Current Fixation

Ep. 23 - TTFN: Ta Ta For Now

Tue, 24 Feb 2026 19:07:49 GMT

Sometimes life just uh.... finds a way. And this time it found a way to hit us hard, all at once! Join us as we say - not goodbye, just ta ta for now!

In this episode, busy folks who need a nap, Sarah and Katie, infodump about:

How 2026 has gone so awry, so fast, despite our best planning
Taking a break to catch our breath for a bit
We'll be back with some fun new episodes as soon as we can

Love y'all! Thanks for support us on our podcasting journey!

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Ep. 22 - In Memoriam: Catherine O'Hara

Tue, 24 Feb 2026 18:08:56 GMT

Over the last year or so, we have lost some greats - Diane Keaton, Rob Reiner, Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, Malcolm-Jamal Warner, and many more. But for us here at Current Fixation, one passing in particular hit us the hardest.

In this In Memoriam episode, Catherine O'Hara superfan Katie info dumps at you about:

-Catherine O'Hara's life, legacy, and storied career

-Schitt's Creek moments that have meant something to us

-Dealing with the death of famous people and how it impacts regular people's lives

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Ep. 21 - A Trip Down Ancestry Lane

Tue, 17 Feb 2026 15:09:32 GMT

We’re all a product of our families, for better or for worse. In this episode, ba-ba black sheep of the family Sarah infodumps about:

Diving into their family history and the discomfort that comes with it
Difficulties in finding accurate historical information
Sometimes you gotta live in a way that pisses off your ancestors

Content Warning: Discussions of racism, misogyny, and incest

Want to share more about this topic? Do you have a current fixation you want to share with us? Get in the comments on Facebook and Instagram @currentfixationpod, or email us at currentfixationpod@gmail.com

New episodes of Current Fixation are released Tuesdays at 9am CST on Spotify and Amazon Music. All links can be found at currentfixationpod.com.

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Ep. 20 - Spicy for a Tuesday #1: Queer Sex in Media (Heated Rivalry Edition)

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 13:00:00 GMT

This week, we are introducing a new segment we are calling Spicy for a Tuesday! Once every month or two we will have an episode that gets a little… steamier than our average content. Spicy for a Tuesday episodes will allow us the freedom to discuss more adult topics without feeling the need to censor ourselves for the general audience. And will allow you, the listener, to make an informed decision before embarking on a more R-rated journey with us.

In this episode, Hollanov stans Katie and Sarah infodump about:

Heated Rivalry sex scenes that seem to confuse the average viewer
Depictions of sex in other queer media
Directors doing it right (and maybe a few who need some help)

Content Warning: Moderately explicit discussions of sex

New episodes of Current Fixation are released Tuesdays at 9am CST on Spotify and Amazon Music. All links can be found at currentfixationpod.com.

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Ep. 19 - Hockey is the Prettiest Girl at the Party

Tue, 03 Feb 2026 14:54:10 GMT

Hockey is the “it girl”, the sport on the tip of everyone’s tongue. Between the current race for playoff slots, several generation-defining young players coming into their own, and we can’t forget Heated Rivalry, the world has never been so primed for a hockey explosion.

In our first ever episode with a mid-recording pivot, hockey superfan Katie infodumps about:

How Sarah and Katie came to understand and love hockey
The growth of the PWHL and the significant role it can play in the future of the hockey industry
The good, the bad, and the ugly when it comes to hockey culture and what that means for the new fans swarming to the sport

New episodes of Current Fixation are released Tuesdays at 9am CST on Spotify and Amazon Music. All links can be found at currentfixationpod.com.

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Ep. 18 - The Enshittification of Everything

Tue, 27 Jan 2026 14:17:00 GMT

Subscription this, shrinkflation that, ads upon ads upon invasion of privacy… In this re-recorded episode, angry consumer Sarah infodumps about:

What exactly is enshittification?
How subscription models are the absolute worst.
Ways to (sort of) save yourself from enshittified products.

New episodes of Current Fixation are released Tuesdays at 9am CST on Spotify and Amazon Music. All links can be found at currentfixationpod.com.

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Ep. 17 - From Hamnet to Hamlet and Back Again: A Shakespearean Tale

Tue, 20 Jan 2026 14:02:00 GMT

Shakespeare, a name everyone knows. But can you really say we know the man? Join us on our circuitous route through 16th-century Stratford-Upon-Avon and London to modern day Hollywood and back again.

In this episode, Shakespeare Club member Katie infodumps about:

The true history of the life and family of William Shakespeare
The origins of the play Hamlet
The movie Hamnet, directed by Chloé Zhao

Content Warning: Discussions of the loss of a child

New episodes of Current Fixation are released Tuesdays at 9am CST on Spotify and Amazon Music. All links can be found at currentfixationpod.com.

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Ep. 16 - A "Fond" Farewell to 2025

Tue, 23 Dec 2025 15:39:06 GMT

2025 was a year of big change for many people, us very much included. The highs were high and the lows were tough but we all made it through! In our final episode of the year, Sarah leads a 2025 wrap-up conversation where we discuss:

Katie’s last popcorn fixation for the year. It’s a big one y’all!
Our top 3 hyperfixations from 2025 as a whole
Personal and podcast goals for next year. 2026 is going to be a big year for this podcast, we can feel it!

Don’t forget to come back in January for all new episodes! January 20th will be our first episode back in 2026. Happy holidays and a very HAPPY NEW YEAR!

New episodes of Current Fixation are released Tuesdays at 9am CST on Spotify and Amazon Music. All links can be found at currentfixationpod.com.

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Ep. XX - Oopsies!

Tue, 16 Dec 2025 15:55:31 GMT

Hey nerds, Sarah here to let you know that there will be no new episode this week! Unfortunately, the audio that was supposed to be our episode got corrupted, so we'll be back next Tuesday, same time, same place. Thanks for being awesome and patient. <3

-Sarah & Katie

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Ep. 15 - The Original Hunter Gatherers

Tue, 09 Dec 2025 12:51:05 GMT

In the second to last episode of 2025, Katie and Sarah discuss the realities of living with ADHD. They explore:

The realities of late in life diagnosis
Varieties in the way ADHD can present in different people
Neurodiversity as a superpower!

Tuesday, December 16th will be our last episode of the year. We’re taking a three week hiatus to relax, catch up on sleep and episode recording, and spend time with our families over the holidays. WE EXPECT TO SEE EVERYONE BACK IN 2026! Our first episode of the year will air on Tuesday, January 13th.

New episodes of Current Fixation are released Tuesdays at 9am CST on Spotify and Amazon Music. All links can be found at currentfixationpod.com.

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Ep. 14 - The Tea on Tea

Tue, 02 Dec 2025 07:51:16 GMT

Leaves plus hot water equals a little cup of happiness and a delicious new hyperfixation. In this episode, noob tea blender and pro tea drinker Sarah infodumps about:

The… uh… interesting legends behind tea as a beverage
The surprising leaderboard of tea drinking nations around the world
Combating tea fraud with science!

New episodes of Current Fixation are released Tuesdays at 9am CST on Spotify and Amazon Music. All links can be found at currentfixationpod.com.

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Ep. 13 - Whale, Whale, Whale

Tue, 25 Nov 2025 16:58:38 GMT

When you think about empathy, grief, or a sense of community, you think of people. Very human experiences of emotion. In this episode, marine mammal enthusiast Katie infodumps about:

Toothed vs baleen whales
Stories of orcas taking ecological vengeance into their own hands
Discussing the concept of empathy in non-human mammals

Sarah’s Note: The Bloop originated at roughly 50°S and 100°W, while Cthulu lies sleeping at 47°9’S 126°43’W, less than 1800km apart. Yeah, R’lyeh!

New episodes of Current Fixation are released Tuesdays at 9am CST on Spotify and Amazon Music. All links can be found at currentfixationpod.com.

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Ep. 12 - Tropes 2: Electric Boogaloo

Tue, 18 Nov 2025 14:00:00 GMT

Sometimes one episode isn’t enough to say all the things we want to say, so we’re BACK, BABY! In this episode, marathon bingers Sarah and Katie discuss:

More weird, wacky, annoying, and funny tropes in media
The absolute ridiculousness that is medical realism
Important conversations about representation in media

New episodes of Current Fixation are released Tuesdays at 9am CST on Spotify and Amazon Music. All links can be found at currentfixationpod.com.

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Ep. 11 - From Whence the Gods Came

Wed, 12 Nov 2025 14:00:00 GMT

Every culture has their own pantheon of Gods, their own creation myths, folktales shared through the centuries that play a significant part of their cultural heritage. But despite differences from country to country and continent to continent, the human desire to explain the past through fantastical means wills out.

In this episode, Katie, connoisseur of all things mythological, infodumps about:

The differences between myths, folklore, fairytales, and legends.
Mythological beings from cultures across the globe (Egyptian, Mesoamerican, Greek, Roman, etc…)
And finally, introduces you to The God of Arepo

New episodes of Current Fixation are released Tuesdays at 9am CST on Spotify and Amazon Music. All links can be found at currentfixationpod.com.

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Ep. 10 - The Witches that Scotland Built

Tue, 04 Nov 2025 13:52:51 GMT

Join us for our very first fully collaborative, off-the-cuff episode! In this episode, witchy history enthusiasts Katie AND Sarah infodump about:

The enthralling witch themed talk we attended, given by Lisa Traugott
Scotland’s creation myth
The true and sad story of Lilias Adie, the most famous witch in Scotland

Learn more about Lisa Traugott and her books: www.lisatraugott.com

Content Warning: Misogyny and the impacts of the witch trials on women

New episodes of Current Fixation are released Tuesdays at 9am CST on Spotify and Amazon Music. All links can be found at currentfixationpod.com.

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Ep 9 - The Life and Times of O. Henry

Tue, 28 Oct 2025 14:29:11 GMT

Some people live life, and some people LIVE life. Renowned writer O. Henry (William Sydney Porter) was one of those people. In this episode, fellow Renaissance person Sarah infodumps about:

The wild ride that was O. Henry’s life before he settled into writing
Austin’s O. Henry museum and Pun Off Competition
How his legacy lives on and encourages literacy

CW: Alcoholism

Want to change our minds about any of our opinions? Do you have a current fixation you want to share with us? Get in the comments on Facebook and Instagram @currentfixationpod, or email us at currentfixationpod@gmail.com

New episodes of Current Fixation are released Tuesdays at 9am CST on Spotify and Amazon Music. All links can be found at currentfixationpod.com.

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Ep. 8 - Oh, The Third Places We Go

Tue, 21 Oct 2025 13:05:00 GMT

If I told you your home was your first place and work was your second, what would your third place be? A cafe? A public library? Somewhere outside or inside? Join your hosts as they discuss the global significance of third spaces. Jumping between historical precedent, pandemic based shifts in the modern way we engage in community, and our dreams of amazing new spaces with third place potential. In this episode, Library super-fan Katie infodumps about:

The modern and historical significance of Third Places and their impact on the communities they serve
Special emphasis put on the wonderful world of the Public Library
Discussions of hope for future Third Spaces never seen before!

Do you have a current fixation you want to share with us? Catch us on Facebook and Instagram @currentfixationpod, or email us at currentfixationpod@gmail.com

New episodes of Current Fixation are released Tuesdays at 9am CST on Spotify and Amazon Music. All links can be found at currentfixationpod.com.

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Ep. 7 - 50 Shades of King George III

Tue, 14 Oct 2025 06:08:12 GMT

Sometimes Reddit happens and you scrap an episode in the middle of research to Charlie Day yourself down a rabbit hole of historical domino effects. In this episode, Reddit-rabbitholer Sarah infodumps about:

How King George III led to the hit sensation known as 50 Shades of Grey
Bonus stories about other historical domino effects
Troubles in podcasting paradise and the awesomeness of public libraries

Do you have a current fixation you want to share with us? Catch us on Facebook and Instagram @currentfixationpod, or email us at currentfixationpod@gmail.com

New episodes of Current Fixation are released Tuesdays at 9am CST on Spotify and Amazon Music. All links can be found at currentfixationpod.com.

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Ep. 6 - The Disappearance of Vultures

Tue, 07 Oct 2025 13:15:00 GMT

Have you ever drawn a connection in your mind between a seemingly unrelated cause and effect and just knew there was more to the story than meets the eye? Join us on the journey to explore the impact of livestock anti-inflammatories on the death rituals of a specific religious group.

In this week’s episode, play along as puzzle-brained Katie infodumps about:

A new favorite book series, centering a female Parsi lawyer, set in 1920s Bombay
The death rituals of the Parsis and how they have changed over time due to unforeseen human impact
Her love for the comedy gameshow/podcast Lateral

Content Warning: Discussions of death

New episodes of Current Fixation are released Tuesdays at 9am CST on Spotify and Amazon Music. All links can be found at currentfixationpod.com.

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Ep 5 - Tropes in Media

Tue, 30 Sep 2025 16:05:33 GMT

Empty cups, miscommunications, deus ex machinas, OH MY! The media we consume is full of tropes, and for good reason. They’re memorable, easy to replicate in new stories, and familiar to viewers.

In our fifth episode, Sarah and Katie chat about:

The tropes they love, hate, hate to love, and love to hate
Being really annoying and/or really fun to watch movies with
Why mouth noises are the actual worst

New episodes of Current Fixation are released Tuesdays at 9am CST on Spotify and Amazon Music. All links can be found at currentfixationpod.com

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Ep. 4 - Medusa Reimagined

Tue, 23 Sep 2025 13:06:00 GMT

Most people are familiar with the story of Medusa, the gorgon killed by Perseus. A stepping stone in his path toward greatness. But have you ever wondered what the story looks like from Medusa’s side? Her story, when told through the historical male lens, is frightening and sad. But in the wake of the #MeToo movement, there is a push to retell and reimagine Medusa’s story.

Follow along as Mythology Super Fan Katie infodumps about:

The historical mythos surrounding Medusa and her famous snake hair and stone sight
Exploring a more modern take to Medusa’s story, acknowledging the wrong done to her and giving her some of her agency back
Last but not least, an early shout out to my new favorite musical, Epic: the Musical. A retelling of the story of the Odyssey by composer Jorge Rivera-Herrans. Check it out on Spotify or at the link below.

Content Warning: Mentions of a non-consensual sexual act in a historical/mythological context.

Epic: The Musical on Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3sdEH7HfFE3d4xry5RnnLr?si=XtHf-lOrS2ymGEOaVNn8Aw

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Ep. 3 - The Moberly-Jourdain Incident

Tue, 16 Sep 2025 13:36:00 GMT

Time travel has featured heavily in science fiction stories since the calendar read BCE. But what if science fiction became a little less… fictional? When visiting the Palace of Versailles in 1901, Charlotte Moberly and Eleanor Jourdain experienced what they believed to be a time slip, ending up in 18th Century France, days before the start of the French Revolution.

In our third episode, Sarah infodumps about:

Charlotte and Eleanor’s trip through time
Something something patriarchal academia
Possible explanations for the time slip experience

Content Warning: Slight content warning for misogyny and racism, because history.

In the Mind of Marie: https://publicdomainreview.org/collection/an-adventure/ - Note, it is not 60 pages, as I thought - it’s 240!

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Ep. 2 - Victorian Poison Gardens

Tue, 09 Sep 2025 23:16:38 GMT

Have a green thumb but tired of growing nothing but tomatoes, potatoes, and green beans? Get inspired by one of the many morbid pastimes popularized in the Victorian Era, curating a garden of death!

In our second episode, history-fanatic Katie infodumps about:

A history of Poison Gardens, from apothecary gardens to today
The unassuming but deadly flowering plants you might already have in your garden
A glimpse into the Alnwick Poison Garden, the world’s most famous contemporary garden of death

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Ep. 1 - Weddings

Tue, 09 Sep 2025 00:27:24 GMT

Let’s face it, planning a wedding is stressful. Sometimes you need a break from all the budgeting and planning, and sometimes that break includes deep diving into the history of weddings and marriage.

In our inaugural episode, newlywed Sarah infodumps about:

Weddings and marriage in ancient societies
Interesting wedding traditions, both historical and modern
Their new belief that weddings and marriage may, in fact, be kinda cultish

Content Warning: kidnapping, sexual violence.

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