Everything’s Perfect…Except Movies And Modern Dating
Podcast: Everything’s Perfect
Hosts: Autumn Calabrese & Donald Stamper
Date: January 27, 2026
Episode Overview
This episode is a lively and candid exploration of nostalgia for 80s and 90s movies, the evolution of film and award show culture, and the complexities of modern dating. Hosts Autumn and Donald share personal stories, hot takes on trends, and a hearty dose of unfiltered advice, especially when it comes to relationships and communication. The conversation covers feeling "the funk" of current world events, the comfort of old favorites, and the importance of open conversations about sex and intimacy.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
Feeling the World's Heaviness & Coping (00:45–05:14)
- Both hosts open up about struggling with heaviness in the world and personal funks, amplified by bad weather and daily stresses.
- Exercise as Therapy:
- Autumn: “Honestly, just getting a workout in… it just feels so good to, for 30 minutes or an hour... focus on the moment and what you’re doing to strengthen yourself.” (03:22)
- Donald jokes about the necessity for strength for “the zombie apocalypse.”
- Personal anecdotes about Pilates and the challenges of regaining flexibility and good posture.
Award Shows, Fashion, and Movie Trends (06:23–13:14)
- Golden Globes Recap:
- Autumn admits she confuses the major award shows; Donald bemoans award season interfering with manicure appointments.
- Both are there “for the fashion,” praising Nikki Glaser’s hosting and suits from the men (“Kevin Hart’s suit was amazing,” 08:14).
- Shift in Movie Genres:
- Donald: “I still think that as, like, kids and teens, we had the best genre of movies… Everything’s AI… every movie is a superhero movie.” (12:22)
- Autumn: “Felt like when we were kids, you got like one good one a year.”
- Today’s movies seem less memorable or are over-saturated with superheroes; nostalgia for excitement of movie releases in the 80s and 90s.
Reminiscing About Classic Films (13:31–22:39)
- “Sister Act 2” as Therapy:
- Autumn shows it to her son, Dom: “He hit the high note and Dom was like, ‘Damn!’” (14:23)
- Frustration that the original soundtrack with the movie cast isn’t available on streaming.
- The Power of the Underdog:
- "It's the Underdog. Think about some of your most favorite movies from the 80s and 90s... Dirty Dancing, She's All That, Rocky, Pretty in Pink, Sixteen Candles." – Autumn (15:18)
- Cultural Blindspots:
- Donald confesses to never having seen “Pretty in Pink” or “Sixteen Candles.” Autumn is horrified and assigns a homework list of must-watch 80s movies.
5-Movie Homework List (21:02)
- Girls Just Want to Have Fun
- Pretty in Pink
- Sixteen Candles
- Can’t Buy Me Love
- “Goonies” and “Gremlins” (Donald has seen these; more as honorable mentions)
The Modern Movie Experience (22:41–26:48)
- Comfort Rewatching and the importance of classic “feel good” movies when the world feels heavy.
- Donald: “Honestly, watching these movies is like therapy to me.” (20:11)
- Discussion of differences in soundtracks: “They were the soundtracks of your life right then.” – Autumn (19:16)
- Debate about the consistency and charm of 80s films, calling out continuity errors as part of the fun.
Modern Dating & The Big Condom Conundrum (28:13–41:43)
Listener “Phone a Friend” Letter (28:43)
- Female listener writes in: She’s been dating a guy for four months. She’s on birth control, but he insists on continuing to use condoms, making her question his reasons and exclusivity.
- Hosts’ Theories:
- Donald: “Sounds to me like he either can’t be trusted, or he doesn’t feel like he can trust her enough.” (29:40)
- Autumn: Possible he’s worried about her “pulling the goalie,” or he has an STI and hasn’t disclosed.
- Advice:
- Both stress the need for a “very, very direct conversation.”
- “If you can’t have that conversation… you might want to question where that relationship is headed.” – Autumn (39:41)
- Notable Exchange:
- Donald, jokingly: “Tell you girls, the best kind of birth control is anal. I’m sorry. I’m pretty sure it’s like 100 guaranteed.” (36:42)
- Autumn shares a story of a woman unknowingly trying to conceive via anal sex—leading to laughs and a critique of sex education.
Unfiltered Sex Talk
- “At some point, if you’re in a relationship that has become sexual, you’ve got to have…the conversation.” – Autumn (39:39)
- Discussion about women’s sexual agency and the stigma or discomfort around initiating conversations about needs and desires.
- Playful comments:
- Donald: “People talking about it, saying what you like, saying what you want. Sticking a finger in his butt, trust me, he'll thank you later.” (41:12)
- Autumn: “Take your two pump chump somewhere else.” (41:30)
Getting Back into the Dating World (43:11–44:45)
- Autumn recounts a bar interaction with a potential suitor:
- Fumbles her fork twice, but the mishap sparks conversation.
- “Not necessarily sparks, but it was just nice to have a conversation.”
- Encouragement from Donald: “Good. Do it again! And next time, go home with them. I don’t care. Again, I’m your unhinged friend giving unhinged advice.” (44:46)
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- On the 80s/90s Movie Magic:
“You want to cheer for the underdog. You want to cheer for the person that's got the come-up story.” – Autumn (15:49) - On Modern Communication in Relationships:
“If you can’t have that conversation… you might want to question where that relationship is headed.” – Autumn (39:46) - Donald’s Unfiltered Sex Ed:
“Tell you girls, the best kind of birth control is anal. Sorry. I’m pretty sure it’s like 100 guaranteed you won’t get pregnant.” (36:42) - On Opening Up:
“People talking about it. Saying what you like, saying what you want. Sticking a finger in his butt. Trust me, he’ll thank you later.” – Donald (41:12) - On Unapologetic Advice:
“We are not therapists or in any way qualified—just your unhinged friends giving you unhinged advice. So please take it at your own risk.” – Donald (38:44)
Timestamps for Key Segments
- 00:45 – Coping with world heaviness; how fitness helps
- 06:23 – Golden Globes recap, fashion chat, men’s suits
- 12:22 – The lost magic of new movies; superhero saturation
- 13:31 – Classic movie nostalgia; the “underdog” trope
- 21:02 – Essential 80s/90s must-watch movie list
- 28:43 – Listener letter: condom use debate
- 36:42 – Hilarious, not-so-accurate sex advice
- 39:39 – Direct communication as relationship foundation
- 43:11 – Autumn’s modern dating story; getting back out there
Tone & Style
Playful, unfiltered, and relatable; the hosts balance big laughs with meaningful wisdom. The conversation is rooted in honesty, friendship, and a genuine desire to help listeners feel less alone in their quirks and challenges.
For Your Next Listen…
If you want perspective, laughter, and refreshingly real talk about movies, dating, and the mess of modern life, this episode of Everything’s Perfect delivers—because, as Autumn and Donald prove, everything’s perfect… kind of.