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• What we've been Doing:

  • Peter visited Singapore for the first time ever, and went on the new Disney cruise ship the Disney Adventure.

• What we've been Reading:

  • Ben read Challenger: A True Story of Heroism and Disaster on the Edge of Space, by Adam Higginbotham.

• What we've been Watching:

  • Peter watched Scream 7 and has thoughts on what makes a good Scream movie.

  • Ben watched My Best Friend's Wedding for the first time.

• What we've been Eating:

  • Ben has a question about EPIC Universe food.

• What we've been Playing:

  • Ben played Fortnite.

EPIC Universe food suggestions from Peter

Best Entrees & Sides

Crimson glazed pork at Das Stakehouse

Hiccup's Grilled Salmon at Mead Hall

Ube Pizza at Pizza Moon

Grilled Fourmaggio at Meteor Astropub

Astropub Burger at Meteor Astropub

Pizza Bowl at Toadstool Cafe?

French Onion Soup in Wizardjng World

Mango Bread (side)

Bird on a Stake at Das Stakehouse

Baguette de Dinde at the cafe in the cafe at Wizarding World

14-hour Smoked Brisket from Oak and Star Tavern

Dan Dan Noodles from Blue Dragon

Peanut Shrimp Noodles from Blue Dragon

Sweet and Spicy Shrimp from Atlantic

Bucatini Alla Adriata at Blue Dragon

Sea Bass at Blue Dragon

Best Breakfast

Oeuf en Cocotte at the cafe in the cafe at Wizarding World

Jambon Beurre at the cafe in the cafe at Wizarding World

Mango Bread breakfast Platter at Oak and Star Tavern

Bacon side at Oak and Star Tavern

Best Snacks (walk-around food)

Tteokbokki Skewer from Char Sui Bao

PBJ Cone in Isle of Berk's Hooligan's Grog & Gruel

Garlic Stake at Burning Blade Tavern

Bulgogi Dog at Comet Dogs

Best Desserts

Birthday cake cookie from Frosty Moon

Stormflys Catch of the Day in Mead Hall

Brownie at Pizza Moon

Bieraubeurre crepe in Wizarding World

Princess Peach Cake at Toadstool Cafe

Cake pops in How To Treat Your Dragon

DK Crush Float at the Bubbly Barrel on Super Nintendo World

Banana Napoleon at Blue Dragon

Landlubber's Snickerdoodle Loot at Atlantic

Best Cocktails

Flaming cocktail from Meteor Astropub

Lobe Blaster at Bar Moonshine

Philosophers Old Fashioned at Bar Moonshine

Pure of Heart at Burning Blade Tavern

Darkthorn Mead at Burning Blade Tavern

Chengdu Dream from Blue Dragon

Northern Lights from Atlantic

Espresso Manhattan from Atlantic

Best Mocktails

Thé Bleu d'Occamy at Bar Moonshine

Monocane Mocktail in Dark Universe

Yaknog (Dessert Beverage) at Isle of Berk

Snow Wraith at Spit Fyre Grill in Isle of Berk

Chris, Brad, and Ben break down "There's No Disgrace Like Home" and "Bart the General." If you have any questions or comments, hit us up at [email protected] and join us at patreon.com/popcultured to hear the rest of our episodes!

Chris, Brad, and Ben break down "Bart the Genius" and "Homer's Odyssey." If you have any questions or comments, hit us up at [email protected], and join us at patreon.com/popcultured to hear the rest!

The audio intro gives you all the info you need to know! Join us at patreon.com/popcultured

This episode is titled "Merry Christmas, Eat My (Tracey Ullman) Shorts!", and features hosts Ben Pearson, Brad Oman, and Chris Evangelista talking about their relationship to The Simpsons, looking back at The Tracey Ullman Show shorts that started it all, and getting into the first episode of the series, "Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire." As always, if you have any questions or comments, you can reach us at [email protected]

Thanks for listening! Be sure to subscribe at patreon.com/popcultured for exclusive, ad-free episodes you won't hear in this feed or anywhere else.

• What we've been Doing:

  • BJ hosted her first simulcast Q&A (for Psycho Killer EL OH EL) and got a new tattoo!

  • Jacob has thoughts on Walt Disney World's Epcot in the year 2026.

• What we've been Reading:

  • Jacob is still reading and loving the Dungeon Crawler Carl series, and he read Image Comics' Dracula miniseries.

  • BJ is reading Let Us Play: Winning the Battle for Gender Diverse Athletes by Harrison Browne

• What we've been Watching:

  • Ben watched The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and To Live and Die in L.A.

  • Brad watched Project Hail Mary, The Life of Chuck, and The Ugly Stepsister

  • BJ watched The Bride! (again), Shoresy season 5, and undertone

  • Jacob watched Send Help and The Devil's Plan season 2.

• What we've been Eating:

  • Ben tried a Lion candy bar, and Skittle Gummies (Fuego).

  • Brad tried the Big Arch at McDonald's and the Reese's Marshmallow Peanut Butter Cups

  • BJ is addicted to McDonald's hot honey dipping sauce

• What we've been Playing:

  • Brad has been playing some Splitgate Arena Reloaded

  • BJ is addicted to Geoguessr

**side note – I found out this morning that my shoestring budget feature, POWERBOMB, is now available on Tubi for the first time, so if people wanna watch the movie I made when I thought I was gonna die, they can! – BJ

Thanks for listening! Be sure to subscribe at patreon.com/popcultured for exclusive, ad-free episodes you won't hear in this feed or anywhere else.

• What we've been Doing:
  • Brad went to Florida and checked out EPCOT at Disney World for the first time
• What we've been Reading:
  • Ben read By Myself and Then Some by Lauren Bacall.
• What we've been Watching:
  • Ben watched The Muppet Show, Pluribus, and rewatched Dirty Dancing and The Producers.
  • Brad also watched The Muppet Show special, and Secret Mall Apartment and Blue Moon
• What we've been Eating:
  • Brad had Garlic Parmesan Doritos, Cherry Float Coke Zero, Twix Bits, Brown Butter Pecan Chessman Cookies

Thanks for listening! Be sure to subscribe at patreon.com/popcultured for exclusive, ad-free episodes you won't hear in this feed or anywhere else.

• What we've been Doing:

  • BJ went to Pixar!

• What we've been Reading:

  • BJ read "1999: The Year Low Culture Conquered America and Kickstarted Our Bizarre Times"

  • Jacob is on the third book in the Dungeon Crawler Carl series, and he's reading Lorne by Susan Morrison.

• What we've been Watching:

  • Ben watched Gore Verbinski's Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die.

  • BJ watched Brick (for the first time since high school), Ponies on Peacock, and Hoppers

  • Brad watched I'm Chevy Chase and You're Not, Zootopia 2, and Father Mother Sister Brother

  • Jacob watched Star Trek: Starfleet Academy.

• What we've been Eating:

  • Ben has been eating jamón serrano.

  • Brad tried the new Welch's Ghost Grape-Cran energy drink, LifeSavers Sparkling Ice Green Apple, AlaniNu's Cherry Bomb energy drink, and Confetti Cheerios

• What we've been Playing:

  • BJ played the new Animal Crossing Update

  • Jacob is learning two new RPGs (and re-learning a fourth one).

Thanks for listening! But this is only part of the experience. To hear the conclusion of our 50 best movie moments of 2025, plus episodes like our favorite Edgar Wright movie moments, Rian Johnson movie characters, our favorite horror movie masks, our Simpsons rewatch podcast, and weekly box office episodes (all ad-free!), join us at patreon.com/popcultured. You can reach us at [email protected].

• What we've been Doing:

  • Ben went to NYC and met HT for the first time!

  • Jacob got another tattoo.

  • BJ went to the Anaheim Ducks v. Minnesota Wild Pride Party hockey game

• What we've been Reading:

  • Ben read Project Hail Mary.

  • Jacob read The Handyman Method and The Fireman. He's halfway through Dungeon Crawler Carl.

  • HT read Bel Canto, If Cats Disappeared From the World, and finally finished Elena Ferrante's Neapolitan novels.

• What we've been Watching:

  • Ben has a question for the group.

  • Jacob watched Marty Supreme, No Other Choice, Physical: Asia, Heated Rivalry, and wants to talk Doctor Who for a quick moment.

  • Brad watched Kumail Nanjiani's Night Thoughts, some of The Pitt season 2, all of Primal season 3, and started The West Wing for the first time.

  • BJ watched Tears for the Black Tiger, The Trotsky, The Elephant

  • HT watched The Testament of Ann Lee, Is This Thing On, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, and watched That Touch of Mink and part of Indiscreet (Pluto TV Cary Grant marathon of course).

• What we've been Eating:

  • Ben recommends Milk Bar's chocolate chip cookies.

  • Brad tried Up & Apple Uncrustables, Peppermint White Russian Cutwater, Cereal Killer C4 Energy, and celebrated the return of the Quesarito at Taco Bell.

  • BJ is upset that everyone was right about drinking enough water now that she's actually drinking enough water.

• What we've been Playing:

  • Brad stopped playing Marvel Snap and has sworn off phone games

So it begins. Ben, HT, BJ, and Brad kick off a multi-part series of episodes attempting to narrow down their top 50 movie moments of 2025. To hear the continuation and subsequent conclusion of this conversation, which will be coming out soon, become a paid subscriber at patreon.com/popcultured. If you want to respond to anything we've said, offer any feedback, suggest topics of conversation, or just say hello, you can reach us at [email protected]. Thanks for listening!

We'd love to have you join us at patreon.com/popcultured for ad-free and exclusive episodes, including weekly box office conversations, a brand new Simpsons rewatch podcast, and our favorite Rian Johnson movie characters, the best Edgar Wright movie moments, films that broadened our cinematic horizons, and many more. Hope to see you there!

• What we've been Doing:
  • Peter went on the Disney Destiny cruise ship.
  • BJ has successfully grown out her undercut (please clap)
• What we've been Reading:
  • BJ read the entirety of Rachel Reid's Game Changer/Heated Rivalry series of novels.
• What we've been Watching:
  • Peter saw The Matrix at the Cosm and he isn't into the first part of Stranger Things 5.
  • Ben watched Arco and would not recommend a double feature of The Voice of Hind Rajab and Sirat.
  • HT saw Resurrection and is obsessed with Slow Horses.
  • BJ saw Sarah Squirm: Live + In the Flesh and Influencers
• What we've been Eating:
  • BJ wants to know if anyone else has tried hot honey drizzle in place of salad dressing.