All Pop, No Culture

Our first 81 episodes are what we now consider APNC 1.0 with our original crew: Opie, Pete, Kevin, Alex, and later, David. Through the onset of COVID and life changes, the podcast began to evolve. It was the end of an era, but we loved this crew and the memories we made. You'll notice that our earliest episodes are not on YouTube. The addition of video was never in the plans, but came to life as a surprise side effect of COVID. Going into 2022, Pete and Kevin took the show in a new direction after losing the rest of the original crew. They found their groove almost immediately with appearances from Andrew and Andy, who immediately became show regulars. Throughout what is now considered APNC 2.0, hosting has waffled back and forth between Pete and Kevin, and the cast fluctuates between any combination of the 4, and sometimes even their friend Kim, but the content is always flowing. 2022 has been a very consistent year for the gang and they look to keep it rolling into 2023 and beyond.

253. Splitsville, Highest 2 Lowest, Am I OK?, Daredevil: Born Again, and Emma & Bruce 09/10/2025

253. Splitsville, Highest 2 Lowest, Am I OK?, Daredevil: Born Again, and Emma & Bruce It's just Kevin and Lauren again this week and they are discussing Splitsville, Highest 2 Lowest, Am I OK?, Daredevil: Born Again, and Emma & Bruce That's right, Andrew has shunned all of us again. It hurts, but we'll move on. He'll be back and we all know it. After getting over our searing sting of rejection, Lauren kicks off the show by talking about the new film, Splitsville, starring Dakota Johnson, Adria Arjona, and some other people. That sounds a little dismissive, but the overall review is that the film isn't anything too special. It's a comedy-ish, but it opens in a very dark place. Our primary couple decides to enter into an open relationship to save their marriage, and, as you might imagine, it's less than successful. It sounds like this movie leans more into the odd humor than the straightforward and might be worth a viewing, but many reviews label it as somehow both chaotic and boring at the same time, so watch at your own risk. After that, Kevin joins his field guide, Spike Lee, on a tour of New York in Highest 2 Lowest, starring Denzel Washington. It's a remake of the Akira Kurosawa classic, High and Low. While the review is solid, it really does feel like an advertisement for New York about 40% of the time, and the first half of the film feels a little slow, while the second half flies by. It does end strong, but leaves a few questions in Kevin's mind that make it a little off from some of Lee and Washington's better works, but it's definitely worth a watch. Next up, Lauren continues to feed her Dakota Johnson addiction with a film from 2022, Am I OK? Directed by the great comedian Tig Notaro, this is the story of a woman who discovers a little late in life that she is gay. The film documents how that affects her, her relationships with friends, and what it means for her relationships going forward. It's certainly more heartfelt than the previous Johnson film Lauren watched and is one of her better films, so check it out if you have the chance. Coming off that high of a couple of really solid films, Kevin veers off the road into what might be a hot take. He and his family recently finished the Netflix Daredevil series and began Daredevil: Born Again on Disney+. While the show has fared well critically, Kevin is of the opinion that the original Netflix series is the better of the two. And it's not close. The new series leans too much into the special effects and loses a lot of the grit and grime that made the original such a success. That said, it is in no way a bad series, so if you like the MCU, definitely give it a go! Lauren closes out the show on top with a review of the Diane Sawyer interview with Emma Heming Willis about her relationship with Bruce Willis and the complexities they face with his dementia diagnosis. It's not the happiest of topics, but it's a very good interview and leads to some interesting discussion between Kevin and Lauren. Even if you skip this part of the podcast, the interview itself is definitely worth spending your time on. As always, thank you for watching. If you haven't already, don't forget to Like & Subscribe. We love new viewers! Also, leave us comments and let us know how we are doing and what we can be doing better. Enjoy the episode and have a great week! Facebook: @apncpodcast Twitter: @APNCPodcast Instagram: AllPopNoCulture /episode/index/show/allpopnoculture/id/38170280

252. The Roses, Eden, The Truth About Jussie Smollett?, Final Destination: Bloodlines, and Tangents 09/03/2025

252. The Roses, Eden, The Truth About Jussie Smollett?, Final Destination: Bloodlines, and Tangents It's another oddly formatted week, but this time it's Lauren fighting the bed bugs early. While we have her, we talk The Roses, and Eden, then the boys talk The Truth About Jussie Smollett?, Final Destination: Bloodlines, Alien Earth Episode 4, Ozark, and Battlestar Galactica. Andrew and Lauren were able to catch The Roses this week, in time for the show. As big fans of the original film, The War of the Roses, everyone was expectedly excited for this one. Unfortunately, despite a solid cast, it just didn't quite deliver on the magic of the original. It does have its moments, and it isn't all bad, but it does leave a lot to be desired, and it's probably best to just watch the original Michael Douglas/Kathleen Turner classic. Before she slips off into the land of dreams, Lauren talks about the Ron Howard film, Eden. It has an incredible cast including Jude Law, Daniel Bruhl, Vanessa Kirby, Ana de Armas, and Sydney Sweeney. This is a true story of a group leaving Eastern Europe in the 30s, looking to start a new world. Unfortunately, it's not the Eden the title suggests, as there is a lot of backstabbing and infighting, a la Lord of the Flies. Overall, it's a really solid film and worth watching, though the box office numbers suggest otherwise. Once the adult supervision is gone, Andrew takes the lead and talks about the new Netflix documentary, The Truth About Jurnee Smollett? It's that ? that actually really sells this one. While this doc jumps deep into the situation that made Jurnee Smollett infamous, it does such a good job of staying neutral that it's unlikely to change your opinion on the matter if you already have one. It is excellent and does present a good amount of info, making it a satisfying watch for Andrew, but it isn't likely to change your mind if it's already made up. As will be the case for the next month or so, the topic eventually turns to Alien Earth. The show is cruising along and continues to be excellent. We're diving deeper and deeper into what makes the hybrids tick and even getting to meet some new terrifying creatures, including an almost adorable baby xenomorph that conjures maybe the wrong images, a la Spaceballs! After that, it's full-on tangent time. Kevin talks about his Ozark journey and Andrew talks about his 2001 Battlestar Galactica rewatch with his fiancée. If you like when these two ramble on, then this section of the show is what you've been waiting for! As always, thank you for watching. If you haven't already, don't forget to Like & Subscribe. We love new viewers! Also, leave us comments and let is know how we are doing and what we can be doing better. Enjoy the episode and have a great week! Facebook: @apncpodcast Twitter: @APNCPodcast Instagram: AllPopNoCulture /episode/index/show/allpopnoculture/id/38077015

251. Alien: Earth, Caught Stealing, Eenie Meanie, Oh, Hi!, The Gilded Age, and Peacemaker 08/27/2025

251. Alien: Earth, Caught Stealing, Eenie Meanie, Oh, Hi!, The Gilded Age, and Peacemaker This week, Andrew shows up for a minute before his night-night time, and then leaves Kevin and Lauren to fend for themselves to discuss Alien: Earth, Caught Stealing, Eenie Meanie, Oh, Hi!, Night Always Comes, The Gilded Age, and Peacemaker. Since Andrew is on borrowed time this week, he and Kevin quickly break down the latest episode of Alien: Earth. I have a feeling this will be a theme over the next few weeks... As with the previous episodes, this one does not disappoint. We are digging into these new characters and discovering some wild new species and skills that are making this show a must watch so far. After tucking Andrew in and singing him a lullaby, the show moves on with Lauren discussing her sneak peak of Caught Stealing. This one stars Austin Butler, Zoe Kravitz, and a handful of other big names. It's a solid action dramedy that seems to be exactly what the previews led us to believe - this is Darren Aronofsky channeling Guy Ritchie and it sounds like it worked pretty well. Next up, Kevin talks about the new Samara Weaving film, Eenie Meanie. This film is somehow both good and bad, corny and dramatic, and fun and sad. Trailers will definitely give shades of Gone in 60 Seconds or Baby Driver, and that's not entirely wrong, but at some point, the film siwtches up on you and tries to give to feels, which is arguably when it becomes the better film. Weaving is really solid, so if there's no other reason to watch, check her performance out. Heading out to the theater, Lauren discusses the film Oh, Hi! starring Molly Gordon and Logan Lerman. Imagine a genderswapped Gerlad's Game, but also a comedy.. If it sounds insane, well, it is a little. But with that being said, it is a lot of fun, if not chaotic. The crux of the story is that, when a woman finds out her latest love is a player, she puts him in a position where he has no choice but to face his decisions. Yeah, it's nuts, but it's fun! In an effort to kill that light mood, Kevin talks about the emotional suckage that is, Night Always Comes. It stars rising actress Vanessa Kirby as a down on her luck woman who needs to get $25,000 in a single night to save her family. In most films, this would turn into a fun caper, but here we spiral with this woman, diving deeper and deeper into her painful past. While Kirby is fantastic in the part, the film lacks any semblance of joy and ends with an odd decision, sure to leave you wishing you'd done almost anyting else with your time. As we power towards the end of the episode, Lauren brings joy back to our lives. She start watching, and quickly finished, The Gilded Age on HBO. It's a period piece, a la Downton Abbey, but in the US and a few decades earlier. Loosely based on the Venderbilt family, it's a story of new vs old money and all of the complications that come with high society. With standout performances from Carrie Coon, Christine Baransky, and Taisa Farmiga, this one is not to be missed. Kevin brings the show to a close with a quick review of the season 2 premiere of Peacemaker. If you watched season 1, this is more of the same, but in the best of ways. Gunn manages to retcon the DCEU in a fun way without disrespecting that universe. This season begins Peacemaker's multiversal journey into his own existential crisis. While absolutely hilarious, and expectedly raunchy, it has some wondeful heartfelt moments that are setting up some major decisions for Peacemaker to deal with throughout the season. As always, thank you for watching. If you haven't already, don't forget to Like & Subscribe. We love new viewers! Also, leave us comments and let is know how we are doing and what we can be doing better. Enjoy the episode and have a great week! Facebook: @apncpodcast Twitter: @APNCPodcast Instagram: AllPopNoCulture /episode/index/show/allpopnoculture/id/37982685

250. Alien: Earth, The Naked Gun, Weapons Redux, Gene & Gilda, And So Many Trailers 08/20/2025

250. Alien: Earth, The Naked Gun, Weapons Redux, Gene & Gilda, And So Many Trailers The gang is all back this week and they discuss Alien: Earth, The Naked Gun, Weapons, Gilda & Gene, a boatload of trailers, and so many tangents! This episode kicks off a little earlier than usual, so the gang's pre-show conversation about a few trailers doesn't end up on the cutting room floor. After that, they jump into the new FX series, Alien: Earth. It's set in the years between Alien: Covenant and the original Alien film. If you are a masochist and enjoy hearing Kevin talk, then this is the segment for you. That guy doesn't shut up! The fool actually watched every single Alien film (sans the AvP films) in preparation for this episode, and it shows. Thankfully, Andrew was paying attention and didn't let them leave Lauren out to dry! When Kevin finally cedes the floor, the baton is passed to Lauren, who watched the recent rekindling of The Naked Gun films, starring Liam Neeson. The story is a continuation rather than a full reboot, as Liam's character is the son of the original Frank Dreben. The film manages to keep much of the same humor that made the original films successful and is definitely worth a watch if you enjoyed those. Andrew got a chance to get to the theater this week to see Weapons, so the gang is able to dive a little deeper into the film, though they manage to stay relatively spoiler free, still. The discussion digs deeper into some of the overarching themes of the film and clarifies the title. They also vaguely discuss the villain of the film and whether or not they were even more than they seemed. Again, this one is a strong recommendation from the guys. Next up, Lauren takes the mic to discuss the off-Broadway show, Gene & Gilda. It's a fictional account of an interview with Gene Wilder where he discusses his magical and heartbreaking relationship with Gilda Radner. The two met on set and their chemistry was magical. This is a beautiful story and is running through September, so if you are in the NYC area, definitely give it a shot. Not only is it well told, but the actors are brilliantly cast! The gang finishes out the show where they began, discussing trailers and what's to come for the rest of 2025, which is a surprising amount of quality films. They definitely don't cover them all, so do a little research and let us know which one's you are excited for! As always, thank you for watching. If you haven't already, don't forget to Like & Subscribe. We love new viewers! Also, leave us comments and let is know how we are doing and what we can be doing better. Enjoy the episode and have a great week! Facebook: @apncpodcast Twitter: @APNCPodcast Instagram: AllPopNoCulture /episode/index/show/allpopnoculture/id/37890425

249. Weapons, War of the Worlds, Trainwreck: Storm Area 51, and The Monkey 08/13/2025

249. Weapons, War of the Worlds, Trainwreck: Storm Area 51, and The Monkey It's just Kevin and Andrew this week, but that doesn't leave us lacking for content. this week, the guys watched Weapons, War of the Worlds, Trainwreck: Storm Area 51, and The Monkey. In a rare event, Kevin made it to the theater for a non-family film! But he still took a family member, so that's something. But I digress... He and his son ventured to the theater for the new film, Weapons. The latest horror flick from the director that brought you Barbarian is a really solid film and a must-see in the theater if horror is your jam. The story is interesting and creative, and the final act is absolutely nuts, being both horrific and laugh-inducing at the same time. Definitely see this one as soon as you can! Next up, the guys take you on a trip to sad town. Both of them watched War of the Worlds on Prime, and the consensus is... this movie absolutely sucks! How a movie was made for $65M and stars Ice Cube and Eva Longoria and is completely abysmal is almost baffling. There is really no telling where that money went, other than to Amazon branding. Someone is very rich after making this film, but the term we'd use for this sort of money-making scheme is embezzlement. Ok, that's an unsubstantiated guess, but we invite you to watch this film and figure out anywhere else that money could have gone. But actually, don't watch this film. This is one of those "we watched it so you don't have to" moments on APNC. In a much better turn, the guys watched Trainwreck: Storm Area 51. This one is the rare multi-part Trainwreck series and is well worth the watch. If you don't remember, several years back, a young man jokingly posted a Facebook event to storm Area 51. This somehow snowballed into a massive worldwide event and ended in... well, watch the episode to find out! It's a great cautionary tale of how something that should be inconsequential can take on a life of it's own become, possibly, even dangerous. Kevin closes out the show with a review of the movie, The Monkey, now streaming on Hulu. This is classic cheesy horror at its finest. The story isn't overly deep or complicated. The characters are fun but also not complicated. The kills have a very "Final Destination" feel to them, and the movie really is just a lot of fun. Theo James does a great job in dual roles, somehow being nerdy but also a total d-bag. If you like your horror fun and bloody, this is a great one! As always, thank you for watching. If you haven't already, don't forget to Like & Subscribe. We love new viewers! Also, leave us comments and let is know how we are doing and what we can be doing better. Enjoy the episode and have a great week! Facebook: @apncpodcast Twitter: @APNCPodcast Instagram: AllPopNoCulture /episode/index/show/allpopnoculture/id/37778645

248. Fantastic Four Full Spoilers, Nonna's, Freaky Tales, Twisted Metal, and Project Runway 08/06/2025

248. Fantastic Four Full Spoilers, Nonna's, Freaky Tales, Twisted Metal, and Project Runway The whole gang is back together this week AND they've all watched Fantastic Four, so we revist that with a full spoiler review, the move on to Nonna's, Freaky Tales, Twisted Metal, and Project Runway. APNC has always been a show that loves the MCU. Heck, the first episode ever was about Captain Marvel (not to date ourselves...), so to have the opportunity to have a full spoiler discussion about the Fantastic Four was something we weren't going miss, even though we just discussed it last week. Getting Andrew's take from the more seasoned MCU angle and Lauren from the less indoctrinated side leads to some great discussions and generates some really solid discussion about what this movie means for super hero movies going forward. After that discussion, Lauren takes over and discusses the film Nonna's on Netflix. It stars Vince Vaugnn in a less over the top role than usual in a story that's based on a real restaurant. Rather than hiring traditional chefs, a restauranteur hires a handful of Italian grandma's (nonna's) to make the food. It's a heartwarming story about the initial struggles and ultimate success of a very niche restaurant. The review sounds lovely, as does the restaurant. If you're ever in Staten Island, give it (and the movie) a shot! Next up, Andrew takes us back in time the Bay Area with Freaky Tales. It's 4 intertwining takes, a la Pulp Fiction, that come together at the end. Much like every other film or TV show this year, it stars Pedro Pascal, but also Ben Mendelsohn, rapper Too $hort, and Jay Ellis. It's not kid friendly, so watch when you have the TV to yourself, but it's a solid watch and a great story. Slingshotting back to the future, Kevin discusses the return of the post apocalyptic series, Twisted Metal, on Peacock. This one stars Anthonay Mackie and Stephanie Beatriz as drivers in a world where you are never truly safe unless you're moving. Despite the world it's set in, this show is a ton of fun and it requires no knowledge of the video game it's based on to enjoy, so if over the top mayhen and witty dialogue (and Kevin's favorite Mackie performance) is your jam, give this one a shot for sure. Lauren closes the show with a quick review of the new season of Project Runway. It sees the return of Heidi as the host, but lacks some of the old Project Runway magic without Tim Gunn. It's only 2 episodes in, so far, and the challenges have been less than stellar, but it's a long haul, so there is definitely room for improvement as the season rolls on. As always, thank you for watching. If you haven't already, don't forget to Like & Subscribe. We love new viewers! Also, leave us comments and let is know how we are doing and what we can be doing better. Enjoy the episode and have a great week! Facebook: @apncpodcast Twitter: @APNCPodcast Instagram: AllPopNoCulture /episode/index/show/allpopnoculture/id/37668785

247. Fantastic Four, Sirens, The Life List, ASH, Locked, and The Poop Cruise 08/04/2025

247. Fantastic Four, Sirens, The Life List, ASH, Locked, and The Poop Cruise So Kevin and Lauren are back, sans Andrew and after a much needed week off. this week they cover Fantastic Four, Trainwreck: Poop Cruise, Locked, Sirens, The Life List, and ASH. Kevin kicks off the show with his mostly spoiler-free review of Fantastic Four: First Steps. It's another solid Superhero movie in a summer where it felt like the genre could be at a tipping point. But, for Kevin at least, this film, Thunderbolts, and Superman have kept hope alive. This one is worth catching in the theaters and is a great entry point into Marvel for anyone, as it has no real ties to anything else right now. Next up, Lauren puts her travel experience to work in reviewing Trainwreck: Poop Cruise. Yes, the name is silly, but this is something that really happened. And wow was it disgusting. All in all, it was a quick entertainning watch, but it certainly left Kevin and Lauren with more questions than answers... Kevin kicks off his first review from his horror thriller week with a review of Locked, starring Anthony Hopkins and Bill Skaarsgard. This is a decent thriller with a SAW-adjacent plot where a man is locked in a car and is left to the whims of a rich man who just feelings like being an a-hole. It's not bad and it's not great, but the leads do a great job, so it's not entirely worth missing if you have Hulu right now. Lauren and Kevin finally find some common ground, as they both watched Sirens on Netflix. This is one of those shows that's not a RomCom, not a drama, and not really a comedy. It sits in the funky grey area where it's an amalgum of those things, but somehow less than. The performances are great and it's a quick watch, so, much like Locked, it's not entirely skippable, but you won't hate yourself for missing it, either. Lauren then moves on to another Netflix film that's not quite a RomCom with The Life List. This one is better than Sirens and has a sweet storyline that keeps it entertaining. When a girls mom passes away, the daughter is sent on a scavenger hunt of sorts for her inheritance. If that doesn't sound fun to you, I promise it's better than it sounds and really is sweet, although it does feel Hallmark-esque. Finally, Kevin closes out the show with the film ASH, on Shudder. This is a very pretty, very viscreal sci-fi horror(?) flick. The main performers are Aaron Paul and Eiza Gonzalex and they are honestly really great in this. The rest of the film is a bit of a mishmash of good ideas, possibly stolen from Event Horizon and Memento, that don't quite come together. It's kind of great as a visual medium, but it's definitely lacking overall. This isn't one you need to fire up a trial of Shudder for. As always, thank you for watching. If you haven't already, don't forget to Like & Subscribe. We love new viewers! Also, leave us comments and let is know how we are doing and what we can be doing better. Enjoy the episode and have a great week! Facebook: @apncpodcast Twitter: @APNCPodcast Instagram: AllPopNoCulture /episode/index/show/allpopnoculture/id/37668680

246. Superman, The Better Sister, Ironheart Finale, and Gerald's Game 07/16/2025

246. Superman, The Better Sister, Ironheart Finale, and Gerald's Game We're back this week with a bit of a Mobius strip format... The video kicks off with Kevin and Lauren talking about Superman, The Better Sister, Ironheart, and Gerald's Game, but then we get a treat and Andrew pops in, so we loop back to the beginning to complete our Superman discussion! We begin the show by jumping immediately into Superman. Lauren gives her take on the film, and then Kevin breaks down the film and his thoughts. If you weren't aware, Kevin is a huge Superman fan, and it shows here. It's not all total fanboy-ness. He does have some issues with this movie, but he still gives praise to Man of Steel. All in all, though, the review is very positive. Next up, Lauren takes us over to Amazon Prime with a review of The Better Sister. This series is a drama starring Jessica Biel and Elizabeth Banks as sisters and the drama surrounding them after the murder of one of their husbands, who also happens to be the other sister's ex! It's a gripping and well-acted drama and certainly worth watching. The mic flips back over to Kevin, who gives his final review on Ironheart, having now watched the finale. Honestly, the review isn't wildly different than his previous review. The show holds up well throughout the finale and introduces a long-rumored major character for the MCU overall. If you were on the fence, watch it. If you thought it would suck, give it a chance. The worst that can happen is that you turn it off. The best thing is, you enjoy it. Thanks to Kevin's bad influences, Lauren has started down the Stephen King/Mike Flanagan rabbit hole. She starts with Gerald's Game, the Netflix film starring Carla Gugino. It's definitely a more psychological thriller, and Carla does a great job with a story that may not be one of the greatest King has ever told. That said, it's still a solid watch. After Kevin does a little vamping for time, Andrew finally arrives, and the Superman discussion takes flight again (see what I did there?). We catch him up on our thoughts and then he gives his take. He is still a Man of Steel fan, but gives a lot of praise for this film. The general consensus from our esteemed panel is that the film is definitely worth watching, so get out there and see it! As always, thank you for watching. If you haven't already, don't forget to Like & Subscribe. We love new viewers! Also, leave us comments and let is know how we are doing and what we can be doing better. Enjoy the episode and have a great week! Facebook: @apncpodcast Twitter: @APNCPodcast Instagram: AllPopNoCulture /episode/index/show/allpopnoculture/id/37432690

245. Squid Game Finale, Jurassic World Rebirth, Megan 2.0, and Heads of State 07/16/2025

245. Squid Game Finale, Jurassic World Rebirth, Megan 2.0, and Heads of State It's just Kevin and Lauren again this week, since Andrew thinks having a life is important or whatever. They talk the Squid Game finale, Jurassic World Rebirth, Megan 2.0, and Heads of State. The show opens up like last week, with the discussion of the final season of Squid Game. This time, though, Kevin and Lauren come with full knowledge of the finale. If you haven't watched for some reason (seriously, why haven't you?!?) be warned this will be spoiler heavy. Basically, the spoiler free review is, it's a really strong ending to a really great show. No other episode or spin offs need to be created, and yet... But I digress! Next up, Kevin talks Jurassic World Rebirth, starring Scarlett Johanson, Jonathan Bailey, and Mahershala Ali. As far as the Jurassic films go, it's definitely one of the better ones. It's go action, adventure, and a boatload of CGI (that could be better, lets be honest). The story and the heart are there and it leaves the door open for more films, so what's not to love?!? Speaking of things not to love... Megan 2.0... Lauren saw this film and, like the majority of the viewing audience, was left wanting. The film steers away from the horror genre into more of an action film and it seems like it doesn't translate well. The film is problematic in many ways, all of which are detailed by Lauren. So if you need to convince yourself not to see this one in the theater, don't skip this section. Remember, at APNC, we love to watch so you don't have to! Kevin closes the show with Heads of State, a film he was convinced would be in the same category as Megan 2.0. But here's the thing - it's a lot of fun. John Cena and Idris Elba play the US President and the British Prime Minister, respectively. This is an action comedy so we aren't looking towards award season, but they play their parts wonderfully. Look, if you loved the action comedies of the 90s (tink Tango and Cash or anything with Arnie), then you should really enjoy this film. As a massive bonus, it's on Prime and won't cost you a dime! As always, thank you for watching. If you haven't already, don't forget to Like & Subscribe. We love new viewers! Also, leave us comments and let is know how we are doing and what we can be doing better. Enjoy the episode and have a great week! Facebook: @apncpodcast Twitter: @APNCPodcast Instagram: AllPopNoCulture /episode/index/show/allpopnoculture/id/37432625

244. Squid Game, Call Me Izzy, Smoke, Babygirl, and Ironheart 07/07/2025

244. Squid Game, Call Me Izzy, Smoke, Babygirl, and Ironheart It's just Kevin and Lauren this week and they manage to keep it pretty tight with some Squid Game talk, Call me Izzy, Smoke, Baby Girl, and Ironheart. They open the show by discussing the first half of the new season, as Lauren has watched 4 of the episodes and Kevin has only watched 3. The review is definitely favorable and the two make their predictions about the finale, both with differing ides about where it could end up! Next up, Lauren takes us to Broadway with Call Me Izzy. It's a one owman show starring the always incredible Jean Smart. It tackles the tough topic of abuse and is delivered wonderfully in a way that only Jean Smart can do. If you're in the New York area and aren't looking for the most uplifting story, this one is worth catching. Kevin takes us back to the small screen with Smoke, the new series on Apple TV+. It follows 2 arson investigators, played by Taron Eggerton and Jurnee Smollett. They are tracking 2 separate arsonists while dealing with their own issues on the home front. Only the tow episodes have aired so far but it seems to be an excellent investigative series and has a great twist at the end of the second episode. Continuing the recent trend of "we watched it so you don't have to," Lauren watched Babygirl starring Nicole Kidman. It's the tale of a highly successful business woman seduced by a younger man and the messiness that ensues. All in all, it doesn't do much to reinvent the wheel and leaves a lot to be desired, even in the genre of steamy romance. Kevin closes out the show with a review of the first 3 episodes of Ironheart on Disney+. The story of Riri Williams is carried over after Black Panther 2 and is surprisingly very solid so far. This is a character that Kevin did not enjoy in her previous appearance, but he's been impressed with the work done in this outing and he's enjoying it so far, even going as far as calling it one of the better Marvel shows. As always, thank you for watching. If you haven't already, don't forget to Like & Subscribe. We love new viewers! Also, leave us comments and let is know how we are doing and what we can be doing better. Enjoy the episode and have a great week! Facebook: @apncpodcast Twitter: @APNCPodcast Instagram: AllPopNoCulture /episode/index/show/allpopnoculture/id/37309400

243. The Life of Chuck, Cleaner, Materialists, The Swarm, and Equals 07/07/2025

243. The Life of Chuck, Cleaner, Materialists, The Swarm, and Equals It’s just Kevin and Lauren this week and they came prepared. They talk about Life of Chuck, Cleaner, Materialists, The Swarm, and Equals. Lauren kicks off the show with a largely positive review of the new Mike Flanagan/Stephen King joint, The Life of Chuck. Putting those two men together you’d think this would be a horror fest, but it’s a poignant film about a man’s life. Early comparisons were drawn to The Shawshank Redemption, but Lauren feels this movie doesn’t quite have that same depth. All in all, it’s still a good movie and worth a watch. Speaking of good movies, Kevin didn’t bother to watch any this. Instead, he kicks off his first of two “I watched it so you didn’t have to” segments with Cleaner on MAX. This is Die Hard clone that lacks much of the DNA that made that film great. It’s not necessarily a bad film, but you’d do better with the OG. It stars Daisy Ridley as a former soldier turned window cleaner who gets stuck outside her building when eco terrorists take over. She’s forced to battle her way back inside (which takes far too long) so that she can save the day because, of course, the entire police force is unable to breach the building. Look, it’s better than Skyscraper, so there’s that… We flip back to goodness with Lauren’s review of Materialists, starring Dakota Johnson, Chris Evans, and some guy named Pedro Pascal. It’s a love story and billed as a RomCom, though Lauren and Kevin discuss the fact that it’s less funny and more thoughtful than most, leaving it a bit in the ratings limbo. Folks going to see a Failure to Launch type movie are coming out disappointed. That said, it’s a really good movie about love and self discovery and is well worth a watch. Just go in with more grounded expectations. Let’s talk about expectations for a second. Have you ever seen the trailer or poster for something ad said to yourself, “that’s going to suck”? A wise person would not watch said offering. But Kevin has no fear. On HBO, he came across the series The Swarm and it’s… well… not good. It’s not about a killer swarm of bees. That would make sense. It’s about an underwater hive mind turning everything in the ocean against humanity. Think The Abyss, but globally, and much, much worse. At its core, it ends up being a neat concept but a very poor offering overall. Getting into the spirit, Lauren closes the show with a review of the film, Equals. It stars Nicolas Holt and Kristen Stewart and that’s about where the good part ends. It’s a futuristic society where people have been stripped of emotion and if you develop emotions, you get wiped. Our two stars develop emotions (obviously) and fall in love (obviously-er) which leads to them struggling to escape this world so they can be together. It ends on a semi tragic, semi vague note that leaves you wondering, “why did I do this?” As always, thank you for watching. If you haven't already, don't forget to Like & Subscribe. We love new viewers! Also, leave us comments and let is know how we are doing and what we can be doing better. Enjoy the episode and have a great week! Facebook: @apncpodcast Twitter: @APNCPodcast Instagram: AllPopNoCulture /episode/index/show/allpopnoculture/id/37308905

242. Deep Cover, Trainwreck: The Astroworld Tragedy, FUBAR Season 2, TLOU and Expedition 33 06/18/2025

242. Deep Cover, Trainwreck: The Astroworld Tragedy, FUBAR Season 2, TLOU and Expedition 33 It's just Kevin and Andrew this week and thanks to the magic of tangents, they turn a little into a lot! They cover the new film Deep Cover in Prime, Trainwreck: The Astroworld Tragedy, FUBAR, The Last of Us, Expedition 33, and more! Kevin kicks things off with a quick review of Deep Cover, now playing on Prime, starring Bryce Dallas Howard, Orlando Bloom, Nick Mohammed, and what seems like everyone else under the sun. This movie doesn't reinvent the wheel (the idea is even strikingly similar to Hit Man starring Glen Powell), but it does lead to a really fun ride. If you're looking for a quick, fun, adventure, this is a good one to throw on. Next up, Andrew takes us to the seedy side of the concert world with Trainwreck: The Astroworld Tragedy on Netflix. This one documents the events leading up to, and the fallout from, the Astroworld 3 concert with Travis Scott. It's laundry list of things gone horribly wrong that resulted in the deaths of 10 concert goers and several more injuries. There's a lot to be learned here, so give this one a watch. Kevin lightens the mood again after this with a quick review of the first few episodes of FUBAR Season 2 on Netflix. Much like Deep Cover, this doesn't reinvent the wheel and it doesn't do much to stand out from season one, but it is still a fun and witty show with a fantastic cast. Everyone is funny and the action is well done. The addition of Carrie Anne Moss and Guy Burnett are very welcome, too, and do manage to bring more depth to the show. After finishing the main content, Kevin takes us into the gaming world with a quick talk about his sons experience with The Last of Us parts 1 & 2 - games he swore "weren't that great." Spoiler alert, he now believes they are great and might be his favorite games. Who knew a dad could be right?!? Next up Kevin talks about the very French masterpiece, Clair Obscur - Expedition 33. It's a wonderful game full of art and emotion and an absolutely gorgeous soundtrack. If story based RPGs are your jam and you haven't played this, get on it. It's a heavily favored game of the year candidate at this point. The guys then close out the show going down various rabbit holes, highlighted by Black Phone 2 and Superman. There's a lot of good stuff in there at the end, so definitely hang in there! As always, thank you for watching. If you haven't already, don't forget to Like & Subscribe. We love new viewers! Also, leave us comments and let is know how we are doing and what we can be doing better. Enjoy the episode and have a great week! Facebook: @apncpodcast Twitter: @APNCPodcast Instagram: AllPopNoCulture /episode/index/show/allpopnoculture/id/37062565

241. Predator: Killer of Killers, The Assessment, Sinners Redux, and Floyd Collins 06/18/2025

241. Predator: Killer of Killers, The Assessment, Sinners Redux, and Floyd Collins It's a packed house and still an economical episode this week. The gang discusses the animtaed film, Predator: Killer of Killers, The Assessment, Sinners (again), and Floyd Collins. The show opens with Andrew and Kevin discussing the new animated anthology film, Predator: Killer of Killers. It's a great entry in the Predator franchise with animation reminiscent of Arcane. The film is the telling of the Predators hunting on Earth of 3 different time periods, which culminates in a fantastic final battle on the Predator home world. All in all, it's great storytelling and visually exciting. Next up, Lauren talks about the film, The Assessment. This is a psychological grounded sci-fi flick about a post apocalyptic world where having children is a privilege, not a right. Before being allowed to have a child, a couple has to go through an assessment with an increasingly unhinged evaluator that turns the couples whole life on it's ear. It's twisty and turny and totally unhinged and definitely worth a watch. Kevin FINALLY watched Sinners, so he and Andrew dig into it again, this time with a little more insight into the making of the film thanks to the bonus features, which makes for an interesting conversation. Honestly, there isn't much to say here other than the film is incredible and is definitely a must see. After Andrew leaves for an early bedtime, Lauren closes out the show with a review of the Broadway revival of Floyd Collins, a tale of an early 20th century miner trapped in a cave and the sensationalism around it. While the premise isn't heartwarming, it has a solid soundtrack and creative set design and was a great show to see at the Lincoln Center. As always, thank you for watching. If you haven't already, don't forget to Like & Subscribe. We love new viewers! Also, leave us comments and let is know how we are doing and what we can be doing better. Enjoy the episode and have a great week! Facebook: @apncpodcast Twitter: @APNCPodcast Instagram: AllPopNoCulture /episode/index/show/allpopnoculture/id/37062550

240. The Outsiders, TLOU Finale, Bad Shabbos, The Fountain of Youth, and The Last Showgirl 06/07/2025

240. The Outsiders, TLOU Finale, Bad Shabbos, The Fountain of Youth, and The Last Showgirl It's just Kevin and Lauren this week... until it isn't... and then it is again. There's a lot to talk about, with The Outsiders the Musical, The Last of Us Season 2 Finale, Bad Shabbos, The Fountain of Youth, and The Last Showgirl. Lauren kicks off the show by talk about The Outsiders, last years Tony Award winner for best musical. If you recognize the name, it is in fact the same as the '80s Brat Pack film. While that might sounds like it shouldn't work, it absolutely does. With a great set design and score, the show really is spectacular. As Lauren was discussing that show, Andrew (who had already told everyone he had better things to do than waste his evening with them, mind you) popped in. This gave him and Kevin the chance to talk about the last 2 episodes of The Last of Us Season 2. The agreement is that episode 6 was spectacular and the finale was solid and Andrew, with a little time to ruminate, has found himself understanding Abby's story and Ellie's shortcomings a little more than before. All in all it's a great finish and cliffhanger for a solid season. After Andrew exits only slightly less unceremoniously than he arrived, Lauren talks about the indy film, Bad Shobbos. It's a low budget comedy with a cast of actors you'd recognize but most likely can't name beyond Kira Sedgwick, but it's wonderfully done and a great time. It's a movie that reminds us to look beyond the name on the poster and see what's really being put on the screen and most definitely worth a watch. Next up, Kevin talks about The Fountain of Youth, which is almost the exact opposite situation as Bad Shobbos. Here you have a stellar cast with John Krazinzky, Ntalie Portman, Stanley Tucci, Eiza Gonzalez, and more. Not only that, it's a big budget adventure film. But with all of that, it lacks the heart that something small and special like Bad Shobbos has, proving the point again, it's not the names on the poster, but what's been put to film. Lauren closes the show with The Last Showgirl. This one stirred up a lot of Award Season buzz last year with the resurgence of Pamela Anderson. It gets Kevin and Lauren talking about aging and beauty standards in Hollywood and how they are so often hypocritical. All that aside, it's a great movie and it has a quick runtime, so if you see it streaming, definitely give it a go! As always, thank you for watching. If you haven't already, don't forget to Like & Subscribe. We love new viewers! Also, leave us comments and let is know how we are doing and what we can be doing better. Enjoy the episode and have a great week! Facebook: @apncpodcast Twitter: @APNCPodcast Instagram: AllPopNoCulture /episode/index/show/allpopnoculture/id/36899610

239. Andor Series Finale, The Last of Us, and Super/Man 05/22/2025

238. Adolescence, Harry Potter, and The Last of Us S2E4 05/17/2025

237. Thunderbolts* and The Last of Us Episode 3-ish 05/16/2025

236. The Last of Us, Sinners, The Wedding Banquet, Andor, Companion, and The Room Next Door 05/16/2025

236. The Last of Us, Sinners, The Wedding Banquet, Andor, Companion, and The Room Next Door Everyone is here and this episode is JAM PACKED!! Of course we have to kick off with THAT episode of The Last of Us, then we talk Sinners, Andor, Companion, The Wedding Banquet, and The Room Next Door. The show kicks off with the second episode of season 2 of The Last of Us. The show does exactly what it's intended to do and strikes up a strong debate among the gang. Without spoiling the discussion, we'll just say, it's all a matter of perspective... After leaving Lauren on the sidelines for much of the TLOU talk, she takes over and discusses The Wedding Banquet, a queer Asian rom-com with a good amount of depth to it. It has a great cast and is a ton of fun and a great example of big strides in representation. Next up, Kevin and Andrew bully their way back in to talk about the 3 episode premier of Andor. It's a lot of show, but because it moves at a very deliberate pac, it feels less daunting than the opening section of the show. Suffice it to say, this show is off to a solid start yet again. In a moment that Kevin has been waiting for almost as much as he's been waiting for The Last of Us discussion, Andrew talks about the new Ryan Coogler film, Sinners. The review is glowing and this film is tearing up the box office. It can't come to streaming fast enough for Kevin! Lauren jumps back in and covers the film, The Room Next Door. You wouldn't be alone if you looked at the advertising for this film and thought it was a lesbian love story, but it's actually a beautiful tale of friendship, caring, and loss. It's a sad but excellent film and generates an interesting philosophical discussion among the gang. Before he can stop himself, Kevin blurts out a quick review of the film Companion. It's sort of like Megan meets Dark Mirror meets a Knives Out film. It's a lot of fun and everyone plays their part, just don't expect to have your mind blown on this one. As always, thank you for watching. If you haven't already, don't forget to Like & Subscribe. We love new viewers! Also, leave us comments and let is know how we are doing and what we can be doing better. Enjoy the episode and have a great week! Facebook: @apncpodcast Twitter: @APNCPodcast Instagram: AllPopNoCulture /episode/index/show/allpopnoculture/id/36599680

235. Hugh Jackman, The Last of Us, Love on the Spectrum, and Wolf Man 05/16/2025

235. Hugh Jackman, The Last of Us, Love on the Spectrum, and Wolf Man It's just Lauren and Kevin this week as they discuss Hugh Jackman: Live from New York with Love, The Last of Us Season 2 premiere, Love on the Spectrum, and Wolf Man. Lauren opens the show with a trip to Broadway with the fantastic showman (see what I did there?) Hugh Jackman. His new one man show. Live from New York with Love is a celebration of both his long career in showbiz, and his love for New York city itself. It's a fun evening of song and dance and Hugh just being a great entertainer. If you're in town and it's a weekend he's playing, definitely find a way to get tickets! Next up, Kevin talks about the season premiere of The Last of Us, Season 2. There's a lot to unpack in this first episode and, while it's not the most exciting episode of the series, it informs us all of some very significant events on the horizon. We meet new characters, find new tensions with old ones, and even a budding new love. All in all, it's a pretty important episode, while not necessarily being the most action-packed, but definitely puts us on a path to a hell of a season. Moving away from the heavy drama of a zombie-adjacent apocalypse, Lauren discusses the Netflix show, Love on the Spectrum. It's a deep insight into the world of people on autism spectrum and what the journey of love looks for them, their partners, and their families. It's a fascinating show with some very interesting characters and an overall theme that resonates with Kevin for... reasons. Kevin then closes out the show with the recent horror film, Wolf Man. It's a new take on the werewolf story that really deals with family trauma and the way it is passed from generation to generation. This film is heavy on the metaphor, possibly to it's detriment, but it does have a very clear point of view. It also puts the viewer into a very claustrophobic setting which helps build the fear, despite the relatively simple overall premise. All in all it's a decent watch, though not the greatest horror film ever made. As always, thank you for watching. If you haven't already, don't forget to Like & Subscribe. We love new viewers! Also, leave us comments and let is know how we are doing and what we can be doing better. Enjoy the episode and have a great week! Facebook: @apncpodcast Twitter: @APNCPodcast Instagram: AllPopNoCulture /episode/index/show/allpopnoculture/id/36599665

234. White Lotus, Minecraft, The Ballad of Wallis Island, Black Mirror, Drop, and Y2K 05/16/2025

234. White Lotus, Minecraft, The Ballad of Wallis Island, Black Mirror, Drop, and Y2K It's a busy week with everyone back in the house. The gang covers the White Lotus finale, A Minecraft Movie, The Ballad of Wallis Island, Black Mirror's Common People, Drop, and Y2k. We're going to take you on a roller coaster ride this week, so buckle up! The episode kicks off with a rare full-team discussion as the gang talks White Lotus. With this being probably the most divisive season to date, it's no surprise that the gang doesn't agree across the board. There are some agreements and definitely some different takes. It's far too much to break down here, so have a watch for yourself! Keeping with things are divisive, Kevin took his kids to see A Minecraft Movie this week. Somehow, Kevin agrees with both the critics very low scores AND the audiences much higher scores. This is not what you might call a "good" movie, but it plays perfectly to it's target audience. If you have kids who play (or if you play) Minecraft, there's a lot to love here. Next up, Lauren takes the reins for a movie that none of us knew was in theaters, The Ballad of Wallis Island. It's a heartfelt comedy from across the Atlantic about a man who, after losing the love of his life, uses his wealth to bring back the main members of his wife's favorite band for a concert. It's a lot of fun and very sweet with a lot of memorable moments and probably deserves a lot more attention than it's getting. Next up, Kevin and Andrew takes things back to the dark side with the first episode of Black Mirror Season 7, Common People. Unlike the magic happening on Wallis Island, this one is decidedly bleak, in true Black Mirror form. Imagine almost losing the love of your life and the only to keep them alive is to join their consciousness to a subscription service. Now imagine how fees and "add-ons" change over time with any service you currently use and you can start to see how this might go south. It's a fantastic, though quite heartbreaking, episode and well worth the watch. To lighten the mood, sort of, Lauren takes us back to the box office with the new film Drop, starring Meghan Fahy of White Lotus fame (see how we bring it back around?). A woman is out on a first date with a dreamboat of a man, when someone beings to airdrop picture of her and begins asking her to commit a horrible act or her son will die. Because AirDrop is location specific, the villain must be close enough to her, but who could it be? It's a thriller that didn't quite land for Lauren, but has Kevin pretty interested. And now, for the moment absolutely no one should have been waiting for, Kevin and Andrew talk about the 2024 film, Y2K. I'm not going beat around the bush here... this movie was BAD. But for reasons almost unexplainable the guys watched it and discuss it. They do have a pretty good time running it through the ringer, so if you were looking for a reason to not watch this film, we have several! As always, thank you for watching. If you haven't already, don't forget to Like & Subscribe. We love new viewers! Also, leave us comments and let is know how we are doing and what we can be doing better. Enjoy the episode and have a great week! Facebook: @apncpodcast Twitter: @APNCPodcast Instagram: AllPopNoCulture /episode/index/show/allpopnoculture/id/36599645

233. Redwood, Presence, Holland, and Pantheon 05/16/2025

233. Redwood, Presence, Holland, and Pantheon It's just Kevin and Lauren this week and they cover Idina Menzel's new broadway show, Redwood, the "horror" film, Presence, Nicole Kidman's Holland, and the Netflix/AMC animated series Pantheon. The show kicks off with Lauren reviewing Idina Menzel's return to Broadway with Redwood. It's a spin on the story of a woman who protested logging by living in a redwood tree for over 700 days. While taking some of those themes, this is really the story of a woman dealing with the loss of her son and finding herself. While boasting a small cast of 5 and no truye standout songs, it's still a solid show with a beautiful set and, of course, Idina Menzel. After a quick discussion about Wicked, Kevin takes over and talks about the film Presence, which is available for rent or purchase on digital as of right now. It's a haunted house story from the perspective of the haunting entity. Rather then being a horror film (despite being billed as one), it's the tale of a family in turmoil and the secrets they keep from each other. It's not a must watch, but if you see it available on a streaming platform soon, it's worth checking out. As the show spirals, it goes back to Lauren to discuss the latest less than stellar outing from Nicole Kidman, Holland. It's a relatively unexciting take on a murder mystery that is far less steamy than it's trailers would have you believe. In the end, it's just a story with a couple of almost interesting twists that make it serviceable. Kevin closes the show with the animated series, Presence, on Netflix. It has a similar plot device to Severance where people are separated from themselves, in this case by having their minds digitally uploaded to a companies server. the problem is, they become trapped there. So much like the Innies in Severance, the trapped folks begin to fight their way out. The story is told from the point of view of two teenagers. One is the daughter of one of these Uploaded Intelligences and the other is the subject of a different type of experiment that plays out over time. So far it's a solid series and worth checking out if you're missing that Severance high. As always, thank you for watching. If you haven't already, don't forget to Like & Subscribe. We love new viewers! Also, leave us comments and let is know how we are doing and what we can be doing better. Enjoy the episode and have a great week! Facebook: @apncpodcast Twitter: @APNCPodcast Instagram: AllPopNoCulture /episode/index/show/allpopnoculture/id/36599595

232. White Lotus, Death of a Unicorn, Snow White, Nikki Glaser, and The Electric State 05/16/2025

232. White Lotus, Death of a Unicorn, Snow White, Nikki Glaser, and The Electric State The gang's all here this week! They cover White Lotus through Episode 5, Death of a Unicorn, Snow White, Nikki Glaser's recent tout, and The Electric State. Lauren is running late (you'll find out later) so Kevin and Andrew kick off the show discussing White Lotus through Episode 5. The season has been less than stellar in many ways and wildly controversial. The guys discuss a lot of what has made it less than successful and what's been working, as well as THAT scene with Sam Rockwell. While the season is finally trending upward, neither of the guys are super optimistic at this point. Andrew then takes us to the cinema with the latest A24 offering, Death of a Unicorn. While touting a solid cast, the movie somehow felt a little flat, which is not something we typically expect from an A24 offering. That said, some standout performances from Richard E. Grant and Anthony Carrigan made the film watchable, though maybe not worth rushing to the theater for. Having joined in the middle of Andrew's review of Death of a Unicorn, Lauren sticks with the fantastical and talks the new Snow White film. While Lauren doesn't feel like it's a bad film, it's not her favorite live action remake and Andrew argues that it probably SHOULD be, as it's a remake of the film that put Disney on the map. This also leads to some deeper philosophical discussion that is (probably) quite interesting. After this, Lauren takes a quick detour and talks about the stand-up show she just attended, the Nikki Glaser - Alive and Unwell Tour. She felt that it was maybe a little too "slice of life" as compared to funny, but all in all a solid show. Kevin closes the show with a quick rundown of The Electric State. Realistically, this is an OK film, but not something to get excited about. It has a fantastic cast and doesn't really do enough with it. It also steers away from the more bleak source material and goes with a more Starlord-y turn from Chris Pratt, making the film far too silly. As always, thank you for watching. If you haven't already, don't forget to Like & Subscribe. We love new viewers! Also, leave us comments and let is know how we are doing and what we can be doing better. Enjoy the episode and have a great week! Facebook: @apncpodcast Twitter: @APNCPodcast Instagram: AllPopNoCulture /episode/index/show/allpopnoculture/id/36599590

231. Black Bag, Adolescence, Long Bright River, and Stillwater 04/18/2025

231. Black Bag, Adolescence, Long Bright River, and Stillwater It's a quick but full episode this week where we cover, Black Bag, Adolescence, Long Bright River, and Stillwater. Kevin immediately thrust Lauren into the limelight, as the she just finished Black Bag not long before recording. It's sexy(ish) spy thriller(ish) starring Michael Fassbender and Cate Blanchett. It's a hair less sexy and exciting than Lauren was expecting, but it was an overall solid film. Next up, Kevin talk about one of his favorite show in recent years, Adolescence on Netflix. It's a fascinating show from a technical standpoint, as every episode is done in a single take. The amount of work that went into just that is staggering! Add to that some amazing performances and a fantastic story, and this show should be very popular come award season. Note that the story is not a mind bender. It won't trick you with plot twists or keep you guessing. It is all about emotion and delivers in spades. Lauren takes over the rest of the show, as Kevin didn't watch much this week. So her next watch is Long Bright River on Peacock. It stars Amanda Seyfried as a police officer with a unique attachment to the impoverished women in her area. The story takes a turn as her sister goes missing, also. Lauren hasn't finished the series and isn't necessarily blown away by it, but she's interested enough to finish, so there's that... The show closes with Lauren taking us back in time to 2021 with the film Stillwater. If you're familiar with the Amanda Knox story, this film will make a lot of sense. A 20-something woman in France is arrested for and convicted of murder. Her father, a blue collar man with a checkered history in Stillwater, Oklahoma, travels to France to be by her side and help with her defense. It's a solid drama and probably Lauren's favorite pick of the week. As always, thank you for watching. If you haven't already, don't forget to Like & Subscribe. We love new viewers! Also, leave us comments and let is know how we are doing and what we can be doing better. Enjoy the episode and have a great week! Facebook: @apncpodcast Twitter: @APNCPodcast Instagram: AllPopNoCulture /episode/index/show/allpopnoculture/id/36226070

230. Kraven and Severance Season 2 Episodes 8 and 9 03/19/2025

229. Flow, White Lotus, American Murder, Sonic 3, Paddington3, Venom 3 03/16/2025

229. Flow, White Lotus, American Murder, Sonic 3, Paddington3, Venom 3 This week it's just Kevin and Lauren discussing Oscar winner Flow, American Murder - Gabby Petito, and a trio of 3rd installments of trilogies, Sonic 3, Paddington in Peru, and Venom: The Last Dance. Lauren kicks off the show talking about the Academy Award winner for best animated film, Flow. It's a beautiful movie about a cat and his band of misfit friends surviving a flood together. What's most remarkable about this movie is that its almost entirely created by one man on his own computer. It's visually stunning and not bogged down by dialogue. Next up, Kevin takes us through the most recent events of White Lotus. The show, despite its great cast, seems to still be dragging along without making much progress or delivering much excitement. The hope is that it's coming soon, though. We next leave Thailand for the American southwest for Netflix's crime documentary, American Murder - Gabby Petito. This is a 3 parter that doves into the story that commanded our news not so long ago. Gabby Petito was murdered by her boyfriend and then the world watched as the cover up was attempted and failed and finished with a manhunt with no happy ending. It's a tragic tale and, if you watched it in the news, this docuseries has much of the same information but with greater detail. Looking to lighten the mood and begin our trilogy of trilogy closers, Kevin talks about Sonic 3. It's a fun family film that builds on everything from the first 2 films, but also adds Keanu Reeves. It's fun, energetic, and light hearted with a great amount of action. If you've seen the first 2, this is a must watch. Lauren finally gets to dig into her most anticipated film of 2025, Paddington in Peru. Much like Sonic 3, this is a film that builds wonderfully off of the previous franchise entries and continues to tell the story in a fun way. It's equally as fun as the first two films and should definitely be watched by anyone looking for that light hearted film. Kevin closes the show with a quick review of Venom: The Last Dance. It's the final film of a series that has been mediocre at it's best. This film is no different, though there are moments of real emotion and the bones of a really solid film are there. If you've seen the first two Venom films, this is a solid ending to the franchise. If you haven't seen them, then this film will not do anything to convince you to watch them. s always, thank you for watching. If you haven't already, don't forget to Like & Subscribe. We love new viewers! Also, leave us comments and let is know how we are doing and what we can be doing better. Enjoy the episode and have a great week! Facebook: @apncpodcast Twitter: @APNCPodcast Instagram: AllPopNoCulture /episode/index/show/allpopnoculture/id/35711145

228. Severance, Elevation, Gypsy, School Spirits, I'm Still Here, Bridget Jones, And More 03/16/2025

228. Severance, Elevation, Gypsy, School Spirits, I'm Still Here, Bridget Jones, And More It's a wild week where we cover Severance, Elevation, Gypsy, School Spirits, I'm Still Here, White Lotus Season 3, and Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy!! So there's a ton to cover here and all 3 of the team are here... sort of... The episode kicks off with Andrew and Kevin taking advantage of Lauren being a little behind and talk about the latest episode of Severance, which Lauren has not seen. This is possibly one of the best episodes of the show to date and takes us deep into the character Gemma/Ms. Casey. You should definitely be watching this show... Next up, Lauren joins in and Kevin discusses the new Anthony Mackie film, Elevation. It's not a great film, but not terrible either. It doesn't do much to cement Anthony as a leading man, though, feeling like it undid a lot of the likability that he gained in Captain America. Andrew dismisses himself and Lauren takes the reins to discuss the broadway revival of Gypsy. It feels like a different take on the show and is all in all very solid and worth checking out if you can get to the theater! Without Andrew to shame him for his choices, Kevin dives into School Spirits. It's a very YA show on Paramount+ but it's actually surprisingly compelling and Kevin has nothing really bad to say about it. If YA mystery stuff is your fare (think a mix of Ghosts and Pretty Little Liars), then check this one out! Classing up the joint, Lauren takes to the cinema by watching Best Picture candidate, I'm Still Here. It's a compelling foreign film about a family dealing with the military dictatorship in Brazil in the '70s. Foreign language might not be for everyone, but this one is worth catching, Quickly, Kevin and Lauren discuss White Lotus season 3 so far and, it's fair to say, they aren't feeling the warm fuzzies yet. There is a lot of show still to watch, but it needs to get moving ASAP!! Lauren finishes out the show by discussing the latest installment of one of her favorite franchises, Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy. While not the best film in the series, it's a very Bridget Jones and a sweet send off for the character. As always, thank you for watching. If you haven't already, don't forget to Like & Subscribe. We love new viewers! Also, leave us comments and let is know how we are doing and what we can be doing better. Enjoy the episode and have a great week! Facebook: @apncpodcast Twitter: @APNCPodcast Instagram: AllPopNoCulture /episode/index/show/allpopnoculture/id/35711135

227. Captain America Brave New World, Severance, and The Gorge 02/21/2025

226. The Night Agent vs The Recruit, Kinda Pregnant, Eureka Day, and SNLs 50th 02/14/2025

226. The Night Agent vs The Recruit, Kinda Pregnant, Eureka Day, and SNLs 50th This week, hosts Kevin and Lauren dive into a variety of exciting new content, including the latest shows and films like The Recruit, The Night Agent, Kinda Pregnant, Eureka Day, and Beyond Saturday Night. 🎭 Eureka Day – A Broadway Comedy That Feels Ahead of Its Time Lauren kicks things off with a look at Eureka Day, a witty Broadway comedy that hilariously explores the complications of a mumps outbreak at a private school, set just before the COVID pandemic. While not directly about COVID, the play’s examination of politics and debates that mirrored the pandemic era makes for an insightful and entertaining experience. 📺 Beyond Saturday Night – A Peek Behind the Scenes of SNL Kevin transitions from Broadway to 30 Rock, reviewing the Peacock Docuseries, Beyond Saturday Night. This fascinating documentary explores the magic of Saturday Night Live (SNL) with a deep dive into the casting process, making it a must-watch for SNL fans. 🎬 Kinda Pregnant – A New Amy Schumer Comedy Film Lauren talks about the new Amy Schumer film, Kinda Pregnant, where Schumer’s character accidentally fakes a pregnancy for attention. While the film stays true to the classic rom-com format, it’s packed with humor and Schumer’s signature comedic style—perfect for fans of her work. 🕵️‍♂️ The Recruit vs. The Night Agent – Netflix’s Spy Thriller Showdown Kevin wraps up the episode by comparing two new Netflix spy thrillers: The Recruit and The Night Agent. Released just a week apart, these shows share a similar premise, making their differences even more interesting. Tune in to hear Kevin’s thoughts on these thrillers and find out which one reigns supreme. As always, thank you for watching. If you haven't already, don't forget to Like & Subscribe. We love new viewers! Also, leave us comments and let is know how we are doing and what we can be doing better. Enjoy the episode and have a great week! Facebook: @apncpodcast Twitter: @APNCPodcast Instagram: AllPopNoCulture /episode/index/show/allpopnoculture/id/35288940

225. Anora, Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, Speak No Evil, Venom 3, Escape at Dannemora 02/14/2025

225. Anora, Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, Speak No Evil, Venom 3, Escape at Dannemora Welcome back to All Pop No Culture — your go-to podcast for all things pop culture! In this episode, we cover a range of exciting topics, diving deep into the latest films, TV shows, and comics. Here’s what’s in store: 🎥 Anora: Lauren kicks things off with a discussion of Anora, a film that left a lasting impression. When she first watched it with her mother, the sexually explicit content was too much to handle, prompting her to leave the theater early. However, revisiting the film on her own, Lauren now has a deeper appreciation for its themes and storytelling. Join her as she reflects on how the film resonated differently the second time around. 🕷️ Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man: Andrew shares his thoughts on Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man on Disney+. This recent series brings Spider-Man back to his street-level roots, focusing on Peter Parker’s life as a friendly neighborhood hero. Andrew praises the show’s emotional depth and fun, but also weighs in on the overly critical reactions to its inclusivity and "wokeness" — calling out the overreactions and offering a fair perspective. 🎬 Speak No Evil: Kevin and Lauren dig into the chilling film Speak No Evil — but not just one version, two! The Danish and American versions of this psychological horror thriller both tell the same story but have drastically different endings that will leave you thinking long after the credits roll. The Danish version takes a more unsettling approach, while the American version has a more traditional payoff. Both are excellent, but which one is the better version? Tune in to hear their analysis! 🦹‍♂️ Venom 3: The Last Dance: Andrew talks about the latest installment of the Venom franchise — Venom 3: The Last Dance. While this movie seems like a disaster in many ways, Andrew explains that if you enjoyed the previous films in the series, this one might still hit the mark for you. Expect a messy, action-packed movie with more of the chaotic symbiote antics fans have come to love (and hate). 📺 Escape at Dannemora: Lauren closes the show with her take on Escape at Dannemora, a gripping drama based on the true story of two inmates’ escape from a maximum-security prison. Lauren highlights the intense performances and gripping narrative that make this show so compelling, and she shares what made it one of her recent favorites. 🚨 Big Announcement: If you’ve recently subscribed, stay tuned — more Robotech content is on the way! Exciting news for fans of this iconic franchise, so don't miss out! As always, thank you for watching. If you haven't already, don't forget to Like & Subscribe. We love new viewers! Also, leave us comments and let is know how we are doing and what we can be doing better. Enjoy the episode and have a great week! Facebook: @apncpodcast Twitter: @APNCPodcast Instagram: AllPopNoCulture #Anora #FriendlyNeighborhoodSpiderMan #SpeakNoEvil #Venom3 #EscapeAtDannemora #AllPopNoCulture #Robotech #PopCulturePodcast #MovieReview #TVShowReview /episode/index/show/allpopnoculture/id/35288890

224. An Interview With Robotech Guru Tom Bateman 01/29/2025

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