Is pop culture dying? Is the monoculture dead? What do I mean by 'monoculture?' It's the shared experiences that all (or many) of us have. It's the series finale of a tv show that everyone watches and talks about the next morning in the office. It's the hit song that you can't escape because it's everywhere. That's the monoculture. The pop culture moments that, love them or hate them, bring us together.

But as we continue to be siloed off into our social media algorithm's, it seems like the monoculture is dead. Joining me today to discuss this is journalist and author Leslie Gray Streeter. She's a columnist for the Baltimore Banner and has recently published her latest novel titled "Beignets and Big Feelings."

We are taking a step back in time to the magical land of Los Angeles in 2006. In the latest publication of ECW Press' Pop Classics series, Lisa Whittington-Hill takes on The Hills and it's cultural impact. We have a great conversation about early 00's pop culture, that time I was in the same room as Lauren Conrad but didn't get a picture, and my hot take about Scandoval.

To all of the Ska music fans that are checking out this podcast, I mean you no harm. I have a love and appreciation for ska. But you have to admit there are a lot of mixed feelings out there for punk rock with horns. I'm so excited to speak with Matt Sullivan from the band Title Holder. I've recently gotten back into ska music thanks to bands like his.

Matt and I talked about how he started Title Holder, his musical background and the world of ska. I hope you enjoy our conversation.