Pretty Much Pop: A Culture Podcast

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
April 18, 2024

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
April 12, 2024

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
March 21, 2024

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?)
March 07, 2024

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
February 23, 2024

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
February 08, 2024

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
January 24, 2024

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
January 11, 2024

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
December 21, 2023

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?
December 10, 2023

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.