Lauren and Christine change their names, color their hair, and get fake IDs as they discuss Hollywood’s long love for mistaken identities, new identities, and criminals on the run. And they imagine the what-could-have-been of the remarkable River Phoenix (R.I.P.).

Book recommendations:

Natalie Zemon Davis, The Return of Martin Guerre

Tom Engelhardt, The End of Victory Culture: Cold War America and the Disillusioning of a Generation

Lights, camera, and action as Lauren and Christine ask why Hollywood is so fascinated with making media about itself - a fascination that is as old as filmmaking. And what’s so terrible about twelve movies in an MK Ultra franchise, anyway?

Book recommendations:

Arthur Laurents, Original Story By: A Memoir of Broadway and Hollywood

Peter Biskind, Easy Riders, Raging Bulls: How the Sex-Drugs-And-Rock n’ Roll Generation Saved Hollywood

Michael Tolkin, The Player

Lauren and Christine pour the tea, button their cardigans, and worry about getting tenure as they discuss three films about complicated relationships between teachers (and teachers’ spouses) and their students. Amid suspicions, accusations, and counter-accusations, who has the power here?

Book recommendations:

Vito Russo, The Celluloid Closet: Homosexuality in the Movies

Carrie N. Baker, The Women’s Movement Against Sexual Harrassment

In this Halloween episode, Lauren and Christine hunt vampires from Europe in the 19th century to the American South in the 21st. If vampires are metaphors for a society’s fears, why do they always look so good?

Book recommendations:

John Polidori, The Vampyre

John Berendt, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil

Lauren and Christine grab the harpoon guns and pour a cold glass of milk to discuss the diverse, sexy, bold choices of Oscar-winner Nicole Kidman. And they ask: When will Nicole date a nice 6’4” guy?

Lauren and Christine get out the wire hangers, put on matching dresses, and gulp a vodka on the rocks as they consider mothers and daughters in pop culture.

In the second of our Hometown episodes, Lauren and Christine head Down East to the great state of Maine. Like Philadelphia, the Pine Tree State has its class issues. Unlike Philly cheesesteaks, its lobster rolls contain mayo. But if it is so beautiful, why is it so creepy?

Book recommendations:

Carol F. Karlsen, The Devil in the Shape of a Woman: Witchcraft in Colonial New England

Edna St Vincent Millay, Collected Poems

In the first of two Hometown episodes, Lauren introduces Christine to the culinary magic known as the pizza steak as they visit Philadelphia. Can they run up the Rocky Steps in their training montage while singing every word to “Piano Man”?

Hoagie recommendations:

https://dalessandros.com/

https://leeshoagiehouse.com/