Fashion Grunge Podcast

enMarch 10, 2024

Transmission Notes: Love Is Blind, Willy Wonka Experience, Coachella lineup, Music biz thoughts and more!

OK, this was super chaotic and me and Jules basically went rogue and talked about random topics for over an hour...

We get into our current Love is Blind thoughts, the memes of the Willy Wonka Experience, create our own internet family (Daddy, Mother, and babygirl), and we get into the weeds of Hollywood and the current state of the heartthrob actor.

0:00- 25:00 Love Is Blind talk

Mentions:

Doja Cat at the VMAs : https://youtu.be/7WRZviRMYXA?si=tCrNGDB92Mmw89su

Gwen Stefani- Luxurious https://youtu.be/mXFXwenVJg4?si=XX3qMrwfVU72a8fm

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Hosts: Lauren @lauren_melanie & Jules @imdenmate

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enMarch 01, 2024

Forward Flash 034: Hey, there's something down here... | The Descent (2005) [Patreon Preview}

for the full episode join the Patreon [patreon.com/fashiongrunge]

This is the perfect example of 'never leave the house' and 'don't go descenting into unknown cave systems'. I wasn't sure what film to do so again I asked Charles for another suggestion. I have no idea what I did to deserve this because I literally sat cowering in fear in broad daylight watching this. Not only did it build masterful tension and take me on a journey I couldn't expect, but it broke barriers with an all female cast creating a horror film through spelunking and cave exploration.

Me and Charles get into why we are immediately reminded of Blair Witch and Buffy throughout, how you can't trust anyone, and why you should also always have a backup map in case someone kicks in a river or leaves it in a CAR.

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Hosts: Lauren @lauren_melanie & Charles @charleshaslam

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enFebruary 25, 2024

176: Maybe the next one, darling. | Crash (1996)

Finally I've stepped into the world of David Cronenberg films. It really is fitting that the first one I see and review is Crash from 1996. It was both me and Charles' first watch and we were enthralled. The exploration of subcultures I always find fascinating and this certain was that. We talk about the physical reactions to car crashes, how James Spader is THAT one, and constantly remind you that it's not the same film as that abomination that won Best Picture in 2004.

off-topic rants include: who we would like to see in the film now, Christopher Meloni, Coen films, the history of NC-17 movies

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Hosts: Lauren @lauren_melanie & Charles @charleshaslam

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enFebruary 18, 2024

175: Congratulations, you've discovered life beyond MTV. | Girl (1998)

This was a first watch for both me and Jules. Objectively it's no Oscar winner but when you see it for what it is, there was something there. The casting was incredible and Tara Reid basically stole the show.

We get into the realistic fashion, so many quotes we loved, a real-time deep dive on the director (eek), and just how this story was unbelievable and infuriating at times.

Off-topic rants include: ghost rom-com casting, 'losing your V card' as a movie genre, our first musician crushes

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Hosts: Lauren @lauren_melanie & Jules @imdenmate

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enFebruary 11, 2024

You, Me and 5 Bucks 014: A chat w/ Old Millennials Podcast

What a wild ride! I get to unlock the side of my reality tv brain and have a chat with Emilie and Margaux of Old Millennials Podcast about our history with the genre.

I can't even begin to tell you everything we talked about but lets just say we talked about Tyra Banks fainting on ANTM, fashion adjacent reality shows, MTV reality that raised us, Bravo a plenty, including our thoughts on the new Vanderpump Rules season, and soo much more!

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Guests: Emilie @beginandjuice & Margaux @margshewrote of Old Millennials Podcast @theoldmillennialspod

Host: Lauren @lauren_melanie

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enFebruary 06, 2024

Back Track 012: Amity is a summer town, we need summer dollars! | Jaws (1975) [Patreon Preview]

for the full episode join the Patreon [patreon.com/fashiongrunge]

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What says July 4th other than shark attacks and no holds barred capitalism?

That's right we're talking Jaws from 1975! I have never seen this movie (can you believe it?) so Charles suggested it for July 4th this year!

I loved this movie for so many reasons but basically the willingness of these townspeople to ignore warnings of a Great White shark that has killed multiple people at this very beach is alarming. We get into so many details we loved about the story including: the evil Mayor of the town, Hooper being super stylish, and an interesting FMK of our main characters.

off-topic rants but not really include many stories and stats about sharks, megalodons, and why the sea shouldn't be trifled with

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Hosts: Lauren @lauren_melanie & Charles @charleshaslam

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enFebruary 04, 2024

174: Behind the Music Videos | Volume 1

The time has come. I finally recorded an episode on my own. A first time here on the show. It was hard deciding although I did do an internet poll and 'top music videos of the 90s' won.

This took me a while to get in the mood to do but I selected these videos not really as random but as a good representation of all these varying types of narratives that I loved in videos during my teenage years. I did some behind the scenes research and cruised some message boards to dig deeper. I basically talk about what these meant to me at a time when the art of the music video meant so much.

Watch the music videos: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLBOB4Hahu9llH-Gw2dGTjWMiiGt0_I4T1&si=M0-mgRBOJCaV85HY

on Spotify : https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5dZ1Pt0xNpCY82KoJUzXIn?si=a38090cbad2e40bb

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Host: Lauren @lauren_melanie

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enJanuary 28, 2024

Forward Flash 033: Jake Donnelly, please report to the nurses station. | Swimfan (2002) w/ @lovefool.99 [Patreon Preview]

for the full episode join the Patreon [patreon.com/fashiongrunge]

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A first on the podcast, we have a special guest for a Forward Flash episode! I'm joined by Samantha of the nostalgia account Lovefool.99 on IG! This was such a blast to deconstruct an early 2000s classic.

Swim along with us as we try to make sense of this literal insane story, the weird acting, and the questionable fashion choices. Like, why does Madison look like she works in a bank?

We get off track then find our way back in the lane to talk the ins and outs of the oddly high body count, the weird teen obsession film genre of the 90s/00s, and why this totally should have had a sequel.

Enjoy! 💦

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Guest: Samantha @lovefool.99 Lovefool.99 on TikTok

Hosts: Lauren @lauren_melanie

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enJanuary 25, 2024

2000s

thriller

erika christensen

fashion grunge podcast

shiri appleby

You, Me and 5 Bucks 013: A chat w/ Black Girl Film Club

And we're back with another interview episode! I did promise I would do more of these this year and what a better way to start than to chat to Ashley and Britney of Black Girl Film Club Podcast! As per usual we were all over the place when it comes to the topics we covered. The way we analyze films these days is always so interesting to me. We touch on how the discovery and reviewing of films has changed in the age of social media.

We get into what new films we're looking forward to, our reality tv watching habits, why people are just waking up to Mark-Paul Gosselaar, going through actor eras (binging filmographies), politics of awards season, and I mean we talked about it ALL!

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Guests: Ashley @Letterboxd & Britney @Letterboxd of Black Girl Film Club @blackgirlfilmclub

Host: Lauren @lauren_melanie

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enJanuary 17, 2024

173: I'm not going back. | Born Into Exile (1997)

Some considerable time has passed since we last explored the 'movie of the week' genre on the podcast. Luckily, if we ever run out of 90s films to talk about, there are literally thousands to pull from. This is one that has really stuck with me since I was a teenager. I remember taping this from tv and cutting the commercials out so I could watch it back uninterrupted. Out of all of the films, this particular one I watched ALL the time.

I got Charles on this episode who knew nothing about it to watch it for the episode. While you think it may be a more lighthearted tale of a girl who leaves home, that is most definitely not the whole story. It gets pretty dark when this teenager is coping with how to survive on the streets with her 19 year old (eek) boyfriend/partner in crime. We talk the ins and outs of the story and just how much happens to them along the way, the holes in the story, and why we wish there was a more detailed ending to this tale.

Watch the movie: https://youtu.be/2EbTXn9yf-8?si=A44Unq775_M-LqUL

Off-topic rants include: proper wildlife identification, forestry, and runaway teen protocol

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Hosts: Lauren @lauren_melanie & Charles @charleshaslam

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LA Times Article (October 30, 1996)

enJanuary 14, 2024

172: If you wanna smoke, you can smoke in the trunk. | Excess Baggage (1997)

What a way to welcome the New Year. Excess Baggage is a film from 1997 that almost takes you there but then falls short overall. The casting honestly saved this whole project but it really puts into perspective the importance of a tight story and seamless collaboration.

This film was riddled with re-writes and re-shoots which is typically not a good sign, however watching for the charm and nostalgia factor really made up for it. Me and Mikey spent this episode pointing out the story holes, the drama on set during filming, and I drool over Benicia Del Toro.

Off-topic rants include: male celebs as ice cream flavors, Patreon news, and why I loved the Eternals movie, Drag Race

0:00- 08:40 chit chat/ awards season hype

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Hosts: Lauren @lauren_melanie & Mikey @agentmikey007

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enJanuary 07, 2024

Back Track 011: That's not the Northern Lights, that's Manderley! | Rebecca (1940) [Patreon Preview]

for the full episode join the Patreon [patreon.com/fashiongrunge]

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There is such a distinct memory I have watching Rebecca for the first time. My Mom showed this to me when I was about 10 and thank goodness because my bar for cinema was set pretty high from the jump.

This is one of me and Charles' all time favorite films and we have been quoting it in real life for years so it's high time we review it proper. We get into the behind the scenes drama with Hitchcock and the producer Selznick, casting drama and mess, and have another Oscar rage segment because this is a near perfect film.

Off-Topic rants include: why we should honestly be terrified of orcas, MTV Unplugged vs. VH1's Storytellers, objectifying men in politics and why need a hottie President

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Hosts: Lauren @lauren_melanie & Charles @charleshaslam

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enJanuary 05, 2024

BONUS: Oh we burning...Saltburn (2023) [Patreon Unlocked] 🧂🔥

Well, we're here. Yes I had to talk about Saltburn, the recent release by Emerald Fennell. I can't remember a time where I've seen a film twice in the theater within a week. There was just something that grabbed me from the first trailer viewing that I knew I had to see this on the big screen.

Because I haven't shut up about it over the past three weeks I had to enlist both Charles and Mikey that I saw it with on two different occasions for this special episode. We talk about some crazy story points, the wild reactions to several scenes, and how I now worship at the altar of Barry Keoghan.

*first on Patreon December 6, 2023

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enDecember 29, 2023

171: This is my house. I have to defend it. | Home Alone (1990) 🎄

It's not officially the Christmas season without a rewatch of the 90s classic, Home Alone. I have some residual trauma around this film from when I was kid and I only now as an adult really see the true chaotic and terrifying nature of it all.

Me and Mikey talk the memories of our youth we have with the film, how Macaulay CARRIED, and basically want to call child services on the worst family imaginable.

Off-topic rants include: the Cher Christmas album, Buzz being Sid from Toy Story, and 90s daddy's on screen

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Hosts: Lauren @lauren_melanie & Mikey @agentmikey007

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enDecember 24, 2023

170: This dress is dry clean only Melanie! | Spice World (1997)

Girl Power! No, really!

You know we couldn't talk about the 90s without mentioning the glue that held us all together, the Spice Girls. I finally have Mikey and Jules on a podcast together to talk about our favorite girl group from across the pond.

We basically spend sooo much time reliving our childhoods, the countless FASHION moments, and how the critics got this whole premise too wrong.

off topic rants include: AbFab, Madonna, Josie and the Pussycats, and Elon Musk conspiracy theories

watch the movie on Archive.org : https://bit.ly/3aVYs8L

*first appeared on Patreon July 23, 2022

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enDecember 17, 2023

169: So much for the first coma. | Reversal of Fortune (1990)

In keeping with our 'domestic drama' theme we wandered into by accident, we're talking Reversal of Fortune from 1990. Based on the true story and legal case of Claus von Bülow told through the eyes of his lawyer Alan Dershowitz. This was Charles' pick and from my glance of this trailer I thought I was in for an erotic thriller of epic proportions but turns out it was a legal drama of all legal dramas. Although, anything with Jeremy Irons and Glenn Close is immediately intriguing. At this point I would watch them both read the phone book in a poorly lit room.

We get into some of our favorite fashion looks (there were MANY), the magic of Christine Baranski, more reasons to love Jeremy Irons, and a mini Oscars rage moment that Glenn Close wasn't nominated.

We also have cemented this as a Christmas movie. 🎄

Off-topic rants include: Michael Crichton's Micro, law school practices, how the public should vote for future movies to put into production

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Hosts: Lauren @lauren_melanie & Charles @charleshaslam

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enDecember 10, 2023

You, Me and 5 Bucks 012: A chat w/ Kev Creature [Patreon Preview]

for the full episode join the Patreon [patreon.com/fashiongrunge]

There are times when I think about the films and directors that shaped me in my teenage years. Back in the 90s I could have never imagined connecting with anyone outside of my own friend group who liked the same weird movies and things I did. Now, because of this magical place called the internet it's easy to find people from all corners of the world and generations with shared interests.

This brings me to the latest interview episode. I connected with Kev via IG on our love for Gregg Araki movies. Since there is all this hype surrounding the latest remastered editions of The Doom Generation and Nowhere, it was great to chat with someone who has been to the screenings and has some 'irl' experience with the cast.

We get into how we discovered Araki, Gen Z and Millennial culture, and much more!

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Guest: Kev Creature @kevcreature

Host: Lauren @lauren_melanie

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enDecember 03, 2023

168: Libbets? What sort of a name is Libbets? | The Ice Storm (1997)

Better late than never. It's still the weekend of the Thanksgiving holiday so here is another holiday themed film that fits the bill. I have heard of this one but it's a first time watch for me. The cast was an immediate draw that made me so amped to finally review.

Me and Charles talked about how we loved the 70s fashion, question how this wasn't nominated for any Oscars, and basically talk other films in the 'domestic drama' category

Off-topic rants include: Oscars/Award show facts, an embarrassing antidote, and the hierarchy of wildlife documentaries

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Hosts: Lauren @lauren_melanie & Charles @charleshaslam

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enNovember 26, 2023

167: Danger is my middle name. | Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (1997)

Groovy baby, yeah!

Yes, even I can't believe there are movies that we haven't talked about yet and we're over 150 episodes in. This is another example of just that. Austin Powers is a comfort film for me that I didn't' realize until I started this review. The soundtrack has been burned into my brain for years as I used to play it to fall asleep throughout my mid teens.

Me and Mikey reviewed this one and it was laughs all the way through! We get into the hilarious moments, LOTS of behind the scenes, the FASHION, and rave about the fact that this soundtrack is a whole swingin' VIBE.

Off-topic rants include: Marvel movies, how I haven't seen a James Bond film, my new adventure starting The Crown

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Hosts: Lauren @lauren_melanie & Mikey @agentmikey007

Music by Den-Mate @imdenmate

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