Fashion Grunge Podcast

Wow, is there anything Meryl can't do? The answer is no. I never thought she could turn a domestic drama into a full blown nail biter of a thriller/action movie.

I bought this on DVD a few weeks ago on a complete whim. I went in not knowing anything but the cover and the stacked cast and BOY! Me and Charles talk this insane story, the many crazy moments, and give even more reasons why Meryl reigns supreme!

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The title says it all. I'm signing off the month of August with all the movies I watched, my current Bravo obsessions, new "old movies' watches, my issues with Project Runway and why Love Island USA this season didn't quite hit for me. 

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Host: Lauren @lauren_melanie

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It's been on my goal list to have chats with the regular pods that I listen to on a weekly basis. So, I'm stoked to have Tom of Dumpster Dive Podcast here on the show. We basically just had a rollercoaster of a chat talking some obscure reality shows (Bridalplasty!?), question how some of these shows were made, and our thoughts on Love Island. We also bonded over the VH1 cornerstone reality show, Mob Wives. 

Enjoy!

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📲  I'VE GOT A TEXT! (from across the pond!) 🏝️🇬🇧

Stephen from Creek Talk Podcast is back to chat about the most recent season of Love Island UK. I bullied him successfully and he watched the entire season in under a month. We get into how we were disappointed in the USA season that just wrapped, what we thought about this cast of characters, and favorite moments and quotes a plenty!

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Now, there are movies that are true time capsules. They capture the feeling and specific aura of time. In my rewatch of Palo Alto from 2013 I was instantly transported back to that time period. For me it was a very specific set of aesthetics and music that lived on the internet and Tumblr specifically and this whole movie felt like wandering through a blog.

I was transfixed by this after my first watch at the cinema. The soundtrack lived in my head for months and...

📲  I'VE GOT A TEXT! (for the last time)

I have mixed feelings about this season as a whole and Ashley is back on the pod to help me wrap this all up. We talk about the toxicity that is apparently rewarded on this season, the disastrous 'Family Day', and I get a rundown on the finale dates cause I didn't watch the finale. *groan

What a season, and now that it's over this is where the show really starts!

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It's almost a tradition at this point to have Kendrick of the I Ken Not Podcast during Love Island season. For the third year in a row we're talking our current thoughts on Season 8 and just how that's holding up. It's the last week and we're talking the couples standings and twists like Kayda's trajectory, what's happening with Melanie, and our predictions on what should happen. 

Then we're talking the current Love Island UK season where all hell is breaking loose in the best way. Our Queens Angelista, Mara, and Jasmine should...

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My head is spinning and that's to be expected with this last home stretch of Season 8. I'm at the point where I'm done and confused by so many choices these Islanders are making. Ashley continues her run on the pod to talk about our recent Kayda developments, the state of the current couples,  and age old question of "Is this a relationship or a situationship?"

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Oh, Sweet Lord things are heating up in the Villa and we're back again to break down Week 4. Me and Ashley give our usual temperature check on what's happening in the Villa, the boys being horrible overall, Casa recoupling Bad Girls Club style, and we get into how Movie Night is building cases and boiling our blood.

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Guest: Ashley...

While this is a difficult film. to watch it has been on my list since I started the podcast. Mainly because it features Chloe Sevingy's only Oscar nominated performance (which is crazy). I've got Charles and Mikey with me to discuss this tragic true story of the life of Brandon Teena in early 90s Nebraska as a trans-man. 

We talk about some of the actors who were previously thought of for the roles, the difficult reception by Brandon's mother, and just why Hilary Swank's portrayal was beyond Oscar win worthy. 

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It's time for Casa Amor in the USA Villa. Ashley is back on the pod and we're talking the diabolical transition this year, KC and Corbin's toxic ass friendship, and the girls needing to bring men back to the Villa for once! 

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Guest: Ashley of Black Girl Film Podcast @blackgirlfilmclub | Linktree | Twitter

Host: Lauren @lauren_melanie 

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Oh it's a whole horny mess up here in the Villa. It's Week 2 and we're just settling into these couples. Ashley is back with me to give our current temperature reading, Kenzie's questionable behavior, and just all the ways this season is very different than anything we've seen in the recent USA seasons.

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Guest: Ashley of Black Girl Film P...

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Well, it's official we're in the swing of things in the Villa! Me and Ashley are breaking down the first full week of what's going on. From Melanie and Sincere exhausting us and the house, new bombshells, and insane slime challenges that broke us.

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Guest: Ashley of Black Girl Film Podcast @blackgirlfilmclub | Linktree | Twitter

Host: Lauren @lauren...

📲  I'VE GOT A TEXT! (for the first time)

It's that time of year again! That's right baby, Love Island Season! You know it was coming and this season I've got Ashley here from the start of the season and we get all into the premiere of Season 8 of USA. We give our first impressions on the Islanders, predict where we think this is heading already, and how we can't wait for tomorrow's episode!

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It's been a whole mess since this Summer House thing popped off. Finally we get the payoff as the reunion has just started to air. I got Stephen back on the pod to talk about his history with the show, what we thought of the season overall, and breakdown all our favorite moments of Part 1 of the Reunion!

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Guest: Stephen of Creek Talk Podcast @cr...

This is a special episode because this is my fresh, hot, and first watch of Beetlejuice. Yes, you read that right. I am a child of the 80s and somehow I have skated through life without seeing this movie. In the episode I explain how and why.

Since it's October spooky season, Mikey is along for the ride as an expert in all things scary and/or comedy. I'm here to report that I loved it and I sincerely think that we all identify with Lydia. I feel like I've been channelling her my whole life without...

It's been a minute! You know I'm still deep and plugged into this Summer House drama so I get into that. Also touching on the end of the RHOBH reunion, Love Island starting back up, and the scripted shows like Euphoria, The Boys, and what the hell happening at SVU.

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Host: Lauren @lauren_melanie 

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We're finally back in the world of 90s movies with Postcards from the Edge (1990)! This one has been on my list forever and I'm so miffed at myself for not seeing it sooner. Charles is back on the pod to chat this one with me. We get into how Meryl is basically good at EVERYTHING, how it's a crime that Shirley MacLaine didn't win the Oscar, and the amazing 'Stevie Nicks in the early 90s fashion'. 

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I swear we take 2 weeks off from talking Bravo and the whole Summer House scandal has moved miles and mountains since we last checked in. Now I was going to record a rageful episode last week but good thing I didn't cause now Callum is here to break down the latest bird behavior from "those two". We're talking that bold and insane baseball game PDA, the odd male dynamics in the house, and then cap it off with Bev Hills and The Valley. 

Notable moments: 

24:10 List of West 'icks"

55: 00 Bev Hills 

1:23:00 The...

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

This is one of those films that hits you like a ton of 'bricks' (ha). When I first saw the trailer on a "Focus Features" DVD I knew this was one that I had to see. In Rian Johnson's directorial debut, this modern film noir weaves quite a knot that slowly unties throughout the course of the story.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt carries every scene which reminded me of his other indie films in the early 00s that I loved so much. I get into why this...

If you're a Bravo-head you know exactly what the deal is. Another scandal has popped off in the universe and this time it revolves around Summer House? The 'Summer should be fun!" show? Needless to say me and Callum are breaking down our thoughts on this whole new revelation. 

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Guest: Callum @cultivatewithcal  | cultivatewithcal.com

Hosts: Lauren @lauren_melanie 

Foll...

This is becoming a thing. So Callum is back on the pod and we're going deep on the new Beverly Hills Housewives so far. We ended up diving into the dark layers beneath this quiet season. 

Also touching on the recent news of the Kandi/Todd divorce settlement,  thoughts on Summer House (so far), and some bits on the Potomac ladies.

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Guest: Call...

Jules is back on the pod for another episode talking music and things! We get into our sheer anticipation of the Courtney Love documentary, our artist fatigue of Charli xcx and Chappell Roan, and I give my first listen thoughts on the band Geese.

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Hosts: Lauren @lauren_melanie & Jules @imdenmate

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It's been too long yet again since we've talked fashion on the pod. Jai is back and we're catching up on the recent breaking news of Galliano at Zara and what that means, Oscars fashion, and we talk our favorite collections from the past 'fashion month'. Some mentioned are Christian Dior, Marni, Yohji Yamamoto, Chanel, Tom Ford, and more! 

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Hosts: Lauren @lauren_melanie & Jai @jai...

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

I'm so glad that a film still from Tumblr over 10 years ago brought me to this film. What sprouted as a possible fashion editorial, ended up being one of the most original and thought provoking films I've seen in quite a while.

Daisies from 1966 is a wild ride of surrealism, freedom, and feminism by Vera Chytilová. I can see how so many film makers are inspired by this experimental take on philosophy and existence through pleasure and all encompassing rebellion.

I talk about wh...

I was over the moon when I discovered another person that watched the Love After Lockup series/franchise. I've been a fan of Kelli Williams' and had a chat w/ her ages ago here on the pod but couldn't wait to have her back to talk one of the shows I love so much. 

We get into this current season of 'Love During Lockup' and why this format isn't the strongest and we basically bounce around and talk memorable and unhinged moments throughout the seemingly thousands of episodes of this show.

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📲  I'VE GOT A TEXT!  (for the last time)

We're wrapping up this drama filled season of All Stars finally. From the last minute messy games, Maya fighting for life, and Scott's 'Real Housewives' reads it went to hell at the end there. So lock in for another 2.5 hour episode of two fans reliving the last dramatic bits of this whirlwind of a series.

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Guest...

I had originally planned to do an episode talking about season 3 of DC and one of the best episodes that lead us into the Pacey/Joey era anyway. However since James Van Der Been recently passed away I went back to the pilot of the show again. I had Stephen come on to talk about how millennials owe podcasting to Dawson Leery, his other roles, and hear set stories from when Stephen did extra work. 

Now we also talk about 'The Longest Day' as a concept and the nuclear drama that pops off three different times throughout t...

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Yes, basically all of the things I thought/said in the last episode, disregard. As always things change daily if not hourly on this show and Ashley is back to break down more of this mess happening. 

We get into Carrington being the 'himbo' of the house, how Belle has lost us, Whit's weird behavior,  and why they need banish the Heart Rate Challenge for good. 

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I've been a bad Islander and fell super behind with doing these recaps.Well that's sort of half true, I've been watching and keeping up but haven't been reviewing. Needless to say there have been so many dustups and hurricanes blown through as of now but I'm recapping eps 19-23.

 I'm talking the weirdness of the US transition into the Villa, Curtis' weird behavior, and how so many people are just piping up creating drama cyclones and raised blood pressures.

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It's time for another run around with our favorite Real Housewives. Callum returns to talk the many highs and lows of the girls we love to watch. This episode we're talking SLC, Potomac, and Bev Hills (and the lack of pizzaz). We sprinkle in a few current hot topics to keep things current and just have a good ol ki.

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Guest: Callum @cultivatewithcal  | cultivatewithcal.com...

Yeah, you saw that right. I successfully bullied Ashley into picking up with the new Love Island All Stars series. And yes we did a 2.5hr episode on it. Basically we're getting into the meat of the second week at the villa. We talk about how Scott is a chaos demon but never wrong, the vanilla triangle between Samie, Lucinda, and Cieran, and why we love Hurricane Belle. Proving yet again that the series 5 girls remain elite in Love Island history.

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It's almost time for the Winter Olympics and what better way than to use it as a theme for the next 90s movie episode. Since Charles is an Olympic expert you're in for a real treat with this one. While the movie itself is kinda of part Lifetime movie part Melrose Place episode, it really doesn't stray too far from the actual dynamics in pairs skating. 

We get into skating fashion, hilarious quotes, and count the montages throughout.

off topic rants: Olympic facts, Surya Bonaly, a spicy '92 Olympics story, Heated Rivalry, and Th...

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It's time (yet again) for me to put all my Love Island knowledge to use and the start of a new season of All Stars. At first I thought it was lame but then I thought this is really the Super Bowl for the fans. Since we know the lore of the past Islanders, it only can get messier.  

I'm getting into Scott being this seasons 'bone carrier', the boys being whack, and Whitney (my girl) yet again being bigger than the program.

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It's the first *new episode of 2026. Yes, I know we're well past the New Year salutations but alas. This was the perfect type of film to start off the year and a new mood. The Daytrippers have been on my list for a while and it really scratched that itch when it comes to a quirky 90s comedy. 

I talk about the realistic and aspirational fashion of Parker posey, the many quotes and hijinks that ensue on this caper of madness, and the many roadblocks during the behind the scenes of this film.

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When I was thinking about archiving my mag collection on TikTok I found other collectors as I got going. One of the first creators I remember salivating over was 90s Mags and More. I look forward to each new video because it really is like looking through a time capsule. 

For this interview episode I got to chat with Lauren about her collection, her history with Seventeen Magazine, current titles, and go deep on teenage nostalgia. 

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*premiered on Patreon December 3, 2021

We're talking one of the most emotional television episodes we've ever seen. Just saying 'The Christmas episode' out loud makes me tear up.

We learn that Rickie has been kicked out of his home has no place to go and Angela wants to help. There are so many layers as to why and how he doesn't want to tell his closest friends exactly what is happening. To our surprise Jordan is there when Rickie needs him. 

We have an amazing guest star in musician Juliana Hatfield and I tell t...

Callum is back on the pod to talk more about what's happening in the Bravo-verse. We talk hot topics first like the Kandi/Todd divorce, Bronwyn/Todd separation, the Jenn Shah release of it all. Since the season is in full swing and it's been a while since our latest gossip sesh we're checking in on the Salt Lake, Potomac, and how the start of Beverly Hills is yawn inducing so far but we're sticking with it.

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I've reached this level in life where I haven't seen (in its totality) The Bodyguard. This was something I knew I wanted to do for a long time. Naturally I brought Charles on to talk this pure classic. I was swept up in the magic of Whitney Houston the entire time. We get into how we didn't hate Kevin Costner in this, the fashion, and our favorite song from the soundtrack.

off topic rants: pop stars reality shows of the 2000s, disaster movies, and how film scores replaced soundtracks

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This is quite a surreal moment for me. I've been inspired by Valerie Phillips' work since I picked up a NYLON magazine in the early 00s. It was a dream to be able to talk with her about shooting during the peak of fashion magazine culture. We get into her start on music video sets, how she worked with some of the best during the start of NYLON, and how she self published her own work which led to international publisher and her latest book, Candy Cat Head (out soon).

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