On this episode of Whatever This Is Called, we’re sharing the music, books, movies, and TV shows that have been grabbing our attention lately. From heavy riffs to dystopian sci-fi, these are the recommendations we think are worth your time.

🎵 Music: The Warning’s powerful modern rock, Nile Marr’s shimmering indie record Are You Happy Now?, and the theatrical doom of Castle Rat. 📚 Books: Josh Brolin’s gritty From Under the Truck and Matt Dinniman’s wildly imaginative Dungeon Crawler Carl series. 🎬 Movies: A Decade Under the Influence, a deep dive into the 1970s New Hollywood movement, and the cult horror classic Freaks (1932). 📺 TV: Apple TV+’s Silo, Disney+’s Andor, and Netflix’s Alice in Borderland.

We break down what makes these picks stand out, how they connect to bigger themes in pop culture, and why you should check them out.

Listen in, and don’t forget to share your own recommendations—we’d love to hear what you’re into right now!

It’s here! 🎉 Our new Whatever This Is Called podcast episode is all about John Candy—one of comedy’s most beloved legends. We cover everything from his breakout hits to his incredible run in 1991, plus deep dives into fan favorites like Uncle Buck, Planes, Trains & Automobiles, and Follow That Bird.

Join us as we celebrate his unforgettable humor, warm-hearted performances, and the lasting mark he left on movies and pop culture.

👉 Listen now and subscribe for more weekly pop culture, movies, music, and book discussions!

#johncandy #comedy #movies #popculture #unclebuck #planestrainsandautomobiles #followthatbird #podcast #90smovies #80smovies

Why does Stephen King remain one of the most enduring authors of all time? From Carrie to It to The Stand and beyond, his stories have terrified and inspired readers for decades. King’s appeal lies not just in his scares, but in his deeply human characters, small-town atmospheres, and universal themes of fear, hope, and survival. Whether it’s vampires in ’Salem’s Lot, childhood trauma in It, or redemption in The Shawshank Redemption, his work always strikes at the heart of what makes us human.

#stephenking #horror #movies #books #literature #culture #writing

This week on Whatever This Is Called, we dive headfirst into our favorite pop culture guilty pleasures—the stuff we secretly (or not so secretly) love. From outrageous Christmas horror movies and iconic dance flicks to unforgettable one hit wonders, we’re celebrating the weird, the nostalgic, and the downright fun. We get into Weird Al Yankovic’s parodies, the rise of 90s and early 2000s girl pop singers, and our love for over-the-top disaster movies that never fail to entertain. Whether you’re a fan of Independence Day, Step Up, or blasting “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” on repeat, this episode is your permission slip to embrace the guilty pleasures that shaped our playlists and watchlists.

🎧 Tune in, laugh with us, and maybe rediscover your own pop culture obsessions.

#popculture #guiltypleasures #christmashorror #dancemovies #onehitwonders #weirdal #90spop #2000spop #disastermovies #podcast

In this episode of Whatever This Is Called, we share stories from some of the most unforgettable concerts we’ve ever seen. From Buffalo Tom’s indie grit and Tom Petty’s timeless rock, to the jam-heavy nights of Dave Matthews Band and the explosive energy of Pearl Jam, we dive into the moments that stuck with us forever.

We also talk about the wild stage antics of Jackyl, and revisit the controversial but fascinating era of Van Halen with Gary Cherone. It’s a mix of nostalgia, music history, and personal stories that remind us why live shows matter so much.

👉 If you’ve ever left a concert changed forever, you’ll love this episode.

📌 New episodes drop every Friday at noon!

🔔 Don’t forget to subscribe for more music + pop culture deep dives!

#livemusic #concertstories #pearljam #tommpetty #davematthewsband #buffalotom #jackyl #vanhalen #garycherone #whateverthisiscalledpodcast

In this episode of Whatever This Is Called Podcast, we dive into the movies and TV episodes that scarred us for life as kids. From Salem’s Lot’s floating vampire boy at the window, to Ralph Bellamy’s chilling turn as the old vampire in The Twilight Zone, to the goblins of Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark and the monsters under the bed in Amazing Stories: The Shadow Man. We also revisit the creepy anthology worlds of Tales from the Darkside and Creepshow, the shocking violence of RoboCop, and other “what was I even watching at 8 years old?” nightmares.

If you grew up in the 80s or 90s and remember staying up too late watching horror movies, TV specials, and strange anthology shows, this episode will hit home. We share our own stories, break down why these scenes were so traumatizing, and talk about how they still hold up as some of the scariest moments ever put on screen.

Whether you were terrified by monsters in the closet, the Grither at Christmas, or a swarm of cockroaches, this conversation will take you back to those nights when you watched something you definitely weren’t supposed to.

🎬 Why Movie Remakes Do (and Don’t) Work | Red Dawn, Footloose, The Thing, Dawn of the Dead & More

Scott and I dive deep into Hollywood’s obsession with remakes — exploring why some reimaginings succeed while others crash and burn. We break down iconic examples like Red Dawn, Footloose, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Dawn of the Dead, The Thing, and War of the Worlds, comparing them to their originals and analyzing what worked, what failed, and why.

From changes in tone and casting to shifts in cultural relevance, we explore:

• What makes a remake worth doing
• Why nostalgia can be a double-edged sword
• How reboots sometimes surpass the original
• The dangers of losing the heart of the story

If you love movies, film history, and spirited debates about cinema, this episode is for you.

In this episode, Scott and Stephen dive into the world of cinematic discomfort, exploring films that make audiences cringe with their awkward premises and questionable execution. From the infamous "Tiptoes" to the bewildering "Soul Man," they discuss how these movies push the boundaries of taste and storytelling. Join them as they navigate through a list of films that leave viewers sucking air through their teeth, questioning how these projects ever got the green light. Tune in for a nostalgic yet critical look at the evolution of cringe-worthy cinema.