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.

262. Being Eddie, Soulmates, Malice, All Her Fault, DWS, Welcome to Derry, and Morgan Jay 11/19/2025

261. Bugonia, Plur1bus, Oh, Mary!, Frankenstein, and Stranger Things Season 5 Sneak Peek 11/12/2025

261. Bugonia, Plur1bus, Oh, Mary!, Frankenstein, and Stranger Things Season 5 Sneak Peek The gang’s all here, for the second week in a row! This week they cover Bugonia, Plur1bus, Oh, Mary!, Frankenstein, and the Stranger Things Season 5 sneak peek. As the show starts, Kevin immediately passes off the reins to Lauren, who saw Bugonia in theaters this week. It’s another Yorgos Lanthimos/Emma Stone joint and it’s as weird as you’d expect. And if Lauren is to be believed, possibly weirder. The story follows two less than brilliant men who kidnap a powerful CEO, played by Stone. They are convinced she’s an alien and the madness ensues from there. It’s a bizarre premise that flirts with Sci-Fi in new and interesting ways. It may not be a “must watch” but it sounds like a fascinating watch nonetheless. Kevin and Andrew use the sci-fi bit to transition into the new, very hyped, show, Plur1bus on Apple TV+. This is from Vince Gilligan, creator of X-Files, Breaking Bad, and Better Call Saul fame and it stars Rhea Seahorn from BCS. The show has released to incredible reviews nearly across the board, so you can just imagine Kevin and Andrew would be loving it… But you’d be wrong… After 2 episodes, the guys are genuinely confused about the hype, finding that the show lacks the character depth early on to equal the hype so far. That being said, they appear to be in the minority, so if you’ve watched it and loved it, tell us why in the comments. We’re dying to understand! Next up, we start moving towards things the gang really enjoyed. Lauren takes us to Broadway with the show, Oh, Mary!, a very wild what-if story about Mary Todd Lincoln. It’s very progressive and at times over the top, but in the best of ways. This show does require a very open mind and imagination, but it is an absolute TON of fun and a must watch if you aren’t the overly sensitive type. Keeping with the trend of things that are fantastic, Kevin watched the new Guillermo del Toro film, Frankenstein, on Netflix. It stars Oscar Isaac, Jacob Elordi, Mia Goth, and Christoph Walz. The genius that he is, Kevin has never read the original book, but he does swear this film feels like it must be a faithful adaptation. As with so much of del Toro’s work, it’s a visual feast and the acting is magnificent. It’s on the longer side, at about 2 and a half hours, but it goes by quick and is absolutely worth the watch. To close out the show, Andrew brings up the sneak peek at the first 5 minutes of the new season of Stranger Things. They agree that the story looks strong and it will be a great finish to the story, but Kevin finds himself a little let down by the effects in the trailer. Also, it’s important to know, some of the discussion around the show centers around Kevin’s (losing?) debate with a high school student about the second and third seasons. He’s been relentlessly bullied but he's staying strong. (That’s not really true, but he's being a baby, so go with 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 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/39011240

260. IT: Welcome to Derry, Nobody Wants This, Regretting You, and The Perfect Neighbor 11/05/2025

260. IT: Welcome to Derry, Nobody Wants This, Regretting You, and The Perfect Neighbor The gang’s all here, and this week they cover IT: Welcome to Derry, Nobody Wants This Season 2, A return to A House of Dynamite, Regretting You, and The Perfect Neighbor. We open the show jumping right into the hottest new series, IT: Welcome to Derry. Kevin and Andrew have both watched the first episode, and Kevin’s seen the second. Both guys have enjoyed the show so far, and Kevin keeps the second episode talk pretty spoiler-free. But the show itself is BRUTAL. It is like Stranger Things dialed up to (pun intended) Eleven. If horror is your thing, this is an absolute must-watch. Taking a break from the absolute massacre that is the opening of IT, Lauren talks about the latest season of Nobody Wants This on Netflix. It stars Adam Brody and Kristen Bell as an on-again, off-again couple dealing with the strains of a potential interfaith relationship. That makes it sound very dramatic, but it really is a lot of fun. The leads are great, but a lot of credit goes to the supporting cast, too. It’s a well-rounded show that does risk getting tropey if they don’t get creative with the 3rd season. That being said, this one (and the first one) is worth a watch. After some talk about things happy and fun, Andrew takes us back to last week’s episode for a minute to talk about A House of Dynamite. His timeline was hit by several people who absolutely hated the ending, so the guys had to clear the air as to what this film was truly about. Remember, it’s not about the destination, it’s about the journey. And now that it’s been a week, the guys can be a little more spoilery. So if you haven’t watched it yet, and you should, maybe pause the show, watch it, then come back. Next up, Lauren talks about the new film, Regretting You. It stars Mason Thames, McKenna Grace, Allison Williams, and Dave Franco. It’s not an entirely unformulaic romance film, but it does have its share of little twists and turns that keep it interesting. It may not blow you away, but if it’s your type of film, you’re likely to really enjoy it. Kevin closes out the show, reluctantly, by quickly discussing the new Netflix documentary, The Perfect Neighbor. It’s an interesting film, as all the footage is either from interrogation rooms or, more often, body cam footage. It’s the tragic story of a racially charged shooting in Florida and how it ultimately ties into the Stand Your Ground laws. It’s fascinating and heartbreaking, but an interesting story worth watching. Facebook: @apncpodcast Twitter: @APNCPodcast Instagram: AllPopNoCulture /episode/index/show/allpopnoculture/id/38927685

259. Gen V Finale, A House Of Dynamite, and The Hand That Rocks The Cradle 10/29/2025

259. Gen V Finale, A House Of Dynamite, and The Hand That Rocks The Cradle It’s just Kevin and Andrew this week and they have a tight and shockingly relevant episode. They cover the finale of Gen V, A House of Dynamite, and The Hand That Rocks The Cradle (2025). The guys jump right into it this episode the series finale of Gen V. This season was an improvement over an already solid first season and a great lead in to the final season of The Boys. They discuss the big reveals, as well as listener Mike’s great catch early in the season. The season had a ton of great character growth and great twists. It will be very interesting to see who shows up in The Boys (probably everyone, at least for a bit?) and who can actually go toe to toe with Homelander. This season left us very hungry for what comes next! Next up, Kevin talks about the new Netflix movie, A House of Dynamite. This is very strong political thriller starring seemingly everyone. The plot, the story of an unknown missile launched at the US, feels far too gritty and plausible. The guys discuss Kathryn Bigelow’s body of work and what she might be saying with this one. That said, this is an absolute must watch. Kevin closes the show with a bit of a stinker in the remake of The Hand That Rocks The Cradle. This one stars two great actresses in Maika Monroe and Mary Elizabeth Winsted. Sadly they are wasted on this film. It’s an hour long slog which then does manage to throw in a great twist, but far too late. Then the rest of the film is a predictable snowball to the end. If you’re itching for this story, you’re better off watching the original. 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/38831385

258. Roofman, Tron: Ares, The Conjuring: Last Rites, Black Phone 2, and I Like Me 10/22/2025

258. Roofman, Tron: Ares, The Conjuring: Last Rites, Black Phone 2, and I Like Me It’s a weird one this week. Lauren is here for a quick rundown of Roofman, but her technical difficulties cute her a hair short. Then Kevin and Andrew run with Tron: Ares, The Conjuring: Last Rites, Black Phone 2, and I Like Me. Lauren had a chance to get out to the theater this week and, despite needing to hop off the podcast early this week, gives us a pretty great rundown of the movie. It’s based on a true story and stars Channing Tatum as an almost lovable criminal sho makes camp inside a Toys R Us while on the run from the police. As you’d expectm the film takes some liberties with true events, but it’s very close to fact and Tatum gives what might be the performance of his career. It seems to deserve all of the praise it’s been getting, so get out there and catch it if you can! After the internet deems Lauren’s time done for the evening, the mic is passed to Andrew who reviews Tron: Ares. Here’s the thing… it’s really not as bad as it is being made out to be. Is it perfect? No. Is it better than Legacy? Probably? It’s hard to say for sure, but it’s certainly got more going for it than the recent press would suggest. That said, the biggest letdown is the lead, played by Jared Leto, which never helps a film succeed. That being said, if you enjoyed the first two Tron movies, you might really enjoy this one. Sticking with sequels that are less than stellar (though this time more in quality than just reviews), Kevin discusses The Conjuring: Last Rites. This film is a perfect example of what Roofman avoided. The longer this franchise has gone on, the further it’s strayed from the facts. It even manages to paint the Warren’s (played by Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson) as incredibly kind and giving, glossing over some truly terrible parts of their past. On top of that, the haunting used for this film is so vastly different from the original story, including a conjuring mirror (the actual name) that was not involved at all. This movie feels more like a cash grab than a sequel and is really only worth watching if you’re looking to complete the film series. Andrew starts to right the ship with his review of Black Phone 2. This one is the best film of the 3 sequels reviewed so far and definitely keeps the ball rolling from the first film. We lean more into the supernatural with this one, but it ups the drama and really does a great job drawing you in. The performances are all solid and we are given a return of a great villain. Kevin’s fears have all been assuaged and he is definitely excited to catch this when it streams. The guys close the show out on a light note, discussing the new documentary about John Candy, I Like Me. If you were not alive or under a rock, then maybe, somehow, you don’t know who John Candy is. but for anyone else, this doc is essential viewing. It’s a great telling of the life of a wonderful man, told by those who knew him the best. It’s the story of struggle, success, love, and sadness. There isn’t a ton that we can say that the doc can’t say better, so if you have Prime, go watch this right away. 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/38747690

257. Alice in Borderland, Monster, The Four Seasons, Peacemaker, & The Queen of Versailles 10/15/2025

257. Alice in Borderland, Monster, The Four Seasons, Peacemaker, & The Queen of Versailles It’s just Kevin and Lauren this week and, despite Andrew being a big fibber and not showing up, they manage a solid episode. They talk about Alice in Borderland, Monster: The Ed Gein Story, The Four Seasons, Peacemaker Season 2, and The Queen of Versailles. Much like you, we thought that a week off would give Andrew time to come back to us, but oh no… So Lauren is left to kick off the show to talk about the latest season of Alice in Borderland. In a way, it’s more of the same, but that’s not necessarily a good thing, based on how the previous season ended. There are some fun games, but this feels like a cash grab by Netflix, which leaves a bad taste in Lauren’s mouth. Speaking of things on Netflix that aren’t delicious… Kevin watched Monster: The Ed Gein Story, so you don’t have to. If you don’t know, Ed Gein is the inspiration for characters like Norman Bates, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, and Hannibal Lecter. Unfortunately, this telling of his story is so over the top and over-sensationalized, that it’s just really hard to watch. And not in the fun, “this horror movie is so scary” kind of way. Funny enough, Charlie Hunnam does do a great job of becoming this character. The overall presentation is just lacking. Because they apparently only have Netflix to watch this week, Lauren discusses the new show The Four Seasons. It has a start studded cast, including Will Forte, Tina Fey, Steve Carell, and Colman Domingo. It’s a show about these 4 characters and their significant others and the way their relationship all ebb and flow over the course of 4 separate seasons. It’s touching at times, and funny at times, and all in all, Lauren enjoyed it enough to be interested in the upcoming season 2. Finally, escaping the prison that is Netflix, Kevin hops over to HBO to discuss the second (and final?) season of Peacemaker. It’s a monumental growth season for Peacemaker, as he has some immense issues to deal with. Where this show shines this season is when we get to see all of the trials and tribulations and just how broken he is through it all. And then the way the season ends for him is just wild. And there are some incredible things set up for the future of the DCU going forward, so if you aren’t aware, listen to this bit, as Kevin breaks some of them down. Lauren closes out the show by outclassing Kevin and heading over to Broadway. She managed to get tickets to the preview of The Queen of Versailles, starring Kristin Chenoweth. The book is by the creator of Wicked and with Chenoweth in tow, that sounds like a masterpiece waiting to happen, right? Well, maybe not… Lauren breaks down some of the issues with the show and her surprise at how underwhelmed she was. It still has time to level out, though, and it could become something special still. 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/38597515

256. Marvel Zombies, Alien Earth Finale, Gen V, Wayward, and Tangents!! 10/01/2025

256. Marvel Zombies, Alien Earth Finale, Gen V, Wayward, and Tangents!! It’s just Kevin and Andrew this week, and it’s a fun one. The guys talk Marvel Zombies, the Alien: Earth finale, the season premiere of Gen V and Wayward, with all of that book ended by some wonderful tangents!! We give you a rare look into what happens before we start recording a show, which is usually just senseless babbling. This time, though, the conversation was productive so it went into the show! Talking about a show that is well over 20 years old could come across as dated, but Battlestar Galactica is a master class in storytelling, character building, and budget management. Honestly, if you haven’t seen it before, you owe it to yourself to give it a watch. Get past the sci-fi-ness of it and settle into the DEEP social story. You will not be disappointed. Getting into more current content, Kevin talks about the first two episodes of the animated series, Marvel Zombies. It’s a big swing to take, and it could be argued that they whiffed a bit. It’s beautiful and gory, but a lot of the voice acting misses the mark and that story could be more adult, but leans into silliness at times. Think of it like the MCU version of Shazam. There’s potential, and it’s not bad, but it’s not as good as it could be. Next up, the guys move into things that kind of kicked butt and talk about the Alien: Earth finale. Some of the perdictions made in our last episode came to fruition, and the show ends up on a very solid note that leaves it wide open for a promising season 2. Overall, it’s a solid ending to an excellent season of television. The guys then move on to quickly discuss this new season of Gen V, which is off to a rockin’ start. Full disclosure, and it should be obvious, if you didn’t like The Boys or Gen V season 1, this is more of the same, so it could offend if you are faint of heart. But if you liked those two shows, then you are in luck. This starts off great and is unravelling some great surprises that are worth watching for. With the episode winding down, Kevin talks about the show Wayward on Netflix. It stars Toni Collette and pretty much no one else. The show is meant to be a suspense/horror show but seems to lack all of the punch that Netflix shows in the Mike Flanagan era. This leads the guys to their final tangent, the future of Mike Flanagan. It may be mostly speculation, but it’s a lot of fun! 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/38430250

255. Twinless, The Emmys, The Pitt, The Long Walk, 28 Years Later, Alien: Earth, and More! 09/26/2025

255. Twinless, The Emmys, The Pitt, The Long Walk, 28 Years Later, Alien: Earth, and More! In this episode, the gang discusse Twinless, the Emmys, the Pitt, The Long Walk, 28 Years Later, The Man Who Killed Hitler And Then The Bigfoot, Alien Earth, Friendship, and Upload. This episode kicks off with just Kevin and Lauren. They discuss the new film Twinless, starring Dylan O'Brien. It's a low-budget affair that should have had a better release. Despite its less-than-stellar advertising, the film is excellent, getting great reviews on both Rotten Tomatoes and IMDB. It's a film about two men who meet in a group for those who have lost their twins, and the emotional journey they take together. It's definitely worth watching in the theater if you can find it, but otherwise catch it as soon as it streams somewhere! Andrew joins the call, and when Lauren finishes, the gang discusses the 2025 Emmys. While they generally agreed with the victors, some of the nominees were questionable. Many shows had too many nominations, whereas some more deserving had none. But overall, the Emmys got it right. The Emmy discussion leads us straight into Lauren's review of the series "The Pitt" on HBO. It's a 15-episode series about life in a Pittsburgh emergency room. It stars new Emmy winner, Noah Wiley The show is shot in an almost a 24-like method where the 15 episodes are basically in real time. This show deserved every award it won. After Lauren says goodnight, it's left up to Kevin and Andrew. Andrew had the opportunity to see "The Long Walk" in theaters this week. While Kevin hasn't seen it, he's a huge Stephen King fan, so he's been very much anticipating this review. Overall, Andrew liked the movie and recommends it, although some issues with bodily functions may have sent him a little over the edge. That being said, it's worth seeing in the theater if you have the time and the money, so go check it out. For the first time in a while, we get to a film that both guys have seen, 28 Years Later. This is an extension of 28 DaysWeeks Later and is definitely in a more run-down world than we've seen before. Past films seem to suggest that the rage virus affected the entire world, but it now seems isolated to the United Kingdom. Survivors are now in quarantine in the UK. This is the story of a both falling out with his father and coming into his own to save his mother's life. There are some great performances by Jodie Comer and Ralph Fiennes, as well as the young lead. This one is definitely worth checking out now that it's streaming on Netflix. Next up, it's just Kevin for a minute, and e talks about a film called "The Man Who Killed Hitler and Then the Bigfoot". If, by chance, you're reading this before you watch the episode, it's recommend that you take a minute and think about what you imagine this film would be. As you watch Kevin talk about it, you'll find it's absolutely nothing like anything you thought it would be. It stars Sam Elliott, and that's all we'll say here. We may not recommend going to watch this film, even though it's on Hulu, but it's interesting. If you want to see a story of a man's life journey, then go check it out. Keeping with the theme of things that probably no one will watch, Andrew watched "Friendship" this week, so it gives Kevin a chance to grill him about what he thought of the film. Generally speaking, both gentlemen agree that it's not the best film. It's neither funny nor dramatic. The argument could be made that the actors were very good, arguably too good, but overall, the film itself just is not worth watching. After a deep breath, Kevin and Andrew talk about the penultimate episode of Alien Earth, which is obviously excellent. There's a lot to unpack here because the guys haven't talked about it for a couple of weeks. Overall, the guys have loved the season so far and are really excited to see where it goes, although there's some hesitation as to whether they can end it properly, knowing that it may not even get a second season. There's a good discussion and, of course, some predictions for the finale, which may or may not have come true. So give it a listen and then go watch the season finale, which just aired. Kevin closes out the show talking about the series finale of Upload on Amazon Prime. It's a short fourth season, which amounts to a four-part series finale. Overall, it's been a lot of fun to watch. If you started watching from the beginning, you'll be satisfied with the ending. If you haven't watched, it's almost a mash-up of The Good Place and Idiocracy. You have to be in the mood for some silly humor, but it is very creative and a lot of fun, and the comedic acting is on point. So if that is your jam, go give it a watch and enjoy. 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/38365970

254. Bring Her Back, Too Much, Task, Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret, Friendship, and Our Little Secret 09/17/2025

254. Bring Her Back, Too Much, Task, Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret, Friendship, and Our Little Secret Kevin and Lauren are back, sans Andrew, this week, and they are discussing Bring Her Back, Too Much, Task, Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret, Friendship, and Our Little Secret. It's another packed week, despite being down a man. Kevin kicks off the show talking about a recently released horror film, Bring Her Back. It's available for rent or purchase right now, but not any streamers just yet. As a rental, it's definitely worth the $6. Kevin touts it as one of the better horror films he's seen in recent memory, and, as pure horror goes, it may actually be better than Weapons (which he absolutely loved). It's a possession story involving teenage kids and a crazy foster mom, but it's tense all the way through, and all of the actors, kids included, are spectacular. After the scares, Lauren flips the switch and takes us over to comedy with the Netflix series, Too Much. And, if Lauren's review is any indication, it may be just a little too much... This is a Lena Dunham project starring Megan Stalter of Hacks fame, and it tells the semi-autobiographical story of a woman's move to London, post-breakup. While the premise sounds familiar and it has a host of solid actors, the comedy itself feels just a bit too broad, and, though the potential is there, the show just misses the mark by a little bit. That said, if you love Lena Dunham, you may still enjoy this one. Next up, Kevin takes us over to HBO for the new crime drama, Task, starring Mark Ruffalo and Tom Pelfry. This is from the creators of Mare of Easttown and, if you liked that one, this seems like it'll scratch that same itch. Ruffalo and Pelfrey are on opposite sides of the law as a washed-up FBI task force leader and small-time criminal, respectively. Their worlds are on a collision course by the end of the first episode, which sets up some serious drama for the rest of the season. It's a slow burn at first, but worth jumping in on now. Once again, lightening the mood, is Lauren, with 2023's Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret. The Judy Bloom classic stars Rachel McAdams and Kathy Bates, and manages to beautifully tell the original story without losing any of the charm. It's a coming-of-age story for women everywhere, filled with questions we all struggle with in our teen years. The performances are wonderful, and the story is a classic, so give this one a shot if you need that solid, heartfelt film. Somehow, Kevin can't just let us be happy today. His next review is of the film, Friendship, now on HBO, and starring Paul Rudd and Tim Robinson. It's not often that Kevin comes in this hot on a film, but he absolutely HATED this one. It's billed as comedy, and the trailers set it up as a very dark comedy, but really, it's just a cringe-inducing depression-fest that left Kevin feeling very disappointed. We definitely invite anyone who has seen this one to share their thoughts, good or bad, because Kevin has never been quite so confused by the hype over a film before. Lauren takes us out on a fun, albeit formulaic, romcom, Our Little Secret. This is your typical Christmas movie fare, but the draw here for Lauren was the chance to check up on the career of former child star, Lindsey Lohan. Films like these have been able to keep her working until the recent Freaky Friday sequel, which actually did quite well at the box office. It'll be interesting to see what her career trajectory is now that she's a mom and has been out of the public eye for a while, but it does look like she has a path forward, which is great! 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/38256225

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

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