Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang
Book Recommendations

Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang

Ding dong! Join your culture consultants, Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, on an unforgettable journey into the beating heart of CULTURE. Alongside sizzling special guests, they GET INTO the hottest pop-culture moments of the day and the formative cultural experiences that turned them into Culturistas. P...

Episodes 668
Books 512

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Here (Pantheon Graphic Library) cover

Here (Pantheon Graphic Library)

Richard McGuire

Mentioned 5 months ago

Two Guys, Five Rings: Matt + Bowen at the Olympics in Milan

This was mentioned as Mariah Carey's latest album, from which she performed the song "Nothing Is Impossible" during the opening ceremony.

And then she sang her song. nothing is impossible. And we actually agreed in our seats that nothing was. And it's off of her latest album, Here For It All, which we were there for it all.

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What you think of me is none of my business by Terry Cole-Whittaker (1979-05-03) cover

What you think of me is none of my business by Terry Cole-Whittaker (1979-05-03)

Terry Cole‐Whittaker

Mentioned 1 year ago

"Rode Hard And Put Away Wet" (w/ Will Ferrell & Harper Steele)

Will Ferrell mentioned that his mother had a self-help book with this title on her shelf, and that the book's message was his mantra as a child and while traveling across the country with Harper.

Here's a book that my mom literally had a self-help book on her shelf. Called It's None of My Business What You Think of Me.

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It Ends with Us: Special Collector's Edition: A Novel (It Ends with Us) cover

It Ends with Us

Colleen Hoover

Mentioned 1 year ago

"An Attack On Leos" (w/ Matt, Bowen & Friends)

It was mentioned that the book is famous, but a sequel was supposed to be in the works, and it doesn't seem like it's happening anymore because of the drama surrounding it.

but see that this is the thing it's like the behavior effects the work so much yeah so yeah well well that's the summer that's the summer i think we will earnestly start

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Princess Cupcake Jones and the Missing Tutu (Princess Cupcake Jones Series) cover

Princess Cupcake Jones and the Missing Tutu (Princess Cupcake Jones Series)

Ylleya Fields

Mentioned 1 year ago

"An Attack On Leos" (w/ Matt, Bowen & Friends)

It was compared to the plot of a theme park ride where a lot of musicians have to play a big show.

You know, that's like actually the plot of Princess Tauties by you dip. It's like we have to get a lot of musicians to play a big show. It's like okay, cool. This is a theme park ride right?

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It's Not That Complicated: The Three Medicare Decisions to Protect Your Health and Money cover

It's Not That Complicated

Ari Parker

Mentioned 1 year ago

"An Attack On Leos" (w/ Matt, Bowen & Friends)

It was mentioned that if you read her book, you would know that she had tougher relationships with her mother and sister, who both passed away recently.

if you read her book you know those were tougher relationships and sometimes social in months that are the most difficult to lose so i really hope she's okay and i didn't mean to make light at that

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I'm Mostly Here to Enjoy Myself: One Woman's Pursuit of Pleasure in Paris cover

I'm Mostly Here to Enjoy Myself

Glynnis MacNicol

Mentioned 1 year ago

"White, Fair and Blessed" (w/ Matt & Bowen)

They briefly mentioned "I'm Mostly Here to Enjoy Myself" as a memoir about seeking pleasure in middle age by author and podcaster Glynis McNicol.

Like a recent episode with author and podcaster Glynis McNicol on her new memoir, "I'm Mostly Here to Enjoy Myself."

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Red, White & Royal Blue: Collector's Edition: A Novel cover

Red, White & Royal Blue

Casey McQuiston

Mentioned 1 year ago

"Toxically Benevolent" (w/ Matt & Bowen)

It was mentioned as the book written by Casey McQuiston, who also wrote the audio mystery podcast, "Does This Murder Make Me Look Gay?".

From the writer of Amazon Prime's Red, White and Royal Blue comes a hilarious and demented new audio mystery.

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Mean Boys: A Personal History cover

Mean Boys

Geoffrey Mak

Mentioned 1 year ago

"Toxically Benevolent" (w/ Matt & Bowen)

The book, Mean Boys, was mentioned in relation to the concept of culture and politics flowing downhill from culture, and it was suggested that it might be worth exploring the themes of the book further.

And actually kind of on face value, it kind of speaks to Mean Boys a little bit, too, because that book is a lot about how culture, about politics flows downhill from culture, like and just about like interesting things to think about as of late.

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Status and Culture: How Our Desire for Social Rank Creates Taste, Identity, Art, Fashion, and Constant Change cover

Status and Culture

W. David Marx

Mentioned 1 year ago

"Toxically Benevolent" (w/ Matt & Bowen)

It was mentioned in the context of a timetable about how evaluations of certain trends change over time, using Alanis Morissette's Jagged Little Pill as an example. The book, Status and Culture, explores how our desire for social rank creates taste, identity, art, fashion and constant change.

So he has a timetable in there for how long it takes for something.

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The School of Life: An Emotional Education: An Emotional Education cover

The School of Life

The School of Life

Mentioned 1 year ago

"Good Walz" (w/ Matt & Bowen)

Bowen recommended it for people to look up on YouTube, they were mentioned to have made books and videos on subjects like early bedtimes and simplified lifestyles.

Zuri the Zebra and the Rainbow Race for Kindness (S.H.I.N.E.'s Kindness Adventures Book 2) cover

Zuri the Zebra and the Rainbow Race for Kindness (S.H.I.N.E.'s Kindness Adventures Book 2)

Kaitlyn Vasilko

Mentioned 1 year ago

"Good Walz" (w/ Matt & Bowen)

It was mentioned as a seminal standup album by Gabe Liedman, containing jokes about algorithms before they were a common topic.

Fifty Shades of Grey 10th Anniversary Edition (Fifty Shades of Grey Series, 1) cover

Fifty Shades of Grey 10th Anniversary Edition (Fifty Shades of Grey Series, 1)

E L James

Mentioned 1 year ago

"Good Walz" (w/ Matt & Bowen)

It was referenced during a discussion about Kamala Harris's running mate selection, with a humorous comparison to the book's themes of dominance and submission.

Ding dong last culture is calling back at the table back at the Fifty Shades table

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Most Recommended

Where Evil Lives Cover

Ellie Dias

Where Evil Lives

It was mentioned as a new podcast and it was described as uncovering a tangled web of manipulation, estranged families, and greed, following the disappearance of five women in a small town.

"

I'm Lucy Sheriff I've been reporting this story for four years and I've uncovered a tangled web of manipulation estranged families and greed Everyone it seems has a different version of events

— Episode: "Queendom" (w/ Vanessa Bayer)

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Episode: "Queendom" (w/ Vanessa Bayer)

It was mentioned as a new podcast and it was described as uncovering a tangled web of manipulation, estranged families, and greed, following the disappearance of five women in a small town.

"

I'm Lucy Sheriff I've been reporting this story for four years and I've uncovered a tangled web of manipulation estranged families and greed Everyone it seems has a different version of events

Hear the story on Where's Dia my new podcast from Pushkin Industries and iHeart podcasts

Hear the story on Where's Dia my new podcast from Pushkin Industries and iHeart podcasts Listen on the iHeart radio app Apple podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts

Hear the story on Where's Dia my new book, Where's Dia? My new podcast from Pushkin Industries, an iHeart podcast.

Fearless (The Powerless Trilogy) Cover

Lauren Roberts

Fearless (The Powerless Trilogy)

It was mentioned briefly at the end of the episode, along with Fearless (Taylor's Version), as a song that was recommended as part of their ethical streaming segment.

"

For more of that song, listen to Fearless, Taylor's version by Taylor Swift.

— Episode: "GET THE GORE OFF THE TV, I'M NOT WATCHI...

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Episode: "GET THE GORE OFF THE TV, I'M NOT WATCHING *THAT*!...

It was mentioned briefly at the end of the episode, along with Fearless (Taylor's Version), as a song that was recommended as part of their ethical streaming segment.

"

For more of that song, listen to Fearless, Taylor's version by Taylor Swift.

THE EGO HAS LANDED Cover

Athena Park

THE EGO HAS LANDED

Dave Holmes described Robbie Williams as the perfect pop star, unique in his self-aware and campy persona, which didn't translate as well to American audiences.

"

He strikes a tone that nobody else in the culture does and that is why he is not big in the United States.

— Episode: "I Think You Owe Me An Apology" (w/ Dave...

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Episode: "I Think You Owe Me An Apology" (w/ Dave Holmes)

Dave Holmes described Robbie Williams as the perfect pop star, unique in his self-aware and campy persona, which didn't translate as well to American audiences.

"

He strikes a tone that nobody else in the culture does and that is why he is not big in the United States.

He is the perfect pop star, yeah, he's sort of in on his own joke. It's a little bit like it's kind of a character, he's like larger than life and like, and sexy and it's just it just doesn't work. We can't we don't know what to do with those boys.

He tried it a couple of times in the States with 'Millennium' and then 'Angel' and he had like, I'm loving angels instead that's the one Jessica Simpson would go on to do a more popular version.

Star-Crossed Cover

Barbara Dee

Star-Crossed

It was praised for being cinematic and intimate; the hosts felt it successfully blended the two qualities.

"

my review of Kacey Musgraves Starcrossed is it's so difficult to be cinematic yet intimate and it was pulled off

— Episode: “Talking Facts” (w/ Matt & Bowen)

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Episode: “Talking Facts” (w/ Matt & Bowen)

It was praised for being cinematic and intimate; the hosts felt it successfully blended the two qualities.

"

my review of Kacey Musgraves Starcrossed is it's so difficult to be cinematic yet intimate and it was pulled off

I’m a huge fan of space both personal and outer: Space notebook journal Cover

Mary McKibben

I’m a huge fan of space both personal and outer

Space notebook journal

The podcasters discussed Jesse Klein's memoir 'I'm a Huge Fan' and how it's one of the best comedy memoirs they have ever read. They also discussed how the book gets real and honest.

"

And if people haven't read her book, is incredible, her book is so good It's like one of the best comedy memoirs I've ever read

— Episode: "Kunt 4 The Summer" (w/ Sudi Green)

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: "Kunt 4 The Summer" (w/ Sudi Green)

The podcasters discussed Jesse Klein's memoir 'I'm a Huge Fan' and how it's one of the best comedy memoirs they have ever read. They also discussed how the book gets real and honest.

"

And if people haven't read her book, is incredible, her book is so good It's like one of the best comedy memoirs I've ever read

Also, I feel like she gets very real and honest in it way in a way that I feel like a lot of times those comedy Memoirs, it's very surface level because they just like got the book deal

Bent Cover

Martin Serman

Bent

It is a play about a gay man in a concentration camp pretending to be Jewish because he would be treated better than if he were gay.

"

Years ago, I did this play Bent. Do you know that play? It's about gay people in the... Actually I have. I've heard of the play. Yeah, I don't think I can say I know it, but I know of...

— Episode: "Live From An Australian Cave!" (w/ Alan...

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Episode: "Live From An Australian Cave!" (w/ Alan Cumming)

It is a play about a gay man in a concentration camp pretending to be Jewish because he would be treated better than if he were gay.

"

Years ago, I did this play Bent. Do you know that play? It's about gay people in the... Actually I have. I've heard of the play. Yeah, I don't think I can say I know it, but I know of it.

It's an amazing play by Martin Sherman. And actually in a funny way, he actually kind of brought to the world's attention the fate and the lot of queer people in under Nazism.

And this is a play about a man going to a concentration camp and pretending to be Jewish because you'll get treated better if he's Jewish than if he's gay.

And it's, you know, it doesn't end well. It's a really bleak play.

The Science of Spice: Understand Flavor Connections and Revolutionize Your Cooking Cover

Dr. Stuart Farrimond

The Science of Spice

Understand Flavor Connections and Revolutionize Your Cooking

Padma Lakshmi, host of Top Chef, mentioned her book that has every spice in the world, essentially a glossary of spices she wrote.

"

She was talking about the book of spices that she wrote. You know, she wrote a book that has every spice in the world.

— Episode: "S.O.L. (Shit Outta Luck)" (w/ Celeste Y...

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Episode: "S.O.L. (Shit Outta Luck)" (w/ Celeste Yim)

Padma Lakshmi, host of Top Chef, mentioned her book that has every spice in the world, essentially a glossary of spices she wrote.

"

She was talking about the book of spices that she wrote. You know, she wrote a book that has every spice in the world.

Sunny Day: A Celebration of the Sesame Street Theme Song Cover

Various

Sunny Day

A Celebration of the Sesame Street Theme Song

It was mentioned as an oral history book about Sesame Street, with the author having explained how the change in Snuffleupagus's character was informed by child abduction cases of the time.

"

There was a book that's like an oral history of Sesame Street and I went to a reading that the author did, take questions, and I asked what, how did that switch happen? Where everyone met him and why?

— Episode: "Nomi Malone Muppet" (w/ Shalewa Sharpe)

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Episode: "Nomi Malone Muppet" (w/ Shalewa Sharpe)

It was mentioned as an oral history book about Sesame Street, with the author having explained how the change in Snuffleupagus's character was informed by child abduction cases of the time.

"

There was a book that's like an oral history of Sesame Street and I went to a reading that the author did, take questions, and I asked what, how did that switch happen? Where everyone met him and why?

It must be asked and the author explained to me that, oh, around the time that they decided to make that switch was when children were being abducted, and so they wanted kids to feel like adults would believe them.

Smart, so they made it so that people could now believe Big Bird because he, you, they met Snuffleupagus.

Book Smart: How to Develop and Support Successful, Motivated Readers Cover

Anne E. Cunningham PhD

Book Smart

How to Develop and Support Successful, Motivated Readers

It was mentioned multiple times and was positively reviewed for its portrayal of Molly's character, highlighting her cool, grounded nature and a shift away from the typical 'mean girl' trope.

"

I also had seen molly in books more and molly in many things and then I was surprised when you meet molly and she's so like i'm extremely friendly because

— Episode: "The Only Way Is Through" (w/ Molly Gord...

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Episode: "The Only Way Is Through" (w/ Molly Gordon & Rache...

It was mentioned multiple times and was positively reviewed for its portrayal of Molly's character, highlighting her cool, grounded nature and a shift away from the typical 'mean girl' trope.

"

I also had seen molly in books more and molly in many things and then I was surprised when you meet molly and she's so like i'm extremely friendly because

She would do play a lot of characters molly that are sort of like i'm actually the coolest bitch you've ever met And don't speak to me. I'll speak to you if I want but that's only if I want

There was something about Book Smart where I think when you pick up it reveals itself at the end that there's more going on there, but like also triple a is you know, the triple a

There's there's there's that interaction there that scene where it's like, oh wait, this is like this is not just like mean person this is like a grounded Coolness that you're like I don't think i've seen this before because I think there's been a model that's been set and we've matt And I've talked about this a million times of like the regina george model of like mean person

And I was and and this was just like and Book Smart was just like oh wait yeah, like this we we've that that person is sort of a caricature of something and and and molly's portrayal of that character in Book Smart is like Very very very much swinging the other way or it's like oh no This is someone you would meet in real life and you aren't your second guessing whether or not this person is like standoffish

The Bling Ring: How a Gang of Fame-Obsessed Teens Ripped Off Hollywood and Shocked the World Cover

Nancy Jo Sales

The Bling Ring

How a Gang of Fame-Obsessed Teens Ripped Off Hollywood and Shocked the World

It was described as Rachel's 'activating movie,' inspiring her artistic aspirations and influencing her preferred genre of film, particularly for its aesthetic and portrayal of young women.

"

When I was in high school Actually, honestly college. I when I was first when I first had like a laptop and I could watch stuff I experienced the movie bling ring and Oh, wow, I said this is my shit Y...

— Episode: "The Only Way Is Through" (w/ Molly Gord...

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: "The Only Way Is Through" (w/ Molly Gordon & Rache...

It was described as Rachel's 'activating movie,' inspiring her artistic aspirations and influencing her preferred genre of film, particularly for its aesthetic and portrayal of young women.

"

When I was in high school Actually, honestly college. I when I was first when I first had like a laptop and I could watch stuff I experienced the movie bling ring and Oh, wow, I said this is my shit Yeah Stuff that I want to make I want to be in I love A movie that's like five girls one guy. They're walking in unison. We're listening to sleigh bells They're trying on clothes. They're calling each other bitch. That is my kind of movie and I Loved it.

But but this answers the question so perfectly it is the culture that made you say I'm going to focus in on bling ring.

But they don't list it as one of her best because people don't think that because it's about young people and especially young women They don't give it the half of everything else and they do the same things with maria antoinette

People sleep on bling ring They really do they really do

when when you can say multiple lines that like People say again. First of all, I want to rob Yeah Girls, it's time for your adderall There's so many lines in that movie that I just say alone to myself

Note: The book recommendations on this page are discovered automatically from podcast transcripts, and may be incorrect or incomplete.