Olivia and Shauna discuss their summer plans: Olivia's seeing as much live music as possible, and Shauna's just trying to beat the punishing Phoenix heat...at an emo/anime dance party? The Junkies then discuss how to celebrate our nation's birthday in these...challenging times, and they decide there's no better way than to watch Independence Day from 1996. Why not flash back to the time when we all felt good about our country, and also about Will Smith? The Junkies get nostalgic about their firs...
Jun 26, 2025•37 min•Ep. 169
In PCJ Pops, the Pop Culture Junkies share their recommendations on what to experience in pop culture, today and yesterday. This week, Shauna is all about Dexter: Original Sin as she awaits the next entry in the Dexter-verse, and Olivia recommends the AI-gone-wrong thriller Companion.
Jun 17, 2025•6 min•Ep. 5
Shauna shares her upcoming cosplay plans, while Olivia shares her musical revenge against a petty neighbor, and they both wonder if the podcast is becoming a little too murder-y (or is it just murder-y enough?) Then it's time to preview the films that will be keeping them both indoors during the heat (or fog) this summer. Olivia's looking forward to the film that may just revive the romcom, while Shauna has her eyes on some high-profile superhero reboots, and both plan to take in at least one of...
Jun 12, 2025•41 min•Ep. 168
In PCJ Pops, the Pop Culture Junkies share their recommendations on what to experience in pop culture, today and yesterday. This week, Olivia wants you to watch Overcompensating on Prime starring TikTok-er Benito Skinner so she gets a second season, and Shauna has only good things to say about the books Bonfire and Retreat, by Krysten Ritter (yes, THAT Krysten Ritter.)
Jun 03, 2025•6 min•Ep. 4
The Junkies compare vacations: Shauna stayed in a hostel and didn’t get murdered (yay!) and Olivia enjoyed the Big Little Lies vibes at an oyster farm north of San Francisco. Then it’s time to talk zombies: specifically the scary-fast ones featured in the 28 Days Later movie series. They both can’t wait for the premiere of the third movie, 28 Years Later, and go back to relive the events leading up to it. (Warning, spoilers for 23- and 18-year-old movies within.) Shauna loves a good end of the w...
May 29, 2025•42 min•Season 6Ep. 167
This week, the Pop Culture Junkies share their recommendations on what to experience in pop culture, today and yesterday. Shauna recs Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith and Olivia pushes everyone to see Speak No Evil with James McAvoy.
May 20, 2025•4 min•Ep. 3
This week, Shauna and Olivia are finally face to face and back in the studio after Olivia temporarily cures her Seasonal Affect Disorder with a trip to the sunny desert from gloomy San Francisco. After a brief celebration, the Junkies turn to one of today's most serious problems: Katy Perry. Once a teenage dream, now a middle-aged nightmare, Katy only seems to make headlines for ill-advised and tone-deaf actions. Shauna and Olivia remember Katy's golden years when she was a "Firework" dancing wi...
May 15, 2025•34 min•Season 6Ep. 166
In PCJ Pops , the Pop Culture Junkies share their recommendations on what to experience in pop culture, today and yesterday. This week, Shauna breaks down the Cobra Kai finale and Olivia describes everyone’s shock at The Last of Us, season 2, episode 2.
May 06, 2025•7 min•Ep. 2
Olivia and Shauna take a deep dive into Suzanne Collins' new book Sunrise on the Reaping. Set before the events of her Hunger Games trilogy, Sunrise on the Reaping is the story of young Haymitch Abernathy. The Junkies look at the book's origins, the philosophers who inspired the author, and how its themes of resistance, individual agency, controlling the narrative, and the use of propaganda inform the author's message. There will be some spoilers in the second segment of the show, if you haven't...
May 01, 2025•55 min•Season 6Ep. 165
In PCJ Pops , the Pop Culture Junkies share their recommendations on what to experience in pop culture, today and yesterday. In this episode, Olivia continues her 2024 binge read with Spiral by Bal Khabra (among others!) and anime fan Shauna finally watches the 1988 film Akira . Watch the full video version up to one week early on Patreon: patreon.com/PopCultureJunkiePodcast
Apr 22, 2025•9 min•Ep. 1
This week, the Junkies talk about the best pets in pop culture: the goodest boys, the bestest girls, the finest...fish? Whether furry, feathery or finned, animal characters in the media are often the most lovable and memorable. Shauna and Olivia discuss what makes a great on-screen critter. Cats, dogs or other? Animated or animatronic? Talking or mute? They list their favorites, including Garfield, who happens to both Junkies' spirit animal, and the pets they definitely wouldn't cuddle with, eve...
Apr 17, 2025•44 min•Season 6Ep. 164
Olivia and Shauna get pixelated this week with a look at The Sims, the long running game that allows - even encourages - murder and other virtual, victimless vices. They delve into the game lore, highlighting the oddball characters that appear in every version of the game, and discuss the various ways they make the game their own. The Junkies also talk about the Sims movie being produced by Margot Robbie, and answer the important question: does playing the Sims make us akin to the Old Testament ...
Apr 03, 2025•55 min•Season 6Ep. 136
Shauna and Olivia welcome special guest Michael E. Cullen, award-winning filmmaker and host of the All2ReelToopodcast. Michael has directed films like the horror comedy Pi Day Die Day (available on Tubi!), the Christmas horror film Shelved, and co-hosts the podcast All 2 Reel Too, a look at the "wild and wacky realm of pop culture". Michael joins the Junkies to talk about the 1983 NBC miniseries V, about a large-scale invasion of seemingly friendly, seemingly humanoid aliens. Michael and the Jun...
Mar 20, 2025•48 min•Season 6Ep. 162
Pulling an Uno Reverse from their last episode about celebrity feuds, Olivia and Shauna take on celebrity best buds, looking at famous people who genuinely like each other a lot. To figure out what makes a great friendship, the Junkies examine their own iconic pop culture friendship, and determine it's down to being annoying in the same way. Are celeb BFFs like Gayle and Oprah, Snoop and Martha, Cameron and Drew, Brad and George, Jennifer and Courteney, Ben and Matt, etc. also compatibly irritat...
Mar 06, 2025•41 min•Season 6Ep. 161
Celebrities are not like us: when they bicker amongst themselves, it's all over the news, and maybe even the Super Bowl half-time show. Shauna and Olivia break down why celebrities feud publicly - and why we like it so much. Olivia thinks maybe it's a way to satisfy our deep-seated need for interpersonal conflict in ways we mere mortals can't achieve in our petty office spats, while Shauna thinks we just really enjoy laughing at the rich, famous, and ridiculous. And both agree, these beefs can b...
Feb 20, 2025•58 min•Season 6Ep. 160
Olivia and Shauna are working on their long-distance relationship, but they're always together in spirit, especially when it comes to talking about pop culture. 2025 is going to be a monumental year, for better or worse, and in order to have something to look forward to, The Junkies discuss the pop culture they most want to put in their veins this year. Olivia tries to convince Shauna to keep watching White Lotus, and Shauna makes Olivia promise to go see the new Fantastic Four movie with her. B...
Feb 06, 2025•40 min•Season 6Ep. 159
Olivia and Shauna find themselves on the Naughty List (again) this holiday season, so this episode is all about those holiday romance movies - the kind where big-city girls visit their hometowns and fall for a hunky carpenter/baker/farmer (or whatever) and learn the true meaning of Christmas. These movies are often associated with the Hallmark Channel, but can be seen everywhere, really. Netflix in particular, is doing their best to put their own stamp on the genre, peopling the films with male ...
Dec 19, 2024•43 min•Season 5Ep. 158
This week, Olivia and Shauna give their book reports - how many books they've read this year above and beyond their goal, and not to brag, but we know two people who'll get coupons for a personal pan pizza this year. In other news, it's the holiday season, and for a lot of us, that means traveling, whether to get to or get away from family. And the perfect marriage of pop culture and traveling is the road trip movie. The Junkies talk about what makes a great road trip movie, and name some of the...
Dec 05, 2024•47 min•Season 5Ep. 157
The Junkies gather together to mourn some hopes, but also to celebrate an important victory. And while the future looks uncertain, Shauna and Olivia vow that we'll all get through whatever comes next together, and pop culture is going to help us do just that. Speaking of girl power and pop culture (and we were!), this week the Junkies take a good look at the history of feminism and how it was represented by pop culture. The Junkies recount the history, starting over a hundred years ago with the ...
Nov 21, 2024•47 min•Season 5Ep. 156
Olivia recently spent some time in San Francisco, giving her time to think about her proximity to the Zodiac Killer's turf (and to binge watch both Princess Diaries movies.) Shauna continues to brush up against the cool and the famous in her quest to save Arizona from itself by getting out the vote. Speaking of propositions, the Junkies (and everyone) are nervous about the upcoming election, so what better way to cope than by...talking about politics? Specifically the intersection between pop cu...
Nov 07, 2024•58 min•Season 5Ep. 155
Olivia is back from the Big Apple, where she took a tour through Jimmy Fallon's "Tonightmares" - a haunted house based on the late night host's own personal night terrors. Shauna is continuing to fight the good fight politically here in AZ, and as a reward got to meet a certain 'Electra-fying' star. The Junkies then discuss the perfect pairing of Halloween and pop culture, specifically in the multifaceted horror movie genre. From slashers to monster movies to psychological horror, this genre is ...
Oct 24, 2024•57 min•Season 5Ep. 154
Shauna details her busy week getting interviewed by the national press (and the advocacy work that got their attention, and Olivia describes her slightly less fun adventures (though she did get a chance to consume a LOT of pop culture.) Then Shauna tells us about being a mathlete until Olivia challenges her to a bit of mental arithmetic and...BUSTED! Speaking of mental stuff, this week The Junkies look at the Uncanny Valley phenomenon, that eerie feeling we all get when we see something that is ...
Oct 10, 2024•43 min•Season 5Ep. 153
Don't say it three times! Shauna details her recent encounter with a celebrity. Who was it? You'll have to listen to find out, but he's super cool, has gorgeous eyes, and is a great tipper. Olivia had an encounter with...Utah, thanks to The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, a Hulu series about one of the naughtiest Mormon momfluencers on television now. Then the Junkies segue into a look at Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, a sequel 36 years in the making. Fans of this podcast know we covered the first Beetl...
Sep 26, 2024•47 min•Season 5Ep. 152
Olivia and Shauna start talking about bangs – the kind that you choose deliberately, not trauma bangs, and then…plot twist! No, that’s this week’s show topic: twist endings – the epic and the awful. While they do happen on television (usually ruining several years of storytelling), the most memorable twist endings are in movies. But why do filmmakers (including the patron saint of twists, M. Night Shyamalan) use them? What makes a good twist as opposed to a maddening one? The Junkies list their ...
Sep 12, 2024•36 min•Season 5Ep. 151
Olivia and Shauna face an inconvenient truth: no family gets more airtime on Pop Culture Junkie than the Kardashians. And that’s odd, especially since Shauna could at one time claim to never have seen an episode. But she can’t be an anti-Kardashian pick-me any more, because ‘Keeping Up with the Kardashians’ is the subject of this episode. The Junkies look at the family’s entry into the zeitgeist and how the so-called reality show (and its many spinoffs) that made the whole family famous turned i...
Sep 05, 2024•49 min•Season 5Ep. 150
Shauna is obsessed with getting through this journey we call life, and what better way to do that than with a little bit of pop culture? She has controversial takes on the finales of both House of the Dragon and The Bear, and watching the Love Island reunion makes her wonder if she should catch the U.K. episodes. Olivia speaks out in defense of Blake Lively, who got roasted about stuff her hubby didn’t when his new movie came out. And a new documentary about the murder of Laci Peterson has her w...
Aug 29, 2024•55 min•Season 5Ep. 149
Olivia complains about how Shauna "Elle Woodsed" her at her recent pool party, but Shauna tells her that her costume was perfection, even if she was the only one who showed up in one. Olivia's on a documentary kick right now, so if you want some amazing true crime reccs, she's got you. Shauna is still giddy from Deadpool & Wolverine, but manages to not spoil any of it for you (or Olivia.) She's also watching Love Island, which leaves her less than giddy, which makes her think of a recent doc...
Aug 08, 2024•37 min•Season 5Ep. 148
Shauna and Olivia try to come to grips with the most jaw-dropping announcement from last week's San Diego Comic Con event: Robert Downey Jr. is returning to the MCU, but not as Tony Stark. No, he's going to play Victor Von Doom/Doctor Doom, the MCU's new Big Bad. The Pop Culture Junkie Podcast can now be seen on YouTube! Click here: https://www.youtube.com/@popculturejunkiepod/videos We have all new Patreon tiers! Be the first to hear new and uncensored content, if you dare! Click here: https://...
Aug 01, 2024•3 min
Shauna fills Olivia in on what she's been doing lately - as if they both didn't just spend the week on a girls trip in Mexico. Shauna tells us how she was detained by TSA upon re-entering the USA, (it's not as bad as it sounds!) and both she and Olivia agree there was a lot of sad pop culture news to take in upon their return. To get out of that funk, the Junkies talk about the lighthearted family comedy/snuff film their producers made them watch: Roar, also called "The Most Dangerous Movie Ever...
Jul 25, 2024•38 min•Season 5Ep. 147
Olivia is deep in her obsession with all things Game of Thrones, going down rabbit holes about the lore and boning up on her knowledge for a GoT trivia night! Shauna's appreciation of the acting skills of Fabien Frankel (House of the Dragon's Ser Crispy Creme) because he is an awesome villain leads her to want to play a villain - if she wins an Emmy, being hated would be worth it! And both Junkies agree that having this podcast is a wonderful outlet for all the pop culture thoughts that fill the...
Jul 18, 2024•1 hr 2 min•Season 5Ep. 146
