Paid in Puke Podcast S9E2: Everything Everywhere All at Once

On season 9, episode 2 of Paid in Puke, we’re sorting out the 2022 smash genre bender, “Everything Everywhere All At Once”, directed by The Daniels, and starring Michelle Yeoh, Stephanie Hsu, Key Huy Quan, Jenny Slate, and Jamie Lee Curtis. This sleeper hit broke records and hearts during the 2023 awards season. 

It tells the story of a middle-aged Chinese immigrant who runs a Laundromat with her husband and struggled to reconcile her taxes while battling a clandestine force and attempting to keep the multi-verse from collapsing.

We discuss the film’s numerous themes including generational trauma, the immigrant experience, capitalist f*ckery, empathy in the face of nihilism, and why it’s never too late to change. Plus some Hot Probs.

On the Lunchtime Poll, we pinpoint a single decision that affected the rest of our lives. 

Listen to the episode here!

Paid in Puke Podcast S9E1: The Truth about Cats & Dogs w/ Michael Lehmann

On our series 9 opener, we’re pleased as punch to discuss the 1996 romantic comedy, “The Truth About Cats and Dogs” with the film’s director, Michael Lehmann. You might also know him having directed a pretty cool movie called, “Heathers”. Cats & Dogs is the screenplay debut for Audrey Wells (The Hate U Give, Under the Tuscan Sun) and stars Janeane Garofalo, and Uma Thurman

We had the most delightful and insightful conversation with Mr. Lehmann on what is dated about the film, as well as the myriad ways it was transgressive in the 90s rom com genre. He talks of fighting alongside Wells to preserve the original intent of the script, even going head-to-head with the MPAA on some of the film’s more empowering elements. Plus, some fun stories about actors who almost played Brian, and why male actors can be so difficult to work with. 

You don’t wanna miss his answer to our Lunchtime Poll: What is a little white lie you told that spun out of control?

Listen to the episode here!

Paid in Puke Podcast S8E10: Batman Returns w/ Daniel Waters

It’s the big Season 8 Finale! We are thrilled and honored to bring you our first (and probably only) cis male guest: Daniel Waters! He gets a P*ssy Pass for writing the film that inspired our podcast theme (Heathers) and another feminist classic: Batman Returns.

This 1992 comic book sequel was directed by Tim Burton, and stars Michelle Pfeiffer in an absolutely iconic role that launched one million sexual awakenings. It was written by Waters, from a script by Sam Hamm, and then unsatisfactorily finished off by a real Normie named Wesley Strick. We consider it a Catwoman movie with 3 male villains hellbent on stopping Selina Kyle from embracing her true nature.

Join us as we pester Daniel Waters with questions about Heathers, and discuss what went wrong as well as what went SO. VERY. RIGHT. with Batman Returns.

And because it’s a Christmas Movie, our Lunchtime Poll is about worst and best Christmases. 

Listen to the episode here!

Paid in Puke Podcast S8E9: The Lost Daughter

On this episode of Paid in Puke, we get lost in Maggie Gyllenhaal’s 2022 directorial debut. The Lost Daughter stars Olivia Coleman, Jessie Buckley, Dakota Johnson, and Dagmara Dominczyk. The film tackles biological motherhood in a way that is so candid, the author of the source material used a pseudonym to avoid backlash. Among the Pukettes, two mothers and one childfree woman all saw completely different things in the intentionally ambiguous narrative. The Lost Daughter is a mirror that reflects our own experiences. One thing we agree on is that it’s a staggering debut from Gyllenhaal and, to quote Leda, “motherhood is a crushing responsibility”. 

Listen to the episode here!

Paid in Puke Podcast S8E8: The Gift

On Season 8 Episode 8 of Paid in Puke, we wanna return Sam Raimi’s 2000 supernatural drama, The GiftBilly Bob Thornton penned this pseudo-feminist tale of an inconveniently psychic single mom (Cate Blanchett) who gets caught up in a murder investigation. It has a lot of “first movie” vibes, but everyone involved was very well established and some of them had Oscar noms. Also starring Katie HolmesHillary SwankKim Dickens, and Keanu Reeves

Resident Blanchettspert, Alicia Mullins of Gal Pals Watch Podcast joins us to discuss the myriad Hot Probs, Blanchett’s noble attempt to rise above the material, G-Rib’s problematic portrayal of a neurodivergent abuse victim, the ubiquity of gators in the deep south, Hillary Swank’s insane wig, and Mr. Noodle’s brother Mr. Noodle. 

Listen to the episode here!

Paid in Puke Podcast S8E6: Titanic

On Series 8, Episode 6 of Paid in Puke, we’re plumbing the depths of James Cameron’s 1997 hit disaster epic, Titanic, starring Kate WinsletFrances Fisher, and Kathy Bates. Joining us is Titanic super-fan, and one half of The Bechdel CastCaitlin Durante, who is always ready to talk about what makes Rose a feminist, how Fabrizio was robbed, what James Cameron got right, and why they never again want to hear someone say there was room on that door. 

On the Lunchtime Poll, we reveal the titanic disasters in our lives that yielded unexpectedly positive experiences. 

Show Notes: The podcast Caitlin mentions in the Lunchtime Poll is Sludge: An American Health Care Story. The Billy Zane interview referenced is from Vulture.

Listen to the episode here!

Really Weird Stuff Podcast – Twin Peaks S2E18: On the Wings of Love

On episode 26 of Really Weird Stuff, we’re discussing Twin Peaks Season 2, Episode 18: “On the Wings of Love. This episode was written by Harley Peyton and Robert Engels and directed by Duwayne Dunham. This episode is best known for Gordon Cole’s (David Lynch) myriad quotable lines. 

Special guest Cristina Barr of Paid in Puke Podcast joins us to explore such mysteries as:

WHAT is in Jones’ ornate little bottle?

WHY is this episode named after a 1982 pop ballad? 

WHAT is the best cure for a hangover? 

PLUS: A deep dive into the portrayal of Annie Blackburn!

Listen to the episode here!

Paid in Puke Podcast S8E5: Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion

In Series 8Episode 5 of Paid in Puke Podcast, we’re revisiting the 1997 hit comedy, Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion, starring Mira Sorvino and Lisa Kudrow. It was directed by David Mirkin (Get a LifeHeartbreakers), and written by Robin Schiff, based on her play “The Ladies Room“. We discuss what doesn’t hold up (some problematic body image messages, casual cruelty as comedy) and what does (pretty much everything else)! 

Baxter’s 12-year-old, Lula, joins us to give her tween perspective on this sweet tale of enduring friendship, standing up to bullies, and being true to yourself.

On the Lunchtime Poll, we reveal the songs to which we’d choreograph a little dance.

Listen to the episode here!

Paid in Puke Podcast S8E4: Jennifer’s Body


On Series 8, Episode 4 of Paid in Puke, we’re changing the narrative on Karyn Kusama’s 2009 horror comedy, Jennifer’s Body, written by Diablo Cody and starring Amanda Seyfried and Megan Fox

This movie was criminally mis-marketed by male executives at the time, to teenage boys, when it’s actually a sapphic supernatural doomed high school romance. Even Cody might not have known just how Sapphic at this time…

15-year-old Logan joins us for an episode-long Keggers with Kids to discuss one of their very favorite movies, the dialogue (both clever and cringe), and the myriad Heathers parallels! 

Listen to the episode here!

Paid in Puke Podcast S8 Special: RIP Angela Lansbury

Denise Rodriguez came on Paid in Puke to discuss “Desperately Seeking Susan” on the day that Angela Lansbury died. After we finished discussing the film, she enlightened us with encyclopedic knowledge of Lansbury’s career and, in particular, Murder She Wrote. It was too good to leave on the proverbial cutting room floor.  So please enjoy our little tribute to Dame Angela Lansbury.


October 16th, 1925 to October 11th, 2022.