Oscar Nominations, Black Panther, Kelela – IP 108

January 24, 2018January 23, 2018 | insidepoppodcast

It’s been a long, strange, sometimes underwhelming trip to the Oscar Nominations but we’re here to share our immediate reactions. We give you our thoughts on why certain movies are heading to the red carpet and others got snubbed and we also try to make sense of why the film Three Billboards Outside of Ebbing, Missouri has become a frontrunner. We celebrate nominations for Get Out, The Big Sick, Logan, Mudbound and Lady Bird and share our gratitude to whomever was genius enough to book Tiffany Haddish to announce the nominations.

Plus, Sean makes his case for why Black Panther should have received an Oscar nomination THIS year! He’s not joking!

And we end the show with The Big Sell. Sean rates Amita’s Big Sell from last time, Kelela’s “Frontline,” and then Big Sells Amita an article by Alissa Wilkinson (one of his favorite culture critics) on the backlash against Three Billboards Outside of Ebbing, Missouri. Read it HERE

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#TimesUp, Golden Globes, Justin Timberlake, Kendrick Lamar, SZA, Cardi B, Bruno Mars – IP 107

January 10, 2018January 9, 2018 | insidepoppodcast

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This week, Hollywood flexed its social justice muscle once again when it turned the 75th Golden Globes ceremony into a rally for gender equality. We’ll debate the effectiveness of the black clad ceremony and revel in the glory of Oprah Winfrey’s memorable speech.

Then, we’ll review new songs by some of the biggest stars in music including Bruno Mars and Cardi B’s “Finesse (Remix),” Kendrick Lamar and SZA’s collaboration, “All the Stars,” from the upcoming Black Panther film and Justin Timberlake’s Super Bowl appetizer, “Filthy.”

Plus, Amita reviews last week’s Big Sell, the uplifting new age song by Laraaji, “I Can Only Bliss Out (F’ Days)” and then Big Sells Sean on a new song by Kelela.

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Black Mirror, The Chi, Forgotten Films of 2017 with Dave Karger, Pop Culture Resolutions – IP 106

January 3, 2018January 2, 2018 | insidepoppodcast

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Did you resolve to put more time and energy into staying on top of the best pop culture stories of the week? Lucky for you, The Pop Insiders are here to help you keep that resolution with our brand new episode!

First, we give our spoiler free reviews of the new Lena Waithe Showtime drama – The Chi (please feel free to listen and then correct our pronunciation of the title of this show) and the first episode of the new season of Black Mirror.

Then we speak with IMDb special correspondent and frequent Today Show awards commentator – Dave Karger – about the movies of 2017 that may not be front-runners for the big awards, but are definitely worthy of your attention. From Detroit to Wonderstruck to Downsizing, Dave will tell you why you should give these flicks a second – or maybe first chance.

We also share our pop culture resolutions for the new year and hold each other accountable for how successful we were in keeping our 2017 resolutions.

And the Big Sell returns – Sean recommends (wait for it) a new new age song (nope that isn’t a typo) to start Amita’s year off on an optimistic and blissful note.

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Best Movie Performances of 2017 – IP 105

December 20, 2017 | insidepoppodcast

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We have spent hours upon hours sitting in dark theaters watching some of the most talked about films of the year and are ready to share our final “Best of” list of 2017!

This year, we’re focusing on the performances that captivated us, made us laugh, cry and gave us all the feels. From Daniel Kaluuya’s portrayal as a boyfriend slowly awakening to the horrors of his girlfriend’s family in Get Out to Saoirse Ronan playing a emotional teenager in Lady Bird, to the complex relationship between Hugh Jackman and Patrick Stewart in Logan, 2017 has gifted us with some incredible performances by some of our favorite actors and a few new faces as well.

Amita’s Favorite Performances:

Frances McDormand in Three Billboards Outside of Ebbing, Missouri
Michael Stuhlbarg in Call Me By Your Name
- Read how Michael Stuhlbarg and Director Luca Guadagnino crafted this pivotal scene here
Brooklynn Prince in The Florida Project
Saoirse Ronan in Lady Bird
Kumail Nanjiani in The Big Sick
Denzel Washington in Roman J. Israel, Esq.
Betty Gabriel in Get Out
Allison Janney in I, Tonya
Sally Hawkins in The Shape of Water

Sean’s Favorite Performances:

Patrick Stewart & Hugh Jackman in Logan
Samuel L. Jackson as the voice of James Baldwin in I Am Not Your Negro
Timothée Chalamet in Call Me By Your Name
Jason Mitchell in Mudbound
Laurie Metcalf in Lady Bird
Daniel Kaluuya in Get Out
Octavia Spencer in The Shape of Water

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Janet Jackson State of the World Tour, Top Female Friendships in Pop Culture, John Legend – IP 101

November 22, 2017November 21, 2017 | insidepoppodcast

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This week, we bask in the glow of seeing the one and only Janet Jackson (Ms. Jackson if you’re Nasty) in Brooklyn on her State of the World Tour. Find out which one of us puts this show in their Top 3 Concerts of all time.

Then, we discuss our Top Female Friendships in Pop Culture- featuring The Golden Girls, the women of Living Single, Lucy & Ethel, Meredith & Cristina and more. We share how their bonds inspire us and why their relationships are everlasting.

And Amita rates and reviews last week’s Big Sell from Sean- John Legend’s cover of Joni Mitchell’s “Woodstock” and also shares the origin of this song as part of a collection of covers for the new Ken Burns documentary about The Vietnam War. You can find all of the songs and their originals here. And then Amita sells the single “Underdog” by singer/songwriter Banks.

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Interview with Dee Rees & Charles King of Mudbound, 100th Episode, Inside Pop Quiz – IP 100

November 15, 2017November 14, 2017 | insidepoppodcast

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After two years, and thousands of hours of tv viewing, music listening and theater attending . . . Inside Pop’s 100th episode has arrived! Join us as we celebrate 100 episodes of pop culture obsession!

First up, we present our interview with director Dee Rees (Pariah, Bessie) and Charles King, Executive Producer, CEO and Founder of Macro. The pair sit down with Sean to discuss their new film, Mudbound; and in addition to sharing a behind the scenes view of their epic new film, they also discuss their unique working relationship; why they both choose to work in film AND television and their future plans to tell diverse stories.

Next, we celebrate our 100th episode with a special edition of the Inside Pop quiz called, ” You Don’t Know Me Inside Pop . . .Quiz!” Sean and Amita quiz each other on how well they know . . . their own podcast. Can you guess who has won the equivalent of the Inside Pop EGOT? Can you name all of the inductees in Sean’s ‘House of Hyperbole’? Play along to see if your attention span and your memory is better than ours.

And we present the 100th edition of the Big Sell. Sean’s rates Amita’s Big Sell from last week, the artist Makoto Azuma, and sells Amita John Legend’s cover of Joni Mitchell’s “Woodstock.”

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Thor: Ragnarok, N.E.R.D & Rihanna “Lemon”, Sexual Harassment in Hollywood – IP 99

November 8, 2017 | insidepoppodcast

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This week, Christmas comes early in the form of the new single “Lemon” from N.E.R.D & Rihanna! We try (and fail) to contain our excitement about the song, video and their upcoming album. We provide an N.E.R.D primer and also bow down to the dancer in the music video- Mette Towley.

Then, Sean gives a review of Thor: Ragnarok he was not expecting to give; and we question whether we’re in the midst of a superhero films and TV overload.

Plus, we have a frank discussion about the recent sexual harassment allegations in Hollywood – our reactions, opinions and a personal story.

And of course- there is no Inside Pop without the Big Sell! Amita gives her thoughts, rating and review on Sean’s suggestion- the music documentary George Michael: Freedom and sells Sean on an innovative floral artist Makoto Azuma.

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LINKS:

If you like the new N.E.R,D video Lemon – check out its ancestor Janet Jackson’s The Pleasure Principle

Read the article Sean references in the discussion about how to handle sexual misconduct in the workplace:

Checking My Male Privilege by Charles M. Blow

Best Fall Movies, Big Sell 30 – IP 97

October 25, 2017October 25, 2017 | insidepoppodcast

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The falling leaves, the crisp chill in the air, the smell of a distant fireplace burning – all of those signs of Fall compel us to do one thing – head into a dark theater and watch as many movies as possible!

This week we discuss four new movies we’ve seen that we want you to know all about. Hear our thoughts on Call Me By Your Name, Wonderstruck, The Florida Project and Suburbicon. Within our discussion Sean reveals why you’re not going to hear him use the ‘O’ word (Oscar) until 2018 and Amita shares why she’s planning to limit her movie trailer consumption.

Also, we have a special guest #BigSell30 from Zara Findlay-Shirras who double Big Sells us her new travel site Half Moon Guides and her podcast Totes Faves (last year we big sold Zara’s fab instagram feed – @DanaScullyStyle ).

And Amita Big Sells Seanon a favorite new photographer, Stefan Draschan.

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Cover Songs, Fall TV Mid-Season Check, #BigSell30 – IP 96

October 18, 2017October 17, 2017 | insidepoppodcast

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Why not take a break from re-watching the Black Panther trailer and listen to this brand new episode of Inside Pop!

First up, we discuss some of our favorite cover songs. What makes a great cover song and what are some of the best? We discuss covers and originals performed by Prince, Adele, Joni Mitchell, Johnny Cash, Bob Marley, Whitney Houston, Annie Lennox and more!

Remember the sense of optimism you felt at the beginning of the TV season? That belief that you’d be bowled over by a ton of new amazing shows and that all of your favorite returning shows would continue to be your favorites? Well, we felt that way too and now it’s time to face the music (or the should we say ‘the flat screen’). We’re doing a mid-season check in to see which shows are must-see and which are about to be deleted from the DVR. We discuss This is Us, The Deuce, Queen Sugar, The Defenders, The Exorcist, Wisdom of the Crowd and more!

And we’ll also check in on the #BigSell30 Challenge and discuss how our lives have improved while experiencing one new piece of pop culture every day this month.

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Favorite Pop Culture Families, Queen Sugar Interview Part 2, Tom Petty, Big Sell 30 – IP 94

October 4, 2017October 3, 2017 | insidepoppodcast

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It’s a family Affair this week on Inside Pop!

We start off with a discussion of our favorite pop culture families – both real and fictional including The Jacksons, The Fischers, The Pearsons and The Knowles Sisters (Beyonce AND Solange).

Then we bring you the second part of our interview with Kat Candler, the producing director of Queen Sugar. We dive into the mid season premiere and illuminate the character development, storylines and memorable scenes from the episode which was directed by film legend Julie Dash (Daughters of the Dust).

Then Amita shares her favorite Tom Petty songs in tribute to the recently deceased singer.

And finally we check in on the Big Sell 30 Day Challenge and discuss how our daily intake of new pop culture is changing our lives for the better. And Sean shares the Big Sell Day 4 of 30 – Middle of Nowhere by Ava DuVernay!