Pop Culture Debate Club with Ronald Young Jr.

This week, we’re excited to introduce you to Evil Genius from the BBC.

Was she a tyrant in a tall hat – or the original girlboss, defying gravity and public opinion? Was she a product of her environment who experienced prejudice, and even if she was, does that allow her to terrorise Oz?

Emmanuel Sonubi, Joe Sutherland and Jess Fostekew join the great and powerful Russell Kane to decide if Elphaba Thropp - The Wicked Witch of the West - is evil or genius.

Evil Genius: It’s good, bad, ugly - and very, very funny. Russell Kane and guests change the way we see heroes and villains in history and fiction.

Additional Material: Eve Delaney

Researcher: Christina Riggs

Sound Editor: Kate Mac

Production Coordinator: Sarah Nicholls

Executive Producer: Paul Smith

The Producer was Gwyn Rhys Davies.

Evil Genius with Russell Kane is a BBC Studios Audio Production for BBC Sounds.

An EcoAudio certified production.

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Which classic Black film is better: Coming to America or Friday? It’s the final episode of Season 1 and it only felt right to bring back Nichole Hill and Jonquilyn Hill to settle their best-of-three series. Nichole says Coming to America is a more complete film with visionary casting featuring extraordinary songs. Jonquilyn says Friday is so ingrained in our culture that people quote it without even realizing they’re quoting the film. Which film will Ronald Young Jr. pick as the final victor in the first season of Pop Culture Debate Club?

Follow Nichole @nicholewthanh on Instagram and @nichill732 on Twitter and Jonquilyn @jonquilynhill on Instagram and Twitter. 

Keep up with Ronald Young Jr. @OhitsBIGRON on X and Instagram. And stay up to date with us @LemonadaMedia on X, Facebook, and Instagram.

For a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this and every other Lemonada show, go to lemonadamedia.com/sponsors.

Joining Lemonada Premium is a great way to support our shows and get bonus content. Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Which comedy TV show is better: Wild ‘N Out or Def Comedy Jam? Writer and performer Carma Anderson and storyteller and director Jameer Pond return for their winner-takes-all third debate. Jameer says Wild ‘N Out is a comedic institution that is more wide-ranging and versatile than Def Comedy Jam. Carma argues the superstars that came out of Def Comedy Jam have profoundly impacted culture and influenced generations of comedians – including Jameer and herself. How will Ronald Young Jr. rule in the battle between two influential comedic TV shows?

Follow Carma @goodcarmawon on Instagram and Jameer @jameerpond on Instagram and Twitter. 

Keep up with Ronald Young Jr. @OhitsBIGRON on X and Instagram. And stay up to date with us @LemonadaMedia on X, Facebook, and Instagram.

For a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this and every other Lemonada show, go to lemonadamedia.com/sponsors.

Joining Lemonada Premium is a great way to support our shows and get bonus content. Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, we’re thrilled to introduce you to Hasan Minhaj Doesn’t Know from Lemonada Media. Hosted by comedian Hasan Minhaj (from The Daily Show and Patriot Act), he sits down with some of the biggest names in politics, culture, and tech. 

Hasan asks the tough questions, some thought-provoking, some straight-up absurd—but all of them come from a real place of curiosity. Every episode is tailored to the guest, their story, their vibe. So if you're out here trying to make sense of the world and find answers—come hang and find out. Because at the end of the day, Hasan Minhaj Doesn’t Know! 

We’re going to play you a little sneak peek of the first episode, featuring legendary TV weirdo Rainn Wilson, about spirituality, ambition, and atheists. Featuring the WORLD PREMIERE of his lyrics to The Office theme song.

After you listen, search Hasan Minhaj Doesn’t Know wherever you get your podcasts, or head to: https://lemonada.lnk.to/hasanminhajdoesntknowfd

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Which action movie franchise is better: Mission: Impossible or The Fast and the Furious? Journalist and podcaster Sam Sanders says the answer is The Fast and the Furious while writer Audrey Cleo Yap argues for Mission: Impossible. Audrey likes that the Mission: Impossible franchise centers on Tom Cruise, who she says is the last true action star. Sam prefers that The Fast and the Furious includes an exciting (and ever-expanding) ensemble and argues that the franchise is progressive and continues to evolve with each subsequent film. Ronald Young Jr. considers their arguments and renders his verdict in the debate over which franchise is better.

Follow Sam @samsanders on Instagram and Twitter, and Audrey @audreycleo on Instagram and Twitter. 

Keep up with Ronald Young Jr. @OhitsBIGRON on X and Instagram. And stay up to date with us @LemonadaMedia on X, Facebook, and Instagram.

For a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this and every other Lemonada show, go to lemonadamedia.com/sponsors.

Joining Lemonada Premium is a great way to support our show and get bonus content. Subscribe today at bit.ly/lemonadapremium.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What’s the best way to watch TV shows: binge watching or weekly watching? Podcast hosts Greta Johnsen and Anna Sale square off this week. Greta says that binge watching is inherently superior because she believes in full unfettered access to information when you want it. Anna counters that weekly watching is the platonic ideal of TV watching and is what the TV gods intended when they created TV. After considering these well-crafted arguments, which side will Ronald Young Jr. pick in the battle between binge watching and weekly watching? 

Follow Greta @gretamjohnsen on Instagram. Anna is @annasalepics on Instagram.

Keep up with Ronald Young Jr. @OhitsBIGRON on X and Instagram. And stay up to date with us @LemonadaMedia on X, Facebook, and Instagram.

For a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this and every other Lemonada show, go to lemonadamedia.com/sponsors.

Joining Lemonada Premium is a great way to support our shows and get bonus content. Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Which artist is better: Alanis Morissette or Fiona Apple? Radio and podcast hosts Jenny Eliscu and Julia Cunningham take on this nostalgic alternative rock battle. Julia argues that “Jagged Little Pill” hits her just as hard at age 40 as it did at age 10, which is a remarkable feat for an artist to achieve. Jenny says Fiona has gotten better with each album she’s released, and her willingness to be vulnerable in her music combined with her willingness to retreat from the limelight make for a combination that’s hard to top. Which singer-songwriter will Ronald Young Jr. decide should win this tough debate?

Follow Jenny @jennylsq on Instagram and X. Julia is @juliacunninghaaam on Instagram and  @juliacunningham on X.

Keep up with Ronald Young Jr. @OhitsBIGRON on X and Instagram. And stay up to date with us @LemonadaMedia on X, Facebook, and Instagram.

For a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this and every other Lemonada show, go to lemonadamedia.com/sponsors.

Joining Lemonada Premium is a great way to support our shows and get bonus content. Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Which film score composer is better: John Williams or Hans Zimmer? Two musicians, Bobby Lopez and Jonathan Coulton, join Ronald Young Jr. today to settle the debate. Bobby says John Williams is the most prolific and influential film composer of the 20th century, who continued his prolific career well into the 21st. Jonathan argues that Hans Zimmer excels at making music that enhances and supports the film without taking it over. Which movie composer will Ronald declare the greatest of all time?

Follow Jonathan @realjonathancoulton on Instagram and @jonathancoulton on Twitter. 

Keep up with Ronald Young Jr. @OhitsBIGRON on X and Instagram. And stay up to date with us @LemonadaMedia on X, Facebook, and Instagram.

For a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this and every other Lemonada show, go to lemonadamedia.com/sponsors.

Joining Lemonada Premium is a great way to support our show and get bonus content. Subscribe today at bit.ly/lemonadapremium.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’re excited to introduce you to Confessions of a Female Founder with Meghan, a new show from Lemonada Media.

As Meghan, Duchess of Sussex builds out a business of her own, she’s getting advice and insights from a handful of amazing women who have scaled small ideas into successful companies. These fly-on-the-wall conversations will no doubt inspire anyone who’s interested in turning their own entrepreneurial dreams into a reality and anyone else who just wants to hear what really happens behind the scenes.

We’re going to play the first episode, featuring Whitney Wolfe Herd, founder of Bumble. After you listen, search Confessions of a Female Founder wherever you get your podcasts, or head to: https://lemonada.lnk.to/confessionsofafemalefounderfd

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Which Law & Order: SVU character is better: Olivia Benson or Elliot Stabler? Liza Treyger and Kara Klenk, hosts of That’s Messed Up: An SVU Podcast, are on the case. Liza says Benson has better communication, better vibes, better patience, and the better wardrobe. Kara counters that Stabler is so dedicated to the job that he neglects all other people and things in his life, from his family to his clothing. This case will not be presented to a jury; it’s up to Ronald Young Jr. alone to render a verdict and determine whether Benson or Stabler should win this one. Case closed!

Follow Liza @glittercheese on Instagram and Kara @karaklenk on Instagram. Their podcast is @thatsmesseduppod on Instagram.

Keep up with Ronald Young Jr. @OhitsBIGRON on X and Instagram. And stay up to date with us @LemonadaMedia on X, Facebook, and Instagram.

For a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this and every other Lemonada show, go to lemonadamedia.com/sponsors.

Joining Lemonada Premium is a great way to support our shows and get bonus content. Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.