Welcome to Pop Culture Weekly - The Substack
Hey, I’m Kyle McMahon and I’m a life long pop culture junkie.
Ever since I was old enough to figure out how to work a remote control, I’ve been hooked on pop culture. Movies, music, TV, streaming, gadgets and technology - you name it. Some kids learned to ride bikes. I did, too, but I also learned the entire Jurassic Park script by heart. While other kids were out perfecting their curveball, I was memorizing *N Sync choreography from freakin TRL. And guess what? I wouldn’t trade a second of it.
Being a lifelong fan of pop culture isn't just about being a walking IMDb or owning a few Funko Pops (okay, over 1,000 Funko POPs). It’s about growing up with stories that shaped who I am. It’s about the midnight premieres, the album drops that felt like emotional events, and the endless rewatches that somehow still hit just right. It’s about finding comfort in reruns and adrenaline in a surprise twist no one saw coming.
I’ve lived through the rise of DVD, the fall of Blockbuster, the dawn of Netflix, and the streaming wars that followed. I remember downloading music off LimeWire like a digital outlaw, burning mix CDs like they were sacred scrolls. I remember my Mom buying me my first iPod, engraved with Madonna’s signature. Today, I carry every song I’ve ever loved in my pocket—and every TV show I missed in one endless queue I’ll never finish. (But hey, it’s the hope that counts, right?)
Technology and pop culture have always evolved together, and I’ve loved every glitchy, gorgeous, groundbreaking minute of it. From AIM away messages to Vine videos to Musical.ly to TikTok trends, it’s been a wild, weird, wonderful ride - and I’m still strapped in.
Some people outgrow this stuff. I didn’t. Because to me, pop culture is more than just entertainment - it’s a time capsule, a language, a community, and a mirror. It’s the soundtrack to our lives. The background noise that actually means something. And I say this without shame: being a pop culture fan is part of my identity. I grew up with it. In fact, I grew because of it.
So whether I’m debating the best Marvel Phase, queuing up a nostalgic ‘90s sitcom, or obsessively refreshing for a new trailer drop - just know: this isn’t just a hobby. It’s a lifestyle. It’s who I am.
And I wouldn’t have it any other way.
I can’t wait to join the ride with you!
Pop Culture Weekly with Kyle McMahon: The Podcast
