Episode 58: Neal's Secret Pop Girlies

This week’s prompts: 96, Sphinx, Olive

Neal waves the flag for blockbusters, while Lauren summons a Sphinx of her own. Along the way, there’s a detour into pop girlies, concert confessions, and 23 cats.

First, Neal revisits Roland Emmerich’s Independence Day (1996), the mega-hit that turned Will Smith into a global star and made us all salute Bill Pullman. From script origins on a Mexican vacation to Fox nearly calling it Doomsday, Neal traces how a scrappy “what if” became a $817 million juggernaut. You’ll hear about Will Smith’s casting fight, Vivica A. Fox’s six auditions, Randy Quaid’s crop-duster redo, and why the White House model only got one glorious explosion. Plus: the Shakespearean roots of that iconic speech, Goldblum improv, KY jelly aliens, and Neal’s very own Bill Pullman connection.

Then, Lauren spotlights Leonor Fini, the Argentine-Italian artist, rebel, and self-described Sphinx who defied surrealism’s boys’ club. Raised in disguise, exiled from Catholic schools, and fiercely independent, Fini blurred the line between painter, costume designer, and living artwork. Her haunting portraits, gender-bending sphinxes, and polyamorous household (with two men and 23 cats) cemented her reputation as one of Europe’s most uncompromising 20th-century artists. She refused labels, scorned Breton, dressed as a cardinal, and made art that still electrifies auction houses today.

PLUS:

Next week’s prompts: Reckless, Silver, Hobby, 393

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Episode 57: Two Out of Three Ain't Bad

Prompts: Bulb, 37, Mahogany

Lauren goes local and Neal goes cult classic. Together, they hit two out of three prompts—and that ain’t bad.

First, Lauren spotlights Wendell Castle, the Kansas-born sculptor and furniture designer who became a pillar of 20th-century American craft in Rochester, NY. Known for his stack-laminated mahogany sculptures and trompe l’oeil wooden “tablecloths,” Castle blurred the lines between art and craft, raising everyday objects into fine art. You’ll hear about his teaching at RIT, his collaborations with his wife Nancy Jurs, and why Castle’s chairs, clocks, and blanket chests belong in museums (and maybe your living room).

Then, Neal dives into Foxy Brown (1974), Pam Grier’s iconic turn as the fierce, afro-crowned avenger of the Blaxploitation era. From undercover revenge plots to weaponized fashion, Grier reshaped what an action hero could be. Neal traces the film’s roots through director Jack Hill, Roger Corman’s drive-in empire, and the rise (and fall) of Blaxploitation as both empowerment and exploitation. Plus: Isaac Hayes, Blackula, Tarantino, and Neal’s near-arrest while working with Robert Z’Dar and Eddie Munster.

PLUS:
🪑 Why Wendell Castle’s furniture is both functional and fantastical
🎬 The rise and crash of Blaxploitation cinema, from Sweet Sweetback to Superfly
🎶 Shaft, Superfly, and the soundtracks that outlived the movies
📚 The Curated by Chance Book Club kicks off with Susanna Clarke’s Piranesi

Next week’s prompts: 96, Sphinx, Olive

Help Support The Show On Patreon! (New Tiers!)

www.patreon.com/curatedbychance

Check Out Lauren’s Substack

https://ltlikesthis.substack.com/ 

Join The Curated By Chance Music League (RD 2):

bit.ly/4iSDSmx

Follow the show and its creators on Instagram:

The Show - @curatedbychance

Lauren - @paisleylo

Neal - @nealefischer

E-mail us: [email protected]

Hear Neal each week on Triviality Podcast. Subscribe now!

Listen to Lauren on Miss Information Podcast! Subscribe now!

Pre-Order Neal’s newest book on Law & Order: SVU coming out October 14th below: 

https://geni.us/HPgeZ

And for more Neal in your life, click here:

www.linktr.ee/nealefischer

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Episode 56: Living in a Breast Apartment

This week’s prompts: 2002, Butter, Fedora

Lauren bakes a shepherd’s pie. Neal's been making videos. Everything’s cooking—sometimes literally. This week's episode is a quick fire in the pan trip to two very different destinations.

First, Neal dives into Steven Spielberg’s Catch Me If You Can (2002), the breezy con-man classic starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hanks (and Hanks’ very FBI fedora). You’ll hear who almost got the part, how Christopher Walken churned up an Oscar nom with a very relevant speech to today's prompts, and what DP Janusz Kaminski did to achieve the classic look of the film. Plus: Amy Adams’ breakout role, 147 shooting locations in 52 days, and one of John Williams’ jazziest scores.

Then, Lauren spotlights the extraordinary life and work of Niki de Saint Phalle, the French-American artist, model, and activist who blurred boundaries between pop, politics, and play. From her bullet-ridden “shooting paintings” to her massive Tarot Garden in Tuscany, her bright, zaftig sculptures masked a turbulent personal life and a fierce commitment to feminism, AIDS awareness, and radical joy. Come for the butter-yellow Nanas, stay for the story of who once called her “the first free woman I have ever seen.”

PLUS:
🎬 Spielberg’s obsession with two-movie years (2002 was a banger: Minority Report + Catch Me If You Can)
🍷 Gin, sacred trees, and other on-set superstitions
👩‍🎨 Why Steinem, Yves Saint Laurent, and the Flaming Lips all drew inspiration from Niki de Saint Phalle
📚 The Curated by Chance Book Club has officially launched—Lauren's first pick Sept 1!

Next week’s prompts: Bulb, 37, Mahogany

Help Support Our Show on Patreon:

www.Patreon.com/curatedbychance

Check Out Lauren’s Substack:
https://ltlikesthis.substack.com/

Join The Curated By Chance Music League (RD 2):
bit.ly/4iSDSmx

Follow the show and its creators on Instagram:
The Show - @curatedbychance
Lauren - @paisleylo
Neal - @nealefischer

E-mail us: [email protected]

Hear Neal each week on Triviality Podcast. Subscribe now!

Listen to Lauren on Miss Information Podcast! Subscribe now!

Pre-Order Neal’s newest book on Law & Order: SVU coming out October 14th below:
https://geni.us/HPgeZ

And for more Neal in your life, click here:
www.linktr.ee/nealefischer

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Episode 55: Que Seurat, Seurat
This week’s prompts: Chair, Pews, 1886

Lauren debates pest control theology. Neal is mid-migraine and back pain. Business as usual. From pointillist pixels to loincloths and jungle epics, this episode stretches across art history and ‘80s Hollywood with wildly different (but equally nerdy) results.

First, Lauren goes deep into Georges Seurat’s Models (1886), a painting-within-a-painting that doubles as a defiant response to critics. You’ll learn why Seurat’s figures were accused of looking like mannequins, how his dots anticipated both Cubism and CMYK printing, and why Ferris Bueller’s Day Off accidentally made him a household name. Along the way: nudes, parasols, Seurat’s tragic early death, and the tech-meets-art debate that still rages today (yes, even about AI).

Then, Neal swings vine-first into Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes (1984), the “highbrow Tarzan” you didn’t know existed. From Robert Towne’s 170-page opus (with a wild Hollywood fact about credit) to Rick Baker’s painstaking ape suits, this is Tarzan like you’ve never seen him—part Merchant Ivory, part monkey business. And one sensual dinner scene that will change how you think about soup forever.

PLUS:
🎨 Why Seurat might be the unwitting godfather of Photoshop
🐒 Glenn Close’s first Tarzan role (and not the one you’re thinking of)
🖼️ Photography, AI, and the “is it art?” debate that never dies
🍲 Tarzan’s orgasmic soup etiquette
📚 The Curated by Chance Book Club has officially launched—Lauren picks the first read September 1st.

Next week’s prompts: 2002, Butter, Fedora

SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR CHIEF CURATORS ON PATREON!

Nate Booster

Madeleine Garvey

Jennifer Pence

Join our Patreon (New Tiers!)

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Join The Curated By Chance Music League (RD 2):

bit.ly/4iSDSmx

Follow the show and its creators on Instagram:

The Show - @curatedbychance

Lauren - @paisleylo

Neal - @nealefischer

E-mail us: [email protected]

Hear Neal each week on Triviality Podcast. Subscribe now!

Listen to Lauren on Miss Information Podcast! Subscribe now!

Pre-Order Neal’s newest book on Law & Order: SVU coming out October 14th below: 

https://geni.us/HPgeZ

And for more Neal in your life, click here:

www.linktr.ee/nealefischer

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 54: Jennifer Lopez and The Existential Crisis

This week’s prompts: 1519, Lavender, Washer

Neal forgets his mic. Lauren triggers an existential crisis. So, basically, everything’s normal. From rom-coms to laudanum-soaked painters, this episode spans centuries and sensibilities as our hosts dig into their latest trio of prompts with very different (but equally fascinating) results.

First, Neal breaks down the 2002 J.Lo classic Maid in Manhattan, including the OG Cinderella plot, the Ralph Fiennes miscast magic, and a wardrobe change worthy of Bob Mackie and Harry Winston. You'll learn why John Hughes took his name off the script (and used an Edmond Dantès pseudonym), how the paparazzi derailed filming, and how Ralph Fiennes was used as a decoy during the birth of Bennifer. Plus: a side trip into The Long Good Friday, Stanley Tucci’s excellent angry faces, and why Jennifer Lopez is (maybe) finally choosing herself.

Then, Lauren unveils the dark, dreamy world of Symbolist Art, a philosophical, aesthetic, and extremely pervy movement born in the late 19th century. From Edvard Munch's tortured screamers to Redon’s soft pastel cyclops, Klimt’s spiraling mosaic of death and life, and Gustave Moreau’s overwrought divine tragedy, this is your new favorite art history crash course. Come for the lavender, stay for the vampires, nude dreamers, femme fatales, and incomprehensible pig-walking metaphors.

Check out the J.LO humbling moment here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1f858q7ON6Q

PLUS:
🎨 What Symbolism has in common with surrealism, Satanism, and the death of the artist
👗 Bob Mackie’s most glam moment not involving Cher
💎 48.80 carats of chaos
📚 A new $10 Patreon Book Club tier is live—Lauren picks the first read for September
🎧 Music League is back and growing
💬 Listener love, DMs, and recommendations welcome!

Next week’s prompts: Chair, Puce, 1886

Help Support The Show On Patreon! (New Tiers!)

www.patreon.com/curatedbychance

Check Out Lauren’s Substack

https://ltlikesthis.substack.com/ 

Join The Curated By Chance Music League (RD 2):

bit.ly/4iSDSmx

Follow the show and its creators on Instagram:

The Show - @curatedbychance

Lauren - @paisleylo

Neal - @nealefischer

E-mail us: [email protected]

Hear Neal each week on Triviality Podcast. Subscribe now!

Listen to Lauren on Miss Information Podcast! Subscribe now!

Pre-Order Neal’s newest book on Law & Order: SVU coming out October 14th below: 

https://geni.us/HPgeZ

And for more Neal in your life, click here:

www.linktr.ee/nealefischer

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

EPISODE 53: Ninja Leslie Nielsen

Summer’s in full swing, the bats are (mostly) gone, and Neal’s first attempt at mowing the lawn was almost a Disney nature documentary—minus the narrator and with a lot more screaming. Lauren’s on bat patrol until “The Batman” (the wildlife kind) cometh, and Patreon member Guy Carter weighs in with a skeleton-running-away-worthy comment. From spiders to baby rabbits to birdhouse injuries, it’s a wild week in the great outdoors… which just confirms that Neal and Colleen are officially indoor kids.

But then we get to the good stuff—this week’s prompts (“Chrome, 834, Surfboard”) lead to two very different film deep dives. Lauren revs up for a passionate ode to George Miller’s Mad Max franchise, covering everything from dystopian deserts and practical effects to Jenny Beavan’s award-winning costumes and the legendary Doof Warrior. Neal counterbalances with a trip back to 1993 for the gloriously goofy Surf Ninjas—a martial arts/surf comedy hybrid with Ernie Reyes Jr., Leslie Nielsen as a cyborg villain, Rob Schneider playing a “teenager,” and a prophetic Sega Game Gear. Yes, really.

Plus:
🎬 The unlikely link between Mad Max and Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris
🎮 Why Surf Ninjas’ video game dropped before the movie
📚 A new Patreon $10 “Book Club” tier announcement—fiction, nonfiction, and maybe a cozy murder mystery or two
🎵 Music League updates and possible future “Movie of the Month” club
🦇 Listener bat solidarity stories

Prompts for next episode: 1519, Lavender, Washer. Send us your takes, your movie recommendations, and—if you dare—your Surf Ninjas VHS nostalgia.

Help Support The Show On Patreon!

www.patreon.com/curatedbychance

Check Out Lauren’s Substack

https://ltlikesthis.substack.com/ 

Join The Curated By Chance Music League (RD 3):

https://app.musicleague.com/l/ccc4372077de4a7da5bf41459e0e497e/

Follow the show and its creators on Instagram:

The Show - @curatedbychance

Lauren - @paisleylo

Neal - @nealefischer

E-mail us: [email protected]

Hear Neal each week on Triviality Podcast. Subscribe now!

Listen to Lauren on Miss Information Podcast! Subscribe now!

Check out Neal's newest book on MrBeast and his other books available now and for pre-order!

www.linktr.ee/nealefischer

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Episode 52: Bat Babies in My Ear (AD-FREE)

This week’s prompts: World War II, Forest Green, 77

If last week was chaos, this week... still chaos. Lauren is podcasting under a blanket like it’s her last line of defense. Welcome to another wildly unpredictable episode of Curated by Chance—complete with dramatic retellings, wartime art dives, and a little Spielberg in between.

First up, Neal takes us on a tour of underseen World War II films—including the gritty suspense of The Train (1964), the postwar pain of The Best Years of Our Lives (1946), and the harrowing psychological horror of Come and See (1985). Along the way, we detour through Schindler’s List trivia (Robin Williams was Spielberg’s emotional support system??), Oscar history, and heroic art-saving curators.

Then Lauren dives into the art and radical politics of William Gropper. From his gestural murals to his cartoonish critiques of capitalism, Gropper’s work is full of energy, empathy, and Bruegel-esque wit. We cover tragic fires, heroic moms, acrobatic circus comics, Soviet trips, and why being deeply American and deeply critical aren’t mutually exclusive.

Also in this episode:
– The return of Music League (Volume III launches Friday! Two days! Link below!)
– A new prompt pull: Chrome, 834, Surfboard
– And why Lauren’s bat was basically Batman Forever-level huge

Plus:
– Who was almost cast in Schindler’s List (brace yourself)
– Why The Train needed a Ferrari to get made
– And what happens when your house is 125 years old and full of feelings

Help Support Us On Patreon!

www.Patreon.com/TrivialityPodcast

Check Out Lauren’s Substack

https://ltlikesthis.substack.com/ 

Join The Curated By Chance Music League (RD 3):

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Follow the show and its creators on Instagram:

The Show - @curatedbychance

Lauren - @paisleylo

Neal - @nealefischer

E-mail us: [email protected]

Hear Neal each week on Triviality Podcast. Subscribe now!

Listen to Lauren on Miss Information Podcast! Subscribe now!

Check out Neal's newest book on MrBeast and his other books available now and for pre-order!

www.linktr.ee/nealefischer

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Episode 51: Monet, Manet, and a Gentleman Thief

This week’s prompts: Parisian, Crown, 540, Fuschia

What do you get when a birthday party is interrupted by a hostage situation with a grenade landing in your neighborhood? You get Lauren’s summer.

In this episode, Lauren and Neal return with updates from the chaos of everyday life—and a seriously rich deep dive into art history, revolutionary brushstrokes, and one very cranky artist. Lauren breaks down The Judgment of Paris by Ross King, a nonfiction ride through the 1860s that pits old-school battle painter Ernest Meissonier against the boundary-pushing Édouard Manet. From nude scandals to Prussian sieges, the book—and this episode—certainly have it all.

Then, Neal takes us on a whirlwind tour through the origins and legacy of gentleman thief Arsène Lupin. Learn about the character’s creation by Maurice Leblanc, his rivalry with Sherlock Holmes and how this French antihero has inspired stage plays, films, anime, and of course, the Netflix hit Lupin. Bonus: a theory about Mr. Peanut you won’t be able to unsee.

We talk salons (the French kind), shockingly radical water lilies, and the fight to define what counts as “real” art. Also: a surprise detour into Whistler’s rage issues and a cozy mystery connection you didn’t see coming.

Plus:
– What happens when your street gets blocked by bomb squads?
– Why were 19th-century Frenchmen smacking paintings with riding crops?
– And did Lupin inspire Father Brown’s Flambeau?

And don’t miss:
– A new Patreon idea brewing… book club anyone?
– Music League Volume III dropping soon!

Check Out Lauren’s Substack

https://ltlikesthis.substack.com/ 

Follow the show and its creators on Instagram:

The Show - @curatedbychance

Lauren - @paisleylo

Neal - @nealefischer

E-mail us: [email protected]

Hear Neal each week on Triviality Podcast. Subscribe now!

Listen to Lauren on Miss Information Podcast! Subscribe now!

Check out Neal's newest book on MrBeast and his other books available now and for pre-order!

www.linktr.ee/nealefischer

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EPISODE 48: Invites Close Listening

This week’s prompts: Opal, Calendar, 1796

In this episode, Lauren and Neal dive into illuminated manuscripts, chaotic filmmaking, and the sounds that make your palms sweat.

First up: Lauren unpacks The Très Riches Heures du Duc de Berry, one of the most important medieval manuscripts ever created. We explore why it's a masterpiece of Christian devotion, seasonal symbolism, and early art history—featuring astrological charts, noble feasts, a pregnant grape-picker (!), and even some cheeky peasant butts.

Then Neal breaks down why Uncut Gems (2019) is one of the most stressful films of all time. Discover how the Safdie Brothers used overlapping dialogue, handheld cinematography, telephoto lenses, and non-actors to trap viewers inside Adam Sandler’s unrelenting chaos. If you’ve ever felt stressed just watching a movie—this one’s for you.

This episode covers:

📚 BIG ANNOUNCEMENT: Our 50th episode is coming—and we're doing a Curated by Chance Book Club! Join us as we read How to Solve Your Own Murder by Kristen Perrin. You’ve got two weeks to grab a copy!

Help Support The Show On Patreon!

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Check Out Lauren’s Substack

https://ltlikesthis.substack.com/ 

Join The Curated By Chance Music League (RD 2):

bit.ly/4iSDSmx

Follow the show and its creators on Instagram:

E-mail us: [email protected]

Hear Neal each week on Triviality Podcast. Subscribe now!

Listen to Lauren on Miss Information Podcast! Subscribe now!

Check out Neal's newest book on Cristiano Ronaldo and his other books available now and for pre-order!

www.linktr.ee/nealefischer

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EPISODE 50: How to Solve Your Own Podcast

We did it! 50 episodes in, Curated by Chance hits its midlife crisis—no Porsche, no Bali retreat, but Neal and Lauren are still here, still talking, and (shockingly) still not out of things to say. To celebrate the big 5-0, we’re cracking open our first ever CBC Book Club pick: How to Solve Your Own Murder by Kristen Perrin.

What begins as a light mystery read turns into a wide-ranging discussion on genre expectations, literary pet peeves, cozy vibes, and what makes a character actually worth rooting for. Lauren and Neal get honest about the book’s writing style, plot twists, character development (or lack thereof), and how it compares to their beloved Richard Osman universe.

📚 What’s inside:
– Our honest review of How to Solve Your Own Murder
– Thoughts on the “pastiche problem” in genre fiction
– Why fainting doesn’t count as a personality
– Where the romance subplot could’ve gone
– And what actually surprised us about the plot

Also discussed:
💬 Listening at 1.25 speed
📸 Posting episode extras on Instagram (@curatedbychance)
📖 The logistics (and dreams) of a future CBC Book Club tier
📘 P.D. James, Margaret Atwood, and the ghost of Agatha Christie
🎨 Art moms, missing townspeople, and the need for a “cool bitch” character
💋 And a wild aside about writing erotic fiction (Patreon exclusive?)

Your prompts for next week:
Parisian
Crown
540
Fuchsia

Have thoughts on the book? Want to nominate our next read? Drop us a message on Instagram or email us at [email protected]. And let us know—should the CBC Book Club be a recurring thing?

Help Support The Show On Patreon!

www.patreon.com/curatedbychance

Check Out Lauren’s Substack

https://ltlikesthis.substack.com/ 

Join The Curated By Chance Music League (RD 2):

bit.ly/4iSDSmx

Follow the show and its creators on Instagram:

The Show - @curatedbychance

Lauren - @paisleylo

Neal - @nealefischer

E-mail us: [email protected]

Hear Neal each week on Triviality Podcast. Subscribe now!

Listen to Lauren on Miss Information Podcast! Subscribe now!

Check out Neal's newest book on MrBeast and his other books available now and for pre-order!

www.linktr.ee/nealefischer

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices