Pop Culture Persephone

Persephone could think of no better way to usher in 2023  then to invite best friend and collaborator Roger Conners to join her to discuss the much anticipated “robot companion goes wrong” thriller M3GAN. In this week’s episode we discuss technology as a nurturing tool, our fixation with tech and the seductive but deadly charm that is M3GAN.   What can’t M3GAN do?  Be your adopted child’s emotional touchstone?  Check.  Serve as a home school teacher for your child? Check.  Protect your child with deadly consequences?  Check, Check!  Tune in and listen to our musings about our new favorite A.I. horror doll!

Appointment television might seem like an antiquated concept of the past given the onslaught of streaming services enabling us to binge an entire series in one evening, but there are exceptions. In this case, the much anticipated season 2 of HBO’s The White Lotus had most people glued to their TV’s every Sunday night at 9pm for the last 7 weeks!  Moving from Hawaii to another luxury resort in Sicily, Season 2 amps up the woes of wealthy Americans as they explore the seductive and curse-filled terrain of Taorima, Sicily. On this week’s PCP, Persephone is joined by return guest McKenzie Merriman and first time guest and musician Nick Seink as we delve into the themes of this season, how it connects or differs from Season 1, and how writer Mike White continues to challenge our expectations of prestige television.

Breaking her eleven year silence, controversial “person of interest” Casey Anthony,  who was acquitted of murdering her two-year-old child Caylee in 2011, has re-emerged on the Peacock Network in a 3-part “documentary” series where  she gives her side of the story. In this week’s PCP, we discuss this controversial murder case and the mind boggling Peacock special that has our heads throbbing!  Joined by first time guest Maggie McClave and return guest Sarah Hess, we discuss if and how this new “documentary” impacts our opinions on the case and the woman in question.

The long awaited first season of HBO’s House of the Dragon just wrapped and similar to it’s predecessor Game of Thrones, we are on now on the precipice of war at the end of first season!  This week on the PCP, Persephone is joined by first time guest and super-fan Paula Kampf as we discuss the riveting first season of HOTD including the treatment of the pivotal female characters, familial power struggles, incest marriage alliances, succession of the crown, and so many dragons!   This episode is FILLED with spoilers so proceed with caution before listening or plan on watching all ten episodes.  Dracarys!

On this week’s PCP, Persephone discusses the long anticipated movie Blonde and the character assassination of an American icon.  This podcast is filled with spoilers, so please watch the movie on Netflix before tuning into the pod!

When do we stop seeking pleasure and sexual fulfillment? We discuss this and much more in this week’s PCP while Persephone is joined by friend and clinical expert in sexuality and relationships Rachel Drotar as we discuss the delightful Good Luck to You, Leo Grande.

This week Persephone brings you Parallel Pop, a bonus special episode focusing on the similarities between two wildly controversial actors: Marlon Brando and Jared Leto.  Persephone discusses their use of method acting and how their personal lives have directly impacted - for both good and bad - into performances throughout their respective careers.  

While the juggernaut of reality TV,  Keeping Up With the Kardashians officially ended in June 2021, ending  a 14 year relationship with the E! Network as their flagship program, “the family” would not go quietly into the night, often appearing on social  media and the tabloids multiple times in one day.  In the year between the launching of Hulu’s new The Kardashians, we have experienced a barrage of Kardashian news from Kim/Kanye/Pete sparring to the exhausting love affair between Kourtney and Travis Barker. With a much higher production value and budget, does this “new” show have what it takes for us to continue to watch the lives of this perplexing family play out when we already know what’s going to happen? On this week’s PCP, Kar-Jenner expert Roxy Reminick joins Persephone to parse out the details!

On December 9th 2001, Kathleen Peterson, a 48-year old executive, wife and mother, was found dead at the bottom of a stairwell at her lavish home in Durham, North Carolina.  This incident would set the southern town on fire once it was  revealed that local  law enforcement suspected her husband , pipe-smoking writer Michael Peterson, of murder.  First released as a compelling documentary in 2004 by the same name, HBO Max has gifted us a star-packed mini-series dramatizing not only the incident and the subsequent trial, but also events leading up to Kathleen’s demise.  On this week’s PCP - with return guest Anna Rose - we discuss the case including the dynamics of the blended Peterson family, mysteries of Michael’s past and how this dramatization compares to documentary.

In this week's PCP, special first time guest George Winstone joins Persephone to discuss the Johnny Depp/Amber Heard defamation trial and what it means outside of the realm of "celebrity." George provides an astrological blueprint of Johnny and Amber, providing insight on how these forces could have impacted the ultimate demise of this relationship. Trigger Warning: This episode includes discussion on physical and emotional abuse along with self-harm.

We may never know really went down at the 94th Annual Academy Awards between Will Smith and Chris Rock, but that won’t keep Persephone from ruminating and theorizing about it on this week’s episode!  Persephone unpacks the slapping scandal and what might have led up to it, plus briefly discussing some of the night’s wins and other surprises - since no one else seems to be mentioning them.  In the second half of the show, Persephone shares her thoughts on the barrage of new “start-up failure” series treatments based on true stories including The Dropout, We Crashed and Super Pumped: The Battle for Uber.  Is it about “changing the world” or just wanton narcissism and greed?  Tune in to find out!

This week on the PCP, Persephone and return guest Anna Rose split a bottle of red wine while suffering through the much anticipated Ben Affleck/Ana de Armas erotic thriller Deep Water. Suffice it to say, one bottle of wine was not enough to help us make it through this shallow attempt at titillation and marital misdeeds in this underwhelming flick, but at least our commentary is fun! We watched this one - so you could save your time and go straight to our review. As a bonus, Anna and I discuss the troubling latest regarding Kanye West and if this behavior is part of his performative art, a cry for help or a combination of both.

It’s the enthusiastic return of Netflix’s dating show Love is Blind and it’s exactly what we expected: cringeworthy/shocking/predictable and completely unpredictable! Persephone is joined this week by Cleveland-based theatre artist Amiee Collier to unpack the series and ask the big questions regarding the believability of the connections, our favorite (and not-so-favorite) cast members, and who we think will “go the distance.”  This much requested episode is filled with spoilers - so be warned!

On this week's much anticipated episode, New York artist Anna Meyer joins Persephone as we discuss America's chicest and most unpleasant con-woman, Anna Delvey and the Netflix series, "Inventing Anna." Join us as we parse out fact vs. fiction, the Shonda Rhimes hyperbole problem, and trying to discern between true story and dramatic narrative.

Time to listen in to Part 2 of the annual Academy Award Nomination special where Persephone and special first time guest and Oscar expert Stuart Hoffman dive deep into the best supporting actor and actress nominee pool. Who do we think will go home with the little gold man compared to who we think will win the coveted award?  You will have to tune in to find out! A can't miss multi-part episode for film and Oscar fans!

Somehow its Oscars Awards season again so your trusty Persephone is back and dropping three episodes devoted to the 94th Annual Academy Award nominations! With the ceremony returning to their traditional home at LA's epic Dolby Theatre and a return to a host format, will the March 27th event feel more reminiscent of the Oscars of yore or will the malaise of COVID-19 still hang thick in the air? While time will tell on these questions, during this three-part series Persephone and special first time guest and Oscar expert Stuart Hoffman will dive deep into the nominee pool and who we think should win compared to who we think will win. A can't miss multi-part episode for film and Oscar fans!

Before the Kim Kardashian of it all, the only viral celebrity sex tape that mattered was the one linked to those kooky newlyweds Pamela Anderson and Tommy Lee in 1995.  This week on the PCP, Persephone is joined by reality tv superfan Peter Clark as we dive into Hulu’s miniseries Pam and Tommy - a pretty accurate re-telling of the brief courtship between America’s biggest sex symbol of the 90’s and rock-n-roll’s bad boy drummer.  With Lily James and Sebastian Stan impressively inhabiting these roles, the series is an interesting reflection on how celebrity was treated at the height of paparazzi culture while people were still figuring out the monetary capabilities of the internet.  What was the real story behind this love affair and did the sex tape scandal ruin their chances of happily-ever-after or where they a “doomed from the beginning” couple? Peter and Persephone will discuss our thoughts on the power couple, that mid-90’s vibe, and how this celebrity sex tape set a precedent for much more to come.

Our focus on the horrors of being a teen continue as we examine the beauty and nightmarish hellscape that is HBO’s Euphoria as it rockets into its second season.  Created by Sam Levinson and featuring Emmy-award winner Zendaya in a career defining performance as Rue, this series dives headlong into addiction, sexuality, love, violence, and gender - all set to an unmistakable score by Labrinth.  Tune in this week as special first time guest Mo Eutazia Dugger joins Persephone to discuss the impact of this series, why we are so drawn to messy characters, and what we are feeling about the future of the controversial series. This episode contains spoilers from season one and two!

Showtime pulled a bloody rabbit out of it's hat when dropping the 90's-era teen survival drama Yellowjackets in late November, brilliantly situated  alongside the reboot of Dexter: New Blood on their Sunday lineup.  A tautly wrapped drama focusing on a girls varsity soccer team who inexplicably survive 19 months in the Canadian wilderness after their plane crashes while in route to a national championship, Yellowjackets seamlessly shifts between two timelines - 1996 and 2021.  What really happened in the wilderness and who survived the 25-year tragedy is the driving action of this series with enough hidden clues and "Easter eggs" to warm the heart of any rabid Reddit superfan! Tune in this week as special return guest McKenzie Merriman joins Persephone to discuss this first season, our theories, our character favorites and how Yellowjackets is raising the bar for the rest genre television.  This episode is filled with spoilers - be forewarned! 

While our feet are now firmly planted in 2022, this week we look back on 2021 and discuss the very best (and very worst) in what pop culture had to offer in the last year. Whether it was delighting in watching the top 3% suffer under the weight of their own misery in shows like The White Lotus and Succession or the warmth that only Jason Sudekis provides in Ted Lasso, we watched it all and are sharing our thoughts!  Return guest host Anna Rose joins Persephone to compare lists and pontificate about the year in review.  Tune in to hear about things you should have already watched (or ignored) if you rarely left your house this last year in 2021.

On December 26, 1996, six-year-old beauty queen JonBenet Ramsey was found murdered in her affluent family's mansion in Boulder, Colorado. An incompetent police force, a bungled crime scene, uncooperative family members and an overwhelming amount of peculiar inconsistencies have all led to this tragedy remaining cold for the last 25 years.  Her murder — which is still unsolved — became one of the decade's most famous police investigations. On this week's PCP, Persephone and special first time guest Troy Escamilla discuss this harrowing case, including controversial theories, the evidence, the rumors and how the media couldn't get enough of the child beauty pageant angle. In a bizarre pop culture connection, this case would ultimately inspire the popularity of programs like Toddlers and Tiaras and Dance Moms. Tune in for this “can’t-miss” true crime/pop culture crossover!

Did we really need to dust off Sex and the City in 2021 and reboot it?  Were fans clamoring to return to a fancy and privileged AF NYC in a post-COVID, post-Trump world?  Regardless of how you feel about the SATC machine, HBO Max just dropped the first two episodes of And Just Like That…, picking up about 10 years after the disastrous SATC 2 movie with Carrie, Charlotte, Miranda but without Samantha - due to a falling out between SJP and Kim Cattrall that the general public might never understand.  What are Persephone’s first reactions to this reboot?  Does the dynamic work without Cattrall? Does is have legs or should they have left well enough alone?  Tune in now for a SPOILER-FILLED podcast!

As we move into the new year, it seems abundantly clear that the media is obsessed with looking back to the early ‘aughts and reflecting on how we treated our pop stars  - especially the female ones - when they sauntered into controversial territory.  On this episode of the PCP, Persephone reflects on the infamous Superbowl 2004 “Nipplegate” scandal, how the media vilified Janet Jackson while protecting Justin Timberlake, and the other power players at the epicenter of this culture war.  Make sure to check out FX’s The New York Times Presents: The Dressing Down of Janet Jackson before unpacking this podcast with Persephone!

The November Purge is upon us, so it’s time to sit back, relax and listen to Persephone and guests dish about some hot gossip and pressing pop culture topics impacting them on all fronts. Topics during this wild ride include our true feelings about the long awaited House of Gucci, JoJo Siwa as a queer teen ballroom queen, our competitive dating show set in Cleveland, the troubling Maddie Ziegler, Tanorexia vs Blackfishing, the enduring legacy and impact of Tyra Banks, Kristen Stewart’s Oscar buzz as Lady Diana and much more!  Persephone is joined by fellow podcaster and collaborator Roger Conners alongside his boyfriend and first time guest, Gustavo Folhadella! You don’t want to miss this slightly unhinged, NSFW episode!

It only seems fitting to binge watch all of season 3 of Netflix’s surprise “good guy or stalker” series You featuring skinny, pensive heartthrob stalker Joe Goldberg (played brilliantly by Penn Badgley) during Scorpio season.  And that’s just what Persephone did!  This week, Persephone is joined by special guest McKenzie Merriman as we unpack this addictive, troubling TV show and discuss victimization, obsession, love and shared trauma.

In 2007, American exchange student Amanda Knox found herself - along with Rafaelle Sollecito, her Italian boyfriend of one week  - embroiled in the grisly murder case of her roommate, English exchange student Meredith Kercher.  After two trials, Knox and Sollecito were fully exonerated in 2015 on grounds of insufficent and shoddy evidence, but the blight of this devastating case has continued to follow them around, especially Knox.  Tune in today to learn more about the Amanda Knox case, the lack of justice for the Kercher family and all the books, documentaries, podcasts and movies that have been inspired from this case.

On this very musical episode of the PCP, Persephone is joined by return guest Kate Atherton as we unpack Apple TV’s hilarious send-up to classic musical theatre in Schmigadoon!  Yes, we are about to spoil this whole series for you so be forewarned!

It’s a solo PCP this week as Persephone dives (sorta) deep into the Dark Web and the tale of Ross Ulbricht, the young mastermind behind Silk Road, an online illegal drug marketplace where users could anonymously purchase everything from mesculin to heroin using bitcoin as their non-traceable currency.  Lauded by many as a folk hero for his Libertarian ideologies and a free and open marketplace, Ulbricht’s meteroic rise and fall lasted barely three years until his arrest and subsequent double life sentence.  Persephone discusses the recent bio-pic Silk Road and Alex Winter’s Deep Web documentary and their treatment of this perplexing case.  Stay tuned at the end of the episode for the Ask Persephone! segment!

We never knew how hungry we were to revisit the troubles of wealthy upper east side teens until HBO Max decided to relaunch Gossip Girl this July!  This time around, the literal white-washed world of Serena, Blair and Dan are replaced with the more diverse Generation Z counterparts of Julien, Monet, Zoya, and Aki.  Additionally, our Gossip Girl isn’t one person, but a collection of angry Constance Billard teachers aimed at punishing these privileged trust funders into submission. Persephone, alongside first time guests Sarah Hess and Alexa Jones, examine the legacy of Gossip Girl, the changes to the reboot, the most captivating characters, and some predictions.  Yes, we might go on a bit of a tangent related to other teen shows but that’s to be expected. You know you love us!  XOXO

It’s been one hell of a week for Britney Jean Spears, the Free Britney movement, the state of her conservatorship and more!  After the “leaked” audio of Britney’s day in court hit the internet last week, it became abundantly clear that her 13 year conservatorship has been far more restrictive than anyone could have imagined.  While Britney and boyfriend Sam decompress in Hawaii, what are the next steps for our favorite pop star?  Will the court grant her petition to end this conservatorship or did her passionate pleas cause more damage?  Joined by return guest and Britney expert Susan Sandberg, we discuss the background of this saga and our predictions on what might be next.  In addition, on this week’s Ask Persephone! it’s all about musical theatre queen and legend Rita Moreno!

Persephone is joined by guest favorite Roger Conners as we have a very unfocused discussion on all things pop culture during our June PCP Purge!  This is a wild ride this week and there is really a little bit of something for everyone including discussions on Meg Ryan’s face, Taryn Manning’s next move in Karen, submarine-phobia, an unauthorized Celine Dion film along with some of our personal entertainment recommendations!  Due to the length of episode, Ask Persephone! will return next week.

After a tumultuous year for the Bachelor franchise culminating in the recent departure of perennial host and average white dude Chris Harrison, Season 17 of The Bachelorette has arrived and its business as usual. On this episode of the PCP, Persephone is joined by guest host - and romance expert - Rachel Drotar to discuss the myriad issues with this franchise, if this crop of men are here for “the right reasons”, and if gimmicks and manufactured romance might be the wrong way to begin love’s journey.   Stay tuned at the end of the episode for a timely Friends-related question for the Ask Persephone! segment!

In it’s 20th season and 14th year, the juggernaut Keeping Up With The Kardashians is coming to an end. What started out as a fascinating peek into the Calabasas, CA lifestyle of a blended family with very familiar last names, would quickly morph into a launching pad to mega-fame (not to mention multiple product lines) for each sister until the world was referring to them by first name only: Kim, Kourtney, Khloe, Kendall, Kylie and mom-ager Kris. Joined by first time guest and resident Kardashian expert Roxy Reminick, we examine the genesis of the series, the romances, marriages, fights, meltdowns, spinoffs, and family dynamics that is family Kardashian.

On this week’s PCP, Persephone was forced to look straight into the incoming hurricane that is Bennifer 3.0.  Is this a hoax?  Is Jennifer Lopez just trying to piss off ex-fiancee Alex Rodriguez in the midst of a broken engagement and a cheating rumor?  Is Ben Affleck better the second time around?  The media appears to be as salacious as ever, tripping over themselves trying to catch a glimpse of these old lovers in action, causing us to fondly reminisce about days gone by when the first iteration of this power couple emerged on the scene in the mid-2000’s.  This week, Persephone is joined by first time guest Kisha Nicole to discuss the history of Bennifer, the mating habits of Jen and Ben, cringe-worthy declarations of love and much more on this very timely PCP episode. The “love-fest” continues on Ask Persephone! this week as Persephone answers a question about superfans and celebrities falling in love!

Once upon a time in a land called New York City, a gay kid from Indiana landed in Manhattan and set nightlife ablaze as one of the most creative, influential and wild party promoters the city has ever encountered. As the self-proclaimed “King of the Club Kids,” Michael Alig made it exciting to explore New York City nightlife again while creating a unique world elevating misfits, eccentrics and LGBTQ youth as his band of superstar children. With all the promise of a “new world” Warhol, how did it culminate into a grisly, drug-fueled murder? Listen to this week’s PCP as Persephone delves into the nightclub underworld and the drug-addled brain of Michael Alig.

On this week’s PCP, Persephone is joined by some amazing Star Wars superfans - return guests Hannah Storch, Kate Atherton and Susan Sandberg - to honor the women of the Star Wars franchise on Star Wars Day!  Not only do we look back at the impact of Carrie Fisher’s General Leia Organa, but we discuss how this paved the way for female characters who had even more agency and strength throughout the franchise. Yes, we go on a few tangents about droids and Yoda’s wife Yaddle, but overall it’s a not-miss for any Star Wars superfans!

On part three of this multi-episode, special guest Tim Collingwood joins Persephone to discuss the upcoming 93rd Annual Academy Awards and specifically the Best Supporting Actor and Best Supporting Actress category!  Will Glenn Close FINALLY win an Academy Award or will the Academy just award Olivia Coleman for being their Brit d'jour? Or, will Yuh-Jung Youn make Oscar history as the first Korean actress to win a Best Supporting Award for Minari?  Who wins the Best Supporting Actor role when two of the best performers are pitted up against each other (Lakeith Stanfield and Daniel Kaluuya in Judas and the Black Messiah)? We have many thought and predictions and we prep for Sunday night - tune in to all three episodes beforehand! 

On part two (of three) of this episode, special guest Tim Collingwood joins Persephone to discuss the upcoming 93rd Annual Academy Awards and specifically the beloved Best Actress category!  Is it Viola's year to finally win the coveted award as the titular Ma Rainey, will Andra Day provide the upset with her moving portrayal of Billie Holiday, or will Academy favorite Frances McDormand upset the Oscar cart for her performance in Nomadland?!  Tune in to hear our predictions!

On this week's PCP, special first-time guest Tim Collingwood joins Persephone to discuss the upcoming 93rd Annual Academy Awards!  It’s a PCP first!  We discuss the difference between who we think should win compared to who we think will win.  This Oscar episode will be released in three parts because we have ALOT to say!  In addition, this week's Ask Persephone! segment focuses on a concept album (or a few) that you should explore if going on a road trip or just checking out from this world.

On this week's PCP, special first-time guest Christina Turner joins Persephone to discuss the Netflix documentary Bikram: Yogi, Guru, Predator and the dangerous dynamic between student/teacher relationships in the cult-like world of Bikram yoga. Who is the enigmatic Bikram Choudhurey and how did he yield so much power with his students and create an abusive environment.  We discuss! In addition, this week's Ask Persephone! segment focusing a scream queen who is true Hollywood royalty.

As the old saying goes, “what comes us, must go down” and in the case of celebrities, 2021 has already provided us with more falls from grace than can be contained in a simple podcast, but we are going to try!  Persephone is joined again by PCP favorite Roger Conners as we discuss actors and other celebrities experiencing a downturn in their career whether it be based on scandal, poor public perception or maybe the victim of overexposure resulting in a general malaise.  This is a dishy, juicy, bitchy - but accurate - episode this week so come prepared!  Lastly, our Ask Persephone! segment features some Oscar-related questions you will want to tune in for at the end!

True crime is the focus of this week’s PCP as we focus on the horrifying murder of Herleen Kaur Dulai at the hands of Gigolo’s star Ash Armand.  Persephone is joined by return guest McKenzie Merriman as we discuss the “hows” and “whys” of this startling murder, the duality between public and private persona, and more examples of how reality creators have failed in providing a safe and responsible environment.  In addition, Persephone introduces the new Ask Persephone! segment where “popsters” inquire about pressing pop culture-related questions that have been needling their brains!

On this week’s PCP, Persephone "goes solo" giving you a hodgepodge of of “must-see” programs viewing suggestions including the captivating Oprah Winfrey and Duchess Meghan/Prince Harry interview, the Snowpierecer series and why it might be better than the movie, a return to the original NYC Real World cast and that Apple TV Billie Eilish documentary I didn’t expect to enjoy.  But I loved.