It's Emma's birthday, so let's talk about birthdays! Emma and Winston have a birthday chat, and are joined periodically by some of our past guests, John-Paul Cirelli, Michelle Agresti, Emma Cohen, and Sarah Wolfe, to talk about their favorite birthday traditions and experiences. Featuring: "Babanukah," internet scavenger hunts, board games, kicking off Halloween in August, talent shows, tattoos, bowling alleys, the beach, and strategic birthday cake. Want to buy Emma a birthday coffee? Check out...
Aug 28, 2020•54 min•Ep. 70
Emma is joined by the marvelous Danielle Shemaiah (The Whisperforge) to discuss the last film in the Skywalker Saga, The Rise of Skywalker. We critique it with love, as we lament what might have been if Carrie Fisher hadn't passed, and if J.J. Abrams were better at ending things. Featuring: our love for Daisey Ridley and Kelly Marie Tran, Karens against Aperol Spritzes, embracing your inner Chardonnay lover, Kylo Ben, representation, too many unnecessary white men, and Danielle's killer wine ins...
Aug 15, 2020•1 hr 26 min•Ep. 69
Emma and Winston discuss one of their all-time favorite Star Wars films, The Last Jedi. They try to play Devil's Advocate and understand why people would not like this movie, but mostly focus on its strengths as the most spiritually challenging of these films. Plus: Rey: unfined & unfiltered, changing opinions and changing palates, sacrifice, corruption, and moral ambiguity, Italian wine (for some reason), funny puppets, and the cruel tutelage of Luke Skywalker. Find Us Online: If you enjoy ...
Jul 31, 2020•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 68
Emma is joined by podcasting extraordinaire Chad Ellis to discuss the first film in the most recent of Star Wars trilogies, The Force Awakens. We share our love for this movie, and our stories of first seeing it (Chad's is way cooler). Plus: characters and world-building, Kylo & wine bros, Byronic heroes, sacred texts, appreciation of Adam Driver, the superiority of practical effects, shipping Poe and Finn, and Droids for millennials. Follow Chad on Twitter @ChadManic, and make sure to check...
Jul 10, 2020•1 hr 37 min•Ep. 67
"There can be no peace without justice." -Avatar Kyoshi knew what was up, and there's a lot we all can learn from Avatar: The Last Airbender. Winston and Emma discuss what they love from this show, why it's important, and also the problematic cultural appropriation involved in making it. Plus: Zuko & rosé's parallel redemption arcs, wine in China, martial arts and bending styles, alternative ships, winebending, and the importance of representation. Find Us Online: If you enjoy Pairing, follo...
Jun 26, 2020•51 min•Ep. 66
Anthony Pinggera returns to Pairing to discuss Episode VI of Star Wars: The Return of the Jedi. We agree that this movie somehow holds itself together despite having many moving parts, but we disagree on Jedi Rock. Plus: Harrison Ford's deathwish for Han, possible other directors, C-3PO: sommelier, the racism of the ewoks, Aaron Sorkin-style walk and talks, Roman Emperors, and a heartwarming story about Warwick Davis. SPOILER WARNING for ALL the Star Wars films. Anthony runs SpellTheory - a blog...
Jun 12, 2020•1 hr 19 min•Ep. 65
Happy 40 Years of The Empire Strikes Back! Christopher Dole returns to Pairing to discuss the sequel that redefined sequels, Episode V of the Star Wars saga. We talk about why this is our favorite Star Wars movie, how it was received at the time, and the difficulties they faced in making it. Plus: the great Frank Oz, deleted music, wines in balance, Han & Leia, the importance of taking risks, iconic lines, and incredible production design. Follow Christopher on Twitter @chrisdole86, and foll...
May 22, 2020•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 64
The great Sarah Shachat returns to Pairing to discuss the film that started it all: Episode IV- A New Hope (aka, the original Star Wars). Sarah, Emma, and Winston share their thoughts, love, and occasional criticism of this iconic film, and talk about how it came to be, and the alternative universe we would be in if Bill Murray had been cast as Han Solo. Plus: Wookiepedia, hot takes on Joseph Cambell, intellectual zeniths, inevitable Lord of the Rings references, and the wines of Tunisia (or Tat...
May 08, 2020•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 63
It has happened: Emma has started playing video games! So, we decided to take this opportunity to talk about the Witcher Game and Television Series. Hear some stories about Emma's journey so far, learn a little bit about Czech wine, and hear a preview of Winston's version of "Toss a Coin to Your Witcher." Plus: gruff voices, Winston's History corner, Video Game Shoulder, nonlinear storytelling, Slavic fantasy, and Henry Cavill's abs. Emma's First Audiobook, Shadowborn: Book 1 of the Light & ...
Apr 24, 2020•50 min•Ep. 62
Emma and Winston talk about what they've been drinking while they practice social distancing in quarantine, and answer some of your wine questions! Listen to find out what it is that makes a wine not vegan, the difference in the fermentation processes between wine, beer, and spirits, and the Legend of the Black Rooster. Plus: tequila is an essential employee, finding love through a bacon, egg & cheese sandwich, Ales vs. Lagers 2020, the Pope's New Crib, a Hamm's family, and wine for the diff...
Apr 10, 2020•59 min•Ep. 61
Emma is joined by Meghan Fitzmartin (Supernatural, Red Rhino, Wine & Comics) to discuss one of our favorite mediums: podcasts and Audio Drama! Meghan shares some wisdom on what it's like to work in the entertainment industry, and some of the differences between writing for audio and visual mediums. Plus: kids dealing with superpowers, our love for villains, creative control in wine and television, and Red Wino. Follow Meghan on Twitter @megfitz89 and be sure to check out Red Rhino , Wine &am...
Mar 27, 2020•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 60
Emma is joined by Zach Valenti (Focused AF, No Bad Ideas) to discuss Terry Gilliam's dystopian fever dream of a film, Brazil. We talk about the importance of imagination in film and storytelling, and Zach comes up with a nightmare cocktail to pair with the movie. Plus: orange wines, living that hipster life, laser Valhalla, and poetic logic. Follow Zach on Twitter @zachvalenti and make sure to check out No Bad Ideas and his Daily Meditations on Focused.AF. Find Us Online: If you enjoy Pairing, f...
Mar 20, 2020•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 59
Emma and Winston discuss the War Movie of the Star Wars saga, Rogue One. Hear our thoughts on how this movie expands the religion, politics, and diversity of this world, and listen to Emma find pairings for the characters in real time. Featuring: war-torn wine regions, Donnie Yen's magic, Lebanese wines, when in doubt: Tempranillo, and Darth Vader with a Barolo in one hand, a lightsaber in the other. Spoiler Warning for all the Star Wars movies, pretty much. Emma's First Audiobook, Shadowborn: B...
Feb 28, 2020•53 min•Ep. 58
For Pairing's two-year anniversary and for Valentine's Day, we wanted to talk about one of our favorite pastimes, Board Games! Emma and Winston discuss some of their favorite games, from Settlers of Catan to Eldritch Horror to Clue, and Emma pairs wine with each of the games! Featuring: tabletop board games, deckbuilding games, storytelling games, and wines that are spicy and mysterious and doable in one night. Sponsor: - Winc is a wine subscription service that delivers high quality wine at aff...
Feb 14, 2020•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 57
Arie returns to Pairing to talk with Emma about a truly formative story in their lives that has a new retelling, Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott. They recount their experiences watching the film version starring Winona Ryder as children, and compare it to Greta Gerwig's recent adaptation. Emma also reminisces about some of her most "nostalgic" wines, many of which include the word "petite." Featuring: sexy lamps, who we think we are, wish we are, and fear we are, Tamora Pierce, some girl name...
Jan 31, 2020•1 hr 20 min•Ep. 56
Emma is joined by Brandon Grugle (Join the Party, Multitude) to discuss the underrated Star Wars film, Solo. We talk about rejecting toxic fandom, how this is just a fun Space Cowboy genre piece, and how it solidifies our love for Han Solo. Plus, we play the best game we've played on Pairing yet: Star Wars character or Portuguese grape? and Emma learns that Brandon is a Ciceron (aka Beer Sommelier). Also featuring: Woody Harrelson in a white linen suit, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, frenemy-ships, swash...
Jan 17, 2020•1 hr 18 min•Ep. 55
We're starting the year (and the decade) off with a feel-good episode about the TV shows that just make us feel good. We discuss some of our favorite comfort TV shows, including Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Frasier, Gilmore Girls, and Star Trek, and Emma and Winston recommend some of their favorite "comfort" wines and spirits. Featuring: David Boreanaz's never-ending career, powerful women, timeless comedy, Anthony Stewart Head being the best, non-toxic masculinity, puns about stakes, and a theme s...
Jan 06, 2020•51 min•Ep. 54
Emma and Winston finish their discussion of the Star Wars prequels, and Winston makes his controversial yet compelling case that Episode III is a superior film to Episode VI. Plus: Ian McDiarmid as Palpatine for 40 years, Ewan's McGregor's increasingly good hair choices, and Samuel L. Jackson, Jedi Master. Thank you to everyone who listened to us in 2019! Cheers to you! Sponsor: - Care/Of is a subscription service that delivers vitamins and supplements customized for your specific health needs. ...
Dec 20, 2019•44 min•Ep. 53
Emma and Winston kick off their new series about Star Wars with a controversial discussion of the prequels- controversial because Winston actually likes them. We discuss much maligned wines, and the strengths of these films- mostly the fight choreography, sound design, and Ewan McGregor- and their myriad weaknesses- namely the dialogue, overall storytelling, and Jar Jar Binks. Will Winston convince you, though, that Revenge of the Sith is a better film than Return of the Jedi? Join us to find ou...
Dec 13, 2019•53 min•Ep. 52
It's storytime with Emma as she answers some of your awesome queries into the wine world and the wine industry. Listen to hear what inexpensive sparkling wine Emma loves, the secret of "off-dry" wines, and what an LBV Port is. Also featuring: secrets of the trade, Kyle McLachlan, and some weird funky juice. Sponsor: - Care/Of is a subscription service that delivers vitamins and supplements customized for your specific health needs. Go to takecareof.com and use the promo code PAIRING for 25% off ...
Nov 28, 2019•57 min•Ep. 51
Originally a Patreon-only mini Episode, Emma shares her recommendations for the best wines for Thanksgiving and what pieces of art to pair with them. If you don't celebrate Thanksgiving (because, you know, it's fraught with hypocrisy), these are still some excellent recommendations for food-friendly wines for all occasions. Consider this our opportunity to give YOU thanks for listening to Pairing! Find Us Online: If you enjoy Pairing, follow us on social media and tell your friends! Follow us on...
Nov 22, 2019•9 min
Emma is joined by her longtime friend Sarah Wolfe to discuss the last and most epic of the Harry Potter novels, The Deathly Hallows. We talk about the flaws in the book(s), but also what is so wonderful and powerful about them, and we have our own Hallows vs. Horcruxes debate. Plus, Emma talks a bunch about California wine. Featuring: camping wine vs. battle wine, discussing the epitaphs, children being the hope of our generation, living in a fascist state, actual books on tape, wine genres, Jim...
Nov 08, 2019•1 hr 29 min•Ep. 50
John-Paul Cirelli of Mondo Vulgare returns to talk all things Halloween. We cover a LOT of ground in this one: from Halloween classics like The Nightmare Before Christmas and Hocus Pocus to The Simpsons Halloween Specials to the Universal Monster movies, and Emma compiles a list of Hallowines, aka Halloween appropriate wines. Also featuring: Christina Ricci, a Washington Conspiracy, Hot Topic, Ozzy Osbourne, werewolf mythology, Pumpkin themed spirits, and #bighalloweenenergy. John-Paul is the cr...
Oct 25, 2019•1 hr 29 min•Ep. 49
Emma is joined by her good friend and fellow nerd to discuss the works of one of their favorite living authors, Neil Gaiman. They focus on American Gods, Good Omens, and Neverwhere, and express their unequivocal love for all his novels, but some mixed feelings for some of his film work. Listen to hear which wines pair well with the macabre and the whimsical, and which ones have wolves on the label. Plus: sexy Scottish accents, hard to pronounce names, Metallica, Alice in Wonderland meets the Mat...
Oct 11, 2019•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 48
While most people think of red wine when they think of Italy, in this episode Emma tells you all about the lesser-known and highly underrated white wines of Italy, while Winston shares his knowledge of Italian and European History. Listen to hear what Garganega, Cortese, and Friulano are, and which Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle would drink which wine. Featuring: Tina Fey, Lady Gaga, Metallica, Orange Wines, Dante, Frasier, Machiavelli, and the wines of truth. Find Us Online: If you enjoy Pairing, ...
Sep 27, 2019•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 47
Mr. Potterless himself, Mike Schubert, returns to Pairing to talk HP with Emma. Schubes talks about why this is his favorite book of the series, and also makes some pretty stellar pairings of his own as we discuss his experiences with the wines of the Pacific Northwest. Featuring: The Half-Blood Ziarko, pinball bars, novelty pens, "glew up", "upping and coming," and Professor Sprout's ladies' wine night. Mike is the host of Potterless , as well as the co-host of HORSE , on Multitude Productions ...
Sep 20, 2019•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 46
FIXED VERSION! Because we're going to be late with this week's episode, here are two mini-episodes that Emma released on the Patreon way back delving deeper into wine pairing, wine lore, and wine education. Find out how to break rules, when to follow them, and my favorite technical wine term, fiasco. Find Us Online: If you enjoy Pairing, follow us on social media and tell your friends! Follow us on Twitter , Facebook , Instagram , & Tumblr @PairingPodcast. Also check out our website, www.the...
Sep 13, 2019•28 min
Emma is joined by one of her best friends, Arie Levine, to discuss the timeless classic, The Sound of Music. Arie regales us with tales of her Austrian honeymoon, Emma tells the very weird history of Austrian wine, and they both express their love for Julie Andrews. Plus: our favorite Von Trapp child, the Sound of Music drinking game, the movie versus the stage production, the Tour de Franzia, Christoph Waltz, glühwein, standing up to nazis, Kirschwasser & cake, and the Fred and George of th...
Aug 31, 2019•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 45
Christopher Dole of Arden returns to finish our discussion of the movie music of John Williams, this time discussing JFK, Catch Me if You Can, and Star Wars: The Last Jedi. Listen to hear more about music theory, "Johnny" Williams, and how music and wine go hand in hand. Plus: Spielberg's daddy issues, the Peter Pan complex, calling J.J. Abrams "baby," our favorite Leonardo DiCaprio performances, and 40 years of Star Wars music and 40-year old wine. Christopher is a co-creator and co-writer of A...
Aug 16, 2019•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 44
Emma is joined by Christopher Dole of Arden for a unique Pairing conversation: the music of film composer John Williams! Listen to hear us discuss 4 of Williams' scores: The Reivers, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, 1941, and E.T. We chat about music theory and how Williams invokes the divine, American music and American wine, and Emma makes an accidental perfect pairing. Plus: Fiddler on the Roof, aliens, and Steven Spielberg on the Clarinet. Christopher is a co-creator and co-writer of Arde...
Aug 02, 2019•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 43
