Episodes
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#80: Let's talk about (female) SEX(uality)!
This week's episode gets a little NSFW as Becca and Tessa dive in to chat about female sexuality. From smutty romance books, to audio p*rn, to films about female sexuality and with a little bit of research sprinkled in for good measure, it's a good time! Rate, review, subscribe!
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#79: It's the outside that counts - beauty collabs!
In this week's episode, Becca and the NEWLY MRS. Tessa RIPKA discuss Beauty Collabs going all the way back to the beginning with Lip Smackers, continuing to Colourpop and other success stories and rounding it out with recent failures. You won't want to miss this gorgeous episode ;) Like. Rate....
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#78: Unadvertising - what is it?
Hello all! This week on PCSS Tessa and Becca are talking all about the concept of "unadvertising" - what is that you might ask? Well, have you seen Duolingo on Tiktok or perhaps the Washington Post? Or maybe you're part of a Facebook group for a product? If that's not clear enough, Tessa walks us...
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#77: The Book Was Better Than The Movie!
Welcome to the Sh*tshow! This week Becca and Tessa are talking books that were better than the movie (or TV show) that they spawned. To be fair, it was mostly Becca ranting about the choices of one Anne (Annie?) Hathaway to star in adaptations of her beloved childhood books Ella Enchanted and The...
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#76: Back from the TV graveyard - revivals!
When a TV show is canceled but comes back on the air with the same cast and characters, that's a revival! When a show is rebooted, it's with new actors and a new timeline. The more you know! In this episode, Becca and Tessa talk about making our cats happy, how Raven's Home has been on the air...
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#75: Pixar's Healing Your Generational Trauma
Be honest - are YOU the trauma?! This week Becca and Tessa talk about all things Disney Pixar films and how they've been addressing ~*generational trauma*~ We're talking Coco, Inside Out, Encanto (we know, we know, it's just Disney), Turning Red, Luca, Soul and probably more! Come check it out!...
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#74: AITA?
In this week's episode, Becca and Tessa evaluate whether people ATA via the popular Reddit thread, AITA. Showing up uninvited to someone's wedding, disliking Billie Eilish, finding (and keeping) a long-lost dog, lying to airline employees - are they the a**hole?! Rate. Review. Subscribe. Share.
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#73: Disney Adults - Who's Paying For This?
In this week's episode, Tessa and Becca have brought back a beloved friend of the pod - Peter Carter - to talk about Disney Adults! What is a Disney Adult? How many Disney tattoos do you need to be one? What's everyone think of Bob Chapek? We discuss all these and more! Rate. Review. Subscribe....
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#72: Let's talk sh*t about celebs -- blind items!
If you've ever wanted more gossip about celebs AND to do a bit of sleuthing, we have just the thing for you - blind items! What is a blind item, you might be asking? Blind item: a piece of gossip about a celebrity or other public figure where the scenario/gossip is described without directly...
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#71: 2 Back, 2 Furious
Don't adjust your headphones - the ladies of Pop Culture Sh*tshow are really back! After one on-going pandemic later (and two years, but who's counting) we are here once again. In this episode we share what's been going on including engagement stories, new pets, and why you should join your…
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#70: Plot and conflict - dating on sitcoms!
Have you ever wondered how many ladies Joey Tribbiani or Chandler Bing dated over the course of 10 years? Well, we've got the answer within! That's right - Becca and Tessa are talking about dating on sitcoms and the unrealistic expectations it gave us all. Also - spoiler alert that one Golden…
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#69: Let's Get (Neat) Freaky
Have you been spending FOREVER cleaning up your kitchen in this, the time of the Coronavirus? Well, have we got the episode for you! That's right - this week, Becca and Tessa tackle that classic TV trope of the Neat Freak! We're talking Danny Tanner, Monica Geller, Monk, and more!! Can you guess...
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#68: Pop Culture Newsroom
The evolution of news is one of the defining characteristics of our time. With up to the minute notifications available nearly everywhere you go how do TV news programs stay in the game? Tune-in to this week's episode of PCSS and learn all about how the news cycle has transformed and the…
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#67: Games to soothe your quarantined soul
In these trying times, we all need something to relax. For some, it's wine. For others, it's bud. And for millions, it's Animal Crossing: New Horizons or Stardew Valley. That's right - this week Becca and Tessa are going where they haven't gone before: video games! Specifically, aesthetically...
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#66: All you cool cats & kittens
Hey, all you cool cats and kittens! We know you've been Netflix bingeing and we need to talk….Did Carole kill her husband? Why did Joe own an EMT jacket? Are we really gonna ignore Doc's sex cult? Like the rest of you, Tiger King left us with some big big questions and we are here to share our...
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#65: This one's for the ladiesssssss
That's right - it's Women's History Month!! The most wonderful time of the year is back bbs :D In this episode, Becca and Tessa talk about some powerful ladies straight up being amazing!! Come for the good feels, stay for the trivia! Rate. Review. Subscribe. Share. Repeat.
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#64: Are you not entertained?!
Hello, friends from this wild time that just keeps getting wilder! In this week's episode, Tessa and Becca aim to help you ward off the quarantine blues and boredom with some of their fave pop-culture suggestions! You know Tessa is bringing you the true crime and Becca is bringing you the rom...
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#63: Did someone say...pandemic?!
Whew, these times is wild, fam! Are you on the "travel and if I die, I die" side of the Coronavirus or the "hunker down forever, goodbye to humanity" side?! We won't tell you which we are (but Tessa is going to Disney next week). On this week's ep the ladies talk all about the pop culture…
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#62: Leap [into love] Year!
If you didn't know, issa Leap Year! Which means, ladies, you can ask your man to marry you (in Ireland and Finland). And if he says no, he has to get you a fur coat - it's the law!! In this week's episode of PCSS, Becca and Tessa dive into the 2010 film Leap Year starring Amy Adams and a hot guy...
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#61: Shhh...it's The Secret!
In this week's episode, Tessa and Becca dive into that early-2000's phenomenon that every suburban mother - spurred on by Oprah - was obsessed with: The Secret. The idea that you can attract good (and bad) into your life with the power of the law of attraction. You'll hear all about its wild...
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#60: Gen Z(-ombie? -oodle? -eitgeist?)
There are many things that define a generation and for Gen Z it's all about that TECHNOLOGY! They are more connected than any other generation and with that comes new norms around social interactions, views on the world, and openness to new ways of being. Tune in to learn more! And to figure out...
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#59: Anyone Can Be Anyone in...The Circle!
Becca and Tessa are talking about the Netflix sensation taking the world by storm: The Circle. TBH it feels like it blew up on the internet faster than we could keep up. But keep up and binge watch we did to bring you our thoughts! SPOILERS ABOUND - listen at your own risk. Rate. Review.…
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#58: Could Santa be a woman?!
In this week's holiday episode, Becca and Tessa take a look at the classic claymation Christmas specials you grew up with from a different lens - it's gender bb! Focusing on two, we ask the real questions - could Santa Claus be a woman? Why couldn't Mrs. Claus step in for Santa? Why was Rudolph's...
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#57: QVC for the Holidays
'Tis the season for cocoa, lights, and ill-advised holiday shopping sprees! If you've got a hankering to shop from your couch while professionals sell you things you probably don't need (but then again that can opener would be helpful...), have we got the thing for you! Becca and Tessa are…
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#56: Zac Efron was on Room Raiders?!
Before Tinder or Armchair Detectives, there was Next and Room Raiders. MTV has always been on the cutting edge of dating shows (move over, Bachelor!) and they are still breaking the mold today. Learn all about MTV's dating show dynasty on this week's episode of Pop Culture Sh*tshow. Rate. Review....
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#55: "She Was a Total Betty": Modern Literary Adaptations
Required reading in high school - we all had it. Whether you had to read Romeo and Juliet or Pride and Prejudice, English class came for us all. This week, Becca and Tessa discuss two modern literary adaptations - "Clueless" and "10 Things I Hate About You". They chat all about the misogynistic...
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#54: Smile - you're on Candid Camera!
Once America got a taste of reality TV we couldn't let it go. Candid Camera opened the doors for the entire genre of reality TV and more specifically hidden camera comedy. Hoodwinking unsuspecting bystanders has turned into a an array of shows ranging from Punk'd to Scare Tactics. The…
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#53: Are You a Good Witch or a Bad Witch?
Becca and Tessa sit down together to answer the age-old question: what makes a witch good or bad? So many things! Are you a witch who's helpful or who helps herself? Do you fight evil or embody it? This episode can push you to decide for yourself once and for all - good or bad? AND we've got some...
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#52: Zombies - Dead But Not Gone!
Any way you slice it, zombies are here to stay in pop culture. Tessa and Becca take on these dead, decaying, and kinda scary creatures to consider why society loves zombies. Could it be our deepest survivalist fantasies? Or the lumbering eventuality of death? Either way, if you've ever wondered...
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#51: 10 Years Later: Jennifer's Body
Is there anything more fun than sitting down with friends and watching a spooky movie in the spoopy season? Of course not! That's why Becca and Tessa (and a fun special guest!) sat down together to watch the reviled (and now cult classic) feminist horror film Jennifer's Body. The ladies discuss…
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#50: Halloween v. Christmas!
You might think you have to choose between Halloween and Christmas - but what if you didn't? What if they were essentially the SAME holiday (minus the religious aspects - please don't come for us)? Well, let Becca and Tessa share their wisdom with you about how these two holidays aren't so...
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#49: Who ya gonna call? Ghosts!
Spooky season - or spoopy, as Becca likes to say - is finally here and nothing gives us the frights like a good old fashioned ghost story! Turns out we aren't the only ones that love them. Ghost stories go way way back to the OG 1st century AD. Travel through time with us as we explore centuries…
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#48: VSCO like "disco"
Do you consider yourself trendy? Hip? A part the times?! Then have we got the episode for you. This week Becca and Tessa sit down to discuss a subculture of the youth: the VSCO girl. You've read the Vox, NBC News, and Buzzfeed think pieces - now listen to our take on them! Are they the new Tumblr...
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#47: You're Canceled!
Everything is canceled! Hell hath no fury like the Internet and we are here to dive first into the wild world of "canceled culture." Get ready to hear the good, bad, and complicated as we explore this recent phenomenon in this week's episode of Pop Culture Sh*tshow. Rate. Review. Share. Subscribe.
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#46: We're back, baby!!
Your favorite sh*tshows are back at it and we are chatting about brands! Let's face it - it's shady out here! From government to big business our Pop Culture says a lot about who we think we can trust. In today's episode, Becca and Tessa talk all about brands with purpose and share the wins and...
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#45: Summer Lovin'
It's that time of year again - the air is warm and sticky and full of potential love interests! In this episode of PCSS, the ladies talk about ~*summer*~ love. Why is it a thing?! How is it different from cuffing season?! Is Tinder better than Bumble?! We also share some spicy tips for making the...
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#44: Celebrity Opinions - To Vax or Not to Vax
Vaccination scares are nothing new but the celebrity involvement in the issue is a more recent phenomenon. Join Tessa and Becca as they take you through the history of vaccinations and the various movements surrounding them that have shaped our modern day challenges. Buckle up for this...
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#43: This Is Our Independence Day
Happy 4th of July! Today, we eat hot dogs, enjoy fireworks, and celebrate our country's 243rd year of independence. Tessa and Becca discuss the 1996 classic sci-fi action film "Independence Day", as well as independence days around the world. You'll hear all about the rousing speech by President...
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#42: Real Housewives of the Sacramento County Jail
Tessa and Becca are doing the... Jailhouse Rock! Well, sorta... if you're curious about toilet knocking and the American Criminal Justice system then have we got the show for you. Listen as we explore the "Real Housewives" level drama in the Netflix documentary series "Jailbirds" and the deeper...
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#41: John Wick Kills Everyone
Baba Yaga. Boogeyman. Highly trained assassin. You may or may not know him, but your girl Becca loves him - he's John Wick. On this week's episode of PCSS, the ladies discuss the John Wick action movie franchise. They dive deep into the wild world of assassins, fan theories, and if Keanu Reeves…
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#40: Lazy Thursday
Let's face it - Justin Timberlake and Michael Bolton are icons and the group at the center of today's discussion has worked with them both. A no spoilers spoiler: this Pop Culture shaping crew is responsible for defining comedy in the Age of the Internet and their songs have the Emmy wins and...
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#39: Say Yes to This Episode!
Here comes the bride(zilla), here comes the bride(zilla)! This week on PCSS, Tessa and Becca are talking about some of their favorite wedding reality shows - Say Yes to the Dress, Bridezilla, and Four Weddings. You'll hear how Bridezilla came to be, the scoop on the honeymoons they win in Four...
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#38: Cha-Cha-Cha-Changes
It comes for us all - that's right, this week the ladies are talking about puberty! Specifically Netflix's Big Mouth and Hulu's Pen15. What makes puberty so awkward to talk about? Why do we enjoy reliving our past experiences? Tessa and Becca discuss the (not so) glory days and chat about first...
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#37: Sick Teen Love Stories
Young love is in the air - and also the tragedy of young love cut short! This week the ladies of PCSS dive deep into the waters of "sick lit" - that genre about sick teenagers who fall in love and more often than not, the girl dies. Come on a journey with us as we try to figure out the draw of…
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#36: Disney Princes
Spring Break is over kids and you know what that means - the ladies of PCSS are back! And they are coming in hot to discuss the XY chromosome of the Disney princess equation - the Disney Princes! *Insert Airhorn Sound* That's right - we're talking about the animated characters that maybe started...
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#35: Spring Breakers - Your Spring Break Survival Guide
The flowers are blooming, the pollen is attacking, and the weather is warming up. That's right - it's spring! Becca has created a (not at all) nuanced quiz to determine "What Kind of Spring Breaker are You?" From there, the ladies offer all kinds of tips and tricks for how to survive Spring…
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#34: Queer Eye - Then and Now!
Yas queen! On this week's episode of PCSS, the ladies discuss the 2004 Bravo series "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy" and the 2018 Netflix reboot "Queer Eye." Topics of conversation include the evolution of gay representation on TV and in the broader culture, the power of vulnerability, and which...
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#33: Let's talk politic[al cartoon]s!
Time to talk about one of the four no-no topics - politics! Except for way more fun because it's narrowly focused on the CARTOONS! In this week's episode, Tessa and Becca (mostly Tessa) spill the tea on political cartoons and their long tradition of integrating pop culture. They also wonder how...
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#32: Lady Killers!
In this week's episode, Becca and Tessa round out Women's History Month by exploring a predominately male phenomenon through the lens of the women who broke the mold. We are talking female killers. Admittedly, not a glass ceiling we are thrilled about breaking but, with men committing 90% of the...
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#31: I Didn't Know I Was Pregnant!
In this week's episode of PCSS, Becca and Tessa dive deep into the waters of TLC's hit show "I Didn't Know I Was Pregnant." That show you watched in high school where after watching a few episodes, the next time you missed your period you thought, "but could I be pregnant and not know it?!?!?!?"...