Episodes

Thursday Oct 17, 2024
Thursday Oct 17, 2024
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 people. And why a pop culture escape is necessary! From “In da club” on TikTok to a totally AI generated restaurant in Austin, Brooke breaks down some of the ways people are escaping this week.
Can you also add the links of the videos that Brooke already shared with you for audio? The SNL links on YouTube.
Pop Culture Mondays Newsletter: https://popculturemondays.com
Taylor Lorenz Newsletter: https://www.usermag.co/
My Best Friend's Life: https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=zejK1XHIDcI
Bridesmaid Speech SNL: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=RLn5qNngGn4&pp=ygUMRXNwcmVzc28gc25s
Gloryhole Sushi SNL: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=e8oR4DB6SAA&pp=ygUKR2xvcnkgaG9sZQ%3D%3D
What do you have to offer my daughter?: https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTFHbdEha/
In Da Clurb: https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTFHbRCFA/
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/

Thursday Oct 10, 2024
Thursday Oct 10, 2024
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, are in poor taste.
Brooke also talks about her thrill at being featured this week in Bob Lefsetz’s iconic newsletter, The Lefsetz Letter, and tells the story of how that came to be. Then we have sleepmaxxing and mouth tape and the new phenomena of sparkly freckles brought to us by Taylor Swift.
Pop Culture Mondays Newsletter: https://popculturemondays.com
Nobody Wants This
lefsetz.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/

Thursday Oct 03, 2024
Thursday Oct 03, 2024
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 Wants This Trailer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xn2PsXD8m4A
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/

Thursday Sep 26, 2024
Thursday Sep 26, 2024
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 AI-generated track that’s been making the rounds since April. And we can’t talk pop culture this week and not talk about Moo Deng, the adorable, chonky potato pygmy hippo from Thailand. We finish off with a little Menendez brother chitchat and Brooke’s favorite new show, The English Teacher.
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/

Thursday Sep 19, 2024
Thursday Sep 19, 2024
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 Elon and Taylor Swift and even Scooter Braun. It’s been a mad week. Brooke also covers the news of the moment and that is the arrest of Puff Daddy and what got us here. There’s a bunch of other pop culture goodies, so settle in for a wild ride!
New Website: https://popculturemondays.com/
Monday’s Newsletter: https://popculturemondays.com/2024/09/16/the-welcome-to-the-new-pcm-edition/
Eating the Dogs & Cats: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3BrCvZmSnKA
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/

Thursday Sep 12, 2024
Thursday Sep 12, 2024
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 beliefs than us in reference to Taylor Swift hugging Brittany Mahomes at the US Open (note: this episode was recorded before T-Swift’s endorsement of Kamala Harris). We also have the Trauma Candy Salad, the absurd but brilliant opening dance sequence in the new *murder mystery* show “The Perfect Couple,” Kendrick Lamar v Drake Super Bowl edition, and finally, a masterclass in PR from Craftmix.
https://medium.com/popculturemondays/pop-culture-mondays-9-9-24-b46fffb9ca9f
https://www.tiktok.com/@craftmix/video/7409310249536081183
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/

Thursday Aug 29, 2024
Thursday Aug 29, 2024
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/8.26.24
medium.com
37 likes, 2 comments. “Part 2: Treating my dog who has cancer. Today we talk about chemotherapy for animals, called Palladia.”
TikTok · Brooke Hammerling
tiktok.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/

Thursday Aug 22, 2024
Thursday Aug 22, 2024
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 touches on the ongoing Blake Lively drama and why it's happening — in her opinion. Grab your headphones and enjoy!
Mondays Newsletter: https://medium.com/popculturemondays
Brooke’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/brooke
Brooke’s TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@brookehammerling
Potato’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/potato/

Thursday Aug 15, 2024
Thursday Aug 15, 2024
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 have a break down of the controversy around the movie “It Ends with Us.” Short & sweet!
Pop Culture Mondays/8.12.24
medium.com
33 likes, 2 comments. “Part 1: Series on how I am helping my dog with cancer. Helpful tips and treatments that are working for him.”
TikTok · Brooke Hammerling
tiktok.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/

Thursday Aug 08, 2024
Thursday Aug 08, 2024
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 couch in his speech in Philadelphia, to the Republicans trying to lampoon the new Democratic VP pick with bad nicknames that only make him look better, like “Tampon Tim” (he has advocated for free tampons in public school bathrooms - the horror), to the slew of Vance gaffes, the socials are having a field day!
https://medium.com/popculturemondays/pop-culture-mondays-8-5-24-e0c66b6ba4af
GM Dealership: https://www.youtube.com/watch?si=SK8ypdr3S8Xrm-Fg&v=3r-AugMz0qI&feature=youtu.be
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/

Pop Culture Mondays...on Thursday
I AM NOT A REPORTER. I do not cover the media industry. I’ve written a weekly newsletter, published every Monday, for over 3 years in which I try to condense and make sense of all the most interesting things happening in the world of pop culture. I’ve now transformed my beloved newsletter into a podcast to cover even more of the wacky and wonderful — and often horrific — events of pop cultural significance happening throughout the week!