PopaHALLics

" Pop-pourri" Potpourri: A mixture of things, especially a musical or literary medley, according to the dictionary. Pop-pourri: A mixture of diverse pop culture offerings, according to us. In this episode, we're all over the pop culture landscape, ferreting out what's good, and pondering such questions as: How's Mel Gibson still working? And why is Billy Bob Thornton so cr...

"Talking Art with Stix" PopaHALLics goes on location for the first time! Steve interviews Alexis "Stix" Brown, the first artist in residence ever at the Carnegie Center for Art & History in New Albany, IN. The title of Stix's residency, "Interluctor," means "a person who takes part in a dialogue or conversation." Art Encourages Conversation Stix&apo...

Stuck on Netflix What do a post-apocalyptic fairy tale, a biopic of a famous fashion designer,  and a creepy story of a woman trapped in a cryogenic chamber have in common? They're all on Netflix! Just by chance, almost everything Steve and Kate discuss is on the streaming giant, from the family-friendly adventures of a deer boy ( "Sweet Tooth" ) to Ewan McGregor as the designer &qu...

"Pop-Up Pop with Carr & Sarah" Our "Pop-Up" episodes allow us to interview other folks about their pop culture faves. In this show, Steve talks to Carr & Sarah, both 28, about what they're watching and listening to. We discuss how to reconcile your pop culture choices when you're a young couple starting out, how much influence family has on your tastes—and wha...

"Talking Comedy with Joe" Steve and Kate interview Emmy -winning Joe Janes, who teaches comedy writing and improvisation at The Second City and Columbia College. He has written for SNL's "Weekend Update" and Jellyvision's "You Don't Know Jack.” He has published three books of his staged work, and his full-length plays include Metaluna and the Science of the...

From Prize Winning Authors to "The Punisher" Kate and Steve wander where their pop culture quirks take them, no matter how diverse. So we talk about "Klara and the Sun," a new novel about a robot girl designed as a playmate for children, by Nobel Prize winner Kazuo Ishiguro; "Gentlemen of the Road," a swashbuckling adventure novel about "Jews with swords" by...

We Get Animated Kate and Steve are tuned into toons on this episode. We discuss Netflix's wacky new animated feature "The Mitchells vs. The Machines, " in which a robot apocalypse threatens a cross-country family trip; Amazon Prime's "Invincible," a  teen superhero series from the maker of "The Walking Dead"; and the Disney + series "Star Wars: The Bad...

"Diversions & Dramas" Like father, like daughter? Not on this episode! Kate takes the serious route, Steve the lighthearted one—meaning you're sure to hear about something that you'll like. Serial Killers, Abductees, & Ancient Evils Kate's picks fall in the serious British drama mode—a serial killer loose in Thailand ( "Serpent" ) and an abducted young wo...

Get Me a Ticket for an Aeroplane Steve and Kate travel the world in this episode, talking about stories from Florida to France, from New York City to northern Europe. We marvel at the dancing skills of Danish actor Mads Mikkelsen and question whether Mads' movie "Another Round"   is as "life-affirming" as touted. ("Another Round" won the Oscar for best internatio...

"Do We Care About This Year's Oscars?" The coveted statuettes will be given out during a broadcast on ABC Sunday evening, April 25. Steve and Kate predict winners in major categories such as best director, actor and actress—you'll have to see if we're right. But we find ourselves less than excited about this year's nominees. Is that because the pandemic nixed the comm...

From Octopi to Abbie to the Sound of Silence Steve and Kate ponder important questions in this episode: Can a man and an octopus have a meaningful friendship if it doesn't include watching the game and sharing a few beers? Also: 1, 2, 3, does Sacha Baron Cohen know what he's fighting for? And does the "Sound of Metal" still work when it's the sound of silence? We Look at S...

April's Fools'! Instead of the "Mine vs. Yours" episode we promoted—a great idea for a show we might do in the future—welcome to the Great Podcast Switcheroo . Across the country, dozens of like-minded podcasts are switching feeds today so our listeners can discover new shows they might enjoy. PopaHALLics is trading places with the Cinema Guys ,  listed as one of the top 5 loca...

Those Songs Everybody Knows "Happy Birthday to You." "Jingle Bells." "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow." "Auld Lang Syne." We have sung these songs countless times at birthdays, holiday gatherings, and other events. But WHERE did they come from? In this informative, amusing episode, Steve tracks down the origins of some of the best-known songs in the world....

Strike the Pose We discuss who was hot, who was not at Paris Fashion Week 2021 .  Some of the shows like Balmain's were incredibly imaginative, while others were visually interesting but their clothes boring. Sorry, Chanel.    After the catwalk ends, you can show off your dancing style with our fashion-heavy playlist , from "Blue Suede Shoes" to "Supermodel." 'Cancel...

Ever like something before the rest of the world caught onto its merits?  Steve and Kate discuss our favorite movies, TV shows and music that never went mainstream ... and we don't care  if you think they're weird. We prefer to  consider offbeat offerings such as "Wristcutters: A Love Story" "unique." "Is She Going to Murder Us in Our Sleep?" Kate remembers...

Dad and daughter dish on pop culture over a drink. Steve and Kate reveal the meaning of life . .. or at least several pop offerings that wrestle with that big question, each in its own way: Lily Brooks-Dalton's end(s)-of-the-Earth novel " Good Morning, Midnight ," the racy British sitcom " Catastrophe " on Amazon Prime, and the acclaimed film starring Frances McDormand, &q...

Jump in your flying car and zoom with Steve and Kate into the future! Where mining gems on a toxic planet becomes dangerous for a couple of working class Joes  ("Prospect") ... where something weird is going on in a post-apocalyptic museum, we think ("Piranesi") .... and time travel isn't much fun for some German kids and their families ("Dark"). We also diss bea...

Let's slip between the pages. In this episode, Steve and Kate talk about books that sweep them away to magical skullduggery at Yale, fantastical empires, and Irish hospitals during the 1918 pandemic.  We have great viewing recommendations too, from a Miami meeting of Cassius Clay, Malcolm X, Jim Brown and Sam Cooke to Will Ferrell and Rachel McAdams competing in the Eurovision Song Contest. ...

Sorry about the pun, but there's so many viewing choices out there. How do you find something you will like? What will you not "burn for," as we Halls say? Let us help! In this episode, we wade through what's streaming, so you don't have to. With our recommendations, you can use your precious viewing time on things actually worth watching. Series; "Ted Lasso" &ap...

Dad and daughter dish on pop culture over a drink.  In honor of Steve's birthday, Kate interviews her dad about his years covering pop culture for a paycheck. She's never heard most of the stories, from Audrey Hepburn to rubber guns to the only time Steve was starstruck. (You'll be surprised by the answer.) The birthday boy also compiled a bunch of his favorite songs on this week&ap...

Dad and daughter dish on pop culture over a drink. Steve and Kate discuss fashion at President Joe Biden's inauguration—what's with all the monochromatic style? Did Garth Brooks live out the lyrics of "Friends in Low Places" by showing up in boots at a black tie affair? We also delve into how one witch is stuck in the relationship equivalent of "Groundhog Day." Our to...

Dad and daughter dish on pop culture over a drink. New year, new president, new beers. Steve and Kate kick 2020 out the door and turn the page to a brighter, happier 2021—we hope. If you want to savor some good books, TV, and/or music, or just need a fun diversion from that darn pandemic, we have great recommendations! Books: "The World That We Knew," Alice Hoffman "The Dark Tower&q...

"Pop Fun in '21!" Is it wrong for Pixar to create a rare animated black lead—and then have him stuck inside a cat for much of the movie "Soul"? How historically accurate IS "Bridgerton"? And why can't Liam Neeson remember who he is?! Steve and Kate discuss these burning questions and more as PopaHALLics kicks off its second season! We talk about: "Soul,...

Dad and daughter dish on pop culture over a drink. This has been a tough year, but Steve and Kate express gratitude for certain parts of 2020 in our season finale. We also talk about our hopes for 2021, as well as our current pop culture faves, from "Black Ballerina" and "Created in Darkness by Troubled Americans" to Vince Vaughn's great performance as a teenage girl. (Ser...

Steve talks to Matt Ritter about two of our obsessions: pop culture and beer! Artist and brewer Matt gives us the skinny on what it takes to create a giant mural from pop cultural influences ... or create a new IPA. Best of all, he paints a giant David Bowie devil turkey DURING the podcast! Our alcohol this episode: Ardbeg Scotch 3 Floyds Alpha Klaus Reach out to us: popahallicspodcast@gmail.com F...