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Pop Culture Happy Hour
30 episodes
Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma
Aug 17, 2026 · 23 min
The new movie Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma is a bloody and bewildering queer slasher film. Directed by Jane Schoenbrun (I Saw the TV Glow), it stars Hannah Einbinder as a queer young filmmaker tapped to reboot a defunct slasher franchise, and Gillian Anderson as a reclusive actress. The movie is a meditation on slashers and film itself, sexuality and identity – and it’s also gore-filled fun you won’t want to miss. Want more queer indie horror? Check out these episodes: 'I Saw the TV Glow…
The End of Oak Street and What’s Making Us Happy
Aug 14, 2026 · 23 min
In the fun, entertaining new film, The End of Oak Street, Anne Hathaway and Ewan McGregor star as a married couple in the early 1980s. One night, their entire suburban neighborhood is transported to a time filled with a variety of large and dangerous dinosaurs. Written and directed by David Robert Mitchell (It Follows), it’s part action-adventure, part monster movie, part dark comedy. But after so many dino-packed blockbusters, does this movie offer a fresh take to the prehistoric creature featu…
Summer blockbusters we somehow missed
Aug 13, 2026 · 22 min
Summer blockbusters are hugely popular and as a result, financially successful, and seen by lots of people. So with summer blockbuster season coming to a close, we decided to revisit our conversation about our own personal blockbuster gaps, and finally watch a movie that absolutely everyone saw – except for us — including Armageddon, Beverly Hills Cop II, Ghost, The Fast and the Furious. If you need a bit more summer magic, check out these episodes: What’s the best summer snack? The votes are in…
Ted Lasso
Aug 11, 2026 · 21 min
Ted Lasso is finally back. But is this new fourth season worth the wait, and does it have anything fresh to say? Ted (Jason Sudeikis) has returned to the U.K., only this time, he’s coaching a brand new women’s soccer team. The hit Apple TV series features familiar faces including Hannah Waddingham, Juno Temple, and Brett Goldstein, as well as newcomers Tanya Reynolds and Abbie Hern. Want more laughs from Apple TV? Check out these episodes: Getting therapeutic with 'Shrinking' Seth Rogen and a fa…
Our dream TV workplaces
Aug 10, 2026 · 23 min
We spend the majority of our adult lives at work. We also see so many depictions of working life on TV. So where’s the fictional place we’d like to work? We’ll talk about Ted Lasso, Game of Thrones, The Muppet Show and The West Wing. If you want more workplace shenanigans, check out these episodes: ‘Widow’s Bay’ is an island in the scream The final course at ‘The Bear’ was both sweet and savory ‘The Paper’ is an ‘Office’ spinoff where journalism takes the lede Connect with Pop Culture Happy Hour…
One Night Only and What’s Making Us Happy
Aug 7, 2026 · 27 min
One Night Only is set in an alternate universe where premarital sex has been outlawed, except for one 12-hour window a year. The film stars Monica Barbaro and Callum Turner as two beautiful New Yorkers looking to have sex when the mandate is temporarily lifted. But does the film deliver on its sexy premise, or is it more chaste than it seems? Looking for other conversations about rom-coms? Try these episodes: ‘Office Romance’ stars J.Lo as a CEO with a bad case of Brett Goldstein ‘You, Me & Tusc…
Ariana Grande’s album Petal
Aug 5, 2026 · 19 min
Ariana Grande has been omnipresent the last few years. Discussions of her relationships and her weight have made Grande an internet fixture in recent years. She’s coming off a long run promoting and starring in the two Wicked films, and her hit song “Hate That I Made You Love Me” has been everywhere this summer. She’s also announced she’s taking a step back from public life after her current tour. So with the release of her new album, Petal, what do we make of Grande’s latest batch of songs, and…
We debate the sweatiest movie of all time
Aug 4, 2026 · 22 min
Whether they're lightly perspiring, gently glowing, or soaked through from sweltering, people in the movies sweat a lot. But what movie has had people sweat the very most? With another summer underway, we are revisiting our debate about what is the sweatiest movie of all time — including Do the Right Thing, Dog Day Afternoon, Y tu mamá también, and Body Heat. If you like need more summery suggestions, check out these episodes: The summer blockbusters we finally watched ‘Jaws’ is still stuck in o…
I Want Your Sex
Aug 3, 2026 · 19 min
Sex is back, baby! In the fun new movie I Want Your Sex, Olivia Wilde plays Erika, a mixed-media artist who enters into a very consensual, very kinky, but very unprofessional sub/dom relationship with her assistant Elliot (Cooper Hoffman). Elliot’s having the time of his life, but Erika is a lot, and soon his life starts to fall apart. I Want Your Sex is directed by Gregg Araki and the film doubles down on his brand of fun, in-your-face sexuality he’s known for. If you want more great films abou…
Spider-Man: Brand New Day and What’s Making Us Happy
Jul 31, 2026 · 23 min
Zendaya and Tom Holland are back in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, and the movie has a more grounded tone than we’ve seen from the franchise. But does it strike the right balance of fun and darkness? Directed by Daniel Destin Cretton, the film also features Jacob Batalon, Jon Bernthal, Tramell Tillman, and Sadie Sink. Looking for more spectacular Spider-episodes? Check out: 'Spider-Man: No Way Home' mixes fun and fan service 'Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse' thrills in every dimension Connect wi…
The Dink
Jul 29, 2026 · 18 min
The Dink is pickleball’s very funny new entry into the classic genre of sports comedies. In the new film, Jake Johnson stars as a washed-up tennis underachiever whose loyalties become divided after befriending a pickleball player played by Mary Steenburgen. It’s got a contest with huge stakes and a surprising dose of heart, and the jokes make it over the net. If you want more breezy fun flicks, check out these episodes: In 'Power Ballad,' Paul Rudd and Nick Jonas hit all the right notes Fun movi…
Furious
Jul 28, 2026 · 23 min
The new Hulu show Furious is a twisty serial killer drama with a sense of humor, but does it hit its mark? Emmy Rossum stars as Alice, a low-level FBI agent on the hunt for a young woman (Lola Petticrew) who’s been targeting prominent men across New York City. Furious will keep you guessing as both women carve their own paths to justice. Need more deep dark thrillers? Check out these episodes: TV heavy-hitters get dark in ‘The Beast In Me’ In ‘Task’, Mark Ruffalo pursues his quarry Connect with…
The best summer snacks (according to you)
Jul 27, 2026 · 25 min
There’s plenty to love about summer: Summer music, summer road trips, summer movies. But to enjoy all those things, you have to sustain yourself with summer snacks. But what are the best summer treats of all? We asked our listeners, and we are revealing the results in a game all about summer snacks. (Today’s episode originally ran as a bonus episode for NPR Plus supporters.) For other episodes where we unpack your votes, check out: Top 5 Pixar movies, ranked by listeners Top 10 Muppets, as voted…
Hadestown and What’s Making Us Happy
Jul 24, 2026 · 26 min
Can’t make it to Broadway? Hadestown: The Musical has you covered. The film adaptation of the Tony-winning hit captures the musical retelling of the Greek tragedy of Orpheus and Eurydice. Fans can see the principal original Broadway cast including Reeve Carney, Eva Noblezada, and André De Shields reunite on the big screen for five nights only. Need more musicals? Check out these episodes: 'Wicked: For Good' will bring you to tears We debate the best movie musical numbers Connect with Pop Culture…
Hot Ones
Jul 23, 2026 · 18 min
Hot Ones is the YouTube show where famous people answer questions while eating increasingly hot chicken wings. Now host Sean Evans is bringing his wings to Netflix with a series of specials called Hot Ones: Extra Heat. What exactly makes a good Hot Ones guest? On this encore episode, we discuss the show and specifically about possibly the best guest ever, Conan O’Brien. If you want hot questions answered (hold the wings), check out these episode: We debate the best live TV moments in pop culture…
Our rules for music festivals
Jul 21, 2026 · 18 min
Have some people forgotten how to behave at music festivals? Summer is peak music festival season, and that means many of us are braving huge crowds and sweltering heat to see a bunch of artists we love in one place. But is there a decline in social decorum in these concert settings? From using phones to being in the front row to navigating crowds, today we’re sharing personal and passionate takes about music festival etiquette. If you are looking for more episodes like this one, check out: The…
The Hawk
Jul 20, 2026 · 15 min
Will Ferrell stars as a past-his-prime golfer in the new Netflix series, The Hawk. If you loved watching him play self-absorbed athletes in Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby and Blades of Glory, you might be into this too. He reunited with some funny former collaborators like Molly Shannon, Luke Wilson, and Chris Parnell. The Frat Pack vibes are high, but does this old school sports comedy feel fresh or stuck in the past? If you want more big goofy gags, check out these episodes: ‘Gail…
The Odyssey and What's Making Us Happy
Jul 17, 2026 · 26 min
The Odyssey is director Christopher Nolan’s spectacular take on Homer’s epic work – full of gods, monsters, love and very bloody revenge. Matt Damon plays Odysseus, who is trying to get home to his wife and son, played by Anne Hathaway and Tom Holland. But the journey home is not easy, as Odyssey and his crew are confronted with sea monsters, nymphs, whirlpools and cannibals. If you’re looking for more great epic blockbusters, check out these recommendations: 'Oppenheimer' looks at the building…
Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass
Jul 15, 2026 · 17 min
Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass is a comedy, but it’s mostly a very funny hang. Zoey Deutch plays a small town hairdresser whose fiancee has just had sex with the celebrity on his sex pass list. She's determined to do the same – with Jon Hamm. She sets off to Hollywood to find him and gathers a motley crew along the way. The film was directed by David Wain, also is known for Wet Hot American Summer. For other goofy comedies, check out these episodes: 'Jackass: Best and Last' looks back,…
Little House on the Prairie
Jul 14, 2026 · 22 min
You may be familiar with the world of Little House on the Prairie, either through Laura Ingalls Wilder’s beloved books, or the 1970s TV adaptation. Now, Netflix is once again bringing the Ingalls family to life with a new series. It focuses on earlier in Laura's life in Kansas, where the promise of available land for the family comes at the expense of a local Osage population that's being pushed out. During this time, the Ingalls family must make friends in their local community and deal with th…
The Invite
Jul 13, 2026 · 20 min
What happens when a simple dinner party goes off the rails? That’s the premise of The Invite, a very good new comedy directed by Olivia Wilde. Wilde also stars alongside Seth Rogen as a couple who invite their neighbors over for a meal, played by Penelope Cruz and Edward Norton. And it’s a heck of a dinner party, full of frank talk about sex and its complications. If you like slightly absurd relationship comedies, check out these episodes: 'Mr. & Mrs. Smith' is a stylish take on spy marriage In…
Moana and What’s Making Us Happy
Jul 10, 2026 · 22 min
Moana is back in Disney’s new sort-of-live-action remake, but how far does it go from the original? Dwayne Johnson returns as Maui, appearing in the flesh this time around. Catherine Laga'aia plays Moana, who sets out to save her island, along with her chicken. The film features a new song from Lin-Manuel Miranda, who also wrote songs for the original animated film. Craving more live action Disney remakes? Check out these episodes: 'Lilo & Stitch' brings its fuzzy agent of chaos to the real worl…
2026 Emmy Nominations
Jul 8, 2026 · 27 min
The 2026 Emmy nominations are here. We’re unpacking the record-breaking nominations for Hacks, plus a big day for Widow’s Bay, The Pitt, and The Bear. We’ll also talk about the snubs and make some early predictions of who will win. Connect with Pop Culture Happy Hour: Letterboxd / Facebook Our weekly newsletter Support Pop Culture Happy Hour+ See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR P…
Gen Z and the movies
Jul 7, 2026 · 21 min
Two big horror films, Obsession and Backrooms, just smashed all box office expectations. So much of their success has been driven by Gen Z, which is now the biggest moviegoing demographic. But what makes a movie a Gen Z movie? Today we’re bringing you an episode of NPR’s It’s Been a Minute. Host Brittany Luse talks about this trend with Sam Adams and Reanna Cruz. If you want to hear more about these movies, check out these episodes: In ‘Obsession,’ love hurts. It really, really, really hurts. 'B…
A wacky merchandise quiz
Jul 6, 2026 · 21 min
Everywhere you look, movies and TV shows are teaming up with all kinds of companies to make odd product tie-ins. Green Shrek ketchup. The Handmaid’s Tale wine. Grogu serving boards. Today on the show, we’re playing a game about some very strange brand collaborations. If you like want more episodes like this one, check out: We fantasy cast 'The Traitors' Our 15th Anniversary Time Capsule A Cameo Quiz Connect with Pop Culture Happy Hour: Letterboxd / Facebook Our weekly newsletter Support Pop Cult…
Minions & Monsters and What’s Making Us Happy
Jul 3, 2026 · 22 min
Minions & Monsters is the newest addition to the Despicable Me franchise, but this prequel set the minions loose in 1920s Hollywood. They naturally become superstars in the age of silent film. But, as talkies take over, they struggle to stay relevant — until one of them ends up conjuring some cute but deadly monsters using a dead wizard’s old spell book. After many films featuring the hijinks of the yellow pill-shaped oddballs, does this minions feature give off any old Hollywood charm? If you n…
The Bear
Jul 1, 2026 · 23 min
Did the final season of FX’s The Bear serve up the perfect last bite or are diners and viewers alike left wishing for more? Carmy (Jeremy Allen White), Syd (Ayo Edebiri), and the rest of the kitchen staff are back in action as they face down their final day of service. It’s now streaming on Hulu. If you like seriously funny dramas, check out these episodes: ‘Widow’s Bay’ is an island in the scream We are united in our love of ‘Pluribus’ Connect with Pop Culture Happy Hour: Letterboxd / Facebook…
The best depictions of the American dream
Jun 30, 2026 · 33 min
America turns 250 this year. So for this special birthday, we discuss our picks for what pieces of pop culture best depict the American dream, including The Wire, Apollo 13, Grey Gardens, and the spiritual successor to Tracy Chapman’s “Fast Car.” If you like want more episodes like this one, check out: How we handle spoilers Our 15th anniversary time capsule We rewatch the movies we loved as teens Pop culture that changed our minds Connect with Pop Culture Happy Hour: Letterboxd / Facebook Our w…
Jackass: Best and Last
Jun 29, 2026 · 22 min
In Jackass: Best and Last, Johnny Knoxville, Steve-O, and the rest of the crew are back for a final round of stunts, pranks, and laughs. The film features new laugh-out-loud bits as well as footage from the franchise’s best clips over its long history. But did Jackass: Best and Last stick the landing or fall just short of a big bang? Need more gut-busting laughs? Check out these episodes: ‘Stop! That! Train!’ goes off the rails in a good way In 'Dicks: The Musical', broad jokes, narrow audience…
Supergirl and What’s Making Us Happy
Jun 26, 2026 · 23 min
Hollywood’s newest Supergirl is kind of a dirtbag — in the good way. Fearless and grumpy, Supergirl (Milly Alcock) sets out on a quest to support a new pal’s revenge journey and to make a point that should be clear by now: Never mess with a lady’s dog. Also featuring David Corenswet and Jason Momoa, is Supergirl a worthy follow up to Superman? If you want more DC superhero action, check out these episodes: 'Superman' takes off and nails the landing 'The Batman' puts the emo in emote Connect with…
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