Tag: Pop Culture

Posted on

Episode 38: Jumping the Shark

The phrase “Jumping the Shark” refers to a moment in a television show, film, book, or any other form of entertainment where the established rules, characters, and plot points are tossed aside to make room for a ridiculous moment. To jump the shark is to create a culture dump. While the phrase comes from a notorious episode of “Happy Days,” there are hundreds of examples of shark jumping throughout entertainment history. Ryan is joined by Adam Papagan to discuss this phenomenon.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Posted on

Episode 37: Celebrity Sex Tapes

Celebrity sex tapes are a phenomenon. Whether they were stolen and leaked to the public or purposefully released for financial gain, the public cannot get enough. Our fascination with the private lives of the famous can reach some uncomfortably invasive places. In this episode we track the dark history of celeb sex tapes and highlight the most influential of the bunch. From Pam and Tommy to Verne Troyer, this episode has it all!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Posted on

Episode 36: TATU

This week we go behind the iron curtain to discuss the Russian pseudo-lesbian powerpop group TATU. TATU took the world by storm with their school girl outfits and french kisses but there was so much more to the story than two girls in love navigating their emotions through song. It was all a hoax, there was no way one of the most anti-LGBT countries in the world would allow a real lesbian couple to become super stars. Ryan is joined once again by Audra Isadora who lends a unique perspective on this early 2000’s phenomenon. 

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Posted on

Special Guest: Annie from Depths of Wikipedia

It is no secret that the internet harbors some weird stuff. Wikipedia may be the world’s number one source for quick information about just about anything, but sometimes the anything can be downright bizarre. Depths of Wikipedia is an instagram page dedicated to archiving the strangest articles posted to Wikipedia. Ryan sits down with the creator of the page to discuss her favorite posts other projects such as Depths of Amazon and Depths of Craigslist.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Posted on

Episode 33: Soap Shoes

In the mid 1990’s extreme sports were peaking in popularity. Whether it was inline skating, skateboarding, or BMX, kids around the world were more than willing to jump off shit. Enter Soaps. An extreme sport shoe complete with a grind plate that would allow “soapers” to use any environment as their playground. Not all was as it seemed with Soaps, as with most dumps. We also interview Thomas Mottier, one of the innovators of “freestyle walking.” 

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Posted on

Episode 32: 2003 California Gubernatorial Recall

This is our first political Dump, though one can aruge all politics is a crock of shit! To honor the upcoming Gub-Recall of 2021, the Culture Dumps team looks back to the media circus surrounding the 2003 recall. This whole mess started when a bunch of assholes at Enron tried to line their pockets with an energy crisis and ended with Arnold Schwarzeneggar as the actual, for real, not joking governor of California. Along the way you had porn stars, Gary Coleman and some random guy named Michael Jackson (not the celebrity) all jumping on the political bandwagon. With the influence of Hollywood’s “all press is good press” mentality , this perfect political dump could have only happened in California.

Ryan is joined by guest Adam Papagan, who is putting his name in the hat of 2021 California Gubernatorial candidates. Let’s face it, we all love to say “Gubernatorial.” Vote Papagan!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Posted on

Special Interview: David Yontef

This week we have a bonus episode! Ryan sits down with David Yontef, the host of Behind the Velvet Rope Podcast and all around pop culture guru . They discuss everything from the roots of reality tv, the differences between all of the Real Housewives, the original Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, and Caitlyn Jenner running for governor. This episode is juicy and fully loaded.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Posted on

Episode 31: What What in the Butt (Featuring co-creator Mike Stasny)

Samwell’s music video “What What (In the Butt)” was one of Youtube’s first viral video sensations. The original 2007 post currently has over 72 millions views. The video appeared on Tosh. O and was parodied by South Park. The hilarious homoerotic hit helped usher in a new style of pop culture driven primarily by internet fandom.

Mike Stasny is an artist living in Atlanta who co-wrote and helped produce “What What (In the Butt).” Culture Dumps host Parks Miller interviews Stasny about the unexpected path he took to viral success. We discuss the glory days of Youtube and how the evolution of going viral. This dump got way deep!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Posted on

Episode 30: Chris Gaines

This week on Culture Dumps we examine the most bizarre passion project in the history of music. In 1999 Garth Brooks could not have been more famous. As the most successful country singer seemingly of all time, when he debuted his dark, tortured alter-ego Chris Gaines it is more than fair to say people were confused. What started as the most elaborate publicity stunt for a film ever soon became the biggest joke in country music. 

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Posted on

Episode 28: Beanie Babies part 3

We have reached the end of the plush road. We conclude our Beanie Baby coverage with tales of bankruptcy, break ups, arrests, and the bursting of the one of the biggest speculative bubbles of all time. All good things must come to an end, and in this case dumb things do too. This one gets dark folks so prepare yourselves and enjoy the finale of the saga of Beanie Babies.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download