Pop Culture Persephone

This episode is all about sex monster/MLM huckster/criminal Keith Raniere and his sex and enslavement cult - hidden in the guise of professional development company, NXIVM. Always be wary of anything this deceptive to pronounce! Persephone introduces you to some of the more excellent programs surrounding this shocking cult including HBO's The Vow, Starz's Seduced: Inside the NXIVM Cult and the podcast Escaping NXIVM. Let this be a cautionary tale to any professional development training program promising "unlimited joy" that makes you wear cheap neck sashes - human branding is probably around the corner.

Something witchy and wonderful this way comes in today's PCP where Persephone introduces some of her favorite whimsical and campy witch-themed movies to special guest hosts McKenzie Merriman and Kate Atherton.  Join our coven this week as we unpack hedonism, fertility and Jack Nicholson - sexy/disgusting/both - in the 1987 hit The Witches of Eastwick; fantasize about all the dreamy men (even the problematic serial killer ones) in the fantasy rom-com (1998) Practical Magic; and lastly we discuss whether Elaine the Witch should skip the perils of performing sex magick in 2016's camp horror homage to the 60's, The Love Witch and maybe listen to the advice of her coven more.  Grab your broom, your favorite talisman, and a concoction of your choice and enjoy today's spellbinding podcast!   

Persephone is once again joined by the amazing Rachel Drotar, my special guest hostess with a smile as winsome as our magical movie golden girl, Sandy Bullock!  On part 2 of this week’s PCP, we continue our exploration of romantic, magical, fantastical love stories on screen.  We travel to New Orleans for David Fincher’s fantastical sepia color-dipped The Curious Case of Benjamin Button where age becomes much more than a number.  The rest of the podcast is a bit of an homage to Sandra Bullock with discussions on the The Lakehouse (I still don’t understand it) and late 90’s megahit While You Were Sleeping where time, luck and circumstance thrusts Bullock into the loving arms of the  Callaghan family and the dueling hearts of a comatose Peter Gallagher (and his eyebrows) and his down to earth furniture-making brother played by Bill Pullman.   Make sure to visit the companion website HERE for tons of additional content!

Persephone is joined by poet, performer, friend, and awesome human Rachel Drotar on this week’s PCP where we traverse the rocky and well-traveled world of romantic, magical, fantastical love stories on screen.  Yes, we are dipping hard into the late 90’s and early 2000’s with the highly watchable dual timeline “what if” movie, Sliding Doors where we get not one, but two British Gwyneth Paltrows!  Did you say you longed for a movie about organ donation and gorilla habitats and Italian/Irish restaurants in Chicago?  Look no further than 2000’s Return to Me with a very PG-rated David Duchovny as Bob the Grieving Builder and Minnie Driver as Grace his winsome love interest with a heart full of secrets.  Or in this case, a heart that happens to belong to his dead wife.  There is something for everyone this week.

On this week’s PCP, Persephone steps into the world of high fashion, betrayal, money and murder in Milan!  Welcome to the House of Gucci where infighting and backstabbing were as common as pistachio gelato on a hot summer day.  As we foray into this tangled true crime tale, Persephone reflects on director Ridley Scott’s decision to bestow the role of the controversial Patrizia Reggiani Gucci to Mother Monster herself Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta aka Lady Gaga.  This long awaited “Gucci Project” has been in the works for years, just waiting for the perfect leading lady.  I can almost smell those Oscar nominations!  Step into today’s crazy, twisted, Italian tale!  Andiamo!

On this week's PCP, special guest Hannah Storch continues her conversation with Persephone on more movies we watched as children that broke our brains.  Hannah delves into the not-so-happy animated world of 1954's Animal Farm, based on George Orwell's 1945 novella, a satirical look at a downtrodden society - in the guise of farm animals' -  blind march towards totalitarianism.  You know, light children's fare.  Persephone tackles the horrors of menses, high school bullies and religious zealotry in 1976's Carrie, which she watched due to a shitty babysitter at seven years old!  This is part 2 of 2 and not to be missed!  Check out part 1 first and visit the website at  https://www.popculturepersephone.com/

On this week's PCP, special guest/friend/actress/protector of dogs Hannah Storch joins Persephone to discuss some movies we watched as children that fucked us up.  An array of disturbing animated, kids, very adult, and some movies that live somewhere in between are discussed on this fun episode.  Hannah and Persephone go deep, so this is part 1 of 2!  Movies discussed include the animated Brave Little Toaster, Jim Henson's Labyrinth complete with a very pretty cod-piece wearing David Bowie, the abject horror that is Return to Oz and much more.  A very cheap bottle of Trader Joe's Pinot Grigio is consumed during this episode.  Hold judgement.