‘Tis the season of awkward office parties, manic holiday shopping, and countless best-of-2025 lists. Whether it’s Spotify Wrapped or Time’s Person of the Year, we’re always looking for ways to measure a year. Besides daylights, sunsets, midnights and cups of coffee, of course.
Now that I got that Rentreference out of the way, I’d like to draw your attention to a round-up that caught my attention: Pop Culture Happy Hour’s favorite moments of 2025. Our critics ranked their top moments in TV, film and music, choosing a specific scene or lyric that resonated with them. Think of it as a pop-culture relic of 2025, if you will.
They shouted out the year’s buzziest titles, including Sinners, Severance and K-Pop Demon Hunters. (As an aside, I felt personally vindicated that host Aisha Harris also thinks the film’s break-out song, Golden, is not its best track). I won’t spoil the full list, but they highlighted some TV shows that were not on my radar. I now have a few new recs to binge over the holidays!
Speaking of year-end round-ups, we’re unveiling the Pod Club Awards next Monday! Expect a special email where we reveal YOUR vote for the People’s Choice Award.
🫡Podspeed,
-Lauren
The week’s best episodes
...to share with the pop culturista in your life.
.
🤣 Laugh your way through life’s troubles
A listener rang How To Do Everything’s hotline with a question: she’d lost all her hair to her cancer treatment, and was looking for a quippy response to lighten the mood with strangers. Our hosts came to the rescue, recruiting six comedians to pitch zingy one-liners.
🪙 A penny for your thoughts? More like three!
That’s right—it costs 3.7 cents to make just one penny. The U.S. Mint stopped producing pennies in November, and The Indicatorhas the story on how the coin got so pricey.
🔌 The data center next door
Has a data company recently moved into your neighborhood? You may be footing their electricity bill. On Short Wave, learn how the recent proliferation of data centers are impacting utility expenses for everyday consumers.
➕ PG-13 movies are sooo yesterday. Fun fact: Gen Alpha prefers movie theaters more than Gen Z or millennials. That’s one reason why some of this year’s biggest movies are rated PG. This bonus episode of Consider This digs into the recent rise of kid-friendly blockbusters. To get sponsor-free listening, sign up for NPR+.
One to Watch
Mel Robbins chatted with Wild Card’sRachel Martin about navigating jealousy and how self-improvement should never come at a cost to others. She also talks about a surprising encounter on The Tonight Show:
@nprwildcard/YouTube
Who do you know that LOVES podcasts? Forward them this email, as a treat! Sign up here.
Got something on your mind? We'd love to hear from you: podclub@npr.org
NPR has so! many! great! newsletters! Politics, culture, identity... we've got you covered.
You received this message because you're subscribed to Pod Club emails. This email was sent by National Public Radio, Inc., 1111 North Capitol Street NE, Washington, DC 20002
