Matt's So-Cast Pod

Happy 1995! It's a new year, and time to make some resolutions ... which will almost immediately be broken. Angela wants to stop being so introspective (although on second thought, maybe not), Patty wants to stop being so suspicious, Danielle wants to wear makeup ... and Rickie wants a place to live, which puts everyone else's resolutions into perspective. Mr. Katimsky, recently having sworn off coffee, wants to help, but can't -- for reasons that will become SHOCKINGLY (for the 90s) clear.

Breaking it down with me this week is Aaron Berman, author of the forthcoming book So Beautiful it Hurts: The Making of My So-Called Life. (Check out Aaron's MSCL community on Facebook here.)

It's Christmas this week on the So-Cast Pod, but the yuletide is not particularly gay for Rickie, who has been cast out of the house and has nowhere to go. Fortunately, a mysterious folk singer appears to watch over him (kind of? A little unclear how she's actually helping) and Patty's two Christmas wishes are that the family go to church and that Brian shut the hell up for once. Meanwhile, Danielle points out that all this talk about religion is putting a real damper on the Christmas season.

We've got a cavalcade of podcast guests this week to break down the most famous episode of the series: From Out on the Lanai, H. Alan Scott and Kerri Doherty; from Basic Folk, Cindy Howes; and from Linoleum Knife Alonso Duralde (whose new book Hollywood Pride is not to be missed!).

We've reached episode 14, in which Rayanne is one month sober -- but alas, she's starting to get a little fidgety. Can Angela and Rickie keep her from slipping back into old habits? Especially now that Angela has her hands full trying to figure out what her relationship with Jordan has become. Meanwhile, Patty learns a thing or two about Kurt Vonnegut.

Joining me to break it down is Aaron Berman, author of an upcoming book about My So-Called Life called So Beautiful it Hurts. (Check out Aaron's MSCL community on Facebook here.) And then James and I talk about our most horrifying on-stage humiliations before the spirit of Jimminy Glick overtakes us.

On the podcast this week: No longer content with the boiler room assignations, this week Jordan's nagging Angela to explore more a more carnal pastime, but she's not sure she's ready -- so she borrows an erotic VHS tape from Sharon, and before long everyone's staring, transfixed, and lithe bodies kneading dough. Meanwhile, Graham brings Hallie Lowenthal and her fiancé into his kitchen and prepares a dinner that appears to be some kind of apple-fish?????

Diving into this adult adventure are Sharon Johnson and Susan Lambert Hatem from the podcast 80s TV Ladies. And then James moseys on by to talk about influencer energy, emotional corsets, and the open sensuality of Susan Sarandon.

We're back from our little summer vacation and ready to tackle some saucy secrets. Angela's sneaking off to the boiler room with Jordan for make-out sessions, but that sneaking is starting to take a toll. Meanwhile Graham is the star pupil in his cooking class, but something may be cooking between him and a fellow student. And Rickie's aghast at the new English teacher's suggestion that he might want to join Drama Club.

Helping us break it all down is the delightful Sam Pirie. And then James and I discuss our own high school higgledy-piggledies (or lack thereof), a history of disembodied ladies, and the girlboss who lives in our hearts.

Everyone's at maximum freakout in the leadup to World Happiness Dance, whatever that is, and nobody can figure out who's going with who -- especially with the addition of two new students, Delia and Cory, shaking up the social circles. Adding to the confusion: We're getting Brian's inner monologue instead of Angela's! What's going on???? And why is Graham so determined to wallpaper the bedroom instead of dealing with those cooking classes?

Helping me break it all down is Trevor McMahan from the YouTube channel Media Processing; as well as Sharon Johnson and Susan Lambert Hatem from the podcast 80s TV Ladies.

Also: We'll be taking a two-week break from posting new episodes while I travel to Toronto for Pride (join me at the Toronto Public Library on June 12!) and we'll be back with regular episodes on June 17.

On this week’s episode, Rayanne and Patty throw dueling parties on the same night! It seems like the most worst thing that could possibly happen to Angela...until Rayanne’s drinking spirals out of control. Meanwhile Patty’s mother Vivian stuffs a turkey in the fridge, to Graham’s dismay. And the karma around the Chase household gets really low. Or dark. Or whatever karma does.

Breaking it all down with me are Scottish comedian Sam Pirie, as well as friend-to-all-humans Liz. Plus James and I have a conversation that culminates in a truly jaw-dropping realization about an incident from my youth.

To join our weekly watch-alongs, head over to Patreon at patreon.com/mattbaume — all paying Patrons have access to the Discord server.

And if you have a moment, please leave a review of Matt's So-Cast Pod on Apple Podcasts.

Music by Caleb Martin - www.MartinMusicMedia.com

It’s Halloween! Spoooooooky chills are in the air as Rayanne plots a seance, but winds up making a connection with someone she least unexpected. Meanwhile, Angela finds a new boy to fixate on — one who’s even more doomed than Jordan. Patty and Graham obtain some haunted (???) outfits from a mysterious costume shop. And Danielle finally gets some attention.

Chatting with me this week are drag icon Peaches Christ, something of an expert when it comes to Halloween and alter egos. And also Drew Mackie, co-host of the podcast Gayest Episode Ever and the mini-podcast Weirdest Episode Ever, to discuss how gay and weird this episode is. And then I sit down with James to talk about dweeb polycules, costumes that flopped, and our stage personae (The Rhinestone Trash Bag and Malevolent Smell).

A medical emergency throws everyone into a panic, and things get weird at the Chase household. Sharon starts hanging out with Brian, Rayanne is nice to Sharon, and Graham makes a cake that makes Patty question their entire relationship. It’s enough to make Angela almost forget that Jordan even exists! (Almost… but not quite.)

Helping me break it all down are Ryan O’Connor (actor, director, and character actress) to talk about the casting decisions that happen behind the scenes on a show like this; and returning guest Samantha Rei (Project Runway) to talk about peculiar bedroom decor choices, and what it’s like to experience a real-life hospital spell like we see in this episode. And of course, James is here to offer insights and mysteries.

To join our weekly watch-alongs, head over to Patreon at patreon.com/mattbaume — all paying Patrons have access to the Discord server.

And if you have a moment, please leave a review of Matt's So-Cast Pod on Apple Podcasts.

Music by Caleb Martin - www.MartinMusicMedia.com

Angela is DEFINITELY over Jordan this week, honest, swear to God. Except then she discovers that he can barely read, and decides it's her mission to help him... which conveniently provides a reason to ask him out on a date. (To see a movie with subtitles. Good thinking, Angela.) Meanwhile, Graham and Patty discover they might or might not be pregnant, and grapple with the implications of Schrodinger's zygote. And as if this show didn't have enough doomed crushes, Danielle decides she's got eyes for Brian Krakow.

Helping me make sense of it all this week is my guest Liz Krott -- a television postproduction producer and mother of actual teenagers! And also one of me and James' closest friends since we were teenagers ourselves.

To join our weekly watch-alongs, head over to Patreon at patreon.com/mattbaume — all paying Patrons have access to the Discord server.

And if you have a moment, please leave a review of Matt's So-Cast Pod on Apple Podcasts.

Music by Caleb Martin - www.MartinMusicMedia.com