Discussing the seminal anime adaptation of HIGURASHI: WHEN THEY CRY ひぐらしのなく頃に by 07th Expansion + contesting with fate and will + friendship and love in the tragedy of an ill-fated and never-ending June… Full episode only available for patrons. patreon.com/imsopopular
??????????????????????????????????? Question Arc Poems of Frederica Bernkastel read by Skye
Discussing Mishima Yukio’s THE SAILOR WHO FELL FROM GRACE WITH THE SEA 午後の曳航 (1963) + the pinku eiga gay pornographic parody of his life BEAUTIFUL MYSTERY 巨根伝説 美しき謎 (1983) + intellect vs. corporeality + sex over politics + romance in the face of philosophy. For the full episode, please join us at patreon.com/imsopopular
We discuss the iconic films CRAZED FRUIT (1956) and SEASON OF THE SUN (1956) from the Japanese Sun Tribe movement: postwar nihilist youths dressed in aloha shirts and fighting to the death with boats over women. Beautiful male chests, cuckoldry anxiety, ultranationalism and hot young lust. For the juicy SIRENS bonus show follow ISP on paatreon.com/imsopopular ISP S5.E29
Inaugurating the official start to a very I'M SO POPULAR summer, I'm discussing the debut album by Addison Rae ADDISON (2025) + Stephen King's IT (1986) + the loss of innocence + sex as a rite of passage + fame and TikTok. For the full episode, join us at patreon.com/imsopopular
Following Maggie’s recent travels to Bejing China, we discuss THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA at large, its scope and influence and uncanny vision of a globalist future + the 1996 Chinese gay romance EAST PALACE WEST PALACE + the troubling art world of boomer activist/reguee life jacket stylist AI WEIWEI. For the high quality version of this episode + a juicy SIRENS bonus show follow ISP on paatreon.com/imsopopular ISP S5.E27
*ONLY FOR PATRONS* Full episode available at patreon.com/imsopopular Chi Chi presents two numbered lists of intriguing topics, ranking my top ten most listened to artists and the ten most obscure films I’ve ever seen. Follow ISP on… TIKTOK?! tiktok.com/imsopopularpod
Discussing Orson Welles’ CITIZEN KANE (1941年) + John Waters’ A DIRTY SHAME (2004年) + the doomed world of language + hedonistic catharsis + the asexual regime queerness + the legacy of Patricia Hearst across a century of film. ISP S5.E26 Join us on SIRENS for this week's bonus episode: patreon.com/imsopopular
Discussing the abduction of PATTY HEARST + Paul Schrader’s biopic of her life in hostage, PATTY HEARST (1988年) + surviving radical politics + the will to live + iconography of a girl in crisis. For my review of the new Pinkpanthress album + Luca Gaudagnino's film Queer, join us on Sirens at patreon.com/imsopopular (ISP S5.E25)
I'M SO POPULAR has been largely removed from Spotify! The Library of Alexandria burns! But fortunately, the entire history of ISP remains available on Patreon along with the special otherworld untucked bonus show SIRENS... we invite you to join us with a special free episode of SIRENS discussing MYSTERIOUS SKIN (2004年), that stupid NANI GA SUKI TikTok sound, the accelerating decay of Korean pop music and Maggie and Chi Chi's latest adventures getting blackout wasted in the Tokyo Streets. Join us...
*HQ EPISODE AVAILABLE ONLY FOR PATRONS* Discussing two novels by the iconic Japanese author TANIZAKI JUNICHIRO 谷崎 潤一郎: MANJI/QUICKSAND 卍 (1928年〜1930年) + THE MAKIOKA SISTERS 細雪(1943年〜1948年) + societal beneath feminine duress + the delight of ceremony + beauty's cataclysmic power + sexuality and actualization. patreon.com/imsopopular
(Full episode available only to subscribers on Patreon) Espousing the strange and libidinal undercurrents in the kingdom of THAILAND with a discussion on Hirasawa Susumu’s album SIM CITY (1995年) + Apichatpong Weerasethakul film TROPICAL MALADY สัตว์ประหลาด (2004年) + Nicolas Winding Refn’s ONLY GOD FORGIVES (2013年). ISP S5.E22 patreon.com/imsopopular
(High quality available only to subscribers on Patreon) Recorded live from Tokyo, we approach some of the headiest and most intriguing examples of Japanese cyperpunk: Mamoru Oshii’s film GHOST IN THE SHELL攻殻機動隊 (1995年) and Nihei Tsutomu’s manga BLAME! (1997年〜2003年) + its prequel NOISE (2000年〜2001年). Identity transposed into the net, digital selves, ugly entropy, superstructures, cyborg breasts and sanctity in the modern condition. ISP S5.E21 patreon.com/imsopopular
Full episode only for patrons. Discussing the lesbian romance corporate drama bloodbath anime MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM: THE WITCH FROM MERCURY 機動戦士ガンダム 水星の魔女 (2022年〜2023年). patreon.com/imsopopular (S5.E20)
Returning the soul to KILL BILL and BATTLE ROYALE actress KURIYAMA CHIAKI (栗山千明) by discussing her erotic photobook GIRL OF MYTH (1997年) + Sono Sion directed film EXTE (2007年) + her failed breakthrough in the music industry CIRCUS (2011年). Subscribe for the high quality version of this episode + an extensive SIRENS episode. patreon.com/imsopopular
Full four hour episode available only for patrons. patreon.com/imsopopular A brand new co-host officially enters the world of I'M SO POPULAR to explicate the phenomenon of Otaku recorded live in Roppongi, Tokyo and discussing Saito Takami's BEAUTIFUL FIGHTING GIRL (2000年) + Quentin Tarantino's KILL BILL VOL. 1&2 (2003年〜2004年) + Anno Hideaki's SHIN KAMEN RIDER 2023年. (S5.E18)
Veronica from The Temple of Friendship podcast stops by for a discussion concerning the music and legacy of APEXH TWIN + imperial rot + electronic and classical music + the sound of of the world and the air itself. Patrons get the high quality version of this episode + a lengthy discussion on the exclusive SIRENS after show concerning demonic possession and much more: patreon.com/imsopopular (S5.E17)
Glen and Psi from the Rare Candy podcast join to discuss a newly anointed god on earth: OHTANI SHOHEI + his image and allure + his visage as product and art + his manifestation of supreme human accomplishment + the great American pastime of baseball. Subscribers to the Patreon get an extended conversation about the shape of contemporary pop music + the collected images discussed on this episode: patreon.com/imsopopular
*Full episode only available for Patrons* David, host of Gang Bang podcast and general Madonna stan twitter nuisance, joins to discuss Lady Gaga’s brand new album MAYHEM (2025年) + ARTPOP (2013年) + the tragic passage of time + art’s impermeability + the egotistic drive towards recognition. patreon.com/imsopopular (S5.E15)
HQ only available for patrons. Discussing Karl Ove Knausgård's MY STRUGGLE VOLUME TWO (2009年) + the psycho alternative feminist pop album APOCALYPSE, GIRL by Jenny Hval (2015年) + Anora and the Academy Awards + women in the modern moment. (I'M SO POPULAR S5.E14) patreon.com/imsopopular
Photographer and host of The Salt Box Matthew Denicola joins to discuss the mimetic nightmare, ecstasy and American maximalism of Jimmy Donaldson, aka MR. BEAST + his stupefying reality competition game show BEAST GAMES (2024年〜). Follow Matthew on X: https://x.com/mattiopattio (ISP S5.E13)
Available in full only for Patrons at patreon.com/imsopopular Vyl of the newly formed podcast Conversations With Prostitutes returns to I'M SO POPULAR to discuss the final novel by Michel Houellebecq ANNIHILATION (Anéantir) from 2022年 + the spiritual void of modernity + religion and ecstasy on the cold face of the planet + the evil of journalism. (ISP S5.E12)
On the fifth edition of Chi Chi’s exclusive Patreon bookclub, we discuss “Happening” by Annie Ernaux. Subscribe to the Patreon to join us next time. patreon.com/imsopopular (S5.E11)
We discuss Endo Shusaku’s brutal novel SILENCE (1966年) and Martin Scorsese’s adaptation of the same name + the cruelty of God + Catholic doubt + the swamp of Japanese paganism + our personal relationships with the nature of faith itself. Follow Stephen on X: twitter.com/stephnz Subscribe to us on Patreon for exclusive episodes of SIRENS: patreon.com/imsopopular (ISP S5.E10)
*HQ episode and accompanying paintings only available for patrons* Discussing Karl Ove Knausgård's MY STRUGGLE VOLUME ONE (2009年) + the self portraits of Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn (1628年〜1658年) + Taylor Swift + autofiction and self portraiture in art. patreon.com/imsopopular (I'M SO POPULAR S5.E09)
[PATREON EXCLUSIVE] Discussing the calamitous message music of the two thousand tens: BEYONCÉ (2013年) + TO PIMP A BUTTERFLY (2015年) + LEMONADE (2016年) + THIS IS AMERICA (2018年). Follow Vera on X: https://x.com/lovely_2_c_u And for the full episode, subscribe to I’M SO POPULAR on patreon.com/imsopopular (ISP S5.E08)
ONLY AVAILABLE FOR PATRONS: Carlton joins to discuss Cixin Liu's REMEMBRANCE OF EARTH'S PAST books: THE THREE BODY PROBLEM (2006年) + THE DARK FOREST (2008年) + DEATH'S END (2010年). Moreover, Chinese Space Communism, looming political menace, the looming doom of humankind, science and art, love as a solution to math. (ISP S5.E07) For the full episode and weekly episodes of SIRENS, join us at patreon.com/imsopopular
Paul Dalla Rosa, author of An Exciting and Vivid Inner Life joins to discuss the psychic destruction and affronting of destiny by Henry James, THE PORTRAIT OF A LADY (1881年). The verge of modernism, the insistence on self and the workings of the inner mind... Follow Paul on X:https://x.com/pauldallarosa And for the exclusive continuation in which we spill the tea on the publishing industry, subscribe to ISP on Patreon at patreon.com/imsopopular (ISP S5.E06)
[HQ available only on Patreon} As the year comes to an end, we take a final look at the state of culture with a discussion on the horrendous new season of SQUID GAME and the recent output of legendary Japanese idol girl group AKB48. (ISP S5.E05) patreon.com/imsopopular
FULL EPISODE AVAILABLE AT PATREON.COM/imsopopular A special collaborative crossover episode with Jack Mason of The Perfume Nationalist, discussing our recollections and impressions of the year 2024年 and the oeuvre of Welsh pop star MARINA DIAMINDIS, FKA MARINA AND THE DIAMONDS (1985年〜). (ISP S5.E05) (TPN S6.E97)
