Retrospection Connection

Guess who's back (for a moment, at least)?! In this latest installment of Retrospection Connection, I chat with my friend (and former boss *shrieks*) Sam about a lovely film by the name of "Spirited Away". Maybe you've heard of it? It's a story of a young girl learning to stand on her own two feet for the first time, taking the fate of her family, friends, and herself into he...

In this episode of RC, I dove headfirst into HBO miniseries "Station Eleven" with my new friend, Gracie. For the uninitiated, "Station Eleven", based on a popular book of the same name, chronicles the immediate and long-term aftermath of a world-ravaging pandemic (which I’m sure no one can draw any parallels to in our reality). Seriously though, through watching the show, I was reminded that it’s...

Long ago, in the late 1900s, the world changed forever when a new human classification system dropped. All of a sudden, everyone had to know: were they a Carrie, a Samantha, a Miranda, or a Charlotte? That’s right, today’s piece of media is none other than the 1998 HBO juggernaut, Sex & the City. This episode holds an extra special place in my heart, not only because it allowed me to channel m...

Lately, I’ve been reminiscing on one of my favorite conventions of the classic sitcom, the “very special episode”. You very likely remember an episode of your favorite 80s or 90s sitcom that addressed an unusually heavy topic for the format. It was honestly a bit jarring most of the time, ham-fisted between plots chock full of frivolous hijinks and shenanigans. On occasion though, necessary and im...

Good news...this is officially Retrospection Connection's 13th episode! RC is officially a teenager, and this is something that we must celebrate. To mark the occasion in style, I got my friend (and future nurse girlboss), Emily, on the line with me to discuss another iconic piece of media that has something to do with teenagers, the 1999 classic film, 10 Things I Hate About You. If you love this...

In this episode of Retrospection Connection, I had the privilege of talking with my homegirl, Alexa, about a piece of media that so effortlessly captures the highs and lows of young Black life in LA: HBO’s 2016 hit comedy, Insecure. Creator and starring actress, Issa Rae, deserves her flowers and so much more for so expertly interpreting the thoughts, humor, expressions of love, and culture of so...

In this episode of Retrospection Connection, we travel back to the year 2000 to discuss the iconic sitcom, Malcolm in the Middle! Fortunately for me, my new friend, Durel, came to chat with me about the show and, in the process, we unpacked themes of family, the intersection of race and class, what it means to be “gifted”, and making the most out of your lot in life. I’m grateful for the opportuni...

In this episode of RC, I decided to pull out my bootleg Sherlock Holmes hat and watch another mystery-esque project. 2006’s The Pink Panther, to be specific. To my surprise, this movie made me legitimately reflect on how I can show up more authentically, care less about what other people think, and be my own biggest fan. I’m forever grateful to my guest and friend, Alec, for exposing me to this un...

Water. Earth. Fire. Air. Need I say more? In today's episode of Retrospection Connection, I'm joined by my friend Taimur, who so openly shares his life experiences and wisdom with us while exploring the world of Nickelodeon’s 2005 animated TV hit, Avatar: The Last Airbender. We had a really good time talking about this show, and the consensus is that Avatar never really gets old. It offers the aud...

In a first for Retrospection Connection, I’m joined by a returning guest! You heard me right, my girl Taylor is back and prepared to take us all where no man has gone before. We are discussing the worldwide pop culture institution that is Star Trek (specifically Star Trek: Voyager, for my super fans out there). I hope you enjoy, as we talk about the appeal of long-running franchises, making diffic...

In this installment of Retrospection Connection, I venture into a genre that I typically avoid with the 2006 classic animated horror film, Monster House. I’m joined by my new friend (and extremely talented visual artist) Victor, aka @TacoVHS on Instagram. Monster House tackles grounded themes that everyone has the capacity to relate to, like grief, growing up, and living in the present. It’s certa...

In this installment of Retrospection Connection, I’m introduced to the fantastical world of the 2002 animated film, Treasure Planet by one of my dearest old pals and resident high school math teacher, Zachary. Together, Zachary and I unpack the coming of age adventure tale, finding ourselves in the themes of parental relationships and charting our own life course. Follow the pod on instagram @retr...

In this episode of Retrospection Connection, my spectacular friend (and personal favorite doctoral candidate) Anna opened my eyes to a show that, in retrospect, was always just below the surface: Bones. We get into the weeds of how this show immediately gripped Anna at her tender middle school age, how it broke the mold of the typical crime procedural formula, and how it explores the characters’ s...

In this installment of RC, I brought in my friend (and resident high school show choir authority), Lili, to unpack the late 2000s musical teen dramedy, Glee. We talk about our individual experiences navigating high school life and how Glee reflected that back to us, the show’s undeniable legacy of diversity and embracing the “underdog”, how Lili’s post-grad career altered the way that she relates...

On this episode of Retrospection Connection, my friend Alex and I revisit the cultural phenomenon of "SpongeBob SquarePants" and share our thoughts on its enduring legacy. We explore the singularity of SpongeBob's character, examine the clash between eternal optimism and cynicism in the SpongeBob/Squidward dynamic, as well as discuss the show's insightful portrayal of surviving the modern workplac...

On this episode of Retrospection Connection, my friend Taylor and I delve into the nostalgic world of 1990s sitcoms as we shine a light on one of the era's most beloved shows: "The Nanny." Join us as we take a look back and explore the impact and enduring appeal of this hilarious and heartwarming series. We hope you enjoy! If you’d like to hear about a particular tv show or movie, or be considered...

In this episode, I'm joined by my good friend, Rummel, as we revisit the beloved Nickelodeon sitcom, Ned's Declassified: School Survival Guide. We discuss how the show defied and exceeded expectations of children's television and used its unique format to impart valuable lessons onto its viewers. We reflect on whether Ned's Declassified influenced our own experiences in middle school and how it co...