Did You Do Your Homework? | A Pop Culture Podcast

What does it mean to make your setting a starring player in your story? Pete and Martha talk it out, through a cinematic master and a science fiction virtuoso author. Homework for the episode: Collateral (2004, dir. Michael Mann), The City & The City (2009, auth. China Mieville)

Today we turn our eye to that most iconic of sad street-level heroes, your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man. Starting with Tobey McGuire in 2002, Pete and Martha dig into the screen iterations of Spidey, and discuss what makes one successful. Homework for the episode: look, it's a whole lot of Spider-Man, but we dig in deep on Spider-Man (2002, dir. Sam Raimi), The Amazing Spider-

It's happening - we're talking about Martha's hyperfixation and special interest, Godzilla! (Mothra makes an appearance, natch). We discuss the old, the new, the good, the bad, the Japanese and the American. Homework for the episode: Godzilla (1954, dir. Ishirô Honda), Godzilla (2014, dir. Gareth Edwards), Shin Godzilla (2016, dir. Hideaki Anno); Godzilla Minus One (2023, dir. T

What exactly IS a heist movie? It is impossible to say, but Pete and Martha take a crack at it (it's not impossible, Martha is correct and since Pete doesn't write these descriptions, I get to say whatever I want). Homework for the episode: Ocean's 11 (2001, dir. Steven Soderbergh); Inside Man (2006, dir. Spike Lee); Inception (2010, dir. Christopher Nolan)

Pete and Martha stay up too late talking about Concert Films! In this once in a lifetime episode, they take on the weight of nearly 50 years of cinematic concert experiences. 2023 was a banner year for concert films, and your intrepid hosts set out to figure out why, while talking about two of the best ever made, and a new contender for that title. Homework: The Last Waltz (1978),

Objection! Drop what you're listening to and check this out instead! Pete and Martha look at legal thrillers and courtroom dramas, and ask the question: are they back? Why did they leave? Why are production companies cowards about mid-budget adult dramas? Homework for the episode: My Cousin Vinny (1992, dir. Jonathan Lynn); Runaway Jury (2003, dir. Gary Fleder), The Caine Mutiny C

Will we ever run out of excuses to talk about Dune? Not likely! Pete and Martha take a deep dive into the oeuvre of Denis Villeneuve, including his early English-language works, and discuss what excites us about his future. Discussed on this episode: Enemy (2013), Sicario (2015), Arrival (2016), Blade Runner 2049 (2017), Dune Part 2 (2024). For a deeper discussion on Dune Part 1 (

A SECOND episode, so soon?? We had feelings about the Oscars and we had to share. Regular episodes coming soon!

We have returned from our unintentional hiatus to bring you our Oscars pre-show! We discuss the categories, our predictions, what we wish got noms, and our faves and least favorites from 2023.

All three of your DYDYH network regulars are here to share their best of lists for 2023!