Hop On Pop Culture

Welcome back to this special presentation of Hop on Pop Culture Episode 55. If you are enjoying the incredible podcast you’ve been listening to right now, please take a moment to like and subscribe. While you’re at it, why don't you take a look at the quality programming that’s provided by PBS. Phil and Dylan will walk you through their history with it, and hopefully convince you to contribute and enjoy the programing as well. If you value having a space on your television that inspires, educates, and informs without trying to sell you something, please listen right now! 

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Phil’s family recently said goodbye to their dog, Ziggy. Phil and Dylan discuss teaching their kids about death, and loss, with special guest (and fellow Damn Appleton Kid) Charlie Biskupic. He was originally scheduled for a much lighter, more fun topic, but agreed to switch to DEATH because he’s a really good friend. Hear about the most amazing dog in Chicago, see Dylan hedge Mal’s afterlife bets, and keep an eye on Charlie as he usurps Phil’s spot as co-host of the podcast, before soft launching his own. 

Content warning: Frank discussion of death and dying, description of a dog’s end of life care, cheap shots at the state of New Jersey.

In honor of Pokemon’s 30th anniversary, we talk about Malcom’s latest obsession, Pokemon, and Rebel’s latest, dinosaurs, and the place where their obsessions collide - The Pokemon Fossil Exhibit at the Field Museum! And if you haven’t listened to part 1, that’s OK! Each of our episodes is available on our website and streaming services. You can catch them all!

Renowned artist, and fellow Damn Appleton Kid, Kendall Hale finds his way into the booth! Reunited after two decades, the gang discuss Spongebob Squarepants- a show that came on the air when they were kids, and that their own kids now also grow up with. Kendall talks about his journey from being a young fan to working on Spongebob as a character designer for two seasons, and Dylan and Phil debate dinosaur pronunciation. A vicious custody battle ensues. High art meets low brow humor in this very special episode. Are you ready, parents? I can’t heee-aaaarrr you! The doctor says it’s tinnitus.

This episode uses music by Kevin MacLeod:

"The Escalation" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Dylan and Phil celebrate the 50th episode of Hop On Pop Culture, and the third year anniversary of the podcast with a special episode recorded LIVE AND IN PERSON at Phil’s basement. They did it up Hobbit style, with some pipe-weed, a bottle of red wine, and rustic bread and cheese as they talk about The Lord of The Rings and its impact on their lives and the lives of their heirs. Thanks for listening along so far- one does not simply walk into 50 episodes.

It is a universally known fact that children love dragons- conversely, dragons love children (especially with ketchup). Dylan and Phil have used this fact to start getting their kids into some classic fantasy literature- namely, The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien. Grab your walking stick, forget your handkerchief, and come along on an adventure through the books, movies (extended editions of course), and cartoons that have been shaping kids imaginations for decades. Phil and Dylan debate if they are, in fact, the same person, and uncover a shared buried memory of having seen Gandalf's full uncensored staff in a production of King Lear. Yeah, they went there. And back again.

Phil gives his pitch for Toy Story 5: TOYtal Recall, an idea he had before learning that there will be an actual Toy Story 5. Enjoy what is certain to be a whimsical take on the world of Toy Story!*

*Content Warning: Human on toy violence, toy on Human violence, genocide, firearms (two ways), torture, choking hazards, and adult language. Rated PG, in theatres June 19th.

Happy Holidays! Dylan and Phil get into the seasonal spirit by introducing their kids to the 2003 instant classic Christmas movie ELF starring Will Ferrell and James Caan. Phil makes a controversial list of favorite Christmas movies, Dylan denigrates an all time Christmas classic, and the two of them engage in battling Jimmy Stuart impressions. They also answer the greatest question of this, or any other generation- is Will Ferrell twee? You should give it a listen, listening is our favorite!

Yeah yeah, they watched and talked about the Charlie Brown Thanksgiving special from 1973, sure, but the REAL draw of this episode is just how tired both Dylan and Phil were when they recorded it. Things go from Snoopy to loopy real quick as they get lost in the sauce over brines, mistake jazz for chocolate, and Phil tells the dirtiest joke about geese you’ve ever heard. We’re thankful to be such good friends who can share these sleep deprived moments, and we’re thankful to you for sharing them with us. Now, eat up!