BANTS! with Geoff and Justin

96: Zara Larsson Finds Her Niche on ‘Midnight Sun: Girls Trip’

Sometimes we’re late to the party, listeners dear, and that is certainly the case with this week’s main topic Zara Larsson! We missed her 2025 album ‘Midnight Sun’ but are back for the remix album, ‘Girls Trip’. Before the boys dive into this feature-filled record, they tackle a litany of hot topics: a more-evil-than-usual Met Gala; the new single from Charli xcx, “Rock Music”; two of the most exciting films from Cannes, ‘Club Kid’ and ‘Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma’; and new singles from Madonna, Sabrina Carpenter, and Gracie Abrams. The nerve damage is real. Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 01:18 Catch-Up 10:32 Met Gala Takes 19:51 Jordan Firstman’s Directorial Debut ‘Club Kid’ Is Lauded at Cannes 25:26 Cannes Premiere of Jane Shoenbrun’s ‘Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma’ 31:18 Breaking Down Charli’s “Rock Music” 39:47 Gracie Abrams Drops Single “Hit the Wall” Off Upcoming Album ‘Daughter from Hell’ 43:21 New Madonna Single “Bring Your Love” ft. Sabrina Carpenter 50:24 Midnight Sun: Girls Trip 01:30:34 Justin’s What’s Good: Widow’s Bay 01:44:25 Geoff’s What’s Good: Cities: Skylines 01:52:55 Outro What’s Good: Geoff: Cities: Skylines (Steam [https://store.steampowered.com/app/255710/Cities_Skylines/]) Justin: Widow’s Bay (Apple TV [https://tv.apple.com/us/show/widows-bay/umc.cmc.1zzly0vah46bnvnwf0qkrjhh2]) Links: See Every Look from the Met Gala 2026 Red Carpet (Vogue [https://www.vogue.com/slideshow/met-gala-2026-red-carpet-celebrity-arrivals-live]) A24 Wins Bidding War for ‘Club Kid’ (The Hollywood Reporter [https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/a24-wins-bidding-war-for-club-kid-cannes-1236598463/]) “Rock Music” by Charli xcx (Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/album/1Ct1PzrmnTxWE8w0PTTa4w?si=Hb7RtLyPQf6U4baGq5QSfQ]) “Hit the Wall” by Gracie Abrams (Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/track/1U90UBmMrQTx9GNweUA4LZ?si=FI3QaOH9S6W1AGuRiI7JIw]) “Bring Your Love” by Madonna & Sabrina Carpenter (Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/track/7rAr4Ai9dysthnfNRRC55Q?si=d3be594e5bbd4a04]) Credits: Song: Sam Day - NEBRASKA (WITH YOU) [NCS Release] Music provided by NoCopyrightSounds Free Download/Stream: http://ncs.io/NEBRASKA_WY [http://ncs.io/NEBRASKA_WY] Watch: http://ncs.lnk.to/NEBRASKA_WYAT/youtube [http://ncs.lnk.to/NEBRASKA_WYAT/youtube] Creators & Producers: Geoff Taylor and Justin Benavidez Show Art: Geoff Taylor Audio Editor: Justin Benavidez Email us at bantspod@gmail.com [bantspod@gmail.com] with questions or recommendations Views expressed by the hosts are their own, and not those of their employer(s) or any other entity. Socials:Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/bantspod/] • YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@bantspod] • What’s Good on Letterboxd [https://letterboxd.com/jbenz1213/list/whats-good/] • What’s Good on Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2AbReiQNSybSVB1WuIEqmI?si=EtvC7oK8RsqfkqfH1J4NJA]

95: Mother's Day

This week, we’re *Geoff voice* FLUSHING THE FORMAT and inviting our actual mothers, Sue & Teresa, onto the pod. We asked each to pick one formative piece of pop culture to talk about—Justin & Teresa dig into the influential sitcom ‘All in the Family’, and Geoff & Sue chat about the Boss himself, Bruce Springsteen.  Happy belated Mother’s Day, listeners dear! Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 01:05 Teresa’s Pick: All in the Family 31:06 Sue’s Pick: Bruce Springsteen & Born in the USA 01:07:05 Outro Links: All in the Family (Tubi [https://tubitv.com/series/300015032/all-in-the-family?start=true&tracking=google-feed&utm_source=google-feed]) ‘Born in the USA’ by Bruce Springsteen (Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/album/0PMasrHdpaoIRuHuhHp72O?si=d4a892766daf4de2]) Credits: Song: Sam Day - NEBRASKA (WITH YOU) [NCS Release] Music provided by NoCopyrightSounds Free Download/Stream: http://ncs.io/NEBRASKA_WY [http://ncs.io/NEBRASKA_WY] Watch: http://ncs.lnk.to/NEBRASKA_WYAT/youtube [http://ncs.lnk.to/NEBRASKA_WYAT/youtube] Creators & Producers: Geoff Taylor and Justin Benavidez Show Art: Geoff Taylor Audio Editor: Justin Benavidez Email us at bantspod@gmail.com [bantspod@gmail.com] with questions or recommendations Views expressed by the hosts are their own, and not those of their employer(s) or any other entity. Socials: Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/bantspod/] • YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@bantspod] • What’s Good on Letterboxd [https://letterboxd.com/jbenz1213/list/whats-good/] • What’s Good on Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2AbReiQNSybSVB1WuIEqmI?si=EtvC7oK8RsqfkqfH1J4NJA]

94: A Podcast About ‘The Devil Wears Prada 2’? Groundbreaking

Thank the devil herself, this legasequel is actually good! This week, G+J cover everything ‘The Devil Wears Prada 2’ gets right about living through the media apocalypse, and everything it gets wrong about Australian love interests. Geoff is especially excited to talk hot topics this week, including a new album from pod fav Ariana Grande and Laura Dern joining the cast of ‘The White Lotus’. That’s all! Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 01:31 Catch-Up 12:09 Ariana Grande Announces New Album ‘petal’ 16:59 Is Beyoncé’s act iii Dropping Soon? 18:15 ‘White Lotus’ Cast ft. Laura Dern & Survivor 50 23:08 Teaser for Zach Cregger’s ‘Resident Evil’ 30:08 Olivia Rodrigo Premieres “begged” on SNL 32:14 Gámez-Cuéllar Mariachi Brothers Opening for Kacey Musgraves 36:40 The Devil Wears Prada 2 (Spoiler-Free) 59:50 *SPOILERS* for The Devil Wears Prada 2 01:26:56 Justin’s What’s Good: Beef 01:35:44 Geoff’s What’s Good: Kath & Kim 01:42:30 Outro What’s Good: Geoff: Kath & Kim (Netflix [https://www.netflix.com/search?q=kath%20%26%20kim&jbv=81014647]) Justin: Beef Season 1 (Netflix [https://www.netflix.com/browse?jbv=81447461]) Links: Ariana Grande Announces New Album Petal (Pitchfork [https://pitchfork.com/news/ariana-grande-announces-new-album-petal/]) ‘The White Lotus’ Cast: See Who’s Checking in for Season 4 (The Hollywood Reporter [https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/the-white-lotus-season-4-cast/]) Laura Dern Boards ‘The White Lotus’ After Helena Bonham Carter’s Departure (The Hollywood Reporter [https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/laura-dern-the-white-lotus-season-4-helena-bonham-carter-1236579046/]) Resident Evil - Official Teaser Trailer (YouTube [https://youtu.be/SJPu1spHqfk?si=hqyd2JvjXjNvcoWS]) Olivia Rodrigo - begged (SNL) (YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wwEUB7jqS88]) Kacey Musgraves Taps Mariachi Brothers Detained by ICE to Open Shows (Rolling Stone [https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-country/kacey-musgraves-mariachi-brothers-open-texas-shows-1235554945/]) Credits: Song: Sam Day - NEBRASKA (WITH YOU) [NCS Release] Music provided by NoCopyrightSounds Free Download/Stream: http://ncs.io/NEBRASKA_WY [http://ncs.io/NEBRASKA_WY] Watch: http://ncs.lnk.to/NEBRASKA_WYAT/youtube [http://ncs.lnk.to/NEBRASKA_WYAT/youtube] Creators & Producers: Geoff Taylor and Justin Benavidez Show Art: Geoff Taylor Audio Editor: Justin Benavidez Email us at bantspod@gmail.com [bantspod@gmail.com] with questions or recommendations Views expressed by the hosts are their own, and not those of their employer(s) or any other entity. Socials: Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/bantspod/] • YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@bantspod] • What’s Good on Letterboxd [https://letterboxd.com/jbenz1213/list/whats-good/] • What’s Good on Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2AbReiQNSybSVB1WuIEqmI?si=EtvC7oK8RsqfkqfH1J4NJA]

93: Much Like This Podcast, ‘Mother Mary’ Depicts the Painful Art of Collaborative Creation

Grab your bejeweled mics and hottest semi-religious fits, listeners, because Geoff & Justin are covering the popstar-obsessed ‘Mother Mary’! Before they jump into David Lowery’s latest film starring Anne Hathaway & Michaela Coel, the boys chat about Charli’s new era, weekend 2 of Coachella, new music from pod fav Olivia Rodrigo, and a Martha Stewart biopic from ‘Zola’ filmmaker Janicza Bravo and Cate Blanchett. This might be the best podcast ever recorded. Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 01:13 Catch-Up 06:37 Charli’s New Era 14:33 Madonna’s New Single “I Feel So Free” 16:39 Coachella Weekend 2 Thoughts 30:59 New Single and Music Video from Olivia Rodrigo 34:46 A Martha Stewart Biopic Is on the Way 40:04 Mother Mary (Spoiler-free) 59:55 *SPOILERS* for Mother Mary 01:16:09 Mother Mary: Greatest Hits (Soundtrack Album) 01:24:26 Justin’s What’s Good: Ö 01:30:26 Geoff’s What’s Good: Better & Ultra 2008 01:35:52 Outro What’s Good: Geoff: “Better” by Baauer (Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/track/28Fhf4E24Y4iZqQ09nOUJx?si=d53ed95bdcfa4b2c]) and Ultra 2008 (Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/album/6vGd4Q4F2WA5v4BBNDsbFm?si=2f2iIu1FTKuTb9vpD_QdAg]) Justin: ‘Ö’ by Fcukers (Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/album/4RrsgnUbZIFTw42Apa8lXO?si=OVVWbBS1QQWDm0YEB6Hrsw]) Links: Charli XCX Lets Vogue In On Her Rock Reinvention (British Vogue [https://www.vogue.co.uk/article/charli-xcx-british-vogue-interview]) “I Feel So Free” by Madonna (Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/track/04o2ES37jkiK5Qy8PR5XLk?si=33aca5b891cb44a5]) Madonna Joins Sabrina Carpenter at Coachella (Vanity Fair [https://www.vanityfair.com/culture/story/madonna-sabrina-carpenter-coachella?srsltid=AfmBOor4nWUDaaTwTVMDWbicplzZwBCKnKzOUcLfFNCfyMH9epKhtjOb]) Justin Bieber Serenades Billie Eilish, Duets With SZA During Coachella Weekend Two Headlining Set (Variety [https://variety.com/2026/music/news/justin-bieber-serenades-billie-eilish-sza-coachella-1236725426/]) Olivia Rodrigo - drop dead (Official Music Video) (YouTube [https://youtu.be/78wrful9cVU?si=MBYrSFo8n0NiXz3C]) Cate Blanchett to Star as Martha Stewart in Biopic Movie From ‘Zola’ Director Janicza Bravo (Variety [https://variety.com/2026/film/news/cate-blanchett-martha-stewart-biopic-movie-1236721886/]) Credits: Song: Sam Day - NEBRASKA (WITH YOU) [NCS Release] Music provided by NoCopyrightSounds Free Download/Stream: http://ncs.io/NEBRASKA_WY [http://ncs.io/NEBRASKA_WY] Watch: http://ncs.lnk.to/NEBRASKA_WYAT/youtube [http://ncs.lnk.to/NEBRASKA_WYAT/youtube] Creators & Producers: Geoff Taylor and Justin Benavidez Show Art: Geoff Taylor Audio Editor: Justin Benavidez Email us at bantspod@gmail.com [bantspod@gmail.com] with questions or recommendations Views expressed by the hosts are their own, and not those of their employer(s) or any other entity. Socials: Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/bantspod/] • YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@bantspod] • What’s Good on Letterboxd [https://letterboxd.com/jbenz1213/list/whats-good/] • What’s Good on Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2AbReiQNSybSVB1WuIEqmI?si=EtvC7oK8RsqfkqfH1J4NJA]

92: Watchmen (2019) Is Canon

G+J are adding another show to the BANTS! Canon—Watchmen! Before they dive into the iconic limited series from Damon Lindelof, they break down the announcement of Madonna’s new album, a ‘Longlegs’ follow up, and the conclusion of Chappell Roan’s Rio drama. Grab your rosaries & knee high boots, listeners, we’re going hunting! Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 01:46 Catch-Up 09:59 Chappell vs. Jorginho Update  15:00 ‘Longlegs’ Sequel in the Works from Oz Perkins & Nicholas Cage  20:37 New Madonna Album, Dreamgirls, and Hamilton 36:06 Intro to Watchmen (2019)  47:39 *SPOILERS* for Watchmen  01:26:15 Justin’s What’s Good: The Pitt 01:38:03 Geoff’s What’s Good: The Bald and the Beautiful 01:45:00 Outro What’s Good: Geoff: The Bald and the Beautiful (Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-bald-and-the-beautiful-with-trixie-and-katya/id1532816291]) (Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/36SPp0UJlpM9TDacDHMhEC]) (YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLeuxZvL-qVvnCAzTJHT7Ob592bycBXQZI]) Justin: The Pitt (Season 2) (HBO Max [https://play.hbomax.com/show/e6e7bad9-d48d-4434-b334-7c651ffc4bdf]) Links: Charli XCX Lets Vogue In On Her Rock Reinvention (British Vogue [https://www.vogue.co.uk/article/charli-xcx-british-vogue-interview]) mollygupta.com [https://www.mollygupta.com/] Soccer Star Jorginho Frello ‘Regrets’ Claiming Chappell Roan’s Security Yelled at His Daughter and Calls It a ‘Misunderstanding’ (Variety) [https://variety.com/2026/music/news/jorginho-frello-regrets-chappell-roan-security-incident-1236720546/] BANTS! 12: It Seems Sabrina Wore Her Short Legs Today (Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/episode/5hkfAsus82WbyGkz7na9F9?si=T_7owiaeTi2fvPy1PeIEBQ]) (Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bants-with-geoff-and-justin/id1747545103?i=1000662502930]) Osgood Perkins, Nicolas Cage Team With Paramount for New ‘Longlegs’ Movie (The Hollywood Reporter [https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/new-longlegs-movie-nicolas-cage-1236564219/]) Madonna Announces New Album ‘Confessions II’ (Pitchfork [https://pitchfork.com/news/madonna-readies-confessions-on-a-dance-floor-sequel/]) Credits: Song: Sam Day - NEBRASKA (WITH YOU) [NCS Release] Music provided by NoCopyrightSounds Free Download/Stream: http://ncs.io/NEBRASKA_WY [http://ncs.io/NEBRASKA_WY] Watch: http://ncs.lnk.to/NEBRASKA_WYAT/youtube [http://ncs.lnk.to/NEBRASKA_WYAT/youtube] Creators & Producers: Geoff Taylor and Justin Benavidez Show Art: Geoff Taylor Audio Editor: Justin Benavidez Email us at bantspod@gmail.com [bantspod@gmail.com] with questions or recommendations Views expressed by the hosts are their own, and not those of their employer(s) or any other entity. Socials: Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/bantspod/] • YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@bantspod]