Best Tracie Guy Decker Podcasts (2025)

1
Independence Day: Deep Thoughts About American Exceptionalism, Sci Fi Disaster Movies, and Jeff Goldblum in a Flight Suit 50:59

Play Pause

3d ago50:59

50:59

Send us a text Welcome to Earth. The 1996 Roland Emmerich-helmed film Independence Day was one of the touchstone movies for Emily's generation, so her flabber was absolutely gasted to learn Tracie had never seen it until a few years ago. Just in time for the 4th of July, Emily walks Tracie through what made this movie such a monumental hit in the U…

1
Encyclopedia Brown with Adam Gwon: Deep Thoughts About Potatoes, Problem Plays, and Pop Culture Expectations for Detective Stories 52:09

10d ago52:09

52:09

Send us a text 25 cents per day, plus expenses. No case too small! Adam Gwon, Emily's childhood friend and award-winning musical theater writer, joins the Guy sisters today to share how Donald Sobol's Encyclopedia Brown had an outsize influence on his understanding of storytelling. The delightful format of each short Encyclopedia Brown mystery--whi…

1
Rosemary's Baby with Ryan Cunningham: Deep Thoughts About Gaslighting, Monstrous Men, and Satanism in Pop Culture 1:19:35

17d ago1:19:35

1:19:35

Send us a text This is no dream! This is really happening! On this week's episode, Tracie and Emily are delighted to welcome award-winning writer/director and producer Ryan Cunningham to talk about Rosemary's Baby, the film that most influenced her own filmmaking and storytelling--but also made her wonder if she was a bad feminist considering the t…

1
Poltergeist: Deep Thoughts About the Feminine Archetype in Pop Culture, Dubious Parenting Decisions, and Respect for the Dead 52:40

24d ago52:40

52:40

Send us a text They're heeeeere! In a moment that would echo through the 42 years that followed, Tracie and Emily's father let the girls watch the 1982 film Poltergeist on TV sometime in 1983, when the sisters were only 7 and 4 years old. This classic of pop culture horror drew the Guy girls in because of 5-year-old Heather O'Rourke, the adorable b…

1
Firefly and Serenity: Deep Thoughts About Storytelling, Strawberries, and Sci Fi Cowboys 54:15

1M ago54:15

54:15

Send us a text May have been the losing side. Still not convinced it was the wrong one. When Tracie first encountered the fan-favorite Western-in-space television show Firefly 20 years ago, she was delighted by Joss Whedon's subversion of tropes, his mastery of the written word, and his commitment to excellent storytelling. At the time, Whedon was …

1
The Dark Crystal: Deep Thoughts About False Binaries, World Building, and What Emily Isn't Willing to Accept From Her Puppets 50:09

1M ago50:09

50:09

Send us a text What was sundered and undone shall be whole–the two made one. On today's episode of Deep Thoughts About Stupid Sh*t, Emily returns to a beloved film from the Guy girls' childhood: Jim Henson's 1982 epic fantasy The Dark Crystal. Though the film's main character Jen the Gelfling follows the familiar beats of the hero's journey, baby E…

1
Splash: Deep Thoughts About Mermaids, Male Masturbatory Fantasies, and How Pop Culture Created the Name Madison 52:53

1M ago52:53

52:53

Send us a text All my life I've been waiting for someone and when I find her, she's... she's a fish. When Tracie and Emily saw the 1984 Ron Howard film Splash as little girls, they fell in love with the badass mermaid played by Daryl Hannah. She was smart, determined, and romantic--and she had a gorgeous tail she could unfurl in Tom Hanks' bathtub.…

1
Stand By Me: Deep Thoughts About Nostalgia, Mental Health, and Cherry-Flavored Pez 1:00:41

2M ago1:00:41

1:00:41

Send us a text Mickey's a mouse, Donald's a duck, Pluto's a dog. What's Goofy? Emily and Tracie always assumed their father loved the 1986 Rob Reiner film Stand By Me because the music and pop culture references were a delightful reminder of his childhood. Reiner’s period masterpiece features incredible performances from its child actors–a rarity i…

1
Avalon: Deep Thoughts About Family, Money Psychology, and Waiting to Cut the Turkey 51:14

2M ago51:14

51:14

Send us a text "Where are the people who know where the people are?" On today's episode, Tracie introduces Emily to the 1990 Barry Levinson film Avalon, the director's love letter to Baltimore and his own Jewish immigrant family. The movie follows the Krichinskys from 1914 through to the 1960s as the large, tight-knit, extended family moves, change…

1
Pretty Woman: Deep Thoughts About Bodily Autonomy, Realism, and Who Gets to be Human 55:04

2M ago55:04

55:04

Send us a text “We say who; we say when; we say how much.” This week, Emily takes a deep dive into Pretty Woman, the 1990 blockbuster romantic comedy that catapulted Julia Roberts to stardom. The film was originally written as a tragic story about awful characters, and many people (including those close to the Guy sisters) lamented the Hollywood ha…

1
Galaxy Quest: Deep Thoughts About Fandom, Tropes, and Science Fiction Storytelling 53:44

2M ago53:44

53:44

Send us a text By Grabthar’s hammer, you shall be avenged! The 1999 film Galaxy Quest was almost tailor made for the Guy sisters and their dad–all lifelong Trekkers. The sci-fi satire pokes gentle fun at Star Trek, lightly skewering everything from the story tropes to the actors to the fans, all while offering a lovely tribute to folks who get real…

1
Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure: Deep Thoughts About Destiny, Work, and How to Engage with History 49:46

3M ago49:46

49:46

Send us a text Strange things are afoot at the Circle K. In 1989, Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure introduced Emily to a baby-faced Keanu Reeves–and to the idea that two easy-going dopes could change the world by encouraging us all to be excellent to each other. In this episode, Emily shares how this surprisingly well-crafted comedy teaches us that…

1
Lilo & Stitch: Deep Thoughts About Animation, Found Family in Film, and...American Imperialism 53:24

3M ago53:24

53:24

Send us a text Ohana means family. Family means nobody gets left behind. Or forgotten. In addition to dazzling her with its old-school hand-drawn animation and delighting her with its sweet and funny story, the 2002 Disney film Lilo & Stitch introduced Tracie to indigenous Hawaiʻian culture. The writing and directing team of Chris Sanders and Dean …

1
In & Out: Deep Thoughts About Toxic Masculinity, Barbra Streisand, and Coming Out in the 1990s 52:39

3M ago52:39

52:39

Send us a text Does anybody here know how many times I had to watch Funny Lady? The 1997 film In & Out, directed by Frank Oz (yes, the one who voices Miss Piggy) and starring Kevin Kline, Joan Cusack, and Tom Selleck, has mostly been forgotten–but this feel-good comedy had a lasting impact on Emily. When she saw it in the theater as an undiagnosed …

1
Ladyhawke: Deep Thoughts About Romance, Gender, and Looking for Realism in a Film About a Cursed Bird 59:36

3M ago59:36

59:36

Send us a text I talk to God all the time, and no offense, but He never mentioned you. On this week’s episode, Tracie traces some of her earliest ideas about romance to the 1985 Richard Donner film Ladyhawke. Although both contemporary and retrospective reviews are scornful of the anachronistic, Alan Parsons-produced, synthesizer-heavy soundtrack (…

1
The Mummy: Deep Thoughts About Colonialism, Historical Fiction, and Bisexual Awakenings 56:33

4M ago56:33

56:33

Send us a text What is a place like me doing in a girl like this? The 1999 Brendan Fraser film The Mummy has an extraordinarily beautiful cast, a delightfully bonkers plot, and a whole heap of unexamined colonialism, racism, and othering. Emily shares with Tracie the historical background of the West’s fascination with Egypt–which led to little Emi…

1
SpongeBob Squarepants: Deep Thoughts About Absurdist Comedy, Capitalism in Pop Culture, and IMAGINATION 52:49

4M ago52:49

52:49

Send us a text Who lives in a pineapple under the sea? When SpongeBob SquarePants debuted in 1999, 23-year-old Tracie was not the intended audience for everyone’s favorite absorbent and yellow and porous hero–but she was charmed and entertained by the show that became a Millennial and Gen Z touchstone. This week, Tracie talks about how SpongeBob ga…

1
Silence of the Lambs: Deep Thoughts About Misogyny, Transphobia, and the Psychology of Fava Beans 1:04:15

4M ago1:04:15

1:04:15

Send us a text I do wish we could chat longer, but... I'm having an old friend for dinner. On today’s episode of Deep Thoughts, Emily revisits what is arguably the most influential pop culture of our lifetime: The Silence of the Lambs. Although director Jonathan Demme and lead actor Jodie Foster illuminate the spectrum of misogyny women experience,…

1
Dead Again: Deep Thoughts About Noir Storytelling, the Romance of Reincarnation, and Why Women Choose the Bear 54:36

4M ago54:36

54:36

Send us a text It's the karmic credit plan: buy now, pay forever. Tracie shares her deep thoughts about the 1991 Kenneth Branagh film Dead Again on this week’s episode. Branagh brought intelligence, style, and some pretension to this noir homage that tells the tragic love story of Roman and Margaret Strauss–who have apparently been reincarnated as …

1
Chasing Amy: Deep Thoughts About Bi-Erasure, Neurodivergence, and Well-Meaning White Men in Pop Culture 1:16:32

5M ago1:16:32

1:16:32

Send us a text Your mother’s a tracer! Emily was very confused by the 1997 film Chasing Amy when she was an undiagnosed neurodivergent 18-year-old–in part because she was (and still is) crap at reading subtext and in part because the film accidentally illuminates the reality of bi-erasure. This week, Emily tells Tracie about what this well-meaning …

1
Big: Deep Thoughts About Giant Pianos, Women Mothering Their Boyfriends, and Why Emily Thought Adulthood Would Involve More Body-Swapping 1:07:52

5M ago1:07:52

1:07:52

Send us a text Okay…but I get to be on top! Tracie loved revisiting the 1988 Penny Marshall-helmed film Big this week. Tom Hanks’ performance of a 12-year-old boy wearing a grown man’s body is laugh-out-loud funny, and the film asks some profoundly important questions about how grownups can hold onto their childlike joy and wonder. But the love sto…

1
Groundhog Day: Deep Thoughts About Mental Health, Making Your Own Meaning, and Meteorological Rodents 1:06:58

5M ago1:06:58

1:06:58

Send us a text Watch out for that first step, it’s a doozy! This week, the 1993 film Groundhog Day is the vehicle for Emily to talk about the three most taboo subjects: religion, politics, and money. Not only is Bill Murray’s Phil Connors a favorite of scholars and commentators who talk about religion and film, he also has some interesting lessons …

1
Mr. Mom: Deep Thoughts About Women, Woobies, and Incompetent Dads in Pop Culture 1:15:35

5M ago1:15:35

1:15:35

Send us a text The next thing you know, you're strung out on bedspreads. One of the rare childhood films that the Guy Girls remember watching with both their mom and their dad, the 1983 John Hughes film Mr. Mom was in some ways an incredible progressive look at gendered work. There were only 6 (as in, one less than seven) self-reported stay-at-home…

1
Alien: Deep Thoughts About Space Feminism, Ash as an Allegory for the Anti-Abortion Movement, and Cats 1:04:38

6M ago1:04:38

1:04:38

Send us a text I admire its purity. A survivor…unclouded by conscience, remorse, or delusions of morality. After many references in previous episodes, on this week’s show, the Guy Girls finally tackle the iconic 1979 film Alien. Ridley Scott’s masterpiece gave Tracie and Emily a role model in Ripley, played by Sigourney Weaver to be smart, tough, v…

1
Deep Thoughts about Big Trouble in Little China 1:08:23

6M ago1:08:23

1:08:23

Send us a text We’re reasonable Guy(girl)s, but we’ve just experienced some very unreasonable things! The 1986 film Big Trouble In Little China elicits some deep thoughts from Tracie in this week’s episode. The interwebs ask whether BTILC is woke or problematic, and we suggest the answer is ‘yes.' While the campy depictions of Chinese and Chinese-A…

1
Deep Thoughts About When Harry Met Sally 1:09:11

6M ago1:09:11

1:09:11

Send us a text “I’ll have what she’s having.” On this week’s episode of Deep Thoughts, the Guy sisters revisit the iconic 1989 rom/com When Harry Met Sally. Even though Meg Ryan’s Sally Albright offers a badass portrayal of a happy spinster who makes no apologies for wanting what she wants, a young Emily instead internalized the idea that being “hi…

1
Deep Thoughts about The Muppet Christmas Carol with Erika Plank Hagan 1:06:11

6M ago1:06:11

1:06:11

Send us a text Light the lamp, not the rat! Just in time for Christmas, the Guy Girls welcome Emily’s dear friend Erika Plank Hagan to the show to discuss The Muppet Christmas Carol. There’s a reason this musical (and surprisingly faithful) adaptation of the Dickens morality tale is so beloved: not only does Michael Caine act his face off with his …

1
Deep Thoughts About The Toy 1:01:52

7M ago1:01:52

1:01:52

Send us a text That's U.S., not you ass! The Guy girls remember the 1982 Richard Pryor film The Toy with a great deal of fondness, in part because it was on heavy rotation in the Guy household through their childhood. But a film about a billionaire’s young son “purchasing” a black man to be his toy for the week has some pretty chilling implications…

1
Deep Thoughts about The Goonies 1:12:23

7M ago1:12:23

1:12:23

Send us a text The Goonies never say die! One of the most quintessential Gen X films, The Goonies, makes for some significant mind furniture: good, bad, and kid-shaped. Richard Donner’s beloved 1985 film gave Gen X kids on-screen peers who talked like we did. They cursed and talked over one another and were cruel and sweet and they went on fabulous…

1
Deep Thoughts about Office Space TEASER 15:29

7M ago15:29

15:29

Send us a text It’s not that I’m lazy. I just don’t care. In this special, patron-exclusive bonus episode, Tracie brings her deep thoughts about Mike Judge’s 1999 film, Office Space. There’s a reason this film about bullshit work has remained so beloved for a quarter century. Judge accurately reflects–and lampoons–a lot about what it feels like to …

1
Deep Thoughts about Planes, Trains and Automobiles 1:04:47

7M ago1:04:47

1:04:47

Send us a text Those aren’t two pillows… Just in time for Thanksgiving, Emily finally watches one of the most beloved buddy comedies of the 1980s: Planes, Trains & Automobiles this week. After intentionally skipping this film when it was first released (because it appeared to feature gross-out and cringe humor), Emily is surprised and delighted to …

1
Deep Thoughts about Airplane! 1:11:22

8M ago1:11:22

1:11:22

Send us a text We picked the wrong week to give up horse tranquilizers… The Guy Girls have fond memories of the 1980 comedy Airplane!–specifically, they remember their dad helplessly snort-laughing at this three-gags-a-minute parody of 1970s-era disaster films. The movie still delivers solid belly laughs, but not everything is as funny four decades…

1
Deep Thoughts about Men in Black 1:09:19

8M ago1:09:19

1:09:19

Send us a text You know what the difference is between you and me? I make podcasting look gooooood. This week, Emily dives into the remarkably subversive 1997 film Men in Black. Despite looking like nothing more than an entertaining summer blockbuster that merged sci-fi and comedy, MiB actually asks the audience to rethink what they know about immi…

1
Deep Thoughts about The Birdcage 1:09:15

8M ago1:09:15

1:09:15

Send us a text Shouldn't you be holding the crucifix? It is the prop for martyrs! The 1996 film The Birdcage offered a revolutionary portrayal of gay love in a mainstream movie. Not only do we see a stable, loving, long-term relationship between Robin Williams’ Armand and Nathan Lane’s Albert, but the film is a funny and joyous celebration of being…

1
Deep Thoughts about The Nightmare Before Christmas 1:07:55

8M ago1:07:55

1:07:55

Send us a text What's this? What's this? There's overthinking everywhere! This week’s episode of Deep Thoughts takes a closer look at Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas (which was actually directed by Henry Selick) to see what unintentional lessons the 1993 Hallow-Christmas classic taught us. The film serves as a fascinating metaphor for t…

1
Deep Thoughts about Jaws 1:23:09

8M ago1:23:09

1:23:09

Send us a text We’re gonna need a bigger podcast… Join the Guy Girls this week as Emily geeks out about the most tightly-written and well-crafted summer blockbuster ever made: Jaws. This film taught us the importance of keeping the monster hidden until the third act (which only happened because the mechanical shark broke down), features the most ch…

1
Deep Thoughts about The Little Mermaid 1:10:37

9M ago1:10:37

1:10:37

Send us a text Bright young women, sick of swimming, ready to podcast! In 1989, 13-year-old Tracie and 10-year-old Emily got to witness the Disney renaissance in real time when they saw The Little Mermaid in the theater. The Guy girls were captivated by the unparalleled animation, the show-stopping musical numbers, and the unexpected sight of their…

1
Deep Thoughts about Beetlejuice 1:04:55

9M ago1:04:55

1:04:55

Send us a text I myself am strange and unusual. On today’s episode of Deep Thoughts, Emily shares her thoughts about the ghost with the most: Beetlejuice. The Tim Burton film is aesthetically gorgeous, unapologetically bizarre, and legitimately funny–but the character of Beetlejuice relies on sexual predation to indicate his awfulness and Michael K…

1
Deep Thoughts about Blade Runner 1:18:32

9M ago1:18:32

1:18:32

Send us a text All he'd wanted were the same answers the rest of us want. The 1982 science fiction classic, Blade Runner, was a favorite of the Guy girls’ father. Mainstream media critics can’t ruminate about how a loved one’s relationship with a piece of problematic pop culture affects the way we view it. Luckily, we aren’t mainstream media. In th…

1
Deep Thoughts about City Slickers 1:21:02

9M ago1:21:02

1:21:02

Send us a text I crap bigger’n you! The 1991 film City Slickers holds a special place in the Guy sisters’ hearts because of how much their dad loved it. When Tracie and Emily took him to see this film in the theater for Father’s Day, they had no idea this gentle comedy-Western would offer a nuanced look at the meaning of masculinity, male friendshi…

1
Deep Thoughts about Field of Dreams 1:16:28

10M ago1:16:28

1:16:28

Send us a text If you build it, he will come. What better vehicle for the Guy girls to meditate on their relationship with their late father than a movie they once watched with him about a man’s relationship with his late father? With Field of Dreams, the 1989 magical realism baseball film starring Kevin Costner, Tracie brings some deep thoughts ab…

1
Deep Thoughts about Nightmare on Elm Street 1:09:09

10M ago1:09:09

1:09:09

Send us a text One, two, Freddy’s coming for you… Today’s episode of Deep Thoughts gives Emily a chance to finally exorcise the boogeyman of every 80’s childhood: Freddy Krueger. Though neither Emily nor Tracie ever saw the influential 1984 film Nightmare on Elm Street, the burned and be-knived Freddy cast a long shadow over the culture, meaning th…

1
Deep Thoughts about Dune with Jake Cohen 1:05:05

10M ago1:05:05

1:05:05

Send us a text Fear is the mind-killer… On this week’s episode of Deep Thoughts, Tracie and Emily welcome their cousin Jake Cohen to talk all things Dune, from Frank Herbert’s influential series of novels to the 1984 David Lynch adaptation to the recent Denis Villeneuve films. The conversation ranges from the intricate and well-thought out worldbui…

1
Deep Thoughts About Shrek TEASER 17:37

10M ago17:37

17:37

Send us a text Podcasts are like onions…they’ve got layers. In this patron-exclusive bonus episode, Emily takes a look back at Shrek, the charming ogre who entertained her young son. Though the movie is still laugh-out-loud funny at times, those guffaws come with unfortunate sides of fat-phobia, misogyny, and bio-essential transphobia that is truly…

1
Deep Thoughts about Ferris Bueller's Day Off 1:06:42

11M ago1:06:42

1:06:42

Send us a text Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and listen to a podcast once in a while, you might just miss it. This week, Tracie shares her deep thoughts about the iconic 1986 teen movie Ferris Bueller’s Day Off–and unfortunately the results are not as charming as Matthew Broderick’s smile. Not only is Jeannie unfairly made out to be a v…

1
Deep Thoughts about The Matrix 1:14:04

11M ago1:14:04

1:14:04

Send us a text Only try to realize the truth: There is no spoon. When Emily brings her deep thoughts about the Wachowski Sisters’ 1999 cinematic masterpiece, The Matrix, the Guy sisters are unable to contain the conversation to under an hour. (We’re not exactly known for our brevity.) This movie, possibly the most popular, successful, and influenti…

1
Deep Thoughts about The Ren & Stimpy Show 1:15:52

11M ago1:15:52

1:15:52

Send us a text Happy! Happy! Joy! Joy! This week on Deep Thoughts, Tracie brings nostalgia, laughter, and the unfortunate realization that you really can’t go home again with her analysis of The Ren & Stimpy Show. While creator and tortured animation genius John K brought back the artistry and commitment to craft when his angry Chihuahua and sweetl…

1
Deep Thoughts about Revenge of the Nerds 1:21:09

11M ago1:21:09

1:21:09

Send us a text NERDS!!! On today’s episode of Deep Thoughts, Emily shares her analysis (and horrified shuddering) about the oddly influential 1984 film Revenge of the Nerds. Though the filmmakers thought they were writing the “gentle and funny underdog story” that Gene Siskel characterized the movie as, Nerds treats women as less-than-human trophie…

1
Deep Thoughts about Dead Poets Society 1:13:27

12M ago1:13:27

1:13:27

Send us a text O Captain! My Captain! Join us as Tracie brings her deep thoughts to the 1989 film Dead Poets Society on today’s episode. Though this beloved film was supposed to be a defense of the humanities (and remember, both Guy Girls were English majors at private liberal arts colleges), this rewatch made it clear the film thinks poetry is sim…

1
Deep Thoughts about Jurassic Park 1:11:46

12M ago1:11:46

1:11:46

Send us a text Hold on to your butts! On this week’s episode of Deep Thoughts, Emily shares her analysis of the 1993 film Jurassic Park. She describes the thrill of being the target audience for a summer blockbuster (she was 14 when it came out) and her discomfort with how the book portrayed the only two female characters as an annoying child and a…