What the Hype?! Pop Culture Podcasting

Outlander is back and so are we for this final installment of What the Hype?! We’re diving into the first episodes of Season 8 and unpacking everything that’s changed while Jamie and Claire were away—from their return to the Ridge to taking young Fanny under their wing and learning the heartbreaking story of how she and Jane ended up at the brothel. Meanwhile Ian and Rachel have been busy—hello ne...

We’re diving into 'Bridgerton' Season 4 Part 2 and unpacking the fallout from Benedict’s “be my mistress” fumble heard ’round the ton — including Sophie’s devastating call-out and whether this love story actually earned its swoon. We debate Araminta’s downfall, Violet catching on (of course she did), and that messy clash over Lord Anderson, before getting into Fran, John, and Michaela’s tender-but...

Welcome back to What The Hype, and clock in: we’re heading to the ER to break down Season 2 of 'The Pitt.' The hit medical drama returned January 8, picking up ten months later on the Fourth of July, and we’re diving into what makes this show stand out in a very crowded TV hospital ward. From its real-time, one-hour-per-episode structure to its gritty, unfiltered portrayal of emergency medicine, w...

Dearest gentle readers, we’re back in the ton breaking down Bridgerton Season 4, Part 1, where it is at last Benedict’s moment. The forever-free-spirited second son finds his world shaken when a mysterious Lady in Silver crashes Violet’s masquerade, and suddenly settling down doesn’t seem so dreadful. We dig into Benedict’s season 3 development, first impressions of Sophie Baek, the upstairs/downs...

We’re riding back into Westeros with Dunk & Egg, George R.R. Martin’s lighter, lore-rich prequel following the unlikely duo of Ser Duncan the Tall and his sharp squire, Egg—set about 90 years before Game of Thrones. We break down how this series fits between House of the Dragon and ASOIAF, dig into the three original novellas, and react to a pilot that’s surprisingly breezier (yes, including some...

Pack your bags and prepare to set sail through the Sea of Monsters! This week, we’re returning to the world of ‘Percy Jackson,’ and catching up on all things season 2! Join hosts Pam and Micah as they share their thoughts on how they’re finding the second season of the series so far. Favorite moments, standout characters, and what we’re looking forward to on the horizon are all discussed on this w...

We’re breaking down Part Two of Stranger Things Season 5 and the very end of this epic journey. We share our initial reactions, shout out standout performances, and talk surprises before diving into the big answers: Vecna’s origins, the truth about Eleven’s powers, the Upside Down as a wormhole, and Brenner’s lasting damage. We unpack the emotional character moments (Will coming out, Dustin and St...

What if your New Year’s resolutions were… actually fun? In our final episode of 2025, we’re talking pop culture resolutions: low-stakes, joy-first goals tied to the movies, books, games, and media we already love. No pressure, no self-optimization—just intentional leisure and a better relationship with our downtime. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hold on to your broomsticks because this week on What The Hype we’re flying high into the world of ‘Wicked.’ Join hosts Pam and Eric, plus special guest (and ‘Wicked’ superfan) Annie Scott as they discuss the two part big screen adaptation of the hit musical. How does ‘Wicked: For Good’ stack up against its predecessor, and what were our thoughts on the additions made to the plot– including the tw...

Major spoiler warning for Stranger Things season 5! Stranger Things is BACK and we’re diving straight into our hottest takes on Season 5 Part 1. From the thrill of returning to Hawkins to the genuinely unexpected twists (hi, suddenly-grown Holly Wheeler), we’re breaking down everything hitting hard and everything… not so much. We get into the Wheeler house attack, the military takeover, Dustin’s g...

Welcome back to What The Hype where this week we’ll be diving into ‘Percy Jackson and the Olympians’ ahead of the season 2 release on Disney+!  Pam and Micah are joined by special guest and friend of the show, Mike Schubert of ‘The Newest Olympian’ podcast. Together they discuss their Percy Jackson origin stories, what they loved about season one of the hit Disney+ adaptation, what they’re looking...

Struggling to find things to binge with family and friends over the holiday season? If so, we’ve got you covered on this week’s What The Hype! Join hosts Eric and Pam as they share a few recommendations they think would make for perfect watching material after your Thanksgiving feast, or even in that lull between Christmas and New Years. In addition to sharing some television and movie titles they...

From mall rats to mind flayers, we’re catching up on Stranger Things Seasons 3 and 4 before Season 5 drops! Eric, Laura, Micah, and Pam relive the Starcourt Mall chaos, decode Russian radio signals, and try to avoid getting trapped in Vecna’s curse. Bring your Eggos and emotional support walkman - it’s getting weird in Hawkins. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Grab your garlic and your pitchforks - we’re talking all about classic monsters in our final spooky season episode of the year! This week, Eric, Laura, and Micah look back at Universal’s horror icons, from Frankenstein and The Wolf Man to The Blob. We swap favorite adaptations, confess which monsters we secretly root for, and even build our dream monster team-up. It’s creepy, it’s campy, and it’s...

This week, we’re diving deep into the twisted, brilliant mind of the King of Horror himself: Stephen King. From Carrie (which almost ended up in the trash) to The Shining, Misery, and It, we’re exploring what makes a King book so unmistakably King. We share our first introductions to his work, favorite stories, and why his film adaptations are some of the best (and occasionally weirdest) out there...

It’s spooky season, and this week we're getting real about what scares us most. From creepy childhood stories to jump scares we’ll never forgive, we’re breaking down why being scared is actually… kind of fun. Join Laura, Eric, and Micah for a frightfully good time! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Grab your sequins and feather boas and prepare to take a dive into Taylor Swift’s ‘The Life of a Showgirl’! On this episode of What the Hype, Pam is joined by her brother (and fellow Swiftie), Sergio to offer up our immediate initial thoughts on Taylor Swift’s twelfth studio album. Did the dream team of Martin, Shelback, and Swift live up to the hype, and are we pleased with the sound of the album...

We’re heading back to Hawkins! In this episode, we revisit the first two seasons of Stranger Things—from Demogorgons and the Upside Down to Eggo waffles and Steve Harrington’s hair. Join us as we recap the biggest twists, character arcs, and 80s nostalgia that made the show a phenomenon, all to get ready for the long-awaited Season 5. Stay tuned for our upcoming episode where we'll be recapping se...

Join Pam and Laura as they recap and react to the first 6 episodes of 'Outlander: Blood of My Blood' on Starz. So far, we're FULL of questions and excitement about the connections being made to the main 'Outlander' series. How will 'Blood of My Blood' ultimately explain the connection between the ending of 'Outlander' season 7? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join Pam and Laura on this week’s episode of What the Hype as we recap the 2025 Emmy Awards. What were the most memorable moments of the night and who won big are discussed. Plus, the hosts talk favorites among the series nominated this year, and which shows they’ll be looking forward to checking out as a result of TV’s biggest night! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hold onto your right hand because Laura, Pam and Micah are back at Nevermore breaking down all of the twists and turns of Season 2 of Netflix’s Wednesday. From heart-stopping twists worthy of The Tell-Tale Heart to revelations as haunting as The Raven’s refrain, the hosts unravel how it all built to an explosive finale — and cast a watchful eye toward the shadowy unknown of Season 3. Learn more ab...

Join Pam and Laura on this week's episode of What the Hype?! as they delve into the controversial trend of "filing the serial numbers off" of fan fiction in order to publish as original work. Some authors take issue with the mere existence of fan fiction, while others draw the line at commercial activity. Where is the line when writing fan fiction, and who gets to decide where it is? Learn more ab...

Micah, Eric and Pam take a nostalgic trip through the sports movies that defined our childhoods, from the backyard legends of The Sandlot to the underdog grit of Little Giants. We revisit the improbable magic of Air Bud and the big-league dreams in Rookie of the Year, then take a slam-dunk detour with Space Jam before rallying behind Team USA in Mighty Ducks 2. Along the way, we swap favorite mome...

The gates of Nevermore have creaked open once again! Join Micah and Pam for this week's episode of What The Hype?! as they dodge one-eyed ravens and dive into the first four episodes of Netflix’s Wednesday Season 2. From familiar faces to intriguing new arrivals, and from shocking plot twists to tantalizing hints about what’s still to come, the hosts explore everything that makes this season’s fir...

Pam and Eric are back for more 40th anniversary celebration of 'Back to the Future.' This time, we're getting into parts II and III of the franchise, and its ongoing legacy. What the Hype?! Covers all things popular culture old and new, be sure to like and subscribe on our social media channels and tune in for our followup discussions covering each of the two sequels to Back to the Future! Learn m...