The Observation Deck

PODCAST · arts

The Observation Deck

From the Nora Ephron and Eve Babitz of looking at their phones a lot: criticism and analysis for the algorithmically optimized era. Spanning the majorly trivial to the dubiously significant, The Observation Deck is a podcast about internet and popular culture hosted by Rosa Addario and Saskia Kowalchuk. Produced by Nelson Graves. Find us on Instagram @observationdeckpod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. 27

    Hegemonic Blondness: On Taylor Swift and "Wuthering Heights" w/ Biddy O'Neil

    In our Season 2 finale, the girlies are joined by friend of the pod Biddy O'Neil to discuss the career of our favourite mirror ball pop sensation: Taylor Swift. Via a long detour through Emerald Fennel's film adaptation(?) of the novel of the same name "Wuthering Heights," our hosts get down to the nitty gritty of Taylor's rise to fame, relationship with fandom, and songwriting style.Thanks to all of our Deckheads who stuck with us through to the end of the season! We love you all and we'll see you again after a quick break <3Follow us on Instagram @observationdeckpod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  2. 26

    Pop-Mormonism

    Why do Mormons seem to be everywhere now? From the Real Housewives of Salt Lake City to the Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, Saskia and Rosa explore the link between the mainstreaming of the Mormon religion and trends in popular media. What might be lurking below the surface of the tradwife aesthetic of Ballerina Farms or Nara Smith's homemade cereal?Follow us on Instagram @observationdeckpod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  3. 25

    Sports Spectacular

    Grab your hockey stick and put on your jersey, the girlies are hitting the ice! In the midst of Ottawa Senators drama, Heated Rivalry madness, and the 2026 Winter Olympics, Saskia and Rosa have a conversation about sports and misogyny in the Canadian context, with professional hockey in the hot seat. They also touch on the emerging world of women's hockey and their own experiences with sports beyond hockey.Follow us on Instagram @observationdeckpod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  4. 24

    Happy Old Year II

    Wrapping up another year of the Observation Deck pod, Saskia, Rosa, and special guest Nelson share their collective musings on 2025, including their take on Wicked: For Good and other cultural touchstones of the year. Wishing all our listeners a happy holidays! See you in 2026 :)Find us on Instagram @observationdeckpod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  5. 23

    The Secret Life of a Sephora Tween

    12 year olds buying luxury anti-aging serums, 30$ lip treatments as far as the eye can see, and the most overstimulating shopping experience known to man: Sephora has us in a grasp. Saskia and Rosa discuss Sephora tweens and reflect on their own shopping habits at the makeup giant--with a few detours, of course.Find us on Instagram @observationdeckpod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  6. 22

    Sister Lessons w/ Anya Kowalchuk

    Sister of the pod Anya joins the girlies to talk about the TV series Charmed with plenty of digressions along the way. Discussing sisterhood, Christian morality, and #MeToo, our Charmed Ones traverse the long shadow left in the wake of this girl power witch drama. Find us on Instagram @observationdeckpod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  7. 21

    The Mallrats Project

    A week full of psychosexual high tea and film festival musings animate Saskia and Rosa’s discussion of North American mall culture. From olfactory memories of the food court to the death of the anchor store, the girlies offer their takes on mall experiences past and present. Find us on Instagram @observationdeckpod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  8. 20

    Fall Reads II: The Return of Reading Week

    Rosa and Saskia are back from Fall break to talk about their favourite reads of 2025. After catching us up on all of their goings on since last recording, the girlies dive into what they've been reading this year--taking us through the good, the bad, and the ugly of their own reading habits.For Raspy <3Find us on Instagram @observationdeckpod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  9. 19

    Letterboxd Politics w/ Sam Thompson

    Film scholar and friend of the pod Sam Thompson joins the girlies to chat about Letterboxd. Using their own Letterboxd entries from the Amazon Prime original The Map that Leads to You (2025), they discuss Euro summer, the commitments of the romcom genre, and fit it all into the context of (and radical possibilities of) the Letterboxd platform. Follow us on Instagram @observationdeckpod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  10. 18

    The Girliepop-ification of Anti-Work

    Turn your volume up over the sound of the 17 year cicada brood and dive into Saskia and Rosa’s analysis of this post-feminist critique of late capitalism. Are the girlies lost in the reactionary sauce or exploring a legitimate criticism of corporate America? Find us on Instagram @observationdeckpod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  11. 17

    YApocalypse Now w/ Jessica Ward

    Here’s to the side braid seen all around the world. Rosa and Saskia welcome Jessica Ward to the pod to talk all your favourite YA dystopias past and present. Jess’ letterboxd watchlist here: https://boxd.it/LMJd0 Follow us on Instagram @observationdeckpod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  12. 16

    Instagram Meme History

    Saskia and Rosa take us on a trip through Instagram meme history and share their own philosophies on meme posting, exploring the ever evolving platform and the nature of memes themselves. Find us on Instagram @observationdeckpod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  13. 15

    Park Hang Gossip Sesh

    Saskia and Rosa make their triumphant return for Season 2 of the Observation Deck! The girlies are kicking off this season with a casual convo in the park following what they've been up to during the hiatus, including celebrity cameos, TV recaps, and much more.Follow us on Instagram @observationdeckpod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  14. 14

    [Trailer] Season 2 Coming July 18, 2025

    Hey Deckheads! Rosa and Saskia are back with Season 2 on July 18, 2025. Follow us on Instagram @observationdeckpod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  15. 13

    Reality TV Part 3: The Finale

    In our season finale, producer Nelson makes another on mic appearance with the girlies to chat about TLC's brand of freak show reality. And to cap off the season, some sweet reminiscing <3Thanks for listening and see you in a couple months! xoxo Rosa, Saskia, and NelsonFind us on Instagram @observationdeckpod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  16. 12

    Reality TV Part 2: The Expert w/ Erin Campbell

    Respectability politics, human fertility, the Duck Dynasty family biz, bisexual panic. There’s nowhere Rosa and Saskia can’t go in the reality television universe, with the help of special guest Erin Campbell. Follow us on Instagram @observationdeckpod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  17. 11

    Reality TV Part 1: The Map

    To kick off our three part series on reality TV, Saskia and Rosa map out the current state of the genre from Bravo to TLC with plenty of detours along the way.Find us on Instagram @observationdeckpod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  18. 10

    I Couldn’t Help But Wonder w/ Josie Teed

    Big or Aidan? Power Slut or Rules Girl? Rosa and Saskia discuss all things Sex and the City. Plus, a comprehensive King Kong (2005) review from none other than author and Carrie aficionado Josie Teed! Find us on Instagram @observationdeckpod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  19. 9

    Let’s Dish about Food Culture

    Oh come all ye gourmands! Rosa and Saskia dig into food trends, the icons of food media past and present, and deliberate on the definitive pickle. Find us on Instagram @observationdeckpod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  20. 8

    Tech Nostalgia or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Platform Economy

    Does the memory of your iPod comfort you in times of trouble? Do you have a favourite iOS update? Saskia and Rosa put on their rose-coloured glasses to travel back and examine tech nostalgia, making a stop off at Oscar Nom reaction corner on the way.Find us on Instagram @observationdeckpod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  21. 7

    The Vintage Reseller Industrial Complex

    In this episode, Rosa and Saskia explore the world of second hand fashion. From the democratized Depop to the bootleg Facebook Marketplace, they explore current (and troubling) trends in online reselling--all while doing the best Nosferatu impression you've ever heard. Find us on Instagram @observationdeckpod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  22. 6

    [PATREON UNLOCKED]: Happy Old Year!

    Is TikTok over? Can you marry Twitter? Are vegan nachos edible? Rosa and Saskia are joined by a very special guest for a chatty episode about the year that has passed and their 2025 resolutions. *We don't actually have a Patreon btw*Follow us on Instagram @observationdeckpod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  23. 5

    The Case of the Scandi Girl Blundstones

    Have you ever tried to wear Blundstones in a cute Scandi girl way when you were actually serving everyday Canadian realness? Play your hexagon-themed brainrot phone game while Rosa and Saskia discuss aesthetics vs subcultures, the nature of changing rooms at Aritzia, and dubious Instagram vintage resellers in this week's episode of The Observation Deck.Find us on Instagram @observationdeckpod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  24. 4

    The Pick-Me and the Perils of Post-Feminism

    Pick me. Choose me. Love me. Saskia and Rosa dive into what it means to be a pick-me girl online.Find us on Instagram @observationdeckpod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  25. 3

    BookTok and Anti-Intellectualism

    Is it anti-feminist to not read ACOTAR? Rosa and Saskia tackle BookTok’s biggest questions and the state of drug education in Canadian schools.Find us on Instagram @observationdeckpod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  26. 2

    Pilot: Fall into New Beginnings

    Welcome to The Observation Deck! In the spirit of new beginnings and the back to school season, Saskia and Rosa ring their bells about their new podcast. Find us on Instagram @observationdeckpod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  27. 1

    Trailer

    Introducing The Observation DeckA new podcast, coming 2024-11-08 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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ABOUT THIS SHOW

From the Nora Ephron and Eve Babitz of looking at their phones a lot: criticism and analysis for the algorithmically optimized era. Spanning the majorly trivial to the dubiously significant, The Observation Deck is a podcast about internet and popular culture hosted by Rosa Addario and Saskia Kowalchuk. Produced by Nelson Graves. Find us on Instagram @observationdeckpod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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The Observation Deck

Produced by Nelson Graves

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