Pretty Much Pop: A Culture Podcast
Latest Episodes
PMP-NEM Crossover: Head vs. Gut Songwriting w/ Roger Joseph Manning Jr., David Christian, Rachel Taylor Brown
When we write, how much is planned vs. improvised? How much is inspirational vs. double-or-triple checked? How does this factor weigh into how much music we release, how eclectic our sound is, and how
PMP#171: The Traitors – A Multi-National Reality Game Show Phenom
Mark, Lawrence, Sarahlyn, and Al discuss the American version, and to a lesser extent the British and Australian versions, of this reality game show that originated in 2021 in the Netherlands, based o
PMP#170: Poor Things and Other Yorgos
We discuss the 4-Oscar-winning film Poor Things as well as the other creations of writer/director Yorgos Lanthimos, including most notably The Lobster, Dogtooth, and The Killing of a Sacred Deer. Thes
PMP#169: Doctor Who? (When?)
Do you Who? Did you Who back in the day, or just from the point of the 2005 revival? Did you Who through Tennant, Smith, Capaldi... Were you still on board for Whittaker, and now as Disney+ and reviva
PMP#168: Writing Women’s Fiction w/ Kathryn Leigh Scott
To celebrate the publication of the latest novel by one of our hosts, Sarahlyn Bruck, we bring back acclaimed actor/author Kathryn Leigh Scottto join Mark and Al. We discuss women's fiction as a mark
PMP#167: “May December” and Other Docudramas
When we've already heard about someone's personal scandal in the news, do we need to also see it dramatized with A-list actors? We discuss Todd Haynes' 2023 film fictionalizing the long-aftermath of t
PMP#166: Miyazaki’s Anime Dreamscapes
In light of the new, acclaimed film, The Boy and the Heron, Mark, Lawrence, Sarahlyn, and Al reflect on the Studio Ghibli films that Hayao Miyazaki has directed since the '80s. Does the visionary desi
PMP#165: Jewish Comedy w/ Daniel Lobell
Your hosts Mark, Lawrence, Sarahlyn, and Al explore Jewish comedy with stand-up Daniel, whose film Reconquistador is about his ancestors being kicked out of Spain. What's the connection of Jewish humo
PMP#164: Muppets, esp. Their Xmas Carol
For our annual holiday episode, Mark, Lawrence, Sarahlyn, and Al talk all things Muppets, but in particular the 1992 film The Muppet Christmas Carol. What's the appeal of this puppet act? Is its humor
PMP#163: Marvel Fatigue?
Mark, Lawrence, Sarahlyn, Al and special guest Vi Burlew talk about the new film The Marvels as well as more generally what's been coming out in film and TV from the Marvel folks in the latest "phase.