January and February media post

Here are some shows, movies and podcasts I've been watching and listening to

Hi Stackers!

While I mostly write about books, I do like to write occasionally about the other media that I interact with. Memes and reels have become a bigger and bigger part of my lexicon the last few years, like the image below, which felt fitting because Star Trek has been a big feature in my “other media” posts the last few months. I wish I knew who made this, but I haven’t been able to track it back to a creator. If you know, let me know. I’m pretty sure I snagged it on Bluesky to share with my Trekkie beloveds.

Speaking of memes, Jamie Loftus does a fantastic job of researching memes and interviewing the the folks behind them on her Sixteenth Minute (of Fame) podcast. I’m usually 5-10 years behind folks when it comes to music and other pop culture interests, so while I was alive, sentient and on social media for all of the memes she covers, they’re usually new or new-ish to me. Memes, as well as podcasts, are pop culture, dare I saw even art and news, movements that impact people’s lives, so I think it makes sense to break them down, discuss and review them. I listen to every episode of Sixteenth Minute and often share them with friends in the hope of sparking a conversation.

I listen to a lot of Crooked Media shows and while I’ve often been very frustrated with the news and some of the takes on Pod Save America, I appreciate that they’ve been doing some “harder” interviews, like the recent one with Bill Maher. As I said on Twitter directly while listening:

“Lise” is meant to be “listen” - so please kindly ignore that typo. :)

Every episode of Assembly Required with Stacey Abrams has been thought-provoking and has made me feel both more hopeful and less alone. One thing about Stacey Abrams is that she’s too practical and honest to be toxically positive. The hope she offers is always an active one - we can find hope together only by doing what we can every chance we get. I have really needed that, personally.

It’s nice to listen to podcasts that don’t usually touch on current events or politics, too, as a break from both the other podcasts and you know… real life.

Three of these recently mentioned David Lynch, who died in January, two of them covering the same film, so that was a nice respite, especially as all three podcasts mentioned how nice he genuinely seemed to be to work with, which can be unfortunately rare. Unspooled and American Hysteria (with the hosts of You Are Good) both covered Mulholland Drive, which is another movie I haven’t watched in a long time, but plan to re-watch soon. When Mulholland Drive came out, I was a college undergraduate obsessed with and studying film. I rented a literal tape of the film, watched it, then re-wound it and watched it again straight through - and I’m not sure I ever understood this film, but I appreciated Amy and Paul’s discussion about, as well as Chelsey Weber-Smith’s emotional and passionate discussion with Sarah Marshall and Alex Steed. Sarah Marshall also talked about David Lynch on You’re Wrong About’s recent Oscar episode with Michael Schulman.

Unspooled recently covered 10 Things I Hate About You, which prompted me to re-watch it for the first time in a long time (since before Heath Ledger’s death). I enjoyed Amy and Paul’s commentary, especially since it was Paul’s first time watching it. It holds up really well in most ways and brought back so many feelings for me. I was obsessed with this movie and the soundtrack (I was 17 when it came out, the absolute perfect age for this film), but I was so devastated by Heath Ledger’s death that I haven’t watched any of his movies since he passed. It was nice to come back to this movie nostalgic, but not emotionally devastated. I mostly felt really, really grateful that this performance of his was captured - it’s really great. This film is surprisingly wholesome considering it was made in the 90s, features a paid-to-date plot and an overprotective father, as well as several weird teacher-student dynamics.

Another movie I recently re-watched was Breakfast At Tiffany’s, which AARP screened for Valentine’s Day. It was fun to watch this at a group online screening, since folks could chat about it and share nostalgia appreciation for the film. I’m not sure when I last watched this one, but you may have noticed I included two screenshots from it in some of my Flyte posts about finances - particularly apt because money, feelings about money, a desperation for the security it can bring, is a big part of this film.

I spend a lot of time listening to audiobooks and podcasts, as you might have noticed, so it’s been a long time since I’ve re-watched so many movies. Whenever I do watch or re-watch movies, I remember how much I love film, both the watching and the making of them.

How about y’all? What are you listening to or watching lately? Did you do a Lynchian deep dive since he passed? Are there some films you’ve struggled to watch or re-watch over time? How many of the Oscar films have you seen and what were your favorites?