Pop My Culture
  • February23rd

    Hey guys! I’ts me. Vanessa- unfortunately this post is NOT announcing my engagement to Z. Efron, it’s announcing my candidacy for Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s Woman of the Year!

    Four years ago, my writing partner Katie Hooten got the news that both her husband Tim and her then-four-year-old daughter Eva had leukemia, albeit in different forms. Anyone who has had cancer affect his or her family knows how hard it hits you; Katie got it doubled. But there’s good news to report: Eva’s now cancer-free and Tim’s living with the disease thanks to a second-generation drug that was made possible by donations by people like you to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

    Every four minutes, someone gets the news that he or she has a blood cancer, and every ten minutes, someone dies of a blood cancer. The LLS — we can abbreviate it from here on out — is behind a lot of the research that has developed medication and treatment that can save, and is saving, lives.

    I am supported by my family and friends on what we are calling “Team Big Accomplishment Squad!” And hopefully, I’m also supported by YOU! I really want to make Woman of the Year, which goes to the nominee who can raise the most cash for LLC in a ten-week period. My goal is $60,000, but every dollar will help fight blood cancer. Every dollar donated is a “vote” for me, too.

    So, you wanna help!? YAY! Click here to donate. There’s also information there if you’d prefer to send a paper check. And if you want to throw a few bucks toward my dad’s ponytail shearing, you can click here to help reach that $5,000 goal and “Let Larry Shear!”

  • February22nd


    Cole’s Indie Music Corner: Django Django

    If you’re like me, you need something to fill the void of the now-defunct Beta Band. Thankfully, the UK’s Django Django are here–this quartet met at art school in Edinburgh and have a sound that takes that aforementioned band and weirds it out, with elements of psych and post-rock, experimental rhythms and a playful sense of humor. At first listening, it’s challenging, but always interesting, and the song “Default” is epic, bombastic and catchy as all get out. Crank it up and blast it with the windows down while driving your vehicle of choice.

    Default / Django Django

  • February22nd

    Myq Kaplan and Samm Levine give their oscar lists 2012

    Myq Kaplan (“Last Comic Standing”) and Samm Levine (“Freaks & Geeks”) join Cole and Vanessa for an hour of straight-up Academy Awards talk! The four get Extremely Loud & Incredibly close as they make their predictions of who will and should win those gold statuettes, try to make sense of Tree of Life, argue about Hugo, mention Drive a lot, giggle at Albert Nobbs, break the silence of The Artist, and “Descendants” into madness as they give out some special awards of their own.

    Let us know your special Oscar award (any sort of recognition you’d like to give to something from film this year that wasn’t nominated) on our website for a chance to win the Entertainment Weekly Oscar issue signed by Myq, Samm, Cole and Vanessa!

    Pop my Culture talk oscars with Myq Kaplan and Samm Levine
    Whitney Houston issue of entertainment weekly signed

  • February13th

    Dave Holmes interviewed on Pop My Culture podcast

    Dave Holmes (MTV VJ, host of “Say What? Karaoke” and “A Drink With Dave” Video Podcast) joins Cole and Vanessa to talk The Super Bowl, Clint Eastwood, Madonna’s half-time spectacular, the guy from Lone Star, David Lee Roth, MTV Survivor, cell phones with pens, Go Daddy, Rachel Crow, world peace, Downton Abbey, being LMFAO’d out, Karen Duffy, TRL and the spectacular crazy shitstorm that is Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark.

    Leave your answers to the firsts question (the first music video you can remember being in love with) on our website for a chance to win a Pop My Culture T-Shirt!

    Dave Holmes with hosts Vanessa Ragland and Cole Stratton

  • February3rd

    Drew Carey interviewed on Pop My Culture Podcast

    Drew Carey (“The Price Is Right” and “The Drew Carey Show”) joins Cole and Vanessa for this special live episode at SF Sketchfest, the San Francisco Comedy Festival. They chat about Blue Ivy’s godmother, crappy showcase prizes, funny contestants, turkey trots, Presidential Fitness competitions, getting booed by WWE fans, bringing in a ringer, Regis vs. Carson, Whose Line is It Anyway?, skintags, teeth-pulling, Brian Wilson, and Drew’s low, low opinion of the Oscars.

    Leave the answer to the Firsts question (The first race or athletic competition you can remember doing) on our website for a chance to win a copy of Sam Shepherd’s Buried Child (used during the podcast, listen to see how), signed by Drew!

    Drew Carey with hosts Cole Stratton and Vanessa Ragland

    Win this signed copy by leaving an answer to the firsts question!

  • January26th

    John Lehr interviewed on Pop My Culture Podcast

    John Lehr (“10 Items or Less” and an original Geico Caveman) chats with Cole and Vanessa about Blue Ivy Carter, Evel Knievel, fake choking, Beezow Doo-Doo Zoppitybop-Bop-Bop, baseball vs. football films, Heidi Klum, kid wars, bloody noses, falling in grocery stores viral videos, Noah Baumbach, Angelina Jolie’s wondrous lips, The Andy Griffith Show, junkyard dramas, uncomfortable makeup applications, Portland’s beards, and hanging with the guys from Friends at a secret Bevery Hills club.

    Leave your answer to the firsts question (the first truly dangerous or ill-advised stunt or thing you tried to do as a kid) on our website for a chance to win a super comfy Pop My Culture T-Shirt!

     

    John Lehr with hosts Cole Stratton and Vanessa Ragland