Curated by Chance

Episode 90: Rain Pains Prompts: Wound, 1300, Walnut Wow! We are 10 episodes away from 100. Crazy that we've come this far and we cannot thank YOU, the listener, enough! On this week's episode Neal is battling an oncoming migraine from the huge weather shifts (that have given him six days of migraines) and Lauren coins the best description of it ever. Hint: It's the title. After a little catch-up, the episode goes full speed. Lauren starts with The Side Wound of Christ (Prayer Book of Bonne of Luxembourg) and discusses how the side wound wasn't just artwork, but was used for deep devotion and carried unexpected erotic and queer interpretations which have since challenged modern assumptions of medieval beliefs. Lauren's lesson shows us that the Middle Ages were actually full of complex, layered thinking about gender and were far from the “dark ages” stereotype we see in popular media. Neal goes to the 1300s, but in film form, and breaks down The Seventh Seal the highly regarded film from arguably Sweden's greatest filmmaker, Ingmar Bergman. Here, Neal talks about Swedish cinema, the behind-the-scenes magic, and filming perhaps the most famous chess scene of all time that itself, was inspired by a piece of artwork! And he surprises Lauren with that fact. Next Week's Prompts: Hell, Gray, Baby Blue, 106 Help Support Our Summer of "50" by getting us to 50 reviews on Apple and Spotify and 50 patrons on Patreon! To join us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/curatedbychance Thank you for all you do for us Patrons. We are making this show for YOU! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 89: Swimsuits and Social Revolutions This week’s prompts: Bathing Suit, Mint Green, 1964 This week, Lauren and Neal kick things off by reading YOUR suggestions for open-house names and Neal comes up with a million dollar idea for a book villain that he may or may not use. Only time will tell. The pair then talk about movies that turn your brain off, and Neal recounts trying to watch a Jason Statham movie in six minute increments. To start the episode off, Neal takes the reigns and uses 1964 and bathing suit to talk about the creation and evolution of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue from its beginnings as a January filler to becoming a billion-dollar cultural juggernaut. He talks about the first cover mode, the female editor who helped build the franchise and make it a household name, the controversies, and of course, the supermodels the magazine minted. Lauren picks up the conversation with a deep dive into Rudi Gernreich, the Austrian-born American designer whose fashion inspired social critique. Gernreich is perhaps best known for the topless monokini but throughout all of his work, saw clothing not just as style, but a way to challenge repression, rethink gender, and push modern fashion. Lauren details his refugee background and anatomical eye to his futuristic unisex looks and even talks about the unforgettable, very real, pubikini. And yes, it's what it sounds like. Thank you to all our patrons for your support. We LITERALLY could not do this without all of you. Please support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/curatedbychance Follow the show and its creators on Instagram: The Show: @curatedbychance Lauren: @paisleylo Neal: @nealefischer E-mail us: [email protected] Hear Neal each week on Triviality Podcast Listen to Lauren on Miss Information Podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 88: Willem DeFoal Prompts: Natural, Currency, LXXXV Today's episode goes from house hunting to Russian realism to a sweaty 80s crime thriller with some serious C.S.I. nudity! In a pre-prompt discussion, Lauren gives listeners an update on her house-hunting journey and decides, along with Neal, that they need fake open house names from YOU to help them as they peek around listings and hopefully don't see a Todd in the way. IYKYK. Neal talks about one of his radio shows and how terms like HELOC are going right over his head. But today's prompts inspire some fun discussion on two different topics. Lauren starts off talking about Ilya Repin’s 1885 painting Ivan the Terrible and His Son Ivan and its devastating portrait of rage, regret, and political fallout. She talks about Repin's lifestyle, Ukrainian roots, and how this work became one of Russia's most controversial canvases and evolved throughout history and was even subjected to vandalism. Neal goes a different direction and uses LXXXV (85) for 1985, and tells us all about William Friedkin's underrated classic, To Live and Die in LA. It's based on a novel by a Secret Service agent, features currency, burning paintings, William Peterson full frontal, and a fantastic performance from Willem Dafoe. The infamous wrong-way car chase is covered at length, but what Neal and Lauren decide to fixate on is the genius of Wang Chung and their score for this film. We even get a review from the porch from Lauren's dad... sort of. Make sure to send us your fake open house names and perhaps we'll use them! Next week's prompts: Mint Green, Bathing Suit, 64 Help Support Us On Patreon: Subscribe Here! Follow the show on instagram: @curatedbychance Follow the show's creators on instagram: @nealefischer & @paisleylo Thank you for supporting our show each month! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 87: LT's 1940s Pick-Up Lines Prompts: 1940s, Orange, Linguist Lauren and Neal are EXCITED to be back on the moving train that is Curated by Chance. This week's brand-spanking-new episode covers two topics that were all the rage in the 1940s. Neal kicks things off, firmly back in the co-host chair, with a deep dive into the Transatlantic or Mid-Atlantic accent, otherwise known as the old-timey voice you hear in old movies! The polished "old Hollywood" voice was made famous by stars like Cary Grant and Katharine Hepburn and Neal explains why it started, how it flourished, and why it just disappeared like nothing ever happened. He speaks about Edith Skinner, Marlon Brando, James Dean, and how, spoiler alert, the accent was never real! Lauren takes the 1940s mantle and talks all about one of America's most celebrated artists, Edward Hopper. She takes us from lonely diners to sunlit windows and explores Hopper's captured isolation, stillness, and everyday life in a way that to fans new and old still resonates. But the biggest reveal (are we surprised?) is that Hopper probably wouldn't be Hopper without his wife, Josephine. Also on this episode, Lauren and Neal figure out fashion trends, talk about Pickleball, and Lauren let's Neal know she's happy that he isn't recording from a moving car this time. Next Week's Prompts: Currency, Natural, LXXXV (85) If you'd like to support our show on Patreon (and help us continue to grow) please visit: www.patreon.com/curatedbychance Follow the show and its creators on Instagram: The Show: @curatedbychance Lauren: @paisleylo Neal: @nealefischer E-mail us: ⁠[email protected]⁠ Hear Neal each week on Triviality Podcast – Subscribe now! Listen to Lauren on Miss Information Podcast – Subscribe now! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 86: Never Trust a Big Butt and a Smile Prompts: Brick, 9399, Poison Guess who's back? Back again. Well, it's not Slim Shady, but Neal did have frosted tips early on in his high school career! Neal finished his latest book under a TIGHT deadline and is happy to be back. He thanks Lauren for holding down the podcast with solo and guest episodes, and thanks the listeners for their patience. He even shares an anecdote about writer brain and how it led to making a BIG mistake in the book, but thankfully he fixed it later. In honor of his return, Neal goes first and gives Lauren a much deserved break by talking about the story behind Bell Biv DeVoe's "Poison," one of the most famous examples of New Jack Swing. The discussion ranges from the origin of the song, the original group that birthed BBD, and the famous group that BBD helped form! Plus, the most famous use of this song on television and the videogame that stole it! Then, Lauren takes the mic and talks about the danger behind beautiful colors and how poisonous colors have a place in fashion and color history. From sea snails to expensive garments worn by royalty to colors literally causing illness and death! On this week's episode, you get creativity under pressure, the evolution of art through experimentation, how innovation have often come with unintended consequences, and the cultural ripple effect of one song. Next Week's Prompts: Orange, 1940, Linguist Please consider supporting us on Patreon! ⁠www.patreon.com/curatedbychance⁠ Follow the show and its creators on Instagram: The Show: @curatedbychance Lauren: @paisleylo Neal: @nealefischer E-mail us: ⁠[email protected]⁠ Hear Neal each week on Triviality Podcast – Subscribe now! Listen to Lauren on Miss Information Podcast – Subscribe now! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices