The Macademia Nuts

This week the Nuts discuss all that happened at this year’s AEJMC conference, including just a little bit of what actually happened at the conference. Topics included Detroit and its cuisine, the GM Renaissance Center, the Netflix shows consumed while at the conference, including the new Woodstock ‘99 documentary, and finally, what actually happened at the conference itself. David introduces the three questions that tell you all you need to know about somebody, Lindsey has a theory about Gen X, and Alec’s soup preparation skills are openly mocked.

This week’s episode covers a lot of ground, including anticipation of the new Lord of the Rings series among other Comic Con revelations and controversies. The Nuts dissect concerns over Rated R content on Disney+, with a lot of amazing parenting advice. A discussion of deceased entertainment figures becomes emotional. Finally, the Nuts inventory their streaming subscriptions as they come face-to-face with the overwhelming volume of content available in the digital age.

Lindsey returns to find David and Alec have watched the latest Jane Austen movie. The Nuts ask Lindsey her opinion of college conference realignment, and they are not shocked when her response is basically, “Roll Tide.” The Nuts briefly discuss gender disparities in celebrity pay. Finally, the Nuts are able to have their spoiler-filled discussion of Stranger Things 4, Vol. 2. SPOILER ALERT: the entire season of Stranger Things will be ruined for you if you haven’t seen it.

David and Alec podcast without Lindsey this week, and there are many lamentations. A conversation about the screenwriter of the defunct Obi-Wan Kenobi movie’s contribution to the Disney+ series turns into a broader discussion about fandoms, social identities, and the mass market. Then, the Nuts discuss another rabid fandom: college football fans. The Nuts discuss conference realignment, the implications for college sports, the rise and fall of collegiate conferences, and the big money media giants driving the changes. Finally, the Nuts imagine what the future of college sports might look like given the influence of audience tastes.

Obi-Wan Kenobi ends, and the Nuts discuss how different formats require different approaches to telling stories. Lindsey just wants Disney to let us binge-watch. David and Alec expand on the implications of The Boys’ Herogasm episode. The conversation turns to commercials on Netflix, where Alec shares some of his research on pricing models in streaming. Discussions of Roe v. Wade’s media coverage, Peaky Blinders, and household media taxation complete the episode.

The Nuts discuss Paramount Pictures’ release strategy as it relates to the dominance of streaming. Academic summer media use is examined, including the latest release news. A discussion of Obi-Wan Kenobi leads the Nuts to pitch their own Disney+ series based on obscure Star Wars characters. Finally, a discussion of historical media leads to a horrifying discovery on IMDb; future research is lamented.

The Nuts engage in a spoiler-filled discussion of Volume 1 of the 4th season of Stranger Things, with comparisons made to other popular streaming titles, such as Obi-Wan Kenobi. David warns of the dangers of watching Morbius, despite what social media metrics might tell you. SPOILER WARNING: Stranger Things 4: Volume 1 is discussed at length and thoroughly spoiled.

The Nuts discuss an amazing weekend of media, including Star Wars, Stranger Things, and Top Gun. Lindsey describes her conspiratorial obsession with British actors. Finally, the Nuts chime in on the Depp/Heard verdict and the implications for media law. The episode wraps up with thoughts on academic life, with boring explanations.

Alec returns, and Lindsey once again apologizes to Detroit. While Laura Dern was concerned about her age difference with Sam Neill in Jurassic Park, Lindsey and Alec are more concerned about her academic career. The Nuts discuss movie franchises that can do no wrong, as well as their shared discomfort with scary movies. Childhood media restrictions are dissected.

The Nuts, down one leg of the tripod, discuss the darkness of The Northman.  Reflecting on their darker content preferences David and Lindsey discuss Better Call Saul. With the realization that The Nuts are heading to Detroit in August for a conference, David (5-year-old's palate) and Lindsey (vegetarian)  speculate about Michigan cuisine.