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Zen Pop

Pagatim

Zen POP is a podcast about understanding ourselves through the music, movies, and moments that shaped us. With a distinctly Gen X sensibility, we use pop culture as a mirror, reflecting our emotional patterns, relationships, blind spots, and where we’re still learning. Each episode starts with something we all know and love, then uses humor, memory, and shared reference points to go deeper into what we watch and listen to, what it reveals about us, and how those stories shape our relationships and our sense of self. We organize conversations into categories, themes, and “best of” lists because remembering together helps us understand ourselves more clearly. Listeners can also access Zen Parenting LIVE!, our premium podcast focused entirely on parenting and self-awareness, along with exclusive episodes and deeper connection with other Team Zen members. https://zenpopparenting.com/#team-zen

Location:

Chicago, IL

Networks:

Pagatim

Description:

Zen POP is a podcast about understanding ourselves through the music, movies, and moments that shaped us. With a distinctly Gen X sensibility, we use pop culture as a mirror, reflecting our emotional patterns, relationships, blind spots, and where we’re still learning. Each episode starts with something we all know and love, then uses humor, memory, and shared reference points to go deeper into what we watch and listen to, what it reveals about us, and how those stories shape our relationships and our sense of self. We organize conversations into categories, themes, and “best of” lists because remembering together helps us understand ourselves more clearly. Listeners can also access Zen Parenting LIVE!, our premium podcast focused entirely on parenting and self-awareness, along with exclusive episodes and deeper connection with other Team Zen members. https://zenpopparenting.com/#team-zen

Language:

English

Contact:

c/o Pagatim 1929 SE Powell Blvd. Portland, OR 97202 312-952-8122


Episodes
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When Harry Met Sally Episode #849

12/30/2025
We decided to re-run an old “Pop Culturing” Podcast in honor of the tragic death of Rob Reiner and his wife Michele. We will be creating 4 new Zen Pop Episodes based off of 4 other Rob Reiner films for the month of January. When Harry Met Sally… is a 1989 American romantic comedy film written by Nora Ephron and directed by Rob Reiner. It stars Billy Crystal as Harry and Meg Ryan as Sally. The story follows the title characters from the time they meet in Chicago just before sharing a cross-country drive, through twelve years of chance encounters in New York City. The film raises the question “Can men and women ever just be friends?” and advances many ideas about relationships that became household concepts, such as “high-maintenance” and the “transitional person”. Some Ways to Support Us Sign up for Cathy’s SubstackOrder Restoring our GirlsJoin Team Zen Links shared in this episode: For the full show notes, visit zenpopparenting.com. This week’s sponsor(s): Avid CoDavid Serrano- Certified Financial Planner- 815-370-3780MenLiving Todd Adams Life & Leadership Coaching for Guys Other Ways to Support Us InstagramYouTubeFacebookCathy’s Book Zen Parenting: Caring for Ourselves and Our Children in an Unpredictable WorldResources PageMenLiving Connect profile

Duration:01:07:54

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Love Actually – Messy Love Stories About Decent, Interconnected People Episode# 848

12/23/2025
Cathy and Todd discuss Love Actually as part of their “Christmas movies that might not actually be Christmas movies” month. Released in November 2003 and written and directed by Richard Curtis, the film uses its London-at-Christmas setting, stacked ensemble cast, and interwoven stories of romantic, familial, awkward, and heartbreaking love to reflect a long-held worldview: messy humans and basic decency still matter. Cathy and Todd go through their categories, debate the storylines, and unpack why its message that “love is all around” became an annual ritual for so many—and what lands differently when we watch it now.. Some Ways to Support Us Sign up for Cathy’s SubstackOrder Restoring our GirlsJoin Team Zen Links shared in this episode: For the full show notes, visit zenpopparenting.com. This week’s sponsor(s): Avid CoDavid Serrano- Certified Financial Planner- 815-370-3780MenLiving Todd Adams Life & Leadership Coaching for Guys Other Ways to Support Us InstagramYouTubeFacebookCathy’s Book Zen Parenting: Caring for Ourselves and Our Children in an Unpredictable WorldResources PageMenLiving Connect profile

Duration:01:15:37

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The Family Stone: A Movie About Change, Loss, and Letting People In Episode# 847

12/16/2025
Cathy and Todd talk about The Family Stone and why it works so well as “a Christmas movie that isn’t really a Christmas movie”. They explore how it’s a story about family systems, grief, belonging, and what happens when someone new steps into a familiar and often fragile emotional ecosystem. They get into the best family movies, the most uncomfortable scenes, each character’s role, birth order patterns, sibling energy, and the tension Meredith brings into the house. They also look at why this messy and tender story is still such a holiday staple twenty years later. Some Ways to Support Us Sign up for Cathy’s SubstackOrder Restoring our GirlsJoin Team Zen Links shared in this episode: For the full show notes, visit zenpopparenting.com. This week’s sponsor(s): Avid CoDavid Serrano- Certified Financial Planner- 815-370-3780MenLiving Todd Adams Life & Leadership Coaching for Guys Other Ways to Support Us InstagramYouTubeFacebookCathy’s Book Zen Parenting: Caring for Ourselves and Our Children in an Unpredictable WorldResources PageMenLiving Connect profile

Duration:01:18:23

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Trading Places Episode# 846

12/9/2025
Some Ways to Support Us Sign up for Cathy’s SubstackOrder Restoring our GirlsJoin Team Zen Links shared in this episode: For the full show notes, visit zenpopparenting.com. This week’s sponsor(s): Avid CoDavid Serrano- Certified Financial Planner- 815-370-3780MenLiving Todd Adams Life & Leadership Coaching for Guys Other Ways to Support Us InstagramYouTubeFacebookCathy’s Book Zen Parenting: Caring for Ourselves and Our Children in an Unpredictable WorldResources PageMenLiving Connect profile

Duration:01:03:18

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Die Hard: The Great Christmas-Movie Debate- Episode #845

12/2/2025
Cathy and Todd discuss Die Hard, the 1988 action classic that redefined the genre, covering everything from its Christmas Eve plot and iconic Nakatomi Plaza setting to the film’s surprisingly heartfelt themes of family, reconciliation, and love. They discuss why so many (including Cathy) consider it a Christmas movie, break down the characters and casting surprises, highlight the film’s legacy and genre-shaping influence, and share the behind-the-scenes stories that made Bruce Willis’s hero an unexpected cultural icon. From Hans Gruber’s unforgettable villainy to the film’s “Die Hard in a ____” effect across decades of action films, it’s a nostalgic and big-hearted look at why this movie endures and why so many of us return to it every holiday season. Some Ways to Support Us Sign up for Cathy’s SubstackOrder Restoring our GirlsJoin Team Zen Links shared in this episode: For the full show notes, visit zenpopparenting.com. This week’s sponsor(s): Avid CoDavid Serrano- Certified Financial Planner- 815-370-3780MenLiving Todd Adams Life & Leadership Coaching for Guys Other Ways to Support Us InstagramYouTubeFacebookCathy’s Book Zen Parenting: Caring for Ourselves and Our Children in an Unpredictable WorldResources PageMenLiving Connect profile

Duration:01:11:40

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Toy Story- Episode #844

11/25/2025
Todd and Cathy share the upcoming changes to their podcast, Zen Parenting Radio, which will be renamed Zen POP Parenting starting June 1st! They also discuss the normal shifts in kids’ friendships, highlighting the importance of loyalty, boundaries, and the reality that friendships evolve. As parents, we can feel more overwhelmed than our kids when these changes happen, but it’s important to normalize the ups and downs of friendships and offer support without letting our own fear or discomfort take over.

Duration:01:04:51

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Forrest Gump: A Paradoxical Parable- Episode #843

11/18/2025
Todd and Cathy share the upcoming changes to their podcast, Zen Parenting Radio, which will be renamed Zen POP Parenting starting June 1st! They also discuss the normal shifts in kids’ friendships, highlighting the importance of loyalty, boundaries, and the reality that friendships evolve. As parents, we can feel more overwhelmed than our kids when these changes happen, but it’s important to normalize the ups and downs of friendships and offer support without letting our own fear or discomfort take over.

Duration:01:16:10

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Cast Away: A Movie About Time, Control, and SurrenderCast Away- Episode #842

11/11/2025
Todd and Cathy share the upcoming changes to their podcast, Zen Parenting Radio, which will be renamed Zen POP Parenting starting June 1st! They also discuss the normal shifts in kids’ friendships, highlighting the importance of loyalty, boundaries, and the reality that friendships evolve. As parents, we can feel more overwhelmed than our kids when these changes happen, but it’s important to normalize the ups and downs of friendships and offer support without letting our own fear or discomfort take over.

Duration:01:23:05

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BIG and the Wisdom of Staying Young & Playful- Episode #840

11/4/2025
Todd and Cathy share the upcoming changes to their podcast, Zen Parenting Radio, which will be renamed Zen POP Parenting starting June 1st! They also discuss the normal shifts in kids’ friendships, highlighting the importance of loyalty, boundaries, and the reality that friendships evolve. As parents, we can feel more overwhelmed than our kids when these changes happen, but it’s important to normalize the ups and downs of friendships and offer support without letting our own fear or discomfort take over.

Duration:01:19:27

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Se7en: The Movie That Made Us Ask What’s in the Box- Episode #839

10/28/2025
Todd and Cathy share the upcoming changes to their podcast, Zen Parenting Radio, which will be renamed Zen POP Parenting starting June 1st! They also discuss the normal shifts in kids’ friendships, highlighting the importance of loyalty, boundaries, and the reality that friendships evolve. As parents, we can feel more overwhelmed than our kids when these changes happen, but it’s important to normalize the ups and downs of friendships and offer support without letting our own fear or discomfort take over.

Duration:01:24:03

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The Haunting of Hill House: A Gen X Ghost Story About Grief & Family Secrets- Episode #838

10/21/2025
Todd and Cathy share the upcoming changes to their podcast, Zen Parenting Radio, which will be renamed Zen POP Parenting starting June 1st! They also discuss the normal shifts in kids’ friendships, highlighting the importance of loyalty, boundaries, and the reality that friendships evolve. As parents, we can feel more overwhelmed than our kids when these changes happen, but it’s important to normalize the ups and downs of friendships and offer support without letting our own fear or discomfort take over.

Duration:01:26:50

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Twilight and the Era of Multigenerational Longing- Episode #837

10/14/2025
Todd and Cathy share the upcoming changes to their podcast, Zen Parenting Radio, which will be renamed Zen POP Parenting starting June 1st! They also discuss the normal shifts in kids’ friendships, highlighting the importance of loyalty, boundaries, and the reality that friendships evolve. As parents, we can feel more overwhelmed than our kids when these changes happen, but it’s important to normalize the ups and downs of friendships and offer support without letting our own fear or discomfort take over.

Duration:01:25:21

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Scream: The Gen X Horror Movie About Gen X Horror Movies- Episode #836

10/7/2025
Todd and Cathy share the upcoming changes to their podcast, Zen Parenting Radio, which will be renamed Zen POP Parenting starting June 1st! They also discuss the normal shifts in kids’ friendships, highlighting the importance of loyalty, boundaries, and the reality that friendships evolve. As parents, we can feel more overwhelmed than our kids when these changes happen, but it’s important to normalize the ups and downs of friendships and offer support without letting our own fear or discomfort take over.

Duration:01:08:19

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Halloween: Gen X Suburban Fear and the Final Girl- Episode #835

9/30/2025
Todd and Cathy share the upcoming changes to their podcast, Zen Parenting Radio, which will be renamed Zen POP Parenting starting June 1st! They also discuss the normal shifts in kids’ friendships, highlighting the importance of loyalty, boundaries, and the reality that friendships evolve. As parents, we can feel more overwhelmed than our kids when these changes happen, but it’s important to normalize the ups and downs of friendships and offer support without letting our own fear or discomfort take over.

Duration:01:12:09

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Airplane! The Film That Defined Gen X Humor- Episode #834

9/23/2025
Todd and Cathy share the upcoming changes to their podcast, Zen Parenting Radio, which will be renamed Zen POP Parenting starting June 1st! They also discuss the normal shifts in kids’ friendships, highlighting the importance of loyalty, boundaries, and the reality that friendships evolve. As parents, we can feel more overwhelmed than our kids when these changes happen, but it’s important to normalize the ups and downs of friendships and offer support without letting our own fear or discomfort take over.

Duration:01:04:25

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The Summer I Turned Pretty, Shaped by Gen X Pop Culture- Episode #833

9/16/2025
Todd and Cathy share the upcoming changes to their podcast, Zen Parenting Radio, which will be renamed Zen POP Parenting starting June 1st! They also discuss the normal shifts in kids’ friendships, highlighting the importance of loyalty, boundaries, and the reality that friendships evolve. As parents, we can feel more overwhelmed than our kids when these changes happen, but it’s important to normalize the ups and downs of friendships and offer support without letting our own fear or discomfort take over.

Duration:01:16:35

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Unknown Number- Episode #832

9/9/2025
Todd and Cathy share the upcoming changes to their podcast, Zen Parenting Radio, which will be renamed Zen POP Parenting starting June 1st! They also discuss the normal shifts in kids’ friendships, highlighting the importance of loyalty, boundaries, and the reality that friendships evolve. As parents, we can feel more overwhelmed than our kids when these changes happen, but it’s important to normalize the ups and downs of friendships and offer support without letting our own fear or discomfort take over.

Duration:01:18:15

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The Wishful Politics of Gen X: The American President and Dave- Episode #831

9/2/2025
Todd and Cathy share the upcoming changes to their podcast, Zen Parenting Radio, which will be renamed Zen POP Parenting starting June 1st! They also discuss the normal shifts in kids’ friendships, highlighting the importance of loyalty, boundaries, and the reality that friendships evolve. As parents, we can feel more overwhelmed than our kids when these changes happen, but it’s important to normalize the ups and downs of friendships and offer support without letting our own fear or discomfort take over.

Duration:01:22:29

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Boybands and Performative Masculinity- Episode #830

8/26/2025
Todd and Cathy share the upcoming changes to their podcast, Zen Parenting Radio, which will be renamed Zen POP Parenting starting June 1st! They also discuss the normal shifts in kids’ friendships, highlighting the importance of loyalty, boundaries, and the reality that friendships evolve. As parents, we can feel more overwhelmed than our kids when these changes happen, but it’s important to normalize the ups and downs of friendships and offer support without letting our own fear or discomfort take over.

Duration:01:50:52

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Hairbands and Performative Masculinity- Episode #829

8/19/2025
Todd and Cathy share the upcoming changes to their podcast, Zen Parenting Radio, which will be renamed Zen POP Parenting starting June 1st! They also discuss the normal shifts in kids’ friendships, highlighting the importance of loyalty, boundaries, and the reality that friendships evolve. As parents, we can feel more overwhelmed than our kids when these changes happen, but it’s important to normalize the ups and downs of friendships and offer support without letting our own fear or discomfort take over.

Duration:01:20:57