This project was inspired by so many other writers, creators, and thinkers who do deep dives into popular culture + art and what it means to them. Some of the my favorites in this genre, all of which greatly influenced this project, are linked below:

**The Bechdel Cast** - a podcast about the portrayal of women in movies. Their analysis is equal parts insightful and gut-busting - Jamie + Caitlin (and featured guests) always make me laugh out loud!

**This Movie Changed Me** - a podcast from On Being Studios in which Lily Percy interviews guests about the “transformative role movies play in their lives.” Even if I haven’t seen the movie Lily + guest are discussing, I always gain new insights from each episode.

Poetry Unbound - another wonderful podcast from On Being Studios in which Padraig O Tuama reads and analyzes a poem per episode. Soothing, contemplative, and deep.

The Marginalian - Formerly called “Brain Pickings,” Maria Popova’s blog is definitely a celebration of the life lessons and subjective meaning to be found in art. She calls it her “search for meaning across literature, science, art, philosophy, and the various other tendrils of human thought and feeling.”

Emily Nussbaum’s Writing About Television - Nussbaum’s body of work at the New Yorker, a selection of which is included in her book I Like to Watch, showed me that you could write seriously and thoughtfully about pop culture. One of my first role models in the genre!

The “I Think About This A Lot” Series - The Cut, a division of New York Magazine, has a wonderful essay series that truly celebrates analyzing the minutiae of popular culture. Featured photo is lifted from the essay, “I Think About Ellie Kemper’s Best Line from The Office A Lot.”

Entertainment Weekly - my love of pop culture was born when I began reading my dad’s issues of Entertainment Weekly, which he’s been subscribing to for as long as I can remember. Now I have my own subscription, and we still talk about the movies, TV, music + more covered in each issue!

Pop Culture Happy Hour - A wonderful weekday podcast analyzing a different piece of pop culture every day. The insightful commentary from Aisha, Linda, Glenn, Stephen + guests brings me so much daily joy!

Rookie Mag - RM was a lifeline during my teen years, particularly their personal essays written by other teens on everything from friendship, love, and bodies to transitions, school, mental health, and more. The writing they featured allowed me to see a path for myself in writing - to see that readers could connect over personal essays in a meaningful way.