View Details

PopaHALLics #167 "Alien in Heartland"

Five people trapped in a house during what may or may not be an alien invasion begin to suspect one of them is a shape-shifting alien. That's the "Twilight Zone"-like premise of "Alien in the Heartland," an independent film made in Indiana and available to rent or buy on Prime Video. We interview writer/director Eric Pascarelli and four of the five key actors:

• James Tackett, who plays Thomas, a retired movie propmaster still grieving the death of his wife, on the anniversary of her death.
• Tori Behny, who plays Roxy, his daughter, dealing with her own emotions about losing her mom in addition to her dad's spiraling behaviors and this crisis.
• Daisy Paroczy Hickey, who plays Thomas' sister-in-law, Kim, who chooses a very bad time to visit.
• Holly Anspaugh, who plays Ellie, who gets trapped in the house with her younger sister Johanna (Chloe Lutz). The two sisters have dealt with the deaths of their parents in very different ways.

A fifth character in "Alien in the Heartland" is the Dr. Richard Davis House, also known as "Woodside," a historic Frank Lloyd Wright-designed home in Marion, Indiana. The futuristic-looking Usonian style home was constructed in 1955.

Here is the trailer for "Alien in the Heartland."

The trailer for Eric's next movie "Method to the Madness," a dramedy about a Method actor coaching basketball, just came out. It features several of these same actors.

The Fair Use Doctrine of U.S. copyright law allows for the limited unauthorized use of copyrighted material for purposes of comment and criticism.

View Details

PopaHALLics #166 "Lost and Found"

This episode's all about discovery: Finding a space villain's kidnapped son, rescued puppies and true love in NYC, a way to keep your creative spark against autism, and, yes, even creepy monsters hidden in the walls of a retirement community.

Theaters:

• "The Mandalorian & Grogu." In the latest "Star Wars" big-screen release, the masked gunfighter (Pedro Pascal) and his adorable sidekick take on a rescue mission of ... Jabba the Hutt's son?! With Signourey Weaver, Jeremy Allen White, Martin Scorsese.

Streaming:

• "The Burroughs," Netflix. The Duffer Brothers try to repeat "Stranger Things" success, only this time their heroes are an intrepid band of senior citizens dealing with supernatural goings-on. With Alfred Molina, Alfre Woodard, and Geena Davis. There's no long life in this retirement community: The show's already canceled after just one season.
• "Room to Move," Netflix. When an autism diagnosis sets her world spinning, dancer and choreographer Jenn Freeman tries to regain her creative center in this intimate documentary.
• "Tornado," Kanopy. In this unusual period action thriller, a Japanese teen (Koki) faces off against a scruffy band of outlaws headed by the Sugar Man (Tim Roth) and his resentful son (Jack Lowden from "Slow Horses") in Scotland in the 1790s.
• "Emma Shay," YouTube and "Holistic Emma," Instagram. Chronicles her transforming an abandoned general store into a homestead and botanical farm.
• "Kathleen Illustrated," YouTube and Instagram. This illustrator, thrifter, and creative is focused on personal expression through sustainable style and craft.

Books:

• "Dogs, Boys, and Other Things I've Cried About," by Isabel Klee. In this memoir, Klee tells the story of the dogs she's rescued and her journey toward love in New York City. Her first true love is Simon, a puppy saved from the meat trade.

The Fair Use Doctrine of U.S. copyright law allows for the limited unauthorized use of copyrighted material for purposes of comment and criticism.

View Details

PopaHALLics #165 "Baaaad People?"If a shepherd is kind to his sheep but combative with humans, is he still a good person? When Iggy Pop rolled around in glass, was he just embodying the spirit of punk rock? And then there's the husband who suddenly abandons his 20-year marriage and his wife and kids ... We discuss all of them, and more, on this episode.

Theaters:

• "The Sheep Detectives." When a devoted shepherd (Hugh Jackman) dies under mysterious circumstances, several of his sheep set out to find his killer in this witty, cute, and weirdly profound movie. With Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Chris O'Dowd, Emma Thompson, Bryan Cranston, Regina Hall, Patrick Stewart, and Bella Ramsey.

Streaming:

• "Marty, Life is Short," Netflix. This documentary about beloved comedian Martin Short explores his career and personal triumphs and tragedies. With Steve Martin, Catherine O'Hara, John Mulaney, Tom Hanks, Steven Spielberg, and more. Directed by writer/director Lawrence Kasdan ("The Big Chill," "Raiders of the Lost Ark," "Body Heat," "The Empire Strikes Back").
• "Only in Monroe," YouTube. After his last "Late Show" on CBS, Stephen Colbert guest-hosted a public access show in Monroe, Michigan, just as he did in 2015 before starting "The Late Show." With Jeff Daniels, Jack White, and a lot of laughs.

Books:

• "Strangers: A Memoir of a Marriage," by Belle Burden. This 2026 memoir chronicles the collapse of Burden's 20-year marriage during the COVID-19 pandemic, when her husband left her and their three children.
• "Please Kill Me: The Uncensored Oral History of Punk," by Legs McNeil and Gillian McCain. In this ultra-raw blast of sex, drugs, and rock & roll first published in 1996, those who lived it recall the punk rock movement, from its origins at the tail end of Andy Warhol's Factory movement to its demise at '80s corporate rock. One of the great rock & rock books of all time.
• "The Sun Down Motel," by Simone St. James. Both a creepy ghost story and a riveting mystery, this novel follows two women - Viv, who sets out in 1982 to discover who's haunting a run-down motel, and Carly, who sets out in 2017 to solve why her aunt Viv went missing.
• A Beast Slinks Toward Beijing," by Alice Evelyn Yang. This magic realism debut follows a Chinese family through the 20th century when an estranged daughter is reunited with her father, who is haunted by a prophecy and his past.

Music:

Raye spent years writing for and producing records for major pop artists like Beyonce, Rhianna, and John Legend. Now she's a solo artist blending pop, jazz, R&B, dance, and soul into her own music. You'll find songs by Raye as well as some of the punk rockers from "Please Kill Me" on PopaHALLics #165 Playlist (Punks).

The Fair Use Doctrine of U.S. copyright law allows for the limited unauthorized use of copyrighted material for purposes of comment and criticism.

View Details

PopaHALLics #164 "Damaged Goods"

Damaged people make for good pop in this episode, from a Neil Diamond tribute band with trouble at the door to a widow keeping busy to cope with her son's disappearance over 30 years ago in "Remarkably Bright Creatures."

Streaming:

• "Remarkably Bright Creatures," Netflix. This movie adaptation of Shelby Van Pelt's novel stars Sally Field as a night shift aquarium worker who forms a bond with a curmudgeonly giant Pacific octopus (voiced by Alfred Molina).
• "Widow's Bay," Apple TV. A new mayor (Matthew Rhys) tries to turn his island town into a tourist destination despite its dark past in this comedy horror series. With Stephen Root and Kate O'Flynn.
• "Patience," BBC. An autistic police archivist (Ella Maisy Purvis) helps a detective inspector (Laura Fraser) solve crimes in this Belgian/British drama.
• "Song Sung Blue," Hulu. Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson star as a Neil Diamond tribute band in Milwaukee in this heartwarming movie about the trials and tribulations of their relationship.
• "Star Wars: Maul - Shadow Lord," Disney Plus. Animated. The horned, red and black devilish villain from "The Phantom Menace" tries to rebuild his criminal empire and woo a Jedi apprentice to the Dark Side.

Books:

• "The Twelve LIves of Alfred Hitchcock: An Anatomy of the Master of Suspense," by Edward White. This 2021 Edgar Award-winning biography explores the famed director through 12 distinct facets of his life, such as "The Voyeur," "The Entertainer," and "The Murderer."
• "Hex House," by Amy Jane Stewart. A dark feminist horror novel set in Scotland. Hex House is a magical safe haven that turns abused women into vessels of revenge.
• "Hitchcock's Blondes: The Unforgettable Women Behind the Legendary Director's Dark Obsession," by Laurence Leamer. This book covers some of the same subjects as "The Twelve Lives," but puts the women at the center of the story, with an emphasis on misbehavior (mainly Hitchcock's) and sex (mainly them).

Music:

PopaHALLics #164 Playlist (Kacey) features selections from Kacey Musgraves' new album "Middle of Nowhere," as well as Jackman and Hudson performing Neil Diamond's hits from the "Song Sung Blue" soundtrack.

The Fair Use Doctrine of U.S. copyright law allows for the limited unauthorized use of copyrighted material for purposes of comment and criticism.

View Details

PopaHALLics #163 "Pop-ping up Everywhere"

Buckle up, kids! On this episode, we zoom around from deep space to 1998 New York to Palestine to Ireland to a Mormon community in Utah to Elle Fanning's bedroom. Note: Three of the trailers below open with someone waking up gasping. Prepare to be breathless!

Theaters:

• "Project Hail Mary." In this huge sci-fi hit, a high school science teacher (Ryan Gosling) must reluctantly save the Earth. And make an unlikely friend in the process. Based on the novel by Andy Weir ("The Martian").

Streaming:

• "Caught Stealing," Netflix. Watching his neighbor's cat forces a former baseball prodigy (Austin Butler) into contact with some very bad gangsters in this violent dark comedy. With Regina King, Zoe Kravitz, Liev Schreiber, and Vincent D'Onofrio. Extra points if you spot Griffin Dunne!
• "Margo's Got Money Troubles," Apple TV. A single mom college student (Elle Fanning) uses her creative skills to get money through an Only Fans account in this comedy drama. With Michelle Pfeiffer and Nick Offerman.
• "Trust Me: The False Prophet," Netflix. In this documentary, a cult expert and her husband embed themselves in a Mormon community, where Samuel Bateman claims to be the successor to imprisoned prophet Warren Jeffs.
• "War Machine," Netflix. During the final stage of Army Ranger selection, an elite team's training exercise turns into a very real fight for survival against an alien threat in this action thriller. Starring Alan Ritchson and Dennis Quaid.
• "The Truth and Tragedy of Moriah Wilson," Netflix. This documentary explores "the vibrant life of a pro cyclist, her shocking murder, and how far her killer went to evade capture" (Netflix).

Books:

• "Too Soon," by Betty Shamieh. This 2025 debut novel follows three generations of Palestinian women as they navigate love, identity, and displacement from 1948 to the present day.
• "Murder in G Major: A Gethsemane Brown Mystery," by Alexia Gordon. In this 2015 cozy mystery, a struggling African-American conductor' takes a job working with high school musicians in Ireland and living in a cliffside cottage. The ghost of the cottage''s owner, a famous composer, asks for her help in clearing his name of the murders of his wife and himself. Witty and fun.

The Fair Use Doctrine of U.S. copy[right law allows for the limited unauthorized use of copyrighted materials for purposes such as comment and criticism.

View Details

PopaHALLics #162 "Many (Happy) Returns?

People come back on this episode—to the past, to gangland trouble in the present, to a murder that keeps occurring, and to home.

Theaters:

• "The Super Mario Galaxy Movie." When Princess Rosalina gets kidnapped by Bowser Jr., Mario, Luigi and Princess Peach are on the case. With the voices of Chris Pratt, Charlie Day, Anya Taylor-Joy, Jack Black, and more.

Streaming:

• "Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man," Netflix. In this movie sequel to the series, will Tommy Shelby (Cillian Murphy) return from self-imposed exile in time to prevent the gang's new leader, his son, from making a terrible mistake?
• "Mike and Nick and Nick and Alice," Hulu. This unusual crime comedy finds future Nick (Vince Vaughn) traveling through time to try to save his associate Mike (James Marsden) when the gang suspects a rat.
• "The Outrun," Netflix. After living life on the edge, Rona (Saoirse Ronan) tries to come to terms with her troubled past by returning to Scotland's Orkney Islands.

Books:

• "The Man Who Died Seven Times," by Yasuhiko Nishizawa. In this twisty, clever murder mystery, a college student stuck in a time loop attempts to prevent his grandfather's murder and learn the killer's identity.
• "Heart the Lover," by Lily King. Both a prequel and sequel to "Writers and Lovers," this novel explores a college love triangle decades later when the narrator is forced to confront her past.
• "Ten Dead Comedians: A Murder Mystery," by Fred Van Lente. When ten comedians are summoned to a remote island to meet a legendary comic, someone begins killing them off one by one. A funny, sometimes gory novel.
• "Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng," by Kylie Lee Baker. As women are murdered in Chinatown, a young Chinese-American wonders if she is haunted by a "hungry ghost" or a vampire in this horror novel.

The Fair Doctrine doctrine of U.S. copyright law allows for the unauthorized limited use of copyrighted materials for such purposes as comment and criticism.

View Details

PopaHALLics #161 "All in the Family"

Family runs through this episode, whether it's a crime family with a manipulative matriarch, a family of animals (dinosaurs) or a homeless-looking guy trying to build a "family" from hostages to stop technology from taking over the world.

In Theaters:

• "Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die." In this sci-fi action comedy with crazy visuals, a man claims to have come from the future to prevent dangerous AI. Starring Sam Rockwell, Haley Lu Richardson, and Juno Temple.

Streaming:

• "How to Get from Heaven to Belfast," Netflix. In this Irish comic mystery/thriller from the creator of "Derry Girls," three lifelong friends attending the wake of a fourth realize something's amiss.
• "Animal Kingdom," Prime. Ellen Barkin stars as a crime family matriarch who rules her sons and grandson with borderline incestuous love. Six seasons of this American crime drama, based on an Australian film, are available.
• "The Dinosaurs," Netflix. With stunning CGI, this four-episode series from producer Stephen Spielberg traces the rise and fall of the dinosaurs. Morgan Freeman narrates this spiritual successor to "Life on Our Planet" (2023).

Books:

• "Empire of Madness: Reimagining Western Mental Health for Everyone," by Khameer Kidia. A physician argues our mental healthcare system focuses on medicating symptoms rather than addressing root causes like history, culture, and political structures.

Music:

• Harry Styles returns with the disco and electronic-pop-tinged album, "Kiss All the Time. Disco, Occasionally." And cohost Steve Hall releases his first solo record in 13 years, "It's Alive" (Remastered), as well as "First Wind" by his band the Windbag Brothers. All are featured on PopaHALLics #161 Playlist (Harry).

The Fair Use Doctrine of U.S. copyright law allows limited unauthorized use of copyrighted material for such purposes as comment and criticism.

View Details

PopaHALLics #160 "It's Time to Light the Lights"

From Kermit the Frog to the KGB, from Bad Bunny to "Eternity," we are all over the pop culture landscape. There's even a short review of Oscar-nominated shorts.

Streaming:

• "Eternity," Apple TV. After a woman (Elizabeth Olsen) dies in this romantic comedy, she must choose who she wants to spend eternity with: Her longtime husband (Miles Teller) or her husband who died young (Callum Turner).
• "The Muppet Show," Disney +. In this special like their old series (1976-1981), Kermit and the gang try to put on a show despite backstage chaos. Singer/songwriter/actress Sabrina Carpenter is the guest star.
• "Ponies," Peacock. This Cold War thriller features two women (Emilia Clarke and Haley Liu Richardson) becoming unlikely spies in Moscow to investigate their husbands' mysterious deaths.
• Oscar-nominated live action shorts: "The Singers," Netflix; "A Friend of Dorothy," YouTube; and "Jane Austen's Period Drama," YouTube. Through March 2, you can also watch seven of the nominated live-action and animated shorts at manhattanshortonline.com for $12.

Books:

• "The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox," by Maggie O'Farrell. In this 2006 novel by the author of "Hamnet," the release of a great-aunt from a psychiatric hospital after 61 years forces a woman to confront a hidden family history of secrets and shame.
• "Our Mothers' Daughters," by Judith Arcana. This nonfiction book from the 1970s uses interviews to explore the relationship between mothers and daughters.

The Fair Use doctrine of U.S. copyright law allows limited use of copyrighted material without permission for such purposes as criticism and comment.

View Details

PopaHALLics #!59 "Train Dreams and Wonder Men"

We discuss the Oscar-nominated "Train Dreams," Marvel TV series "Wonder Man," the latest "Bridgerton," and more! Plus Resident Kid Expert (age 10) reviews "KPop Demon Hunters."

Streaming:

• "Train Dreams," Netflix. A logger (Joel Edgerton) struggles with the meaning of life in this Best Picture nominee. With Felicity Jones and William H. Macy.
• "His and Hers," Netflix. Estranged spouses (Tessa Thompson and Jon Bernthal) compete to solve a murder case while both thinking the other did it.
• "Wonder Man," Disney +. A struggling actor with superpowers (Yahya Abdul Mateen II) and a pretentious acting vet with a hidden agenda (Ben Kingsley) develop an unlikely friendship. Based on the Marvel comic.
• "Bridgerton," Netflix. In season 4, rake Benedict Bridgerton (Luke Thompson) is intrigued by a masked woman (Yerin Ha) at a ball. Upstairs and downstairs!
• "Pinball: The Man Who Saved the Game," Tubi. A young GQ writer/pinball wizard seeks out to change the game being illegal in NYC in this true story.
• "KPop Demon Hunters," Netflix. This animated musical about a girl group battling demons is Netflix's most-watched original film, with over 500 million views.

Books:

• "Up Jumps the Devil"and "Reincarnation Blues," by Michael Poore. Two humorous fantasies. In the first, the Devil tries to make America great to win back his heavenly love. In the second, Milo is running out of lives to become one with everything—including his true love.
• "Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil," by V.E. Schwab. In this acclaimed novel, three female vampires over the centuries deal with love and rage.

Fair use doctrine of US copyright law allows limited use of copyrighted material without permission for purposes such as criticism and comment.

View Details

PopaHALLics #158 "Pop Goes the Globe!"

We look at two movies with Golden Globe awards—"One Battle After Another" and "Marty Supreme"—as well as the movie "Life of Chuck," the rom-com "People We Meet on Vacation" and Tulsa-set crime comedy drama series "The Lowdown."

In Theaters:

• "Marty Supreme." Timothee Chalamet won a Golden Globe (best actor, musical/comedy) by playing a talented jerk determined to be a world-champion ping pong player at all costs. With Gwyneth Paltrow, Fran Drescher, Penn Jillette, and more.

Streaming:

• "One Battle After Another," various streaming channels. This intense political thriller won Golden Globes for best musical/comedy, Teyana Taylor (best actress, musical/comedy), best screenplay and best director (Paul Thomas Anderson). Leonardo DiCaprio plays a former revolutionary trying to protect his daughter from a villainous Army captain (Sean Penn).
• "The Life of Chuck," Hulu. This adaptation of a Stephen King novella was written and directed by Mike Flanagan. Tom Hiddleston stars in the life-affirming tale of an ordinary man, whose story is told in reverse chronological order. With Karen Gillan, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Mia Sara and Mark Hamill.
• "People We Meet on Vacation," Netflix. In this romantic comedy, Emily Bader and Tom Blyth play best friends/polar opposites who have gone on vacation together for a decade. Based on an Emily Henry novel.
• "The Lowdown," Hulu and other streaming channels. Ethan Hawke plays a "truthologist" trying to get to the bottom of the death of the black sheep (Tim Blake Nelson) of a prominent Oklahoma family. With Keith David, Jeanne Tripplehorn, Kyle Maclachlan, and Peter Dinklage.
• "Emily in Paris," Netflix. In season 5, Emily (Lily Collins) travels to Rome to launch an Agence Grateau office there. She also handles a new relationship with a luxury fashion heir (Eugenio Franceschini). What could go wrong?

The Fair Use doctrine of U.S. copyright law allows for the limited use of copyrighted material without permission for purposes such as comment, criticism, news, and research.

View Details

PopaHALLics #157 "Ho Ho Pop"

On our last episode of 2025, we discuss new movies including the latest "Knives Out" and "Hamnet," and books including a great take on the Lennon-McCartney relationship. Plus Kate looks back at "Buffy the Vampire Slayer"!

In Theaters:

• "Hamnet." Academy-Award winning director Chloe Zhao and author Maggie O'Farrell explore how the loss of a son inspires William Shakespeare's "Hamlet." Starring Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal.

Streaming:

• "Wake up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery," Netflix. In the third installment of Rian Johnson's detective series, Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig, in thumbnail photo) investigates a murder mystery "with biblical proportions" in a small town. With Josh O'Connor, Josh Brolin, and Glenn Close.
• "The Family Plan 2," Apple TV. In this action comedy sequel, the Morgans' trip to London at Christmas is complicated by a "ghost from the past." Starring Mark Wahlberg, Michelle Monaghan, and Kit Harrington ("Game of Thrones").
• "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," Hulu. Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) and her friends (including Alyson Hannigan and Nicholas Brendon) battle vampires and the terrors of high school in this series (1997-2003).

Books:

• "John & Paul: A Love Story in Song," by Ian Leslie. This fresh take on the Beatles examines Lennon and McCartney's relationship from 1957 to 1980 through songs, both their favorites and their originals.
• "Brightly Shining," by Ingvild H. Rishøi. Two young sisters struggle to make a Christmas for themselves as their father struggles with unemployment and alcoholism.
• "Mr. Splitfoot," by Samantha Harris. This contemporary gothic novel interweaves two timelines, one about two orphans in the 1980s and the other about a mysterious walking pilgrimage decades later.

The "fair use" doctrine of U.S. copyright law allows for limited unauthorized use of copyrighted material for purposes such as comment and education.

View Details

PopaHALLics #156 "Scott of the Bells"

In this on-location episode, Steve interviews Scott Soltermann, who plays, records, and programs the carillion (bells) at Butler University in Indianapolis. Steve and his wife often hear the bells in their neighborhood and began wondering about the anonymous player.

Scott, a former music and special needs teacher, also listened to the bells while growing up in Indianapolis. When he returned home from Oregon, he volunteered to keep them going, Now, on a clear day, his playing can be heard for up to two miles!

For non-Hoosiers: When Scott mentions Tony Hinkle, he's referring to Butler's legendary head football coach, head baseball coach, AND head basketball coach for nearly 50 years. Butler's basketball arena, the largest in the U.S. until 1950, was renamed Hinkle Fieldhouse in his honor. If you've seen the basketball movie "Hoosiers," that's where the fictional state high school championship game was filmed.

We learn how a modern electronic carillion works and hear Scott play some tunes. It's a show with a peal. (Get it?)

The fair use doctrine of U.S. copyright law allows for the limited unauthorized use of copyrighted material for purposes such as comment and education.

View Details

PopaHALLics #155 "Breaking Good"
Can one unhappy woman save the world from "hive mind"? Why does Kate think motherhood is an important theme in the new "Frankenstein"? And Alicia Silverstone may be "Clueless" about her feelings in a new holiday movie.

Streaming:

• "Pluribus," Apple TV. In the new sci-fi drama from the creator of "Breaking Bad," can the most miserable person on Earth (Rhea Seehorn) save the world from happiness from an extraterrestrial virus? And does Steve agree with the series' 100% Rotten Tomatoes rating?
• "Frankenstein," Netflix. Last episode, we heard Steve's thoughts on Guillermo Del Toro's visually gorgeous version of Mary Shelley's 1818 novel, starring Oscar Isaacs and Jacob Elordi. This week, Kate's review.
• "Down Cemetery Road," Apple TV. A concerned neighbor (Ruth Wilson) and a private investigator (Emma Thompson) search for a missing girl and uncover a conspiracy in this 8-part British TV series. Based on a novel by "Slow Horses" creator Mick Herron.
• "A Merry Little Ex-Mas," Netflix. In this romantic comedy coproduced by Melissa Joan Hart, divorcing couple Kate (Alicia Silverstone) and Everett (Oliver Hudson) want one last Christmas together as a family. New flames (Jameela Jamil and Pierson Fode) and old feelings complicate their plans.
• "The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives," Hulu. Being friends with any of the mom influencers in this reality TV series would be an emotional roller-coaster ride. And not in a good way.

Music:

Folksinger Todd Snider, 59, died on Nov. 14 after being hospitalized with walking pneumonia. Snider was a wry, compassionate voice of modern Americana and alt-country songwriting. Steve is a huge fan, loving Snider's funny songs like "I Can't Complain" and even funnier long, meandering stories. Snider's memoir "I Never Met a Story I Didn't Like: Mostly True Tales" features some of his best ones. Our PopaHALLics #155 Playlist (Todd) showcases some of our favorite tunes by this barefoot troubadour. Enjoy!

Click through the links to watch, read, or hear what we're talking about. The fair use doctrine of U.S. copyright law allows the limited use of copyrighted material without permission for such purposes as commentary and education.

View Details

PopaHALLics #154 "It's Alive!"

In this mini-episode, Steve's solo with his review of Guillermo del Toro's "Frankenstein" and the book "Tonight in Jungleland: The Making of Born to Run," by Peter Ames Carlin. Kate provided rapid-fire reviews of new albums by female artists.

Streaming:

• "Frankenstein," Netflix. Del Toro's version of Mary Shelley's 1818 novel is visually gorgeous, solidly acted, and really comes to life when the Creature (Jacob Elordi) tells his tale. Oscar Isaacs is the arrogant Victor Frankenstein, out to create life even if he hasn't thought through what happens next. Also starring Mia Goth, Christoph Waltz, and Charles Dance.

Books:

• "Tonight in Jungleland: The Making of Born to Run," by Peter Ames Carlin. Carlin's book takes a fascinating deep dive into the making of an iconic rock album. In danger of being dropped by his record label and fearing this would be his last chance at recording, Bruce Springsteen set out to make a rock album for the ages. He succeeded.

Music:

PopaHALLics #154 Playlist (Olivia) has tunes from Olivia Dean, Florence and the Machine, and Rosalia.

Click through the links to see, read, or hear what Steve is talking about.The fair use doctrine of U.S. copyright law allows the limited use of copyrighted material without permission for such purposes as commentary and education.

View Details

PopaHALLics #153 "Popping Up Secrets"
Dad and daughter dish on Lily Allen's "divorce album," the new seasons of "Slow Horses" and "The Diplomat," a late-to-the-party discovery of TV's "Interview with a Vampire," a funny, wise novel called "I See That You've Called in Dead"—and more!

Streaming:

• "Sisu: Road to Revenge," Hulu, Prime. In this John Wick-ish Finnish action thriller, Nazi soldiers steal gold from an old prospector. One problem: He's a former "one-man death squad" legendary for his ruthlessness.
• "Slow Horses," Apple TV. In Season 5, coordinated terrorist attacks in London begin a destabilization campaign. The first sign something's amiss: Obnoxious Roddy Ho (Christopher Chung) has a girlfriend.
• "The Diplomat," Netflix. In Season 3, the Brits are upset with an American betrayal, and Kate (Keri Russell) and Hal (Rufus Sewell) struggle with their roles and relationship. Bradley Whitford joins the cast as First Husband to President Grace Penn (Allison Janey).
• "Interview with a Vampire," AMC. Season 2 finds Louis (Jacob Anderson) traveling to Paris with teen fledgling Claudia (Delainey Hayles) in a search for Old World vampires. He meets Armand (Assad Zaman), a relationship that will have devastating consequences.

Books:

• "I See That You've Called in Dead," by John Kenney. When a drunken obit writer accidentally publishes his own fake obit, he ends up getting a second chance at life in this funny, moving novel.
• "The God of the Woods," by Liz Moore. In this acclaimed mystery, the disappearance of a 13-year-old girl from a summer camp triggers an investigation into her vanishing and her family's dark secrets.
• "Exit Lane: An 831 Stories Romance," by Erica Veurink. This "sweet romance" follows Teddy and Marin's eight-year rocky relationship from Iowa City to NYC and back.

Music:
Lily Allen returns with her first album in seven years, "West End Girl," about the breakup of her marriage. PopaHallics Playlist #153 (Lily) also contains tunes by Tame Impala and Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes. The great record store we mention is JL Records in West Lafayette, IN.

Click through the links above to watch, read, and listen to what Steve and Kate discuss.

View Details

PopaHALLics #152 "Guinness, Ghosts, and Valley Girls"

Dad and daughter dish on "House of Guinness," about a family struggle for control of the brewery; "Presence," a ghost story told from the ghost's POV; variety show host Ed Sullivan and civil rights; and more! Plus the duo likes looking back at "Romy & Michele's High School Reunion." Me too!

Streaming:

• "House of Guinness," Netflix. In this historical drama from the creator of "Peaky Blinders," the brewery founder's four adult children, "each with dark secrets to hide," wrestle for control after his passing. Starring Anthony Boyle, Louis Partridge, Emily Fairn, and Fionn O'Shea.
• "Presence," Hulu and Disney +. Director Steven Soderbergh returns to fine independent filmmaking form with this clever spin on a haunted house tale. When a troubled family moves in, we experience events from the ghost's perspective. Starring Lucy Liu, Chris Sullivan, Callian Liang, and Eddy Maday.
• "Romy and Michele's High School Reunion," Hulu and Disney +. In the 1997 screwball comedy, two Valley Girls (Mira Sorvino and Lisa Kudrow) invent fake careers to impress their former classmates. The cult classic also stars Janeane Garofalo, Alan Cumming, and Camryn Manheim.
• "Sunday Best: The Untold Story of Ed Sullivan," Netflix. This 2023 documentary makes the case that the variety show pioneer was also a pioneer in civil rights by showcasing black acts on TV. Includes archival footage of amazing performances and interviews with Smokey Robinson, Harry Belafonte, Dionne Warwick, Oprah Winfrey, and more.
• "Howl," Prime, various streaming services. Passengers on an overnight train are stranded in the forest with werewolves about in this claustrophobic British horror thriller. Starring Ed Speleers, Holly Weston, Elliott Cowan, and more.

Books:

• "The Warm Hands of Ghosts," by Katherine Arden. A combat nurse searches for her brother, believed dead in the WWI trenches, despite eerie evidence otherwise in this acclaimed novel.

Please click through the links to watch and read about what we're discussing. The "fair use" doctrine of U.S. copyright law allows limited use of copyrighted material without permission for purposes like criticism, comment, and education.

View Details

PopaHALLics #151 "Halls on Holiday: The PNW (Part Two)"

Steve's almost month-long "retirementmoon" in the Pacific Northwest continues! In this episode: A whirlwind trip to Canada, Bainbridge Island, and Seattle. The Aquarium, the Space Needle, the Museum of Pop Culture, the Fremont Troll, Jimi Hendrix's grave—and more! Join us.

Some memorable places and experiences:

• Silver Falls State Park, Salem, OR. The Trail of Ten Falls, a nationally recognized hiking trail, takes you to 10 waterfalls, including several you can walk behind.
• Sol Duc Hot Springs, Olympic National Park, WA. This resort offers three relaxing mineral hot springs (temperatures ranging from 99 to 104F) and one freshwater soaking pool.
• Butchart Gardens, Brentwood Bay, British Columbia, Canada. This 121-year-old world-famous garden created by Jennie Butchart features 55 acres of gorgeous flowers and landscaping in five different gardens.
• Japanese-American Exclusion Memorial, Bainbridge Island, WA. This solemn memorial remembers the island's Japanese-Americans, who were the first on the West Coast to be taken away to incarceration camps during World War II.
• Fremont Vintage Mall, Seattle, WA. The self-styled "coolest vintage store in the center of the universe" features furniture, collectibles, records, and more.
• Hot Tub Boats, Seattle. A float in a boat made into a 104 F hot tub on the chilly waters of Lake Union is an unforgettable experience. Bonus: You can motor past the houseboat featured in "Sleepless in Seattle."
• Leavenworth, WA. This Bavarian-style village is a 2 1/2 hour drive from Seattle in the Cascades. Is it hokey? Yes. But great food and drink, Bavarian-themed shops, and the Tumwater Twister Alpine Coaster will make you say "Ja!"

Part One, PopaHALLics #150 "Halls on Holiday: The PNW, is a fun listen too!

Music:

We've assembled a Spotify playlist related to the sights and sounds of the trip, Popahallics #150 Playlist (PNW). Jump in the train/van/hot tub boat and turn it up!

U.S. copyright law allows for the limited "fair use" of copyrighted material without permission for purposes such as criticism, comment, and education.

View Details

PopaHALLics #150 "Halls on Holiday: The PNW" (part one)

Join us for a special adventure into the Pacific Northwest! Steve celebrates his retirement with a "retirementmoon" - an almost month-long trip in Oregon and Washington State - and Kate joins him in Seattle. In part one, Steve and his wife travel cross-country on the Empire Builder train; explore funky Portland; travel along the scenic Oregon and Washington coasts; explore the diverse ecosystems of Olympic National Park and the Hoh Rain Forest; visit sites used for filming "The Goonies" and "Twilight"—and more! It's the trip of a lifetime! Join us!

Music:

We've assembled a special Spotify playlist related to the sights and sounds of the trip, Popahallics #150 Playlist (PNW). From "The Black Ball Ferry Line" featuring Bing Crosby and the Andrew Sisters to Hendrix and Pearl Jam, this enjoyable playlist puts you in the train/van/hot tub boat with us!

Fun Places We Stayed:

• A roomette on Amtrak's Empire Builder train headed west. Cozy!
• McMenamins' Crystal Hotel, Portland, OR. A very cool historic hotel with music-themed rooms, a basement soaking pool, restaurant and concert areas. Located in the Pearl District, it's a good base for exploring downtown Portland.
• Escape Campervan. Our home on wheels for 12 days! Great way to see the country and have a bed, fridge (solar powered), stove (propane), and sink. You're on your own re restroom.
• South Beach State Park, Newport, OR. Miles of broad ocean beach, walking and biking trails, and close proximity to Newport, which has lighthouses, whale watching, etc. Note: The beach is a longer hike from the campground than you think.
• Hart's Camp, formerly known as Cape Kiwanda RV Park, Pacific City, OR. All the amenities you'd expect in a RV park, plus bunnies hopping around the campsites. We met some interesting motocross guys while having a soak in the hot tub. Conveniently located across the road from Pelican Brewing and Haystack Rock.
• Fay Bainbridge Park Campground, Bainbridge Island, WA. Maybe our favorite campground of the trip—and in a city park! The campsites are just a short walk from an almost-mile-long stretch of beach with awesome views of Puget Sound, Seattle and, on a clear day, Mount Rainier and Mount Baker.

View Details

PopaHALLics #149 "Pasta & Politics"

Season 7 kicks off with us digging into two food movies designed to make your mouth water, as well as action thrillers involving getaway drivers and ... politicians?!

Streaming:

• "Nonnas," Netflix. A man (Vince Vaughn) risks everything to honor his late mother by opening an Italian restaurant with real grandmothers as the chefs in this 2025 movie. With Susan Sarandon, Lorraine Bracco, and Talia Shire.
• "Toscana," Netflix. In this 2022 Danish romantic comedy/drama, a chef (Anders Mattheson) goes to Tuscany to sell his estranged father's restaurant. An Italian (Cristiana Dell'Ana) teaches him to see cuisine and life in a new way.
• "Hostage," Netflix. In this British five-episode limited series, an international summit goes awry when the husband of the British prime minister (Suranne Jones) is kidnapped and the French president (Julie Delphy) is blackmailed.
• "Eenie Meanie," Hulu. A former getaway driver (Samara Weaving) is trying to go straight when her screw-up ex (Karl Glusman) gets her involved in a casino heist in this comedy thriller. Andy Garcia and Marshawn Lynch also star.
• "Heads of State," Prime. In this 2025 comedy thriller, a British prime minister (Idris Elba) and an action movie star-turned-U.S. president (John Cena) must work together when Air Force One is shot down over enemy territory.

Books:

• "Never Whistle at Night: An Indigenous Dark Fiction Anthology," edited by Shane Hawk and Theodore C. Van Alst Jr. Horror, fantasy, and sci-fi stories written by Indigenous authors.
• "The Trap," by Catherine Ryan Howard. A young woman tries to learn the fate of her abducted sister in this 2023 thriller inspired by the disappearances of young Irish women in the 1990s.
• "Twilight of the Gods" and "Your Favorite Band is Killing Me," by Steven Hyden.

View Details

PopaHALLics #148 She Pop

Dad and daughter discuss pop culture with strong women, from a K-pop group battling demons with song to the women in a Mafia family to Taylor Swift.

Theaters:

• "Freakier Friday." In this comedy, Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan from 2003's "Freaky Friday" switch bodies again, this time with daughter and soon-to-be stepdaughter. Hijinks ensue!

Streaming:

• "K-Pop Demon Hunters," Netflix. In this animated musical action film with a bestselling soundtrack, Korean girl group Huntrix uses music and dance to defeat demons. One problem: Leader Rumi is secretly half demon.
• "Fresh Kills," Hulu. A wife and daughters' lives are complicated by their husband and father, a mobster, in this drama. Starring Emily Bader, Odessa A'zion, and Jennifer Esposito, who also directed.

Podcasts:

• "New Heights." Taylor Swift gives her most extensive interview ever on this sports podcast hosted by her boyfriend, Travis Kelce, and his brother Jason.

Books:

• "Splinters: Another Kind of Love Story," by Leslie Jamison. In this memoir, Jamison examines the complexities of being a woman, artist, teacher, and lover.
• "The Peacock and the Sparrow," by I.S. Berry. In this Edgar Award-winning mystery, a jaded CIA agent's mission during the Arab Spring goes wrong.
• "Blue Graffiti," by Calahan Skogman. A girl blows into a small town, changing everything for a painter/construction worker in this Beat-inspired debut.

Music:

PopaHALLics #148 Playlist (K Pop) features music from "K-Pop Demon Hunters," real-life K-Pop acts like Blackpink and BTS, and Brave Combo, a Texas group that polkas in intriguing ways.

Click through the links above to watch, read, and listen to what we discuss.

View Details

PopaHALLics #147 "Pop and Politics"

Steve and Kate weigh in on "South Park" taking on Trump; the cancellation of Stephen Colbert's late-night show; and the demise of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Then we talk Lena Dunham's new show; Happy Gilmore—and more! NOTE: Steve's voice is muted in spots due to recording difficulties, not interference by government overlords. We think.

Streaming:

• "Too Much," Netflix. In this rom-com mini-series created by Lena Dunham ("Girls"), New Yorker Jessica (Megan Stalter) flees to London with a broken heart. Almost immediately she is attracted to Felix (Will Sharpe). Trouble!
• "Happy Gilmore 2," Netflix. In this sequel to the 1996 film, Adam Sandler's hockey player turned golfer returns to the links to help pay for his daughter's ballet training. With Christopher McDonald, Julie Bowen, Ben Stiller, Bad Bunny, and more.
• "Scrapper," Hoopla. After her mother's death, 12-year-old Georgie (Lola Campbell) is living alone in London, pretending to the authorities she's being raised by her uncle. Then her estranged father shows up. This British comedy drama was named one of the top 10 independent films of 2023 by the National Board of Review.

Books:

• "Bad Nature," by Ariel Courage. "Armed with a terminal diagnosis, a grudge and a rental car" (amazon.com), Hester sets out on a road trip to kill her father. Things don't go as planned in this bleakly funny debut novel.
• "The Buffalo Hunter Hunter," by Stephen Graham Jones. In this much-praised novel deftly mixing history, indigenous culture, and the supernatural, a Blackfoot warrior turned vampire seeks justice for a massacre.
• "The Lesser Dead," by Christopher Buehlman. It's 1978 in New York City, and things are going great for a group of vampires living in abandoned subway tunnels. Until the creepy kid vampires show up.

Music:

Our PopaHALLics #147 Playlist (Wet Leg) features new songs by British indie rock band Wet Leg; neosoul/pop/jazz singer/songwriter Olivia Dean; and singer/songwriter Eric Bettencourt. Enjoy!

Click through the links above to watch, read, and listen to what we discuss.

View Details

PopaHALLics #146 "Bad Boys"

Is it possible for bad men to redeem themselves, as when twin black gangsters face off against white vampires in "Sinners"? What makes a man bad—his personality, upbringing, status in life, as the Bluebeard-themed novel "Sour Cherry" asks? And would it really be so bad to save the family fishing business by running drugs ("The Waterfront")? Find out more on our show!

Streaming:

• "Sinners," Max. It's really hard to make a go of your new juke joint in 1930s Mississippi when white vampires show up on opening night. Michael B. Jordan plays gangster brothers in this horror film from writer/director Ryan Coogler (the "Black Panther" movies, "Creed").
• "The Bear," FX, Hulu. In season 4, the clock is ticking; Carmy (Jeremy Allen White) and company must turn the chaotic restaurant around or close down.
• "The Waterfront," Netflix. In this soapy drama from Kevin Williamson ("Dawson's Creek," "Scream"), a feuding family tries to save their family fishing business through drug-running. Starring Holt McCallany, Maria Bello, Melissa Benoit, and Jake Weary.
• "My Cousin Vinny," Disney +. When two carefree pals are mistakenly arrested and charged with murder in Alabama, they turn to a cousin (Joe Pesci), an auto mechanic who recently passed the bar on his sixth try. Marisa Tomei won an Oscar playing Vinny's fiancee, Mona Lisa Vito, in this 1992 comedy.

Books:

• "Sour Cherry," by Natalia Theodoridou. This acclaimed debut novel uses the Bluebeard fairy tale to "deconstruct the systems of gender, power, and the excuses people make for bad men" (Chicago Review of Books).
• "Less," by Andrea Sean Greer. A failed novelist tries to ignore his ex marrying another man as well as an unwelcome birthday by traveling around the world. This 2017 satirical novel, funny and poignant, won the Pulitzer Prize.
• "If It Bleeds," by Stephen King. This 2020 collection of four novellas includes stories that inspired the 2024 Tom Hiddleston sci-fi movie "Life of Chuck" and the 2022 horror movie "Mr. Harrigan's Phone." The title story features one of King's personal favorite characters, socially awkward, obsessive compulsive private investigator Holly Gibney. There's also a writer and a rat.

Click through the links to watch and read about what we discuss.

View Details

PopaHALLics #145 "Schemers & Dreamers"

In this week's offerings: A businessman trying to con investors, improv actors trying to con criminals, a group hoping to draw attention to black string bands, and cops trying to solve murders despite long odds. Will they succeed or fail?

In Theaters:

• "The Phoenician Scheme." Writer/director Wes Anderson's latest quirky, deadpan, exquisitely shot dark comedy features an industrialist, his estranged daughter, and a Norwegian bug expert trying to swindle his investors when a scheme goes awry. Benicio del Toro, Mia Threapleton, and Michael Cera star, with Tom Hanks, Scarlett Johansson, Bill Murray, Benedict Cumberbatch, Bryan Cranston, and more.

Streaming:

• "Deep Cover," Prime. In this 2025 British action comedy, the police recruit three improv comedy actors (Bryce Dallas Howard, Orlando Bloom, and Nick Mohammed, of "Ted Lasso") for undercover work in London's criminal underworld. They're soon in over their heads. With Sean Bean, Ian McShane, and Paddy Considine.
• "Dept. Q," Netflix. Based on the Danish book series by Jussi Adler-Olson, this British crime thriller series follows an emotionally scarred Scottish detective (Matthew Goode) tasked with solving cold cases. With Chloe Pirrie, Jamie Sives, Leah Byrne, and Kate Dickie.
• "The Sinner," Netflix. Bill Pullman stars as a police detective who investigates crimes committed by unlikely culprits and attempts to uncover their motivations in this USA Network series that ran for four seasons.
• "Don't Get Trouble in Your Mind: The Carolina Chocolate Drops Story," Prime, Hulu, YouTube, and other streaming services. Director John Whitehead's compelling 2016 documentary, newly available streaming, traces the trio's improbable rise to success and the personal tensions that drove them apart.

Books:

• "The Third Coast: When Chicago Built the American Dream," by Thomas Dyja. This extensively researched and well-written history explores post-WWII Chicago's impact on wider America through architecture, electric blues, early television, advertising, and more.
• "Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead," by Olga Tokarczuk and translated from Polish by Antonia Lloyd-Jones. Winner of the Nobel Prize for literature, this "funny, vivid, dangerous and disturbing" novel (Annie Proulx) explores human behavior through a literary murder mystery.

Music:
PopaHALLics #145 Playlist (Drops) features the old time string band music of the Carolina Chocolate Drops as Fantastic Cat, an indie music supergroup.

Click through the links to watch, read about, or listen to what we're discussing.

View Details

PopaHALLics #144 "Mission ImPOPible"

Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to learn if these pop culture offerings are enjoyable: "Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning." "Thunderbolts." "Fountain of Youth." "The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives." "Wolf Man." And more!

In Theaters:

• "Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning." In the eighth film in the franchise, Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) races to keep AI from destroying the world. With Esai Morales, Hayley Atwell, Simon Pegg, Pom Klementieff, and Ving Rhames.
• "Thunderbolts." In the latest Marvel Cinematic Universe offering, a group of anti-heroes are caught in a deadly trap and forced to work together on a dangerous mission. Starring Florence Pugh, Sebastian Stan, Wyatt Russell, David Harbour, Lewis Pullman, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, and more.

Streaming:

• "Fountain of Youth," Apple TV. In this movie that borrows liberally from the likes of "The Da Vinci Code" and "Raiders of the Lost Ark" (among others), John Krasinski and Natalie Portman play an estranged brother and sister searching for the fabled Fountain of Youth.
• "The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives," Hulu. This reality series follows the lives of eight Utah-based TikTok influencers, known as MomTok. Their world implodes when they get caught in a swinging sex scandal.
• "Wolf Man," Peacock. When two writers (Christopher Abbott and Julia Garner) return to his Idaho home, their lives are threatened by a mysterious creature in the woods and then Abbott's character himself. This psychological updating of Universal's 'The Wolf Man" comes from Blumhouse Productions.
• "The Highwaymen," Netflix. Kevin Costner and Woody Harrelson play Texas Rangers who come out of retirement to hunt the notorious Bonnie and Clyde in this movie based on real events.
• "Sirens," Netflix. In this limited series, Devon (Meghann Fahey) is concerned about her sister's (Milly Alcock) unhealthy relationship with her wealthy, powerful boss (Julianne Moore).

Books:

• "Dylan Goes Electric! Newport, Seeger, Dylan, and the Night That Split the Sixties," by Elijah Wald. Described as the inspiration for the Bob Dylan movie "A Complete Unknown," this 2015 book explores in detail the cultural, historical, and political context that made Dylan going electric at the 1965 Newport Folk Festival such a seminal event in the 1960s.

Click through the links above to watch and read what we're discussing.

View Details

PopaHALLics #143 "Pop Go the Generations"

Dad and daughter discuss the thrill of introducing your kid to your childhood pop culture faves. Also: Tina Fey does a series remake of an old Alan Alda/Carol Burnett movie. A documentary looks at Anita Pallenberg, "a rock and roll goddess." And Steve examines the making of the classics "Double Indemnity" and "High Noon."

Streaming:

• "The Four Seasons," Netflix. In this TV series remake of the Alda/Burnett movie, the decades-long friendship of three couples is tested when one divorces, complicating their quarterly weekend getaways. With Fey (co-creator), Steve Carell, Colman Domingo, and Will Forte.
• "Catching Fire: The Story of Anita Pallenberg,," Hulu. We tend to focus on Pallenberg's involvement with the Rolling Stones, but his documentary based on her unpublished autobiography shows how she was so much more. Scarlett Johanssen narrates.
• "Press Play," Hulu. In this 2022 sci-fi romantic drama, Chloe (Clara Rugaard) uses a mixtape to travel back in time to try to save her true love (Lewis Pullman). Danny Glover plays his boss.
• "Poker Face," Peacock. Charlie (Natasha Lyonne) continues to get into messy scrapes because of her ability to tell if someone's lying. The second season features such guest stars as Cynthia Erivo ("Wicked"), Giancarlo Esposito ("Breaking Bad"), comedian John Mulaney, and Akwafina.

Books:

• "From the Moment They Met, It Was Murder: Double Indemnity and the Rise of Film Noir," by Alain Silver and James Ursini. The behind-the-scenes story of the making of the film noir classic starring Barbara Stanwyck and Fred MacMurray and co-written by novelist Raymond Chandler and director Billy Wilder. The book also explores the cultural impact of the film.
• "High Noon: The Hollywood Blacklist and the Making of an American Classic," by Glenn Frankel. Frankel takes us behind the scenes of the making of this classic Western starring Gary Cooper and Grace Kelly and shows how the movie's themes were shaped by the Hollywood blacklist in the 1950s.
• "Demon Copperhead," by Barbara Kingsolver. An acclaimed retelling of "David Copperfield," set in modern Appalachia.

Click through the links to watch and read what we're talking about.

View Details

PopaHALLics #142 "Aren't You Somebody?"

We know the face, but not the name, whether that's members of the Eagles (biography "Life in the Fast Lane") or comedian Martin Short being mistaken for a waiter (memoir "I Must Say"). But being somebody can also apply to coming into your own, whether you're seeking your first orgasm after a terminal diagnosis ("Dying for Sex") or finding new purpose in your life in a tiny Arctic village ("North of North"). Welcome to this episode's pop offerings!

Streaming:

• "North of North," Netflix. A goodhearted, if bumbling, Inuk woman (Anna Lambe) tries to reinvent herself in this warm, lighthearted comedy set in a tiny Arctic town. Also starring Maika Harper as her feisty mother and Mary Lynn Rajskub (Chloe on "24") as her boss
• "Dying for Sex," Hulu, FX, Disney +. In this comedy drama based on a real woman's podcast and memoir, Molly (Michelle Williams) is diagnosed with Stage IV breast cancer and decides to explore her sexual desires before it's too late. With Jenny Slate, Rob Delaney, Sissy Spacek and Jay Duplass.
• "Small Things Like These," Hulu. A coal merchant (Cillian Murphy) uncovers disturbing secrets about the convent in an Irish village. This 2024 historical drama is adapted from Claire Keegan's novel.

Books:

• "Life in the Fast Lane: The Eagles' Reckless Ride Down the Rock & Roll Highway," by Mick Wall. This no-holds-barred biography written with rock 'n roll attitude traces the rise of one of the best-selling acts of all time. And how money, cocaine, and egos affected their relationships and music.
• "A Thousand Threads," by Neneh Cherry. This joyful autobiography looks at the fascinating life of the Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter. She grew up in a bohemian family in Stockholm, New York, and London. Her own music—a mix of punk funk, hip hop, and UK street soul—helped usher in a new wave of black British club culture.
• "I Must Say: My Life as a Humble Comedy Genius," by Martin Short. This 2014 memoir is funny, heartfelt, and chock full of celebrities (from buddies like Steve Martin to cringey encounters with Sinatra, Hepburn, and Tony Bennett). It's surprisingly poignant, as Short recounts the loss of a beloved brother and his parents by age 20 and his wife Nancy's battle with cancer. The memoir was published seven years before "Only Murders in the Building" would make Short a TV star again.

Music:

PopaHALLics #142 Playlist (Eagles) features the California band's hits as well as music from Neneh Cherry (memoir "A Thousand Threads") and her talented family. It's eclectic—and fun!

Click through the links to watch, read, and listen to what we're talking about.

View Details

PopaHALLics #141 "Sing Me a Song"
A folk duo's pricey gig for one rich prerson. A utopian paradise hiding a dark secret. A serial killer tale: Is it real true-crime or made-up horror? And who IS Kate's favorite Mr. Darcy in "Pride & Prejudice"?

Theaters:

• "The Ballad of Walllis Island," written by Tim Key and Tom Basden and directed by James Griffiths. An eccentric lottery winner (Key) recruits his favorite musical duo (Basden and Carey Mulligan) to play a private concert on his remote island home in this British comedy/drama. But old feelings and tensions threaten his dream gig.

Streaming:

• "Paradise," Hulu. In this political thriller set in an underground bunker after a doomsday event, a Secret Service agent (Sterling K. Brown) comes under suspicion of killing the President of the United States (James Marsden)
• "Slow Horses," Apple TV.+ In the riveting third season of this spy thriller, the MI5 rejects at Slough House must find the abducted Catherine Standish (Saskia Reeves) and a sensitive file. All six episodes of the fourth season about the search for a London bomber are available.
• "Pride and Prejudice" (2005), available on Netflix, Prime, Apple TV+, etc. Keira Knightley and Matthew Macfadyn star in Jane Austen's classic tale of the turbulent relationship between Elizabeth Bennet, the daughter of a country gentleman, and Fitzwilliam Darcy, a rich aristocratic landowner.

Books:

• "Chasing the Boogeyman," by Richard Chizmar. The author narrates, first-person, how a serial killer terrorized his small Maryland hometown. But is this gripping story true crime or horror fiction? Compelling, creative, and scary.
• "Lady MacBeth," by Ava Reid. In this reimagining of Shakespeare's most famous villainess, the Lady has a voice, a past, and witchy powers she needs to survive her husband, a Scottish brute, and his hostile court.
• The John Milton thriller series, by Mark Dawson. One of the world's deadliest assassins tries to give it up and help people as a way of making amends to those he killed. The British government who "created" him wants him dead. Jack Reacher fans will find a lot to like in this series (24-some books).
• "Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead," by Olga Tokarczuk. An eccentric recluse on the Czech/Polish border becomes convinced she knows why dead bodies keep turning up around her. Winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature.

Music:
PopaHALLics #141 Playlist (Wallis Island) features the folky music of the film "The Ballad of Wallis Island."

Click through the links above to wat

View Details

PopaHALLics 140 "Pop Go the Clues"

It's no mystery why we love TV's "The Residence" and the book "The Last"—they're both murder mysteries, albeit very different ones (a comedy and a dystopian thriller). And does Seth Rogen have a clue about being a Hollywood executive in "The Studio"? Stay tuned!

Streaming:

• "The Residence," Netflix. A brilliant, eccentric, no-nonsense detective (Uzo Adoba) investigates a murder in the White House residence during a State dinner in this comedy from Shondaland Productions. With Giancarlo Esposito, Bronson Pinchot, Al Franken, Jane Curtin, and more.
• "The Studio," Apple +. A new studio head (Seth Rogen) tries to juggle his desire to make great movies with his boss' desire for big box office. A Kool-Aid movie, anyone? With Catherine O'Hara, Kathryn Hahn, Bryan Cranston, and such real-life Hollywooders as Martin Scorsese playing themselves.

Books:

• "Everything I Know About Love," by Dolly Alderton. In a funny, sometimes heartbreaking memoir, a British journalist and podcast host reflects on the trials and tribulations of becoming an adult.
• "The Last," by Hanna Jameson. Imagine an Agatha Christie novel written by Stephen King. This dark, chilling, highly original novel finds a historian trying to solve a murder at an isolated Swiss hotel after the end of the world.
• "A Hound Dog Tale: Big Mama, Elvis and the Song That Changed Everything," by Ben Wynne. This nonfiction book traces the unusual development of the song "Hound Dog"—written by two Jewish teenagers, popularized by a black woman with a large frame and a booming voice, parodied by a Las Vegas lounge act—and then taken to new heights of popularity by Elvis Presley.

Podcasts:

• "Miss Me?" from BBC Audio. Join pop star Lily Allen and Miquita Oliver, her friend since childhood, for a twice-weekly podcast. On Mondays they answer questions on a theme: celebrity weddings, lies, orgasms, etc. On Thursdays, they pick apart everything from intimacy to interiors.

Music:

Because of our discussion of the book "A Hound Dog Tale," PopaHALLics #140 Playlist (Hound Dog) features various versions of that song, more Big Mama songs, and some classics from "Hound Dog" writers Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller.

Click through the links above to watch, read, and listen to what we're discussing.

View Details

PopaHALLics #139 "Deception"
The truth is, er, fluid in the pop culture discussed in this episode, from a married spy trying to determine if his spouse is doing wrong, to an Australian pretending to have a fatal disease for profit and influence, to a supervillain seemingly going straight who might still be very bent.

In Theaters:

• "Black Bag." In this spy thriller directed by Steven Soderbergh, a legendary intelligence agent (Michael Fassbender) must determine if his wife/fellow spy (Cate Blanchett) has committed treason—and whether his loyalty is to his marriage or his country.

Streaming:

• "Apple Cider Vinegar," Netflix. In this limited series based on true events, two young women (Kaitlyn Dever and Alycia Debnam-Carey) set out to cure their life-threatening illnesses through health and wellness, influencing their global online community along the way. Unfortunately, they aren't really ill.
• "Daredevil: Born Again," Disney +. Marvel's blind superhero returns, sort of. After a disturbing event, attorney Matt Murdoch (Charlie Cox) hangs up his Daredevil suit. But wait—does his nemesis Kingpin/Wilson Fisk (Vincent D'Onofrio) have an ulterior motive in running for mayor of New York?

Books:

• "Say No to the Devil: The Life and Musical Genius of Rev. Gary Davis," by Ian Zack. Davis, a blind street preacher and amazingly talented guitarist, is not as well-known today as contemporaries like Son House and Lightning Hopkins. Yet, as this 2016 biography explains, Davis had an outsized influence on music because of his many guitar students and admirers, who include Bob Dylan, Stefan Grossman, Eric Clapton, Hot Tuna, and more.
• "The Blackbird Oracle," by Deborah Harkness. In the fifth installment in the bestselling All Souls series, witch/Oxford scholar Diana and vampire geneticist Matthew seek to avoid the testing of their twins' magical skills. Attempting to forge a new future for her family, Diana must face "a confrontation with her family’s dark past and a reckoning for her own desire for even greater power."

Music:

On PopaHALLics #139 Playlist (Rev. Gary Davis), experience the music of the blind guitarist/street preacher (see "Say No to the Devil" above) as interpreted by Jackson Browne, the Rolling Stones, the Grateful Dead, Mavis Staples, and more, as well as Davis himself. We've also added a few tunes by Kate's new discovery, the 1960s/70s French rock band Les Variations.

Click through the links above to watch, read, and listen to what we're discussing.

View Details

PopaHALLics #138 "I'm Still Standing"

As the Who said: "People try to put us d-down" ... whether the "us" is Elton John, British gangsters, or a smartypants movie critic. But guess what: We're still standing, yeah, yeah, yeah!

Streaming:

• "Elton John: Never Too Late," Disney +. As his final American concert approaches at Dodger Stadium, Elton John looks back at his meteoric rise to success in the 1970s and his 50-year career in this warts-and-all documentary.
• "A Thousand Blows," Hulu. Two best friends from Jamaica (Malachi Kirby and Francis Lovehall) fight for survival in the melting pot of Victorian London. This crime drama series comes from the creator of "Peaky Blinders."
• "Freud's Last Session," Netflix. On the eve of World War II, Sigmund Freud (Anthony Hopkins) and C.S. Lewis (Matthew Goode) have a charged conversation about family, love and God. Based on a stage play.

Books:

• The David Blake crime fiction series, by Howard Linskey. Blake, a smooth, intelligent white-collar criminal working for a British gangster, tells himself he's not really a bad guy. Until he is. Gripping crime fiction.
• "Movie Freak: My Life Watching Movies," by Owen Gleiberman. The longtime movie critic for Entertainment Weekly explores the movies that shaped him and the ups and downs of his personal and professional lives.
• "Blood in the Tracks: The Minnesota Musicians Behind Dylan's Masterpiece," by Paul Metsa and Rick Shefchik. Dissatisfied with the New York session recordings of five songs on his "Blood on the Tracks" album, Bob Dylan went back to Minnesota to have local musicians re-record them.
• "I'm Mostly Here to Enjoy Myself: One Woman's Pursuit of Pleasure in Paris," by Glynnis MacNicol. After a hermit-like existence in NYC during the pandemic, MacNicol journeys to Paris for friendship, sex, food, sex, etc.

Music:

Our PopaHALLics #138 Playlist includes Elton John, Bob Dylan's "Blood on the Tracks" songs recorded in Minnesota, and "Vegetable Soul," catchy, soulful songs about produce by Louie Zong.

View Details

"PopaHALLics #137 "Ch-ch-ch-changes"

Bridget Jones is dating again ... A new Captain America faces off against Red Hulk ... The sixth wife of Henry VIII tries to say alive ... and a cat faces off against a massive flood. Oh, and did we mention Kate's grandmother caused a fire at IU?

Theaters:

• "Captain America: Brave New World." The new Cap, Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie), takes up the shield just in time to get involved in an international incident. And the new president (Harrison Ford) is hulky and seeing red.

Streaming:

• "Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy," Peacock. Renee Zellweger returns as the foulmouthed diarist, now a widow nervously reentering the dating world. With Hugh Grant, Colin Firth, Chiwetel Ejiofor, and Emma Thompson.
• "Widow Clicquot," Netflix. The film traces the true story of Barbe-Nicole Ponsardin Clicquot, the businesswoman who started the Veuve Clicquot champagne dynasty in France in the 1700s.
• "Back in Action," Netflix. In this comic action thriller, CIA operatives Cameron Diaz and Jamie Foxx fake their deaths to start a family. Then the bad guys find out where they are. With Glenn Close, Kyle Chandler, and Andrew Scott.
• "Firebrand," Hulu. Alicia Vikander plays Katherine Parr, the sixth wife of Henry VIII (Jude Law), in this historical drama. When the king returns, ill and paranoid from warfare in France, his advisers try to turn him against her.
• "Flow," Hulu. In this Golden Globe-winning animated Latvian film with no human characters or dialogue, a cat, a dog, and other creatures try to survive a great flood. Beautiful visuals and amazing animation.
• "Say Nothing," Hulu. This limited series follows people growing up in Belfast during the Troubles, their involvement with the IRA, and the murder of Jean McConville. Starring Lola Pettigrew, Hazel Doupe, and Anthony Boyle.

Books:

• "The Book of Love," by Kelly Link. Three teenagers return from the dead to find themselves pawns in a supernatural power struggle in this acclaimed novel by Pulitzer Prize nominee Link.
• "Sick on You: The Disastrous Story of the Hollywood Bratz, the Greatest Band You've Never Heard Of," by Andrew Matheson. This pre-punk band of bad boys from London influenced the Sex Pistols and the Clash, among others. Matheson, their singer, traces their rise and fall in a memoir that's funny and entertaining even as they never quite make it.

View Details

PopaHALLics #136 "Like a Rolling Stone"
How does it feel, to be on your own, a complete unknown, or a Dracula clone? We discuss the new Bob Dylan biopic "A Complete Unknown" as well as the gothic horror film "Nosferatu." Spy Keira Knightley goes after her lover's killer in "Black Doves," and Vince Vaughn investigates a severed arm, not his, in "Bad Monkey."

In Theaters:

• "A Complete Unknown," cowritten and directed by James Mangold. Timothee Chalamet and Edward Norton star in this look at Bob Dylan's early career, from his arrival in NYC tin 1961 to his infamously going electric at the Newport Folk Festival in 1965.
• "Nosferatu," written and directed by Robert Eggers. In this remake of the 1922 film, itself inspired by Bram Stoker's novel "Dracula," the mysterious Count Orlok (Bill Skarsgard) terrorizes a German couple (Lily-Rose Depp and Nicholas Hoult). Willem Dafoe plays a Van Helsing-like character.

Streaming:

• "Black Doves," Netflix. In this British thriller series, the wife (Knightley) of the Secretary of State for Defence learns that her secret identity as a spy is in danger after her lover is killed by London's underworld. An old friend, trigger man Sam (Ben Wishaw), is sent to protect her.
• "Bad Monkey," Apple +. A motormouth, irreverent cop in the Florida Keys (Vaughn) becomes involved in a strange case involving an arm missing its body, unscrupulous developers in the Bahamas, and a beautiful, scary practitioner of Obeah. This black comedy crime drama is based on the novel by Carl Hiaasen.

Click through the links to see what we're talking about.

View Details

PopaHALLics #135 "We're Cold on These Xmas Songs"Hey kids! Let's gather around the Christmas tree and play "Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer"! What? Matricide doesn't make you merry? Well, OK, how about the Pussycat Dolls' "Santa Baby"? Too bump-and-grindy? Steve and Kate discuss a few Christmas songs that annoy us, and our playlist is full of them. As well as a few we like. Also: Kate's review of "Wicked," our takes on the holiday movies "Hot Frosty" and "Last Christmas," and the TV series "Life After Life." Theaters:

• "Wicked." British actress Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande star in an adaptation of the hit Broadway show, the sympathetic origin story of the Wicked Witch of the West. With Michelle Yeoh, Jeff Goldbum, and surprises. As of this writing, the hit movie has made $455.5 million worldwide.

Streaming:

• "Hot Frosty," Netflix. In this 2024 holiday rom-com, a struggling widow (Lacey Chabert) accidentally brings a hunky snowman (Dustin Milligan) to life. Can romance ensue before he melts away? With Craig Robinson, Sherry Miller, and other familiar faces.
• "Last Christmas," Max and streaming services. Actress Emma Thompson cowrote this 2019 holiday rom-com based on the Wham! song. A struggling singer (Emilia Clarke) begins to see London—and her messy life—in a new light after meeting a mysterious stranger (Henry Golding).
• "Life After Life," Prime. In this BBC Two TV series based on Kate Atkinson's novel, Ursula Todd (Thomasin McKenzie) experiences an endless cycle of birth, death, and rebirth in the early part of the 20th Century.

Music:
Get ready for the holiday songs we love to hate! "The Christmas Shoes," Stevie Wonder singing from the perspective of the star atop your Christmas tree, that classic by the Killers "Don't Shoot Me Santa"—and more! We did you a favor and added some we love too. Listen to Popahallics Playlist #135 here.

Click through the links to watch and listen to what we're talking about.

View Details

PopaHALLics #134 "Wicked Good"For our Thanksgiving weekend episode, we talk about the pop culture offerings we're grateful for: the new movie version of "Wicked"; movies about a mother and son's love in "The Blitz" and the quest for the first test tube baby in "Joy"; and more. There's always a turkey—"Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft." Oof!

Theaters:

• "Wicked, Part 1." Director Jon M. Chu ("Crazy Rich Asians") pulls off a Wizard of Oz and grants us our heart's desire: a fabulous movie adaptation of the hit Broadway musical. Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande shine respectively as Elphaba and Glinda in the origin story of the Wicked Witch of the West.

Streaming:

• "The Blitz," Apple +. In this movie set during WWII, a London munitions worker (Saoirse Ronan) evacuates her 9-year-old son to the countryside to escape the bombings. He tries to get back to her, as she searches for him.
• "Bad Sisters," Apple +. As season 2 begins, the Garvey sisters appear to have gotten away with murder. But a macabre discovery soon has the police sniffing around again and threatening their lives.
• "Joy - The Birth of IVF," Netflix. Based on a true story, this movie follows three pioneering British scientists in the 1960s and '70s as they try to develop in vitro fertilization. Starring Thomasin McKenzie, James Norton, and Bill Nighy.
• "Wolf Like Me," Peacock. In season 2, wererewolf Mary (Isla Fisher) worries if her unborn baby will be wolf or human. And if she gives birth during a full moon, will she eat the baby?
• "Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Cabin Fever," Disney +. Based on book six of the popular Wimpy Kid franchise, this animated special follows Greg trying to stay good so he will receive a special video game for Christmas. It's not going well.
• "Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft," Netflix. Hayley Atwell voices a trauma-haunted Lara in this animated adventure.

Books:

• "When Women Were Dragons," by Kelly Barnhill. In an alternate 1950s America, thousands of women have turned into dragons, upending ideas of a woman's place in the world. "A rollicking feminist tale" (Amazon).
• "Dead Wake: The Last Crossing of the Lusitania," by Erik Larson. Larson, a master of historical nonfiction, spins a pager-turner about the British passenger liner and the U-boat commander who sunk her during WWI.

Small Town Shenanigans PodcastSteve talks about his days as a TV critic and some misadventures growing up in West Virginia on this funny podcast hosted by Montana boys Bill and Brian Burns. You can hear their conversation here.

View Details

PopaHALLics #133 "Martha My Dear—NOT!"A new documentary fails to make Martha Stewart sympathetic, in Kate's view. We also discuss season 2 of "The Diplomat" and "Colin from Accounts," a Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, and books about therapy, a cult, and a "normal" serial killer. Yikes.

Streaming:

• "Martha," Netflix. This documentary directed by Jay Cutler traces Martha Stewart's rise from working-class roots to pop culture icon, through interviews and Stewart’s private archives of diaries, letters, and footage.
• "The Diplomat," Netflix. Season 2 follows the personal and professional aftermath of the ship attack and car bombing. Kate (Keri Russell) and Hal (Rufus Sewell) begin to suspect the Brits are after the wrong suspects.
• "Colin from Accounts," Prime and Paramount +. The delightful Aussie rom-com returns, with Ash (Harriet Dyer) and Gordon (Patrick Brammall) moving in together but uncertain whether they really want a relationship or just a dog.

Books:

• "Demon Copperhead," by Barbara Kingsolver. This acclaimed novel moves Charles Dickens' "David Copperfield" story to modern Appalachia, casting its eye on the foster system, child labor, the opioid crisis, and other ills.
• "Maybe You Should Talk to Someone: A Therapist, HER Therapist, and Our Lives Revealed," by Lisa Gottlieb. This "hilarious, thought-provoking" book explores one therapist's search for answers as both clinician and patient when she has a personal crisis.
• "Normal," by Graeme Cameron. A charming, seemingly ordinary guy happens to be a serial killer who kidnaps young women and holds them captive in a secret basement. As his world threatens to collapse, you may find yourself rooting for him in this darkly funny thriller.
• "Dinner for Vampires: LIfe on a Cult TV Show (While also in an Actual Cult!)," by Bethany Joy Lenz. When the "One Tree Hill" star joined a Bible study group, she had no clue it was associated with a cult.

Music:We love Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit." Know who else does? Paul Anka ("Put Your Head on My Shoulder," "Having My Baby"). Anka's cover of "Smells Like Teen Spirit" swings, baby! Enjoy.

View Details

PopaHALLics #132 "Into the Great Unknown"Can a rabbi and an agnostic shiksa find true love? Can humans meddle in the affairs of gods? If you could survive the zombie apocalypse, would you want to? Our pop culture offerings delve into these burning questions—and more!

Streaming:

• "Nobody Wants This," Netflix. Sex podcast co-host Joanne (Kristen Bell) and "hot rabbi" Noah (Adam Brody) fall for each other in this charming rom-com. Their families and friends try to keep them apart.
• 'Kaos," Netflix. This British dark comedy reimagines Greek mythology in a contemporary way. Three humans become involved in a power struggle among the corrupt, arrogant gods, played by the likes of Jeff Goldblum, Debi Mazar, Janet McTeer, and David Thewlis.
• "Agatha All Along," Disney +. Kathryn Hahn plays "the Witchkiller," Agatha Harkness, who goes on a quest on "The Witches' Road" to increase her powers. With Patti LuPone and Aubrey Plaza.
• "Shadow in the Cloud," Netflix. Shades of a famous "Twilight Zone" episode! A female WWII pilot (Chloe Grace Moretz) traveling with top-secret documents sees a creature on the wing of a B-17 Flying Fortress.

Books:

• "From Here to the Great Unknown," by Lisa Marie Presley and Riley Keough. Julia Roberts narrates the autobiography of Elvis' daughter, who died before completing it. It was finished by Lisa Marie's daughter, actress Riley Keough.
• "I Will Do Better," by Charles Bock. In this heartbreaking memoir, a writer and his young daughter struggle to find their way after his wife dies.
• "Zone One," by Colson Whitehead. This literary zombie novel examines themes of societal priorities, the trivialities of our lives, and gentrification as a 3-person squad rids New York neighborhoods of the undead.

Click through the links to watch and read what we are talking about.

View Details

PopaHALLics #131 "Won't You Take Me to, Spooky Town!"We return from fall break with some super supernatural offerings featuring that demonic scamp Beetlejuice, a new twist on the Legend of Sleepy Hollow, macabre goings-on in the fashion world—and more!

In Theaters:

• "Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice." Michael Keaton reprises his iconic role in this sequel to the cult classic horror comedy "Beetlejuice" (1988). Catherine O'Hara and Winona Ryder are also back, while new cast members include Jenna Ortega, Willem Dafoe, Justin Theroux, and Monica Bellucci.

Streaming:

• "Will and Harper," Netflix. Will Ferrell and his longtime buddy, former "SNL" head writer Harper Steele, embark on a cross-country road trip after Harper comes out as a trans woman in this documentary.

Books:

• "Tiny Threads," by Lilliam Rivera. In this "slow-burn novel of supernatural suspense," a young woman's dream of working for a famous designer turns into a nightmare: Seeing strange things, hearing voices at night ...
• "Horseman: A Tale of Sleepy Hollow," by Christina Henry. Henry has written several books that take classic tales in new directions. Here, non-gender-conforming Ben begins to experience terrifying encounters in the spooky woods featured in Washington Irving's tale of hapless Ichabod Crane and the Headless Horseman.
• "The Which Way Tree," by Elizabeth Crook. In this acclaimed novel that may remind you of Charles Portis' classic "True Grit," a teen boy in the remote Texas hill country reluctantly helps his obsessed younger stepsister pursue the panther that seriously mauled her and killed her mother.
• "It Had to be You," by Eliza Jane Brazier. In this sexy thriller, two contract killers hook up on a nighttime train from Florence to Paris. They grapple with their attraction to each other in a high-stakes adventure across Western Europe.

Music:For his latest solo tour, singer/songwriter Martin Sexton is performing the Beatles' 1969 album "Abbey Road" in its entirety, from "Come Together" all the way through the 16-minute medley on side 2. In this clip, he plays "She Came in Through the Bathroom Window." Our latest playlist features Martin's own songs and his "soul-marinated voice" (Rolling Stone).

Click through the links above to watch, read, and listen to what we're talking about.

View Details

PopaHALLics #130 "The Witch, The Killer ... & Emily in Paris"
Kate muses on the appeal—and fashion—of the Netflix hit "Emily in Paris," recently named by The New York Times as one to "hatewatch." (You dislike the show so much that you still watch it so you can ridicule it.) First, we look at "American Murder: Laci Peterson" and talk about three novels. Also: "The Lost Kitchen."

Streaming:

• "Emily in Paris," Netflix. As the fourth season begins, marketing executive Emily (Lily Collins) has even more romantic and professional dilemmas! Golly! Part one of this season premiered in August and part two drops Sept. 12.
• "American Murder: Laci Peterson," Netflix. This true-crime docuseries delves into the 2002 disappearance and murder of Peterson, who was eight months pregnant at the time.
• "The Lost Kitchen" and "Getting Lost," Max, Discovery, Magnolia. In these reality shows, self-taught chef Erin French uses local crops to whip up tasty dishes and connections to the family cooks who went before.

Books:

• "The Road from Belhaven," by Margot Livesey. The gift of second sight complicates the life of a young woman in late 19th-century Scotland.
• "Gone," by Chelsea Cain. In this thriller, Kick, a survivor of child pornography, looks for an abducted boy with the help of the enigmatic John Bishop.
• "The Paying Guests," by Sarah Waters. This novel set in 1920s south London weaves together a love story and a crime drama as a family trying to make ends meet takes in lodgers.

Click through to watch and read what we're talking about.

View Details

PopaHALLics #129 "Girls, Girls, Girls"Girls and women dominate our pop culture choices this week, from a British teen trying to solve a murder to a black woman struggling with racial tensions in 1960s America. Sometimes they're good "girls" and sometimes, like "Abigail," they're very, very bad.
Streaming:

• "A Good Girl's Guide to Murder," Netflix. For her school project, a 17-year-old British girl investigates the murder of a high school student five years before. The limited series is based on Holly Jackson's YA mystery bestseller.
• "Abigail," Peacock. The makers of "Ready or Not" return with another black comedy horror movie. A group of kidnappers kidnap the right young girl, but boy oh boy does it go wrong.
• "The Decameron," Netflix. A comedy about the Black Death? In this limited series, a group of Italians flee the plague to a remote estate, bringing their foibles, lusts and problems with them. Tony Hale stars.
• "Lady in the Lake," Apple +. This mystery thriller follows the lives of two women on a collision course in 1960s Baltimore. Natalie Portman is a Jewish housewife seeking to reinvent herself as an investigative journalist, and Cleo Johnson (Moses Ingram) is a black woman struggling to provide for her family.

Books:

• "Night Watching," by Tracy Sierra. In this suspense thriller, Sierra's debut, a woman and her two young children are menaced by a home invader during a snowstorm ... or are they?

Music:
The Mavericks are classified as "Americana"—a catdh-all term for this Miami band that blends country, rock, Tex-Mex twang, Cuban rhythms, even Jamaican ska. Steve saw a recent concert and thoroughly enjoyed it. Check out their music, as well as by similar artists, on our latest playlist!

Click through the links to watch, read, and listen to what we're talking about.

View Details

PopaHALLics #128 "Four on the Floor"
Our podcast is four years old! We celebrate with a funny, more-or-less-true movie about profanity-laced letters, an animated noir Batman, an Alice Hoffman novel about the power of reading, and an influential "sensation" novel first published in 1859-60. Once again, we're on the cutting edge! [Joke.]

Streaming:

• "Wicked Little Letters," streaming services and rental. When residents of a small seaside town begin receiving profanity-laced letters in this black comedy mystery, suspicion falls on a foul-mouthed Irishwoman (Jessie Buckley). But did she do it? Also starring Olivia Coleman and Ajana Vasan.
• "Shardlake," Hulu. In this 4-part series based on C.J. Sansom's novels, a lawyer and his sidekick (Arthur Hughes and Anthony Boyle) investigate, on the orders of Thomas Cromwell (Sean Bean), a horrific murder at a monastery.
• "Batman: Caped Crusader," Prime. In this animated throwback noir series, Batman (voiced by Hamish Linklater) is a true detective using low-key methods and his fists to fight crime in Gotham City. More diversity and some interesting spins on Batman's longtime villains.
• "My Spy," Prime. A hardened CIA agent (Dave Bautista) meets his most challenging adversary yet, a 9-year-old girl (Chloe Coleman), whom he's supposed to be discreetly surveilling. She has other ideas in this cute 2020 action comedy also starring Kristen Schaal and Daniel Kim.
• "Leave No Trace," Disney+ and rental. In this slow-moving but involving drama from the Oscar-nominated writer and director of "Winter's Bone," a dad (Ben Foster) and his daughter (Thomasin McKenzie) live off the grid in Oregon until one small mistake tips them off to the authorities.

Books:

• "The Invisible Hour," by Alice Hoffman. This novel from the "queen of magical realism" celebrates the power of reading. A copy of "The Scarlet Letter" causes a young girl to question she and her mother's involvement in an oppressive cult.
• "The Woman in White," by Wilkie Collins. This story originally published in installments in 1859-1860 is often cited in 100-best-novels-of-all-time lists and was one of the first to use multiple narrators to advance the plot. Vivid characters, a mysterious woman in white, true love, scheming upper-crust types, involuntary confinement in an insane asylum—it's all here!

View Details

PopaHALLics #127 "Let's Do the Twist-er"
Despite her tornado fears, Kate gets sucked into the new disaster movie "Twisters." Steve goes samurai with "Shogun." Also: Murders! Mysteries! Monkeys! (Haven't you always wanted a mon-KEY?)

In Theaters:

• "Twisters." In this "stand-alone sequel" to the 1996 hit, a woman (Daisy Edgar-Jones) testing a new tornado tracking system in Oklahoma crosses paths with a reckless, charismatic storm chaser (Glen Powell). Things are about to get stormy!

Streaming:

• "Twister," Max, Prime, and other streaming services. In this 1996 Jan de Bront thriller, Helen Hunt and Bill Paxton play two storm chasers on the brink of divorce who put themselves in harm's way to test an advanced weather alert system. With Philip Seymour Hoffman, Alan Ruck, Jami Gertz, and Cary Elwes.
• "Shogun," FX, Hulu. Based on the James Clavell novel, this much-Emmy-nominated historical drama focuses on the collision/collusion of two ambitious men, an English sailor marooned in Japan (Cosmo Jarvis) and a Japanese lord (Hiroyuki Sanada) fighting for his survival.
• "Grantchester," PBS. Season 9 is one of change, as vicar Will (Tom Brittany) receives a surprise offer, DI Geordie (Robson Green) must learn to work with a new vicar (Rishi Nair) and Geordie's independent daughter Esme (Skye Degruttola) is out in the big wide world of 1961.
• "Man Up," Peacock, Prime, and other streaming services. In this 2015 British romantic comedy, a journalist (Lake Bell) whose life is a mess pretends to be the blind date a marketing manager (Simon Pegg) was expecting. Comedy ensues. With Sharon Horgan ("Bad Sisters") and Rory Kinnear.
• "Wild Target," Prime, Peacock, and other streaming services. In this 2010 romantic comedy, a reclusive, middle-aged hitman (Bill Nighe) is flummoxed by his latest assigned hit, a beautiful, impetuous art swindler (Emily Blunt). With Rupert Grint, Rupert Everett, and Martin Freeman.
• "Homicide Los Angeles," Netflix. This docuseries from the creators of "Law and Order" tells the stories of notorious murders from the viewpoints of the detectives and prosecutors who cracked them.
• "Hit Monkey," Disney +/Hulu. Just another animated mismatched buddy action drama in which a Japanese snow monkey and the ghost of a hit man seek vengeance on bad guys. Bloody, bloody vengeance. With the voice talents of Olivia Munn, Jason Sudeikis, and George Takei.

Books:

• "Killingly," by Katharine Beutner. Based on the real-life disappearance of a Mount Holyoke student in 1897, this "haunting" novel delves into academia, family trauma, and the risks faced by unconventional women in the late 19th century.
• "Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone," by Benjamin Stevenson. An Australian comic has written a fun, witty novel that cleverly—very cleverly—blends classic and modern murder mysteries.

Click through the links above to watch and read what we're talking about.

View Details

PopaHALLics #126 "Hit Man & Hitmakers"Wouldn't it be nice to learn more about the Beach Boys and Neil Young? We enjoy a documentary and a biography giving new insights into these influential musicians and their place in pop culture. We also laugh at a sexy fake hit man, cheer on "The Bear" and "Sweeth Tooth," and are very glad Lady Jane Grey does not lose her head in the swashbuckling, dryly funny reimagining "My Lady Jane."
Streaming:

• "Hit Man," Netflix. In this action comedy directed by Richard Linklater, a dweeby college professor (Glen Powell, "Anyone But You") pretends to be a hit man for police investigations. What happens when he falls for a sexy suspect (Adria Arjona) who thinks he's a cool, confident killer?
• "My Lady Jane," Amazon Prime. Wait, Lady Jane Grey does NOT get "the chop" at the Tower of London? This reimagining of her life is like "The Princess Bride," with adventure, oodles and oodles of sex, and magic realism. As in people can turn into animals!
• "The Bear," Hulu. Season 3 finds tormented chef Carmie (Jeremy Allen White) continuing to chase a Michelin star, with lots more yelling in the kitchen and more emphasis on the characters around him.
• "Sweet Tooth," Netflix. The third and final season of this sweet, gentle drama finds Gus the deer boy and his friend Big Man trying to get to Alaska and hook up with Gus' mom, who's trying to stop the plague "the Sick."
• "The Beach Boys," Disney +. This fan-friendly documentary traces the history of the band known for surf anthems through "Pet Sounds," a revolutionary album in its time, and beyond. Tons of never-before-seen photos, great stories, and critical insights into the band's importance from the likes of Lindsey Buckingham, producer Don Was, and Janelle Monae.

Books:

• "Disobedient," by Elizabeth Fremantle. This novel based on the life of Artemisia Gentileschi—the greatest female painter of the Renaissance—finds her refusing to be silent about a rape and having "visual revenge" in the creation of her masterpiece, "Judith Beheading Holofernes."
• "Shakey: Neil Young's Biography," by Jimmy McDonough. This 2002 mammoth biography is the definitive look at the life and art of the enigmatic rocker. It was authorized by Young and yet still manages to hold his feet to the fire for questionable creative decisions and the many times he treated those closest to him badly.

Music:
Since we talk about the Beach Boys and Neil Young, let's have fun, fun, fun with a playlist featuring lots of music from both! PopaHALLics #126 Playlist kicks off with a song by the Four Freshmen, who heavily influenced Beach Boys' leader Brian Wilson's ideas about harmonies.

Click through the links above to watch, read, and listen to what we're talking about.

View Details

PopaHALLics #125 "Who Are You, Who Who, Who Who?"
We review the new "Dr. Who" ... but the Halls are hearing a lot of other Whos, too. Who's zooming who in the comedy "Argylle" and the thriller novel "The Poison Bed"? Who am I, asks the daughter of a prisoner in the acclaimed memoir "Somebody's Daughter." And who's at fault in the creepy TikTok dance cult? It's enough to make a pop culture fan say "Who-eeee!"

Streaming:

• "Dr. Who," Disney +. The 15th Doctor (Nigerian-born, Scottish-raised Ncuti Gatwa, in photo above) and his companion Ruby Sunday (Millie GIbson) have adventures from dinosaur days to war-torn future worlds in this entertaining coproduction by Disney and the BBC.
• "Dancing for the Devil: The 7M TikTok Cult," Netflix. This 3-part documentary explores the unsettling details and "dark realities" that occur after TikTok dancers join a management company and its associated church.
• "Godzilla Minus One," Netflix. In this emotionally-driven Japanese film, an Academy Award winner for special effects, a failed kamikaze pilot seeks to protect his makeshift family and find redemption when Godzilla heads for Tokyo. One of the best Godzilla films ever.
• "Argylle," Apple+. In this spy spoof, a reclusive author (Bryce Dallas Howard) gets swept up into real-life espionage when one of her novels cuts too close to home. With Henry Cavill, Samuel L. Jackson, Sam Rockwell, Dua Lipa, John Cena, and more.
• "Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World," Max, Prime, Hulu, & others. In this imaginative, clever 2010 comedy, a bass player (Michael Cera) must win the heart of the enigmatic Ramona Flowers (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) by video game-like duels with her 7 Evil Exes. Look at this supporting cast: Kieran Culkin, Aubrey Plaza, Chris Evans, Jason Schwartzman, Brie Larson, Anna Kendrick, and Bill Hader as "The Voice."

Books:

• "Somebody's Daughter: A Memoir," by Ashley C. Ford. A poor black girl in Indiana, the daughter of a man in prison, comes to question her environment and identity. "A classic in the making," says bestselling YA author John Green.
• "The Poison Bed," by Elizabeth Fremantle. In this thriller set in the Jacobean Court of 1615, a famed couple is imprisoned on suspicion of murder. Ah, but can we really trust Lord Robert or Lady Frances' separate accounts of what happened?
• "Romantic Comedy," by Curtis Sittenfeld. In this comic romance, a female writer for a SNL-style show invents a rule that ordinary, shlubby guys can wind up with beautiful, successful women, but the reverse is not true. Then a dreamy pop star hosts the show ...

Click the links above to watch and read what we're talking about.

View Details

PopaHALLics #124 "(What's So Funny 'Bout) Pop, Love, & Understanding?Multiverse mayhem, bodice-ripping romance, and female comedians! Dueling Joel Edgertons! Music by a rising young singer/songwriter and a crafty popsmith of old! Steve and Kate return with a little something for everyone.
Streaming:

• "The Boys in the Boat," Prime. George Clooney directed this fact-based movie about the University of Washington rowing team's quest to compete in the 1936 Berlin Olympics. Joel Edgerton plays their coach.
• "Dark Matter," Apple TV+. A college professor (Edgerton again) finds himself abducted into an alternate version of his life in this sci-fi thriller. Can he find his way back to his family and save them from, in essence, himself?
• "Loot," Apple TV+. Season 2 finds Maya Rudolph's super-rich character still ineptly trying to do good. The comedy has more of a focus this time on side characters, who turn out to be weird in a funny way.
• "Hacks," Max. In this smart, blistering, yet intimate comedy, legendary Vegas comedian (Jean Smart) is paired with an entitled, unemployable young writer (Hannah Einbinder) in the hopes of revitalizing both's careers.
• "Bridgerton," Netflix. Season 3 of Shonda Rimes' period bodice-ripper finds possible romance between dweeb-turned-hunk Colin Bridgerton (Luke Newton) and secret gossip columnist Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan).

Books:

• "Night Train" and "All My Colors" by David Quantick. An Emmy-winning TV writer ("Veep") writes clever horror novels. "All My Colors" is like a great lost "Twilight Zone" episode: When no one else remembers a bestselling book, a writer with no talent churns it out—and bad things start happening. In the surreal, gory "Night Train," a woman wakes up on a train speeding through the darkness with no idea who she is or what she's doing there. She heads for the front of the train, with each railroad car more nightmarish than the last.

Music:
Our hosts are listening to very different pop artists. Kate's enjoying breakout singer/songwriter Chappel Roan ("Pink Pony Club," "Femininomenon"), while Steve's humming Nick Lowe tunes like "Cruel to Be Kind" and "(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love, & Understanding" thanks to a reissue of his 1979 LP "Labour of Lust." Both are on our latest playlist!

Click through the links to watch, read, and listen to what we're talking about.

View Details

PopaHALLics #123 "Pop Tarts & Pop Sweets"
What can we say about Jerry Seinfeld's new movie about Pop Tarts? How about: You'd be better off taking a bite of the Spanish Inquisition ("The Familiar"), teenage murder ("Under the Bridge"), a murderous con man ("Ripley"), the Ku Klux Klan ("A Fever in the Heartland"), even an apocalyptic wasteland ("Fallout").

Streaming:

• "Unfrosted," Netflix. Seinfeld's directorial debut is a relentlessly silly film about the creation of Pop Tarts. Seinfeld, Melissa McCarthy, Jim Gaffigan, Amy Schumer, and many other comedians star in this tale of the early '60s race between the Kellogg's and Post companies to create a square gooey-filled pastry.
• "Fallout," Amazon Prime. Most of this drama based on the popular video game franchise takes place hundreds of years after a nuclear war. A perky vault dweller goes to the desolate surface in search of her abducted father; a squire becomes a "knight" in a motorized suit of armor; and a sentinent zombie who dresses and acts like a Clint Eastwood spaghetti Western creates havoc wherever he goes. Imaginative and violent, with an odd, goofy sense of humor.
• "Ripley," Netflix. In this limited series, Andrew Scott (the hot priest in "Fleabag," Moriarty in "Sherlock") plays the latest incarnation of Tom Ripley, Patricia Highsmith's scheming con man. Dakota Fanning and Johnny Flynn also star in this neo-noir psychological thriller.
• "Under the Bridge," Hulu. Eight teenagers are accused of murdering a 14-year-old girl in this "American true-crime" miniseries. Oscar nominee Lily Gladstone plays an investigator while Riley Keough plays Rebecca Godfrey, who wrote the book that inspired the miniseries.
• "Byzantium," for rental or various channels with ads. Gemma Atherton and Saiorse Ronan ("Brooklyn") play two nomadic female vampires surviving on their wiles in this visually stunning, atmospheric 2013 film. Director Neil Jordan ("The Crying Game") reinvigorated vampire movies with his version of Anne Rice's "Interview with a Vampire."

Books:
* "A Fever in the Heartland: The Ku Klux Klan's Plot to Take Over America, and the Woman Who Stopped Them," by Timothy Egan. This true story explores the second coming of the Klan in the 1920s and their leader, a grifter named D.C. Stephenson, who had so much power in Indiana at one time that he said "I am the law." He was undone by a trial that featured the dying testimony of a young woman he had abducted, raped and tortured. * "The Familiar," by Leigh Bardugo. When a disgraced secretary tries to regain the favor of Spain's king, a scullion with a gift for "little miracles" becomes involved in an effort to defeat the hated English. Unfortunately, the Spanish Inquisition does not look kindly on her use of magic.

View Details

PopaHALLics #122 "Pop for the People"
Aliens headed for Earth! An amnesiac pursued by killers! Julia Roberts suffers the apocalypse! And did we mention Shakespeare's young son and John Wilkes Booth? We discuss pop culture offerings that are all over the place. In a good way.

Streaming:

• "3 Body Problem," Netflix. In a sci-fi series based on Chinese author Cixin Liu's novels, a group of friends try to prevent an invasion by aliens after a bitter astronomer invites them to Earth. From the makers of "Game of Thrones."
• "The Tourist," Netflix. The Man (Jamie Dornan) wakes up in a hospital with no memory of who he is. Unfortunately, the bad guys remember all too well in this British series set in the Australian Outback.
• "Renegade Nell," Disney +. A young woman (Louisa Harland) falsely accused of murder discovers she has unpredictable powers and becomes the most notorious outlaw in 18th-century England. Just don't call her "Nellie."
• "Manhunt," Apple +. This miniseries, a conspiracy thriller, follows the first American presidential assassination and the fight to preserve and protect Lincoln's ideas for Reconstruction. With Anthony Boyle as Booth, Hamish Linklater as Lincoln, and Patton Oswalt as, well, kinda himself, playing a detective.
• "Leave the World Behind," Netflix. When the apocalypse begins happening in this foreboding drama, characters played by Julia Roberts, Ethan Hawke, Mahershala Ali, Myha'la Herrold, and Kevin Bacon try to make sense of it.

Books:

• "Hamnet," by Maggie O'Farrell. This gorgeous bestseller uses William Shakespeare's son (a real person, who died young) to explore Shakespeare's family dynamics and the beginning of his writing career.

Click the links to watch and read what we're talking about.

View Details

PopaHALLics #121 "This Ain't Texas"Kate and Steve wrestle with existential questions: Is Beyonce country enough? Is Steve Martin a sad and lonely guy instead of a wild and crazy one? And why does James Taylor's biography start in Scotland hundreds of years ago?!

Streaming:

• "Steve (!) Martin, a Documentary in 2 Pieces," Apple +. Morgan Neville's documentary (180 minutes total) follows Martin's career from his days as a kid magician through rock-star standup to TV star/happy guy today.
• "The Gentlemen," Netflix. This action comedy from Guy Ritchie ("Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels," "Snatch") follows a duke's second son who inherits his father's estate—and a whole heap of trouble.

Books:

• "What You Are Looking for is in the Library," by Michiko Aoyama. In this charming international bestseller from Japan, the perfect book recommendation can change the reader's life.
• "James Taylor: Long Ago and Far Away," by Timothy White. This authorized biography by a well-known music writer views the singer/songwriter's life and career through the prism of his family—immediate and ancestral, too.

Music:
Curious about Beyonce getting country with it? Check out our playlist with selections from "Cowboy Carter" and for good measure Taylor Swift too: "Tay Tay Bey Bey Yay Yay."

View Details

PopaHALLics #120 "Let the Bite One In"
Dracula's sister is undead with evil intent in "Dracula: The Count's Kin," an indie film shot in the Indianapolis area. We talk to writer/director Eric Pascarelli and actors Daisy Hickey and James Tackett for a behind-the-scenes look at this movie starring Leanne Johnson ("Extraction USA"). We also pick our favorite screen vampires!

View Details

PopaHALLics #119 "Highly Recommended"Instead of dissing pop culture offerings, dad and daughter rave about them on this episode. Steve's a fan of "American Fiction," "The Last Repair Shop" and "Colin from Accounts." Kate really likes "All of Us Strangers," "Bottoms," and "The New Look."

Streaming:

• "American Fiction," in theaters and for purchase. In this Best Picture nominee, a black novelist (Jeffrey Wright) writes a satire of the stereotype-heavy books he despises—and it becomes a hit.
• "All of Us Strangers," Hulu and rental. In this acclaimed film, a screenwriter (Andrew Scott) develops a relationship with his neighbor while also finding an unusual way to reconcile his grief over the loss of his parents at an early age.
• "Bottoms," Prime. Kate found this 2023 satirical teen comedy a little shocking, violent, and foul-mouthed—but very funny. The plot: Two unpopular queer female high school students start a fight club to have sex before graduation.
• "Colin from Accounts," Paramount +, Prime, other streaming services. This Australian rom-com developed by its stars, Harriet Dyer and Patrick Brammell, follows two flawed people caring for a special needs dog and falling in love.
• "The Last Repair Shop," YouTube, Hulu, Disney+. This Oscar-nominated documentary short explores how music has changed the lives of a few dedicated craftsmen who repair some 80,000 instruments in the Los Angeles school system.
• "The New Look," Apple TV+. This limited series is the true story of how Christian Dior (Ben Mendelsohn) and his contemporaries, including Coco Chanel (Juliette Binoche), navigate the horrors of World War II and launch modern fashion.
• "Upgraded," Prime. Cinderella, anyone? In this rom-com, Camilla Mendes plays a lowly intern who fibs about her role at an art auction house to a handsome stranger and is drawn into the world of his wealthy, glamorous mother (Lena Olin). Marisa Tomei plays Mendes' ridiculously demanding boss.

Books:

• "Anna O," by Matthew Blake. In this dark and twisty thriller, a young woman commits a double murder while sleepwalking, and then never opens her eyes again.
• "John Prine: In Spite of Himself," by Eddie Huffman. A music journalist traces the the career and life of a songwriter's songwriter, from Prine's childhood to the stories behind many of his songs. There's a wealth of great ones to choose from, including "Angel from Montgomery," "Sam Stone," Hello In There" and "Paradise."

View Details

PopaHALLics #118 "It Takes Two to Tango"
Relationships can be a tricky dance, whether you're mismatched cops working a murder case ("Deadloch"), a movie star & a "civilian" falling in love ("Starstruck"), or socialites mistakenly trusting a writer who will betray them ("Feud: Capote Vs. The Swans"). Not to mention two assassins living together ("Mr. & Mrs. Smith")!

Streaming:

• "Masters of the Air," Apple +. Austin Butler ("Elvis") and Callum Turner play pilots and friends more like siblings in this "Band of Brothers"-esque look at the 100th Bomb Group during World War II.
• "Deadloch," Prime. A local straightlaced cop (Kate Box) and a brash outsider (Madeleine Sami) reluctantly team up to solve murders in a small town in this quirky feminist noir comedy.
• "Mr. & Mrs. Smith," Prime. In a relationship dramedy inspired by the 2005 Angelina Jolie/Brad Pitt movie, Donald Glover and Maya Erskine play assassins who become a couple.
• "Feud: Capote Vs. The Swans," FX. Writer Truman Capote becomes friends with a group of rich glamorous socialites and then spills all their secrets in a magazine article. Starring Naomi Watts, Diane Lane, Calista Flockhart, Demi Moore, Chloe Sevigny, and Tom Hollander as Capote.
• "Starstruck," Max. A movie star (Nikesh Patel) and a "little rat nobody" (Rose Matafeo) try to have a relationship in this screwball BBC rom-com created by Matafeo.
• "Death & Other Details," Hulu. A young woman (Violett Beane) boards a luxury liner, only to find "the world's greatest detective" (Mandy Patinkin) who abandoned her in her childhood time of need. But she'll need the help of the hard-drinking sleuth to prove her innocence when a murder occurs.

Books:

• "Furious Hours: Murder, Fraud & The Last Trial of Harper Lee," by Casey Cep. In this true story, a rural preacher murdered five family members for insurance money until a relative shot him dead at the funeral for one of the victims. In the audience at the vigilante's trial: "To Kill a Mockingbird" author Harper Lee, hoping to write a book like her friend Truman Capote's "In Cold Blood." "Furious Hours" also follows the attorney who first defended the preacher and then his killer.
• "Capote's Women: A True Story of Love, Betrayal, & a Swan Song for an Era," by Laurence Leamer. The bestseller that inspired the miniseries "Feud: Capote Vs. The Swans" (see above).

View Details

PopaHALLics #117 "Unpleasant People"They're self-centered ... pushy ... arrogant ... and sometimes murderous. But difficult people—an orchestra conductor, a marathon swimmer, two battling cops, even a serial killer—can make for great pop culture, as this episode attests. Streaming:

• "Maestro," Netflix. Bradley Cooper cowrote, directs, and stars as conductor/composer Leonard Bernstein and Carey Mulligan plays his actress wife in this drama about their relationship. The film received 7 Oscar nominations.
• "Nyad," Netflix. In this true story, Annette Benning plays marathon swimmer Diana Nyad, who decides at age 60 to swim from Cuba to Florida. Jodie Foster is her long-suffering best friend and coach. Both received Oscar nominations.
• "True Detective: Night Country," Max. In the spooky 4th season of the series, a sheriff (Jodie Foster) and state trooper (Kali Reis) frequently butt heads as they investigate the strange disappearance of 7 men from an Alaska research station.
• "Boston Strangler," Hulu. In this 2023 movie based on a true story, reporter Loretta McLaughlin (Keira Knightley) is the first to connect the murders of 13 women and report on the notorious serial killer. With Carrie Coon.
• "Zorro," Prime. This 2024 Spanish TV series reinterprets the avenging vigilante in black, first created in 1919. Miguel Bernardeau plays the swordsman in a show with lots of action and a greater emphasis on indigenous and Mexican characters.
• "The Man From Nowhere," Netflix. In this intense South Korean action flick, a little girl befriends her next door neighbor, a reclusive pawn shop owner. When bad guys take her, they quickly discover he's much more than he appears.

Books:

• "Shuggie Bain," by Douglas Stuart. In this acclaimed novel, young Hugh "Shuggie" Bain is a sweet, lonely boy who spends his 1980s childhood in run-down public housing in Glasgow. "A heartbreaking story of addiction, sexuality, and love" (Goodreads).
• "The Music Shop," by Rachel Joyce. In London in 1988, a music shop owner has the gift of connecting people with just the music they need. A beautiful young woman asks him to teach her about music—but she's not what she seems. Named one of the best books of the year by The Washington Post and The Times (UK).

View Details

PopaHALLics #116 "Moviemaking with Mike"Last time we talked about "Extraction USA," it was a trailer for a movie that didn't exist yet. Writer/director Mike Yonts updates us on its progress toward the big screen— an interesting conversation about what it's like to make a movie. Dad and daughter also dish on Britney Spears, Mark Wahlberg, and what we think of each other's faves.

Here's the "Extraction USA" trailer.

Books:

• "The Woman in Me," by Britney Spears. Kate has a new appreciation for the pop singer after this memoir. It traces her incredible journey from childhood to international stardom, wild days, and the controversial conservatorship.

Streaming:

• "The Family Plan," Apple +. In this action comedy, a suburban dad's family has no clue he's a former skilled assassin. Then the bad guys start showing up. Starring Mark Wahlberg, Michelle Monaghan, Maggie Q, and Ciaran Hinds.
• "A Murder at the End of the World," FX and Hulu. Kate offers her thoughts on this Iceland-set murder mystery previously recommended by Steve. Starring Emma Corwin, Clive Owen, and Brit Marling (who co-created the miniseries).
• "The Crown," Netflix. Steve weighs on Corwin's turn as the young Princess Diana in the British monarchy series previously recommended by Kate. Also starring Olivia Colman (Elizabeth), Gillian Anderson (Margaret Thatcher) and Josh O'Connor (Prince Charles).

View Details

PopaHALLics #115 "Poppanew!"
Happy New Year! We kick off 2024 with a chat about Paul Giamatti's Oscar-buzz performance in "The Holdovers," the discomfort of "Saltburn," Stephen King's return to a favorite character—and more!

Streaming:

• "The Holdovers," theaters and rental. In this drama, Giamatti plays a much-disliked history professor at a New England boarding school forced to oversee a group of boys with nowhere else to go for the holidays.
• "Saltburn," Prime. A university student's obsession with a rich classmate turns into a series of horrifying events when he's invited to the family castle. Barry Keoghan, Jacob Elordi, Rosamund Pike, Richard E. Grant, and Alison Oliver star.
• "American Symphony," Netflix. In this intimate documentary, musician Jon Batiste sets out to write a symphony as his partner, author Suleika Jaouad, struggles with the return of her cancer.
• "Are You There, God? It's Me, Margaret," Hulu, Sling, other channels. In this adaptation of Judy Blume's beloved novel, an 11-year-old girl (Abby Ryder Fortson) navigates new friends, feelings, and adolescence after her family moves to the suburbs. With Rachel McAdams and Kathy Bates.
• "Blue-Eye Samurai," Netflix. In this French-American adult animated series, a half-Japanese/half white swordswoman seeks vengeance on four white men for their wrongs to her mother. Gorgeous visuals, violence, and sex.

Books:

• "Holly," by Stephen King. Holly Gibney is one of King's more memorable recurring characters—a vulnerable, insecure young woman overcoming a difficult upbringing to become a private detective. Here she investigates a series of disappearances caused by an unlikely pair of serial killers.

Music:
Popahallics #115 Playlist features songs such as "Le Freak," "We Are Family," "Like a Virgin" and "Let's Dance" written, composed and/or produced by guitarist Nile Rodgers. If you'd like to see Nile in action, this NPR Tiny Desk Concert is great.

View Details

PopaHALLics #114 "Avoid These Shows!"
You want some turkey? We take out the knives to carve up "Obliterated," "The Buccaneers," and "Monarch: A Legacy of Monsters." But we also make two recommendations for holiday viewing—including one not traditionally thought of as a "Christmas" movie.

Streaming:

• "Obliterated," Netflix. An elite special forces team drunk and stoned from partying must find a nuclear bomb before Las Vegas is, well, obliterated. Steve says this violent, sexual dramedy is a comedy dud.
• "The Buccaneers," Apple+. A group of American girls go to England in search of rich husbands in this period drama with modern touches—think a cross between "Bridgerton" and "The Gilded Age." Kate kept falling asleep.
• "Monarch: Legacy of Monsters," Apple+. This action drama comes alive when Godzilla and other monsters are onscreen. Unfortunately, most of it's about the humans. Kurt Russell and son Wyatt play the same character at different ages.
• "Falling for Christmas," Netflix. In this holiday rom-com, pampered heiress Lindsay Lohan gets amnesia and is taken in by handsome widower with super-cute young daughter. Stop us if you can see where this is going.
• "Moonstruck," streaming and rental. Cher won a Best Actress Oscar for her portrayal of a widowed woman who falls in love with her fiance's estranged, hot-tempered younger brother (Nicolas Cage) in this 1987 romantic comedy drama.
• "For All Mankind," Apple +. This speculative sci-fi series depicts an escalating space race after the Russians put a man on the moon first.

Books:

• "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever," by Barbara Robinson. This bestselliing holiday classic follows the shenanigans of "the worst kids in the history of the world" when they get involved with a church Christmas pageant.
• "In the Lives of Puppets," by T.J. Klune. Set in the future after robots have taken over, this novel is a charming PInocchio-inspired fable about what makes us human and the families we choose.

Music:
PopaHALLics #114 Playlist features our favorite songs from our PopaHALLics playlists this year, from Los Bitchos to Beyonce, from Leonard Cohen to Talking Heads. Rock on!

View Details

PopaHALLics #113 "Cry Murder!"Is that red on the holiday decorations blood? In an unplanned twist, dad and daughter both come to the show with murderous streaming and reading recommendations. A killer episode, wouldn't you say?

Streaming:

• "A Murder at the End of the World," FX & Hulu. When a reclusive tech titan (Clive Owen) holds a retreat in Iceland, his guests start getting iced, so to speak. A 24-year-old hacker turned true-crime sleuth (Emma Corrin) must figure out the killer's identity in this mystery from the makers of "The OA."
• "The Crown," Netflix. Part one of the sixth and final season focuses on the final years of Princess Diana (Elizabeth Debicki) and the impact of her life and death on the royal family.
• "Fargo," FX & Hulu. Season 5 of this black comedy crime drama finds Juno Temple ("Ted Lasso") as a Minnesota housewife who is not who she says she is. Jon Hamm ("Mad Men") is the rule-breaking sheriff who wants to track her down.

Books:

• "Mother Daughter Murder Night," by Nina Simon. In this mix of mystery and family drama, three generations of women try to solve a murder while also learning to live together. A Reese Witherspoon Book Club Pick.
• "My Lovely Wife," by Samantha Downing. A husband spices up his marriage by finding victims for his wife, a serial killer, in this thriller. Dark, sexy, and disturbing.
• "My Murder," by Katie Williams. In this novel named an NPR Best Book of the Year, the victim of a local serial killer is brought back to life by cloning. However, fitting back into her family and solving her murder proves harder than she thought.

Music:
Santa's bag—i.e., our Found Tree 2023 playlist—contains plenty of cool, off-the-beaten-track holiday tunes for you! A special thanks goes out to Mike Bode, our show's resident composer, and his wife Mary Kay. Their annual Cool Yule collections for family and friends introduced us to many of these tunes.

View Details

PopaHALLics #112 "More Boos for You"
Someone forgot to tell us Halloween was over! We discuss streamers about alien invaders, witches, a co-dependent Dracula, a horror-plagued family, and a novel about a witchhunt. Plus the comedy movie "Quiz Lady" and Poirot and his moustache.

Streaming:

• "The Menu," Hulu. In this horror comedy, a foodie (Nicholas Hoult) and his date (Anya Taylor-Joy) are excited to attend the island restaurant of a celebrity chef (Ralph Fiennes). Let's just say they may not be down with what he's serving up.
• "Invasion," Apple+. When an alien species threatens our existence, five ordinary people across the globe try to deal with the chaos unfolding around them in this series. Steve says the emphasis is on the humans, not those aliens.
• "A Haunting in Venice," Hulu. Kenneth Branagh directs and stars again as Agatha Christie's mustachioed detective Hercule Poirot. This time he's investigating a Halloween seance in a spooky palazzo. With Tina Fey and Michelle Yeoh.
• "Renfield," Prime. What's a guy (Nicholas Hoult) to do when his boss is super-demanding, violent, and oh yeah, Dracula (Nicolas Cage)? Awkwafina also stars in this "action comedy horror film."
• "Quiz Lady," Hulu. Tightly wound Anne (Awkwafina) must deal with her hot mess of a sister (Sandra Oh) to help pay off their mom's gambling debts. With Will Ferrell, Holland Taylor, and a dog named Linguini.
• "The Fall of the House of Usher," Netflix. In this limited series from horrormeister Mike Flanagan ("The Haunting of Hill House"), an unscrupulous family begins to pay for their sins in ways inspired by Edgar Allen Poe's stories and poems. With Bruce Greenwood, Carla Gugino, Mark Hamill, and more.

Books:

• "Daughters of Witching Hill," by Mary Sharratt. Inspired by an infamous witch trial in England in 1612, the novel follows a family of strong women as they try to survive "the hysteria of a witchhunt."

Our special macabre music for this episode is once again by Mike "What's that thing behind you?" Bode. Thanks, Mike!

View Details

PopaHALLics #111 HALL-oweenTime for vampires, spooky spirits, and movies with plot holes so big the wind moans through them like a ghost. Oh, and David Beckham and the brain, too. Streaming:

• "El Conde," Netflix. Former Chilean dictator Pinochet is actually a 250-year-old vampire who can't remember where he hid his money in this satiric arthouse flick. A French accountant nun will help him remember and/or stake him.
• "Trick r Treat," Max. This darkly comic horror anthology from the creator of "Krampus" tells four different, interwoven stories one Halloween night. With Brian Cox, Anna Paquin, and a creepy kid-sized spirit of Samhain, "Sam."
• "Beckham," Netflix. The life and career of soccer legend David Beckham is examined in this four-hour documentary from director/actor Fisher Stevens.
• "Something from Tiffany's," Prime. An engagement ring meant for someone else leads a woman (Zoey Deutch) to the person she was meant to be with in this rom-com. With Kendrick Sampson and Ray Nicholson, son of Jack.
• "Red Eye," Prime. This Hitchcockian thriller from horror maven West Craven finds hotel manager Rachel McAdams happy to be seated next to a handsome stranger (Cillian Murphy) on a flight—until he reveals a nefarious plot.

Books:

• "Sunshine" by Robin McKinley. A young woman working as a baker becomes entangled in a vampire feud in this "near perfect fantasy" (Neil Gaiman).
• "The World Behind the World: Consciousness, Free Will, and the Limits of Science," by Erik Hoel. A scientist recognized by Forbes explores how the brain creates our conscious experiences—potentially revolutionizing neuroscience and the future of technology.

Music:The Spooky Halloween Mix #111 playlist put together for us by Spotify's AI is scary good! It's perfect for your Halloween party or handing out candy to trick or treaters.

The Halloween-themed instrumentals in this episode are by our own Maestro of Musical Mayhem, that keyboardist who slays the 88s—Mike Bode! Fangs a lot, Mike.

View Details

PopaHALLics #110 "Popalicious!"
From a chemist doing a cooking show in a serious drama to a time-traveling teen in a horror comedy, we offer the ideal recipes for pop culture enjoyment! We even sprinkle aliens, monsters, and goshawks on top, and polish it off with pumpkin ale. Yum!

Streaming:

• "Lessons in Chemistry," Apple +. In this miniseries based on Bonnie Garmus' bestslling novel, sexism and life's troubles force chemist Elizabeth Zott (Brie Larson) away from the lab in the 1950s. Instead, she hosts a popular TV show where she gives housewives lessons in more than cooking.
• "Jules," rental. No one will believe retiree Ben Kingsley when he says a UFO has crashed into his flowerbed in this sweet offbeat comedy drama from one of the makers of "Little Miss Sunshine." With Harriet Sansom and Jane Curtin.
• "Theater Camp," Hulu. The eccentric staff members of a theater camp must band together when their beloved founder falls into a coma in this musical comedy. With Ben Platt, Molly Gordon, Amy Sedaris, and more!
• "Totally Killer," Prime. In this horror comedy that draws inspiration from slasher movies, a killer murdered three girls 35 years ago and got away. When he murders a mom in the present, her daughter (Kiernan Shipka) time travels back to the 1980s to catch the killer and save her mom. Silly but heartfelt.
• "The Monster," Max. This horror flick finds a troubled mom and her preteen daughter having a breakdown on a deserted road in a rainstorm—and realizing they're not alone in the woods.

Books:

• "Horse," by Geraldine Brooks. This masterful novel interweaves three stories from the 1850s, 1950s, and 2019 that all relate to Lexington. The real thoroughbred was the fastest runner of his time and sired many champions.
• "H is for Hawk," by Helen MacDonald. In this acclaimed memoir, a British woman reeling from the death of her father takes on the notoriously hard training of a goshawk. The book also examines the life and work of goshawk enthusiast T.H. White ("The Once and Future KIng").
• "Bad Cree," by Jessica Johns. A young Cree woman's dreams lead her on a journey of self-discovery in this horror-laced debut.
• "House of Ghosts: A Gripping Murder Mystery Set in a Haunted House," by W.C. Ryan. During World War I, British intelligence sends two agents to a weekend of planned seances at the island home of a munitions manufacturer. In addition to ghosts, a German spy is present in this blend of Agatha Christie-esque mystery and gothic ghost story.

NOTE: You can find the links for more information about these books in the episode's chapter markers. Buzzsprout was acting up and wouldn't include the links here.

View Details

PopaHALLics #109 "Start Making Sense"
Steve experienced the re-release of the restored "greatest concert film of all time," "Stop Making Sense." Just in time for "spooky season," Kate talks about two indigenous horror novels. And don't forget the home invasion thriller with 1 line of dialogue!

In Theaters:

• "Stop Making Sense." Academy Award-winning director Jonathan Demme ("Silence of the Lambs") and the Talking Heads directed this 1984 movie with arty staging and everyone playing with "intense energy and joy" (Steve).

Streaming:

• "Virgin River," Netflix. When you're in the mood for a soapy drama where you don't have to think too much, this show's for you! Kate kinda likes it.
• "No One Will Save You," Hulu. What's a girl (Kaitlin Dever) to do when skinny grey bug-eyed aliens try to invade her her remote home? Fight back, of course.

Books:

• "White Horse," by Erika T. Wurth. In this horror novel, an Indigenous woman must face her past when she discovers a bracelet haunted by her mother’s spirit.
• "Bad Cree," by Jessica Johns. A young Cree woman’s dreams force her to confront a legacy of violence on her family, community and their land in this gripping, horror-laden debut.
• "So You Wanna Be a Rock and Roll Star," by Jacob Slichter. The drummer for Semisonic describes their wild ride to a #1 hit ("Closing Time") and how the music business worked in the 1990s. ("Money, money, money, MON-ey!")
• "Small Mercies," by Dennis Lehane. Against the backdrop of racially-charged school integration in 1974 Boston, tough Southie broad Mary Pat Fennessy goes looking for her missing daughter in this acclaimed novel.

Music:Our Popahallics #109 Playlist features songs from the Talking Heads' "Stop Making Sense" soundtrack and Minneapolis trio Semisonic, the subject of the book "So You Wanna Be a Rock and Roll Star."

View Details

PopaHALLics #108 Who Are You?
Dad and daughter disagree on the merits of Netflix's "Who is Erin Carter?"—who do you think is right? We also look at two series: the "Justified" reboot and "Painkiller," about the origins of the opioid crisis. And new music (Kate) and, um, classic music (Steve).

Streaming:

• "Who is Erin Carter?", Netflix. In this British TV series, a substitute teacher (Evin Ahmad) foils a robbery with fighting skills she shouldn't have. Then her secret past comes calling.
• "Painkiller," Netflix. Matthew Broderick, Uzo Adoba, and Taylor Kitsch star in a provocative drama exploring the roots of this century's most pressing health epidemic. The perpetrators, the victims, the investigator seeking the truth all play their part.
• "Justified: City Primeval," Hulu. Timothy Olyphant dons the cowboy hat once again as lawman Raylan Givens. This time he's chasing a sociopathic killer in Detroit and trying to cope with a rebellious 15-year-old daughter. Shudder.

Books:

• "The Burning Girls," by CJ Tudor. In this 2021 horror novel from the UK's answer to Stephen King, an unconventional vicar and her teenage daughter come face to face with the dark secrets of an English village. And the ghosts of two girls burned at the stake centuries ago.

Music:
Kate talks about the British electronic music project Jungle —think soul, with computers—and Steve revisits the Indianapolis Colts kickoff concert with John Mellencamp, Heart's Ann Wilson, Peter Wolf of the J. Geils Band, Stephen Stills, and more. All are showcased on our Popahallics #108 Playlist!

View Details

PopaHALLics #107 "Murderous & Foreboding"Characters are killing it—literally—in the streaming options and novels we discuss. A wife killing her "perfect" husband. A Broadway star taking an elevator shaft down without the elevator. And did we mention the creepy Swedish cult festival?

Streaming:

• "Midsommar," streaming & rental, In this 2019 horror film written and directed by Ari Aster, a dysfunctional couple (Florence Pugh and Jack Reynor) travel to a rural town for a midsummer festival that turns out more bizarre and violent than they expected.
• "Only Murders in the Building," Hulu. Season 3: When an actor dies on opening night of the play by Oliver (Martin Short), he and his neighbors (Steve Martin and Selena Gomez) begin an investigation. With Meryl Streep, Jesse Williams, and Ashley Park.
• "Ahsoka," Disney +. In an 8-episode "Star Wars" series, the Jedi/not Jedi (it's complicated) warrior (Rosario Dawson) goes in pursuit of evil Thrawn (Lars Mikkelsen) with her headstrong Padawan (Natasha Liu Bodrizzo). With Mary Elizabeth Winstead and Hayden Christiansen.
• "The Book Club," Peacock & rental. Reading "50 Shades of Grey" sparks the love lives of four women (Jane Fonda, Candice Bergen, Mary Steenburgen, and Diane Keaton) in this romantic comedy.

Books:

• "Since We Fell," by Dennis Lehane. A woman develops a fear of leaving the house in this acclaimed 2017 novel adroitly mixing up suspense, romance, and possibly madness from the author of "Mystic River," "Shutter Island," and 'Gone Baby Gone."
• "The Mistborn: The Final Empire," by Brandon Sanderson. In book one of a trilogy, a thief and his companions take on the ultimate caper: Overthrowing the government of a being who has ruled for 1,000 years.

Music:Steve recently saw a ParliamentFunkadelic show featuring funk pioneer George Clinton as well as the band Fishbone. Experience some of their best numbers—and other funk as well—here!

Click through the links to watch, read and listen to what we're talking about.

View Details

PopaHALLics #106 "Barbie & the Bomb"Millennial daughter and boomer dad both think director Greta Gerwig did a great job playing with dolls in the global phenomenon "Barbie." Kate also saw director Christopher Nolan's biopic "Oppenheimer" and reveals if the movie was a bomb or a blast. (Sorry!) We also joke about fans at a Vampire Weekend concert. (Sorry again!)

In Theaters:

• "Barbie." Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling play Barbie and Ken in this ambitious, entertaining comedy, also with America Ferrera, Simu Liu, Will Ferrell, Rhea Perlman, and more.
• "Oppenheimer." This acclaimed biopic traces the career of the physicist (Cillian Murphy) who led the Manhattan Project and later fell from grace. With Robert Downey, Jr., Matt Damon, Emily Blunt, Florence Pugh, and more.

Books:

• "Vampire Weekend," by Mike Chen. Punk rocker Louise Chao's hermit-like existence as a vampire is upended when she befriends a troubled teen. "A love letter to music," Steve says.
• "Bloodroot," by Amy Greene. "A dark and riveting story of the legacies--of magic and madness, faith and secrets, passion and loss--that haunt one family across the generations."
• "V2," by Robert Harris. This thriller from the "Fatherland" author follows two people on either side of the WWII missile program designed to terrorize London—a German rocket scientist and an English woman determined to stop the V2.
• "American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer," by Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin. This 2005 biography is the basis for the "Oppenheimer" film.

Music:
The novel "Vampire Weekend" about a punk-rock vampire has so many musical references someone should build a playlist. Hey, someone has!

Click through the links above to watch, read, and listen to what we're talking about.

View Details

PopaHALLics #105 "Popagumbo"Dad and daughter record in the same room for a change—but they're still all over the pop landscape. Dolls that kill! Dealing-with-grief memoir! Dirty deeds in LA! Dungeons & Dragons! And yet we still find time to be mean to one of the Hemsworth brothers.

Streaming:

• "M3GAN," Prime and rental. In this hit horror comedy, a high-tech toy designer (Allison Williams) invents the perfect robot companion for her niece. What could possibly go wrong?
• "Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves," Prime, Paramount +, and rental. This fun action-packed heist comedy just happens to be set in a fantasy world. Chris Pine, Hugh Grant, and Michelle Rodriguez are among the stars.
• "65," Netflix. Pilot Adam Driver crash-lands his spaceship on a strange world—Earth 65 million years ago. Can he get off the planet before dinosaurs eat him or a giant asteroid hits?
• "The Witcher," Netflix. Season 3 is your last chance to see Henry Cavill as mutated monster hunter Geralt, before Liam Hemsworth (younger brother of Chris and Luke) becomes the star of this fantasy adventure.

Books:

• "What Looks Bravery: An Epic Journey from Loss to Love," by Laurel Braitman. In this memoir, Braitman explores how losing her father at an early age helped transform her into the person she wanted to become.
• "Everybody Knows: A Novel of Suspense," by Jordan Harper. In this acclaimed modern noir thriller set in LA, a fixer must discover why her boss was murdered before the dark side of the entertainment industry destroys her.
• "Shrines of Gaiety," by Kate Atkinson. A queen of the underworld in glittering Jazz Age London faces threats from enemies—and her own family.
• "The Woman in the Library," by Sulari Gentill. In this mystery-within-a-mystery, four strangers in the reading room of the Boston Public Library become friends. But one of them is a murderer ...

Click through the links above to watch and read about what we're discussing.

View Details

PopaHALLics #104 "Good Books & Bad Guys"
Still looking for a good summer read? We got you covered with a warm, spooky coming of age story, a murderous thriller, a memoir about family and addiction, and a collection of hopeful climate change-themed short stories. Or you can watch Bill Hader, Chris Hemsworth, and Emily Blunt kill people. Yes, even that nice Emily Blunt.

Books:

• "The Last Catastrophe: Stories," by Allegra Hyde. This collection of stories speculates about how mankind might grapple with climate change, from a RV caravan crossing the country until the fuel runs out to, well, zombies.
• "The Saturday Night Ghost Club," by Craig Davidson. In this bittersweet coming-of-age novel, a group of misfit kids and an eccentric adult set out to investigate local ghost stories, and discover way more than they bargained for.
• "Stray: A Memoir," by Stephanie Danter. The bestselling author of "Sweetbitter" writes about" growing up in a family shattered by lies and addiction, and (her) attempts to find a life beyond the limits of her past."
• "One by One," by Ruth Ware. In this suspense thriller reminiscent of Agatha Christie's "Ten Little Indians," an avalanche traps a group of tech types in a Swiss chalet—with a killer among them.

Streaming:

• "Barry," HBO Max. A hit man (Barry Hader) wants to become an actor in this acclaimed dark comedy. Henry Winkler and Stephen Root also play memorable characters in the show, which wrapped up this year after four seasons.
• "The English," Prime. In this revisionist Western, a limited series, a Pawnee ex-scout (Chaske Spencer) trying to make his way home teams up with an Englishwoman (Emily Blunt) bent on revenge.
• "Extraction," Netflix. A black market mercenary (Chris Hemsworth, a long way from Thor here) is enlisted to rescue the kidnapped son of an international drug lord in this action thriller. If you like it, there's already "Extraction 2!"
• "High Desert," Apple +. In this erratic comedy/mystery series, a woman (Patricia Arquette) grappling with her mother's death and her ongoing substance abuse talks her way into working for a struggling PI (Brad Garrett).

Let's Dance!
With tunes from Subwoolfer, Fatboy Slim, and more, PopaHALLics #Playlist 104 will make you move. And answer the question of why you should give that wolf a banana.

View Details

PopaHALLics #103 "Indiana Jones & The Last Movie"
We review "Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny" and speculate why Harrison Ford's final outing in the brown fedora is doing poorly at the box office. For those of you not into 80-year-old action heroes, we also discuss season 2 of "The Bear," the new "Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse," and "Violent Night," about a drunken embittered Santa on a slay ride. Get it?

In Theaters:

• "Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny." Harrison Ford and Phoebe Waller-Bridge want to stop ex-Nazi Mads Mikkelsen from bending the laws of time and space. James Mangold, not Steven Spielberg, directs.
• "Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse." Brooklyn's friendly neighborhood Spider-Man Miles Morales clashes with a team of Spider-People tasked with protecting the Multiverse in this animated adventure.

Streaming:

• "The Bear," Hulu. In season 2 of the dramedy, Carmy (Jeremy Allen White) tries to turn his neighborhood hot-sandwich joint into fine dining while still dealing with his rough crew. A recipe for disaster?
• "Violent Night," Prime and rental. Bad guys better watch out when a drunken, embittered Santa (David Harbour) interrupts a home invasion in this violent action comedy. Ho, ho, KA-POW!
• "Peggy Sue Got Married," rental. Steve revisits this 1986 movie directed by Francis Ford Coppola and has some reservations about it this time around. A struggling middle-aged woman (Kathleen Turner) is transported back to her senior year of high school.

Whoops!Two mistakes we caught post-editing:That's Buddy Holly himself singing the theme song in "Peggy Sue Got Married"—not Marshall Crenshaw, as Steve says. And the actress we're trying to remember in "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom"? Kate Capshaw, who screams a lot in that movie. How could we forget?

A Movie-Themed Playlist
Popahallics #103 Playlist features music used in "Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny," "Spider-Man Across the Spider-Verse," "Peggy Sue Got Married," and "The Bear." For "Violent Night," we got creative with songs about bad Santas. Enjoy!

View Details

PopaHALLics #102 "Viva Mexico City!"In a special episode, Steve takes us on a tour of pop culture in Mexico City, the oldest city in North America and the largest in the Western Hemisphere. Art. Museums. Music. Mexican masked wrestling. It's a fun trip you won't soon forget!

Most of the music in this episode comes from street musicians playing for tips. Support your local buskers!

Way Down in MexicoOur PopaHALLics #102 Playlist features songs about Mexico City, ranging from mambo to EDM to Green Day-style pop punk. The lyrics are in Spanish, but the music speaks for itself. Enjoy.

View Details

PopaHALLics #101 "Movie Dreams""Extraction USA" is a teaser trailer for a movie - that doesn't exist.  Yet.  In this interview with Steve and Kate, writer/director/DP Mike Yonts and star/producer Leanne Johnson talk about trying to get their female empowerment/action crime drama from screenplay to the big screen.  It's an interesting look into the scrappy, unpredictable world of independent filmmaking.

See the trailer and read about the movie, cast, and crew.

Find out more about Leanne.

Find out more about Mike. And hey, if you want to help get the film made ... 

Kate and Steve will be back with season 5 of PopaHALLics in July!

View Details

PopaHALLics #100 "100 Big Ones"
Extended episode! Dad and daughter look back at memorable moments from 100 episodes of our pop culture podcast, from memories of Woodstock to a novelist's musings on fact vs. fiction to a tough standup gig. And we review new pop culture too.

Episodes Highlighted:

• 6 "Every Day I Write the Book" (novelist Peter Ferry)

• 48 "Woodstock 1969: I Was There" (Stan Worth)

• 38 "Talking Comedy with Joe" (Janes)

• 44 "Talking Art with Etta" (Martin)

• 46 & #47 "Making Movies with Meaning"

• 1 "Taylor and Alanis Release New Music"

• 5 "Angels & Demons & Alligators, Oh My!"

• 34 "Get Me a Ticket on an Aeroplane"

• 11 "Happy HALL-o-ween!"

• 42 "Pop-pouri"

• 23 "Tales from the TV Beat"

• 88 "The Game is Afoot!"

You can find all our episodes at:
https://popahallics.buzzsprout.com

In Theaters:

• "Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 3." In the final installment of writer/director James Gunn's trilogy, the team must come together to save the life of genetically modified raccoon Rocket. Steve says this rousing space adventure has plenty of comedy and teary moments.

Streaming:

• "Tim's Vermeer, A Penn & Teller Film," Prime rental. A Texas-based inventor attempts to solve one of art's greatest mysteries: How did Johannes Vermeer ("Girl with a Pearl Earring") manage to paint so photo-realistically—150 years before the invention of photography?
• "Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story," Netflix. The marriage of the young queen (India Ria Amarteifio) to King George (Cory Mylchreest) "ushers in an epic love story and threatens British society."

Books:

• "The Upstairs House," by Julia Fine. A first-time mother suffering from depression becomes entangled with the ghosts of "Goodnight Moon" author Margaret Wise Brown and her won't-be-ignored lover—or is she simply having a psychotic episode? A powerful, unusual novel.

Click through the links to watch and read what we're talking about.

View Details

PopaHALLics #99 "Keep Calm and Keri On"Stick with Keri Russell, friends, and she'll get you through international crises ("The Diplomat") and bruins high on blow ("Cocaine Bear"). Steve thinks the airplane movie "On a Wing and a Prayer" should be grounded. And we discuss the wonderful and weird fashions at this year's Met Gala.

Streaming:

• "The Diplomat," Netflix. Russell ("The Americans") stars in this limited series as a career diplomat suddenly elevated to ambassador to the United Kingdom. Her new posting will have implications for her turbulent marriage, her political future, and international relations.
• "Cocaine Bear," Peacock. This horror comedy finds a massive black bear ingesting a LOT of blow and going on a killing rampage. Every bit as ridiculous as it sounds, but still fun in parts. With Russell, Ray Liotta, Margo Martindale and Jesse Tyler Ferguson.
• "On a Wing and a Prayer," Prime. In a movie based on a real incident, a passenger (Dennis Quaid) must land and fly a plane when the pilot dies mid-flight. With Heather Graham, Jesse Metcalf, and way too many scenes that are unintentionally funny.

Books:

• "Quantum Girl Theory," by Erin Kate Ryan. This debut novel, part detective novel, part ghost story, asks the question: What really happens when a girl goes missing?
• "What Moves the Dead," by T. Kingfisher. This imaginative, atmospheric retelling of Edgar Allan Poe's short story "The Fall of the House of Usher" will seriously creep you out.
• "Be Not Afraid of Love: Lessons on Fear, Intimacy and Connection," by Mimi Zhu. Interconnected essays follow Zhu's journey from a violent romantic relationship to healing the hurt within and embodying love.

Click through the links to watch and read what we're talking about.

View Details

PopaHALLics #98 "Steve Was Wrong"
In a rare instance, Steve admits he was wrong about the merits of a TV show. But which one? We also review "The Super Mario Bros. Movie," "Abbott Elementary," "Transatlantic," "Dream Horse," and take another look at "Wednesday," "Ted Lasso," "The Mandalorian," and the novel "The House Across the Lake."

Theaters:

• "The Super Mario Bros. Movie." In this animated action comedy, plumber Mario must stop villain Bowser from conquering the world. With the voice talents of Chris Pratt, Charlie Day, Anya Taylor-Joy, Jack Black, and more.

Streaming:

• "Abbot Elementary," ABC, Hulu, and other streaming services. Quinta Brunson created and stars in this mockumentary sitcom about a teacher at a poorly funded, predominately black school in Philadelphia.
• "Transatlantic," Netflix. This "historical fiction drama" chronicles a journalist's quest to arrange safe passage out of France for more than 2000 refugees in danger from the Nazis. Gillian Jacobs, Cory Michael Smith, and Corey Stoll head the cast.
• "Wednesday," Netflix. Smart, sarcastic, and a little dead inside, Wednesday Addams (Jenna Ortega) tries to solve a spooky mystery at Nevermore Academy in this "horror comedy" from twisted mister Tim Burton.
• "Dream Horse," Hulu. This 2020 movie is based on a true story. A small-town Welsh bartender (Toni Collette) enlists the help of friends and neighbors to breed, sponsor, and race a horse named Dream Alliance.
• "Ted Lasso," Apple +, and "The Mandalorian," Disney +. Steve feels both these popular shows have lost their way a bit during their third seasons.

Books:

• "The House Across the Lake," by Riley Sager. This best-selling suspense novel is set up like Hitchcock's "Rear Window": A drunken actress spying on her neighbors at a remote lake suspects a software entrepreneur is trying to murder his wife, a former supermodel, for her money.

View Details

PopaHALLics #97 "Secret Agent Man"A phone rings in the White House basement—a secret agent's in trouble! Do they call superspy Elvis Presley for help? Sorry - we're mashing two very different shows, "The Night Agent" and the adult cartoon "Agent Elvis." We'll review those and the streamers "Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris," "Shadow and Bone," "Kill Boksoon," and the novels "A Little Life" and "Boo." A little more conversation, a little less action ....

Streaming:

• "The Night Agent," Netflix. Last-minute twists and two attractive leads make this highly improbable 10-episode spy thriller strangely addictive.
• "Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris," Amazon Prime. Your life's miserable, your husband died in World War II, but you too can find hope in a Christian Dior dress!
• "Shadow and Bone," Netflix. Season two of the fantasy series based on Leigh Bardugo's novels find good challenging evil in an elaborately built world.
• "Agent Elvis," Netflix. In this gonzo animated series, the King underwent experiments during his Army days in Germany. Now, when he's not shooting up TVs, he's fighting bad guys like the Russkies and Charles Manson.
• "Kill Boksoon," Netflix. In this Korean action drama, one of the world's most skilled assassins discovers parenting a teenager is more difficult than killing people. Well, duh.

Books:

• " A Little Life," by Hanya Yanagihara. This improbable bestseller "depicts the everyday experience of living with trauma, chronic pain, and disability, demonstrating the inherent intersections with one another" (Wikipedia).
• "Boo," by Neil Smith. In this imaginative young adult novel, a nerdy 13-year-old and his classmate die and wake up in n a bizarre version of heaven. When they learn they were the victims of a school shooting and the perp might be in heaven too, they go looking for "Gun Boy."

View Details

PopaHALLics #96 "Ghosts, 'Banshees,' & Rockers"
Dad and daughter talk 2023 Oscar results—was Angela Bassett robbed?—as well as a downbeat Irish drama, female ghosts, and a fake rock band burning up the charts.

Streaming:

• "Daisy Jones and the Six," Amazon Prime. Kate says this tale of a fictional rock band is much better than the book, and the music is great too. (See Music below.) Riley Keough, granddaughter of Elvis Presley, stars, thankyouverymuch.
• "The Banshees of Inisherin," HBO Max and rental. The friendship of two islanders (Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson ) goes awry in this 2023 Best Picture nominee. Steve says it's well-done, but ...

Books:

• "Lady MacBethad," by Isabelle Schuler. Did you know a real Scottish queen inspired Shakespeare's Lady MacBeth? We didn't either. This sweeping historical novel explores the life of Gruoch, wife and queen of MacBethad mac Findlaich.
• "A Haunted History of Invisible Women: True Stories of America's Ghosts," by Leanna Renee Hieber and Andrea Janes. From Lizzie Borden to Sarah Winchester's haunted mansion, this book delves into the history, myths, and stereotypes behind America's female ghosts.
• "Handling the Undead," by John Ajvide Lindqvist. The Swedish author of acclaimed vampire novel "Let the Right One In" transcends the zombie genre by showing "what the return of the dead might really mean to those who loved them."

Music:
Kate says the music in "Daisy Jones and the Six" reminds her of Fleetwood Mac. Our Popahallics #96 Playlist places the fictional band alongside the real one—see what YOU think.

Click through the links to watch, read and listen to what we're talking about.

View Details

PopaHALLics #95 "Turn the Page"
Kate and Steve return from a month off with a bunch of books under their belts, from software geeks to tough-guy crime to paintings that may be portals to other worlds We also discuss streaming options "Wakanda Forever" ; "The Flight Attendant"; and "Pamela, A Love Story" (you think you know Pamela Anderson of "Baywatch" fame? You don't. ) We also talk Oscars, sorta.

Books

• "Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow," by Gabrielle Zevin. "Two college friends become creative partners in a dazzling and intricately imagined world of video game design and deal with fame, joy, tragedy, and duplicity."
• The "Parker" Novels, by Richard Stark. "She shot him just above the belt and left him for dead ... It all went down just the way they'd planned, except for one thing: Parker didn't die." As you can tell from that blurb and the thumbnail illustration above, this is noir, with hardened career criminals, double-crossing dames, and brutal retribution.
• "Self-Portrait, with Nothing," by Aimee Pokwatka. Part caper, part sci-fi , this novel follows a woman whose search for her missing mother, a famous painter, leads her to wonder if there are alternate universes where her mother did not abandon her.

Streaming

• "Pamela, a Love Story," Netflix. Pamela Anderson rose from a tough childhood in Canada to fame via "Baywatch" and an infamous sex tape. She tells her own story in this documentary.
• "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever," Disney +. With the death of T'challa (Chadwick Bozeman), his family tries to defend his kingdom while ensuring the Black Panther legacy continues.
• "The Flight Attendant," HBO Max. A wild-living flight attendant (Kaley Cuoco) wakes up in bed with a bloody murdered man—and no memory of what happened—in this black comedy/mystery/thriller.

Music
"There Were Sidemen, and Then There Was David Lindley," a Rolling Stone headline said of the death of the guitarist/multi-instrumentalist March 2. Best known for his work with Jackson Browne, Lindley helped shape the sound of an era with his session work for Linda Ronstadt, Ry Cooder, Warren Zevon, Leonard Cohen, and many more. Enjoy a sampling of songs he played on via the Popahallics #95 Playlist.

View Details

PopaHALLics #94 "Pop Across the Pond"How did those folks on the other side of the Atlantic get to be such great storytellers? Dad and daughter discuss the silly BBC-style mockumentary "Cunk on Earth," the Irish drama/black comedy "Bad Sisters," and a sprawling novel about a dysfunctional family that begins on the English Coast, "The Whalebone Theatre." 'Course, we talk about some stuff made in 'merica too.

Streaming:

• "Cunk on Earth," Netflix. The ill-informed, irreverent Philomena Cunk (Diane Morgan) sets out to document the highlights of human history by visiting exotic locales and asking silly questions of experts. Pretty funny.
• "Bad Sisters," Apple +. Scheming, manipulative John Paul (Danish actor Claes Bang) is a piece of work. But when he dies unexpectedly, which one of the Garvey sisters killed him? And can the quarreling sisters stay one step ahead of the dogged, if hapless, insurance investigator trying to avoid a big payout to the widow? This smart drama with plenty of black comedy features a terrific Irish cast headlined by Sharon Horgan ("Catastrophe").
• "Poker Face," Peacock. In this limited character-based mystery series from "Knives Out" creator Rian Johnson, Natasha Lyonne ("Russian Doll") plays down-on-her-luck, foulmouthed Charlie, who can immediately tell if someone's lying. This peculiar gift soon has her fleeing across America, trying to outrun the mob while solving mysteries along the way.

Books:

• "The Cloisters," by Katy Hays. In this bestselling novel, a circle of researchers uncover a mysterious deck of tarot cards and shocking secrets in New York’s famed Met Cloisters. Kate says it's perfect for mystery fans who like a touch of the supernatural.
• "The Whalebone Theatre," by Joanna Quinn. This acclaimed novel follows its heroine from putting on shows as a child with her siblings in a theater made of whale bones to covert operations in World War Two.
• "Project Hail Mary," by Andy Weir. The author of "The Martian" returns with another sci-fi adventure about a man alone in space. This time he's a nerdy junior high science teacher (!), the sole survivor of a mission to save Earth from another ice age.
• "Razzamatazz," by Christopher Moore. In this sequel to the zany thriller "Noir," bartender Sammy Tiffin, his girlfriend the Cheese, and the rest of the Cookie's Coffee irregulars get swept up in madcap antics involving murder, a moon-man, and a magical dragon statute in 1947 San Francisco.

Click through the links above to watch and read what we're talking about.

View Details

PopaHALLics #93: 'Trouble A-Popping!"
A wide-ranging discussion of various pop culture options has one thing in common: Trouble! Two best friends who don't realize they should be worst enemies ("RRR"). The zombie apocalypse ("The Last of Us"). Trying to bring someone back from Hell ("Hell Bent"). And more. Kate also discusses a very weird dating prompt.

Streaming:

• "RRR," Netflix. This alternative history finds two real-life Indian revolutionaries becoming best friends and taking on the English colonial government in the 1920s. The hyper-reality (reality-enhanced?) action and dance sequences will blow your mind.
• "The Last of Us," HBO Max. The video game that sold 20 million copies becomes a promising post-apocalyptic TV series. Joel (Pedro Pascal) develops a surrogate father/daughter relationship with teen Ellie (Bella Ramsey)—maybe the secret to mankind's survival—on a dangerous cross-country journey beset by human killers and zombies.
• "Emily in Paris," Netflix. Kate re-examines her feelings on the light, frothy series about the Chicago marketing executive (Lily Collins) who struggles with her job in fashion and romance in France. Was she too harsh?
• "Confess, Fletch," Showtime and rental. Chevy Chase played the reporter/sleuth with a penchant for goofy disguises in two 1980s movies. Now Jon Hamm ("Mad Men") takes on the role with considerable charm but a less jokey, more low-key approach in a lighthearted mystery about a murder, an art theft, and a kidnapping.

Books:

• "Hell Bent," by Leigh Bardugo. In this worthy sequel to "Ninth House," Yale's Alex Stern, who can see ghosts, is determined to steal a soul out of Hell. But she's dealing with forces beyond her control. Kate loves it.
• "The Last Flight," by Julie Clark. In this can't-put-it-down thriller, two women desperate to escape their troubled lives exchange identities at the airport. Things quickly go south.
• "The Pioneers: The Heroic Story of the Settlers Who Brought the American Ideal West," by David McCullough. The Pulitzer Prize-winning historian rediscovers the story of the settlement of the immense Northwest Territory (the future states of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin). Steve's entranced because it details the taming of the "howling wilderness" not far from where he grew up.

Music:
Let's vibe! Kate's enjoying the music of Los Bitchos, "four gals from the underground realms of London, tripping out on Tequila and Cumbia" (their website), and possibly defunct Six Parts Seven. Hear them and similar bands on PopaHALLics Playlist #93.

Click through the links to watch, listen, and read about what we're talking about.

View Details

PopaHALLics #92 "Look into a Glass Onion"Steve and Kate opine on "Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery," starring former Bond Daniel Craig as famed detective Benoit Blanc. In the movie, quickly becoming one of Netflix's biggest hits ever, a group of friends gather on a remote island for a murder mystery game that turns deadly. We also discuss Tim Burton's Addams Family-inspired "Wednesday," "Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio," and more.

Streaming:

• "Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery," Netflix. In addition to Craig, Kate Hudson, Edward Norton, Kathryn Hahn, Janelle Monae, Dave Bautista, and Leslie Odom Jr. star. Keep an eye out for all the cameos!
• "Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio," Netflix. In this stop-motion animation version of the familiar story, a wooden puppet wants to become a real boy. He has a series of misadventures as Italy becomes embroiled in fascism. Stars include Ewan MacGregor, Cate Blanchett, Finn Wolfhard, Ron Perlman, Tilda Swinton, and Gregory Mann as Pinocchio.
• "Wednesday," Netflix. Have you seen the clip online of star Jenna Ortega's Goth girl dance as Wednesday Addams and wondered if the supernatural teen-oriented series is any good? We'll tell you! Also stars Catherine Zeta-Jones and Luis Guzman as Morticia and Gomez.
• "Bullet Train," Netflix. Five assassins aboard a fast-moving train find their missions have something in common in this gory action comedy. Brad Pitt, Joey King, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Brian Tyree Henry, Bad Bunny, Michael Shannon and Sandra Bullock star.

Books:

• "The Maid: A Novel," by Nita Prose. When a guest at a fancy hotel is found dead, the main suspect is a maid who has "trouble with social situations" in this Clue-like, locked-room mystery.
• "The Terminal List," by Jack Carr. When a Navy Seal realizes he's been set up as the fall guy for a government conspiracy, he takes matters—and weapons—into his own hands in this thriller.

Podcast:

• "A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs." Andrew Hickey explores the development of rock music and key bands in episodes "notionally based" on one song. For example, "White Rabbit" describes the formation, career, and infighting of Jefferson Airplane and the growth of the San Francisco rock scene.

View Details

PopaHALLics #91 "Rock n Troll"
A solo Steve discusses the Norwegian monster movie "Troll" and the debate about what its popularity means for foreign-language films on Netflix. If you've got reading time during the holidays, he also talks about some books worth curling up with.

Streaming:

• "Troll," Netflix. Humans screwing around with nature accidentally awaken an ancient evil deep within the mountain. Cliched and derivative, but if you go into it expecting a B monster movie, you won't be disappointed.

Books:

• "Billy Summers," by Stephen King. A hitman takes one final job—which naturally goes wrong. King has fun breathing life into a tired trope and talking about the writing life.
• "The Girl in Red," by Christina Henry. In this clever riff on Red Riding Hood, a teenage girl heads for her grandmother's house when the apocalypse hits.
• "Round Ireland with a Fridge," by Tony Hawks. The bet that a British comedian couldn't hitchhike around Ireland with a fridge results in a light, funny travelogue mainly about the Irish people.
• "Dracul," by Dacre Stoker and J.D. Barker. A prequel to "Dracula" co-written by Bram Stoker's great-grandnephew suggests Bram was writing about vampires from first-knowledge.
• "Honey Don't," by Tim Sandlin. When a president accidentally dies after having sex with a young woman, she, her wanna-be mobster boyfriend, an over-the-hill journalist and a gay NFL player try to get rid of the evidence. This absurdist Carl Hiassen-like romp pokes fun at Washington, D.C., and modern life.

View Details

Popa HALLics #90 "From Dickens to Dictators"Just in time for the holidays comes a new high-spirited, self-aware musical that reimagines Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" from the ghosts' perspective. Meanwhile, Kate is fascinated by a podcast that explores the origin stories of "the worst humans in history." First up: Hitler. Steaming:

• "Spirited," Apple TV +. Will Ferrell and Ryan Reynolds sing and even tapdance as the Ghost of Christmas Present (Ferrell ) tries to convince an "unredeemable" PR sleazeball (Reynolds) to change his ways. With Octavia Spencer.
• "The Crown," Netflix. Season 5 finds the royal family struggling to show their relevance in the 1990s, as Prince Charles and Princess Diana spar in the media. Imelda Staunton now plays Queen Elizabeth, Elizabeth Debicki is Princess Di, and Dominic West is Charles.
• "Andor," Disney +. The most grown-up, complex, nuanced "Star Wars" offering yet traces how a roguish thief (Diego Luna) eventually becomes a hero willing to lay his life on the line for the Rebellion.
• "House of The Dragon," HBO Max. This worthy prequel to "Game of Thrones" features intrigue, sex, and dragons during the reign of House Targaryen.

Podcast:

• "Behind the Bastards." This podcast delves into the bizarre stories of history's greatest real-life villains, from Hitler forming his monstrous ideology from young adult novels to Saddam Hussein's side gig as a trashy romance novelist.

Books::

• "The Death of Jane Lawrence," by Caitlin Starling. In this acclaimed Gothic horror novel, a young woman's marriage of convenience turns creepy when her new husband forbids her to visit his family estate—and she does.
• "Jade City," by Fonda Lee. This clever mix of "Godfather"-style gang intrigue and fantasy finds clans in an Asian-like nation struggling for power. Contact with jade makes them faster, stronger, more alert—but can also drive them crazy.
• "Sleeping Beauties," by Stephen and Owen King. This page turner asks the question: What would happen to the world if women disappeared from it? Women begin falling asleep, a weird cocoon covering their heads, and not waking up. The men left alone turn to violence. ...

Music:
The "Spirited" soundtrack got us thinking about all the other holiday musicals we love. Popahallics #90 Playlist contains gems from "A Muppet Christmas Carol," "Elf," "Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer," and more—including "Spirited." Listen to it here.

View Details

PopaHALLics #89 "Cool Yule""
Get your jingle on! For 16 years, Mike Bode and his wife Mary Kay have made "Cool Yule" collections of holiday music that they give to family and friends. This episode is a "re-podcast" of a broadcast on Toledo's Owens Community College Radio, where Mike—who writes and performs our PopaHALLics music—and Steve talk about their "Cool Yule" favorites. Consider it a mistletoe mixtape!

Listen to the Music
You can find the "Cool Yule" playlist here. Or check out these videos of the songs:

• Brian Culbertson, "Jingle Bells"
• Eddie Higgins, "Santa Claus is Coming to Town"
• Ilana Waldston, "Hanukah in Santa Monica"
• Dominic Bali, "Christmas in Cali"
• Mary J. Bilge, "Christmas in the City"
• Keb Mo, "Jingle Bell Jamboree"
• Leon Redbone, "Blue Christmas"
• Straight No Chaser, "Nutcracker"
• Dropkick Murphys, "The Season's Upon Us"
• Die Roten Rosen, "Auld Lang Syne"

View Details

PopaHALLics #88 "The Game is Afoot!"It's elementary, my dear listener. Steve and Kate have fun discussing "Enola Holmes 2," about Sherlock's younger sister on the trail of a missing match girl. We also talk murder—both real (at Harvard, no less) and fictional (a coworker coverup in Japan)—and explore the curious case of a schlocky zombie movie that isn't what it seems. This mystery is worthy of Baker Street!
Streaming:

• "Enola Holmes 2," Netflix. Millie Bobby Brown (Eleven on "Stranger Things") returns as an aspiring detective hoping to break out of the shadow of her famous brother. She talks directly to the camera as she gets into one hair-raising scrape after another. Big fun. With Helena Bonham Carter and Henry Cavill.
• "One Cut of the Dead," Shudder and rental. This clever, hilarious Japanese zombie comedy written and directed by Shin'ichirō Ueda features a play within a play. We first see what appears to be a short, cheap zombie movie shot in one continuous take about a filmmaking crew attacked by real zombies. But then the camera pulls back to show us what's going on behind the scenes of the movie about the movie. In Japanese with English subtitles.
• "The School for Good and Evil," Netflix. In a movie based on a bestselling book series, best friends Sophie and Agatha find themselves on opposing sides when they join an enchanted school for aspiring heroes and villains.

Books:

• "Out," by Natsuo Kirino. This 1997 Japanese crime novel won Best Novel from the Mystery Writers of Japan. When a female factory worker murders her husband, her three coworkers try to help her get away with it. That sets off a deadly cat and mouse game with the police and a local gangster, as well as simmering tensions within the group.
• "We Keep the Dead Close: a Murder at Harvard and a Half Century of Silence," by Becky Cooper. In this critically acclaimed true crime narrative, a reporter sets out to find out the truth about the 1969 bludgeoning death of 23-year-old graduate student Jane Britton. The rumors were that she had an affair with her professor, who murdered her when she threatened to go public ...
• "I'm Glad My Mom Died," by Jennette McCurdy. in this fast read of a memoir, the former "iCarly" actress explores her complicated relationship with her show business-oriented mother.
• "The Final Girl Support Group," by Grady Hendrix. This sly horror novel asks the question: In slasher movies, the final girls are the ones left standing when the credits roll. They made it through the worst night of their lives…but what happens after?

Two Heartland Movies Coming to Theaters:
Previous episodes talked about two new movies at the Heartland Film Festival in Indianapolis: "The Whale," with Brendan Fraser's comeback as a 600-lb. college professor seeking to reconcile with his daughter (Sadie Sink), and "Corsage," a lush reimagining of one year in the life of the tragic Austrian Empress Elisabeth (Vicky Kreps). The New York Times, says "The Whale" will debut in theaters on Dec. 9 and "Corsage" on Dec. 23.

Click through the links above to watch, read, and listen to what we're talking about.

View Details

PopaHALLics #87 "Medieval Love - Modern Style"
Kate reviews two 2022 movies that tackle medieval love with modern sensibilities. In "Catherine, Called Birdy," the independent daughter of a financially destitute lord resists his attempts to marry her off. Meanwhile, "Rosaline" is a comic retelling of "Romeo and Juliet" from the viewpoint of Romeo's ex. Steve reviews notable horror novels, causing dad and daughter to debate what's scarier: Horror or True Crime.

Streaming:

• "Catherine, Called Birdy," Prime. Writer/director Lena Dunham ("Girls") turns Karen Cushman's beloved children's novel into a medieval comedy with Bella Ramsey in the title role.
• "Rosaline," Hulu. In this romantic comedy directed by Karen Maine ("Yes, God, Yes"), the woman Romeo first claimed to love (Kaitlyn Dever) wrestles with her complicated feelings about him falling for her cousin, Juliet.

Coming to Theaters:

• "The Road Dance." In this powerful period drama set in Scotland's remote Outer Hebrides, a. young woman (Hermione Corfield) experiences a life-altering event just as her paramour goes off to fight in World War I.
• "Roise & Frank." In this sweet, heartfelt dramedy in Gaelic with subtitles, a widow who has given up on life becomes convinced that a stray dog is the reincarnation of her husband.

Books:

• "The Only Good Indians," by Stephen Graham Jones. In this dark horror novel "of revenge, cultural identity, and the cost of breaking from tradition" (GoodReads), a disturbing youthful mistake comes back to haunt—literally—four Blackfeet men.
• "Hell House," by Richard Matheson. Stephen King has called this classic from the "I Am Legend" author "the scariest haunted house novel ever written." Four researchers spend a week in a notorious house. It doesn't go well.

Music:Kate discovered Khruangbin, a trio whose music can be described as "vibe-y." Curious? Try our Popahallics #87 Playlist!

View Details

PopaHALLics #86 It Ain't Over Til the Fat Man EatsIn this weighty episode, Steve reviews Brendan Fraser's comeback role as a 600-lb. college professor, while Kate talks about modern dating in connection with a "comedy philosophy book." Also reviewed: "Corsage "and "Sins of Our Mother."

Coming to Theaters:

• "The Whale." In this drama drawn from a play, Fraser ("The Mummy") plays Charlie, who seeks to reconcile with his estranged daughter (Sadie Sink, "Stranger Things"). Their performances are powerful. The movie, on the other hand ...
• "Corsage." In this vivid reimagining of a year in her life, Austrian Empress Elisabeth (Vicky Krieps) rebels against the role society—and history—has given her. "Corsage" recently won the top prize at the London Film Festival.

Streaming:

• "Sins of Our Mother, Netflix." Kate found this true-crime series about a woman who killed several people—including her children—a disturbing cautionary tale.

Books:

• "How to Date Men When You Hate Men," by Blythe Roberson. In a humorous, "you're not alone" way, the New Yorker and Onion writer explores modern dating.

Music:
When Kate was growing up, Steve was often playing the music of his favorite cult band, Southern Culture on the Skids. Dad and daughter just went to a SCOTS show together! Check out their music, as well as some tasty surf rock, on this playlist!

View Details

PopaHALLics #85 "Witchy Women"
The witch, the witch, the witch is back! Namely, the Sanderson sisters, played by Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy in "Hocus Pocus 2." This sequel to the beloved holiday fave comes along 29 years later. The magic continues with the novels "The Witch's Daughter" and "The Good House," with voodoo at work. Ooooh!

Streaming:

• "Hocus Pocus 2," Disney +. Nostalgia for the original movie will likely make you forgive the flaws of the sequel, with the Sandersons back to terrorize Salem, Massachusetts.
• "The Outfit," various streaming. A tailor played by Academy Award winner Mark Rylance must use his wits to survive a tense night with gangsters in this thriller.
• "The Empress," Netflix. This German production focuses on the tragic empress of Austria. Kate: "Beautiful to look at ... not historically accurate at all."

Books:

• "The Witch's Daughter," by Paula Brackston. In this novel, a woman makes a bargain that helps her unleash her magical powers but finds her pursued for centuries.
• "The Good House," by Tananarive Due. A black family pays a price for invoking the powers of voodoo in this acclaimed horror and humanistic novel.

Music:The "Hocus Pocus 2" soundtrack has some fun tunes from the likes of B-52s and Rockwell. We took the best of those and added a few of our own for the spooky Popahallics #85 Playlist. Enjoy it here!

View Details

PopaHALLics #84 "Revenge, Lies, & Tammy Faye's Eyes"Being wronged and doing wrong. We look at several movies ("Do Revenge," The Eyes of Tammy Faye") and a TV series ("Tell Me Lies") that do wrong right. We also talk books: The "Game of Thrones" mastermind does vampires on the Mississippi, and the Inspector Jury cozy mysteries investigate murders in quaint English villages.
Streaming

• "Do Revenge," Netflix. This dark, stylish teen comedy mashes "Clueless" and Hitchcock's "Strangers on a Train." Two teenagers (Camilla Mendes and Maya Hawke) at an elite Miami high school plot to bring down each other's enemies.
• "Tell Me Lies," Hulu. Based on the novel of the same name, this series "follows a tumultuous but intoxicating relationship" between a young woman (Grace Van Patten) and a man (Jack White, the actor, not the musician) good at being charming.
• "The Eyes of Tammy Faye," Hulu. Jessica Chastain, in over-the-top makeup, plays televangelist Tammy Faye Bakker in this sympathetic biopic.

Books:

• "Fevre Dream," by George R.R. Martin. The "Game of Thrones" creator mixes horror and history in a vampire novel set on a sidewheeler on the Mississippi River in 1857.
• Inspector Jury Mysteries by Martha Grimes. This British mystery series features an unlucky-in-love Scotland Yard inspector and his acerbic upper-crust friend investigating killings.
• "The Witch's Daughter," by Paula Brackston. A young woman must confront the evil that has haunted her for centuries.

View Details

PopaHALLics #83 "Expensive, My Precious"
With a $1 BILLION commitment over five years, Amazon Prime's "The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power" would be the most expensive TV series ever made. Steve talks about what Jeff Bezos is getting for his money. We also discuss:

Streaming

• "Bad Sisters," Apple TV+. In this Irish dark comedy thriller, a group of women (Sharon Horgan, Eve Hewson, Eva Birthistle and Sarah Greene) are suspected of murdering a despicable man. Twisty and funny.
• "Extraordinary Attorney Woo," Netflix. In this charming Korean drama, an autistic attorney is brilliant at the law and struggles with everything else. Don't ask her about whales!
• "Prey," Hulu. This prequel to the "Predator" movies is easily the best in the series since the original. A young Comanche woman (Amber Midthunder) must protect her people from an alien hunter with super-cool weapons and the ability to make himself invisible.
• "An Everlasting Piece," rental. In this funny 2000 comedy set in Northern Ireland during the Troubles, two barbers—one Protestant, one Catholic—set out to win the monopoly on hairpieces in the country. Directed by Barry Levinson ("Rain Man").

Books

• "Cult Classic," by Sloane Crosley. Kate liked this novel a lot. Amazon says: "a masterfully crafted tale of love, memory, morality, and mind control."

Music
Preparing for a concert by ukulele virtuoso Jake Shimabukuro, Steve listens to a lot of uke covers. Kate's listening to '70s acoustic classics. We mash them together on this fun playlist!

View Details

PopaHALLiics #82 "Do the Hulu"Kate and Steve reunite to talk pop culture, only to discover they've both been streaming mostly Hulu offerings. If you like comedic murder mysteries, thrilling and sometimes thoughtful space adventures, and feisty princesses, you should do the Hulu too.
Streaming:

• "Thirteen Lives," Amazon Prime. Ron Howard directs and Viggo Mortensen and Colin Farrell star in a gripping true-life story about the rescue of a Thai soccer team from a flooded cave.
• "Only Murders in the Building," Hulu. New season, new murder for intrepid podcasters Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez to solve. Kate says season 2 follows the same formula as the first, but the show's still enjoyable and satisfying.
• "The Orville," Hulu and Disney +. Seth Macfarlane's "Star Trek" tribute/parody has evolved from a jokey mess into some of TV's best sci-fi.
• "The Princess," Hulu. "Sleeping Beauty"? No! In this movie, Joey King stars as a sword-y beauty—also a punchy, kicky one—who must save her family and the kingdom from a sociopath (Dominic Cooper) who has seized control of the castle.

Books:

• "Tell Me Lies," by Carola Lovering. This sexy, thrilling novel is about the one that got away. It' will soon debut as a TV series on—wait for it—Hulu.

Music:

• "Renaissance," Beyonce. The pop star's seventh solo album finds "escape, rebirth, community, pleasure and control in decades of dance music," as The New York Times puts it. Kate's amazed at how seamless the release is. Give it a listen here.

View Details

PopaHALLics #81: "Our POP History"
Dad and daughter hop from pop topic to pop topic. "Crying in H Mart," a memoir by Michelle Zauner (in photo ) about how food ties us to those who have passed, prompts Kate to talk about food in connection with her mom's illness and death from cancer. Meanwhile, Steve makes his life musical with a series of concerts and long drives enjoyable by listening to the myth-busting podcast "Our Fake History."

Streaming:

• "The Gray Man," Netflix. Ryan Gosling stars in a thriller with beautifully choreographed action scenes. And Kate still has no clue what he was trying to stop.
• "Free Guy," Disney +. Bank teller Ryan Reynolds discovers he's a background character in a video game—and decides to become its hero. Jodie Comer ("Killing Eve") also stars in this comedy thriller.

Books:

• "Crying in H Mart," by Michelle Zauner. Zauner, leader of the indie rock band Japanese Breakfast, writes about navigating her life before and after her mother's death from cancer, and the role food played in their relationship.
• "Panpocalypse," by Carly Moore. During the coronavirus pandemic, a queer disabled woman bikes through a locked-down NYC for the ex-girlfriend who broke her heart.

Music:
Our Popahallics #81 Playlist has music by everyone we talk about: Buddy Guy, John Hiatt, Lake Street Dive, the Brook and the Bluff, and yes, Japanese Breakfast too. LIsten to it here.

View Details

PopaHALLics #80 "Here Come the Kings"
We ponder pop mysteries, such as: What's with Tom Hanks' weird accent as Col. Parker in "Elvis"? Why does Tom Cruise personally thank moviegoers at the start of "Top Gun: Maverick"? (He's king of the box office, with more than $1.1 billion in ticket sales for "Maverick.") We also review streaming options "Loot," "The Old Man," "Candy," and public TV's "Seaside Hotel," with a bunch of Danish actors you've never heard of.

Theaters:

• "Elvis." Austin Butler is electrifying as the King in this highly stylized biopic from Baz Luhrmann ("Moulin Rouge," "The Great Gatsby"). That's Hanks under the fat suit and prosthetics as the conniving Colonel.
• "Top Gun: Maverick." Cruise returns as reckless pilot Maverick Mitchell, training young pilots for a dangerous mission in this satisfying sequel to the 1986 film. Miles Teller ("Whiplash"), Jon Hamm, and Jennifer Connolly also star.

Streaming:

• "Loot," Apple TV. In this comedy, Maya Rudolph stars as a billionaire trying to get her life back on track with help from a charitable foundation she funds.
• "The Old Man," FX and Hulu. Decades ago, a CIA agent (Jeff Bridges) went into hiding. Now they're coming for him—which is a big mistake. John Lithgow also stars in this thriller based on the bestselling novel by Thomas Perry.
• "Candy," Hulu. In this limited series based on real events, a 1980s housewife and mother (Jessica Biel) seems to have the perfect life. Then things go very, very wrong.
• "Seaside Hotel," PBS. This gentle feel-good Danish drama with English subtitles follows the staff and guests at a beach hotel by the North Sea in the years between the two world wars.

Music:

• The motion picture soundtrack for Luhrmann's "Elvis" features the real Presley; Butler performing as Presley; and then such modern performers as Eminem, Doja Cat, Kacey Musgrave, and Jack White doing their take on Presley songs. Confused? Try it here.

View Details

PopaHALLics #79 "All in the (Pop) Family"
On a very special episode, we host a wild free-form discussion of pop culture at a family gathering. Our family members participating range in age from their 20s to their 70s, so their perspectives are intriguing. Thanks to Taylor and Heidi Metcalf, Cali O'Connor, Tricia O'Connor, Beth Metcalf, and Boyd Jenkins. (Resident Kid Expert makes a brief appearance.) We apologize for the crinkling of the snack bags. There might also have been drinking. Discussed:

• "Atlanta," FX.
• "Black-ish," Hulu.
• "Bo Burnham: Inside," Netflix.
• "The Boys," Amazon Prime.
• "Dear Evan Hansen," stage.
• "Everything, Everywhere, All at Once," Amazon Prime.
• "The First Lady," Showtime.
• "Gaslit," various streaming services.
• "Hustle," Netflix.
• "Metal Lords," Netflix.
• "Obi-Wan Kenobi," Disney +.
• "Pose," Hulu.
• "Severance," Apple TV.
• "Ted Lasso," Apple TV.
• "The Morning Show," Apple TV.
• "We Are Lady Parts," Hulu.
• "Women of the Movement," various streaming services.

Click through the links above to watch what we're talking about.

View Details

PopaHALLics #78 "Both Sides Now"Steve and Kate review two new movies which look at love from both sides now—at different ages, anyway: The messy 20s (Cooper Raiff's "Cha Cha Real Smooth") and the adventurous 60s ("Good Luck to You, Leo Grande," starring Emma Thompson). We also discuss sitcom "Rutherford Falls," Harry Style's latest record, and several spooky books.
Streaming:

• "Cha Cha Real Smooth,"theaters and Apple TV. In this Sundance favorite written, directed by and starring Raiff, 25, a college grad tries to figure out adulthood while beginning a friendship with a young mom (Dakota Johnson) and her autistic daughter.
• "Good Luck to You, Leo Grande," Hulu. In this female-written and -directed gem, Thompson plays a retired widow who hires a sex worker (Daryl McCormack) to experience pleasurable sex for the first time in her life.
• "Rutherford Falls," Peacock. The relationship of life-long friends is tested when a desire to preserve white history in a small town clashes with indigenous interests. Ed Helms and Michael Schur ("Parks and Recreation", "The Good Place") helped create this sitcom, which has Native Americans on both sides of the camera.
• "Peaky Blinders," Netflix and BBC. The saga of Irish gangsters in Birmingham, England, returns for its sixth and final season.

Books:

• "Girl in the Walls," by A.J. Gnuse. A young orphan lives in the hidden spaces of her former family home in this gripping coming-of-age story.
• "The Residence," by Andrew Pyper. In this chilling horror novel inspired by real people and events, a First Lady holds a seance to try to contact her dead son ... and invites a demon into the White House.
• "The Demonologist," by Andrew Pyper. An academic expert on "Paradise Lost" races against the clock to get his daughter back from The Other Side in this horror thriller.

Music:

• "Harry's House." Kate says Harry Styles "Is messing around, in a good way" on this new release, a departure from his recent retro rock. Hear it here.

View Details

PopaHALLics #77 "Dinos to Darth Vader"We cover a lot of ground in 27 minutes, from amazingly realistic dinosaurs to a Jedi haunted by his experience with the future Darth Vader ... from a strange but true World War II ruse to Mormon extremists ... from the return of "Stranger Things" to a novel inspired by an intense fashion rivalry. Dig in!
Streaming:

• "Planet Prehistoric," Apple TV. This nature series from the BBC and executive producer Jon Favreau (Marvel, Star Wars, and Disney) didn't really film dinosaurs in their natural habitats. It just looks that way.
• "Obi-Wan Kenobi," Disney +. In this limited series, Ewan McGregor stars as the title character, hiding out in the desert after his pupil Anakin Skywalker embraced the Dark Side. But then an old friend needs his help ...
• "Operation Mincemeat," Netflix. How to throw the Nazis off your invasion plans? First, get a dead body ... Colin Firth, Matthew Macfadyn, and Johnny Flynn star in this movie based on a true spy story from World War II.
• "Stranger Things," Netflix. They're baacccck. And so's otherworldly evil in Hawkins, Indiana. The gang's all split up, but I have this feeling they'll come together, don't you?
• "Under the Banner of Heaven," FX. A devout detective's faith is tested as he investigates a brutal murder connected to religious extremism and a prominent Utah family. Andrew Garfield stars in this miniseries based on the nonfiction book by Jon Krakauer.
• "Ghosts," CBS/Paramount Plus. In this sitcom, a young woman (Rose McIver) inherits a mansion, at first unaware that many ghosts live there. If living is the right term..
• "Star Trek: Strange New Worlds," Paramount +. In the decade before James T. Kirk takes the helm, Christopher Pike (Anson Mount) commands an Enterprise with Spock (Ethan Peck) and other familiar characters. Outer space adventures with heart.

Books:

• "The Last Collection: A Novel of Elsa Schiaparelli and Coco Chanel," by Jeanne Mackin. An American woman becomes entangled in the rivalry between two very different designers fighting to be the most successful and influential in Paris.

Music:
Our Popahallics Playlist #77 features Squirrel Nut Zippers, Red Baraat and other artists Steve saw at Bayou Boogaloo and in New Orleans. Or you can get your summer on with the playlists Kate's listening to, Surf Rock Sunshine and Summer Throwback.

View Details

PopaHALLics #76 "Those Meddling Kids!"
Did you know "Scooby Doo" was ranked the fifth-greatest cartoon of all time by TV Guide? Steve delves into the history of Scoob and the gang in a discussion of a new fan-made show, "Mystery, Incorporated." Meanwhile, Kate raves about Florence + The Machine's new album and the novel "Sea of Tranquility." Zoinks!

Streaming"Mystery, Incorporated," YouTube. Scooby Doo and his teen friends get a contemporary live-action makeover in this pilot for a proposed TV series. Is it a Scooby Snack or a "Ruh-roh"?

Novels
"Sea of Tranquility," Emily St. John Mandel. The author of "Station Eleven" and "The Glass Hotel" returns with a novel of art, time, love, and plague, taking readers on a journey from 1912 to 500 years in the future.
"The Witches of New York," by Ami McKay. In this dark, atmospheric novel, three witches face the evil lurking in the dark corners of New York during the Gilded Age.

MusicFlorence + The Machine are back with "Dance Fever," a new release that's outsized and grandiose like Florence Welch's earlier work but more internal. (The title's a reference not to disco but the medieval European “dancing plague,” where people would flail and twitch until they reached exhaustion, injury, or death.) Kate likes the album a lot. Listen here.

View Details

PopaHALLics #75 "Breaking Good"
What do Walter White, British scandals, and the Met Gala have in common? We discuss all of them on this episode! Kate talks about two streaming efforts with Brits, sex, and trouble. She also has strong opinions (shocker!) about the fashions at this year's Met Gala. Meanwhile, watching in bits and pieces, Steve has finally finished all five seasons of landmark TV series "Breaking Bad." He reflects on what makes this one of the greatest TV series ever.

Streaming

• "Breaking Bad," Netflix. In Vince Gilligan's crime drama, a mild-mannered high school chemistry teacher (Bryan Cranston) with lung cancer begins cooking meth to protect his family from financial ruin. His pride and arrogance transform him into a monster.
• "Anatomy of a Scandal," Netflix. The life of a rising British politician (Rupert Friend) and his wife (Siena Miller) is rocked when he is accused of a terrible crime. Michelle Dockery ("Downton Abbey") plays a tough-as-nails lawyer.
• "A Very British Scandal," Amazon Prime. The divorce proceedings involving the beautiful Duchess of Argyle (Claire Foy) and her husband (Paul Bettany) become notoriously vicious. Based on a true story.
• "Moon Knight," Disney +. Oscar Isaacs plays a man who may be suffering the after-effects of trauma, or be someone else, or be an Egyptian superhero.

Books

• "A Slow Fire Burning," by Paula Hawkins. The author of "The Girl on the Train" returns with a thriller. When a young man is found brutally murdered, it raises questions about the three women who knew him.
• "Slough House," by Mick Herron. The MI5 screw-ups become ensnared in a complex web of politics, media, global finance ,and, of course, spycraft.

View Details

PopaHALLics #74 "Sci Fi-ne"
Parallel universes, time loops, and dreams altering past and present reality—we're talking sci-fi! Steve reviews the mind-bending movie "Everything, Everywhere, All at Once" and season two of time-traveling series "Russian Doll." Meanwhile, Kate ponders the prescient Locus-winning sci-fi masterpiece "The Lathe of Heaven," which was talking about climate change all the way back in 1971. Steve also does the worst Dr. Evil impersonation ever.

Streaming/Theaters:

• "Everything, Everywhere, All at Once," in theaters. Failing laundromat owner Michelle Yeoh must connect with parallel universe versions of herself to save the world.
• "Russian Doll," Netflix. Nadia (Natasha Lyonne) and Alan (Charlie Barnett) try to change the past. It doesn't go well.
• "Slow Horses," Apple TV. Gary Oldman, Jack Lowden, and Kristen Scott Thomas star in a spy thriller in which MI5 rejects discover a cover-up.

Books:

• "The Lathe of Heaven," by Ursula K. Le Guin. When George Orr's dreams become reality, he seeks help from a noted researcher—who has other plans. Cue ominous music.
• "Nation," by Terry Pratchett. This YA adventure novel is by turns somber, wildly hilarious, and thought-provoking about questions of faith and culture. An island boy and an upper-crust girl deal with the aftermath of a giant destructive wave.
• "The Fiddler in the Subway: The Story of the World-Class Violinist Who Played for Handouts ... And Other Virtuoso Performances. by America's Foremost Feature Writer," by Gene Weingarten. This book showcases the funny, informative, and sometimes heartbreaking work of the only feature writer to win two Pulitzer Prizes.

Music:
Get folked with Caamp, the Avett Brothers, Mt. Joy, Rayland Baxter, and other acts who'd sound just fine picking on the porch in our Popahallics #74 Playlist.

View Details

PopaHALLics #73 Growing Up
We discuss a Norwegian movie about a young woman heading reluctantly toward adulthood, a fun new female-led British band, an adult novel inspired by a fairy tale, and a sci-fi novel in which we actually put on our grown-up pants and address climate change. Also, why you should never, ever fly into Newark.

Streaming

• "The Worst Person in the World," rental. While critics struggle to describe this "Norwegian romantic black comedy drama," Steve says it's an excellent movie about a young woman (Renate Reinsve, above) figuring out who she is.
• "Moon Knight," Disney +. Oscar Isaac may be a superhero, may be crazy, or may be having the weirdest dreams ever in this limited series from Marvel.
• "Ghostbusters: Afterlife," rental. This sequel blatantly borrows from the original in a good way while telling a new story about two grandkids of one of the original Ghostbusters. Bustin' makes us feel good!

Books

• "Gingerbread," by Helen Oyeyemi. A surprising family legacy led by a recipe for gingerbread is at the heart of this novel by an author known for spinning inventive, head-twisting tales from fairy tales.
• "The Ministry for the Future," by Kim Stanley Robinson. This cautiously optimistic sci-fi novel reads like nonfiction as it explores the effects of climate change on all of us while also solutions we can put into place now.

Music

• New British group Wet Leg just dropped their first album, and Steve and Kate think they're a hoot. You can hear them and other young women turning rock cliches on their head in our Popahallics #73 Playlist.

View Details

PopaHALLics #72 "Dressed Up for Oscar!"
We critique the red carpet looks for the 2022 Academy Awards, with Kate showing her fashion expertise and Steve ... uh, not. We also have thoughts on the Oscar telecast and the Slap Heard 'Round the Internet. But wait, there's more! We also discuss:

Streaming

• "The Lost City." When romance novelist Sandra Bullock is kidnapped by a wealthy baddie (Daniel Radcliffe) searching for treasure, it's up to her cover model (Channing Tatum) and a Zen-like ex-Navy Seal (Brad Pitt) to save her. This escapist romantic comedy was clearly inspired by "Romancing the Stone," but it's still fun.
• "Death in Paradise," Amazon Prime and other streaming services. An uptight, very British detective investigates homicides on a small Caribbean island is this fish-out-of-water crime drama.

Books

• "The Imperfects," by Amy Myerson. When their matriarch dies, a dysfunctional family comes into possession of a large diamond with a complicated history. A page-turning family saga that's also historical fiction.
• "Scattered All Over the Earth," by Yoko Tawada. When climate change causes Japan to be swallowed by the sea, climate refugee Hiruko seeks someone who still speaks her mother tongue in this mind-bending, dystopian novel, the first of a trilogy.

View Details

PopaHALLics #71 "Seeing Red"
Let's paint the podcast red! We discuss an animated feature about a girl who transforms into a giant red panda when feeling strong emotions; an Aaron Sorkin drama about TV's favorite redhead, Lucille Ball; and the bloody swords and spears of Danes and Saxons.

Streaming

• "Turning Red," Disney +. Kate thinks conservative outcries over this Pixar movie from a female production team are ridiculous.
• "Being the Ricardos," Amazon Prime. Steve says this Best Picture nominee manages to make Lucy not so lovable ... or at least not that funny. Nicole Kidman, Javier Bardem, and J.K. Simmons star in this drama based on real events.
• "The Last Kingdom," Netflix. The past sins of warrior Uhtred (Alexander Dreymon) affect his present and the future of England in the fifth and final season.

Books

• "The Bottoms," by Joe R. Lansdale. In this Edgar Award-wining mystery/coming-of-age story, a boy in East Texas during the Great Depression gets swept up in events surrounding the brutal murders of several women, black and white.
• "Quit Like a Woman: The Radical Choice to Not Drink in a Culture Obsessed with Alcohol," by Holly Whitaker. This bestselling memoir recounts how one woman healed herself while also examining how alcohol hurts women in our society.

View Details

PopaHALLics #70 "With Friends Like These ..."Steve flies solo in this abbreviated episode, talking about some notable pop culture offerings while they're still fresh in his mind.

Books

• "My Friend Dahmer," by Derf Backderf. In this acclaimed graphic novel, a high school friend recalls growing up with a lonely goofball, Jeffrey Dahmer, before he became a notorious serial killer.
• "Twilight of the Gods: A Journey to the End of Classic Rock," by Steven Hyden. A Gen X music critic wrestles with what happens to classic rock when all its creators die off in this affectionate, perceptive, often irreverent look at the genre.

Streaming

• "Wolf Like Me," Peacock. The fascinating, attractive redhead that Gary (Josh Gad) has just met unfortunately has some baggage in her life. Namely, Mary (Isla Fisher) turns into a werewolf. An enjoyable relationship drama with supernatural overtones.

View Details

PopaHALLics #69 "Cops, Cons, & Rock n Roll!"We discuss "Inventing Anna," the true-crime story of a fake German heiress who lived large with little cash; the Swedish detective drama "Young Wallander"; and music, music, music, from a novel about a fictional rock band to the nerdy Icelandic group that dances like nobody's watching. Even though everybody is.

Streaming

• "Young Wallander: Killer's Shadow," Netflix. The younger version of world-weary detective Kurt Wallander (Adam Pålsson) discovers that a seemingly straightforward hit-and-run case is much more than it appears.
• "Inventing Anna," Netflix. Kate liked this "Shondaland" miniseries inspired by a true story. Now Steve weighs In on this 9-episode offering about a young con artist who fooled New York's elite into thinking she was a German heiress.

Books

• "Daisy Jones and the Six," by Taylor Jenkins Reid. This novel follows the rise to fame of a Fleetwood Mac-like rock band with a beautiful lead singer and their mysterious breakup.
• "The Near Witch," by V.E. Schwab. A 2019 re-release sparked new life and acclaim for this fantasy that is part fairy tale, part love story.

Music

• "Song Exploder" podcast. For a look at an unorthodox songwriting process involving Excel spreadsheets, anagram titles and more, Steve recommends the Weezer episode.
• Florence + the Machine, "King." The band's new single has a music video directed by Autumn de Wilde (2020's "Emma").
• The Secret Sisters, "You Don't Own Me Anymore." Folky, with great harmonies.
• Lawrence, "Don't Lose Sight." Siblings Clyde and Gracie Lawrence, whose dad is a movie writer/director ("Miss Congeniality"), take their soul/funk/pop to the world.
• Dadi Freyer, "Think About Things." An Icelandic group revels in its own nerdiness. Oh, those sweet dance moves!
• Jonathan Richman, "I Was Dancing in the Lesbian Bar." Endearingly goofy.

Popahallics #69 Playlistfeatures all the artists above. Enjoy!

View Details

PopaHALLics #68 "Oscar, Oscar, Oscar!"
We review Best Picture Nominee "King Richard," with Best Actor and Best Supporting Actress nominees Will Smith and Aunjanue Ellis; "Spencer," with Best Actress Nominee Kristin Stewart; and the new Oscar fan-favorite film category. (Vote now, and vote often.) Also: Why "Armageddon," never nominated for Best Picture, is not really about the rush to stop a giant asteroid from crashing into the Earth.

Streaming/Rental

• "Spencer," Hulu or rental. Stewart ("Twilight") plays a troubled Princess Diana about to decide to leave the royal family in this psychological drama directed by Pablo Larrain.
• "King Richard," Rental. Smith plays the brash, self-promoting father with a 78-page plan to take daughters Venus and Serena Williams to tennis superstardom.
• "Inventing Anna," Netflix. In this miniseries, a journalist investigates a con artist who steals the hearts of New York's elite—and their money, too.
• "Armageddon," Amazon, YouTube, and other sites. NASA sends up deep sea drillers to plant a nuclear bomb inside the asteroid headed for Earth. Bruce Willis, Ben Affleck, Billy Bob Thornton, and many fires and explosions star.

Books

• "Notes on An Execution," by Danya Kukafka. This acclaimed thriller explores the complicated women caught in the orbit of a serial killer, on the eve of his execution.
• "Those Across the River," by Christopher Buehlman. In this literary horror novel, a disgraced academic and his lover from Chicago discover why dread underlies life in a small Southern town.

View Details

PopaHALLics #67 "Hooray for ... Hollywood?"
We discuss the Best Picture nominations, one of the Best Picture nominees ("The Power of the Dog"), and why high schoolers who have seen zombie movies should know how to kill zombies, for crying out loud! Also: Mel Brooks' new autobiography and why that guy on Tinder may be too good to be true.

Streaming

• "The Power of the Dog," Netflix. In Jane Campion's first movie in 12 years, a gothic Western, Benedict Cumberbatch plays a toxic cowboy bullying his brother's new wife (Kirsten Dunst) and her sensitive son (Kodi Smit-McPhee).
• "The Lost Daughter," Netflix. An obsession with a young mother causes a woman (Olivia Colman) to confront the dark secrets of her past.
• "All of Us are Dead," Netflix. In this Korean TV series , high schoolers struggle with teen angst ... and zombies!
• "Beat," Amazon Prime. A techno club promoter becomes an undercover agent for the European secret services in this series.
• "Silver Skates," Netflix. This lush epic period Russian romantic adventure mixes "Romeo and Juliet" ... with skates.
• "The Tinder Swindler," Netflix. This documentary tells the story of the man who conned women he met online out of millions of dollars, and how they got even.

Books

• "All About Me! My Remarkable Life in Show Business," by Mel Brooks. The funnyman behind "The Producers" and "Young Frankenstein" looks back with nostalgia at his life, remarkable body of work, and friendships ranging from Carl Reiner to Alfred Hitchcock.

Popahallics #67 PlaylistWhen Brooks needed an awful but catchy song for his 1968 movie "The Producers," wife Anne Bancroft persuaded him to write it himself. This "All About Mel!" playlist celebrates "Springtime for Hitler" and other Brooks' songs. We also include the "Get Smart" theme—written by Irving Szathmary for a show created by Brooks and Buck Henry—because the Melbourne Ska Orchestra version is fun. Listen.

View Details

PopaHALLics #66 "C'mon C'mon" ....
... we have a lot of pop culture to talk about! ! In this episode, we discuss the Joaquin Phoenix movie of that name, of course, as well as streaming options "Munich: The Edge of War," "Strike," and "Hot Fuzz" and the fantasy classic "The Mists of Avalon." Also: "sad girl music" and why J.K. Rowling should "stick to the books!"

Streaming

• "C'mon C'mon." rental. A radio journalist (Phoenix) gets to better know his 9-year-old nephew and himself in this intimate, delicate drama.
• "Munich: The Edge of War," Netflix. In this spy thriller based on the Robert Harris novel, British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain (Jeremy Irons) attempts to prevent WWII with behind-the-scenes moves.
• "Strike," Amazon, Hulu, HBO Max. This TV series of the mystery novels by Rowling (writing as Robert Galbraith) features many private eye tropes but is still entertaining.
• "Hot Fuzz," rental. This parody of buddy action movies by the makers of the zombie comedy "Shaun of the Dead" has its moments ... but not enough.

Books

• "The Mists of Avalon," by Marion Zimmer Bradley. This 1983 historical fantasy retells the Arthurian legends from the perspective of female characters like Morgan le Fay.

Music

• Laura Marling. What does she have in common with recent releases by Adele and Taylor Swift? "Sad girl music." Grab a hankie and have a cathartic experience with our "sad girl" Popahallics #66 Playlist.

Pop-Up Info
Want more information about the pop culture we discuss? Our chapter markers have links to movie and TV show trailers, music videos, and articles.

View Details

PopaHALLics #65 "Let's Put On a Show!"
Novelist Peter Ferry (our guest way back in Ep. #6) returns with exciting news: A stage adaptation of his award-wining "Old Heart" is set to premiere at Detroit's Redford Theater later this year. Pete talks about how the play came about because of independent filmmaker Roger Rapoport ("Coming Up for Air") and the way casting is bringing another layer of meaning to the material. Pete and Steve also discuss pop culture they're consuming .

Books

• "When Will There Be Good News?" by Kate Atkinson. Atkinson's memorable private detective Jackson Brodie and police inspector Louise Monroe return in a complex tale of murder, mystery, and connected lives.
• "Amsterdam: A History of the World's Most Liberal City," by Russell Shorto. This entertaining portrait explains how Amsterdam's history and unique geography make it one of the most fascinating places on Earth.
• "The Portrait of a Lady," by Henry James. Pete says James ("Turning of the Screw") can't decide if he's American or British. Hint: Wave that Union Jack high!
• French author Pierre Bouelle, whose 30 novels included two made into hit (and very different) movies. We ask Pete to name them.

Podcasts

• "Song Exploder." Musicians, ranging from Fleetwood Mac and Cheap Trick to today's hitmakers like Dua Lipa, take apart their songs and, piece by piece, tell the story of how they were made.

Popahallics #65 PlaylistTired of grey, cold, wet winter? Throw your swimsuit and sunglasses in a suitcase, baby—our playlist is taking us on vacation!

View Details

PopaHALLics #64 That Time We Put on Our Own Film FestivalAfter reading a profile of Japanese animation master Hayao Miyazaki, Steve and his wife have a mini-Miyazaki film festival in their living room. Hear about the films they watched and why Steve wants to do this with other directors. We discuss:

Miyazaki Films

• "My Neighbor Totoro." Two young spunky girls are befriended by a giant forest spirit in this animated family classic.
• "Kiki's Delivery Service." A young witch-in-training tries to find her special power—and deal with a boy's attention—in this coming-of-age story.
• "Howl's Moving Castle." When a spiteful spell turns a shy girl into an old woman, she finds new confidence and purpose as she copes with magic and military run amok.

Novels

• "The Vanishing Half," by Brit Bennett. In this acclaimed novel, twin sisters choose to live in two very different worlds, one black and one white.
• "Sixty-One Nails (The Courts of the Feyre)," by Mike Shevdon. In this urban fantasy, an ordinary Londoner discovers his ties to ancient magical people. Is he the champion they're looking for?
• "Ariadne," by Jennifer Saint. A bestselling debut retells the myth of Ariadne, Daphne, and Theseus, focusing on the women involved instead of the (questionable) hero.

Music

• Formed in 2012, The Nude Party expertly raids the sounds of old: Bob Dylan, Lou Reed, the Kinks, early Stones, etc.

View Details

PopaHALLics #63 "Transformers (Not the Robots)"
The streaming options and books in this episode have one thing in common: The characters or real people face challenges or experiences that transform their lives, from a comet threatening life on Earth to an obsessive classics professor to a headless knight who vows to kill his attacker in a year. (You read that right.) Strap in as Steve and Kate discuss:

Streaming:

• "Don't Look Up," Netflix. This dark satire uses a planet-killing asteroid as a metaphor for mankind's inability to take serious action against climate change. Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Lawrence, Meryl Streep and more star.
• "I'm Your Man," Hulu or rental. In this German romantic comedy, a female scientist reluctantly agrees to take part in an experiment living with the perfect man—a humanoid robot who looks like that guy from "Downton Abbey."
• "The Green Knight," rental. Loosely based on an epic poem, this film finds King Arthur's headstrong nephew Gawain (Dev Patel) embarking on a perilous quest.
• "Encanto," Disney +. Lin-Manuel Miranda wrote the songs for this charming animated adventure about an "ordinary" girl trying to fit into her magical family.

Books

• "Miss Dior: a Story of Courage and Couture," by Justine Picardie. The muse for French fashion designer Christian Dior was his sister, who survived a Nazi work camp.
• "The Hunger" and "The Deep," by Alma Katsu. These novels exquisitely meld historical research and the supernatural—one about the ill-fated Donner Party, the other about the sinkings of the Titanic and its sister ship the Brittanic.
• "The Latinist," by Mark Prins. Power, ambition, and obsession play out in this novel inspired by the myth of Daphne and Apollo.
• "The Postmortal," by Drew Magary. This smart, funny, and scary novel examines how one man's life—and the world—changes when scientists discover a cure for aging.

You'll also learn the celebrities people think we look like. We're flattered AND confused.

View Details

"Highly Recommended"
In a first, Steve and Kate mostly rave about what we have seen and read. While we have reservations about a few things—sorry, Boba Fett and Sandra Bullock—you'll hear about plenty of worthwhile pop culture. We discuss:

Streaming

• "Picnic at Hanging Rock" , Amazon Prime. In this Australian gothic miniseries based on the 1967 novel, a group of schoolgirls vanish on an outing. Natalie Dormer ("Game of Thrones") plays their mysterious headmistress.
• "We Are Lady Parts", Peacock. This British series about four young Muslim women in a punk rock band turns big ideas about identity, representation, and gender into binge-worthy comedy. Steve says it's "smart and funny, with infectious energy and moving moments too."
• "Ron's Gone Wrong", Disney +. In this computer-generated animated film, a lonely middle schooler befriends a defective "B-bot" and learns about true friendship and being yourself.
• "Shazam!", HBO Max or rental. When 14-year-old Billy Batson transforms into an adult superhero with bulging muscles and superpowers, he's still a goofy kid on the inside. One of the best DC Comics-inspired movies.
• "The Unforgivable", Netflix. When Sandra Bullock is released from prison after doing her time, society refuses to forgive her violent past.
• "The Book of Boba Fett", Disney +. In a series from the makers of "The Mandalorian," the "Star Wars" bounty hunter takes off his battered helmet to try to rule over Jabba the Hutt's criminal empire.

Novels

• "The Midnight Library," by Matt Haig. In this enchanting "It's a Wonderful Life"-styled novel, a young woman experiences the different versions of her life that would have occurred if she had made different decisions.
• "The Atlas Six," by Olivie Blake. Six uniquely talented magicians compete—to the death—to win a place in the Alexandrian Society, caretakers of lost knowledge from the greatest civilizations of antiquity.

Popahallics #62 PlaylistAttack of the killer guitars! This week's playlist includes punk rock (like We Are Lady Parts and Ramones), garage rock (like the Delmonas), surf rock (like the Suffragettes)—and The Nude Party, whose sound blends the Kinks, Lou Reed, early Stones, Dylan, and CCR. Lyrically, we ponder such existential questions as: "Davy Crockett, what you got in your pocket?" Listen.

View Details

PopaHALLic #61 "Not So Home Alone"
Gathered for a holiday outing, Steve, Kate and the Resident Kid Expert (RKE) discuss seasonal offerings, including the fifth "Home Alone" movie, "Home Sweet Home Alone," on Disney +. Wait, you say, isn't Macauley Culkin like in his 40s now?! Yes —41, actually—but it's a different kid. The RKE gives his review.We also talk about:

Streaming:

• "Love Hard," Netflix. In this holiday-themed rom com, Nina Dobrev drops everything to fly across the country for Christmas with the hunk from her dating app that she's never actually met. Surprises await! Hijinks ensue!
• "Fatman," Peacock/rental. In this dark, violent action movie, a rich kid unhappy about getting coal for Christmas hires an assassin (Walter Goggins) to take out Kris Kringle (Mel Gibson). But Santa's got a brand new bag, and it's filled with ammo.

Books:

• "Out of Body," by Jeffrey Ford. In this dark fantasy thriller, the death of a girl in his arms leads to disturbing, "Twilight Zone"-like dreams for a small-town librarian.
• "The Year of the Witching," by Alexis Henderson. A young woman living in a puritanical society discovers dark powers within herself in this feminist fantasy debut.
• "The Hike," by Drew Magary. An ordinary guy tries to get back home from a parallel universe in this oddball fantasy mixing elements of fairy tales and video games.
• "Eyes That Kiss in the Corners," by Joanna Ho. This bestselling children's picture book is about learning to celebrate one's Asian heritage.
• "Milo Imagines the World," by Matt de la Pena. This poignant, timeless children's picture book is about how you can't really know anyone just by looking at them.

Popahallics #61 Playlist
Cool yule music from Ella Fitzgerald, Kay Starr, Louis Armstrong, Straight No Chaser, and more, including a few holiday tunes you've likely never heard before. Listen.

View Details

"Get Back"All you need is ... 8 hours to tell the story of the Beatles' recording sessions for the album "Let It Be" and their famous rooftop concert, the last time they played in public together. Steve says Peter Jackson's documentary on Disney + is a shade too long but it's thrilling to see the Beatles create songs that are now part of our pop DNA. Dad and daughter also discuss:

Streaming

• "The Wheel of Time," Amazon Prime. Jeff Bezos tries to find the next "Game of Thrones" fantasy epic in Robert Jordan's much-loved series of books.
• "tick ... tick ... BOOM!," Netflix. Lin-Manuel Miranda directed this a musical biopic about playwright Jonathan Larson, who would create "Rent." Andrew Garfield stars.
• "The Harder They Fall," Netflix. All the principal characters are black in this stylish, violent revisionist Western with a fantastic cast.
• "Hawkeye," Disney +. The archer (Jeremy Renner) from the Avengers reluctantly gets a young partner (Hailee Steinfeld) in this new miniseries.

Books

• "The Song of Achilles," Madeline Miller.
• "The Storyteller: Tales of Life and Music," Dave Grohl.
• "The Book of Magic," Alice Hoffman.

Popahallics #60 Playlist
Why "let it be" when you can have a playlist chock full of musical greatness! Our latest features the Beatles, Nirvana, Foo Fighters, and numbers from the "tick ... tick ... BOOM!" soundtrack. Listen.

View Details

I'm Putting You on (Red) Notice
Dad and daughter beg to differ on "Red Notice," Netflix's most expensive production to date ($200 million). Kate thinks the action comedy starring Dwayne Johnson, Gail Gadot, and Ryan Reynolds is a waste of time. Steve thinks it's an entertaining action movie with memorable one-liners from Reynolds. Who's right? Listen in! We also discuss:

Theaters/Streaming:

• "Belfast," Sir Kenneth Branagh's intimate crowd-pleasing movie about being a young boy in a gritty Northern Ireland neighborhood when the "Troubles" begin. Music by Van Morrison.
• "Cruella," with Emma Stone and Emma Thompson in the origin story of a villainess only interested in making a fur coat from "101 Dalmations."
• "All Too Well," a short film written and directed by Taylor Swift based on her song about her relationship with actor Jake Gyllenhaal.

Books:

• "Cloud Cuckoo Land," by Anthony Doerr. The latest book from the Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist ("All the Light We Cannot See") is a soaring story about children in worlds in peril, who find resilience, hope—and a book.
• "The Lewis Man," by Peter May. In this crime thriller, a body is found in the peat bogs on the storm-tossed Isle of Lewis off the coast of Scotland. An elderly man with dementia may have the only clues to the identity of the corpse ... and his killer.

Popahallics #58 Playlist
Why listen to mere mortals when you can hear bigger-than-life personalities like '"Van the Man," Taylor Swift, Ike and Tina Turner, and, yes, Cruella DeVille? Go big with this episode's playlist. Listen.

View Details

On Books, on "Dune, " on Uncle Buck and Marcella! After a few weeks apart, the Halls reunite to talk books, TV series, and the new movie "Dune." And being us, we manage to squeeze in all sorts of intriguing tidbits, from the inspiration for the movie "Home Alone" to the fact we're "famous by proxy." We discuss:

Books:

• "Ghosts of New York," by Jim Lewis. A novel that suspends the laws of time and space follows four characters in the Big Apple.
• "The Silver Arrow," by Lev Grossman. The author of the adult-themed "Magicians" series writes a fun children's yarn involving a magical train and saving the world.
• "How Music Works," by David Byrne. The Talking Heads frontman explains how the making of music stems from context (time, place, the technology available) and looks at his own musical history. Highly recommended.
• "A Mind Spread Out on the Ground," by Alicia Elliott. This raw memoir explores the ongoing effects of personal, intergenerational, and colonial traumas on Native people.

Streaming/Theaters:

• "Dune": Denis Villeneuve ("Blade Runner 2049," "Arrival") directs an engrossing, visually stunning adaptation of Frank Herbert's complex 1965 sci-fi novel of otherworldly adventure, political intrigue, and giant sandworms.
• "Marcella", a Netflix drama with a London detective (Anna Friel) coping with marital woes, her struggles as a mom, and a tragic loss—while she excels at catching killers.
• "Uncle Buck," a lesser but still enjoyable John Hughes movie with John Candy as a bachelor slob babysitting his brother's kids in suburban Chicago, to their chagrin.
• "In the Dark": The third season finds our hot mess blind girl (Perry Mattfield) and her friends on the lam while searching for her abducted pal Jess. And having lots of sex.

View Details

Emma, Billy Bob, and "Night Teeth"In another free-wheeling feisty episode, Steve and Kate share their thoughts on:

Streaming

• "Emma," an enjoyable 2020 Jane Austen adaptation starring Anya Taylor-Joy ("The Queen's Gambit")
• "Destination Wedding" (2018), a love-or-hate-it rom-com with Winona Ryder and Keanu Reeves as two misanthropes thrown together at a wedding
• "Night Teeth" (2021), a so-so horror/action/comedy thriller with a young chauffeur caught up in vampire wars in L.A.
• "Friday Night Lights," the much-loved TV series with Kyle Chandler as a high school football coach in Texas

Books

• "The Billy Bob Tapes: A Cave Full of Ghosts," a fun book in which Kinky Friedman recorded his friend Billy Bob Thornton telling stories about his childhood in Arkansas, playing music, his movie career, and his weird phobias (Komodo dragons?!)

Popahallics #57 PlaylistOn the show we discuss how actors Keanu Reeves, Billy Bob Thornton, and Ryan Gosling all have/had bands. This playlist features some of their tunes. Listen.

View Details

PopaHALLics #56 Straight from the Heart-Land
Steve reports on offerings from the Heartland International Film Festival, which invites filmmakers and audiences to experience the transformative power of film. The festival turned 30 this year, showcasing films and documentaries that will be coming to streaming services and theaters near you. Steve reviews:

• "American-ish," a dramedy about three Pakistani-American women navigating career, romance and family issues in NYC
• "It's a Summer Film!", a delightful Japanese movie about why we love movies
• "See You Next Christmas," a holiday party-themed rom-com starring Elizabeth Guest (niece of Christopher Guest and Jamie Lee Curtis)
• "Esluna: The Crown of Babylon," a thrilling Indiana Jones-style animated sci-fi adventure
• "Topowa! Never Give Up," a documentary about the power of music to change lives

But First, Father & Daughter Discuss

• "Black Widow," the Marvel movie that caused Scarlett Johansson to sue Disney
• The Jim Lewis novel "Ghosts of New York"
• The Tim Powers novel "Expiration Date"

Popahallics #56 PlaylistGet ready for Halloween with a playlist featuring fun spooky songs off the beaten track, monster-themed surf rock, and one beautiful song ("Goodnight") that seriously creeps us out. Listen. Our Original MusicMike Bode composed our "Poppin' Rocks" theme, our bumper music, and our current (and increasingly favorite) outro, "Ducks in a Row." Thank you, Michael!

View Details

Women Rock!What's the unofficial theme running through this show? Strong women, from the female assassins of "Gunpowder Milkshake" to real-life punk rock designer Vivienne Westwood to the rocking sisters of Larkin Poe. We discuss:

Streaming:

• "Gunpowder Milkshake," with Karen Gillan, Lena Headey, Carla Gugino and more as women you don't want to make mad
• "Official Secrets," with Keira Knightley as real-life whistleblower Katharine Gun, who leaked a memo exposing an illegal spying operation by American and British intelligence services
• "Midnight Mass," with Kate Siegel among those dealing with miracles and monsters on a remote island community
• "Westwood: Punk. Icon. Activist," a documentary about Westwood's colorful life

Music:

• Larkin Poe, a blues rock group led by sisters Rebecca and Megan Lovell
• Tyler Bryant, Rebecca's husband who rocks solo or with the Shakedown

Popahallics #55 PlaylistWomen rule our playlist— Larkin Poe, Kelly Clarkson, Gloria Gaynor, and more. But Tyler Bryant managed to sneak onto it. Listen.

View Details

Pop Catch-Up!
We play catch-up on the pop culture we consumed while apart, including:

Streaming

• "The Chair," a university drama with Sandra Oh as a department's beleaguered chair
• "Kate," an action thriller with assassin Mary Elizabeth Winstead searching for the people who poisoned her
• "The Lovebirds," a rom-com with Issa Rae and Kumail Nanjiani as a couple trying to solve a murder as their relationship falls apart
• "The Defeated," a series with Chicago cop Taylor Kitsch searching post-WWII Berlin for his schizophrenic brother while helping a German policewoman fight violent crime
• "Audrey," a documentary about the film star Audrey Hepburn
• "Into the Night" (season 2), with a handful of people struggling to survive the sun's deadly gamma rays ... and each other

Novels

• "The Rose Code," by Kate Quinn
• "Once Upon a River," by Diane Setterfield
• "The Elfstones of Shannara," Terry Brooks

View Details

Dressed to Win!
Who looked great at the Emmys and Met Gala, such as Michaela Coel ("I May Destroy You")—and who should have stayed at home? We have lively opinions—Kate's informed by fashion sense, Steve's not so much.

We also have fun talking about:

• "Only Murders in the Building," a Hulu comedy/drama with Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez trying to solve a murder in their NYC apartment building
• Whether Kacey Musgraves ("the country Cher," Kate says) will finally break through with her new break-up-themed album "Star-Crossed"
• Steve's take on Lorde's new release "Solar Power," which her fans find so-so
• And the Cleverlys' comic bluegrass-themed approach to contemporary hits like "No Diggity" and "Milkshake"

Popahallics #53 Playlist
This mellow country and folky playlist features Kacey Musgraves, Lorde, Brandi Carlile, the Secret Sisters, and Steve Martin and Edie Brickell. The lively, wacky exceptions to the mellow are Martin's "King Tut" and those Cleverlys, having way more fun than a body has a right to. Listen here.

View Details

"Stump the Halls!"
To celebrate a year's worth of shows, we play "Stump the Halls!" Listeners quiz us about some of their favorite pop culture offerings. (Sample: What is John Wayne's last line as Rooster Cogburn in the original "True Grit"?) We find the trivia questions sometimes easy, sometimes tough ... can YOU answer them? Play along with "Stump the Halls!"

Popahallics #52 PlaylistIn recognition of the "question-ing" nature of this week's episode, our playlist contains songs with question titles as well as music from the pop culture our listeners talk about. Listen here.

Win a PopaHALLics Notebook
These sleek, very limited-edition notebooks with our logo have room to take notes on your favorite pop culture (or anything else) and doodle too. There are five, count 'em, five in existence. We will put you in the drawing to win one if you a) email 10 of your closest friends who might like our show and b) copy us on the email. Spread the word about PopaHALLics!

View Details

"A Lotta Pop!"
Steve and Kate hit the pop culture supermarket and emerge with several carts crammed to the top with offerings and opinions. We discuss everything from a Netflix documentary about a woman raised by wolves (!) to what made Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts so great to whether the Baroness in "The Sound of Music" was a Nazi.

Streaming

• "Modern Love," an anthology series inspired by the New York Times feature.
• "Misha and the Wolves," a documentary that investigates a woman's claims to having survived the Holocaust by living with wolves.

Music

• Lorde's new album "Solar Power," a departure from her earlier work.
• Elton John's classic "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" album, which showcases great tunes and the best band he ever had.
• Our losses of rock legends Watts and ZZ Top bassist Dusty Hill.

Novels

• "The Sanatorium," a 2021 thriller about murders at a former sanatorium turned luxury hotel in the Alps. Reese's Book Club pick.
• "The Shrinking Man," a 1969 novel by the great sci-fi/horror writer Richard Matheson.
• "Once Upon a River," with a greviously wounded stranger showing up at ancient inn on the Thames with a dead girl in his arms. Or is she?
• "The Girls," Emma Cline's story of a young woman sucked into a Manson-like cult.

Popahallics #51 Playlist
Lorde, Elton John, the Stones, ZZ Top ... we feel like royals! Listen here.

View Details

"Streaming & Novels"
Kate and Steve offer their opinions of these pop culture offerings:

Streaming

• "The Pursuit of Love," a period miniseries starring Lily James and Emily Beecham as two cousins seeking love. Written and directed by Emily Mortimer.
• "Solos," a new drama anthology "about what it means to be human."
• "Schmigadoon!", a comedy that celebrates musicals even while parodying them. Cecily Strong and Keegan Michael Key are trapped in a town where everything's a musical.
• "Ted Lasso," Season 2. A sports psychologist (Sarah Niles) makes life uncomfortable for gee-whiz soccer coach Ted.
• "Blood Red Sky," a horror thriller in which terrorists taking over a plane don't realize a vampire's on board.

Novels

• "Mongrels," by Stephen Graham Jones. Indigenous take on a werewolf story.
• "The Round House," by Louise Erdrich. An Ojibwe boy seeks justice for a crime that transforms his family.
• "The Turkish Gambit," by Boris Akunin. Russian detective extraordinaire Fandorin investigates treachery during the Russian/Ottoman Empire war.
• "The Girls," by Emma Cline. A young woman becomes involved with a cult.
• "Long Knife," by James Alexander Thom. George Rogers Clark battles the British, makes friends with native Americans, and romances a beauty.

Popahallics #50 PlaylistSample tunes from "Schmigadoon!", the surprisingly modern sounds of "The Pursuit of Love," and more. Listen here.

View Details

"Podcast Pioneer!"
Chaz Rough got in on the ground floor of podcasting in 2005, and today his "YOGAmazing" podcast has over 20 million downloads globally. In an interview recorded at the Podcast Movement convention in Nashville, Chaz shares an insider's take on the early days of podcasting. ( For instance: Dannie Gregorie of Louisville was one of the first to use the term "podcasting" to describe the automatic download and synchronization of audio content.)

Where's Podcasting Headed?
Chaz shares his thoughts on podcasting's explosive growth since 2014, and where—with the recent influx of big money for celebrity-helmed shows—this once scrappy medium might be headed. Chaz also has fun stories about his musical career, from playing legendary punk club CBGB's to the Easter Egg roll at the White House. You read that right.

Telling More Stories
There's more! We couldn't fit it in our episode about the 1969 Woodstock music festival, but Stan Worth told us a great story about the drastic measures his roommate was ready to take to avoid being drafted. It's included here.

Steve also reflects on "Summer of Soul," a documentary about the "black Woodstock," 1969's Harlem Cultural Festival, filled with amazing musical performances. Did Steve have a moment with director and deejay Questlove at Podcast Movement? Sort of.

Click through the links to see what we're talking about.

View Details

"Woodstock 1969: I Was There"
Stan Worth of Indianapolis attended the Woodstock music festival in August of 1969—an event that epitomized the 1960s counter-culture at its best. At least 400,000 young people came together at Max Yasgur's dairy farm to celebrate peace, love and great music. During an interview with Steve and Kate, Stan shares his first-person stories of being there: Candid, funny, and yes, inspiring.

The Bands, the Mud, the Drugs
Stan remembers wonderful musical performances, from opener Richie Havens (forced to play three hours because traffic jams kept other groups from getting there) to breakout performances by then-unknown artists like Carlos Santana and Joe Cocker. Despite the huge crowd, he had an unexpected encounter with someone he knew. And the "trip" he took with Wavy Gravy's Hog Farm commune ... well.

It Could Have Been a Disaster, But ...
Despite the lack of food and water, and rains that turned the ground into a muddy mess, Stan's memories of the pure joy rising from the Woodstock crowd will make you want to tap into your own inner hippie.

Popahallics #48 Playlist
Get groovy with our playlist with the artists who played at Woodstock, including CSNY (one of their first shows together), Richie Havens, CCR, and many more. Listen here.

View Details

"Documenting Meaning" ("Robert, Pt. 2)
In the conclusion of our 2-part interview, "Robert" of 10,000 Films talks about the search for meaning that underlies the documentaries he makes. His subjects have included the search for the baptism site of Jesus, the similarities between Christianity and Islam, and a tree miraculously surviving in a barren desert—perhaps because of its connection to the Prophet Muhammed. (The thumbnail image is of a Zen Buddhist monk from his 2016 documentary "Loouavil Lip," featuring various Kentucky residents, which we discuss.)

"Robert" also explores principles of good documentary filmmaking ... the constant scramble for funding ... and what he truly thinks of Ken Burns. You'll learn about the famous storytelling rule "Show, don't tell" and much more. Ultimately you come away with a greater respect and appreciation for the dedicated filmmakers who toil in the documentary field.

Popahallics #47 Playlist
Since "Robert" is talking about documentaries, all our music this time is from documentaries on the Civil War, baseball, the Great Depression, blues, etc. "Robert" speaks of his respect for German filmmaker Werner Herzog, and we even have a spoken-word recording by Werner! A creepy spoken-word bit, but still. Listen to the playlist here.

View Details

"Making Movies about Meaning" ("Robert," Pt. 1)
What's pop culture like in Germany? What if your dad was so deeply tied into the 1960s counterculture movement that he knew Timothy Leary? And what the heck does ancient philosopher Aristotle have to do with moviemaking?

You'll learn the intriguing answers to these questions, and much, much more, during Steve's two-part interview with "Robert" of Ten Thousand Films. The company founded in the United Kingdom and the United States specializes in documentaries about the search for meaning at a time of so many crises in the world.

Smart and Opinionated
"Robert" is a cosmopolitan filmmaker with roots in Venezuela, England, and New York City; we're using a pseudonym because he's fiercely protective of his identity and family on social media. Strap in for an entertaining, erudite conversation, from the merits of pop culture in three countries where he's lived to the inspiration for "Mr. Tambourine Man" to the best movie ever made. "Robert" will give you a lot to think about!

Popahallics #46 PlaylistThanks to the subjects "Robert" discusses, this week's playlist has 1960s rock, German folk music, and bands from Cambridge, England, like Pink Floyd, Muse and ... Katrina and the Waves? Who knew! Listen here.

View Details

"Make It Pop"
We're back together again (remotely), for a wide-ranging discussion from cringe-worthy moments in favorite movies to Jason Momoa's hair.

Streaming Discomfort
We talk about aspects of the Goldie Hawn/Kurt Russell screwball comedy "Overboard," the Audrey Hepburn/Fred Astaire flick "Funny Face," and Bo Burnham's new comedy special that make us uncomfortable. And, befitting the trickster god, "Loki" on Disney+ puzzled Kate before she figured out what was going on.

Books: From Trauma to New York Murders
Bessel van der Kolk's good but intense "The Body Keeps the Score" looksat howthe body deals with trauma, while Lawrence Block's excellent stand-alone thriller "Small Town" explores how a murder affects New Yorkers who came in contact with the victim.

Popahallics #45 PlaylistRock on, dude, with the new wave of classic rock bands—including Rival Sons, Crown Lands, and Dirty Honey—on our latest playlist. And if you want to chill to "vapor wave" or Fred Astaire, we've got them too.

View Details

"Talking Art with Etta"
On this installment, Kate goes solo, conducting her very first interview. She talks to her friend, artist Etta "Miss Love Bomb" Martin, about her art, family, how race affects her work, even how to get through artist's block. Despite technical issues that forced a re-recording of the entire interview, this thoughtful, sometimes surprising conversation might have you re-thinking the inspiration behind your own creative endeavors.

You can find out more about Etta's art at her website, Instagram, TikTok, and here .

Popahallics #44 PlaylistWith Kate and Etta putting in their picks, enjoy a plethora of great music from black artists, including Black Party, Beyonce, Ben L'Oncle Soul, and Asa. There's even a few from Steve, including Stevie Wonder, Prince, Lauryn Hill and India.Arie. Listen here.

Our "Poppin' Rocks" theme music and "Ducks in a Row" are by Mike Bode

View Details

"Talking Music with Mike"
You might be surprised to learn that the man behind the music on our show only came back to the piano a few years ago after quitting playing for decades. Mike Bode reflects on his musical journey, from learning to play in college to the experience that drove him away to what eventually brought him back to the keys. Today in addition to a dedicated piano player, he's also picked up the accordion!

Over a few late-in-the-evening beers , Mike and Steve have a conversation that ranges from piano "comping" to Weird Al Yankovic to the songs Steve would like played at his memorial service one day. (Morbid much?)  It's a fun show that manages to be informative in its own boozy way.

Popahallics #43 Playlist
Given Mike's jazz leanings, this playlist features great tunes by Miles Sinatra, Duke Ellington, Frank Sinatra, Diana Krall, Irish button accordion star Sharon Shannon, and yes, even Weird Al. Listen to the playlist here.

View Details

"Pop-pourri"
Potpourri: A mixture of things, especially a musical or literary medley, according to the dictionary. Pop-pourri: A mixture of diverse pop culture offerings, according to us. In this episode, we're all over the pop culture landscape, ferreting out what's good, and pondering such questions as: How's Mel Gibson still working? And why is Billy Bob Thornton so creepy?

Movies: From "The Heights" to the "Grizzly Maze"Steve talks about his first post-pandemic trip to a movie theater to watch "In the Heights," a joyous Lin-Manuel Miranda musical that's underperforming at the box office. From a movie version of a hit Broadway show, we move on to "Boss Level," a "Groundhog Day"-like time loop story of a guy who wakes up every morning to have a series of assassins kill him, and "Into the Grizzly Maze," a horror thriller about a giant "Jaws with fur" who's a real bear to deal with.

Thieves, Creepy Old Houses, and Rostam
Kate continues a deep dive into Leigh Bardugo's fantasy novels about the Grishaverse—in this case, "Six of Crows," about a gang of thieves whose plans never go right. She also tells us that the novel "Mexican Gothic" is your basic Gothic set-up (young woman, creepy old house, man with possibly murderous intent) set south of the border. If you need to bring your pulse down after reading that one, chill out with the music of Vampire Weekend alum Rostam.

Popahallics #43 Playlist
Dance your troubles away with the uptempo music of "In the Heights" or be super-cool with Rostam and Vampire Weekend on our latest playlist.

View Details

"Talking Art with Stix"
PopaHALLics goes on location for the first time! Steve interviews Alexis "Stix" Brown, the first artist in residence ever at the Carnegie Center for Art & History in New Albany, IN. The title of Stix's residency, "Interluctor," means "a person who takes part in a dialogue or conversation."

Art Encourages Conversation
Stix's art in the Sally Newkirk Gallery is very much a conversation with the viewer, from a self-portrait with her actual locks that visitors can touch to "Anxiety Lines" that anyone can do to explore their feelings, meditate, and be creative.  She and Steve talk about art, anxiety, and race in a wide-ranging conversation. Stix's residency at the Carnegie runs through July 30, and you can check out her art at alexisstixbrown.com.

Note: We couldn't drink beer inside the Carnegie, of course, but Stix said she would have gone for a light beer. Lately Steve has been drinking Bell's Light Hearted Ale, a Lo-Cal IPA.

View Details

Stuck on NetflixWhat do a post-apocalyptic fairy tale, a biopic of a famous fashion designer, and a creepy story of a woman trapped in a cryogenic chamber have in common? They're all on Netflix! Just by chance, almost everything Steve and Kate discuss is on the streaming giant, from the family-friendly adventures of a deer boy ("Sweet Tooth") to Ewan McGregor as the designer "Halston" to the French thriller "Oxygen." The whodunnit documentary of an unsolved art heist ("This Is a Robbery") and a serious drama about a survivor of the Rwandan genocide confronting her past ("Black Earth Rising") are too.

Books: From Nazis to GhostsKate and Steve both read novels about Nazis—Kate, "In Search of a Name," about a woman investigating whether her great uncle was a hero or a villain during World War II, and Steve, "Ratlines," in which a British officer investigates a series of murders of ex-Nazis in 1960s Ireland. But then Kate travels into Leigh Bardugo's fantasy world the Grishaverse with "The Language of Thorns" and "The Lives of the Saints." Steve gets all noir and ghosty with John Connolly's supernatural-themed mysteries featuring private eye Charlie "Bird" Parker.

Popahallics #40 Playlist
Our latest playlist is sweet on the "Sweet Tooth" soundtrack, but we've also got great music from U2, the Pogues, Hozier, the White Buffalo and more. Take the playlist for a spin here.

View Details

"Pop-Up Pop with Carr & Sarah"
Our "Pop-Up" episodes allow us to interview other folks about their pop culture faves. In this show, Steve talks to Carr & Sarah, both 28, about what they're watching and listening to. We discuss how to reconcile your pop culture choices when you're a young couple starting out, how much influence family has on your tastes—and what to do if your partner hates your music. (Spoiler alert: Work on them.) Carr & Sarah talk about their streaming favorites, including "The Handmaid's Tale," "Your Honor," "Wayne," and "Makeup & Murder."

We Discuss Tons of MusicIf you feel out of touch with today's music, don't worry: Sarah turns us on to soulful artists like Leon Bridges and plenty of good country, like Chris Stapleton. Carr makes us hip to his friends New Movement, the young Linda Lindas rocking out at the L.A. Public Library, and plenty of cool hip-hop artists like rapper J Cole.

Popahallics #39 Playlist
Enjoy some of Carr & Sarah's favorite artists, from Creedence going "Up Around the Bend" to Red Hot Chili Peppers on the "Otherside" ... from Nipsey Hussle "Grinding All My Life" to the Marcus King Band lamenting that "Rita is Gone." Listen to this diverse playlist of rock, hip-hop and country here.

View Details

"Talking Comedy with Joe"
Steve and Kate interview Emmy -winning Joe Janes, who teaches comedy writing and improvisation at The Second City and Columbia College. He has written for SNL's "Weekend Update" and Jellyvision's "You Don't Know Jack.” He has published three books of his staged work, and his full-length plays include Metaluna and the Science of the Mind Revue and A Hard Day's Journey Into Night.  Joe is a regular contributor to the on-line magazine Literate Ape with his weekly satirical column The Minutes of Our Last Meeting.

Make 'Em Laugh, Make 'Em Laugh
We talk to Joe about his unique career path, what makes good improvisation, how he used the pandemic creatively for such projects as "Salt City,"  and if it's harder to be funny these days without offending somebody. Plus how to offend fans of the Monkees. And how to win an Emmy writing for a  show without ever setting foot on the set.Popahallics #38 PlaylistAlways look on the bright side of life ... the humorous side, anyway. Our comedy-themed playlist features songs with the Oompa Loompas, Zero Mostel, Monty Python and more. Listen here.

View Details

From Prize Winning Authors to "The Punisher"
Kate and Steve wander where their pop culture quirks take them, no matter how diverse. So we talk about "Klara and the Sun," a new novel about a robot girl designed as a playmate for children, by Nobel Prize winner Kazuo Ishiguro; "Gentlemen of the Road," a swashbuckling adventure novel about "Jews with swords" by Pulitzer Prize winner Michael Chabon; and Netflix animated anthology series "Love, Death + Robots," which just launched its second season.

Why Do We Like Violent Vigilantes?
Steve finds it odd that Kate can watch (and enjoy) "The Punisher," an ultraviolent Marvel offering about a vigilante antihero, while showing no interest in more serious but also violent dramas like "Breaking Bad" and "The Sopranos." He also struggles with what our fascination with superheroes—vigilantes on the fringes of the law and society solving problems with violence—really means.

Popahallics #37 Playlist
Hit the road with songs about the road, living forever, robots , and being human. We're only human, after all.

Click through the links above to see and hear what we're talking about.

View Details

We Get Animated
Kate and Steve are tuned into toons on this episode. We discuss Netflix's wacky new animated feature "The Mitchells vs. The Machines," in which a robot apocalypse threatens a cross-country family trip; Amazon Prime's "Invincible," a teen superhero series from the maker of "The Walking Dead"; and the Disney + series "Star Wars: The Bad Batch," with genetically enhanced clone warriors taking on the Empire.

Streaming Away
Speaking of Star Wars, Steve talks about why he believes "Rogue One," starring Felicity Jones, is the best movie set in a galaxy far, far away since the original trio of Star Wars movies. Kate, meanwhile, has more thoughts on the limited serial killer series "The Serpent" and Netflix's "Collateral. " We also go on a road trip through northern Australia in search of a missing mum for the fun romantic comedy "Top End Wedding."
Books: Living Forever, Living Through the Late '60s
Kate ponders the curious case of a woman who can live forever without anyone noticing in the novel "The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue." Steve enjoys stories about a fertile time in British rock in Richard Thompson's new memoir "Beeswing: Losing My Way and Finding My Voice 1967—1975."

When Robots Attack
Our Popahallics #36 Playlist is perfect music for the robot apocalypse , with songs by cool kids Los Campesinos!, Grimes, Sleater-Kinney, Le Tigre, Talking Heads and more, as well as tunes by pioneering folk rockers Fairport Convention.

Click through the links above to see and hear what we're talking about.

View Details

"Diversions & Dramas"
Like father, like daughter? Not on this episode! Kate takes the serious route, Steve the lighthearted one—meaning you're sure to hear about something that you'll like.

Serial Killers, Abductees, & Ancient Evils
Kate's picks fall in the serious British drama mode—a serial killer loose in Thailand ("Serpent") and an abducted young woman who escapes from captivity after 13 years ("Thirteen," starring a pre-"Killing Eve" Jodie Comer). She delves into the Netflix fantasy series "Shadow and Bone," in which a young woman with magical powers moves through a world plagued by a swath of permanent darkness. And she recommends the novel "The City We Became," with representatives of New York City's boroughs confronting an ancient evil. Whew!

From the Colombian Jungle to the French Riviera
Meanwhile, Steve is on an adventure-filled romp through the jungles of Colombia in "Romancing the Stone." Then he's laughing at one of the silliest, and yet still enjoyable, British comedies ever, "The Love Punch," with Emma Thompson and Pierce Brosnan trying to pull off an elaborate diamond heist on the French Riviera to get their pensions back. (You read that right.) Novel-wise, he recommends "Universal Harvester," a beautifully-written "horror" novel about America's lost and lonely.

Popahallics #35 Playlist
Our latest playlist features artists such as the Beatles, Dar Williams, the Time, and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs with songs about spies, jungle love ... and Iowa.

Click through the links to watch/read what we're talking about.

View Details

Get Me a Ticket for an Aeroplane
Steve and Kate travel the world in this episode, talking about stories from Florida to France, from New York City to northern Europe. We marvel at the dancing skills of Danish actor Mads Mikkelsen and question whether Mads' movie "Another Round" is as "life-affirming" as touted. ("Another Round" won the Oscar for best international feature after our recording.)

Streaming Foreign Films
Steve and Kate also explore "The Twelfth Man" (Norway), a true-story WWII thriller, and "The Intouchables" (France), an unlikely true-story buddy comedy involving a rich quadriplegic and his caretaker from the projects. It's a hoot even in subtitles. We also note how Hulu's frequent commercial interruptions of "Younger" (NYC) make it as disjointed as a foreign flick.

Hitting the BooksKate offers her opinions on Linda Rodriguez McRobbie's "Princesses Behaving Badly," Hala Alyan's novel "The Arsonists' City" (set in Lebanon, Syria, and the U.S.) and Kiran Millwood Hargrave's novel "The Mercies" (Norway). Steve gets twisted up in John Grisham's tale of murder during a hurricane in "Camino Winds" (Florida).Popahallics #34 Playlist
This episode's playlist features good music from folks we talk about like Mitski and Warren Zevon, a couple of familiar hits from "The Intouchables" soundtrack, and some wild cards inspired by our discussion. For instance, Kate's thoughts on the fake Princess Anastasia led us to a lovely Russian-sounding instrumental by Jerry Garcia. Hear the playlist.

View Details

"Do We Care About This Year's Oscars?"
The coveted statuettes will be given out during a broadcast on ABC Sunday evening, April 25. Steve and Kate predict winners in major categories such as best director, actor and actress—you'll have to see if we're right. But we find ourselves less than excited about this year's nominees. Is that because the pandemic nixed the communal experience of seeing a film with a crowd in a theater, or because the nominees themselves are underwhelming?

When "Mank" Doesn't Move Us
"Mank," one of this year's best picture nominees, got us wondering about this. Seeing the behind-the-scenes writing of "Citizen Kane" appealed to the film nerd in Steve, but as the final credits rolled he found himself curiously unmoved by the movie. Hear our thoughts on "Mank" and the other nominees by listening to "Do We Care About This Year's Oscars?"

A Playlist Puzzler
In honor of movie's big night, Popahallics #33 Playlist consists of 13 songs directly inspired by specific movies in the past. Can you guess all 13? Some of the movies will be readily apparent by song titles, others will be revealed by the song lyrics, and a few may require some thought. Email us when you think you have all 13: popahallicspodcast@gmail.com.

Click through the links above to read, watch or hear what we're talking about.

View Details

From Octopi to Abbie to the Sound of SilenceSteve and Kate ponder important questions in this episode: Can a man and an octopus have a meaningful friendship if it doesn't include watching the game and sharing a few beers? Also: 1, 2, 3, does Sacha Baron Cohen know what he's fighting for? And does the "Sound of Metal" still work when it's the sound of silence?

We Look at Some Oscar Nominees
We dish on Aaron' Sorkin's docudrama "The Trial of the Chicago 7," "Sound of Metal" (a drama about a punk metal drummer losing his hearing,), the documentary "My Octopus Teacher" which takes place in a kelp forest, not a garden—take that, Ringo!—and the 12-minute short "If Anything Happens I Love You". (Hmmm ... does that title sound ominous to you?) We also discuss:

• "Tesla," starring Ethan Hawke as the inventor, not the car
• "The Falcon and the Winter Soldier," aka Sam and Bucky, are back!
• "News of the World," the novel that inspired Tom Hanks to hit the trail
• The Icelandic rock band Kaleo

Click through the links above to watch/read what we're talking aboutA Playlist of Protest, Wanderlust, and Sea CrThe times they are a-changin', with trailers for sale or rent, and I've been everywhere, man. There's a ton of great music by the likes of Dylan, Roger Miller, Johnny Cash, Phil Ochs, Kaleo, and more on our Popahallics #32 Playlist, inspired by our discussion.
Our Beers This Episode

• Blood Orange Yellow Dwarf, Big Woods Brewing Co./Quaff On! Brewing Co.
• Hazy Wonder IPA, Lagunitas Brewing Company

Our theme music is by Mike Bode

View Details

April's Fools'! Instead of the "Mine vs. Yours" episode we promoted—a great idea for a show we might do in the future—welcome to the Great Podcast Switcheroo. Across the country, dozens of like-minded podcasts are switching feeds today so our listeners can discover new shows they might enjoy. PopaHALLics is trading places with the Cinema Guys,  listed as one of the top 5 local podcasts by Cincinnati Magazine.

The Cinema Guys—Brad A. Hargis, Justin Dunn and the Cinemaiden—are three friends who love  movies. In this episode, a favorite of theirs, they discuss their favorite Santa beards on film, the Mel Gibson film "Fatman" and home viewing recommendations. If you enjoy the Cinema Guys—and who wouldn't?—you can find their podcast at wearethecinemaguys.com.

Meanwhile, Steve and Kate are playing one of our favorite shows on the Cinema Guys feed and probably confusing the heck out of the good people of Cincinnati. Don't worry—we'll be back here in our normal space with a new show April 9.

View Details

Those Songs Everybody Knows
"Happy Birthday to You." "Jingle Bells." "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow." "Auld Lang Syne." We have sung these songs countless times at birthdays, holiday gatherings, and other events. But WHEREdid they come from? In this informative, amusing episode, Steve tracks down the origins of some of the best-known songs in the world.

Surprises, Scandals, and Downright Thievery
Did you know that one of these songs earned millions in royalties every year until recently? That another was popularized by Marie Antoinette? Or that the author of "Auld Lang Syne" liberally "borrowed" to create the original poem, and admitted it? You'll learn plenty of trivia to impress family and friends.

Check Out These Videos
See great clips such as a Birmingham choir's "Auld Lang Syne" set against the heart-wrenching events of 2020, Marilyn Monroe crooning to JFK, Frank Sinatra singing "Jingle Bells," and a killer performance of "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow" from the classic "Some Like It Hot."

The Song's the Thing
Our Popahallics #30 Playlist includes cool renditions of the songs we discuss—as well as tunes with "song" in the title by Phoebe Bridgers, the 1975, Bob Marley & the Wailers, Florence and the Machine, and more.

Our beer this episode: Dayfall, Stone Brewing Co.

"Poppin' Rocks" theme and "Bitty Bump" bumper music are by Mike Bode

View Details

Strike the Pose
We discuss who was hot, who was not at Paris Fashion Week 2021. Some of the shows like Balmain's were incredibly imaginative, while others were visually interesting but their clothes boring. Sorry, Chanel. After the catwalk ends, you can show off your dancing style with our fashion-heavy playlist, from "Blue Suede Shoes" to "Supermodel."

'Cancel Culture'
It's a hot topic, but does "cancel culture" really apply to the six Dr. Seuss books that will no longer be printed because of racist and other content? No. (Hear why.) In an era of #MeToo we agree the won't-take-no-for-an-answer cartoon skunk Pepe Le Pew is stinking up the place. And how do we feel about even "The Muppet Show"—we're talking Kermit the Frog here, folks!—getting a warning label about content?

To Stream or Not Stream?
What's good? Hear why you should check out the Oscar-nominated drama "Sound of Metal," the Eddie Murphy comedy "Coming 2 America," the "Goonies"-esque family adventure "Finding 'Ohana", and more.

Our beers this episode: Hazy Little Thing IPA and Red Stripe Jamaican Lager

Our music is by Mike Bode

Copyright PopaHALLics 2021

View Details

Ever like something before the rest of the world caught onto its merits? Steve and Kate discuss our favorite movies, TV shows and music that never went mainstream ... and we don't care if you think they're weird. We prefer to consider offbeat offerings such as "Wristcutters: A Love Story" "unique."

"Is She Going to Murder Us in Our Sleep?"
Kate remembers her college roommates being concerned over her fondness for the dark teen comedy "Heathers." Steve fondly recalls the crazy road comedy starring a fictional Russian band with odd haircuts and shoes, "Leningrad Cowboys Go America" (pictured). Or how about the absurd "Fishing with John," with musician John Lurie taking friends William Dafoe, Tom Waits and Dennis Hopper on disastrous fishing trips? And in a role reversal, that makes her dad proud, Kate recommends the cult alien-zombie horror comedy, "Slither."

Music Off the Beaten Path
Steve raves about the campy trio Southern Culture on the Skids and longtime Jackson Browne sideman David Lindley's "El Rayo-X" album—eclectic arrangements, great covers, vocal stylings that are an acquired taste. Kate just wants people to stop bashing Coldplay because of Gwyneth Paltrow and give the band a chance, dammit!

Click through the links above to see what we're talking about!

You can hear all our recommendations—and more—on the Popahallics #28 Playlist.

*Our theme and other music is by Mike Bode.

Copyright PopaHALLics 2021*

View Details

Dad and daughter dish on pop culture over a drink. Steve and Kate reveal the meaning of life ... or at least several pop offerings that wrestle with that big question, each in its own way: Lily Brooks-Dalton's end(s)-of-the-Earth novel "Good Morning, Midnight," the racy British sitcom "Catastrophe" on Amazon Prime, and the acclaimed film starring Frances McDormand, "Nomadland." We also say: Shame on you, Hollywood Foreign Press Association, for giving Golden Globe nominations in exchange for expensive freebies!

Other Books:

• "Piranesi," Susanna Clarke
• "10,000 Doors of January," Alix N. Harrow
• "Ararat," Christopher Golden

Other Movies and TV:

• "Midnight Sky" ("Good Morning Midnight" movie starring George Clooney), Netflix

Our beers this episode:

• Stone IPA, Stone Brewing
• Two-Hearted Ale, Bells Brewing

Our theme music is by Mike Bode

Contact us: popahallicspodcast@gmail.com
Facebook and Instagram: popahalliicspodcast
Twitter: popahallics

Copyright PopaHALLics 2021 

View Details

Jump in your flying car and zoom with Steve and Kate into the future! Where mining gems on a toxic planet becomes dangerous for a couple of working class Joes  ("Prospect") ... where something weird is going on in a post-apocalyptic museum, we think ("Piranesi") .... and time travel isn't much fun for some German kids and their families ("Dark"). We also diss bear murderers and too tight jeans ("Longmire") and ponder country music: Why is it all about the bros, bro?

Streaming:

• "Prospect," Netflix
• "Dark," Netflix
• "La Revolution," Netflix
• "Longmire," Netflix

Books:

• "The Once and Future Witches," Alix E. Harrow
• "Piranesi," Susanna Clarke
• "The Shepherd's Crown," Terry Pratchett

Music:

• "Black Like Me"
• New Black Female Country Artists
• Carrie Underwood, Miranda Lambert, Kasey Musgraves
• Willie, Waylon, Johnny

Our Beers This Episode:

• Voodoo Ranger Captain Revolution IPA, New Belgium
• Big Wave Golden Ave, Kona Brewing

Email us: popahallicspodcast@gmail.com
Facebook and Instagram: popahallicspodcast
Twitter: popahallics

Our music is by Mike Bode
Copyright 2021 PopaHALLics 

View Details

Let's slip between the pages. In this episode, Steve and Kate talk about books that sweep them away to magical skullduggery at Yale, fantastical empires, and Irish hospitals during the 1918 pandemic. 

We have great viewing recommendations too, from a Miami meeting of Cassius Clay, Malcolm X, Jim Brown and Sam Cooke to Will Ferrell and Rachel McAdams competing in the Eurovision Song Contest. 

And we hear about what YOU'RE reading and watching!

Books:

• "The Ninth House," Leigh Bardo
• "The Bone Shard's Daughter," Andrea Stewart
• "The Wintersmith," Terry Pratchett
• "The Pull of the Stars," Emma Donoghue
• "Magic Lessons," Alice Hoffman
• "The Widows of Malabar Hill," Sujata Massey
• "We Are Called to Rise," Laura McBride

Streaming (partial list):

• "One Night in Miami," Amazon Prime
• "Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga," Netflix
• "Outlander," Netflix
• "The Prisoner"
• "Superstore," NBC

Our beers this episode:

• Negra Modelo, Grupo Modelo
• Truth, Rhinegeist Brewing

Our music is by Mike Bode

Copyright PopaHALLics 2021

View Details

Sorry about the pun, but there's so many viewing choices out there. How do you find something you will like? What will you not "burn for," as we Halls say? Let us help! In this episode, we wade through what's streaming, so you don't have to. With our recommendations, you can use your precious viewing time on things actually worth watching.

Series;

• "Ted Lasso"
• 'WandaVision"

Movies:

• "American Assassin"
• "Rust Creek"
• "The Dig"
• "The Sunlit Night"
• "Uncle Frank"
• "Save Yourselves!"

Our Beers This Episode:

• Dragonfly IPA, Upland Brewing
• Negra Modelo, Grupo Modelo

popahallicspodcast@gmailcom
Facebook and Instagram: popahallicspodcast
Twitter: popahallics

Our music is by Mike Bode

Copyright PopaHALLics 2021

View Details

Dad and daughter dish on pop culture over a drink.  In honor of Steve's birthday, Kate interviews her dad about his years covering pop culture for a paycheck. She's never heard most of the stories, from Audrey Hepburn to rubber guns to the only time Steve was starstruck. (You'll be surprised by the answer.)

The birthday boy also compiled a bunch of his favorite songs on this week's Popahallics #23 playlist, from Adele to his favorite camp-a-billy band Southern Culture on the Skids. Here's a fun video of SCOTS doing one of our favorite tunes live, complete with a go-go dancer.

Our music is by Mike Bode

Contact us: popahallicspodcast@gmail.com
Facebook and Instagram: popahallicspodcast
Twitter: popahallics

Copyright @2021

View Details

Dad and daughter dish on pop culture over a drink. Steve and Kate discuss fashion at President Joe Biden's inauguration—what's with all the monochromatic style? Did Garth Brooks live out the lyrics of "Friends in Low Places" by showing up in boots at a black tie affair? We also delve into how one witch is stuck in the relationship equivalent of "Groundhog Day." Our topics:

Streaming:

• "Broadchurch," Netflix
• "Grantchester," Amazon Prime
• "Lupin," Netflix
• "The Durrells in Corfu," Amazon Prime

Books:

• "A Witch in Time," Constance Sayers

Music: 

• Saint Motel
• Feist, "Bad to Each Other"
• Dea Matrona

Beers:

• Christmas Ale, Great Lakes Brewing Co.

Email us: popahallicspodcast@gmail.com
Facebook and Instagram: popahallicspodcast
Twitter: popahallics

Our music is by Mike Bode

Copyright PopaHALLics 2021

View Details

Dad and daughter dish on pop culture over a drink. New year, new president, new beers. Steve and Kate kick 2020 out the door and turn the page to a brighter, happier 2021—we hope. If you want to savor some good books, TV, and/or music, or just need a fun diversion from that darn pandemic, we have great recommendations!

Books:

• "The World That We Knew," Alice Hoffman
• "The Dark Tower" series, Stephen King
• "The Guest List," Lucy Foley'
• "Orchard Blues," Stuart Woods
• "Dead Man's Walk," Larry McMurtry

Streaming:

• British Vogue's "In the Bag," YouTube
• American Vogue's "Get Ready with Me," YouTube
• "The Colbert Questionnaire"
• "Sweet Home," Netflix

Our beer this episode: Hopslam Ale Double IPA, Bells Brewing

We sample the Strokes' album "The New Abnormal," singer/songwriter James McMurtry, and some inspiring inaugural tunes on the Popahallics #21 playlist. The New Year and the change in Washington made us think of this song—and Brian Owens' version knocked our socks off.

Email us: popahallicspodcast@gmail.com
Facebook, Instagram: Popahallicspodcast
Twitter: Popahallics

Our music is by Mike Bode

copyright Popahallics 2021

View Details

"Pop Fun in '21!"Is it wrong for Pixar to create a rare animated black lead—and then have him stuck inside a cat for much of the movie "Soul"? How historically accurate IS "Bridgerton"? And why can't Liam Neeson remember who he is?! Steve and Kate discuss these burning questions and more as PopaHALLics kicks off its second season!

We talk about:

• "Soul," Disney Plus
• "Bridgerton," Netflix
• "Unknown," Netflix
• "The Spanish Princess," Prime

Discover great new and old music with our Popahallics #20 Playlist. We feature several selections from "Playing Chess," a fabulous album of Chess Records covers by Canada's Elise LeGrow. Here's a video sample.

Our beers this episode:

• Hazy Little Thing (Hazy IPA), Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
• Samuel Adams Cold Snap (White Ale), Boston Beer Co.

All our music is by Mike Bode

Copyright 2021 PopaHALLics Podcast 

View Details

Dad and daughter dish on pop culture over a drink. This has been a tough year, but Steve and Kate express gratitude for certain parts of 2020 in our season finale. We also talk about our hopes for 2021, as well as our current pop culture faves, from "Black Ballerina" and "Created in Darkness by Troubled Americans" to Vince Vaughn's great performance as a teenage girl. (Seriously!) 

Movies and TV:

• The horror comedy "Freaky"
• "The Crown"
• "In the Dark"
• "Black Ballerinas"

Books:

• "Created in Darkness by Troubled Americans," Dave Eggers
• "Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood," Trevor Noah
• "The Alice Network," Kate Quinn

Music:

• The surprises on our Spotify Top 20 lists
• Swift's "Evermore"

Our beer this episode: Great Lakes Brewing Company's "Christmas Ale"

Our music is by Mike Bode

Get in touch:
popahallicspodcast@gmail.com
Facebook and Instagram: popahallicspodcast
Twitter: popahallics 

View Details

Steve talks to Matt Ritter about two of our obsessions: pop culture and beer! Artist and brewer Matt gives us the skinny on what it takes to create a giant mural from pop cultural influences ... or create a new IPA. Best of all, he paints a giant David Bowie devil turkey DURING the podcast!

Our alcohol this episode:

• Ardbeg Scotch
• 3 Floyds Alpha Klaus

Reach out to us:
popahallicspodcast@gmail.com

Facebook and Instagram:
popahallicspodcast

Twitter:
popahallics 

View Details

Dad and daughter dish on pop culture over a drink - specifically, the holiday movies and music they return to again and again, as well as a few they avoid like coal in a Christmas stocking. Steve explains his soft spot for the rude, crude "Bad Santa" and - alert the media! - admits he was wrong about something's merits. Kate hopes that last Christmas was the last time she had to hear "Last Christmas" by Wham! We'll clue you in to some yuletide offerings that will help you have a holly, jolly Christmas!

We discuss:

• "Holidate" (2020)
• "The Night Before" (2015)
• "Bad Santa" (2003)
• "Love Actually" (2003)
• "Elf" (2003)
• "A Muppet Christmas Carol" (1992)
• "White Christmas" (1954)
• "Roman Holiday" (1953")
• "Christmas in Connecticut" (1945)

And holiday songs and albums, including:

• "'Zat You, Santa Claus?", Louis Armstrong
• "White Christmas," The Drifters
• "All I Want for Christmas is You," Mariah Carey
• "Last Christmas I Gave You My Heart," Wham!
• "I Am Santa Claus" Iron Man Parody
• "We Three Kings," The Roches
• "Boogie Woogie Christmas," The Brian Setzer Orchestra

NOTE: We mistakenly call Danny Kaye's dancing costar in "White Christmas" Vera Lynn when her name is VERA ELLEN. Oops!

All our music is by Mike Bode

Contact us: popahallicspodcast@gmail.com
Facebook and Instagram: popahallicspodcast
Twitter: popahallics

View Details

Dad and daughter dish on pop culture over a drink—specifically do clothes un-make the man? In this episode, Steve and Kate tackle the controversy over singer Harry Styles' gender-bending photo spread in Vogue magazine.  This leads to a discussion of androgyny in rock music, from Prince to Elvis. Dude looks like a lady ... or does he? And why should we care?

Our beers this episode:

• Revolution Brewing's Anti-Hero IPA
• Guinness Extra Stout

All our music is by Mike Bode

Get in touch: popahallicspodcast@gmail.com
Facebook and Instagram: popahallicspodcast
Twitter: popahallics

View Details

Dad and daughter dish on pop culture over a drink. In honor of Sean Connery's passing on Oct. 31, Steve and Kate discuss who's their favorite  Bond, James Bond. This "yours vs. mine" episode has plenty of fun Bond trivia, from author Ian Fleming's inspiration for the secret agent's name to the best Bond picked by ... all the Bond actors! It's a podcast best shaken, not stirred.

Our beers this episode, both from Floyd County Brewing (Indiana): 

• Imperial IPA Hopdalorian
• Dunkelweizen Albus Dunkelmore

Get in touch:
popahallicpodcast@gmail.com
Facebook and Instagram: popahallicspodast
Twitter: popahallics

All our music is by Mike Bode

View Details

Dad and daughter dish on pop culture over a drink. In this episode, Steve and Kate talk about dealing with presidential election anxiety through pop culture fare, including :

• "The Queen's Gambit"
• "Life in Squares"
• "A Discovery of Witches" TV series
• "Bob's Burgers"
• "A Cabin at the End of the World" novel
• Music (Harry Styles, Taylor Swift, the Ladybugs) as "comfort food"

Kate also admits to former pop culture favorites that embarrass her now.

We'd love to hear about pop culture you used to like that embarrasses you now.
popahallicspodcast@gmail.com

Follow us:
Facebook and Instagram: popahallicspodcast
Twitter: popahallics 

All our music is by Mike Bode 

View Details

Dad and friend dish on pop culture over a drink—specifically, old favorites that make us cringe these days. In a funny, thoughtful episode, Steve and Mike Bode—who writes all our music—talk about our changing attitudes about the John Wayne movies 'McQ" and "The Searchers" and the bands Boston and, gasp, Kiss.

We also grapple with whether you can still enjoy a piece of pop culture if societal norms have changed or its maker is accused of bad behavior.

Bonus: More original music by Mike!

Our beers this episode are a milkshake IPA, Shakezilla by Floyd County Brewing, and a hazy pale ale, Who Cooks for You, by Jackie O's.

Contact us: popahallicspodcast@gmail.com
Let us know if you'd like to receive an email version of the podcast.

Facebook and Instagram: Popahallicspodcast
Twitter: popahallics

View Details

Dad and daughter seek out hidden and not-so-hidden treasures in movies, TV shows, and books:

Movies:

• Ready or Not
• Booksmart
• Buffaloed
• Where Did You Go, Bernadette?
• The Witches, Remake and Original
• The Blackcoat's Daughter

TV Shows:

• The Mandalorian
• Victoria
• Chilling Adventures of Sabrina

Books:

• "The Invited," Jennifer McMahon
• "Women Who Run with the Wolves: Myths and Stories of the Wild Woman Archetype"
• "The Alice Network," Kate Quinn

Our beers this episode:

• Bells, Larry's Latest Juicy IPA
• Falls City, Onward hoppy brown ale

All our music is by Mike Bode

Get in touch: popahallicspodcast@gmail.com

View Details

Dad and daughter dish over popular culture. In a special Halloween episode, Steve and Kate talk about pop culture that has scared them over the years ... and get frightened by something that happens DURING the podcast. Wooooo ...

We discuss some frightening experiences over the years with:

• The movie "Labyrinth," with David Bowie and Jennifer Connelly
• "Halloween," with Jamie Lee Curtis
• "The Ring"
• Stephen King's novel "Salem's Lot" and the movie "The Shining"
• "The Autopsy of Jane Doe"
• "The Haunting of Bly Manor"
• Hammer film "Brides of Dracula"
• story "The Yellow Wall-Paper"

On a non-Halloween note:

• Darren Star's new series "Emily in Paris"
• "Z: The Beginning of Everything," with Christina Ricci
• Animated "Batman: The Killing Joke"

and more!

Our beers this episode: Sun King's Oktoberfest and Oaken Barrel Brewing's Gnaw Bone Pale Ale 

All our music is by Mike Bode

View Details

Dad and daughter dish on pop culture over a drink. Steve and Kate celebrate their 10th show with a wide-ranging trivia contest with questions about movies, music, TV, and more. Think you know pop culture? Play along!

Our beers this episode:
Elysium Space Dust IPA 
Breckinridge Brewery's Avalanche Amber Ale

Follow us on Facebook and Instagram Popahallics Podcast
Follow us on Twitter Popahallics
Email us: popahallicspodcast@gmail.com 

Our theme, bumper, and special music is by Mike Bode

View Details

Dad and daughter dish about pop culture over a drink. In this episode (named for a Spinal Tap line), Steve, Kate and guests talk about their favorite live concerts ever. We also explore why a British magazine called Shawn Mendes the "Generation Z Springsteen." Wait - isn't Bruce Springsteen Bruce Springsteen?! 

Our guests are Tricia O'Connor, Katie Skeehan, Mary Skeehan, and Olivia Makk.

View Details

Dad and daughter dish on pop culture while enjoying a drink. In this episode, Steve and Kate discuss:

TV

• "Space Force"
• "The Office"
• "Outlander"
• "Enola Holmes"
• "#Alive"
• "Normal People"

BOOKS

• "You Were Born for This: Astrology for Radical Self Acceptance"
• "The Expanse" sci-fi series, beginning with "Leviathan Wakes"

MUSIC

• Roots performer Pokey LaFarge
• Puddles the Clown
• MisterWives
• The Diddy Bops

The Spotify mixtape of songs related to this episode:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/34YzXqdGzgjQioTbdGZADc?si=E6aha-XTTdGaae4sNHUznQ

Find pop quizzes, pop history moments, and other fun trivia on Twitter (popahallics), Instagram and Facebook (popahallicspodcast) 

Email: Popahallicspodcast@gmail.com

Our theme and bumper music is by Mike Bode 

View Details

Dad and daughter dish on pop culture over a drink! In this episode: Fashion. Steve and Kate discuss:

• The pandemic-affected Fashion Week
• Diversity in fashion
• Anna Wintour
• Zendaya's spread in the September InStyle
• The cyclical nature of fashion, as seen in pop culture
• Trendsetters Beyonce and Madonna
• Beyonce's "Homecoming" special
• Madonna's sex appeal

Our beers this episode come from New Belgium: Fat Tire Belgian White and Voodoo Ranger American Haze IPA 

Our theme and bumper music is by Mike Bode

Follow us on Facebook and Instragram (Popahallics Podcast), Twitter (popahallics)
Email us: popahallicspodcast@gmail.com 

View Details

Steve talks to novelist Peter Ferry about inspiration and his books "Old Heart" (2015 Chicago Novel of the Year) and "Travel Writing: A Novel." They have a candid conversation about what it's like to be a novelist when you're not a mega-seller like Stephen King.

Pete has great stories about:

• his former teacher, Walter Tevis ("The Hustler")
• his former student, novelist Dave Eggers
• Kurt Vonnegut's advice for aspiring writers
• Annie Lamott's "Bird by Bird"
• Novelist John Fowles ("The French Lieutenant's Woman")
• The inspiration for both his novels
• What it takes to get a novel published
• His brush with Hollywood

Our theme music is by Mike Bode

Follow us on Facebook and Instagram:
Popahallicspodcast

Email us with ideas and feedback:
popahallicspodcast@gmail.com 

View Details

Dad and daughter dish on pop culture while enjoying a drink. In this episode:

• The TV series "Warrior Nun"
• The TV series "The OA"
• Instant Gratification
• The alligator movie "Crawl"
• The Norwegian disaster movie "The Wave"
• YouTube's "Mystery & Makeup" by Bailey Sarian
• The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain
• The nonfiction book "The Wolves at the Door: The True Story of America's Greatest Female Spy," by Judith Pearson
• The pandemic novel "The End of October," by Lawrence Wright
• The YA novel "Scythe," by Neal Shusterman
• Our beer, Falls City Pilsner

Follow us on Facebook and Instagram popahallicspodcast
Email us at popahallicspodcast@gmail.com 
Our theme and bumper music is by Mike Bode

View Details

Dad and daughter dish on pop culture while enjoying a drink. Ka-POW! In this episode we discuss superheroes:

• The latest X-Men entry The New Mutants
• Disney's live-action Mulan remake
• Christopher Nolan's epic spy movie Tenet
• Netflix's Project Power - superpowers for five minutes!
• Joker with Joaquin Phoenix
• Tom Holland as Spiderman (Homecoming and Far from Home)
• The animated Spiderman: Into the Spiderverse
• The Old Guard

We also interview some funny people about what superpower they'd want: 

• Bill O'Connor
• John Gordon
• Katie Skeehan
• Olivia Mock
• Davis Mock
• Steve Skeehan

Our beers this episode: Bells' Lager of the Lakes and Big Lake's Camper

Find us on Facebook and Instagram popahallicspodcast
Email us at popahallicspodcast@gmail.com 

Theme and bumper music by Mike Bode 

View Details

A dad and daughter dish on pop culture while enjoying a drink. In part 2 of our discussion of pop we're enjoying during the pandemic, we talk about

Music: Dua LIpa's "Future Nostalgia," Mac Miller's "Circles," Bob Seger's "Katmandu," and shows from home by Erin Coburn, Martin Sexton and Richard Thompson

Books: "Liar Temptress Soldier Spy," "Blossom and Bones," "The Glass Hotel," "Blue Highways"

Video: The Holderness Family pandemic parodies.

Follow us on Instagram and Facebook: @popahallicspodcast

View Details

A dad and daughter dish on pop culture while enjoying a drink. In this episode: how we're entertaining ourselves during the pandemic.

We discuss Killing Eve, Into the Night, the Korean zombie drama Kingdom, Versailles, Hollywood, Counterpart, Money Heist, and The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon.

Follow us on Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/popahallicspodcast/
Follow us on Facebook! https://www.facebook.com/Popahallics-Podcast-593577217971879/

View Details

In the debut episode, a dad and daughter dish on pop culture while enjoying a drink. 

We discuss Taylor Swift's Folklore, Alanis Morissette's Such Pretty Forks in the Road, Beyonce's Black is KIng, season two of The Umbrella Academy, Hamilton, the movie Palm Springs, and Justified.

Follows us on Instagram @popahallicspodcast