Podcast

My So-Called Whatever: 80s / 90s / 00s Nostalgia and Chasing the Little Things that Make Life Magic

Personal Journals, Society & Culture

We're Brooke and Nikki, lifelong besties who spent 8 years as your 80s/90s New Kids on the Block podcast, with guests like Donnie Wahlberg, Joey McIntyre, the Original Cover Girl, Chris Kirkpatrick, Joey Fatone, Jeff Timmons, Mark Calderon, Shane McDermott, Keith Coogan, and more. Now in year 9, we're chasing the little things that make life magic: the stuff we loved growing up and the new stuff we're discovering. Plus empty nesting, kids in high school, and this whole perimenopausal whatever-the-heck-this-is. What gives YOU whimsy? Find us @mysocalledwhatever on IG, TikTok, FB & YouTube

Episodes
298
Releases
Every two weeks
Typical length
50 min
On air since
2017
Latest episode
2 months ago

Episodes

298 episodes, newest first

  1. Season 2 - Episode 3: NKOTB Vegas with Charlene - Barstools, Meet & Greets and ‘Get Over Here’

    Season 2, Episode 3

    Show notes

    Charlene takes Nikki inside NKOTB's Las Vegas residency—from aerial boxes reaching the 400s and front-row barstools covered in confetti to the meet-and-greet moment Joey McIntyre opens his arms and says, ‘Get over here.’ It’s a story about spectacle, nearly forty years of fandom, and the friends who make impossible weekends happen.

    1 hr 9 min
  2. Season 2 - Episode 2: Sticker Hoarders, Vegas Dreams & Banana Cheese

    Season 2, Episode 2

    Show notes

    Nikki and Brooke are back on Zoom for episode 2 of season 2, and this one's a little different—less New Kids on the Block, more real talk. They dig into Nikki's sticker subscriptions and journaling obsession (hello, Hobonichi), swap concert stories from a wild week of Louis Tomlinson and Benson Boone shows, confess their shared love of hoarding bags and receipts, and start planning a long-overdue Vegas trip. Plus: parakeets on Zoom, eyebrow debates, and the great banana-and-cheese debate that somehow makes total sense by the end.

    Nikki also dabbled in some simple video editing for this one, so hopefully you'll be able to catch it in video form on Spotify, and definitely on YouTube at MySoCalledWhatever. Got a story or topic you want them to cover? Email MySoCalledWhatever@gmail.com.

    1 hr 8 min
  3. Season 2 - Episode 1: Is This Thing On?

    Season 2, Episode 1

    Show notes

    We're celebrating 9 years of this podcast! Brooke and Nikki get into everything from moose facts to New Kids on the Block Vegas dreams. Nikki talks New Kids on the Block in October and football while Brooke discusses her Harry Styles fandom origin story complete with Harryween tickets. Have something you want us to discuss? Email us at mysocalledwhatever@gmail.com

    56 min
  4. Episode 302 - Season 2?

    Season 1, Episode 302

    Show notes

    We're back (Brooke & Nikki) and honestly, we're not making any promises this time (but honestly - there's just something different about this time). In this teaser, we catch up on everything that's happened, get real about why the podcast went quiet, and talk about what's changing (and what definitely isn't) as we head into Season 2.

    In this teaser episode for Season 2 you'll hear the same nostalgic, no-filter banter you've come to love from us: '90s and early-2000s throwbacks (Napster, Kazaa, and the horror of a failed overnight download queue), a truly unforgettable story about a decades-old pair of my jeans, New Kids on the Block reminiscing, celebrity crushes (RIP to me over Jensen Ackles), and honest talk about getting older, perimenopause, and why we needed this space back in our lives.

    It's messy, it's real, and it's exactly why we started this podcast in the name of "whatever." Season 2 drops around our nine-year anniversary (July 16) thanks for sticking with us through the question marks.

    38 min
  5. Step 301 - Guess Who's Back?

    Episode 301

    Show notes

    Well, it's been a minute. Join Brooke and Nikki as they catch up with Jackie - AKA Brown Sugar Honey - and see what's been up since the last time we recorded!

    1 hr 16 min
  6. Step 300 - Happy 300th Episode!

    Season 1, Episode 300

    Show notes

    We're back after not putting an episode out since APRIL! Listen this episode as we give you a very brief life update and celebrate 300 episodes.

    37 min
  7. Step 299 - New Kids on the SYNC: A NKOTB NSYNC Mashup Episode

    Season 1, Episode 299

    Show notes

    Join us this episode as we discuss the new New Kids on the Block song, "Kids", and the new NSYNC song, "Paradise". We will be on hiatus until the week of May 1, 2024. Also, if you are wondering what the heck is up with the episode image - you can thank AI.

    1 hr 41 min
  8. Step 298 - Block Party #160: NKOTB Fan Stories From Our Friends Christina and Jenn

    Season 1, Episode 298

    Show notes

    Join us this week with two amazing New Kids on the Block fan stories from the vault from our friends, Christina & Jenn!

    40 min
  9. Step 297 - Internet Love, Friendship, and Burger King

    Season 1, Episode 297

    Show notes

    Join us this week as we hear some really amazing Internet love stories as well as an Internet friendship story from our listeners. We also tangent as always and discuss many other things including Burger King.

    51 min
  10. Step 296 - The Early Days of the Internet

    Season 1, Episode 296

    Show notes

    This week, we take a trip back in time to the 90's and early 2000's to remember what things were like in the early days of the Internet (or "The Net" as we used to call it lol).

    1 hr 12 min
  11. Step 295 - Block Party #159: Cruise Moments with Shawn & Michelle

    Season 1, Episode 295

    Show notes

    It's ANOTHER Block Party! Tune in this episode and hear some amazing cruise moments recorded by our friends Michelle & Shawn! We would LOVE to hear your stories (80's/90's & NKOTB related) and we would LOVE to hear them - IN YOUR VOICE! Send us your stories via voice memo, or call our partyline at 857-271-1047...and you can still send us your stories via email at mysocalledwhatever@gmail.com

    39 min
  12. Step 294 - Block Party #158: Carnegie 2023 Quick Recap, Charlene Goes to Joe's Podumentary, a "Why Are We Not Dead" Update from Brooke, and 80's/90's Secrets from Our Listeners

    Show notes

    Lots to unpack this episode! First, Nikki does a quick recap of Carnegie 2023, Charlene sends us an audio message and talks about her experience at the Gary Marshall Theater at Joe's Podumentary, we hear a couple funny secret stories from our listeners and last - we get an unexpected "Why Are We Not Dead" update from Brooke! You won't want to miss it!

    41 min
  13. Step 293 - Block Party #157: New Kids on the Block Fan Stories From Our Friends Jennifer and Robbie

    Show notes

    We're continuing the Block Party and are sharing two brand new NKOTB fan stories from our new friends Jennifer and Robbie!

    37 min
  14. Step 292 - Block Party #156: NKOTB Fan Stories From Our Friends Kelley and Julie!

    Show notes

    Welcome to the Block Party! We ain’t leaving out NOBODY - especially not our friends Kelley and Julie! Listen this episode as we discuss our winter storm and hear two amazing Joey McIntyre themed stories from our friends Julie and Kelley. Happy 2024 everyone!

    49 min
  15. Step 291 - You Were My First Boyfriend

    Show notes

    Join us (Brooke & Nikki) this week as we talk about the documentary we watched titled "You Were My First Boyfriend" which you can also watch NOW on Max!

    1 hr 19 min
  16. Step 290 - We're Back!

    Show notes

    Catch up with us (Brooke & Nikki) as we discuss the last 3+ months

    1 hr 15 min
  17. Step 289 - Block Party #155: Solo Joe at the Cape Cod Melody Tent

    Show notes

    Join us this week for a patchwork quilt of an episode - pieced together for all of you with love - of our experience at Solo Joe at the Cape Cod Melody Tent.

    31 min
  18. Step 288 - Block Party #154: Happy Anniversary and NKOTB Fan Stories from Our Friends Amber and Sarah

    Show notes

    Join us this episode as we wish ourselves a happy 6th anniversary and hear some amazing New Kids on the Block fan stories from our friends Amber and Sarah.

    1 hr 9 min
  19. Step 287 - Catch Up and Whatever With Brooke and Nikki

    Show notes

    Listen in this week as we catch up on life and talk about all the things.

    45 min
  20. Step 286 - Block Party #153: BlockCon Recap with Charlene!

    Show notes

    Join us this episode as we invite our West Coast MSCW Correspondent, Charlene (that’s her official title), to talk to us ALL about her BlockCon 2023 experience!

    1 hr 9 min