This week, Brooke veers a little away from pop culture to discuss the election and the feelings many are having. Including here. And what we can do to move forward. Gracie Abrams’ “That’s So True”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7djQsPAGIxc Pop Culture Mondays Newsletter: https://popculturemondays.com Brooke’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/br…

Before Brooke heads out on a quick vacation, she gives us an explainer for all things Chicken Shop Date and its host, Amelia Dimoldenberg, and why she and Andrew Garfield have broken the Internet. Brooke also raves about her new favorite show straight from across the pond, “Rivals,” on Hulu. It’s a bonkbuster, as they say! And, of course, a few mor…

SNL isn’t always at the center of pop culture these days, but this past weekend was a doozie with Stevie Nicks as the musical act and Ariana Grande as the host. It was a show full of some great moments, which Brooke highlights. But it’s also a heavy time as the election creeps up, and Brooke acknowledges that the anxiety is impacting a lot of peopl…

This week, Brooke spends a lot of time talking about the horrifying hurricane that is impacting Florida and promising to be one of the most destructive. She looks at how people are taking to social media not just to show what they’re doing to prep or to evacuate but also to use the opportunity to tell stories about themselves that, let’s just say, …

This week, Brooke talks about the world needing some joy with all the bad news surrounding us and election anxiety. From our newest obsession, Netflix’s “Nobody Wants This,” to Pesto, the giant baby king penguin, to Moo Deng, our fave pygmy hippo, the world is trying to heal. Pop Culture Mondays Newsletter: https://popculturemondays.com Nobody Want…

Brooke starts off this week by explaining her personal reasons for being more publicly vocal against Trump. Then, while the Diddy news has been much discussed, including in this week’s newsletter, Brooke talks specifically about the growing noise around an alleged Justin Bieber song that includes lyrics about a Diddy party, but which is actually an…

This week, Brooke talks about the exciting launch of popculturemondays.com and the new newsletter format. Thank you to the amazing team at WordPress! She also breaks her cardinal rule, which is being Trump-free, but it's worth it because she gets into all of the debate memes, from eating cats and dogs, to Monica Lewinsky and the Drudge Report, to E…

This week, Brooke is back after the Labor Day long weekend and is coming to you from the tail end of a brutal Los Angeles heatwave. There’s a lot to catch up on, from TikTok trends to new TV shows, but first, Brooke talks about the backlash she received on Threads for posting about how we have to be friends with people who have different political …

This week, Brooke starts off with a little recap of all the most meme-able moments from the DNC. While there’s lots of other pop culture things happening, Brooke breaks down the Oasis comeback and why it’s so impactful. Anyone remember Blur?? Enjoy! Pop Culture Mondays/8.26.24medium.com 37 likes, 2 comments. “Part 2: Treating my dog who has cancer.…

This week, Brooke looks at the “Very Demure, Very Mindful” trend that has ripped through every part of culture. You really would be living under a rock if you missed it. From brands to the White House, this is the follow up to BRAT that we were all waiting for. But where did it come from? Brooke will give you all the background intel. She also touc…

This week, Brooke tries to say more in less time! No one needs an hour-long podcast, so she’s working at keeping it tighter... for now! Brooke talks about the Elon/Trump dumpster fire of an interview because she has to but doesn’t want to. She really only wants to talk about her favorite moment from the Olympics (not the breakdancer). And we also h…

The Olympics are still going strong and this week, Brooke kicks off with a quick summary of some of the latest memes coming out of the Paris games. Then, despite this not being a political podcast, politics and pop culture have once again collided and launched an epic meme-fest, which Brooke digs into. From Tim Walz referencing JD Vance and the cou…

While there's still some politics to go over, Brooke quickly gets into the only thing that seems to be unifying the nation — or is it?? — the Olympics. While the Opening Ceremony admittedly was bonkers (but maybe in the best of ways…), America is once again divided, and this time, over whether a tableau featuring drag queens et al. in the ceremony …

This week, Brooke speaks almost exclusively about the vibe shift the US is seeing thanks to the Presidential campaign shake-up and how much of a pop culture story it is. Coconuts for days! Pop Culture Mondays Newsletter: https://medium.com/popculturemondays Brooke’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brooke/ Brooke’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/…

Brooke took a pod break so this week she catches us up on some trends including:-Brat Summer -Teen boys and smellmaxxing and chiseled jaws But inevitably she had to address the assassination attempt on Trump and how the Internet responded. Sometimes humor is the best way to handle stressful situations. And then there were big losses, especially for…

For a week where we thought the biggest news was Justin Timberlake’s arrest, little did we know that this was just the beginning. From the DUI that launched a billion memes, the pop culture world decided to tell us, “Hold my beer.” We have Hawk Tuah girl. We have Chappell Roan. We have Kendrick Lamar’s unbelievable shade. We have Taylor Swift break…

This week, Brooke weighs in on the pop culture topic everyone is talking about… Justin Timberlake’s DUI arrest in Sag Harbor. What was he thinking? Why didn’t he have a driver? What does this do to the tour? Why didn’t he have a driver? Why didn’t he have a driver? WHY DIDN’T HE HAVE A DRIVER?? Just some of the questions we’re asking! But it also b…

This week is our 100th episode! Brooke gives us a little of the backstory and process behind PCMoT and some insights into what’s to come. In pop culture news, she talks about the songs of the summer, from “Looking for a Man in Finance" to all things Sabrina Carpenter. She also breaks down the ridiculous media narrative around the made-up trend of “…

This week, Brooke breaks her no Trump rule, but for good reason, as the former President’s conviction led to a hilarious explosion of memes. Focusing on one in particular, Brooke gets into the backstory. She also discusses the power of an AI generated photo that went viral, for better or worse. Why, and how, and what’s to come? We then have this we…

This week, Brooke discloses she works with Live Nation and gives a brief summary of why they are in the news. But most of the episode is devoted to her experience attending the BottleRock music festival that took place last weekend in Napa Valley. We have Stevie Nicks. Pearl Jam. The Offspring. Stephen Sanchez. And Ed Sheeran. Oh, and Brooke met BA…

This week, Brooke digs into the story of the moment straddling tech (her real job) and pop culture: Scarlett Johansson’s accusation that OpenAI, whose CEO Sam Altman is obsessed with the movie “Her,” copied her voice for its new AI assistant named Chat GPT Sky, after she had already told him NO, she would not do the voice — hence, “SkyGate.” Scar J…

Brooke is back and bringing you up to speed on the pop culture news you may have missed while she was away. She begins with a summary of her wild travels, from D.C. to Jamaica to Germany to France, including more about Jelly Roll and a lot about Kim Kardashian. Brooke then gets into the Tom Brady Neflix Roast, how Kim K has been bullied and abused …

This week, Brooke is on the road at a big tech conference in Germany, so we’re bringing back a fan favorite from the archives: her conversation with Jason Hirschhorn, the legendary media and tech entrepreneur and CEO & Chief Curator of digital content company REDEF. It’s a fun one, filled with juicy stories and pop culture banter. Pop Culture Monda…

Brooke is coming to you this week from her happy place, the magical GoldenEye, Jamaica, where she’s hosting her 50th birthday extravaganza! She kicks off with Barbra Streisand’s not-so-private IG note to Melissa McCarthy; we then get into a bit of Fairy Porn, the latest lit phenomena, and Governor Kristi Noem’s memoir, outing her as an animal murde…

This week, Brooke explains the hoopla around the new Taylor Swift album, The Tortured Poets Department. The surprise double album. The genre. The criticism. The emotion. The pettiness. The brilliance. And everything in between. She also talks about Baby Reindeer on Netflix and Mark Zuckerberg’s new swagger even if it is AI generated. And is M. Nigh…

This week, Brooke shares her experiences at both the premiere of Zendaya’s masterful new movie, “Challengers,” as well as Kara Swisher's interview extraordinaire of the cast and creators of "The Morning Show,” kicking off PaleyFest. She then brings people up to speed on the latest pop culture news, from Keith McNally’s misogynistic meltdown over La…

This week, Brooke dives into the natural phenomena "double feature” we got in the U.S.: the solar eclipse and the New York earthquake. On Monday, it seemed like the entire nation was out with their glasses on, cocktails in hand, going nuts over coronas and totality. And last week, out of nowhere, New Yorkers experienced the ground shaking, things f…

This week, Brooke decided to go deep on a topic she skipped in the newsletter. Baltimore. And specifically, the reaction online to Baltimore’s mayor. Specifically on X, let’s be honest. She also tells us about her experience walking across the border from Juarez to El Paso, which was not at all like it's been shown to us on the news. Then, of cours…

This week, Brooke obviously still has Kate Middleton on her mind. She talks about how some celebs have apologized for joking about the Kate drama now that she has revealed her cancer diagnosis, while others have not. She also looks at how conspiracy theories are here to stay. The other big pop culture news of the week is everything that’s unfolding…

Brooke is back this week and explains her absence with some “Pup” culture news about her beloved dog Potato. She talks about her exposed dinner with a star. Brooke then dives into the Kate (Catherine) drama which continues. We should be ashamed, to be honest. But she gives a hot take or two. Also, despite the negative attention her sister-in-law is…

This week, Brooke wasn't able to host the show, so we decided to bring back one of her favorite episodes from the archives: her conversation with iconic tech journalist and author of the just-released “Burn Book: A Tech Love Story,” Kara Swisher. Kara Swisher's book up.https://www.amazon.com/Burn-Book-Tech-Love-Story/dp/1982163895?nodl=1&dplnkId=bd…

This week, Brooke does a deep dive into not the wedding, but the PRE-wedding bash everyone is talking about: the bajillion dollar extravaganza for the son of India’s richest man and his bride-to-be. From the astronomical price tag, to the guest list, which included the likes of Mark Zuckerberg, Bill Gates, and Ivanka Trump, to Rihanna’s performance…

This week, Brooke talks about her trip to Jamaica, the "One Love” movie, and Bob Marley in general. Basically, part of this pod is an ad for why you must go to Jamaica. She is also celebrating two dear friends’ big week: Kara Swisher’s memoir, "Burn Book: A Tech Love Story" is on sale NOW (link below), and Monica Lewinsky is the new face of Reforma…

NOTE: Brooke recorded this before the details of the shooting in Kansas City came out. This week, Brooke dives into the avalanche of memes following the Super Bowl, from Taylor to Travis to Jason to Mama Kelce, and of course, to Beyoncé. And everything in between. The most watched Super Bowl of all time had our attention. And in other news, what a …

This week, Brooke summarizes her thoughts on the Grammy’s. From Miley to Tracy to Joni to Jay to Meryl to Celine to…Taylor. Oh, Tay Tay. The rare misstep. Or two. Catch up on all the important things that happened that night! And P.S.: Trevor Noah should host everything. Check out: https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/02/06/opinion/thepoint/tracy-chap…

This week Brooke breaks down why everyone was talking about a fashion show in Paris. From the walks to the make-up, and yes even the clothes, Maison Margiela and the redemption of its creative director, John Galliano, dominated the conversation. We also have Gen Z’s reaction to joining the military and, OF course, Pookie and Jett. Also, a note to N…

This week, while Brooke indulges her love for and need of coffee all the time, she discusses how she, like seemingly everyone, is stunned that Greta Gerwig and Margot Robbie were so blatantly snubbed by the Academy. The utter absurdity of these two not being nominated just shows the increasing irrelevance of the Oscars. Brooke also talks about all …

Brooke kicks off this week’s pod talking about the record cold temperatures plaguing many of us in the U.S. and all of the memeable moments at football games that have resulted, including — obviously — one from Taylor Swift. Brooke then does a quick summary of her favorite things from the Emmys, followed by a check-in on where we’re at with the see…

After a long and much needed break, Brooke is back to bring everyone up to speed on what happened in the world of pop culture while we were all filling our bellies with cheese and wine and cookies. The hot topic of course is the Calvin Klein ad featuring the impressive Jeremy Allen White. The chokehold he now has on the Internet is wild. Brooke the…

The last pod 'til 2024! It’s been a wild year and we're going out with a bang. This holiday season, the Colorado Supreme Court gifted us with their ruling to remove Donald Trump from the 2024 ballot. Brooke talks about how America feels more like the WWE than an actual democracy. Where’s Vince McMahon? A perfect atidote to the madness is Neil the S…

Everyone is gearing up for the holidays and some much needed time off, and let’s be real. We are all checked out! So Brooke breezes through this week with a look at Taylor Swift, Time’s Person of the Year and reactions to this monumental moment. Hint: some men can’t handle it. Brooke also talks about some of her fave content right now including the…

This week, Brooke takes a look at the very pricey things the kids want these days and have on their holiday wish lists. From expensive makeup to high-end jewelry, it’s truly time for parents to lock up their wallets! She then goes into the latest sorority craze taking over the socials, but this time it’s dominated by AKA, the largest and oldest Bla…

Back due to popular demand, Brooke’s bestie, Britt Morgan-Saks joins this week’s pod. Brooke relays to Britt her feelings about “Napoleon” the movie (hint: NOT good) and then they talk DOLLY DOLLY DOLLY. And some more Dolly. They do touch on some other pop culture things happening this week, including the 4-year-old boy TikTok fell in love with fro…

On this last podcast before we break for Thanksgiving, Brooke only has two stories to talk about and they both involve couples with highly public relationships, but which have received very different reactions. On the good side, we have Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce a.k.a. our mother and father… On the bad, we have Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez and…

This week, Brooke goes down a mostly escapist route, summing up some of the moments dominating the pop culture airwaves, from AI bringing The Beatles back together and Home Depot’s viral, and polarizing, Christmas Tree (yes, it’s already that time of year), to yet another reincarnation of Wheatus’ “Teenage Dirtbag.” And we end on the campuses of Mo…

Brooke kicks off the pod talking about all things Halloween, from the celebrations in LA vs NY, to the horror movies, and her own childhood trauma from horror movies. She then returns to her despair over what’s happening in the Middle East and her frustrations with the lack of humanity and rise in antisemitism. But she DOES eventually get to pop cu…

Brooke returns after taking last week off and acknowledges it’s still tough for her to dig into pop culture with everything going on in the world. But we all need a brief escape, so Brooke dives into the topic of Britney Spears and her new memoir, “The Woman in Me.” There’s a lot of bombshells that are tragic but enlightening. And if you get the Au…

Brooke steps away from pop culture this week to share her feelings about what’s going on in the world. PCM: https://medium.com/popculturemondays/pop-culture-mondays-10-9-23-f81fd96851f3 Brooke’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brooke/ Brooke’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/brooke Brooke’s TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@brookehammerling Potato’…

This week, Washington Post journalist Taylor Lorenz joins Brooke to talk about her new book, "Extremely Online: The Untold Story of Fame, Power and Influence on the Internet." This is the book EVERYONE is talking about. And even though Brooke lived the story herself and knows most of the people Taylor writes about, she couldn’t put the book down. P…

This week, Brooke can’t focus on anything else but Taylor and Travis. The world stood still when Taylor Swift showed up at the Kansas City Chiefs game with rumored BF Travis Kelce's family. Why is this Trump’s worst nightmare? Brooke discusses her theory. Pop Culture Mondays Newsletter: https://medium.com/popculturemondays Brooke’s Instagram: https…