Dylan and Phil are old friends and newer dads. Escape with them into the basement as they dive into the movies, shows, and songs their toddlers - and subsequently themselves- are really into.
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Phil’s family recently said goodbye to their dog, Ziggy. Phil and Dylan discuss teaching their kids about death, and loss, with special guest (and fellow Damn Appleton Kid) Charlie Biskupic. He was originally scheduled for a much lighter, more fun topic, but agreed to switch to DEATH because he’s a really good friend. Hear about the most amazing dog in Chicago, see Dylan hedge Mal’s afterlife bets, and keep an eye on Charlie as he usurps Phil’s spot as co-host of the podcast, before soft launching his own. Content warning: Frank discussion of death and dying, description of a dog’s end of life
In honor of Pokemon’s 30th anniversary, we talk about Malcom’s latest obsession, Pokemon, and Rebel’s latest, dinosaurs, and the place where their obsessions collide - The Pokemon Fossil Exhibit at the Field Museum! And if you haven’t listened to part 1, that’s OK! Each of our episodes is available on our website and streaming services. You *can* catch them all!
Renowned artist, and fellow Damn Appleton Kid, Kendall Hale finds his way into the booth! Reunited after two decades, the gang discuss Spongebob Squarepants- a show that came on the air when they were kids, and that their own kids now also grow up with. Kendall talks about his journey from being a young fan to working on Spongebob as a character designer for two seasons, and Dylan and Phil debate dinosaur pronunciation. A vicious custody battle ensues. High art meets low brow humor in this very special episode. Are you ready, parents? I can’t heee-aaaarrr you! The doctor says it’s tinnitus.
Phil’s wife drew up an elaborate plan to manipulate the programming of this podcast, and expose the children to musical theater. It worked beautifully. In the season 4 premiere, Dylan and Phil talk about the classic rock/horror musical Little Shop of Horrors, both the live staged show they attended together with the kids and the 1986 movie starring Rick Moranis. Dylan revels in his kid’s burgeoning love of theater and stagecraft, and Phil stares as his child delights in the foul-mouthed maneating plant from outer space. This episode uses music by Kevin MacLeod: "The Escalation" Kevin MacLeod (
Episode 50: Lord of the Rings Three Years for the Appleton Kids in Illinois, 48 Episodes Recorded in their basements alone, 2 (or 3) Recorded Live for when they get away, One live from the basement of Phil in their thrones In the House of Phil where Rebel lies. One Pod to rule them all, One Ep to find them, One Pod to bring them all, and in the darkness bind them Away from the House of Dyl where Malcom lies. Dylan and Phil celebrate the 50th episode of Hop On Pop Culture, and the third year anniversary of the podcast with a special episode recorded LIVE AND IN PERSON at Phil’s basement. They d
It is a universally known fact that children love dragons- conversely, dragons love children (especially with ketchup). Dylan and Phil have used this fact to start getting their kids into some classic fantasy literature- namely, The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien. Grab your walking stick, forget your handkerchief, and come along on an adventure through the books, movies (extended editions of course), and cartoons that have been shaping kids imaginations for decades. Phil and Dylan debate if they are, in fact, the same person, and uncover a shared buried memory of having seen Gandalf's full uncensore
Phil gives his pitch for Toy Story 5: TOYtal Recall, an idea he had before learning that there will be an actual Toy Story 5. Enjoy what is certain to be a whimsical take on the world of Toy Story!* *Content Warning: Human on toy violence, toy on Human violence, genocide, firearms (two ways), torture, choking hazards, and adult language. Rated PG, in theatres June 19th.
Happy Holidays! Dylan and Phil get into the seasonal spirit by introducing their kids to the 2003 instant classic Christmas movie ELF starring Will Ferrell and James Caan. Phil makes a controversial list of favorite Christmas movies, Dylan denigrates an all time Christmas classic, and the two of them engage in battling Jimmy Stuart impressions. They also answer the greatest question of this, or any other generation- is Will Ferrell twee? You should give it a listen, listening is our favorite!
Yeah yeah, they watched and talked about the Charlie Brown Thanksgiving special from 1973, sure, but the REAL draw of this episode is just how tired both Dylan and Phil were when they recorded it. Things go from Snoopy to loopy real quick as they get lost in the sauce over brines, mistake jazz for chocolate, and Phil tells the dirtiest joke about geese you’ve ever heard. We’re thankful to be such good friends who can share these sleep deprived moments, and we’re thankful to you for sharing them with us. Now, eat up!
While Dylan’s away, the at-home dads will play! A lone Phil welcomes Danny and Brock from Home Dad Chat, the official podcast of the National At Home Dad Network, to talk about all the autumnal family traditions we get to share with our families. We get into rustic soups, break out the power tools for some pumpkin carving, and ask “How you like them apples?” We like them a lot. They’re Macintosh. Pop on a light jacket, grab a bushel, and take a walk through the orchard of fatherhood!
Phil subjects Dylan to a “blind react” of the K-Pop Demon Hunters soundtrack, and the two have a conversation about expanding their worldviews and helping their kids connect to other cultures. A quiz is popped, a secret family is revealed (or is it?), and we pop a record onto the good sound system in the basement- tune in, it’s gonna be golden!
If you are a listener, come in. If you are a dreamer, a wisher, a liar, A parent, a friend, a J.K Rowling supporter,Wait. Screw that. We support trans rights. If you’re a defender, come sit by our fire. For we have some parental tales to spin. Come in! Come in!
Grab your towel and stick out that thumb, Dylan and Phil are taking a cue from Douglas Adams and reflecting on life, their kids’ expanding view of the universe, and what it all means. Learn how, in Evanston, trees (much like petunias) just fall from the sky. Be in awe as the kids befriend the most alien creatures Museum Campus has to offer. And reflect on the deep, philosophical questions only a 6 year old could ask. And whatever you do- DON’T PANIC!
How has Sing, a movie that neither Dylan nor Phil like, changed Dylan’s household? How can one movie cause one child to fall in love with Elton John, playing music, and The Muppets? You’ll have to listen to find out!
Lordy, Lordy, HOPC’s 40!... th episode! Huzzah! To celebrate, Dylan and Phil took their families out to the movies together. It was Dylan and Mal’s first time seeing A Minecraft Movie, and Phil and Rebel’s third. Pop in those earbuds and jop into the Overworld! We’ve got jumbo sized pop quizzes, a primer on MInecraft in its many varied forms, an examination of Phil and Dylan’s childhood Jack Black experience vs their kids current one, and so much more!
“The Death of the Author” is a 1967 essay by French literary critic, Roland Barthes, that “emphasizes the primacy of each individual reader's interpretation of the work over any "definitive" meaning intended by the author”. It also sounds like a Harry Potter book title, and in this episode Dylan and Phil tackle the tangled web of being in a fandom with a toxic, bigoted creator. This conversation isn’t about the Harry Potter franchise content, but rather the challenge of separating the artist from the work and navigating the next generation towards a more compassionate tomorrow. WE PROMISE THER
Dylan and Phil reminisce about the early 1990’s game show Legends of the Hidden Temple, which they’ve been sharing with their own kids lately. Walk down the steps of knowledge and clutch tight to your pendant of life- you never know where a Temple Guard might be lurking in this episode.
The flu ran through one house, a rare reaction to medicated skin cream in another, sick kid after sick kid after sick spouse after sick selves- our households have been fighting the good fight all month. BUT! Dylan and Phil never say die (unless playing laser tag)! We've managed to put together a brand new episode all about those sick days we spent home from school in the 90's, and what our kids' sick day experience is like in this age of endless screens.
Gotta go fast! Dylan and Phil FINALLY get out to see a movie together with their kids, and it couldn’t have been a better choice. We share our thoughts on the latest addition to the Sonic The Hedgehog movie franchise, relive our kid’s birthday parties, and engage in the deadliest game of Last Tag this side of the Mississippi.
Season finale already? Wow, what a decade this year has been. You deserve a treat! It’s an extra-length special holiday episode of Hop On Pop Culture! Phil and Dylan debate the ethics of making their kids believe in Santa Clause, make some recommendations for board games for the family, and expose their children to violence and larceny via the Christmas classics Home Alone, and The Grinch.
Hop On Pop Culture co-host Phil performs his Live Lit piece at a pop event for Seyna Secreto, 11/16/24. This humorous 11 minute odyssey was originally performed for Big Talk Podcasts' Based On A True Story. Heavy Pizza Jam by Ə is licensed under a Attribution 4.0 International License.
Thanksgiving is just around the corner, and feelings at the dinner table are guaranteed to be running HIGH this year. Why not give yourself an emotional vocabulary and a respite with a family movie night? Dylan and Phil set off from Friendship Island to explore Inside Out 1 & 2, a couple of their kids' favorites.
With Halloween on the horizon, we’re looking for age appropriate horror for our kiddos. Luckily R.L. Stine is a prolific author of young reader horror, and now we get to share his work with ours! Take a nostalgic stroll through the Scholastic Book Fair of Horror as we talk about Goosebumps books, TV adaptations, and movies. Listener beware, you’re in for a scare!
There’s nothing quite like a day at the movies to beat the heat in summer. Come catch a matinee double feature with us as we talk about taking our kids into movie theaters and review the family summer movies If and Garfield the Movie. You will find us in the matinée, the dark of the matinée. It's better in the matinée, the dark of the matinée. (Remember, you get points for getting our references and we are keeping score)
We’re taking you into the world of kid’s birthday parties. We discuss the different kinds of dads you might find in this most unusual of events.. Are you a “business” dad or a “playoff game on tv” dad? Also, we dive into the world of the child rat casino that is Chuck E. Cheese.
