Popcorn Therapy

Welcome back to Popcorn Therapy for our final day of holiday festivities in 2023! For Shade's continuing holiday takeover we are going to London, not really, but wouldn't that be great? We're watching Love Actually (2003). Join us as we talk about what love is, infidelity, and of course those posterboards.  Love Actually was written and directed by Richard Curtis. The (gigantic) cast includes Hugh...

Keeping the holiday vibes going with yet another classic tale, The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992). Chelsey and Shade take us through anti-capitalist king, Charles Dickens' masterpiece about the true meaning of Christmas. Today we're talking all about internalized capitalism, the industrial revolution labor movement, and community.   The Muppet Christmas Carol was based on a screenplay by Jerry Juhl...

Popcorn Therapy is kicking off Shade's Holiday Takeover Month with some family drama. Join Shade and Chelsey for Christmas Eve dinner with The Family Stone (2005). Listen as we discuss relationships, meeting the in-laws, good parenting, and a little Christmas magic.   The Family Stone was written and directed by Thomas Bezucha. The cast includes Dermot Mulroney, Sarah Jessica Parker, Claire Danes,...

To bridge the gap between the fall and winter holidays, this week Chelsey and Shade are covering Mermaids (1990). In today's episode, they're talking all about mother-daughter relationships and a sense of belonging.   Mermaids (the novel) was written by Patty Dann, and June Roberts wrote the screenplay. It was directed by Richard Benjamin.   The cast includes Cher, Winona Ryder, Christina Ricci, B...

It's almost Thanksgiving, so Popcorn Therapy wants to come home for the holidays with you. Join Shade and Chelsey as they follow two intrepid travelers in the 1987 comedy Planes, Trains & Automobiles. We will be chatting about stress thresholds, boundaries, grief, and all of your favorite Thanksgiving emotions. The film was written and directed by John Hughes. The cast includes Steve Martin, t...

This week on PCT the girls are fall-ing into fall with the 1989 classic, When Harry Met Sally. Take a drive as they discuss relationship dynamics over time, how to become better relational beings, and if men and women can really be friends.   When Harry Met Sally was written by Rob Reiner & Nora Ephron, and was directed by Rob Reiner as well.   The cast includes Billy Crystal, Meg Ryan, Carrie...

This week on Popcorn Therapy Shade and Chelsey are going back to school in the 1982 classic comedy Fast Times at Ridgemont High. Join us as we discuss power struggles, adolescence, sex, and...murder? Fast Times at Ridgemont High was directed by Amy Heckerling and written by Cameron Crowe. The cast includes Sean Penn, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Phoebe Cates, Judge Reinhold, Robert Romanus, and Brian Bac...

Over here at Popcorn Therapy, we're keeping these fall vibes going with today's episode on Devil Wears Prada (2006). Chelsey and Shade address workplace culture, burnout, and the cost-benefit analysis for all of our girlies who might be girl-bossing too close to the sun.    Devil Wears Prada was written by Aline Brosh McKenna, and directed by David Frankel.   It stars Meryl Streep, Annie Hathaway,...

It's the final week of 🎃spooky season🎃 2023! So this week, Shade and Chelsey are going to camp up at Camp Crystal Lake to discuss Friday the 13th (1980). Come join us around the fire to listen to the social science of why people like scary movies in the first place. Friday the 13th was written by Victor Miller, and directed by Sean S. Cunningham. The cast includes Betsy Palmer, Adrienne King, Je...

It's still 🎃 Spooky Season 🎃 So Chelsey and Shade are going strong with the A24 horror hit Bodies Bodies Bodies. They're talking all about friendships and cognitive dissonance for today's episode.   Bodies Bodies Bodies was Directed by Halina Rejin Screenplay by Sarah DeLappe   The cast includes Amandla Stenberg, Myha'la Herrold, Rachel Sennott, Pete Davidson, Lee Pace, Chase Sui Wonders, and Ma...

Chelsey and Shade are going back in time this 🎃 Spooky Season 🎃 to the tubular 80's in Amazon Prime's Totally Killer (2023). Join us as we battle generational trauma in search of the Sweet 16 Killer. Totally Killer was directed by Nahnatchka Kahn. It was written by David Matalon, Sasha Perl-Raver, and Jen D'Angelo.   The cast includes Kiernan Shipka, Julie Bowen, Olivia Holt, Charlie Gillespie,...

On this week's episode, Chelsey and Shade start spooky szn off strong with the stop-motion animated comedy, Wendell and Wild (2023). We're taking a deep dive into childhood trauma and attachment styles.   Written by Henry Selick and Jordan Peele Directed by Henry Selick   The cast includes Lyric Ross, Keegan-Michael Key, Jordan Peele, James Hong, Angela Bassett, and Sam Zelaya.   Tell us what movi...

This week Shade and Chelsey go back in time to discuss humanity's fate in the war against machines in The Terminator (1984).  We take an in-depth view on stress and its impact on the brain. Written and directed by James Cameron The cast includes Arnold Schwarzenegger, Linda Hamilton, Michael Biehn, Paul Winfield, Lance Henriksen, and Bess Motta. Congratulations to the WGA and the writers' strike e...

To get us in the mood for some fall vibes, Chelsey and Shade are talking about Zodiac (2007) on the pod this week. They talk about the impacts of the stress response, how people cope, and what's the deal with people's fixation on true crime. Directed by David Fincher Screenplay by James Vanderbilt Based on the book Zodiac (1986) written by Robert Graysmith The cast includes Jake Gyllenhal, Mark Ru...

This week on Popcorn Therapy Shade and Chelsey need to talk to their lawyer. They've brought their lawyer friend Tom onto the show to assist with the legal proceedings in Legally Blonde. Beyond the law, they will be covering topics such as introjection, projection, and looking into relationships. Directed by Robert Lektic Written by Amanda Brown, Karen McCullah, and Kirsten Smith The cast includes...

The gals are rolling it back to the late 80s this week with Troop Beverly Hills (1989).  In today's episode, Chelsey and Shade are diving into self-efficacy, the levels of emotions, core values, and bullying.   Troop Beverly Hills was written by Ava Ostern Fries Directed by Jeff Kanew Starring Shelley Long, Craig T Nelson, Jenny Lewis,  Betty Thomas, Mary Gross,  Stephanie Beacham, and Audra Lindl...

This week on Popcorn Therapy, Shade and Chelsey are laughing through 2011's peak Apatow production, Bridesmaids. We'll be talking about friendship dynamics, self-esteem, hitting rock bottom, and going on dates while at work. Bridesmaids was directed by Paul Fieg, and written by Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo. Bridesmaids stars Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph, Rose Byrne, Wendi McLendon-Covey, Ellie Kemp...

This week, the lads are rejecting the manic pixie dream girl of it all in 500 Days of Summer (2009). Join Chelsey and Shade as they talk about NRE, Limerence, and relationship sustainability.    Written by Scott Neustadter and Michael H Weber Directed by Marc Webb Cast includes Zooey Deschanel, Joseph Gordon-Levitt,  Geoffrey Arend, Chloe Grace Moretz, Matthew Gray Gubler, and Clark Gregg.   Pleas...

On this week's episode of Popcorn Therapy, our May Queens Shade and Chelsey dive into 2019's folk horror Midsommar. We're talking about grief, relationships, culty behaviors, emotional regulation, anthropologists, and Sweden. Written and directed by Ari Aster. Cast includes Florence Pugh, Jack Reynor, Vilhelm Blomgren, William Jackson Harper, Will Poulter, Ellora Torchia, and Archie Madekwe.   Ple...

Today on the pod, Chelsey and Shade are keeping the summer vibes going with easy watch Crazy, Stupid Love (2011). We're revisiting infidelity, relationship dynamics, and the midlife crisis in today's episode.   Crazy, Stupid, Love was written by Dan Fogelman.   Directed by Glenn Ficarra and John Requa.   The cast includes Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling, Julianne Moore, Emma Stone, Marisa Tomei, and Ke...

Chelsey and Shade bring you some platonic love with The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent (2022). This week they get into exploring 'parts' work, identity, and friendship.   The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent was co-written by Tom Gormican & Kevin Etten.   Directed by Tom Gormican.   It stars Nicolas Kim Coppola, Pedro Pascal, Sharon Horigan, Lily Mo Sheen, Tiffany Haddish, and Ike Bari...

This week Shade and Chelsey are coming to you with the classic Hollywood style romance, Sylvie's Love (2020). We're getting into this Black love story, and diving deep into avoidance, relationship dynamics, and intersectionality.   Sylvie's Love was written and directed by Eugene Ashe.   The cast includes Tessa Thompson, Nnamdi Asomugha, Eva Longoria, Aja Naomi King, Jemima Kirke, Tone Bell, and A...

Starting summer off right, Chelsey and Shade take it back to the 2010s with The Way Way Back (2013). They cover the challenges of adolescence and navigating divorce as a teen. Psychological themes included in today's episode involve what makes blended families successful, and enmeshment.   The Way Way Back was written and directed by Nat Faxon and Jim Rash.   It stars Liam James, Toni Collette, Al...

This week Shade and Chelsey close out Pride Month with our lgbT week pick all the way from Australia, The Adventures of Priscilla Queen of the Desert (1994). We follow a group of drag queens on an adventure across the outback in search of acceptance, a fun time, and a high quality roast. Some of the psychological themes we will cover this week include gender dysphoria, deadnaming, and identity. Pr...

Halfway through Pride Month, babes! Chelsey and Shade are bringing out the 'B' with Chasing Amy (1997). The themes discussed this week focus on desire and sexual orientation.   Chasing Amy was written and directed by Kevin Smith. It stars Ben Affleck, Joey Lauren Adams, Jason Lee, and Dwight Ewell.   Tell us what movies or psychological themes you want to hear about! https://www.instagram.com/Popc...