From the moment the Black Panther cast took a group selfie at Comic Con the anticipation and expectations for this film began to grow; and over the past year the buzz has reached a fever pitch (especially for these two podcast hosts). Well, the film has arrived and Inside Pop is devoting this episode to everything Wakanda!
We share our review of the film (just moments after seeing a special screening) and discuss the highlights and the themes that most resonated with us.
Then we review the soundtrack for the film which is curated by Kendrick Lamar and features Lamar, Sza, 2 Chains, Jorja Smith and Khalid.
The only way we would divert from our Black Panther deep dive is to review last week's Hamilton related Big Sell.
And Sean ends this episode with a Black Panther related Big Sell which he hopes will help Amita appreciate the film even more than she already does.
Wakanda Forever!
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It's the day when Pop Culture fans and Sports fans join forces to create what feels like a national holiday! In this episode, we dive into the Superbowl and discuss:
Then, we seamlessly segue into a review of Timberlake's latest release, Man of the Woods.
Plus, Amita reviews one of the most heartbreaking hours on television, the post Super Bowl episode of This Is Us.
And finally in the Big Sell, Amita reviews an essay on Three Billboards Outside of Ebbing, Missouri. And speaking of sports - she pitches a softball to Sean with a Hamilton inspired Big Sell.
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It's been a long, strange, sometimes underwhelming trip to the Oscar Nominations but we're here to share our immediate reactions. We give you our thoughts on why certain movies are heading to the red carpet and others got snubbed and we also try to make sense of why the film Three Billboards Outside of Ebbing, Missouri has become a frontrunner. We celebrate nominations for Get Out, The Big Sick, Logan, Mudbound and Lady Bird and share our gratitude to whomever was genius enough to book Tiffany Haddish to announce the nominations.
Plus Sean makes his case for why Black Panther should have received an Oscar nomination THIS year! He's not joking!
And we end the show with The Big Sell. Sean rates Amita's Big Sell from last time, Kelela's "Frontline," and then Big Sells Amita an article by Alissa Wilkinson (one of his favorite culture critics) on the backlash against Three Billboards Outside of Ebbing, Missouri. Read it HERE
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This week, Hollywood flexed its social justice muscle once again when it turned the 75th Golden Globes ceremony into a rally for gender equality. We'll debate the effectiveness of the black clad ceremony and revel in the glory of Oprah Winfrey's memorable speech.
Then, we'll review new songs by some of the biggest stars in music including Bruno Mars and Cardi B's "Finesse (Remix)," Kendrick Lamar and SZA's collaboration, "All the Stars," from the upcoming Black Panther film and Justin Timberlake's Super Bowl appetizer, "Filthy."
Plus, Amita reviews last week's Big Sell, the uplifting new age song by Laraaji, "I Can Only Bliss Out (F' Days)" and then Big Sells Sean on a new song by Kelela.
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Did you resolve to put more time and energy into staying on top of the best pop culture stories of the week? Lucky for you, The Pop Insiders are here to help you keep that resolution with our brand new episode!
First, we give our spoiler free reviews of the new Lena Waithe Showtime drama - The Chi (please feel free to listen and then correct our pronunciation of the title of this show) and the first episode of the new season of Black Mirror.
Then we speak with IMDb special correspondent and frequent Today Show awards commentator - Dave Karger - about the movies of 2017 that may not be front-runners for the big awards, but are definitely worthy of your attention. From Detroit to Wonderstruck to Downsizing, Dave will tell you why you should give these flicks a second - or maybe first chance.
We also share our pop culture resolutions for the new year and hold each other accountable for how successful we were in keeping our 2017 resolutions.
And the Big Sell returns - Sean recommends (wait for it) a new new age song (nope that isn't a typo) to start Amita's year off on an optimistic and blissful note.
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We have spent hours upon hours sitting in dark theaters watching some of the most talked about films of the year and are ready to share our final "Best of" list of 2017!
This year, we're focusing on the performances that captivated us, made us laugh, cry and gave us all the feels. From Daniel Kaluuya's portrayal as a boyfriend slowly awakening to the horrors of his girlfriend's family in Get Out to Saoirse Ronan playing a emotional teenager in Lady Bird, to the complex relationship between Hugh Jackman and Patrick Stewart in Logan, 2017 has gifted us with some incredible performances by some of our favorite actors and a few new faces as well.
Amita's Favorite Performances:
Sean's Favorite Performances:
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This year we've listened to countless hours of new albums and songs and attended dozens of concerts and are now ready to declare our favorite music of 2017! Listen to this very special year-end episode to hear us discuss the artists who delivered music that inspired us, informed us, entertained us, made us want to dance and put us in that special mood!
We also discuss our favorite singles of the year, our most memorable concerts and the new music we're craving in 2018.
Our favorite albums list includes:
Kendrick Lamar - DAMN
Jay-Z - 4:44
Laura Mvula - The Dreaming Room
Jamila Woods - HEAVN (Check out her video for Blk Girl Soldier )
Khalid - American Teen (Check out his video for Location)
Gorillaz - Humanz
Miguel - War X Leisure (Check out his video for Told You So)
Mavis Staples - If All I Was Was Black
Earl St. Clair - My Name Is Earl
Sampha - Process (Check out his video for (No One Knows Me) Like the Piano)
SZA - CTRL
Lorde - Melodrama (Listen to Liability)
Valerie June - Order of Time (Watch her live performance of Order of Time)
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The time has come...we've watched countless hours of television and have narrowed them down to our top 10 favorite TV shows of the year! And to kick things up a notch- we are sharing the scenes from the exceptional shows that inspired us, made us laugh out loud, brought us to tears and made our hearts flutter. From network to cable to streaming platforms, horror to comedy to sci-fi, this year has given us unique story lines, captivating visuals and incredible characters.
We also take time to mention the TV shows we wished we checked out and the ones we regret watching.
Check out our 10 Best TV of 2017 below along with links to some of the scenes we discuss in this episode.
Visit our site at www.insidepoppodcast.com for our full lists plus links to many of the scenes we discuss.
Let us know which shows made it to the top of your list!
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This is our final regular episode of the year and we are both sharing AND caring!
First Sean shares his experience visiting the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. He describes what it likes to visit this incredible new museum and discusses some of the amazing pop culture featured in the exhibits.
Then Amita and Sean revisit one of their favorite segments of the past year and share their discussion of the music by some of their favorite female singers that has defined pivotal moments in their lives. Whether grappling with life in the closet, coping with feeling like an outsider, celebrating the joy of a new found independence or discovering a strengthening friendship we highlight the music that has provided an essential soundtrack to our lives. Our "Defining Divas" include Mary J. Blige, Annie Lennox, Mariah Carey, Lauren Hill and BOTH Knowles sisters - Beyonce and Solange.
And then Sean rates the final big sell of the year - the single "Underdog" by singer/songwriter Banks.
And finally Amita and Sean preview their upcoming year end specials! We're preparing our lists for the best TV, Music and Film of the year and have a few surprising choices in store!
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This week, we bask in the glow of seeing the one and only Janet Jackson (Ms. Jackson if you're Nasty) in Brooklyn on her State of the World Tour. Find out which one of us puts this show in their Top 3 Concerts of all time.
Then, we discuss our Top Female Friendships in Pop Culture featuring The Golden Girls, Lucy & Ethel, Meredith & Cristina, the women of Living Single and more. We share how their bonds inspire us and why they're their relationships are everlasting.
And Amita rates and reviews last week's Big Sell from Sean, John Legend's cover of Joni Mitchell's "Woodstock" and also shares the origin of this song as part of a collection of covers for the new Ken Burns documentary about The Vietnam War. You can find all of the songs and their originals here. And then Amita sells the single "Underdog" by new artist- Banks.
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After two years, and thousands of hours of tv viewing, music listening and theater attending . . . Inside Pop's 100th episode has arrived! Join us as we celebrate 100 episodes of pop culture obsession!
First up, we present our interview with director Dee Rees (Pariah, Bessie) and Charles King, Executive Producer, CEO and Founder of Macro. The pair sit down with Sean to discuss their new film, Mudbound; and in addition to sharing a behind the scenes view of their epic new film, they also discuss their unique working relationship; why they both choose to work in film AND television and their future plans to tell diverse stories.
Next, we celebrate our 100th episode with a special edition of the Inside Pop quiz called, " You Don't Know Me Inside Pop . . .Quiz!" Sean and Amita quiz each other on how well they know . . . their own podcast. Can you guess who has won the equivalent of the Inside Pop EGOT? Can you name all of the inductees in Sean's 'House of Hyperbole'? Play along to see if your attention span and your memory is better than ours.
And we present the 100th edition of the Big Sell. Sean's rates Amita's Big Sell from last week, the artist Makoto Azuma, and sells Amita John Legend's cover of Joni Mitchell's "Woodstock."
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This week, Christmas comes early in the form of the new single "Lemon" from N.E.R.D & Rihanna! We try (and fail) to contain our excitement about the song, video and their upcoming album. We provide an N.E.R.D primer and also bow down to the dancer in the music video- Mette Towley.
Then, Sean gives a review of Thor: Ragnarok he was not expecting to give; and we question whether we're in the midst of a superhero films and TV overload.
Plus, we have a frank discussion about the recent sexual harassment allegations in Hollywood - our reactions, opinions and a personal story.
And of course- there is no Inside Pop without the Big Sell! Amita gives her thoughts, rating and review on Sean's suggestion- the music documentary George Michael: Freedom and sells Sean on an innovative floral artist Makoto Azuma.
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We've come along way, baby! This week Inside Pop celebrates two years of weekly pop culture podcasting!
We start with a round-up of the Producers Guild of America's Produced By NY conference. We attended this event along with 100s of other television and film producers and gathered information about some major upcoming projects including Black Panther, Mudbound, Marshall, The Post, Call Me By Your Name, The Shape of Water and more! And we share some great stories with you!
Then we review the first few episodes of Stranger Things 2. One of us is as happy as Dustin playing Dig Dug to be back with the gang from Hawkins. The other is worried the series may be in danger of repeating itself.
Finally we wrap our #BigSell30 day challenge and discuss some of the pop culture we consumed over the past 30 days. And Sean rates Amita's Big Sell from last week (a photo project from Stefan Draschan) and Big Sells her on a new documentary about George Michael.
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The falling leaves, the crisp chill in the air, the smell of a distant fireplace burning - all of those signs of Fall compel us to do one thing - head into a dark theater and watch as many movies as possible!
This week we discuss four new movies we've seen that we want you to know all about. Hear our thoughts on Call Me By Your Name, Wonderstruck, The Florida Project and Suburbicon. Within our discussion Sean reveals why you're not going to hear him use the 'O' word (Oscar) until 2018 and Amita shares why she's planning to limit her movie trailer consumption.
Also, we have a special guest #BigSell30 from Zara Findlay-Shirras who double Big Sells us her new travel site Half Moon Guides and her podcast Totes Faves (last year we big sold Zara's fab instagram feed - @DanaScullyStyle ).
And Amita Big Sells Sean on a favorite new photographer, Stefan Draschan.
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Why not take a break from re-watching the Black Panther trailer and listen to this brand new episode of Inside Pop!
First up, we discuss cover songs. What makes a great cover song and what are some of the best? We discuss covers and originals performed by Prince, Adele, Joni Mitchell, Johnny Cash, Bob Marley, Whitney Houston, Annie Lennox and more!
Remember the sense of optimism you felt at the beginning of the TV season? That belief that you'd be bowled over by a ton of new amazing shows and that all of your favorite returning shows would continue to be your favorites? Well we felt that way too and now it's time to face the music (or the should we say 'the flat screen'). We're doing a mid-season check in to see which shows are must-see and which are about to be deleted from the DVR. We discuss This is Us, The Deuce, Queen Sugar, The Defenders, The Exorcist, Wisdom of the Crowd and more!
And we'll also check in on the #BigSell30 Challenge and discuss how our lives have improved while experiencing one new piece of pop culture every day this month.
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This week we dive inside Box Office Busts, a bold new doc and #BigSell30 is underway!
First up, Sean and Amita examine why the highly anticipated, sure fire hit Blade Runner 2049 actually failed at the box office. Why did the masses stay away from Denis Villeneuve's artistry and Ryan Gosling's baby blues? And are the masses actually missing out on a great film? We'll discuss!
Also, Amita was in the same room with her celebrity husband, Riz Ahmed, and didn't faint! Find out how she got to see him in person and what happened.
Then, Amita interviews Oscar nominated director, Amanda Micheli about her new documentary, Vegas Baby, which follows multiple stories of women and couples and their struggles to have a child.
Plus, Amita reviews last week's Big Sell from Sean, an early film from Ava DuVernay, Middle of Nowhere, and then sells him on a new single from Lin-Manuel Miranda featuring a slew of popular Latino singers and hip hop artists, who came together to raise funds for hurricane relief in Puerto Rico. And we review some of our favorite Big Sells thus far in the Big Sell 30!
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It's a family Affair this week on Inside Pop!
We start off with a discussion of our favorite pop culture families - both real and fictional including The Jacksons, The Fischers, The Pearsons and The Knowles Sisters (Beyonce AND Solange).
Then we bring you the second part of our interview with Kat Candler, the producing director of Queen Sugar. We dive into the mid season premiere and illuminate the character development, storylines and memorable scenes from the episode which was directed by film legend Julie Dash (Daughters of the Dust).
Then Amita shares her favorite Tom Petty songs in tribute to the recently deceased singer.
And finally we check in on the Big Sell 30 Day Challenge and discuss how our daily intake of new pop culture is changing our lives for the better. And Sean shares the Big Sell Day 4 of 30 - Middle of Nowhere by Ava DuVernay!
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The Fall season is already delivering on its promise of bringing us prestige, platinum perfect pop culture and we're all over it!
First up, Sean reviews the premiere of Star Trek: Discovery while teaching Amita some Trek etiquette in the process.
Then, Amita talks about the special screening of Battle of the Sexes she attended, which has made her a huge fan of one of the legends of tennis (Billie Jean IS her girl!).
Plus, we’re ecstatic to share our interview with Queen Sugar Producing Director, Kat Candler about her work on Ava DuVernay's acclaimed series. Kat discusses the experience of working with an all female directing crew; the job of helping multiple creative visions coalesce into one consistent series; and the indie film vibe that permeates the set. Sadly, Kat refused our pleas to reassure us that Aunt Vi is going to be okay. This is an illuminating discussion on what goes into creating one of the great shows on TV right now and the perfect thing to listen to for Queen Sugar fans (like ourselves) who are excited for the show’s mid season premiere on Tuesday, October 3rd. But have no fear - - our discussion is spoiler free!
Sean also shares details about seeing Queen Sugar on the big screen and the Bordelon siblings in the flesh at the Tribeca TV Festival.
Also, the Big Sell 30 Day Challenge - #BigSell30 - begins October 1st. Listen to hear how you can participate in the pop culture event guaranteed to fill your brain with the very best TV, music, film, comics and more!
And in this week’s Big Sell, Amita rates Haaz Sleiman’s coming out video. For weeks Sean has been unendingly intrigued by the unconventional way the actor (Nurse Jackie, The Visitor) announced his sexuality to the world. But how does Amita feel?
And finally, in the spirit of paying tribute - Amita Big Sells Sean an album by the recently deceased musician Charles Bradley.
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We're donning our imaginary capes to bring you the very best of a very busy Pop Culture week!
First, we chat new music from Sam Smith, Miguel and Mavis Staples.
Then, the Emmy Awards were awarded on Sunday night and we discuss how overwhelmed and overjoyed we were by how many of our favorite shows and actors won! Amita gives her Red Carpet Fashion Slay or Nay and we discuss all of the 'firsts' of the evening. Were we rooting for the Black and Brown people? Listen to find out!
Plus, we announce the return of The Big Sell 30 Day Challenge! Find out what #BigSell30 is all about, why we need you to be part of it and hear about some of our favorite Big Sells from last year's challenge.
And in this week's Big Sell, Sean reviews the Glamour article written by Reese Witherspoon about ambition and sells Amita on an interesting coming out video by actor Haaz Sleiman.
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This episode is hella full with the very best of a great week in pop culture!
Don't hand in that Emmy office pool ballot until you listen to our '100% guaranteed to be right' Emmy predictions. We'll let you know the actors and series that will win television's big night.
We also pick our jaws up from the floor in time to recap the Season 2 Finale of Issa Rae's Insecure (Issa, the couch - REALLY?!).
Also, Sean reviews the box office monster (pun most definitely intended) It and tells you if It lands in his Top 9 Stephen King Adaptations of all time.
Finally, Amita rates Sean's photo focused Big Sell from last week, and then sells Sean on an article written by an Oscar-winning and Emmy nominated actress.
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We put away our white shoes and are previewing some of the upcoming Film, TV and Music we're looking forward to this Fall! There's an overwhelming amount of pop culture coming out in the next few months, but we'll help you select the best of the best that cannot be missed.
Which television shows in the era of Peak TV have caught our attention and demand us to check them out? Which films could be awards contenders AND crowd pleasers? And what albums and concerts do we plan to line up to listen to and experience? We reveal all!
And Sean reviews last week's Big Sell, the Game of Thrones behind the scenes series, "Game Revealed," and gives Amita a unique Big Sell - a multi-media article featuring Issa Rae, James Davis, Rachel Bloom, Ilana Glazer and Abbi Jacobson.
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It's all about our two favorite places on this week's episode; New York City and . . .Westeros!
We recap the Game of Thrones season seven finale, “The Dragon and the Wolf,” and celebrate the Stark Siblings' team work, analyze the Kings Landing Meet-Up Royale and question the ramifications of Jon and Dany's union (and when we say 'union' we mean they SMASHED!) We also tell you where we think this season ranks compared to others and let you know how long you'll have to wait for the 8th and final season of this epic series.
We also talk about the jam packed week of pop culture consumption we experienced in our hometown of NYC ( the greatest city in the world – just ask the Schuyler Sisters!). Our 7 days of being out and about include:
And Amita Big Sells Sean something to help him - and you - deal with Game of Thrones withdrawal.
Plus - we review the new single and music video, "Sky Walker," by singer, songwriter and mutual object of Pop Insiders' affection -Miguel.
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Follow us on Twitter and Instagram @PopInsiders
You can also find us at MaximumFun.org
Visit our official website: www.insidepoppodcast.com
We look forward and backward and completely nerd out this week!
First up, we recap the latest Game of Thrones episode, "Eastwatch" and look ahead to how these tangled plot lines may play out. Is Cersei Lannister with child? Will Lord Baelish put his little finger between the recently reunited Stark sister act?
Then Amita completely surprises Sean with a Game of Thrones Inside Pop Quiz! Does Sean know a Tully from a Tarly? Can he name all three of Daenerys' dragons? Listen to find out!
Then, in anticipation of this week's premiere of The Defenders on Netflix, we revisit our conversation with Marvel's Luke Cage Creator and Executive Producer Cheo Hodari Coker who discusses his future plans for the Luke Cage character.
And in the Big Sell, Amita shares her reaction to an Afropunk 2017 playlist and she big sells Sean a new song by BOSCO featuring St. Beauty.
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This week, we have a spoiler FILLED discussion about the latest episode of Game of Thrones (You've been warned!) Reunions, Deaths (?) and Dragons- oh my!
Plus, we discuss the mid-season finale of one of our favorite shows- Queen Sugar and talk about how the series is taking it up a notch in its 2nd Season.
And we read some listener feedback to our discussion last week about the portrayal of South Asian relationships in Film and TV.
Then, we talk about the lackluster box office for the film Detroit and our thoughts on why audiences may not have embraced the film as expected.
And of course, we have another brand new Big Sell! Sean gives his thoughts on last week's suggestion- the band, The Suffers, and sells Amita on a playlist that features artists from the upcoming AfroPunk music festival.
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