Welcome to Pop Cult: The Fame Files

This week we are chatting about a bunch of iconic roles that we all know and love - and could never imagine anyone else playing. But much like interviewing for a job, these shows also “interview” multiple people for these parts. We found ourselves shocked, surprised, and mind blown a couple of times - especially finding out that Reese Witherspoon may have not been Elle and Derek Shepard could have been someone else entirely.

The Fame Files is part of Pop Cult, where we unpack pop culture’s biggest stories, scandals, and icons.

Join us on Tuesday for our next episode of Reality Digest, where we’ll cover the previous weeks’ pop culture chaos and debrief the latest episodes of our favorite reality shows! 

Disclaimer: The stories we cover are based on research and publicly available sources. While we strive for accuracy, some details may be disputed or unverified, and this episode is for entertainment and informational purposes only. All research in this episode is based on publicly available reporting and archival interviews and documentaries. Full list of sources available upon request.

This week we welcome the train wreck that is and always has been The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives back onto our screens. Much to our surprise, we only have 5 episodes this season, which perhaps is the best thing for all of us. We discuss how this show is hanging on by a thread and how it got to this point. We’re slowly warming up to Alix Earle’s TV debut and we have to say, if we were a particular friend of show, we wouldn’t be thrilled after this episode. We’re barely watching The Girls at this point and we just want to know who butt dialed Khloe. Our Below Deck Med crew is nearing the end of their charter season, but not without significant amounts of drama each episode. We’re obsessed with Kat who is wise beyond her years and we feel like proud parents watching Joe’s character development from last season.

Reality Digest is part of Pop Cult, where we break down the wildest moments in reality TV.. 

Join us on Thursday for The Fame Files! Every week we do an episode on a pop culture moment. Be it a scandal, court case, deep dive or general pop culture phenomenons throughout the years. We’re always looking for requests, so send them our way!

Disclaimer: The stories we cover are based on research and publicly available sources. While we strive for accuracy, some details may be disputed or unverified, and this episode is for entertainment and informational purposes only. All research in this episode is based on publicly available reporting and archival interviews and documentaries. Full list of sources available upon request.

We’re coming at you a few days late due to some ~scheduling conflicts~ but fear not as we have a full lineup. We have a new show on the block. Netflix never misses with reality shows so we’re hoping Alix Earle’s big screen debut is no different. The Girls on the other hand still leaves something to be desired. Like who ARE these women??? Genuine question!! We’re sad to leave House of Stassi behind and we do hope that they are currently filming. We were definitely Team Stassi by the end of it. While we enjoyed The Next Pro, we’re not so sure about its future BUT we could not be more excited for the upcoming DWTS season. Below Deck Med is giving us whiplash with each episode and we’re perpetually grateful for it.

Reality Digest is part of Pop Cult, where we break down the wildest moments in reality TV and the week’s biggest celebrity stories. 

Join us on Thursday for The Fame Files! Every week we do an episode on a pop culture moment. Be it a celebrity scandal, court case, deep dive or general pop culture phenomenons throughout the years. We’re always looking for requests, so send them our way!

Follow us on socials!

Youtube: @PopCultPodcast

Instagram: @pop.cult.podcast

TikTok: @pop.cult.podcast

Disclaimer: The stories we cover are based on research and publicly available sources. While we strive for accuracy, some details may be disputed or unverified, and this episode is for entertainment and informational purposes only. All research in this episode is based on publicly available reporting and archival interviews and documentaries. Full list of sources available upon request.

Welcome to Pop Cult: The Fame Files

This week we are chatting and hypothesizing about the phenomenon of the term “nepo baby” and why those that aren’t nepo babies have such a strong opinion on the matter. To be clear, we applaud a nepo baby for drawing that kind of luck and taking advantage of their position. No judgement here. But where did this term come from? And why has it in recent years taken so much hold? When, let’s be honest, they’ve always been a thing. 

The Fame Files is part of Pop Cult, where we unpack pop culture’s biggest stories, scandals, and icons.

Join us on Tuesday for our next episode of Reality Digest, where we’ll cover the previous weeks’ pop culture chaos and debrief the latest episodes of our favorite reality shows! 

Follow us on socials!

Youtube: @PopCultPodcast

Instagram: @pop.cult.podcast

TikTok: @pop.cult.podcast

Disclaimer: The stories we cover are based on research and publicly available sources. While we strive for accuracy, some details may be disputed or unverified, and this episode is for entertainment and informational purposes only. All research in this episode is based on publicly available reporting and archival interviews and documentaries. Full list of sources available upon request.

The ghost of summer's past, Love Island USA is BAAAACCKK for the reunion and we have a lot to say about a lot that was left unsaid and un-asked. Unlike the Let’s Marry Harry reunion where the major players - sans the literal lead - had maybe toooo much to say. Below Deck is getting continually messier and with a certain bosun back on board the future seems bleak. And correct us if we’re wrong but somethings we think Max should maybe keep for his diary. The Girls is off to a slow start but at least they're all really pretty <3333. On the contrary, we could use about 10+ seasons of House of Stassi and are happy to finally be feeling the love between our lead couple. We’re also getting really hype for DWTS and The Next Pro is the PERFECT teaser for what we’re sure will be a fabulous season. 

Reality Digest is part of Pop Cult, where we break down the wildest moments in reality TV and the week’s biggest celebrity stories. 

Join us on Thursday for The Fame Files! Every week we do an episode on a pop culture moment. Be it a celebrity scandal, court case, deep dive or general pop culture phenomenons throughout the years. We’re always looking for requests, so send them our way!

Follow us on socials!

Youtube: @PopCultPodcast

Instagram: @pop.cult.podcast

TikTok: @pop.cult.podcast

Disclaimer: The stories we cover are based on research and publicly available sources. While we strive for accuracy, some details may be disputed or unverified, and this episode is for entertainment and informational purposes only. All research in this episode is based on publicly available reporting and archival interviews and documentaries. Full list of sources available upon request.

Welcome to Pop Cult: The Fame Files

This scandal has recently been on our minds with The Girls premiering on Hulu and one member of this incident recently getting married, with a very curious character in attendance. We are diving into one of the many cheating scandals among Khloé and Tristan’s relationship, however this one was shocking because the 3rd party, Jordyn, was basically like family to the Kardashians. We get into relationship history, the incident itself from both sides, and the fallout. 

The Fame Files is part of Pop Cult, where we unpack pop culture’s biggest stories, scandals, and icons.

Join us on Tuesday for our next episode of Reality Digest, where we’ll cover the previous weeks’ pop culture chaos and debrief the latest episodes of our favorite reality shows! 

Follow us on socials!

Youtube: @PopCultPodcast

Instagram: @pop.cult.podcast

TikTok: @pop.cult.podcast

Disclaimer: The stories we cover are based on research and publicly available sources. While we strive for accuracy, some details may be disputed or unverified, and this episode is for entertainment and informational purposes only. All research in this episode is based on publicly available reporting and archival interviews and documentaries. Full list of sources available upon request.

We’re feeling on top of the world this week because after 21 weeks of, honestly psychological torture, we are officially DONE with The Valley. This show is on THIN ICE with us for season 4. Where one show ends another one allllwaaaays begins. This time is Khloe Kardashian’s solo debut, The Girls. We’re not so sure how we feel quite yet but we do give Hulu their props for making reality tv feel fresh and new. Speaking of, House of Stassi is currently imploding from within itself and we’re feeling like we shouldn’t be watching these Stassi and Beau scenes. But the show we can’t tear our eyes away from is Below Deck Med because WOW how the mighty have fallen. Nathan should be quaking in his boat shoes coming back to this deck crew. And finally, The Next Pro is getting down to the wire and we’re pretty sure we know who is going to take home the win.

Reality Digest is part of Pop Cult, where we break down the wildest moments in reality TV and the week’s biggest celebrity stories. 

Join us on Thursday for The Fame Files! Every week we do an episode on a pop culture moment. Be it a celebrity scandal, court case, deep dive or general pop culture phenomenons throughout the years. We’re always looking for requests, so send them our way!

Follow us on socials!

Youtube: @PopCultPodcast

Instagram: @pop.cult.podcast

TikTok: @pop.cult.podcast

Disclaimer: The stories we cover are based on research and publicly available sources. While we strive for accuracy, some details may be disputed or unverified, and this episode is for entertainment and informational purposes only. All research in this episode is based on publicly available reporting and archival interviews and documentaries. Full list of sources available upon request.

Welcome to Pop Cult: The Fame Files

In anticipation of the upcoming season of Dancing with the Stars we wanted to do a celebrity deep dive on one of the fabulous, albeit sometimes chaotic, hosts. We talk about Julianne’s childhood and long history in the ballroom dance world, her successes, and relationships. We get into all of it. 

The Fame Files is part of Pop Cult, where we unpack pop culture’s biggest stories, scandals, and icons.

Join us on Tuesday for our next episode of Reality Digest, where we’ll cover the previous weeks’ pop culture chaos and debrief the latest episodes of our favorite reality shows! 

Follow us on socials!

Youtube: @PopCultPodcast

Instagram: @pop.cult.podcast

TikTok: @pop.cult.podcast

Disclaimer: The stories we cover are based on research and publicly available sources. While we strive for accuracy, some details may be disputed or unverified, and this episode is for entertainment and informational purposes only. All research in this episode is based on publicly available reporting and archival interviews and documentaries. Full list of sources available upon request.

If there’s one thing Harry Jowsey is NOT going to do it’s keep us on our toes. We’re p sure he’s already “divorced” which is the most unsurprising news of the week. Nonetheless, we will still be watching the reunion of course. Speaking of divorce, we’re hoping that our stars of House of Stassi are not headed that way because we ship them. We also ship Katie and Kristina and feel that they can overcome this rift. Unlike the entirety of The Valley cast who clearly all hate each other because they simply know too much at this point. Might be time to throw in the towel - similarly to Nathan’s bosun career. We fear Joe is coming for his job and that Gen is about to lose hers. We’re having a ball speculating who will win The Next Pro and are starting to understand Shirley Ballas’s cutthroat nature. 

Reality Digest is part of Pop Cult, where we break down the wildest moments in reality TV and the week’s biggest celebrity stories. 

Join us on Thursday for The Fame Files! Every week we do an episode on a pop culture moment. Be it a celebrity scandal, court case, deep dive or general pop culture phenomenons throughout the years. We’re always looking for requests, so send them our way!

Follow us on socials!

Youtube: @PopCultPodcast

Instagram: @pop.cult.podcast

TikTok: @pop.cult.podcast

Disclaimer: The stories we cover are based on research and publicly available sources. While we strive for accuracy, some details may be disputed or unverified, and this episode is for entertainment and informational purposes only. All research in this episode is based on publicly available reporting and archival interviews and documentaries. Full list of sources available upon request.

Welcome to Pop Cult: The Fame Files

This week we’re throwing it back to 2011 to unpack one of the most dramatic and shortest celebrity marriages. We dive into how they met, the issues leading up to their marriage, and the divorce that we were all expecting, just maybe not quite so soon. 

The Fame Files is part of Pop Cult, where we unpack pop culture’s biggest stories, scandals, and icons.

Join us on Tuesday for our next episode of Reality Digest, where we’ll cover the previous weeks’ pop culture chaos and debrief the latest episodes of our favorite reality shows! 

Follow us on socials!

Youtube: @PopCultPodcast

Instagram: @pop.cult.podcast

TikTok: @pop.cult.podcast

Disclaimer: The stories we cover are based on research and publicly available sources. While we strive for accuracy, some details may be disputed or unverified, and this episode is for entertainment and informational purposes only. All research in this episode is based on publicly available reporting and archival interviews and documentaries. Full list of sources available upon request.