CherryPop

CherryPicks Presents CherryPop: A Female Focused Podcast Tune in as your host, Meg McCarthy, is joined by a rotating group of inspiring and talented co-hosts and guests. Together, they will explore how media has culturally impacted women of all ages and gender expressions covering many topics including the female gaze, sex on screen, queer representation, coming- of- age stories, and much more.

Sarah Shahi 01/27/2026

Sarah Shahi In this episode of CherryPop, Meg spoke with actor and author Sarah Shahi about her new book, . Life is Lifey is a deeply personal work that resists being labeled as traditional self-help. Instead, the book reads like a companion you can return to at any point, offering reflection, humor, and reassurance in the moments we feel most untethered. “Advice is not a one-size-fits-all model. Everybody comes to their trauma based on the last chapter they were in, and that looks different for everyone. I was acutely aware for it not to sound like I was telling the reader what to do. At the end of each chapter, I take the reader through a series of questions that will be able to help them find where their true north lies. In an age where we have so many algorithms now to tell us what to eat, what to watch, what to order next, and who to speak to, we’ve lost the ability to check in with ourselves. And I feel like once you have the discipline to silence the noise, you will connect with the wisest person in the room, which is you.” - Sarah Shahi Together, Meg and Sarah talk about the power of honesty in art and life. For Sarah, writing from the heart and in her authentic voice was non-negotiable. The book was never meant to prescribe answers but to create space for self-inquiry, intuition, and trust in our own inner wisdom. In addition, they touch on people-pleasing, performance, and the pressure to be “good” at the expense of our own needs. The conversation also explores desire as a form of self-knowledge and how often women are taught to silence it. Drawing from her experience on the Netflix series , Sarah speaks about the generational shame surrounding female pleasure and the importance of reclaiming desire not just in relationships, but in our relationship with ourselves. “I’m one of those people who believe that my pain should never be in vain. We’re all here for such a short amount of time, and I feel like it’s part of our responsibility to walk each other home. So for me, the more real I can be about the things I’ve learned, the messes I’ve made, the ways in which I’ve picked myself up and put myself back together- if that can help someone else or inspire something positive within them, then it’s my obligation as a person on this planet to do so. Those were my goals and the things that I had in mind as I was writing this book.” - Sarah Shahi At its core, is a reminder that growth is messy, but necessary, vulnerability is a strength, and trusting yourself is often the bravest choice you can make—a must read!! is available now! CherryPicks is the best place to see what women think about movies, tv, and more. CherryPicks highlights reviews and original stories exclusively from female and non-binary writers. Follow CherryPicks on social @thecherrypicks Follow your host Meg McCarthy on Instagram @megjomccarthy Music composed by . CherryPop is executive produced by Miranda Bailey and Rebecca Odes, produced and hosted by Meg McCarthy, and edited by In Haus Media Photo Credit: Jonny Marlow. /episode/index/show/cherrypickspresentscherrypoppod/id/39852690

Dior Goodjohn 01/06/2026

Dior Goodjohn Meg rings in the New Year by welcoming star of to the podcast! “What Clarisse was learning and going through this season, I was also as Dior. It was a very therapeutic process playing her not only in terms of the pressure and intensity of how she was raised, but also in what she had to learn for herself about herself and the world—it’s the exact same thing that I was having to deal with, learn, and go through in my own personal life while I was shooting the season.” -Dior Goodjohn Dior kicks off the episode by sharing the grounding routine that keeps her centered, then takes us back to the early inspirations that first ignited her love for performing—including the DVD she practically wore out. When talking about her work as Clarisse La Rue on Season 2 of , Dior opens up about the emotional preparation that shaped her performance, rooted in pieces of her own lived experience. She explores the unexpected connection Clarisse and Percy forge this season, a bond that proves vulnerability can be its own kind of power. “Once you utilize how to make things work for you and within a space that makes you feel comfortable and connected to your body, the way that you can get things done, and the speed and agility like that you can do things is just insane. When I stopped trying to force myself to work in a very traditionally masculine sense—like go, go, go, burn out—everything changed when I started trusting my instincts. It’s important to think logically and critically, but not everything is like that. And that's when things really started to shift for me in my life, when I started to trust myself…” -Dior Goodjohn Dior also talks about how her love of music weaves its way into her work on set, using playlists to lock in the emotional pulse of epic scenes. Across all her creative pursuits, she keeps her focus on what matters most: clear intention, meaningful storytelling, and a genuine sense of gratitude for every step of the journey. Season 2 of is streaming now on Disney+. CherryPicks is the best place to see what women think about movies, tv, and more. CherryPicks highlights reviews and original stories exclusively from female and non-binary writers. Follow CherryPicks on and @thecherrypicks Follow your host Meg McCarthy on @megjomccarthy Music composed by . CherryPop is executive produced by Miranda Bailey and Rebecca Odes, produced and hosted by Meg McCarthy, and edited by In Haus Media Photo Credit: Emilynn Rose /episode/index/show/cherrypickspresentscherrypoppod/id/39505115

Aubri Ibrag 08/12/2025

Aubri Ibrag CherryPop welcomes star of , Aubri Ibrag to the podcast. Aubri and Meg explore her character Lizzie’s empowering Season 2 arc. They touch upon the show’s beautiful and powerful themes of female friendship, love, and what happens when the two conflict. Although Lizzie may make some questionable choices, we’re very proud of her for choosing love and following her heart. At the end of the day, the Buccaneers always find their way back to each other, which is just one of the countless reasons we are continually obsessed with the series. Although it takes place in the past, Aubri discusses the show’s very relatable themes. We may not relate to, say, abdications, but we can relate to these characters on a human level, and as Aubri says, “that’s what storytelling is all about.” We, of course, also dive into this season’s sensational aesthetics, set pieces, and costumes. The episode comes to a close in true CherryPicks style with a game of “Sweet and Sour” with Aubri sharing her exciting future career goals and aspirations. “[There are] men like Seadown that exist, who made Lizzie feel so awful for such a long time, and she tried to almost quiet herself and make herself smaller so that she didn’t elicit bad reactions from people, which is really heartbreaking. But I'm really proud of her [...] for pursuing love.” -Aubri Ibrag “After being sexually violated by Seadown, she was quite numb and probably gave up on the idea of ever having passionate feelings, but then came along Theo… I'm really proud of her for allowing herself to follow that feeling, even though it did hurt people. I'm proud of her for doing something wrong, for once, if that makes sense, that was in her own self interest.” -Aubri Ibrag All episodes of The Buccaneers Season 2 are available to stream on Apple TV+. CherryPicks is the best place to see what women think about movies, tv, and more. CherryPicks highlights reviews and original stories exclusively from female and non-binary writers. Follow CherryPicks on and @thecherrypicks Follow your host Meg McCarthy on @megjomccarthy Music composed by . CherryPop is executive produced by Miranda Bailey and Rebecca Odes, produced and hosted by Meg McCarthy, and edited by In Haus Media Photo Credit: Stephanie Diani /episode/index/show/cherrypickspresentscherrypoppod/id/37758170

Abigail Cowen 06/11/2025

Abigail Cowen CherryPop welcomes (, ) to the podcast, who stars in two films out now. First up, Meg and Abigail dive into the wild and colorful world of by the brilliant and vibrant mind of first-time feature film director . Cowen fondly talks about working with Hala and her love and appreciation for the passion and creative collaboration born out of independent filmmaking. “I wanted to act since I was like nine years old, and I never really got the opportunity, because I was in a small town in Florida that didn’t have many theater opportunities or anything like that. I grew up on a farm, so I spent a lot of time outside making up stories. I've just always been fascinated by people and their stories—and understanding why people do what they do—and I think that’s why I do what I do, and why I love it. It’s been a passion of mine since I was very, very young.” -Abigail Cowen Next, the two discuss Cowen’s powerful and physical work in . In this horror film based on true events, she plays Emma Schmidt, a young woman undergoing multiple exorcisms alongside Hollywood legend . In addition, Abigail and Meg share their dislike of mornings, the need for better dreams, and an undying love for storytelling. “I really have enjoyed doing these smaller independent films, because it's a smaller crew. You have your director, who is usually also the writer. If you have an idea, you can throw it at them, and if they say no, they say no; if they like it, you can change it on the day in the moment. And having that smaller cast too to really hone in and collaborate with has been so fun for me, and so creatively fulfilling. [...] there is an air and just an energy on a set where everyone is on the same page, everyone is working the same amount and cares the same amount, which I've really fallen in love with.” - Abigail Cowen is available on demand and you can watch out now in theaters. CherryPicks is the best place to see what women think about movies, tv, and more. CherryPicks highlights reviews and original stories exclusively from female and non-binary writers. Follow CherryPicks on and @thecherrypicks Follow your host Meg McCarthy on @megjomccarthy Music composed by . CherryPop is executive produced by Miranda Bailey and Rebecca Odes, produced and hosted by Meg McCarthy, and edited by In Haus Media /episode/index/show/cherrypickspresentscherrypoppod/id/36895930

Sara Waisglass 06/05/2025

Breaking the Rules with Nikohl Boosheri, Roya Mahboob, & Amber Afzali 03/18/2025

Strength in Sisterhood with Triple Charm 11/28/2023

In Her Shoes with La Rhonza 10/19/2023

Getting "Smarter in Seconds" with Blair Imani 07/26/2023

In Her Shoes with Gia Kim 07/13/2023

In Her Shoes with Nicole Maines 06/29/2023

Unfinished Business: Women in Film and the Quest for Equality 03/21/2023

Unfinished Business: Women in Film and the Quest for Equality This episode is sponsored by Buffalo 8 Distribution: A Bondit Company. is a full-service film and media company focused on production, post-production, distribution, design, and finance. CherryPop host Meg McCarthy and Head of Buffalo 8 Distribution Nikki Stier Justice discuss the future of women in film, spotlighting Marcella Cytrynowicz’s gripping thriller romance, , and Em Johnson’s coming-of-age story, . producer Taryn Sims and writer/director Em Johnson join the conversation to grapple with gender disparity in front of and behind the camera while shedding light on how to support women in film from inside and outside of the industry. The group’s respective experiences give unique perspectives on the indie filmmaking landscape, festival support, and more. “We still have a long way to go. It helps when you have female producers and people in those positions that can champion women directors and leads in departments. We're not even close to scratching the surface, and we have a long way to go, but I think that the conversations have been started and there is an awareness that we need more.” - Taryn Sims With its intense storyline, stunning cinematography, and powerful performances, is a must-see and is now available . And do not miss the chance to experience Em Johnson’s enchanting world of Balloon Animal, available on demand April 7th. Support indie filmmaking by checking out some other Buffalo 8 films: CherryPicks is the best place to see what women think about movies, tv, and more. CherryPicks highlights reviews and original stories exclusively from female and non-binary writers. Follow CherryPicks on and @thecherrypicks Follow your host Meg McCarthy on @megjomccarthy Music composed by . CherryPop is executive produced by Miranda Bailey and Rebecca Odes, produced and hosted by Meg McCarthy, and edited by In Haus Media /episode/index/show/cherrypickspresentscherrypoppod/id/26252811

Founder's Special: Thanksgiving Is for the Birds 11/22/2022

The Doctor Is In: A Conversation with Grey's Anatomy Star Kelly McCreary 10/27/2022

Indie Filmmaking With the Cast & Crew of "Never Forgotten" 10/13/2022

Celebrating Our True Selves in "Mack & Rita" 08/09/2022

Intimacy & Inclusivity with Lolo Spencer 08/01/2022

Style & Sisterhood in "Harlem" 08/01/2022

Style & Sisterhood in "Harlem" This episode is presented by Prime Video. Available now on Prime Video, is a single-camera comedy following the lives of four best girlfriends from their college days at NYU, as they navigate sex, relationships and chasing their dreams “…When you go through things, it doesn't mean you have to stop being friends, it means that you love each other more, it means that you push into each other more, you're holding each other accountable in love wrong or right.” Meagan Good (Camille) On this two-part episode of CherryPop, our host Meg McCarthy had the immense pleasure of talking to three of the lovely stars of Prime Video’s , , , and . Together, they discuss the power of sisterhood, their beautiful bond on screen and off, and the importance of seeing healthy examples of womanhood on screen. Meg is later joined by the multi-talented creator, executive producer, and writer of , , and the series’ fabulous and inspiring costume designer, Deirdra E. Govan. Tracy and Deirdra share their collaborative journey creating the show’s vibrant world, a world that creates joy, meaning, and pays homage to their love and personal connection to the city of Harlem. “I felt like a lot of people were leaning into black pain and black struggle stories, and I deliberately decided to go against that. And I was like, No, I want bright, bold colors, and I want everyone to look aspirational.” Tracy Oliver (creator, executive producer, writer) CherryPicks is the best place to see what women think about movies, tv, and more. CherryPicks highlights reviews and original stories exclusively from female and non-binary writers. Follow CherryPicks on and @thecherrypicks Follow your host Meg McCarthy on @megjomccarthy Music composed by . CherryPop is executive produced by Miranda Bailey and Rebecca Odes, produced and hosted by Meg McCarthy, and edited by In Haus Media /episode/index/show/cherrypickspresentscherrypoppod/id/21546584