Episodes

  • The Secret Lives of Soap Opera Stars

    The Secret Lives of Soap Opera Stars
    Apr 18 2026
    Kristen Meinzer and Jacquis Neal tumble down a nostalgic rabbit hole all about soap operas.

    Soap Star Origins: From Michael B. Jordan to Demi Moore, they trace the surprisingly star-studded pipeline from daytime drama to Hollywood fame—and why soaps are the ultimate acting bootcamp.

    Packing, Planes, and Pet Peeves: A cozy detour into travel habits, suitcase strategies, and a few dream upgrades to air travel that feel… suspiciously appealing.

    Wild Plots, Real Love: Vampires, long-lost twins, rapid aging kids—why soap operas swing big, and why that’s exactly what makes them so comforting to return to.

    CHAPTERS
    00:00 Intro & travel talk
    03:00 Packing strategies and plane dreams
    06:10 Rabbit hole begins: soap operas
    08:30 Childhood memories and favorite shows
    12:00 How soap operas are made
    15:00 Fictional towns and wild plotlines
    17:00 Why soap operas still matter

    For the fully immersive, phone free light + sound experience, learn more at hatch.co. Follow us on TikTok @hatchpodcasts and YouTube.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    22 mins
  • A Blog Anniversary Party Meet Cute & Our Latest Book Recs

    A Blog Anniversary Party Meet Cute & Our Latest Book Recs
    Apr 17 2026
    Josh Gondelman and Kristen Meinzer host a cozy, wide-ranging book club chat.

    What You’ll Hear

    From TV Teens to Timeless Stories: Kristen talks about teen shows that actually feel real, and why some one-season series leave the biggest mark.

    A Book That Feels Like a Hug: Kristen shares a joyful read that’s equal parts funny, human, and quietly reassuring—plus a sweet story about how Josh and his wife first bonded over words.

    Reading the World, One State at a Time: A peek into how Kristen’s 50 states reading project is going.

    CHAPTERS
    00:00 Intro
    01:00 Favorite shows we're watching
    04:45 The Nightly Book Club begins
    06:30 Kristen surprises Josh by reading his book, Nice Try
    10:00 Listener recommendation
    11:30 Books from Mississippi & Alaska
    15:00 Current reads & "shaggy" stories
    17:00 Promoting creative work without the cringe
    20:00 Books on deck?
    21:50 Goodnights

    For the fully immersive, phone free light + sound experience, learn more at hatch.co. Follow us on TikTok @hatchpodcasts and YouTube.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    23 mins
  • The Challenge Lore w/ Avery McClure

    The Challenge Lore w/ Avery McClure
    Apr 16 2026
    KP Parker and Jacquis Neal take a ride on the pop culture time machine with dream guest, comedian Avery McClure.

    What You’ll Hear

    Read 'Til Failure: Avery shares a bedtime routine that starts with good intentions, a book, and about three pages before sleep wins.

    The Coziest Sleep Setup: Heated blankets, cool air, and the delicate balance of being perfectly warm where it counts.

    Reality TV Betrayal Hall of Fame: A wild trip back to 2016 and the unforgettable moment The Challenge's Johnny Bananas made a decision that still stings.

    CHAPTERS
    00:00 Intro & Guest Avery McClure joins the slumber party
    01:00 Bedtime routines and reading habits
    05:00 Heated blankets and sleep preferences
    08:00 Pop culture time machine: The Challenge: Rivals III
    15:00 The betrayal that shocked reality TV
    18:00 Love Is Blind and awkward first meetings
    21:00 Goodnights

    For the fully immersive, phone free light + sound experience, learn more at hatch.co. Follow us on TikTok @hatchpodcasts and YouTube.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    23 mins
  • Big Mistakes, Ryan Gosling & The Drama

    Big Mistakes, Ryan Gosling & The Drama
    Apr 15 2026
    Kristen Meinzer and Wils Pelton swap current pop culture obsessions and compare notes on what’s worth the watch.

    What You’ll Hear:

    What We’re Watching: From a chaotic small-town comedy to a space mission with an unexpected companion, they unpack what’s working, what’s not, and what might surprise you.

    To Spoil or Not to Spoil: A gentle debate on going into movies blind, plus a few recommendations that are best experienced with as little context as possible.

    CHAPTERS
    00:00 Intro
    01:00 An 11-year-old’s NYC bucket list
    03:00 Big Mistakes on Netflix
    06:30 When shows take time to click
    08:00 A love letter to Weeds
    10:30 Project Hail Mary review
    13:30 The joy of going in blind
    16:00 Ryan Gosling appreciation

    For the fully immersive, phone free light + sound experience, learn more at hatch.co. Follow us on TikTok @hatchpodcasts and YouTube.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    18 mins
  • Mean Girls (Sophia's Version)

    Mean Girls (Sophia's Version)
    Apr 14 2026
    Josh Gondelman and Sophia Wilson Pelton revisit the movie Mean Girls from memory, with plenty of glorious detail and a few lovable detours.

    Memory Lane: Sophia takes on the full plot of Mean Girls from pure recall, from the Plastics to the Burn Book to one very unfortunate bus encounter. Josh jumps in with the bits that stuck, proving that some movies really do live in your brain rent-free.

    High School Logic: Along the way, they marvel at teen power structures, homecoming-level cruelty, and the kind of elaborate prank planning that probably could have been used for greater good.

    A Respectful Request: Tonight’s listener goodnight goes out to a crew of midnight mockingbirds who may be looking for love, but could really stand to lower the volume.

    CHAPTERS
    00:00 Intros & hotel living gripes
    03:03 Sophia’s brother's visit and peak NYC weather
    05:08 Do you remember Do You Remember?
    06:06 Sophia tries to recall the plot of Mean Girls
    20:20 Josh fills in a few missing Mean Girls details
    22:37 Listener Julia's goodnight to the mockingbirds

    For the fully immersive, phone free light + sound experience, learn more at hatch.co. Follow us on TikTok @hatchpodcasts and YouTube.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    25 mins
  • Crying Into Alfredo & Other Bad Dates

    Crying Into Alfredo & Other Bad Dates
    Apr 13 2026
    Sophia Wilson Pelton and Kristen Meinzer swap real-life dating stories and sort them into red, green, or beige flags.

    What You'll Hear:

    Accidental Texts & Honest Mistakes: A first-date phone mishap leads to an unexpectedly sweet reveal—plus a gentle debate on whether confidence or honesty wins in awkward moments.

    When Pasta Becomes a Red Flag: A dinner order triggers a dramatic emotional spiral, raising the question of timing, healing, and what we owe each other on a first date.

    Moms, LinkedIn, and Light Stalking: A well-meaning parent turns a little curiosity into a full-on connection request, sparking a conversation about modern dating etiquette in the digital age.

    CHAPTERS
    00:00 Intro & birthday plans
    03:30 Dating stories begin
    04:00 The accidental text dilemma
    10:30 The chicken alfredo incident
    14:15 LinkedIn and mom mishap
    20:30 Why we love these stories
    21:00 Goodnight

    For the fully immersive, phone free light + sound experience, learn more at hatch.co. Follow us on TikTok @hatchpodcasts and YouTube.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    22 mins
  • Padel, Project Hail Mary & Artemis II Trivia

    Padel, Project Hail Mary & Artemis II Trivia
    Apr 12 2026
    Josh Gondelman and Matt Bragg host a cozy, space-themed Sunday pub chat.

    What You’ll Hear

    Padel, Pickleball, and Matcha Opinions: A sporty new obsession meets a very strong take on matcha and whether it’s secretly just...mud?

    Artemis II and Big Sky Feelings: A listener voice memo sparks a curious conversation about space travel, moon missions, and what it means to look back at Earth.

    Artemis II-themed Pub Trivia: From splashdowns to astronaut menus, the questions get tricky, the guesses get bold, and one answer lands surprisingly close.

    CHAPTERS
    00:00 Intro & greetings
    01:00 Padel vs. pickleball
    03:13 The matcha debate
    05:35 Mali's listener voice memo
    06:18 Why space still amazes us
    08:00 Moon gravity hypotheticals
    09:00 Project Hail Mary thoughts
    11:00 Working out in space
    13:45 Artemis II-themed pub quiz begins
    14:24 Splashdown location
    16:16 Astronaut menu mystery
    20:00 How far did Artemis II go?
    23:19 A very sweet goodnight

    For the fully immersive, phone free light + sound experience, learn more at hatch.co. Follow us on TikTok @hatchpodcasts and YouTube.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    25 mins
  • Insomniacs Unite w/ Allison Winn Scotch

    Insomniacs Unite w/ Allison Winn Scotch
    Apr 11 2026
    Sophia Wilson Pelton and Kristen Meinzer talk sleepless solidarity with author Allison Winn Scotch.

    What You'll Hear

    Insomnia Club: Allison shares the bedtime routine that keeps her as cozy as possible, from nightly reading to crisp cotton sheets, plus the late-night brain games she uses when sleep refuses to cooperate.

    Found Family After Dark: The trio digs into Allison’s new novel about four insomniacs who meet online and build a real-life connection, then talk about why stories of belonging hit especially hard when the world feels a little unsteady.

    Bedside Table Energy: Before lights out, everyone swaps recent reads and recommendations, from friendship novels to art theft nonfiction to family mysteries and memoirs.

    CHAPTERS
    00:00 Intro & welcome
    00:50 Allison Winn Scotch’s bedtime routine
    02:06 All about Allison's latest novel, The Insomniacs
    05:02 Real-life insomnia coping tricks
    06:19 Why are we fascinated by cults?
    10:12 Writing outside one's comfort zone
    11:47 What’s on Allison’s bedside table?
    13:45 More book recommendations
    17:13 Goodnight to fellow insomniacs

    For the fully immersive, phone free light + sound experience, learn more at hatch.co. Follow us on TikTok @hatchpodcasts and YouTube.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    19 mins