We Relate Podcast: Relationships in Culture

Nasta Ion & Serafim Sinotov
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  • Relationships

Hi! We’re Nasta and Sim, and this is We Relate—a pop culture podcast exploring the messiest human relationships hidden inside our favorite stories. Every 2 weeks, we pick a TV show, movie, or book—from modern fiction to classic rom-coms—for some honest relationship commentary and pop culture analysis. We dissect the love, drama, and friendships on screen to see what they say about real life. We argue and laugh at terrible life choices, sympathise with characters we’d definitely block, and occasionally call ourselves out in the process. We don't have all the answers—we’re just here to figure out why people are like this (including us). First episode drops August 15. Hit subscribe!

Episodes

  1. 6d ago

    American Beauty (1999): What if your perfect life is the actually wrong life for you?

    Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode! What happens when the American Dream starts looking more like a beautiful prison? In this episode of We Relate, we dive into American Beauty and unpack the relationships, expectations, and quiet rebellions hiding behind the perfect suburban life. We talk about Lester’s midlife crisis and teenage rebellion, Caroline’s obsession with success and her desperate attempt to fake it till she makes it, and Angela’s fear of adulthood in a world where she believes her body is the only thing she has to offer. But what if Jane and Ricky are actually one of the healthier couples in the film? We explore Ricky’s ability to remain himself despite his father’s suffocating control, and how he manages to grow beyond the limitations imposed on him. Listen our conversation about relationships, identity, toxic family dynamics, beauty standards, the pressure to succeed, and the difference between looking like you have it all and actually feeling alive - and share your thoughts in the comments (if it available ofc).

    American Beauty (1999): What if your perfect life is the actually wrong life for you?

  2. Oct 25

    Carnage (2011): Do we really want to raise good children, or do we just want to think of ourselves as good parents?

    Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode! In this episode of We Relate, we dive into Carnage (2011), a dark comedy about two sets of parents whose attempt to resolve a conflict between their children exposes their own unresolved issues. Through the escalating argument, we explore parenting, childhood trauma, coping mechanisms, emotional repression, conflict displacement, and the pressure to be a good parent. Why do we judge other people's parenting while defending our own? Why is it sometimes easier to fight someone else's battles than confront problems within our own families? And how do the ways we cope with stress reveal what we're trying so desperately to hide? We also ask whether being a good parent means raising a perfect child, or being able to recognize our own mistakes. Can we really be good parents if we're unable to see ourselves clearly? Join us for a new episode of We Relate, a podcast about the relationships and conflicts of characters from world culture.

    Carnage (2011): Do we really want to raise good children, or do we just want to think of ourselves as good parents?

  3. Oct 12

    Leon: The Professional (1994): A Child’s Love or Dangerous Romanticization?

    Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode! In this episode, we dive into Luc Besson’s Léon: The Professional, a story about attachment, trauma, loneliness, and boundaries that are a little harder to define than we might like. We talk about dysfunctional families, children forced to grow up too soon, and adults who are still children in all but age. Why can teenage rebellion look like a search for love? Where does care end and grooming begin? And can a child’s crush on an adult ever justify a relationship between them? We also turn our attention to Besson himself and his relationship with Maïwenn, explore why people sometimes defend those who have hurt them, and discuss why a person’s own perception of a relationship may differ so much from how others see it. And we'll spill some tea about a blogger couple with a 30-year age gap and their recent almost-divorce. If she wanted it, is he still the villain? Let us know in the comments! 00:00 Intro 00:30 The Plot 03:19 Mathilda: Too Young For This 06:13 Leon: A Killer with a Very Big Heart? 10:29 Leon & Matilda: Found Family or Family Therapy Needed? 15:41 Can a Child’s Choice Justify an Adult’s Actions? 24:37 What Do Adults and Teenagers Want from Each Other? 27:34 Luc Besson & Maiwenn: Why Does She Defend Him? 40:23 Real-Life Drama: Anfisa & Sergey. Family vs Videos from the shower 44:09 We-Relate-Blitz & Outro

    Leon: The Professional (1994): A Child’s Love or Dangerous Romanticization?

  4. Sep 27

    The Addams Family (1991): Can You Have a Healthy Relationship If You're a Monster?

    Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode! In this episode of We Relate, we dive into The Addams Family (1991) to explore the surprisingly healthy relationships behind the family's dark humor and eccentric traditions. Through Gomez, Morticia, Wednesday, and Pugsley, we talk about love, freedom of choice, parenting, individuality, boundaries, communication, and unconditional care. Why do the Addams give each other so much freedom? Can unconventional parenting create stronger relationships? And what can this supposedly "dysfunctional" family teach us about love? Join us for a new episode of We Relate and share your shit (guilty pleasure) in the comments!

    The Addams Family (1991): Can You Have a Healthy Relationship If You're a Monster?

  5. Sep 13

    Eternity (2025): Is the Love We Remember Better Than the Love We Have?

    Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode! Is the love we remember better than the love we have? In this episode of We Relate, we dive into Eternity, a story about a woman who gets the impossible choice: spend eternity with the person she built a life with, or return to the first love she never completely forgot. Through Joan, Larry, and Luke, we explore first love, long-term relationships, nostalgia, idealization, commitment, and the gap between the person we remember and the person they really were. Why does first love stay with us for so long? Why can a relationship that ended decades ago still feel more intense than the one we're living in now? And are we actually missing the person, or the way we felt when we were with them? What do you think: is first love special because it was truly special, or because our memory refuses to let it become ordinary? Share your thoughts in the comments and join us for the next episode of We Relate, a podcast where we talk about the relationships of characters from world culture.

    Eternity (2025): Is the Love We Remember Better Than the Love We Have?

  6. Aug 30

    A man called Ove: Can truly infuriating neighbors make you fall back in love with life?

    Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode! What if the people you can't stand are the ones who give you a reason to live? In this episode of We Relate, we dive into A Man Called Ove and the story of Ove, a lonely widower who has lost his wife, his sense of purpose, and his connection to the world around him. Behind his anger, strict rules, and constant complaints lies a man struggling with grief, loneliness, isolation, and expressing his feelings. Through Ove, Sonja, Parvaneh, and the rest of the community, we explore human connection, relationships, family, belonging, grief, communication, and second chances. We also look at why Ove's obsession with rules is not simply about control, but about his idea of what makes a good community. What do you think Ove needed most: to be left alone, or to let people into his life? Share your thoughts in the comments and join us for the next episode of We Relate, a podcast where we talk about the relationships of characters from world culture.

    A man called Ove: Can truly infuriating neighbors make you fall back in love with life?

  7. Aug 22

    Not Without My Daughter: Betty and Moody’s Abusive Marriage

    Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode! What happens when your husband promises you a two-week family trip — and then decides you’re never leaving? In this episode of We Relate, we dive into Not Without My Daughter and the relationship between Betty and Moody. What begins as a family vacation to Iran turns into a nightmare when Moody breaks his promise and decides that Betty and their daughter will stay there permanently. We explore emotional abuse, domestic violence, controlling partners, coercive control, manipulation, isolation, financial dependence, unequal power, and abusive marriage — and how trust between two people can become a tool of control. We Relate is a podcast about relationships in pop culture, where we unpack the dynamics, conflicts, and choices behind the characters and stories we watch. What do you think Betty and Moody got wrong? Share your thoughts in the comments and join us for the next episode of We Relate.

    Not Without My Daughter: Betty and Moody’s Abusive Marriage

  8. Aug 15

    The Housemaid: What's Wrong with Nina & Andrew Relationships?

    Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode! What happens when a picture-perfect marriage is built on control, dependence, and fear? In this episode of We Relate, we dive into The Housemaid and the relationship between Nina and Andrew. Behind the wealth, beautiful mansion, and seemingly perfect family lies a much darker reality shaped by emotional abuse, manipulation, isolation, financial dependence, and unequal power. Through the story of Nina, Andrew, and Millie, we explore toxic relationships, controlling partners, family trauma, codependency, and the blurred line between victim, rescuer, and persecutor. What do you think Nina and Andrew got wrong? Share your thoughts in the comments and join us for the next episode of We Relate — a podcast where we talk about the relationships of characters from world culture.

    The Housemaid: What's Wrong with Nina & Andrew Relationships?

  9. Aug 1

    We relate: Relationships in Culture - Podcast Trailer

    Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode! Why do relationships that look perfect from the outside end up unhappy? Is it true that the best gift for a daughter is Islam? And can truly infuriating neighbors make you fall back in love with life? Hi, I'm Nasta! And I'm Sim. This is We Relate, a podcast where we talk about the relationships of characters from world culture — in movies, shows, books, and more. We talk about relationships through stories and through our own lives, imperfections and all. We call things by their real names and try to understand the logic behind people's actions. This podcast is for anyone who wants honest, human companionship and candor — without expert anAlysis.A new conversation every week. First episode — August 15th.

    We relate: Relationships in Culture - Podcast Trailer
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    8 Episodes

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About

Hi! We’re Nasta and Sim, and this is We Relate—a pop culture podcast exploring the messiest human relationships hidden inside our favorite stories. Every 2 weeks, we pick a TV show, movie, or book—from modern fiction to classic rom-coms—for some honest relationship commentary and pop culture analysis. We dissect the love, drama, and friendships on screen to see what they say about real life. We argue and laugh at terrible life choices, sympathise with characters we’d definitely block, and occasionally call ourselves out in the process. We don't have all the answers—we’re just here to figure out why people are like this (including us). First episode drops August 15. Hit subscribe!

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