Hooked: A Pop Culture Podcast with Mary Carver

Latest Episodes:

#68 - Food and Friendship in Pop Culture with Aarti Sequeira Jun 15, 2021

Show notes

Welcome to a new episode of The Couch. You are in for such a treat today; I can hardly even wait! Today's guest is a new friend and, as of this spring, a fellow writer at (in)courage, Aarti Sequeira! Aarti is a producer, journalist, and food personality who can be seen on HBO Max's Selena + Chef, several Food Network shows including Guy's Grocery Games, Hallmark Channel's Home & Family, and most notable for at least my 7-year-old, voicing a character in Mira the Royal Detective, a Disney Jr. cartoon series we LOVE at my house.

I enjoyed talking to Aarti SO much, and I'm pretty sure you're going to enjoy this too—and maybe feel a little hungry.

In this episode, we're talking about how food is used to help people gather and connect, both in real life and in pop culture. We also rave for quite a while about our shared favorite show, Ted Lasso. And because this is The Couch, where rabbit trails and side notes are always welcome, we also get into time travel romance, charcuterie boards, and Turkish period dramas. Okay, I can't wait any longer. Let's get started!

MENTIONED IN THE SHOW:

Ted Lasso
Big Boards for Families by Sandy Coughlin
Parenthood
Blue Bloods
Resurrection on Netflix
Lady and the Tramp
Hannibal
Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist
How I Met Your Mother
Chuck
Avengers eating shawarma

NOT-SO-GUILTY PLEASURES:

The Outlander TV series
Charcuterie boards

DON'T FORGET:

Join The Couch on Facebook! It's so much fun!
Find Aarti on Instagram, YouTube, or the Food Network. You can find me on Instagram or at marycarver.com.

Welcome to The Couch!

This post may include affiliate links. This means that if you click and purchase, I might receive a small commission at no extra charge to you.

#67 - Getting By with a Little Help from Our Friends with Kristen Strong Jun 15, 2021

Show notes

Welcome to a new episode of The Couch. Today I'm here with my good friend and friend of the show, Kristen Strong! Kristen is a writer and speaker, a fellow (in)courage contributor and a dear friend. I know you love it when she's here on The Couch, and this will be no exception.

In this episode, we're talking about how friends can help us make it through hard times and some examples of that in pop culture. And because this is The Couch, where rabbit trails and side notes are always welcome, we also get into two TV shows you and your significant other might enjoy watching together and the internet browser extension that has seriously saved my life this past year. All right, time to dive in. Let's get started!

MENTIONED IN THE SHOW:

NOT-SO-GUILTY PLEASURES:

Yellowstone, the series not the place, on Peacock
Turn, the historical spy series on Netflix
The Teleparty app for virtual movie watch parties

DON'T FORGET:

Join The Couch on Facebook! It's so much fun!
Find Kristen on Instagram or at kristenstrong.com. You can find me on Instagram or at marycarver.com.

Welcome to The Couch!

This post may include affiliate links. This means that if you click and purchase, I might receive a small commission at no extra charge to you.

#66 - Holiday Movie Diversity with Anna Rendell Dec 24, 2020

Show notes

Today I'm joined by my very good friend, friend of the show, and Hooked on Holiday Movies partner, Anna Rendell. As you know, if you've been listening to The Couch for a while, Anna and I love holiday movies but we also look at them with a bit of a critical eye, especially when it comes to diversity. So today we're taking a look at the holiday movie season overall to see if the big networks (especially Hallmark) followed through on their promises to be more diverse and inclusive.

I'm not going to lie. Some of our conversation might sound a smidge awkward, because we are two white ladies talking about this. But we think it's worth it. Because this is important, and we need to talk about it, even if it's hard or awkward or we don't know the exact words to use.

So, grab your hot cocoa, stick a candy cane in it or top if off with all the marshmallows (or both! Who are we to judge your holiday movie season beverages?!), and let's get started.

MENTIONED IN THE SHOW:

Jingle Bell Bride
The Christmas House
Christmas with the Darlings
Christmas by Starlight
Wedding Every Weekend
Deliver by Christmas
The Christmas Bow
Christmas Comes Twice
A Christmas Tree Grows in Colorado
Christmas in Evergreen: Bells Are Ringing
Love Lights Hanukkah
Molly of Denali
Mira, Royal Detective
Snowglobe
A Sugar & Spice Holiday
The Christmas Setup
Christmas Ever After
Feliz NaviDad
The Christmas Aunt
Christmas Unwrapped
Let's Meet Again on Christmas Eve
Paul Campbell on Twitter
Eion Bailey's Instagram post

FIND US ONLINE:

You can connect with Anna at @annaerendell on Instagram or on her website.
You can also find me on Instagram or on my website.
And connect with us both and the best pop culture fans on the internet in The Couch Facebook group!

Welcome to The Couch!

BONUS EPISODE: The Christmas Couch #8 with Dorina Lazo Gilmore-Young (The Family Edition) Dec 17, 2020

Show notes

Welcome back to The Christmas Couch! In these weekly bonus episodes, a friend and I recap and review the new holiday movies we watched the weekend before. We tell you if we're giving it a thumbs up or down, how diverse the movie was, what made us groan, "C'mon!" and if we're still hooked on holiday movies.

This week's episode is super fun, because both my guest and I brought our daughters along to chat! My friend (and friend of the show) Dorina Lazo Gilmore-Young brought her daughter Zayla to the Couch, and my daughter Adrienne joined us as well. So that means we've got extra giggles, plenty of rabbit trails, and honestly? Some really good insight from our girls who watch holiday movies along with us.

So, Dorina and Zayla tell us about their favorite five movies of the season so far, and then I talk about a couple Hallmark Channel movies I watched last weekend and, surprise! a movie Adrienne and I watched on UPtv.

MENTIONED IN THE SHOW:

The Christmas Bow (airs next on HMM, 12/20)
The Christmas Waltz (airs next on Hallmark Channel, 12/25)
Time for Us to Come Home for Christmas (airs next on HMM, 12/20)
Five Star Christmas (airs next on Hallmark Channel, 12/19)
A Sugar & Spice Holiday (airs next on Lifetime, 12/19)
Love, Lights & Hanukkah (airs next on Hallmark Channel, 12/19)
Christmas Comes Twice (airs next on Hallmark Channel, 12/19)
Dashing Home for Christmas (airs next on UPtv, 12/20)

FIND US ONLINE:

Find Dorina on her website (where she has a free, beautiful Advent devotional for you!), and you can find me on my website as well.
You're also invited to join us both in The Couch Facebook group.

And, of course, don't forget to get your "hooked on holiday movies" or "this is my holiday movie-watching shirt" shirts! Click here to shop.

Welcome to The Christmas Couch!

This post may include affiliate links. This means that if you click and purchase, I might receive a small commission at no extra charge to you.

BONUS EPISODE: The Christmas Couch #7 with Tori Rask (Christmas in Evergreen Bells Are Ringing & Christmas Ever After) Dec 10, 2020

Show notes

This week, I'm hanging out with my friend and friend of the show, Tori Rask, to talk about the new movies we watched last week. Take a listen to hear our take on Hallmark Channel's Chrismtas in Evergreen: Bells Are Ringing and Lifetime's Christmas Ever After. We also check in with our predictions from the preview episode (ep. #59).

MENTIONED IN THE SHOW:

The Couch Podcast #59 (holiday movie preview episode)
Christmas in Evergreen: Bells Are Ringing
Christmas Ever After

FIND US ONLINE:

Find Tori on Instagram. You can find me on my website and on Instagram.
And join us both in The Couch Facebook group.

And, of course, don't forget to go to HookedonHolidayMovies.com for a free bundle of holiday movie goodness—including a printable schedule of the nearly 100 new movies, recipes, playlist, bingo cards, devotional, movie guides, and more!

Welcome to The Christmas Couch!

This post includes affiliate links. This means that if you click and purchase, I might receive a small commission at no extra charge to you.

BONUS EPISODE: The Christmas Couch #6 with Misty Wagner (Dear Christmas & Rapid-Fire Review of the Rest) Dec 02, 2020

Show notes

This week, I'm hanging out with my friend and fellow podcaster, Misty Wagner, to talk about the new movies we watched last week. Take a listen to hear our take on Dear Christmas (Lifetime) and a whole bunch of others!

MENTIONED IN THE SHOW:

The Couch Podcast #59 (holiday movie preview episode)
Dear Christmas (airs next 12/6)
Feliz NaviDAD (airs next 12/4)
The Princess Switch: Switched Again (Netflix)
A Christmas Tree Grows in Colorado (airs next 12/4)
Good Morning Christmas! (airs next 12/6)
Christmas Chronicles, Part Two (Netflix)
Christmas by Starlight (airs next 12/6)
Five Star Christmas (airs next 12/5)
Christmas Waltz (airs next 12/5)
USS Christmas (airs next 12/4)
If I Only Had Christmas (airs next 12/5)
Once Upon a Main Street (airs next 12/6)
Happiest Season (Hulu)

FIND US ONLINE:

Find Misty at her website and on Instagram. You can find me on my website and on Instagram.
And join us both in The Couch Facebook group.

Welcome to The Christmas Couch!

This post includes affiliate links. This means that if you click and purchase, I might receive a small commission at no extra charge to you.

BONUS EPISODE: The Christmas Couch #5 (A Nashville Christmas Carol & Feliz NaviDAD) Nov 26, 2020

Show notes

This week, I'm hanging out with my new friend and fellow podcaster, Jane, to talk about the new movies we watched last weekend, one from the Hallmark Channel and one from Lifetime. Take a listen to hear our take on A Nashville Christmas Carol and Feliz NaviDAD!

MENTIONED IN THE SHOW:

The Couch Podcast #59 (holiday movie preview episode)
A Nashville Christmas Carol
Feliz NaviDAD
Holiday in Handcuffs

FIND US ONLINE:

Listen to Jane's podcasts, Psych You Out and Friday Five with Lori & Jane. They are both super fun!
Join us both in The Couch Facebook group.

Welcome to The Christmas Couch!

This post includes affiliate links. This means that if you click and purchase, I might receive a small commission at no extra charge to you.

#65 - Ask the Couch, vol. 4, with Alana Dawson Nov 24, 2020

Show notes

You asked and I answered! Today I'm joined by my good friend (and friend of the show), Alana Dawson. Alana is a podcast coach and podcaster, as well as a fellow fan of pop culture, and she is here for another round of "Ask the Couch." You all have sent me your burning questions about TV, movies, books, and more—and I'm here with the answers. Or at least my opinions. Either way, we had a lot of fun talking about all of it, and I think you'll enjoy listening too.

One note: This episode is airing a bit earlier than I originally planned, so when I say that the Saved by the Bell reboot and second season of Virgin River are already out, don't get confused. Saved by the Bell comes back tomorrow, the 25th, and Virgin River returns on Friday, the 27th. Also, if you're wondering why I didn't mention Wonder Woman 1984 when we talk about upcoming movies, it's because at the time of this recording, I didn't know when it would be released. Now we know it will be released in theaters and on HBO Max on Christmas Day, and I am absolutely looking forward to that! All right, everything else should make perfect sense. So get comfy and enjoy episode #65 of The Couch!

MENTIONED IN THE SHOW:

Friday Night Lights (Prime)
Psych (Prime)
Magic Camp (Disney+)
Onward (Prime)
The Baby-Sitters Club (Netflix)
Julie & the Phantoms (Netflix)
Upload (Prime)
Sweet Magnolias (Netflix)
Ted Lasso (Apple TV+)
Cobra Kai (Netflix)
Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman
Soul (Pixar, coming soon)
Sylvie's Love (Prime, here's a trailer)
Raya and the Last Dragon (trailer)
Virgin River (Netflix)
Dead to Me (Netflix)
Bridgertons (Netflix, trailer)
Chesapeake Shores (Hallmark Channel)
A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness (the books, the show)
Saved by the Bell reboot (Peacock)
Supermarket Sweet reboot
Animaniacs reboot (Hulu)
Walker Texas Ranger reboot
Fresh Prince as a drama (trailer)
Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich
Stumptown
Lost in Isolation (YouTube)
Songbird (trailer, but again, no thank you)
This is Us
Clouds (Disney+)
Superstore
High School Musical

ALSO MENTIONED:

Book of the Month Club (get your first month for just $5)
The Couch on Patreon (don't miss the Lost bonus episode!)

DON'T FORGET:

Join The Couch on Facebook! It's so much fun!
And don't forget to get your Hooked on Holiday Movies bundle of free downloads.
Find Alana on Instagram at @alanapdawson, or on her website. You can find me on Instagram at @marycarver, or on my website.

Welcome to The Couch!

This post includes affiliate links. This means that if you click and purchase, I might receive a small commission at no extra charge to you.

BONUS EPISODE: The Christmas Couch #4 with Erin Mohring (A Timeless Christmas & Christmas in Vienna) Nov 19, 2020

Show notes

This week, I'm hanging out with fellow blogger and kindred holiday movie lover Erin Mohring to talk about the new movies we watched last weekend, both from the Hallmark Channel this time. Take a listen to hear our take on A Timeless Christmas and Christmas in Vienna!

MENTIONED IN THE SHOW:

The Couch Podcast #59 (holiday movie preview episode)
A Timeless Christmas
A Timeless Christmas, the book by Alexis Stanton (only $1.99 on Kindle right now!)
Christmas in Vienna
Other movies with Sarah Drew: Twinkle All the Way and Christmas Pen Pals (both are just 99 cents on Prime right now!)

FIND US ONLINE:

Find Erin on Instagram at @homewiththeboys, and find me there at @marycarver.
Join us both in The Couch Facebook group.

Welcome to The Christmas Couch!

This post includes affiliate links. This means that if you click and purchase, I might receive a small commission at no extra charge to you.

#64 - Falling in Love with Romance Novels with Rebekah Hoffer Nov 17, 2020

Show notes

Today I'm joined by Rebekah Hoffer. Rebekah is a blogger, podcaster, wife, and mom—and you may recognize her from the Sorta Awesome podcast team. She is here this week to talk with me about romance novels, and you all? You are in for a treat. We had so much fun talking about all the many different types of romance novels are out there, as well as things like Facebook Marketplace and TikTok. You are going to be so glad you tuned in, I just know it. So get comfy and enjoy episode #64 of The Couch!

MENTIONED IN THE SHOW:

The problem with romance novels (irony, anyone?)
Kindle Unlimited (HELLO! You can get two months for 99 cents right now! Or, simply sign up for a FREE 30-day trial. Either way, great deal!)
Book of the Month Club (Your first month is just $5 with this link!)
Love & Other Words by Christina Lauren
American Royals by Katharine McGee
The Selection series by Kiera Cass
One to Watch by Kate Staymon-London
Beach Read by Emily Henry
The Bridgerton series by Julia Quinn
Maggie Dallen
Paranormal women's fiction
The Hating Game by Sally Thorne
Well Played by Jen DeLuca
Real Men Knit by Kwana Jackson

NOT-SO-GUILTY PLEASURES:

Selling things on Facebook Marketplace. (Don't sleep on Rebekah's tips for making this work!)
Watching TikTok videos, mostly courtesy of Jillian and Tracey.

DON'T FORGET: