Avengers: Infinity War, Janelle Monae’s Dirty Computer, Tribeca Film Festival, Kanye West- IP 121

May 2, 2018 | insidepoppodcast

We’ve witnessed (and survived) a huge week in pop culture and are here to tell the tale!

First, we share our SPOILER FREE thoughts about the latest chapter in Marvel’s Avengers series- Avengers: Infinity War, and find out if the superhero filled sequel succeeded in meeting our expectations

Then, we’re all about Janelle Monae’s latest album, Dirty Computer, and the accompanying emotion picture. We predict the songs we want to be the next single and chat about her musical evolution from her first album to this new offering.

Plus, we had the privilege to see a Tribeca Talk featuring Oscar winning screenwriter & director Alexander Payne and legendary talk show host Dick Cavett and share some of the tidbits from their conversation.

And Sean gives his thoughts on Kanye’s latest public statements.

And of course, The Big Sell. Amita shares the musical journey she went on with Sean’s three tiered Prince video project and shares an EP from a young jazz/soul/pop singer from New Zealand named Wallace.

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Westworld Season 2, My House on Viceland, Tribeca Film Festival 2018, Rhye – IP 120

April 25, 2018April 24, 2018 | insidepoppodcast

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On this episode, Sean discusses his thoughts and predictions about Westworld Season 2 and shares a helpful NYTimes Season 1 recap to refresh Amita’s memory on the sci-fi fantasy series. Then, Amita has an exclusive sit down with Sean about his latest project, the new Viceland follow doc series, My House which chronicles the lives of performers in the NYC vogue ballroom scene.

And the 2018 Tribeca Film Festival has started and we had the privilege to watch a couple of music focused documentaries- Howard and Blue Note Records: Beyond the Notes.

Plus, Sean gives his 2 cents and rates last week’s Big Sell, an intimate NPR Tiny Desk Concert from the R&B/pop group, Rhye.

And join Amita in Sean’s Big Sell project. Listen to these three very different versions of Nothing Compares 2 U and tell us what you think of each version:

The original version of the song by Prince protege group – The Family

Sinead O’Connor’s famous cover

The newly released version of Prince & the Revolution preforming the song at a rehearsal

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Beyonce at Coachella, Kendrick Lamar wins the Pulitzer, Scandal Signs Off – IP 119

April 17, 2018April 18, 2018 | insidepoppodcast

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This week it’s all about Black (Overachieving) Excellence!

Beyonce Knowles Carter descended from the uppermost level of Heaven and bestowed us with the gift of her life changing performance at Coachella – or as it shall now be forever known . . . BEYCHELLA. We’ll share our reactions to the performance and our reactions to the reactions of her performance.

Kendrick Lamar made history this week by becoming the first Hip Hop artist to win the Pulitzer Prize. We’ll discuss why this is a huge deal for hip hop and the culture at large.

Shonda Rhimes and Kerry Washington end the sensational and soapy groundbreaking series, Scandal this week. We’ll discuss the relevancy of one of television’s most diverse and jaw dropping shows.

And the Big Sell shines a light on an amazing music/video/fashion collaboration featuring singers Karen O and Michael Kiwanuka; director Ana Lily Amirpour and fashion house Kenzo.

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Cardi B’s Invasion of Privacy, A Quiet Place, Children of a Lesser God, Saturday Night Live, P!nk – IP 118

April 11, 2018 | insidepoppodcast

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This week we have a proverbial pop culture hat trick with a trifecta of TV, Film and Music covered in our episode.

It may seem like there was not a time before you knew Cardi B existed – but she’s just released her debut album, Invasion of Privacy, and we’re telling you what we think of it- plus sharing our thoughts on her SNL performance (and her SNL ‘announcement’).

We review the number one movie of the week, A Quiet Place and the broadway revival of Children of a Lesser God and discuss how each portrays its hearing impaired characters.

And Amita talks about the swinging time she had with P!nk at Madison Square Garden.

Plus the Big Sell!

And we tell you why the time is NOW to become a member of the Maximum Fun podcast network!

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Spring 2018 Pop Culture Preview, Max Fun Drive – IP 117

April 4, 2018April 3, 2018 | insidepoppodcast

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In honor of the Max Fun Drive- we are proud to present our Spring Pop Culture Preview! We’ll share some inside info on the highly anticipated TV, Film and Music due out this Spring. And to help us out- our special guests – the hosts of Long Distance POPcast and JoJCast also share their picks!

Spring is no longer the season to bide your time while you await the big summer blockbusters and concert tours. Some of the most innovative and surprising pieces of pop culture are about to slide into your earbuds and onto your television and movie screens and we’ll tell you what cannot be missed!

Spring is also the time to support your favorite podcasts by becoming a member of Maximum Fun! We’ll tell you the glory (and gifts) that await you if you decide to become a member or renew your membership.

Take a look below at all of the upcoming pop culture packed into this special podcast!

Music

Janelle Monae – Dirty Computer

Elton John Revamp

Lake Street Dive

Movies

Tully

Grace Jones: Bloodlight and Bami

Television

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RuPaul’s Drag Race, Deadpool 2 Trailer, Lena Waithe in Vanity Fair – IP 116

March 28, 2018March 27, 2018 | insidepoppodcast

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We have more pop culture stuffed into this episode than RuPaul has catchphrases. Almost!

This week we sashay our way into the world of RuPaul’s Drag Race. We discuss the show’s increasing popularity and shed some light on the surprising demographic that has made the show bigger than ever after ten seasons on the air.

Then, we react to the new Deadpool 2 trailer – Amita’s here for the humor and action; Sean’s here for the MCU’s first openly bisexual hero (and the ensuant fantasies he provokes).

Plus, we preview the new Vanity Fair profile of writer/producer/actor Lena Waithe and discuss what her current success says (or doesn’t say) about the future of Hollywood.

And it’s a musical Big Sell as Sean sees Amita’s Kali Uchis Sell and raises her one Leon Bridges.

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Atlanta Season 2, Avengers: Infinity War trailer, Saturday Night Live, Wolverine Podcast – IP 115

March 21, 2018March 20, 2018 | insidepoppodcast

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This episode is the ultimate pop culture to do list for the week!

DO listen to our review of the second season of Donald Glover’s series, Atlanta. We discuss whether the show overcomes the dreaded sophomore season slump.

DO hear our reaction to the latest trailer for Marvel’s Avengers: Infinity War. Who will live and who will die? We share our guesses and also estimate how much screen time Doctor Strange will get since he is sharing the screen with 8,000 other heroes.

DO NOT feel any jealousy as Sean tells you what it was like to attend a taping of Saturday Night Live.

DO wonder whether Amita will enjoy Sean’s Big Sell from last week – the new podcast, Wolverine: The Long Night. And also find out which heroes they think should be next to have their own podcast. The inspiration for Sean’s answer can be found in this amazing comic written by Greg Pak.

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A Wrinkle in Time, Jessica Jones, Sade, Meshell Ndegeocello, Carousel, Vulfpeck – IP 114

March 14, 2018 | insidepoppodcast

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This week’s episode of Inside Pop has the following Inclusion Rider: Our 114th episode must celebrate the creativity and diversity of women in film, music and television.

The show begins with a review of Ava DuVernay’s epic adaptation of A Wrinkle in Time. Amita discusses what she most loves about the film and Sean questions whether the film’s box office performance and overall reception was affected by the phenomenon that is Black Panther. Amita also shares some of the insight she got from Ava herself at DuVernay’s Times Talk last week.

Then, Amita and Sean rejoice over Sade’s new song, ‘Flowers of the Universe’ (Amita loves this remix of the song).

Next, the Pop Insiders move on to TV and Sean provides a spoiler free review of the second season of Marvel’s Jessica Jones. Will he convince Amita to give the show a try? Stay tuned.

The co-hosts also review Meshell Ndegeocello’s new new album of covers, Ventriloquism, which touches their Gen-X hearts with innovative and emotional covers of songs from the 80’s and 90’s including Prince’s “Sometimes it Snows in April”, Force MD’s “Tender Love” and Janet Jackson’s “Funny How Time Flies (When You’re Having Fun)”.

Plus, Sean talks about seeing the new revival of the musical Carousel on Broadway starring Renée Fleming and Joshua Henry (his Instagram is a must follow if you love soulful acoustic versions of songs from Hamilton and of course you love that) and discusses the challenges of enjoying a musical from the 50’s that has domestic abuse as a main plot point.

And the Big Sell returns from its month long sabbatical with a bang! Hear Sean’s review of Vulfpeck. And guess which new podcast he’s selling to Amita? The answer will NOT surprise you!

As promised – Sean’s favorite Mama tribute song.

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Black Panther Box Office records, Janelle Monae, Musicians turned Actors, Vulfpeck – IP 111

February 21, 2018 | insidepoppodcast

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We can’t help but discuss Black Panther again- from the shattered box office records to the worldwide reaction-
Wakanda Forever!

Plus, Christmas came early with the 30 second teaser trailer for Janelle Monae’s latest ’emotion picture’ Dirty Computer. We speculate on when we’ll get new music from Monae, and some of the themes in the trailer.

Then, we discuss musicians who became actors- some successfully and some…not so much.

And Amita gives her review of the Atlantic article about Black Panther Costume Designer Ruth Carter and sells Sean on a feel good funk album from the band, Vulfpeck.

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Black Panther Special, Hamilton’s Hamildrops – IP 110

February 16, 2018 | insidepoppodcast

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From the moment the Black Panther cast took a group selfie at Comic Con the anticipation and expectations for this film began to grow; and over the past year the buzz has reached a fever pitch (especially for these two podcast hosts). Well, the film has arrived and Inside Pop is devoting this episode to everything Wakanda!

We share our review of the film (just moments after seeing a special screening) and discuss the highlights and the themes that most resonated with us.

Then we review the soundtrack for the film which is curated by Kendrick Lamar and features Lamar, Sza, 2 Chains, Jorja Smith and Khalid.

The only way we would divert from our Black Panther deep dive is to review last week’s Hamilton related Big Sell.

And Sean ends this episode with a Black Panther related Big Sell which he hopes will help Amita appreciate the film even more than she already does.

Wakanda Forever!

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