Pop Periscope - The Podcast

This week on Pop Periscope, Christina and Tara dive into the wonderful world of happy distractions, all the little things that rescue your mood, calm your brain, and keep you from doom‑scrolling into oblivion. From TV/movie comfort watches and feel‑good game nights to creative cooking sessions, pet snuggles, puzzles, spa days, and getting outside, we're celebrating the everyday joys that reset your vibe and make life brighter. We're also sharing the specific happy distractions that work for us, the go‑tos we reach for when we need a reset. Think of this episode as your permission slip to laugh, play, recharge, and treat yourself without guilt.

The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Class of 2025 has arrived, streaming now on Disney+. This year's lineup is stacked with icons: Bad Company, Chubby Checker, Cyndi Lauper, Joe Cocker, Outkast, Soundgarden, The White Stripes, Salt‑N‑Pepa & Warren Zevon. Tune in as we celebrate the artists who shaped generations — serving charisma, uniqueness, nerve, and talent on stage.

In this delightfully WEIRD installment of Pop Periscope, Christina and Michael recount his unforgettable experience meeting the one and only Weird Al Yankovic on his "Bigger and Weirder Tour". From backstage nerves to accordion-induced awe, Michael shares his personal highlights and surreal moments from their fan encounter with the parody legend. But the episode doesn't stop at selfies and setlists—we dive into the big questions: Could Weird Al ever headline the Super Bowl Halftime Show? Why isn't he in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame? This episode celebrates the genius, humor, and legacy of a true musical icon. PS, the Word of the Day: WEIRD — and we mean that in the best possible way.

Christina and Michael dive deep into the Star Wars universe. Today's spotlight: Andor. Is it the crown jewel of Star Wars storytelling? They're asking the big questions: dissecting Andor's gritty brilliance, its place in the canon, and how it stacks up against fan favorites like The Mandalorian and Skeleton Crew. Plus, they explore the show's striking parallels to real-world history. Spoiler Alert: This episode includes detailed discussion of Andor, including key plot points and the finale. If you haven't seen it yet, you might want to catch up before listening

Join Crystal as she takes us on a magical run through Epcot at Disney World, conquering a 10K! With her family by her side, she shares the challenges of navigating the park, from tackling food allergies to handling motion sickness on rides. Plus, she talks about staying at a Disney resort and how it enhanced their trip. And for those looking to maximize ride time, Crystal dives into purchasing the Lightning Lane Premium Pass, sharing how it helped them skip the long lines and make the most of their visit. We also touch on the excitement surrounding Universal's brand-new theme park, Epic Universe, opening May 22, 2025. Whether you're planning your own Disney adventure or just love hearing about race day victories, this episode is packed with tips and a touch of theme park magic!

The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame has unveiled its 2025 nominees! This year's contenders include: Bad Company, The Black Crowes, Mariah Carey, Chubby Checker, Joe Cocker, Billy Idol, Joy Division/New Order, Cyndi Lauper, Maná, Oasis, Outkast, Phish, Soundgarden & The White Stripes. Tara and Christina dive into the nominations, sharing personal anecdotes about these iconic artists. They also weigh in on their personal picks versus who they believe will ultimately secure a spot in this year's Hall of Fame class.

Join Christina & Tara as they celebrate 50 years of comedy history on Saturday Night Live! In this episode, they explore the captivating documentaries SNL50: Beyond Saturday Night and Ladies & Gentlemen... 50 Years of SNL Music, as well as iconic specials like SNL50: The Homecoming Concert and the Saturday Night Live 50th Anniversary Special. Plus, they share their personal favorite cast members and sketches from the show's legendary run. Tune in for a fun and nostalgic trip down memory lane!

For this holiday season, we found the worst/most WTF Christmas songs out there.

It's time for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame class of 2024 that aired on Disney+. Inductees include: Cher, Kool & The Gang, Dionne Warwick, Peter Frampton, Foreigner, A Tribe Called Quest, Mary J. Blige, Ozzy Osbourne & Dave Matthews Band. We review the very long ceremony and also talk about Jack White touring, going to Sizzler & Tara's cat Tizzy makes an appearance.

There's been a lot of drama going down in the music world lately. We're talking about Jane's Addictions onstage brawl, Dave Grohl's infidelity & surprise baby, Diddy in jail, Beyonce shut out of the CMA's, Chappell Roan's mental health and Oasis reuniting. Christina also talks about seeing Pulp & Green Day in concert.

We can all agree that going to concerts has definetly changed in the last few years. This time we're disecting what's going on with concerts and why this year hits differently. We're looking into what's behind the price surging, slow ticket sales and why big named artists are suddently cancelling their shows. We also talk about Jack White's suprise new album drop and why the pop girlies are having a brat girl summer.

It's that time of year...time for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 2024 nominations! Nominees this year include: Mary J. Blige, Mariah Carey, Cher, Dave Matthews Band, Eric B. & Rakim, Foreigner, Peter Frampton, Jane's Addiction, Kool & the Gang, Lenny Kravitz, Oasis, Sinéad O'Connor, Ozzy Osbourne, Sade & A Tribe Called Quest. Tara & Christina share some personal stories about the nominees and also try to predict who they want vs who they think will get in.

The gang goes to Disneyland for Tara's big day. We discuss what its like going between holidays along with everything we did, what we rode, what we ate and which characters we saw. We also give helpful tips for going to Disney as well as what we'd do differently next time we go.

It's time to celebrate the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame class of 2023 that aired on Disney+. Inductees include: Kate Bush, Sheryl Crow, Missy Elliott, George Michael, Willie Nelson, Rage Against the Machine, The Spinners, & Chaka Kahn. Congrats to all the inductees!

Christina & Crystal go to Las Vegas to check out U2 playing the Sphere. They talk about the disaster that was Vibee's VIP experience along with staying at the Venetian/Palazzo & all the U2 related events giving their advice for future concert goers. They also check out Meow Wolf's Omega Mart & eat at Gordon Ramsay's restaurants.

After waiting 10 long months, Tara takes Christina & her brother to the 2 night Metallica "No Repeat Weekend" concert in Phoenix.

Crystal went to Amsterdam! She was one of the 650,000 visitors that got to attend the Vermeer exhibition at The Rijksmuseum. She talks about the cuisine, dealing with food allergies abroad, the Van Gogh Museum and tips for traveling and packing for overseas. We also touch on the Rock Hall inductees and the passing of Tina Turner.

It's time for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 2023 nominations! Nominees this year include Kate Bush, Sheryl Crow, Missy Elliott, Iron Maiden, Joy Division/New Order, Cyndi Lauper, George Michael, Willie Nelson, Rage Against the Machine, Soundgarden, The Spinners, A Tribe Called Quest, The White Stripes and Warren Zevon. Tara & Christina also try to predict who they want vs who they think will get in.

It's a Shoot the Sh*t episode! We talk about this years Rock Hall Nominees, what happened at the Grammy's, Ticketmaster's pricing drama, Depeche Mode's new song, Rolling Stone's controversial Top 200 Singers list, the problem with this seasons Drag Race and what's up with Madonna.