Pop DNA

We are going full-on Hallmark Channel in this Christmas movie Geek Out episode! We look into what makes a movie a Christmas movie, what we consider the “classics,” and which ones you should never watch, plus we write our own movie to pitch to Hallmark. God Bless us Everyone! (Don’t forget about our live show! Go to our Facebook page for details!) Links Origins of Christmas in July Hallmark’s Chris...

Welcome to LIT(erature) Summer! This is the first installment of our three-episode summer series looking at the lasting cultural impact of classic literature works. Jane Austen’s most famous novel has influenced modern pop culture in a myriad of ways, from its many popular film, TV, and other media adaptations, to current popular fiction, to basically being responsible for the romantic comedy film...

Totally spontaneous commentary track in anticipation of our first LIT(erature) Summer episode, Pride & Prejudice . We know you want to hear all our P&P thoughts, from the gorgeous score, to all the men’s sideburns, to the strangely high number of hams, to Keira Knightley’s perfect fringe. Stream the movie here or buy the DVD here . Subscribe to us on ITUNES , STITCHER , SPOTIFY , RADIOPUBL...

Hope you’ve had your elevenses because we are travelling through Middle Earth this month, with our friend Rebecca and the Fellowship of the Ring! …and The Two Towers, and The Return of the King… We look at how Tolkien was influenced by his experience in WWI, his Catholic Faith, and mythology, as well as the psychology of the characters and the series’ lasting influence, from the hippies of the 196...

BONUS EPISODE! We decided to talk about horror movies, in this our first official Geek Out episode! We discuss some of our favorite horror flicks, from the good to the so-bad-they’re-good to the ones with zombies. Listen at your own risk! A couple corrections: I mistakenly said in the episode that the novel The Woman in Black was written by Shirley Jackson; it was actually written by Susan Hill. S...

High School is Hell. Our discussion of Buffy’s Pop DNA explores the roots of vampire legends and literature, the show’s psychology and social commentary, and connections to our literary BFF, William Shakespeare. I officially have no more words. I slay all day. The Rise of Buffy Studies Buffy’ s page on TV Tropes The A. V. Club’s look at the 1992 film The legend of the (possibly) first vampire Vamp...

On Wednesdays we wear pink! This month we break down Mean Girls’ Pop DNA, from the literary tradition of social satire in the work of Swift and Thackeray, to the roles of women in comedy and STEM fields, to the film’s place as a link in a long chain of teen comedies. So fetch! Fictional Hangover Podcast Queen Bees and Wannabes by Rosalind Wiseman Psychology of Mean Girls in adulthood Chicago Reade...

This one had to be a two-parter. We just had SOOOO many feelings to discuss! Links: Buy the books (We receive a small portion of the proceeds from sales through this link) The Hunger Games ‘ 10th anniversary New York Times article Team Peeta or Team Gale? Why Katniss is a Feminist Icon Full text of “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson Battle Royale by Koushun Takami Paste Magazine’s list of the 30 Bes...

This month Erin and Rhonda take on one of the biggest pop culture phenomena of our time: Star Wars. We discuss the saga’s connections to both the past and the future, through its ties to folklore and mythology, its profound influence on effects and technology in filmmaking, and the Shakespearean threads woven throughout the series, as well as our undying love for Han Solo and Poe Dameron. Listen n...

We’re heading to Stars Hollow, Connecticut for episode 2 of Pop DNA. Erin and Rhonda talk about everyone’s favorite mother-daughter duo, Lorelai and Rory Gilmore, discussing Gilmore Girls’ ties to Tolstoy, Austen, and the history of the American Revolution, and also how we’re both unapologetically Team Jess. “Where you lead… I will follow…” Links: The Rory Gilmore Reading Challenge Book references...

Our brand new podcast, Pop DNA, explores the literary and historical roots of your favorite movies and TV shows. In our first episode, your hosts Erin and Rhonda discuss how The Little Mermaid, Aristotle, and the early 20th Century women’s suffrage movement are all related to the 2017 film Wonder Woman, and also how we might both be in love with Gal Gadot. Links More about the Amazons Philosophy a...