We're switching things up a bit this week, taking a deep dive into the confusing (and at times very frustrating) world of celebrity PR relationships. Troy makes his way down a list of highly speculated, possibly contractual Hollywood couples from the past and present, and nobody is safe (that means you Shawn and Camila). He also spends some time revisiting some of the couples he's covered in the past with his updated thoughts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 24, 2020•1 hr 21 min•Ep. 126
Right about now feels like the perfect time to sink our teeth into another fictional couple! Troy is joined by friend of the pod, Vanessa Cordero from The Bottom Bible podcast to discuss one of film's most iconic and timeless couples: Alabama and Clarence Worley! That's right ladies and gentlemen, we're deep diving True Romance today. Troy and Vanessa spend the hour breaking down all their favorite moments from one of Quentin Tarantino's most timeless and beloved screenplays. Spoilers are not co...
Jan 17, 2020•1 hr 16 min•Ep. 125
You were promised something light, fun and easy to digest for this weeks episode and that's exactly what you're getting! Troy invites back friend of the pod, Jamie Luke Scoular, on a much needed trip down MTV memory lane. That's right... they FINALLY talk about The Osbournes! They start by discussing their introduction to the show 17 years ago and how their perception of it has changed throughout the years. They also spend time sharing their thoughts on the family's struggle with addiction while...
Jan 10, 2020•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 124
Well, this is it... the end of our Beyoncé and Jay-Z series and Troy is ending with quite a bang (also a kick, punch and heel stab because we're finally discussing the elevator moment). He starts by taking a look back at how crucial the year 2013 ended up being in their lives, from both a career and relationship aspect. Troy will also, of course, explore Beyoncé's self-titled "stop the world" album release and Jay's artistically vapid Magna Carta...Holy Grail. From there, Troy breaks down everyt...
Jan 04, 2020•1 hr 17 min•Ep. 123
We're taking a small Christmas break from our Beyoncé and Jay-Z Ted Talk (a palate cleanser, if you will) to gab about what's been happening in the world of Bravo over the last few months. Today, Troy will make his way down the list of housewives from Atlanta, Orange County and Dallas to discuss how they came out this year and their current seasons. Don't worry - next week, Troy will continue his fifth and final installment of the world's favorite Illuminate/underworld/lizard couple! Learn more ...
Dec 27, 2019•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 122
As promised, part 4 of our Beyoncé and Jay-Z deep dive has arrived! This episode will focus heavily on the career defining music both Jay and Bey released post secret wedding. We'll start by taking a look back at Beyoncé's I Am...Sasha Fierce era, and the invent of her now iconic alter ego. With that comes the discussion of "Single Ladies" and it's impact on internet culture thanks to a fairly new website called YouTube. We'll also examine Jay's long awaited collaboration with his brother / prot...
Dec 20, 2019•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 121
We’ve finally reached the relationship portion of our four-part deep dive! This week Troy focuses primarily on those early, TRL years of Beyoncé and Jay-Z’s dating history (the 03’ "Bonnie and Clyde" years, if you will). He discusses how they went from meeting on a plane for MTV’s Spring Break Cancun to becoming one of the most powerful couples in Hollywood just a year or so later. Troy also spends some time dissecting the unique way Jay and Beyoncé navigate the entertainment industry, and how c...
Dec 13, 2019•57 min•Ep. 120
Thanksgiving has come and gone, which means it’s FINALLY time to continue our Beyoncé and Jay-Z journey! This week, Troy focuses his attention on Jazzy (AKA Hova, AKA Jay-Z, AKA Shawn Carter... you get the point). He starts by revisiting Jay-Z's life as a young, drug dealing, rap prodigy in the Marcy House Projects of Brooklyn. He also examines how Mr. Carter used what he learned on the streets create his own label and strong arm his way into becoming CEO. And of course, Troy gets into the Dame ...
Dec 06, 2019•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 119
It's a Thanksgiving Surprise!! The crossover you've all been waiting for... Yes, that's right. A three-year-in-the-making episode! Troy and Liz Bentley (friend of the pod and host of Feathers in My Hair) talk all things The Wild and Wonderful Whites of West Virginia, AKA the best documentary of all time. Happy Thanksgiving!! This would normally be published under the $5/month tier on Patreon; we wanted to thank you for supporting our shows and we figured this would be the best way to do it! We h...
Nov 28, 2019•2 hr 16 min
This week's episode definitely falls into the “milestone” category! After two years of passionate requests and heartfelt pep-talks via Instagram DM, Troy has finally worked up the courage to dissect none other than Beyoncé and Jay-Z! Since there’s so much to cover, this subject will be broken down into three parts. In part one, Troy revisit the early years of Beyoncé’s life as a local Houston prodigy and member of the “hip-hop rappin” Girls Tyme. He also discusses everything surrounding the Dest...
Nov 15, 2019•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 118
It's been awhile since we've dissected an A-List, highfalutin celebrity couple... so, we're delving back into the Ben Affleck pool today! This time around, Troy covers Ben's marriage and recent divorce to Hollywood's favorite Christian, Jennifer Garner. He starts by exploring how they met and possibly hooked up while both in relationships. He also spends some time reminiscing about the disaster that was Daredevil and how they ended up in one of the biggest cheating scandals of the past decade (c...
Nov 09, 2019•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 117
Warning: you need to make sure your wigs are safely secured for this week's episode! Troy and his long lost Canadian brother, Russ Martin, take a trip down early internet memory lane while exploring one of social media’s most talked about couples: Jeffree Star and Nathan Schwandt. They start by revisiting Jeffree’s past as a gender bending MySpace celebrity / Warped Tour staple and how he went from working at a MAC counter to owing one of the world's most successful makeup brands. They also spen...
Oct 25, 2019•1 hr 46 min•Ep. 115
A new season of The Real Housewives of Atlanta is quickly approaching, which can only mean one thing... Brandon Alvarado is back! Troy and Brandon focus their attention of the queen of twirl, Miss Kenya Moore. They not only discuss her most recent divorce and the drama surrounding it, but all of her previous relationships (at least... the ones featured on Bravo). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 18, 2019•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 114
Troy welcomes Mike and Sonia of Rewind The Love podcast and they lean into yet another iconic fictional couple - this time the focus is on Rachel Berry and Finn Hudson, aka Corey Monteith and Lea Michele from Glee (specifically season 3, episode 5: "The First Time"). They start by examining Corey and Lea’s relationship both on and off screen, and how the lines eventually blurred. They also discuss the shockingly dark legacy the show has left behind. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaph...
Oct 11, 2019•1 hr 15 min•Ep. 113
Well folks, it’s the end of an era! We’ve sadly reached the finish line of our three-part Britney and Justin special. In this week's final installment of the Britney and Justin saga, Troy spends the entire hour revisiting the iconic highs and lows of this culture defining relationship - from sneaking into each other's trailers on a low-budget North American mall tour in 1999 (sponsored by acne wipes, of course) to performing together at the Super Bowl Halftime Show only two years later! Of cours...
Oct 04, 2019•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 112
Get excited - it’s time for Part 2 of the Britney and Justin special (or whatever you’d like to call it)! This week, Troy turns his attention towards Miss Britney Jean, specifically the years leading up to her releasing her first album. He starts by exploring her extremely difficult childhood and complicated relationship with her father. From there, he dissects some of the seediness that went on behind the scenes when signing her contract with Jive Records at 15. PS: This episode definitely call...
Sep 27, 2019•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 111
It’s absolutely shocking that we haven’t done this yet, but here we are! This week, Troy dives head-first into one of the most iconic relationships in celebrity history: Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake! In part one of this (possibly) three part series, Troy starts by revisiting the southern pageant circuit years that eventually led to Star Search and Mickey Mouse Club. He transitions into *NSYNC’s formation and the unfortunate Lou Pearlman of it all. And don't worry - he definitely gets to ...
Sep 20, 2019•1 hr 17 min•Ep. 110
This weeks episode is special for several reasons!! Not only is Troy doing his first three-person interview, but they are talking about one of the most iconic fictional couples of all time. Troy is joined by Jess and Siobhan from I Totally Paused podcast to discuss Carrie Bradshaw and John James Preston, aka Mr. Big. They focus primarily on season 3, episode 11: “Running With Scissors” for your listening pleasure. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 08, 2019•1 hr 27 min•Ep. 109
Today’s episode should be considered a milestone because we’re finally giving Jersey Shore the hour it deserves! Rylee Ennis is back to not only discuss the show that changed the entire reality TV landscape, but also the relationships it created! They focus primarily on Snooki and Jionni, dip their toe in a little Ronnie and Sam action, and add a sprinkling of Jenni and Roger. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 31, 2019•1 hr 22 min•Ep. 108
Troy is finally covering one of the most frequently requested couples: Nick Cannon and Mariah Carey!! He starts by looking back at Nick’s surprisingly rough childhood, exploring how he went from being a member of a San Diego gang in the 90’s to quickly becoming the youngest staff writer in television history for Nickelodeon. He also revisits the “emotional breakdown” period of Mariah Carey’s life and how it led to one of the most successful comebacks in music history. Finally, Troy explores all ...
Aug 23, 2019•1 hr 15 min•Ep. 107
It’s time to tackle yet another messy Real Housewives couple, which means Brandon Alvarado is back! For the first time, Troy and Brandon discuss the Real Housewives of Potomac, but more specifically Ashley and Michael Darby. They start by mining though their complicated thoughts on Bravo’s most underrated show and how it fits (and doesn’t) in with the other cities in the franchise. They also discuss this season’s “he wants to suck a penis” debacle and how it was handled! Learn more about your ad...
Aug 16, 2019•1 hr 38 min•Ep. 106
Troy had an *amazing* episode for you all today but the devil put a plague on his house and gave him technical difficulties! So, instead of taking the week off, he decided to dip back into the Smushie archives and run one of his faves... Troy explores a couple that helped shape the 90s and became one of Hollywood’s most recognized A-list pairings: Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman. Troy breaks down everything from them meeting on the set of Days of Thunder to their “jeans and barefoot” wedding in Ire...
Aug 09, 2019•1 hr 36 min•Ep. 105
This week, Troy is joined by Vanessa Cordero from The Bottom Bible podcast to discus one of the most iconic, ahead-of-its-time and canceled too soon shows of the 90’s: My So Called Life! They’ll be focusing their attention specifically on the “will they, won’t they” relationship between Claire Danes and Jared Leto aka Angela Chase and Jordan Catalano. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 02, 2019•1 hr 26 min•Ep. 104
You requested more Kardashian Kontent, and that’s exactly what you’re getting today! This week, Troy revisits Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries’ iconic 72-day, made-for-TV marriage back in 2011! He covers everything from the outrageous $200,000 registry to the absurdly over-the-top ceremony. He also spends time discussing the final year of Kim’s “I’ll endorse any brand that wants me” period (...remember her Skechers Shape Ups ads?!). Finally, he discusses Kanye’s involvement in the divorce and g...
Jul 26, 2019•1 hr 14 min•Ep. 103
It’s our first official fictional couple episode!! Troy is joined by Rosey Candlin from It’s History, Bitch podcast to discuss the quintessential “will they, won’t they” couple: Ross and Rachel. They focus specifically on Season 2, Episode 7, "The One Where Ross Finds Out" (AKA the one where Ross and Rachel kiss for the first time). They start by examining their relationship to Friends and transition into breaking down this iconic episode! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adc...
Jul 19, 2019•1 hr 21 min•Ep. 102
This week, Troy takes on a couple that was heavily suggested in last weeks mailbag episode (and since the beginning of the pod): Vanessa Hudgens and Zac Efron! He starts by examining their lives before fame as theater kids in California and how an audition for a Disney Channel, made-for-TV movie would change their lives forever. He also revisits Vanessa’s infamous nude photo scandal and breaks down Zac’s years as an “it boy”, comparable to actors like Brad Pitt, Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Cruise....
Jul 12, 2019•56 min•Ep. 101
We’ve officially made it to 100 episodes!!! For this special occasion, Troy spends some time reading your emails and responding to some voice notes. He also makes a very exciting announcement regarding the future of the pod! Extended episodes (1-99) are always available on the Solid Listen Patreon page (https://patreon.com/solidlisten) under the $1/month reward level - become a supporter today to ensure you never miss a moment of The Smush Room! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone....
Jun 28, 2019•1 hr 27 min•Ep. 100
We’re at episode 99!! Can. We. Talk?! This week, Troy discusses a couple that is truly iconic in the realm of reality television and explores he strange polygamist world of Hugh Hefner. His primary focus is on Hef's relationship with his “#1 girlfriend” Holly Madison. He starts by taking a look back at the more politically charged era of Playboy in the 60’s during the civil rights and feminist movement. Then, he transitions into the more modern era of Playboy and what led a fresh-out-of-college ...
Jun 22, 2019•33 min•Ep. 99
We’ve reached the final stop on the Johnny Depp train (for now). This time we’re revisiting his tumultuous marriage to Amber Heard. He starts by discussing Amber’s life as a self proclaimed “activist Tom-boy” and what led her to meeting Johnny. He also dissects the ins and outs of the alleged abuse claims. Extended episodes are always available on the Solid Listen Patreon page (https://patreon.com/solidlisten) under the $1/month reward level - become a supporter today to ensure you never miss a ...
Jun 14, 2019•33 min•Ep. 98
This week's episode is being served up buffet style, baby! Troy welcomes back friend of the pod Diana Metzger to discuss not one, not two, but ALL of the most iconic relationships from MTV’s Laguna Beach! From the obvious Stephan, Lauren, and Kristen love triangle to the lesser spoken about Jessica and Jason hookup, they’ll make their way down the list and do lots of reminiscing in between. Extended episodes are always available on the Solid Listen Patreon page (https://patreon.com/solidlisten) ...
Jun 07, 2019•33 min•Ep. 97
