Shut the Door. Have a Seat. - A Mad Men Podcast: Recent Episodes
Layla & Junior
Hosted by Mad Men fans Layla and Junior, this podcast seeks to capture the joys of a first-time watch through while offering our thoughts and interpretations as long-time rewatchers. Episode-by-episode, we will be exploring the series' subtle writing, rich symbolism, historical references, and everything else that makes Mad Men Mad Men. All while having fun, and without spoilers! So grab yourself an Old Fashioned, sit back, and lets get started.
In this episode, Don makes new friends as Betty experiences the classic 1960s birthing process, while Pete and Peggy are inspired to demand more respect at work, leaving them both disappointed.
In this episode, the members of the Draper family continue to adjust the Grampa Gene’s new presence in their home, only for the process to be interrupted by trajedy. Peggy must have a difficult with her mother about her plans to move to the Big City, and Pete brings in an extremely lucrative - and equally strange - new account.
In this episode, we follow the storylines of Don, Peggy, and Joan as they each experience their own... uniquely eventful weekend get-togethers.
In this episode we focus in on Don and Peggy as they ponder their identities in and out of the office. Along the way we get a more intimate view of Roger’s life since marrying Jane, and of Gene’s deteriorating health.
This Season 3 premiere episode lands us several months after the end of S2, and Putnam Powel and Lowe’s acquisition of Sterling Cooper is in full swing, as is Betty’s pregnancy. Don and Sal try to enjoy themselves on a business trip, resulting in an uncomfortable truth being revealed. Back in the new bicultural office Joan seems to have met her match, and Pete and Ken are both promoted… but with a catch.
In season 2, we take a deeper delve into the characters' lives, interpersonal struggles and harsh realities more so then we have seen thus far. All the while, Sterling Cooper is going through a transformation of its own.
In this exciting season finale, we watch the characters as they react to the threat of nuclear war, and follow Don as he settles back into work and home life after his 3 week absence. The men at the Stirling Cooper have discovered the merger with Putnam, Powell, and Lowe, courtesy of one Duck Phillips; Betty spends the episode debating on whether to share an important secret; and Peggy’s faith makes her question what it truly means to confess one’s sins.
In this episode, Betty struggles to explain Don’s absence to Sally while coming to terms with it herself, and those at the Sterling Cooper office are realizing life must go on without him. Don meets up with an old friend as we learn some vital details about his past, and Peggy takes a step in the right direction.
In this episode Don is adopted by a mysterious group of wealthy strangers while he and Pete attend the aerospace convention in sunny Califor-Ni-A, Roger proposes to Jane and initiates his divorce from Mona, Peggy makes a new friend in the office, and Duck cooks up an interesting plan that could affect the very nature of Stirling Cooper.
In this episode, Betty and Don are forced to reconnect and visit Betty's childhood home when her father experiences a serious health crisis, only for their connection to become further than ever. Meanwhile at the office, California is on everyone's mind as we learn of an upcoming business trip for two in the Sunshine State!
The Sterling Cooper office is gloomy after the death of Marylin Monroe, but the annual blood drive must move forward. A presentation to Samsonite does not go according to plan when Freddy experiences some troubling side effects of his heavy drinking, with Peggy feeling conflicted about the consequences of his actions. Don struggles to keep his personal and private lives separate, while Betty plans a curious scheme.
Past suspicions come to a head in the draper household when Betty confronts Don with the little information she has. Father Gill returns to ask Peggy for some help with advertising for a church dance, taking the opportunity to dig deeper into her relationship with herself and God, and Joan has a surprising amount of fun assisting Harry with his heavy workload.
In this episode, Jane, Harry, Ken and Sal navigate their way into a sticky situation when sneaking into Mr. Coopers office for a peak at his painting. Ken and Sal’s friendship blossoms when Sal invites Ken over for a friendly evening of homemade food which he must desperately need. Don moves up in the world of business and buys a brand new car to go along with his new status - and a night out with Betty at the Stork club turns sour when Don is faced with the consequences of his actions, yet again.
In this episode, the audience and Don get to know more about Duck and his personal life, while Peggy furthers her journey to be treated as an equal after the guys at Sterling Cooper exclude her from the process of creating a brilliant ad campaign. At the same time, Don is forced to reflect on the consequences his extramarital activities could be having on him and his home life.
A night of festivities goes south for Don and Bobbie, forcing Don to phone a friend as he scrambles to cover his tracks. As Peggy offers her assistance, she grows closer to the brash and worldly Bobbie, who is fascinated by Peggy’s friendship with Don. Meanwhile at the office Joan shares some good news and welcomes in a new secretary, and Pete and Trudy explore the physical and emotional aspects of their struggles with fertility.
In this episode, we focus in on the private and professional lives of Don, Peggy, and Roger in the 3 weeks leading up to Easter Sunday. Peggy makes a surprising connection with a young priest, Don and Betty have a running disagreement on parenting styles, and Roger explores feelings of his own through a beautiful, mysterious woman, all while the folks of Stirling Cooper rush to perfect the high-risk American Airlines pitch.
In this episode, Don finds himself challenged by an intriguing new character as he tries to charm SC out of a sticky situation, Betty has a surprising encounter of her own with a friend at the stables, and Harry sets out on a quest to obtain what he believes he is entitled to from Sterling Cooper.
Paul throws a party showing off his eccentric side, and as a result, we discover another side to Joan and Peggy as well. We meet Peggy’s family as she attends a family dinner. In the interim, after a tragic American Airlines plane crash, Pete is faced with some unfortunate news, while Sterling Cooper try to monopolize off the situation, causing friction between Don, Duck and Roger. Pete is faced with a seemingly tough decision.
In this episode, we explore the character's subtle growth from season one to two. Sterling Cooper searches for younger employees to support a new campaign, and we see a relationship bloom between Don and Duck.
Today we have a special season-end wrap-up episode! We will be giving a quick recap of the first season of Mad Men before discussing our favorite moments, details, memories, Mad Facts, fan favorites, and more!
In the season finale of the debut season of Mad Men, we focus on Don as he constructs a pitch for a brand new machine from a potential client Kodak, while Pete blurs the lines between home an office in an attempt to make his loyalty known. Betty struggles to come to terms with Don’s true family values, and Peggy finds herself in the hospital with shocking medical news.
It’s the final countdown to the 1961 Presidential Election, and the folks in the Sterling Cooper office are excited to celebrate! While most of The Suspects are enjoying the festivities, Pete is distracted by an unsettling truth about Don that could be used to his advantage.
Roger is back for a brief Office visit to ease the minds of Lucky Strike, giving Joan a chance to see him again. Peggy is given another project at work, seemingly more challenging then the last, while Don and Betty experience challenges of their own...
Labor day weekend holds many surprises for Don, Roger and Joan. Sterling Cooper lose a client, Pete and Peggy have an interesting office encounter and Roger comes face to face with some looming health issues, causing Don to retreat to an old flame..
In this episode Don is pursued by a rival ad agency, while Betty gets an exciting opportunity to relive her glory days; Peggy's changing appearance is the topic of several hushed office discussions; and Pete makes a risky decision involving SC's Nixon Campaign.
In this episode, we delve deeper into the complicated connection between Pete and Peggy, and Don finds himself surrounded by the ideas of outward appearance, moral values, and political world views.
In this episode, Don and Roger wage a quiet battle over territory and pride, Pete attempts to defend his honor and makes a strange connection with Peggy, and Betty experiences a build up of emotions that has to be let out somehow.
This episode, Don goes on a journey to learn more about Jewish culture, leading him to reach out to a not-so-old flame; Peggy impresses the men of the office during a brainstorming session for Belle Jolie Lipsticks; and an unexpected office romance is revealed.
This episode takes us on a journey deeper into Don’s past as he receives an unexpected visitor. Meanwhile, Peggy learns about a part of her job she couldn’t put on a resume, and Pete shows his true colors when he tries to get what he wants.
In this episode, Trudy is excited about the idea of a new apartment, while Pete struggles with his pride. A hard to satisfy client causes tension between Pete and Don, resulting in Don learning something new about how the business operates. Betty grows closer to Helen, which inadvertently leads to Betty making a very strange choice.
This episode, we see Don struggle with his reality as a client pulls his focus away from his family, Sterling Cooper continues to work on the Menkins account, with new campaigns in the works, Peggy and Pete have their first encounter as Pete returns from his honeymoon, facing the new norm of Pete as a married man. And Sally's birthday party gives us a closer look into the norms of the day.
Throughout this episode, Don continues to be a mystery to us as the people in his life attempt to learn more about him. Meanwhile, Betty’s personal issues are on display as she and Don discuss the idea of psychiatry. Peggy continues to learn the ropes at the office, leading to a hard day of lessons learned.
In this episode we introduce ourselves, and dive right into Mad Men's very first episode, "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes."