May was a busy month but I am grateful for the warmer weather, baseball, and a 3 day weekend at the coast! There has been some great pop culture this month, a sad farewell to Colbert, and some decent reading has happened (finally!) Here’s what I’m loving…

Reading

Like every other woman these days, I FINALLY read Yesteryear. It was un-put-down-able. I freaking loved it. I know people have a love/hate with it, but I thought it was super smart and had THE most unlikeable and unreliable narrator and I loved it. We all secretly loathe influencers and this one was at the top of her chaos. If you liked this and haven’t yet read Everyone is Lying to You, get on that right away, I thought about it a lot while reading this.

I really enjoyed the oral history of Parks and Rec, it took me back to my happy place and all time favorite show. I didn’t love how the author inserted herself into the story on occasion, I get that she’s a TV journalist, but it kept feeling forced to me. If Lil’ Sebastian is also your spirit animal, this book is for you. I’d heard great things about These Summer Storms and thought it might be a good weekend getaway read and it WAS. I love rich people behaving badly, AND I evidently really need to go to Rhode Island (despite RHORI) so this book checked all the boxes for me.

Listening

I finished The Secret World of Roald Dahl and it was great. He was a fascinating person and this podcast was a good help in understanding him. Somewhere along the way Girlscamp was recommended to me (by my dad I think?) and I’ve caught a couple of episodes so far from this ex-Mormon woman talking about pop culture and leaving the church. It checks a very specific niche for me.

Paula Pell was my favorite guest this month on Good Hang and on the drive back from the coast I listened to a new to me podcast – Under the Influence (the host is the author of Everyone is Lying to You!) She did a great episode “We Need to Talk About Spencer Pratt.” I know no one wants to, but it was a fascinating deep dive with a NYT reporter about how fame is the new politician and how smartly Pratt has been at being famous for being famous, and how it got him to where we are today. If you care at all about local/regional politics (and we all know I do!) this was a fascinating conversation…

Watching

Like a lot of folks, I spent the last few weeks being sad about the loss of Stephen Colbert’s The Late Show. Having grown up with Letterman it was great to see him on the show one more time, and for all the folks who came through to wish Stephen well. I can’t wait for what’s next, but in the mean time, this was pretty great.

There’s a new season of Pop Culture Jeopardy on Netflix this season and I am really enjoying being smarter than people (occasionally) but also it’s just the right amount of fun and escapism because the Real Housewives of Rhode Island isn’t cutting it for me.

Top Chef continues to be fantastic, EVEN with the latest elimination challenge and resulting drama. I am not ready to say goodbye to Hacks. I am also loving this season of Your Friends and Neighbors, James Marsden is PERFECT for his role. Also if you didn’t catch Running Point it’s time to catch up this fun sports family comedy on Netflix!

I was late to Widow’s Bay and I am sorry about that. I kept hearing it was a horror comedy and so I finally checked it out, and my husband and I mentioned how it was creepy but also had a Parks and Rec vibe that we thought was interesting. Then we realized that the creator worked on Parks & Rec, which I realized because I was reading the P&R book and had just read the creators name. What a small pop culture world. It’s for sure a creepy show (maybe don’t watch it in an old creaky house when you’re home alone) but it’s also very funny and clever, and the cast is FABULOUS.

Okay, that’s what I’m loving lately, what’s getting you in the mood for summer?

The post May Pop Culture Round Up appeared first on Yellow Dog Consulting.

April has flown right by! Hops baseball season began at the beginning of the month in our brand new stadium (it’s amazing, come join us for a game!) and the weather is starting to get warm enough that Cliff and I can spend more time outside running around the yard, reading, and enjoying some free vitamin D for a change. Here’s a few things that got me through the month…

Reading

I picked up Lake Effect at the library at the beginning of the month and really enjoyed it. It’s about a neighborhood of families in the 70’s and how their lives are all intertwined. It was a good spring read. Like everyone else I finally read The Correspondent and it is as great as everyone said it was! I love a good curmudgeon and this one does not disappoint!

I just finished The Heir Apparent which showed up on my library holds list last week, and it was the perfect weekend read while traveling. I may have stayed up too late last night finishing this book, it was that good!

I also listened to Strangers a memoir from Belle Burden about her 20+ year marriage that dissolves at the beginning of the pandemic. I watch a LOT of “rich people behaving badly” tv (and books for that matter), so this memoir wasn’t as shocking to me as it seems to be to the rest of the book world. If you like to read about rich New Yorkers problems, you would enjoy this one.

Listening

Adults in the Room was a fantastic podcast, and incredibly hard to listen to. It’s insane how our parents just trusted teachers and school administration in the 90’s. I then zipped right through The Idiot from Serial Podcasts and it was wild. The reporter is right, his cousin is an idiot every step of the way. Just listen.

I am now half way through The Secret World of Roald Dahl and it’s fascinating! I remember hearing at some point that he was more like the bullies in his books than the children, but YOWZA, his story is bonkers and I still can’t figure out if I feel sad for him or if he’s an ass.

Watching

I know what you’re thinking – now that Shrinking is done for the season what will I watch? The answer is easy: Rooster. First off, that was an amazing season of Shrinking, and I am curious where the next season start. Rooster is by the same creator (Bill Lawrence who also did Ted Lasso) and it’s about Steve Carell as a visiting author at a college that his daughter also teaches at. It’s so funny and smart and sweet. Someone on Threads the other day mentioned that Alice (on Shrinking) needs to go to the college on Rooster so we can have the cross over series we all need. They are correct.

Hacks is back for it’s final season and I am so happy to have these insane characters back in my life. I am also loving the new season of Your Friends and Neighbors, and James Marsden was an EXCELLENT choice to bring to the neighborhood drama this season. I have started The Testaments and loving it so far, even though it’s always hard to be back in Gilead.

This season of Top Chef is really great and fascinating to watch Kristin Kish host with such humanity for the contestants. There was a great story in the New York Times this weekend about the show and its humanity. Gift link here for you. Finally, if you aren’t watching SNL UK, this is your sign to do so. This past weekend had Nicola Coughlan and Foo Fighters and it was so funny, even if Jimmy Fallon showed up.

What pop culture have you been enjoying lately? what are you looking forward to as we head into the warmer months and a holiday weekend?

The post April Pop Culture Round Up appeared first on Yellow Dog Consulting.

Well, March was a real crap sandwich over here. Lots of sadness and snuggles, not much ability to focus, and what little capacity I’ve had has been mostly focused on clients and local political work. I’m grateful the sun is coming out and warming things up so I can spend more time with Cliff in the yard running arond and enjoying the fresh air. Here’s a couple things that helped distract me this month.

Reading

I really couldn’t focus much, but on my flight to DC earlier this month I was able to listen to Lisa Rinna’s new memoir – You Better Believe I’m Gonna Talk About It. I really wasn’t sure I’d like it but I do love RHOBH and behind the scenes gossip, and this one had some of that. What was actually great was the talk about her marriage and career and her ability to hustle to make ends meet when life took unexpected turns. Bonus – she’s an Oregonian which is always a good sign!

Late last month I picked up I’ll Have What He’s Having and had a hard time focusing on it. Luckily this past weekend was warm enough to sit outside and enjoy a change of scenery. I was able to zip through the rest of this very sweet and funny book! The book also has “A Guide to Pairing Muppet Movies and Wines.” I had no idea I needed this in my life, but it happened and I am a happier person for it! I’ll read more from this author.

Listening

Similar vibes with my podcast listening this month, I couldn’t get into it much, even the daily news podcasts have been a slog. I am really liking Adults in the Room which is based on Seattle on a story I completely missed in the last 90’s (college will do that). If you’ve lived in the Pacific Northwest or grew up in the 80/90’s with questionable restrictions around student/teacher relationships – this is a podcast to check out.

I started The Idiot, from Serial productions over the weekend and wow this guy is a piece of work! The interviews are fascinating and his incompetence at a botched murder to hire plot is bonkers.

Besides that I’m listening to the new Harry Styles album, more Gorillaz thanks to their SNL appearance, and as always: Yacht Rock.

Watching

Thankfully we’re in that winter sappy romances you don’t really have to pay close attention to, but also no judgement if you do, along with some reality TV to keep things going.

What I’m really loving is all the drama with the cancellation of The Bachelorette, a show I have successfully never watched, WHILE finishing up the latest season of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives which is all about the bachelorette preparing for the show. This story really says a lot about how we treat reality TV stars who are clearly in a mental health crisis and need support not spotlights. Lisa Rinna’s book had some good thoughts on this.

Shows I am loving and can’t wait to watch each week include… Shrinking, The Pitt, and Rooster. Rooster is off to a great start – I am glad it’s arrived since Shrinking wraps up way too soon for me. I’m also loving the new season of Top Chef and SNL UK is off to a great start this season!

Okay, a few bright spots in a rough month. I hope you had better pop culture inspiration than I did, hoping to get back into the swing of things in April!

The post March Pop Culture Round Up appeared first on Yellow Dog Consulting.

February was a weird pop culture month for me. I finished a book, couldn’t get motivated to start reading anything else, and mostly just binged the Olympics (everyone watches women’s sports!) and took care of a sick pup. Here’s a few things that kept me going (besides curling) and Crossplay.

Live Theatre

I started off the month seeing The Wiz in Portland with a friend. This is obviously the best version of The Wizard of Oz (well, except for maybe Ted Lasso) with such fantastic music! I haven’t seen the show in ages and it was very fun for all.

The next weekend we had a double date down to Salem to see Nick Offerman on his Big Woodchuck tour. It was VERY fun – in fact his shop manager joined him on tour and built a project from their book during the show. It was VERY fun!

Reading

I finished reading Notes on Infinity this month and it was really good. I feel like maybe I need to have a been a bit closer to college (or in that world) to get a few of the assumed acronyms, but the story was great. It had a very Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow vibe mixed with Elizabeth Holmes and the Theranos story.

I can’t get excited to read right now. I know, it’s the dead of winter (or something like that in the PNW) – I am hoping that a flight to DC next month will help me get out of this funk. Clearly I need a vacation or some warm sunny weather to sit outside!

I am excited to attend the Hillsboro Reads event next month where the book this year is Tilt which I really enjoyed! If you’re looking for a fast and thoughtful read, this is it!

Listening

Nothing too exciting this month, Carol Burnett on Good Hang was fantastic, and the Jonathan Groff episode made me laugh more than once! I also really appreciated the Wirecutter episodes about Making coffee (brewing) and how to buy beans. It made me think more about where my beans come from and when and how I grind them. It may need a re-listen to make sure I got it all before I start spending money on expensive equipment I have clearly lived without…

Watching

Like most of the world I started the month with the Olympics, enjoyed a Benito Bowl distraction (hooray Seahawks!) and have spent the last couple of weeks trying to figure out curling, and enjoying way too much bobsled and luge!

But, every once in a while we needed a break, and I am grateful that The Pitt is back, and that this season of Shrinking has started and is PERFECT. I also finally started watching The Burbs, we all know that Keke Palmer is amazing, and the cast on this show is bonkers great. Great actors getting to be funny and awkward and weird is always a good mix for me.

Okay, what pop culture have you enjoyed this month? What gets you out of a pop culture (or seasonal?) funk? What are you getting excited for this spring?

The post February Pop Culture Round Up appeared first on Yellow Dog Consulting.

We are one month in to 2026 and somehow it feels like it’s already been a full year since Christmas. Although it has been dry and mild weather here in the Northwest, it’s still cold enough that pop culture has been consumed – to keep us warm inside, and to escape from what’s going in the world. Here’s a few things that have given me a much needed break this month.

Reading

I’m trying out StoryGraph this year, if you’ve moved over from Goodreads, let’s be friends!

As usual I am off to a slow start this year – but I did read Everyone is Lying to You at the end of the year and I loved it! It’s a mystery about a MAHA Influencer who goes missing and it was a perfect end of year mystery/influencer commentary/with a bit of religious culty-ness! If you spent the holidays (or let’s be honest – yesterday) doom scrolling, this is the book for you!

I loved My Sister the Serial Killer a few years back, and had eagerly anticipated the authors new book. Cursed Daughters was so great I emailed a former client (who I knew loved her first book) and told her to get it ASAP. It’s a beautiful multi-generational story about a family of women who, yes, are cursed to never have love. I had a hard time putting it down once I got into it.

I also listened to Dinner for Vampires – after multiple friends told me it was great. And it absolutely filled my celebrity cult bucket! On the other end of cult stories, I read a great graphic novel, Do Admit: The Mitford Sisters and Me. I knew nothing about the Mitford sisters before reading this but it was a fascinating story about a family of sisters at the turn of the 19th century who go in drastically different directions throughout their lives – from Resistance to Hitler’s confidant. It was a good time for this story to be told.

Listening

I can’t get enough of Good Hang with Amy Poehler! Sure the podcast category at the Golden Globes was dumb, but YES she deserved to win it (and honestly, Will Arnett is fine, but her beating her ex husband was admittedly VERY satisfying to watch.)

I just finished listening to A Very British Cult and it was fine… maybe I needed to pay better attention but it didn’t feel like it stuck the landing.

My morning podcast routine is The Headlines from NYT, then What a Day, if The Daily is a good topic (rarely – or I’ve gotten enough on it) I’ll listen to that. I really like Alex Wagner so have been listening to some Runaway Country episodes too. If there’s a new Good Hang that’s going to get started on a dog walk for sure. Occasionally I’ll listen to Late Night with Seth Meyers for the Closer Look segment (rarely the interview), few and far between I’ll listen to Pod Save America, and I always keep an eye on Think Out Loud and OPB Politics Now.

Watching

I am now starting my sixth year of tracking everything I watch in a spreadsheet. At some point I really should talk to an app developer and turn this into the next Storygraph, but for now, we have a google sheet.

I did a much needed rewatch of Schitts Creek over the holidays and to start the new year. I am trying to decide my next rewatch binge and leaning towards The Good Place since it’s been a minute. What comfort shows are you watching?

I am so happy that my favorite British comfort show is back, All Creatures Great and Small. It is so lovely and kind and nice to watch. I am also thrilled that The Pitt is back for Season 2! It’s off to a great start, and I am excited for Dr. Robby’s sabbatical, he clearly deserves it.

The Beast Within was so good and creepy and fantastic. Matthew Rhys doesn’t play creepy dudes enough and I wish he would. Claire Danes spiralling is ALWAYS a good time (side quest – she was great on Good Hang!) Marcello Hernandez: American Boy was so funny, and so great, a perfect weekend comedy special.

I also watched a movie (I know!) on a quick weekend trip with friends to the coast. I have had Twinless on my to watch list for a while and we finally watched it. It was so great, very funny, set in Portland and also kind of sweet. We also watched Kidnapped: Elizabeth Smart and it was really good, and a great story told from Elizabeth and her family’s perspectives which we haven’t really heard like this before. Check that your windows are locked folks.

Okay, that’s the pop culture that got me through January, what pop culture is helping you start 2026 off well? What are you excited for this year?

The post January Pop Culture Round Up appeared first on Yellow Dog Consulting.

Welcome to the end of the year, where I share my top 10 list from all the pop culture I’ve consumed over the year. This year I watched too much TV, listened to some great podcasts, and read a few great books! Here’s my favorites to share with you as we wrap up 2025. Make sure to share your favorites in the comments!

Hush – I will read and listen to anything that Leah Sottile creates. Her latest season of the podcast Hush was another epic installment in “true crime that’s really journalists doing good journalism”. This would be a great travel binge podcast this holiday season.

Good Hang with Amy Poehler – Please don’t make me pick a favorite episode so far. Amy is such a fun and down to earth interviewer and her guests have all been incredible. I have always wanted to be friends with Amy Poehler and this podcast further cements that.

What Kind of Paradise – I can’t stop thinking about this book I read two months ago. What if the Unibomber had a child that he raised in the woods and then life happens and you hear her story in flashbacks? I had heard good things, but this was even better than I expected.

Careless People – I had no interest in reading the book about how terrible Facebook is, but a friend told me it reads like a novel and is super fast paced. Accurate, I forgot sometimes these are real people, not characters that I hate even more than I did before. If you are concerned about social media and the future of tech, don’t skip this. Also, listen to the audiobook on this one- the author is from New Zealand…

The God of the Woods – I read this at the beginning of the year and it was intense and riveting. I don’t always like people who mysteriously disappear or kids being taken, but this story was something else. Every time I see someone is reading this book I get excited for them to experience it.

And So It Goes – Did I think I needed a two part documentary about Billy Joel this summer? No, I didn’t. But was it incredible and did I learn a lot and enjoy every minute of it? YES I did! This would be a great holiday watch with family of all ages…

The Pitt – Like the rest of the world, we jumped on the bandwagon and loved the first season. I didn’t realize I needed Noah Wyle to be a doctor at every stage of my life (and his), but I guess I do. And we’re all luckier for it. Also the healthcare system in our country is an abomination, but you knew that.

Platonic – Seth Rogan is super annoying, and so I started and stopped (and started) again with The Studio when it came out. But then I remembered that Rose Byrne is a comedic genius and we don’t appreciate her enough, so I gave Platonic a shot and I binged the first season in two days. You will too. But maybe not in front of your kids or grandparents.

Death by Lightning – When I saw that Nick Offerman was going to be in a historical drama about the death of President Garfield I thought it might be interesting and I’d get around to it at some point. It started getting great buzz when it came out so we tried it out, and it was great! I wish there were more historical dramas like this – fast paced and easily digestible – to teach me about more presidents (we tried the Ken Burns doc and made it a half hour, not quite my speed…)

Ladies & Gentlemen… 50 Years of SNL Music – 2025 started off as the year of the SNL 50th anniversary. With so many specials and events dedicated to the history of the show, this Questlove produced documentary about the music of SNL is far and away the best thing to come out of the celebration. I will turn on that opening montage and immediately transferred to a very happy place.

It was a wild year and a lot of sad, scary, and hard things happened for many of our friends, families, and neighbors. These were a few things that helped me escape, find respite, and recharge to continue the work. What pop culture helped you get through 2025? What are you excited for in 2026?

The post My Top 10 Pop Culture Finds of 2025 appeared first on Yellow Dog Consulting.

Reading

I have one book left to make my goal for the year of reading 40 books. I’ll make that goal this month, somehow… November wasn’t a great reading month for me – quantity wise, but it was great QUALITY wise. A few people online recommended Awake by Jen Hatmaker, which I hadn’t really though I’d be interested in. I was wrong, it’s incredible. Hatmaker is a well known Christian author and pastor’s wife who discovers he’s having an affair, so she gets divorced and continues raising her kids on her own (all through the pandemic). The story is fascinating and if you grew up evangelical (like me), this is one you’ll want to read. I did the audiobook and she was great.

I have had The Compound on my list for a while, and it finally came up at the library (along with 7 other books I wanted to space out over time but here we are…) and it was GREAT! Beautiful people sequestered in a compound and are being filmed for a popular reality series. If you enjoy reality TV (or honestly, if you hate it too) this was a great read.

Listening

I had been waiting for the second season of Hush to build up so I could binge the series, and it was excellent! Leah Sottile and the OPB team did it again. This time it’s an unsolved murder of a girl in Columbia County (within an hour from where I live). If you like true crime, and appreciate good journalism, this story really tells both stories, and why not having local news media is a problem in our country. I loved it (I love everything Leah does!)

I’m almost done with The Preventionist from Serial Productions and it’s really wild, as Serial podcasts tend to be. Ina Garten on Amy Poehler’s pod was my favorite interview this month for sure!

I am also really looking forward to Rachel Maddow’s new pod – Burn Order about what lead to Japanese internment camps during WWII. Okay, “looking forward to” is probably the wrong phrase, but I know I’m going to learn a lot and it’s a story I think we need to hear right now.

Watching

There’s a lot going on in the world, and here in Hillsboro right now, so my TV watching tends towards the light and frivolous. I am always grateful for the Real Housewives of Salt Lake City and shows like Loot and Palm Royale. However, we watched Death by Lightening and it was FANTASTIC! It’s only four episodes about the death of President Garfield. The cast is incredible, and the story is one that I didn’t know. I wish there were more easily digestible history lessons like this, we started The American Revolution and I do not have the mental capacity for that series yet..

I watched The Roses on my flight home from Thanksgiving and it was hilarious and exactly what I needed on a plane ride, although my seat mate (husband) wishes I’d watched it at home with how much (and loudly) I laughed. Over the holiday with family I watched a few Christmas movies and A Very Jonas Christmas was exactly the over the top ridiculous holiday movie we needed to kick off the season!

I hope you were able to eat leftover pie for breakfast and binge TV shows, or podcasts, or hide in a closet and read over the holiday weekend. What pop culture are you excited for as we wrap up 2025?

The post November Pop Culture Round Up appeared first on Yellow Dog Consulting.

Well, it’s officially fall. The backyard is a mess of wet leaves and an herb garden I really need to go prune back for the winter. Instead, let’s talk about pop culture! My husband and I were able to escape to Hawaii for a few days which is always a great place for my pop culture consumption. I read one of the best books I’ve read in a while, and enjoyed some great podcasts and shows along the way. Here’s how I’m surviving spider season…

Reading

I was able to listen to Kamala Harris’ memoir 107 Days as soon as it came out and it was really interesting if you’re a political nerd like me. It was weird to listen to it in October and realize the stories had happened just a year ago. It also reminded me of my own campaign and the stress and work that goes into running a good campaign with good people around you.

I read a few books on vacation and absolutely loved What Kind of Paradise. I wasn’t sure what to expect of a “what would happen if the unibomber had a daughter he raised in the woods with him?” but holy crap it was a great book that I will now recommend for the foreseeable future. I also really enjoyed Best Woman, it was a sweet and funny book to help me get into vacation mode.

Listening

The usual podcasts are bopping along in my rotation. I will say the recent episode of Wirecutter with Nick Offerman was GREAT. I am pretty sure all the nieces and nephews are getting his new book for Christmas. Amy Poehler’s podcast continues to be the most inspiring pod out there for me. Her episode with Rachel Dratch was so fun, but I really enjoyed the Mariska Hargitay episode. I’ve never watched an episode of Law & Order what ever she’s on, but she was so fun and it was a very Good Hang. I haven’t started the new season of Hush even though I know I’m going to love it, because I can already tell I’ll want to binge it, hopefully over Thanksgiving break!

Watching

October was full of BASEBALL at our house. Specifically Seattle Mariners baseball – which is not something that Seattle fans usually get to enjoy. It was SO fun to watch the Mariners this fall and even though the Bluejays clinched the ticket to the World Series, it was very fun to have baseball playoff season with a team I have loved my entire life.

I know it was typically the November 1st episode (I was on vacation so this is late, sorry!) but the Miles Teller episodes of SNL was the best one of the new season so far. I had high hopes since he’s such a great utility player on the show, and he nailed it.

The new season of The Diplomat was FANTASTIC. Right from the start with the VP decision, this season, and cast, were fantastic. I also seem to have liked Nobody Likes This better than most reviews I’m seeing. Although my favorite part is always the siblings relationship with each other.

Over vacation we watched I Like Me the documentary about John Candy. It was so sweet and funny and wonderful. Even if you just know him from Uncle Buck or The Great Outdoors his story and impact on comedy was fascinating to learn more about. I’d highly suggest filing this one for the “what do I watch with my family over the holidays?” (I texted my dad and brothers immediately to recommend it.)

I started a few shows that need to get finished and I am hoping to find some pockets of time to finish them up this month. I’ll continue to watch mindless fun like the Salt Lake Housewives and the latest season of Sister Wives (why is he the worst?!) and hopefully pepper in a few fun shows along the way. And I get to see the new Wicked movie with my niece over Thanksgiving. What are you excited for this coming month?

The post October Pop Culture Round Up appeared first on Yellow Dog Consulting.

Oh September…It’s the end of summer, back to school, the weather is warm but then it rains and is cold, spider season is starting (my least favorite time of year!), then it’s warm again, and until the Emmy’s hit it’s quiet but you’re playing catch up to watch shows before the Emmy’s so you know what to root for! Here’s how I stayed sane this month…

Reading

I thoroughly enjoyed The Wedding People. It’s been on a lot of lists since it came out last year, and when I friend posted she read it I borrowed her copy and it was a great read. I’ve been in an audiobook slump this month, but I miraculously got 107 Days the night it came out on audiobook, so we’re diving right into it!

Listening

The Daily has started a Sunday Special episode that’s more focused on pop culture and it is excellent! I really enjoyed the Emmy’s episode with great conversations about a few of the top show. So far though, my favorite is the Sunday Special: What Makes a Restaurant Great? The episode is with two NYT food critics who talk about what they’re looking for in a great meal, and a great restaurant. As someone who has been known to travel for a dining experience it was an insightful conversation and gave me some new/better questions to ask my server moving forward. Good Hang continues to be fantastic, and the Olivia Coleman ep was a recent favorite.

Watching

Emmy season is weird, we’re finishing up summer shows, you have to wait for fall shows to start, you’re trying to catch up on one or two shows you hadn’t watched but now are getting nominated for everything so you should, so my watching habits feel off this month. I’m also saving a couple of shows to watch when we go on vacation next month.

The series finale of Acapulco was lovely. If you never watched this show, I am so jealous for the 4 season binge you are about to begin! I loved this show and all it’s quirky characters, and if Apple+ decides to revisit them in a few years, I would be in full support. I really enjoyed the beginning of Upload but these last two seasons were too spread out to really remember what was going on. I may rewatch the series as a binge at some point, but the final four episodes were good, but not great sadly.

My husband I watched Hostage after I read a few great things about it, and they were correct. The British PM’s doctor husband is taken hostage while on a medical mission and needs the French PM’s help to get everyone rescued. If you like The Diplomat or other political thrillers, add this to your list ASAP!

I stumbled upon another docu-series about Ruby Franke and binged it on a Friday night, and holy wow is Jodi a horrible evil person. Ruby & Jodi: A Cult Of Sin And Influence was really well done if you have followed this story and/or like a good true crime docu-series.

There’s one episode left in season two of Platonic which I have binged over the past few days. It’s another great season of chaos with these adult friends who are entirely too codependent. As always, I’m enjoying the absurdity of this season of Only Murders in the Building. If you need a good light hearted movie, my friend recommended A Nice Indian Boy and it was so sweet and funny. Highly recommend for a cute rom com night!

Alright, how was your pop culture consumption this month? What did you love? What are you excited for coming in October? I can’t wait for the new season of The Diplomat and will finally start The Morning Show…And the beach vacation book stack is starting to add up!

The post September Pop Culture Round Up appeared first on Yellow Dog Consulting.

Reading

Last year I saw Amy Poehler and Tina Fey in Portland and their opening act was Zarna Garg. I didn’t know anything about her, but she was hilarious! Somewhere along the way her memoir came out and it was a FABULOUS audiobook. This American Woman: A One-in-a-Billion Memoir, her story has some incredibly sad parts, but she is such a funny writer you don’t realize it’s as bad as it was till later. If you aren’t sure, check out this week’s Good Hang episode with her…

I also picked up I Hope This Finds You Well which my friend recommended a while back. It took me a minute to get in to it, since I haven’t worked in corporate life for 15 years, but it’s a very funny story, with one of the best author bios I’ve read.

Everyone is reading Everything is Tuberculosis in my world and it was a short audiobook that came through at the right time. If John Green wants to tell me about science, or history, or really anything, I’ll go ahead and listen to it from this point forward. I honestly couldn’t have told you what tuberculosis was before I read the book (yes it’s a treatable disease that is wreaking havoc in third world countries, but WHAT is it?) The book tells the history and challenges of this illness through a relationship that Green has with a young man in Sierre Leone. I really appreciated this book (like/enjoy don’t seem like quite the right words…) I also read The Disaster Tourist on a book list recommendation and I really need someone else to read it so I can talk about it…

Listening

I haven’t listened to more audiobooks this month because I binged Unicorn Girl on my trip to Seattle. Holy CRAP this woman is terrible, and evil and conniving and a liar. The podcast is from the same person who did ScAmanda so if you enjoyed that, you’re in for another good ride (and friends who saw my IG story are agreeing so far!)

The Good Hang episode with Adam Scott was so wonderful. I just started a rewatch and the episode where they meet that Adam talks about, it’s so great… I also just listened to the Aubrey Plaza episode and it was goofy and sweet. Plaza’s husband died by suicide earlier this year and they have a nice conversation the way only Amy can do with her dear friends.

On the music front – my cousin wrote a jazz suite! It’s called Salish Suite and you can find it on iTunes and all the other music places. It’s beautiful and a nice calm work music I am finding.

Watching

We finally jumped on The Pitt bandwagon and I apologize that it took us so long. I am thrilled to see that Carter left Chicago for Pittsburg and continues to serve our country as a fictional ER doc! We had hoped to binge the show but some episodes require a Parks & Rec cleanse after…

I am not a huge Seth Rogan fan, which is why I didn’t jump on The Studio bandwagon at first. The other day I read something about how Rose Byrne is one of the great comedic actresses we don’t give enough credit to. And they are CORRECT. The pilot of Platonic had me laughing SO HARD, I was glad I was in a hotel room and not on the train. I proceeded to binge the entire first season the next day, it’s very fun!

I finished The Gilded Age and wow that stuck the landing of the season… how long do we have to wait for more?!?

I’ve also been to a lot of baseball games this month including a trip to Seattle to see The Mariners! It was a blast to see them play, even if they lost and Cal Raleigh broke his record the next day while we were on the train home.

I also LOVED seeing Seth Meyers perform at the Woodland Park Zoo. It was just a couple of days after his dog Frisbee passed away, so it was sweet to hear him talk about his dog, and his family, and how his daughter is very clearly his favorite child.

As we head to the unofficial end of summer, what pop culture got you through this year? What’s left on your bucket list? What are you looking forward to as we transition to spider season (aka fall)?

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