Midwest Besties

Send us Fan MailBesties, it’s Book Club Time! This week, Emily and Lauren take a break from discussing TV the internet can’t stop talking about to discuss the BOOK the internet can’t stop talking about. Yesteryear, by political and pop culture podcaster Caro Claire Burke, takes us inside the mind of the fictional tradwife social media influencer Natalie Heller Mills. The story is about what happens when Natalie wakes up to discover she is actually in the 1855 pioneer era. This book is a WILD RIDE, and the Besties talk about it all—influencer culture, religious trauma, the manosphere, and of course, Goldie Hawn in Overboard. So many spoilers, so if you want to read this book and haven’t read it, don’t listen. If you have read it and are dying to talk about it with someone, welcome! Support the show

Send us Fan MailIn this week’s pop culture potluck, we start off strong with the latest Summer House gossip. We chat about West and Amanda’s at the Yankees game, Ciara’s Glamour Cover, Mia’s WWHL interview, and recap S10 E12. We give our final thoughts on Real Housewives of Beverly Hills as the season finally wraps up, and get into Coachella Weekend Two. We chat Sabrina’s set, Olivia Rodrigo’s new single, and Kacey Musgraves’ last-minute show.  We switch gears to TV, sharing what we’re watching now, including Big Mistakes, Running Point, and the final season of Hacks.Support the show

Send us Fan MailWhat is up, Daddy Gang?! It’s us, your besties! And this week in our Pop Culture Potluck, we have quite the spread! First, we discuss the trailer for the new Summer House spin-off, In The City. Lauren talks about how Danielle has personally victimized her. We follow up on the Summer House Scamanda scandal and how we are low-key loving Amanda and West owning their pieces of SH*T era. We break down Sabrina Carpenter and Justin Bieber’s Coachella performances. Two artists living their truth, or the painful example of the double standard of female/male pop stars? PLUS, we break down Call Her Daddy’s Alex Cooper and TikTok’s Alix Earle’s mystery internet beef that we are LIVING FOR (Spoiler Alert: They are two different people). Plus, Jorginho clears Chappell’s name with another epic 3-point-font Instagram Story (we give him a big NO DUH), new books we're reading, and the exhausting GLP-1 discourse we can’t seem to escape.Support the show

Send us Fan MailCarl’s a mess, and so are we! In this week’s pop culture Pot Luck, the besties discuss the aftermath of the Summer House Scamanda (™). Emily explains the latest Lindy West memoir, Adult Braces, and the besties break down Belle Burden’s recently released book, Strangers: A Memoir of Marriage. In table scraps, we touch on Ina Garten and how Meghan Markle straight up copies her, the latest Sussex missteps, Real Housewives of Rhode Island, and The Valley premiere. Pull up a chair because this is a big ol’ meal!  Support the show

Send us Fan MailHave you checked on your Bravo fans lately, Besties? You should. They are not okay. In this very special episode, Lauren and Emily go FULL detective mode and take you through the Summer House scandal that has ROCKED the internet. If you've been in a coma for the past week, newly separated Amanda and newly redeemed f*** boy West are an ITEM. One small problem – West is the on-again, off-again love of Amanda’s best friend (and fellow Bed BugTM) Ciara. This story is developing so quickly that we got our first-ever breaking news while recording (and it legit made us feel like Katie Couric). Outside of Summer House, the Besties discuss the season finale of Love Story (Constance Zimmer is the GOAT), Lindy West, the new hot book, Strangers, and why magazines are so back, baby.Support the show

Send us Fan MailDespite allergy season woes, your besties are locked in this week! In this pop culture potluck, we dig into Chappell Roan’s latest security drama, and do our best to delicately discuss Taylor Frankie Paul, The Bachelorette cancellation, and Secret Lives of Mormon Wives (trigger warning: domestic violence). We move into lighter territory to recap the latest Summer House episode, where we are yelling justice for Bailey and in awe of Ciara, Mia, and KJ’s vulnerability. We chat about TV we’re super excited about, including The Pitt, The Valley, and Hacks. We end the episode by letting you know what we’re currently reading—that’s right, we don’t just watch Bravo TV all day, okay?!Support the show

Send us Fan MailThese are your captains speaking! We have a new Flyover Deepdive, which is what we call our special TV episode recap episodes! (Aren’t we cute?). In this Deepdive, we break down Summer House  Season 10, Episode 5: “Summer Knights” and Season 10, Episode 6: "The Joke's on You." We discuss Jesse’s apology to Ciara for once again treating her like an object, Kyle’s advisory board position at Soft Bar, Carl’s cattiness, Ben and Bailey’s awkward blow-up, and we rag on Kias for a little bit (naturally). Support the show

Send us Fan MailAnd we’re back! After some technical difficulties, we have a potluck episode coming for you tomorrow! On this week’s episode, we talk about Kacey and Harry’s new music, Timothée Chalamet being an artist who shits on other artists, being Michael B. Jordan stans, Love Story, and so much more! If you are looking for a Summer House recap, stay tuned! We have our “Flyover Deep Dive” (what we call our TV recap episodes because we are whimsical) coming for you on Tuesday.Support the show

Send us Fan MailIn this week's Pop Culture Potluck on Midwest Besties, we break down The Traitors finale and reunion, recap the latest Summer House drama, including the apology dune and Jesse Solomon being CRINGE. We dive into the back half of Bridgerton S4 (spoiler alert: we LOVE Benephie). In Table Scraps, we discuss Craig Conover giving sweaty loser energy, Lisa Rinna’s new memoir, and a very specific love story where Carolyn Bessette Kennedy would actually hate you. Plus: Batman casting what-ifs, Ballerina Farm announcing baby #9, and why some people think Love Is Blind has been red-pilled. Support the show

Send us Fan MailHappy Three-Month Anniversary, Besties! Our podcast has officially lasted a Sales Quarter! On this week’s episode Lauren and Emily give their heavily researched review of Wuthering Heights. Just kidding — we didn’t watch the movie or read the book, but we do have a lot of opinions (hint: the skin room is gross).Meanwhile, we recap the second episode of Summer House Season 10. Summer is NOT looking fun for Kyle Cooke, and if he keeps fighting randos in the comments, his spring doesn’t look too promising either. We also catch up on The Traitors (Rob is annoyingly hot and good at this game) and The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills (heaven is the Hamptons with Rachel Zoe). As always, this is not a Peacock podcast.We wrap up the episode with a segment we now call Table Scraps — odds and ends from the internet, TV we aren’t binging, books, and more. This week, we chat about our favorite Masshole makeup influencer’s divorce announcement, The Toast’s embarrassing defense of Jill Zarin, our shared love and history as JFK Jr. heads, and what the f**k is going on with Margaret Qualley and Jack Antonoff.Do you love the besties? Don’t forget to leave us a comment and say hello. We love you!Support the show

Send us Fan MailLove is in the air, Besties! Love for talking sh*t on celebrities, that is! On this week’s episode of the Popculture Potluck, we talk about the AMAZING Benito Bowl. I know y’all are just dying to hear what two lame liberal white ladies from the Midwest thought of Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl Halftime Show, and you are IN LUCK because the besties don’t shut up about it for approximately 20 minutes.Also in this episode, the besties defend Chappell Roan, check in on all our Pop Culture Mormons, recap the latest Real Housewives of Beverly Hills episode (DO YOU REMEMBER?!?!), discuss our newly crowned prince (Jill Zarin’s step-grandson), bad smutty novel character names, and oh so much more.Support the show

Send us Fan MailWe might be living in hell, but at least TV is HOT. 🔥This week's Popculture Potluck, the besties break down the best (Bad Bunny!) and worst (Somebody come get Meemaw Cher) of the Grammys—including Jack Antonoff’s cancellable 404 error on the red carpet, questionable wardrobe choices, and more.Bridgerton is BACK and better than ever, serving a hot lack of glow-ups. And maybe we are a Peacock podcast now as we recap the season premiere of Summer House, Real Housewives, and The Traitors.We wrap things up with odds and ends from the bowels of the internet: hating on Sydney Sweeney (again 😉), the Headband Theory putting our feminism to the test, and Avery Woods haunting her own home.If you’re enjoying our episodes, please leave a comment and a review—it means everything to us 💖Support the show

Send us Fan MailIn this week’s pop culture potluck, the besties discuss Brooklyn Beckham putting his entire family on blast through his ig stories, and spoiler alert, we are Team Brooklyn. We catch you up on the It Ends With Us drama (which is never-ending), and dive into the texts between Taylor and Blake. In reality TV news, Kyle and Amanda have confirmed they’re calling it quits, Michael Rapaport was banished from Traitors, and RHOBH continues to be a snooze. Support the show

Send us Fan MailThis week’s Pop Culture Potluck has it all! (Literally, because we didn’t do a deep dive like we said we would 💁‍♀️) We dish on the Golden Globes. We didn’t know a lot of the shows, movies, or actors nominated, but we sure did clock all the plastic surgery! Once again, we discuss the chokehold the Heated Rivalry Boys currently have on us (“Hey, Moms!”) and the dawn of the Mary Beth Barone era, and more! Podcast hosts had a MESSY week last week, and we have opinions. We talk about Matt Rogers and his dumb opinions on Texas politics (has he ever set foot in Texas?) and N*ck V*all continuing his reign as the worst person ever. You know what they say—never talk politics, religion, or unimaginable family tragedy. Lauren started watching The Traitors, and it’s probably going to be our new obsession. We finish up, as usual, with a Housewives roundup, including trouble ahead for newcomer Amanda on Beverly Hills and this SLC season that we’re low-key glad is over.Support the show

Send us Fan MailThe besties are BACK with their first episode of 2026 with no shortage of pop culture to discuss! Starting with whether Ashley Tisdale is the toxic friend, Alix Earle’s breakup and New Year’s Eve with Tom Brady, Kelsea Ballerini and Chase Stokes embarrassing Instagram messiness, and Zach Bryan’s marriage. Then it’s time to serve the girls and the gays with a Heated Rivalry deep dive, process the Stranger Things finale, hate-watch Emily in Paris, and manifest January TV as a mental health intervention.Support the show

Send us Fan MailThis week, the Besties chat about rewatching Mad Men and why Don Draper is actually the worst, Tim Robinson’s ability to hilariously dunk on white men, and unpack the first two episodes of Taylor Swift’s The End of an Era docuseries and our complicated relationship with Taylor. Emily and Lauren cringe their way through Amy Schumer’s “cool girl” divorce announcement, recap yet another Bravo breakup with Todd and Bronwyn, and catch up on RHOSLC’s Greek Freak Show, and a RHOBH recap, reaffirming one universal truth: in Jennifer Tilly we trust.Support the show

Send us Fan MailThe Besties brought several delicious dishes to this week’s Pop Culture Potluck. Emily and Lauren dive into THAT Summer House Season 10 trailer—new cast members, the ongoing diversity issues (aka the “Cloud Dancer” problem), Ciara and West, Kyle and Amanda, and everything in between. We chat about Pantone’s… interesting Color of the Year (yikes), and Sydney Sweeney’s even more interesting non-apology (bigger yikes). Emily also discovers she is, in fact, a horror stan thanks to Weapons snagging a Golden Globe nomination. We ruin award shows for everyone, and unpack Netflix’s wild move to buy Warner Brothers. Lastly, we dish on the season premiere of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills: the triumphant return of millennial queen Rachel Zoe, Mauricio’s embarrassing People + Sears spread, being proud Erika Jayne haters, and all the chaos from our diamond girlies.Support the show

Send us Fan MailThis week, the Besties are coming at you with a piping-hot potluck of pop culture. Emily and Lauren tackle everything happening with Whitney Leavitt, from her Alex Cooper interview to her Chicago Broadway debut, and why N*ck V*all should keep her name out of his mouth. They explain “Fruity Pebbles,” unpack Lady Gaga’s new Rolling Stone interview, and break down Jennifer Lawrence’s uncomfy NYT profile. The Besties also discuss celebrities gaslighting their own fans for being “too parasocial,” Stranger Things Season 5, and the latest on Southern Charm. Support the show

Send us Fan MailIn the inaugural Flyover Deep Dive, Emily and Lauren recap the Real Housewives of Salt Lake City episode, The Higher the Hair, the Closer to God, from the high body-count hair potluck to whether Lisa and John are actually on the rocks. They break down J*red’s expert-level gaslighting, the wildly uncomfortable Bronwyn–Todd conversation, and Mary’s unforgettable church service.Support the show

Send us Fan MailJoin Emily and Lauren for their weekly Pop Culture Potlock™. The besties unpack all things Wicked For Good, Jonathan Bailey supremacy, and the emotional press tour. They chat about Meghan’s new Bazaar cover, and Camilla shamelessly wearing Eugenie’s wedding tiara. Plus: Hilary Duff’s music comeback (a millennial triumph), St. Denis Medical, and whether All Her Fault is really good or we just aren’t that smart. Support the show

Send us Fan MailEmily and Lauren kick off their brand-new pop culture pod the world didn’t know it needed. Broadcasting straight from the heartland with their cornfed commentary and Midwestern POV, they dive into all things BravoCon 2025, discuss Vicki finally getting her orange back, the Real Housewives of Rhode Island, Shep’s embarrassing casino meltdown, break down the chaos in Real Housewives of Salt Lake City, chat Whitney Leavitt and Selling Sunset drama, and cover so much more.Every girl needs a bestie, and we’re gonna be yours! Support the show