Bad On Paper Podcast: July 2025 Episode Summary – "Three Things"

Hosts:
Becca Freeman & Olivia Muenter

Release Date:
July 2, 2025

Episode Overview

In this engaging episode of Bad On Paper, hosts Becca Freeman and Olivia Muenter dive into their regular "Three Things Week," where each brings three items from different categories to discuss. The conversation seamlessly weaves through personal highs and lows, book discussions, movie critiques, and creative games, offering listeners a blend of insightful banter and literary passion.

Three Things Week

Introduction to the Segment (00:18 - 00:50)
Becca Freeman and Olivia Muenter kick off the episode by introducing the "Three Things Week" theme. Each host shares the categories they've chosen:

• Becca:

  • A game
  • A fantasy question
  • A pop culture item

• Olivia:

  • A pop culture item
  • A writing question
  • A reading selection

Becca (00:28): "I brought a game, I brought a fantasy question, and I brought a pop culture one, which I would not be surprised if we overlap on."

Olivia (00:39): "I think we probably do. I think I know what it is."

Sharing Highs and Lows

Olivia's Highs and Lows (01:11 - 09:31)
Olivia shares her high of enjoying a productive bookish week despite the extreme heat in the Northeast. She highlights her favorite recent read, Notes on Your Sudden Disappearance by Alison Espach, praising its emotional depth and resonance with The Wedding People.

Olivia (01:11): "My high is that I had such a nice reading week, a nice bookish week."

Her low involves a stressful incident where heavy rain caused water to leak into her office, damaging her printer—a critical tool for her writing process.

Olivia (08:21): "What's your low? You were there for my low."

Becca's Highs and Lows (03:33 - 08:39)
Becca shares her excitement about impulsively booking a weekend trip to Boston to attend a friend's engagement drinks, providing a refreshing break from the ongoing rainy weather.

Becca (03:33): "My high is that I impulsively booked a flight to go to Boston this weekend."

Her low centers around the unexpected name leak of Materialists during a meeting, causing confusion and minor distress.

Becca (04:39): "What type of things do you want to talk about? Including materialists in the Facebook group."

Movie Discussion: Materialists

Initial Impressions and Ratings (12:20 - 27:05)
The hosts delve into their thoughts on the movie Materialists. Both express mixed feelings, rating it around the midpoint of their scales—Olivia gives it a 4.65, while Becca rates it a 5.

Olivia (13:05): "If you were giving this movie a score, on a scale of 1 to 10, what are you giving it? 4.65."

Becca (13:11): "I think I'd give it a five."

They discuss specific aspects they found lacking, such as character development, plot coherence, and the film's title. Becca criticizes Dakota Johnson's portrayal as too cold, while Olivia feels the romance subplot was muddled and unsatisfying.

Becca (16:33): "Dakota Johnson is not my favorite actress in general... it just didn't feel like it delivered on the fun and game section."

Olivia (16:54): "She was like, the only person's name in the movie. I thought they made her seem very sad and that just didn't feel fair to me."

Highlights and Lows (17:28 - 27:05)
They identify moments they appreciated, such as certain character interactions and cinematography, yet lament the film's inconsistent tone and unresolved plot elements.

Becca (19:38): "I really thought Pedro was great in this role... but it was so ridiculous."

Olivia (22:05): "The only person's name in the movie... it missed on so many levels for me."

Game Segment: Guess the Hallmark Plot

Playing the Game (33:18 - 38:29)
Becca introduces a fun game inspired by a recent event where they guess the plot of Hallmark-style movie titles. Olivia participates, bringing humor and creative guesses:

1. Jingle Bell Run

   • Olivia's Guess (33:30): A small-town charity Christmas run paired with a budding romance.
   • Actual Plot: A bookworm and a retired hockey star compete in a holiday race across America, developing a romantic connection along the way.

2. Return to Office

   • Olivia's Guess (35:06): Two coworkers fall in love after being forced to return to the office post-COVID.
   • Actual Plot: Two coworkers, known only as Ms. Monday and Mr. Tuesday, navigate an office romance upon returning to a hybrid work schedule.

3. For Love and Honey

   • Olivia's Guess (36:12): Generational beekeepers face challenges while finding love.
   • Actual Plot: A beekeeper discovers an ancient fresco, leading her on a quest across Malta with a visiting archaeologist, intertwined with a romantic storyline.

Becca (34:25): "You were quite wrong. This one is pretty deceiving."

Olivia (37:01): "It's about a Greatest Race type challenge."

Writing Process and Craft

Discussion on Writing Techniques (40:50 - 49:14)
Olivia and Becca share insights into their writing processes, particularly focusing on revisions and editing techniques for their second novels compared to their first.

Olivia (40:50): "I have a writing question... about process and craft... editing techniques, habits."

Becca (41:26): Describes her approach of setting writing goals, drafting without a full outline, and evolving her editing process with the help of an agent and editor.

Becca (45:36): "So, like, I just was stuck writing."

Olivia articulates her challenges with editing, emphasizing the difficulty of cutting content and the benefits of using rough outlines to navigate complex narratives.

Olivia (47:56): "I'm using a little bit of an outline... multiple points of view and multiple timelines."

Obsession Corner

Hosts Share Their Obsessions (50:20 - 59:56)
Becca and Olivia discuss their current obsessions, ranging from fashion to household items.

Olivia's Obsession (59:25 - 61:00):
Imagines a dream summer dinner party set in a Tuscan villa, complete with Italian food, a late-night DJ (humorously suggested to be Pedro Pascal), and luxurious ambiance.

Becca's Obsession (59:47 - 61:06):
Fascinated by Old Navy tank tops that resemble Doan's style, praising their affordability and high-end appearance.

Becca (60:37): "I have both shown it on Instagram, linked it on my newsletter."

Book Discussions and Recommendations

Olivia's Recent Reads (61:15 - 65:44)
Olivia shares her latest book picks, providing brief synopses and personal reflections:

1. The Bombshell by Darrow Farr

   • A gripping tale of a teenage daughter kidnapped by Corsican nationalists, blending political intrigue with personal drama.

2. Fun for the Whole Family by Jennifer E. Smith

   • A family drama exploring sibling estrangement and reconciliation against the backdrop of a mysterious inheritance.

3. Notes on Your Sudden Disappearance by Alison Espach

   • A heartfelt narrative from the perspective of a younger sister dealing with the aftermath of her sibling's tragic death.

4. It's a Love Story by Annabelle Monahan

   • A charming exploration of former childhood stars navigating love and personal growth.

5. Dear Writer by Maggie Smith

   • A nonfiction guide offering writing advice from the poet Maggie Smith, focusing on both poetic craft and creative living.

Olivia (61:15): "The Bombshell... she starts to rather see their point."

Olivia (64:42): "It's a beautiful book."

Becca's Recent Reads (65:46 - 70:39)
Becca highlights two books, emphasizing their appeal and genre:

1. These Summer Storms by Sarah Maclean

   • A contemporary drama about four estranged siblings reuniting at their childhood summer home under unique inheritance conditions, blending family dynamics with romantic subplots.

2. Fun for the Whole Family by Jennifer E. Smith

   • A lighter, more fun family narrative contrasting with her first pick, focusing on sibling dynamics and secrets unveiled during a family gathering.

Becca (67:04): "It's like a succession meets X book."

Becca (69:05): "It's a soapy beach read but you're not a romance person."

Book Club Announcement

Upcoming Book Club Selection (71:08 - 72:01)
Becca announces that July's book club pick is Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid, set against the backdrop of the 1980s space program. The selection was listener-driven, promising an epic romance reminiscent of Titanic.

Becca (71:03): "Our listeners voted in the Facebook group."

Closing Remarks

Engagement and Community (72:01 - End)
The hosts encourage listeners to join their communities on Facebook and Instagram to discuss books, movies, and more. They wrap up the episode with warm farewells, reminding listeners of their social media handles and newsletter links.

Olivia (72:25): "We're on Instagram under Bad On Paper Podcast."

Becca (72:41): "See you next week."

Notable Quotes

• Olivia (01:11): "My high is that I had such a nice reading week, a nice bookish week."

• Becca (03:33): "My high is that I impulsively booked a flight to go to Boston this weekend."

• Olivia (13:05): "If you were giving this movie a score, on a scale of 1 to 10, what are you giving it? 4.65."

• Becca (13:11): "I think I'd give it a five."

• Becca (19:38): "I really thought Pedro was great in this role... but it was so ridiculous."

• Olivia (47:56): "I'm using a little bit of an outline... multiple points of view and multiple timelines."

• Olivia (61:15): "I liked it so much, I couldn't put it down."

Conclusion

Becca Freeman and Olivia Muenter provide a rich and engaging episode filled with personal anecdotes, thoughtful book and movie critiques, and interactive segments that highlight their dynamic chemistry. Listeners gain insight into their creative processes, personal interests, and literary passions, making this episode a must-listen for avid readers and podcast enthusiasts alike.