Midday Movies

Today we’re discussing the social benefits of living in a large metropolitan area — from friends who want to crash with you for a big city vacation to the inevitable friend reunions that occur as a result of urban centralization. Groundhogs are less reliable than they were in the 20th century, but at least cherry blossom season is coming. Snakes are maligned but maybe just because they’re pagans....

Even Bad B****s can have a bad day — so let’s talk it through. Today we’re discussing how complicated it is to feel and be human. How do you feel and process emotions? Is there value in intellectualizing emotions? How do you approach asking for help? From fictional characters Thanos to Elsa to even ourselves, join us for an earnest discussion on how we deal with big feelings and how big feelings d...

Today we’re discussing the first episode of creator Will Tracy’s new HBO limited series, “The Regime.” Starring Kate Winslet as Chancellor Elena Vernham in a show helmed by the writer of “The Menu” (2022) and “Succession” (2019-2023), this political spoof takes place in an unnamed Central European country that’s looking to create a commercial relationship with the United States. The first episode,...

Today we’re dusting off Grim Rabbit’s Red Flags card game — the game of terrible dates! We’re debating (and ruining?) potential love matches from presidents to merpeople. Join us for a comedic discussion of dating disasters, and determining the difference between red flags and white flags. Let’s get into it! Follow us on your favorite podcast platform for more! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠@middaymusings...

Today we’re discussing language and food as an entry point to new cultures. Shoutout to Duolingo’s owl mascot, Duo, who is super-passionate (maybe too passionate?) on that subject! We chat about how language is a key and history is baked into traditional cultural dishes. Whether it’s the Chinese alphabet occupying the Korean and Japanese languages or Persian preparations in Indian food, we learn a...

Today it’s all things horror media — books, movies, and video games. Both Laura and Stephen find a lot of comfort in horror properties, sharing their affinity for the genre and the possible origins of that love. Laura shares her current horror read (“Nestlings” by Nat Cassidy), Stephen talks his favorite horror films, and we discuss the unique catharsis you can only receive from horror media. Join...

Today we’re talking about what constitutes rest — sometimes it’s active, sometimes it’s passive — and how to create the balance inherent to “living a life.” We share stories of Canada and the elements of our existence that make us feel alive. Further — is there a cultural conspiracy that keeps us from resting? From living? From balancing parts of ourselves in the optimal way? Share your lunch brea...

We return from international travel with a whole episode on our favorite tree byproduct, books! Shoutouts to tea and Victoria, British Columbia peppered in our conversation on literary fiction, nonfiction, and self development books. The differences between American writers, Russian writing, and French novels are discussed, and we are once more in awe of the practical benefits of the American libr...

Today we’re discussing matriarchy, patriarchy, and religion. From the wilds of Madagascar to the cathedrals of Florence, we’re discussing animals, people, and the historical “hot girl” practices that reinforced societal codes of behavior in times gone by (and now!) Special shoutout to Leonard Schlain for his amazing interdisciplinary books (“The Alphabet and the Goddess,” et al.) that inspired som...

Today we’re chatting about how differently we all present ourselves in public and private settings — whether the person in question is a celebrity, a citizen, or just little old you. There is also a special shoutout to Duo, the ever-intrusive Duolingo owl. Join us for an episode of conversation and comedy! Follow us on your favorite podcast platform for more! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠@middaymusingspo...

Today we’re discussing practical tools for your daily life — intentionality, keeping promises to yourself, and the history of the human brain. For those interested in becoming a better human or introducing greater self-regulation into your life, we’re talking mental health, psychology history, and the nature of the bicameral mind. Join us for a sunny snapshot of self-improvement! Follow us on your...

Today it’s all about video games — video game consoles, video game history, and games that hold a special place in our hearts. From Nintendo 64 to Sega Genesis to PlayStation (everything), we are breaking down our favorite things about the console era, arcade era, and VR eras. Join us for an episode on all things video games! Follow us on your favorite podcast platform for more! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram:...

Are you a creative person? Of course you are! And other people should know it! With examples like Jacques Cousteau, Neil DeGrasse Tyson, and Jenna Maroney (of “30 Rock”), we discuss the sources of confidence that must be harnessed if you want to be a public creator. Using our own experiences and the experiences of other public creators, we compile an episode that is part conversation and part pep...

Robert Greene’s famous nonfiction book, “The Art of Seduction” has enjoyed a resurgence of relevance on Instagram and TikTok recently. Creators are evangelizing about the nine different seducer types, and we’re here to discuss it. Using fascinating historical anecdotes, Robert Greene’s book describes distinct personalities and strategies that are ideal for colonizing the hearts and minds of certai...

Internet interaction is one of the dominant ways we relate to each other and it has created different communities whose influence bleeds into the fabric of our physical lives. Is the internet a tool? A utility? A second world? Laura and Stephen discuss the color of the internet, dependency, and how the digital landscape has reformatted the actual landscape of human life. Join us! Follow us on your...

Whether you’re into Jungian psychology or in spiritual circles, you’ve probably encountered the idea of “shadow work.” Well, Laura has been reading an anxiety-laden book called “Ripe” by Sarah Rose Etter and that is bringing up shadows to work on. Join us as we sort through some of our traumas around work, self, and gender. We’re diving deep, sharing vulnerabilities, and healing together. On this...

Today we’re discussing the interesting history of Danish democracy, the settlement of the Jutland, the new Mads Mikkelsen film “The Promised Land”, and potatoes! History-heavy, Danish-heavy, and with a heavy appreciation for Mads Mikkelsen, we chat about the unlikely moment that a European king agreed that the aristocracy should be eliminated. Strap in for a fun little frolic through European mona...

Did you know that sweatpants may in fact originate in the Middle Ages? Are you still living the snug life all these years after the pandemic lockdown? Isn’t it funny how the Victorians made us all believe that the Knights Templar was an elite crusading force when they were more like medieval tour guides? Laura gets deep into European history and many of the things we mistakenly believe today — day...

Today we’re discussing privacy across the ages, family structures in earlier eras, and the luxury/lunacy of solitude. Stephen shares some childhood memories and Laura argues in defense of the blended family. Let us illustrate how lucky we are to be living today, with comparisons to life 100 years ago and a fun little syndrome called “Glass Delusion.” From the Dutch drawing rooms of the 1600s to th...

Today we’re chatting about how ubiquitous smart technology has become, how costly that makes everyday objects, and how weirdly that makes us behave toward each other. Fun historical shoutouts to the USSR’s ban of US film “The Grapes of Wrath” and the toaster-fueled mortgage economy of the 1950s. A broad discussion on technological advancement, historical shifts, and human expectations of other hum...

The winter months are hard on everyone — whether it’s experiencing Seasonal Affective Disorder or having to interact with people experiencing Seasonal Affective Disorder. Laura has had enough of it, and has thoughts to share. Stephen is sympathetic and has Matt Groening (creator of The Simpsons and Futurama) perspectives to impart. We discuss our strategies for dealing with winter grumpiness, with...

They say it takes a village, but the US says individualism is king. We’re discussing the challenges of creating community in a country that privileges mobile labor over putting down roots. How do you thrive in the transient, modern world where everyone moves for work, rarely stays in their hometown after schooling, and cannot establish the Old World concept of “the village”? There are many benefit...

Today we’re discussing Jonathan Glazer’s Oscar-nominated film, “The Zone of Interest.” Starring Sandra Huller and Christian Friedel, this is a Holocaust film unlike any you’ve seen before — one that centers on the family and professional life of Auschwitz’s commandant Rudolph Hoss. Further, because Laura is a Holocaust scholar whose historical focus was Auschwitz’s three interlinked camps (Auschwi...

Today we go back in time to the age of Geocities sites, MySpace, and can-has-cheeseburger memes. Most of us are digital natives who grew up with a working knowledge of HTML and flash animation — the internet’s earliest forms of user generated content. Nostalgia permeates today’s episode, with its callbacks to web rings and midis, but also communicates the pitfalls of hours-long download times and...

Once again, we crack open Grim Rabbit’s Red Flag card game in search of universal relationship truths. Could you tolerate an asexual relationship that has major benefits? Do you know what’s unique about Paris Hilton’s relationship? Is a Paris Hilton reference in a podcast your biggest dealbreaker? Come along with Laura and Stephen on a twenty-five minute journey of fun, frolic, and filtering out f...