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 PalsRE: Is Blood Thicker Than Water & Unreasonable Fears
Dear Pennies and Pallers, In letter 1, we discuss how to deal with a disrespectful family member. In letter 2, we talk about dealing with fear. Sincerely, Your…
Popcorn PalsRE: Shoe Hero & Artists Who Are Bad People
Dear Pennies and Pallers, In our first letter, we go over the importance of good deeds. In letter 2, we discuss when an artist is a bad person. Sincerely, Your…
Popcorn PalsRE: Pointing Fingers & Falling in Love
Dear Pennies and Pallers, We have a one letter episode but it was one hell of a letter! Sincerely, Your Pen Pals Daniel & Rory See omnystudio.com/listener for…
Popcorn PalsRE: Dementia & Stand-up Friends
Dear Pennies and Pallers, In our first letter, we discuss whether or not to reconnect with a parent. In our second letter, we talk about friends in comedy…
Popcorn PalsRE: Flaky Friends & Bad Birthdays
Dear Pennies and Pallers, In letter 1, we discuss how to deal with a flaky friend and ending friendships. In our second letter, we talk about bad birthdays…
Popcorn PalsRE: Staying In The Band & Reality TV
Dear Pennies and Pallers, In the first letter, we discuss the importance of sticking with your dreams when you've made it so far. In letter 2, we discover that…
Popcorn PalsRE: Education & Screen Time
Dear Pennies and Pallers, In letter 1, we dissect the education system and its future. In letter 2, we discuss how to talk to family about their screen time…
Popcorn PalsRE: Moving to Chicago & Showing Affection
Dear Pennies and Pallers, In letter 1, we encourage you to expand your horizons and go on adventures while also being smart about it. In letter 2, we discuss…
Popcorn PalsRE: Getting Rid of Waste & Our Favorite Sports Movies
Dear Pennies and Pallers, We only read one letter this week but it leads us into one hell of a conversation. We also give a warm farewell to a dear friend…
Popcorn PalsRE: Split Parents & What Is Reading
Dear Pennies and Pallers, In Letter 1, we explore the options when parents are split between their two children. In Letter 2, we discuss what it means to…
Popcorn PalsRE: Surprise Concert & Adult Baby Convention
Dear Pennies & Pallers, Rory is back in the studio and we read a letter about a surprise concert from an awesome parent. In Letter 2, we discuss the many…
Popcorn PalsRE: Jessica the Ghost & Failing the Bar - LIVE from Clusterfest
Dear Pennies and Pallers, This week we come to you live from Clusterfest! First, we set up a brand new pair of pen pals from the audience. Then we dive into…
Popcorn PalsRE: Was I Mean To An Old Guy? & Bachelor Parties
Dear Pennies & Pallers, Rory's still in Atlanta, but we still have an episode for you! In Letter 1, a man isn't sure if he was too mean to an old guy, and we…
Popcorn PalsRE: Music Tastes & Debating A Vasectomy
Dear Pennies and Pallers, This week, we are back -- even if Rory is calling in from afar! In our first letter, we discuss music tastes -- how they're formed…
Popcorn PalsRE: A Special Message from Rory & Daniel
Dear Pennies and Pallers, Unfortunately, we do not have an episode for you this week because of our travel schedules. We're as bummed as you are about this…
Popcorn PalsRE: Wrecked by an Escalator & Meeting People Through Improv
Dear Pennies & Pallers, This week, we dive into a story of pain involving an escalator in Letter 1, and tell tales of personal injuries. In Letter 2, we…
Popcorn PalsRE: Sex Addiction & A Prank War
Dear Pennies and Pallers, In Letter 1, a listener reveals her deepest, darkest secret about her husband's sex addiction. Then we open a special Cracker Barrel…
Popcorn PalsRE: Employee Shenanigans & Hickeys
Dear Pennies and Pallers, For this week's Letter 1, we discuss being employees at shitty jobs! In Letter 2, we talk all about hickeys! Sincerely, Your Pen Pals…
Popcorn PalsRE: Weird Texts from Mom & Seeming Mean - LIVE from Dallas
Dear Pallers, This week we bring you a very special live episode from the Dallas Comedy Festival! Lots of fun stuff happens -- we get an update about the…
Popcorn PalsRE: Body Hair & Mystery in Manhattan Update
Dear Pennies and Pallers, In Letter 1, a listener writes in with a quandary about BO and shaving body hair. In Letter 2, we get an update on the Mystery in…
Popcorn PalsRE: A Year in Prison & Traveling vs Settling Down
Dear Pennies and Pallers, In Letter 1, we discuss: what would be worth risking a year of prison for? In Letter 2, we respond to a listener who is facing a…
Popcorn PalsRE: Saving Lives & Sandwich Talk
Dear Pennies and Pallers, This week, we start the show off with a special happy birthday. Then in Letter 1, a Paller describes having his life saved by his…
Popcorn PalsRE: Engagement Ring For Sale & Worrying About Wife's Weight - Live in Los Angeles!
Dear Pennies and Pallers, Well, our first live show in Los Angeles got off to a wild and unexpected start. #kickachair Once we settle down and get to the…
Popcorn PalsRE: Tuxas Redux & Romanticizing Endings
Dear Pennies and Pallers, This week, we take a moment to reflex on the magical time we spent during the Weekend of Tuxas. Then we discuss our tendencies as…
Popcorn PalsRE: 19-Going-On-20 Advice & Theme Parties
Dear Pennies and Pallers, This week we field a letter from 19-going-on-20 listener seeking advice, and a then a letter all about themed parties! Sincerely…
Popcorn PalsRE: Fetishes & An Affair - Live from Tuxas!
Dear Pennies and Pallers, It happened. We went to Galveston, Texas to attend the Local Billionaire's ball. Usher may have even talked to Daniel. We were Junior…
Popcorn PalsRE: The Pigeon Mystery & The Loss of a Coworker
Dear Pennies and Pallers, The first letter we read this week recounts a mystery involving dead pigeons, and we try to get to the bottom of it. Then we open a…
Popcorn PalsRE: Having Kids & National Days
Dear Pennies and Pallers, This week, Letter 1 brings us questions from Ryan, who is nervous about bringing children into this crazy world of ours. In Letter 2…
Popcorn PalsRE: Mystery in Manhattan & Dumb Things
Dear Pennies and Pallers, In response to this week's Letter 1, we try to help a listener solve a weird Airbnb mystery! Then for Letter 2, we hear a story about…
Popcorn PalsRE: Coffee Shops & Board Game Traditions
Dear Pallers, In Letter 1, a listener tells us about a Back to the Future-themed coffee shop, which opens up a larger coffee shop discussion. In Letter 2, a…
Popcorn PalsRE: A Random Roomie & A Talk with the Boss
Dear Pallers, We start the show off with a big announcement! Then in Letter 1, we hear the tale of an uncomfortable roomie situation on a boat in New Zealand…
Popcorn PalsRE: Grandma & A Big Chunk of Change
Dear Pallers, In Letter 1, a listener tells us about all about their badass Grandma, and also passes along a wedding invite! For Letter 2, a listener wants to…
Popcorn PalsRE: The Weekend of Tuxas & A Graduation Speech
Dear Pallers, In Letter 1, a listener fulfills one of our wildest dreams by inviting us to hypothetically be in a Mardi Gras parade and attend a black tie…
Popcorn PalsRE: Cannibal Questions & The Hydration Challenge
Dear Pallers, This week we discuss the August Birthday Curse and read some reviews before diving headfirst into Letter 1, in which a mom tells the tale of her…
Popcorn PalsRE: A Karaoke Proposal & Talking Politics with Dad
Dear Pallers, Happy New Year! This week, we open with a letter asking for advice about a potential karaoke wedding proposal. Letter 2 asks for advice about…
Popcorn PalsRE: Ruining Christmas & Dissecting Humor
Dear Pallers, Happy Holidays! In Letter 1, a listener wants to know if she is being too dramatic about her sister not visiting for the holidays. Plus, we read…
Popcorn PalsRE: Ghost Crisis & Psychedelic Drugs
Dear Pallers, This week, we start off with both a Rory Rant Moment and a Rad Rory Moment In Letter 1, a listener writes in about a series of disturbing…
Popcorn PalsRE: Calling Dibs & Rushing Ten Yards
Dear Pallers, This week, we address a letter about calling dibs on your parking spot during the winter. Then, in response to Letter 2, we discuss whether we…
Popcorn PalsRE: Going F2F with Mom & High School Expectations
Dear Pallers, In this week's first letter, a listener doesn't know whether to go F2F with her mother, who has a history of being hurtful. The second letter…
Popcorn PalsRE: Balding & Committal
Dear Pallers, This week we read a letter from a friend who is balding and isn't sure how to deal with it. Then, a letter from someone who is unsure about…
Popcorn PalsRE: Long Distance Love & Addiction
Dear Pallers, This week we start things off with a letter from someone who isn't sure what path to take RE their long distance relationship. Next, a listener…
Popcorn PalsRE: The Groom's Perspective & Conspiracy Theories
Dear Pallers, This week, we start a new tradition by responding to some quick questions that were left in the iTunes reviews! #growtheshow Then we dive back…
Popcorn PalsRE: Millennials & Falling For A Friend
Dear Pallers, So much in store for you this week. Before we get to the letters, Rory tells a spooky post-Halloween story about a haunted giraffe figurine. In…
Popcorn PalsRE: Ruining A Wedding & Having A Trash-Mouth
Dearest Pallers, This week we respond to a pen pal who wants to be the best man at his friend's wedding, and is considering starting some drama at the altar…
Popcorn PalsRE: Fears & Adult Friending
Dear Pallers, This week, we field a letter from a friend about fear. Then after reading the second letter, we chat about how to make friends during adulthood…
Popcorn PalsRE: Communication & Ghosts
Dear Pallers, This week Daniel and Rory talk about how to communicate with the people most important to you -- and answer a very important pie question. Then…
Popcorn PalsRE: Dating Dad's Drummer & Is She Cheating?
Dear Pen Pals, This week, Daniel and Rory jump into a tricky dating situation between a woman and the drummer in her dad's band. Should she tell her dad?…
Popcorn PalsRE: Sleep Paralysis & Universal Basic Income
Dear Pallers, This week Daniel and Rory talk about their experiences with sleep paralysis in response to Letter 1. It's a scary phenomenon, but you gotta just…
Popcorn PalsRE: Concerts, Being Stuck, & Worrying - with Reggie Watts
Dear Pen Pals, Big news! For the first time ever, this week we are joined in the studio by our Pen Pal, musican/comedian/actor Reggie Watts! Rory, Daniel…
Popcorn PalsRE: Cults & Agoraphobia
Dear Pallers, This week Daniel and Rory field a letter asking how they would form their own personal cults. Then they respond to a Paller who feels stuck in a…
Popcorn PalsRE: Acting Your Age & Family Traditions
This week, Daniel and Rory respond to letters on the topics of acting your age and family traditions! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Popcorn PalsRE: Time Travel & Friendship
Rory and Daniel catch up on their Twitter polls before jumping into Letter 1, which seeks an answer to the question of time travel. Letter 2 addresses the…
Popcorn PalsRE: Favorites & Comments
In response to Letter 1, Daniel and Rory answer a question about their favorite things, while laughing all the way to the Cracker Barrel store. In Letter 2, a…
Popcorn PalsRE: Eating & Finding a Partner
In Letter 1, Daniel and Rory address questions about what order to eat a meal in, and whether college is supposed to be the best years of your life. Letter 2…
Popcorn PalsRE: Cohabitating & Wedding Planning
This week, Daniel and Rory help a Paller prepare to move in with a significant other, and offer wedding advice to a future groom. #SlideTheSlogan #JaredLeftDan…
Popcorn PalsRE: Staying Informed & Toxic Relationships
It's tough out there, but Daniel & Rory are here to talk you through it. This week brings a letter from a friend who says that keeping up with the news is…
Popcorn PalsRE: Golf & Best-Ratio Foods
This week Rory shares some expert golf advice in response to Letter 1. Here's a hint: start with your putting. Then in Letter 2, Daniel and Rory have a lively…
Popcorn PalsRE: Dog Poop & Karmic Crustaceans
Letter 1 brings us a housetraining dilemma, and Rory drops some breaking news about his family dog. In Letter 2, Daniel and Rory wade into a philosophical…
Popcorn PalsRE: Chasing Your Dreams & Choosing Your Cookies
Daniel and Rory start off Episode 2 with a letter from Jennifer, a former Californian and current owner of an indeterminate quantity of ducks, who is seeking…
Popcorn PalsRE: An Unsolved Bank Robbery & Free Will
For Episode 1 of Pen Pals, Daniel and Rory delve into the mysterious unsolved case of the Hole in the Ground Gang. Who were they? How did they do it? Did they…