e323. The Complex Legacy of Barbie: Gender, Fashion & Identity

So how about that Barbie? No, not THAT Barbie… we did a show on the movie last year. No, what we want to talk about is enduring legacy of the concept of Barbie. Starting with the doll and going through to the movie, Barbie is just… always there. Or at least she has been for…

Call For Comments: Hey… So How About That Barbie?

From Mav: So I had been thinking of doing an episode like this ever since last year when the Barbie movie came out. BUT I didn’t want to do it right around Barbie because I don’t so much want to talk about the movie specifically as I do the concept of Barbie in general. Barbie…

e308. 2024 Oscars Predictions!

It’s hard to believe it, but it’s been exactly a year since our last Oscar show. It’s kind of funny how that works out! Years being annual and all of that! In any case, the Academy Awards are next weekend and we’re a show celebrating popular culture so it seems like now would be a…

e303. Our Lives in Pop Culture

It could be argued that the pop culture that you absorb makes you who you are. That’s certainly true of the hosts of this show. After all, it’s a show about pop culture hosted by pop culture nerds. So obviously we got this way… somehow! But how? On today’s show Mav takes Hannah and Wayne…

e300. The 2024 Box Office Draft

Somehow we’ve been making this show for 300 episodes! We can’t believe it either! And what better way to celebrate that than doing one of our very favorite regular episodes? It’s time for our annual Box Office Draft! But first we have to deal with the results of last year’s box office game. So, on…

e299. Things You Missed in 2023!

Happy New Year! If you listen to podcasts which you must if you’re listening to this, then you probably know by now that they way people end a year in their podcasts is typically to do a “best of the year” in whatever field or genre that they happen to cover. You’ve probably listened to…

e294. Black Friday and Toy Riots!

It’s Black Friday week. There’s simply no way you don’t know that. Even if you’re not from the United States, where we just had Thanksgiving, if you’re on the Internet and listening to our show you are at least aware of the Black Friday sales that have just become pervasive throughout the world. But how…

Call For Comments: Black Friday and the Conspicuous Consumption Shopping Event

From Mav: I love shopping. It’s fun. First of all, spending money is fun… at least if you have it. Because having a bunch of new stuff is fun. But also, I actually love the thrill of going and looking at stuff, deciding you like it and even searching for a good deal. It’s like…

e288. Games4SocialImpact 2023

Last year, we had a very special episode where Mav attended the University of Pittsburgh’s Games4SocialImpact game jam event as a judge and mentor. Well, that was so much fun that he decided to do it again. So, on this week’s show you get to hear Mav interview several of his students about their process…

e286. The Legend of Harley Quinn

On last week’s episode, we delved into the world of classic literary character Hercule Poirot and his cultural significance across multiple iterations. This week, we go in the exact opposite direction. Recorded at the exact same time as last week’s show, Wayne and Mav are joined by returning guest Andrew Deman and first time guest,…