e336. So, Why Pop Culture?

In all the years we’ve been doing this show we’ve worked under a very basic assumption: Everyone involved as a host, guest, or listener presumes that the pseudo academic discussion of popular culture (with drinking and swearing) is an important activity. We certainly feel that way, and chances are if you’re a regular listener you…

e327. Decoding Literary Criticism: From BookTok to Shakespeare

Recently an 18year old college student who calls herself alisha not alihsha posted a vlog where she argues in favor of what she calls “being a hater” in her video essay “Booktok, brainrot, and why it’s okay to be a hater” Somehow she went viral and became the topic of conversation for a bit on…

e315. Revisiting Classics: The Delicate Art of Remakes and Adaptations

So did you know there was a new remake of The Crow coming out? If you did then chances are, at least according to the internet, that you’re probably outraged by it for… some reason. The new Crow doesn’t look like the one from 30 years ago. Shocker?!? Also, did you know there was a…

e312. PCA2024: The AfterParty

Six years ago, this show was birthed out of the aftermath of PCA2018, the annual conference for the Popular Culture Association. As is tradition, we’ve once again returned there. PCA2024 was last week in Chicago, IL and Mav attended. On this episode, he is joined by fellow conference attendees and friends of the show Nicole…

GroundPod Day 2024! Happy Groundhog Day!

Okay, campers, rise and shine, and don’t forget your booties ’cause it’s cooooold out there today! It’s Groundhog Day, and you know what that means! It’s the return of your favorite annual podcast, GroundPod Day! Just like every year, Joe, Andrew, Nicole and Mav return to do a deep dive analysis of a fan favorite…

e295. Superhero Fatigue & The Illusion of Change

An ongoing concern in the geekosphere world these days is the worry that “superhero fatigue” is setting in and the bubble is bursting. But the funny thing is, if you do a little bit of research, you’ll find that people have been complaining about “superhero fatigue coming soon” since before the MCU started. On this…

e257. Glasses Off, Hair Down! The Magic of Movie Makeovers

A few shows ago we talked about the makeover in The Princess Diaries and how it wasn’t quite as … well… makeover-y as the haze of memory might make us believe. After that, Mav went on kind of a quest and looked at several movie makeovers in several films. What he discovered is that often…

e252. Velma and Pouring Some Edgy on It!

Everyone is talking about Velma. It’s not exactly clear why. Most people don’t seem to like it that much. But if you don’t pay attention to what anyone is saying, and you just judge sheerly based on attention that they By sheer numbers of think pieces you might think that Velma is the most popular…

GroundPod Day 2023! Happy Groundhog’s Day!

Okay, campers, rise and shine, and don’t forget your booties ’cause it’s cooooold out there today! It’s Groundhog Day, and you know what that means! It’s the return of your favorite annual podcast, GroundPod Day! Just like every year, Joe, Andrew, Nicole and Mav return to do a deep dive analysis of a fan favorite…

e251. Eating the Rich! (on film)

A curious set of movies have been racking up nominations on the film circuit this awards season. Glass Onion, the Menu, and Triangle of Sadness. Each of these films has a peculiar thing in common… they’re basically about eating the rich… ok if not eating them than at least killing rich people… largely just because…