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…

This week, Brooke talks to Vanessa Grigoriadis who has been at the center of pop culture since the ‘90s. She is the writer for the ICONIC New York Magazine cover story on PR IT girls. And she has only continued to be at the center of culture both as a writer and now as a podcaster with her company Campside Media which produces some of the MOST addi…

This week, Brooke has her first guest on after doing the show solo over the summer. And no better way to kick off this new season of guests than with her dear friend, screenwriter and novelist, Gary Whitta. Brooke and Gary have known one another since the ‘90s when they were gamer kids and Gary was the head editor of PC Gamer Magazine. Since then, …

This week, Brooke breaks down the breakdown of Burning Man and why some people enjoyed the drama as it unfolded. And then Brooke looks at the content creator who triggered some right-wing small minded men to spiral due to her enjoying her life as a single woman with no kids. The horror! And how one tech billionaire became the best girl dad for all …

Politics & Pop Culture Brooke is back from her many adventures in Israel and she talks about a few of them on the pod. From the security shakedown before even checking in at LAX, to the protests taking place all over Tel Aviv, it was action-packed. Oh and the food. The FOOD! Speaking of food, Brooke walks us through the TikTok trend where parents t…

This week on Pop Culture Mondays on Thursdays, Brooke takes a break from packing for her first trip to Israel to discuss the range of happenings consuming our attention this week. From the devastation of the fires on Maui — and some people’s questionable reactions to this tragedy — to the interest, excitement and amusement of RUSHTOK. Especially Al…

This week, Brooke digs into the "Battle of Montgomery," the cultural story of the moment that unfolded on the socials thanks to the whole thing being captured on onlooker’s phones. Over the weekend, a brawl that took place on a riverfront in Montgomery, Alabama broke out when a group of white men attacked a Black man who works for a river boat comp…

This week, Brooke comes back from a week off the pod full of stories about her latest adventures. Some of her best experiences were female-driven entertainment extravaganzas, from Lily Allen’s star-making performance in The Pillowman on London’s West End, to the Barbie movie, to the Taylor Swift concert… it’s a love story for the ages. Brooke takes…

This week, Brooke talks about her experience seeing the Wimbledon men’s final live. Whether she watched the tennis or watched Brad Pitt watching tennis is up for debate. She also discusses her excitement for a Barbie/Oppenheimer double feature and fact that a blockbuster movie weekend is upon us while actors and writers are striking. And WTF did Di…

Brooke breaks down Threads and Twitter and the OG stories of early Web 1.0 world and how we MIGHT have gotten here. It is QUITE the ride. And then, she talks movies because you might have heard there is this movie called “Barbie” coming out? On the same day as Oppenheimer which we are led to think MIGHT be a slightly different kind of film. But it …

Join Brooke on this week's episode of Pop Culture Mondays on Thursdays for a captivating exploration of Ocean Gate's submersible memes, the enigmatic Russian events, an epic cage match between Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg, and an influencer trip to Shein factories in China (what could go wrong?) Stay tuned for an episode that will leave you both e…

This week, Brooke is joined by her bestie, Britt Morgan-Saks, as they dive into the hot topics of the week including the tragic events around Titan submersible which is gripping the world. I at the time of the recording, the morning of Wednesday, June 21, the five people stuck on the submersible had not been rescued, but it had been reported that s…

This week Brooke tackles the headline that went viral last week: “Is Baby Gronk the new Drip King, or is he just getting rizzed up by Livvy?” Who is Baby Gronk? And the Drip King? And Livvy? Are they human? Have we discovered a new language? It’s just another crazy pop culture moment that only your 13 year old son will know. And now you!! And Brook…

Brooke is solo this week and begins the pod by talking about the AIR DISASTER on the East Coast due to the smoke from the wildfires in Canada. DO NOT EXERCISE OUTSIDE YOU GUYS!! Brooke also talks about how more and more words are popping up that her friends are asking her for the meanings of. Words like dipped and Riz and drip and bet. Next week, s…