Pop Culture Happy Hour

This show consistently cheers me up, especially when I’m trying to keep anxiety or depression at bay. I really like all of the hosts, but Glen is low-key probably my favorite. I hope nothing about this gem of a podcast ever changes. ❤️

I used to love listening to this even though I don’t agree with some of the newer people all the time and I feel like some things are phoned in, in terms of reviews. It is frustrating that listeners have to pay for an ad-free experience. I pay for enough things ( and more than they’re worth tbf) and I can tell that there are more ads than ever now. I skip past them when I am not doing something while listening; but when I’m not it’s a nuisance. I miss the days when this was free for all.

Compare the NPR critics’ fawning of “sweaty thighs” in the movie Challengers (2024 best cultural moment!) to their takedown of Yellowstone (NYT opinion writer ‘explains’ why everything about Yellowstone is wrong, wrong, wrong).

I’ve loved PCHH for many years, but the new structure of the show is quite unappealing. Linda, Aisha, etc. are great - nothing but respect - but some of these guest hosts are brutal… being negative about everything is not interesting criticism. Calling something “problematic” without unpacking further is a meaningless observation. Not every piece of culture has to be a meditation on race, gender, sexuality, etc. It’s okay for people who have not had a particular lived experience to represent that experience in art. Some things can just be. This show was a lot smarter and more fun when it recognized that.