Pop DNA

It's Frickin' Bats! This month we're discussing the iconic Batman films, the Dark Knight Trilogy. EPISODE NOTES: Part one is all about origin stories: Batman's, the Joker's, the films' themselves, and our own beginnings as Batman fans. We also wonder how many more times we'll have to see Bruce Wayne's parents murdered, and how many more actors will win Oscars for portraying the Joker. Bets are on!...

We're kicking off Season 3 and our new episode format with a 4-part series on everyone's second favorite comic book-based teen drama, Riverdale! In the fourth and final part of our Riverdale series, we look at how the show portrays--or doesn't--marginalized characters, including characters of color and characters who experience mental illness. These are some heavier topics, so Content Warning for...

We're kicking off Season 3 and our new episode format with a 4-part series on everyone's second favorite comic book-based teen drama, Riverdale! EPISODE NOTES: In Part 3 of our Riverdale series, we dive into the show's characters and their many facets. We dig a little deeper into the literary discussion we started in part 2 by looking at the themes and devices used to distinguish and develop River...

We're kicking off Season 3 and our new episode format with a 4-part series on everyone's second favorite comic book-based teen drama, Riverdale! EPISODE NOTES: Part 2 is all about what Pop DNA does best: connections with literature and media! We look at the many film and TV references made on Riverdale and the media it's drawn inspiration from, like campy teen horror movies such as Friday the 13th...

We're kicking off Season 3 and our new episode format with a 4-part series on everyone's second favorite comic book-based teen drama, Riverdale! EPISODE NOTES: In Part 1, we give some background on the show, then talk about our first experiences and some initial thoughts, and then delve into the Archie Comics that the series is based on. We also look at how the show's comic book source material ha...

In our final LIT Summer episode of 2020, and our Season 2 finale, we look at the classic folktale "Cinderella" in its many iterations: from the earliest versions of the story from Ancient Greece and China, to the 1950 Disney animated film, to the many modern interpretations. We also discuss the universal themes of the story, like perseverance, hope, and justice, and the tale's significance in disc...

One of our favorite Shakespearean comedies, Much Ado About Nothing has made a huge impact on literature and pop culture! EPISODE NOTES: Much Ado's beloved bickering couple, Beatrice and Benedick, have inspired dozens of other hate-to-love romances in fiction, from Pride & Prejudice, to Star Wars, to some of the biggest sitcoms and romantic comedies. Our discussion also meanders around our favo...

It's Christmas in July again, and we're celebrating with a commentary track for this modern Christmas classic! We're talking over the 2018 Netflix original film The Princess Switch, starring Vanessa Hudgens. It wouldn't be Erin and Rhonda Talk Over Movies without some tangents, musings, and ideas for other completely unrelated projects. Enjoy, and Merry Christmas in July! Subscribe to us on ITUNES...

LIT(erature) Summer is back! This time we're starting out with a 2-oarter on the Charlotte Bronte classic Jane Eyre. The second half of our Jane Eyre discussion gets into the novel's gothic elements as seen through the lenses of feminism and race. We also go back to our ongoing conversation about the Heroine's Journey, looking at pop culture heroines, like Rey, Moana, Lorelai Gilmore, and Dorothy,...

In part 1 we get into the story recap and Bronte's background and influences. We also discuss some notable adaptations, including the Jane Eyre stage musical (who knew that existed???) and several popular novels that put a new spin on the story. Subscribe to us on ITUNES , STITCHER , SPOTIFY , RADIOPUBLIC or your podcatcher of choice . Find us on FACEBOOK , TWITTER or INSTAGRAM YOU CAN READ OUR BL...

We're wrapping up our regular season with the very on-brand-for-us Crazy Ex-Girlfriend! EPISODE NOTES: The brilliant TV series draws influence from Musical Theater and Romantic Comedies, as well as honestly and respectfully tackling some important mental health issues, all of which we explore. CW: Discussion of mental illness. Find links to everything we discuss at ThePopDNA.blog and stay tuned fo...

It's Rhonda's birthday so it's time for a Bonus Episode celebrating all our favorite things about SNL! EPISODE NOTES: Live from our houses, it's Pop DNA! We decided to talk about all our favorite Saturday Night Live sketches, cast members, and hosts, past and present. We also dig a little into the history of the show and why we think it's lasted so long, plus a special guest stops by! Subscribe to...

Here's the recording of our Thor episode livestream! Our discussion of everyone's favorite God of Thunder dives into the history of the Marvel comics, the Norse myths that the stories and films are inspired by, and in our tradition of fact-checking fantasy worlds, even explores the science of Mjolnir and the Bifrost. Find info about our Virtual Film Fest on our social media, find links to everythi...

We're joined by filmmaker and storyteller Emily Roth to discuss everyone's favorite dinosaur/cloning movie! There's a lot of DNA in Jurassic Park, and not just from dinosaurs! The novel and film's "DNA" can be traced to real-life STEM breakthroughs and practices of the entertainment and tourism industries, and classic science fiction literature, starting with the mother of the genre, Mary Shelley'...

Does it ever feel like you're reliving the same day over and over? You're not alone! In this episode we look into the history of time loop stories (including Groundhog Day), as well as the psychology of memory and deja vu, the mental health issues explored in the series, and Russian Doll's many connections to L. M. Montgomery's novel Emily of New Moon. (Content Warning for discussion of mental ill...

Live from NerdFaireCon 2020, we looked at the cultural and literary context of some of our favorite Disney Princesses! EPISODE NOTES: If we're live from a Con we have to cosplay, that's the rule! So, dressed as Megara (Erin) and Merida (Rhonda), we looked at the origins of our chosen princesses, plus the roots of Disney Princess films in general, from American musical theater, to world folklore, t...

We got the chance to chat with Emrys and Luthien of Girls With Sabers! They dive into their insights into the psychology and personalities of Star Wars characters and thoughts on the Heroine’s Journey, plus we all finally air all of our The Rise of Skywalker grievances. It’s a great time! Find Girls With Sabers on: YouTube Twitter Instagram Facebook Subscribe to us on ITUNES , STITCHER , SPOTIFY ,...

We missed a lot the first time around! Plus, the ending of the saga means this is the perfect time to revisit our discussion of the galaxy far, far away. We answer a few questions we had last time and look at new questions, such as: Does Rey complete her Hero's Journey? How did the Millennium Falcon maneuver through that asteroid field? And just how does the Galactic Senate even work? Find bonus c...

Honestly, this episode was a long time coming. A Christmas Prince is rich in cultural influences, from the lives and loves of historical real-life royals, to classic fairy tales, to... investigative journalism, I guess? We also discuss other vitally important topics, like the dystopian alternate universe in which the movies take place and the cultural relevance of Volvos. (Volvo is not a sponsor o...

We're back from Geek Girl Con and ready to talk about our adventures and the pop DNA of Captain Marvel! We even talked to Carol Danvers herself (well, some Captain Marvel cosplayers) to find out her thoughts. (There was a little cussing that we left in, to honor Carol.) We dive into the comics, looking at that whole DC/Marvel rivalry and how that plays into the history of the character. We also ex...

We've enlisted the help of fellow That's Not Canon podcasters Jane and Kristen for our discussion of everyone's favorite teenage witch. We dive into portrayals of witches on page and screen, witches and witchcraft throughout history, including the infamous Salem Witch Trials, and figure out which Sabrina character we each identify with. Further Reading: From Baba Yaga to Hermione Granger: why we’r...

It's been one whole year of Pop DNA! We're celebrating with this very special Bonus Episode, looking back on our journey so far and reflecting on the real reason we're here: Mindy Kaling. We discuss all our thoughts and feelings on the Kaling oeuvre, from her early theater days, to her landmark work on The Office and The Mindy Project , to her recent writing and producing credits and upcoming proj...

Welcome to Season Two! We are starting the season off with a bang and talking about everyone’s favorite professor, Indiana Jones, joined by Rhonda’s brother and longtime Indy fan Keith! We look into the film franchise’s roots in adventure serials from the 1930s, dabble in the history of archaeology, and discuss what the Nazis were really doing all that time, plus try our best to answer the burning...

It’s our last LIT(erature) Summer episode and the end of Season One! We’re looking at the original 18th Century French fairy tale Beauty and the Beast and trying (unsuccessfully) to not reference Disney. We delve into other Beast and Beauty tales and the lasting impact of the story on literature, film, and culture. Support the show on Patreon for as little as $1 a month. Further Reading Prominent...

For our very first live show and second installment of LIT(erature) Summer, we explore the lasting cultural influence of William Shakespeare’s Hamlet, from The Lion King, to Star Wars, to Jordan Peele’s Us, and more! We also delve a little into Shakespeare’s life, Hamlet’s major themes, and how much Erin loves the play and Rhonda hates it. Thanks to King’s Books for hosting us! Support the show on...