Paul and Erika
Paul and Erika are the creative team behind That Aged Well, a podcast devoted to movies, nostalgia, friendship, and inappropriate jokes.
Shreya Sharma: If you could invite a Hollywood actor, living or dead, to your show — who would it be?
Paul: Well, first of all, Miss Piggy. It feels like her chaos energy would be a fantastic fit. We have spent an enormous amount of time singing the praises of Jared Rushton, who was a child star in Overboard, Big, and Honey, I Shrunk The Kids…it might be fun to talk to him about those experiences. Or, since we can go living or dead, give us a Golden Age Diva! Can you imagine trying to explain podcasts to Bette Davis, with her smoking in your face the whole time and judging you? A thrill!
Erika: Katherine Hepburn, so she can call me a bitch to my face. That would be the thrill of my life.
Have you changed your opinion about any movie during the course of recording an episode?
Paul: Oh definitely! This happens a lot with horror movies, because I’m too scared to understand things like metaphors, and Erika has to explain them. Funnily enough, when we did Drop Dead Fred, we both really liked the movie, but thought the other person was going to come for it…we came with all of our arguments ready, and didn’t need any of them. Drop Dead Fred is an unappreciated classic!
Erika: Yes! I was so surprised when revisiting some of the “romantic” movies I loved as an adolescent that turned out to be horrifying tales of men-acting-upon-women. Untamed Heart (a stalker’s tale), Empire Records (guy bullies his friend into a romantic relationship) and basically most of Can’t Hardly Wait (yikes!) and The Breakfast Club (double yikes!) Now I know where some of my worst relationship instincts came from.
What do your friends think of this podcast?
Paul: This show has made us realize that there are two types of people…people who listen to podcasts and people who don’t. Those of our friends in the former crowd always approach with a question or comment that they were wanting to tell us after listening to an episode. Paul just went to a family reunion, and his cousin gave him a hello hug while saying “Teddy Roosevelt DID win a Nobel Prize, it was for negotiating the end of the Russo-Japanese War” (listen to our episode on The Net if you’re wondering what that’s about)! The friends in the latter crowd treat it kind of like they have friends who are doing an improv show that they’re praying they don’t get invited to…
What do your parents think you do?
Paul: Well, my mother listens to the show, so she is at times TOO aware of what exactly we’re doing. She likes it but doesn’t always appreciate the…shall we say bluer humor that is employed?
Erika: My parents are very supportive, but don’t listen. They do hear half of the podcast when I record remotely, though, so they’re getting at least pieces of it. My mom heard Paul’s laugh once and thought it was lovely!
If you could write the biography of a dead celebrity, who would you choose and why?
Paul: I would want to focus on theater people…maybe someone like Michael Bennett, a fascinating figure who gave us so much and was gone too soon.
Erika: Depending on my mood, I would write about Elizabeth Báthory, who may or may not have bathed in the blood of virgins in order to retain her own youth, or else a heartfelt defense of Marie Antoinette.
What is one thing that the cinema of the 80's and 90’s did well that the cinema now doesn’t?
Paul: Movies took risks back then! Could you imagine a movie like The Legend of Billie Jean, or Solarbabies, or She-Devil getting a widescreen release today? These films aren’t perfect, but they are fun and entertaining and NEVER boring. That’s the biggest sin to us…don’t be boring (looking at you Meet Joe Black).
Fill in the blanks: You’ll love That Aged Well if you love _____
Paul: We have two elevator pitches for the show: one is “movie spoilers and off-color jokes,” only we don’t say “off-color…” The other is “revisiting the pop-culture that made you who you are… for better or worse. “ But more seriously, we try to bring a mix of humor and friendship along with the actual film analysis. The vibes are “sleepover with your best friends, but you’re all in film school.”
What’s your dream podcast to guest on?
Paul: Ask Ronna, an advice podcast that never fails to make me chortle. Also, I am absolutely positive that I give great advice.
Erika: Dish Podcast, a charming English interview-style show in which the guests get to talk about food while eating a meal prepared for them by Michelin-star chef Angela Hartnett. I mean, what a dream!
What are you listening to?
Paul: As an avid Jeopardy! fan, I’m really enjoying What Is…A Jeopardy Podcast? I’m also always current on Jay and Miles X-Plain the X-Men (one day, I’ll get Erika to allow X-Men-talk on That Aged Well), and Little Gold Men (it’s always Oscar season).
Erika: I love history podcasts and my latest binge is Betwixt The Sheets with Kate Lister. She’s an historian who specializes in human sexuality but she’s also a great podcaster because she’s very funny, empathetic and engaging. Ever wanted to learn more about our ancestors’ sex lives? Here’s your chance!
Thanks, Paul and Erika!