Shows / Popcorn Pals
Popcorn Pals
Popcorn Pals is a podcast that is serious about movies and… not much else. Each week Daniel Van Kirk and rotating guest hosts discuss new releases and old favorites. This feed is also the home of The Midnight Air, your weekly easy-listening “overnight radio” podcast for people trying to fall asleep or for people that are trying to stay awake, as well as the back catalogue for The Pen Pals Podcast.
Episodes
Popcorn PalsMidnight Air | 5 Favorite Documentaries!
I threw together a quick list of 5 docs I love and in no particular order! I’ve also got great emails from you, updates from my recent travel that…
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Popcorn Pals | Hereditary w/ Lissa Rubin
Hey Popcorn Pals! Happy Halloween! To celebrate we're watching one of the scariest and most unsettling movies we've ever seen. Watchers beware: scary plots and…
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Popcorn Pals | Whalefall & Street Fighter w/ Lissa Rubin
Hey Popcorn Pals! We've got an action packed double feature for you! This week we we're talking all about Whalefall and Street Fighter! See you at the movies!…
Popcorn PalsMidnight Air | You Can See Everything & More!
I have to talk to you about the documentary “You Can See Everything!” But why stop there? I also wanna cover the docs “Life Is Short,&rdquo…
Popcorn PalsMidnight Air | Midnight Mailbag!
Tonight I am pulling out some of your messages from the Midnight Mailbag! So we’re talking about Chinese Food, Southern Food, composting, Midnight Dogs…
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Popcorn Pals | Other Mommy w/ Mark David Christenson
Hey Popcorn Pals! This week, we're letting Jessica Chastain into our hearts and talking about Other Mommy! Have you seen the film? Did you like it? Dislike it?…
Popcorn PalsMidnight Air | Top 10 Southern Foods!
This is probably gonna cause a fight but tonight I’m ranking my favorite Southern Foods! I also read some of your messages from the Midnight Mailbag…
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Popcorn Pals | Digger w/ Lissa Rubin
Hey Popcorn Pals! This week, we're talking all about Digger! Warning: There are many spoilers ahead and you won't want to have this movie spoiled for you! If…
Popcorn PalsMidnight Air | My Top 10 Dog Movies
I love dogs but I recently saw a Dog Movie that I did not love. So tonight I’m giving you my personal Top 10 Dog Movies! I’m also filling you in on…
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Popcorn Pals | Primetime & Heart of the Beast w/ Lissa Rubin
Hey Popcorn Pals! Why don't you have a seat...and listen to our first double feature episode! This week we couldn't decide if we wanted to see Primetime or…
Popcorn PalsMidnight Air | Midnight Mailbag!
Listener messages take front and center this week but obviously that doesn’t stop me from talking about 20 other things! And we’ve got the usual…
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Popcorn Pals | Resident Evil w/ Lissa Rubin
Hey Popcorn Pals! This week we're headed to Raccoon City and talking all about Resident Evil! Have you seen the movie? Have you played the games? Are you a fan…
Popcorn PalsMidnight Air | Top 10 Chinese Restaurant Menu Items
Apologies for the delay! So much to tell you about tonight! I have an injured thumb update, Mailbag Messages, the Holi-Days like National Ceiling Fan Day, and…
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Popcorn Pals | The Birdcage w/ Lissa Rubin
Hey Popcorn Pals! This week we're celebrating the 30th anniversary of The Birdcage. Warning: things get emotional. Have you seen the movie? Do you remember the…
Popcorn PalsMidnight Air | The Tub and TV
I’ve been living in my own HGTDVK Show this week and multiple home repairs haven taken place. And when I’m not sneezing, I tell you all about it. I…
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Popcorn Pals | The Departed w/ Lissa Rubin
Hey Popcorn Pals! This week we're celebrating the 20th anniversary of The Departed! Did you see the movie when it first came out? Have you revisited it since?…
Popcorn PalsMidnight Air | The West Virginia Decision
Me and my head-cold have made a decision about going to West Virginia! And I’ve gotta talk about Daejon Love as well as the Holi-days like National Penny…
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Popcorn Pals | Obsession w/ Lissa Rubin
Hey Popcorn Pals! This week we're joined by a Pal who we're super obsessed with...Lissa Rubin! Have you seen Obsession? Who do you think is the real villain?…
Popcorn PalsMidnight Air | Widow’s Bay and West Virginia!
After two days of home repair nightmares, I am back with your Midnight Air and I might be going to West Virginia! I’ve also got stories from my trip to…
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Popcorn Pals | Nimrods w/ Lissa Rubin
Hey Popcorn Pals! This week we're taking about the Green Day movie, Nimrods. Did you see the movie? Tell us what you thought about it! See you at the movies!…
Popcorn PalsMidnight Air | Insane News From Germania & More!
Creepy things are afoot in Germania, WI! Plus I finally tell you about going to the biggest Sports Card show in the world and I read some messages from the…
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Popcorn Pals | The End of Oak Street w/ Lissa Rubin
Hey Popcorn Pals! We're getting prehistoric this week talking all about The End of Oak Street with Lissa Rubin! Have you seen the movie? Did you love it? Hate…
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Popcorn Pals | Volcano w/ Mark David Christenson
Hey Popcorn Pals! We're back again with Mark David Christenson...and it's getting hot in here! We're talking all about lava, racism, and Los Angeles...you…
Popcorn PalsMidnight Air | Top 10 Live-Action Movie Villans!
I’m sitting in front of a River in Wisconsin to give you some Midnight Air! Tonight I’ve got messages from listeners, a story about my newest vinyl…
Popcorn PalsMidnight Air | Cruisin’ and Bruisin’!
Well I may be the ugliest hitch-hiker on the road but I’m back in the studio and reading your messages in the Midnight Mailbag, updating you on my…
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Popcorn Pals | Spider-Man: Brand New Day w/ Lissa Rubin
Hey Popcorn Pals! We're joined by our favorite Pal Lissa Rubin to talk all about Spider-Man: Brand New Day! FYI - This a NOT a Spoiler-Free episode! You have…
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Popcorn Pals | Toy Story 5 w/ Mark David Christenson
Hey Popcorn Pals! We're back with our Pal Mark David Christenson to talk about Toy Story 5! Have you seen Toy Story 5 yet? What was your favorite part? Did you…
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Popcorn Pals | The Odyssey w/ Mark David Christenson
Hey Popcorn Pals! Today we’re joined by our Pal Mark David Christenson to talk all about the highly anticipated release of Christopher Nolen’s The…
Popcorn PalsMidnight Air | The 2AM Chicago Man Story
Big news about the public version of this podcast feed at the start of this episode, plus I tell you all about Hub City Comedy Week and the man I…
Popcorn PalsPriceline and Pain
After being tortured by Priceline and injured in Chicago, this episode is finally out! I tell you the whole story from the lowest points of my last week but we…
Popcorn PalsTop 10 Theme Park Rides!
I was a part of the meat raffle at the Longbranch last night and can’t wait to tell you about it. Plus I read some emails from you and as usual we cover…
Popcorn PalsVery Special News From Germania!
I can’t wait til you all hear the News From Germania in this week's episode. Plus we have a Midnight Mailbag episode and we hit the Holi-Days National…
Popcorn PalsI Went To A Stranger’s Basement!
That episode title is extremely accurate. Tonight I’m telling the story of my jam-packed Saturday and how I ended up in a stranger’s basement and…
Popcorn PalsThe Rochelle Vigilante Car Chase
After a slight technical difficulty, I’m back! And I’ve got a story about Rochelle, IL! But first, I tell about manual labor at the cabin and the…
Popcorn PalsMy Top 10 Donuts Revisited!
Bad news is that I have a head cold, good news is that I’m in Chicago and mustache summer is in full swing. Tonight, I read some of your responses to my…
Popcorn PalsMy Top 10 Donuts!
Running through my favorites of the king of breakfast treats tonight! Plus I’m heading to Florida for a wedding and NEED to talk to you about this song I…
Popcorn PalsMy 11 Things To Do In Wisconsin!
Before jumping into the definitive Wisconsin Fun List, we’ve got a fun email from a listener about their first CD, and I'll tell you about my HOA meeting…
Popcorn Pals10 Delicacies That Started Out As Peasant Foods
I finally saw The Devil Wears Prada just in time to see The Devil Wears Prada 2! I’ve also got some great emails from some of you in The Midnight…
Popcorn PalsPost-Netflix Show Mailbag!
Netflix Is A Joke Festival is over and my show was great! I give you the details plus tell ya how I did in Vegas, and read a bunch of your emails from The…
Popcorn PalsTop 10 Vegas Food Spots!
I’m going to Vegas this weekend and telling you the 10 places I will mostly likely go to! I also have a great news update from Rochelle, IL and we have…
Popcorn PalsMidnight Mailbag & My HGTV Life!
Welp, life is getting the better of me this week but at least I have a new hot water heater! I tell you all about it and run through your messages in The…
Popcorn PalsTop 10 1970s Fads!
Relive Dazed and Confused and run down the Top-10 Fads form the 1970s with me! I also wanna talk about traffic patterns and read your emails from the Midnight…
Popcorn PalsThe Street Decency Saga!
I have had a week! I finally get to tell you a little bit about the project I’ve been working on and why this episode wasn’t posted earlier in the…
Popcorn PalsPennsylvania Stories, Card Shows, and Pre-Paid Gas!
I’m back in the podcast seat and telling you about my past week on the road! I’ve also got some listener emails, and we hit our holidays like…
Popcorn Pals10 Everyday Food Items The US Military Invented!
The perfection of one of my favorite foods is thanks to US Military! I’ve also got a few listener emails, and I turn this episode into a garage sale…
Popcorn PalsTop 10 Most Annoying Things About Travel!
A listener suggested that I do my Top-10 Most Annoying Things About Travel! And boy do I have a lot to say! And I do it all on camera! But I also read your…
Popcorn PalsThe Atherstone Ball Game
I have so much to cover tonight! I heard about an insane purge-style ball game in England but I get into that after I talk about my delay in posting this…
Popcorn PalsHow “Plane Cow” Came To Be!
Thanks to a listener I have the great story of Cow Milked On A Plane Day! I also talk about USA winning gold, and read your emails! Plus we have the Holi-Days…
Popcorn PalsMidnight Mailbag Episode!
After I talk about the Canadian Curling cheating scandal and husbands that really piss me off, the bulk of this episode is all thanks to listeners! I read some…
Popcorn PalsTop 10 Countries with the Best Food!
The Olympics had me thinking about what countries have the best food so I found a list online and breaking it down for you! And yes, I disagree with the…
Popcorn Pals7 Interesting Facts About Black History Month!
Welp, I'm still fighting this cold but very glad to be back in LA for 48 hours! Tonight, I talk about shooting the Bear, the only time I HATE Chicago, and the…
Popcorn PalsSick Day Top 10!
I’m finally back home in LA but for one night! Gonna tell you about my car getting broken into and how I’m a bit under the weather before I read…
Popcorn Pals15 Words Derived From Mythological Creatures!
Plus, I’m in Punta Cana and spending the night talking to you! Tonight we talk about my trip, watching the Bears Game in a hotel lobby, read your emails…
Popcorn PalsIt’s A Midnight Mailbag Episode!
It’s A Midnight Mailbag Episode! I’m starting out 2026 by reading your messages to the show! I also extol the good word of Facebook Marketplace…
Popcorn PalsPart 2 of Favorite 5 from 2025 w/ Lissa Rubin!
We close out our lists of the 5 favorite things we watched from Movies and TV in 2025! But before we do that, I tell you some Rochelle news, and cover the…
Popcorn PalsFavorite 5 from 2025 w/ Lissa Rubin!
It’s the end of the yesar as we know it and Lissa Rubin is joining me to rundown our 5 favorite things we watched from Movies and TV in 2025. And before…
Popcorn PalsDick Van Dyke is 100!
In honor of this legend, I’m telling you 10 Facts About Dick Van Dyke that you may not know. Plus I talk about the loss of Rob Reiner, read your…
Popcorn PalsMy Top 10 Winter Movies!
Plus I talk about going to see Stand By Me Live! And the viewing party I joined for the Bears vs. Packers game and so much more! All that in addition to The…
Popcorn PalsA Strange European Christmas Ritual!
I also fill you in on my Thanksgiving in Rochelle, my love of Death By Lightning, and I’ve got some BIG thoughts on some recent customer service…
Popcorn PalsTop 10 Movies with Bagpipes!
And I tell you about my weekend in Indiana, Kinanesgiving, before reading your emails, and we cover The Tribune with Rhonda! Plus I have a huge soda water…