The Popcast With Knox and Jamie

Today, instead of our regular episode, we’re revisiting a Cinema Sidepiece of one of the few movies Erin has not only watched but genuinely loved, High School Musical. Join us as we honor her by deep-diving her favorite DCOM.As a company, we will make a donation in memory of Erin’s mom, Gwen Hicks, to the foster-care nonprofit she founded, Amarillo Angels. If you would like to join us in honoring her remarkable legacy, head to AmarilloAngels.org to donate in memory of Gwen Hicks with (The Popcast) in parentheses. MENTIONS:Erin’s Credentials Watch | Listen | Rotten Tomatoes | IMDbWhat Works: Vanessa Hudgens (wiki) | Zac Efron (wiki) | Ashley TisdaleHighlights: Ryan and Sharpay | Drew Seeley | Miss Darbus’ Iconic Moments Reminder: What is the Bechdel Test? | What is the Latif test?Who wore it better: Ryan or Composer GirlDrive-By Mentions: Romeo + Juliet | High School Musical 2 | Glee | High School Musical: The Musical: The Series | Cross-over between Breaking Bad & The Walking Dead | High School Musical 3 | Allison Holker | The Princess Switch | Tick, Tick…Boom | The Greatest ShowmanBonus segment: Join us on Patreon to listen ad-free and get exclusive content including our weekly TMYK segment.Subscribe to our Newsletter: knoxandjamie.com/nftaShop our Amazon Link: amazon.com/shop/thepopcast Bookshop.org: Jamie’s Green Lights | Knox’s Green LightsFollow Us: Instagram | Threads | Bluesky | Facebook Support Us: Patreon | Shop

In this episode, we share our smooch, marry, and kills for August. We discuss what’s worth planting (smooch), what deserves room to grow (marry), and what needs to be pulled up by the roots (kill) as we tend to our August pop culture garden. Join us as we spotlight the shows made for hunkering down in the AC, the books perfect for a poolside read, and the movies worth sweating through the last stretch of summer to see.Relevant links: Our full show notes are at knoxandjamie.com/669The Popcast is turning 13! Join us for our annual All Skate Birthday Bash on Patreon: Tue, 8/11 at 9:30 pm ET. Head to knoxandjamie.com/birthday to join in the fun.Follow us @thepopcast on Threads and Instagram for giveaways all month long.Rewind: March SMK |  Feb SMK | Nov SMK | We do SMK most weeks on Instagram at #popcastsmkAugust Vibe Check: High Holy Day for Tomatoes (and all veggies) | Tzatziki Dip Recipe | Leo BirthdaysRefresh: Smooch= give a shot, Marry = commit time to, Kill = do not murder! We’re just suggesting to skip these things.SMOOCH // Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma Drive-bys: Taylor Farms | Heirloom Black Diamond Watermelon | Hannah Einbinder/Gillian Anderson TwinningBonus segment: Join us on Patreon at the Friends with Benefots level to listen to the entirety of this episode ad-free and get exclusive content including our weekly TMYK segment.Episode sponsors: Merit

In this episode, we explore the career of Matt Damon, Hollywood’s ultimate everyman. Join us as we unpack how he’s spent three decades as one of the industry’s most dependable, and surprisingly interchangeable, leading men, why he’s seemingly contractually obligated to spend every movie trying to get back home, and why it’s finally time for him to stop escaping and give us the cinematic love letter to his hometown we’ve been waiting for. Relevant links: Our full show notes are at knoxandjamie.com/668Like what you hear? Leave us a 5-star review on Apple, Spotify or anywhere you listen to our show.The Dossier: Wiki | Rotten Tomatoes Rankings | IMDb Watch Mentions: The Rainmaker | Mystic Pizza | School Ties | Geronimo: An American Legend | Courage Under Fire | Good Will Hunting | All The Pretty Horses | The Departed | Ocean’s Eleven, Ocean’s Twelve, Ocean’s Thirteen | Contagion | We Bought A Zoo | Stillwater | Jason Bourne movies | Interstellar | The Departed | The Martian | The Last Duel | Promised Land | Behind the Candelabra | Drive-bys: Ken Griffey Jr. | Leonardo DiCaprio’s Credits | Sacred Cinema: The Faithful with Minnie Driver | AO3 Jason Bourne (see also: AO3 Damon/Affleck) | The Sheep Detectives | Jennifer Garner Vanity Fair Feature (see also: Affleck’s Tattoo) | Three Things Christopher Nolan Expects You To Know Before Watching the OdysseyRed Light Mentions: People besmerching Taco Bell | Jimothy the Raccoon (see also: Punch the monkey) | Dave Portnoy’s memoir | FIFA’s Halftime Show | Prioritizing dogs over humans | The Hawk (see also: July AUA)Green Lights:Jamie: movie - The OdysseyMutual: movie - The InviteBonus segment: Join us on Patreon to listen ad-free and get exclusive weekly and monthly content. Episode sponsors: Leesa (code: POPCAST) | Hungryroot (code: POPCAST) | Hers | Pura | Gabb (code: POPCAST)

In this episode, we recap this week's pop culture news. Join us as we unpack The Bear‘s final season, make our deeply scientific case for the frontrunners in the 2026 Sexiest Man Alive race, react to the new Moana movie's box office report, and break down the biggest surprises and snubs from the 2026 Emmy nominations. It’s prestige TV, Disney magic (question mark?), attractive men, and awards-season chaos all rolled into a delightfully unhinged pop culture roundup.Relevant links: Our full show notes are at knoxandjamie.com/667Hear our new, secret Snake Draft episode where we discuss all the things the European mind cannot comprehend - Available only when you get the Big, Beautiful, Expanded Americana Bundle at knoxandjamie.shopEp. 666 Correction: Saint Petersburg is still a placeBox Office Recap & Emmy Nominations Mentions:  // Movies: Moana (see also: Along the Way) | Minions & Monsters | Toy Story 5 | Evil Dead Burn | Young Washington | The Invite | The Odyssey (see also: RT Score) // Shows: Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro (see also: Mark Ballas | Strictly Come Dancing) | Lucky | Espy Awards | The Hawk | The Gilded Age | Hacks | The Pitt | All Her Fault | Widow’s Bay | Bait | Heated Rivalry | Stranger Things S5 | Nobody Wants This S2 | Task | Friends & Neighbors | Rooster | Pluribus | The Amazing Race | The Bear  // IMDbs: Thomas Kail | Anya Taylor-Joy | The Rock | Lin-Manuel Miranda (see also: Octet | Phillipa Soo) | Betty Gilpin | Connor Storrie on SNL | Tom Pelphrey | Rob Reiner | Jeff Hiller | Noah Wyle | Ariana Madix | Megan Stalter | Hannah Einbinder | Paul Anthony Kelly  // Other: World Cup Finals | Open by Andre Agassi | Green Lights Post Sexiest Man Contenders: Bad Bunny | Hudson Williams | Michael B. Jordan | Ryan Gosling | Timothée Chalamet | Connor Storrie | Travis Kelce | Clavicular | Matt DamonDrive-bys: Lindsey Graham | Sam Neill | The building they had to evacuate in NY because it was structurally unsound? | The Bear “Fishes” Episode (see also: Pilot Program) | Shelf Respect (see also: @readwithshelfrespect)Red Light Mentions: Diarrhea Lettuce (see also: Dr. Rubin) | USMNT Stuffed in the Locker | New Robert Langdon | Big Brother | Digger Trailer Green Lights:Jamie: book - This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me by Ilona AndrewsKnox: book - Thrilling Tales of Modern Men by Danny McBrideBonus segment: Join us on Patreon to listen ad-free and get exclusive weekly and monthly content. Episode sponsors: Function Health (code: POP25) | Merit | IM8 (code: POPCAST) | Gabb (code: POPCAST)

In this episode, Erin joins us as we discuss antichrists in pop culture. From the ones that are too obvious to be real, to the dark horses that could truly turn out to be one of the Four Horsemen, we’re leaning all the way into the 666 of it all and giving the people what they want.Relevant links: Our full show notes are at knoxandjamie.com/666Celebrate America’s (not weird at all) 250th birthday with our super secret USA Snake Draft episode. Only available in the Americana Bundle (2026 Big Beautiful Expanded Bundle) at knoxandjamie.shopAntichrists Explainer Mentions: Erin’s Credentials | Book of Daniel (see also: VeggieTales version) | Maccabees | Book of Revelation | Left Behind (see also: Kirk Cameron Left Behind | Nic Cage Left Behind | Faith Adjacent’s Left Behind Sacred Cinema) | Hattie Durham | The Late Great Planet EarthMentions: Elon Musk (see also: Neuralink) | Mark Zuckerberg | Peter Thiel (see also: Antichrist Ted Talk) | J.K. Rowling | Donald Trump | Zohran Mamdami | AI aka Chat | Taylor Swift | MrBeast (not a sponsor: Step & Beast Land) | Ms Rachel | Snoop Dogg | Mother Teresa Podcast (see also: University of Ottawa paper) | Dolly Parton | Justin Bieber | Four Horsemen Combo: Bluey, Charli XCX, Robert Irwin, Ilya RozanovFact Checks: Does Toad have an evil twin? | Green Light Knox couldn’t remember: End of Days by Chris Jennings | Trump’s threesome commentaryDrive-bys: Eagle Eye | Aquaman | Daniel Fast | Camilla’s Literacy Campaign | Princess Kate scanning tickets at Wimbledon | Prince William on New Heights  Red Light Mentions: Freddy Canceled | Neil the Seal in Tasmania | @YouRowKelsey making it to Hawaii | Madi Prewett speaking at the State Fair | Red Cards | Offside | Belgium Coach big mad | Trump Phoning a Friend | Sleeping on a Train | Yannik Sinner | CFA Honey Pimento Chicken Sandwich commercialGreen Lights:Jamie: book - The Exquisite Torment of Loving Your Enemy by Brigitte KnightleyKnox: book - The Lowe Job by Grace AlexanderBonus segment: Join us on Patreon to listen ad-free and get exclusive weekly and monthly content like TMYK, where we unpack our two-week break and Taylor Swift's wedding.Episode sponsors: Square | IM8 (code: POPCAST) | Factor (code: POPCAST50OFF) | Quince | Boll & Branch (code: POPCAST) | Bombas (code: POPCAST) | Gabb (code: POPCAST) | Pura

Celebrate the stars, the stripes, and the sheer spectacle of American pop culture with our Americana Bundle (2026 Big Beautiful Expanded Bundle), a tribute to the myths we tell, the movies we quote, the institutions we romanticize, and the absolutely unhinged things that somehow only make sense in America.Available now at knoxandjamie.shop!This BIG BEAUTIFUL Expanded Bundle includes:Hamilton Deep Dive (aka the only time we cared about the Treasury)Cinema Sidepiece: Remember the Titans (mandatory emotional football content)Cinema Sidepiece: National Treasure (in Nicolas Cage we trust)Cinema Sidepiece: Independence Day (proof that America can solve literally any problem with a good speech)Cinema Sidepiece: Oppenheimer (history, science, and a deeply concerning number of men named Robert)Pilot Program: The West Wing (walk-and-talk your way through one of television's most idealistic versions of American politics)USA Snake Draft (a celebration of all the things the European mind cannot comprehend) 

Welcome to a preview episode of our new podcast, Shelf Respect! We did this for six months over on Patreon, and now we also have free episodes available twice monthly.This is a Snake Draft episode where the three of us slither through all the words and phrases we'd like to remove from all future books.Relevant links: Our full show notes are at knoxandjamie.com/665Like what you heard? Listen to Shelf Respect wherever you listen to the Popcast!All our book lists are always found on Bookshop.org. Support indie shops!Our Patreon: Shelf RespectOur Instagram: @readwithshelfrespectreadwithshelfrespect.comBonus segment: Join us on Patreon to listen ad-free and get exclusive weekly and monthly content. Episode sponsors: Olive & June | Bombas (code: POPCAST)

In this episode, we’re celebrating dads for Father’s Day by talking about iconic DILFs…Dads I’d like to FRIEND (even though some of ya’ll got that twisted!). From the shadow daddies quietly carrying entire storylines from the background to the chaotic father figures doing their best with varying levels of success, we’re honoring the full spectrum of paternal excellence. Whether you want to friend, or ‘friends to lovers’ them, we’re giving flowers to the dads who shaped pop culture.Relevant links: Our full show notes are at knoxandjamie.com/665Miss us during the break? Join us as a Friends with Benefots at knoxandjamie.com/patreon to listen to this episode in full and ad-free, plus all the Cinema Sidepieces, Pilot programs, and more! Use code SWEATYTAINT for 90% off your first month (offer valid for new users only until 7/726)Revisit: Ep. 401 MILFs | Ep. 658 MILFs 2 | Read all the commentsMentions: Darth Maul | Tarzan | Bandit Heeler | Mufasa | Lawrence Fletcher | Pacha | Goofy | Alfred PennyworthThank you to our contributors: @fitzy0816, @brookeemoneyy, @lizabetforrest, @coffedrinksgirl, @erinh614, @aubrey.garrido, @arielthelegend21Bonus segment: Join us on Patreon to listen to this episode ad-free and in its entirety, plus get exclusive weekly and monthly content. Episode sponsors: Function Health (code: POP25) | Storyworth | Shopify

In this episode, we recap this week's pop culture news. Join us as we weigh the legitimacy of the latest TNT wedding rumors and investigate whether men in hats are having a moment and who’s actually pulling the look off. Plus, we check in on the upcoming movie and TV roster to see what’s bringing main-character summer energy and what’s destined to be both painful and avoidable, like the content equivalent of a sunburn.Relevant links: Our full show notes are at knoxandjamie.com/663Get our brand new Americana merch line for all your semi-patriotic needs at knoxandjamie.shopWhat’s the Word Taylor Swift: Wedding Rumors | New Kelce Book | I Knew It, I Knew You (see also: I Knew It, I Know You) Hat Corner: Travolta’s Beret | Ewing’s Pageboy | Tucci’s Top Hat Box Office Report: Scary Movie | Masters of the Universe | Backrooms | Obsession | Mandalorian & Grogu Coming Soon: Disclosure Day | The Invite | NBA Finals | Sweet Magnolias | Every Year After | The Listeners | Little Singles | My Fault London & Your Fault London | I Will Find You | Sugar S2 | The Bear | House of the Dragon | Life, Larry and the Pursuit of Unhappiness Red Light Mentions: Prince Phillip’s Wedding | Ming Xi & Mario Ho’s wedding | Dua Lipa & Callum Turner | Scooby Do: OriginsGreen Lights:Jamie: book - Our Sister’s Keeper by Jasmine HolmesKnox: book - The Things We Never Say by Elizabeth StroutBonus segment: Join us on Patreon to listen ad-free and get exclusive weekly and monthly content. Episode sponsors: Quince | Hungryroot (code: POPCAST) | Hers | Storyworth | Gabb | Bombas (code: POPCAST)