It Pod to Be You

Hello, romantics! With a buzzy, sexy, star-studded, and overwhelming romantic drama out now, your host Manish (@vertigay314) had to weigh in! With his sparring partner Dave Giannini (@darnthatdave), he discusses Luca Guadagnino’s CHALLENGERS starring Zendaya and some random guys (fine, Mike Faist and Josh O’Connor). Listen in as Dave and Manish volley back and forth about the tennis movie, serving up hot takes, and analyze what exactly about the movie has social media making such a racket!

Introducing a new podcast project from host and moderator Manish (@vertigay314); Bollywood Drafts! Together with Amrita (@amritaIQ) and Asim (@AsimBurney) from @khandaanpodcast and Sal (@salandthebadpun), Manish sets out to make the definitive ranking of superstar Shah Rukh Khan’s top 13 films! They’re celebrating the 20th anniversary of his classic MAIN HOON NA… but will it make it on the list? What gets vetoed? Listen in to find out what is the King Khan’s best movie of all time!

Hello, romantics! Your host Manish (@vertigay314) celebrates the podcast’s 100th episode with an epic tribute to David Fincher’s 2014 absurdist black romantic comedy GONE GIRL. Starring Rosamund Pike and Ben Affleck, the twisted marriage story was a smash hit and in the decade since has emerged as an influential and unforgettable classic. Manish invites a group of guests to dissect the film: Erica (@eRockReviews), Dave (@darnthatdave), Erin (@erinefraser), Ben (@nebisben), Sal (@salandthebadpun), and Marcelo (@MarceloJPico). In honor of our Gone Girl Amy and our Aloof Boy Nick, listen to a celebration of the film that Oscar winner Anne Hathaway once called her more recent favorite romantic comedy!

Hello, romantics! Your host Manish (@vertigay314) closes out the Sports Romance miniseries with the 2010 Sanaa Hamri film JUST WRIGHT! Starring THEE Queen Latifah, Common, and Paula Patton, this romantic comedy is pleasant and charming, with some deep insights baked into the surface-level studio film. He welcomes back Alexandria Daniels (@filmnvinyl) to the podcast, and they talk about the Queen, her legacy, and what this movie means for her screen persona. Listen to the podcast—or risk getting a bucket of ice getting thrown onto you!

Hello, romantics! Your host Manish (@vertigay314) brings in the new year with the landmark basketball romance LOVE & BASKETBALL. With guest Shak (@ShakExcellence)! They talk about the super hot chemistry between stars Sanaa Lathan and Omar Epps, the beautiful filmmaking by Gina Prince-Bythewood, and how well the movie holds up in its exploration of gender in sports. This 2000 movie is entertaining, charming, romantic, and gets even better on rewatch!

Hello, romantics! Your host Manish (@vertigay314) travels across the pond for the 2004 tennis romcom WIMBLEDON! He welcomes back friend of the podcast Erin Fraser (@erinefraser) for this cute but not completely satisfying movie starring the legendary Kirsten Dunst and Paul Bettany. Be warned: they talk more about Dunst’s career journey than the actual movie, but who could blame them? They also go into how few tennis movies there are, the movie’s surprisingly stacked cast, and how this movie differs from 2020s romcoms!

Hello, romantics! Your host Manish (@vertigay314) welcomes back guest Ben Miller (@nebisben) for another Ron Shelton sports rom-com TIN CUP! Starring Rene Russo and Kevin Costner, the easy golf rom-com is witty, romantic, and just so charming. Ben talks about his love of the game and how it’s portrayed in the film, while Manish explores how the 1996 romcom is emblematic of a romcom era gone by. It’s a smooth, sun-kissed film and a joy to talk about!

Hello, romantics! The Sports Romance miniseries continues with the 1988 Ron Shelton baseball sex comedy BULL DURHAM! Your host Manish (@vertigay314) welcomes guest Danny Bowes (@bybowes) for this funny, sexy, and romantic hit movie. Starring Susan Sarandon, Kevin Costner, and Tim Robbins, the movie captures of the romance of baseball with a sun-kissed visual flair and a script full of witty lines!

Hello, romantics! Your host Manish (@vertigay314) is at the halfway point of the Sports Romance miniseries. For the occasion, he invited his two cousins Vikrum and Kinjal to talk about the monumentally influential Bollywood epic LAGAAN. The 2001 film was the 3rd Indian nominated for the Best International Feature Oscar, and as of now the last. It stars superstar Aamir Khan as a farmer who leads a motley crew in a high-stakes game of cricket against the British in order to save their village. With a compelling love triangle, elegant filmmaking, and stirring music, LAGAAN is a classic of the 21st century and extremely entertaining two decades later.

Hello, romantics! Your host Manish (@vertigay314) welcomes the two hosts of The Podcast Around the Corner Shawnee Mead (@ShawneeMead) and Dan Colon (@DanColon) for the Amanda Bynes’ crossdressing sports romcom SHE’S THE MAN. A 2000s high school cult classic, this movie is adapted from Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night and features a charming breakthrough performance from Channing Tatum. On the podcast, they discuss how progressive the movie is for its time, Amanda Bynes’ impact on teen comedy, and what does and doesn’t work in the movie!