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This episode is presented by USG Audio. Three of the most acclaimed names in original audio are uniting to tell a sensational new story. Pulitzer Prize and Peabody Award-winning studio USG Audio joins Exactly Right Media along with pioneering producers Blanchard House for the new limited series, Royal Swindle. Royal Swindle follows two Australian lovers who charm their way into London high society and into the wallets of Britain's elite, all while hiding a dark past. It's greed, glamour, lies and love. A true rom-con. Listen to Royal Swindle now wherever you get your podcasts. In this episode of CherryPop, host Meg McCarthy sits down with actress Anna Camp for a wide-ranging conversation about storytelling, embracing the unexpected, and her lifelong fascination with all things supernatural. Anna reflects on discovering acting as a child and how performing gave her permission to express emotions she had been taught to hold back, as well as why she continues to gravitate toward complicated, unconventional, and sometimes polarizing characters. Together, they explore her ability to use humor as a gateway into deeper emotions, the creative freedom she's found in her 40s.  "I think to be an actor, you have to be really fully present. I noticed when I turned 40 I really stopped caring what people think. That's the way I was when I was a kid, so I feel like I'm getting back to that." - Anna Camp  The conversation also dives into Anna's love of horror and the paranormal, from growing up with ghost stories and Ouija boards to why heightened supernatural worlds can reveal something deeply human. That passion made hosting HGTV's A Very Haunted Renovation a natural fit, combining design, competition, history, and a legitimately haunted house.  "I love disarming people with humor first and then unexpectedly surprising them, hopefully, with whatever they're covering up with that humor—whether it's trauma or pain, sadness, anger, all of that. That's one of the joys of acting for me, and those are the characters I love to play."- Anna Camp Anna shares what drew her to the series, what it was like watching the designers navigate fear, exhaustion, and creative pressure inside Bihl Manor, and why preserving the history and character of the home was such an important part of the experience. Plus, she looks ahead to her return to the stage in 2:22 A Ghost Story and shares why the paranormal continues to be such fertile ground for stories about love, connection, and what it means to be human. A Very Haunted Renovation airs Tuesdays at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT on HGTV and streams the next day on HBO Max. CherryPicks is the best place to see what women think about movies, tv, and more. CherryPicks highlights reviews and original stories exclusively from female and non-binary writers. www.TheCherryPicks.com Follow CherryPicks on social @thecherrypicks Follow your host Meg McCarthy on Instagram @megjomccarthy Music composed by Honor Nezzo. CherryPop is executive produced by Miranda Bailey and Rebecca Odes, produced and hosted by Meg McCarthy, and edited by In Haus Media Photo Credy by Ali Mitton

Three of the most acclaimed names in original audio are uniting to tell a sensational new story. Pulitzer Prize- and Peabody Award-winning studio USG Audio joins Exactly Right Media – home to global hit show My Favourite Murder – along with pioneering producers Blanchard House for the premiere of their new limited series, Royal Swindle...  Hot on the heels of their internationally successful limited series podcast Hell in Heaven, Blanchard House and Exactly Right Media team up again, along with USG Audio to bring another incredible true crime story to life. This shocking story revolves around two Aussie lesbian lovers who infiltrate London high society and become the toast of British high society. When the women offer an exclusive investment opportunity and, before long, the money is rolling in. But this mysterious millionaire duo is concealing a dark past and dastardly intentions. Everyone from England's horse-loving elite to unsuspecting businessmen fall under their seductive spell. Even Queen Elizabeth II gets a dose of the couple's irresistible charms. But it won't be long before a small-town detective gets wind of their exploits and vows to stop them. The only problem is that these two are exceedingly hard to catch. Here's a sneak peek:  Over eight compelling episodes, host and award-winning journalist Becky Milligan tracks down one half of this duplicitous duo and persuades her to tell all in this extraordinary tale of greed, lies and love. A true rom-con, you might call it. Royal Swindle is a larger-than-life riotous crime caper with an against-all-odds love story at its heart. Royal Swindle is a Blanchard House production for USG Audio, in partnership with Exactly Right Media. Royal Swindle is available now on the iHeartRadio App, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

This episode is presented by Book Outlet! This episode tackles themes of growth and self-discovery, which is why we love Book Outlet! With over 60,000 books across every genre and age range, from bestsellers to boxed sets and recent releases, there's something for everyone. Plus, all their books are brand-new and at least 50% off list prices, every day, so you can really stock up. Visit bookoutlet.com to start building your next stack.  In this episode of CherryPop, Meg chats with Finding Her Edge star Madelyn Keys about the whirlwind success of season one, the excitement surrounding season two, and the emotional depth at the core of the series. What unfolds is a thoughtful conversation about ice dancing as both an art and a metaphor that mirrors acting in its vulnerability, discipline, and emotional risk. "I think athletes and actors share in common in that they dedicate their lives to something they may never find success in, at least in terms of financial or commercial success. There's a connection in that strong desire to do something against all odds and to put in the work to make it happen, even when it isn't glamorous and even when nobody's watching. And there's also an ability not only to take coaching from others, but to look inward and say, 'This is what I did. What could I have done better?' Hopefully in a way that isn't critical, but constructive." - Madelyn Keys  Together, they dive into her character Adriana's journey, focusing on her emotional growth as she learns how to take up space, make mistakes, and build confidence without losing her compassion. The conversation also touches on one of the season's most powerful moments, the attic scene between Adriana, her sisters, and Camille, exploring how grief, family dynamics, and shared history shape the characters and underscore the series' deeper themes of sisterhood, healing, and resilience. "Sometimes, especially in a YA love triangle, you can get stuck in the trap of 'Which boy is she going to pick?' and what that says about her, as if she's only valuable if she chooses one boy and that's the only thing going on in her life. What I really like about Adriana is that, yes, she absolutely has a messy love life, but she's also a full person who would be interesting to watch even without that. I love what our showrunner says about how there's the romantic love triangle between her and her two love interests, but there's also a familial love triangle between Adriana and her sisters, which is just as meaningful for audiences." - Madelyn Keys  Looking ahead to season two, Madelyn talks about what she hopes to explore next for Adriana, from accountability and deepened relationships to emotional growth, and shares her excitement about getting back to training for the role. The episode also touches on her work as a screenwriter, the importance of creative collaboration, and why Canadian storytelling is having such a moment. Season 1 of Finding Her Edge is streaming now on Netflix.   CherryPicks is the best place to see what women think about movies, tv, and more. CherryPicks highlights reviews and original stories exclusively from female and non-binary writers. www.TheCherryPicks.com Follow CherryPicks on Instagram and Twitter @thecherrypicks Follow your host Meg McCarthy on Instagram   @megjomccarthy Music composed by Honor Nezzo. CherryPop is executive produced by Miranda Bailey and Rebecca Odes, produced and hosted by Meg McCarthy, and edited by In Haus Media Photo Credit: Calyssa Lorraine

In this episode of CherryPop, Meg spoke with actor and author Sarah Shahi about her new book, Life Is Lifey: The A to Z's of Navigating Life's Messy Middle. Life is Lifey is a deeply personal work that resists being labeled as traditional self-help. Instead, the book reads like a companion you can return to at any point, offering reflection, humor, and reassurance in the moments we feel most untethered. "Advice is not a one-size-fits-all model. Everybody comes to their trauma based on the last chapter they were in, and that looks different for everyone. I was acutely aware for it not to sound like I was telling the reader what to do. At the end of each chapter, I take the reader through a series of questions that will be able to help them find where their true north lies. In an age where we have so many algorithms now to tell us what to eat, what to watch, what to order next, and who to speak to, we've lost the ability to check in with ourselves. And I feel like once you have the discipline to silence the noise, you will connect with the wisest person in the room, which is you." - Sarah Shahi Together, Meg and Sarah talk about the power of honesty in art and life. For Sarah, writing from the heart and in her authentic voice was non-negotiable. The book was never meant to prescribe answers but to create space for self-inquiry, intuition, and trust in our own inner wisdom. In addition, they touch on people-pleasing, performance, and the pressure to be "good" at the expense of our own needs. The conversation also explores desire as a form of self-knowledge and how often women are taught to silence it. Drawing from her experience on the Netflix series Sex/Life, Sarah speaks about the generational shame surrounding female pleasure and the importance of reclaiming desire not just in relationships, but in our relationship with ourselves.  "I'm one of those people who believe that my pain should never be in vain. We're all here for such a short amount of time, and I feel like it's part of our responsibility to walk each other home. So for me, the more real I can be about the things I've learned, the messes I've made, the ways in which I've picked myself up and put myself back together- if that can help someone else or inspire something positive within them, then it's my obligation as a person on this planet to do so. Those were my goals and the things that I had in mind as I was writing this book." - Sarah Shahi  At its core, Life Is Lifey is a reminder that growth is messy, but necessary, vulnerability is a strength, and trusting yourself is often the bravest choice you can make—a must read!!  Life is Lifey is available now!  CherryPicks is the best place to see what women think about movies, tv, and more. CherryPicks highlights reviews and original stories exclusively from female and non-binary writers. www.TheCherryPicks.com Follow CherryPicks on social @thecherrypicks Follow your host Meg McCarthy on Instagram @megjomccarthy Music composed by Honor Nezzo. CherryPop is executive produced by Miranda Bailey and Rebecca Odes, produced and hosted by Meg McCarthy, and edited by In Haus Media Photo Credit: Jonny Marlow.

Meg rings in the New Year by welcoming star of Percy Jackson and the Olympians Dior Goodjohn to the podcast!  "What Clarisse was learning and going through this season, I was also as Dior. It was a very therapeutic process playing her not only in terms of the pressure and intensity of how she was raised, but also in what she had to learn for herself about herself and the world—it's the exact same thing that I was having to deal with, learn, and go through in my own personal life while I was shooting the season." -Dior Goodjohn  Dior kicks off the episode by sharing the grounding routine that keeps her centered, then takes us back to the early inspirations that first ignited her love for performing—including the High School Musical 2 DVD she practically wore out. When talking about her work as Clarisse La Rue on Season 2 of Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Dior opens up about the emotional preparation that shaped her performance, rooted in pieces of her own lived experience. She explores the unexpected connection Clarisse and Percy forge this season, a bond that proves vulnerability can be its own kind of power. "Once you utilize how to make things work for you and within a space that makes you feel comfortable and connected to your body, the way that you can get things done, and the speed and agility like that you can do things is just insane. When I stopped trying to force myself to work in a very traditionally masculine sense—like go, go, go, burn out—everything changed when I started trusting my instincts. It's important to think logically and critically, but not everything is like that. And that's when things really started to shift for me in my life, when I started to trust myself…"  -Dior Goodjohn  Dior also talks about how her love of music weaves its way into her work on set, using playlists to lock in the emotional pulse of epic scenes. Across all her creative pursuits, she keeps her focus on what matters most: clear intention, meaningful storytelling, and a genuine sense of gratitude for every step of the journey. Season 2 of Percy Jackson and the Olympians is streaming now on Disney+.  CherryPicks is the best place to see what women think about movies, tv, and more. CherryPicks highlights reviews and original stories exclusively from female and non-binary writers. www.TheCherryPicks.com Follow CherryPicks on Instagram and Twitter @thecherrypicks Follow your host Meg McCarthy on Instagram   @megjomccarthy Music composed by Honor Nezzo. CherryPop is executive produced by Miranda Bailey and Rebecca Odes, produced and hosted by Meg McCarthy, and edited by In Haus Media Photo Credit: Emilynn Rose

CherryPop welcomes star of The Buccaneers, Aubri Ibrag to the podcast.  Aubri and Meg explore her character Lizzie's empowering Season 2 arc. They touch upon the show's beautiful and powerful themes of female friendship, love, and what happens when the two conflict. Although Lizzie may make some questionable choices, we're very proud of her for choosing love and following her heart. At the end of the day, the Buccaneers always find their way back to each other, which is just one of the countless reasons we are continually obsessed with the series.  Although it takes place in the past, Aubri discusses the show's very relatable themes. We may not relate to, say, abdications, but we can relate to these characters on a human level, and as Aubri says, "that's what storytelling is all about." We, of course, also dive into this season's sensational aesthetics, set pieces, and costumes. The episode comes to a close in true CherryPicks style with a game of "Sweet and Sour" with Aubri sharing her exciting future career goals and aspirations.  "[There are] men like Seadown that exist, who made Lizzie feel so awful for such a long time, and she tried to almost quiet herself and make herself smaller so that she didn't elicit bad reactions from people, which is really heartbreaking. But I'm really proud of her [...] for pursuing love." -Aubri Ibrag "After being sexually violated by Seadown, she was quite numb and probably gave up on the idea of ever having passionate feelings, but then came along Theo… I'm really proud of her for allowing herself to follow that feeling, even though it did hurt people. I'm proud of her for doing something wrong, for once, if that makes sense, that was in her own self interest." -Aubri Ibrag  All episodes of The Buccaneers Season 2 are available to stream on Apple TV+.  CherryPicks is the best place to see what women think about movies, tv, and more. CherryPicks highlights reviews and original stories exclusively from female and non-binary writers. www.TheCherryPicks.com Follow CherryPicks on Instagram and Twitter @thecherrypicks Follow your host Meg McCarthy on Instagram   @megjomccarthy Music composed by Honor Nezzo. CherryPop is executive produced by Miranda Bailey and Rebecca Odes, produced and hosted by Meg McCarthy, and edited by In Haus Media Photo Credit:  Stephanie Diani

CherryPop welcomes Abigail Cowen (Fate: The Winx Saga, Redeeming Love) to the podcast, who stars in two films out now.  First up, Meg and Abigail dive into the wild and colorful world of Electra by the brilliant and vibrant mind of first-time feature film director Hala Matar. Cowen fondly talks about working with Hala and her love and appreciation for the passion and creative collaboration born out of independent filmmaking.  "I wanted to act since I was like nine years old, and I never really got the opportunity, because I was in a small town in Florida that didn't have many theater opportunities or anything like that. I grew up on a farm, so I spent a lot of time outside making up stories. I've just always been fascinated by people and their stories—and understanding why people do what they do—and I think that's why I do what I do, and why I love it. It's been a passion of mine since I was very, very young." -Abigail Cowen  Next, the two discuss Cowen's powerful and physical work in The Ritual. In this horror film based on true events, she plays Emma Schmidt, a young woman undergoing multiple exorcisms alongside Hollywood legend Al Pacino. In addition, Abigail and Meg share their dislike of mornings, the need for better dreams, and an undying love for storytelling.  "I really have enjoyed doing these smaller independent films, because it's a smaller crew. You have your director, who is usually also the writer. If you have an idea, you can throw it at them, and if they say no, they say no; if they like it, you can change it on the day in the moment. And having that smaller cast too to really hone in and collaborate with has been so fun for me, and so creatively fulfilling. [...] there is an air and just an energy on a set where everyone is on the same page, everyone is working the same amount and cares the same amount, which I've really fallen in love with." - Abigail Cowen  Electra is available on demand and you can watch The Ritual out now in theaters.  CherryPicks is the best place to see what women think about movies, tv, and more. CherryPicks highlights reviews and original stories exclusively from female and non-binary writers. www.TheCherryPicks.com Follow CherryPicks on Instagram and Twitter.  @thecherrypicks Follow your host Meg McCarthy on Instagram  @megjomccarthy Music composed by Honor Nezzo. CherryPop is executive produced by Miranda Bailey and Rebecca Odes, produced and hosted by Meg McCarthy, and edited by In Haus Media

In honor of the anticipated premiere of season 3 of the hit Netflix series, Ginny & Georgia, Meg welcomes its very talented star, Sara Waisglass, to the podcast!  Sara expresses her deep love for her character, Max, and how her brightness and exuberance have been a powerful and bright light for her in the past. She insightfully shares how she navigated Max's big emotional shifts this season and worked with her co-stars to bring an authentic and grounded family dynamic to life.  Meg and Sara connect over the show's ability to help audiences feel seen and less alone. Additionally, Sara speaks about her passion for screenwriting and how it's changed her approach to acting.  "[Max is] fighting tooth and nail to stay in these girls' lives, and it's not like they're purposefully dissing her, but it's not like they're including her or feeling like they should include her, which is also very painful. Reading the scripts and seeing them all hang out without Max and being like, 'don't tell Max', it hurt so bad. I've been so close to her for so long now that she feels like a best friend to me, and watching people talk about her poorly, and being like, 'You're so dramatic', really was painful." - Sara Waisglass  CherryPicks is the best place to see what women think about movies, tv, and more. CherryPicks highlights reviews and original stories exclusively from female and non-binary writers. www.TheCherryPicks.com Follow CherryPicks on Instagram and Twitter @thecherrypicks Follow your host Meg McCarthy on Instagram   @megjomccarthy Music composed by Honor Nezzo. CherryPop is executive produced by Miranda Bailey and Rebecca Odes, produced and hosted by Meg McCarthy, and edited by In Haus Media Photo Credit: Richard Bernardin

Rule Breakers tells the remarkable true story of how entrepreneur Roya Mahboob fought for girls' education in Afghanistan and formed the country's first competitive robotics team, the Afghan Dreamers.  On this very special Season 3 premiere of CherryPop, Meg welcomes to the podcast, the film's inspiration and executive producer, Roya Mahboob, and stars Nikohl Boosheri and Amber Afzali. Nikohl and Amber start things off by sharing heartfelt memories from the set and remark on their meaningful experience filming and bringing this story to life. Roya joins in, and together, they discuss filmmaking as a powerful tool for change in continuing the fight for girls' education, and the importance of  representing Afghan women in their entirety on screen. "We don't see courage being in the absence of fear. We see that it's having fear and moving forward anyways." - Nikohl Boosheri "In Hollywood we don't see Afghanistan represented with the dark and the light. We often focus on the dark and we often see women with faceless identities or not being fully dynamic characters on screen. I felt good knowing that I can make my community proud by engaging in this project; I can make my family proud. And most of all, I could look back on the project and be like, this is something that I think is bigger than me." - Amber Afzali Rule Breakers is out now in theaters!  CherryPicks is the best place to see what women think about movies, tv, and more. CherryPicks highlights reviews and original stories exclusively from female and non-binary writers. www.TheCherryPicks.com Follow CherryPicks on Instagram and Twitter.  @thecherrypicks Follow your host Meg McCarthy on Instagram  @megjomccarthy Music composed by Honor Nezzo. CherryPop is executive produced by Miranda Bailey and Rebecca Odes, produced and hosted by Meg McCarthy, and edited by In Haus Media

On this special episode of CherryPop, multi-hyphenate dancing/singing trio Triple Charm joins Meg to talk all about sisterhood. The real-life sisters shed light on their love and appreciation for each other's strengths and individualities and share how their strong bond helps them creatively collaborate. We also dive into holiday traditions, swapping clothes, and Barbie.  "I would say I've learned so much about them. And in a strange way that I don't think I ever would have had the opportunity to if we weren't working together. And in a creative sense, I don't think I would have seen that side of them as much [...] So I think that's been something that's so beautiful, that we've been able to see [...] each other's minds at work in a completely different way than if we're just, like, you know, watching TV together." - Amalia  CherryPicks is the best place to see what women think about movies, tv, and more. CherryPicks highlights reviews and original stories exclusively from female and non-binary writers. www.TheCherryPicks.com Follow CherryPicks on Instagram and Twitter.  @thecherrypicks Follow your host Meg McCarthy on Instagram  @megjomccarthy Music composed by Honor Nezzo. CherryPop is executive produced by Miranda Bailey and Rebecca Odes, produced and hosted by Meg McCarthy, and edited by In Haus Media

This episode of CherryPop is proudly sponsored by our friends at DSW. We're going all in for fall! From the perfect knee-high or western boot for the office or back-to-school to your new favorite loafers, DSW has a shoe for every occasion! Shop their latest fall looks at dsw.com! On this episode of CherryPop, we're highlighting rising stars in the music industry with special guest La Rhonza. La Rhonza, known as Lee Rodriguez on screen, talks about her recent journey to becoming a singer and songwriter. She shares the inspiration behind her latest and first bilingual single, "All Inclusive," honoring and exploring her Hispanic heritage. La Rhonza and CherryPop host Meg McCarthy also discuss the power of lyrics, the therapeutic quality of music, and La Rhonza's desire to help others relate and feel seen through song.   "Some days, I feel like Lee and some days I feel like La Rhonza. They have different feelings to them. When I'm Lee, I feel cool as hell. Lee is confident, and La Rhonza's more vulnerable in her feelings and more like, let's talk about life and all questions that come with it." - La Rhonza CherryPicks is the best place to see what women think about movies, tv, and more. CherryPicks highlights reviews and original stories exclusively from female and non-binary writers. www.TheCherryPicks.com Follow CherryPicks on Instagram and Twitter.  @thecherrypicks Follow your host Meg McCarthy on Instagram  @megjomccarthy Music composed by Honor Nezzo. CherryPop is executive produced by Miranda Bailey and Rebecca Odes, produced and hosted by Meg McCarthy, and edited by In Haus Media

On this episode of CherryPop, Meg welcomes educator, advocate, and author Blair Imani.  "If you're a lonely kid who has to eat lunch at the library, like I did, it just feels like that's gonna be your life forever. So, if someone can tell you a real-life story of somebody who was in that situation and overcame it, it can help you be like, 'Okay, right now, I'm in my cocoon phase and, one day, I'm gonna bloom and become this beautiful butterfly'." -Blair Imani The "Smarter in Seconds" creator shares the value of boundaries, personal space, and implanting strategic vulnerability. She also talks about her love for biographies, the fine line between disruption and curiosity, and the power of collaborating and honoring people's time.  "I think one of the biggest things that capitalism and white supremacy culture tell us is that we can't work with our friends. We can't work with our family. And for a lot of folks who are marginalized [...] we don't have the option of not doing that. We don't have all the same opportunities; we have to make things work. And so it's all about having boundaries, all about building trust." - Blair Imani  Learn more about Blair Imani by visiting her website, joining her on social media @blairimani, and reading her books: Making Our Way Home (2020), Modern HERstory (2018) CherryPicks is the best place to see what women think about movies, tv, and more. CherryPicks highlights reviews and original stories exclusively from female and non-binary writers. www.TheCherryPicks.com Follow CherryPicks on Instagram and Twitter.  @thecherrypicks Follow your host Meg McCarthy on Instagram   @megjomccarthy Music composed by Honor Nezzo. CherryPop is executive produced by Miranda Bailey and Rebecca Odes, produced and hosted by Meg McCarthy, and edited by In Haus Media

This episode of CherryPop is presented by DSW. DSW is your one-stop shop for all the need-right-now shoes from all your favorite brands. Visit http://dsw.com to find a shoe that's right for you!   Actor Gia Kim candidly shares her empowering personal growth journey playing Yuri in XO, Kitty, explains the show's celebration of South Korean culture, and speaks about her positive and productive experience working with a predominantly female-led team behind the camera. "Yuri commands the space that she's in. That's something that, even up until recently, I always had to consciously work out. It's like, it's okay for me to take up space. Everyone has their own right to take up their own space. I learned a lot from Yuri [...] she found me at the right time when I needed her to." -Gia Kim Don't forget to celebrate all the big (and little) moments in life that shape us! Share your big moments with DSW and become a DSW VIP for free by visiting dsw.com! CherryPicks is the best place to see what women think about movies, tv, and more. CherryPicks highlights reviews and original stories exclusively from female and non-binary writers. www.TheCherryPicks.com Follow CherryPicks on Instagram and Twitter.  @thecherrypicks Follow your host Meg McCarthy on Instagram  @megjomccarthy Music composed by Honor Nezzo. CherryPop is executive produced by Miranda Bailey and Rebecca Odes, produced and hosted by Meg McCarthy, and edited by In Haus Media

This episode of CherryPop is presented by DSW. This Pride Month, join us and our partners at DSW as we celebrate putting our best foot forward and unapologetically living in full color!  Actor, activist, and writer Nicole Maines shares the powerful impact dreaming big had on her as a young trans woman, the joys and challenges of writing a graphic novel for the DC Universe, and what it's like tackling the complexities of mental health on screen as Lisa in Yellowjackets Season 2.   "If we're not hoping, or if we're not dreaming, what are we doing? It's important for us to have ambition, goals, and hope. All of that is encompassed in dreaming. As cliche as it is to tell people to chase their dreams and to hold on to their dreams, I think it's crucial for all of us." -Nicole Maines  DSW is your one-stop shop for all the need-right-now shoes from all your favorite brands. Visit http://dsw.com to find a shoe that's right for you!   CherryPicks is the best place to see what women think about movies, tv, and more. CherryPicks highlights reviews and original stories exclusively from female and non-binary writers. www.TheCherryPicks.com Follow CherryPicks on Instagram and Twitter.  @thecherrypicks Follow your host Meg McCarthy on Instagram  @megjomccarthy Music composed by Honor Nezzo. CherryPop is executive produced by Miranda Bailey and Rebecca Odes, produced and hosted by Meg McCarthy, and edited by In Haus Media

This episode is sponsored by Buffalo 8 Distribution: A Bondit Company. Buffalo 8 is a full-service film and media company focused on production, post-production, distribution, design, and finance. CherryPop host Meg McCarthy and Head of Buffalo 8 Distribution Nikki Stier Justice discuss the future of women in film, spotlighting Marcella Cytrynowicz's gripping thriller romance,  American Cherry, and Em Johnson's coming-of-age story, Balloon Animal.  American Cherry producer Taryn Sims and Balloon Animal writer/director Em Johnson join the conversation to grapple with gender disparity in front of and behind the camera while shedding light on how to support women in film from inside and outside of the industry. The group's respective experiences give unique perspectives on the indie filmmaking landscape, festival support, and more.  "We still have a long way to go. It helps when you have female producers and people in those positions that can champion women directors and leads in departments. We're not even close to scratching the surface, and we have a long way to go, but I think that the conversations have been started and there is an awareness that we need more." - Taryn Sims   With its intense storyline, stunning cinematography, and powerful performances, American Cherry is a must-see and is now available on demand.  And do not miss the chance to experience Em Johnson's enchanting world of Balloon Animal, available on demand April 7th. Support indie filmmaking by checking out some other Buffalo 8 films: Amy's Victory Dance Diamond in The Rough Fransgiving CherryPicks is the best place to see what women think about movies, tv, and more. CherryPicks highlights reviews and original stories exclusively from female and non-binary writers. www.TheCherryPicks.com Follow CherryPicks on Instagram and Twitter.  @thecherrypicks Follow your host Meg McCarthy on Instagram  @megjomccarthy Music composed by Honor Nezzo. CherryPop is executive produced by Miranda Bailey and Rebecca Odes, produced and hosted by Meg McCarthy, and edited by In Haus Media