How many new holiday movies have you watched so far? I'll admit I haven't watched all of them yet, but this week my friends and I are talking about it anyway! In this episode, we share some of last year's favorites and our hopes for this year's new holiday movies.

That's right - friends! Multiple! I was joined in person with THREE of my closest friends during a weekend retreat, and we had a blast sharing with you the holiday movies we were hooked on last year and the ones we're looking forward to this year. Who are these friends, you ask? They are Amanda, who works for a nonprofit in homeless outreach; Sarah, a college professor and, as it turns out, devoted Pez collector; and Anna, best friend of the show, corporate marketing pro, and writer extraordinaire.

We had a blast making this episode for you, and I hope you feel like you're sitting on the couch with us as we chat and laugh and do our very best not to talk over each other. Enjoy!

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

• Letterboxd
• Anna's article about being on a movie set (and check out her photos in her Instagram highlight!)
• Hooked on Holiday Movies
• Joy to the World on Hulu
• An interview with Jonathan Bennett
• Merriam-Webster's hilarious Instagram account
• And this recipe from my friend Terri:

Nearly Sugar-Free Iced Pumpkin Cream Chai

3/4 c Oregon Chai concentrate (sugar-free) 2/3 c milk (I use Fairlife skim milk)

2 Tbsp half and half 1 Tbsp milk 1 Tbsp canned pumpkin 1 Tbsp sugar-free vanilla syrup

The chai and milk is the main drink. The half and half, milk, pumpkin, and vanilla are the pour-over cream. Using a frother helps mix it up completely. Serve over ice. (Makes one drink.)

LET'S CONNECT:

• Find Mary on Instagram or in her Facebook group.
• Find Anna on Instagram or on her website.
• Find Sarah and Amanda in Mary's Facebook group.

Hey there! and welcome to a new episode of Hooked, a podcast where we share the things that we're hooked on. From books and TV shows to snacks and skirts with pockets, we're talking about whatever is helping us deal with life when life is just too much.

I'm your host, Mary Carver, and while I'll still be hanging out on the couch with friends and we'll still be talking about pop culture and why it matters, Hooked is now the new and improved show you need today.

And speaking of today, I'm so excited for you to hear this week's episode. I'm joined by my friend Candace Shaw, who I met online and then in person and now hang out with almost every month! What a world! Anyway, Candace is a book nerd and the creator of my favorite thing I am 100% hooked on, and she's here to tell us all about it.

If you've ever wanted to start or join a book club but so much better, this episode is for you. Let's get started!

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

• The Lazy Genius: Create a Summer Reading Club episode
• The best autumn candle ever

LET'S CONNECT:

• Find Mary on Instagram or in her Facebook group.
• Find Candace on Instagram.

Hey there! and welcome to a new episode of Hooked, a podcast where we share the things that we're hooked on. From books and TV shows to snacks and skirts with pockets, we're talking about whatever is helping us deal with life when life is just too much.

I'm your host, Mary Carver, and while I'll still be hanging out on the couch with friends and we'll still be talking about pop culture and why it matters, Hooked is now the new and improved show you need today.

And speaking of today, in this week's episode, I'm going solo and telling you about all the things I'm hooked on right now, including pop music, a book I never imagined I'd love so much, Halloween costumes, and—of course—new holiday movies.

It's a fun one, so let's get started!

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

• This album
• This song
• This TV show
• This audiobook
• Netflix holiday movies

LET'S CONNECT:

• · Find Mary on Instagram or in her Facebook group.

Welcome to a new episode of Hooked, a podcast where we share the things that we're hooked on. From books and TV shows to snacks and skirts with pockets, we're talking about whatever is helping us deal with life when life is just too much.

I'm your host, Mary Carver, and while I'll still be hanging out on the couch with friends and we'll still be talking about pop culture and why it matters, Hooked is now the new and improved show you need today.

And speaking of today, in this week's episode, I'm joined by my dear friend and friend of the show, Kathi Lipp. Kathi is a bestselling author, sought-after speaker, writing and marketing coach, and my kindred spirit in many ways, including all things TV.

I'm excited for you to listen to this episode. So let's get started!

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

• Somebody Somewhere (HBO Max)
• Shrinking (Apple TV)
• Nurse Jackie
• Mum (Britbox)
• Ludwig (Britbox)
• Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris
• Army Wives
• Cobra Kai
• Gilmore Girls
• Howdy streaming service
• The Couch Podcast #167: Home Reno Shows & Accidental Homesteading with Kathi Lipp

LET'S CONNECT:

• Find Kathi in her Facebook group, the Clutter Free Academy.
• Find Mary on Instagram or in her Facebook group.

Welcome to a new episode of Hooked, a podcast where we share the things that we're hooked on. From books and TV shows to snacks and skirts with pockets, we're talking about whatever is helping us deal with life when life is just too much.

Today we're diving into the inspiration for this year's hottest Halloween costumes. That's right -- it's time to talk K-Pop Demon Hunters!

In this week's episode, I'm joined by my friend and friend of the show, Tasha Jun. Tasha is the author of Tell Me the Dream Again: Reflections on Family, Ethnicity, and the Sacred Work of Belonging, and as you'll hear, the perfect person for this conversation.

I know you're going to love this episode. So let's get started!

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

• K-Pop Demon Hunters (Netflix)
• 'Kpop Demon Hunters' Draws from Korean Folklore With This Scene-Stealing Character (Collider)
• Lemonade Mouth (Disney+)
• Julie & the Phantoms (Netflix)
• The Couch Podcast episode #160 with Tasha: Celebrating Asian American Stories All Year Long
• Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale (you can rent it on Apple TV+)
• The Couch #160: Celebrating Asian American Stories All Year Long

LET'S CONNECT:

• Find Tasha on Instagram or her Substack.
• Find Mary on Instagram or her Facebook group.

Welcome to a new episode of Hooked, a podcast where we share the things that we're hooked on. From books and TV shows to snacks and skirts with pockets, we're talking about whatever is helping us deal with life when life is just too much.

I'm your host, Mary Carver, and while I'll still be hanging out on the couch with friends and we'll still be talking about pop culture and why it matters, Hooked is now the new and improved show you need today.

And speaking of today, in this week's episode, I'm joined by my best friend and best friend of every show I've ever hosted . . . Anna Rendell. Anna is a writer, speaker, and mom of four – and you probably know her from Hooked on Holiday Movies, our annual endeavor to bring all the best holiday movies to you and, as you might have guessed, the inspiration for this podcast's name change.

I think you're going to love this episode. So let's get started!

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

• North of North (Netflix)
• Only Murders in the Building (Hulu)
• Yarn Fever (the game for your phone)
• Libraries
• Hooked on Holiday Movies
• The Couch #168: 23 New Holiday Movies to Watch in 2023

LET'S CONNECT:

• Find Anna on Instagram (@annaerendell) or on her website.
• Find Mary on Instagram (@marycarver) or on her website.
• Join us both in the Facebook group.

I get it now. It actually makes total sense that the new holiday movies sneak up on us every year, since it's happening during spooky season. Right? That explains it, for sure. It has nothing to do with capitalism rushing the calendar more every year or us getting older and time flying faster. Nope! Spooky season strikes again! Well anyway. Whether you're ready for it or not (and let me tell you, and I will keep on telling you, how incredibly ready I am for some cheese and cheer in my life), holiday movies are beginning in 3, 2, 1...NOW. This weekend brings us the first new holiday movies of the season! Woohoo! As always, my best friend (and best friend of the show) Anna Rendell and I are here to guide you through this hectic but holly-jolly season. We've waded through all the new holiday movies (nearly 100 of them, which is thankfully and bizarrely a much smaller number than recent years) to create for you a list of 23 holiday movies to watch in 2023. Of course, because this is The Couch, where side notes and rabbit trails are always welcome, we also take time to talk about spy shows, lipsticks and earrings, other podcasts, and Hallmark's continued inability to cast children who look and act the age the script says their characters are. All right, it's time to talk holiday movies with Anna. Let's get started! MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

• My latest (in)courage article
• The (in)courage podcast (where Anna is the voice)
• The Hooked on Holiday Movies bundle (stay tuned for the 2023 version)
• The Sorta Awesome Hangout on Facebook
• At Midnight (Paramount+)
• A Moment of Christmas: 25 December Devotions for Moms (by Anna Rendell)
• Sleepless in Seattle (watch on Hulu)
• The Cutting Edge (watch on Hulu or Showtime)
• Field Day (Hallmark Channel)
• The Bear (Hulu)

NOT-SO-GUILTY PLEASURES:

• SUGARFIX earrings at Target
• Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick
• FUBAR (Netflix)

DON'T FORGET:

• Join The Couch on Facebook! It's so much fun!
• Find Anna on Instagram at @annaerendell or at annarendell.com, and you can find her holiday devotional at Amazon. As always, you can find me on Instagram at @marycarver or at marycarver.com.

Welcome to The Couch! This post may include affiliate links. This means that if you click and purchase, I might receive a small commission at no extra charge to you.

Because you know me to be a clearly indoorsy person who loves the convenient things in life, you might be surprised by today's topic. My good friend (and good friend of the show) Kathi Lipp is here to talk about homesteading and home renovation—and the shows that give us hope we can do those things.

Kathi is a speaker and author, and her newest book, The Accidental Homesteader: What I've Learned About Chickens, Compost, and Creating Home, came out yesterday. Part how-to, part memoir, and totally down-to-earth for even the most novice homemakers, this book is about the mindset of freedom, independence, and strength that anyone can find, no matter where they call home. And it's the inspiration for today's conversation about home shows that we have loved watching and are watching these days!

Of course, because this is The Couch, where side notes and rabbit trails are always welcome, we also take time to talk about rewatching favorite shows, The Bear on Hulu, our devotion to TBS, and the online ads that have worked on us.

All right, it's time to talk homes with Kathi. Let's get started!

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

• Meg Tietz of Sorta Awesome
• MAX is where you can stream HGTV, DIY, and Magnolia Network shows.
• Clean Sweep
• Homestead Rescue
• Home Town
• Tiny House Nation
• Stay Here
• Flea Market Flip
• Good Bones
• Restoring Galveston
• The Biggest Little Farm
• Animal Vegetable Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver
• Bargain Mansions
• Grow Cook Eat
• Married to Real Estate
• @redleafranch on TikTok

NOT-SO-GUILTY PLEASURES:

• Rewatching The West Wing
• Watching The Bear (Hulu)
• And watching it slowly because it's real intense!
• Buying clothes based on an online ad (from Bloomchic, who's not a sponsor but who did create and sell me two very cute and comfy shirts)

DON'T FORGET:

• Join The Couch on Facebook! It's so much fun!
• Find Kathi on Instagram at @kathilipp or at kathilipp.com, and you can buy her newest book, The Accidental Homesteader: What I've Learned About Chickens, Compost, and Creating Home, today. And you can find me on Instagram at @marycarver or at marycarver.com.

Welcome to The Couch!

This post may include affiliate links. This means that if you click and purchase, I might receive a small commission at no extra charge to you.

One of my favorite parts of the Barbie movie was the soundtrack, chock full of songs written specifically for the movie. And that got me thinking about all the other iconic songs we have purely because a movie called for them. So today my brother (and friend of the show) James Walters is back on The Couch to talk about some of our favorite movie theme songs.

James is not just my brother and a music and pop culture expert, of course. He's the owner of The Big Gay Collective, creating fabulous scented products including a whole lot of amazing candles. He's also a former professional musician and the person on this planet whose pop culture memories most closely overlap with mine. So obviously he's the person who invited me to go see Barbie and the person who's perfect for another musical conversation.

But not a conversation about musicals. Because we're talking about movies that are specifically not musicals. Because why? I don't know but these are the parameters we ended up with.

Of course, because this is The Couch, where side notes and rabbit trails are always welcome, we also get into the King of Soundtracks, my favorite TV show which I promise I do really love even though I blank on the name of it, and karaoke.

Lastly, a note about the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes, a.k.a. the writers strike. I'm not a member of the unions, nor am I paid to promote any of their products. As a quasi-journalist who reports entertainment information, I will continue providing that service to you at this time. But I fully acknowledge that the movies and series we discuss here on The Couch would not be possible without the writers, and I support those striking in favor of fair treatment and compensation.

All right, it's time to see how long you can listen without breaking into song. Let's get started!

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

• The songs in this playlist
• Phil Collins
• Songs learned on the piano during childhood
• Our middle school music teacher, as always
• My adolescent love for Christian Slater

NOT-SO-GUILTY PLEASURES:

• Revisiting Pinterest
• Buying a pink dress to wear to Barbie

DON'T FORGET:

• Join The Couch on Facebook! It's a guilt-free, laidback zone for people who love pop culture. (That's you!)
• Find James on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest, and buy his candles and other scented goods. And you can find me on Instagram at @marycarver or at marycarver.com.

Welcome to The Couch!

This post may include affiliate links. This means that if you click and purchase, I might receive a small commission at no extra charge to you.

Between the writers' strike and the post-4th of July summer situation we have most years, August doesn't have a ton of new content to offer. But don't you worry! I'm here to make sure you know what IS returning and premiering. Plus, we take a look at Hulu, in case you need more options for what to watch.

Speaking of What to Watch, remember that I create a monthly watch guide for Patreon members and newsletter subscribers. So for details on everything I talk about today plus a whole bunch more (including a list of series you can catch up on during slower seasons, like this one), head over to marycarver.com/patreon. Yes, it's a few dollars a month, but you'll get that monthly watch guide, a monthly movie watch party, and a bonus podcast episode.

All right, it's almost time to get started on this episode, but I do want to reassure you that even when it's just me here on The Couch, rabbit trails and side notes are always welcome and present. So be ready for that. Now, let's dive in!

MENTIONED IN THE SHOW:

• The Couch episode #164 (where I talk about Paramount+)
• The Couch Facebook group
• The Couch on Patreon

Welcome to The Couch!