Luke Cage Season 2, Won’t You Be My Neighbor – IP 128

We’re heading straight to Harlem for this special Luke Cage edition of Inside Pop. We’ve seen the second season of Marvel’s Luke Cage and we’re bringing you an exclusive preview of the first two episodes. We’ll also provide some fascinating behind the scenes info about the show’s music and production crew and theorize why vocal fans of the first season may have inspired the more volatile Season 2 Luke Cage. Plus, we question why we’re anti-shipping Mariah and Shades.

Then, Amita reviews the new documentary, Won’t You Be My Neighbor, about legendary children’s TV host Fred Rogers.

Plus, we have a brand new Big Sell that tackles one of the ugliest, and sadly most prevalent problems in Hollywood.

Fans of Luke Cage will want to check out our interview with showrunner Cheo Hodari Coker.

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Queer Eye Season 2, LGBTQ Pop Culture – IP 127

We’re celebrating Pride Month in this episode by highlighting some of our favorite queer pop culture.

First up, we’ve had an advanced look at the second season of Queer Eye on Netflix and we’re giving you an exclusive preview of the series that consistently gives everyone the feels. We’ll tell you how the series is breaking even more new ground than ever before.

And then we bring you a special rainbow colored Big Sell in which we recommend some under the radar pop culture with an LGBTQ focus that you will definitely want to put on your must watch/must listen list.

Big Sells:

Bronski Beat – The Age of Consent

A Time to Leave – Trailer

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Pose, Kanye West, Roseanne Cancellation – IP 126

This week, we are serving all sorts of pop culture realness – starting with our first impressions of the new Ryan Murphy series, Pose, on FX. Amita shares how Viceland’s My House influenced her viewing experience of Pose and Sean comments on why both shows are helping bring a piece of LGBTQ culture to the masses.

Then, Amita shares her thoughts and honest critique about Kanye West’s new 7 song album, Ye, and revealing that he is bipolar.

Plus, we discuss if the idea of a Roseanne spinoff is smart or problematic.

And Sean gives a rare high rating to Amita’s big sell from last week- a TED Talk by Tracee Ellis Ross.

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Queen Sugar Season 3 Premiere – IP 125

We’ve been waiting for months and it’s finally here! The Queen Sugar Season 3 Premiere aired on Tuesday night and we have an exclusive interview with the director of the hit OWN series- DeMane Davis.

We had the privilege of watching the Season Premiere in advance of our interview with DeMane so be warned, there will be spoilers in this podcast! We chatted with DeMane about the unique way she connected with Ava DuVernay to get the opportunity to work on the series, her approach to directing the premiere episode, being the newly appointed Producing Director and learned about the many hats she has to wear in that role. And of course, we talked about how she shot the paternity test reveal scene that everyone is talking about!

Plus, Amita gives her rating and review of Sean’s Big Sell from last week- Angelique Kidjo’s cover of the Talking Heads hit- “Once in a Lifetime” and sells a powerful TED Talk from Tracee Ellis Ross in the midst of the #MeToo movement.

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Deadpool 2, Janet Jackson at the Billboard Awards, Vulture Festival – IP 124

We have an embarrassment of pop culture riches this week!

First up, Amita provides a spoiler free review of the box office record breaking Deadpool 2. Sean hasn’t seen the film yet, but it doesn’t stop him from asking deep probing questions (you guessed it – Josh Brolin’s physique is a point of discussion!).

Then, Sean and Amita discuss Janet Jackson’s appearance at the Billboard Music Awards. They rate her red carpet look and give what may be considered a surprisingly objective review of her performance.

The Pop Insiders also discuss their time at the two-day pop culture celebration in New York City known as Vulture Festival. They share the inside info they heard at panels featuring the stars of RuPaul’s Drag Race, Younger, Queer Eye and Queen Sugar.

And in The Big Sell, Sean rates Madison McFerrin’s song, “Insane,” and sells a new cover song by the one and only Angelique Kidjo.

Plus – a surprise announcement about an appearance the Pop Insiders are making this summer!

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Avengers: Infinity War, Janelle Monae’s Dirty Computer, Tribeca Film Festival, Kanye West- IP 121

We’ve witnessed (and survived) a huge week in pop culture and are here to tell the tale!

First, we share our SPOILER FREE thoughts about the latest chapter in Marvel’s Avengers series- Avengers: Infinity War, and find out if the superhero filled sequel succeeded in meeting our expectations

Then, we’re all about Janelle Monae’s latest album, Dirty Computer, and the accompanying emotion picture.  We predict the songs we want to be the next single and chat about her musical evolution from her first album to this new offering.

Plus, we had the privilege to see a Tribeca Talk featuring Oscar winning screenwriter & director Alexander Payne and legendary talk show host Dick Cavett and share some of the tidbits from their conversation.

And Sean gives his thoughts on Kanye’s latest public statements.

And of course, The Big Sell. Amita shares the musical journey she went on with Sean’s three tiered Prince video project and shares an EP from a young jazz/soul/pop singer from New Zealand named Wallace.

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Cardi B’s Invasion of Privacy, A Quiet Place, Children of a Lesser God, Saturday Night Live, P!nk – IP 118

This week we have a proverbial pop culture hat trick with a trifecta of TV, Film and Music covered in our episode.

It may seem like there was not a time before you knew Cardi B existed – but she’s just released her debut album, Invasion of Privacy, and we’re telling you what we think of it- plus sharing our thoughts on her SNL performance (and her SNL ‘announcement’).

We review the number one movie of the week, A Quiet Place and the broadway revival of Children of a Lesser God and discuss how each portrays its hearing impaired characters.

And Amita talks about the swinging time she had with P!nk at Madison Square Garden.

Plus the Big Sell!

And we tell you why the time is NOW to become a member of the Maximum Fun podcast network!

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Spring 2018 Pop Culture Preview, Max Fun Drive – IP 117

In honor of the Max Fun Drive- we are proud to present our Spring Pop Culture Preview! We’ll share some inside info on the highly anticipated TV, Film and Music due out this Spring. And to help us out- our special guests – the hosts of  Long Distance POPcast and JoJCast also share their picks!

Spring is no longer the season to bide your time while you await the big summer blockbusters and concert tours. Some of the most innovative and surprising pieces of pop culture are about to slide into your earbuds and onto your television and movie screens and we’ll tell you what cannot be missed!

Spring is also the time to support your favorite podcasts by becoming a member of Maximum Fun! We’ll tell you the glory (and gifts) that await you if you decide to become a member or renew your membership.

Take a look below at all of the upcoming pop culture packed into this special podcast!

Music

Janelle Monae – Dirty Computer

Elton John Revamp

Lake Street Dive

 

Movies

Tully

Grace Jones: Bloodlight and Bami

Ocean’s 8

 

Television

Patrick Melrose

Lost in Space

Being Serena

Howards End

The Handmaid’s Tale

My House

 

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RuPaul’s Drag Race, Deadpool 2 Trailer, Lena Waithe in Vanity Fair – IP 116

We have more pop culture stuffed into this episode than RuPaul has catchphrases. Almost!

This week we sashay our way into the world of RuPaul’s Drag Race. We discuss the show’s increasing popularity and shed some light on the surprising demographic that has made the show bigger than ever after ten seasons on the air.

Then, we react to the new Deadpool 2 trailer  – Amita’s here for the humor and action; Sean’s here for the MCU’s first openly bisexual hero (and the ensuant fantasies he provokes).

Plus, we preview the new Vanity Fair profile of writer/producer/actor Lena Waithe and discuss what her current success says (or doesn’t say) about the future of Hollywood.

And it’s a musical Big Sell as Sean sees Amita’s Kali Uchis Sell and raises her one Leon Bridges.

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Atlanta Season 2, Avengers: Infinity War trailer, Saturday Night Live, Wolverine Podcast – IP 115

This episode is the ultimate pop culture to do list for the week!

DO listen to our review of the second season of Donald Glover’s series, Atlanta. We discuss whether the show overcomes the dreaded sophomore season slump.

DO hear our reaction to the latest trailer for Marvel’s Avengers: Infinity War. Who will live and who will die? We share our guesses and also estimate how much screen time Doctor Strange will get since he is sharing the screen with 8,000 other heroes.

DO NOT feel any jealousy as Sean tells you what it was like to attend a taping of Saturday Night Live.

DO wonder whether Amita will enjoy Sean’s Big Sell from last week – the new podcast, Wolverine: The Long Night. And also find out which heroes they think should be next to have their own podcast. The inspiration for Sean’s answer can be found in this amazing comic written by Greg Pak.

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