Natalie brings Marissa back onto the pod, where the plan originally was to discuss both Simple Favor movies. Unfortunately, that did not all go according to plan... But the pair has plenty of fun and plenty of laughs discussing the first movie, which they watched together during their first off-campus hangout in college.
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Natalie continues her exploration of Falsettos with her high school friend Madelyn, who just recently graduated with a BA in Acting! Woo hoo! Together, the two unpack Act 2 and why it is such effective storytelling as well as the impact it has had on the pair. Natalie also addresses the long-standing rumors that she dated Madelyn's brother, Ian, in high school. Many, many giggles are had in the process.
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Happy pride! To celebrate, Natalie wanted to do a 2 part series for her favorite production of all time, the 2016 Broadway Revival of Falsettos! In this episode, she invites her friend Sydney to chat all things Act 1. We discuss the show, the music, the costumes, the WORKS! Sydney also throws in some delightful theater industry tidbits and Natalie is simply dumbfounded at how far the two have come since meeting online as teenagers.
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Happy one year of Friends By Chance, Season 2! To celebrate this milestone, Natalie reflects on the past year. She also explores recession indicators and her favorite musicals. Da Pope was announced halfway through recording the episode -- so there's plenty of chat on that as well.
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If you're feeling extra generous: subscribe to the Patreon for editor notes and bonus episodes HERE https://www.patreon.com/FriendsByChance
The Cowboy Carter episode is finally here! Natalie dives deep into all the necessary lore leading up to Cowboy Carter and why Beyonce winning Album of the Year this year was such a big deal. She concludes the episode analyzing the album, with plenty of quips and tangents along the way. Did you know that Fannie Mae and Fannie May are two different companies!?
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Natalie discusses the media she consumed and enjoyed for the week. Other topics include: CPR/AED training of yesteryear (vs now), the economy, and hobbies!
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If you're feeling extra generous: subscribe to the Patreon for editor notes and bonus episodes HERE: https://www.patreon.com/FriendsByChance
Hello Friends By Chance Nation!!! Welcome to the new (ideally) weekly mini-series, "Thought Daughter!" Partially utilizing her monthly favorite episode format, this is Pop Culture Happy Hour but at home and the generic brand. Natalie discusses Sunrise on the Reaping (and has to refrain from spoiling), and chats about Lady Gaga's Mayhem and Rhythm Heaven Fever. And also high school?
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If you're feeling extra generous: subscribe to the Patreon for editor notes and bonus episodes HERE https://www.patreon.com/FriendsByChance
It's March! Natalie turned 25! But more importantly, Sunrise at the Reaping releases this month! Natalie invites her friends Jordan and Marissa and together the three gals discuss what we know about Haymitch so far, and make predictions for what awaits us in the book. Is Haymitch's girlfriend a descendant of The Covey? Is Mr. Everdeen? What are Katniss's parents names, anyway?! We ponder these questions while singing praises to our queen, Suzanne Collins.
Content warnings: brief mention of trafficking, violence, murder, trauma
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If you're feeling extra generous: subscribe to the Patreon for a monthly bonus episode and editor notes HERE: https://www.patreon.com/FriendsByChance
Natalie invites Wylie from All My Friends Are Reading back to the podcast to chat about movies that originated as Harry Styles fanfiction. Exploring the After series and The Idea of You, they ponder the ethics of writing fanfiction about actual people, and what it may suggest about the artist and their fanbase as a whole. Lots of One Direction chat too!
Content warnings: discussion of SA, abusive relationships, and predatory behavior.
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Check out Wylie's podcast:https://open.spotify.com/show/45KLHEkIpiQAswCJMqLTui?si=b5645fd648804abb
If you're feeling extra generous:subscribe to the Patreon for a monthly bonus episode and editor notes HERE: https://www.patreon.com/FriendsByChance
Friends By Chance welcomes you all to 2025! To start the year, Natalie brought her friend Amber back to discuss Squid Game - the pair reminisce on the first season and the era of its release, and then dive into the new second season. Spoiler warning for both seasons of Squid Game (obviously). Other topics of conversation include homemade pasta, knitting, the 15-hour Tik Tok ban, and astrology of course!
Content warnings include discussions of violence and oppression throughout the episode, both fictional and non-fictional.
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If you're feeling extra generous: subscribe to the Patreon for a monthly bonus episode and editor notes HERE: https://www.patreon.com/FriendsByChance
Natalie wraps up 2024 by going over her favorites of the year: movies, music, and books, oh my! She also takes a look at the year's full moons and the events that took place. Lastly, she goes over what she looks forward to in 2025 and what January will look like.
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If you're feeling extra generous: subscribe to the Patreon for a monthly bonus episode and editor notes HERE: https://www.patreon.com/FriendsByChance
Natalie invites her friend Madeline along to explore the Winter Solstice and how it relates to the holidays and spiritual practices. We learned a lot, and had a great time doing it!
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If you're feeling extra generous: subscribe to the Patreon for a monthly bonus episode and editor notes HERE: https://www.patreon.com/FriendsByChance
First solo episode in a while! Natalie catches everyone up on her current lore and explores the idea of "movies that are associated with holidays that may or may not actually be about those holidays." Her cat, Gonzo (the diva in question), clearly had several opinions as well, as the mic picks up several very loud meows from him and it was cute so now he's the offical episode guest.
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If you're feeling extra generous: subscribe to the Patreon for a monthly bonus episode and editor notes HERE: https://www.patreon.com/FriendsByChance
The long-awaited episode featuring "friend of the podcast Jordan" is finally here! Natalie and Jordan discuss Netflix's most iconic seasonal trilogy, The Christmas Prince movies. There is a lot to unpack, and they did not leave a single stone unturned. Sprinkled in between is the story of how Natalie and Jordan met during recruitment, their shared water sign identity, and many more gems.
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If you're feeling extra generous: subscribe to the Patreon for a monthly bonus episode and editor notes HERE: https://www.patreon.com/FriendsByChance
Natalie brings back her friend Marlene to chat about Stuck in Love, the ultimate messy family Thanksgiving movie. The two talk through the movie beat by beat and discuss why it continues to be a comfort movie for them 12 years since it was released.
Content warning: brief discussion of physical abuse, drug abuse, brief discussion of SA
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If you're feeling extra generous: subscribe to the Patreon for a monthly bonus episode and editor notes HERE: https://www.patreon.com/FriendsByChance
Natalie invites her friend Amber (@spukhaus) to come back to the pod and explore the world of surrealist internet horror, primarily through the lens of Too Many Cooks and Don't Hug Me I'm Scared. The episode happened to be recorded 2 days after the U.S. election, making this the Post Election Episode (trademark), and the pair spends the episode processing the results and connecting its themes to the topic at hand. Accompanying playlist of each video mentioned will be available on Patreon via editor notes.
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If you're feeling extra generous: subscribe to the Patreon for a monthly bonus episode and editor notes HERE: https://www.patreon.com/FriendsByChance
In the Twi-Tober Finale Episode, Natalie's friend Becca joins her to tackle Breaking Dawn. 2 movies. 1 book. 700+ pages. And we had a lot to say. We provided plenty of anecdotes along the way, such as the story where Becca was high at youth group, or when Natalie played the wife of a mass shooter (TWICE) in high school. Also, the 9/11 of it all. So many gems in this episode.
Content Warnings: brief discussion of incest (this episode truly does cover it all)
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If you're feeling extra generous: subscribe to the Patreon for a monthly bonus episode and editor notes HERE: https://www.patreon.com/FriendsByChance
Natalie's friend Addy returns to the podcast for episode 3 of Twi-Tober and together they attempt to tackle Eclipse. There's a lot to discuss, such as the weird casual racism in the backstories, and the Jacob Black of it all. That man should be in prison. This episode features more direct quotes from the text than any other, because summaries do not do these questionable plotlines justice.
TW: racism/general stereotyping of POC (specifically indigenous communities, but some other examples sprinkled throughout), assault, manipulation
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If you're feeling extra generous: subscribe to the Patreon for a monthly bonus episode and editor notes HERE: https://www.patreon.com/FriendsByChance
For episode 2 of Twi-Tober, Natalie invites her friend Marlene to discuss New Moon. The pair reflect on becoming friends through the internet, and where they are now. No stranger to their own mental health struggles, they reflect on how New Moon may offer one of the most accurate protrayals of a depressive episode in media, and how this is the only story that primarily focuses on Bella and her coming of age.
Potential TW from discussion of mental health struggles and suicidal ideation, as well as some conversations on consent and how New Moon begins to set up some very unpleasant themes to come in future books/movies.
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Natalie welcomes you all to Twi-Tober, where we will be covering every Twilight book every Friday in October. Up first, of course, is TWILIGHT. Joined by her college friend Marissa, the pair dissect the original novel and Stephanie Meyer's obsession with re-writing it, and then tackle the iconic blue-tinted film and how a female director (Catherine Hardwicke) brought the elements of feminine gaze and camp, which is noticeably missing in later movies.
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If you're feeling extra generous: subscribe to the Patreon for a monthly bonus episode and editor notes HERE: https://www.patreon.com/FriendsByChance