Reading

I listened to Connie Chungs memoir Connie and really enjoyed it. I remember growing up with her on TV and it was fascinating to hear about the vanity and fragility of her fellow anchors, the barriers she broke, the challenges she faced, and some fascinating news and politics she lived through. It was especially interesting given our current political climate.

I picked up a fun rom-com that takes place with the same family from a book I read last year. The Partner Plot was a cute and quick read about high school sweethearts who reconnect 10 years later and the challenges of being settled in your career. A good weekend read.

Listening

Amy Poehler has a new podcast! It’s called Good Hang and so far it’s been GREAT! Tina Fey was obviously a perfect first guest, but I really liked the interview with Martin Short who has always sort of annoyed me. I’m excited to see who’s on upcoming episodes.

I’m still loving Doechii and my family’s playlist when I don’t want to have to think about what to listen to. Now that the sun is out again (hopefully more soon!) I’ll be outside more listening to books, podcasts, and music…

Watching

Running Point is the show we all needed this late winter. Kate Hudson being funny, sports, a family business, and rich people behaving badly. I really enjoyed it and will do a rewatch at some point soon since the last few episodes were watched on the plane (where my seat mate and friend laughed at me for how hard I was laughing a few times).

I remembered last year when the Karen Read trial was happening in Boston and read a few things about it. The new MAX documentary The Trial of Karen Read is crazy in how little work was done to hunt down evidence and believe unreliable witnesses – a great true crime fix. Devil in the Family, the Ruby Franke doc on Hulu was WILD. I had followed this story as it happened (we know how I feel about the behind the scenes of reality tv Mormons), but holy crap she goes off the rails. It’s devastating to watch, I am so glad she and Jodi are in jail. Monsters.

This season of White Lotus is bonkers. Parker Posey is perfect (of course) and Walt Goggins catching up with his bestie Sam Rockwell was a scene you can’t unhear… I’m loving Thailand and can’t wait to see who dies and who stays…

A lot of TV is starting or mid-season right now but I’m excited for the return of The Righteous Gemstones, the new season of The Amazing Race, Top Chef Canada (perfect timing…) and I started The Residence which is very fun.

What pop culture is helping you ease into spring?

Reading

I finally picked up God of the Woods by Liz Moore and it was just as fantastic as everyone says it is. Trust me on this one, yes it’s about a kid who disappears from a summer camp in 1975 but the mystery and perspectives and timeline jumping made for an incredible read.

I also really enjoyed The Pairing for a fun rom-com while traveling around Europe. It got me excited for San Sebastian when we go to Spain this spring! I am currently listening to Connie Chung’s memoir and enjoying it more than I thought – she tells a great story about stealing a Blues Brothers poster and wow Dan Rather was not awesome…

Listening

The month started strong with the Grammy’s where I finally discovered Doechii and I’m mad it took me this long! SNL50: The Homecoming Concert on Peacock was fantastic and the musical performances during SN50 were also pretty great. I still think about the Ladies and Gentleman doc. I know this is the “listening” not watching section but if you’re at all a music fan, this was a great month for music thanks to SNL.

I’m heavy into news podcasts lately, nothing new but just trying to keep on top of the chaos. I should probably find another pop culture podcast or a good cult or scam podcast… recommendations welcome!

Watching

Not to repeat myself but SNL50 gave us a great weekend of music and comedy. I probably should rewatch the Homecoming concert since I was also hanging out with my niece and visiting with family.

I had recommended the Scamanda podcast a couple years ago when it came out, and Hulu/ABC did a 4 part documentary that concludes with some additional info after the podcast dropped. It’s a crazy story and to watch videos of her lying to people is wild. I thought I wanted more of this genre so watched Apple Cider Vinegar on Netflix and did NOT enjoy it. There’s charismatic sociopaths and then there’s narcissists, Belle Gibson is unredeemable.

I finally watched Wicked (part 1?) while on vacation and it was great, I now get why Ariana Grande is getting so much buzz, she did a GREAT job of being in on the joke of her narcissist character. I have loved Cynthia Erivo since I discovered her a few years ago in The Outsider on HBO and knew she was going to be huge some day and I would watch everything she’s in for the rest of time. She’s a perfect Elphaba and also deserves all the awards.

I decided to watch Emilia Perez and the musical stuff didn’t work for me. Zoe Saldana is fantastic, and the rest of the movie happened…For a complete 180 I watched You’re Cordially Invited and it was a very cute comedy with Will Ferrell and Reese Witherspoon – a perfect low key movie night.

White Lotus is BACK and that surprise return in the first episode was a gift I can’t wait to watch unfold this season. Parker Posey is perfect, and Carrie Coon bursting into tears in her room had me burst out laughing. I can’t wait for where this season goes.

I have a couple of upcoming flights which means some good reading time. Now to figure out what books make the cut and we’ll see what movies are on demand on Alaska this month, wish me luck…

Reading

I finished the year sneaking a couple more books into my goal but nothing that was worth writing home about. I started the year listening to Kelly Bishop’s memoir The Third Gilmore Girl. I highly recommend this as an audiobook so you can hear Emily Gilmore again. I was in the midst of a GG rewatch while I listened to it which was super fun. Bishop’s life was crazy and the way she tells stories like it’s no big deal is fascinating.

I really enjoyed the sweet rom-com The Book Swap, it got me back into a good reading mood. My husband and I have booked a trip to Spain for his sabbatical so I am on the lookout for fun books that take place/travel through Spain (please comment with your suggestions!) I just started The Pairing and I think it’ll be a great fit for this hunt.

Listening

My brothers and dad have great musical taste and I am in a music rut. I mean the answer is always Steely Dan or The Beatles, but I know I can diversify. Earlier this month I created a 2025 family playlist in Apple Music where we can all contribute our favorite music of late. If you have a group of friends of family members with good musical taste, I highly recommend this. Although my youngest brother listens to WAAAY too much country for my taste (which is zero country please).

A client and fellow pop culture enthusiast recommended Hysterical last month and I binged right through this podcast about a group of girls in upstate New York who all come down with a mysterious illness. The story was wild and although I remember hearing about it when it happened a few years ago, I never heard the resolution. It was a great listen. Also, if you haven’t listened to The Good Whale yet get on that ASAP.

I am still figuring out my news podcast dosage for the year. It is currently What a Day and then NYT The Headlines to start my morning. If I need more information on the topic of the day I’ll listen to The Daily and depending on my tolerance level I’ll listen to the newest episode of Pod Save America. PSA is also doing a new Sunday show and Favs interviewed Rachel Maddow for the first episode. It was great to hear them talk about how they are going to cover this administration. I am also keeping an eye on new episodes of Think Out Loud for local news – especially now as an elected official to hear what other cities are doing to work on issues we all share. And to decompress, I am enjoying The Sam Sanders Show and The Wirecutter Show.

Watching

I watched the 3 hour Ladies & Gentlemen… 50 Years of SNL Music and it blew my mind. I thought I’d start it and finish over the course of the week but no, we stayed up later than planned to finish this incredible documentary. It already wins the best documentary I’ll watch this year. And the amount of friends and family I texted while watching it to recommend was more than I expected. The 50th anniversary of SNL is next month and I am SUPER excited. The 4 part documentary on Peacock is great, not to be confused with the amazing SNL music doc! AND I still need to watch Saturday Night which is now on Netflix so will probably happen this weekend.

We don’t watch a lot of movies around here as you’ve probably noticed. But we did watch Conclave and holy crap it was fantastic. I will try to get in another Oscar nom or two (Real Pains is on Hulu so that’ll probably happen, and maybe Emilia Perez) but we will see. My niece is very excited to watch Wicked when I go visit in a few weeks, so I’ll finally watch that too…

I have been deep in a Gilmore Girls binge for the last few months and finally finished it. Are those women their own worst enemies? Yes. Do I care? Not really. Season 7 was terrible and I wish I’d just stopped after 6 when the creator left.

Over the holidays I watched the second season of Bad Sisters and it was great, not as great as the first season but still smart and funny and better binged. Pop Culture Jeopardy has been a fun weekly show that makes me feel so smart and so clueless all within a category or two. With the upcoming Spain trip Jose Andres & Family in Spain was a great recent watch, and we’ve been re-watching a few select Anthony Bourdain episodes which are great/occasionally don’t age well/make me miss Tony…

Alright – what pop culture is coming up that you’re excited for in February?