Welcome back Darlings! This week we're putting two superhero blockbusters head to head Superman vs Fantastic Four, and wrapping up our fave films of the summer!

Spoiler alert: We had very strong opinions about character development, plot holes, and the importance of the squirrel. We got deep about authenticity in superhero storytelling and what it'll mean for the future of superhero films.

As always, we're bringing you film discussions that feel like sleepovers with your besties. So grab your popcorn, get cozy, and join us as we crown the champion of the Superhero Showdown.

Be a Darling and join the sleepover:

Instagram: @pausepodgirls

TikTok: @pausepodgirls

Youtube: @pausepodgirls

Music by Alanna Skye Quiton (Socials ⁠@alanna_skye⁠_)

Graphics by Rachel Yen

Welcome to Pause Pod, where two gals who love film try to yap their way into becoming indie darlings ✨

Hey girlinas! We’re Dani and Kara, two film obsessed besties. One of us is in the UK, the other in the USA, and we created this space because we were tired of film bro culture making us feel like we had to prove ourselves to enjoy movies.

Pause Pod is your safe space to love cinema however feels right to you. Whether you cry at every cheesy rom com, have hot takes about deeper meaning behind horror films, or think the twilight saga deserved an Oscar for the scene where Bella is depressed staring out her window for four months - this is your home.

We believe film discussions should feel like sleepovers with your besties. It should be fun and intellectual, but never pretentious.

In this episode:

We give each other a blind date with a film and dive into House Bunny & Frances Ha, as well as give our hot takes on who should be the next James Bond!

our segments:

play - our main film reviews and deep dives

rewind - revisiting films with fresh eyes or a comparative focus on multiple films by the same directors/actors.

fast forward - upcoming releases and film news we're buzzing about

pause - behind the scenes moments, random life updates, or stories that made us, well, pause

new episodes drop every other Wednesday because we believe good conversations can't be rushed (and we’re working gals. No burnout round these parts)

However if you’re DESPERATE for content we'll be posting clips, behind the scenes moments, and way too many instagram stories to keep you thoroughly entertained between episodes.

Be a Darling and join the sleepover:

instagram: @pausepodgirls

tiktok: @pausepodgirls

Youtube: @pausepodgirls

Music by Alanna Skye Quiton (Socials @alanna_skye_)

Graphics by Rachel Yen

Darlings, we are back from our spring hiatus and starting summer off with a splash! We are diving into the sex, love, and sweat of Luca Guadagnino’s Desire Trilogy!

We unpack how Guadagnino's unique style helps him capture desire and nudity with emotional intelligence, how manic pixie dream girls always cry on planes, and why Call Me By Your Name makes Dani sob every time.

Films mentioned:

I Am Love (2009)

A Bigger Splash (2015)

Call Me By Your Name (2017)

Be a darling and join the sleepover:

Instagram, TikTok, & Youtube: @pausepodgirls

Music by Alanna Skye Quiton

Graphic Design by Rachel Yen

Welcome back darlings! Spring has sprung and whether you are frolicking through fields or pushing through growing pains, we have the watch list for you!

We recommend our favorite coming of age films for spring and chat about the ever evolving relationship between streaming and theatrical release. 

All the films mentioned are listed on a gorgeous carousel on our insta: @pausepodgirls

Check out Dani’s monthly magazine, Bern Notice!

Be a darling and join the sleepover:

Instagram, TikTok, and Youtube: @pausepodgirls

Graphics by Rachel Yen

Music by Alanna Skye Quiton

Hey darlings! The sleepover is about to get REAL as we analyze the films that made us....and possibly Ryan Coogler - DCOMs!

That's right, we unpack the history of the Disney Channel Original Movie, why they were so integral to our childhoods, and how they became Disney's unexpected billion dollar side hustle. Then we put the films themselves to the test in an epic bracket showdown, there were laughs, there were tears, and one film reigned supreme!

Some fascinating further reading on the DCOM:

https://www.morningbrew.com/stories/oral-history-of-the-disney-channel-original-movie

https://angelahammon.substack.com/p/are-disney-channel-original-movies?utm_medium=web

Be a darling and join the sleepover:

Instagram, TikTok, & Youtube: @pausepodgirls

Music by Alanna Skye Quiton (@alanna_sky)

Graphic design by Rachel Yen

Welcome back Darlings! Season 2 is here and we are starting with a bang!

This week we dive into the magical land of Oz for the highly anticipated Wicked: For Good. Join us as we discuss Glinda's character development, female friendship, the lost art of the Hollywood musical, and how authoritarian regimes use a bit of sparkle! Then for our rewind we discuss the gal that started it all, The Wizard of Oz.

In our fast forward segment we give you our holiday watch lists and crown modern Christmas classics. Thanks so much for listening, its going to be a stellar season!

Be a Darling and join the sleepover:

Instagram, TikTok, & Youtube: @pausepodgirls

Music by Alanna Skye Quiton (@alanna_skye)

Graphic design by Rachel Yen

Welcome back Darlings! We've made it to our Season One Finale!

This week we're closing out spooky season (and our first season) with a double feature that left us emotionally wrecked and shaking in our boots: His House and Psycho. From modern indie horror to Hitchcock's revolutionary classic, we're unpacking guilt, survival, and why horror is so much more than jump scares.

We're reflecting on our journey through the world of horror, showing respect to our elders, and processing why these films about inner demons and outer terrors have us feeling all the feelings. From building our personal horror curriculum to discovering that the scariest monsters are often the ones we carry with us, this finale is equal parts spooky and sentimental.

And because it's a finale, we're also doing our Q3 Letterboxd roundup where we're sharing our favorite films from the last quarter of the year. Kara's picks are Heartburn and One Battle After Another, while Dani's going with The Long Walk and Him (which features her newest celebrity crush AND an FSU alum, go Noles!).

We are so grateful to all of our fans this season! We've loved discussing films with you and we have so much exciting stuff planned for next season that we cannot wait to share. So grab your blanket (to hide under), a friend (to hold onto), and your comfort chaser (to prevent nightmares). This is a season sendoff you don't want to miss.

Goodbye and see y'all next season!

Be a Darling and join the sleepover: 

Instagram, TikTok, Youtube: @pausepodgirls 

Music by Alanna Skye Quiton (Socials @alanna_skye___) 

Graphics by Rachel Yen

Welcome back Darlings! This week we are debuting a new series in which we venture into the depths of the film bro cannon to see if that guy from your bio class freshman year who couldn't stop talking about his auteur taste was actually right - and put the film bro faves to the indie darling test!

And who better to start with then the legend himself, Martin Scorsese! We discuss two of Marty's most talked about films, The Wolf of Wall Street and Taxi Driver. Join us as we interrogate the link between satire and masculinity, the power of color and camera movement, and stick around for Fast Forward where we give some hot takes on the AI "actress", Tilly Norwood!

Shoutout to Tiktok creator @jamaalburkmar who we reference during what gave us pause this week!

Be a darling and join the sleepover:

Instagram: @pausepodgirls

Tiktok: @pausepodgirls

Youtube: @pausepodgirls

Music by Alanna Skye Quiton: @alanna_skye

Welcome back Darlings! This week we're embracing full cozy season mode and sharing our ultimate fall watch list with all the autumnal vibes you need.

From the crisp New York streets of You've Got Mail to Bella’s depression window in Twilight, we’re building the ultimate autumn watchlist full of nostalgia, witchy vibes, and dark academia feels.

We unpack why certain movies just feel like fall, why rewatching shows like Gilmore Girls is basically a seasonal ritual, and how comfort watches shape the way we experience nostalgia. We're talking witchy sisterhood in Practical Magic, dark academia energy with Dead Poets Society, and why being a “try-hard” is actually empowering in Election.  

We're also getting into film festival season, discussing accessibility in the arts, and Dani shares her thoughts on Twinless (and “that” leaked scene). 

So light a candle, grab your favorite blanket, and press play. This is the coziest cinematic sleepover you’ll have all season.

Welcome back Darlings! This week we’re spotlighting our girl, Celine Song, and diving into the dreamy and devastating world of our romance queen. 

From Materialists to Past Lives, we’re unpacking love, money, and why rom-coms might just be a dying genre. Is Materialists broke man propaganda? Do men who yearn really earn? What the hell is a high value man/woman? 

We welcomed our favourite certified lover boy Austin Adams to the sleepover this week to break down how capitalism shapes modern romance, why flawed characters are more fun to watch, and how Celine Song is rewriting the rules of love on screen.  

So grab your popcorn, fuzzy socks, and maybe even a box of tissues. We promise this is a sleepover you don’t want to miss.

Be a Darling and join the sleepover:

Instagram: @pausepodgirls

TikTok: @pausepodgirls

Youtube: @pausepodgirls

Music by Alanna Skye Quiton (Socials ⁠⁠@alanna_skye⁠⁠_)

Graphics by Rachel Yen

Welcome back darlings! This week we dive into the creative cringe that is satire! We chat about The Drama, rewind to Sick of Myself, and then yap about the difference between a fan and a consumer.

Links mentioned:

Heated Rivalry "Sweet Dreams" edit

Be a darling and join the sleepover:

Instagram, TikTok, and Youtube: @pausepodgirls

Music by Alanna Skye Quiton

Graphics by Rachel Yen

Hey darlings! This week we head out of this atmosphere to talk about one of our fave movie stars, Ryan Gosling!

We chat about what Project Hail Mary did to our tear ducts and the industry at large, rewind to a Gosling classic, Drive, and chat about consumer power in theatrical release.

Links mentioned:

Indiewire article on Project Hail Mary

BFI Flair Festival 2026

BFI Flair Festival history

Dani's (amazing!!) Substack essay

Nina Lee & You, Me, and Tuscany

Be a darling and join the sleepover!

Instagram, TikTok, & Youtube: @pausepodgirls

Music by Alanna Skye Quiton

Graphic design by Rachel Yen

Bonjour, darlings! Today we are traveling back to Paris in 1960 to dive into the French New Wave!

We discuss Richard Linklater's latest film Nouvelle Vague (2025) and the film that inspired it, Breathless (1960). Plus we discuss what the modern new wave of filmmaking could be and yap about female friendship in honor of Women's History Month.

Links mentioned:

New Yorker interview with Richard Linklater

The Future of Movies Lives on Letterboxed

Indiewire article on Two Sleepy People

Two Sleepy People Instagram

Gen Z is Saving Cinema

Peggy Guggenheim podcast

Be a darling and join the sleepover!

Instagram, TikTok, & Youtube: @pausepodgirls

Music by Alanna Skye Quiton

Graphic design by Rachel Yen

Hey darlings! Grab your glitter gel pens and Lip Smackers because we are traveling back to the 2000s today!

We delve into two classic films of the 2000s cannon, How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days and Legally Blonde to discuss how much nostalgia plays a part in the romantic comedy and what that means for the future of the genre.

Articles mentioned:

‘How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days’ Revolutionized Rom-Coms — and Inspired a Wave of Female Journalists

Rom-Coms Were Corny and Retrograde. Why Do I Miss Them so Much?

Films mentioned:

How to Lose A Guy in 10 Days (2003)

Legally Blonde (2001)

Rye Lane (2023)

Oh Hi! (2025)

Together (2025)

Materialists (2025)

Be a darling and join the sleepover:

Instagram, TikTok, & Youtube: @pausepodgirls

Music by Alanna Skye Quiton: @alanna_skye

Graphic design by Rachel Yen

Happy Black History Month, darlings!

We are continuing our Film Bro series by highlighting a director very near and dear to us, Barry Jenkins!

We yap about how Moonlight was integral to developing our film taste, how race and indie art intersect, and what frogs teach us about love! Plus, Kara gives a rundown of the 2026 Sundance Film Festival.

Links mentioned:

The Will to Change: Men, Masculinity, and Love by bell hooks

Rhapsody in blue: Barry Jenkins on Moonlight

Frog Frequency TikTok by @talkingdirtyafterdark

Be a darling and join the sleepover!

Instagram, TikTok, and Youtube: @pausepodgirls

Music by Alanna Skye Quiton: @alanna_skye

Graphic design by Rachel Yen

Welcome back darlings! This week we delve into the extra-terrestrial levels of talent that Jessie Buckley possesses. We were so inspired by her performance in Hamnet that we wanted to dive in! Then, for our rewind we look at one of her earlier films, Wild Rose, which is an absolute delight!

We also cover age trends in the Academy Awards, how nature is integral to emotional cinematography, and the delicate art of a slick back ponytail! Its a yappy but a goody of an episode!

Articles mentioned:

https://www.newyorker.com/podcast/the-new-yorker-radio-hour/chloe-zhao-on-hamnet-her-film-about-the-grief-of-william-shakespeare

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/17/movies/oscar-contenders-jennifer-lawrence-rose-byrne-amanda-seyfried.html

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/07/movies/timothee-chalamet-michael-b-jordan-oscar-curse.html

Be a darling and join the sleepover!

Instagram, TikTok, & Youtube: @pausepodgirls

Music by Alanna Skye Quiton: @alanna_skye

Graphic design by Rachel Yen

Welcome back darlings! This week is all about supporting women's rights...and women's wrongs! We dive into the poetic genius that is the filmmaking of Lynne Ramsay, with very special guest Eva Blackwell-Rogelj (@wateringholefilms)!!

We discuss the lyrical, the animalistic , and the tragic within Die My Love (2025), then rewind it back to 2002 with Movern Callar.

Watch Eva's incredible short film Watering Hole: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7B7oYjojQQ

Be a Darling and join the sleepover:

Instagram, TikTok, & Youtube: @pausepodgirls

Music by Alanna Skye Quiton (@alanna_skye)

Graphic design by Rachel Yen

Hey Darlings! Thank you so much for your patience and grace with this episode. Confession: We had some MAJOR technical difficulties with this edit but at the end of the day, done is better than perfect! We still wanted to share the fun of this episode and celebrate the films of 2025, so here she is in all her glory….the first ever annual Darling Awards!

Special thanks to Austin Adams (@mraustinadams) for joining us on the pink carpet and co-hosting these awards!

Award Categories:

The Gave Us Pause Award

Hotties be Hotties Award

Jaw on the Floor Award

Best Memes Award

Butts in Seats Award for Best Cinema Watching Experience

Underdog Award

Glitter Gel Pen Award for Best Friendship Moment

Sleepover Canon Pick of the Year Award

I Want to Go To There Award for Best Locations

Stunner Award for Best Cinematography

The Subtitles STAY on during… Award for Best Foreign Language Film

The Hear Me Out Award for Best Soundtrack

She’s Got Layers Award for Best Genre Bending Film

Scream Queen Award for Best Horror Film

The Serve Was Lethal Award  for Best Costumes

Film Bro Award

Nepo Baby of the Year Award 

A Star is Born Award

Stealing the Show Award for Best Supporting Actor/Actress

Girlina Award for Best Actress

Leading Lad Award for Best Actor

The We Support Women’s Wrongs Award

The Breakout Darling Award for Best Directorial Debut

The Big Brain Energy Award for Best Original Screenplay

The Adaptation Sensation Award for Best Adapted Screenplay

The Auteur Award for Best Director

The Movie Star Award

The Indie Darling Award for Best Festival Film

Shoutout to the Tik Tok creator Kara references: @teppertoks

Be a darling and join the sleepover:

Instagram, TikTok, & Youtube: @pausepodgirls

Theme Music by Alanna Skye Quiton (@alanna_skye)

Graphic design by Rachel Yen