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PODCAST

The Drop

The Age and Sydney Morning Herald

The Drop is a weekly show tackling the latest in the world of pop culture and entertainment. Why does it seem like everything on television is based on a true story? Why is Kate Bush back in the charts? How did Pete Davidson get so popular? Join host Osman Faruqi and The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age"s team of culture writers and critics as they answer these questions and more along with interviews with musicians, actors, film makers and everyone involved in the world of culture.

society & culture music interviews

All Episodes

55:44

Britney Spears, the ethics of celebrity memoirs and...

The Drop ·

2023/10/25

Britney Spears is the latest celebrity to release a tell-all memoir, covering her rise to fame, relationships and controversial conservatorship. With the increasing popularity of celebrity memoirs, Julia Fox and Jada Pinkett Smith have also recently released much-hyped books, Osman, Thomas and Mel unpack what role they play in our understanding of pop culture and the ethics of telling one-side of the story. Plus, they cover the battle between Taylor Swift and Martin Scorcese at the box office and

en-US

62:12

Why Killers of the Flower Moon is Martin Scorcese's...

The Drop ·

2023/10/18

From Goodfellas to Taxi Driver, The Wolf of Wall Street to The Departed, Martin Scorcese has made some of the biggest and best films in Hollywood history. But his latest film, Killers of the Flowers Moon, which focuses on a series of murders in the US in the 1920s could be the director at his very best. Osman, Thomas and Mel discuss (spoiler-free) the Killers of the Flower Moon, and why it feels so important in this current moment. They compare notes on Scorsese's body of work, talk about their

en-US

42:32

Why are Australia's biggest celebrities silent on the...

The Drop ·

2023/10/11

Back in 2017 some of Australia's biggest stars, including Margot Robbie, Chris Hemsworth, Russell Crowe and Kylie Minogue, publicly backed the same-sex marriage campaign. But in the lead-up to the Voice referendum most celebrities have been silent. Osman, Thomas and Mel look at who is weighing into the Voice debate, who is staying quiet and unpack what role celebrity endorsements play in modern culture. Plus, they talk about Netflix's new film Fair Play, the Oscar-worthy romance Past Lives and the

en-US

55:15

'Beckham', the problem with celebrity docos, and a...

The Drop ·

2023/10/04

Netflix's latest blockbuster sports documentary, directed by Succession's Fisher Stevens, is about the life and career of David Beckham, and his relationship with Victoria (aka Posh Spice), Osman, Thomas and Mel review Beckham, discuss what makes a sports documentary and talk about whether celebrities have too much control when it comes to telling the story of their lives before sharing their favourite sports docos of all time. Then they dig into The Gold, a gripping heist drama that deserves more

en-US

56:16

How Taylor Swift conquered... everything

The Drop ·

2023/09/27

Taylor Swift has already dominated the cultural conversation in 2023 and now she's turning her attention to professional sports, with a surprise appearance at an NFL match leading to a global meltdown. Osman, Thomas and Mel break down what exactly this crossover event means for pop culture and Swift, and why everyone is obsessed with Travis Kelce. Plus, they discuss the end of the Hollywood writers' strike, and share their recommendations in Impress Your Friends.See omnystudio.com/listener for

en-US

59:58

The Russell Brand allegations and the cult of celebrity

The Drop ·

2023/09/20

A years long investigation into Russell Brand has seen the actor, comedian and controversial commentator accused of sexual assault by multiple women. Brand denies the allegations, but this week a number of examples of him acting inappropriately towards women have resurfaced. Osman, Thomas and Mel unpack Brand's rise to fame, why his behaviour was never reined in and what his career, and the allegations against him, reveal about celebrity culture. Plus, we introduce a new segment: Impress Your

en-US

51:33

Has Olivia Rodrigo really dropped the album of the...

The Drop ·

2023/09/13

Pop sensation Olivia Rodrigo is back with her second album Guts, and it’s receiving rave reviews. Osman, Thomas and Mel discuss reaction to the album, the drama surrounding it, and what it says about the state of pop music right now. Plus, some of the insane celebrity relationship drama making headlines recently, and what it tells us about the state of humanity and our own brains.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en-US

51:17

From Kylie to Leo: Everything to watch, listen to and...

The Drop ·

2023/09/06

Osman, Thomas and Mel share what films, television, books and music they are most looking forward to over the next few months. From Martin Scorsese's Killers of the Flower Moon to Olivia Rodrigo's Guts and Britney Spears memoir The Woman in Me, here's the pop culture you don't want to miss.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en-US

48:13

The wild story behind the No. 1 hit polarising the world

The Drop ·

2023/08/30

The biggest song in the world right now is Rich Men North of Richmond, a controversial country anthem. But is it's success really organic, or is it part of a right-wing plot to take over the charts? Osman, Thomas and Mel discuss the song's popularity and its politics amid the massive surge country music is experiencing. Songs from Morgan Wallen and Luke Combs are dominating the charts, representing a significant shift away from pop and hip-hop. So why is country so popular right now, and what does

en-US

36:54

Camp Cope on changing Australian music and why...

The Drop ·

2023/08/23

Camp Cope are one of the most influential Australian bands of the past decade. Their music and their activism forced the industry to confront its history of sexism and discrimination. Now the band is breaking up. Today on The Drop, Georgia Maq, Sarah Thompson and Kelly-Dawn Helmrich talk about the origins of Camp Cope, the impact they made, and why they are breaking up.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en-US

51:27

Twenty years ago, The O.C. changed television forever

The Drop ·

2023/08/16

Welcome back to The O.C. b—ch! It's been twenty years since The O.C. hit screens and the time has come to revisit Newport, California. On this episode of The Drop Osman, Mel and Thomas discuss the hit series, examining its cultural impact at the time, the importance of its legacy today and how the shows sound track influenced the musical taste of a generation.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en-US

46:34

Asteroid City and the cult of Wes Anderson

The Drop ·

2023/08/09

Wes Anderson is back with his 11th feature film, the star-studded Asteroid City. On this episode of The Drop, Osman, Thomas and Mel review the film, discuss how it compares to the rest of Anderson's filmography, and talk about the director's aesthetic and how it's influenced social media and the broader culture.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en-US

69:19

Should we care about the Logies? Plus, The Bear's...

The Drop ·

2023/08/02

After one of the most controversial Logies in recent memory, Osman, Thomas and Mel discuss whether Australian TV's night-of-nights still matters, and what it tells us about the state of the industry. They also unpack what Sonia Kruger winning the Gold Logie means, given her controversial comments about Muslim immigration. Plus, a discussion about the second half of The Bear season two, which Thomas and Osman think could be better than Succession.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy

en-US

36:18

The Bear serves up a second course, plus Barbenheimer...

The Drop ·

2023/07/26

Barbie and Oppenheimer have smashed box office records around the world, including in Australia. Osman, Thomas and Mel unpack the Barbenheimer phenomenon and what it means for the future of cinema. Also, The Bear season two has finally arrived, and The Drop team dive into the first five episodes of the second season and debate whether the show maintained the quality of it's brilliant first season.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en-US

21:21

J Balvin on working with Beyonce and changing the...

The Drop ·

2023/07/24

Colombian pop sensation J Balvin has sold 35 million albums, worked with Beyonce on his iconic track Mi Gente and gone to number one with Cardi B on I Like It. On this episode of The Drop, he drops by the studio on his first Australian tour to talk about his new album (featuring Usher), his upcoming collaboration with Ed Sheeran and the rise and rise of reggaeton.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en-US

55:02

The ultimate Barbie v Oppenheimer breakdown

The Drop ·

2023/07/19

After months of hype, the two biggest releases of the year are finally here. Osman, Thomas and Mel have seen Barbie and Oppenheimer and lived to tell the tale. Today on The Drop, spoiler-free reviews and analysis of both films, plus a special sealed section full of spoilers.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en-US

57:09

The Hollywood strike: Everything you need to know

The Drop ·

2023/07/17

For the first time since 1960 actors and writers are on strike, shutting down film and TV productions across the world, including here in Australia. The Hollywood strike could go on for months and will shape the future of the entertainment industry. On this episode of The Drop, Osman, Thomas and Mel unpack the background to the strike, what the key issues are, the debate over AI and streaming, and what the end game could look like.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en-US

46:08

The Bear is (almost) back! Plus, will Succession...

The Drop ·

2023/07/12

The highly anticipated second season of The Bear is nearly here. Osman, Thomas and Mel discuss why it hasn't aired in Australia, despite being available in the US for weeks, what the second season has in store, and why the show became such a massive hit. They also breakdown this year's Emmy nominations and talk about what they're watching right now.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en-US

29:11

Steven Soderbergh on the current TV landscape and the...

The Drop ·

2023/07/11

Oscar-winning director Steven Soderbergh (Ocean's 11, Magic Mike) is back with a new HBO series, Full Circle. The tense crime thriller stars Claire Danes and Timothy Olyphant and looks at the aftermath of a botched kidnapping in New York City. Steven is back on The Drop to talk about Full Circle and share his thoughts on the current TV landscape and the state of Hollywood more broadly.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en-US

45:38

Unpacking the massive Barbie hype machine

The Drop ·

2023/07/05

It's Barbie's world and Osman, Thomas and Mel are just living in it. On today's episode of The Drop, a conversation about Thomas' interview with Tom Cruise and a deep dive into the marketing hype around Margot Robbie's upcoming Barbie film, which has taken over the culture. Plus, a recap of the season finale of The Idol.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en-US

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