Explore every episode of the podcast Waiting to X-hale
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Welcome to Tangent Island | 18 Dec 2023 | 00:06:05 | |
I've been dreaming of this very journey for a few years. I turned 40 during COVID and was hit with speed bump after speed bump. Situations I have never anticipated experiencing and in some cases it will be my first time sharing it with you.
Once you've lived through a pandemic as I have, you see things differently, your appreciation for life hits differently and your tolerance for BS plummets… I want to navigate those twists and turns with you and stray off the beaten path just for the thrill of it. Through the chaos, expect a touch of wit and snark, the kind that's earned from years of figuring it out.
Just for W2X listeners I'm offering an opportunity for you to get the full breadth of my journey forward. Learn more at tangentisland.com how you can get exclusive access to my companion show, Tangent Island: Staying Afloat and video episodes of the main show.
Tangent Island drops every Monday and launches officially in January 2024.
In the meantime follow the show feed on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, me on Instagram @wynter and the show @tangentisland
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| Ep. 114: Second Acts: The Waiting to X-Hale Finale | 08 Dec 2023 | 01:11:37 | |
It’s the final episode, and there are tears shed, and personal revelations made as Karen and Wynter contemplate their favorite “second acts” in popular culture. Amidst it all, Wynter also discusses her new project dropping in January, and Karen shares a couple of lines from her new book Normporn. Plus, a glimpse at Apple TV+’s The Supermodel, and Todd Haynes’ latest, May/December. What’s the last NUO-LINGO ever? And what did each of our hosts choose as their final songs? We’re going to miss all of you, and thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your support. | |||
| Pride Bonus Episode on Ultimatum: Queer Love | 07 Jun 2023 | 01:02:25 | |
Karen assembles an expert panel of queers to dish about this summer's reality phenom, Ultimatum: Queer Love (Netflix). Authors, curators, and queers about town, Greta La Fleur (@GretaLaFleur), Juana María Rodriguez (@RadioRodriguez), Poulomi Saha (@poulomiqsaha) and Jeanne Vaccaro (@whateverjeanne on instagram only) join KT with a rundown of all the things they find delightful and cringey about TV's latest bid for sapphic representation. Who ends up on top in our cast-member power rankings? Who are the most "therapized" and most chaotic of the Queer Love crew? Do we think Xander and Yoly will end up together? And what about the racial and sexual politics that surface in these couplings? Plus, a spirited (and honest) round of "Marry, F*ck, Kill" in this bonus ep--W2X's pride gift to you! | |||
| Ep. 23: Cheer Up, Baby! | 28 Feb 2020 | 01:02:05 | |
This week, Karen and Wynter take on the Netflix phenomenon, Cheer, a docuseries about the championship cheer squad from Navarro College in Corsicana, TX. Wynter speaks candidly about what it’s like to embark on life in her 40s, which includes taking a “Lexapause” to try and make a baby. Karen has taken on the daily ritual of trying to perfect the tornado omelette (or “omurice”), while explaining to us the meaning of “borrid” after a screening of Portrait of a Lady on Fire. Plus, a song of the week that comes with an 80s movie recommendation! Join our Patreon for early access, bonus content, and SWAG: https://www.patreon.com/waitingtoxhale Links to just about everything mentioned: | |||
| Ep. 22: Hostless with the Mostest - Oscars 2020 | 14 Feb 2020 | 00:53:36 | |
What box subscriptions keep Wynter and Karen thrivin' and survivin'? Wynter tells us all about a very different kind of streaming service that serves up classic Blaxploitation, while Karen finally admits which celebrity chef taught her how to cook. It's Oscar season, so the two share their very different feelings about another hostless ceremony, while looking back on some of their favorites. Nuo-lingo is tea-related, and the two offer up an Oscar-winning song as a mantra for 2020. Join our Patreon for early access, bonus content, and SWAG: https://www.patreon.com/waitingtoxhale Links to just about everything mentioned:
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| Ep. 21: Hot For Terri/Terry - Looking Back at Just One of the Guys (1985) | 07 Feb 2020 | 00:56:59 | |
Wynter and Karen return from their holiday hiatus, and reflect on what 2020 has wrought thus far, and speak from the heart about the complicated feelings each of them experienced as Angelenos after the tragic death of Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna. The two tell us what entertainment sustained them during their break, and take a deep look back at one of E.W.'s "top 50 movies about High School," Just One of the Guys. Plus, nuo-lingo is back and better than ever! Join our Patreon for early access, bonus content, and SWAG: https://www.patreon.com/waitingtoxhale Links to just about everything mentioned: | |||
| Ep. 20: Gratitude & Holiday Hopes: ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas’ vs. ‘We Are The World’ | 29 Nov 2019 | 01:03:55 | |
Grounded in the hopeful spirit of songs by Band Aid and U.S.A For Africa, Karen and Wynter chat about what they’re grateful for in 2019 – and look forward to renewed focus and positive productivity in the coming year. While Wynter hopes Instagram removing likes from the platform eases our anxieties, Karen recommends a book on choosing activism that actually makes us feel good. The two also discuss Apple+’s viability in the streaming world, boundaries at work, and leave us with a rockin’ SOTW! Have some feedback for us to consider for season 2? We’d love to hear it!
Join our Patreon for bonus content and SWAG: https://www.patreon.com/waitingtoxhale Links to just about everything mentioned:
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| Ep. 19: The Head That Wears The Crown: Early Elizabeth II vs. Silver Jubilee Elizabeth II | 22 Nov 2019 | 01:00:49 | |
Karen and Wynter couldn’t resist diving into season 3 of Netflix’s most opulent and expensive series, The Crown as soon as it was released. How do the two feel about the new cast, lead by Oscar-winner Olivia Colman & Helena Bonham Carter as we enter EIIR’s midlife transformations? Karen has a little something to say about Gen Z labeling Gen X a bunch of “Karens.” And as usual, nuo-lingo enhances our vocabulary, as Wynter gets us bopping to a new song of the week. Join our Patreon for bonus content and SWAG: https://www.patreon.com/waitingtoxhale Links to just about everything mentioned: | |||
| Ep. 18: Postmillennial Femme-inisms LIVE at USC: Sex & the City vs. The L-Word | 15 Nov 2019 | 01:01:58 | |
W2X goes back to school w/ Professor Tongson’s class on U.S. Pop Culture LIVE at USC! Wynter is off on assignment, so Tre’vell Anderson from OUT magazine and Sarah Kessler, the TV editor for Public Books (and Karen’s better half) join her for a backwards glance at the early 2000s and the “postfeminism” of Sex & The City vs. The L-Word. Tre’vell gives us the dish about Robyn Crawford’s new memoir and offers us a preview of the L-Word sequel, Generation Q, while Sarah tells us about her bodice-ripping amusements when Karen is out of town. Nuo-Lingo gets into “cool wine aunts,” and the students become the masters as they discuss the meme “Ladies, imagine this.” Plus, SOTW’s from the aughts! Join our Patreon for bonus content and SWAG: https://www.patreon.com/waitingtoxhale Links to just about everything mentioned: | |||
| Ep. 17: Black Middle Class - 227 vs. Black-ish | 08 Nov 2019 | 00:51:07 | |
All hail Regina King! Her turn on HBO’s The Watchmen alerted most of white America to the existence of a “Black Wall Street” in its opening depiction of the 1921 “Tulsa massacre.” This episode explores the shifting TV representations of the BMC or “black middle classes,” from King’s debut in the 80s sitcom 227 to the Johnsons of Black-ish today. Karen and Wynter also talk GBBO gossip, 90 Day Fiancé drama, and a new interior design competition. Plus: NUO-LINGO and SOTW! Join our Patreon for bonus content and SWAG: https://www.patreon.com/waitingtoxhale Links to just about everything mentioned:
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| Ep. 16: “The Nice Guys”: Paul Rudd vs. John Cusack | 01 Nov 2019 | 00:59:01 | |
With the recent release of Paul Rudd's Netflix series, Living with Yourself, we began to ask ourselves which everyman, GenX heartthrob might be the "better" version of another? This week we stage a showdown between everybody's favorite nice guys, Paul Rudd vs. John Cusack. Wynter relishes in the boos heard ‘round the world, as Nats fans confronted the president in their house. Karen declares Bong Joon Ho’s Parasite one of the top 2 films of the year, and the two take stand on “OK BOOMER” in this week’s Nuo-Lingo. Plus, another slappin’ song of the week. Join our Patreon for bonus content and SWAG: https://www.patreon.com/waitingtoxhale Links to just about everything mentioned: | |||
| Ep.15: “Intimate Horror” & Female Anti-Heroes: Midsommar vs. Hereditary | 25 Oct 2019 | 00:57:03 | |
***SPOILER ALERT - MIDSOMMAR AND HEREDITARY PLOT DETAILS ARE DISCUSSED IN THIS EPISODE*** It’s Halloween-time and modern-day horror ensnares Wynter who finally convinces Karen to watch Midsommar and Hereditary. Which movie could she not make it through?!? The two get into horror/suspense auteur Ari Aster’s impressive body of work exploring intergenerational trauma, and what they call “intimate horror” within families and between lovers. Wynter goes to the theater to see Famous, a play set in 1994, based on the Two Corey's trauma they experienced as young heartthrobs and child actors from the GenX era. Karen finds refuge in the Asian and gaysian plentitude on primetime sitcoms, including Joel Kim Booster on Sunnyside and Nico Santos’ continuing undocumented arc on Superstore, plus Bowen Yang killing it every which way on SNL. NUO-LINGO drops some onomatopoeia, and the SOTW is deeply beloved by both hosts. Join our Patreon for bonus content and SWAG: https://www.patreon.com/waitingtoxhale Links to just about everything mentioned: | |||
| Ep. 14: The Gay 90s with Heather Matarazzo: Indie vs. Mainstream | 18 Oct 2019 | 01:05:17 | |
***SPOILER ALERT: MAJOR PLOT POINTS FROM THE JOKER ARE REVEALED IN THIS EPISODE*** Amazing guests keep rolling into W2X, and this week Wynter and Karen are joined by the one and only Heather Matarazzo, an actor, writer, director, who’s played some of the most iconic roles in film and TV over the last 25 years, including Dawn Wiener in Welcome to the Dollhouse, Lily Moscovitz in the The Princess Diaries films, and of course, Stacey Merkin on The L-Word. The three get into a stunning range of conversations about life, death, and “acceptance” before debating Todd Phillips’ The Joker and its various controversies. Karen, Heather, and Wynter also revisit the gay 1990s and the impact of independent film-making (or “The New Queer Cinema” as B. Ruby Rich called it) vs. the mainstream films that took on LGBT representation in that era. Our NUO-LINGO “curves” back to The L-Word in a serendipitous way and Heather shares a sparkly new SOTW with us. If you can’t get enough of their conversation, visit our Patreon page for some bonus content exclusive to subscribers. Join our Patreon for bonus content and SWAG: https://www.patreon.com/waitingtoxhale Links to just about everything mentioned:
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| Ep. 105: GenX Coffee Klatsch + 1984 w/ Scott Poulson-Bryant & Ebony Elizabeth Thomas | 03 Jun 2023 | 01:27:00 | |
Karen is joined this week by Scott Poulson-Bryant (a co-founding editor of Vibe magazine, author and professor at the University of Michigan), and Ebony Elizabeth Thomas, the author of The Dark Fantastic: Race and the Imagination from Harry Potter to The Hunger Games. Ebony is a Detroit native who is also a professor at the University of Michigan. The trio get together for some wide-ranging cawffee tawk about pop culture habits across the spectrum of GenX (Scott was born in ‘66, KT in ‘73, and Ebony in ‘77). We start with love for the dearly departed Tina Turner, and focus on the year 1984, with detours into the 1970s, as well as our opinions on who wins the zaddystakes between Pacino and DeNiro. Plus, we get into our childhood love of libraries long before the internet, and fantasy realms like The Neverending Story and Dark Crystal. Karen forces everyone to talk about The Ultimatum: Queer Love, while revealing more about her internet induction into gaylorism. Songs of the week range from Tina, to pianos in the dark, to reimaginings of Alicia Keys through the lens of Bridgerton.
To get early access to releases and bonus content subscribe to our patreon at: patreon.com/waitingtoxhale
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| Ep. 13: All Hail the Queen (Latifah, not that other lady): Cleo vs. Khadijah | 11 Oct 2019 | 00:59:34 | |
Wynter & Karen welcome Madin Lopez, a stylist and the founder of ProjectQ: a non-profit organization benefiting LGBTQ+ homeless youth by providing free gender-affirming haircuts, and safe-spaces, as well as life-skills workshops. On this National Coming Out Day, the three evaluate Queen Latifah’s career and how her iconic characters, Cleo from Set it Off, and Khadijah from Living Single have influenced queer people of color over the last 25 years. Wynter swims with the gators of the horror-suspense flick, Crawl, while Karen revels in a stunning new oral history of the Lilith Fair in Vanity Fair. Meanwhile, Madin tells us a little about the Octavia Butler books they’re reading to help them unwind, while interjecting a much needed millennial perspective into this week’s NUO-LINGO. Plus, Madin’s SOTW sends us into the weekend feeling empowered.
Join our Patreon for bonus content and SWAG:
https://www.patreon.com/waitingtoxhale
Links to just about everything mentioned:
ProjectQ
Set It Off (1996) - Trailer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z9rxRimf99w
Building a Mystery: An Oral History of Lilith Fair
https://www.vanityfair.com/style/2019/09/an-oral-history-of-lilith-fair
Living Single Opening Theme
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jnD2mdaxUAo
Chicago | 'When You're Good to Mama'
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3t6_odu4lNc
Last Holiday (2006) Trailer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JO0NSRPcPFs
Bringing Down The House (2003) Trailer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-btKN19zlE
Jasmine Masters handle your liquor (‘and I oop’ at about 4:30)
https://youtu.be/g52aV8OcFcs?t=270
Queen Latifah - U.N.I.T.Y. (Official Video)
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| Ep. 12: Ryan Murphy’s Nostalgia Game - AHS vs. ACS | 04 Oct 2019 | 01:01:17 | |
With the recent debut of Ryan Murphy’s American Horror Story: 1984, Wynter and Karen take the occasion to explore his deeply nostalgic oeuvre to consider whether or not his dominion is 80s camp or 90s magic realism, i.e. horror stories or true crime stories? The two talk about where they were when Richard Ramirez, the serial killer known as the Nightstalker and resurrected in AHS 1984, was wreaking havoc IRL. Wynter goes Inside Out with Demi Moore’s new autobiography, Karen GAGS over the recently announced thirtysomething reboot, while both take a detour into The Affair’s wild psychosexual turns as it wraps up its series run. Nuo-lingo tells you why this year’s “GAG” is not 1984’s, and we give you a song of the week that Ryan Murphy has yet to harvest from 1984’s Hot 100 for his over-the-top slasher series.
Join our Patreon for bonus content and SWAG:
https://www.patreon.com/waitingtoxhale
Links to just about everything mentioned:
American Horror Story: 1984 Trailer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9wcEiFIM3mM
Richard Ramirez (The Night Stalker) Biography
https://www.biography.com/crime-figure/richard-ramirez
Inside Out by Demi Moore
https://www.harpercollins.com/9780062049537/inside-out/
Thirtysomething Was One of the Most Iconic Shows of the 1980s. Now It’s Coming Back for the 2020s.
https://www.vulture.com/2019/09/thirtysomething-the-tv-show-is-being-rebooted.html
The Affair foolishly bases an entire episode on a character we don’t know very well
https://tv.avclub.com/the-affair-foolishly-bases-an-entire-episode-on-a-chara-1838595421
How Ryan Murphy Became King of the Streaming Boom
https://time.com/5667752/ryan-murphy-netflix/
The Politician Trailer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-kdBlzCG7w
Hall & Oates - Method of Modern Love
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| Ep. 11: The (Inappropriate) Objects of Our Affections: School Daze vs. Dear White People (TV series) | 27 Sep 2019 | 01:01:01 | |
Karen and Wynter travel all the way to the University of Mississippi in Oxford for their first live show, with special guests Kiese Laymon and Alysia Steele. The four of them get into our inappropriate objects of pop-cultural affection--or the many times each of them has been told they were wannabes, or didn’t belong for being POC who like “problematic pop objects.” Befitting their idyllic campus setting, the panel gets into how School Daze vs. Dear White People (the TV series) each explore the minefield of desire and student culture at universities. Wynter praises Hustlers and tells us why J. Lo is the hardest working woman in show business. Karen gets into the “hard to watch,” but nevertheless must-watch Netflix series on a serial rape case, Unbelievable with Merrit Wever and Toni Collette. Plus, we have more Nuo-Lingo for you, while Kiese and Alysia bring you two slappin’ songs of the week. W2X thanks the Sarah Isom Center for Women and Gender Studies, and director Professor Jaime Harker for bringing us out to Ole Miss! Join our Patreon for bonus content and SWAG: https://www.patreon.com/waitingtoxhale
Links To Just About Everything Mentioned: "Good and Bad Hair" from School Daze (1988)
Dear White People | Season 3 Official Trailer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qvPbJdDKKds
Unbelievable | Official Trailer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTIkUzkbzQk
EPMD - So Whatcha Sayin' https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z4HJ-xvmSyo&feature=youtu.be
DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince - Parents Just Don't Understand
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| Ep. 10: On Becoming Kirsten Dunst: 1990s KD vs. 2000s KD | 13 Sep 2019 | 00:56:20 | |
All hail the goddess, Kirsten Dunst, who just received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and is turning heads with her spectacular turn as Krystal Stubbs on the new Showtime series, On Becoming a God in Central Florida. Karen & Wynter dive deep into her under-appreciated career, focusing on her debut decade (the 1990s), as well as her rise to box-office domination (in the 2000s). Wynter calls new career opportunities in from the universe, while honing her taste-making and curatorial skills by indulging in a mini-marathon of Michael Douglas films. Karen finally plugs her fall book tour for Why Karen Carpenter Matters, and gives us another update on the bisexual modifications required of Bachelor in Paradise. The two also announce some exciting news about ep. 11--W2X's FIRST LIVE SHOW, which will be recorded in Oxford, Mississippi at Ole Miss with some very special guests. Plus, Nuo-Lingo tells us about who and what constitutes a "snack," while the SOTW will get your grooving, early aughts-style. We're taking a break for our trip to Ole Miss next week, so soak this one up to tide you over! Join our Patreon for bonus content and SWAG: https://www.patreon.com/waitingtoxhale Links To Just About Everything Mentioned:
Interview With The Vampire (1994) Trailer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sCmYN6TLd8A
On Becoming a God In Central Florida (2019) Official Trailer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rpxhCX47lZg
Wynter’s Mini Michael Douglas Film Fest
Basic Instinct https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_20N7t-umo&t=7s
Falling Down https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BD5ofrSNDFA
Behind The Candelabra https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n083CsdN4XM
Kirsten Dunst Filmography (IMDB) https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000379/
GTA Online - After Hours: The Black Madonna full liveset | |||
| Ep. 9: X’ed out of D23 - The Cat from Outer Space vs. Flight of the Navigator | 06 Sep 2019 | 00:58:06 | |
Disney rolls out the reboots at its annual D23 convention and--surprise, surprise--there's little to tickle the fancies of Generation X, with all the devotion to Lizzie McGuire & HSM. Wynter & Karen remedy that by telling you which Disney reboots from the 70s & 80s they'd be interested in seeing, especially between The Cat from Outer Space vs. Flight of the Navigator. Karen fishes for a Netflix sponsorship by theming her birthday party, aka "Leztopia" after Wine Country. She also tells us what's brewing on the final season of Showtime's The Affair. Wynter follows up her previous VMA chatter with a postmortem on the broadcast, as well as a general assessment of the pop music landscape. Thanks to listeners Gerald & Keith, we have two new W2X bumpers for you to hear! Plus, what's a TikTok (in Nuo-Lingo), and your SOTW. Join our Patreon for bonus content and SWAG: https://www.patreon.com/waitingtoxhale Links To Just About Everything Mentioned: Trailer for The Cat From Outer Space (1978) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9SEaSW1jtnQ Disney’s High School Musical Reboot Trailer: The Start of Something Old https://www.vulture.com/2019/08/disney-releases-first-high-school-musical-reboot-trailer.html “The Belle of St. Mark” by Sheila E | |||
| Ep. 8: Give us the Keys, Brandon: BH 90210-Brenda vs. Kelly | 30 Aug 2019 | 00:48:04 | |
Both Wynter and Karen try not to cry every time they talk about the dearly departed Luke Perry, aka Dylan McKay. The two dive headfirst into a long simmering debate from the last 30 years--Brenda vs. Kelly--as the Fox reboot, BH 90210 confounds and excites viewers with its many layers of meta. Wynter is excited about this year's VMA's (!?!?), but only because Dr. Missy Elliott received the Video Vanguard award. Karen's wife has lured her into Bachelor Nation, with this season's queer-ish Bachelor in Paradise. Plus, in NUO-LINGO, we clarify the subtle nuances between "achievement unlocked" and "goals," while our SOTW is sure to make you slow-dance like its 1992. Join our Patreon for bonus content and SWAG: https://www.patreon.com/waitingtoxhale Links To Just About Everything Mentioned:Dylan and Kelly tell Brenda about their summer together [YouTube] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8TXkCSIRYUE Beverly Hills, 90210 [Original intro] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JDOrOMuo-9o BH90210 Trailer [2019 Reboot] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YcWKGy7df5oMTV VMAs 2019: Watch Missy Elliott Accept the Video Vanguard Award, Presented by Cardi B https://pitchfork.com/news/mtv-vmas-2019-watch-missy-elliott-accept-the-video-vanguard-award/ Brian McKnight & Vanessa Williams - Love Is | |||
| Ep. 7: Impeachment & Political Sex Scandals: 1998 vs. 2019 | 23 Aug 2019 | 00:59:31 | |
Wynter and Karen are abuzz with news of the casting for Ryan Murphy's next season of American Crime Story on the Clinton impeachment, with Monica Lewinsky on board as a producer, and Beanie Feldstein playing Monica. Each reflect on that moment in history as a turning point when politics and tabloid journalism collided, and Fox News was but a fledgling cesspool of misinformation. They also consider Monica's journey from infamy to potential Emmy and Golden Globes triumph, while digging into how our threshold for political & presidential crimes and misdemeanors has grown exponentially. Wynter visits Mexico for her anniversary, and ends up revisiting Candace Bushnell in the process. Karen talks about what it feels like to visit a red state in the age of Trump, as well as season 3 of GLOW's Asian politics. And as usual, NUO-LINGO and our SOTW. Join our Patreon for bonus content and SWAG: https://www.patreon.com/waitingtoxhale Links To Just About Everything Mentioned: Clinton: 'I Did Not Have Sexual Relations With That Woman' Clip https://www.nbcnews.com/video/clinton-i-did-not-have-sexual-relations-with-that-woman-248273987946 ‘Impeachment: American Crime Story’ About Clinton Scandal A Go At FX With Sarah Paulson As Linda Tripp & Monica Lewinsky Producing Erasure - She Won’t Be Home (Lonely Christmas) | |||
| Ep. 6: What the Wild Things Teach Us: Cocaine Bear vs. Meth Gator | 16 Aug 2019 | 00:55:56 | |
W2X goes wild as we conjure a raucous showdown between urban legends, Cocaine Bear vs. Meth Gator! Who are they? What are they? And what do they tell us about person-kind's relationship to nature as it's evolved since nature TV in the 1970s and 1980s? Wynter tells us all about the new boomer cable channel MeTV as we have a slight skirmish over GenX shows like The Facts of Life that also appear on the network. Meanwhile, Karen explains her strange relationship to the Gordon Ramsay TV empire. As always, we've got nuo-lingo for you and a SOTW. Join our Patreon for bonus content and SWAG: https://www.patreon.com/waitingtoxhale Links To Just About Everything Mentioned: Gordon Ramsay's 24 Hours To Hell & Back Trailer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s4ptgPliiMo The Craziest Moments of Amy’s Baking Company on Kitchen Nightmares https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MC8i0gt5m-Y Gordon Ramsay: Uncharted (National Geographic) MeTV Show Listing Tennessee police warn flushing drugs could create hyper-aggressive alligators Cocaine Bear - Roadside America https://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/50220 9-year-old girl charged by bison at Yellowstone Park, treated for injuries Class of 1999 - Trailer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xOM2jgzBBhs Rockwell - Somebody's Watching Me https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7YvAYIJSSZY - Visual Communications Potluck Podcast Collective | |||
| Ep. 5: From Pin-Ups to Big Papas: Brad Pitt vs. Leonardo DiCaprio | 09 Aug 2019 | 00:55:46 | |
It's a battle of GenX matinee idols, Brad Pitt vs. Leonardo DiCaprio. Wynter and Karen reflect on the arc of Brad & Leo's careers in light of their latest joint venture, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. The two also reveal the special joys of "secret single behaviors" when they take themselves out without their spouses. Wynter hits the comedy clubs, and Karen talks about her close encounter with Maya Rudolph & PT Anderson at the movies. Plus, nuo-lingo and your SOTW. Join our Patreon for bonus content and SWAG: https://www.patreon.com/waitingtoxhale Links To Just About Everything Mentioned: Thelma & Louise - Trailer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PRr0HY9MPZ0 Tituss Burgess on Working with Eddie Murphy | WWHL https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJGE52yLGuY Survivor - High On You Music Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fxhueyC70cU - Visual Communications Potluck Podcast Collective
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| Ep 4: YouTubin' with Generation X: Mentos vs. Diet Pepsi | 02 Aug 2019 | 00:53:23 | |
Pop open a Bartles & Jaymes, and pull your rocking chair up to your laptop, Wynter and Karen get into how Generation X uses YouTube, from nostalgic forays into old commercials and landmark pop culture moments, to how-to videos and instructional content. But they don't stop there: Wynter also scours YouTube for fresh content to break us all out of our slacker rut. Speaking of slackers, Karen revisits Always Be My Maybe through the lens of the Asian slacker, while also anticipating crying a lot to Awkwafina's dramatic turn in The Farewell. Meanwhile, Wynter prepares to celebrate her first wedding anniversary like an enlightened Don Draper at Esalen, and has high praise for CNN's docuseries, The Movies. The two stage an ad war between Mentos vs. Diet Pepsi, and ask you to sus out some "nuo lingo." As always, we close things out with a SOTW. Join our Patreon for bonus content and SWAG https://www.patreon.com/waitingtoxhale Links to just about everything mentioned: Bartles & Jaymes Ad https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hYdWHK6AA6E Michael J Fox DIET PEPSI (1987) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CqNXNE-P4uc&app=desktop MENTOS: The Freshmaker https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfp2Bg6iUdY YouTube Is a Temple of Nostalgia for 1990s TV Commercials https://slate.com/technology/2018/03/youtube-is-a-temple-of-nostalgia-for-1990s-tv-commercials.html Bon Appetit - Gourmet Makes With Claire Saffitz https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IeM8OReKzfQ&list=PLKtIunYVkv_RezN3GB12YA8orYOScQUdA&index=11 Seth Rogen Breaks Down His Most Iconic Movies https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Db_8Oyy09w Surgical Resident Breaks Down 36 More Medical Scenes From Film & TV https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P2MUNDiXazM Former CIA Chief of Disguise Breaks Down 30 Spy Scenes From Film & TV https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mUqeBMP8nEg Close Up - The Hollywood Reporter - W/ Tiffany Haddish, Phoebe Waller Bridge, Natasha Lyonne, Jane Fonda, Maya Rudolph, Alex Borenstein, Regina Hall | |||
| Ep. 104: Met Gala and More w/ A.E. Stevenson | 13 May 2023 | 01:10:47 | |
Fashion connoisseur and media scholar A.E. Stevenson joins KT this week to get into all things Met Gala, from the controversies around the Lagerfeld theme, to the tiniest details about some of the looks that ATE. Before all that, the two express their support for the WGA strike and explain some of the stakes for the uninitiated. Plus, songs by Kelele and Phoenix. To get access to early releases and bonus content subscribe to our patreon at: https://www.patreon.com/waitingtoxhale. | |||
| Ep. 3 - Summer Shenanigans: Summer School vs. Dazed & Confused | 26 Jul 2019 | 00:54:11 | |
'Tis the season for dogs wearing sunglasses, horndog teens and poolside rumpshakin'. Karen and Wynter get deep into summer shenanigans, both their own, and everything we've seen on screen since the 1980s. Karen is surrendering to yoga while catching up on Big Little Lies, while Wynter has some thoughts to share about all the online drama over casting a black Little Mermaid and black female 007. Alright, alright, alright: this week's title card showdown is a battle royale between two summer films from the 80s and 90s, Summer School vs. Dazed & Confused. Plus, more "nuo lingo"--HIGH KEY--and not one, but two summer songs of the week (SOTW). Join our Patreon for bonus content and SWAG: https://www.patreon.com/waitingtoxhale Links to just about everything mentioned: Freshman Hazing from Dazed & Confused https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rtkI87FeqOY Big Little Lies Season 2 Trailer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eCWevZV945M Summer is sexist: Women have to sweat 'bikini bodies,' hair removal, camp and crime Summer School trailer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VijCU3fPp3s Dazed and Confused trailer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3aQuvPlcB-8 Robbie Nevil’s C’est La Vie https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CGtf9QfITQw Wreckx-n-Effect’s RUMPSHAKER | |||
| Ep. 2: Goonies vs. Stand By Me, and the Stranger Things of It All | 19 Jul 2019 | 01:01:09 | |
Wynter catches up with Karen after she returns from her month-long book tour abroad, and the two get into some of the things KT missed back in the U.S. of A. , including HBO MAX, and the new series Euphoria. Karen (who saw a couple of World Cup games in France) gets into how we are all living in Megan Rapinoe's Sapphic summer, and the two debate Goonies vs. Stand By Me--the coming-of-age films that served as GenX source-texts for Stranger Things 3. Plus more "nuo lingo" and your SOTW (Song of the Week). Join our Patreon for bonus content and SWAG: https://www.patreon.com/waitingtoxhale Links To Just About Everything Mentioned: The Goonies Cold Open: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0atATbXbQ9g Women's World Cup Brazil V. Australia Highlights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TzpAtOGcUuA Magnum Commercial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ZkUgwRhweQ H'Bo's Euphoria Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ziMUD0_TTg0 '80s Shopping Mall Commercials: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nnOvVBUhQC4 The Goonies Original Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hJ2j4oWdQtU&t=60s Stand By Me Original Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FUVnfaA-kpI Stranger Things Season 3 Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XcnHOQ-cHa0
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| Ep. 1: Pilot | 10 Jul 2019 | 00:57:52 | |
It's the debut episode of Waiting to X-hale, a Gen X-themed show with podcast veterans Wynter Mitchell-Rohrbaugh and Karen Tongson. W2X revisits the pop culture & social issues that defined Generation X from a (queer) woman-of-color perspective in a way that sheds new light on the pop culture from both then, and now. In our first episode, Wynter & Karen welcome you to their world, and debate who'd come out on top in a head-to-head showdown between SINGLES vs. REALITY BITES. We discuss whether or not each of us "belongs" in Gen X, at the same time that we consult the youngest among us--Generation Alpha--about any "nuo lingo" we should know to keep up with the zeitgeist. We wrap things up with Coolio's "Gangsta's Paradise," the headliner for our weekly music video watch party. Cold open clip from Singles: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0PP5ENgXLiI Singles trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b4tQFsPTGXI Streaming free on Vudu: Reality Bites Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i6IYoQ8Atms Available to rent through Apple and Amazon
Cooliio - Gangster's Paradise: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fPO76Jlnz6c
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| Ep. 103b: Nuo-Lingo and BoCo: “Touch Grass" w/ Andrew Ti | 29 Apr 2023 | 00:26:40 | |
Karen and guest-host Andrew Ti take their "Asian conversation meant to be had indoors" outdoors to the soccer pitch. The two share their love of ACFC player Jun Endo, while also discussing a controversy surrounding her hairstyle at the beginning of the season. Plus, "Brown-Eyed Biffs," latchkey kids, and the origins of the NUO LINGO phrase, "touch grass." It's our last FREE BoCo ep--the rest will be Patreon exclusive--so listen up, then subscribe at https://www.patreon.com/waitingtoxhale. | |||
| Ep. 103: Yo, is Gen X Racist? With Andrew Ti | 22 Apr 2023 | 00:57:49 | |
Karen welcomes guest-host Andrew Ti (creator and co-host of Yo, is This Racist?) to discuss a recent Politico article that describes Gen X as “the Trumpiest generation.” Before getting into all that, the two discuss their mutual love of the Angel City Football Club, aka ACFC, L.A.’s National Women’s Soccer League team. Andrew also reports back after treating himself to matinees of the Dungeons and Dragons and Mario Bros. movies, while Karen is in the middle of another prestige TV rewatch with The Americans. Plus, two songs of the week featuring collaborations by women artists: Chong The Nomad - Take Two and BOYGENIUS - True Blue. Please follow and review the show wherever you listen to podcasts. You can support the podcast on Patreon. | |||
| Ep. 102b: Nuo-Lingo and BoCo: “Private Not Secret” w/ Guy Branum | 17 Apr 2023 | 00:22:26 | |
Outtakes from episode 102 on Andy Cohen and International TV; a nuo-lingo on online displays of relationships. Please follow and review the show wherever you listen to podcasts. You can support the podcast on Patreon. | |||
| Ep. 102: World(ly) TV: From Top Chef World All Stars to International Netflix Offerings | 08 Apr 2023 | 00:55:21 | |
Our dear Guy Branum sits in for Wynter, as he and Karen have a wide-ranging conversation about everything from #Gaylor discourse and why KT is a “Swiftie at Fifty,” to his long Talmudic catch-up with the Real Housewives franchise, specifically Beverly Hills. The two also explore the impact of international TV, including shows like Physical 100 (S. Korea) and the Filipino comedy, The Enlightened before discussing what it means for the Top Chef franchise to do a “World All Stars” season. Plus the songs of the week, Teenage Dirtbag by Wheatus and Y’a du Soleil by Christoph Maé. Please follow and review the show wherever you listen to podcasts. You can support the podcast on Patreon. | |||
| Ep. 101: What Did I Miss? Spare, The Last of Us, M3GAN & More - Plus THE OSCARS | 17 Mar 2023 | 01:18:48 | |
Wynter and Karen are back with season 6 to ask each other, “what did I miss?” as they cover some of the notable pop culture moments that went down during their holiday hiatus. Before they get into Spare, The Last of Us and M3GAN, the two debrief about the 2023 Oscars, as Wynter goes against the tide of criticism around The Whale, while Karen considers the significance of Everything, Everywhere All At Once’s sweep of the top prizes. The two also catch up about their recent travels (KT went to Sydney for World Pride, and Wynter went to the backwoods of Washington as well as Philly with Wanda Sykes). Plus, us a nuo-lingo to ICK about and songs of the week! | |||
| Ep. 100: Turning 100 with Bob Odenkirk | 07 Nov 2022 | 01:11:42 | |
It’s our 100th episode and season 5 finale!!! To help celebrate the occasion, the one and only BOB ODENKIRK was kind enough to join us for a chat about Mr. Show, comedy in the 90s, and the great Janeane Garofalo. Karen is cautiously optimistic about the new season of White Lotus, while she and Wynter process the ramifications of El-n M-sk’s purchase of Twitter. Plus, a few other 100th episode surprises, to go with nuo-lingo and our songs of the week. | |||
| Celebrate 100 episodes with us! | 28 Oct 2022 | 00:02:17 | |
Head over to w2xpodcast.com and click the blue button on the right side to leave us a voicemail! | |||
| Ep. 113: Favorite Finales | 04 Dec 2023 | 01:04:43 | |
In our penultimate episode, Wynter and Karen prepare for the end by reflecting on their favorite series finales including Mad Men, Six Feet Under, The Good Place and The Americans among others. Before they do, Karen insists on one more discussion about a pop culture controversy: Julianna Marguilles’ condescending comments told from her perspective “as someone who plays a lesbian journalist” on TV. Our team LOVES Squid Game: The Challenge, which is their new problematic fave. Plus, NUO-LINGO is unlocked for the last 2 episodes and butch/femme songs of the week. | |||
| Ep. 99: Queer for Fear and Our Horror Recommendations | 24 Oct 2022 | 01:11:52 | |
Wynter & Karen dive into the new Shudder documentary series, Queer for Fear: The History for Queer Horror, and are inspired to make some of their own queer horror recommendations for the spooky season. Wynter considers which streaming services she needs to drop, while Karen claps back at the WaPo piece claiming GenX’s shift to the right by considering how “Generation Jones” skews those purported numbers. Plus, Negroni Sbagliato (with prosecco in it), and two new songs of the week. | |||
| Ep. 98: Too Much Too Crime? Dahmer, The Gabby Petito Story and Blonde | 10 Oct 2022 | 01:08:15 | |
Wynter assigns Karen a range of true crime offerings with varying degrees of budget and prestige, from Lifetime’s The Gaby Petito Story, to Netflix’s limited series, Dahmer and the cinematic offering, Blonde. The two discuss when true crime is too much in both quantity and affect. KT’s viewing habits have veered to deep straight dude sportiness, while Wynter walks us through some major GenX anniversaries for 90210 and Janet’s The Velvet Rope, plus Hocus Pocus 2 on Disney+. Nuo-lingo has a long reality story attached to it, and our songs of the week are bonafide jams. | |||
| Ep. 97 WRESTLING with GENX’s ANGLOPHILIA | 26 Sep 2022 | 00:55:37 | |
The end of the Elizabethan-era (part II) prompted us to reflect on how British pop culture has dominated GenX’s imaginaries, from new wave and the new romantics, to Fawlty Towers and Monty Python, to iconoclasts like Bowie and the Sex Pistols up to and including contemporary favorites the Great British Bake Off and The Crown, to the British royal family itself as pop culture. Plus, it’s a very Hulu week for us with Welcome to Wrexham and Reboot. We drop a nuo-lingo for new relationships and two songs from beloved icons from the 80s and now. | |||
| Ep. 96: 2022 Emmy Predictions | 12 Sep 2022 | 01:26:25 | |
Karen and Wynter are back together again, just in time to drop their Emmy predictions for all the Comedy and Drama acting categories. They tell you who they want to win, as well as who they think will actually win, so listen-up before you fill out your ballots for the awards broadcast on Monday, September 12! Fresh from her vacay, KT talks about the “couple” shows she and Sarah watch together, like Industry on HBO. Wynter is stoked about the impending return of the Great British Bake Off and tells us about all the nuo-lingo that has officially been incorporated into Merriam-Webster. Plus, two sweet sweet songs of the week for coastal grandmas, grandpas and/or thembas.
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| Ep. 95: She-Hulk and Snark w/Ryan Bailey | 29 Aug 2022 | 01:03:44 | |
Wynter is in the driver's seat one more time and wants to know if you're watching She-Hulk. It's a refreshing glass of characters and story that you don't even need to have watched all 432 Marvel movies to enjoy. Ryan Bailey (So Bad it's Good Podcast) stops by for the main segment to talk about all things snark and why we love to hate on the internet. PLUS: nuo-lingo to help you sift through bad vibes and a SOTW from a Gen X icon's kid! | |||
| Ep. 94: A Free For All w/ Abby Gardner | 15 Aug 2022 | 01:22:31 | |
While Karen is on vacation, Wynter brought in special guest host Abby Gardner (We Have Notes Podcast/Substack) to talk about ALL THE THINGS: Biopics, Harry Styles, mixtapes, movies, Kate Bush, old Hollywood, new Hollywood, Joan Crawford, Florence Pugh...seriously, it's a dense pop culture discussion from top to bottom. Grab a snack and settle in! | |||
| Ep. 93: Irma Vep Across Time | 01 Aug 2022 | 01:07:21 | |
Karen and Wynter have been seduced by Irma Vep, Olivier Assayas’ “serialized” HBO Max revisitation of his own 1996 indie film of the same name starring screen goddess Maggie Cheung (his ex-wife). The two get into all the series’ meta-narratives,, including Alicia Vikander as a modified K-Stew. Light SPOILERS. Karen is obsessed with #PREATH’s (Christen Press and Tobin Heath’s) sizzle on the ESPYs red carpet, while Wynter loves up on Nathan Fielder in The Rehearsal. (Where’s our HBO Max sponsorship already?!) Are we or are we not “BASED”? Plus two songs of the week from the 80s, and info about KT’s new food-related BoCo on our Patreon. | |||
| Ep. 92: WORTH THE WAIT? From Stranger Things to Umbrella Academy | 19 Jul 2022 | 01:10:46 | |
Wynter has returned from her European vacation to tell us about her encounter with Aline–not to be confused with Celine, who the main character of this French-Canadian film very closely resembles. Karen tells us about Chris Belcher hot new memoir Pretty Baby (Simon & Schuster), chronicling her life as a queer teen rebel who escapes small-town Appalachia to become a renowned Lesbian Dominatrix in L.A. The two also offer their rundown of TV series that have taken a long hiatus (Stranger Things, Atlanta, Barry, Umbrella Academy, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel) only to return after several years, assessing whether or not they were worth the wait. Plus, nuo-lingo and songs of the week with totally different vibes. | |||
| Ep. 91: Comin’ in Hot: FX’s THE BEAR | 04 Jul 2022 | 01:14:15 | |
This week Karen is joined by author, curator, and former kitchen-geek Jennifer Doyle, as well as Chef Courtney Storer to talk about the buzzy and bingeable FX series The Bear. As the culinary producer on the show, Chef Coco gives us the inside scoop on how the actors recreated the tense, fast-paced atmosphere of professional kitchens, while revealing what happens to all the food they make on set. KT and Jennifer talk about women’s soccer and mutual aid, and share their profound love for L.A.’s NWSL team, the Angel City Football Club. (LAFC gets its props too). Plus, they get into Apple TV’s Loot and Showtime’s I Love That For You. Nuo-lingo explains what it means when someone is “a 10, but…” and we offer up two songs of the week with a dose of hope. | |||
| Ep. 90: A Theysian/Gaysian Guide to Hulu’s FIRE ISLAND | 13 Jun 2022 | 01:24:48 | |
Wynter is out of the country, so Karen invited her longtime gaysian/theysian pals, Summer Kim Lee (a cultural critic and UCLA professor), and JJ Chan (an artist and designer based in Brooklyn) to talk about the highly anticipated gay(sian) rom-com, Hulu’s Fire Island. The three talk about some of their own summer gaycations together and apart, while diving deep into the details of Fire Island down to its most resonant moments with Austen’s Pride & Prejudice, to what JJ calls the “Cherry Grove aesthetic” of Margaret Cho’s house, despite the film’s setting in the Pines. Plus: Karen takes her wife Sarah to Disneyland for her very first visit to the Magic Kingdom, JJ gosses about “eyebrow gate” on Gentleman Jack, and Summer FINALLY gets into Survivor after 42 seasons. And, nuo-lingo from a real life millennial and three #thatgirl summer jams! | |||
| Ep. 112: Special Guests | 07 Oct 2023 | 01:11:09 | |
This week we present our second "best of" episode featuring a collection of the lovely guests we've had over the years. You'll hear Guy Branham & Margaret Wappler make their first appearance since the end of Pop Rocket (3:28), Kathy Valentine talk about the L.A. punk scene and feminism (15:27), Kevin Smith talk about working with his daughter (24:37), June Diane Raphael give her take on Clueless (34:09), Bob Odenkirk talk about Mr. Show and using comedy to expose homophobia (49:21), Renee Bever and Tavia Nyong'o talk about blackness in horror cinema (55:48) and Sandra Bernhard gives her thoughts about fighting on the internet. To get early access to releases and bonus content weekly, please subscribe to our patreon at patreon.com/waitingtoxhale
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| Ep. 89: FIGHT BACK! w/ author Raquel Gutierrez | 06 Jun 2022 | 00:59:34 | |
CW: discussions of violence, self-harm, domestic abuse, mass shooting–in other words, of our everyday lives in the U.S.A. Wynter and Karen welcome special guest Raquel Gutierrez, author of the new book Brown Neon (out June 7). The three revive a conversation they started over drinks during the Gen X festival about vengeance movies centering women, and fantasies of fighting back in a bleak timeline moving increasingly from the genre of horror to realism. Karen talks about why she undertook a double-feature of the new Downton Abbey film with Alex Garland’s latest, Men starring Jessie Buckley. Wynter anoints The Kids in the Hall honorary Gen X-ers, while telling us why she comfort-binged their latest revival three times. Plus, nuo-lingo is back from retrolingo, and two VERY different songs of the week for your enjoyment. | |||
| Ep. 88: W2X Live @ REDCAT w/ Kevin Smith & Sandra Bernhard | 09 May 2022 | 01:13:09 | |
This is an edited version of the live show - Patreon members get the full unedited video! The Gen X festival’s Humanities co-curators (Wynter & Karen!!!!) take the stage for a live podcast recording along with special guests Sandra Bernhard and Kevin Smith!
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| Ep. 87: The Music of 1992 and 2002 | 11 Apr 2022 | 00:57:29 | |
Wynter and Karen reflect back on the music of 1992 and 2002, from Pitchfork favorites to the Billboard Hot 100. In addition to selecting their MVP songs and albums from each year, they each get into what they were wearing and gift an NFT idea to Ja Rule in the process. Wynter continues delving into the saga of millennial overreachers by entering the world of WeCrashed, while Karen sobs to the epic, multigenerational saga that is Apple TV+’s Pachinko, while revisiting the thrills and jiggles of the Lakers’ showtime era of the 80s reimagined in Adam McKay’s Winning Time. Plus, nuo-lingo and songs of the week from 1992 and 2012 (in an extension of our episode’s timeline). | |||