Pop Culture Happy Hour

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Ted Lasso Aug 11, 2026

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Ted Lasso is finally back. But is this new fourth season worth the wait, and does it have anything fresh to say? Ted (Jason Sudeikis) has returned to the U.K., only this time, he’s coaching a brand new women’s soccer team. The hit Apple TV series features familiar faces including Hannah Waddingham, Juno Temple, and Brett Goldstein, as well as newcomers Tanya Reynolds and Abbie Hern.
Want more laughs from Apple TV? Check out these episodes:
Getting therapeutic with 'Shrinking'
Seth Rogen and a fabulous cast highlight the satire 'The Studio'
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Our dream TV workplaces Aug 10, 2026

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We spend the majority of our adult lives at work. We also see so many depictions of working life on TV. So where’s the fictional place we’d like to work? We’ll talk about Ted Lasso, Game of Thrones, The Muppet Show and The West Wing.
If you want more workplace shenanigans, check out these episodes:
‘Widow’s Bay’ is an island in the scream
The final course at ‘The Bear’ was both sweet and savory
‘The Paper’ is an ‘Office’ spinoff where journalism takes the lede
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One Night Only and What’s Making Us Happy Aug 07, 2026

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One Night Only is set in an alternate universe where premarital sex has been outlawed, except for one 12-hour window a year. The film stars Monica Barbaro and Callum Turner as two beautiful New Yorkers looking to have sex when the mandate is temporarily lifted. But does the film deliver on its sexy premise, or is it more chaste than it seems?
Looking for other conversations about rom-coms? Try these episodes:
‘Office Romance’ stars J.Lo as a CEO with a bad case of Brett Goldstein
‘You, Me & Tuscany' has got us lost in the pasta sauce
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Ariana Grande’s album Petal Aug 05, 2026

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Ariana Grande has been omnipresent the last few years. Discussions of her relationships and her weight have made Grande an internet fixture in recent years. She’s coming off a long run promoting and starring in the two Wicked films, and her hit song “Hate That I Made You Love Me” has been everywhere this summer. She’s also announced she’s taking a step back from public life after her current tour. So with the release of her new album, Petal, what do we make of Grande’s latest batch of songs, and do they successfully capture this moment in her life?
Looking for more buzzy pop music conversations? Check out:
Olivia Rodrigo seems pretty sad, but does she still generate bangers?
On 'Arirang,' BTS nods to K-pop's past, present and future
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We debate the sweatiest movie of all time Aug 04, 2026

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Whether they're lightly perspiring, gently glowing, or soaked through from sweltering, people in the movies sweat a lot. But what movie has had people sweat the very most? With another summer underway, we are revisiting our debate about what is the sweatiest movie of all time — including Do the Right Thing, Dog Day Afternoon, Y tu mamá también, and Body Heat.
If you like need more summery suggestions, check out these episodes:
The summer blockbusters we finally watched
‘Jaws’ is still stuck in our teeth, 50 years later
‘The Summer I Turned Pretty’ has drama, romance and the music of Taylor Swift
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I Want Your Sex Aug 03, 2026

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Sex is back, baby! In the fun new movie I Want Your Sex, Olivia Wilde plays Erika, a mixed-media artist who enters into a very consensual, very kinky, but very unprofessional sub/dom relationship with her assistant Elliot (Cooper Hoffman). Elliot’s having the time of his life, but Erika is a lot, and soon his life starts to fall apart. I Want Your Sex is directed by Gregg Araki and the film doubles down on his brand of fun, in-your-face sexuality he’s known for.
If you want more great films about sex, check out:
‘The Invite’ is a marriage comedy with sex and heart
In ‘Pillion,’ submission is the mission
What makes a good sex scene?
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Spider-Man: Brand New Day and What’s Making Us Happy Jul 31, 2026

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Zendaya and Tom Holland are back in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, and the movie has a more grounded tone than we’ve seen from the franchise. But does it strike the right balance of fun and darkness? Directed by Daniel Destin Cretton, the film also features Jacob Batalon, Jon Bernthal, Tramell Tillman, and Sadie Sink.
Looking for more spectacular Spider-episodes? Check out:
'Spider-Man: No Way Home' mixes fun and fan service
'Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse' thrills in every dimension
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The Dink Jul 29, 2026

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The Dink is pickleball’s very funny new entry into the classic genre of sports comedies. In the new film, Jake Johnson stars as a washed-up tennis underachiever whose loyalties become divided after befriending a pickleball player played by Mary Steenburgen. It’s got a contest with huge stakes and a surprising dose of heart, and the jokes make it over the net.
If you want more breezy fun flicks, check out these episodes:
In 'Power Ballad,' Paul Rudd and Nick Jonas hit all the right notes
Fun movies you may have missed
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Furious Jul 28, 2026

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The new Hulu show Furious is a twisty serial killer drama with a sense of humor, but does it hit its mark? Emmy Rossum stars as Alice, a low-level FBI agent on the hunt for a young woman (Lola Petticrew) who’s been targeting prominent men across New York City. Furious will keep you guessing as both women carve their own paths to justice.
Need more deep dark thrillers? Check out these episodes:
TV heavy-hitters get dark in ‘The Beast In Me’
In ‘Task’, Mark Ruffalo pursues his quarry
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The best summer snacks (according to you) Jul 27, 2026

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There’s plenty to love about summer: Summer music, summer road trips, summer movies. But to enjoy all those things, you have to sustain yourself with summer snacks. But what are the best summer treats of all? We asked our listeners, and we are revealing the results in a game all about summer snacks. (Today’s episode originally ran as a bonus episode for NPR Plus supporters.)
For other episodes where we unpack your votes, check out:
Top 5 Pixar movies, ranked by listeners
Top 10 Muppets, as voted by listeners
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