Thirsty Topics podcast
Thirsty Topics is where unfiltered conversation meets culture, entertainment, and everyday life. Hosted by Lawrence Elrod and co-hosted by Meryl Klemow, the podcast dives into the latest headlines, social media buzz, and trending stories—always with humor, honesty, and fresh perspectives.
From pop culture and viral moments to real conversations about society, relationships, and lifestyle, Thirsty Topics is designed to spark dialogue and keep listeners engaged. No scripts, no filters—just real talk that’s as entertaining as it is thought-provoking.
What listeners can expect:
- Engaging weekly episodes featuring the latest cultural trends and stories
- Thoughtful and funny takes on social media, entertainment, and everyday issues
- Multi-perspective conversations that feel like sitting down with friends who aren’t afraid to “go there”
Available on all major podcast platforms, Thirsty Topics is part of the Elrod TV Network, expanding the brand’s mission to deliver bold, original, and diverse media.
Join the conversation, stay entertained, and never miss what everyone’s talking about.
Episodes
65 episodes
Politics, Pop Stars, And Public Backlash for 12/31/25
What happens when private choices meet public judgment? We dive straight into the week’s hottest flashpoints, starting with Nicki Minaj praising Donald Trump at a conservative event and the cascading backlash that followed. We talk honestly abo...
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30:29
When Fan Behavior Crosses The Line And What It Costs for 12/30/25
A quiet holiday catch-up takes a sharp turn into the chaos reshaping pop culture, money, and safety. We start with the viral moment that yanked Billie Eilish toward a crowd and ask what it means for live music: tighter security, fewer intimate ...
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35:16
Snoopy Sold, Cruises Questioned, Pajamas Fly for 12/25/25
Snoopy has a new corporate home, a cruise tragedy raises hard questions, and travelers are turning pajamas into a protest. We dive into the culture shifts shaping daily life and the quiet choices that reveal who we are as consumers, companies, ...
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51:10
From NFL Sidelines To Viral Kiss Cam Fallout And Why Timing Matters for 12/23/25
A playoff push, a sideline punch, a farewell that ends in a tap out, and a Kiss Cam that cost two careers—this one moves fast and asks better questions about judgment, restraint, and respect. We open with the Bears’ surge and how one Steelers r...
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45:46
Swift Bonuses, Drone Drops, Early Dinners, And Waymo Woes for 12/18/25
We move from Taylor Swift’s record-setting crew bonuses and the ethics of public generosity to the rise of drone contraband in prisons, early-bird dining trends, rising return fees, a chilling Hollywood tragedy, and a Waymo stowaway that spotli...
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38:56
Bonus episode of Thirsty Conversations: An Indie Filmmaker’s Global Playbook: Comedy, Grit, And Vision Beyond Borders
What does it take to build a global filmmaking career without waiting for permission? We sit down with New Zealand–born director Samuel Franklin, whose debut feature movie Tropical Snow blends dark comedy, handheld immediacy, and a quietly univ...
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57:22
Bears, Bans, And Butter Knives for 12/17/25
We move from Bears rivalry banter to a serious look at Australia’s under‑16 social media ban, a farewell to Tokyo’s panda twins, a Florida plane landing on a highway car, a tragic Brown University shooting, a Michigan coaching scandal, and a vi...
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42:38
Pantone’s “Cloud Dancer,” Melissa McCarthy’s Transformation, A Taylor Swift Wedding Plot, Family Priorities, And The Pizza Economy for 12/11/25
We challenge a near-white “color of the year,” weigh the reaction to Melissa McCarthy’s transformation, and unpack a rumored Taylor Swift wedding date buyout. Then we wrestle with partner vs parents priorities, decode pizza as a recession signa...
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41:57
Likes, Laws, And Holiday Trees for 12/10/25
A snowy reset, a comedy high, and a fast tour through modern boundaries: when likes become signals, why nursing deserves full professional status, how dystopian art muddies the message, and where pet health and holiday habits meet common sense....
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41:07
Driverless Taxi Meets Police Standoff for 12/6/25
We move from a driverless taxi rolling into a police standoff to the future of drones overhead, a five-era brain map, the grind behind hand modeling, SNAP funds at risk, and the strange freedom of a 2,000-person nude cruise. Safety, control, an...
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35:43
Thanksgiving, Drama, And A Drunk Raccoon for 12/5/25
We trade cozy holiday vibes for real talk on safety, boundaries, and respect as viral pranks, celebrity drama, and corporate candor collide. From a livestreamed arrest to a drunk raccoon, we trace how attention warps judgment and why consent, d...
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38:37
From Ralph Lauren Holidays To Penny Farewells And Retail Smiles for 11/20/25
We trade the beige Christmas for rich color and nostalgia, then challenge the quiet creep of rounding as the penny exits. From Target’s 10-4 smiles to a shaky red carpet security moment, viral resumes, robot pratfalls, and an MLB betting scanda...
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36:13
Second Chances And The Weight Of Accountability for 11/19/25
What happens when a former TV star apologizes for real harm, an AI “artist” tops a Billboard chart, and your phone quietly admits you’re glued to it for 21 hours a day? We pull these threads together to ask a bigger question: how do we protect ...
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35:08
Pageant Walkout, Public Apology, Private Power for 11/13/25
A pageant director’s demeaning remarks trigger a contestant walkout and a broader talk on power, accountability, and the strength of public proof. We move from a fatal cargo crash and AI in cars to a “phantom” NFL marriage rumor and practical s...
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33:49
Behind The Smile: Mental Health, Money, And Modern Life for 11-11-25
We open with a hard truth about hidden pain as a young NFL player dies by suicide, then move through money ethics, public safety, and the limits of technology with empathy and clear eyes. Along the way we share resources, challenge easy answers...
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41:07
When A Good Deed Gets You Sued, A Heist Unravels, And AI Comes For Your Job for 11/6/25
A good deed sparks a legal storm: a teen returns a wallet with ten thousand dollars, only to face a lawsuit over three thousand allegedly missing. We dig into the messy intersection of ethics, law, and incentives—why honesty can feel risky, why...
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43:09
Waymo, Holidays, Pennies, And Playoffs for 11/4/25
A neighborhood cat, a driverless car, and a city that suddenly feels colder—our hour starts with the story everyone can’t shake and the question no one can dodge: who’s responsible when machines make human-sized mistakes? We sit with the grief ...
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31:07
Storm, Scandal, And Spotlight for 10/28/25
Sirens, stadiums, and spotlights collide as we trace how power, money, and fame shape what we fear, what we cheer, and what we let slide. We open with Hurricane Melissa’s race toward Jamaica, placing the storm in context—why building standards ...
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32:54
Pickleball, Disney, SNAP, And Drake for 10/25/25
A boom in play shouldn’t mean a spike in ER visits. We start with the surprising rise in pickleball injuries—especially eye trauma—and break down why close-court power shots, poor warmups, and casual “it’s just a game” habits lead to serious ha...
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28:33
Four Minutes At The Louvre for 10/23/25
A lightning-fast heist at the Louvre. A celebrity caption that went sideways. A teenage gorilla testing the limits of “safety glass.” We follow the headlines that made us gasp and ask a bigger question: what do we really protect—art, image, ani...
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32:37
AI Stars, Human Costs for 10/15/25
Fame without flesh, voices without consent, and systems without support—this conversation traces a line through our cultural pressure points and asks what we’re willing to trade for speed, spectacle, and status. We start with an AI “actress” ma...
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46:24
Bonus episode of Thirsty Conversations: How a Short Film, Oprah’s Spotlight, and Patience Shaped an Actor’s Journey S2 Ep2
A man walks 18 miles to vote and gets turned away—again and again. That true story sits at the heart of Otis’s Dream, the award-winning short that changed the trajectory of Christopher Greer’s career and galvanized communities across hundreds o...
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40:17
Bonus Episode of Thirsty Conversations: This conversation clarifies therapy paths, tackles stigma, and shows how to find the right help S1 Ep6
What’s the real difference between a psychologist and a psychiatrist—and how do you know which one you need? We sit down with Jamie Harris to draw a clean, practical line between medication management, talk therapy, and psychological assessment...
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26:50
From Taylor’s No to Kimmel’s Return: Culture Clashes, Viral Stunts, and a Hamburger Helper Comeback for 9/30/25
A bear-filled weekend turns into a culture run that asks bigger questions about power, safety, and the price of attention. We kick off with Taylor Swift’s reported standoff over Super Bowl halftime rights—why ownership and promotion matter when...
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35:30
Jimmy Kimmel's Return and Disney's Dilemma for 9/23/25
The battle over free speech in entertainment takes center stage as Jimmy Kimmel's "indefinite suspension" from ABC comes to a surprising end. Breaking news during our recording reveals Kimmel will return to his show after just days off air – a ...
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