Shows
Pop Fiction WomenSidebar on BSB at The Sphere, The Summer I Turned Pretty, Building the Band and Carinn finding her joy in reading againOn this sidebar episode we dive into the fiery energy of Leo season, reflecting on the transition from the emotional depths of Cancer; share personal experiences, from Kate's upcoming birthday trip to Las Vegas to see the Backstreet Boys at The Sphere, to Carinn's creative breakthroughs during Cancer season. We also explore the complexities of relationships, both fictional and real, discussing the latest season of "The Summer I Turned Pretty" and the dynamics of chemistry in Netflix's "Building the Band." The two are both obsessing over true stories of TV - The Jinx for Carinn and the Billy Joel...
2025-08-0540 minPop Fiction WomenHigh-low Therapy - defying gravity, the afterlife, and angerWelcome to a new segment called high-low therapy, where we let a deck of cards take us to places we never expected. On this episode, Carinn is the dealer and Kate in the hot seat. We touch on time travel, theme songs, belief in the afterlife, and how we feel about anger.
2025-01-1633 minPop Fiction WomenSidebar on Goals Part 2We’re back with Part 2 of our Sidebar conversation on goals and we’re reflecting on the past while looking ahead to the future. What should our direction or theme be for 2025? What is calling us? We are waiting on some major inspiration here! Will Carinn finally pull Kate to the dark side of reality TV? Stay tuned!The PFW Sidebar is now in session!
2024-12-2453 minPop Fiction WomenSidebar on Goals, in which Kate allows herself to be lead down the dark path of goal setting by goals-fanatic CarinnWe’re back with another Sidebar conversation and since we are closing out another year and looking ahead to 2025 we return to a topic that always gets us talking (debating? disagreeing?)...GOALS. Listen to hear Kate discuss her hesitant feelings about goal setting, but then how she gets led down the dark path by goals-fanatic Carinn by the end!
2024-12-2228 min
Pop Fiction WomenTell Me Lies on Hulu Recap, Episodes 3, 4, 5: We Love Diabolical DianaIn this conversation, Carinn and Kate delve into the intricacies of the show 'Tell Me Lies', exploring character dynamics, relationship complexities, and the impact of past traumas.
The conversation highlights the importance of friendship, loyalty, and the consequences of accusations, while also making predictions about the future of the characters.
They discuss the thrill of forming theories about the plot, the portrayal of female characters, and the power struggles within relationships.
2024-09-2653 minPop Fiction WomenSide Bar on real life being better than Instagram, Kate's summer bucket list, Chappell Roan, and Jennifer Lopez as the new Elizabeth TaylorIt’s time for another Sidebar conversation – a cheeky reference to the fact that we’re both lawyers and love to have conversations incidental to our main topics and episodes – where we let you in on our lives and what we’re obsessing over in pop culture. In today’s episode we talk about how sometimes real life is better than Instagram, the joyful status of Kate's summer bucket list, Carinn’s obsession with Chappell Roan, and whether Jennifer Lopez is the new Elizabeth Taylor. Listen to hear how the writer’s subconscious has manifested itself as Carinn has been discussing The A...
2024-08-2832 minPop Fiction WomenSide Bar on what makes us liars, bucket lists, and catching up with our own livesIt’s time for another Sidebar conversation – a cheeky reference to the fact that we’re both lawyers and love to have conversations incidental to our main topics and episodes – where we let you in on our lives and what we’re obsessing over in pop culture. In today’s episode - the last one of Leo season for Kate and the last one from LA for Carinn - we discuss live events (music and authors!), what makes us liars, summer bucket lists, movies and TV, former President Obama’s summer reading and playlist, and finally, the current state of reality TV sho...
2024-08-1433 minPop Fiction WomenSide Bar on the birthday girl, Your Honor, Laura Dave, and Blake Lively’s sonIt’s time for another Sidebar conversation – a cheeky reference to the fact that we’re both lawyers and love to have conversations incidental to our main topics and episodes – where we let you in on our lives and what we’re obsessing over in pop culture. In today’s episode we are rehashing Kate’s birthday weekend (done in total Leo-style!) and discussing Your Honor (Carinn is trying fill that Presumed Innocent shaped hole in her TV watching life), the Olympics, Laura Dave’s incredible new book (out in September), and Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds new baby boy!
All Rise! The PF...
2024-07-3132 minPop Fiction WomenCarinn Jade & 'The Astrology House': Debut Discussions LIVE at the WHBPACBeen waiting a LONG time to write this…on this episode of Debut Discussions we welcome our very own Carinn Jade! This is an extremely special episode on so many levels…you’ll hear Carinn in conversation with Kate, live, at the Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center having their very first in depth discussion of her debut thriller, The Astrology House, which in case you missed it is a story about a group of wealthy Manhattanites who escape to an astrology-themed retreat, where simmering resentments and long-held secrets lead to a shocking death.
You’ll learn about Carinn’s journey from lawye...
2024-07-1656 min
Pop Fiction WomenKate Clayborn & 'Georgie, All Along': Complicated Conversations SeriesOn this episode of Complicated Conversations, we chat with Kate Clayborn about her latest novel, Georgie, All Along. Listen to our spoiler-free chat while you wait for your copy to arrive!
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2023-03-2234 min
Pop Fiction WomenKate Baer & 'AND YET': Complicated Conversations SeriesOn this episode of Complicated Conversations, we welcome back Kate Baer, the three time New York Times bestselling author, Aries, Enneagram four, and our absolute favorite modern poet. If you don't own multiple copies of her most recent collection, AND YET, you are missing out on feeling seen as a woman, mother, wife, daughter, sister, and friend.
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2023-01-1941 min
Pop Fiction WomenFriday Preview 1/13: What We're Reading, Watching, Discussing This WeekendWARNING - WHITE LOTUS S2 spoiler. Skip ahead 30 seconds at 12:30 then you can safely resume. Kate grows out of her comfort zone seeing the Broadway play And Juliet, while Carinn tries to break free from stale routine pertaining to a certain interview question. We discuss two unexpected Golden Globes moments: Andrew Garfield's knowledge of astrology and the reactions to Jennifer Coolidge's acceptance speech line "you make people want to live longer -- and I didn't." Kate's reading self-help and Carinn is RE-reading -- both new developments for us. Finally, we're watching Yellowjackets Season 1 in preparation for Season 2.
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2023-01-1327 min
Pop Fiction WomenFriday Preview 10/28: What We're Reading, Watching, Discussing This WeekendCarinn starts this episode with a literal song and dance to show off her Halloween costume, but next time she's going to have to splurge more on production. (You have to watch the Insta clip to get this.).
After that we discuss who the Bad Sisters are in other lives (U2 Bono's real life daughter and Normal People Connell's mom), From Scratch, Tell Me Lies, Girls 5 Eva, Funny You Should Ask, Carinn's reading slump and Kate's tarot talent. NO SPOILERS.
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2022-10-2920 min
Pop Fiction Women'Drunk on Love' & Jasmine GuilloryWe’re talking about New York Times bestselling author Jasmine Guillory’s new novel, Drunk on Love! If you haven’t listened to our spoiler-free interview with Jasmine yet, check it out now. If you’ve read the book then listen to this because we still have so much to discuss!
*After we gush about what a feel good novel this is, we discuss our complicated woman, Margot. (04:14)
* We also can’t skip over her love interest, Luke, who has a traditionally feminine journey in this book. He’s lost, trying to find himself both personally and professionally and we’re totally her...
2022-09-271h 05
Pop Fiction Women'Carrie Soto Is Back' & Taylor Jenkins ReidOn today’s episode we discuss a “banger” of a book: Carrie Soto Is Back, by New York Times bestselling author Taylor Jenkins Reid. The novel tells the story of a legendary athlete attempting a comeback when the world considers her past her prime. In the end we declare that, thanks to this book and our discussion, Carinn is back, Kate is back and Carinn & Kate are back!! Oh, and Carrie is too!
Complicated Woman: Carrie Soto. We have a lot to say about Carrie, a character who unapologetically wears the “unlikeable” label.
Scenes. We discuss all our favorite scenes that show...
2022-08-311h 27
Pop Fiction WomenMary Adkins & 'Palm Beach': Complicated Conversations SeriesOn today’s Complicated Conversation we are thrilled to welcome back Mary Adkins to discuss her third novel, Palm Beach, which is out now in paperback. It was a reunion of old friends between Carinn, Kate and Mary, who has the distinction of being our very first author interview many years ago!
We chat with Mary about how a college creative writing professor temporarily derailed Mary’s dreams of writing fiction and how she found her way back; why we all need to learn to ignore the applause and follow the crickets; how motherhood and her early days living in NYC...
2022-08-1650 min
Pop Fiction Women2022 Mid-Year Goals: Do We Have Them? Should We Keep Them? A Deep Hard Look At OurselvesWe need therapy after this interrogation.
* We start by discussing our relationship with goal setting generally. Kate declares Carinn to be the captain of the varsity goal setting team. (02:24)
* Kate is a totally terrified newbie at goal setting and she is starting to realize why. It’s time to get on the couch, folks. (07:43)
* After our self-examination, we actually get into discussing our goals. Carinn thinks big, looking out a decade! We also assess how we’re doing on the pod. (17:56)
* We each share our absolute dream guest for the podcast and how we would react if that dream actually beca...
2022-07-061h 31
Pop Fiction WomenKate Williams & 'Never Coming Home': Complicated Conversations SeriesOn this very special episode of Complicated Conversations, Carinn's co-host is her son! They are joined by Kate Williams, author of NEVER COMING HOME. A modern twist on Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None, this novel is a satisfying YA that has the crossover appeal of The Hunger Games and We Were Liars. Don't fight your kids for this one, just buy multiple copies -- you won't regret it. Both Carinn and her son declare it one of their favorite books ever.
** Kate tells us about Never Coming Home and the inspiration she took from Agatha Christie, who she...
2022-06-2127 min
Pop Fiction WomenSascha Rothchild & 'Blood Sugar': Complicated Conversations SeriesOn this episode of Complicated Conversations, we chat with Sascha Rothchild about her debut novel, BLOOD SUGAR. Sascha is an Emmy-nominated screenwriter, who has written on and produced lauded shows such as The Carrie Diaries, GLOW, The Bold Type, and The Babysitters Club.
** Sascha starts by sharing the real life inspiration for this book that involves a dream about her husband dying and her being accused of murder! (01:16)
** Ruby Simon, the protagonist in Blood Sugar, is many things, a murderer being just one of them. Sascha talks about her development of Ruby and why she wanted to create a character...
2022-05-0245 min
Pop Fiction WomenSally Hepworth & 'The Younger Wife': Complicated Conversations SeriesSally Hepworth is the New York Times bestselling author of six prior novels, including The Good Sister, The Mother-In-Law, and The Younger Wife is out now!
** After Sally describes The Younger Wife as yet another story of “really dysfunctional families,” Sally tells us about the sisters, Tully and Rachel. Apparently for Sally, the most “wild character” comes first, which we loved hearing about. (03:33)
** Then there is Heather, the younger wife. Sally shares how she intentionally bucks the trope of this cliche in the creation of this novel and this character. (07:02)
** The inspiration for this book is one of the best ever - i...
2022-04-0551 min
Pop Fiction Women'Love & Basketball' & Gina Prince BythewoodThe universe brought this iconic film to Kate via Issa Rae and once she read that writer director Gina Prince-Bythewood was inspired to write it because of When Harry Met Sally she knew Carinn would get on board. We may be late to the game, but in the end we both agree it’s the movie we never knew we needed.
** Complicated Woman: Monica. As “a Quincy”, Carinn struggled to find her way into Monica, but she clicked for Kate, who could relate to her single-mindedness and being guarded in love. Whether we got her or learned her, we both loved...
2022-02-151h 08
Pop Fiction Women'The Lost Daughter' & Maggie Gyllenhaal and Elena FerranteWritten and directed by the brilliant Maggie Gyllenhaal, based on the novella by Elena Ferrante, The Lost Daughter engendered a strong, dare we say, obsessive, reaction in us! Even after discussing it for hours, this complicated and complex portrayal of motherhood stays with us.
** The Damn Doll. Where do we even start with this damn doll? It confounds Kate and causes Carinn to hate Leda for stealing it. (03:49)
** Complicated Woman: Leda. We take on the impossible task of trying to imagine Leda without the damn doll. She’s ambitious, intelligent, tough, abrasive, isolated, and sometimes funny. She calls herself a se...
2022-01-132h 18
Pop Fiction WomenCarinn & Kate Take The Mic: Complicated Conversations SeriesWe have a very special episode in honor of our two-year anniversary. Today we are having the most complicated conversation of all...we are interviewing one another. So welcome to Complicated Conversations: Carinn & Kate Take The Mic. That’s right, we are each taking the mic and asking the other questions. By the end, you’re either going to love us or hate us because really what’s the point of anything in between?
** “Scenes” From Our Star-Crossed Friendship. Hear our origin story, which spans decades and is essentially a long story of “meet and miss.” We’ll take you on scenes from hi...
2021-11-231h 24
Pop Fiction Women'Promising Young Woman' & Emerald Fennell with guest Caro BurkeCarinn and Kate are joined by special guest and friend, Caro Burke, a writer whose MFA thesis examined the portrayal of both target and perpetrator of sexual assault in contemporary literature. We are thrilled to have her with us to discuss this game-changer of a movie.
** Bait and switch? We start by discussing what our expectations were for this movie from the trailer vs the final product. (03:15)
** Complicated Woman: Cassie. Even the character’s name, Cassandra, is a nod to Greek mythology with a deeper meaning you need to know. (07:58)
** Scenes. We discuss so many of our favorite scenes: (1) the open...
2021-11-011h 29
Pop Fiction WomenSally Rooney's Beautiful World, Where Are You? read-a-long recap #4, p. 248-endOur fourth and final installment of our read-along recaps covers pages 247 through the end of Beautiful World, Where Are You. We’re so sad to say goodbye to our Sally Sundays and the conversations her novel prompts for us!
** We’ve both turned the corner on Simon & Eileen. We start with Lola’s wedding, in what Kate declares as her favorite chapter in the entire novel. It reads like a cinematic montage of the deep history of these two friends and lovers and provides clues to the dynamics of their relationship that will play out through-out the rest of the novel...
2021-09-261h 18
Pop Fiction WomenSally Rooney's Beautiful World, Where Are You? read-a-long recap #3, p.147-247We’re back with what we’re calling “the middle and the miscommunications” in our “Sally Sundays”. We have your read-along recap of pages 147-247 of Beautiful World, Where Are You.
** Speaking of miscommunication, we start by discussing Simon & Eileen’s will they or won’t they saga. We play armchair psychologists and analyze Eileen’s daddy issues and how it impacts her relationship with Simon. These two continue to confound us. (01:00)
** Eileen keeps insisting she just wants to be friends with Simon, whereas he is trying to be direct. We discuss why Eileen puts up her barriers to vulnerability and whether we thin...
2021-09-191h 21
Pop Fiction WomenSally Rooney's 'Beautiful World, Where Are You?' read-a-long recap #2, p.47-146** After our brains cool off, we dive into the next section of our read-a-long recap, starting with what we’re loving about the very particular attraction between Alice and Felix. They push each other out of their comfort zones simply by being themselves. (01:30).
** Alice and Felix talk about their past mistakes and forgiveness, which helps Carinn clarify what she loves about the thin line between love and hate. And because it’s Sally Rooney, it is subtle and nuanced and totally illuminating. (08:40)
** Alice & Eileen’s emails are messing with our heads in the best possible way. We start by talking about h...
2021-09-121h 07
Pop Fiction WomenSally Rooney's 'Beautiful World, Where Are You?' read-a-long recap #1, p 1-47After we get past our overwhelming excitement and fear of opening our advance reader copy of Sally Rooney’s much anticipated new novel, Beautiful World, Where Are You, we dive into this introductory, spoiler-free, hype episode to discuss the first three chapters. We’re recapping this book so join us along the way!
** We start at the beginning, with Alice and Felix (who we may or may not have nicknamed “Alix”), and discuss that awkward and unexpected first date, which has us pondering the classic Sally Rooney “will they or won’t they” chemistry. (06:30)
** Let’s talk about the emails. The email corres...
2021-09-0655 min
Pop Fiction Women'Malibu Rising' & Taylor Jenkins ReidOn this episode we are discussing New York Times bestseller Malibu Rising, by Taylor Jenkins Reid. Loosely linked to both of her previous smash hits, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and Daisy Jones and the Six, Malibu Rising continues her theme of exploring the inner lives of the rich and famous. This time she takes us to Malibu in the early 80s, where four famous siblings throw an epic party to celebrate the end of the summer. But over the course of one night, each of their lives will be changed forever.
** Complicated Woman. It is Nina Riva's story a...
2021-08-101h 34
Pop Fiction Women'The Last Thing He Told Me' & Laura Dave with guest Joanna RakoffOn this episode we are joined by internationally bestselling author and friend of the pod, Joanna Rakoff, to discuss Laura Dave’s instant #1 New York Times bestseller and Reese Book Club Pick, The Last Thing He Told Me...a thriller rooted in hope!
** Complicated Woman. After an introduction to the book and our love of Laura Dave’s backlist, we each share what we found remarkable about Hannah, who we declare a truly subversive female protagonist. (07:42)
** Killer Quotes. This book is filled with “killer quotes” but Carinn & Kate pick their favorites and discuss how they relate to the book’s larger the...
2021-07-131h 24
Pop Fiction Women'Hacks' on HBOMax & Lucia Aniello and Jen Statsky (with Paul Downs)We may have initially resisted jumping on what felt like an over-hyped bandwagon for this HBO Max hit, but Hacks and the brilliance of Jean Smart won us over instantly! If you loved Hacks as much as we do, you’ll want to listen to our discussion of these complicated women, Deborah and Hannah. We start by marveling at how their coming together allows us to love them each even more as individuals.
** Scenes. We wanted to discuss them all, but we managed to narrow it down to some of our favorites. We discuss Episode 2, “Primm”, which Carinn declares the best epi...
2021-07-061h 44
Pop Fiction WomenLisa Taddeo & 'Animal": Complicated Conversations SeriesWe welcome Lisa Taddeo, author of the #1 New York Times bestseller and international phenomenon Three Women, to discuss her new novel. Animal is a depiction of female rage at its rawest, and a visceral exploration of the fallout from a male-dominated society.
** We start by talking to Lisa about how she is feeling given the magnitude of her fiction debut, following the phenomenon that was Three Women. (01:20)
** Joan, the depraved protagonist of Animal, will be deemed unlikable by some. We loved Lisa’s answer about this label and how her goal was to write a story where Joan could be com...
2021-06-1548 min
Pop Fiction WomenSIDEBAR: Reality TV with Table Flipping co-hosts actress Taylor Misiak and writer Alyssa LitmanIn this episode we’re mixing it up and sitting down with Alyssa Litman and Taylor Misiak, hosts of the popular podcast Table Flipping! Table Flipping takes “silly” reality TV seriously. Whether they’re raising eyebrows at Real Housewives, questioning The Bachelor’s latest Rose Ceremony, or hashing out the Vanderpump Rules, Alyssa and Taylor are smart, insightful, and laugh-out-loud funny. It’s the mash-up we never knew we needed!
** Alyssa & Taylor share why they wanted to start their podcast and their mission sounds a lot like ours! (2:20)
** Carinn finally has someone to deep dive with about Vanderpump Rules and the discussio...
2021-06-0851 min
Pop Fiction WomenJoanna Rakoff & 'My Salinger Year': Complicated Conversations SeriesWe welcome internationally bestselling author, Joanna Rakoff, to discuss her memoir, My Salinger Year. Joanna tells the story of the year she worked as the assistant to the literary agent for JD Salinger. It's a beautiful coming of age story and now a major motion picture!
** We start by discussing the exhilarating experience of seeing her story adapted for the big screen starring Margaret Qualley and Sigourney Weaver, and the role she played in the adaptation. (02:55)
** The protagonist of My Salinger Year, who is a version of Joanna at 24 years old, is certainly complicated. We discuss a question she posed to...
2021-04-141h 04
Pop Fiction WomenConvince Me To...Watch 'WandaVision' & Creator Jac Schaeffer*NO SPOILERS*
Welcome to a new kind of episode on Pop Fiction Women where we take you behind the scenes on our thought process for picking content and where we try to convince each other (and our listeners) to watch a show we love.
** Wandavision. Carinn explains why even if you have never watched a superhero franchise movie, you’re going to want to watch Wandavision anyway, which blends the classic family sitcom with the classic comic book drama.
** Complicated Woman: Wanda. Carinn argues that the reason to watch Wandavision is for the revolutionary, complex portrayal of Wanda, played brilliantly by...
2021-04-0742 min
Pop Fiction WomenConvince Me To...Watch 'I Hate Suzie' & Creators Lucy Prebble and Billie Piper*NO SPOILERS*
Welcome to a new kind of episode on Pop Fiction Women where we take you behind the scenes on our thought process for picking content and where we try to convince each other (and our listeners) to watch a show we love.
** I Hate Suzie. After a brief summary of the show, Kate leads with her strongest point: that Phoebe Waller Bridge is a superfan of I Hate Suzie and that there are endless comparisons between it and Fleabag! As if that wasn’t already enough, Kate points out that the show is a deeply personal labor of lo...
2021-04-0646 min
Pop Fiction WomenKate Baer & 'What Kind of Woman': Complicated Conversations SeriesWe welcome #1 New York Times bestselling author and poet, Kate Baer, to discuss her debut collection of poetry, What Kind Of Woman, an instant NYT bestseller and GOOP Book Club Pick.
** Kate is the first poet in our Complicated Conversations series and we start with the impossible to answer question: how do you boil down What Kind of Woman? (01:17)
** The accessibility of “Instapoets” has opened up the world of poetry to many, but we were interested to hear Kate’s thoughts on this term. Poetry, she reminded us, is not written only by old dead white guys. (04:35)
** What Kind Of Woman...
2021-03-2345 min
Pop Fiction WomenUnlikable Female Protagonist: Villainous or Relatable?What started as a discussion of female villains became an episode on “unlikeable” female protagonists in pop fiction...their words, deeds, character traits, and permutations that we relate to. In the end we ask whether we can finally put this label to rest and how the evolution of female creators and complicated female characters is making that possible.
** Sticks & Stones. We discuss the “big speeches” from these women who have fire in their bellies and chips on their shoulders: Marla Grayson from I Care Alot, the “cool girl speech” from Gone Girl, the “cerulean blue” speech from Miranda Priestly in The Devil Wears P...
2021-03-161h 17
Pop Fiction WomenThe Poetry Episode: Instapoets Kate Baer & Rupi KaurWe never thought we’d cover poetry on this podcast, but poetry is really having a moment! Amanda Gorman stole the inauguration spotlight then made history as the first poet at the Super Bowl. And Instapoets Kate Baer and Rupi Kaur have been garnering millions of followers on social media and breaking records on the New York Times bestseller lists for years. We may be late to the party, but we’re so glad we came!
** Poems. We pick some of our favorite poems and discuss how they spoke to us. These poems have us talking about what it means to b...
2021-02-231h 25
Pop Fiction WomenValentine's Day Episode: LOVEIn honor of Valentine’s Day, we start by discussing what we are drawn to in romcoms, ones we’ve covered and ones we haven’t yet! Let’s unpack depictions of LOVE in pop fiction...
** Express Yourself. No matter how they get there, the truly memorable moments are when someone finally says the words. Words matter to writers like us so when it’s done right, the declaration of love is everything! We discuss the “big speeches” from Dirty Dancing, Runaway Bride, The Notebook, Forces of Nature, Notting Hill, Say Anything, and Bridgerton. (04:07)
** What’s Your Theme, Heather? A play on our regu...
2021-02-101h 22
Pop Fiction Women'Bridgerton' & Julia QuinnWe come out hot, talking about what made us cover this Netflix phenomenon, what this show did to us, how it divided us, and the one thing we can both agree on: Rege-Jean Page stole the show as Simon, The Duke of Hastings!
** Complicated Woman - Daphne Bridgerton. While we see Daphne’s inner conflict in the first few episodes, the limited circumstances of her time, and her ambition in trying to steer her marriage, ultimately we ask whether she is complicated in ways that are harmful for the innovation of women characters. (07:38)
** Complicated Supporting Women. Bridgerton presents a group of...
2021-01-201h 25
Pop Fiction Women'Broken Hearts Gallery' & Natalie KrinskyWe start by sharing how we discovered and fell in love with this romcom that follows Lucy, a 20-something art gallery assistant living in New York City, who also happens to be an emotional hoarder, saving souvenirs from every relationship she’s ever been in! It’s a new variation on one of our favorites...When Harry Met Sally. We just couldn’t resist.
** Complicated Woman - Lucy. Geraldine Viswanathan lights up the screen as Lucy. She is a spirited, plucky, endearing character, full of contradictions and mixed messages. She loves the spotlight, a Leo through and through! (03:37)
** Female Friendship. Lucy’s...
2021-01-131h 07
Pop Fiction WomenPop Fiction Women Trailer: What We're All AboutMeet Carinn & Kate and hear what this show is all about!
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2021-01-0601 min
Pop Fiction Women'Happiest Season' & Clea DuvallAfter discussing how we came to choose this groundbreaking holiday rom com -- the first major entry in the genre to feature a same-sex couple -- we discuss how relatable the story was for us.
** Complicated woman: Harper. This is Harper’s story, she is the one driving this movie. She doesn’t always make choices we agree with or even like, but is she complicated in all aspects of her life? (04:05)
** Supporting women. Kristen Stewart playing Abby, a romantic, earnest, hopeful character seems complicated because it’s so unexpected. And Sloane, Jane and Riley round out the amazing, funny and we...
2020-12-231h 20
Pop Fiction Women'Cocktail' & Elisabeth Shue: The Rewatchables Companion GuideWe are breaking our own rules again to respond to an episode of the Rewatchables podcast from the woman's point of view. Like our episode on Boomerang, we love these classics as much as the Rewatchables does, but we examine them under the female gaze and have so much fun doing it!
*** Complicated Women: Not all “rich chicks” are created equal. Coral (Gina Gershon) is a photographer for Rolling Stone who orders up multiple orgasms. Bonnie (Lisa Banes) is a total boss in business who keeps a cadre of boy toys. Kerry Coughlin (Kelly Lynch) is a young Esther Perel who a...
2020-12-021h 10
Pop Fiction Women'28 Summers' & Elin Hilderbrand**Can secrets make a person complicated? We discuss Mallory and Ursula in light of our complicated women criteria. (08:10).
**What's Your Damage, Heather? In this book it all revolves around ideas of love and marriage. Does Mallory love Jake? Does Jake love Ursula? We have controversial opinions. (30:15)
**What She Said. We discuss Elin Hilderbrand, the author, creative mind and business woman. (49:30)
**Crystal Ball. Carinn uses inspiration from the Taylor Swift line, "if one thing had been different, would everything be different today?" and imagines alternate futures for Jake and Mallory. (58:25)
**Who won the book? (67:55)
**Takeaways. Carinn and Kate discuss the idea...
2020-11-251h 25
Pop Fiction WomenMatthew McConaughey & 'Greenlights'How in the world did this happen? We’re breaking the Pop Fiction Women rules by covering non-fiction written by a man, but Matthew McConaughey flips the script in his memoir, Greenlights.
** The actor could have told behind-the-scenes stories from movie sets or dished about his famous exes, but instead he chose to share narratives that are typically reserved for women: he’s been objectified, held his tongue to be nice, been the victim of a sexual assault, and dreamed of being a father since he was a child. We deconstruct these narratives, how he sticks to the script, what he ch...
2020-11-1848 min
Pop Fiction WomenThe Queen's Gambit Recap: Episodes 5-7; Chess Lessons as Life LessonsThe Queen's Gambit Recap: Episodes 5-7, Chess Lessons as Life Lessons
** After gushing about the cinematography, the music and the fashion, we delve into Episode 5 and the return of Harry Beltick. Harry is more than your average nice guy. He helps Beth through a hard time, but also stands up for himself and leaves. Spending time with Beth allows Harry to realize he doesn’t love chess and to glimpse the demons Beth’s wrestling inside her brilliant mind. (03:32)
** If things with Harry were too cold, then things with Benny Watts at the U.S. Open Championships are too hot. Thei...
2020-11-161h 03
Pop Fiction WomenSusie Yang & 'White Ivy': Complicated Conversations SeriesWe welcome Susie Yang to discuss her debut novel, White Ivy. After some gushing about our love of this book, the story of a Chinese American girl who is trying to get her version of the American dream at whatever cost, we discuss the benefits and pitfalls of being “other.”
** Ivy Lin meets all the qualifications of a complicated woman. Listen to how Susie took inspiration from stories where people do bad things or self-destruct like Breaking Bad and Gone Girl. (05:33)
** Susie discusses her editing process, explaining all the material left on the cutting room floor and how it helps to e...
2020-11-0344 min
Pop Fiction WomenChristie Tate & 'GROUP': Complicated Conversations SeriesNO SPOILERS in our conversation with Reese Witherspoon Book Club author Christie Tate discussing her refreshingly original debut memoir, Group: How One Therapist and a Circle of Strangers Saved My Life.
We begin by talking about how Christie, having just been named the top student in her law school class, found herself in a deep depression with suicidal thoughts and turned to group therapy to change her life.
** We ask Christie whether you can be a person who has secrets and doesn’t want to burden others with your problems, but also be vulnerable and intimate in your relationships? We lov...
2020-10-2756 min
Pop Fiction WomenEmily Gray Tedrowe & The Talented Miss Farwell: Complicated Conversations SeriesWe welcome Emily Gray Tedrowe to Pop Fiction Women to discuss her new novel The Talented Miss Farwell. We begin with the do-not-miss fascinating real life story that inspired Emily's novel.
*** We love a good double life slash con-artist story and Emily has turned the whole genre on its head with Becky -- or Reba -- Farwell. (04:14)
*** Becky's choices -- even the ones that come as a result of coincidence -- are so layered. Carinn digs into Emily's writing process and how her editor gave her Becky's touchstone. (08:13).
*** Becky Farwell is certainly a complicated woman. We discuss how Emily saw...
2020-10-1445 min
Pop Fiction Women'Father of the Bride' (and 3 (ish)) & Nancy MeyersSPOILERS for the Nancy Meyers remake and Father of the Bride 3 (ish)
*** While this may be a departure from our recent choices, Carinn and Kate share what they love about this classic, simple, sweet movie. (01:36)
*** Who do we relate to? Kate has an unlikely choice and Carinn has a unique angle on Annie Banks. (09:50)
*** Best Scenes. After describing the opening as an “adult Willy Wonka” we talk about the first big monologue, the moment Annie reveals she is getting married, the backyard basketball scene, the iconic hot dog diatribe, and the gift of the blender! (13:30)
*** Picky Nits. We weren’t going...
2020-09-301h 20
Pop Fiction WomenFoodie Love Recap: Episodes 7 & 8 by Isabel CoixetThe series comes to an end successfully conveying what Isabel Coixet wanted: “love is a very complex feeling, it’s about losing yourself in the other person and that is a never-ending journey.” We loved going on this journey with her!
*** Our couple is officially a couple and they are on their first road trip. Things get dicey when he asks her if she ever thought about having kids, but then they have some sweet, playful moments on their journey through France. When he asks her if she trusts the algorithm that brought them together, she inserts the concept of choice...
2020-09-2755 min
Pop Fiction Women'Dead To Me' Season 2 & Liz Feldman, on Netflix with Christina Applegate and Linda CardelliniComplicated Female Friendship, Murder and Mommy Issues
*** What took us so long to cover Season Two of one of our favorite shows? Turns out, the timing was perfect for us! (01:36)
*** Complicated Woman Rating. Jen Harding and Judy Hale, two of our most complicated female leads, show us even more dimensions this season. We didn’t think it was possible, but Jen gets softer and Judy shows a darker side. They both grow and evolve in such surprising ways! (05:55)
*** Scenes. In Episode 2 Jen realizes that Henry’s bird is a mom, which gets us talking about all the moms and mothering this...
2020-09-201h 40
Pop Fiction Women'Foodie Love' Recap: Episodes 5 & 6 by Isabel CoixetIt's Normal People in Spanish.
*** In Episode Five, “The Last Supper” our two leads KNOW they are in love and that is a whole “thing” that sits and swells between them. Falling in love is scary, just like the beginning of this episode. (01:36)
*** Before we get to our couple at the restaurant, our guy is messing up his neatly organized closet and Kate and Carinn discuss the ways we represent (or misrepresent) ourselves to the outside world. (05:20)
*** Our female lead says when I see him try to smile I see a scared little boy and this leads Carinn to an astonishi...
2020-09-1659 min
Pop Fiction WomenRebecca Baum & 'Lifelike Creatures': Complicated Conversations SeriesNO SPOILERS in this conversation with debut author and friend of the pod Rebecca Baum discussing her novel Lifelike Creatures
*** Lifelike Creatures, set in rural Louisiana, is anchored around 13-year-old Tara and her mother Joan, who is an addict. One day there is an industrial disaster on their property and Joan becomes the accidental hero of the town, the face of a class action lawsuit and the community at large. Tara sees her mother with new eyes. As they get closer to a settlement, Joan collapses under the pressure and has a spectacular fall and Tara must decide if she w...
2020-09-1453 min
Pop Fiction Women'Foodie Love' Recap: Episodes 3 & 4 by Isabel Coixet*** In Episode Three our two leads meet for ramen and dumplings, and after we gush over how much we love both of those things, we discuss the easy, flirty, spontaneous banter between them about movies like Secretary. Kate thinks things are getting spicy, but Carinn thinks this is really an example of the two of them having different expectations. (01:36)
*** Are these two in love yet? Not surprisingly, we have different answers to this! But first we discuss her past coming back to haunt her at the table, the way the two of them push each other and intrigue one another...
2020-09-0951 min
Pop Fiction Women'Foodie Love' Recap: Episodes 1 & 2 by Isabel CoixetWe are OBSESSED with this show. Please listen even if you haven't watched -- spoiler, they go on a second date.
*** We are so IN love with Foodie Love. Whether you like subtitles or not it won’t matter, this series is so visually stunning and the beauty of the language, the food porn, and the chemistry between the two leads will draw you in. It makes us think of Normal People, where almost nothing happens, but everything happens. (01:35)
*** In Episode One, the two leads meet for coffee after connecting on the app, Foodie Love. We immediately get to see th...
2020-09-0357 min
Pop Fiction Women'I May Destroy You' Recap: Episodes 11 & 12 by Michaela CoelMAJOR SPOILERS as Kate and Carinn discuss I May Destroy You Episodes 11 & 12, the brain child of Libra creator, Michaela Coel.
We've launched a platform at patreon.com/popfictionwomen to keep making the podcast you love -- and to make it even better. For a one time contribution to support this episode, use venmo @ carinn-jade.
Follow us on Instagram and Facebook @popfictionwomen and on Twitter @pop_women. To do a full deep dive, check out our website at www.popfictionwomen.com. Stay Complicated!
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2020-08-251h 02
Pop Fiction WomenJennifer De Leon & 'Don't Ask Me Where I'm From': Complicated Conversations SeriesNO SPOILERS in this conversation with debut YA author Jennifer De Leon
*** We learn about Jennifer’s decision to write Lilliana's story as a YA novel, which turns out to be a fortuitous turn of events helped along by her years as a teacher. (02:50)
*** Jennifer tells us about her complicated young female protagonist and her many contradictions and inner conflict. Liliana is for the first time realizing that her story is part of a larger story and struggling with her identity and her place in the world all while navigating the trials and tribulations of high school. (04:40)
*** We loved talking wi...
2020-08-1947 min
Pop Fiction Women'Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine' & Gail Honeyman*** Complicated Woman Rating - Eleanor Oliphant: Eleanor certainly qualifies as complicated -- she is surprising and unpredictable, blunt, ignorant of social norms, deeply repressed, but ready for change. In the end, we love her growth and the fact that Eleanor is the agent of her own life, not a self-pitying victim. Carinn somehow manages to draw parallels to Marianne from Normal People and even Fleabag. (3:40)
*** Scenes - Best and Cringiest: Eleanor goes for a bikini wax -- “the Hollywood” -- and Carinn and Kate get personal (and hilarious) about their own grooming experiences (18:15); Eleanor observes the pressures society places on women...
2020-08-091h 13
Pop Fiction WomenErica Katz & 'The Boys' Club': Complicated Conversations SeriesNO SPOILERS in this conversation with debut novelist and lawyer, Erica Katz!!
*** This episode proves just how complicated and fun things can get when three women who worked in BigLaw start a conversation!
*** Erica tells us about The Boys Club, a book that draws parallels to Sweetbitter, The Firm, The Devil Wears Prada, and Luckiest Girl Alive. She explains that she was inspired to write this novel as therapy for herself at a time of uncertainty in America and as a way to explore honestly the way things are in corporate America. Fiction, she shares, provides a beautiful way for...
2020-08-041h 02
Pop Fiction WomenTia Williams & 'The Perfect Find': Complicated Conversations SeriesNO SPOILERS in this conversation with bestselling and award-winning author Tia Williams!!
*** Tia tells us about The Perfect Find, a story of Jenna, a 40-year-old fashion editor who was the “it girl” with a sparkly life, but then loses it all overnight. Jenna has to find a way to reinvent herself and in doing so finds herself in a whole new world, working for her frenemy, and falling in love with someone half her age. (03:02)
*** Tia gets personal and shares that Jenna is autobiographical. Tia invented Jenna as a way to write herself out of the hell that she was in p...
2020-07-1943 min
Pop Fiction Women'I May Destroy You' Recap: Episodes 4 & 5 by Michaela CoelWe've launched a platform at patreon.com/popfictionwomen to keep making the podcast you love -- and to make it even better. For a one time contribution to support this episode, use venmo @ carinn-jade. Thank you and enjoy the show!!
*** Episode 4 shows Arabella dealing with the uncomfortable and difficult aftermath of her assault, seeing a psychologist and finding her own coping mechanisms. (00:46)
*** The way the episode is structured with Bella’s struggle vs Kwame’s story feeds into our discomfort as viewers. Kwame’s story starts on a positive note with his empowering exercise class and vulnerable talk with Damon about...
2020-07-1249 min
Pop Fiction Women'Hamilton: The Musical' & Vanessa NadalWe've launched a platform at patreon.com/popfictionwomen to keep making the podcast you love -- and to make it even better. For a one time contribution to support this episode, use venmo @ carinn-jade. Thank you and enjoy the show!!
'Hamilton: The Musical' & Vanessa Nadal
*** The Schuyler Sisters (“Angelica, Eliza & Peggy”): For a musical about the Founding Fathers, this show provides us with vividly imagined female characters. Kate and Carinn discuss who we relate to most, and how. (02:14)
*** Favorite songs: It was impossible to choose, but suffice it to say we will never be satisfied with only a top three list...
2020-07-061h 31
Pop Fiction WomenRebecca Serle & 'In Five Years': Complicated Conversations SeriesNO SPOILERS in this conversation with New York Times bestselling author Rebecca Serle discussing IN FIVE YEARS.
*** Carinn & Kate introduce their conversation with author Rebecca Serle, whose book, In Five Years, held strong on the New York Times bestseller list! We get personal and introspective with Rebecca, who we dubbed a self-help guru plus fiction writer extraordinaire. It’s one of those interviews we are going to want (and need) to listen to over and over again. (:48)
*** In Five Years had us thinking about fate vs. free will and Rebecca explains why this question— how much of our lives are pre...
2020-07-0145 min
Pop Fiction Women'I May Destroy You' Recap: Episode 3 by Michaela CoelKate and Carinn discuss I May Destroy You Episode 3, the brain child of Libra creator, Michaela Coel. **Spoilers**
*** In a flashback to three months ago, Arabella and Terry are in Italy having fun and showcasing the complexity of their friendship. Kate senses some jealousy from Terry, but Carinn thinks she's just frustrated she hasn't gotten hers yet. Bella tells Terry to “control what you can, no more, no less,” we swear this quote has to make in on our “list”! (01:20)
*** Carinn & Kate love the scene where Arabella and Terry get high, which then turns into a personal and hilarious chat about ou...
2020-06-2945 min
Pop Fiction WomenBoomerang: A Response to The Rewatchables with Bill Simmons, Van Lathan, and Wesley MorrisWe've launched a platform at patreon.com/popfictionwomen to keep making the podcast you love -- and to make it even better. For a one time contribution to support this episode, use venmo @ carinn-jade. Thank you and enjoy the show!!
*** Little known secret: the original concept for this podcast was inspired by our reaction to an episode of Bill Simmons' podcast, The Rewatchables, and his recent episode on Boomerang had us running to cover this classic film from the point of view of the women. (01:43)
*** Complicated Woman Rating - Jacqueline. The complicated woman meter hit the top for Jacqueline! From...
2020-06-241h 48
Pop Fiction Women'I May Destroy You' Recap: Episodes 1 & 2 by Michaela CoelWe've launched a platform at patreon.com/popfictionwomen to keep making the podcast you love -- and to make it even better. For a one time contribution to support this episode, use venmo @ carinn-jade. Thank you and enjoy the show!!
MAJOR SPOILERS as Kate and Carinn discuss I May Destroy You Episodes 1 & 2, the brain child of Libra creator, Michaela Coel.
*** We were stunned and surprised by the brilliance of Michaela Coel and the originality of I May Destroy You so naturally we had to discuss comparisons to Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Fleabag. Both shows remind us that “Art should disturb the co...
2020-06-211h 04
Pop Fiction WomenEmily Temple & 'The Lightness': Complicated Conversations SeriesNO SPOILERS in this conversation with author Emily Temple.
*** Carinn & Kate introduce their conversation with Lit Hub editor and debut author, Emily Temple. We recount the highlights from this thoughtful, introspective chat about a book that invites BIG questions. (00:45)
*** Emily describes The Lightness in her own words, what it is like to debut a novel during a pandemic and how it feels for her “baby” to be out in the world after six years of work. (07:19)
*** Carinn reads a mesmerizing passage about the "types of girls" at this Bootcamp for Bad Girls before we unpack whether every woman has these feel...
2020-06-1754 min
Pop Fiction WomenEmily Giffin & 'The Lies That Bind': Complicated Conversations SeriesNO SPOILERS in this conversation with #1 New York Times bestselling author Emily Giffin discussing THE LIES THAT BIND.
*** Carinn & Kate introduce their conversation with #1 New York Times bestselling author Emily Giffin, whose tenth book, The Lies That Bind, was released last week. (:45)
*** Introducing Emily! We discuss what an incredible and unprecedented time we are all experiencing in this country and how, while it may be a challenging time to promote a book, she can use her platform to amplify the voices of others. (6:00)
*** All of Emily’s books start with a premise -- a central question -- and The Lies Th...
2020-06-101h 01
Pop Fiction Women'Devil Wears Prada' & Aline Brosh McKennaWe've launched a platform at patreon.com/popfictionwomen to keep making the podcast you love -- and to make it even better. For a one time contribution to support this episode, use venmo @ carinn-jade. Thank you and enjoy the show!!
We deep dive into this iconic movie, an eminently rewatchable cultural phenomenon with not one, but two, complicated and strong female leads played by the brilliant Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway.
*** We travel back to 2006 when the movie came out, discussing how it got made, how it differs from the book, and how Meryl played hard ball on her salary. (02:15)
*** T...
2020-06-041h 30
Pop Fiction Women'Ladybird' & Greta GerwigLadybird & Greta Gerwig
*** Complicated Woman Rating - Lady Bird. Ladybird is a perfectly imperfect depiction of a young woman coming of age: complicated, unique, excitable, impossible to control, dramatic, angsty and totally relatable. (1:47)
*** Complicated Woman Rating - Marion. Lady Bird’s mother has a tough exterior, a biting wit, and the weight of her family’s struggles on her shoulders. She has a softer side for everyone it seems but Lady Bird. Kate thinks the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree for Lady Bird and Marion, but Carinn thinks the two are different at their core. (5:45)
*** Scenes - We both...
2020-05-271h 15
Pop Fiction WomenFMK Anniversary Episode Featuring Fleabag, Normal People, Jessica Simpson's Open Book, and Rom ComsIt’s the six month anniversary of Pop Fiction Women! In podcast time that's like a decade, so we wanted to celebrate, have some fun, and get personal.
*** We play a hilarious game of F*ck, Marry, Kill with the love interests of the complicated ladies we've covered over the first six months of the podcast. Our choices surprise even each other, but it’s highly entertaining and hard to get through it with all the laughter. (4:15)
*** Carinn wanted to honor our complicated women from the podcast with their own game so she created “MBD” -- Me, BFF, and Die. We go thro...
2020-05-201h 12
Pop Fiction Women'Untamed' & Glennon DoyleIn CARRY ON, WARRIOR Glennon Doyle saved herself from addiction, then in LOVE WARRIOR she saved her marriage, but now we deep dive into her new memoir, UNTAMED, where she lets it all go wild and untames her inner cheetah. *** Kate settles in on the couch and opens herself up to guidance and wisdom and Carinn shares much of her own personal journey to becoming untamed. *** We end with a debate about whether the untamed woman is tolerable in society. Untamed Carinn says no one likes her, and Kate thinks the world wants us back in our cages. But ultimately w...
2020-05-131h 58
Pop Fiction WomenKimberly McCreight & A Good Marriage: Complicated Conversations SeriesNO SPOILERS in this conversation with New York Times bestselling author Kimberly McCreight discussing A GOOD MARRIAGE.
*** Carinn and Kate chat about the interview highlights with Kimberly: her writing process and nuggets of wisdom for writers, her obsession with baking, our mutual love of astrology, her leaving the law to follow her true calling as a writer and, most importantly, her explorations of what makes a good marriage. (00:45)
*** Kimberly tells us the story of A Good Marriage in her own words. It is part legal thriller, part domestic suspense, as well as a genuine exploration of what it means to...
2020-05-051h 01
Pop Fiction Women'Normal People' on Hulu, Episodes 11 & 12: Adaptation of the novel by Sally RooneyAlls well that ends well...but did it? We had mixed thoughts on everything in Episodes 11 & 12.
*** Carinn thinks the novel should have been adapted into a movie, while Kate thinks they should have just binged the entire series.
*** Episode 11 is so well done even though the content is often hard to watch. We love seeing their hot chemistry on the dance floor, the honesty and openness of the initial part of their conversation in Connell's room, and then how it quickly falls apart when Marianne asks Connell to hit her. (3:47)
*** Kate and Carinn agree the abuse scene with Alan, while...
2020-05-031h 01
Pop Fiction Women'Normal People' on Hulu, Episodes 9 & 10: Adaptation of the novel by Sally RooneyEpisodes 9 & 10 had us thinking and debating! Carinn wonders if anyone who hasn't read the book truly understands the "real" Marianne Sheridan from the show alone. She wants to blame the character's dilution on the limitations of the screen, but then how the hell do they feel like Connell is MORE dynamic than in the book? So much to discuss. Some things we know for sure: these two are phenomenal actors and their chemistry is insane.
*** Kate & Carinn had low expectations for these two episodes, given the uncomfortable nature of the content and the fact that these episodes illuminate real low...
2020-05-0256 min
Pop Fiction Women'Normal People' on Hulu, Episodes 6-8: Adaptation of the novel by Sally RooneyBoth Carinn and Kate are not happy with these episodes. Kate is frustrated watching Connell and Marianne not communicating and not connecting, while Carinn is upset with the way Marianne's character is being diluted and made more generic from the book. Lots to discuss here in episodes 6, 7 and 8.
*** Episode 6 starts with a suggestion for a threesome and gets even more awkward from there. Marianne and Connell’s inability to communicate kicks into high gear, which makes this tough to watch. (3:05)
*** Marianne’s damage is on full display during a difficult trip home to Sligo for a family dinner. (8:35)
*** Marianne and Conn...
2020-05-011h 06
Pop Fiction Women'Normal People' on Hulu, Episodes 3-5: Adaptation of the novel by Sally RooneyCarinn sighs with relief as the show hits its stride and Kate wonders what took her so long. We are both in the flow with Marianne and Connell, the tension between what they say and don't say, the yin and yang of their own personalities and the push and pull of their dynamic. It's everything.
Episodes 3-5 have a nice little arc from the end of their relationship in high school, to the re-establishment of their connection at Trinity, to their OMFG sex reunion.
*** Episode 3 starts off strong by bringing us back to high school as we watch Marianne and...
2020-04-301h 14
Pop Fiction Women'Normal People' on Hulu, Episodes 1 & 2: Adaptation of the novel by Sally RooneyThis is what we've been waiting for!! The adaptation of Sally Rooney's bestselling novel Normal People makes it to Hulu! Carinn and Kate were up with the sun to watch and recap!
*** The show starts with character set up rather than the direct relationship between Marianne and Connell but at what cost? (5:25)
*** The first kiss is adorable and highlights their awkwardness as well as their undeniable chemistry. (13:34)
*** We knew Marianne’s brother Alan was a jerk, but is it too much too soon? Kate and Carinn offer two theories as to why we get creepy vibes from Alan. (20:05)
*** Episode Two ra...
2020-04-291h 21
Pop Fiction Women'Little Fires Everywhere' Recap: Finale Episode 8 of the Hulu series with Reese Witherspoon & Kerry WashingtonKate and Carinn recap the finale of Little Fires Everywhere on Hulu. We tried not to cry, we did not fully succeed. And then we tried to do the show notes, but that made us cry again. You should really listen to this entire episode, but if you really want to skip to specific parts here’s a guide:
*** We start at the end. Because we can’t not begin by talking about the fire and how the show burns it all down in the end, not just the house, but the carefully constructed lives these character’s have created. And fi...
2020-04-221h 28
Pop Fiction Women'Fleabag' One Woman Play & 'Run' Premiere: Phoebe Waller-Bridge & Vicky JonesA DOUBLE EPISODE: Fleabag One Woman Show and Recap of Vicky Jones’ Premiere of Run
*** Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s original one woman stage show of Fleabag was released to the public for the first time on streaming services to support COVID relief organizations! Talk about silver linings!!!
*** Kate and Carinn compare and contrast the TV series and the play, then tie it together with the premiere of Run, Vicky Jones’ new show on HBO. (1:47)
*** There are a lot of similarities between the Fleabag one woman stage show and the TV series. (3:14)
*** What stood out for us, though, were the differences. The play w...
2020-04-131h 13
Pop Fiction WomenJessica Simpson & 'Open Book' MemoirJessica Simpson: complicated but an open book
Our second episode of Pop NON-fiction Women, there are no real spoilers as we highlight Jessica Simpson's Bombshells, Baller moments and Boys
** Carinn "accidentally" read this book in 48 hours. She had low expectations, but once she started reading it Jessica drew her right in with her honesty, vulnerability and over-the-top stories of love, addiction, relationships, career and motherhood. Open Book surprised us at every turn. (00:26)
** The book is full of Bombshells!
*** Jessica Simpson’s rock bottom moment starts off the book and right away we find out this is not your “normal” intervention. Let’s j...
2020-04-011h 23
Pop Fiction Women'Little Fires Everywhere' Recap: Episodes 2 & 3 of the Hulu Series with Reese Witherspoon & Kerry WashingtonCarinn, Kate and Kathryn recap Hulu's Little Fires Everywhere Episodes 2 & 3
*** There is a lot going on with Mia. What’s with the attitude? Without some context or a big reveal, we wonder whether we are going to feel differently about her at some point. We hope so. (1:06)
*** The Vagina Monologues book club does show us another side of Mia when she comes to Elena’s defense and, unlike the book, gives us some great interactions between Mia and Elena. (6:02)
*** Elena overserves herself the Chardonnay and she and Mia talk motherhood -- the seeds and all. We love this moment of align...
2020-03-251h 20
Pop Fiction Women'Little Fires Everywhere' Recap: Episode 1 of the Hulu series with Reese Witherspoon & Kerry WashingtonCarinn, Kate and Kathryn recap Reese Witherspoon vs Kerry Washington on Hulu's Little Fires Everywhere Premiere episode.
*** Kate felt it perpetuated some of her issues with the one-dimensional nature of our matriarchs, but Carinn had the exact opposite reaction. Kathryn, who joins us today as the perspective of someone who hasn’t seen the book, felt the show made her empathetic towards the almost child-like Elena, played brilliantly by Reese Witherspoon. We are all waiting for more from Mia and the acting prowess of Kerry Washington. (2:19)
*** Reese vs Kerry: thankfully we didn’t have to wait to see these two actr...
2020-03-1853 min
Pop Fiction WomenMary Adkins & 'Privilege': Complicated Conversations SeriesComplicated Conversations with Mary Adkins: Privilege
In Complicated Conversations, we add authors as creators into our discussion about complicated women, digging into their first-hand experiences, process and passion in bringing these women to life.
** Carinn and Kate discuss words of wisdom shared by Mary Adkins' 7th grade English teacher -- “Remember, the arc was built by amateurs and the Titanic was built by professionals” -- and what that meant to us. (00:49)
** Privilege is the story of three very different women, Annie, Bea and Stayja, whose lives intersect unexpectedly when Annie accuses a classmate of sexual assault. (7:05)
** Mary Adkins shares her exci...
2020-03-1756 min
Pop Fiction Women'Dead To Me' Season 1 & Liz Feldman, on Netflix with Christina Applegate and Linda Cardellini**Complicated Woman Rating (Jen & Judy) Kate unpacks the many layers of grieving widow Jen, including her defining characteristic: anger. Carinn describes Judy a liar and a murderer, but acknowledges her other positive attributes, particularly as she relates to Jen. Both agree these two women are complicated and that their friendship is the heart of this show. (01:38)
**Jen or Judy - who do we relate to more? Kate declares “it’s not even close” -- she feels like she's all Jen. Carinn relates to Jen’s anger (as we'll hear first hand later!) but notes that we each have a little Judy in us...
2020-03-111h 25
Pop Fiction WomenQuick Cap #5: Fleabag monologues, Jessica Simpson, Brit Marling, and Natalie Portman claps backQuick Cap #5: Fleabag monologues, Jessica Simpson's new book, Brit Marling's NYT essay, and Natalie Portman claps back at Rose McGowan
**We can’t get enough of Fleabag. There were two monologues from Season Two that didn’t fit into our standard format -- we tried to let them go, but we couldn't.
Kate applauds the relatability of the speech on womanhood delivered by Kristen Scott Thomas on women's awards and women's pain.
“Hair IS everything!” Fleabag says to Anthony after Claire gets a bad haircut -- and yes, Fleabag, we totally hear you. Carinn gets personal about her emotional hair journey...
2020-03-0459 min
Pop Fiction Women'Something's Gotta Give' & Nancy MeyersSomething’s Gotta Give & Nancy Meyers: crying at your computer complicated
**Quick Cap Intro: We’re trying something new in this episode! Before we get to Erica Barry and Something’s Gotta Give, we dissect the New York Times Opinion piece by Brit Marling with the incendiary title, “I Don’t Want To Be The Strong Female Lead”. We couldn’t resist this teaser: “In pop culture, women are often objectified and disposed of. But even when we’re not being victimized, the alternative leaves much to be desired.”
We unpack Brit’s fascinating journey from Goldman Sachs to Netflix darling The OA, and of...
2020-02-261h 43
Pop Fiction Women'Little Fires Everywhere' & Celeste NgLittle Fires Everywhere & Celeste Ng: Complicated Dueling Matriarchs
**The Matriarchs — Mrs. Richardson and Mia Warren — could not be more opposite, one lives by her rules and regulations and the other is a free spirited artist living a nomadic life. (Starts at :40).
**Carinn relates to both of them and how they made her analyze the difference between power and control while Kate admits (sadly) she relates to Mrs. Richardson’s need to for order. (9:38)
**Are they complicated? Kate is frustrated by the lack of inner conflict and growth, but Carinn sees small changes and reflections that are significant given Mrs. Richardson's starting...
2020-02-191h 41
Pop Fiction Women'Fleabag' Season Two & Phoebe Waller-BridgeFleabag Season Two & Phoebe Waller-Bridge: complicated in love
**Complicated Woman: Fleabag. Our most complicated woman is back and we're unpacking the differences in Fleabag between the two seasons. Carinn and Kate surprisingly disagree on which version of Fleabag was closest to irredeemable. (01:59) and more at (48:56)
**We check on Fleabag's relationship growth from season one. Godmother (08:24), Father, (11:04), Claire (16:11)
**Meet the Priest. Every scene between Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Andrew Scott is electric, but we discuss a few of the most significant in Season Two. (26:33)
**Feelings and the fox. Kate believes the most pivotal scene between Fleabag and Priest is in Episode 3. The...
2020-02-121h 35
Pop Fiction Women'Always Be My Maybe' & Ali WongAlways Be My Maybe & Ali Wong: complicated with role reversals
**Pick Me!: We provide a refresher on the criteria we use to pick our media: 1) must feature a complicated woman; 2) has to be written by or directed by a woman (this movie is a rare gem that passes on both) and apparently an unofficial third category that it has to be a version of When Harry Met Sally! (01:30)
**Complicated Woman Rating. Sasha Tran, is she really complicated? Carinn isn’t feeling her inner conflict, but Kate is all in. (8:50)
**The Grand Gesture Speech: Sasha. Breaking with traditional romcom structure, Sasha, the...
2020-01-221h 00
Pop Fiction Women'Daisy Jones and the Six' & Taylor Jenkins ReidDaisy Jones and The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid: Women Who Rock
**Our Complicated Woman. Daisy Jones is certainly nobody’s muse, and while she hits all the marks of a complicated woman, we can’t always feel her conflict as much as we would like. Do we really know Daisy or is it that she doesn’t even know herself? Or is it a limitation of the unique oral history, transcript-style structure? (Starts at 01:22)
**The Daisy-Camila-Billy Love Triangle. Carinn thinks Daisy doesn't stand a chance against Camila, even with the rocky patches of her marriage with Billy. Listen to hear h...
2020-01-151h 04
Pop Fiction Women'Fleabag' Season One & Phoebe Waller-BridgeFleabag Season One: the most complicated of all.
**Fleabag is the most complex woman we've come across, the epitome of the modern complicated woman. Kate asserts that no one asks so much of us in terms of what we are willing to accept or tolerate in a character. (00:30).
**We unpack Fleabag's crazy complicated relationships -- Godmother (6:30), Father (13:00), Hot arsehole guy (18:08), The Loan Guy (25:30), Claire (29:50), Boo (35:42)
**What's Your Damage, Heather? For Fleabag, there's a lot of it. (41:10)
**What She Said (43:50). The rabbit hole took us deep with Phoebe Waller-Bridge, who gives great interviews with so much openness and insight. We start...
2020-01-011h 16
Pop Fiction WomenQuick Cap 2: Rocking Out and Rocking the Boat (Jennifer Nettles and Reese Witherspoon)Quick Cap #2 Segments
Updates from Quick Cap #1:
Good news -- Carinn actually likes wine! (starts at :20)
Bad news -- Carinn confirmed our worst fear: that astrology is apparently not mainstream. Say it isn’t so! (at 3:20)
Casting For Daisy Jones and the Six has been announced and it’s sooo perfect. (at 7:45)
The Morning Show (and Billy Crudup) still has our attention. (at 11:05)
We discuss Reese Witherspoon playing against type with Bradley Jackson of The Morning Show. Was this a wrong choice or is her performance the vision all women need right now? (at 14:10)
Lots of complicated ladies lead the Gramm...
2019-12-2338 min
Pop Fiction Women'Sleeping With Other People' & Leslye HeadlandSleeping With Other People: When Harry Met Sally for a new generation
**Complicated Woman Rating. What makes Lainey Dalton complicated? Carinn and Kate both agree Lainey is a solid 5 out of 5 rating. She hits all the marks, defying the romcom female lead at every turn. (00:35)
**Lainey’s best scenes. It was hard to narrow the list of the best down or to even decide if the same scene was the best or the cringiest, but that’s all part of what makes this complicated (read: amazing!). (6:30)
**Lainey and Jake’s first non-date date. Listen to Jake tell Lainey that “little girls ar...
2019-12-161h 06
Pop Fiction Women'Love Actually' & Emma Thompson & Laura Linney & Martine McCutcheonLove Actually: love, actually, is complicated and Love Actually is complicated too.
A fan favorite but also a critics’ favorite to bash. We face the attacks head on so we can put the cringe behind us and get to the really good stuff. (Starts at 2:06)
Is this even a love story? Carinn argues that romance and love are two different things in the context of a relationship. Kate acknowledges that the movie celebrates love and relationships in all different forms, even if there are some depressing or darker aspects explored. In the end, they agree love is certainly all around. (At...
2019-12-0952 min
Pop Fiction WomenNormal People & Sally Rooney*** NEW INTRO: Carinn and Kate revisit this episode, their first ever, recorded six months and over 25 episodes ago. Everything after the 45 minute mark is original content unlike anything else out there. We hope you enjoy!
Normal People: a slow, deep complicated
*** Complicated Woman Rating - what makes Marianne complicated?
*** The best scenes with Marianne. The best can mean sweetest, funniest, most badass, most growth. Anything we love.
*** The cringiest scenes from Marianne. Cringy scenes make you squirm, but part of being a complicated woman is doing things that feel or come off as cringe-worthy. Sometimes it’s self-sabotage, sometimes it’s gr...
2019-11-201h 19
Pop Fiction Women'When Harry Met Sally' & Nora EphronWhen Harry Met Sally: more complicated than you think
Complicated Woman Rating - what makes Sally Albright complicated?
Sally’s best scenes. The best can mean sweetest, funniest, most badass, most growth. Anything we love. (6:45)
Sally’s cringiest scenes. Cringy scenes make you squirm, but part of being a complicated woman is doing things that feel or come off as cringe-worthy. Sometimes it’s self-sabotage, sometimes it’s growth, but it’s always part of the process of becoming our complicated selves. (38:30)
We play arm-chair therapist in What’s Your Damage, Heather? An homage to the iconic line in Winona Rider’s Heat...
2019-11-201h 31