The Couch with Mary Carver Mary Carver

I get it now. It actually makes total sense that the new holiday movies sneak up on us every year, since it's happening during spooky season. Right? That explains it, for sure. It has nothing to do with capitalism rushing the calendar more every year or us getting older and time flying faster. Nope! Spooky season strikes again!
 
Well anyway. Whether you're ready for it or not (and let me tell you, and I will keep on telling you, how incredibly ready I am for some cheese and cheer in my life), holiday movies are beginning in 3, 2, 1...NOW. This weekend brings us the first new holiday movies of the season! Woohoo!
 
As always, my best friend (and best friend of the show) Anna Rendell and I are here to guide you through this hectic but holly-jolly season. We've waded through all the new holiday movies (nearly 100 of them, which is thankfully and bizarrely a much smaller number than recent years) to create for you a list of 23 holiday movies to watch in 2023.
 
Of course, because this is The Couch, where side notes and rabbit trails are always welcome, we also take time to talk about spy shows, lipsticks and earrings, other podcasts, and Hallmark's continued inability to cast children who look and act the age the script says their characters are.
 
All right, it’s time to talk holiday movies with Anna. Let’s get started!
 
MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:
My latest (in)courage article The (in)courage podcast (where Anna is the voice) The Hooked on Holiday Movies bundle (stay tuned for the 2023 version) The Sorta Awesome Hangout on Facebook At Midnight (Paramount+) A Moment of Christmas: 25 December Devotions for Moms (by Anna Rendell) Sleepless in Seattle (watch on Hulu)
The Cutting Edge (watch on Hulu or Showtime)
Field Day (Hallmark Channel)
The Bear (Hulu)
 
NOT-SO-GUILTY PLEASURES:
SUGARFIX earrings at Target Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick FUBAR (Netflix)  
DON’T FORGET:
Join The Couch on Facebook! It’s so much fun! Find Anna on Instagram at @annaerendell or at annarendell.com, and you can find her holiday devotional at Amazon. As always, you can find me on Instagram at @marycarver or at marycarver.com. Welcome to The Couch!
 
This post may include affiliate links. This means that if you click and purchase, I might receive a small commission at no extra charge to you.

Because you know me to be a clearly indoorsy person who loves the convenient things in life, you might be surprised by today’s topic. My good friend (and good friend of the show) Kathi Lipp is here to talk about homesteading and home renovation—and the shows that give us hope we can do those things.

Kathi is a speaker and author, and her newest book, The Accidental Homesteader: What I've Learned About Chickens, Compost, and Creating Home, came out yesterday. Part how-to, part memoir, and totally down-to-earth for even the most novice homemakers, this book is about the mindset of freedom, independence, and strength that anyone can find, no matter where they call home. And it’s the inspiration for today’s conversation about home shows that we have loved watching and are watching these days!

Of course, because this is The Couch, where side notes and rabbit trails are always welcome, we also take time to talk about rewatching favorite shows, The Bear on Hulu, our devotion to TBS, and the online ads that have worked on us.

All right, it’s time to talk homes with Kathi. Let’s get started!

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

Meg Tietz of Sorta Awesome MAX is where you can stream HGTV, DIY, and Magnolia Network shows. Clean Sweep Homestead Rescue Home Town Tiny House Nation Stay Here Flea Market Flip Good Bones Restoring Galveston The Biggest Little Farm Animal Vegetable Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver Bargain Mansions Grow Cook Eat Married to Real Estate @redleafranch on TikTok
NOT-SO-GUILTY PLEASURES:

Rewatching The West Wing Watching The Bear (Hulu) And watching it slowly because it’s real intense! Buying clothes based on an online ad (from Bloomchic, who’s not a sponsor but who did create and sell me two very cute and comfy shirts)
DON’T FORGET:

Join The Couch on Facebook! It’s so much fun! Find Kathi on Instagram at @kathilipp or at kathilipp.com, and you can buy her newest book, The Accidental Homesteader: What I've Learned About Chickens, Compost, and Creating Home, today. And you can find me on Instagram at @marycarver or at marycarver.com.
Welcome to The Couch!

This post may include affiliate links. This means that if you click and purchase, I might receive a small commission at no extra charge to you.

One of my favorite parts of the Barbie movie was the soundtrack, chock full of songs written specifically for the movie. And that got me thinking about all the other iconic songs we have purely because a movie called for them. So today my brother (and friend of the show) James Walters is back on The Couch to talk about some of our favorite movie theme songs.

James is not just my brother and a music and pop culture expert, of course. He’s the owner of The Big Gay Collective, creating fabulous scented products including a whole lot of amazing candles. He’s also a former professional musician and the person on this planet whose pop culture memories most closely overlap with mine. So obviously he’s the person who invited me to go see Barbie and the person who’s perfect for another musical conversation.

But not a conversation about musicals. Because we’re talking about movies that are specifically not musicals. Because why? I don’t know but these are the parameters we ended up with.

Of course, because this is The Couch, where side notes and rabbit trails are always welcome, we also get into the King of Soundtracks, my favorite TV show which I promise I do really love even though I blank on the name of it, and karaoke.

Lastly, a note about the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes, a.k.a. the writers strike. I’m not a member of the unions, nor am I paid to promote any of their products. As a quasi-journalist who reports entertainment information, I will continue providing that service to you at this time. But I fully acknowledge that the movies and series we discuss here on The Couch would not be possible without the writers, and I support those striking in favor of fair treatment and compensation.

All right, it’s time to see how long you can listen without breaking into song. Let’s get started!

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

The songs in this playlist Phil Collins Songs learned on the piano during childhood Our middle school music teacher, as always My adolescent love for Christian Slater
NOT-SO-GUILTY PLEASURES:

Revisiting Pinterest Buying a pink dress to wear to Barbie
DON’T FORGET:

Join The Couch on Facebook! It’s a guilt-free, laidback zone for people who love pop culture. (That’s you!) Find James on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest, and buy his candles and other scented goods. And you can find me on Instagram at @marycarver or at marycarver.com.
Welcome to The Couch!

This post may include affiliate links. This means that if you click and purchase, I might receive a small commission at no extra charge to you.

Between the writers’ strike and the post-4th of July summer situation we have most years, August doesn’t have a ton of new content to offer. But don’t you worry! I’m here to make sure you know what IS returning and premiering. Plus, we take a look at Hulu, in case you need more options for what to watch.

Speaking of What to Watch, remember that I create a monthly watch guide for Patreon members and newsletter subscribers. So for details on everything I talk about today plus a whole bunch more (including a list of series you can catch up on during slower seasons, like this one), head over to marycarver.com/patreon. Yes, it’s a few dollars a month, but you’ll get that monthly watch guide, a monthly movie watch party, and a bonus podcast episode.

All right, it’s almost time to get started on this episode, but I do want to reassure you that even when it’s just me here on The Couch, rabbit trails and side notes are always welcome and present. So be ready for that. Now, let’s dive in!

MENTIONED IN THE SHOW:

The Couch episode #164 (where I talk about Paramount+) The Couch Facebook group The Couch on Patreon
Welcome to The Couch!

July might not have a lot of new (or even returning) series to offer but wow! We are looking at more than two dozen new movies this month! So I am here to help you navigate it all.

Now, I know you’re going to be listening carefully and taking notes during this very educational episode, but in case you get distracted or overwhelmed, don’t worry! You can find dates and locations of everything I mention (plus more) in the July Watch Guide, a free resource for all Patreon members (join us at marycarver.com/patreon!).

Of course, even when it’s just me on The Couch, I welcome rabbit trails and side notes. So I share about a movie screening I recently attended and my undying affection for a certain spy series. It’s time to dive into what’s showing this month, so let’s get started!

MENTIONED IN THE SHOW:

The Couch Facebook group The Couch on Patreon
Welcome to The Couch!

You asked, and I answered!

Today I’m answering all your burning pop culture questions, from what does the writers’ strike mean for us and what’s going on with streaming these days to what movies should we see in the theater this summer and, of course, what is Hallmark doing for Christmas in July.

My good friend (and good friend of the show) Alana Dawson is back for volume 8 of Ask the Couch, as well as a conversation about the rom coms we’ve seen lately (and the ones still on our lists to be watched). Of course, because this is The Couch, where side notes and rabbit trails are always welcome, we also share some life updates, discuss book bans, and talk about where we get our nature fix. Basically, we cover it all, and you don’t want to miss it!

Let’s get started!

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

Friends University Emily Henry books Carley Fortune books I Have Some Questions for You by Rebecca Makkai Anthropocene Reviewed by John Green The Accidental Text by Becky Monson (free on Kindle Unlimited!) The Couch Podcast #161 (summer movie preview episode) The Couch Podcast #148 (best of 2022 with Alana) Hallmark on Peacock S’moreos at Target
NOT-SO-GUILTY PLEASURES:

Eating cereal (it’s fortified with vitamins!) Walking in nature Reading only ebooks for now A commute on the back roads
DON’T FORGET:

Join The Couch on Facebook! It’s so much fun! Find Alana on Instagram at @alanapdawson. And you can find me on Instagram at @marycarver or at marycarver.com.
Welcome to The Couch!

This post may include affiliate links. This means that if you click and purchase, I might receive a small commission at no extra charge to you.