Game of Thrones, Spiderman: Homecoming, Cannes Film Festival, Wonder Woman, American Gods, Hype Songs – IP 77

This week, we are jam packed with everything you need to know about the latest in pop culture! We start off with a roundup of new trailers for Game of Thrones and Spiderman: Homecoming- do they live up to the hype?

And speaking of hype- we discuss our “Hype Songs” – the tracks that make us turnt up, get us energized and keep us in a good mood to conquer the day or rule the night.

Then, we discuss Sofia Coppola’s win at Cannes Film Festival for Best Director of the upcoming film The Beguiled, and the controversy surrounding the female only screenings popping up around the country for Wonder Woman this coming weekend.

Plus, Sean returns to the House of Hyperbole to discuss the most sexual sex scene he’s ever witnessed on television in the new series, American Gods.

And Amita gives her review and rating of last week’s Big Sell, British singer songwriter, Laura Mvula and suggests another unique soulful voice- Earl St. Clair.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram @PopInsiders

Twin Peaks, Chris Cornell, Alien: Covenant, Black Mirror – IP 76

It is happening again!

That’s right – we are back with another episode covering the most interesting pop culture of the week. Our topics this episode include:

  • Twin Peaks returns and Sean attempts to make sense of David Lynch and Mark Frosts’ deep, dark, inscrutable work. Does it live up to the immense hype and Sean’s great expectations? Listen to find out!
  • Chris Cornell died last week and Amita Patel shares her feelings and memories of the singer and also provides a guide to finding some of his best work online.
  • Alien: Covenant is the latest offering from Ridley Scott and Sean lets you know whether this film lives up to what we’ve come to expect from the director of Gladiator,  Thelma & Louise and of course, the original Alien.
  • The creators of Black Mirror, Charlie Brooker and Annabel Jones, spoke at Vulture Fest in NYC and Amita Patel was there in order to share the inside scoop with you! Listen to hear insight into the creation of one of the great shows on TV today.
  • The Big Sell! Listen to hear what Sean thinks of Amita’s Big Sell from last week, the web series Hot Ones, which features celebrities promoting their latest project . . . while they eat hot wings. Amita’s pick features Key & Peele in the hot seat. And then Sean Big Sells Amita on a British singer (imagine that) he’s recently discovered.

Twitter & Instagram – @Popinsiders

Links:

Amita’s Top 5 songs to remember Chris Cornell:

Audioslave- Like a Stone: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QU1nvuxaMA

Soundgarden- Black Hole Sun (solo vocals): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bY5tDB9mp3c

Temple of the Dog- Hunger Strike: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VUb450Alpps

Nothing Compares 2 U- Prince cover @ Sirius XM: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IuUDRU9-HRk

I Will Always Love You: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KOvH5LSH9Sw

Master of None S2, Twin Peaks, Scandal Ends – IP 75

Let’s Rock!

This week we react to the first four masterful episodes of Aziz Ansari and Alan Yang’s, Master of None. Amita shares the particular joy that comes with watching this South Asian auteur do his his thing!

Then we explain why watching the current season of Scandal is the equivalent to having Pity Sex!

Next we introduce a new segment, Way Into, in which we present a guide for you to become as ‘Way Into” a piece of pop culture as we are. In this inaugural segment, Sean presents a Way Into . . .  Twin Peaks – and tells you everything you need to know and do to prepare for the Twin Peaks premiere on Showtime on Sunday May 21st.

Then we celebrate our 75th episode in a very special way!

And as always, we end with The Big Sell. Amita rates and reviews Sean’s Instagram Big Sell from last week and sells him on a YouTube series that involves chicken, celebrities and hot sauce… Spicy!

Thanks to all of our listeners! Whether you’ve listened from the beginning or just recently found us – we are thrilled to have you here for our special milestone episode!

The best is yet come!

Sean’s Way Into Twin Peaks

  1. Watch Season 1
    1. If you only have time for two eps out of the 7 watch The Pilot and episode 3 – Zen, or the Skill to Catch a Killer.
  2. Read: The Secret Diary of Laura Palmer
  3.  Watch Season 2 episodes 1-7.
    1. If you only have time for two episodes watch the season premiere + episode 7 Lonely Souls (Laura Palmer’s Killer is REVEALED!)
  4. Watch Fire Walk with Me.
  5. Watch Wild at Heart
  6. Read: The Secret History of Twin Peaks

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram @popinsiders

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, Sense8, The Dark Tower, The Defenders, South Asians on TV & Film, Broadway, Game of Thrones – IP 74

The May pop culture hot streak continues so we discuss the release of the trailers for the highly anticipated film adaptation of the Stephen King series, The Dark Tower; and The Defenders on Netflix.

Then, Amita gives her immediate (and spoiler free) reaction to Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 and also shares her exciting experience winning a Broadway Lottery. Meanwhile Sean is incapable of containing his excitement over the premiere of the 2nd season of Sense8.

The Pop Insiders also share the details of the recently announced Game of Thrones spin-offs and share which GoT characters they’d most want to see Frasiered.

Plus, Amita celebrates the influx of South Asians on TV and Film and the joy and inspiration they have given her.

And Sean reviews  last’s week’s Hall & Oates big sell and sells Amita on a climate change focused Instagram feed.

Stay in touch with us on Twitter and Instagram @popinsiders

Links:

The Defenders trailer

The Dark Tower trailer

Big Sell: Everyday Climate Change Instagram feed

DJ Khaled, Chance the Rapper, The Handmaid’s Tale, Mary J. Blige, Prince & The Revolution, Jonathan Demme, Gorillaz – IP 73

The Pop Insiders never lie! As promised – May is lit and in this episode we dive into the unbearable ‘litness’ of pop culture in its first week. We discuss:

  • DJ Khaled’s new song of the summer contender, “I’m the One”. We review the song and focus on Chance the Rapper’s provocative verse.
  • Mary J. Blige’s new album, Strength of a Woman.
  • The Handmaid’s Tale on Hulu.
  • Our ecstatic experience seeing The Revolution live in NYC.
  •  The passing of the great director, Jonathan Demme.

And of course we end with the Big Sell. Amita reviews Sean’s pick from last week – the recent Gorillaz episode of the music focused podcast, Song Exploder.

This week’s Big Sell: Amita sells a profile on Daryl Hall & John Oates featured on CBS Sunday Morning.

Give us a shout out on Twitter or Instagram @PopInsiders!

Check Out James Dinh’s review of The Revolution’s show in NYC HERE

May Pop Culture Preview, Tribeca Film Festival, DJ Spinna – IP 72

This week, we preview the upcoming pop culture that we’re most looking forward to in May. From Master of None to Twin Peaks, Alien: Covenant to Guardians of the Galaxy, Gorillaz and The Billboard Music Awards- we’ll tell you why this is the pop culture you cannot miss next Month!

We also share our experiences at the Tribeca Film Festival and our night out at the DJ Spinna Soul Slam party.

Plus, Sean gives his rating and review of a special episode of The Mindy Project and sells Amita on a music focused podcast.

Follow us @PopInsiders and let us know what pop culture you’re looking forward to in May.

Links:

Check out Sean discuss Gorillaz as A Perfect Pop Act on The Perfect Podcast

The Last Jedi, Kendrick Lamar, MTV Movie & TV Awards, A Tribe Called Quest – IP 71

In this episode we’re focusing on some of the major pop culture releases of the month!

The trailer for the latest installment of the Star Wars series- The Last Jedi– was released and Sean gives an in depth analysis of the themes of this teaser and theories on the film.

Then, there is no containing our adoration for the incomparable Kendrick Lamar and his latest album, DAMN. We review and reflect on the rap genius and share our initial reactions.

Plus, MTV revamped and expanded their Movie Awards to include television and also removed separate gender categories. We discuss whether this is a smart move to refresh a decades old awards show.

And Amita reviews last week’s Big Sell- A Tribe Called Quest’s latest video directed by Atlanta‘s Hiro Murai for the single- “Dis Generation”, and sells Sean on a recent episode of The Mindy Project.

Let us know your thoughts on all of the above on Twitter or Instagram @PopInsiders

Links:

A Tribe Called Quest: Dis Generation video

Rolling Stone track by track guide to Kendrick Lamar’s Damn.

The Walking Dead, Big Little Lies, Prince, Kendrick Lamar – IP 70

This week, we achieve the impossible- we discuss the finales of The Walking Dead and Big Little Lies without spoiling a thing! Our discussion focuses on the appropriate length of a season and the pros and cons of producing a series with an end in sight.

Then, Sean takes a purple moment to celebrate the 30th Anniversary of Prince’s seminal album, Sign O The Times.

And the Big Sell gets super sized thanks to Kendrick Lamar’s single “The Heart Part 4” and the new music video for “Humble”.

Listen now and let us know what you thought about the finales of The Walking Dead and Big Little Lies- @popinsiders on Twitter or Instagram.

Links:
Kendrick Lamar’s “Humble” video

A Tribe Called Quests’s music video for Dis Generation

Top Fashionable Females on TV, March Madness Bracket Winner, The White Helmets – IP 69

We conclude our pop culture themed Women’s History Month segments with an interview with Esta Fiesta, host of the Poised N Polished podcast! We talk to Esta about her top 3 fashionable female characters on TV and discuss fashion and feminism.

Next, the conclusion of our inaugural March Madness bracket dedicated to Amita’s celebrity husbands contains a surprising finale. Wait until you hear who she chooses to be her ultimate celeb husband.

And we discuss Sean’s Big Sell from last week, the Oscar winning documentary short, The White Helmets.

Tweet us who you would have picked to win the March Madness bracket @Popinsiders and let us know your favorite fashionable female on TV.

Links:

Poised N Polished on iTunes

Esta Fiesta’s Blog – Living Fiesta

 

Inside Pop Quiz, Amita’s Celebrity Husbands Bracket, Jorja Smith – IP 68

This week, we continue our special Women’s History Month segments with a female themed Inside Pop Quiz and Amita starts to narrow down her celebrity husbands in the Inaugural Inside Pop March Madness Bracket! You won’t believe who she picked. (And neither does Sean!)

And Sean gives his review of last week’s Big Sell, British singer/songwriter Jorja Smith.

Tweet us your thoughts on Amita’s Celebrity Husband choices and quiz our pop culture knowledge @PopInsiders