Hey darlings! The sleepover is about to get REAL as we analyze the films that made us....and possibly Ryan Coogler - DCOMs!

That's right, we unpack the history of the Disney Channel Original Movie, why they were so integral to our childhoods, and how they became Disney's unexpected billion dollar side hustle. Then we put the films themselves to the test in an epic bracket showdown, there were laughs, there were tears, and one film reigned supreme!

Some fascinating further reading on the DCOM:

https://www.morningbrew.com/stories/oral-history-of-the-disney-channel-original-movie

https://angelahammon.substack.com/p/are-disney-channel-original-movies?utm_medium=web

Be a darling and join the sleepover:

Instagram, TikTok, & Youtube: @pausepodgirls

Music by Alanna Skye Quiton (@alanna_sky)

Graphic design by Rachel Yen

Welcome back Darlings! Season 2 is here and we are starting with a bang!

This week we dive into the magical land of Oz for the highly anticipated Wicked: For Good. Join us as we discuss Glinda's character development, female friendship, the lost art of the Hollywood musical, and how authoritarian regimes use a bit of sparkle! Then for our rewind we discuss the gal that started it all, The Wizard of Oz.

In our fast forward segment we give you our holiday watch lists and crown modern Christmas classics. Thanks so much for listening, its going to be a stellar season!

Be a Darling and join the sleepover:

Instagram, TikTok, & Youtube: @pausepodgirls

Music by Alanna Skye Quiton (@alanna_skye)

Graphic design by Rachel Yen

Welcome back Darlings! We've made it to our Season One Finale!

This week we're closing out spooky season (and our first season) with a double feature that left us emotionally wrecked and shaking in our boots: His House and Psycho. From modern indie horror to Hitchcock's revolutionary classic, we're unpacking guilt, survival, and why horror is so much more than jump scares.

We're reflecting on our journey through the world of horror, showing respect to our elders, and processing why these films about inner demons and outer terrors have us feeling all the feelings. From building our personal horror curriculum to discovering that the scariest monsters are often the ones we carry with us, this finale is equal parts spooky and sentimental.

And because it's a finale, we're also doing our Q3 Letterboxd roundup where we're sharing our favorite films from the last quarter of the year. Kara's picks are Heartburn and One Battle After Another, while Dani's going with The Long Walk and Him (which features her newest celebrity crush AND an FSU alum, go Noles!).

We are so grateful to all of our fans this season! We've loved discussing films with you and we have so much exciting stuff planned for next season that we cannot wait to share. So grab your blanket (to hide under), a friend (to hold onto), and your comfort chaser (to prevent nightmares). This is a season sendoff you don't want to miss.

Goodbye and see y'all next season!

Be a Darling and join the sleepover:

Instagram, TikTok, Youtube: @pausepodgirls

Music by Alanna Skye Quiton (Socials @alanna_skye___)

Graphics by Rachel Yen

Welcome back Darlings! This week we are debuting a new series in which we venture into the depths of the film bro cannon to see if that guy from your bio class freshman year who couldn't stop talking about his auteur taste was actually right - and put the film bro faves to the indie darling test!

And who better to start with then the legend himself, Martin Scorsese! We discuss two of Marty's most talked about films, The Wolf of Wall Street and Taxi Driver. Join us as we interrogate the link between satire and masculinity, the power of color and camera movement, and stick around for Fast Forward where we give some hot takes on the AI "actress", Tilly Norwood!

Shoutout to Tiktok creator @jamaalburkmar who we reference during what gave us pause this week!

Be a darling and join the sleepover:

Instagram: @pausepodgirls

Tiktok: @pausepodgirls

Youtube: @pausepodgirls

Music by Alanna Skye Quiton: @alanna_skye

Welcome back Darlings! This week we're embracing full cozy season mode and sharing our ultimate fall watch list with all the autumnal vibes you need.

From the crisp New York streets of You've Got Mail to Bella’s depression window in Twilight, we’re building the ultimate autumn watchlist full of nostalgia, witchy vibes, and dark academia feels.

We unpack why certain movies just feel like fall, why rewatching shows like Gilmore Girls is basically a seasonal ritual, and how comfort watches shape the way we experience nostalgia. We're talking witchy sisterhood in Practical Magic, dark academia energy with Dead Poets Society, and why being a “try-hard” is actually empowering in Election.

We're also getting into film festival season, discussing accessibility in the arts, and Dani shares her thoughts on Twinless (and “that” leaked scene).

So light a candle, grab your favorite blanket, and press play. This is the coziest cinematic sleepover you’ll have all season.

Welcome back Darlings! This week we’re spotlighting our girl, Celine Song, and diving into the dreamy and devastating world of our romance queen.

From Materialists to Past Lives, we’re unpacking love, money, and why rom-coms might just be a dying genre. Is Materialists broke man propaganda? Do men who yearn really earn? What the hell is a high value man/woman?

We welcomed our favourite certified lover boy Austin Adams to the sleepover this week to break down how capitalism shapes modern romance, why flawed characters are more fun to watch, and how Celine Song is rewriting the rules of love on screen.

So grab your popcorn, fuzzy socks, and maybe even a box of tissues. We promise this is a sleepover you don’t want to miss.

Be a Darling and join the sleepover:

Instagram: @pausepodgirls

TikTok: @pausepodgirls

Youtube: @pausepodgirls

Music by Alanna Skye Quiton (Socials ⁠⁠@alanna_skye⁠⁠_)

Graphics by Rachel Yen

Welcome back Darlings! This week we're putting two superhero blockbusters head to head Superman vs Fantastic Four, and wrapping up our fave films of the summer!

Spoiler alert: We had very strong opinions about character development, plot holes, and the importance of the squirrel. We got deep about authenticity in superhero storytelling and what it'll mean for the future of superhero films.

As always, we're bringing you film discussions that feel like sleepovers with your besties. So grab your popcorn, get cozy, and join us as we crown the champion of the Superhero Showdown.

Be a Darling and join the sleepover:

Instagram: @pausepodgirls

TikTok: @pausepodgirls

Youtube: @pausepodgirls

Music by Alanna Skye Quiton (Socials ⁠@alanna_skye⁠_)

Graphics by Rachel Yen

Welcome to Pause Pod, where two gals who love film try to yap their way into becoming indie darlings ✨

Hey girlinas! We’re Dani and Kara, two film obsessed besties. One of us is in the UK, the other in the USA, and we created this space because we were tired of film bro culture making us feel like we had to prove ourselves to enjoy movies.

Pause Pod is your safe space to love cinema however feels right to you. Whether you cry at every cheesy rom com, have hot takes about deeper meaning behind horror films, or think the twilight saga deserved an Oscar for the scene where Bella is depressed staring out her window for four months - this is your home.

We believe film discussions should feel like sleepovers with your besties. It should be fun and intellectual, but never pretentious.

In this episode:

We give each other a blind date with a film and dive into House Bunny & Frances Ha, as well as give our hot takes on who should be the next James Bond!

our segments:

play - our main film reviews and deep dives

rewind - revisiting films with fresh eyes or a comparative focus on multiple films by the same directors/actors.

fast forward - upcoming releases and film news we're buzzing about

pause - behind the scenes moments, random life updates, or stories that made us, well, pause

new episodes drop every other Wednesday because we believe good conversations can't be rushed (and we’re working gals. No burnout round these parts)

However if you’re DESPERATE for content we'll be posting clips, behind the scenes moments, and way too many instagram stories to keep you thoroughly entertained between episodes.

Be a Darling and join the sleepover:

instagram: @pausepodgirls

tiktok: @pausepodgirls

Youtube: @pausepodgirls

Music by Alanna Skye Quiton (Socials @alanna_skye_)

Graphics by Rachel Yen