POP CULTURE MONDAYS...ON THURSDAYS

Season 2, Episode 31: Vice President Baby Face

Happy Thursday, you pop culture junkies! This week, Brooke dips her toes into the world of politics to discuss the ever-growing JD Vance Baby Face memes circulating the internet. While Brooke strives to be Trump-free, sometimes Trump-adjacent is necessary. From Vermont kicking JD Vance out to Trump becoming a storyline in the latest “White Lotus” episode, politics is having a pop culture moment. Of course, Brooke talks about the Oscars and some of the hits and misses. And speaking of misses, we also have Mark Zuckerberg cosplaying Benson Boone and Meghan Sussex (aka Markle)’s new Netflix show, which is getting a lot of blowback. Enjoy!
 
 
Pop Culture Mondays Newsletter:
https://popculturemondays.com/2025/03/03/the-its-been-a-week-edition/
 
L to the OG: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ote9AdFKKaA 
 
TikTok response to Adrien Brody’s Oscar acceptance speech:
https://www.tiktok.com/@fredasquith/video/7477553228993891606 
 
Mannings in a Waymo
https://www.tiktok.com/@uber/video/7477955203140947242?_r=1&_t=ZT-8uRuGjcD3aF
 
Brooke’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brooke/ 
Brooke’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/brooke  
Brooke’s TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@brookehammerling  
Potato’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/potato/ 

Season 2, Episode 30: From the archives: Gary Whitta

This week, Brooke is out of the country, so we’re bringing back one of her favorites from the archives: a conversation with her dear friend, screenwriter, and novelist, Gary Whitta. Brooke and Gary have been friends since the ‘90s when they were gamer kids, and Gary was the head editor of PC Gamer Magazine. Since then, Gary has become a hit screenwriter, with movies like “Book of Eli” and “Rogue One” part of the “Star Wars” franchise. Gary is also a successful novelist. Gary and Brooke talk about their experience in gaming, and Gary gives us a detailed look into what the writing process is like for the screen and books. And, of course, how all this ties into pop culture. IT DOES.
 
Pop Culture Mondays Newsletter: https://medium.com/popculturemondays 
Brooke’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brooke/ 
Brooke’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/brooke  
Brooke’s TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@brookehammerling
 Potato’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/potato/ 
Buy Gun Dog here: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/gundog-gary-whitta/1142657728 Listen to the Gun Dog podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/gundog/id1631586716

Season 2, Episode 29: Weekend Entertainment Bonanza

This week, Brooke kicks off the pod with a wholly warranted rant because a children’s book by Julianne Moore about a little girl with freckles who feels different has been banned. BANNED. The Orwellian fever dream (except it’s real!) we find ourselves in continues… At least we have TikTok angels with spoof Republican Makeup tutorials to bring us joy! Brooke also gets into some of the best (and worst) moments from this past weekend’s SNL celeb-packed 50th-anniversary celebration extravaganza. And of course, we have the long-awaited premiere of White Lotus Season 3, and its less than boppin’ theme song. Enjoy! 
 
Pop Culture Mondays Newsletter:
https://popculturemondays.com/2025/02/17/the-winter-break-edition/  
 
 

Season 2, Episode 28: The Jeans!

Happy Thursday, you pop culture junkies! This week, Brooke talks about Kendrick Lamar’s earth-shattering performance at the Super Bowl. If you’ve seen any negative press — and Brooke explains why it might be in your feeds — ignore it. There are too many Easter Eggs to uncover, but she does a deep dive into some of the symbolism and meaning behind the performance. But also…. The Jeans! Thanks to Kendrick and Celine, the brand behind the $1,200 viral jeans, bootcut jeans (or flares, however you see them), are back in style. There’s lots of Super Bowl talk, but obviously, Kendrick was the star of the show. Brooke also gives an update on the American woman in Pakistan and all the drama over at Poppi. Buckle up! 
 
 
The New York Times "The Daily" Podcast: 
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-daily/id1200361736?i=1000689933228
 
 
TikToks to check out:
https://www.tiktok.com/@tessclynes/video/7470066622598827282?_r=1&_t=ZT-8tro1DUzZjX 
 
 
https://www.tiktok.com/@marabird93/video/7469633115296746798?_r=1&_t=ZT-8tro3Nz94NW 
 
 
https://www.tiktok.com/@raeonartez/video/7469845988862135582?_r=1&_t=ZT-8tro34TMKhK 
 
 
https://www.tiktok.com/@nicolestorydent/video/7469873185769458974?_r=1&_t=ZT-8trpTn7vwKc 
 
 
Pop Culture Mondays Newsletter: 
https://popculturemondays.com/2025/02/10/the-bootcut-jeans-edition/
 
Brooke’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brooke/ 
 
Brooke’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/brooke  
 
Brooke’s TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@brookehammerling  
 
Potato’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/potato/ 

Season 2, Episode 27: The Naked Truth

Happy Thursday, you pop culture junkies! This week, Brooke dives into some of her favorite moments from the Grammys… And the one that grossed everyone out! But focusing on the positive, it was definitely a Girls' Grammys! From Beyoncé to Chappell Roan to Doechii and Charlie XCX and Sabrina Carpenter…it was a SHOW. And can we talk about Shakira and Diana Ross and their beauty regiments!? Brooke also talks about the basketball trade that shocked the world and what it means from the perspective of somebody who knows next to nothing about basketball. And of course, always some fun other things happening at the moment. Grab your headphones and enjoy!
 
 
Check out Doechii’s performance at the Grammys:
https://www.tiktok.com/@gloss/video/7467387369797389614?_r=1&_t=ZT-8tfe56SmpAs
 
And Chappell Roan’s:
https://www.tiktok.com/@love.brenna/video/7467013604517186862?_r=1&_t=ZT-8tfe80T3sdf 
 
Click here to read the newsletter: 
https://popculturemondays.com/2025/02/03/the-naked-edition/
 
Brooke’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brooke/ 
Brooke’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/brooke  
Brooke’s TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@brookehammerling  
Potato’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/potato/ 

Season 2, Episode 26: Leatherface

Happy Thursday pop culture junkies! This week, Brooke starts off on an RFK Jr rant due to his confirmation hearing and the jaw-dropping letter from Caroline Kennedy to Senators about her cousin, the “predator. Brooke also gets into some of the Gen Alpha terms of the moment which everyone needs to know since it’s a new language. And why do the kids a.k.a. TikTok… Hate Emilia Perez?
Skibidi Toilet
https://youtu.be/WePNs-G7puA?si=yr3DA0MFRQZiraI_
 
New York Times article: Blake Lively lawsuit
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/21/business/media/blake-lively-justin-baldoni-it-ends-with-us.html?smid=url-share
 
Pop Culture Mondays Newsletter: https://popculturemondays.com
Brooke’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brooke/ 
Brooke’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/brooke  
Brooke’s TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@brookehammerling  
Potato’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/potato/ 

Season 2, Episode 25: Coming to you from Jamaica

This week, Brooke, who has escaped to Jamaica for a break, does a play-by-play of the TIKTOK-pocalypse — the lead-up to the shutdown, the actual shutdown, and the revival of the platform after a very long, terrifying 14 whole hours! And then, of course, we have the inauguration and all the memes. The hat! The bra! The Nazi salute! The Handmaid’s Tale outfits! It’s a spectacle spectacular. Grab some headphones and candy…
 
Pop Culture Mondays Newsletter: https://popculturemondays.com
Brooke’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brooke/ 
Brooke’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/brooke  
Brooke’s TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@brookehammerling  
Potato’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/potato/ 

Season 2, Episode 24: LA on Fire

This week, Brooke takes more of a serious tone discussing the LA fires. She brings in a little bit of her own experience and also explains some of the things happening on the socials. Speidi! While she thinks TikTok has been a critical tool during this time, she also talks about the fact that TikTok may not exist by this time next week. Other things going on include the Elon-ization of Mark Zuckerberg (who is styling that guy??) and his involvement with the TikTok shutdown. 
 
Pop Culture Mondays Newsletter: https://popculturemondays.com
Brooke’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brooke/ 
Brooke’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/brooke  
Brooke’s TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@brookehammerling  
Potato’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/potato/ 
 
 

Season 2, Episode 23: Happy All The Hols!

On this last week before everything shuts down, Brooke talks drones drones drones. Since every household has it on their minds. WHAT IS HAPPENING? And speaking of what is happening…will TikTok be banned come January 19th, or will TRUMP SAVE GEN Z? Who is to say? Brooke also gets into some of her favorite content and some last-minute gift ideas!
 
Newsletter: https://popculturemondays.com/2024/12/16/the-drones-edition/
Brooke’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brooke/ 
Brooke’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/brooke  
Brooke’s TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@brookehammerling  
Potato’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/potato/ 

Season 2, Episode 22: What’s Wrong With Us?

This week, Brooke unleashes (always fun!) on the online community celebrating an assassin. We’ve all been tracking the assassination of Brian Thompson, the CEO of United Healthcare, and the subsequent capture of his killer. While many were rightfully shocked, there are too many who are celebrating him as a folk hero. 
 
Some could say, it’s mainly the people who are perpetually online. Brooke discusses the ins and outs of this moment from a pop culture perspective. And in other news, there’s the end of the Eras Tour, there’s Doechii, and there’s more pop culture nuggets! 
 
Pop Culture Mondays Newsletter: https://popculturemondays.com
Brooke’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brooke/ 
Brooke’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/brooke  
Brooke’s TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@brookehammerling  
Potato’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/potato/