So Pretentious... a podcast

Sinners Part 2

Recorded: June 2025, before Oscar Nominations and Awards.

We could talk about this movie forever, but we finally stopped. Enjoy part 2.

Please note that this episode was recorded prior to awards season. 

Sleeping On

Helder: The films of Charles Burnett

Vivian: Woman in the Yard

Shout Outs

Helder: Our supporters

Vivian: Your Local Library

(Special shout out to Vera.)

Moment of Self Care

Helder: Reading more books

Vivian: Watching more movies

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Sinners Part 1

Recorded: June 2025 

We are discussing one of our favorite movies of the year, Sinners. We had a lot to say so look out for part two.

Please note that this episode was recorded prior to awards season. 

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Sleeping On

Recorded 12.2.25

We discussed things that we were sleeping on. Brief list below. Enjoy.

Film/Television

Deli Boys, Hulu

Stranger Things (yes, Stranger Things), Netflix

Orphan Black, Netflix

The Woman in the Window, Amazon Prime

True Detective: Night Comfort, HBO 

The Terror, Hulu

Star Trek (Original Series, Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager, and ST: Lower Decks), Paramount Plus

Re-Living Single, podcast 

Books

S.A. Cosby books

City Under One Roof, Iris Yamashita 

The Space Between Worlds by Micaiah Johnson

Pairings

Comfort Me with Apples, Ruth Reichl (book) and Mother! (film)

Shout Outs

Helder: Goddaughter, Jenna and WRTC-FM

Vivian: The Seen Workers of the World

Moment of Self Care

Helder: Listening to music

Vivian: Headphones

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Grieving for the Holiday

The holidays aren’t always happy. We discuss ways to cope when grief hits you hard. 

Resources: 

988 Lifeline

International Association for Suicide Prevention

Zocdoc, find a therapist

Good Therapy

American Psychological Association (APA)

Good Grief

GriefShare

APA:Tools for Coping with Grief

Shout Outs

Helder: Santa Claus

Vivian: People going through it right now

Sleeping On

Helder: A good night’s sleep

Vivian: Heated steering wheel

Moment of Self Care

Helder: Photography and running

Vivian: Rewatching The Conjuring for the first time in years

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Spooky Season Part 2

The spooky season talk continues…no we don’t care that spooky season over. Save this for next year or whenever.

Toward the end of the show, we take a moment to say goodbye to horror legend, Tony Todd. Rest in Peace. 

Select discussed items for future reference

Land of Confusion, Genesis

Somebody’s Watching Me, Rockwell

The Exorcist (1973), Review by James Baldwin

Moment of Self Care

• Helder: Starting physical therapy 
• Vivian: Walks

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Spooky Season Part 1

We are back! And just in time for Spooky Season! Listen to us talk about our favorite scary movies, books, and other stuff.

Please note that while this is the first episode that you are hearing, it is not the first episode that we recorded. Episodes will debut out of order for the next few weeks. Bear with us.

Anyway, we missed all of you and hope that you are ready to get back on this weirdo ride with us. 

Select discussed items for future reference

Taaqtumi, Horror Anthology

Freddy Jamal Krueger is Horrors Greatest Boogeyman, Zane, YouTube

Shout Outs

• Helder: Deirdre d’Albertis, college professor
• Vivian: Us…meaning us outsiders

Sleeping On

• Helder: Bubba Ho-Tep
• Vivian: Marianne, Netflix  

Moment of Self Care

• Helder: Spending time with loved ones
• Vivian: Reading 
  • Current reads: 
    • Cibola Burn, James S. A, Corey
    • The Billion Dollar Whale, Bradley Hope and Tom Wright

Follow us on Instagram. 

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So Pretentious

Two friends talking about the intersections of popular culture, society, and the world. And yes, there are spoilers.

Episode 34: We are back-ish

This is a hybrid episode. Kind of new and kind of a rebroadcast. Enjoy! See you in 2023! 

Sleeping On

Helder: Great North - Fox; Andor - Disney Plus; Slow Horses - Apple TV  

Vivian: The Plot Thickens (season 3) - podcast; Celebrity Book Club - podcast; Vibe Check - podcast 

Moment in Self Care 

Helder: Using the Do Not Disturb feature on his phone, and quiet time

Vivian: A nice hot bath 

Shout outs

Helder: Vivian (aww!), friends who check on him, and Rick Miller

Vivian: Helder (aww!)  

Social media

Twitter 

• SoPretentious2
• LivelyVivian
• HelderMira

Instagram

• SoPretentiousPodcast
• LivelyVivian
• HelderMira

So Pretentious

Two friends talking about the intersections of popular culture, society, and the world. And yes, there are spoilers.

Episode 33: Yadda Yadda Yadda with graphic novels

Sleeping On

Helder: Mythic Quest, Apple TV  

Vivian: Raised by Wolves, HBO Max

Moment in Self Care 

Helder: Going to bed before 10, falafels, and listening to his body

Vivian: Audiobooks and books 

Shout outs

Helder: Connecticutting

Vivian: Connecticutting, Aditee, Monica, and Rehema   

Social media

Twitter 

• SoPretentious2
• LivelyVivian
• HelderMira

Instagram

• SoPretentiousPodcast
• LivelyVivian
• HelderMira

So Pretentious

Two friends talking about the intersections of popular culture, society, and the world. And yes, there are spoilers.

Episode 32, Blah, blah, blah: We are just talking. Our conversation is going somewhere, I think? 

But also... Helder did miss his dentist's appointment but he makes a cake that is soooooo...

Sleeping On

Helder: Ghosts, HBO Max  

Vivian: Yellowjackets, Showtime

Moment in Self Care 

Helder: Closure 

Vivian: Hanging out with friends

Shout outs

Helder: Waldemar Bastos, and George Pérez

Vivian: People working to make the world a better place  

Social media

Twitter 

• SoPretentious2
• LivelyVivian
• HelderMira

Instagram

• SoPretentiousPodcast
• LivelyVivian
• HelderMira

So Pretentious

Two friends talking about the intersections of popular culture, society, and the world. And yes, there are spoilers.

Episode 31, Queen Butler: Today we discuss the legendary sci-fi writer, queen Octavia Butler with our special guest Taneisha Duggan.

Sleeping On

Helder: Superman '78 and Batman '89

Taneisha: Local talent 

Vivian: Only Murders in the Building 

Moment in Self Care 

Helder: Surviving and having space to do nothing

Taneisha: Napping

Vivian: Doing less 

Shout outs

Helder: Greg Tate and HartBeat Ensemble

Taneisha: Eugene Morton

Vivian: Black folks 

Social media

Twitter 

• SoPretentious2
• LivelyVivian
• HelderMira

Instagram

• SoPretentiousPodcast
• LivelyVivian
• HelderMira