LEX18 presents a podcast with hot takes, hot
topics, with your hosts, Megan Manering and Evelyn
Schulz. This is Hot Mic. We are your co -hosts,
Evelyn Schultz and Megan Manering. No guests
today, just gonna be us recapping what we've
been up to, some holidays that are coming up.
lot of good stuff. But also we want to begin
with something a little heavier today. Yeah,
you know, we like to keep things typically light
on hot mic. It's kind of a fun place for us.
But we do want to start just by saying that we
are recording this two days after that devastating
UPS plane crash in Louisville. So this episode
will come out about a week after that happened.
And Megan, you've been in Louisville covering
that the past day. We've been covering it here
from Lexington as well. So our hearts just go
out to everyone impacted by that. We know that
Obviously people have died in that crash, which
is just so terrible, but it impacts their families.
It impacts UPS workers, so many people all across
Kentucky. So really just thinking of everyone
who has been impacted by that crash. Yeah, so
devastating. And I'm just, I'm kind of proud
of our team in this moment because this has been
all hands on deck. And I think this is a moment
when local news is really, really important to
get the facts, to get them quickly, to know that
they're verified. And I think our team, has approached
this, um, with such sincerity and kind of been
humans first, um, as well as journalists, you
know, like everybody is really feeling for the
people in that crash, the people of Louisville.
So just proud of our team and thinking of all
those victims and their families really, really
hard. Yeah. Well, and also, you know, you mentioned
our team. I also think of the first responders
who have come from all across Kentucky who showed
up. in Louisville to help fight the fire after
the crash. People who have come to feed first
responders who are at that crash. Governor Beshear
said, I think it was 200 first responders showed
up. that night of the crash. How quickly people
are able to mobilize to help always is incredible
to me. So just wanted to begin with that note
and just let everyone know that our thoughts
are with everyone who's been impacted by that.
And of course we will keep you updated in the
weeks to come as we learn more about that crash.
But again, thank you for being with us here on
Hot Mic. We so appreciate you joining us every
week. It has been so nice to hear feedback from
people who have been listening. I heard from
one person who said that Hot Mic is the first
podcast he's ever listened to. No way. Which
just really touched my heart. Wow. What an honor
to be the first podcast that someone has ever
listened to. I'm still like kind of surprised
anytime someone says they listen. I shouldn't.
You want to listen to us just gaping? Yes. I
know. We've had some really fun guests. We do
a little recap. We talked to, who did we talk
to last week? Shayna Stahl. Oh, Dr. Stahl. Yes.
Such an interesting conversation. The UK marching
band director. Yeah, she's such a slay. We had
some old vintage photos that she didn't know
we were going to have. Hearing about her world
and how music ties into UK athletics was so cool.
And then the week prior, we talked to Tom Ackerman.
Yes. Yes. The much requested Tom Ackerman episode.
We're probably going to have to have him on again.
I think so. I think once the eyebrows grow fully
in. Our viewership really went way up. And now
he's doing No Shave November. We actually have
a team of people at the station doing No Shave
November, raising money for the Markey Cancer
Center at UK. So Michael Burke is participating,
Keith Farmer, Patrick Harian, and Tom. Okay.
So you can find all of that, I think, on there.
social media, but No Shave November, one of several
holidays that we have in this season. Like we
are in the holiday season. We really are. And
you know what I wrote on my notes here, because
you know, we come in with notes. I wrote Halloween
is over. It's done. How are you feeling about
that? I feel good. A fantastic Halloween party.
I mean, it was the mixer of a lifetime and people
really committed to the costume. You had a great
turnout. Yes. I actually thought my house can't
fit this many people. It was getting kind of
sweaty in there. I don't know that it was up
to fire code. It probably was not. I think Canole
was a little stressed. We had to put him upstairs.
He was stressed out. He wore his costume for
a little bit, his little angel wings, but then
I took him off and said, you can go upstairs
now. Yeah. But yet you had an amazing costume.
Thank you. I was, um, I think my parents were
totally confused by this. I was Katy Perry going
to space. So you remember earlier this year in
that group of women went to space for like 10
minutes. Was that the blue origin? Blue origin.
Yeah. So I was happy with the costume. I did
a little DIY ironed on the letters and um, had
a ratty wig that I, but I really felt like I
looked like you did. No, you did. I was, I was
impressed. Thank you. Could have fooled me. Well,
Katie, you and Charlie, we were the Louve thieves,
also sort of a, um, a timely costume, similar
to yours. So, uh, we, had ski masks, sort of
like how thieves might wear. And we ordered fake
costume jewelry from Amazon and I wore tiara.
Yeah. And I think some of the Lou thieves were
wearing, um, like construction vests. So Charlie,
yeah. So to blend in. So Charlie put on one of
those. It was a very easy costume, a very, but
effective and very comfortable. Thank you. Yes.
It was, it was very comfortable. I didn't even
put on makeup, which was the best part. I think
like the older I get, the more I am going for
comfort. I mean, mine was a sweat suit. So I
feel you on that. It was like a track suit. I
don't need to be cold. Don't want to be cold.
I don't need to be uncomfortable. You know, when
I came here and I worked weekend evenings, I
would drive home and I've kind of drive by campus
to get home and it would be like midnight. Yeah.
And I would see all of all the college girls.
Yes. No coats. That was us. Yes. Yeah. We can
relate, but it's miserable. It's why? Why? Actually,
you know, a sad story from college for me was
that my mom had got me this really gorgeous coat
for Christmas. It was like a white wool. It was
really pretty. And this is why I guess college
girls don't wear their coats out because I wore
it out and I left it out of fraternity and lost
it forever. And I was very upset about it because
it was a really nice coat. I don't even know
if I ever told my mom. I felt really bad about
it. She's going to find out now. Yeah, she'll
probably listen and hear this. But yeah, I guess
that's why we can't wear our coats out because
we're 21 years old because you lose your nice
coats. But yeah, now that we're so forgetful
of that age, something like that. Now that we're
adults, we want to be warm and comfortable. Also,
think of just the bottomless pit that is a frat
house. You're never going to find your coat if
you leave it there. No, and if you do find it,
you probably... You probably don't want, we don't
want it. There were probably some stains on that
thing. I don't know. It was probably stuffed
under someone's bed somewhere. Who knows? I don't
know. It's probably good. I didn't get the coat
back, but I do still think that was a cute coat.
So never forget. Well, are you ready for the
other holidays that are coming up? So ready?
I was in Hobby Lobby over the weekend and all
of their Thanksgiving fall stuff was 50 % off.
That's good to know. So I was stocking up on
that, but they also had all their Christmas stuff
out. Now I'm not ready for Christmas yet, but
I'm just ready for the holiday season. I like
the buzz. I kind of like the stress of it all.
Like you have all these things you have to get
done, but it's all fun. Yes. How are you feeling?
Are you ready? I am ready. You know, it's interesting
though, because I was, I said this actually on
sunrise a few days ago, I was driving into work
the other night and we've had a few warm days.
The past few days have been kind of warm. Um,
and a few people you know, in my neighborhood
have already put up their Christmas decorations.
And it feels odd to be driving to work when it's
65 degrees with all these Christmas decorations
out. So I don't know if I'm ready in that sense,
seeing all the Christmas decor yet. I don't think
my mind has flipped over to it's the holiday
season. Maybe once it gets chillier, which I
know it's about to get colder. So yeah, I think
that will. flip the switch for me. It kind of
sets the tone. Yeah. I was working with Lindsey
Smart, one of our favorite photographers yesterday.
And when we were driving home from Louisville,
we were trying to find a radio station and she
was flipping through and all of a sudden we heard
Silent Night and she was like, get it off, get
it off. Too soon wait too soon. What do you think
is too soon? Let's do a little hot take situation
When is too soon for Christmas music or when
is the right time to start the holiday music?
The right time is the day after Thanksgiving.
Okay, and I'll die on that hill I know some people
who are listening to Christmas music right now
and I just know now we focus on one holiday at
a time We got to get to Thanksgiving and I also
think that I am not the best person at living
in the present, but I do think that by the time
we get to Christmas, if you've started Christmas,
November 1st, it feels, for me, it maybe takes
away the specialness of the holiday. However,
I do understand why people just jump into it
because it is so fun. Like I get that totally.
You know one problem that we really have here
in America? There are no Thanksgiving songs.
No, you know, if we had Thanksgiving music, I
don't think that this would be a debate. Maybe
we should start that. I like that. That's a good
hot. Are there any musicians listening to this
podcast? Are you out there? Are there any Thanksgiving
songs? And I'm like, I'm blanking on the artist,
Ben, Ben, who's like a famous Ben Roberts, Ben
Platt. No, Ben, not the It's not going to come
to me, but I do listen to one guy, one artist
who has a Thanksgiving song and it's mid. It's
not even, sorry, Ben, whoever you are, 11. He's
got a great book. I'll look it up before the
end of the podcast, but maybe we should write
a Thanksgiving song. Tune in to a future hot
mic episode for our special Thanksgiving song.
We are defrosting. That was another note I wrote
down here. We are defrosting just like Mariah
Carey. And I want to ask you, all I want for
Christmas is you. Overrated or underrated? I
think it's rated just right. I think it's rated
just right. Perfectly rated. That is the song.
You hear it. And the holidays are here. It's
one of those you can't help. Even if you don't
like it, you can't help but tap that flow. You
know, like, it's just a happy tune. Yes, totally.
So I don't think it's underrated. I don't think
it's overrated. It gets a lot of hype. It gets
a lot of hype. But I also kind of like the thought
of having like an official start to Christmas
and that it's a song. What do you think? I would
probably say. middle -rated. Ben Rector. Oh,
there we go. That's our Ben. Ben Rector. He has
a Thanksgiving song? Yeah. Okay. Thank you, Robert.
Robert, our researcher and director. Yes. We
appreciate you. Fact -checking in real time.
Yes, I love that. We have a fact checker now.
I think that's a good update for hot mine. Um,
I think it's like you said, kind of in the middle,
it's perfectly rated leading. If I had to pick
maybe overrated, but that's just because like
you said, it gets so much play this time of year.
Um, but she's capitalized on that and as she
should go girl. Yeah. I think as a musician,
would that be the ultimate goal? Like to have
one. Christmas or holiday songs so successful
that you're just set for life probably Wouldn't
have to release any more music. No, I don't know
if she To be fair. I haven't really kept up with
Mariah Carey's music in a long time. She the
one that does touch my body. Yeah That is a good
song. I do really like that song and she's had
so many other hits also, but This is I think
her her bread and butter right? That's a good
way to put it. I don't know how much money she's
made off that song. We could probably look that
up too. We'll get back to you. Speaking of bread
and butter, Thanksgiving food. Let's go there.
Give me your hot take. I've got some hot takes
and I want to see how you align these takes.
Number one, turkey is the worst part of Thanksgiving
dinner. I wouldn't say it's the worst, but it's
not my favorite by any means. It's not my favorite
part. What what is the worst part for you like
a green bean casserole? Oh really? Robert's giving
me eyes like what the heck no, I hate green bean
casserole even with the French onion things I
don't like those those don't do anything for
me Well, I like those on other things, but they
don't add anything to green bean casserole for
me And I like green beans, but I would just want
a plain Green bean. What is the worst part for
you? Probably the stuffing. I've got no time
for the stuffing. You know, really, I don't I
don't really know what's in there. I don't really
trust it. You don't want to know. I want to know
and I just think why focus on the stuffing when
you can focus on the potatoes or anything else
for that. And I do think potatoes are the best
part. Mashed potatoes? Yeah. Now are you going
like traditional mashed potatoes or are we doing
sweet potatoes? Because we sometimes do a sweet
potato casserole. I do like a sweet potato casserole,
but if I had to choose, I would go with traditional
mashed potatoes and gravy. I think that would
be my ultimate. So good. It makes me warm and
cozy just thinking about it. Something really
gross that I had to stop doing when I became
an adult. I'm a big ketchup person. What were
you putting it on? What wasn't I putting it on
everything but especially the mashed potatoes
and it got to a point where like my aunt Would
bring out a little saucer of ketchup just so
that it didn't look bad Didn't want the tacky
to have like a big bottle of high take away from
the aesthetic Totally, but I just remember I'm
the youngest of my siblings and all of my cousins
all of my older cousins and my my older brothers
just not wanting to sit by me because I was grossing
them out. Covered in ketchup. Everything had
ketchup on it. I do sort of understand the mashed
potatoes with ketchup thing because I'm thinking
of maybe a meal that my mom used to make a lot
when we were kids. Meatloaf and meatloaf has
ketchup on top, right? Some versions of it, you
know, you bake it with the ketchup on top. You
might eat that with the side of mashed potatoes.
That's a very classic combo. So I can see I'm
making a connection there. Well, and also like
French fries and ketchup. Yes, and that's just
a different very very about hash browns You might
put ketchup on hash browns definitely very valid.
Okay, you're you're convincing me Try it. Okay
Maybe I will maybe well but get ready for the
stares and the judgment from your relative if
you're doing that Yeah. One thing about Thanksgiving
is that I like my plate to be beige. I like it
to be very neutral colors, all carbohydrates
for the most part. So I do like stuffing. Okay.
Then mashed potatoes. Obviously those are sort
of a neutral tone. Macaroni and cheese also kind
of in that yellow beige color family. I just
like it to be all carbs. That's my main. Now,
are we napping after Thanksgiving dinner in your
house? Well, normally I work sunrise and then
go home and eat. So yes, because it's been a
long day at that point. Big time. But this year
I have sunrise off. Nice. So I'm kind of excited
about that. Are you going to do Thanksgiving
just with Charlie? Are you going to go with your
family or his family? Thanksgiving Day, we're
here, just us two. And then for the weekend,
we're going to my grandparents in Indiana. So
that'll be fun. They pushed it back for us so
that we could celebrate with them. What are you
doing? I'm also off work. The night before Thanksgiving,
I have my 10 -year high school reunion that I'm
hosting. That sounds like trouble. Yeah, I'm
really stressed about it. Isn't that also a big
night when people go back to their hometowns
and kind of do it big out on the town? So I hope
that helps because right now only like 10 people
have RSVP. More people will come for sure. Yeah.
Maybe they'll listen to Hot Mic and get inspired
to come. Class of 2015, Lewis Cass High School.
If you're out there, please join the Facebook
group and RSVP. Make Megan's life easier. Yeah.
So I have that. And then we'll do Thanksgiving.
Well, I don't know when we're doing it because
one of my brother's, his football, he's a coach.
His season is still going on at that point. So
he won't be able to come and bring his family.
I don't know. I'm like the last person to know
anything. I will be in Walton, Indiana, whoever
else is there. Sign up to see her. I missed my
10 year high school reunion a few years ago.
Initially I was on the planning committee, but
then it happened on a weekend that I couldn't
make it back to Indiana. And I was so sad because
there was a Facebook group for the reunion. And
the day after people were making posts, basically
saying things like, love our inside jokes from
last night. Like I had so much fun. Best night
in a while. Wow. So great. Making new memories
with each other. And I was so sad because I had
your memories are stuck in 2012 and I had severe
FOMO. I was like, wow, I didn't make it. And
now I know you have to wait another 10 years.
I missed out on the inside jokes of a lifetime.
It feels like. So I'm glad you're going to get
to go. It'll be fun. I hope so. It'll be good
to see some people I haven't seen in a while,
but it's a lot. It's a lot to plan. So back to
the food and our hot takes. Yes. That was a tangent.
Okay. Leftovers are better than the actual meal.
I would say yes. That's a very hot take. I just,
I typically like leftovers better. Like this
is going to sound gross and I don't like this
word at all, but kind of when things congeal.
Is that really gross sounding? Yeah. I'm sorry.
Maybe that's not, maybe I'm not using the correct
word, but I think I like when things get a little
more time to settle. The food gets a little more
time to settle. I'm a big leftovers person. I
will eat the same thing for five days in a row.
That's good. Like as long as it's still good.
Definitely. So you don't like Thanksgiving leftovers
as much as these hot takes were taken from chat
GPT. So these are not my own beliefs. I might
agree with you on that. I do love a leftover.
And how often are your leftovers like a full
meat and potato meal and like really good stuff.
Really? Yeah. Stuff that you don't get to eat
very often. Generally. Yeah, I'm pro leftover.
Okay, pumpkin pie. is overrated. Yes, I agree.
Is that bad? I think it's underrated. You think
it's underrated? Yeah. Okay, here's what I will
say. I don't need the crust on the pumpkin pie.
I don't want the crust. I just want the filling.
I would eat the filling plain. Really? But the
crust takes it down a few notches for me because
for whatever reason, I just don't love the crust.
High crust I think I can do without. Even on
the bottom? Bottom is okay, I think. I think
it's on the edge where it starts to become a
little too much. It's just like way too hard
and crusty. Which doesn't really match my previous
statement of all carbs, because I do love all
carbs except for the pie crust maybe. You are
contradicting yourself here. There's just something
about too much pie crust. I don't know. Maybe
at that point, I'm just so full from all the
mashed potatoes I've eaten. I'll tell you what
I love about a slice of pumpkin pie at the end
of the meal. when somebody makes a pot of coffee.
Ooh, you're taking me there. The kids have left
the table. They're now like playing or taking
naps or whatever. And it's like, you see, I only
recently graduated to the adult table. You made
it. I've made it. And it's pretty exclusive.
And when the pot of coffee is made and the pie
is going around, I feel like, you know, one of
the big kids. That's what the holidays are all
about. Right? Just kind of being together. We're
being together. Yes, I love that. Yeah. Not to
get all sappy. We can get sappy here. But you're
what you're describing for me like is bringing
back memories, maybe not as a child, but seeing
my parents and family do that. So I love that.
Are you when you guys do holidays? Is it extended
relatives? everybody's there, or do you kind
of keep it to your nuclear family? Well, so growing
up, we always did Thanksgiving with my mom's
side of the family. So she's one of four. And
they it's not a massive family actually for having
for being one of four. It's it wasn't a huge
get together. But we would do it with that side
of the family. And then we would normally do
Christmas with my dad's side of the family, which
is also not crazy. big, but his siblings and
their kids. And then growing up, we used to do
a big family reunion after Christmas with my
dad's side of the family. So my grandma's siblings
and all of their families. And we haven't actually
done that recently, which I would like to get
back to doing that because it's fun to see people.
But yes, so that's kind of what we always did.
Nothing really big, but never really just our.
You know, never just me, my sisters and my parents,
typically. What about you guys? Almost always
with my mom's side of the family. She has a sister
and her sister has three girls, but we haven't
had a big holiday with the cousins and the aunts
and uncles in a while because now we're kind
of in this new era where everybody has kids.
And people probably live apart, right? People
live apart. And then like my, I have two older
brothers and they, you know, one of have their
own family traditions, which I think is really
sweet. So like Christmas morning, they want to
be in their own homes, doing their own things.
So I think we're kind of figuring out how we're
approaching holidays now that, you know, the
family is growing and has all these little families.
So it's a weird feeling when you're the adult
now. It totally is. You have to kind of play
a role in figuring out the holiday dynamic. Sure.
Do you remember, I assume you did this at one
point in Montana, starting out in TV, like a
holiday you spent not with your family. Yes.
I actually remember it like so vividly and it
was really fun. Okay, so you had a good experience.
I had a great experience. Well, I think I worked
every holiday when I was in Montana, and I'm
sure not every experience was great. But I do
remember, I think my first year there, maybe
my second year, I was working Christmas and I
had a fella at the time, no longer in the picture.
I think we both had to work because we both worked
at the station, but we like went on a really
amazing hike into a national forest and just
had like a very, like there was a bunch of snow
on the ground. It felt like Christmas. And then
like we went to a random church service in town.
Um, it was completely different than what I was
used to, but that was just, it was cool to be
in Montana because of all the snow. And that
actually makes me think. I had two great roommates
and the following year, the roommates and I went
into a national forest and cut down our own Christmas
tree, which you can do in Montana for like a
couple bucks. And that was a great Christmas
memory. I love that. Did you do holidays in Montana?
Yes. And you know, I spent, I don't think from
when I got there in 2016. Okay. The first year
I was there, 2016, my family came to me. Oh,
fun. Which was really nice. And I think we went
to Bozeman, Big Sky. We spent Christmas there.
Boz Angeles. Yes. It's very fancy. I think we
didn't really do it very fancy, but I think I
was able to get like two days off of work. So
we did Christmas and I was so grateful that they
came to me because I was homesick, right? You're
homesick when you first move away from home.
And then the next few years, I spent Christmas
in Montana away from my family, which was okay.
And, you know, I think that was a great learning
experience and also just kind of gives you a
new perspective on the holidays and like a compassion
for people who maybe aren't always able to be
with their families on the holiday. And one thing
that I took away too is like, again, being sappy,
but the holidays don't have to be one specific
day, right? Christmas is December 25th, but if
you celebrate it at a different time. That doesn't
make it any less special. Yeah, you're still
celebrating when you get to celebrate it with
whoever you want to be with so There was one
funny Christmas Christmas Eve and Helena. I won't
name any of these people. They won't listen name
them They're nice people, you know who you are
and if you hear this There was no one working
this Christmas Eve because it was Christmas Eve
and I was producing at the time and These particular
people, I believe, were roommates and also coworkers.
So I think they had a lot of togetherness. It
was Christmas Eve. Oh, I know this story. I know.
Okay. So I'm producing. So I'm like sitting.
There was a control room, right? And I'm sitting
at the back and they were directing the show.
There was a technical director and a director.
And they start fighting in the middle of a show.
And neither one of them will press any buttons.
This is a live broadcast production and it is
Christmas Eve and they are like fighting with
each other. They're yelling at each other on
Christmas Eve. And I finally was like, guys,
it's Christmas Eve. Oh my gosh. Somebody has
to press something. And honestly, it probably
didn't go on as long as it felt, you know, but
it felt like an eternity of this Christmas Eve.
fight in the control room. So and that has lived
with you. Yes, that has stuck with me because
that was a Christmas Eve memory. And that night
after work, I did get to go my friend Anna in
Montana, her family very graciously invited me
to spend Christmas Eve with them. So that was
really nice. I think also it's so nice when,
you know, maybe acquaintances or friends invite
people into their homes for the holidays who
might not otherwise get to spend it with someone
that just like is to me is the ultimate So heartwarming.
Yes, it's the kindest thing you can do at the
holidays. So yeah. And it's kind of fun to see
how other families operate on the holidays, because
everybody has different traditions and, you know,
different aspects of the holidays or different,
you know, levels of importance. And I think that's
been a fun thing. I don't know. I'm sure you've
experienced this with Charlie, but with my boyfriend,
like him coming, you know, onto my turf and doing
holidays with my family, very different than
how his family does stuff. But it's kind of fun.
Do you all have any traditions that stick out?
My family? Yes. We always get a live tree. That's
so that really sets the tone and I think it's
really cool because even since my brothers and
I have grown up and moved out my parents still
do it and now sometimes they will take like my
niece and nephew to go get a Christmas tree.
Yeah. I feel like we have a lot. My oldest brother's
birthday is Christmas Eve. Oh, that's interesting.
And this is very like small town USA. For some
reason, I think it's because Bdubs is like one
of the very few restaurants that's open on Christmas
Eve. Is that the place you all go? We go to Bdubs
like every Christmas Eve. But all of our friends
show up, like all of our family friends. And
then my mom is a pianist at a church. And so
she has to play every Christmas Eve. And I always
sing. at the Christmas Eve service do a little,
a little solo. Can we play that on hot mic after
you do it? Maybe. Can you record that? Maybe
we will. So I feel like we do a lot of traditions,
but we always prioritize getting together at
some point. Like you said, it can't always be
on the day, but yeah. What are your traditions?
Well, this is a funny, we don't really do this
anymore now that I'm married, but it kind of
makes me sad growing up. I have three younger
sisters. And up until college, every Christmas
Eve, we would all sleep in one bed because we
were, you know, sometimes like a full bed, maybe
we know what, none of us had a queen bed probably.
So we would literally all squish. That's really
snuggly. Literally it'd be like one person's
head here at the top, feet, head, feet. So that
was one that we had growing up where we all had
to sleep in the same bed. And it's the reasoning
like. you want to make sure nobody sneaks downstairs
to look at presents? We're all going together.
This is a team effort. So that was one growing
up that we had that I think is fun. And now we
don't do it because I'm married. So Charlie doesn't
want to be involved in that. No one really wants
to partake in that anymore. And also you want
to get a good night's sleep before Christmas.
We're not waking up at five in the morning anymore
to see our presents. I'm trying to think of any
other major traditions. Sometimes we watch a
Christmas movie, no one specifically, but we
might try to do that. We do watch It's a Wonderful
Life. That's such a good one. Do you have a favorite
holiday movie? I love Love Actually. Really?
Yes. I feel like that's not one that you hear
a lot. I love The Brits. All -star cast. You
know, I like a movie also that has eight different
plot lines. And that movie has it. So you're
never bored. It's like, we're always we're all
over the place. Watching TikTok. Exactly. Thank
you. Exactly. So I like Love Actually a lot.
For the first time last year, I watched The Holiday
with Jack Black. Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. And Jude
Law. Yeah. And who are the women? Cameron Diaz
and the woman from Titanic. Kate Winslow. Yes.
Winslow. Winslet. Winslet. Winslet. Fact check.
Her. All great. Another great cast. Yeah. Again,
I love the Brits. Anything set in the Cotswolds.
I'm all about at Christmas time. So yeah, those
might be some of my favorite. Elf is another
good one. Yeah. What's your favorite? It's a
Wonderful Life because we watch it every Christmas
Eve and only Christmas Eve. And it like makes
me Tear up like the message is just so good.
I love it's wonderful life also love elf I was
so cute elf is so cute and I watched a really
cool show about how elf was made I think this
series might still be on Netflix. It's called
the movies that made us this is such a plug I
feel like I've told a lot of people about it,
but they Go back and revisit some of the iconic
movies. I think they do dirty dancing and home
alone and And elf and some others, and they talk
about how they cast it and how it came about.
And elf actually ran into a ton of issues when
they were creating it because Will Ferrell starred
in old school, which is a very different vibe.
Right around the same time. And so a lot of people
were like, this isn't going to work because people
aren't going to see him as an innocent elf. They're
going to see him as a frat guy. And then they
had issues. They had a lot of copyright issues
with their costumes because it was kind of modeled
after, um, I'm like, I can't think of any words
today, but you know, like those old books, the
rank and rank and. Oh my gosh. Anyway, we'll
think of it anyway. That sounds so interesting.
I copied the costumes and so at the last minute
they thought they were going to have to change
all the costumes. I don't know. It's just look
this show up on Netflix. It's called The Movies
That Made Us and watch the episode about Elf.
It's fascinating. It's so interesting too that
they say we wouldn't have thought of Will Ferrell
as Elf because I feel like that's sort of the
role that everyone does think of him. Totally.
I mean, obviously he's had a lot of roles, but
that's kind of him. Funny. I'm going to have
to watch that. Yeah. And the other episodes are
really good too. about the other movies that
they follow. That will get me in the Christmas
spirit. I also love Home Alone, and my five -year
-old nephew, I think, looks exactly like Macaulay
Culkin in Home Alone. He does, if I'm thinking
of the right one. Yeah, he's like little blonde,
and he can do, we've trained him to do this,
you know, when he does the face. Have they ever
done a Christmas card like that? That would be
so cute. That would be cute. Maybe they should.
I mean, I know he has siblings, right? So they
have to. It's not all about him. They'd have
to fit them in somehow. They could be maybe the
burglars. That could be a good Halloween costume.
That would be really cute crossover. I love that.
How do we feel about Hallmark movies? Oh, gosh,
I haven't watched a Hallmark movie in a long
time, but I was just talking to my hairdresser.
Shout out Angela. She is a big Hallmark. movie
watcher. And so this is her time this year. Like
she's, she's been watching and she was telling
me about them. You know, they have all sorts
of types of Hallmark movies, but they're all
kind of the same, the same vibe, right? A lot
of different plots, but kind of, you can kind
of figure out what's going to happen in a lot
of them. So maybe, maybe I'll try them out. What
about you? I don't want to say I'm anti Hallmark
movie, but I'm not sitting down to watch a full
Hallmark movie. My mom, she doesn't Want you
to think she's obsessed with them, but I think
she's obsessed with homework movies. I do like
her reasoning. She says, well, my argument is
like, you know how it's going to end. There is
no element of surprise in these movies. It's
always the same plot. And she says, well, that's
the point. There's so much negativity and all
this awful stuff going on. And you know that
if you sit down to watch a Hallmark movie, it's
going to have a happy ending. It's all going
to be fine. I can appreciate that. Therapy, in
a way. I can see that. Sometimes you don't want
a sad movie, a scary movie, a movie that feels
too real. Yes. Because we deal with that all
in our everyday life. So I understand where she's
coming from. Yeah. Now, could Hallmark movies
get a little variation? Like, you know that actress
who... Is in all of them? Is in all of them.
She's the girl in Mean Girls. Yes. Gretchen Wieners
has like really carved out a lane for herself.
She has. I think her name is Lacey something.
I'm not going to try with any more names this
episode because I'm really struggling. But my
mom always gets me because every time a Hallmark
movie comes up with that girl, my mom says, well,
she really gets around. Well, your mom knows
because she's watching all of them. She does
star in every movie and has like a different
guy. That's a good point. Well, okay. So that
kind of brings me back to the elf thing callback
because are we just supposed to suspend our disbelief
that she's not the same person in every single
movie right like we recognize this woman from
every single movie so she's just a different
person every time right yeah i guess you have
to i struggle with that you have to start fresh
with her every time yeah forget all the other
times you've seen her very interesting Yeah.
Maybe I'll watch one this year. I'm pretty sure
that they do like, like the 25 days of Christmas
Hallmark movie countdown or something where they
have one every night. And you know, Lisa Mandarin
is sat for that. I love that. Hey, we all have
our last year I did like a 25 day countdown every
day doing kind of something festive. I think
I made it maybe six days, but it did get me in
the right headspace. I maybe bake some cookies.
That's cute. I can't think of anything else that
I did at this point. I kind of remember this.
I feel like maybe you did some crafting. Yes,
I did. I hot glued. This was really cute. But
then they all fell off. I hot glued like mini
ornaments, like mini glass or plasticky ornaments
to a frame. It looked adorable. But one by one,
they were popping off. Yeah. So by the time I
got to Christmas, it was kind of just a hot glue
frame. Yeah. So I tried. Gave it my best effort,
sure. I'm excited to decorate though this year.
That is exciting, especially because you have
a house. That is a fun part. Yeah. And you can
like, kind of start new traditions with your
husband. Exactly. I am trying though, probably
like a lot of people, I'm sure many people feel
this sentiment, trying to spend less money and
not go out and buy a bunch of new Christmas decorations.
Yeah. Because I think we all feel that temptation
every year. Yes. On social media. Totally. Like
what does home goods have this year? Well, I'm
kind of proud of myself. I never do this and
I have done this for nothing else. But last year
I actually went into home goods and paper source
after Christmas. And I bought a bunch of stuff
and it was marked way down. That's the way to
do it. I didn't even take it out of like the
packaging. So I am excited to get my Christmas
decorations out because I'm going to have some
new stuff. It's like you're getting to shop.
Right. Again. Right. You've already spent the
money. Yeah, it is tempting and I'm someone who
really goes overboard with my holiday spending.
It's hard. It is hard. We're setting a budget
this year for sure. How's that going? It's okay.
How did the Halloween budget go? Because I did
set a budget and you know, honestly, I did pretty
good. I think I did okay. I just bought a lot
of candy and I had to bring in all the extra
candy to work. Yeah. And that stuff was gone
in six hours here. Sure. We love our candy here
at LAX 18. But yeah, everything costs so much
nowadays. I think we've all seen that at the
grocery store. Just the prices keep going up.
So yeah, trying to cut back and experience holiday
joy in other ways. Totally, totally. And I think
probably closer to Christmas, maybe we'll talk
about some gift ideas that don't require a lot
of spending. Yeah, I'm going to start thinking
and brainstorming. And we each have a practical
gift. So maybe we'll think of some good ones,
like the battery daddy. I don't know if I'm allowed
to like promo specific brands on here, but. We've
been tossing out a lot of shows and musicians.
We are not paid for any of that stuff. Unless
you want to. I just happen to like the battery
daddy, so anyways. Well, if you were not in the
holiday spirit yet, I hope this episode helped
you feel a little more spirited. I feel spirited.
I'm getting kind of excited. Me too. I transferred
over my wardrobe from summer to fall. Have a
lot of nice jewel tones in there now, which today.
Yep. I love that. Exciting. Yeah. It's all a
part of it. Yeah. So fun. Well, I'm so glad that
we got to be here on hot mic. I've been looking
forward to this. I think we needed it. Our girl
talk. Yeah. Well, we did have girls talk on Sunday.
We did get a coffee. That was a meeting. That
was a hot mic meeting. And we were saying that
we should have had. Mikes there because we were
really covering a lot filling that tea. Yeah
Yeah, that's okay. There was a lot of tea It
would be fun one day to take the show out and
about on that would be I'm sure Roberts like,
please No, we're not we are not doing that taking
this equipment somewhere else. That would be
difficult. But yeah, this was fun It was and
we have an exciting guest coming up next week.
We do we want a plug? Yes. I mean, I hope he
Oh my gosh, what if he cancels? This means he
has to show up. You can say it. Divine Karama.
Yes. We're really excited. He's the director
of One Lexington and he's a hip hop artist. He's
also working tirelessly to end gun violence,
working with youth in the city. He does an awesome
job. Andy has a big fundraiser every year where
he... tries to gather donations of coats for
a big coat drive. And that's getting underway.
So we're going to have him on to talk about that
all the other work he does and just him in general.
He's a really nice, cool guy. So divine. This
is we're locking you in. Now you have to show
up. We're locking you into hot mic. We're excited
to have you. Yeah. Yeah. And lots of other guests
coming up too. So tune in each week. Awesome.
Well, thank you so much for tagging along, listening
to our just nonsense and our banter about the
holidays. This has been like, I don't know, such
a blessing, I think, news to have this time each
week where we can just be silly and fun. Totally.
Thank you for joining us. Make sure you Tune
in, listen, watch wherever you get your podcast,
and we will see you next week for a new episode
of Hot Mic.