After a five-year run, The Cooler is saying goodbye with a finale jam-packed with the voices of you, our beloved listeners!
We’ll be getting into all kinds of things like the return of Brad and Jen, DeepFakes, a review of a weird, sexy Old Hollywood movie, and much, much more! Also, get ready to be wiped out by a tidal wave of feels!
If you want to keep in touch with us, stalk us on Twitter! Carly is @TeaCupInTheBay, Jamedra is @JamedraSays and you can find me @xcusemybeauty. Until we meet again, byeeee!
We Need A Resolution
Jan 01, 2020
On this month’s episode of The Cooler, we’re making resolutions to upgrade ourselves in 2020.
We’re discussing how some of our favorite shows and films have retconned plots to cover their asses.
And we’re making a pilgrimage to visit one of Jennifer Aniston’s exes.
Remember: if you want to be featured in a future episode, call our hotline at 415.553.2850 with a question and we might answer it on the show!
On this month’s episode of The Cooler, we analyze why Instagram has taken away likes, and share our confessions of how the app has screwed with our heads. Nicki Minaj and Cardi B have strong feelings about this and so do we.
We’re also unpacking the viral tweet that got everyone talking about emotional labor, and asking ourselves: when did friendships start to feel like work?
And we’re telling the real-life stories of three Dubai princesses who recently tried to escape, and discussing how their situations break the royal fantasy.
Remember: if you want to be featured in a future episode, call our hotline at 415.553.2850 with a question and we might answer it on the show!
On this month’s episode of The Cooler, we’re preparing to say goodbye to this decade by revisiting some of the biggest bops and messiest flops that the music world had to offer, including teen girls who make Rebecca Black sound like Etta James and a debate over whether Coldplay is trash or treasure.
We’re also digging into why so many people cared about the recent feud between notable WAGs (that’s Wives And Girlfriends of famous footballers) Coleen Rooney and Rebekah Vardy.
We’re also helping one listener with a futuristic relationship pickle, and summarizing the entire Star Wars mythology in just a few disrespectful minutes (you’ll never look at Billy Joel the same way again).
If you want to be featured in a future episode, call our hotline at 415.553.2850 with a question and we might answer it on the show!
We’re baaaaack! Wondering what we’ve spent our summer hiatus doing? We’ll tell you all about not dying on a cruise, butchering the Italian language and running into the one and only Kimberly Kardashian!
A lot has happened in the world of popular culture since our last episode, so it seems only right that we weigh in on the biggest stories of the summer in a segment we’re calling *guttural Kelly Clarkson voice * Since We’ve Been Gooooone!
We’ll weigh in on the chicken sandwich wars, why we are no longer thirsting after Justin Trudeau, the latest groan-worthy thing Scarlett Johansson has said, why we’ll take Lil Nas X over Kevin Hart any day of the week and how Ruth Bader Ginsburg has inspired us to outlive our nemeses.
Then, we’ll take a look at how PR paved the way for Brad Pitt’s return, and why you shouldn’t fall for it.
Everyone knows what went down (no pun intended) with Clinton’s impeachment, but what about the only other president to be impeached? We’ll tell you the story of a grumpy racist dude from the 1860s who had it coming.
And we’ll also school you on the surprising profession of Ronald Reagan’s son and introduce you to Lindsay Lohan’s new kind-of-catchy prescription drug anthem (yep, you read that right).
Queer Eye’s Tan France On How Gays Will Save The World
Jul 11, 2019
In this extra special bonus episode, y’all get to eavesdrop on a conversation between one of us and Queer Eye’s fashion guru, Tan France, in front of 1,400 people at San Francisco’s historic Castro Theatre.
Expect deep topics like what it was like growing up gay in a Muslim South Asian traditional family and how 9/11 still affects Tan’s life to this day, as well as shallow topics like how he ended up partying with Victoria Beckham, why he hates Olive Garden and whether he loves *NSYNC or the Backstreet Boys more.
Now that the battle for the Iron Throne is donezo, another battle is brewing: the one for the Song of the Summer crown! This week, we’ll be listening to a few contenders (that aren’t “Old Town Road”) and deciding which summer anthem gets The Cooler’s official seal of approval.
Inspired by Justin Bieber challenging Tom Cruise to a fight, we’re handing out tips on how to host a duel of your own.
And we process our feelings about a recently resurrected Millennial nightmare.
Natalie Portman Is Out Of Your League
Jun 06, 2019
This week, we’re wondering why Moby lied about dating Natalie Portman and looking at other famous men who’ve fudged a few details to make themselves look better. We’re also handing out tips on how to beat burnout.
And we have more than a few words for the Bostonian dudes who are trying to make a Straight Pride Parade happen.
This week, we’re sharing financial tips we wish we had known earlier in our lives.
Because the present has been a major drag recently, we’re going black to the future and chatting Afrofuturism with Bay Area cartoonist Tanna Tucker, who is part of YBCA’s Public Square show.
And we’ll also be exploring the strange connection between dinosaur eggs and ball sacks. Yep, you read that correctly.
It’s game over for Game of Thrones! Did the show stick the landing or break both of its legs, fall on its ass and require medical attention? We’ve got opinions!
We’re also handing out some tips based on the life of Grace Jones, first of her name, breaker of the gender binary.
And we’re spinning some music from Greyworm (well, the actor who plays him, but you get the idea).
This week, we’re tackling Constance Wu’s Twitter tantrum over Fresh Off The Boat getting renewed and what it has revealed about our culture’s attitude toward humility and gratitude.
We’re also talking about Ayesha Curry’s Red Table Talk appearance and why some archaic relationship rules should be broken.
We’re taking sides on a fiery debate that is currently dividing this nation: Are Aperol spritzes delicious or disgusting?
We’re schooling y’all on what a “shoey” is, what to do when you don’t want to give your number to a creep in a bar, what Joe Biden can learn from Bill Nye about speaking to Millennials and why we have finally decided to stan Kacey Musgraves.
Eurovision Is The Campy Fun We Need Right Now
May 09, 2019
This week, we’re giving a crash course in Eurovision, the wildly popular international music competition, and ranking the 2019 entries, including Icelandic BDSM anti-capitalist scream rock, Australian popera and an Italian song that’ll make your booty bounce.
Spoiler alert! We’ll also be talking about spoiler culture and handing out tips for how to avoid info you don’t want and how not to be a spoilsport.
And, despite some anti-royalist feelings, we’ll be celebrating Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s new baby!
Hamilton: A Field Trip with Two Thousand Teens
Apr 11, 2019
This week, the three of us are busting out of the studio because we RSVP-ed “Hell yes!” to an invite from SHN and the Hamilton Education Program—EduHam, if you’re nasty—to watch Bay Area teens (Hamilteens?) perform original songs they created based on the musical. And that invite includes a free performance of the actual show!
Dreams do come true!
We’ve heard a lot about Hamilton from think piece writers and established critics, but what does Gen Z think and how has the musical changed the way they interact with art and history?
#BeyonceToo: Not Even The Queen Is Safe
Apr 04, 2019
This week, inspired by Omari Hardwick invading the Queen B’s personal space, we’re wondering, if Beyonce is not safe, then who among us is? We share tips on how to deal with unwanted physical attention.
As the eight and final season of Game of Thrones approaches, we’re digging into the show’s dark little secret: a pilot episode so bad the series almost didn’t get made at all.
We try to make sense of Elon Musk’s rap single about Harambe, enter the bizarre world of Gen Z darling Billie Eilish and play a game involving Florida and crime (because you can’t have one without the other).
Correction: Elon Musk was pressured to step down as chairman, not CEO of Tesla. Our bad!
This week, inspired by Cardi B trying to legally claim “okurrrrr,” we trace the word’s complicated history back to its rightful owner, and scratch our heads over all the weird things celebrities have succeeded and failed at trademarking.
With Bill & Ted 3 on the horizon, we’re wondering: are fan-powered projects a good thing?
We also get into why hot tea might kill us all.
And we spend some time worshipping Lizzo because she deserves.
This week, we’re talking about the most banned wedding songs. Which jams make couples say [Destiny’s Child voice] no no no no no and which ones make them say [Britney Spears voice] yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah?
We get into that viral Maya Angelou clip from 30 years ago and everything it brings up about intergenerational respect.
We Need to Talk About Michael Jackson
Mar 07, 2019
Leaving Neverland, the HBO documentary featuring two men who say Michael Jackson molested them when they were children, has sent shock waves through the culture. We do our best to make sense of it all:
We also unpack the Khloe Kardashian / Jordyn Woods / Tristan Thompson drama and why narratives about shamed women aren’t always what you think:
We learn life lessons from Pose‘s Billy Porter:
And we try to figure out how we feel about Solange’s new album:
BD Wong on Coming Out in Hollywood and the Power in Being Yourself
Feb 28, 2019
This week, we are joined by a brilliant actor who’s been in—pardon my French—a sh*t ton of movies, television shows and theater productions. Jurassic Park, ever heard of it? Law and Order: SVU, hello! Mulan, Oz, Mr. Robot, M Butterfly and A.C.T.’s The Great Leap. The list goes on. Put some respect on his name: it’s BD Wong!
Interview Highlights
On the power of starring on a popular show like Law & Order: SVU:
“The most gratifying kind of fan interaction that you can have is ‘I decided to be a forensic psychiatrist because I saw you in the show when I was very young, and I didn’t know there was such a career opportunity.’ …That’s why it’s very important for television writers and television producers to be responsible about their content because it’s reaching young people at a very impressionable time. When you realize that [television] actually influences people, it’s an eye-opening kind of thing, which I love. I like understanding that something that we’re doing isn’t just reduced to its popularity but there’s a little bit more to it.”
On how he felt about the Law & Order: SVU writers revealing his character, Dr. George Huang, was gay right before he left the show:
“I had no idea throughout the time that I was doing the show for ten and a half years, so it felt a little cheap to me. I was also kind of torn because, you know, it’s positive… But it did feel a little convenient or kind of lazy or, you know, kind of not particularly the best way that you want to come out as a character. It wasn’t like Ellen coming out. It wasn’t a great thing that was really impactful and funny or human or whatever; it was just kind of a minor point made.”
On how he came to accept his Asian-American and gay identities:
“I was watching television and I was going to movies, and there were no Asian people, and the gay people that were characterized weren’t really particularly positive. So there was a kind of a double insult to me. It made me not want to be those things. I was kind of in denial about it. And this is a kind of denial that a lot of ethnic kids, specifically I think Asian American kids and some gay kids, have where they avoid the issue of the truth of them. And when you avoid that, it causes only problems for you and it takes you a long time to kind of untangle.
The thing that you think is going to kill you is actually the thing that enlivens you and drives you and pushes you forward. It’s really actually an amazingly great feeling to be yourself. What a concept, right? And I think more people definitely know that now than they did before, although it’s still a struggle for lots of people.”
On how Crazy Rich Asians has or hasn’t changed the Hollywood landscape:
“I think feeling positive about something that sometimes feels very despairing is a really good thing, like to take a break from the despair for a second. Let’s just celebrate this thing for a minute.
I was around when The Joy Luck Club came out, and there was no social media; people were less kind of rah-rah passionate about it. But Asian American people, to their credit, got really into this movie and that was really heartwarming and empowering because I’ve always said, in my career, to Asian American audiences, ‘You’ve got to spend your money on Asian American content. I really want you to do that. Put your money where your mouth is.’
You know, [Crazy Rich Asians] is not erasing any kind of anti-Asian sentiment or anything that keeps Asian people down in the media, but it has shifted the needle in a noticeable way. I was invited to be a member of the Motion Picture Academy right before Crazy Rich Asians came out, and it’s because there’s a trend of wanting to be inclusive and diverse, particularly in these bodies which purport to be representing everyone. Now they do represent more people.”
On moments when he realizes he lives a special kind of life:
“Not to pat myself on the back, because it’s not meant to be that at all, but I feel that all the time. For example, I did this movie, Bird Box. And as luck would have it, it became this big thing, and my interaction with someone like Sandra Bullock becomes this kind of thing that still surprises me. I’m still like, wow, this person even knowing me or liking me… I feel this all the time… I spent three months in Argentina with Brad Pitt (in separate rooms). Things like that happen all the time and it’s wonderful. And I’m very aware that I’m very lucky.”
On his first gay crush:
“Batman and Robin. I was four-years-old. I remember watching the TV and feeling warm. It wasn’t just either of them up physically or anything like that; it was their dynamic relationship. It was a male duo relationship that you didn’t really see that much of at the time. And so the bond of that has always stayed with me. I mean, I’m sure I’m not the only person who felt this way. And then there were tights!”
Got milk? Well, we sure do. Get ready to hear us taste-test all the alternative milks—oat! pea! hemp!—to find out what all the fuss is about.
A pop culture staple since the ’80s, we’ve come to know Alyssa Milano pretty well. But she’s been hiding something from us! Come along as we discover her platinum-selling music career (!!!) and be sure to buckle up ’cause things quickly get weird.
Note to anyone pretending to be outraged over Malia Obama drinking rosé: LEAVE HER ALONE AND GET A LIFE.
We are giving Ariana Grande her roses for being the only artist (other than the Beatles in 1964) to simultaneously hold the top three spots on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
And we pour some plant-based milk out for a space robot that might be officially dead but lives on in our hearts forever.
Excellent Coats on Irritated Women (with Sara Benincasa)
Feb 07, 2019
This week, we’re joined by a quadruple (quintuple?) threat. She’s a writer, comedian, podcaster, viral Instagram sensation and a real artist with a day job, Sara Benincasa!
Inspired by Kanye suing Def Jam and taking credit for Jay-Z’s career, we’re going to tell you how to spot the frenemies in your life, revisit some of the most notorious celebrity frenemies, and find out what having a frenemy or two might say about you.
All anyone wants to talk about are the Fyre Festival documentaries, so we’re going to do just that and attempt to figure out why we as a culture are so fascinated by scammers.
And we share our feelings on a grab bag of headlines, including the hate crime against Empire‘s Jussie Smollett, why Anne Hathaway needs our prayers for the next 18 years, gender reveal lasagna, a reboot we actually are stoked about and which musician is helping us learn Spanish.
Boys Don’t Cry (But They Totally Should!)
Jan 24, 2019
We’ve got 99 problems and toxic masculinity is all of them, so we’re talking about the Gilette ad, the APA labeling traditional masculinity “harmful,” all the toxic masculinity in the news (Louis CK, Kevin Hart and R Kelly) and also some men who are great examples of what masculinity can be.
Heads up: All those things you think are making your life easier, like predictive text, Google Home and Nest, are actually pretty scary. We’ll tell you how.
We’re also weighing in on Oscar snubs, Cardi B’s unfiltered feelings about the government shutdown, and Timothée Chalamet’s high school rap career.
Forgotten ’90s Stars: Where Are They Now?
Jan 17, 2019
As most of you know by now, we recently introduced a spicy, sizzling hotline, and we’ve loved hearing your voices and folding your ideas into the show. Recently, we asked if there are any topics you want us to specifically weigh in on, and Shauna from Reno, NV called in asking for us to check in on where forgotten stars have gone.
What’s new with the intense British woman from The Weakest Link? What about Ashley from Fresh Prince of Bel Air, Screech from Saved By The Bell and Kevin Costner? We’ve got the answers!
This week, we’re digging deep into the archives to find our fave Peak and Pit bits, including a rough demo of our jingle, an offensively bad French accent, which the French government is still pissed about, and even a conversation about ball sacks (yes, you read that correctly).
Resolutions: Learn a Foreign Language and Say Thank You Next to Anxiety
Jan 03, 2019
This week, we’re celebrating the newborn year with a few resolutions. Like Honey Boo Boo, we love ourselves, but realize there is room for improvement:
Our resolutions run the gamut from learning a new language:
To learning to camp:
To saying no to anxiety and self-sabotage:
Did you make a resolution this year? Share it with us @KQEDPop on Twitter or in the comments below! Oh, and don’t forget to subscribe and rate us in iTunes!
Because of all the constant breaking news, it’s been difficult to keep track of everything that’s happening in the world. How severe is our collective trauma-induced amnesia? Let’s find out with this 2018 quiz!
Coolio Awards: The Best and Worst of 2018 Pop Culture
Dec 13, 2018
We are hosting the fourth annual Coolio Awards! Last year, we awarded Maxine Waters for reclaiming her time, Tarana Burke for starting the #MeToo movement and Sarah Jessica Parker for freaking the f*ck out over a solar eclipse.
Early Aughts Nostalgia Already?! (With Nish Kumar)
Nov 29, 2018
Juicy Couture, The Hills, SpongeBob SquarePants memes, a Mean Girls musical, Detective Pikachu. We’re not in the early aughts anymore, but it sure feels like it with the latest wave of nostalgia. Is looking back so much and so soon bad for us?
Also, a conversation with The Mash Report‘s Nish Kumar about Brexit and the dark side of the Spice Girls.
And a message for those making fun of the Dwight Howard affair situation: your homophobia and transphobia is showing and it’s not a good look.
Chani Nicholas on Healing Astrology, Mercury Retrograde and What Our Future Holds
Nov 22, 2018
This week, we are joined by cosmic goddess Chani Nicholas. You’re probably one of the million readers who flock to her wildly popular astrology blog every month. And if you’re not, that’s about to change.
Interview Highlights
On why people are gravitating toward astrology for healing:
“I think that there is a need to make meaning out of the massive amounts of completely overwhelming and sometimes totally depressing information that we are inundated with. It’s like, how do we keep up? I can’t even process the mass shooting that happened three weeks ago. I can’t process the one that happened last week or the wildfires. It’s all so much. Our systems aren’t made to be able to handle this much information.
“People more and more need somewhere to just touch down and reconnect with themselves, even if it’s just for a moment…We need to stay as close to our humanity as possible in these times because it’s so easy to get caught up in the extremes. How do we stay close to our human connections, our human emotions, our bodies, our selves? I think, if astrology is worked with in an intelligent way, it can help us do that.”
On Mercury retrograde:
“On behalf of all astrologers, it’s Mercury retrograde; Mercury is not in anything. It’s just appearing to go backward. Mercury is the planet of communication so it is popular belief that, when Mercury appears to station and stop in the sky and go backward and then become invisible and then reappear again, communications go through a kind of underworld experience, which pop culture has really grabbed onto and made a lot more out of than it really needs to be.
“I think that we’re really forward-focused and we’re really hung up on progress. Nature reminds us all the time it’s really important to also follow the rhythms of life. And so Mercury retrograde might have us reviewing certain ways in which we’re communicating, might have us backtracking, might have us not going forward in all areas of our life. But that’s not the end of the world.”
On Mercury’s trans nature:
“Mercury is the only planet in the traditional system that can be either male or female, and so it represents this trans kind of nature. It’s transgender, it’s trans diurnal and nocturnal. It moves, it’s liminal, it’s in between the spaces, and so it teaches us of the third way. When Mercury’s retrograde and we’re thinking of this kind of liminality, then what else is present? Why are we so hell-bent on having life be one way? What else is Mercury trying to open up to us?”
On what we can expect from the future based on the stars:
“I think what astrology does well is it teaches us about cycles. And cycles don’t mean repeating everything verbatim; they mean we’re turning back to something with a new consciousness, more information, and having grown. This cycle that we have entered as of a year ago, the last time we were in it was 84 years ago, which was 1934. And the last time we were in a similar position as we’re having this year was 1936.
“Back when astrologers saw this coming, a lot of us were talking about the return of fascism. We have that sentiment already loud and clear. It doesn’t mean that we’re going to be in the same situation. But what it does mean to me is it’s an urgent call to action to be very aware of what’s happening, to be very vocal of it.
“If you’re somebody who said, If I was back in 1930-whatever, I would have done ABC! Well, now it’s your time to do that, no holds barred, without feeling any kind of shame, without feeling any reticence. Be proactive in your civic duties. Be a citizen of this world. Be a citizen of this country. Be a neighbor. Be somebody who is actively engaging in what justice looks like here and now in this moment.”
And there’s a lot more where that came from! Listen to hear all about it:
Victoria’s Secret Is That She Doesn’t Have Any Trans Friends
Nov 15, 2018
Victoria’s Secret has a message for trans and curvy woman: You can’t sit with us! Or be in our fashion show! Or wear our products! We discuss why some brands find it so hard to get woke.
We’re also talking about why Stormy Daniels might be more of a saint than you think.
And we have some bad news for anyone who’s still crushing on Leonardo DiCaprio.
The Walrus-Penis-Wielding Congressman
Nov 08, 2018
This week, we’re weighing in on a grab bag of midterm election stories, but not necessarily the ones you might expect. Spoiler alert: one involves a walrus-penis-wielding Congressman.
Because the air can get dangerously thin up there on the moral high-ground, we’ll be succumbing to the occasional pleasures of being petty.
And we explore why you might want to think twice before using restroom hand dryers.
Why do young people historically not vote? This week, we try to get to the bottom of it.
We also chat with Aisha Wahab, an Afghan-American Millennial running for office in Hayward, California. Her motto: “If you don’t see the woman, be the woman.”
We wonder why Colorado and 15 other states haven’t gotten around to officially banning slavery.
And we share a few songs that are getting us pumped to vote.
This week, we’re celebrating the Halloween season by telling the scariest stories we could find on the internet.
We also explore the creepy world of ASMR videos.
We send a heavy dose of side-eye to Megyn “I Don’t Get Why People Think Blackface Is Racist” Kelly.
And we jam to the strange and unusual “IDK About You” by Fever Ray. If you want to see a woman with a vagina on her forehead lead cult rituals in front of a giant poster of a young Justin Bieber, this music video is for you.
And because there’s a lot of sad stuff going on right now, what better time than now to find out what the saddest song ever is, with help from science and technology!
We’re also weighing in on the Ariana Grande / Pete Davidson breakup…
…and this whole Elizabeth Warren Native American DNA test thing.
This week, inspired by those rushing to Brett Kavanaugh’s defense, we’re taking a look at the “boys will be boys” excuse and who gets to benefit from it.
We’re (obviously) talking about Lindsay Lohan trying to kidnap children in Moscow, and how that situation speaks to a larger issue of why it’s dangerous when celebrities are armed with minimal knowledge.
And we’re handing out Pits of the Week to several deserving candidates, including the woman who’s taking Beyoncé to court for being a witch…
…Saturday Night Live for a host of reasons…
…and a man who idiotically started a huge fire at a gender reveal party.
But there are also people out there doing positive things, like the white Michelle Williams, who kept it all the way real when she admitted that the major reason she took a role in Venom was CASH MONEY (which she plans to later use to help finance struggling indie projects in Hollywood).
And, if you’re looking for a song to blast and drown out the noise of entitlement and rage from men on the news, look no further than this gem from SOPHIE:
This week, inspired by yet another Predator movie, we’re asking ourselves why Hollywood keeps regurgitating the same old ideas, and if there’s anything we can do to stop the sequel trend.
We’re also joined by Gilmore Girls star Keiko Agena (a.k.a. Lane Kim) for a conversation about what she really thinks about how the writers treated her character, her new book No Mistakes: A Workbook for Imperfect Artists and why it’s okay that most of us are major screw-ups!
And we’re scratching our heads over the new trashion fashion trend.
This week, we’re talking about the newly anointed Bachelor. He’s everything you’d expect: in his 20s, cute enough (if you’re into that sort of thing) and aggressively white. But there’s a twist: he’s a…
(Okay, fine, he may very well be able to drive.)
Inspired by this virginal reality star, we are talking virgins in pop culture, which countries hit the sack earliest, and revealing way too much information about our own V cards.
On this week’s episode of Insecure, Molly revealed one of her relationship dealbreakers: she refuses to date a man who isn’t black. We get into some of our own.
We also learn about a gross 19th-century beauty procedure…
Put Some Respeck on Serena Williams’ Name
Sep 13, 2018
This week, we’re talking about the backlash to Colin Kaepernick’s Nike ad and the history of boycotts.
We’re also getting into Serena Williams’ appearance at the U.S. Open, and exploring whether or not it’s ever cool to lose your cool… especially if you’re a woman.
And because a whole lot happened over our hiatus, we’re diving into a rapid-fire crash course of all the summertime pop culture mess (spoiler: a penis tattoo is involved).
DeRay Mckesson on Black Lives Matter, the X-Men and That Blue Vest
Sep 06, 2018
The Cooler is back for Season 4! And because we’re extra, our first episode features civil rights activist and Pod Save The People host DeRay McKesson! We talked about his powerful new book On the Other Side of Freedom, what it was like to spend 400 days protesting in the streets, everything he’s learned from the X-Men, and why that vest means so much to him.
Interview Highlights
On the importance of his signature blue vest
“I continue to wear it because it reminds me that what we went through happened. I think about what it was like in St. Louis when it was illegal to stand still. I think about the nights that I hid under my steering wheel. I think about the night we ran from tear gas and rubber bullets and pepper spray. You can get a little removed from those actual experiences and forget that they happened, like they become these sort of distant things that you remember, and I just never want to forget. That was so real to me and it changed my life and the lives of so many other people. The vest keeps me grounded and keeps me whole in that way.”
On the difference between an ally and an accomplice
“Both love you, right? Allies love you from a distance; accomplices love you up close. There are people who get it. They’re like, Injustice is bad. Let us figure out what to do. And that’s sort of basic; that is 101, I’m at the party. What accomplices do is say, Here’s actually what I’m willing to put on the line so that we can get to a different sense of justice on the other side of freedom… I know a lot of allies who show up to the random rally, they go to the brunch, they are back row at the talk, and then you’re like, Well, what are you going to do about it? and they’re like, What do you mean ‘do’? I came here. That’s not it. That is Awareness 101.
On his complicated feelings around social media
“I’m actually not convinced we’re designed to get as much feedback as those platforms give. Sometimes it’s just too much. And what does that mean for the way you think about yourself, the way you think about the world? … I’m hopeful that we’re able to figure out how to pivot this so that we don’t get stuck in these awareness cycles but we actually get stuck in action cycles. Like you realize something really bad happened. You can turn that into action. You go do something, get an outcome… I worry that so much is happening, especially in the specter of Trump, that people are just shocked every day. That’s not a productive place to be stuck in.”
On what some get wrong about protesting
“Telling the truth is hard work. We tell the truth so we can change the conditions so we don’t have to tell this truth anymore. And there are people who forget that part of it, that we protest not to protest but to create space for change. I know protest is not the answer. Protests create space for the answer. And people forget that part.”
[ad floatright]On how the X-Men taught him about leadership and what it means to be strong
“Storm specifically was always so fascinating to me because she always showed up first, but she never ever needed the shine. She controlled the elements. Storm could have shut it all down—froze everybody, wind, lightning—but she would do enough to create space for other people to do really great work. She would do enough so people wouldn’t die. And then in comes Cyclops, or in comes Professor X, or in comes somebody else… That changed the way I thought about what it meant to be a leader and what it meant to be strong. There are so many images of what it means to be strong, which is like you do all the work, and that just wasn’t Storm. I still carry that with me to this day.”
To hear all these moments and so much more, listen to the full episode:
A Review of Beyoncé and Her Husband’s “EVERYTHING IS LOVE”
Jun 25, 2018
Jamedra and I kicked off the weekend by appearing on KQED’s Forum to air out our feeling on Beyoncé and that other dude’s new joint album, EVERYTHING IS LOVE.
One of us wore a sweatshirt with a pointed message:
We Couldn’t Help But Wonder How ‘Sex and the City’ Is Already 20
Jun 20, 2018
This week, in honor of the 20th anniversary of Sex and the City, we’re revisiting the show’s pilot episode and seeing if it holds up.
Oh, and Carrie Bradshaw has an important Post It message for y’all.
Speaking of Carrie, she and advice go together like peanut butter and jelly, so we’re putting ancient relationship advice to the test.
We’re also going to use male tennis players to teach a short, yet instructional course on how to be the best non-sexist ally you can be (it’s not that hard, bro).
While we’re learning how to act, a 12-year-old Meghan Markle has some words for sexist advertisers.
And because tomorrow is the first official day of summer, why not let this joyful French-language ditty put you in the mood?
Thank Your Lucky Yelp Stars Your Gyno Isn’t Suing You
Jun 06, 2018
This week, inspired by the story of a woman being sued for $1 million over a one-star Yelp review, we’re reviewing… review culture! 5 stars for being hella meta!
We’re also traveling back in time to explore a juicy controversy from 1960s Britain that shows that the more things change, the more they stay INSANE…
Image: Emmanuel Hapsis. Photos: Bell’s News of the World, Daily Express, Daily Mirror, and Wiki Commons.
This week, inspired by PBS’s The Great American Read, we are talking about the books that changed our lives, and the ones we think are wildly overrated.
We’re also exploring the worst jump-the-shark moments from TV history…
…reveling in hilarious yearbook quotes from Gen Z…
…drawing hearts all over pictures of Prince Carl Philip of Sweden…
…mean-mugging the men of Arrested Development for gaslighting co-star Jessica Walter…
…and steaming things up with new music by Rhye, which is basically the equivalent of foreplay for your eardrums.
This week, inspired by Kanye’s liposuction confession, we investigate how many men get plastic surgery. Spoiler: A LOT.
We also explore the science behind the Yanny vs. Laurel phenomenon (and take every opportunity to name-drop the legendary Greek musician Yanni in the process):
This week, fresh off serving as a juror in a three-week trial, I spill all the beans and hand out some survival tips in case someday Uncle Sam decides he wants you on a jury!
Gen Z Takeover: Teens Talk Vaping, Kanye, Parkland, and Everything Else
Apr 26, 2018
This week, the youths are taking over! We’re going to kick it with two teens, Elke Janssen and Gabriel Alves de Lima, and chat about why vaping has become such a trend:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9zps5LsVXs
…whether they care about online privacy…
…their thoughts on Kanye’s latest shenanigans…
…and we get their take on a few things from way before their time, ye olde 1990s!
Slumber Partying Like It’s 1999 with Bob the Drag Queen
Apr 05, 2018
For our second ever live show, we got gussied up in Clueless costumes and relived the ’90s for a night with RuPaul’s Drag Race winner Bob the Drag Queen, comedian Zahra Noorbakhsh, and musician Kendra McKinley!
We bound problematic celebrities, played Truth or Dare and Shag Kill Marry, and performed choreographed numbers to TLC, Jamiroquai, and the Spice Girls!
But, wait, this is an audio podcast, though! you might be thinking. Fear not; there’s video of the whole evening! Feast your eyes!
https://youtu.be/WvyKmB-bzeM
If still images are more your speed, here’s a cute little slideshow of some highlights from the evening:
And, of course, you can listen to hear it all too:
We’re still recovering from our live show hangovers (you’ll be able to hear and watch that next Wednesday!), so we’re taking a break this week and leaving you with an interview we did with iHeartRadio’s Access Podcast. It’ll give you a peek behind the curtain of what it’s like to make our show.
Ayo, sis! It’s Women’s History Month! What better way to celebrate than to tell the stories of bad ass women who were left out of our history books?
Then, we’re looking back at Iggy Azalea, Jennifer Lawrence, and other celebrities who’ve fallen out of favor, and dissecting the ways our culture can be brutally fickle.
We are also doing something we rarely do on this show: giving props to a straight cis white man!
And we find out how this whole Valentine’s Day thing got started in the first place (hint: slapping women with strips of goat hide drenched in sacrificial blood is involved).
This week, the flu snatched one of The Cooler hosts! The two survivors could have just carried on in the studio, but we had a better idea: crash a Tom Hardy / Michelle Williams movie set in San Francisco instead!
Did we manage to find Tom’s pillowy lips?
Or exchange BFF bracelets and play outside with Michelle?
Now that we’ve reached the milestone of our 100th episode, we thought it would be fun to look back at our very first to find out how far we’ve come. The results are only slightly cringe-y.
This week, we’re celebrating the newborn year with a few resolutions. Like Honey Boo Boo, we love ourselves, but realize there is room for improvement:
Our resolutions run the gamut from traveling internationally:
To learning how to camp:
To not getting into other people’s business and staying in one’s lane:
Did you make a resolution this year? Share it with us @KQEDPop on Twitter or in the comments below! Oh, and don’t forget to subscribe and rate us in iTunes!
Coolio Awards: The Best and Worst of 2017 Pop Culture
Dec 27, 2017
Our ideal way to celebrate would be to rent a yacht — preferably one that Rihanna has made out on — and invite all you listeners to the Mediterranean to party with us.
But that’s kind of out of our price range right now (maybe something to aim for when we hit 200 episodes?). So we did the next best thing and turned the mic over to you — our listeners!
And y’all actually sent in questions, messages of love, and more!
Everyone wants us to talk about Prince Harry’s engagement, but we don’t really care about the topic, so we recruited an expert on all things royal: Jamedra’s mom!
We dig up bizarre medieval death records via the Medieval Death Bot Twitter account.
A few weeks ago, we went on record as haters of musical adaptations of classic movies. But would we still feel the same way after experiencing a live show up close and personal? We got gussied up and went to see Broadway’s Aladdin (playing at the SHN Orpheum Theatre through July 7, 2017) to find out.
While we were there, we rubbed the lamp and wished to kick it with the show’s breakout star, Anthony Murphy a.k.a. the Genie. And it worked!
He dropped by the studio to chat about the pressure of filling Robin Williams’ shoes, how grueling being a stage actor can be, who he would hold a sign for at TRL, which Beyoncé album rules them all, and which Real Housewife he’s related to (!!!).
And we ride out on “That Certain Female” by Charlie Feathers:
Inspired by the debut of Reese Witherspoon’s daughter at a debutante ball, we take a look at the custom’s history and discuss why we might be seeing a lot more of them in the future.
Because we’re nerds, we trace back the origins of pop culture words like “meme,” “woke,” and “Netflix and chill.”
We rage over the proposed $70 admission to National Parks.
We toast to whichever intern runs the KFC Twitter account.
A lot of people ask, “What would Jesus do?” But two so-called Christian critics decided to start asking a different question: “What would Jesus listen to?” Answer: essentially nothing that came out in the ’90s.
Pretty Woman and Mean Girls are the latest movies to be turned into musicals. We dream up some musical adaptations of our own, from Titanic to Game of Thrones.
We belatedly get mad at the casting directors of the 2001 film Josie and the Pussycats.
We tip our hats to Oprah for continuously living her best life.
And we ride out on “If I Ruled the World” by Nas and Lauryn Hill:
Toxic the mp3? Great. Toxic friends? Not so much. We’ll tell you how to kick ’em to the curb!
Are Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy’s sons gay for each other? All signs point to yaaas homo.
1997 gave us Titanic, the Spice Girls’ “Wannabe,” and a bunch of sad, creepy, scary stuff too! And we ride out on “A Foreign Affair” by Client Liaison feat. Tina Arena:
On our Summer ’17 to-do lists: see all the Charlize Theron movies, watch all the HBO shows (Game of Thrones! Insecure!), light all the candles and be emo with Lana del Rey.
On your Summer ’17 to-do list: Listen to all our old episodes and pretend like Obama is still President.
It’s official: Album of the Summer (maybe the Year, too): Lorde’s Melodrama. My favorite track changes day to day. Today, it’s “Homemade Dynamite.”
Chilling Pop Culture Curses, from ‘Poltergeist’ to Drake
Jun 22, 2017
A look at hexes floating around Hollywood, a twisted tale from the 1700s, a warning about catacombs, and — to lighten the mood — an ode to onion rings and fries.
What Do Bad Sci-Fi Movies Predict for the Next Few Years?
Jun 15, 2017
Get ready for cyborg babies, televised death matches, and lots o’ dragons! Also, we investigate the Song of the Summer phenomenon and share a few 2017 contenders.
Beyond Janis Joplin and Jimi Hendrix, we uncover the 1967 jams that failed to stand the test of time. Also, a guide on how to do wedding season right and not be an a-hole.
The Fast and Furious franchise is full of flashy cars, explosions… and good life advice?
10 years later, we’re still thinking about the time Rosie O’Donnell and Elisabeth Hasselbeck yelled in each other’s faces over the Iraq War on The View:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aAwoPLhJVAs
American adults seem to not know what they’re doing these days, so we’re looking to viral infants for wisdom:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3S9d5YMqvw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nA0ROh_DBkg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3msjOKqllOk
And, in honor of dearly departed Paul Walker, we ride out on Wiz Khalifa and Charlie Puth’s “See You Again:”
We share summer travel tips, recent findings on tequila’s effect on your body, and the story of a Brazilian conman who tricked an entire country into believing he was a famous soccer player (despite not being good at soccer).
You don’t have to be rich to gallivant across the globe. We have some tips for how you can pull it off.
We share the story of a Brazilian man called Kaiser, who managed to lie and charm his way into becoming a famous soccer player, despite never actually playing.
We all know tequila makes people want to pick fights at dive bars, but did you also know that it is good for your body?
In this week’s edition of childhood heroes who’ve let us down, we process our feelings on TLC pulling an “All Lives Matter.”
We commend this New Jersey teen for showing up to prom in a coffin:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJJTmMWdlg0
And we ride out on Aerosmith’s “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing:”
Jessamyn Stanley on Why Yoga Isn’t All Peace, Love, and Rainbows
May 18, 2017
The yoga star shares her thoughts on the power of solitude, growing up Baha’i, what the media gets wrong about yoga, why Kylie Jenner might be a low-key genius, and which Harry Potter star she most wants to sleep with.
This week, we’re joined by Jessamyn Stanley, who became a yoga star by posting snapshots of her practice on Instagram. She recently released her first book, Every Body Yoga, which melds lessons of how to better your life through yoga with personal essays about her journey to self-love and a bunch of other good stuff.
We talk about what she thinks the media has all wrong about modern yoga…
…why being alone can be so scary and so necessary…
…how modern yoga is and isn’t about cultural appropriation…
…which Olsen Twin release is her fave…
…which Harry Potter character she most wants to sleep with…
…why she thinks Kylie Jenner might be a low-key genius…
and why she loves this Migos-inspired spoof of Beauty and the Beast.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a4ja043en40
And we cap things off with a song Jessamyn can’t stop listening to: “North Cack” by G Yamazawa.
I’ll Have What He’s Having. Privilege.
May 11, 2017
We share tales of entitled white dudes messing with us, get into David Bowie’s history of being brutally honest, and scratch our heads at some questionable passages in Ivanka Trump’s new book.
Aretha Franklin Hates You, Your Sister, and Your Friend
May 04, 2017
Join us for a shade-trospective of all the ruthless things Aretha Franklin has said about her contemporaries, a look at the Shea Moisture controversy, a remembrance of a dearly departed giant bunny, and a new ballsy beauty trend that will haunt your dreams.
Aretha has turned being shady into an art form. Last week, she sent a fax calling out Dionne Warwick to the Associated Press, the latest episode in a long history of dissing peers for no apparent reason.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m-mtlGyS4r0
Is Shea Moisture turning its back on black women to get white women’s money?
You can be famous for anything these days… like using your boyfriend’s balls as a beauty blender.
United Airlines continues being the worst by killing a giant bunny. R.I.P. Simon!
Caitlyn Jenner wants us to know she doesn’t regret voting for Trump, and that she’s interested in running for office. We want Caitlyn to please stop talking.
Our favorite politician of the week: a mayor in France who’s considering quitting because he hates his Nazi-sympathizing constituents.
And we ride out on TLC’s comeback single, “Way Back:”
Girls, Bye: Can a Series Finale Ever Satisfy?
Apr 27, 2017
We process the end of Lena Dunham’s Girls, share our best and worst TV finales, discuss the “profound silence” of certain celebs, freak out over what’s actually in certain kinds of wine, celebrate a beautifully worded feature on Rachel Dolezal, and provide a few reasons why you should give One Direction’s Harry Styles a chance.
It’s Been 84 Years Since My Last Confession
Apr 20, 2017
We’re taking it to church by confessing some shameful sins, discussing the alleged Millennial migration away from cities, and investigating the cure for depression Gwyneth Paltrow wants to sell you for $200.
S-Town: A Show about Murder, Nipple Rings… and Double Standards in Podcasting?
Apr 13, 2017
No one is talking about a specific facet of S-Town… until now. Also, a peek into the world of professional whistling, gay thievery, and a spoken-word piece by Sharon Stone.
The Dark and Twisted World of Tickling
Mar 23, 2017
You’ll never think of tickling the same way again. Also, a look at the dangers of being a know-it-all, the glory of Keanu Reeves, and the story of a badass four-year-old Siberian girl.
The Spice Girls: Woke Baes Since 1996
Mar 16, 2017
Get Out fangirling, the secret language of twins, and recently discovered Spice Girls footage that’ll make you love them even more than you already do.
Don’t Cut Your Hair Like Felicity & Other ’90s Dating Rules
Mar 02, 2017
This jam-packed episode features a first-person dispatch from Standing Rock, a look at problematic dating manuals from the ’90s, an exploration of the time Amber Tamblyn catfished Tyrese, a quiz on bizarre celebrity baby names, and a list of reasons why Bill Maher is terrible.
We talk about Mapping Privilege, her new project in collaboration with KQED Pop, which involves traveling everywhere from Standing Rock and Wichita to Detroit and Houston to talk to strangers about identity:
The word of weird baby names goes far beyond Blue Ivy, North West, and Apple.
We revisit some problematic dating manuals from the ’90s:
We list all the reasons why Bill Maher is terrible:
We celebrate Iceland’s newest and cutest reality show, Keeping Up with the Kattarshians, which involves kittens living in a dollhouse and sleeping in mini bunk beds:
http://nutiminn.is/kattarshians/
We honor the Muslims behind this fundraiser to repair the vandalized Jewish cemetery in Missouri:
Zahra Noorbakhsh Speaks on Behalf of All Muslims
Feb 16, 2017
The Good Muslim, Bad Muslim host shares how Trump’s election inspired her to return to prayer, what it’s like to be a comedian of color in the current political climate, and how she feels about Lindsay Lohan flirting with Islam.
Today, we’re joined by Zahra Noorbakhsh. She’s the comedian behind such shows as All Atheists Are Muslim and Hijab and Hammer Pants. She’s also a podcast host, and a self-described pork-eating, alcohol-drinking, premarital-sex-having Muslim.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CHUNY2FUDNE
We talk about how the election of Donald Trump led Zahra back to prayer…
That Joke Isn’t Funny Anymore, Thanks to Trump
Feb 09, 2017
What’s comedy’s place in this new age? Also, a mother of twins gives Beyonce advice on what to expect. And we look back at Andrew Jackson’s life to better understand what we’re in for with our current President.
Fight the Power with Protest Songs and Radical Self-Care!
Feb 02, 2017
We revisit bright music moments from past protest movements, debate whether self-care is good or bad for us, and give props to candy-stealing Canadian squirrels and a judgmental British cat.
Mandy Moore Reinvented Herself, and So Can You!
Jan 26, 2017
We look at celebrities who’ve leved-up for inspiration, imagine alternate universes (what if Iman was President? what if Aaliyah was with us? what if Whitney never met Bobby?), and check up on Young Thug, Chelsea Handler, and Serena Williams.
It’s the beginning of a new year, and anything is possible! If Mandy Moore can transform from an under-appreciated pop singer…
… into a respected actress and Golden Globe nominee, who says we can’t make something out of our lives?
And since we’re already communicating in Mandy gifs, check out young Mandy weirdly waving with her naked foot:
Recent weeks have felt like we’re living in an alternate reality, so we thought it might be fun to dream up some pop culture what-if scenarios. What if Iman was our President?
What if Aaliyah was still here?
And what if Whitney had never met Bobby?
We give props to Ryan Staake for finishing a $100k Young Thug video, despite the fact that Young Thug didn’t bother showing up for the shoot. Watch how he turned that lemon of a situation into music video lemonade:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_9L3j-lVLwk
We are troubled by the fact that, despite some gains for women in Hollywood (an all-female Ghostbusters! a woman front-and-center on a Star Wars poster!), women only said 27% of the words in 2016’s biggest movies:
We try to make sense of Chelsea Handler saying that the Kardashians are the reason Trump got elected, while also saying Megyn Kelly is swell:
And we ride out on “Dove” by Pillar Point, which has the best music video you’ve seen in a long while:
This week, we’re celebrating the newborn year with a few resolutions. Like Honey Boo Boo, we love ourselves, but realize there is room for improvement:
Our resolutions run the gamut from seeking out friends more:
To listening more:
To trying something that scares the crap out of us:
To not having any resolutions:
Did you make a resolution this year? Share it with us @KQEDPop on Twitter or in the comments below! Oh, and don’t forget to subscribe and rate us in iTunes!
Coolio Awards: The Best and Worst of 2016 Pop Culture
Dec 29, 2016
We’re honoring 2016 with an (off-kilter) awards ceremony.
After nine looooooong years, Gilmore Girls is back! Anyone who reads KQED Pop or listens to The Cooler regularly knows I’m OBSESSED with this show, so naturally this episode is entirely dedicated to the Netflix revival:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kGGNNSmGDpU
For the uninitiated, here’s what you need to know:
Despite the fact that the U.S. and Canada share the longest border in the world, most Americans don’t know that much about our neighbors to the North. In this episode, we share fun facts about Canada (for example, did you know they have more donut shops per capita than anywhere else?):
We also share the slang you’ll need to know to fit in with the cool kids:
We reveal secretly Canadian celebrities:
And this wouldn’t be a proper Canadian tribute without a discussion about national treasure/Queen of Quebec, Celine Dion:
Thanks for Everything, Solange! Thanks for Nothing, 2016!
Nov 23, 2016
This week on The Cooler, gratitude for Solange helps us fight the darkness, and we share tips on how to survive your family, long flights and bad food this holiday season.
The Best, Worst and Weirdest Fake Celebrity Accents
Nov 17, 2016
We’re paying homage to Lindsay Lohan’s new accent, processing our feelings about Lil Wayne’s anti-Black Lives Matter rant, and discussing why we should care more about asses.
I Wish I Knew How to Quit You: Controversial Celebrities We Can’t Stop Loving
Nov 03, 2016
One of us comes out as a Mel Gibson fan. Also, we mourn Vine, celebrate a 100-year-old who has six gin and tonics a day, and share our self-care routines.
Today we are joined by Karina Longworth, the mastermind behind You Must Remember This, a wildly popular podcast dedicated to the secret and forgotten histories of Hollywood. She’s tackled everything from the Manson murders to the Hollywood blacklist to Frank Sinatra’s little known space rock opera.
Karina shares her thoughts on whether Bette Davis and Joan Crawford’s feud was real or a publicity stunt…
To Be or Not to Be a Kim Kardashian Defender and a Kanye West Fan
Oct 13, 2016
People have gross reactions to the Kim Kardashian robbery. Also, how much do you miss meeting strangers from AOL Instant Messenger? A LOT = the only answer we’ll accept.
We resuscitate our In Memoriam segment to pay homage to AOL Instant Messenger and how awesome it was to meet up with complete strangers from chat rooms and not have them murder us:
We wonder if we really like the music we listen to… or if we’ve been brainwashed by peer pressure:
And we cap things off with “Father Stretch My Hands Pt. 1”, a song from Kanye West’s The Life of Pablo:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KXdQ8ZCzqkY
If you haven’t already, please take our cute, little survey and let us know what you think of the show!
Mara Wilson on What Happened after ‘Matilda’ and Why She Quit Hollywood
Sep 29, 2016
The Mrs. Doubtfire star shares what Robin Williams was really like, why Hufflepuffs make great significant others, and how she ended up elbowing Jonathan Taylor Thomas in the crotch.
Today, we are joined by Mara Wilson, a name you might remember from Mrs. Doubtfire, Matilda, and Miracle on 34th Street. She’s since traded Hollywood for a life of writing and being a badass performer at storytelling and comedy shows. Her new book, Where Am I Now?, takes us through her childhood fame and everything that has followed.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HR36ohpPZZs
We talk about what it was like to grow up on screen…
…what Robin Williams was really like…
…the importance of de-stigmatizing mental health…
…why Hufflepuffs make great partners…
…how the word “cute” has the power to be condescending and affirming…
…and how Mara ended up elbowing Jonathan Taylor Thomas in the crotch.
Mara also drops truth bombs like this one: “Having a fan base is like having strict parents, except they don’t love you unconditionally.”
And we cap things off with a song of Mara’s choosing, “I Touch Myself” by Divinyls:
Carly starts things off with a bang by declaring that she thinks Stranger Things sucks:
I spend the entire segment like this:
Jamedra hasn’t seen Stranger Things so she spends the entire segment like this:
Carly and I eventually agree to disagree:
I share weird facts about bras, beards, cobras, Vin Diesel and basically everything else in the known universe from the book Cats Are Capable of Mind Control: And 1,000+ uberfacts You Never Knew You Needed to Know:
And we cap things off with Modern English’s “I Melt with You,” a song from the Stranger Things soundtrack:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LuN6gs0AJls
If you haven’t already, please take our cute, little survey and let us know what you think of the show!
Summer Recap: Ryan Lochte and Other White Dudes Are Teflon, Get Away with Everything
Sep 01, 2016
We’re back from summer break! This week, we’re talking Taylor Swift’s downfall, Britney’s comeback, why certain white men are like Teflon, and the history behind the no-white-after-Labor-Day rule.
Brexit: How Drugs and Sex Sorta Kinda Broke Up the E.U.
Jul 07, 2016
This week, we share a controversial Brexit theory, what we hope happens in pop culture this summer, and figure out who is America’s Next Top Superfan of The Cooler!
The Cooler has been going full steam for the past 10 months so it’s time for some self-care in the form of a hiatus. In honor of everything we’ve created so far, we invited two of the show’s biggest fans into the studio to crown America’s Next Top Superfan of The Cooler!
Then, we chat about what we hope happens in pop culture while we’re on break:
We share a completely unsubstantiated Brexit theory that explains everything.
This week, we’re joined by Chuck Klosterman, prolific culture critic and author of Sex, Drugs and Cocoa Puffs. To pre-game for the interview, we (literally) take a page out of that book and ask each other questions from his piece, “23 Questions I Ask Everybody I Meet In Order To Decide If I Can Really Love Them.”
After we decide if we can love each other (we can), Chuck joins us for a chat about his new book, But What If We’re Wrong?, and tells us why everything we think about the past is wrong:
And we cap things off with the song Chuck hopes makes it to 2516, “The Boys Are Back in Town” by Thin Lizzy:
Celebrity Couples You Never Knew Were a Thing
Jun 23, 2016
This week, we’re talking about self-care post Orlando, surprising celebs who used to date, and a married woman who hid her secret lover in her attic for a decade!
Then we follow the “Just keep swimming” advice from Finding Nemo and keep it rolling with a quiz on celebrity couples never knew were a thing. Shia LaBeouf and Carey Mulligan aren’t mentioned in the episode, but they should have been:
Our Obligatory News Story of the Week is about a married woman named Walburga, who kept a secret lover in her attic for a decade:
This week, inspired by a bit of fanmail which referenced a past episode’s usage of “frog in a sock,” I was inspired to investigate other fascinating idioms from around the world. Test your knowledge of foreign phrases like “The hen sees the snake’s feet and the snake sees the hen’s boobs”:
This week, we’ve been blessed from on high by Ru-sus herself and are joined by the newly crowned RuPaul’s Drag Race champion, first name Bob, last name The Drag Queen!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Bt7ew02968
Bob does not hold back on topics ranging from political activism and self-care to why he’s cool with Paula Deen and why Barbara Walters is a gangsta.
And we cap things off with Bob’s debut single “Purse First” because duh:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zuogbfF6VR8
If you’re in love with Bob after listening to our episode (highly likely), nab some tickets to see him perform on May 28, 2016 at The Castro Theatre as part of The Drag Queens of Comedy!
Bette Davis vs. Joan Crawford, The Shadiest Hollywood Feud of All Time
May 19, 2016
The Old Hollywood rivalry that makes Mariah vs. Jennifer Lopez look like child’s play. Plus, why we’re not coming to your birthday dinner and updates on Jamie Foxx and Brandy.
This week, inspired by Ryan Murphy’s plan to create a series called Feud that will focus on the acrimonious relationship between old Hollywood starlets Bette Davis and Joan Crawford, I’m taking you on a shade retrospective of every rude twist-and-turn of their rivalry:
What’s Really Behind All the Hate Gwyneth Paltrow and Goop Get?
May 12, 2016
A dispatch from a run-in with Gwyneth at a Goop pop-up shop, a look at imposter syndrome and our phone addictions, and the story of a 17-year-old who was revealed to be an almost 30-year-old.
This week, a UK politician getting scolded for using his phone during important government business inspired Carly to point out how far our attachment to our devices has gone:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hPSTFtu5A08
Jamedra confesses that she feels like a fraud…and that 70% of Millennials are right there with her:
Sorry Not Sorry: The Best and Worst Celebrity Apologies
May 05, 2016
A look back at some of the most memorable celebrity apologies, a crash course in Cinco de Mayo’s origins, and a take on the sad implications of Lil Kim’s facial transformation.
Inspired by Johnny Depp and Amber Heard’s bizarre apology for smuggling their dogs into Australia, we look back at some of the most memorable celebrity apologies.
We discuss the sad implications of Lil Kim’s facial transformation.
This week, we’re joined by Nancy Jo Sales, a contributing editor at Vanity Fair, a prolific writer on the subjects of pop culture icons and youth culture, and the author of a new book called American Girls: Social Media and the Secret Lives of Teenagers.
We talked to Nancy Jo about scary corners of social media like “slut pages”:
We reminisced with Nancy Jo about how she used to be friends with Donald Trump in the ’90s:
And I just had to ask about the infamous Alexis Neiers voicemail:
The Kennedy Curse: A Family-Sized Portion of Murphy’s Law
Apr 07, 2016
We dig into the tragic history of one of the most famous American families, the gross double standard surrounding Kehlani’s cheating scandal, and why superhero movies are super annoying.
Luna Malbroux on Her Wage Gap App and Why It’s Tricky to Be Black and into BDSM
Mar 31, 2016
The EquiTable app creator chats with us about everything from racism in the Bay Area to why playing Bone Thugs-N-Harmony will not get you to second base.
This week, we’re joined by Luna Malbroux, a diversity consultant for schools and workplaces by day, a hilarious comedian by night, an app creator sometime in between, and also potentially the love child of Tyler Perry and Oprah Winfrey.
We talk to Luna about EquiTable, her app that uses comedy to raise awareness around the wage gap:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r2ybupRgffE
We then switch gears to get the lowdown on why it’s complicated for some black people to explore BDSM:
http://fusion.net/story/281403/bdsm-while-black/
We pay homage to the still-relevant Samantha Jones:
And we cap things off with a song of Luna’s choice: FKA Twigs’ “Two Weeks”:
This week, we’re joined by Ann Friedman, whose name might sound familiar because she does approximately 1,001 things, like her New York Magazine column, her freelance work for publications like The New Yorker and The New York Times, her weekly newsletter, her pie charts and her hugely successful podcast Call Your Girlfriend.
On this episode, we asked Ann to preach the Shine Theory gospel and our hands involuntarily shot up in praise:
Sanjay Patel on ‘Sanjay’s Super Team’ and the Struggle of Being Culturally-Hyphenated
Feb 29, 2016
We took a field trip to Pixar HQ to chat with Sanjay Patel and Nicole Grindle about their Oscar-nominated short, as well as Aziz Ansari’s ‘Master of None’ and the Bhagavad Gita.
We took a field trip to Disney Pixar headquarters to chat with Sanjay Patel and Nicole Grindle about their Oscar-nominated short, Sanjay’s Super Team:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=222ztGhX4SE
We talked about everything from how Patel reconciled his American upbringing with the world of his immigrant father to Aziz Ansari’s Master of None to the lessons of the Bhagavad Gita.
If you’re craving more Oscars coverage, revisit some of the best and worst acceptance speeches from award shows past:
Since the Oscars are right around the corner, I came up with some dos and don’ts that could make all future acceptance speeches less mind-numbingly dull:
Since it’s the week of Presidents’ Day, I hit the history books to find out all the weird presidential facts our history teachers really should have taught us :
Will You Accept This Deep Analysis of The Bachelor?
Feb 12, 2016
We chat about how The Bachelor franchise is kind of like a modern gothic novel, explore the weird history behind Valentine’s Day, and share the key to turning a first date into a second.
Since the Super Bowl is right around the corner, we reexamine the furor around Janet Jackson’s exposed breast and discuss how that moment in pop culture history projects a lot of uncomfortable truths about America:
This week, we’re catching up on everything we missed while we were away, starting with our dearly departed David Bowie and what he has in common with Tupac:
We’re also questioning whether we should keep hate listening to Serial Season 2 or just give up and watch this on repeat instead:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ATXbJjuZqbc
We play a Can You Guess the X-Files Plot? game:
And we cap things off with a divisive Scarlett Johansson song, which features backing vocals from none other than David Bowie:
This week, I’m sharing two bits of news with you dear listeners.
Bad news: we’re still on hiatus.
Good news: that hiatus will be dunzo on January 28th with the debut of an all-new full-length episode!!!
I felt lazy just leaving it at that for the week so I put together my 10 favorite bizzare-o predictions Nikki, Psychic to the Stars, made for the coming year.
They involve a cat and dog hybrid:
A White House break-in by a monkey (here’s hoping it’s our beloved IKEA friend):
And yet another Kardashian-West baby by the name of Krystal South:
Listen to find out what 2016 allegedly has in store!
And that’s just scratching the surface. Nikki has hundreds of other predictions too. For the full list, check out her website:
This week, we’re celebrating the newborn year with a few resolutions. Like Honey Boo Boo, we love ourselves, but realize there is room for improvement:
Our resolutions run the gamut from taking all the unnecessary sorry’s out of our work emails:
Did you make a resolution this year? Share it with us @KQEDPop on Twitter on in the comments below! Oh, and don’t forget to subscribe and rate us in iTunes!
Coolio Awards: The Best and Worst of 2015 Pop Culture
Dec 30, 2015
Who will win Best Clap Back, Best Mother-Daughter Display of Passive Aggression, and Most Consistent Foot-in-Mouth?
This week, Carly guides us through an exploration of British Christmas music that never managed to cross the pond. One of them is about an alien and another is about a dead snowman:
This week, we’re paying homage to Titanic, the movie that launched many tears and even more attempts to fog up the inside of a car.
We’ll be sharing some little-known trivia, like the fact that Jeremy Sisto a.k.a. snob and a half Elton from Clueless almost was cast as Jack. Don’t believe me? Watch his screen test:
https://youtu.be/Jk-OZiiZs3o?t=29s
Carly will be playing a ditty from the soundtrack…on her violin!
And we’ll scratch our heads over the existence of this alternate ending:
Then, we were joined by an actual child (!!!) and talked about everything from feminism and global warming to why Zayn really left One Direction and Christina Aguilera’s Burlesque:
And we capped things off with a song of our young friend’s choice: One Direction’s “Drag Me Down”:
This week, we’re celebrating Halloween with only the spookiest topics, starting with a convo about how those inappropriate costumes you see all over the Internet are nothing more than a marketing ploy:
And we celebrate director Henry Selick’s admission that The Nightmare Before Christmas is, in fact, a Halloween film, not a Christmas one, by riding out to “This Is Halloween:”
Taylor Swift vs. Mansplainers, Taking Back Snobbery, and the Downfall of American Apparel
Oct 15, 2015
Why do critics only care about Taylor Swift’s album when a man sings it? Can the word “snob” be rebranded as a good thing? And what’s behind American Apparel’s downfall?
French Feminism, A Less Problematic Barbie, and the Dangers of Unfriending
Oct 08, 2015
We’re talking about celebs who say they’re not feminists, Zendaya’s Barbie, and an odd tale of a woman successfully suing her coworker for unfriending her.
On this week’s episode, we’re talking about Marion Cotillard and other celebrities who say they’re not feminists. Why are there still huge misunderstandings and negative connotations around the term ‘feminist’? Play along with our Guess Which Celebrity Said This Wack Thing About Feminism game!
We’re also discussing Zendaya’s Barbie and Mattel’s attempt to diversify its dolls. Is this well-intentioned move enough to negate all the unattainable beauty standards that come with all Barbie dolls? And which people deserve their own Barbie?
Last week, you heard our high school dance horror stories and our conversation with the hilarious W. Kamau Bell. But that’s not all that happened that night.
We also talked to the Bay Area’s leader in voguing, Jocquese Whitfield, and Brontez Purnell, former member of Gravy Train!!!! and lead singer of The Younger Lovers.
Because audio can only go so far sometimes, here’s a video of Jocquese’s epic performance:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJJzasqv3BA
And here’s what the boys from The Younger Lovers look like in motion:
The theme of the night was Homecoming Dance so we kicked things off with horror stories from our high school days.
My tale was heavily influenced by my very Greek upbringing.
Exhibit A: Me and my pet goat, Yiorgo.
Exhibit B: No, that’s not my sister. That’s me randomly standing next to a fake potted plant.
Exhibit C: Me kicking it by the fireplace. Notice the knee pom-poms.
Exhibit D: Me discovering gender, Greek skirt edition.
I ran into some trouble with my Homecoming date, but Jamedra had no problem finding arm candy at her Junior Prom:
And Carly had a Prom that only makes sense in England:
After we shared our embarrassing high school stories, we sat down with W. Kamau Bell to chat about everything from Serial and Denzel Washington to his prom and a recent racist incident he experienced in Berkeley.
During our sit-down, we referenced his great This American Life piece about the public forum that resulted. It’s definitely worth a listen:
Come back next Tuesday for a special bonus episode featuring live conversations with Bay Area voguing maestro Jocquese Whitfield and Brontez Purnell, former member of Gravy Train!!!! and lead singer of The Younger Lovers.
On this week’s episode, we’re talking about James Franco returning to his high school to teach. Why do we give celebrities such a hard time when they want to branch out of their main gig?
Shakespearean Snobs, Hella Appropriation and a Dose of Riddle-in
Sep 17, 2015
For our debut episode, we’re talking about some drama around Benedict Cumberbatch’s ‘Hamlet’ production, the origins of the word “hella” and sharing a riddle that will rock your world.
In case you’re wondering how we’re feeling right now, this pretty much covers it:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xk8mm1Qmt-Y
On this week’s episode, we’re talking about how some theater people don’t want Benedict Cumberbatch fans coming to see him as Hamlet in London’s West End:
We also discuss our personal pop culture facepalm moments, inspired by this AV Club post:
Introducing ‘The Cooler,’ Your New Favorite Podcast
Sep 10, 2015
What is the summer good for? Floating down the river, sitting on stoops eating popsicles, getting awkward tan lines. Oh, and secretly working on a podcast!
Surprise! KQED Pop will now feature a weekly pop culture podcast called The Cooler, starting September 16th!
Wondering what it will sound like? Well, you’re in luck because we put together a cute little preview for you:
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