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Pop DNA

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by Rhonda Watts and Erin O'Loughlin

5.0(9 reviews)
211 episodes
Updated Weekly
Accepts GuestsHas SponsorsLocation 🇺🇸
76

Podcast Authority

Beta
GoodBased on show quality, social media presence, reviews, charts, and more
Pod Engine
Quality81
Social91
YouTube66
Engagement68
Learn more

Podcast Overview

Pop DNA traces the roots of your favorite pop culture works. We're Erin and Rhonda, and we are big old nerds. We love dissecting our favorite movies, TV shows, and more, and we're really into how literature, history, and culture have impacted the works we consume. We explore connections across mediums, from the classic novels we see reflected in our favorite horror movies, to the politics in superhero franchises, to the influence of Shakespeare in, like, literally everything. There are also bad jokes. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram!

Language

🇺🇲

Publishing Since

10/25/2018

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76

Podcast Authority

Beta
GoodBased on show quality, social media presence, reviews, charts, and more
Pod Engine
Quality81
Social91
YouTube66
Engagement68
Learn more
8
Excellent Areas
1
Good Performance
10
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excellent
Episode Length
1h 22m
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good
Publishing Consistency
Every 13 days

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Recent Episodes

Episode thumbnail for The Mount Rushmore of Public Domain Halloween Monsters | Vampire Summer

July 5, 2026

The Mount Rushmore of Public Domain Halloween Monsters | Vampire Summer

<p>We&#39;re getting further down the vampire funnel into allegory and metaphor--what do vampires MEEEEEAAANN???</p><p>We start with some historical medical cases that give insight into what people in the past thought of vampires, with the case of Mercy Brown, and an explainer on the vampire-adjacent Chinese mythological creature the Jiangshi.</p><p>We also look at a few of our favorite (or at least most foundational) examples of vampires in literary or cultural works that are used to explore social and political commentary, including Dracula, Sinners, and Buffy the Vampire Slayer.</p><p>Next episode we will look at vampire romance!</p><p>Further Reading:</p><p>More about the <a href="https://www.mindbodyglobe.com/jiangshi-chinese-vampire/ " target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer"><strong>Jiangshi</strong></a></p><p>The case of <a href="https://newengland.com/yankee/history/vampire-mercy-brown-rhode-island/ " target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer"><strong>Mercy Brown</strong></a></p><p>Edgar Allan Poe&#39;s tenuous <a href="https://www.history.com/articles/vampire-history " target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer"><strong>connection</strong></a> to vampire lore</p><p><a href="https://retrospectjournal.com/2024/11/10/a-colonial-writing-of-bram-stokers-dracula/ " target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer"><strong>A Colonial Reading of Bram Stoker&#39;s Dracula</strong></a></p><p>Psychology Today&#39;s <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-asylum/202506/the-role-of-vampires-in-the-film-sinners" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer"><strong>analysis</strong></a> of Sinners</p><p>The Take <a href="https://youtu.be/_vQj3xtWa5A?is=IF8Dk01XNNlMlYXT" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer"><strong>video</strong></a> on adolescence, adulthood, and vampires in Buffy</p><p><a href="https://nevejay.medium.com/eternity-wounds-eternity-heals-how-interview-with-the-vampire-explores-vampirism-as-a-76226df538a5 " target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer"><strong>The Psychology of Trauma in Interview with the Vampire</strong></a></p><p><br></p><p>Follow us on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/popdnapodcast/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer"><strong>Instagram</strong></a></p>

Episode thumbnail for This Episode Sucks | Vampire Summer

June 14, 2026

This Episode Sucks | Vampire Summer

<p>Stake it or leave it, this is our summer series!</p><p>We decided to spend our summer deep diving into vampire lore and the ever evolving role of the undead in popular fiction. </p><p>In our first installment, we define our terms and talk a little about the folklore origins of vampire stories. We also take a quick look at vampires in popular fiction, highlighting a few works and broader trends that we will delve into deeper in future episodes.</p><p>Further Reading:</p><p><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/vampire " target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer"><strong>Britannica entry</strong></a> on vampires</p><p>Vampires on the <a href="https://mythus.fandom.com/wiki/Vampire" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer"><strong>mythos fandom wiki</strong></a></p><p><a href="https://www.history.com/articles/vampire-history" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer"><strong>Vampire history</strong></a></p><p>The migration of <a href="https://shewrites.com/genre-trends-in-publishing-for-2025/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer"><strong>paranormal romance </strong></a></p><p>The <a href="https://www.writersdigest.com/write-better-fiction/the-evolution-of-vampires-in-writing-the-reflection-we-always-need" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer"><strong>evolving role</strong></a> of vampires in literature</p><p><br></p><p>Follow us on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/popdnapodcast/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer"><strong>Instagram</strong></a></p>

Episode thumbnail for BONUS: Rhonda Wrote a Book and We Talked About It!

May 10, 2026

BONUS: Rhonda Wrote a Book and We Talked About It!

<p>Pop DNA scored an exclusive early interview with up-and-coming debut author Rhonda Watts for an intimate, no-holds-barred interview.</p><p>Rhonda&#39;s debut cozy fantasy book, Spells &amp; Sensibility, is currently on submission, so no spoilers or big news yet, but she wanted to talk about it with her friend Erin, and we recorded the conversation.</p><p>We talk about Rhonda&#39;s writing process, how she got the idea for the book, making time to write with a full-time job, the importance of finding the right agent, and how to approach writing a Jane Austen retelling.</p><p>Read Rhonda&#39;s blog post about the process <a href="https://rhondablogsaboutbooks.wordpress.com/2025/08/23/i-wrote-a-book-let-me-tell-you-about-it/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer"><strong>here</strong></a>.</p><p>Follow us on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/popdnapodcast/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer"><strong>Instagram</strong></a>, and get ready for Vampire Summer starting in June!</p>

211 total episodes available

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What is Pop DNA?

Pop DNA traces the roots of your favorite pop culture works.

We're Erin and Rhonda, and we are big old nerds. We love dissecting our favorite movies, TV shows, and more, and we're really into how literature, history, and culture have impacted the works we consume. We explore connections across mediums, from the classic novels we see reflected in our favorite horror movies, to the politics in superhero franchises, to the influence of Shakespeare in, like, literally everything. There are also bad jokes. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram!

How often does this podcast release new episodes?

This podcast updates weekly.

Where can I listen to this podcast?

This podcast is available on 8 platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. You can also use the RSS feed directly.

Does this podcast accept guests?

Yes, this podcast regularly features guests.

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