POP CULTURE MONDAYS...ON THURSDAYS

Latest Episodes:

Season 2, Episode 36: THERE SHE BLOWS Apr 10, 2025

Show notes

Happy Thursday, you pop culture junkies… This week, Brooke tries to find humor while the economy and democracy come crashing down. What’s one to do when the world is on fire? Check out ALL the memes obviously. But truly, in this moment in time, we need all the humor we can get, so Brooke looks at how some creators are navigating the world of crashing stock markets and economies. And of course…the penguins. You cannot talk culture this week and not talk about the season finale of “The White Lotus,” so if you don’t want spoilers, make sure to fast forward through that part. But also, how come you have NOT watched it? Come for the White Lotus memes, stay for the definition of Edging. You’re welcome. And did you hear that Madonna and Elton John have MENDED FENCES and made up after a multi-decade feud? At least something in the world is healing. And of course…we all must tune into “Love on the Spectrum” Mike White interview where he discusses Edging: https://variety.com/2025/tv/news/mike-white-defends-white-lotus-season-3-slow-boring-1236362151/ Madonna's Instagram with Elton John: https://www.instagram.com/p/DIJ5fWExX68/ “Love on the Spectrum” season 3 trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eXSiyvI8cFU This week’s PCM: https://popculturemondays.com/2025/04/07/the-well-this-is-fun-edition/

Season 2, Episode 35: Fired Up Apr 03, 2025

Show notes

Happy Thursday, you pop culture junkies! This week, Brooke is on a tear. This was recorded right as Cory Booker was finishing his record-breaking filibuster, and she was full of emotion. Her opinion is Cory Booker is now the de facto head of the Democratic Party. The Democrats are having a much better week than the Republicans, partially due to Signalgate, which she has to address because there are just so many memes! Once she gets politics out of her system, she moves on to talking about "The Beatles" movies that were just announced, where the cast was disclosed and the fact that there will be four movies, each from the perspective of a band member. You have to listen to find out more! This week Brooke also talks about the phenomenon of "RichTok" as well as why the internet is turning on creator Remi Bader. Not to mention the trend of “Brocasting” that seems to be only growing. Grab your headphones and some candy and enjoy! This week's PCM: https://popculturemondays.com/2025/03/31/the-put-the-phone-down-edition/

Season 2, Episode 34: What’s your Signal chat called? Mar 27, 2025

Show notes

Happy Thursday, you pop culture junkies! What a week it’s been and it’s not even Friday! This week, Brooke can’t help but get into the weeds of the Signal chat debacle rocking the U.S. at the moment. 18 of the country’s “finest” intelligence and defense leaders created a war plan group chat while inadvertently including the editor-in-chief of “The Atlantic”. If this were a movie, no one would believe the premise. Let’s play a drinking game of who’s gonna get fired first. While America’s democracy crumbles, we have a viral moment that did briefly tie us all together, Saratoga Water guy! Otherwise known as Morning Routine guy, and Brooke breaks down the viral video and impact. Brooke also talks about the must-read “Teen Vogue” interview of Vivian Wilson, the trans daughter of Elon Musk who wants nothing to do with Elon Musk, and who blames her? We’re right there with you baby! Grab some tea and some headphones and enjoy.

Links

Tuesday’s The Daily podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-daily/id1200361736?i=1000700734181

Bonus link: Wednesday’s The Daily podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-daily/id1200361736?i=1000700895051

Vivian Wilson’s Vogue Interview: https://www.teenvogue.com/story/vivian-jenna-wilson-elon-musk-trans-youth

Pop Culture Mondays newsletter: https://popculturemondays.com/2025/03/24/the-morning-routine-edition/

Brooke’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brooke/

Brooke’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/brooke

Brooke’s TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@brookehammerling

Potato’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/potato/

Season 2, Episode 33: GOGGINS MANIA Mar 20, 2025

Show notes

Happy Thursday, you pop culture junkies! This week, Brooke dedicates the pod to her friend and work colleague Rebecca who has moved to London from LA this week. So Brooke’s therapy is talking about it on the pod! But she is able to rebound emotionally thanks to her undying love for all things Walton Goggins. from “The Righteous Gemstones” to “The White Lotus”, it is ALL about Goggins. And while we are talking White Lotus, Brooke talks about THAT scene with Walton and Sam Rockwell. She didn’t talk about it in the newsletter because she was STILL processing. But there is loads to say! Brooke also talks about another show dominating the pop culture world right now, and that is the incredible “Adolescence” on Netflix. If you haven’t watched it? RUN do not walk. Of course, there is some Elon talk because how do we not at this point? Grab your headphones and enjoy!

Walton Goggins/MIsbehavin’:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-znj7Uf9Oo

“When it Happens” trend examples:

https://www.tiktok.com/@dailyhaley/video/7480334911325556014?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc

https://www.tiktok.com/@rabbi_360/video/7481677263478459690?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc

This week’s PCM:

https://popculturemondays.com/2025/03/17/the-thank-god-for-the-irish-edition/

Brooke’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brooke/

Brooke’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/brooke

Brooke’s TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@brookehammerling

Potato’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/potato/

Season 2, Episode 32: It’s All Mayhem Mar 13, 2025

Show notes

Happy Thursday, you pop culture junkies! This week, Brooke gives a little rundown of her experience in Austin for SXSW — a must-listen. Monday’s newsletter was titled “Re-heated Nachos," and Brooke explains where that term comes from and why it's relevant today with regards to Lady Gaga and T-Swift. Have you heard the new Gaga album “Mayhem"? It’s fabulous. And back to her pop roots, which is where Brooke’s happy place is. And you can’t have pop culture without Elon (lol, UGH!!) who’s having a very terrible, horrible, most definitely bad week. But don’t worry, Donald Trump is selling his cars now! Brooke also covers a few other moments in pop culture that simply must be discussed. Enjoy! Cuomosexual NY Post Article: https://nypost.com/2025/03/08/us-news/cuomosexuals-not-coming-back-for-cuomo-mayor-race/ SNL’s No More Slay ft. Gaga https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xzXSPAGNwY Pop Culture Mondays newsletter: https://popculturemondays.com/2025/03/10/the-reheated-nachos-edition/

Brooke’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brooke/

Brooke’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/brooke

Brooke’s TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@brookehammerling

Potato’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/potato/

Season 2, Episode 31: Vice President Baby Face Mar 06, 2025

Show notes

Happy Thursday, you pop culture junkies! This week, Brooke dips her toes into the world of politics to discuss the ever-growing JD Vance Baby Face memes circulating the internet. While Brooke strives to be Trump-free, sometimes Trump-adjacent is necessary. From Vermont kicking JD Vance out to Trump becoming a storyline in the latest “White Lotus” episode, politics is having a pop culture moment. Of course, Brooke talks about the Oscars and some of the hits and misses. And speaking of misses, we also have Mark Zuckerberg cosplaying Benson Boone and Meghan Sussex (aka Markle)’s new Netflix show, which is getting a lot of blowback. Enjoy! Pop Culture Mondays Newsletter: https://popculturemondays.com/2025/03/03/the-its-been-a-week-edition/ L to the OG: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ote9AdFKKaA TikTok response to Adrien Brody’s Oscar acceptance speech: https://www.tiktok.com/@fredasquith/video/7477553228993891606 Mannings in a Waymo https://www.tiktok.com/@uber/video/7477955203140947242?_r=1&_t=ZT-8uRuGjcD3aF

Brooke’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brooke/

Brooke’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/brooke

Brooke’s TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@brookehammerling

Potato’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/potato/

Season 2, Episode 30: From the archives: Gary Whitta Feb 27, 2025

Show notes

This week, Brooke is out of the country, so we’re bringing back one of her favorites from the archives: a conversation with her dear friend, screenwriter, and novelist, Gary Whitta. Brooke and Gary have been friends since the ‘90s when they were gamer kids, and Gary was the head editor of PC Gamer Magazine. Since then, Gary has become a hit screenwriter, with movies like “Book of Eli” and “Rogue One” part of the “Star Wars” franchise. Gary is also a successful novelist. Gary and Brooke talk about their experience in gaming, and Gary gives us a detailed look into what the writing process is like for the screen and books. And, of course, how all this ties into pop culture. IT DOES.

Pop Culture Mondays Newsletter: https://medium.com/popculturemondays

Brooke’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brooke/

Brooke’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/brooke

Brooke’s TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@brookehammerling

Potato’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/potato/

Buy Gun Dog here: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/gundog-gary-whitta/1142657728 Listen to the Gun Dog podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/gundog/id1631586716

Season 2, Episode 29: Weekend Entertainment Bonanza Feb 20, 2025

Show notes

This week, Brooke kicks off the pod with a wholly warranted rant because a children’s book by Julianne Moore about a little girl with freckles who feels different has been banned. BANNED. The Orwellian fever dream (except it’s real!) we find ourselves in continues… At least we have TikTok angels with spoof Republican Makeup tutorials to bring us joy! Brooke also gets into some of the best (and worst) moments from this past weekend’s SNL celeb-packed 50th-anniversary celebration extravaganza. And of course, we have the long-awaited premiere of White Lotus Season 3, and its less than boppin’ theme song. Enjoy!

Pop Culture Mondays Newsletter: https://popculturemondays.com/2025/02/17/the-winter-break-edition/

Season 2, Episode 28: The Jeans! Feb 13, 2025

Show notes

Happy Thursday, you pop culture junkies! This week, Brooke talks about Kendrick Lamar’s earth-shattering performance at the Super Bowl. If you’ve seen any negative press — and Brooke explains why it might be in your feeds — ignore it. There are too many Easter Eggs to uncover, but she does a deep dive into some of the symbolism and meaning behind the performance. But also…. The Jeans! Thanks to Kendrick and Celine, the brand behind the $1,200 viral jeans, bootcut jeans (or flares, however you see them), are back in style. There’s lots of Super Bowl talk, but obviously, Kendrick was the star of the show. Brooke also gives an update on the American woman in Pakistan and all the drama over at Poppi. Buckle up! The New York Times "The Daily" Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-daily/id1200361736?i=1000689933228 TikToks to check out: https://www.tiktok.com/@tessclynes/video/7470066622598827282?_r=1&_t=ZT-8tro1DUzZjX https://www.tiktok.com/@marabird93/video/7469633115296746798?_r=1&_t=ZT-8tro3Nz94NW https://www.tiktok.com/@raeonartez/video/7469845988862135582?_r=1&_t=ZT-8tro34TMKhK https://www.tiktok.com/@nicolestorydent/video/7469873185769458974?_r=1&_t=ZT-8trpTn7vwKc Pop Culture Mondays Newsletter: https://popculturemondays.com/2025/02/10/the-bootcut-jeans-edition/ Brooke’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brooke/

Brooke’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/brooke

Brooke’s TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@brookehammerling

Potato’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/potato/

Season 2, Episode 27: The Naked Truth Feb 06, 2025

Show notes

Happy Thursday, you pop culture junkies! This week, Brooke dives into some of her favorite moments from the Grammys… And the one that grossed everyone out! But focusing on the positive, it was definitely a Girls' Grammys! From Beyoncé to Chappell Roan to Doechii and Charlie XCX and Sabrina Carpenter…it was a SHOW. And can we talk about Shakira and Diana Ross and their beauty regiments!? Brooke also talks about the basketball trade that shocked the world and what it means from the perspective of somebody who knows next to nothing about basketball. And of course, always some fun other things happening at the moment. Grab your headphones and enjoy! Check out Doechii’s performance at the Grammys: https://www.tiktok.com/@gloss/video/7467387369797389614?_r=1&_t=ZT-8tfe56SmpAs And Chappell Roan’s: https://www.tiktok.com/@love.brenna/video/7467013604517186862?_r=1&_t=ZT-8tfe80T3sdf Click here to read the newsletter: https://popculturemondays.com/2025/02/03/the-naked-edition/

Brooke’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brooke/

Brooke’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/brooke

Brooke’s TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@brookehammerling

Potato’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/potato/

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