Midwest Besties

Lauren & Emily
  • 5.0 (5)
  • ENTERTAINMENT NEWS

The pop culture podcast for the rest of us.  TV, Books, Reality, Movies, Celeb Gossip, and More. 

Episodes

  1. 2D AGO

    Episode 110: Bad Bunny’s Halftime Show: We Laughed, We Cried, We Learned

    Send a text Love is in the air, Besties! Love for talking sh*t on celebrities, that is! On this week’s episode of the Popculture Potluck, we talk about the AMAZING Benito Bowl. I know y’all are just dying to hear what two lame liberal white ladies from the Midwest thought of Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl Halftime Show, and you are IN LUCK because the besties don’t shut up about it for approximately 20 minutes. Also in this episode, the besties defend Chappell Roan, check in on all our Pop Culture Mormons, recap the latest Real Housewives of Beverly Hills episode (DO YOU REMEMBER?!?!), discuss our newly crowned prince (Jill Zarin’s step-grandson), bad smutty novel character names, and oh so much more.

    48 min

  2. FEB 7

    Episode 109: Luther Grandross’ Grammys Win

    Send us a text We might be living in hell, but at least TV is HOT. 🔥 This week's Popculture Potluck, the besties break down the best (Bad Bunny!) and worst (Somebody come get Meemaw Cher) of the Grammys—including Jack Antonoff’s cancellable 404 error on the red carpet, questionable wardrobe choices, and more. Bridgerton is BACK and better than ever, serving a hot lack of glow-ups. And maybe we are a Peacock podcast now as we recap the season premiere of Summer House, Real Housewives, and The Traitors. We wrap things up with odds and ends from the bowels of the internet: hating on Sydney Sweeney (again 😉), the Headband Theory putting our feminism to the test, and Avery Woods haunting her own home. If you’re enjoying our episodes, please leave a comment and a review—it means everything to us 💖

    57 min

  3. JAN 23

    Episode 108: It Ends With Us Drama is Never-ending

    Send us a text In this week’s pop culture potluck, the besties discuss Brooklyn Beckham putting his entire family on blast through his ig stories, and spoiler alert, we are Team Brooklyn. We catch you up on the It Ends With Us drama (which is never-ending), and dive into the texts between Taylor and Blake. In reality TV news, Kyle and Amanda have confirmed they’re calling it quits, Michael Rapaport was banished from Traitors, and RHOBH continues to be a snooze.

    1h 14m

  4. JAN 15

    Episode 107: And the Golden Globe Goes To…Plastic Surgeons!

    Send us a text This week’s Pop Culture Potluck has it all! (Literally, because we didn’t do a deep dive like we said we would 💁‍♀️) We dish on the Golden Globes. We didn’t know a lot of the shows, movies, or actors nominated, but we sure did clock all the plastic surgery! Once again, we discuss the chokehold the Heated Rivalry Boys currently have on us (“Hey, Moms!”) and the dawn of the Mary Beth Barone era, and more! Podcast hosts had a MESSY week last week, and we have opinions. We talk about Matt Rogers and his dumb opinions on Texas politics (has he ever set foot in Texas?) and N*ck V*all continuing his reign as the worst person ever. You know what they say—never talk politics, religion, or unimaginable family tragedy. Lauren started watching The Traitors, and it’s probably going to be our new obsession. We finish up, as usual, with a Housewives roundup, including trouble ahead for newcomer Amanda on Beverly Hills and this SLC season that we’re low-key glad is over.

    53 min

  5. JAN 9

    Episode 106: We’re Never Leaving the Cottage

    Send us a text The besties are BACK with their first episode of 2026 with no shortage of pop culture to discuss! Starting with whether Ashley Tisdale is the toxic friend, Alix Earle’s breakup and New Year’s Eve with Tom Brady, Kelsea Ballerini and Chase Stokes embarrassing Instagram messiness, and Zach Bryan’s marriage. Then it’s time to serve the girls and the gays with a Heated Rivalry deep dive, process the Stranger Things finale, hate-watch Emily in Paris, and manifest January TV as a mental health intervention.

    54 min

  6. 12/19/2025

    Episode 105: We Ride for Fandango at Home Previously VUDU

    Send us a text This week, the Besties chat about rewatching Mad Men and why Don Draper is actually the worst, Tim Robinson’s ability to hilariously dunk on white men, and unpack the first two episodes of Taylor Swift’s The End of an Era docuseries and our complicated relationship with Taylor. Emily and Lauren cringe their way through Amy Schumer’s “cool girl” divorce announcement, recap yet another Bravo breakup with Todd and Bronwyn, and catch up on RHOSLC’s Greek Freak Show, and a RHOBH recap, reaffirming one universal truth: in Jennifer Tilly we trust.

    1h 4m

  7. 12/10/2025

    Episode 104: The Summer House Trailer Gave Us a Reason To Live

    Send us a text The Besties brought several delicious dishes to this week’s Pop Culture Potluck. Emily and Lauren dive into THAT Summer House Season 10 trailer—new cast members, the ongoing diversity issues (aka the “Cloud Dancer” problem), Ciara and West, Kyle and Amanda, and everything in between. We chat about Pantone’s… interesting Color of the Year (yikes), and Sydney Sweeney’s even more interesting non-apology (bigger yikes). Emily also discovers she is, in fact, a horror stan thanks to Weapons snagging a Golden Globe nomination. We ruin award shows for everyone, and unpack Netflix’s wild move to buy Warner Brothers. Lastly, we dish on the season premiere of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills: the triumphant return of millennial queen Rachel Zoe, Mauricio’s embarrassing People + Sears spread, being proud Erika Jayne haters, and all the chaos from our diamond girlies.

    50 min

  8. 12/05/2025

    Episode 103: The Name on Everybody's Lips Is Gonna be BESTIE

    Send us a text This week, the Besties are coming at you with a piping-hot potluck of pop culture. Emily and Lauren tackle everything happening with Whitney Leavitt, from her Alex Cooper interview to her Chicago Broadway debut, and why N*ck V*all should keep her name out of his mouth. They explain “Fruity Pebbles,” unpack Lady Gaga’s new Rolling Stone interview, and break down Jennifer Lawrence’s uncomfy NYT profile. The Besties also discuss celebrities gaslighting their own fans for being “too parasocial,” Stranger Things Season 5, and the latest on Southern Charm.

    58 min

  9. 11/26/2025 · BONUS

    FLYOVER DEEPDIVE - Episode 102.1 - RHOSLC S6 E10

    Send us a text In the inaugural Flyover Deep Dive, Emily and Lauren recap the Real Housewives of Salt Lake City episode, The Higher the Hair, the Closer to God, from the high body-count hair potluck to whether Lisa and John are actually on the rocks. They break down J*red’s expert-level gaslighting, the wildly uncomfortable Bronwyn–Todd conversation, and Mary’s unforgettable church service.

    25 min

  10. 11/26/2025

    Episode 102: We’re Not a Peacock Podcast

    Send us a text Join Emily and Lauren for their weekly Pop Culture Potlock™. The besties unpack all things Wicked For Good, Jonathan Bailey supremacy, and the emotional press tour. They chat about Meghan’s new Bazaar cover, and Camilla shamelessly wearing Eugenie’s wedding tiara. Plus: Hilary Duff’s music comeback (a millennial triumph), St. Denis Medical, and whether All Her Fault is really good or we just aren’t that smart.

    47 min

  11. 11/21/2025

    Honey, We Made a Podcast!

    Send us a text Emily and Lauren kick off their brand-new pop culture pod the world didn’t know it needed. Broadcasting straight from the heartland with their cornfed commentary and Midwestern POV, they dive into all things BravoCon 2025, discuss Vicki finally getting her orange back, the Real Housewives of Rhode Island, Shep’s embarrassing casino meltdown, break down the chaos in Real Housewives of Salt Lake City, chat Whitney Leavitt and Selling Sunset drama, and cover so much more. Every girl needs a bestie, and we’re gonna be yours!

    55 min
  • 11 Episodes

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
5 Ratings

About

The pop culture podcast for the rest of us.  TV, Books, Reality, Movies, Celeb Gossip, and More. 

Information

  • Creator
    Lauren & Emily
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    11
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Midwest Besties
  • Show Website
    Midwest Besties