watch, cry, and be torn apart by the story of a lady who gained the world, but lost the man that she loves. On this episode, we go over the history of this film and all the remakes, share predictions on whether The Academy will hand out statues to Lady Gaga and/or Bradley Cooper, or if they'll have to settle for the less-prestigious adulation from foreign journalists. Plus, Karen pushes back on Sam Adams's Slate article, which argues that "the movie's battle between rock and pop, authenticity and artifice, and art and commerce is outdated at best." All Abouts Wynter is all about the new Halloween starring Jamie Lee Curtis and the kerfuffle over Curtis's views on gun ownership on Fox News. Karen is all about NBC's new primetime airplane sci-fi thriller, Manifest. Margaret is all about the Twitter beef between Lana Del Rey and Azealia Banks over rapper Ye formerly known as Kanye West's MAGA-ness. Guy is all about Katmai National Park & Preserve's Fat Bear Week competition. That's My Jam Karen - Barbara Streisand - Evergreen (Love Theme from "A Star is Born" 1976) Wynter - Lady Gaga - Why Did You Do That? (A Star is Born Soundtrack) Margaret - Judy Garland - Over the Rainbow (The Wizard of Oz: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack). Guy - Cher - Waterloo With Guy Branum, Karen Tongson, Wynter Mitchell-Rohrbaugh, and Margaret Wappler. You can let us know what you think of Pop Rocket and suggest topics in our Facebook group or via @PopRocket on Twitter. If you haven't already, follow us on Instagram. Produced by Laura Swisher for MaximumFun.org. Edited by Shana Daloria.

***Trigger Warning - This episode contains discussion of sexual assault. You may want to sit this one out if hearing this kind of discussion is likely to do more harm than good.*** Current events have us (and many others) reconsidering the way high school and college relationships were depicted in the '80s, particularly in romcoms and raunchy sex comedies. Margaret Wappler hosts our discussion this week with Karen Tongson, Wynter Mitchell-Rohrbaugh, and our guest, actor, and comedian Ted Alexandro who has a new comedy special Senior Class of Earth. The panel revisits supposedly harmless, goofball adolescent comedies and considers how they may have influenced the way a whole generation views consent (and yes, we are talking about rape culture). Does a culture that permits youthful experimentation -mistakes and all- open the door to complacency about assault? All Abouts Wynter is all about an article in GQ by author Marian Bull that explains how men can talk to women in their lives about all the triggering stuff in the news involving the nomination of Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court. Karen is all about Chris, the new album by Christine and the Queens (aka Heloise Letissier), in particular, the song: Comme si. Ted is all about celebrating his one-year wedding anniversary with his wife, Madalyn, who joins him in Los Angeles this week to promote his album Senior Class of Earth. Margaret is all about Matt Damon's performance as Brett Kavanaugh on SNL. That's My Jam Karen - Selena Gomez - Back to You Wynter - Little Wayne - Uproar (Official Audio) Carter V Ted - Jamiroquai - Virtual Insanity Margaret - Noname - Self. With Margaret Wappler, Karen Tongson, Wynter Mitchell-Rohrbaugh, and Ted Alexandro. You can let us know what you think of Pop Rocket and suggest topics in our Facebook group or via @PopRocket on Twitter. If you haven't already, follow us on Instagram. Produced by Laura Swisher for MaximumFun.org. Edited by Shana Daloria.

The autumn TV season has officially begun, and let's be honest, there is TOO MUCH stuff to watch out there. If you're feeling overwhelmed, fear not. The Pop Rocket panel has lots of binge-worthy shows to recommend, and a couple new shows they think you should skip. One panelist will tell you why they loved Netflix's Maniac, and another who couldn't make it through the season. If you're curious whether Amazon Prime's The First is worth your time, Tongson's got some opinions. They'll cover Bojack Horseman, National Treasure, Ozark, The Sinner and more. All Abouts Wynter is all about the tea behind Kevin Systrom, CEO and co-founder of Instagram, departing Facebook, which bought the photo-sharing app six years ago. Karen is all about basketball legend Kareem Abdul Jabbar's latest gig: staff writer on the new Veronica Mars. Guy is all about the new Netflix romcom Nappily Ever After starring Sanaa Lathan. That's My Jam Karen - SWV (Sisters with Voices) - Right Here Guy - Troye Sivan - Seventeen. With Guy Branum, Karen Tongson, and Wynter Mitchell-Rohrbaugh. You can let us know what you think of Pop Rocket and suggest topics in our Facebook group or via @PopRocket on Twitter. If you haven't already, follow us on Instagram. Produced by Laura Swisher for MaximumFun.org. Edited by Shana Daloria.

We’ve got another full panel! This week, Guy, Wynter, Margaret, and Karen tackle the ornery romcom Destination Wedding, starring Gen X darlings Winona and Keanu. Does their star-power shine bright enough to carry an entire film wherein they’re the only two people with dialogue? Has Hollywood discovered how to effectively harness their charm and charisma? You’ll find out as the panel weighs in on these questions and more. The Pop Rocket Seal of Approval The full quorum convened to vote on another nominee for the Pop Rocket Seal of Approval. Listeners will remember that the last time a quorum was convened, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson did not receive enough votes from the three panelists present--Guy, Karen & Margaret. He was denied the award based on damaging GOP convention and Ballers-related critiques. In this episode, the panelists vote on whether to grant the accolade to Crazy Ex Girlfriend star and creator Rachel Bloom. Will her boundary-pushing musical-making hustle and sexualization of the hot, Asian bro win the judges over? Jam Abouts = All Abouts + That's My Jam Wynter is all about André & Sarah - the sixth episode in the Maya Rudolph and Fred Armisen Amazon series Forever. Karen is all about the new Paul Feig film A Simple Favor starring Anna Kendrick, Blake Lively, and Crazy Rich Asians’ Henry Golding. Margaret is all about the 3rd season of HBO's Insecure. Guy is all about the adorably cute YouTube video series Kids Try by HiHo Kids. With Guy Branum, Karen Tongson, Wynter Mitchell-Rohrbaugh, and Margaret Wappler. You can let us know what you think of Pop Rocket and suggest topics in our Facebook group or via @PopRocket on Twitter. If you haven't already, follow us on Instagram. Produced by Laura Swisher for MaximumFun.org. Edited by Shana Daloria.

Between the VMA's and Yom Kippur, we've got our own version of the high holidays here at Pop Rocket: The SUMMER JAMS episode! We will anoint OR NOT anoint the title of Song of the Summer to the most banging artist of the past few months. And yes, the band is back together again. The full panel - Guy Branum, Karen Tongson, Wynter Mitchell (don't forget) Rohrbaugh, and Margaret Wappler - put on their Grammy judge hats and measure up the best cuts from music makers this past season. What criteria make a tune a summertime anthem? Is it the dance beat? The song's ubiquity? The convertible factor? A dark city feeling? Does the magic of Cardi B's "I Like It" rest solely on its sample of Peter Rodriquez's I Like It Like That? Is Zedd, Marren Morris, Grey's "The Middle" too much negotiation and not enough sex, love, and urgency? Find out which song made Silas get down like no one was watching and which panelist has a knack for converting jams into pet cat lullabies. Shout outs also go to honorable mentions and listeners' suggestions that didn't quite make the cut. All Abouts Margaret is all about Mandy Moore's newly remodeled mid-century modern home in Pasadena. Wynter is all about TV writer and producer Linda Bloodworth Thomason's op-ed in The Hollywood Reporter where she channels a glowing fury and details the misogynistic bullying she faced from disgraced former CBS CEO Les Moonves. Les Moonves, Go fuck yourself! Karen is all about the post-BBC reboot of The Great British Baking Show. Guy is all about Cynthia Nixon's appearance at the old school, crusty Brooklyn gay bar The Metropolitan before the New York Governor Primary. With Guy Branum, Karen Tongson, Wynter Mitchell-Rohrbaugh, and Margaret Wappler. Summer Jam Finalists: Cardi B - I Like It Zedd, Maren Morris, Grey - The Middle Ariana Grande - R.E.M. Maroon 5 - Girls Like You Lizzo - Boys Years & Years - All For You Migos - Walk It Talk It Drake - In My Feelings Drake - Nice For What Calvin Harris feat. Dua Lipa - One Kiss Troye Sivan - Bloom Summer Honorable Mentions: Big Freedia feat. Lizzo - Karaoke Years & Years - If You're Over Me Matt Rogers - Be A Bitch To Your Friends (This Pride) Aloe Blacc - Brooklyn in the Summer You can let us know what you think of Pop Rocket and suggest topics in our Facebook group or via @PopRocket on Twitter. If you haven't already, follow us on Instagram. Produced by Laura Swisher for MaximumFun.org. Edited by Shana Daloria.

I am honored to have Guy Branum as my interview guest this week. He is an accomplished television writer, having worked on Chelsea, Lately and written for Joan Rivers, as well as one of the most consistently entertaining sitcoms of the past decade, The Mindy Project. He also currently hosts Talk Show The Game Show on truTV, on which guests get points for witty stories, just the right amount of name dropping to avoid getting a yellow card, jokes, and applause breaks. It's a fresh and funny show and reminds me of Match Game in a way that the Match Game revival doesn't. And he puts his pop culture knowledge to good use on the Pop Rocket podcast on the Maximum Fun network.  The bulk of the interview is about Branum's new book, My Life As A Goddess: A Memoir Through (Un)Popular Culture. The book shows off who Branum is at his core. It's funny, compassionate, sarcastic, smart, and poignant. Branum tells the story of how a kid from a small but diverse agricultural town in California went from law school to the entertainment industry, how he came out and dealt with both self-loathing and the reproach of his family, and how important television was and is to him. Along the way, you can learn about pop culture, world history, and mythology, among other things.  The goddess in the title is a reference to a particular important mythological figure in Branum's personal history – Leto, sister and lover of Zeus and mother of Apollo and Artemis. Branum tells of how Zeus's wife, Hera, cast Leto out of Mount Olympus and cursed anyone who would give her shelter. She was forgotten and abused for nine months. The phrase that stuck with Branum comes when Leto had had enough and “Then she remembered that she was a goddess.” That is a kind of personal mantra for Branum, and we start the conversation with that idea. You can find out more about him, his tour dates, and what he's up to at his Web site, GuyBranum.com. Look for the book on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and wherever you purchase fine reading material. And watch out for notices about Talk Show The Game Show. The show is currently in between seasons and Branum is waiting to hear if he'll get the go ahead from truTV for season three.  This week's featured track is “Everything” from the debut full-length by PR Newman, Turn Out. PR Newman is the solo project of Spencer Garland, the Austin-based multi-instrumentalist who, until a few years ago, had been mostly serving as a sideman in bands like Berkshire Hounds. He played a lot of the parts and wrote almost of the songs, save for “Damn, I Miss That Guy,” written by his fellow Austinite, Willy McGee.  I got the album in the mail a few weeks ago and took an immediate liking to it. IT was hard to pick a song to feature, for a few reasons. First, there are a lot of great songs here. And second, Garland is all over the map sonically. Should I choose the cheeky “Let's Go Meet In A Small Town,” the strange and soulful “Right Here, Yeah, Ya,” the grooving “Here Come the Rangers?”  No single song can represent the range of the album. So I chose the Kinks-like acoustic rocker “Everything,” partly because it's the designated single, and partly because it's just impossible not to bob your head along with the thing and try to sing the horn line (I haven't nailed it yet). You can find out more about at www.prnewman.com and tune in next week for my conversation with Garland.

Pop Rocket co-host Wynter Mitchell joins Dave and Alonso to discuss Spielberg's VR extravaganza, along with what might be...Tyler Perry's best movie? Subscribe for free (and review us) at Apple Podcasts, follow us @linoleumcast on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook, you got to roll with the punches to get to what's real. Join our club, won't you?

A lot is happening! Some girls are on the floor making PODCASTPODCAST BRACELETS! You know you want one...and you can get one. Just leave us an iTunes review and email loveyourpodcast@gmail.com and tell them you did it! This week we're recommending Lady to Lady, Pop Rocket, and Lovett or Leave It. We listen to a VERY DESCRIPTIVE Yelp Review on Unhappy Hour with Matt Bellasai of a restaurant where there are apparently baby buttholes all over the place. We listen to Adam Ruins Everything talk to Rachel Bloom about how hilariously unglamorous the red carpet really is. John Early's Britney Spears impression on You Made it Weird with Pete Holmes is BETTER THAN BRITNEY, BITCH. And on The Nod, Brittany and Eric watch some weird YouTube videos of a man who is into some serious Jay Z / Beyonce conspiracy theories. (To be specific, he claims to have FOUND FOOTAGE / AUDIO from the elevator scene.) Oh yeah we also love The Bronx Zoo and BYOB Restaurants. xoxo

Since we didn't even go to a school with a Greek system, we recruited USC Gender Studies professor and pop culture expert Karen Tongson to join us on the show to discuss the Beverly Hills, 90210 episode where Andrea meets an anti-Semitic sorority president! Karen's cultural study of Los Angeles' sprawl, Relocations: Queer Suburban Imaginaries, is available on Amazon. She can also be heard as a guest host of the Pop Rocket podcast, and has contributed to the latest issue of the food magazine Lucky Peach. What we were drinking: Coke Zero What we were eating: pastries from Porto's Cuban bakery

This week we're obsessed with Crybabies, Guy Branum, Fan Feedback!, Tell Me Something I Don't Know, Jellyfish, NEW SEGMENT! Bar soap, LA Times "Framed," Ladies Who Lunch, old ladies and their ugly wrinkles, YouTubers Ingrid Nilsen and Cat Valdes, Put Your Hands Together with Cam and Rhea, Cameron Esposito, Rhea Butcher, PROFESSOR BLASTOFF!!!! Tig Notaro, Lola, Pop Rocket, The JV Club with Janet Varney.