Scandal Water

Yo, Adrian! It’s been 50 years since Sylvester Stallone landed a knockout punch with “Rocky,” a low-budget movie about a down-on-his-luck boxer named Rocky Balboa. More than an underdog story, though, “Rocky” ended up being a sports drama, a love story, and the film that launched a franchise.  But what was Sylvester Stallone’s own underdog story in getting his “Rocky” script onto the big screen? W...

Ready for a fun twist? The topic this week is Bad Dads!   In honor of Father’s Day, we’ve celebrated Dads all month… but now it’s time to talk about how NOT to parent.   In this fun episode, we highlight 3 characters who made our list of all-time worst movie fathers!   But which Bad Dads did we choose? And do you agree with our picks, or did we miss your favorite silver screen scoundrel?    How to...

It’s hard enough to father your own children, let alone earn a spot on the list of America’s Best TV Dads.    Yet these 3 television legends have done just that!   Continuing our June theme of “Dear Old Dad,” this week we discuss 3 of the top TV Dads of all time. But which wise, warm, and protective, yet fun-loving fathers did we choose?    Check out this fun podcast to see if your favorite TV Dad...

Because these 3 film fathers deserve so much more than a greeting card or tie this Father’s Day, we’ve decided to recognize them with this fun podcast!   But what are the qualities we look for in a great movie Dad? And which fictional fathers were able to meet our high standards?   Add a little heart to your Father’s Day celebration with this episode honoring our top 3 film fathers… and then let u...

Not all superheroes wear capes… although some do! 😉   This month, we celebrate Father’s Day with a look at some of our favorite fathers from entertainment… starting with 3 amazing animated Dads!   Who met OUR criteria for outstanding fathers in an animated show? Listen to find out… and let us know if you agree with our choices!   What we can tell you is this: Our selections include characters fro...

HeLa cells –taken from the body of a young, black wife and mother named Henrietta Lacks– have traveled to space, been used in important medical advancements such as with in vitro fertilization and the polio and COVID-19 vaccines, and have helped medical companies earn billions of dollars. Yet when Henrietta died at age 31, she had no idea how her cells would change healthcare– or that they’d even...

What do you do when you discover a celebrated CEO named Elizabeth Holmes is marketing a medical device that is not only defective, but actually providing wildly inaccurate lab results to tens of thousands of people?  Yet that CEO’s billion-dollar company, Theranos, is protected by over-the-top security measures, has a board filled with former government leaders, and is defended by one of the most...

In 2014, Elizabeth Holmes was declared the youngest self-made female billionaire in the world by Forbes. Her start-up, Theranos, employed more than 700 people and was valued at over $9 billion.  By 2018, Theranos was worth nothing.  In part 1 of this fascinating 2-part series, we focus on the woman behind Theranos, Elizabeth Holmes, and her rise to success.   How did a 19-year-old dropout from Sta...

*Content warning: This episode contains references to physical and sexual abuse. Listener discretion is advised.  Known as the Queen of Country Pop, Shania Twain is the best-selling female artist in country music history, globally, widely praised for her ground-breaking country-to-pop crossover style.  Yet Shania has suffered a great deal of personal trauma in her life, during her childhood and al...

*Content warning: This episode contains mention of a stillbirth and suicide. Listener discretion is advised. “Kindred spirits are not so scarce as I used to think. It's splendid to find out there are so many of them in the world.”   The world certainly found a kindred spirit in Anne Shirley, the young girl who famously spoke these words in the beloved 1908 classic “Anne of Green Gables.”   And in...

You know a performance is iconic when a simple phrase like “Kevin!” or “Fold in the cheese, David” can immediately bring a detailed image to your mind… and a smile to your face.    Such is the case with beloved actress and comedian Catherine O’Hara,  who passed away on January 30, and to whom we pay tribute in this podcast.    What young comedian (who would go on to become famous) helped Catherine...

It was 44 years ago that a theater audience first heard mild-mannered Seymour and his bombshell crush, Audrey, belt out “Suddenly Seymour”  while a bloodthirsty plant lurked in the background.  Yet today, that same show– “Little Shop of Horrors”– is currently in its 6th year of a highly successful Off-Broadway revival. And if you have an appetite for fun, we’re here to feed it with this entertaini...

Trolls stink… literally. 😉   But as we see in the 2010 cult classic “Trollhunter,” trolls also make powerful antagonists, with their massive size, brute strength, ability to smell the blood of a Christian man, and tendency to turn to stone in the sunlight. What else do they make? A fascinating subject for this week’s podcast!   How did Asbjornsen and Moe– the Norwegian equivalent of the Brothers...

Bram Stoker likely had no idea when he created the infamous Count Dracula that his monster would not only help solidify the archetype of a vampire, but also one day be named the most portrayed literary character in film by the Guinness Book of World Records. In this fascinating podcast, we discuss the creation of “Dracula” and the circumstances that led to its wild success… unfortunately, years af...

The 1933 classic “King Kong” has been referred to as not only a terrifying monster movie, but also an epic fairy tale, tragic love story, and landmark piece of cinema.    In fact, this groundbreaking film actually originated the legendary character of King Kong, now part of the MonsterVerse… and it’s the focus of this week’s fun podcast!   What role did a Komodo dragon play in inspiring the story...

The 1960 novel “To Kill a Mockingbird” became an American classic.    The 1962 film adaptation earned 8 Oscar nominations, 3 wins, and Atticus Finch the #1 spot on AFI’s 2003 list of greatest movie heroes.   And the Pulitzer Prize awarded to Harper Lee is believed to be one factor behind her failed friendship with Truman Capote.   In this fascinating podcast, we discuss the legacy of Harper Lee’s...

Often referred to as “The Master of the Legal Thriller,“ John Grisham published his first book, “A Time to Kill,” in 1989, and 37 years later, he shows no signs of slowing down.  He has now written 51 consecutive #1 bestsellers that have been translated into more than 50 languages.    So  what better time to celebrate the career of the acclaimed and prolific author John Grisham than the week of hi...

“You can’t handle the truth…”   If you’re a fan of  the 1992 classic “A Few Good Men”-- a film is widely considered to be one of the top 10 courtroom dramas in American film history– this episode is for you!   What mystery surrounds a Marine involved in the real-life incident that inspired “A Few Good Men”? How did Aaron Sorkin’s sister (and cocktail napkins) help him create the story? Why did a T...

In September of 1943, bombardier Louis Zamperini and his friend Phil, the pilot of their crashed B-24 plane, finally reached land after being stranded on the ocean for 47 days.   Louie had no idea the two had landed in Japanese territory, at a location nicknamed “Execution Island,” and that his situation was about to get much worse…   In this fascinating podcast we tell the story of Olympic runner...

“I hadn’t left the plane… the plane had left me.”   This is the situation that 17-year-old Juliane Koepcke faced on December 24, 1971. Hit by lightning, the plane in which Juliane and her mother were traveling had broken up, and the teen– who was still strapped into her bench seat– found herself free-falling to the earth from the height of approximately 2 miles.    Miraculously, Juliane survived,...

“Kevinnnn!”   If that simple quote immediately floods you with feelings of nostalgia, the holiday spirit, and memories of an 8-year-old boy outwitting the bumbling Wet Bandits, this episode is for you!   The Christmas classic “Home Alone”  turns 35 this year, and we can’t think of a better way to celebrate than with this fun podcast.   How did John Hughes come up with the idea for “Home Alone”? Wh...

Looking for your own small-town, Hallmark Christmas experience? Look no further than historic Frankfort, Kentucky’s state capital!   That’s where Candy and Ashley headed for an impromptu field trip last month, and they share their adventures in this fun episode.    The visit started with a delicious lunch at the 50s-themed Main Street Diner and a word from co-owner Megan Allan. Then after a little...

Good grief! It’s hard to believe it’s been 60 years since “A Charlie Brown Christmas” first aired.    Yet the story of a round-headed young boy disheartened by the commercialization of Christmas remains a beloved holiday classic to this day.    How did the Coke vs. Pepsi advertising wars help prompt “A Charlie Brown Christmas”? What challenges did the team face in translating Charles Schulz’s “Pea...

Famous for their ‘eye-high’ kicks, the Rockettes have performed in every Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade since 1957, and more than 72 million people have attended their annual Christmas Spectacular that first debuted in 1933.   As if that weren’t impressive enough, this year the iconic precision dance troupe also celebrates its 100th anniversary!   How did the group evolve from the 1925 “Missouri R...

Note: Due to mature content, this episode is not suitable for all audiences. Listener discretion is advised. At 3 am on March 23, 2015, a sleeping couple was awakened by a blinding white light, red laser dots moving across their bodies, and a voice that instructed the woman, Denise, to tie her boyfriend’s hands behind his back with zip ties.    And that was just the beginning of the couple’s horri...