Monika Scott and Emily Faye are best friends and movie lovers.
They’re not professional critics, but they love movies and want to get better at talking about them critically. The result is thoughtful, curious conversations shaped by a very long friendship.
If you love movies but don’t see yourself in any of the movie podcasts you’ve found so far, welcome!
Medium Literate is a comfort show for movie lovers who want to think a little deeper about movies together.
Against all odds, we are here to defend Verity.
This week, Monika and Emily dip their toes into the CoHo waters to talk about Michael Showalter’s star-studded adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s extremely popular/horny/violent thriller starring Dakota Johnson, Anne Hathaway and Josh Hartnett, a movie we can only describe (lovingly) as prestige Lifetime schlock.
We get into why Dakota Johnson’s particular brand of deadpan coolness is absolutely perfect for Lowen Ashleigh (perfect name), Anne Hathaway playing evil, Josh Hartnett’s ongoing second career as "Hot Dad Who May Be Dangerous...or not?" and why this movie understands exactly how seriously to take its beach-read source material.
***Major spoilers for Verity throughout!!!
Join the conversation with us below:
Email us mediumliterate@gmail.com
https://www.instagram.com/mediumliterate/ (https://www.instagram.com/mediumliterate/)
https://www.tiktok.com/@mediumliterate (https://www.tiktok.com/@mediumliterate)
https://www.youtube.com/@MediumLiterate (https://www.youtube.com/@MediumLiterate)
https://www.patreon.com/c/mediumliterate (https://www.patreon.com/c/mediumliterate)
Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):
https://uppbeat.io/t/christian-larssen/happy-street (https://track.pstmrk.it/3s/uppbeat.io%2Ft%2Fchristian-larssen%2Fhappy-street/vZub/g4nDAQ/AQ/ced5efd8-591b-4462-9b07-103d26ec307d/4/QNuFxIlpxF)
License code: B9EXR1D9EIBQLKXT
5 Oct 2026
Digger
This week we’re talking about Alejandro G. Iñárritu’s Digger, starring Tom Cruise as an oil tycoon at the center of an apocalyptic climate disaster (and also some other stuff)
We discuss whether a movie can be intentionally unpleasant and still simply not work for you, Iñárritu’s keen eye for bringing together incredibly skilled film crafts-people, and the exciting return of Tom Cruise doing something other than jumping out of airplanes.
***Major spoilers for Digger throughout the entire conversation.
Join the conversation with us below:
Email us mediumliterate@gmail.com
https://www.instagram.com/mediumliterate/ (https://www.instagram.com/mediumliterate/)
https://www.tiktok.com/@mediumliterate (https://www.tiktok.com/@mediumliterate)
https://www.youtube.com/@MediumLiterate (https://www.youtube.com/@MediumLiterate)
https://www.patreon.com/c/mediumliterate (https://www.patreon.com/c/mediumliterate)
Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):
https://uppbeat.io/t/christian-larssen/happy-street (https://track.pstmrk.it/3s/uppbeat.io%2Ft%2Fchristian-larssen%2Fhappy-street/vZub/g4nDAQ/AQ/ced5efd8-591b-4462-9b07-103d26ec307d/4/QNuFxIlpxF)
License code: B9EXR1D9EIBQLKXT
28 Sept 2026
Primetime
Lance Oppenheim's 'Primetime' has been one of the most hotly anticipated films of the year, and Monika and Emily are both here to say that in their opinions, it did not disappoint. This episode covers a lot of ground, both within the movie itself: the electrifying performances from basically everyone, theorizing about what the movie makes of Chris Hansen as a man and as a cultural figure, the humor, the darkness, the visuals, AND outside the movie: The 2025 documentary 'Predators', the show 'Undercover Underage', Lance Oppenheim's previous work, Chris Hansen's current career, and the whole sub-genre of media that he ultimately spawned. 'Primetime' is a provocative movie about a tonally fascinating juggernaut of a show about the darkest parts of humanity, and that's a recipe for a very long, very wide-ranging conversation to try to make a little bit of sense out of a lot of things.
Join the conversation with us below:
Email us mediumliterate@gmail.com
https://www.instagram.com/mediumliterate/ (https://www.instagram.com/mediumliterate/)
https://www.tiktok.com/@mediumliterate (https://www.tiktok.com/@mediumliterate)
https://www.youtube.com/@MediumLiterate (https://www.youtube.com/@MediumLiterate)
https://www.patreon.com/c/mediumliterate (https://www.patreon.com/c/mediumliterate)
Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):
https://uppbeat.io/t/christian-larssen/happy-street (https://track.pstmrk.it/3s/uppbeat.io%2Ft%2Fchristian-larssen%2Fhappy-street/vZub/g4nDAQ/AQ/ced5efd8-591b-4462-9b07-103d26ec307d/4/QNuFxIlpxF)
License code: B9EXR1D9EIBQLKXT
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
10 ratings
Spotify
4.8 / 5
14 ratings
Contact Medium Literate
Guest appearances
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