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

X-Men by Gerry Duggan Vol. 6 (X-Men (2021-2024)) Cover

Gerry Duggan

X-Men by Gerry Duggan Vol. 6 (X-Men (2021-2024))

Jay described how the 1992 animated series was a source of comfort and identity growing up as a queer black child in Mississippi. The characters were seen as being 'born different'.

"

So those two things changed everything for me.

— Episode: "The Cows Came Home To Roost" (w/ Jay Ju...

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Episode: "The Cows Came Home To Roost" (w/ Jay Jurden)

Jay described how the 1992 animated series was a source of comfort and identity growing up as a queer black child in Mississippi. The characters were seen as being 'born different'.

"

So those two things changed everything for me.

So you have X-Men Evolution. You have Wolverine and the X-Men. You have the failed pilot Pride of the X-Men, which was before all of them.

The thing about the 92 series is they use the designs from the highest selling comic book of all time, which was Jim Lee, Chris Claremont. And I forget who was the anchor, but Uncanny X-Men like number one.

It's the most important comic book to Marvel. At the time, Marvel was like, whatever people want from the X-Men they can do.

And so they put together like a beat, like a beautiful mashup team. The first two episodes, Nine of Sentinels were so important because a character dies.

Sawayama enjiyo. Cover

Sawayama enjiyo.

Jay briefly mentioned this album as being very good; he had previously tweeted about it.

"

I talked about how much I liked Rina Sawayama and Chester was like, oh, you mean my friend?

— Episode: "The Cows Came Home To Roost" (w/ Jay Ju...

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Episode: "The Cows Came Home To Roost" (w/ Jay Jurden)

Jay briefly mentioned this album as being very good; he had previously tweeted about it.

"

I talked about how much I liked Rina Sawayama and Chester was like, oh, you mean my friend?

Well, we can talk about Sawayama the album later because it's so good.

The Astonishing Life of August March: A Novel Cover

Aaron Jackson

The Astonishing Life of August March

A Novel

It was discussed as a best-selling book and its paperback release in 2021 was mentioned. The authors' guests were congratulated on the book's success and its high pre-sale numbers.

"

It is the number one world best selling book in the world.

— Episode: "Mercy! Ain't Miss God Cuttin' Up Someth...

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Episode: "Mercy! Ain't Miss God Cuttin' Up Something Awful!...

It was discussed as a best-selling book and its paperback release in 2021 was mentioned. The authors' guests were congratulated on the book's success and its high pre-sale numbers.

"

It is the number one world best selling book in the world.

It's a household book. Am I right?

It's also the number one best selling world book in paperback, even though it doesn't come out in 2021.

The advance sales are outrageous.

They're running out of trees.

Superman's Not Coming: Our National Water Crisis and What We the People Can Do About It Cover

Erin Brockovich

Superman's Not Coming

Our National Water Crisis and What We the People Can Do About It

The film was a formative cultural experience for the guest, who loved Julia Roberts' performance and the movie's quotable lines, and felt it showcased a realistic depiction of Southern California.

"

It's called accountability. I'm not talking to you, bitch!

— Episode: "Dazzle Me" (w/ Hunter Harris)

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Episode: "Dazzle Me" (w/ Hunter Harris)

The film was a formative cultural experience for the guest, who loved Julia Roberts' performance and the movie's quotable lines, and felt it showcased a realistic depiction of Southern California.

"

It's called accountability. I'm not talking to you, bitch!

who lives like this? We're going out.

That asshole smashed in my fucking neck.

Girls, get out of the pool. Get out of the pool.

If that's okay with you. If that's okay with you.

Next to Normal Cover

Brian Yorkey

Next to Normal

It was described as one of the most transformative theatre experiences, featuring Alice Ripley's powerful performance, which left the speaker weeping.

"

It was did you see miss Alice in Next to Normal twice? Wow, I'm telling you. Yeah Bowen. Did you I never saw but I'm familiar with the music. It's it's incredible I'm telling you weep...

— Episode: "I Just Said Pu**y To A Princess" (w/ Ma...

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: "I Just Said Pu**y To A Princess" (w/ Marti Gould...

It was described as one of the most transformative theatre experiences, featuring Alice Ripley's powerful performance, which left the speaker weeping.

"

It was did you see miss Alice in Next to Normal twice? Wow, I'm telling you. Yeah Bowen. Did you I never saw but I'm familiar with the music. It's it's incredible I'm telling you weeping weeping weeping uncontrollably

Ragtime Cover

E.L. Doctorow

Ragtime

Maren Mazzie's performance was highly praised in this musical. It was strongly recommended by the guests.

"

Go back it's so good she is epic

— Episode: "I Just Said Pu**y To A Princess" (w/ Ma...

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Episode: "I Just Said Pu**y To A Princess" (w/ Marti Gould...

Maren Mazzie's performance was highly praised in this musical. It was strongly recommended by the guests.

"

Go back it's so good she is epic

The Ickabog Cover

J. K. Rowling

The Ickabog

It was mentioned that J.K. Rowling had written a new book, The Ichabog, and she was having her fans draw pictures of a bug, which was described as stupid shit.

"

So basically she's been doing this thing on her twitter where she's written a new book or told a new story called the Ichabog and it's about a bug but she didn't physically describe the bug instead sh...

— Episode: "Someone Spilled Sauce" (w/ Michelle Col...

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Episode: "Someone Spilled Sauce" (w/ Michelle Collins)

It was mentioned that J.K. Rowling had written a new book, The Ichabog, and she was having her fans draw pictures of a bug, which was described as stupid shit.

"

So basically she's been doing this thing on her twitter where she's written a new book or told a new story called the Ichabog and it's about a bug but she didn't physically describe the bug instead she was allowing her young fans to draw pictures of the bug what they think the Ichabog looks like and send it into her so that she can be like this Ichabog is amazing wonderful job I love how it looks wise in its face like it's stupid shit

So in one of the submissions that she received she literally like could you find this because it's literally insane it was like this Ichabog is an amazing creature and then it was like this copy pasted thing about how trans people aren't like actually people it was so bizarre and then she finished the post and I love that it's got blue feed thank you

Struck by Lightning: Death, Judgement and Conversion Cover

Gloria Polo

Struck by Lightning

Death, Judgement and Conversion

It was mentioned that Chris Colfer wrote a movie called Struck by Lightning and that maybe he should write a tell-all about what happened on the Glee set.

"

And so if he wants to write what I want to hear is the tell all of what happened on the Glee set

— Episode: "Someone Spilled Sauce" (w/ Michelle Col...

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Episode: "Someone Spilled Sauce" (w/ Michelle Collins)

It was mentioned that Chris Colfer wrote a movie called Struck by Lightning and that maybe he should write a tell-all about what happened on the Glee set.

"

And so if he wants to write what I want to hear is the tell all of what happened on the Glee set

He wrote that film Struck by Lightning and so if he wants to write

Did you just make that name up? What happened on the Glee set?

Chris Colfer film Struck by Lightning here it is 2012 it came out I'm going to read about it to you

It was an American coming of age comedy drama film directed by Brian Danley the famous director and written by and starring Chris Colfer it had it's world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival on April 21st 2012

Ashes of Her Love Cover

Pierre Alex Jeanty

Ashes of Her Love

It was mentioned as Gabe Liedman's stand-up album, which the hosts found hilarious during a car trip in 2013, leading to them quoting it for years afterward.

"

We listened to it again today, a couple hours ago. And we were quoting it.

— Episode: "Teen Witches & Dog Psychics" (w/ Gabe L...

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Episode: "Teen Witches & Dog Psychics" (w/ Gabe Liedman)

It was mentioned as Gabe Liedman's stand-up album, which the hosts found hilarious during a car trip in 2013, leading to them quoting it for years afterward.

"

We listened to it again today, a couple hours ago. And we were quoting it.

Gabe has this whole bit about hoarders and it starts off with him saying, 'I love hoarders the show, but I hate hoarders the people.'

There's someone comes over on the show 'Hoarders.' You do it.

It's a crew of like 12 muscular men from the neighborhood and one like leader, whatever. This team comes over to their house and they'll be like, 'Hi, can we help clean up your insane mess?' And they go, 'No, no.'

And we were crying laughing.

#VERYFAT #VERYBRAVE: The Fat Girl's Guide to Being #Brave and Not a Dejected, Melancholy, Down-in-the-Dumps Weeping Fat Girl in a Bikini Cover

Nicole Byer

#VERYFAT #VERYBRAVE

The Fat Girl's Guide to Being #Brave and Not a Dejected, Melancholy, Down-in-the-Dumps Weeping Fat Girl in a Bikini

It was mentioned as a book by Nicole Byer, described as a guide for fat girls on being brave and not letting sadness affect them.

"

She has a book coming out called hashtag very fat hashtag very brave the fat girls guide to being hashtag brave and not a dejected melancholy down-in-the-dumps weeping fat girl in a bikini

— Episode: “Destabilized” (w/ Nicole Byer)

Listen on Audible 7-day free trial

Episode: “Destabilized” (w/ Nicole Byer)

It was mentioned as a book by Nicole Byer, described as a guide for fat girls on being brave and not letting sadness affect them.

"

She has a book coming out called hashtag very fat hashtag very brave the fat girls guide to being hashtag brave and not a dejected melancholy down-in-the-dumps weeping fat girl in a bikini

The Princess Diarist Cover

Carrie Fisher

The Princess Diarist

It was mentioned that Carrie Fisher wrote about her experiences with cocaine use, including specific scenes she was high during while filming Star Wars.

"

In fact, in her book she was so... She's so upfront about it.

— Episode: “Destabilized” (w/ Nicole Byer)

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Episode: “Destabilized” (w/ Nicole Byer)

It was mentioned that Carrie Fisher wrote about her experiences with cocaine use, including specific scenes she was high during while filming Star Wars.

"

In fact, in her book she was so... She's so upfront about it.

She was flipping through the movie, this part I was zoned out on coke, this part I was zoned out on coke.

America's Forced Mistress Cover

Candyse McDonald

America's Forced Mistress

It was discussed as a quirky and self-aware film, with a Neil Simon play-like feel, and the writing was described as being out there and wacky.

"

Do you see Mistress America?

— Episode: "Nasal & Ridiculous"

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Episode: "Nasal & Ridiculous"

It was discussed as a quirky and self-aware film, with a Neil Simon play-like feel, and the writing was described as being out there and wacky.

"

Do you see Mistress America?

It's cuckoo.

Luke who? Catcohen yeah movie where Greta Gerwig is being like a full-ass weirdo eccentric and Lola Kirk is being is like sort of the great like sort of, you know, surrogate for the audience and stuff, but it's like has some great Vesalca scenes I got a we love a Vesalca scene.

The Handbook Cover

Konahwhaka

The Handbook

It was mentioned that within the Handbook, Del Close had a rule stating that shorts were not permitted to be worn in performances.

"

Yeah, exactly. Close wrote that.

— Episode: "The Fuckboi Files" (w/ Mary Beth Barone...

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Episode: "The Fuckboi Files" (w/ Mary Beth Barone)

It was mentioned that within the Handbook, Del Close had a rule stating that shorts were not permitted to be worn in performances.

"

Yeah, exactly. Close wrote that.

Baby Cobra Chickens AKA Canadian Geese Grayscale Photo Coloring Book: You Bring the Color! Cover

Lori Craig

Baby Cobra Chickens AKA Canadian Geese Grayscale Photo Coloring Book

You Bring the Color!

The comedian mentioned watching Ali Wong's comedy special 'Baby Cobra' and described it as one of the best specials they've seen in the last five or six years.

"

It was probably one of the best specials I saw in the last five, six years.

— Episode: "Leave Mariah Alone" (w/ Sam Jay)

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Episode: "Leave Mariah Alone" (w/ Sam Jay)

The comedian mentioned watching Ali Wong's comedy special 'Baby Cobra' and described it as one of the best specials they've seen in the last five or six years.

"

It was probably one of the best specials I saw in the last five, six years.

I keep watching that one back, Baby Cobra.

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