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PODCAST

Midday Movies

Laura Fones and Stephen Frothingham

Welcome to the Midday Movies podcast, provider of fun, funny, and thoughtful media reviews 2-3x a week. Streaming on @radiotacoma101.9 every Tues/Thurs/Sat at 3pm.

tv & film

All Episodes

00:21:21

Ep 61: Community and Otherness on Digital Platforms

Midday Movies ·

2024/02/21

Internet interaction is one of the dominant ways we relate to each other and it has created different communities whose influence bleeds into the fabric of our physical lives. Is the internet a tool? A utility? A second world? Laura and Stephen discuss the color of the internet, dependency, and how the digital landscape has reformatted the actual landscape of human life. Join us! Follow us on your favorite podcast platform for more! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠@middaymusingspod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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00:22:35

Ep 60: Shadow Work and Gender Expectations

Midday Movies ·

2024/02/20

Whether you’re into Jungian psychology or in spiritual circles, you’ve probably encountered the idea of “shadow work.” Well, Laura has been reading an anxiety-laden book called “Ripe” by Sarah Rose Etter and that is bringing up shadows to work on. Join us as we sort through some of our traumas around work, self, and gender. We’re diving deep, sharing vulnerabilities, and healing together. On this very special lunch break, you’ll learn the origin of the “shadow” (via Carl Jung), perspectives from

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00:21:22

Ep 59: Danish History and “The Promised Land” (2023,...

Midday Movies ·

2024/02/16

Today we’re discussing the interesting history of Danish democracy, the settlement of the Jutland, the new Mads Mikkelsen film “The Promised Land”, and potatoes! History-heavy, Danish-heavy, and with a heavy appreciation for Mads Mikkelsen, we chat about the unlikely moment that a European king agreed that the aristocracy should be eliminated. Strap in for a fun little frolic through European monarchism and how it all became somewhat democratic. But also, and we cannot stress this enough, POTATOES

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00:21:42

Ep 58: Reasons to Envy Medieval Peasants (and Other...

Midday Movies ·

2024/02/15

Did you know that sweatpants may in fact originate in the Middle Ages? Are you still living the snug life all these years after the pandemic lockdown? Isn’t it funny how the Victorians made us all believe that the Knights Templar was an elite crusading force when they were more like medieval tour guides? Laura gets deep into European history and many of the things we mistakenly believe today — days off, barter economy, and the unique power structures that predated nation-states. Per usual, the

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00:21:12

Ep 57: Family Structures and Privacy

Midday Movies ·

2024/02/14

Today we’re discussing privacy across the ages, family structures in earlier eras, and the luxury/lunacy of solitude. Stephen shares some childhood memories and Laura argues in defense of the blended family. Let us illustrate how lucky we are to be living today, with comparisons to life 100 years ago and a fun little syndrome called “Glass Delusion.” From the Dutch drawing rooms of the 1600s to the lonely settlements of 1800s America, we discuss the dangers of isolation—and the joys of contemporary

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00:22:55

Ep 56: Smart Tech Takes Over the World!

Midday Movies ·

2024/02/13

Today we’re chatting about how ubiquitous smart technology has become, how costly that makes everyday objects, and how weirdly that makes us behave toward each other. Fun historical shoutouts to the USSR’s ban of US film “The Grapes of Wrath” and the toaster-fueled mortgage economy of the 1950s. A broad discussion on technological advancement, historical shifts, and human expectations of other humans. From sliced bread to contemporary YouTube content, let’s get into it! Follow us on your favorite

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00:21:00

Ep 55: Combatting Winter Grumpiness with Toxic...

Midday Movies ·

2024/02/09

The winter months are hard on everyone — whether it’s experiencing Seasonal Affective Disorder or having to interact with people experiencing Seasonal Affective Disorder. Laura has had enough of it, and has thoughts to share. Stephen is sympathetic and has Matt Groening (creator of The Simpsons and Futurama) perspectives to impart. We discuss our strategies for dealing with winter grumpiness, within and without. Using verve and a little bit of silliness, we argue in defense of toxic positivity and

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00:21:59

Ep 54: Community Vs. Opportunity

Midday Movies ·

2024/02/08

They say it takes a village, but the US says individualism is king. We’re discussing the challenges of creating community in a country that privileges mobile labor over putting down roots. How do you thrive in the transient, modern world where everyone moves for work, rarely stays in their hometown after schooling, and cannot establish the Old World concept of “the village”? There are many benefits to living in the New World, but community is not among them. So, we chat about the pros and cons of

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00:25:06

Ep 53: Reviewing “The Zone of Interest” (dir....

Midday Movies ·

2024/02/07

Today we’re discussing Jonathan Glazer’s Oscar-nominated film, “The Zone of Interest.” Starring Sandra Huller and Christian Friedel, this is a Holocaust film unlike any you’ve seen before — one that centers on the family and professional life of Auschwitz’s commandant Rudolph Hoss. Further, because Laura is a Holocaust scholar whose historical focus was Auschwitz’s three interlinked camps (Auschwitz I, Birkenau, and Monowitz), we are able to provide additional historical context for this unique art

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00:21:16

Ep 52: Ancient Memes and the Internet That Was

Midday Movies ·

2024/02/06

Today we go back in time to the age of Geocities sites, MySpace, and can-has-cheeseburger memes. Most of us are digital natives who grew up with a working knowledge of HTML and flash animation — the internet’s earliest forms of user generated content. Nostalgia permeates today’s episode, with its callbacks to web rings and midis, but also communicates the pitfalls of hours-long download times and infectious LimeWire files. Join us for 20 minutes of reminiscing and joking about the ancient internet

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00:25:57

Ep 51: Relationship Red Flags and White Flags — Which...

Midday Movies ·

2024/02/02

Once again, we crack open Grim Rabbit’s Red Flag card game in search of universal relationship truths. Could you tolerate an asexual relationship that has major benefits? Do you know what’s unique about Paris Hilton’s relationship? Is a Paris Hilton reference in a podcast your biggest dealbreaker? Come along with Laura and Stephen on a twenty-five minute journey of fun, frolic, and filtering out flags. Leave us a 5-star review if you liked what you heard! Follow us on your favorite podcast platform

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00:27:54

Ep 50: Midday Musings’ 50th Episode Special

Midday Movies ·

2024/02/01

We’ve done 50 episodes and are so grateful you’ve listened! Laura and Stephen share their top 5 favorite episodes so far, giving you 10 favorites to listen to if you’re new to the program. It’s all celebrations, jokes, and good vibes on this 50th episode special. Join us! Follow us on your favorite podcast platform for more! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠@middaymusingspod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Linktree⁠: ⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/middaymusingspod⁠⁠ --- Send in a voice message:

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00:24:30

Ep 49: Karaoke, Automation and Futurism

Midday Movies ·

2024/01/31

Will our future be solar punk or cyber punk? Is Artificial Intelligence a gift or a curse? Is karaoke better the Western way or the Eastern way? We look forward with optimism and verve to the changing landscape of human culture. Follow us on your favorite podcast platform for more! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠@middaymusingspod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Linktree⁠: ⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/middaymusingspod⁠⁠ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/midday-musings/message

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00:23:06

Ep 48: The Tudor Dynasty & Consequences of Jousting

Midday Movies ·

2024/01/30

We’re talking the dangers of jousting and the Tudor dynasty in England. Rising up after the War of the Roses, Tudor kings and queens provide England one its most iconic eras of strength and strife. Did a jousting accident turn Henry VIII from a uniquely good monarch into a head-chopping monster? Was it really necessary to burn all those Protestants, Queen “Bloody” Mary? Was Queen Elizabeth I a lot more of a despot than is popularly imagined? And how does Shakespeare fit into it? All this and more in

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00:20:55

Ep 47: Adventures of the Rental Person Who Does...

Midday Movies ·

2024/01/26

Today we’re talking about the sharp social insights of Shoji Morimoto by way of his memoir, “Rental Person Who Does Nothing.” Does a human being have inherent value, even when they do nothing? Is it easier to talk to a stranger than it is to talk to a friend? Speaking of strangers, we share some of our favorite stranger encounters from a wild trip to Nevada ghost town, Virginia City — the silver mining town that funded the Union side of America’s Civil War & the birthplace of Mark Twain’s famously

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00:21:29

Ep 46: Adult Friendship and R.F. Kuang's "Yellowface"

Midday Movies ·

2024/01/25

Have you ever read a book cover-to-cover in 24 hours and allowed it to disrupt your whole internal equilibrium? Us too! In this case, it was R. F. Kuang’s recent book, “Yellowface,” whose sharp examination of anxiety, competition, and the strange toxic alchemy of old friendships had Laura all in knots. We talk about adult friendships, the unique challenges of time and unequal status that sometimes disrupt them, and how we can confront these emotionally fraught connections with grace. Join

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00:23:01

Ep 45: Libraries and Artificial Intelligence

Midday Movies ·

2024/01/24

Bibliophiles and technophiles unite in this episode! We chat at length about the awesome power of having access to both a library card and free-to-use generative AI technology. No gatekeeping here — we’ll share resources, favorite tools, and our hopes for the future of books and multimedia. Take your lunch break with us! Follow us on your favorite podcast platform for more! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram: ⁠@middaymusingspod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Linktree⁠: ⁠https://linktr.ee/middaymusingspod⁠ --- Send in a voice

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00:25:03

Ep 44: Mean Girls (2024) and the Gen Z Effect

Midday Movies ·

2024/01/23

We’re talking about the new Mean Girls movie-musical, starring Renee Rapp, Angourie Rice, and Auli'i Cravalho. Updated and innovated for the Broadway and Gen Z audience, we share what we liked, what we loved, and how far society has come in 20 years — all through the lens of Mean Girls 2004 & Mean Girls 2024. Join us! Follow us on your favorite podcast platform for more! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram: ⁠@middaymusingspod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Linktree⁠: ⁠https://linktr.ee/middaymusingspod⁠ --- Send in a voice

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00:35:03

Ep 43: Interpreting Dreams and the Power of Social Media

Midday Movies ·

2024/01/19

Today we talk about our (literal) dreams and how they are interpreted in light of our life experience. Additionally, we explore the past, present, and future of a world saturated in social media. Join us! Follow us on your favorite podcast platform for more! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram: ⁠@middaymusingspod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Linktree⁠: ⁠https://linktr.ee/middaymusingspod⁠ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/midday-musings/message

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00:27:54

Ep 42: International Customs that You Wish We Had in...

Midday Movies ·

2024/01/18

Living in the USA is a unique cultural experience — but don’t you wish we did things a little more like the Europeans or the Japanese? Today we discuss aspects of society that are common in other cultures but not the US, and why we wish we had them. Reddit users, BuzzFeed writers, and our co-hosts share their favorite international customs and why they should be adopted by Americans. Follow us on your favorite podcast platform for more! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram: @middaymusingspod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Linktree⁠:

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