Binging With Benefits

Binging With Benefits

by Jess and Becca McKenzie

After Shows Film Reviews

Season 1

Stage Fright Is Definitely Genetic

Becca might go back to school… but only if she never has to suffer through a group project again. Meanwhile, Jess decides it’s time to make a list of the ultimate afterlife questions—everything from the secrets of the universe to the tragic disappearance of her favorite shirt. Then we dive into Coyote Ugly, where Becca cannot deal with a main character who keeps getting shoved on stage for the dream she claims to want. Like girl… is it yes or no? We wrap things up with Becca’s benefit of the week: Aqua dell’Elba Classica, the fragrance you didn’t know your perfume collection was missing.

Repeat After Me... "Rest Is Productive!"

🐶 Jess is on dog duty this week, and Pico the pup steals the show before Becca drops a hot take: should you always save names in your phone, no matter how often you talk to someone? That spirals into a debate on text habits, unread message counts (how many is too many?!), and the chaos of social media notifications. 🌎 From there, the girls share their very real hatred of earthquakes before Becca shocks Jess with the Netflix doc Sweet Bobby — a rollercoaster she was not ready for (and neither are you). ✨ Jess closes us out with this week’s benefit: a reminder from TikTok about having faith the size of a mustard seed, and why waiting seasons in life can actually be a good thing.

Men Are Like Roosters And Snowmen

This week we cover everything from pop culture to candy conspiracies. We kick things off with the buzz around Taylor and Travis’ engagement before Jessica shoots her shot in the DMs of a TikTok comedian (bold moves only). Then Jessica brings us the documentary Southern Fried Lies and Becca gives her unfiltered reaction. Becca also shares a benefit on how real beauty often grows out of the ugly parts of life—deep wisdom paired perfectly with Lindsey Stirling’s “Eye of the Untold Her.” And because no episode is complete without a little candy chat, we wrap it up debating the great Tootsie Roll vs. Tootsie Pop mystery—and whether that star-and-Indian wrapper actually meant anything.

MY ROOMMATE GOT ENGAGED TO HER COUSIN!!

This week we dive into the "delightfully weird" of our "80's and 90's babies" lives — starting with seeing Freaky Friday get freakier! (yes, it was amazing. Also Lindsay looks incredible, we LOVE a good come back!) And revisiting the things we once thought were fancy as kids that are absolutely not fancy in adulthood. Then Becca takes us through her four years in Utah, a story that plays less like a rom-com and more like a chaotic comedy-horror-thriller complete with strange roommates and endlessly leaky roofs and a poopy house that actually caused PTSD. Finally, Jess shares a benefit about the quiet, powerful courage it takes to ask for help — and why reaching out might just be the strongest move of all. This episode will make you laugh, make you cry, and make you feel like you can tackle the world with your tribe by your side!

Ashante Is The Reason I Thought I Could Be An Actress

This weeks episode is basically a time capsule what life looked like in 2006. We talk about our family camping trip where Jess broke out in a full stress rash, Becca ended up with a throat ulcer, and somehow in the middle of it all we found a ring at the lake that ended up being way more meaningful than we ever expected. We’re sealing John Tucker Must Die into the ultimate 2000s time capsule — because nothing screams teen drama and flip phone energy quite like it. We talk about how Ashanti single-handedly convinced us we could be actresses, why this movie still holds up as chaotic perfection, and the very specific nostalgia it stirs. For our benefit, we switch gears and get real with The Body Keeps the Score, a powerful book on trauma and healing that everyone should read at least once. From guilty-pleasure classics to life-changing reads, this episode has it all.

Haha's With Hoes: Pirates, Poems and Pop Culture

This week, Allie’s back with us and things get delightfully introspective. We ask the all-important question: if your inner conscience was a celebrity, who would it be? (Spoiler: classic Doris Day quotes may or may not have shaped our entire childhood personalities.) Then we dig into the wild world of treasure hunts with the documentary Forest Fenn: Gold and Greed—mystery, obsession, and just a little chaos. To wrap it up, Jess shares a benefit in the form of a poem that gently reminds us not to compare our garden to someone else’s greener grass.

Do I Have A Crush On Abe Lincoln?!

Jess shows up with a million questions and zero chill — and we’re here for it. We try to blow her mind with facts, theories, and stuff she definitely wasn’t ready for. Then we spiral into Abraham Lincoln vs. Zombies, a movie that somehow combines Civil War history with undead mayhem… and it kind of slaps? Becca wraps it up with a benefit: The Ed Mylett Show, hosted by a man who looks like he could rip a phonebook in half but actually just wants to talk about kindness and emotional growth. Stunning.

The Lost Daughter and the Found Rage

TRIGGER WARNING: In this episode, we cover stories of different forms of physical and sexual abuse. This may be triggering to some, listener discretion is advised. If you or someone you love is experiencing such abuse, please call 800-799-SAFE 800-799-7233 Jess is on a total Betty Crocker meets Topanga streak this week—she whipped up homemade challah (yes, from scratch) and then leveled up with some fancy French toast that has us deep in a French toast vs. waffles face-off. We break down the twisty, emotionally packed double feature of Into the Fire and The Lost Daughter (warning: topics of sexual assault, kidnapping and murder.). Then we dive into the Love Life podcast collab with Matthew Hussey and Mel Robbins, exploring the “Let Them” theory, and how our inner 8-year-olds are still running the show sometimes. It's self-reflection, sugar, and cinema—wrapped in a Lisa Frank folder.

Pretty Privilege, But Make It Sci-Fi

This week, we uncover the wild world of cruise ship employees—and let’s just say, there’s more swinging than sailing happening below deck. Then we make a splash into the Little Mermaid reboot, where the soundtrack has us feeling… conflicted (justice for the OG “Poor Unfortunate Souls”). Next up: a deep dive into The Uglies—the YA dystopian classic turned movie. We talk beauty standards, brainwashing, and how it hit a little too close to home for our younger selves. Why did this book have us questioning face symmetry in middle school?! And finally, the benefit is delicious: a marinara sauce brand called SAUZ. We’ve tried every flavor and we’re obsessed. It’s giving homemade without the stress—your pasta (and taste buds) will thank you.

The Joy Index: Random Edition

This week, we spiral (in the best way) over the random things that make us unreasonably happy—like the criss cross palm trees at In-N-Out, Airheads comeback tour: sweet, chewy nostalgia in every bite, and the absolutely wild fact that we only ever see one side of the moon (Jess needed a minute). Plus, we break down a rom-com starring Lily James and Emma Thompson that’s basically the Clueless of arranged love stories—totally fetch and full of chaotic charm. Its called Whats Love Got To Do With It (and no, sadly its not the Tina Turner version.) We also talk about giving our lives better captions—because if your brain’s going to narrate everything, it might as well be nice about it. This episode is a gentle reminder to hit pause and speak to yourself like you would to your best friend—kindly, patiently, and with a whole lot of grace. We dive into how the “captions” we put on our own lives shape our mood, our confidence, and even our happiness. Because when you change the narrative to something softer and more loving, suddenly the everyday feels a little brighter, and the hard stuff a little easier to carry. So grab your scrunchie, pop in some dial-up vibes, and chill with us for a chaotic ride through the feels and the fun!

4 of 5