Pop Culture Junkie®

The Junkies briefly ponder the Unsolved Mystery of “What Happened to Kate Middleton?”, but out of respect to PCJ superfan King Charles III, the topic swerves to the umpteenth season of Survivor, and addictive reality shows in general. Then Shauna endeavors to explain the  Dune  universe to Nicole and Olivia, but how do you adequately explain Spice? Then the Junkies plan a sleepover to watch  Dune...

This week, the Junkies catch up and find that Nicole is still a Ride-or-Die for  Law and Order: SVU , even though the romance between Stabler and Benson hasn’t moved any closer to Smoochtown; Olivia binged a 55 part-TikTok series about a pathological liar, then tries to make Shauna think she doesn’t know who Gordon Ramsey is; and Shauna humblebrags that she has layers, like an onion, or an ogre, w...

The Pop Culture Junkies are back and better than ever! The post-holiday break is over, and the Junkies tell each other what they’ve been up to since last they met. Find out how Nicole has a conduit directly to heaven, why Shauna is the Promise Ring Queen, and the details behind Olivia’s emotional breakdown over a fantasy book series. So relatable. Then the Junkies dive into the magic that is TikTo...

Shauna may be obsessed with the end of the world (movies, that is), but Olivia is not giving up until she gets the other Junkies hooked on her new fave book series involving the Fey (look for it on our next PCJ book club episode), and Nicole skipped the book and went straight to the movie based on the ‘Hunger Games’ prequel. Then the talk turned to Christmas movies, but not the kind where a big-ci...

Olivia, Shauna and Nicole began reviewing the Britney Spears memoir The Woman in Me in our last episode, but there was so much to say that we made it a two-parter. This time The Junkies talk about Britney’s fight against mental illness, tabloid journalism and the paparazzi, and her troubled marriage to Kevin Federline, which was bad enough – but things were about to get worse. The Junkies cover ev...

The inaugural episode of the Pop Culture Junkie Book Club features (what else?) Britney Spears’ memoir The Woman in Me . Olivia, Shauna and Nicole read the eye-opening true story of The Princess of Pop, and they have a lot to say about Britney’s revelations – so much so that this is the first of two episodes covering the book. In this episode, we start with Spears’ humble origins in Kentwood, LA,...

It's nearly Halloween, and while Shauna and Olivia have thought out their costumes - sexy Freddy Krueger and Sexy Ghostface - but Nicole still needs some ideas. The Junkies vow to each try on a bald cap, a la Dr. Evil, but to share the same one, a la The Sisterhood of the Traveling Bald Cap. Somehow they make it make sense. On a more serious note, the Junkies then talk about the Final Girl and Scr...

The Junkies have been very busy lately, what with new day jobs, trips to Miami and event planning, but they still have time to bing pop culture. Nicole is still enjoying Only Murders in the Building , as is Shauna, so Olivia decides to give in to peer pressure and vows to catch up on the hit show. Shauna is still down with And Just Like That , with all its flaws, and is loving The Bear , which is...

After detailing their very busy schedules, (including an impromptu trip to see a Taylor Swift concert) and a look at what’s up with Lizzo, and Ariana Grande, Olivia, Nicole and Shauna keep it musical by paying homage to their favorite under-the-radar bands. If you’ve never heard of ASTON, Troye Sivan, Haru Nemuri, Ktlyn, Maggie Rogers, Drake Milligan, INJI, Lil Mariko, Caroline Polachek, Zach Brya...

The Junkies set the menu for their final meals should they ever end up on death row – which would never happen, of course – and they are all elaborate combinations of fine dining and fast food. Then, the discussion turns to (where else) true crime, and Nicole, Shauna and Olivia talk about the best documentaries and movies about real-life murders. They also discuss the phenomenon of serial killer g...

Hi Barbies! This episode, The Junkies talk about the Barbenheimer phenomenon, even though only one of them managed to make it happen (so far). Shauna remembers her Weird Barbie doll, and her propensity to leave them in compromising positions, while Nicole confesses she was more of a Polly Pocket fan. Also, Olivia has some American Girl dolls for sale, so if you’re interested, send a message, but d...

Nicole is addicted to Hot Ones – the show where celebrities try to engage in conversation while consuming ever more deadly hot wings, and Shauna has succumbed to the lure of the second season of And Just Like That . Speaking of needing an intervention, Olivia’s friends stage one to help her with her true crime addiction. Olivia then enlists Shauna and Nicole to help her get The Weeknd removed from...

Shauna spoils the end of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (you’re welcome), then practices her “Ah-nold” accent for us all (you’re welcome again). Olivia is still pressuring the other Junkies to join her in the tortuous task of watching The Idol , to no avail, and eases us into the triggering documentary about the triggering Duggar clan. Then Nicole catches us all up on the various Vanderpump Rules scand...

Nicole and Olivia both recently traveled (although not together) and they both indulged in documentaries while they were away. Olivia binged docs about weird religous cults and Nicole watched a show about road rage, and that should tell you everything you need to know about them. Shauna, meanwhile, is still a Marvel stan, and finally watched Guardians of the Galaxy 3 . Then she and the other Junki...

The Junkies return to Phoenix Fan Fusion! This year, Nicole and Shauna hosted a panel about streaming or network television shows that were canceled too soon (looking at you, Jessica Jones !) and discuss the shows they - and the audience - miss the most, and whether it's even worth it to get invested in new programs any more. Find out if any of your beloved but prematurely canceled shows made our...

The Junkies welcome Olivia Rodi to the Pop Culture Junkie podcast, and Nicole and Shauna get to know her faves and fandoms. As she is a fan of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Taylor Swift, Josie and the Pussycats, horror movies, true crime and celebrity gossip and conspiracy therories, it’s obvious she’s going to fit right in. After discussing whether Tupac is alive, Katy Perry is really Jon-Benet Ramse...

Nicole and Shauna had the dubious honor of attending a 20th Anniversary Screening of The Room with Greg Sestero, and that led to a discussion of cult classics like Clerks , The Evil Dead , The Cornetto Trilogy and more. Then Shauna remembers her favorite midnight movie experiences, and invites Nicole to lose her Rocky Horror Picture Show virginity with her soon. Moving from so-bad-they're-good mov...

Hayley, Nicole and Shauna gather together for a bittersweet episode: Hayley the Brave is saying goodbye to the Pop Culture Junkie podcast to start a new and exciting chapter in her life. But first, Shauna reviews the Creed and John Wick sequels in theaters now, Nicole reviews the docuseries Full Swing , which is a Netflix show about golfers and not sexy spouse-swappers, in case you were wondering....

On this extra-special edition of Pop Culture Junkie, Shauna is up extra early to talk to London-based singer, actor and activist Kate Nash. After bonding over Buffy the Vampire Slayer and how it empowered and validated teenage girls, Shauna and Kate discuss “f*** the patriarchy” music, the abysmal treatment of women by the media, and Kate’s time on the Netflix show GLOW. Kate also talks about her...

The Junkies don't have much in the way of good goss this week, but they do have the sports report and Nicole sparks a conversation about women's basketball and the fashion-forward coach of Lousiana State University, Kim Mulkey. Shauna describes the bummer experience of watching The Whale, while Hayley describes how Babylon wasted three long hours of her life. Also this week, Hayley, Shauna and Nic...

The Junkies review Cocaine Bear , and recall how fun it was to see it together. Shauna enjoyed rooting for the bear, Nicole lauded Elizabeth Banks and her directorial skills, and Hayley enjoyed the reunion of cast members from her favorite show, The Americans . In other viewing news, Both Hayley and Shauna are on a Pedro Pascal binge while Nicole is finally, finally, a fan of Only Murders in the B...

Hayley is using her sick time wisely by binging shows like Animal Control with the still-ripped Joel McHale, and Shauna and Nicole have a friendly debate about whether White Lotus should be popped or dropped, but everyone still loves Jennifer Coolidge, regardless. Then after discussing the new Ant-Man movie, The Junkies debate the validity (and pronunciation) of Tomatometers, and whether online cr...

This week, Nicole is binging NASCAR content (go Chase Elliott!), Shauna renders a verdict on You People , and Hayley will make you believe that Nickelback is cool again. Then, after debating the merits of Cars 3 , The Junkies take a stroll through the uncanny valley for a look at just how creative artificial technology can be. In a world where there are apps that can generate art and literature, w...

The Junkies are back! Shauna has her life back after a tough month on the job, Nicole has returned from a working vacation (where working means binging White Lotus ) and Hayley is no longer mesmerized by online sports betting. Speaking of sports, look for at least two of the Junkies to bare their shoulders – if not more! – at ‘Gronk Beach’, one of the many festivities planned in Phoenix as we prep...

The Junkies talk about how we came close to losing Hot Guy over the holidays, and then chat about the shows that they recently binged. Shauna started watching Alice in Borderland , Hayley is trying to make it through all of Arrested Development , even the remixed versions, and Nicole indulged in Homicide for the Holidays . (That is a show, right?) Then The Junkies talk about concert tickets, and h...