As we wrap up another year AND another decade (woah!) I seem to have spent the month binging shows (and holiday movies) like comfort food and not reading at all (again…). How do you survive the holiday season? Reading? Movies? Games? Baby Yoda? Here’s a few things that helped me make it through the month…

Watching

I jumped on The Mandalorian and loved Baby Yoda like we all did. The series was a great story and a well done addition to the Star Wars universe I think! Plus a few GREAT cameos along the way.

I devoured The Marvelous Mrs Maisel Season 3 in just a couple of days. It was just the right kind of pop culture comfort I needed. I thought the travel pieces were GREAT for the series, and Joel parenting but everyone questioning a MAN taking care of his kids while the wife was on the road was awesome. I liked S2 better than this season but still really liked it and the addition of Sterling K. Brown!

This season of The Crown told so many stories I didn’t know about. From the Welsh coal mining town horror story to Prince Charles’ time in Wales and his relationship with Camela Parker Bowles, I appreciated learning more about some stories I didn’t know! Plus, I really love Olivia Colman!

So far I have seen The Rise of Skywalker twice in the theaters. I loved it. It was a great ending to the series. Feel free to complain about it elsewhere. As a lifelong fan of the series I am satisfied with this and will not nit pick at it just for the sake of complaining (the reason I stopped listening to The Watch a year or so ago…)

While my dad was here visiting for the holidays we ended up watching Long Shot the movie with Seth Rogan and Charlize Theron as a presidential candidate. It was HILARIOUS. All 3 of us laughed a ton and thought it was one of the funnier movies we’ve seen in a while. Pro tip – it’s on HBO GO currently.

Based on Obama’s 2019 Movie list I also decided to try Fleabag again. I’m not sure why it didn’t hit me the first time but I am IN IT this time around and hope to have caught up by the end of the holiday weekend. Next up is The Watchmen which I meant to watch when it first came out but sounds like I’m lucky to have waited to binge…

(Not) Reading

I’ve been terrible at reading this month – but I did get a few new books for Christmas I’m excited about. November (Vol 1) by Matt Fraction, a local Portland comic author is something I’m excited about. My dad got me a graphic novel version of RBG’s life – Becoming RBG which I’m excited about! I also got The Starless Sea, the new Erin Morgenstern – she wrote The Night Circus, one of my favorite books of the past decade. My in-laws sent me Caucasia – which I had heard about but haven’t seen many reviews of – have any of you read it/loved it/heard of it? So, my book list is back up to a healthy level and now I just need to MAKE time to read in 2020.

Listening

I finally caved and have been binging Dolly Parton’s America and it is SO DAMN GOOD. Trust me. I didn’t grow up listening to Dolly Parton but man alive I am glad she’s in our world.

I was ON a podcast this month – my friend Jen over at Women Conquer Business had me on to talk about local politics, small business marketing and mostly Parks & Rec. It was a SUPER fun interview and if you miss the sound of my voice, you’ll likely enjoy this…

I will renew my 2020 Goodreads Goal to read 30 books, although I only made it to 23 this year. What pop culture goals do you have for 2020? More TV? Less Podcasts? Trying something new? I can’t wait for what the next year has in store for pop culture!

I hope your November pop culture consumption is going well – mine has been a little all over the place this month with travel and visitors in town. As we head into Thanksgiving here’s a few things I’m enjoying lately…

Reading

I’m not sure what’s going on with me lately but my desire to read has been dismal. I need to get a grip and stop reading Twitter and start picking up a book once in a while. I did read this fascinating article in the NYT over the weekend about the Jungle Prince of Delhi. It’s crazy good. I also loved the Seth Meyers By the Book Profile in the NYT earlier this month. I love that man.

Now to read a BOOK. And catch up on my comics…I know…

Listening

I really enjoyed the Pete Buttigieg interview on The Daily and the story about WeWork was fascinating. A Third Grader’s Guide to the Impeachment Hearings was exactly what I needed from The Daily. I also have appreciated “The Latest” during the impeachment hearings these past couple of weeks.

Rubicon is another helpful podcast I’ve appreciated since I don’t have time to watch all of the hearings. I do find myself starting off my day with What a Day and then swapping over to The Daily unless the topic is something I want to know more about ASAP. I haven’t listened to Pod Save America as much lately – too much ranting and not enough helpful education. I did however really appreciate the Lovett or Leave It where he interviewed his fiance Rowan Farrow.

Watching

So instead of reading on the plane I binged the newest season of Atypical which is such a wonderful series on Netflix. I loved this season and hope the series never ends. The addition of Sarah Gilbert was a delightful surprise this season too.

Speaking of Seth Meyers – his new special Lobby Baby is HILARIOUS. I can’t wait to watch it again because it was THAT GOOD.

I am really liking this season of The Good Place and have a feeling I’ll need to rewatch it all when it’s done and will catch MANY clues that I’m not currently appreciating. I am also really enjoying The Unicorn which I mentioned last month.

I started The Crown and it will probably be my holiday weekend binge. Our friends were visiting and added their Disney+ account to our apple TV so the kids could watch movies and now I can watch The Mandalorian. The first two episodes are great – and it’s helping me get PUMPED for The Rise of Skywalker.

Theater

When I was in New York earlier this month I had the chance to see Waitress and it was INCREDIBLE. Who knew Al Roker would make me cry? He was great. If the show comes to your town, or you’re in NYC in the next month (it’s closing at the end of the year) go see it!

What pop culture is getting you through November? What pop culture do you consume (or avoid) when you’re with family over the holidays?

There’s something about October – new and returning TV shows, the cooler weather and I always seem to fall out of a good reading habit. If I’m going to make my Goodreads Challenge for 2019 I need to step up my game – I’m at 23 of 30 books for the year so far. Totally do-able, but I need to get it in gear!

Reading

I started Michelle Obama’s autobiography – Becoming and it’s great. I started while traveling earlier this month. I’m on a plane in a couple of weeks and hoping to make some good time for reading to get back into the groove. My comic book collection is also stacking up nicely…

I am REALLY excited for the new Erin Morgenstern book – she wrote The Night Circus a few years back which I loved! Her new book – The Starless Sea comes out next week and there’s a strong chance it will end up on a flight with me throughout the month.

Listening

I’ve gotten some GREAT podcast recommendations this month!

Preach – a friend suggested this podcast a few weeks ago about the “messiness” of faith. It’s really fascinating. I started with the married Mormon couple and have been hooked since. Also – if you grew up watching VeggieTales make sure to listen to that great two part series!

So far I’m liking What a Day – I have wanted a quick news recap in the morning – I love The Daily but it’s only one topic. So far What a Day is 3-4 topics which is helpful when I don’t have time to watch Rachel Maddow or miss other stories.

My latest cult themed podcast was The Gateway: Teal Swan. She certainly is an interesting character, and yes, very cult-like. I’m occasionally (always) terrified at what people will believe and do.

I’m being interviewed for a podcast this week so keep an eye out for that news next month…

Watching

I finally cleaned up my Netflix queue and finished a couple of series this past month. Mindhunter continues to be a great series, and I was shocked to learn that the Atlanta child murders are still unresolved. (sorry, spoiler there, except it’s not)

I devoured the new season of Big Mouth, and why YES the Queer Eye episode DID live up to all my wildest hopes and dreams. Another fantastic season of a show that I think all teenagers should watch. (This may also be a good indicator that not having kids was a smart move.)

I’ve started watching The Family on Netflix and it’s FASCINATING. It’s about a conservative Christian group who has been courting and supporting politicians in DC for decades. It’s really really interesting.

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner with David Chang is great so far – we watched the Chrissy Teigen episode and as always, she’s amazing.

The Politician was a GREAT (and quirky) series and the final episode introduces one of the best comedic duos I didn’t realize was missing from my life. I can’t wait for Season 2!

I tried a couple of episodes of Modern Love on Amazon and it’s not my jam. I’m not a rom-com kind of girl anyway and these stories are very New York, and very meh. However this new season of Saturday Night Live has been great – I’m LOVING the two new cast members…

Righteous Gemstones finished their first season and it wrapped up so well that I’m curious what they’ll do with season 2. But I am glad to see Walt Goggins on The Unicorn which is a sweet show about a widow with two daughters. It’s a great cast and premise.

I’ve watched the first episode of Mrs Fletcher on HBO and I love Kathryn Hahn so am all in on this show. I continue to watch Perfect Harmony which is sweet, and I think I may just wait for Nancy Drew to hit Netflix at the end of the season. I haven’t started Watchmen yet but will try to get to that this weekend. I feel like I’m supposed to love Stumptown but something about it has it filling up on my DVR lately. I am however liking the new season of The Good Place and love all the continued twists and turns.

What pop culture are you enjoying as you cozy up on the couch from these cool fall days?